A/N: Once again, thank you for the kind reviews. I specially love the suggestions you make on how you would like this story to progress. My drive as a writer is fueled by your inspiring words.
As always, the story is my own, but the characters I borrow from TVD / TO.
Now for this story, this is the last time I will be updating back to back, after this chapter I will be back to updating at least twice a month to give equal time to writing my other fanfics.
I HAVE ALSO REMOVED THE BABY & UNCLE REFERENCE IN THE STORY SUMMARY, IT WILL HAPPEN, BUT NOT QUITE YET...SO AS TO AVOID CONFUSION IN THE MEANTIME.
Author's Insight: I think it's about time I gave insight on how I see the main protagonists from my POV therefore they are reflected in how I write them in.
Rebekah – I truly see Bekah as a strong but untested individual. Being the only girl in a family of brothers, she has not been given the opportunity to carve her own path, therefore I felt it necessary to write that in and for her, to let her go into a journey of self-discovery (this could be another fanfic on its own). Don't worry Beks will be back much later on, as a stronger individual able to hold her own.
Elijah – He has always been an open book, always espousing family above all, his conflict has always been that he feels he has to choose family or happiness for himself. In the end, we all hope that he gets both.
Klaroline – You can't have one without the other. They have always been endgame for me, but it is still a long ways from a happy ending for the couple. Caroline still has to mature to a level where her eyes are open to the realities of life and accept them whole-heartedly. Klaus will still have to overcome his internal demons to fix himself to look at life at least with a lighter shade of black.
I will be finally bringing in TO characters into this story not so much TVD only because this is set in NOLA. Most will not follow canon but will be necessary for the development of the story.
While Chapter 4 only featured two played out scenes, the talk of Beks and Caroline (as requested by a reader) leading to that sibling confrontation will be touched sometime during this chapter.
Happy reading….
Chapter 5
Caroline had been living out of a bag for over a week, her modest possessions consisting of a handful of clothes and some personal essentials she already used up, now she was itching to shop. During the first night of her arrival, she had been shown to a room adjoining Klaus', the room pretty much screamed her from the wallpaper to the furniture to the beddings. Bekah had confessed to her that the remodeling of the room had happened within a week of Klaus' latest return from Mystic Falls, she off course knew why.
Glancing around the room she still had to sleep in, she just marveled at the extent of what Klaus was willing to do for her. How could he be so loving and perfect to her but someone totally different with others. Her thoughts shifted to Rebekah remembering yesterday as she and Beks, yes she had started to call her Beks in her mind, had a sort of heart-to-heart talk before the meeting with her brothers.
Caroline had tentatively knocked at Rebekah's bedroom door to seek her out, she was surprised as she entered to see what looked like a fairy tale princess themed room, when Rebekah saw her wondering around in awe she told Caroline that it was actually Klaus who designed her room, apparently interest in arts included interior designing with a very clear insight of femininity if her and Rebekah's rooms were to go by.
"I used to hate you, a lot. Even when Elijah told me of his brilliant idea to convince you to come here in hopes that you could save Niklaus, I still couldn't believe you could be more than just a passing fancy for him," Rebekah started off the awkward conversation.
"I still could be, with your brother, you never know…." Caroline said almost to herself.
"Don't sell yourself short, I've seen it. The way he is with you, the way you are with him. They say you get to see the real person, not the one they project for other to see, when one is at his lowest, emotionally raw," Rebekah patted the large throw pillows on the floor encouraging Caroline to sit with her.
"I've seen my brother like this so many times, I'm embarrassed to admit that I was responsible for some, but never at this level. Whenever he is like this he locks himself off, alone, only to recover a few days later from his inner turmoil to go on a killing rampage. Sometimes he lets Elijah inside his walls, but not since that time after Katerina had that happened. It's the first time in a long time he let someone in, and the first time ever it wasn't family." Rebekah looked at Caroline with a calculated look.
"I hope by your being here, now, you know what you are getting yourself into. He would never, never let you go. In the beginning I applauded you for the sacrifice you were making for him, but it isn't really a sacrifice for you, you wanted a reason to be here, with him," with a small smile Rebekah continued, "you don't need to give yourself a reason to be here, you just have to accept this is your place. Like I have, in less than a week with you here, I accepted that this is your place, by my brothers' side."
"It makes it easier for me to do what I have to do, with you here. I know I've not been the best sister. Your friends have spelled it out, I am a spoiled brat who's always treated like a nuisance little sister. It has been easy for me to hide behind my brothers when I get into trouble and mischief, because I knew they would always be there for me. I have never been abandoned or rejected by my brothers, punished and chastised yes, you know about the daggers and the threats but I always know it came from unquestionable love they had for me."
"You will probably never understand the conflicts I go through, why I would seek my father out to kill my brother, why I do the things I do, when I'm mad I don't think properly. I have no need for logic because I knew I could go the limits and they would always forgive me."
"We are as dysfunctional as they can be as a family, we love each other with a passion but in equal measure we hate without boundaries, in a way, we have thrived on our sibling conflicts to justify our actions. But I have to acknowledge when I have gone too far, and this time I have."
"I can't stay here, not right now. I have to let my brother heal and the only way that will happen is if I am not here, to remind him everyday of my betrayal," Rebekah started to cry, but still she continued to open up, "I have to go and find what I want, discover who I am. It's time that I not be dependent on my brothers, learn to be my own person. Be strong like my brothers, like you."
Rebekah grabbed Caroline's hands, "in time we could be sisters, if you open your heart to let my brother in, then maybe you could let me in too. I could have been better had I had someone like you with me, someone with compassion and kindness. Someone able to see past all the bad, see goodness in everyone. Someone who is willing to save even those who are beyond saving."
Caroline shook her head, "we are the same, we are all the same. We are all broken because we all look at ourselves like we are monsters only in different degrees. I have my own struggles, people just don't always choose to see that in me. That one who was better at controlling the blood lust, who would always put her friends first, whom everyone could rely on, that's the Caroline they chose to see."
"With your brother, it was the first time someone saw me for me, first time someone chose me. Someone who would put me first," Caroline thumbed Rebekah's tears away, "that is what your brothers have always done for you without you appreciating it because you always thought it was natural, when you lose that, that's when you realize the value of what you had. As long as we are alive, it's never too late to make amends. The bigger person is always the one who makes the first step to rectify a conflict."
Rebekah smirked, "it's sad that I don't have your capacity for humility, that's the problem with my family, we always think that we are better than everyone else because of who we are. But this is a first step for me, to be on my own."
Caroline sighed, as she went to take her shower before planning to seek out Klaus, she really needed to convince Klaus for her to do something as mundane as go to the grocery for girly necessities and get a new wardrobe.
Surprisingly, Klaus was in his painting room when Caroline finally went to seek him out. She was a little bit flustered when she saw him dressed in an old pair of worn-out jeans, shirtless and concentrating on brushstrokes. "I can sense you staring love," Klaus said and despite her being behind him, she was sure Klaus was actually smirking.
Klaus put down his brush then turned to her, "nothing you haven't already seen before love," he was definitely in a better mood than the previous day. He opened his arms wide gesturing for Caroline to come forward so he could lock her in an embrace.
Caroline rolled her eyes before proceeding as he requested. Klaus looked at her with a smile, "what do you want to do today?"
Caroline rubbed his arms nervously, she wasn't sure if he was up to getting out of the house, while he was in a better mood it didn't mean he was ready to venture outside. Finally exhaling, "I wanted to ask you if we could go out for a while, I need to purchase a few things. I only had that one small bag with me and I'm running low on everything."
Klaus caressed her cheek "actually," he said sheepishly, "did you check the wardrobe closets of your room yet?"
Frowning Caroline answered, "no, I've been staying in your room so I haven't really opened any closets or drawers, should I have?"
Klaus stood up from his stool, took Caroline's hand and brought her up to their wing of the Manor. Opening the double doors that led to their private area, his siblings were all located on the other wing, he led her to her room and dramatically opened the closets which to Caroline's utter surprise contained hundred of clothing from casual to formal wear, apparently all her size. The next closet housed shoes and bags and at the end where toiletries that smelled of vanilla and lavender. Caroline turned back to Klaus with tears in her eyes, "you did all this," gesturing around the room to the content of the closets, "when?"
Klaus tensed as if unsure how he would answer her, "after my last visit in Mystical Falls. I hoped one day. I did say I would never go back, but there was always a slight chance, hope, that you would come to me, one day." Klaus had that broken puppy-dog look again that made her just instinctively jump into his arms and cry, "you are really going to make me fall hard for you."
Elijah in the meantime had gone about his usual business to resolve some conflicts in the Quarter. With his sister off to god knows where and his brother still in self-exile, it was once again left to him to ensure everything was under control.
His earlier talk with Marcel had been insightful, Rebekah had apparently informed him that she was leaving the Quarter but Marcel had chosen to stay behind and face the consequences as he had still to ensure Davina's safe return to the land of the living.
After his talk with Monique, he went to find Celeste in the woods near the bayou, "the noble Elijah, what can I do for you," Celeste asked seductively.
"I have come to put a stop to your attempts to repeatedly undermine the order we have established in the Quarter. Your endeavor to deliberately ire my brother and turn him against his own flesh and blood." Elijah replied.
"Ah but, it wasn't so much what we, Genevieve, Sabine and I have done, it was more what information was kept from your brother, what can of worms was still to come. There is more of that to come. After all a thousand years together there must be a secret or two still waiting to be revealed." Celeste cunningly told Elijah before disappearing from his vision.
Elijah had been prepared for her abrupt departure and knew where she would be heading, to the cemetery. "Enough of this, I will not tolerate any more." Elijah brought out a knife and seeing this Celeste responded, "you may kill this body, but I can just easily jump into another one, it will never end for you."
Elijah finally flashed to Celeste and sliced her neck with his knife. Spotting Monique who had arrived at the cemetery, he gave her a small nod before flashing inside a private mausoleum containing a body wrapped with a white cloth that suddenly went to life, "he quickly went to the body and pierced the heart forever ensuring that the spirit of Celeste will never again inhabit anothers body."
Now he only had Genevieve and Sabine to dispose off. What he had still to find out was with Celeste's death, Davina's body was brought back to life with Marcel finally heaving a sigh of relief.
Caroline and Klaus had spent the remainder of the day inside the Manor. Their relationship had progressed to the point that they had been openly sharing everything about their past. The most difficult hurdle for Caroline had been when she had shared with Klaus what had happened with Damon when she was still human. Being Klaus, he had immediately wanted to rush to Mystic Falls to end Damon. Fortunately for Caroline, Klaus had accepted that Caroline had forgiven Damon of the past and moved on. Although, since she was really getting used to reading Klaus, she knew all he did was give in to her for the moment but was still determined to find a way to kill Damon at the first opportune moment.
Understand Klaus she did, with every story of the past that Klaus shared with her, the common element had always been his desire to protect his family. His means to ensure that protection was really what conflicted Caroline. Having been rejected and ridiculed so early in life, his understanding of relationships was jaded. It was a miracle in itself that Klaus even acknowledged that he could love her after all he had been through. To open up himself to rejection once again, the power that Caroline grasped she had, having the most powerful being at her mercy was overwhelming her once more.
Baby steps that what she had conditioned her mind to think. They have yet to graduate to a physical relationship, all because Klaus had agreed to take it slow as she had wanted him too. There were times, when she wanted to do more than just make out. Because yes, they had reached the stage where they made out, those long drawn-out passionate kisses that took her breath away….baby steps, she would always remind herself.
Elijah had informed Klaus that Celeste was permanently down and that Marcel and Thierry had taken down Sabine but Genevieve was still very much alive somewhere in the Quarter. He had also informed him that Davina was now back in the land of the living. That was Elijah's way of bringing his footing back on track, his way of showing his brother that he had his back when Klaus was in 'recharge mode'.
Now, he had more to lose with Caroline in the picture, he had to devise a plan to keep her safe, the one person who despite her protest was not as strong or as tough as she believed she was, her being a baby vampire. He had to make sure she would not be used against him, as collateral damage.
Elijah had suggested an alliance with amongst the supernatural and humans in the Quarter, but Klaus knew while Genevieve was still alive and running amok, this could never happen. He dreaded to imagine what Genevieve would do if she found out what value Caroline was to him. The wrath of a woman scorned was never easy to deal with.
As Klaus went to retire to his wing, Elijah had stopped him, "brother, I am aware that you are anxious about Caroline's safety, with our enemies still out there. Know that I will protect her in everyway that I can, you have my word."
Klaus clasped his brothers' shoulder, "thank you brother, while I am not quite ready to forgive and forget transgressions, I appreciate your want to protect Caroline. Good night brother."
After walking away from Elijah, Klaus reached his bedroom and opened the door. As expected, Caroline was sprawled on his bed, no their bed now, as she had gone up to sleep earlier while he was still talking to his brother. She was so trusting, so forgiving. Her capacity to listen to his life story, the burdens he continues to carry with him, his rampage, kills, he had tried to tell her everything. She wanted to know everything about him. At first he had been afraid she would turn away from him, find that it was too much for her, he was too much for her, beyond saving. But as a testament to her strength, she had listened openly, without judgment. How could he be so fortunate to how found her, and after all he had told her, how was she still here, so peacefully slumbering in their bed, their bedroom. At that moment, he swore to himself to try to be better, not because she asked it off him, but because he want to be better for himself.
(postscript: No, this is not an attempt to make Klaus a softie, i love him in full beast mode...)
reviews please…..be nice.