25 Days of Klaroline + Crossover/Fusion -
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
Thanks for the inspired prompt - megansarah11 - I love this movie so making it into a Klaroline drabble isn't much of a stretch. I have already dedicated a drabble to you though (gotta share the love) so this is dedicated to the Queen of 'giving me feels'. Yes, you Paula -papasu/howeverlongs - how dare you hehe. Thanks for being such a lovely, talented person and making me awesome fic covers too.
Have Yourself a Merry little Christmas
After finding her boyfriend cheating, workaholic, Los Angeles native Caroline Forbes goes to England, swapping houses with Rebekah Mikaelson for the week.
Notting Hill - London - December 21
"That will be £49.56," the cashier said. She rifled through her purse madly trying to find the notes she needed but given pounds were still relatively foreign to her she was taking a while. She could hear the groans of disapproval from the large line of people behind her. What the hell happened to Christmas spirit?
"You want the one that says fifty, love," a voice behind said. She turned around curiously, taken aback by just how gorgeous this stranger was. It was bad enough she was having trouble and now she had this good looking guy distracting her. "That's a five."
"Well, um, it's all so confusing," she huffed, handing the right note to the impatient staff member. "I mean the Queen is on everything so it's difficult to not get them mixed up."
"Funny that," he smirked, flashing a few unexpected dimples in the process. "I can't believe the American is trying to say our currency is confusing. At least our notes are different colours."
"Well, it's lucky I know all my American Presidents, unlike some people," she muttered.
"You're welcome by the way," the stranger replied, smartly. Maybe she hadn't thanked him but he didn't have to be so rude about it. She heard more mumblings from the line and decided it was best just to leave without responding mainly to avoid a riot. She picked up her brown, paper bags and turned to leave.
"You forgot your tofurkey," his mouth twitching as he said the last word. "Looks absolutely delicious by the way."
"It will be," she shot back, her eyes flickering to his basket for the first time and noticing the abundance of sweets inside. This guy obviously wasn't one to lecture about good health. "At least I'll have a clear conscience knowing that I won't be eating Babe or Skippy this Christmas."
"We're more like lamb people, I'm betting poor little Mary's going to be upset this Christmas." Caroline rolled her eyes and proceeded to leave the shop before it descended into an all out argument. He may have been gorgeous but he was an arrogant ass and after her recent break-up Caroline didn't need any more of those guys in her life.
As she approached the stunning townhouse on Ledbury Road, Caroline had to pinch herself again. Not only because she was in London but because she'd made such a big decision on the spot. Caroline didn't do spontaneous things ever, well except for throwing her ex-boyfriend's belongings in their pool when she discovered he was cheating on her with his twenty year-old personal assistant last week.
It was only after Stefan left and she'd cleaned every spare surface of his scent away that Caroline realised she'd never loved him and although she felt betrayed she wasn't actually that upset he was gone. The one thing she did have a problem with was someone deceiving her and the worst part was that she was too busy to even notice. After all, being a cardiac surgeon came first and everything else after that. Just because she operated on hearts didn't mean she always followed hers. It was then it hit her hard, she had no life outside of her career. She needed to do something crazy and that's what had brought her to England and she fully intended to enjoy herself. Caroline just hoped all English males weren't like the cocky one she'd just met.
December 22
Jet Lag. Two unseemingly harmless words that had the ability to wreak havoc on holiday bliss. After returning home with her groceries the previous night, she'd eaten, read and finally fallen asleep thanks to a few glasses of red wine but waking up in the early hours of the morning wasn't her idea of fun. She'd watched some re-runs of some show called Eastenders and tried to continue her book only to fall asleep as the sunlight was starting to filter through the window.
Her eyes fluttered open slowly, trying to adjust to her foreign surroundings. Where the hell was she? She sat up, her latest book that had been perched precariously on her chest falling onto the sheets. This certainly wasn't her bedroom. That's right she was in London, she watched the clock on the far wall tick over noting that it was already 1pm.
Caroline climbed out of bed, frustrated that she'd wasted half a day thanks to her body clock being out of whack. It was only when she walked down the hall towards the bathroom that she heard a noise coming from downstairs. She froze in fear wondering just who was roaming around, Rebekah had mentioned a cleaning lady but Caroline swore she only came on Mondays.
She located her handbag, rifling through it for her can of mace. Caroline never went anywhere without it and she was extremely glad about it at this point in time. Creeping downstairs she searched the rooms trying to work out exactly where the noise was coming from. She didn't really have a plan but decided to spray like crazy. It looked like the burglar was in the laundry of all places, Caroline not too sure what he was hoping to score from there.
"I'll have you know, I'm armed and dangerous," she whimpered from the other side of the door. She'd meant it to come out a lot more aggressive than it had, damn it. The door flew open, Caroline faced with someone very familiar.
"Oh, hello again," he said, lazily, snatching the mace from her hands before she could react. Hello? Seriously. "Fancy meeting you here."
"Oh, my poor eyes," she shot back. Not only was he the arrogant guy from the store, he was practically naked besides a pair of dark jeans that sat low and tight on his hips. "What the hell do you think you're doing here?"
"I thought that was obvious, love," he replied. "But if you need a hint, this is what they call doing laundry. You see these are my clothes and what I do is I put them into this weird looking machine here and..."
"I meant why are you half dressed?" She asked, realising after she'd said it there were probably more pressing issues than his lack of clothing but that was all she could focus on at that moment.
"My shirt was dirty," he offered, shrugging his shoulders. Caroline closed her eyes trying to block out the image of his naked chest that was on full display. "Am I'm making you nervous, love."
"You wish," she growled, realising that she hadn't asked the most important question already and that was why he was in her house. "What's going on, are you following me or something?"
"You wish," he teased, using her words.
"That's seriously all you're going to say? What the hell are you doing in my house uninvited?"
"I could ask you the same thing, love."
"This is my house and can you please stop with all the love stuff. "
"We both know that's not true, but if I knew your name and why you were in my sister's house then maybe I might."
"Your sister?"
"Blonde, blue eyed, bossy about yea high," he indicated with his hand.
"Rebekah is your sister?"
"Unfortunately," he drawled. "Although she does let me use her washing machine given mine's broken at the moment. I'm pretty certain, I'm the one who should be asking about trespassing though."
"We swapped houses for the week," she explained, as his eyes flickered slowly over her body. Caroline placed her arms across her chest, suddenly feeling self conscious about her lack of clothing in matching shorts and a brief singlet. It may have been freezing outside but Caroline hated too many clothes on in bed. She'd just been too preoccupied when she heard the noises to throw something less fitted over the top.
"That doesn't sound like my sister, she's such a creature of habit," Caroline certainly could relate. "So, where exactly is she then?"
"Los Angeles."
"Nice of her to let me know," he muttered. "You know just to avoid being attacked by some half dressed, crazy, American blonde with mace."
"Says the guy who's topless," she mumbled, noticing an awful lot of little, pink items on the bench. He wasn't married, she'd already noted his bare ring finger but that didn't mean he didn't have a girlfriend and she was strangely annoyed by that prospect for some reason. His cell sounded out, Caroline noticing the name Emma flash up on the screen, she rolled her eyes thinking she should have known. "I'm going to shower, hopefully you'll be gone by the time I'm out."
"Nice to see you too, love," he shouted, as she rushed from the room.
December 23
"Oh you've got to be kidding me," Caroline growled as she removed her black beret and shook her hair loose. She always thought London was a big place but here was this smug idiot for the third day in a row. "Unbelievable, you really are following me."
"Don't flatter yourself, Caroline," he grinned into the mirror at the back of the bar, not even turning in her direction to make direct eye contact. "This is actually my local pub."
"How exactly do you know my name?" She asked begrudgingly, seating herself at the bar. If there was one thing for certain right now she really needed a drink.
"I was speaking to Rebekah..."
"You asked her my name?"
"I didn't actually. I was more than happy enough to continue referring to you as that uptight blonde but she was the one who told me in no uncertain terms to leave Caroline alone," he shared. "Rebekah never really has had much faith in me."
"Well, you did just show up half naked yesterday."
"If I didn't know any better I'd say you liked me being shirtless, I mean you've mentioned it multiple times," he teased. Those dark blue eyes, the same colour as his fitted henley, finally glancing in her direction and causing a few stray shivers to ripple through her body. Smug idiot.
"What can I get you?" The barman asked politely.
"Whiskey neat," she ordered, sneaking a glance at her neighbour on the next bar stool. "And make it a double."
"I've never caused someone to drink before but I guess there's a first time for everything."
"You say that like it's a good thing," she muttered. "Are you always so..."
"Handsome and charming?"
"I was going to say arrogant and frustrating."
"I have been known to frustrate people but in a good way, if you know what I mean?"
"Urgh p-uh-lease," she groaned loudly. "Do these pathetic lines actually work on women?"
"I'll have you know..." Before he could continue his phone rang, a quick consult to his screen told Caroline it was Charlotte. First Emma and now her, this guy certainly was busy. "I have to take this."
"Oh by all means, don't let me stop you," she mumbled, deciding she should probably take this as an opportunity to leave but she hadn't had nearly enough alcohol yet. Her cell sounded out just as he walked away, Caroline pulled it out of her bag noticing it was from an American number. "Hello?"
"Hello, Caroline? It's Rebekah."
"Rebekah, how are you?"
"I was just checking on you, I heard Niklaus decided to make an impromptu visit and scare you half to death."
"Niklaus?" She asked curiously, realising she didn't even know his name.
"Klaus for short but his siblings are the only ones who call him that, mainly because it annoys him so much," she chuckled, evilly. "I'm sorry about that, unfortunately he has a tendency to make himself at home."
"I noticed," she murmured, watching him from a distance, a goofy grin on his face as he spoke to probably another one of his conquests. "Really, it's okay. How is everything there?"
"It's so beautiful," she commented. "It's nice to be somewhere for Christmas that isn't so bloody freezing. I could definitely get used to the Californian climate for sure. I have had a visitor of my own though."
"Visitor?"
"Brown eyed, brunette Englishman, rather cocky if I do say so myself." Caroline closed her eyes in realisation. In her haste to leave she'd forgotten to tell Rebekah about Enzo. "Apparently he's your best friend, likes to eat all your food."
"Best friend, stray dog. Same thing," she quipped. Caroline's car had broken down a few years earlier and he'd come to her rescue. As grateful as Caroline was for his assistance, she didn't know she'd be getting him for good. "I'm sorry Rebekah, I should have warned you about his endless need for food and female love advice."
"He does like to talk, mainly about himself."
"If he gets too annoying just lock all the doors and leave him a bowl of food at the front door, I've done that a couple of times with minimal success although he keeps coming back," she joked, noticing Klaus had made his way back to the bar and was looking at her curiously. "Actually, I should get going."
"Maybe you should try that move on my brother," she laughed, disconnecting the call. If only she could.
"A dog right?" She looked at him in confusion. "You know pet instructions? I wouldn't trust my sister, she killed at least three goldfish when we were growing up and that is just a conservative estimate."
"Are you always this nosy?" Caroline certainly wasn't asking him about his bevy of female callers so why should he get to pry.
"Are you always this uptight, seriously Caroline," he drawled. "You're on vacation, the least you could do is relax and enjoy yourself."
"I'm enjoying myself perfectly fine," she mumbled, knowing that it wasn't entirely true. She had every intention of relaxing but it wasn't in her make-up unfortunately. "You just seem to bring out the worst in me."
"Oh well, while I'm at then I might as well keep going," he joked, signalling the bartender for service. "Two tequila shots thanks, James."
"I am not drinking shots with you."
"Why, are you scared?"
"Seriously? This isn't high school, I'm not going to fall for that stupid line."
"Oh well, more for me then," he grinned. "It's okay, I can understand it must be difficult for someone like you to hold your alcohol."
"Someone like me?"
"Oh you know; little, uptight, American."
"What does being American have to do with it?" She asked, slightly offended by his assertion.
"Well, we all know that we British can drink you Americans under the table, it's in our blood. Well, that and the fact that there's a pub on pretty much every corner." Caroline knew he was baiting her but if there was anything she hated it was walking away from a challenge, especially with her hidden talents.
"Fine," she replied, simply and downing the shot in one go. "I'll have you know that I was the Kappa Kappa Gamma drinking champion at Stanford two years running."
"Well, let's see what you're made of then, love," he dared, drinking his own shot and ordering more. This was definitely going to be interesting.
December 24
Pain. That's what she felt as it ripped through her head as she attempted to sit up in bed but without much luck. Her mouth was dry, her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth and even though her eyes were closed tightly she was pretty certain the room was spinning. Tequila was evil, so too was the guy who pried her with it. Well, if Caroline was being honest she'd been the one who accepted his moronic challenge but she didn't expect it to end quite this painfully.
"Wakey, wakey," an annoying and familiar voice interrupted. She opened her eyes reluctantly, a blurry Klaus approaching with a silver tray in hand.
"Urgh, why is it that whenever I turn around you're always there?" She growled, placing the pillow over her face to block out the sound of his voice as well as the invading sunlight.
"You're just lucky I guess," he teased. "I brought you some breakfast in bed, I figured you might need it after that display last night."
"I do not feel like eating," she murmured, before realising he was in her bedroom. This guy sure liked to break and enter. She sat up quickly trying to ignore the head spins while she checked if her clothes were on and fully intact. Luckily they were, she looked up noticing a sightly rumpled but still unfortunately gorgeous Klaus perched on the bed looking at her curiously. He was wearing the same clothes from the previous night which didn't bode too well for her though. "What display are you talking about exactly?"
"Don't tell me you don't remember last night, love?" He asked, placing the tray on the bedside table. "Frankly I'm quite offended given just how magical it was, Caroline."
"Well, now I know that we didn't have sex I feel a whole lot better."
"Are you sure about that?" She paused briefly, questioning her judgment before continuing.
"I'm sure. Magical isn't really a word I'd associate with you, Mikaelson," she muttered.
"Of course it is," he boasted. "Just ask all the girls and they'll tell you just how magical I can be."
"Oh you mean like Emma and Charlotte," she bit out before she could stop herself. She didn't want him to think she'd been monitoring his calls, after all. He regarded her seriously, noticing a small smile tugging at the ends of those perfect crimson lips. Caroline decided to blame it on the post tequila haze.
"Have you been keeping an eye on me, love?"
"What did we say about you calling me that?"
"Someone's changing the subject by the looks of it," he shot back. "Admit it, you're attracted to me."
"I'd have to like arrogant, smug, annoying, stalkerish Englishmen which I don't," she listed, trying to ignore just how close he was sitting to her on the bed. "What exactly did I do last night anyway?"
"I could tell you but then I'd expect something in return."
"Of course you would," she drawled. "You know, don't worry about it."
"I'm a lawyer what do you expect?" As soon as he'd mentioned it, Caroline felt some of the details from the previous night come flooding back. "How about we give some of this hostility a break? You know given it 'tis the season and all."
"What did you have in mind?" She asked suspiciously.
"A thought for a thought." Caroline considered his suggestion. Ever since she'd come to London she'd been so angry about Stefan but regretfully she'd taken it all out on him. Yes, he was arrogant but he didn't deserve that treatment even if he did like to walk around practically naked and address her with endearments.
"Okay, fine," she conceded. "I'm worried I did something stupid and in front of a practical stranger. I have a tendency to ramble when I'm drunk just ask my best friend Katherine."
"Not just when you're drunk obviously," he teased, those dimples making an unwelcome appearance right at that awkward moment. "You talked a lot yes but we also danced and laughed and to be honest it was nice to see you so open and happy for a change."
"Is that a thought?"
"Okay my thought is that I've been awake all night considering killing that idiot Stefan for what he did to you." She'd been worried that would come up but judging by his face Klaus was definitely on team Caroline and she wasn't going to begrudge him any death threats.
"I thought you were a womaniser, I didn't want to get involved with someone who I thought was just like him."
"I may be devastatingly handsome but I'm no womaniser," she raised her eyebrows questioningly in his direction. "It's all false bravado I'm afraid. I haven't been with anyone since my wife died two years ago. Which might explain my terrible attempts to converse with you. Oh and just for the record Charlotte and Emma are my daughters."
"Damn, I feel so stupid now," she groaned, hitting her head not realising just how much it hurt.
"So, you were jealous?"
"Don't push it," she teased. "Although, I might be more inclined to spend time with you now."
"Funny you should mention that given I was going to see if you wanted to come to the Portobello Markets today. It's a Christmas eve tradition that Emma, Charlotte and I have but you're more than welcome to join us." The fact he wanted to include her in his family tradition meant everything to Caroline, maybe he was one of the good guys after all. It was nice to see that they still existed.
"That actually sounds like fun, although I may need a few painkillers first," she joked, holding her head in pain but unable to keep the smile off her face. Maybe this Christmas wouldn't be so bad, after all.