Chapter 8

A/N: I honestly have no excuse for being MIA. I just can't write at the same pace as I used to before and with college now, everything's even more hectic. So much so that I have to re-read my own stories to remember what had happened before. But I promise not to give up on any of my stories aaaaand I'm sorry for not replying to any messages, I've just been drowning in work. But thank you so much for the love and support, it means a lot that you guys message me and check up on me. As for my health, I'm doing very well nowadays.

Off to the story now!

Caroline fidgeted and played with her thumbs as she tried to keep her eyes rooted in her lap, avoiding the questioning, accusatory and excited gazes of her friends Elena, Katherine and Rebekah.

Quickly getting frustrated with their gazes on her, she huffed before standing up and busying herself with cleaning the kitchen counter.

"I didn't invite you guys over so you could stand there and judge me" she said, annoyance clear in her words.

She heard the sound of footsteps behind her and turned to see Rebekah and Elena standing there with different expressions on their faces.

"I'm not judging. On the contrary, I'm just planning" Rebekah answered coolly, with a hint of excitement in her voice. "After all, my brother and my best friend are getting married. That's going to require so much preparation but don't worry, I'm going to get started today" she rambled on, already getting in her planning phase.

Both Elena and Caroline turned to look at Rebekah in shock and horror.

"Rebekah, we haven't even decided on a date yet. Besides, it's still months away" Caroline replied as softly as she could, not wanting to ruin her friend's excitement.

"Three months will fly in a blink, darling." The blonde said, unfazed by Caroline's apparent lack of enthusiasm. "Besides, when Klaus Mikaelson gets married, the whole world has to know it" she finished off with a wink.

"O-okay" Elena butted in, sensing Caroline's panic at Rebekah's words. "We're not judging, Care. Seriously, I'm happy for you. I'm happy you're getting yourself back together and you're trying to move on" she said tenderly, giving her friend a side hug.

Caroline didn't know what to say to that. Was she moving on? It definitely didn't feel like it in her heart or mind. She still couldn't stop the ache in her heart at the mention of Enzo and she didn't think she could anytime soon.

It was too soon to move on and in all honesty, she didn't think she ever could complete move on from him.

But she couldn't say that to her friends. Especially not in front of Rebekah.

So she just gave her a fake, half hearted smile which was apparently enough to appease Elena.

"Speak for yourself." Katherine's snarky voice pulled Caroline out of her reverie.

Caroline sighed. "Kat- she started but was cut off as the brunette stood up immediately and started speaking over her.

"Oh no!" she exclaimed in an overly fake polite voice. "Don't mind me. I'm happy for you. I truly am" Katherine said in a suspiciously calm voice. "I'm just surprised how quickly you've forgotten your dead husband" she sneered almost spitefully making Caroline flinch. "But that's okay right? As long as Klaus is happy, all is well"

At this point, not only was Caroline shocked by Katherine's behavior but so was everyone else.

"Y-you have no right to say t-this" Caroline stammered, looking through her tears at her best friend. Why would Katherine say such stuff when she knew everything? "You know-

She was cut off again as Katherine huffed, impatiently. "No. I don't know anything except the fact that it hasn't even been six months since your husband was buried and here you are riding off into the sunset with your Prince Charming" she hissed, sarcastically, anger seeping through every word.

"Consider this my rejection to Rebekah's proposal for me being your bridesmaid" she smiled a sarcastic smile before turning on her heel and heading out of the house, without a care in the world.

Everyone stood shocked for a moment at Katherine's outburst. Katherine's snarky attitude wasn't unexpected but such harsh words were definitely a shocker for everyone around. At this point, Rebekah truly felt bad for Caroline and immediately felt a sense of loathing for the brunette.

Caroline blinked away the tears forming in her eyes and tried to forget the hate Katherine had spouted at her. She didn't want to let her words get to her head.

It wasn't true. She wasn't forgetting Enzo. She wasn't.

She repeated that mantra in her head, over and over.

"Care, I'm sorry" Elena spoke up softly, shaken up by her sister's behavior. "I-I'm not sure what got into her. She didn't mean that and I'm sure she'll come back to apologize" she tried to console her friend.

Caroline blinked away the tears and clenched her jaw. She couldn't break down. She had to stay firm by her decision. She had a best friend against another best friend situation on hand and one or the other she was going to lose some way.

"Doesn't matter if she meant or not" Caroline dismissed, not wanting to think anymore about it. "I think this is enough wedding talk for today" she said, almost bitterly, swiftly ending the discussion.

Suffice it to say, all talk of the wedding or anything regarding Caroline's decision stopped for the day.

After leaving her future sister-in-law, Rebekah headed off to her brother's office. Upon reaching there, she strutted inside with confidence and watched as people moved out of her way, recognizing her immediately.

Once she got to the top floor, she easily headed towards Elijah's office and went inside without knocking.

Her brother looked surprised at the interruption and she could see why as she watched with narrowed eyes as he fixed himself and then the brunette who sat on his table.

"Katherine" Rebekah sneered, spitefully, looking down at the disheveled brunette who was fixing her clothes while rolling her eyes.

"Don't know how to knock?" Katherine snapped, annoyed at the interruption.

"Didn't know Elijah used his office as a brothel" Rebekah answered back with a slight smirk.

Elijah sighed, sensing an argument between the two ladies.

"What are you doing here, Rebekah?" He asked, tiredly, getting up from his seat and fixing his tie which Katherine had rather brutally pulled loose.

Rebekah's glare didn't falter as she shifted it from Katherine to Elijah.

"I'm here to tell you to keep your pet on a leash" she warned, brutally, looking towards Katherine. "The next time she decides to step into Nik and Caroline's life, I'll make sure to permanently damage her enough that she won't even be able to gaze at them"

Katherine scoffed at the threat and stood up in her high heels, glaring Rebekah. "I'm the one interfering?" she questioned, rhetorically. When she didn't get a reply, she started laughing bitterly. "Look at you, poor Rebekah who doesn't have a life of her own so she decides to meddle in the life of her brothers" she mocked with a fake sympathetic pout. "Do you really have nothing else to do than playing guard dog for Klaus?" she answered back sassily.

"And before you even think of threatening me again, let me remind you I'm not afraid of you and frankly, neither do I care about what you think." She said, waving her hand casually. "I'm not Caroline that you can pressurize me into submitting to your whims"

Rebekah was speechless at the barricade of insults but smirked when an idea came to mind. "If you really aren't scared, maybe I should go to Nik and tell him everything you said today..." she suggested and watched as both Elijah and Katherine's stance faltered a bit, making her smirk wider.

Elijah stood confused between the drama, between his sister and fiancé. Though he could just sense it was Katerina who had made a mess this time. Call it his gut feeling.

"Would anyone of you like to enlighten me about this situation?" Elijah interrupted calmly, even though, he was worried inside.

Rebekah crossed her arms over her chest with a cruel smirk on her face. "I think you should ask your beloved Katerina"

Katherine narrowed her eyes at Rebekah before averting her gaze. "I'm not responsible to justify my actions and words towards Caroline to anyone. She's my best friend. What happens between us is not anyone's business" she sneered, avoiding everyone's gaze.

Rebekah scoffed and Elijah opened his mouth to say something but stopped when he lifted his gaze.

"On the contrary, love" A voice came from behind Rebekah, startling the three of them. "Whatever you say to my wife is my concern and my concern alone" Klaus told them in an eerily calm voice.

"Now, you better tell me the damage you've done to my relationship with her before I'm forced to end yours" he threatened her calmly as he entered Elijah's office and walked straight ahead, sitting on one of the spinning chairs.

"Excuse me?!" Katherine exclaimed, horrified by his male chauvinist behavior. "She isn't your wife-

"Yet" Rebekah quipped from the sidelines, enjoying Katherine being put into her place.

Elijah sighed loudly.

"Enough of all this" he announced, the authority of his voice making Rebekah roll her eyes and Katherine clench her jaw. "Katerina will fix whatever she has done" he continued. "You need not worry, Niklaus. Your wedding will be undisturbed"

Klaus eyed Katherine for moment before letting his gaze fall on his brother. He looked at Elijah and searched his eyes for any dishonesty or ill intentions but could find none. He gave his older brother a reluctant nod as his eyes pled for him to not make a scene.

He stood up and walked closer to Katherine before leaning down to whisper in her ear. "If I see you within a ten meter radius of Caroline, I will make sure Elijah dumps you out in the street like the rat you truly are" he whispered with a menacing smirk on his face before turning and heading towards the door.

"Coordinate with Caroline and get her ready Rebekah. The wedding will take place in three months" he said, not glancing at anyone before leaving.

Rebekah grinned, thrilled at the prospect of having to plan the wedding. "I'll see you at home, 'Lijah" she said before leaving.

Once the couple was alone, Elijah turned to Katherine who remained frozen in her spot.

"Why do you have to do this Katerina?" Elijah asked her softly, cupping her cheek in his face.

Katherine looked at him. "He's not right for her"

"That's not for us to decide" He answered back, lightly shaking his head.

"She's my best friend" she argued.

"He's my brother" he pointed out, knowing they wouldn't come to the same conclusion anytime soon.

Katherine glared him before pushing him away. "I won't let him ruin her life. She deserves better!"

"And I can't let you stop this wedding, Katerina" Elijah said back, calmly. "She needs him and he needs her" he emphasized, hoping she would understand.

"You can't or you won't?" Katherine asked, hardening her voice.

"Whatever you want to think but this just isn't possible" he replied evenly. "Stay out of this matter. It doesn't concern us"

"You can't order me around, Elijah" Katherine defended herself.

"Niklaus will ruin you. He will ruin us" he informed her, his eyes shining with desperation. He desperately needed her to believe his words and the honesty in them. He didn't want to lose her only because of her dislike towards his brother. He couldn't afford to lose her.

Caroline yawned as she closed the door of her apartment and dropped her bag on the table. She walked straight towards the fridge and took out a bottle of water. She walked back into the living room and sat on the couch, spreading the blanket on her legs as she felt a bit chilly. Opening the brown takeout bag, she straight away started digging into the container of noodles.

Halfway through her meal, she turned on the TV and relaxed on the couch.

Today had been an eventful day. She had disclosed her decision to everyone inside her family and friends' circle, negotiated with her landlord after a very civil conversation and she had even looked around for a job and given her portfolio in smaller companies that she would've never even considered a year or two ago.

But it didn't matter.

She was ready to start from scratch.

She needed to start from scratch.

And she would. It didn't matter if years of her hard work were for nothing. She would pass through those struggling stages again and prove herself.

Because Caroline Forbes was NOT a quitter.

But she knew she only had three months for that task.

Maybe she should've asked Klaus for six months. Or maybe even a year.

But who was she kidding? She was surprised when he had even agreed to giving her three months.

She truly wondered how she went from being a strong, independent, working woman to a weak, reliant and lonely woman.

It was the true. Life could change in a minute.

With a sigh, she placed the container back on the table, no longer having the famishing appetite she did before. She snuggled into the blanket and tried to focus on the TV but her eyes got heavier until they shut completely.

Klaus closed his eyes for a minute as he leaned his head on the steering wheel of his car.

It was 3 AM and he couldn't sleep for even a second.

His mind was restless and his thoughts were jumbled.

Even though he had promised Caroline space and silence for three months, he knew he couldn't keep that process.

He wasn't strong enough for that. Now that he knew she was going to be his and his alone, he couldn't even bear to be apart from her for a day.

That was how he found himself getting out of his car and walking inside Caroline's apartment building. As he looked around, he was once again reminded of why he absolutely detested her accommodations.

He was tempted to make her move in with him but he knew he might've been pushing his luck if he would've demanded that.

Once he reached her floor, he made his way to the front door and contemplated whether to wake her up or not.

Out of instinct, he twisted the doorknob and found it… open!

Hundreds of thoughts came to his mind as he rushed inside only to find the TV on with the lights on as well as Caroline sleeping on the couch with a tiny blanket covering her.

His anger made him clench his jaw. Had she no regard for her safety? And it wasn't like the building she lived in had any of their own security. Anyone could casually stroll in and out without a caring a lick about being caught.

She couldn't be this careless anymore. He definitely needed to have a word with her about it.

But as he walked closer to her, he felt most of his anger leave him as he gazed at her form. He couldn't ever remember a time when he hadn't looked at her with adoration and love. Whether she was angry at him, sad or happy, he always looked at her the same way and he always would.

He perched at the edge of the table in front of the couch on which Caroline slept and looked at her. He sighed and felt all the tension in his body leave as his hand connected with her hair. He buried his fingers in her hair before bending and placing a kiss on her forehead.

Instead of moving away, however, he stayed put and let himself inhale her sweet scent. It was soft and so soothing for him.

"Nik?"

He heard her soft, melodic voice ring in his ears as he opened his eyes. He had been so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't notice when she got up and stared at him with half sleepy yet curious eyes.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, clearing her throat as she rubbed her eyes and looked at the time. It was already past midnight. "Are you okay?" she asked, looking at him worriedly when she received no answer from him.

Klaus looked up and locked eyes with her. "I can't lose you, Caroline" he admitted, the vulnerability showing through his eyes. "Not now, not ever" he added, lightly shaking his head.

The cautious look in Caroline's stance dropped and her eyes softened immediately. "You're not going to lose me" she assured him, bringing him into her warm embrace. The grip Klaus had on her was reassuring and frightening.

The love and devotion her friend had, for her, was … astonishing.

But she had to be selfish for once. For once she wanted to be free and independent.

"But I need you to stay away from me for the next three months"