Chapter 10: A Case of Shame
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Father...
I awoke and watched with new eyes
Those actions that spoke so much louder than all the words
Say thank you _no thank you heard.
And no love felt.
Every time you invade my privacy
another part becomes stone
And now I stand - a crumbling pillar,
Trying to free myself from all that
"I don't really feel."
And now?
All I have are memories of fear and hurt
And meaningless standards -
By which I won't live.
You have misunderstandings that no one understand.
-Unknown.
"Mikeal.."
"Your looking as lovely as always Caroline.. and with-child none the less. I presume they must stem from my bastard son. Niklaus.. is he here.." Mikeal stated before shoving his way pass Caroline and into her home.
"No his not. So you should leave.." Caroline stated more firmly as she clutched her arms around her belly as some sort of gesture to protect her unborn children from this wicked man.
"Where are your manners girl.. Please... sit down. Lets talk," Mikeal smirked making himself very comfortable on her couch and motioned for her to join him. When Caroline stood her ground quite firmly he shrugged and decided to start their little chat regardless.
"-Whatever you want to say you can say when Klaus is here... Whatever this is that's going on is between you and your son so leave me out of it." Caroline stated before Mikeal could even speak.
"He is no son of mine. You would do well to remember that." Mikeal glared smiling sadistically that sent a cold shiver down her spine. This wicked man seemed to have that affect on her, from the day she met him at the rehearsal dinner.
"I hear you're carrying twins.."
"That's none of your business." Caroline almost growled
"On the contrary my dear it is very much indeed my business."
"Like you said.. Klaus is not your son. Which means you have no ties to my kids whatsoever. Now please leave."
"Now now Caroline.." He held his hands up in surrender "If I know Niklaus I would most likely presume that he has left you alone in all of this." Mikeal stated gesturing his hand towards her belly causing Caroline to look to the ground for a mere moment.
"I'm right aren't I?" Mikeal smirked " Of course i'm right."
The boy only but confirmed what he has being saying for years.. Niklaus was worthless, unworthy of having anyone that mattered in his life. Now that Caroline was on the broken fence as well, it would work more in his favor of ridding the bastard of everything he has ever cared about. His siblings and Caroline.
"I can only imagine what it must feel like for you to be doing all of this on your own Caroline.." he sounded almost sincere for a moment
"Please stop pretending like you even give a damn.." Caroline stated
"Niklaus is a coward. A phony, his incapable of loving anyone or anything because he is a worthless piece of-"
"Shut up!" Caroline shrieked "Klaus may not be father of the year but neither are you. And he may be like really fucked up, but that doesn't even compare to all the shit you've put him through in fact, you're the reason he is as fucked up as he is." Caroline shrieked. Her heart was racing and she had lower back pain all day, she knew that getting worked up over Mikeal now was a bad idea and really not worth the risk of putting her children in danger.
"I can see why he took a liking in you.. You're brave. But sometimes being brave also makes you stupid.. And you do not want to anger me Caroline, that would be doing something stupid." Mikeal glared
"Why are you here Mikeal. What do you want?"
"I am here to help you." Mikeal stated simply
"Help me? by threatening me?"
"I see the boy still paints for a living... Such a waste. Can't make much money on it these days" He stated looking at the canvas leaning against the wall. "I must say i'm surprised he held out this long from coming back and begging me for his inheritance."
"I don't get it. Elijah, Rebekah and Kol all left to come here and yet they're not cut off?" She bit back
"The difference would be that they are my blood. Niklaus on the other hand.. Well he has no right to claim those funds Caroline." Mikeal swallowed hard...
"You denied him his money, you cut him off from his family and you let him live with the fact that he was responsible fro Henrik's death when it was only an accident.. What more can you possibly take from him? Don't you think he suffered enough.."
"Tis such a pity Niklaus is not a real Mikealson.. You would have made a good daughter-in-law.. Beautiful, conniving, and smart.. And yet you degrade yourself to that boy. No doubt his children will be a disappointment too-"
"Don't you dare talk about my kids... Klaus may not be the best father, but his a much more better one than you ever were." Caroline warned
Mikeal knew his original plan would go to shit now that he could see the girl still harbored some feelings for Klaus, but all was not lost for the cunning Mikealson as a new idea sparked in his mind.
"I did not come here to fight Caroline.. in fact, i'm here to make you an offer I know you cannot refuse" Mikeal smirked "Niklaus's inheritance.." He started
"What about it."
"A child can be a very expensive responsibility Caroline and well, in your case that's double the expense.." He trailed off "Take a portion of his inheritance.. You know you need it for your children, you can give them a good life."
"Are you bribing me?" Caroline asked outrageously appalled by Mikeal's declaration. She was even more outraged by the fact that he even considered asking her that. Does she look like the kind of person who was looking to get rich quick on someone else's money?
"Think of it as a gift to your children." In all honesty, Mikeal knew all too well that the mere thought of Caroline having access to Niklaus's money would rile the boy up so ,much so that he would be out of all their lives for good.
"You're insane.." Caroline couldn't believe that Mikeal would actually try to buy her off so that she'd keep her mouth shut. She was utterly disgusted.
"After all that the boy has put you through Caroline.. he doesn't deserve it. He doesn't deserve you. He deserves to be miserable." Mikeal said
"This is crazy! Going round and round trying to make Klaus's life miserable. You're obsessing over the downfall of someone who's fatal flaw is that he was fathered by another guy?"
"Hush! You are an enabler of the weak. No wonder he seeks your company." Mikeal growled clearly on the verge of loosing his patience.
"Get this Mikeal. I don't want your money, I don't want Klaus's money in fact i think i'd be much better off without any involvement from you and your deranged wife. All Klaus ever wanted was to be accepted by you.. and all you did was hurt him." Caroline shrieked. The sheer guilt she felt for him soaring through her chest as she imagined all the terrible things he endured as a child.
"I didn't always hate him. When Niklaus was born I was overjoyed. I thought this one has the eyes of a warrior. He will be worthy.. But my hope was short-lived when I found out he wasn't truly mine.. And then he killed my son Henrik," Mikeal stated
"It was not his fault!"
"He murdered him!"
"He loved Henrik.. What would you have said if it'd been Elijah or Finn that was driving that car? Would it be murder or a simple accident?"
Mikeal gave no response.
Instead he rose from the couch straightening his suit jacket, glaring at Caroline as he did so. The truth behind her words stung, so much so that he could not face it right now
"You're upset and cannot think clearly which is why I won't expect an asnwer right away.. The offer still stands" He said writing his number on a sticky note on Caroline's table before he took off.
She reminded herself that he was gone and tried to get her breathing under control.. The aching throb in her lower back was still there but not as painful as before.
The moment he left Caroline ran towards the door locking it as fast as she could. A breathe of relief escaped her as she clutched her belly firmly soothing her children as she felt them kick.
"It's okay, everything is going to be okay." She whispered
Bonnie giggled as Kol left a trail of butterfly kisses from her ankle all along her leg and inner thigh.
She gasped as he reached her throbbing core working her dripping lips with his skillful mouth
"Kol..." She groaned before she pulled him up towards her lips and kissed him tenderly. The taste of her sweet juices on his tongue drove her crazy and she moaned in anticipation
Kol barely got to see the inner sex goddess in Bonnie, she was all intellect and deep with books and OCD.. but when he did.. he relished in all that was her. She dipped her hand lower until she reached his briefs and slipped her delicate hands underneath
Kol moaned as Bonnie began to stroke him.. pumping him harder and faster with ever stroke. His girl clearly did not want to waste any time.
He couldn't handle the build up any longer. If she continued at her pace, he would be cumming in a matter of minutes and he wanted to be inside her, so he yanked her hand away and in one swift move; plunged into Bonnie making her cry out
"When I come, it will only be in your mouth or your pussy.. Do you understand me Bonnie?" He growled
"Ah.." Bonnie rolled her hips against his as he continued to move inside her. He always got so possessive of her when they had sex, not that Bonnie complained of course.. She quite fancied the idea of relinquishing control for once.
Kol kissed Bonnie once more and lifted both her hands above her head locking her in a hold so that her body was at complete mercy to him as he fucked her senseless.
Bonnie slowly whispered Kol's name into his ear knowing it will make him fuck her harder. He groaned as he felt her nails claw at his back knowing full well there would be a trail of red marks in their wake.
Bonnie loves leaving marks on his back making him a victim of her lust... Slowly, she touches Kol's bottom lip with hers
Kol knows she's feeling him as she writhes beneath his body.
He won't stop.. His soul is made a slave by her body. He pulls up her leg and positions it above his shoulder
He begins to go deeper.. Slowly filling her more..
Peering down to how glorious she looked as he fucked her, when his eyes caught hold of a teddy bear at the side of Bonnie's bed.
Bonnie could feel Kol loosing his stamina as he slowed down and started fussing
"What..whats wrong?" Bonnie asked trying to catch her breath
"That teddy-bear.." Kol groaned
"Miss Cuddles?" Bonnie asked turning her head towards the corner of the bed that Miss Cuddles sat.
"Fuck Miss Cuddles.. Yes Miss Cuddles." Kol sighed stretching his arms out as he perched himself on top of Bonnie "Because i know your ex-boyfriend gave you that teddy bear and I said he was a pussy which he was but I was thinking about like you guys together and him having sex with you and then I thought about him naked and then my boner just started to wilt like warm lettuce." Kol sighed
"O-Kay..Getting rid of the teddy bear then." Bonnie snorted as she reached out for Miss Cuddles and shoved her underneath the bed.
"Thank you." Kol stated
"Now where were we.." He frowned
"You were about to make me scream and cum?" Bonnie giggled capturing his lips in a heated kiss
"Hmm" He moaned as she wrapped her legs around him edging him closer to her when his phone started to ring.
"Ignore it.." He murmured against her neck
Bonnie sighed as the incessant phone continued to ring and ring until eventually she pulled away from his heated kiss.
"What if it's important.." Bonnie stated
"More important than our sexy-time?" Kol frowned ignoring the phone and continuing his assault on her mouth
"Hmm..Kol..stop.." Bonnie whimpered
With the most dramatic sigh he could manage he plopped up from bed in all his naked glory and reached toward the phone, looking quite annoyed when he read the caller ID
"This better be a matter of bloody life and death Elijah." He growled
Bonnie pulled the sheets up to cover her chest as she watched Kol
"When?"
She frowned watching Kol's entire face fall as he listened to Elijah on the other line.
"Okay." He stated ending the call
"What was that about?" She asked genuinely concerned at the way Kol's entire demeanor changed after the phone call with Elijah.
"We need to head on over to Katherine's." Kol stated "My parents are here."
"Oh"
"She is right you know.. You really are good with her.." Katherine smiled as she watched Stefan rock little Emily to sleep while sorted through the new trunk of clothing for Emily that accompanied Grandma Esther to New Orleans. So far there had been two piles namely 'vomit' and 'acceptable.' She was rather impressed to find that the acceptable pile far outweighed the vomit.
Would you believe me if I told you how awkward the drive over here was." Stefan sighed
"Elena's still not talking to you?" Katherine asked wide eyed
"Nope.."
"Gee and I thought I was the dramatic one." Katherine snorted before both heads turned to the door as Elena entered
'Thank God she hadn't heard a thing' was he only thing Stefan could think about. He was already in the dog box and wasn't keen on a longer sentence in there.
"So I warmed her a bottle- oh. She's asleep." Elena sighed coming to stand behind Stefan which surprised him since well she hasn't spoken to him since their fight nor did she have any desire to be near to him.
To say there was tension between the two lovebirds was an understatement. It was downright thick and could be cut with a chainsaw. It was obvious that Stefan and her twinsie needed to talk things out. She just hoped they kept it to a minimal and not wake Emily up
"Thanks for offering to watch her. I don't know why on earth this family meeting has to take place now of all times. These Mikealsons... so damn dramatic" Katherine sighed as she left the nursery.
"So are you still not going to talk to me." Stefan muttered taking advantage of the fact that Elena could not yell at him and wake her niece up.
"There's nothing to talk about Stefan.. You made up your mind." She bit out
Stefan sighed. He had hope that perhaps the day alone had given her time to reflect on her actions and words and perhaps she'd realize that she was indeed being a bit dramatic and unreasonable.
He got up from the rocking chair and strutted over to the crib where he laid Emily down slowly making sure she would be comfortable enough before he kissed her forehead lightly.
Elena watched the whole scene unfold before her with loving eyes.
Damn him.
He was practically made for this so why was he being so selfish. She thought.
"I'm being a bitch I know.." Elena sighed "But Stef you have another 3 more years to study until you get your degree and what if you want to do your master's? that's another extra few years.. By the time you'll want to settle down and have kids I'll be old and grey." She added
"Now you're being dramatic.." Stefan smirked has he walked closer to her wrapping his arms around her waist.
"I love you. And I want nothing more than to have babies with you. And I promise that time will come." He smiled
"Yeah.. like in a ge'zillion years.." She added under her breath
"Think about it Elena.. Don't you want to give our baby everything and anything he or she wanted? With the student loans i'm currently still paying off.." He trailed off really trying to make her understand the awkward timing having would be right now. "I want my career first, I want to be able to provide for my wife and kids. We can't have a baby now." Stefan said stroking her cheek
"I know Stefan. It's just a bad case of baby fever I guess." Elena stated peering down at Emily "She's just so cute."
"I promise on our honeymoon we can start baby making." He whispered kissing her against her temple
"A lot of baby making?" she asked against against his ear
"Woman, you are not leaving the room let alone the bed.." He breathed
The ill-fated Mikealson family reunions were always such disastrous affairs that has everyone wishing they were orphans instead. You take Mikeal and Esther with their cold stern hold on their children, Elijah with his urge to protect and stand by this siblings no matter what, Rebekah with her reckless and insecure ability to love, Kol with his pretentious front to avoid serious commitment, Finn who doesn't even bother to show up and then there's Niklaus the most damaged of them all and it equals to an all out explosive reunion which finally turns real family into a group of related strangers.
The usual cheery and loving atmosphere that filled the Mikealson home was replaced with something dull, stiff and cold.
Elijah sat rather awkwardly on a two seat couch next to his wife who held the same glum expression as the rest of his siblings in the living room.
He distinctly remembered a time when they all gathered here a mere few weeks ago to celebrate the birth of his little Emily. There were many laughs, smiles and tranquility.. only now? they sat as stiff and unwelcome as if they had not been in this house before.
Truly the presence of Mikeal and Esther Mikealson must have been the cause.
"This was suppose to be a family meeting.." Mikeal almost sneered at Katerina. He was obviously feeling peckish and gloomy after the little meeting he had earlier with Miss Forbes.
"Katerina is family." Kol and Elijah answered simultaneously
"I did not recall Katerina being married to you and yet you all speak for her?" Mikeal snorted at his youngest son
"I speak for myself.. This is my home you're in Mikeal. Now if you cannot respect me then maybe you should go stay in a hotel and have your children come and see you then." Kat stated looking at him directly in the eye never faltering. "And if this were truly a family meeting, Klaus would be here."
Esther was truly shocked at the girl's response to her husband but remained quiet. In this case she did not blame her, Katerina did not grow up in their home. And so she did not know how disgraceful it would be considered as talking back to Mikeal.. according to his rules.
"The WiFi isn't working in my room is anyone else having the same problem-" Rebekah stopped in mid-sentence as she entered the living room. The shock of seeing her parents standing right before her still edged on her face.
"Rebekah." Mikeal acknowledged her. "I'm glad you finally decided to join us." He would never admit, but Rebekah was always his favorite.
"Father-"
"It would only be for a month she said.. It won't be anything permanent she said.." Mikeal stated sounding really annoyed
"I couldn't exactly take off when two of my brothers were going to have babies.." Rebekah fired back
"Perhaps we should all retire to the parlor room for some tea.." Esther stated
"You do not speak for me, wife. Hush."
Regardless of whether the Mikealson siblings chose to accept or not, each of them absorbed some vivid learning from the type of relationship their parents had. In the way Mikeal had belittled their mother, degraded and insulted her.
Especially when Kol was concerned.. What he seemed to absorb was that when there was conflict, people don't talk about it. He also felt confused about how to deal with emotions, since neither his mother nor father expressed them.
"I'll be in the study then. I expect to see both my sons, the women are excused to attend to whatever nonsense they do. and Elijah..' Mikeal turned back "Keep you're wife in check."
Elijah sighed not having the energy to deal with his father right now. Couldn't they be happy with a picture of Emily and Skype once a year on Christmas?
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"What exactly is this about?" Elijah sighed
"Mikealson Holdings." Mikeal stated pouring himself a glass of whiskey
"What about it?" Kol frowned
"I've looked at the quarterly views and I see the same trend. But while deals have increased at a more consistent rate, funding has had more quarterly spikes which are growing in size largely driven by a handful of large financing to the space that occur from time-to-time. Q1'14, our clients from London looks to be the largest funding quarter since 2012, with $45 million being spread across 95 deals.. it's a matter of utmost importance that we maintain them." Mikeal stated
"The Q1'14 has always been the largest funding father.. I have personally dealt with them for years." Elijah stated
"Precisely. Which is why you are needed back at head office in London."
"Emily was just born, i cannot. Besides I've been dealing with them via conference calls and Skype for months now and everything has been running quite smoothly." Elijah frowned. He would have been well aware if their clients from London were displeased and they most certainly were not.
He knew his father's intentions went far beyond pure and ran deeper than a mere client in London. There was something else in this equation.. Now if only he could try and get it out of his father, without provoking him.
"Conference calls and Skype cannot run a business Elijah. As potential CEO you should know that." Mikeal frowned. He could not understand why his children were always so difficult.
If Elijah had a dollar for every time he heard that.. In all honesty they never had a childhood. They were forced into the family business. Groomed from a young age to be the perfect little adults and to always excel. They were never allowed to be carefree and have fun like the other kids especially when Mikeal was around. Instead they grew into an adulthood rigidly shaped by their father which constantly had them questioning their abilities. Whatever they did, in which ever way they acted they somehow didn't believe they were ever good enough
Kol merely stood by occasionally sipping on his drink wondering why the hell he was called into this 'meeting' when all they were doing was talking shop. He could be doing much more better things with Bonnie he thought
"It is time our family re-united as a unit. With all the new dealings taking root we have a reputation to uphold.. An image of perfection. When the annual charity ball was held I was never more embarrassed to find that none of my children had even bothered to show their faces. What of all that we've worked for? What will become of the conduct of this family."
In actual fact the rule of conduct in this family was pleasing Mikeal who always punished them and made them feel guilty
"Surely you had Mother.. In fact why am I even here, I don't work at Mikealson Holdings so-" Kol started
"Oh really.. remind me that the next time i cut your allowance that has been stemming from Mikealson Holdings." Mikeal growled and Kol decided to re-take his seat and shut up.
"There is nothing holding us back here. We will fly next week. That should give you plenty of time to convince your little wife." Mikeal smirked turning to Elijah
"Leave?! I'm not leaving." Kol interjected before Elijah could even respond.
So this was Mikeal's agenda all along. He wanted to move them all back to London. For a holiday? Elijah could have been convinced but for good? Not quite.
Katerina would blow a gasket. Not only did she just give birth, but there was no way she'd willingly pack everything up and leave to London. Her life was here, her family her friends.. He could never do that to her, nor his daughter.
"Shut up Kol. We're leaving and that's final. There surely is nothing holding you here besides your siblings and since they're all coming I really don't see what the issue is," Mikeal sighed
"I have a girlfriend," Kol stated taking Mikeal by surprise
"Do you now.. I certainly never pegged you for the relationship type of guy."
Elijah was not even considering it. He had already made up his mind. There was no way he could just leave. But trying to fish a little bit more he decided to humor him.
"What of Niklaus?" Elijah asked
Mikeal's face hardened and his response was almost immediate.
"What about him?"
"Would he accompany us?"
Mikeal sighed.
It had appeared that his children were under some sort of illusion caused by his bastard that they were actually a family. But they were not. And he had to make that clear.
"How many more times do I have to say this before you start believing it Elijah.. Niklaus is no son of mine. He is not family. He will not run the business and he will not get his inheritance because he is not worthy."
"He may not be your family.. But he is my brother. And I will always stand with him." Elijah stated
"As will I." added Kol
"I will forgive you for saying that.. Your sentimental affections for the thing you call brother.. But you both need to realize as I did when I learned his mother had lain with another man to beget him; Niklaus is an abomination. You don't talk to abominations, you do not try and reason with them.. You cut them off.. Permanently.
"I will not come with you. I do not care for your ridiculous whims to keep up a perfect image that has already been battered from the start. There is one thing you are surely mistaken of father.. We are not children anymore. You do not say hop and we say how high.. Not anymore. If you want to leave you are most welcome to but we would never abandon our family which yes, includes that thing we call brother." Elijah stated rather calmly although underneath he was livid at Mikeal
"He would never be the brother that you all so desperately want him to be. His already abandoned his children and they're not even out of the womb yet. You should give up on him son, while there's still time."
"Well I've given up on giving up on Niklaus. It's an affliction. I will fight for him until my last breathe." Elijah stood up fastening his suit button indicating that he was clearly done with this conversation. Leaving a fuming Mikeal as Kol followed him out.
Cigarette smoke loomed in the stiff air..
Music blared and the people of New Orleans were in full swing as their bodies became loose from the alcohol consumption.
The strong scent of bourbon mixed with the sweaty bodies and cigarette smoke flaring up Klaus's nostrils as he flicked peanuts up and down the bar counter. With every peanut that flicked off the counter it seemed the more drinks he ordered and the drunk he became.
"How pathetic you are Niklaus.." He growled swirling his drink around in the tumbler
You've lost Caroline and the children.. You've lost the best thing that ever happened to you." He sighed
"You're talking to yourself.." Came a low husky voice from beside him. When he turned to his side he was surprised to see there had been a young woman sitting there the entire time and he had failed to notice.
Really.. how drunk was he really?
"Buy me a drink?.." She smirked seductively as she turned her entire body toward him pushing out her chest and sucking in her stomach giving him a full view of her plump breasts.
She was blonde.. but didn't even come close to his Caroline.
Wait.. His Caroline? She wasn't his anymore though. She was Enzo's now
And yes, maybe Enzo could love her better than him. Maybe Enzo could be the best thing that ever happened to her.. Because that's what Caroline deserved, to be happy.
"Hi.. I'm Klaus and i'm really drunk." He slurred turning to his side and shooting her a half drunkard smile
"I'm Stella.. and i'm quite drunk myself."
Oh no Klaus can't you keep it in your pants for once? Geeez
And that's chapter 20.
Shorter than I planned, but I have a busy week ahead and wanted to get this out for you guys.
Okay i'll drop a hint and say please don't give up on Klaus so easily.. I know he is totally nonredeemable as of now, but please keep an open mind.
New chapter should be up by next Friday.
xx