Chapter 21 : Love me like you do
So it's a little late but to make up for it I made it super long ;)
Disclaimer : I own nothing.
"Andy, once you're done, I'd like you to load the couch into the truck, please"
"No worries"
This was it.
Today was moving day for Caroline and by god she was glad it was finally here.
The cozy little two bedroom apartment that waited for her on the boarder of the French Quarter sparked a new sense of hope in her life that had been lacking in the past months.
She was eager.
Eager to start a new life. A life with her kids; she thought smiling down at her swollen bump.
The chilly Sunday morning which usually compelled her to her bed with food and TV series, was now in full swing with the busy and bustling noise that were the three guys she hired to help move today.
In fact that were actually her cater-waiters and maybe moving your boss's furniture to her new home wasn't exactly part of the job description, but they always appreciated an extra buck here and there. And dare she say it but she was a great boss. Always tipped them well too.
"Hey Caroline.. The painting didn't fit in the truck.. And to be honest, I'm sure it'd get really damaged by the other furniture in there.. Should we make another trip to come back for it?" Mark asked her as he held up the large canvas that represented all that was her past relationship with Klaus.
Sure the rational thing to do would be to leave it here. With him. And all the other things that reminded her of him.
But for the life of her she just couldn't bring herself to leave it behind.
It reminded her of Nik.. Not Klaus. But her Nik. When they still lived in their little bubble without a care in the world. The shopping trips, the gym, the steamy passionate nights together...
Dare she even say it.. But no one knew the real story behind this painting..
Yes Klaus had painted it for her as a gift; but that was just the story she spun to get those pesky Mikealsons off her back, Katherine included.
No.. What they didn't know was that night she wandered into his room silently creeping in amazement as she watched him.
He seemed angry that night, frustrated.. Harshly running the brush to and fro over the blank canvas. The lines he created were harsh and dark.. Deliberately dramatic if that was the look he was trying to create. She couldn't make out what he intended to paint but it was far to early to tell anyway.
"What is it?" She asked
"Not quite sure yet love." He frowned never turning away from the canvas.
She could conclude that he was in fact frustrated and that cued her into the fact that maybe it was time for a little break.. So she would kiss his naked back.. Leaving a hot trail of open mouth kisses all along his shoulder blade. All over the scars that she now knew every story behind.
The scars that made her heart break. Again and again as she relived the moments in his story.. His childhood.
She kissed his back with such desperation as if to heal those scars. Completely wipe out the evidence and existence of his suffering.
He relaxed into her.
Oh.
Oh her sweet Nik. What a broken man he was... Her broken man.
Needless to say, their love-making that night was rough. Hard. Fast. Almost animalistic.
She didn't mind to be the warm body he needed to take his frustrations out, the body he needed to lose himself into. She didn't mind being the distraction from his work, if only for a little while and if it meant it'd inspire him.
"Come with me." He had pulled her up from the bed, somewhat sore and a little worn out.. But sleepily followed him, both of them naked none the less.
He placed a large white sheet on the floor followed by placing the canvas he had earlier been struggling with in the center of it. He scattered brushes and paints all along their sides
"What are you doing?" She had asked.
"What we are doing sweetheart." He stated "You've inspired me.." He smiled and sat her down in front of the canvas with him.
With a naked Caroline on his lap, he ran his fingers down her arm kissing her neck as she threw her head back a bit.
His trail ended on her fingers as he placed a brush in her hand.
Guiding her hand with his, he dipped the brush in paint.. And without even looking to what they were creating on the canvas, he kissed her neck, her back. Her mouth.. Whilst letting their hands roam freely along the canvas..
And thus came the creation of this heartbreakingly beautiful painting Mark held in his hands.
She wanted her children to have at least something of their father. It wasn't exactly a family heirloom, nor was it a hefty inheritance but it was something simple and weighed in sentimental value.
"Its okay Mark. I'll just load in in the car when I drive up." She stated and he nodded. Wearily handing the canvas to Caroline.
Yes that was right!
Her car was finally fixed and she could finally afford to pay the mechanics and auto electricians the full amount to be able to retrieve her baby.
The very first thing she did was took a drive. Where to? Didn't matter. All she knew was that this was what she missed.. Having her car, having the freedom of driving herself wherever the heck she wanted to go. Having this independence was sorely missed and she was never going to take that for granted again.
"Er.. What's happening?" Kol frowned as he entered her living room.
"I'm moving out." Caroline stated firmly. She knew there was nothing they could say to persuade her to stay. To hold up this charade of waiting around until Klaus came to his senses.
But in some weird way it also terrified her. Frightened her to a point where it actually made her nervous that her friends were no longer going to be around telling her to give Klaus a chance, because it seemed they had given up too.
Was it because she had gotten so use to it? Hearing he could be redeemed?
Did she believe it?
No.
Did she want him back?
She wasn't quite sure.
Did she love him?
Yes.
And that would always be the one thing holding her back.
Her stupid loved for him.
For once she actually wished that her head and her heart came into unison. When the one warned her away from him, the other just wanted him to take her in his arms again.
"I can see that.. But why now? I thought-"
"I don't want to wait till the end of the month. I'm moving out today." She stated
"Caroline.."
"Will you drive me up? My car is outside. Its only two more trips there and back." She dismissed whatever protest he was going to form
"Yeah sure." He sighed going for another box
"Leave it. We'll come back for those after the first unload."
Oh god his hurt like hell.
And the ruffling and shoving of furniture wasn't helping either..
Wait.. What?
Klaus's bloodshot eyes popped open as he tried to make sense of the re-decoration taking place in his house in the wee hours of the morning.
What in the world was Caroline up to?
As the morning sunlight found its way through a crack in the dark curtains of his bedroom, he groaned shoving himself up
The voices outside his room had softened.
He stumbled out the bedroom into his living room that was almost bare.
Gone were the couches.
Gone were the books in the shelves, the photo frames on the walls, the scented candles that adorned their coffee table.
Even the silk curtains he hated so much
Trying to make sense of what the hell was going on in his own home he scurried further down the passage only to find large brown boxes taped up tight all along the walls.
Labeled 'Kitchen' 'Bedroom' and 'Bathroom' respectively.
This had Caroline written all over it. Which only meant one thing...
Was she finally moving out?
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"What?"
"Kol. Just say it.. You don't like it." Caroline sighed cutting a box open.
"No no.. I never said that." He frowned taking a long look around the new house, or rather new apartment.
"You didn't have to." Caroline smiled a tight smile rolling her eyes at him.
These Mikealsons..
"Its just.. Don't you think its rather.. On the small side?"
"Well yeah its small.. But there's a room for me and the babies and its the best I could do right now." She sighed
"You know that's not what I meant Caroline. I'm not questioning your capabilities to provide.. I'm just worrying about you. Am I not allowed to do that?"
"Of course you are." She laughed.
But even in her laughter there was something missing. She never seemed to be truly happy, she just seemed to be passing time while she waited for something else, or someone rather..
Sure the two bedroom one bathroom apartment with a small'ish kitchen in the French Quarter was rather.. small.
But in her current situation she wasn't going to be picky. A house was a house and at the end of the day it would be the home she would raise her children in.
"Right. So what's next?" Kol asked after loading the last two boxes from the car and stacking them onto the quaint kitchen table.
"We have to go back for the last few boxes." Caroline stated grabbing the keys
"I'll drive." Kol smirked taking them from her
"I'm pregnant not invalid you know." She scoffed
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Klaus rummaged around what was left of the groceries in the kitchen and finally decided on a half empty carton of orange juice.
The ideal cure for the worst possible hangover he currently experienced would obviously be bacon grease, but the lack of groceries had since minimized his options to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or some left over slice of pizza. None seemed more appealing.
Come to think of it, he could not for the life of him remember the last time he had gone grocery shopping let alone cooked a meal.
There were no glasses in sight so he didn't mind drinking straight from the box. It's not as if there would be anyone around to yell at him for drinking straight from the carton
He wished the pain in his head would seize.. Maybe then he could deal with the other numbing pain that he felt in his chest.. or rather the void that seemed the more he denied, the bigger the whole became.
He had yet to see her..
He didn't know if he was allowed to.
Caroline was packing up her things and leaving
leaving the life they had
leaving the home they shared
leaving him.
He didn't know if it were something he could just idly stand by and watch.
The shrilling ring of the land line brought him out of his depressing thoughts as he sauntered over to the receiver.
'Incoming Call: Enzo'
There was no way in hell Klaus was going to answer that.
Pssh
'Hi you've reached Caroline and Klaus, we're not able to take your call right now.. So please leave your name and number and we'll get back to you. Beeeeeeeep'
Funnily enough she hadn't changed the answering machine.
He would leave it as is. It wasn't Caroline in the flesh, but it would be good having her voice around the house so that it didn't feel as empty as it now did, and he didn't even mean that in a literal sense
"Hi gorgeous..Where are you ? Pick up the phone. The wedding date has finally been fixed. Maggie says meeting you yesterday was like finding an old friend. I want to hear what you thought of her..If you don't like her, then tell me now. Our wedding's in a week. Call me back. Bye" Enzo's voice boomed through the phone
With every passing sentence of Enzo, Klaus became more pale.
"Enzo and.." Klaus muttered lowly
"Enzo and Maggie.."
"Bloody hell! Enzo and Maggie!" Klaus stated loudly. Realization finally staring at him right in the face.
Caroline and Enzo are not getting married.
Enzo was marrying some girl named Maggie.
And that day at the jewelers? Caroline must have been helping with the planning of the wedding; that has to be the only explanation.
Christ. How could he have been this dumb, this long?
The news gave him a new sense of hope. A new reason to fight for her, for his family..
All was not lost. No sir.
A quick shower and a fresh change of clothes and he would be ready to face anything that the day brought until he had his Caroline back.
Closing his bedroom door behind him he dropped the carton of juice onto the ground as his face paled and this time, for a different reason entirely
...
...
...
...
There.. On his bed laid a woman. A woman in her underwear.. On his bed. In his bedroom
What.
Who.
How.
"Morning.." She said.
"Who.. what..who..what.. Who the bloody hell are you and what are you doing here?!" Klaus shrieked
He was totally if not completely freaked out
He could not, for the life of him remember what happened last night or rather 'who' happened last night.
All that seemed pretty clear as the daylight that poured through his windows was that he had an incredibly lousy headache, he was possibly hungover and there was a half naked woman in his bed
"That's really nice." She scoffed "I'm Stella. We met at the bar last night" She stated rolling her eyes as she shrugged off the bed
Dread washed over him
No.
No. He could not have done this to Caroline
Especially now. He couldn't believe his incredibly bad timing.
Klaus watched n despair as Stella looked around the room for her clothing and shot him an annoying look of disapproval over her shoulder.
He was thinking about his future
His future with Caroline and right now he could not give a flying fuck who the hell Stella was or all the other Stella's in the world, so he made a spur of the moment decision.
"Okay you have to leave. Now."
"What? Get me some coffee first!"
"To hell with your coff- Look you have to leave. Please." He growled. He knew Caroline wasn't home which was good for now, but he also knew she would be back for the rest of her things at any given moment which gave him an escape window of like.. none.
"Why?" She pouted whining. Clearly Stella had a nasty case of the hangover as well and he really wanted her to leave so maybe yelling was not the best option right now.
She rolled her eyes at Klaus clearly non the less interested in anything he had to say at all.
"Because.." Oh damn Klaus now of all times you're running out of ideas for an excuse. This damn headache wasn't helping him either.
"Because my room mate will kill me. And you. She will kill us both! She's crazy. So put your clothes on quick.. and hurry."
"Hello?"
"Caroline Forbes?"
"Yes?"
"Good morning Miss Forbes, this is Dr Richmond calling from Tulane medical lab"
"Oh hi.." Dread overcame Caroline the moment she heard who had called
Witnessing the entire scene unfold before him, Kol scrunched his eyebrows together in confusion as he alternated between driving them back home and looking at Caroline on the phone. She had suddenly gone pale as a ghost and her hand was slightly trembling.
"What is it?" Kol asked in a hushed voice
Unable to respond to Kol because she herself had no clue as to what exactly was going on. It clued her in that the man was calling from Tulane and that must have been with regards to the test results of the blood disorder, not that she figured there would be any progress since they couldn't get a sample from Klaus.
"Is something wrong?" Caroline asked wearily
There had to be a reason as to why Dr Richmond was calling her personally and it most cases it meant bad news right? She watched Grey's Anatomy, she knew the breakdown.
If there were nothing wrong, the results would have been sent via post or they'd have called her in.
Why didn't Enzo call her instead? He was the doctor handling her case the last time she checked.
"Miss Forbes I called to inform you that Niklaus Mikalson's reports have come in."
"Reports?" Caroline was very confused
Kol was even more confused looking at Caroline as he pulled up to the house
"Of his blood test." He stated sounding somewhat weary. The Doctor didn't know them personally and therefore questioned why she was so confused on the whole matter.
"Klaus went for a blood test?" Caroline's mouth fell to the ground at the utter surprise hit her like a ton of bricks
"Yes. Were you not aware?"
Caroline's heart would leap out of her chest at the rate it was beating at per second.
Klaus went for a blood test?
What?
When?
Despite the many questions as to what convinced him, the real question she should be asking is what did the results say?
Were her babies in danger?
Enzo would have called her if the results were okay. Right?
Why hadn't he called.
Or better yet, why hadn't Stefan let her know the results were back from the lab either
Oh God she feared the worst
She made a silent prayer as she clutched onto Kol's hands tightly
Please let them be okay
Please let her babies be okay
"Everything is absolutely fine Miss Forbes. There are no signs of Thalassemia."
Caroline let out a breath what felt like she'd been holding since she received the call. Tears silently rolled down her cheek as every breath she took silently shook her body.
"Enzo is a good friend of mine and he said you'd be nervous so I called you personally with the results."
"Caroline what is it, What did they say?" Kol asked. He too feared for his nephews
Caroline was crying and her body was trembling, that was never a good thing, he thought.
"Thank you doctor.. Thank you so much." She smiled blinking the tears away and she turned to give Kol a bright smile reassuring him that everything was going to be okay.
"You're very welcome Miss Forbes. We'll see you next week. Bye now."
She could not believe it.
Klaus had gotten the test done
Why didn't he tell her?
She knew he cared for them. He loved their babies and now she finally had the proof she'd been waiting for.
Kol who pretty much figured out the results just by her winning smile, already knew what she was up to in her head as she grinned at him
More importantly, he knew what this meant for Klaus and Caroline and he was thrilled.
"There is no way in hell that i'm leaving.. not before Caroline gives birth." Rebekah stated puffing up her chest to her older brother
"You sure Caroline's birth is the only thing you want to stay for? Hmm Alexanderrrr." Kat purred behind her earning a whack on the bum from Rebekah who turned bright red hoping Elijah hadn't heard that last bit.
"No one is forcing you to leave Rebekah. I'm merely filling you in on the details regarding the family meeting which you insisted I tell you." Elijah sighed. He was a having quite a shitty day indeed. Not only did he have to deal with Mikeal and Esther being here, but not one.. but two temper tantrums from both his wife and Rebekah regarding the whole 'leaving to London' debacle.
"Emily was just born for Pete's sake. What kind of grandfather is he.." Kat scoffed
"He was not nor will he ever be father material let alone grandfather material." Rebekah added
In all honesty, he was done with his parents. Looking back at his childhood.. was that something he really wanted to expose Emily too?
Never.
It amazed him at how having a child really changes one's perspective on things. Even things he swore he would always try to see the best in; His parents. But there is only so much you can take and Mikeal was not going to be one of those things any longer.
Mikeal was absent for most of his childhood life; even as the oldest. Not in the sense that he ran away, but rather absent in that he was unable to show emotion and could not initiate contact with him or his siblings. Hell, even Finn and he was the 'perfect child'.
The only glimpses of Mikeal's inner thoughts to Elijah came through a few sentences uttered casually over many years. But the one who was always on his hit list no matter what.. the one who had enough hateful words from him to fill countless books was his little brother; Niklaus.
Mikeal's decades of silence to them and unkindness to Niklaus had created a gulf between Klaus and the rest of them. Something Elijah felt still existed between them preventing them from truly being a family.
"So what, do you think he'll just up and leave?" Kat wondered
"Well either that or he finds himself a hotel. He is no longer welcome in my home. Not after what he said about Niklaus. I will not have any more hatred and negativity around my daughter, no more." Elijah stated with determination as he fixed his tie in the full length mirror of their bedroom
Katerina Mikealson gazed at her husband as he studied himself in the mirror. His obsession with his appearance always having to be 'proper' whenever he wore a suit amused her.
They were only going to a small dinner at Elena's with the gang and yet he always seemed to dress impeccably as per usual.
Herself and Rebekah smirked knowingly as they waited for the inevitable question
He did not disappoint. "Do I look alright?" He asked
They grinned
"How come you're always so insecure when you look hot." Kat rolled her eyes and Rebekah ignored them as she found sexting Alexander much more appealing right now.
"Me, insecure? Never." Elijah replied sounding much more like himself rather than the broody man who's parents were giving him a constant headache.
"I merely enjoy my wife's praise." He smirked
Good lord... Will she ever get over his accent?
It had always been such a turn on.
"Hmm.." Kat regarded him quizzically "later in bed, i'll praise you till your hair stands on end."
"Only my hair?" He smirked
"And anything else you can think of." She winked
"Oh.. i'll think of something." He shot back before pulling her against him and captured her lips with his. Bot forgettingly unaware of the blonde Mikealson in the room
"Euw! Get a room." Rebekah scoffed
"We're. in. it." Katherine shot back looking rather annoyed with her interruption. In fact, why was Rebekah still here?
"Well.. stop." she sounded much less stern and left so that she could get done as well.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?"
"For the last time Kol, i'm okay. I'm more than okay.. I'm great." Caroline smiled
They sat for a little while outside the house, Caroline trying to calm herself from the relief tears that took over her a second ago, she didnt want to look like a crazy when she went inside and saw Klaus.
"But this is Nik we're talking about.."
"Manipulative mother, abusive father.. and under all that anger, mistrust and cruelty; there was a goodness in him. And no matter how much i tried.. I cant pretend that it isn't there" Caroline sighed
"Okay.." Kol didn't sound convinced but knew arguing with her would get him nowhere. "Do you want me to pick you up before we drive through to Lena's?"
"Nope. You go and get Bonnie, i'll meet you guys there." She kissed him quickly on the cheek before bracing herself for the confrontation she waited 8 months for.
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Klaus was just about to open his bedroom door to make sure the coast was clear when in shock he accidentally pulled the door back knocking his head with it in the process.
There behind his door stood none other than Caroline Forbes, glowing and more beautiful than ever.
She smiled shyly at him at first but frowned at his sudden surprise to see her, did he forget that she still lived here? Well technically she was moving out, but still.
"What happened?" She giggled as Klaus rubbed his head from the impact of the door
That was going to leave a mark indeed.
He had the door in his hold nearly closing it but pushing his head out through the little gap that remained almost as if to block her view from his bedroom.
"Nothing. Hi." He smiled at her
"Hi" She smiled back well it was more of a grin than anything
"Can I come in? I need to talk-"
"No!, i mean no.. This is my room.. Why don't we go to your room instead?" He startled her
"What?" Caroline was very confused. Okay Klaus was acting really really weird.
"Yes.. My room is very dirty. You want to talk? Lets talk in your room."
The weirdness soon turned to downright suspicion. The way he acted was almost as if he were hiding something she thought.
"Klau-"
"Klaus is that your roommate?"
Klaus paled staring straight at Caroline
Without a hint of an emotion on her face she pushed the door open shoving him back in the process
"Oh hi, You must be Klaus's roommate. I'm Stella and I was just leaving." She stated as she buttoned-up her blouse riding them of the view of her plump breast.
All the hope, all the expectations she had for the outcomes of coming to speak to him just flew right out the window.
How could she have been this stupid?
"Love, it's not-"
"I'd never thought I'd ever say this to you," Caroline turned to face him. She tried to act strong right now but the hurt was just too much and she really did not care how weak she seemed in front of him or Stella
"Thank you for not loving me."
"Thank you for not marrying me."
"Thank you for everything." she stuttered and allowed her tears to fall freely as she stormed out the room.
Klaus followed her out trying to explain but she refused to turn and walked right out the house.
He had not once but twice lost the love of his life.
The immense amount of guilt he felt at that point couldn't even be put into words.
"What have I done?" He muttered lowly as he lowered himself to sit on the bed.
"Oh i'll tell you what you've done" Stella scoffed pulling up her hair into a messy bun "You've done nothing."
"What?"
"Is this any way to treat a girl?" She frowned at him hand on her hip "You buy me drinks, get me drunk, we come back to your place and what do you do?"
"What did I do?" He frowned. He was sincerely interested since he couldn't remember much from last night
"Nothing! That's just it. Nothing. You didn't kiss me, you didn't touch me. Did I come here to hear your stories no-" She ranted on and on
"What stories?"
"Who's this Caroline chick? All night you kept crying telling me how much you love Caroline." She rolled her eyes."Well if you love Caroline so much, why did you waste my time." Stella added
"I- I didn't do anything..?" Klaus muttered lowly. Realization slowly but surely edging it's way in
"Not to me you didn't." She replied
"I didn't do anything!" He exclaimed loudly, a wave of relief washing over him "Yes, I knew it. I didn't do anything!"
After his little happy fist pump in the air was over he frowned realizing that even though now he knew he was innocent, it didn't help his situation; for Caroline had already left.
He had to find her.
He had to explain.
Grabbing a hoodie from the closet he turned to see Stella looking at him expectantly.
"What the hell are you still doing around here? Get out of my house." Klaus scoffed
"Will you hurry the hell up? Elijah's been waiting in the car for a straight hour." Katherine groaned shoving Rebekah's bedroom door open rather displeased to find that Rebekah was not ready yet. Hell, she was only standing in her underwear in heels seeming deep in thought. This would not be the first time Katherine has walked in on her in her undies only this time she was highly annoyed
"Oh my god. How are you not even dressed yet?!"
"I don't have anything to wear.." She whined
"You're seriously going to say that to me now standing in a closet full of designer clothes."
"I want something that says.. elegant but at the same time incredibly slutty and available." Rebekah ran a hand through her blonde curls "In fact, i'm not all that bothered about elegant.." she added in her rich British accent
"Rebekah.." Katherine warned
"I can't help it. Alexander has seen me in all of my good ones.." Rebekah pouted "Although that Givenchy number that Elijah bought you last week.. I noticed it still had a tag on and-"
"Alexander is going to be there? Do your brothers know?" Katherine paused before she added roughly "What the hell were you even doing in my closet?"
"Oh so Care, Bonnie and Elena get free range but your not own sister-in-law?" Rebekah scoffed
Katherine sighed loudly. Her patience was running thin with these darn Mikealsons..
"Fine."
Rebekah smirked. Victory in scoring that dress and she knew for a fact Katherine would not want it back after a raunchy night of sex in it.
"You should probably give it to me you know.." She trailed off "Since Alexander's going to be there, the night'll probably end in hot raunchy steamy sex" Rebekah smirked slipping into the dress "Orgasms release endorphin's.. Endorphin's kill pain, and after the visit from Mikeal, well.."
"You honestly believe that you'll be getting any tonight after his met your brothers?" Katherine snorted
"Good luck with that"
"So what have you been doing? You're way to ambitious to be wasting all this action on sick people"
"Honestly, I wish I had something more interesting to tell you guys but I've just been working and studying. None stop." Stefan sighed.
All the guys and girls were over for the little dinner Elena planned, after Stefan wrote his finals and finished his practical she wanted to treat her guy. Given all the stress he'd been under and even having to deal with her sad case of the baby fever; she felt really bad.
"So how's about that double date now that me and Bonnie are official." Kol smirked causing both Stefan and Elijah to laugh
"That's two things I never thought I'd hear you say Kol.. 'Double date' and 'official." Elijah said
"Na ah Kol you've lost the double dating privilege when you infected my phone with sex app's." Stefan sighed taking another mouthful of beer
"Do you know what I had to go through to get that app on your phone? You could have been living the dream for the both of us since Bonnie never lets me have those apps" He sulked
"And what makes you think Elena would give her blessing?"
You know there's quite an interesting article I came across yesterday." Kol stated fingering his chin seeming deep in thought
"Let me guess.. About sex app's?"
"No Elijah," Kol sighed "You know you can be really dirty sometimes."
Elijah shook his head deciding he had enough of Kol's antics and went off to find his wife and another beer. It was the first time they left Emily with Greta and he felt really anxious all the time. He needed to find Kat so she could be anxious with him.
"So according to this article, most of the bars on the east side of New Orleans are filled with hookers.."
Stefan tried to suppress his grin so he sighed instead placing a hand on Kol's shoulder. "You know what I love about you?"
"My incredibly handsome face and charming wit?"
"The fact that you literally believe every single thing that you read." Stefan stated
"I do not."
"Yes you do."
"I don't."
"You do. It's like you're nine years old."
"Dinner's ready!" Elena called out as everyone started moving towards their seats
"Roast.. Yummy!" Kol grinned
"It's weird that Care isn't here yet."
"Hmm -don't- worry-.. she's with Nik." Kol stated between mouthfuls of food
Everyone stared at him as if he had said something foreign
"What?" he frowned
Had it really been that long that the mere thought of Nik and Caroline together shocked the socks off everyone?
"Well wheres Niklaus then?"
"Oh I wouldn't worry.. If you ask me I don't think they'll be in attendance tonight.. They have a lot of making up to do." He stated wiggling his eyebrows suggestively
"Not at the dinner table Kol!"
Elijah was quite pleased with the latest turn of events and found himself in higher spirits since leaving Emily with Greta this afternoon.
He was almost certain that things would take a turn for the better. Yes, it would take sometime to mend the broken fences, but with his brother's newly found attitude towards Caroline and the children; he knew it would work out.
"So Alexander. What makes you think you're worthy of my sister.." Elijah stated getting straight down to the goods
"Watch it!" Klaus yelled at an on going pedestrian as he sped down the roads of New Orleans desperately looking for a pregnant blonde
Yanking his phone from the console he opted to call Kol. She had been with him this morning he was almost sure he heard them yapping about it a week before.
"You've just missed the good stuff Nik, Elijah-"
"Is Caroline with you?" Klaus interjected before Kol started with his antics.
"I thought she was with you?"
"Forget it. I'll try Katherine's." Klaus stated about to put the phone down when Kol interrupted him
"She won't be there. Everyone's here at Elena's for the dinner.. Nik whats going o-"
Ending the call rather quickly, Klaus didn't seem to have much time to explain. Nor did he express the need to explain himself to anyone besides Caroline.
"Where are you Caroline?" He sighed
After driving down Bourbon street for what seemed like the 4th time, he opted for the last resource. Unwilling but desperate; he dialed the number
"Hello?"
"Enzo? Klaus here."
"What do you want?"
"Is Caroline with you?"
"Why should I tell you?"
"Look man i know I screwed up.. I just-"
"She loves you and all you ever did was hurt her." Enzo growled
"I know I know.." Klaus sighed "Look i'm sorry.. I'm screwed up man, sometimes I get so stupid.."
"And I misjudged you as well. I'm sorry mate" Klaus added
Enzo took his time to think over Klaus's words, as if deeming them worthy enough of Caroline. He could hear the desperation in Klaus's voice and despite all that's happened, Enzo knew that Caroline still loved Klaus, even if he was an idiot.
What kind of friend would he be to stand in the way of one of his closest friend's happiness?
Enzo sighed "It's okay man, just don't ever hurt her again"
"I won't. I give you my word."
"I get it. But Caroline's not with me, I don't know where she is.."
"Then why the bloody hell are you lecturing me fo-" Klaus sighed trying to calm himself "Look its fine. Hey, and congrats for you and Maggie."
"Thanks.." Enzo smirked before he ended the call.
"See Caroline? I can be a nice man.. Where are you love," He sighed
He was getting fed up with seeing the same streets over and over and coming up with nothing. In usual cases whenever they'd argue, she'd leave to Kat's or Bonnie's. But since everyone was over at Elena's, well that didn't help his case much.
Klaus continued to drive down the busy roads of New Orleans and allowed his thoughts to consume him for the first time that day..
He had lost something.
In fact he had lost the most beautiful thing in the world.
After showing her dreams of happiness, he'd only caused her sorrow.
He was so so sorry..
He just wanted her back. Not because she needed him, he knew that she did not... But because he needed her, He was all alone without her; incomplete.
Klaus knew he could be better. He knew it.
He would be her best friend, the best husband and the best father to their babies.
And if by some miracle, his mind went in overdrive thinking about a place he knew she could be.
It was a long shot, but he was a desperate man, and if their love was as true as it was to her all this time, he'd have no doubt that he would find her there.
He took a sharp intake of breath before making an illegal U-turn.
"I'm coming Caroline.."
"I'm worried Bonnie."
"How'd she seem when you left her?" Bonnie frowned placing her hand on Kol's
After the phone-call Kol received at dinner, Bonnie knew that something was up so she followed him out to the balcony, away from prying ears..
"She was fine.. more than fine in fact, after the results from Nik's blood test she was thrilled. She seemed so eager to see him; I don't understand..." He sighed
"Maybe she changed her mind.. Maybe she realized that things could never be the same between them again."
"But then why would Nik be calling me looking for her, and why did he sound so frustrated.." Kol stated
"Have you tried calling Caroline?"
"Straight to voice mail..."
Bonnie could see that he was worried and Kol being well.. Kol; sometimes he worked himself up and it usually were for nothing significantly important at all. "Hey.." She cooed wrapping her arms around his waist "This is Caroline we're talking about, if you ask me she's probably back at her new place unpacking the rest of her things."
"Yeah.. you're probably right." Kol smiled. He wasn't
entirely convinced but it seemed to calm him down somewhat.
"Lets go back inside.. I was beginning to enjoy watching you and Elijah make Bekah's new boo squirm." Bonnie grinned sheepishly
"I love how my ways have rubbed off on you." Kol smirked
He was right.
He couldn't believe it.
There by the docks along the pier stood Caroline... a very pregnant looking Caroline.
Her back was towards him as he slowly made his way over to where she stood facing the bay.
"Caroline.."
She turned around, a little startled to see him there to be honest "How'd you find me?" She muttered
Klaus died a thousand deaths just by how defeated she sounded, how much she was crying. It was never something he could bare.
"A hunch.. I brought you here once remember?" He responded sounding hesitant. He was sure she was in no state of mind for a trip down memory lane. Because said trip was mostly filled with pain and heartache.. mostly his fault too.
"Leave." Her words stung as painfully as her glare.
"Please Caroline, just hear me out.." He sounded tired, destitute even.
Her eyes were brimming and already swollen to a point where she didn't even know if she had any tears left to cry. She didn't speak.. What could she have possibly said in that moment that she had already been saying for the past 8 months?
Klaus looked at her, her face etched in grief and exhaustion to the point where she just gave up in trying to get him to leave, because she knew he would not.
No words, no apology and no act of valor could make up for the past 8 months, that's what he knew at most.
She looked at him expectantly as he struggled to find the right words.
"I'm no good at this alright? I don't know how to explain what I feel because you terrify me to a point that I can't think straight. The only thing that scares me more than the thought of being with you is the thought of being without you." He sighed
"Why?"
"Because you could hurt me so easily.. Because I can't imagine you ever feeling something this huge for me." He cupped her face in his trembling hands and stared into her eyes, willing her to understand, because he could not.. would not be able to bear loosing her again.
"What you saw this morning.. love I swear to you, nothing happened. I wouldnt touch her because she wasnt you.
"I want you so much. I'll take what you give, if you'll just let me be a part of your lives." He sighed
Caroline clutched the front of his shirt as if she wanted to shake him, but clung instead.
"I love you so much that it's eating me up inside.. I've been dying of love for you for months. Do you have any idea what it's been like, feeling this way, wanting you so desperately and having to live with the fact that you wanted nothing to do with me at all?" The words and the tears were like knives to his heart. He gathered her in his arms, cradling her head on his shoulder
"I love you so much I hate you, everyday you've hurt me more than anyone ever has." She added softly
"I'm so sorry Caroline. Don't cry sweetheart.." He kissed her forehead, her eyelids, her cheeks and her chin. "Forgive me.."
Caroline could not respond let alone from a coherent thought
"Hate me all you want but please.. Don't stop loving me." Klaus stated in a broken voice before his mouth settled over hers and he poured everything he had into the kiss. Praying for forgiveness, praying that she'd love him enough to forgive him
"Is it too late?" He pulled back breathlessly
She shook her head. " I don't know." she answered truthfully "Maybe.. It's just not that easy."
His eyes stayed on hers and for the first time in all of this she could really see his pain, the desperation behind his eyes.
She felt a stab of frustration. As if all the pent up anger and hurt had been building up to this mere moment. Caroline pushed away from his warm embrace, she felt the need for space was vital since she couldn't think straight with his arms wrapped around her.
"It's about you and what you've done. For God's sake Klaus, don't you understand that? Don't you have any sense of how much you've hurt me.. what I've been through these past 8 months? I can't just pretend none of it happened. We can just go back to the way we were before almost as if we pretended that there were a time when you didn't want them.. you didn't want us." She stated
"It doesn't come all right again just because you decided otherwise.. You've done a lot of harm Klaus, not only to me and your family, but to our relationship. And frankly, I don't know if it can be repaired."
He looked almost as though he'd been struck, though he surely couldn't have imagined she'd responded any other way.
"I understand how you feel" He started " And I only wish I could explain what happened, why I did what I did. So we could at least try to work things out." Klaus ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "I've spent a lot of time thinking these last few weeks.. asking myself questions, trying to find answers but all I can tell you is this; It was like an aberration, a compulsion, a need to break out.. not just from you and the babies, but from everything. Maybe it all stemmed from my dark childhood.. The guilt and impotence I felt over Henrik's death." He swallowed
"I hated myself for that. You know I did- no listen please.." He said as she started to turn away.
"I know how weak that all sounds and that it doesn't even begin to excuse what I did.. what the hell else was going on in my head.. I don't know Caroline. I was afraid I'd fail you and the children. I was afraid that I'd turn into Mikeal.." He sighed
"But I know now that it will never happen." He stated firmly
"I would never do to my children what was done to me." He added subconsciously placing a hand on her swollen bump
"Why are you doing this Nik.." She sounded hopeless
And he knew he was slowly breaking through.. He knew she loved him and maybe not now but in time she could forgive him.. For the first time in what felt like forever, she called him Nik.
"Because 10 years from now, when I wake up all alone and ask myself; why I didn't give Nik and Caroline a chance, I'll have only one answer.. That i'm the biggest idiot in the world. And I don't want to be the biggest idiot in the world." He sighed
"I love you Caroline, not because of who you are.. but who i am when i'm with you." He smiled faintly "People can change Caroline. We're living proof of that.." He added
"You'd never pictured yourself having a baby and now you do. I never wanted to get married and now.." He trailed off pulling a velvet box from his back pocket and readied himself on one knee in front of her
She gasped blinking her tears away to make way for new ones
"Caroline. I love you so so much. Please say you'll marry me."
She gasped
"I don't know if you'll ever be able to forgive me.." He started
"Nik"
"But if you cant right now, then I plan on spending the rest of my life making it up to you."
"Nik!"
"What?"
"I think my water just broke."
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