Chapter 50
Pills were pressed into her hands.
No words were spoken, but the rising tensions in the room spoke for them. The blonde sitting against plush pillows in her enormous bed stared down at the pills her doctor had sent her home with. Immediately after returning from the hospital she had felt the need to have a heart to heart with Damon.
Klaus was not pleased.
A glass of water was pressed into her other hand. "Drink." Her fiancée said roughly as if it pained him to speak. Blue eyes watched her like a hawk as she pressed her hand against her mouth before pressing the glass against her lips, beginning to drink. Once she felt the pills slide down her throat safely, Caroline lifted the glass from her mouth.
Her own blue eyes watched as Niklaus's shoulders eased slightly, signaling that his alter-ego, the scary Klaus Mikaelson was no longer at the forefront. Her fingers lifted as if wanting to reach out to him. He must have noticed because his hand suddenly had encased hers.
"You're supposed to be on bed rest." His voice was rough, keeping his anger out of his voice harder than Caroline could imagine someone so prone to anger.
"Damon needed to be dealt with and your way hasn't proven fruitful," Caroline countered her free hand caressing the hand on top of her own. "He is a lot like you. Not many quality traits but everyone can respect his love of family."
Niklaus scoffed, "If the stories are to be believed. He's been tormenting his younger brother for years."
Caroline raised a brow, "Pot meets kettle."
"My siblings need a strong hand," Niklaus dismissed the comparison. "I've never once blamed my siblings for my immortality. Especially after willingly drinking from a vampire, even if he tried not to complete the transition if not for Stefan's actions."
"I'm not condoning Damon. He is a criminal that has hurt who knows how many women. I don't hate him and I know that unless we can bring the Salvatore's together all the stupid things that I went through will happen again." Caroline guessed. "I mean it always follows them and Elena. Their love triangle needs to be cut permanently."
Niklaus's hand cupped her face, gently bringing her gaze to meet his, "And does this need mean you go against Doctor's orders when you know you need rest?"
"You are incapable of reaching him. I thought I could. I know I did. You didn't see his face, the knowledge of getting the girl and losing his brother is enough to kill him."
Caroline felt her eyes close as his forehead pressed against hers. His breathing rough and deep as he tries not to allow his temper to control him. She knows how hard this is, watching her tormented lover holding back the emotions that come so easily to him broke some of her ice. Her arms wrapped around his waist, as he sat beside her on the bed.
"I didn't mean to worry you." She whispered. Lips were pressed against her neck as she was lowered to the bed with her lover on top of her. He pressed kissing onto her skin, along her neck and down her shoulders.
"You belong to me." Niklaus said roughly. "Mine to protect, to fuck, to provide for. You are mine."
Caroline wrapped her arms around his neck, locking his head above hers in fear of hurting her. "Nik, what am I missing?"
"You are mine." Niklaus growled, pressing a rough kiss to her lips, a moan escaping both of them. Their lives having been so busy with trying to find ways to avoid some of the more damaging battles Caroline knew about, they rarely had alone time, especially in a house filled with vampires.
"Nik." Caroline called out softly breathless from the kiss.
"Wolves, what do you know about them?" He asked before once again pulling her into a deep kiss, his hips dipping between her legs. The feel of him against her reminded Caroline that she was wearing nothing but pajama shorts and a tank top. The question piqued Caroline's interest as Niklaus lip's traveled to kiss her collarbone.
"Pack animals," Caroline moaned. "Can be lone hunters but most often are in a pack."
Niklaus bit her neck softly making her moan, "Good girl. What else?" As he asked the question he pressed his length against her.
Caroline moaned, "Oh… Mating? Nik are you trying to tell me you have a wolfy bond thing with me?" Her gaze cleared up as she reluctantly sat up on her forearms looking at him. Caroline watched his eyes glow a soft amber, "Oh Nik…"
"You belong to me," Niklaus said softly. "My mate. Mine."
Caroline pressed the palm of her hands against each cheek, "My actions have been driving your wolf crazy. Haven't they?"
He pressed a kiss into her palm, "I know you are capable Caroline. It's why you are the perfect mate for me. The wolf still needs to protect you, especially now that you are with child."
Caroline pulled him into a kiss, opening her mouth as his tongue demanded entry. A strong arm wrapped around her waist pulling her against him so that his length pressed against her entrance. Moaning softly Caroline returned the kiss with just as much pressure.
"I'm so sorry," Caroline whispered. "I didn't understand it was the wolf. I thought-"
"You thought I didn't want you a part of it anymore?" Niklaus chuckled as his hands lingered on the waistband of her shorts. "Sweetheart, you are the brains of our empire. The wolf just needs to ensure your safety even at the cost of your pretty pride."
Caroline gave him a glare, as he pressed a kiss to her lips. "The wolf sees you are with child and all he sees are threats to your well-being. I can't lose you."
Caroline's ire weakened as she lifted her hips allowing his fingers to drag her shorts towards her feet. "I've missed you." She whispered.
"Then let me show you how much I've missed you." Niklaus's eyes sparkled in amber, Caroline shivered as she nodded knowing that the wolf was at the helm. She squealed as her feet were tugged on, pulling her towards the edge of the bed.
"N-Nik!"
XXX
The streets of New Orleans were never quiet, it was a city filled with lively nights and colorful days filled with culture and magic. It was the first thing Josh had noticed about the city upon entering it. New Orleans had a life of its own. Joshua Rosza hadn't been a vampire for very long, a few months at most. He should be preparing for his second year of finals. Instead, he was trapped in a city making up for numbers lost.
If he wasn't afraid of what he could do to his family, Josh would have already left. That and a severe lack of a way to walk in sunlight without burning.
"We just had to go to New Orleans." Josh muttered to himself.
"Shut up. If we miss something because of your jabbering it's your head Marcel will take off." His partner grunted.
Josh and his best friend had been on break celebrating with the city, when they noticed a flier. A part of him wished that they had never attended that stupid party. His best friend would still be alive and he would be human. Now here he was partnered with an idiot nightwalker, well Josh considered him an idiot with the amount of ass kissing he does. This was his second night watch, rumors had spread like wildfire about Marcel's alliance with the new vampires in town.
The originals.
"Yeah, yeah." Josh sighed, wishing not for the first time that he could get his hands on one of those daylight rings.
Then maybe he wouldn't be stuck following the orders of a so-called king. For being so old he sure forgot that he lived in a country that fought not to be under the rule of a king. Being a vampire wasn't all bad, as Josh first assumed. Many of the vampire's he had met under Marcel's authority were fucking hot.
"Can't believe we are stuck doing patrols on the orders of the fucking Mikaelsons." His partner spat.
Josh had heard rumors about them. They were the boogeymen of the supernatural community. He even overheard from one of the few day-walkers of a human amongst them, and two witches. There were even rumors of two sets of doppelgangers running around in the old plantation. Josh knew about rumor mills, the hard part was sussing out the truth.
"Let's split up," The other vampire said. "We'll be able to finish our block quicker."
Josh shrugged heading into the direction the other man had pointed. Anything to get the job done quicker and if it had the added bonus of getting Josh away from the man? Sign him up! The newborn vampire was walking along the edges of the city when he noticed a car entering the city. Nothing out of the ordinary, the city barely slept after all.
It had an Oregon license plate. Josh frowned, they didn't get that many cross country trips. He saw no u-haul, or moving van. Deciding to follow from behind, he waited until the car pulled to a stop at a small motel at the edge of the city. Crouching down behind another car, the vampire sat and watched.
Soon Josh spotted a dark-haired woman getting out of the passenger side, "Olivia, are you absolutely sure the doppelganger is here?"
Moments later a teenager came out from the driver's seat. 'Was she even old enough to drive?' Josh couldn't help but wonder. The younger woman was blonde, and just on the shorter side, "The locator spell indicated that this was where he went. Whoever has him is responsible for killing Hazel."
Josh felt his brows scrunch together, biting his lips as he listened in on the conversation. The dark-haired woman let out a sigh, "Why did Dad only send Hazel?"
"The surveillance footage revealed the doppelganger was fully entrenched within human society. He wasn't attracting supernatural attention, Jo." The other witch argued. Josh couldn't help but wonder what these out of town witches were doing here.
What did they want with a doppelganger? Josh's eyes widened realizing that the rumors about the doppelgangers were more truthful than he had realized.
"Now we have a wayward Doppelganger and the Traveler's heading right this way." Jo groaned. "What's next, Kai getting loose?"
"He's trapped in the prison world. Unless a strong enough witch gets entrapped with him, that is one thing we do not have to worry about." The teen reassured the older woman.
Jo smiled softly at the teen, "Come on Liv, let's get some sleep. We are going to have a long day tomorrow."
Josh waited until the two witches, at least Josh assumed they were witches, entered into the motel office to obtain a room. Using his enhanced abilities, Josh quickly climbed onto a nearby rooftop. Jumping rooftop to rooftop, Josh quickly made his way towards Marcel's home. He would need to know about this immediately.
A feeling of dread filled him. During his first weeks as a vampire he had been taught a rough history of the city, from its start as a backwater city into a supernatural haven. All thanks to Marcel, according to the story. Even as Josh listened he understood there were many things left unsaid. With the rumors and confirmation of the Mikaelson's return to the city, Josh understood that Marcel hadn't built the city the way he wanted everyone to believe.
The city was home to vampires and witches. Werewolves native to the land living on the outskirts, that Josh knew Marcel was responsible for. Doppelgangers were stuff of legends, much like the Original; known but for many never encountered. That was until now. Would it be safer to go straight to the originals? It was under their orders that they were even on these patrols, looking out for Travelers.
Josh arrived in the middle of the city, one way to the plantation Marcel had said housed the original family. He knew Marcel only told them in case of emergency, saying they all answered to him not the Mikaelsons. Marcel only told them to be on the look out for strangers, possible Traveler sightings.
Josh turned, his decision made.
XXX
Thanksgiving brought chaos into the plantation as Caroline's guests descended onto Niklaus's temporary home. It upset him that he still had not taken back his home but without the loyalty of the vampires, Marcel was needed. A small part of Klaus was actually amused at the way Marcel flexed his authority over the New Orleans vampires.
It was even funnier the way Marcel's lip curled into a sneer as he escorted Davina into the house. The young witch being the first on Caroline's guest list. His prodigy's sneer was caused by the presence of Hayley and her beau, werewolf royalty apparently according to his brother. Klaus rolled his eyes at that, but allowed the wolves to bow down to the she-wolf that was almost the mother of his child.
"Marcel, Davina I'm so happy you can join us!" Caroline greeted more joyfully than usual, if only for Davina's sake. "Davina, I hope you remember Hayley and Jackson?"
Davina nodded her head towards the werewolf couple, who despite looking a bit uncomfortable at being surrounded by vampires managed to smile at the young teenager. Caroline brought Davina under her arm and with a wink said, "I think I saw Freya and Bonnie working on some witchy project they won't let me near. Perhaps you can go see what they are up to?"
Niklaus knowing exactly what his little fiancée was up to, called out, "Take Kol with you. He'll get whinny if magic is happening, and he can't at least study it."
Davina beamed at the couple, before glancing over at Marcel who let out a tight smile. "Go on Davina. My Sire and I have much to talk about."
Both Davina and Caroline frowned, "No shop talk." they said in unison. Caroline laughed as Davina smiled at the way they spoke in unison before Davina went off to find Kol, Elijah pointing her towards the direction of his room.
"Are you sure that is a wise decision?" Marcel asked skeptically. Memories of his childhood were still vivid, Kol was not the most accepting of Mikaelson's especially if he felt his place was being taken.
"Kol adores Davina. You know they go to school together now." Caroline defended her future brother-in-law, enjoying the way Marcel's mouth ticked. Back in her previous life she had met this vampire a handful of times, and it still thoroughly amused her the similarities between him and her lover.
"Hayley, are you sure the pack won't come?" Caroline turned towards the she-wolf, done with tormenting Niklaus and Marcel for the time being. She had invited the entire pack, wishing for more unity between the factions. While conflict was inevitable, exposure was the best way to ensure each side could handle the other. She didn't want to raise her children in a war zone, and Niklaus was dead set on capturing New Orleans.
"They respectfully declined. We will join them for a larger supper later tonight." Jackson responded instead, as Hayley replied, "I won't ask them to come where they feel uncomfortable."
The two wolves stared at each other, Caroline deflated slightly, not truly upset with Hayley. Caroline did remember the way she knocked her out by snapping her neck once. If there was one thing Hayley was, it was loyal, and the blonde could at the very least respect she found people she would not betray.
Niklaus clapped his hand on her shoulder as Elijah coughed into his hand, "Caroline, I know you are busy with dinner. Why don't Niklaus and I take it from here?"
Niklaus pressed a kiss to her forehead, "I hear Rebekah in the kitchen, love. You don't want to force our guests to endure her cooking?"
"FUCK YOU, NIK!" Could be heard from the kitchen, as laughter echoed from various parts of the house alerting the blonde that every vampire had indeed heard that.
Soon Caroline was safely tucked into the kitchen where Rebekah could manage to keep all damage to a minimum. Not that his little former vampire couldn't handle herself in the kitchen, but rather to prevent her from overworking herself…again.
"Klaus, are you sure you want to proceed without the permission of the Mrs ?" Marcel taunted, his grin knowing that his words would make Klaus want to retaliate. Only he had promised Caroline in bed this morning, she had tantalizingly made him promise absolutely no blood baths during Thanksgiving.
"Our informant will be here any day with the Traveler's. I just want to make sure all factions are prepared to do their part." Klaus said stiffly.
Thankfully Elijah soon stepped forward, "The witches have informed me that they will lend their power to the spell."
"How can you trust the witches? You gave them what they wanted already." Marcel scoffed.
"Caroline and one of their own are still tied. Freya and Bonnie have a way to undo it by force if necessary. Their power tends to depend on numbers, Ancestral witches are rarely that strong." Elijah smirked. "Well with the exception of Davina's family according to Kol."
Hayley rolled her eyes, sharing an amused smile with Jackson, her smile widening a bit as the werewolf grabbed her hand softly. "The wolves agreed to help patrol the city, with your signal we will begin closing in."
Marcel gritted his teeth, "My vampires will as well."
"Good," Elijah nodded, "Satisfied brother?"
Niklaus shared a dark grin with his brother, "Now you know the answer to that." Before anyone could say anything more or question the absence of the eldest Mikaelson sibling the front door was kicked open. The supernatural creatures could hear Caroline ask about the noise as the group subconsciously stood together against the intruder. Temporarily agreeing to a truce in order to fight the intruder in together.
"Hey! Let me go!" An unknown vampire yelped from under Finn's arm. Sage stood by his side, arms crossed and looking rather bored. The couple turned to the group, as the tensions eased as the intruder was identified.
"What's the meaning of this brother?" Niklaus asked. Marcel let out a growl stepping forward towards Finn only to be stopped by Sage. The redhead stood between Marcel and Finn with a snarl.
"Why does your brother have one of my vampires in a headlock?" Marcel hissed, eyes narrowing at the redhead who stood in his way.
Finn looked down at the vampire, "He came to us in the middle of the night. He has an interesting story I thought my family would like to hear."
Niklaus looked at the vampire Finn finally dumped onto the floor. He looked no older than Caroline, maybe a year or two older. "What's your name?"
"Josh. Joshua Rosza."
XXX
Being the eccentric city that was New Orleans, the place was not even quiet on a major holiday such as Thanksgiving. Sophie Deveraux had checked in on Monique, ensuring that she was okay to be left alone for an hour while their food was cooking. Seeing her niece nod absent mindedly as she bent her head back down over her phone.
Sophie did her best to refrain from rolling her eyes. Locking the door with magic, Sophie made her way towards her place of employment knowing that Camille would be working on the holiday. As a bartender the woman typically worked night shifts as she finished her graduate courses.
During the holidays Camille often took extra shifts as a waitress, while her uncle was busy with the Thanksgiving food drive. Camille was easy to spot behind the bar, clearly more waiter than bartender at the moment as the restaurant was filled more with small groups of friends and families that didn't wish to labor over their meal.
"Camille." She called out softly. Ever since the young woman had returned to town she had been just a bit colder. The blonde who used to roll her eyes at Marcel's antics ignored the vampire, despite his increased attention.
"How's Monique?" Camille asked with an inquisitive look. "I mean it must be tough coming back from the dead." Sophie's stomach dropped, she tried so very hard to explain the girl's absence knowing that they would be back once the Harvest was complete.
"Camille-" Sophie tried again, only to be cut off as the blonde shushed her quietly.
"Not here," Camille said, instructing the witch to follow along. The witch followed the Bartender past the kitchens, slipping into a break room, "You knew about Marcel."
Sophie flinched at the accusation. The life of a witch, especially a French Quarter witch, was a life in constant warfare with the vampires, all the while understanding the need to keep humans unaware of the feud. She fidgeted slightly, "There are rules. Humans are not supposed to know about the supernatural world. How the hell did you find out about the Harvest?"
Camille shook her head letting out an agitated sigh, locking the break room although no one was scheduled to go on break for a while, "Turns out Klaus Mikaelson sent me to Denver to watch out for Elena Gilbert, the doppelganger. I only found out I was being compelled because Elena told me, it must have been a compulsion loophole or something because I was able to realize what I was doing."
"The doppelganger didn't know about the Harvest." Sophie said. "How did you find out?"
"Marcel told me in an effort to try and win back my trust. He explained that the Mikaelson's had originally built the city, but an attack made them leave while he stayed behind. He spent centuries rebuilding the city to be a safe haven for vampires, thus explaining his dislike of witches and how furious he was at what you did to young girls like Monique and Davina Claire." Camille looked confused as she spoke.
"How could you let that happen to your niece?"
"I didn't believe in the harvest!" Sophie snapped. "Once I saw what the harvest had done, I had to believe in it. Marcel was suffocating us; we are supernatural too Camille. We're humans with magic, that will always make us different. He was killing us whenever he spotted magic, then he got Davina on his side because of the Harvest. I had to bring in the Mikaelson's."
"Wait… you brought them here?" Camilla questioned, her mind twirling over the possibilities. "You wanted them to destroy each other."
"The originals are the only vampires on earth older than Marcel, aside from a few sires. The only vampires that would put Marcel on edge are Klaus and his siblings. I didn't know that they would use you as a pawn. That's why I'm here! A war is coming to New Orleans."
"One you started!"
Sophie shook her head, "No. The Mikaelson's found out about my involvement. I… I tied my life force to their human ally, the blonde?"
"You tied yourself to Caroline?" Camille gaped, questioning how on earth she had no idea about all the secrets that her supposed friends were telling. She already knew New Orleans was shady, Camille was now suspicious that her brother's death was supernaturally related.
"It's a safeguard so that they don't kill me. They've made a deal with my coven and now it's time we pay our due. I need to make sure you stay safe Camille."
"You want me to leave?"
"Only for a few days. I know you're still searching." Sophie felt a pang in her chest at not fully disclosing the truth to Camille.
"Fine. I'll try to talk to my uncle about leaving for a few days. On one condition." Camille looked over at her friend/ co-worker.
"What condition?" Sophie asked warily.
"Help me investigate my brother's murder."
Sophie bit her lip, "Cam… There's something I think I need to tell you. It's about your uncle."
"What about him?" Camille asked defensively. Her uncle had devoted his entire life and always tried to lend a helping hand eventually making him something of a name within the French Quarter. Her brother wanted to follow in his footsteps after everything he had done for them, at least until they say he went mad. But Camille knew her brother, deep in her gut she knew something strange happened. He would never have done what he did on his own.
"He's the leader of the human faction. He's a member of the community allowed to be in the know about Vampires, Werewolves and Witches," Sophie let out a deep breath, "All I know is that a few of my coven members were angry when he tried to interfere with the ritual."
Camile really looked at Sophie, she closely watched as the witch stared back. All the future counselor could see was honesty. "You mean the harvest."
"All I know is that I heard murmurs amongst the witches. They weren't happy with his interference then the next thing I know your brother…" Sophie paused looking at Camille softly. "It's very possible one of the elders had something to do with it… if they were angry enough."
"Is your coven that cruel?" Camille asked after several minutes of silence.
"In order to get to be an elder… It requires sacrifice and a lot of power. Most of the elders can be cruel at the best of times."
XXX
"Darling, what's going on?" Caroline asked, walking out of the kitchen with Rebekah on her heels whispering in her ear. Freya, Bonnie, Davina and Kol were stopped in their tracks as they noticed the unusual quiet (that settled over) of the group.
Niklaus glanced over at his fiancée warily, knowing that her use of a pet name like that was not out of affection. Kol quietly stepped up beside his siblings, angling himself in front of the witches. Not so to block their magic but a way to stop an attack from coming their way while Rebekah stood slightly in front of Caroline.
"We have an uninvited guest." Finn offered the answer. "I found him heading this way overnight. It didn't take him too long to offer up an explanation. Marcel didn't train him as a spy."
"Of course he isn't a spy." Marcel rolled his eyes. "I needed to make up my numbers, what with your brother killing my men right when you lot entered town."
Caroline looked towards Niklaus with a 'I-told-you-so look' that only caused the vampire to wrap an arm around her kissing her forehead. The blonde turned towards the cowering vampire on the floor.
"What's your name?" She asked, glancing over at Davina vaguely aware that the witch had become friends with a vampire in New Orleans. What was his name again?
"Josh, Ma'am."
Caroline laughed, her cheerful voice echoing the hall, "Call me Caroline. Ma'am is for my mother. What did you come to tell us?"
The vampire looked towards Marcel who reluctantly waved him on, the tension around his jaw alerting Davina that this Josh clearly wasn't meant to alert the Mikaelson's but Marcel himself. Davina fidgeted, obtaining the attention of Kol who looked back giving her a soft smile. Davina didn't know how she felt about Marcel at the moment, sometimes she saw the vampire New Orleans had feared.
But the first time she had met him, beyond just the rumors amongst the witches was at the Harvest. Where he had saved her, bringing her to a place where she could be safe, even if it meant locking her up. She was both grateful and irritated at the man for the way he protected her. Grateful that he kept the witches at bay, so grateful she was willing to observe magic in town and alert him to anything that happened.
She felt it was just punishment for trying to murder teenage girls for more power.
Then there were times where she saw the powerful vampire underneath, the one who killed without hesitation. He never hurt kids, that was the one rule Davina had learned he had. So standing in the room where the oldest family of vampires stood, having helped her where Marcel was unable or unwilling especially if it meant she left the safe room he created, made Davina feel torn. Looking at the young vampire she could tell that he was torn too.
"Marcel's been having his night-walkers patrol the city. We were told to be on the lookout for newcomers in large numbers. Last night I found a single car with an Oregon license plate."
"You're sure it was Oregon?" Caroline asked urgently. Her blue eyes were wide and the vampires could hear her heart pound. Niklaus wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her against his chest, a low growl erupting from his chest.
"Care?" Bonnie called out to her friend, sharing a look with her fellow witches. "Is this something connected to you know?"
Davina and Freya did not know exactly what the 'you know' was but the blonde's confirmative nod seemed to put the Mikaelson's on edge.
"Two people exited the vehicle. I was able to overhear their names Jo and Liv. They were talking about looking for the doppelgangers and the death of someone named Hazel. It seemed like something you should know." Josh smiled weakly at the end.
Sage rolled her eyes, "We managed to take a look at the motel he spotted them in. The car was gone, I went in and found out they still have a room there. They must be looking for one of the doppelgangers, I'm assuming Pretty Boy Version 2.0?"
Caroline nodded, "Yeah, they've been able to keep an eye on the Salvatore doppelganger's for years. It appears that due to Katherine's death and Nadia's relatives' invisibility as her daughter the Gemini Coven lost them five hundred years ago."
"Josh, was it?" Elijah said. "Thank you for your intel. You've proven yourself very valuable. You will be rewarded for your efforts."
Freya looked towards her brothers and with a knowing look said, "I assume you wish for a daylight ring?"
Josh's smile was blinding, "A daylight ring? Really? Awesome!" making Davina stifle a giggle which caused the young vampire blush.
Noticing the exchange, Kol frowned but refrained from saying anything. Mostly due to being afraid of Caroline, who was smiling and actually not yelling at anyone. Ever since she had been put on bedrest and being hand fed her medicine by Klaus on a daily basis the blonde had been a right terror.
Bloody mood swings.
"You should stay for dinner." Caroline decided to clap her hands determinedly. Niklaus looked resigned, knowing that the blonde would make his night an absolute nightmare if she didn't get what she wanted.
"Oh. It's thanksgiving right…. I don't want to impose." Josh started to say when he started to sniff the air. "Is that the turkey?"
Caroline beamed, "You like it? Mom and I worked on it for hours, you'll meet her soon. She's resting now."
Josh smiled a toothy grin, "Smells awesome, nothing like back home. Mom definitely was not much of a cook."
Caroline noted the sad tone he had, "This is your first year isn't it? You are definitely staying especially because it is Niklaus's prodigy that did this to you."
Immediately both Marcel and Niklaus started to deny any responsibility.
"Marcel is not responsible. Nor is he my prodigy!"
"I'm not a part of this bloody family!"
Caroline crossed her arms with a smirk, "See Josh? Like father, like Son. Davina, Bonnie- let's show him around! Sage can you check on my mom? Make sure Katherine hasn't decided to dump all her clothes because they aren't ridiculously expensive."
XXX
A few hours later, Finn and Kol were ordered to shift a table closer to the exit as the wolves would be leaving early in order to appease their pack and still not offend Caroline. Something Hayley, as designated bodyguard, was learning was something she didn't want to deal with. The wolves sat on the edges, allowing for a quick escape.
Beside them on either side was Davina and Bonnie. While Kol immediately scooped the seat next to Davina, Josh was invited to sit beside the Bennett witch, much to Enzo's own chagrin. Enzo sat next to the new vampire, amused by the younger man's exuberance and awe of the feast before them. Across from Enzo was Elena sitting next to Tom as the Salvatore brothers were separated and sat on either side of Tom and Enzo respectively.
When Caroline had insisted their charges attend thanksgiving, Niklaus was furious. The only thing that stopped Niklaus from throwing a huge tantrum was Caroline's reminder to him that this would be the first Thanksgiving his family would celebrate and having those who lived with their own, even against their will, was necessary.
"I won't have Enzo, Katherine or Sage miss out because you are determined to remind Elena of your poor opinion of her." Caroline had snapped.
Hence, why next to Kol and Enzo sat the remaining Mikaelson clan with Niklaus and Caroline in the middle. Sage and Katherine next to their significant others. Caroline's mother was sandwiched between Freya and Rebekah across from her daughter. Rebekah had retrieved the turkey, glaring daggers at Caroline who tried to get up.
Easing back into her seat Caroline looked over at Niklaus with a questioning look on her face. Niklaus smirked, "Rebekah's always loved my dear are carrying the next generation, it's a wonder how I'm even allowed to be overprotective at all."
Caroline rolled her eyes, "You mean your insistence of watching me swallow my pills every morning?"
Liz chuckled, "I think you've gotten off lucky. Your father tried getting me to take all my vacation time plus my pregnancy leave. I think your father hoped I would just quit."
The Mikaelson siblings chuckled as Caroline's voice went an octave higher, "Daddy did what?"
Liz rolled her eyes, "As if I would allow that nonsense. He spent months on the couch for that."
"Man deserved it." Sage muttered to herself, earning an elbow from Finn. The redhead just smiled at her lover licking her lips causing the man to blush. She grinned wickedly, it really was fun to tease him. Rebekah quickly came back with the turkey, placing it in front of her brother and Caroline.
"Voilà! A Thanksgiving via General Caroline." Rebekah teasingly mocked, earning a cheeky tongue out the mouth from the blonde. Said blonde twitched her nose turning her head away as if angry but the small smile gave away the truth of her emotions. Davina and Josh giggled a little, making Davina beam at the older man.
"Are you excited for your daylight ring?" Davina asked as Kol got up from his seat as Niklaus picked up the carving knife. "Freya and Bonnie told me that was the next spell I'm set to work on, being surrounded by vampires kind of makes it a mandatory practice."
"Trust me," Bonnie interjected looking over at the two brothers with the large knife between their hands. "You'll want to know that particular spell. Caroline never forgave me for her first daylight ring."
Davina looked towards Caroline, "But you're human!"
The blonde was busy hissing at the two original vampires to put the damn knife down as Sage and Katherine cackled, their partners looking on calmly.
"Uh… shouldn't someone stop them?" Josh whispered to Davina as Kol pushed Niklaus into a wall and ducked as his elder brother reached to put him in a headlock.
Hayley snorted, "I thought our wolves were difficult to manage at the best of times. Caroline wasn't always human, Davina. When I met her she was a brand new shiny bubbly vampire." Jackson hit her with his elbow but the brunette just shook her head. "She was very bubbly, Jackson."
"Caroline has always had an outgoing personality," Liz smiled at her daughter reaching over the table to grab her hand raising a brow at the two wrestling brothers who were finally pulled apart by their elder siblings. "I think it's the reason Bonnie even learned to speak in public."
Bonnie blushed at the amused glance from Enzo, "Sheriff Forbes! I'm still trying to forget that!"
Kol was pushed back into his seat with a grin on his face that earned wary stares from all non-Mikaelson's at the table. "Now this I have to hear, love."
From her place at the table, gingerly moving her food around, Elena glanced up at Bonnie then towards Caroline. "How can the two of you be okay with this? Caroline you're sitting next to a murderer!"
Caroline snorted, "So are you. Or have you forgotten Damon and Stefan's history? Though I think Enzo and Kol will be harassing Bonnie about it for weeks to come about that incident." As Caroline finished her sentence Kol, Enzo and Niklaus dropped their heads in their hands with a large groan.
Turning towards the witches of the room, only Bonnie was grinning, "And Davina that is how you handle annoying vampires."
"Must you insert an anyusrm into my brain, little witch?" Niklaus growled.
"Say's the grown man who fought over carving the turkey." Rebekah shot back with a snort. Davina and Josh shared an amused look, while Enzo looked at Bonnie with puppy eyes while Kol whined about annoying Bennett witches.
"Do you want a repeat?" The witch threatened.
"Now that would have been a handy trick to have over the centuries." Niklaus muttered in Caroline's ear as his wildest sibling calmed down. Niklaus's hand swept up behind her neck massaging her neck as she elbowed him in the side.
"Except when it's used on you." Caroline smirked, handing him back the carving knife. "Now cut the damn meat. The babies are starving."
XXX
The wolves left after the first course, cordially leaving with a nod towards the eldest Mikaelsons. Caroline offered them a small smile as the duo left, whispering towards her fiancé. "I may not like Hayley, I mean who the hell flirts that much? But Jackson, that's a man of his word."
Niklaus pressed a kiss to her forehead, "Do I need to murder a wolf, love?" He chuckled at the harsh but relatively light slap against his shoulder.
"I'm marrying you, idiot."
"I would enjoy watching you try to leave my brother. The murder spree would be delightful." Kol laughed, his brown eyes glanced over towards the young witchling to see her frown.
"Kol, enough." Freya butted in. "You'll give our new witch friend the wrong idea."
"What idea is that exactly?" Rebekah spoke, twirling a piece of turkey on her fork. "She's surrounding and trusting herself around a family that's over a thousand years old with a history of vicious killing sprees? And that's actually a tame version of our family history."
"I figured that came with the territory." Davina muttered, momentarily forgetting that she was surrounded by beings that could hear a dime drop miles away.
"How did you figure it out?" Came the amused aristocratic voice of Elijah Mikaelson. Davina looked up from her plate to find the entire table looking at her. Caroline's mother, Liz Forbes and the vampire Enzo she thought his name was, looked at her with amused but understanding eyes. Josh looked scared for her based on the way his head kept glancing around.
"Little witch has teeth." Damon spoke for the first time that night. "Bonnie, you could learn a thing or two from her." As soon as he finished his sentence, he was gripping his head and moaning against the table.
"Davina you were saying?" Caroline continued the conversation sweetly, earning an amused chuckle from her fiancée. Her future siblings-in-law looked on at the moaning vampire with triumph in their eyes, as the Bennett witch patted her face with her napkin.
"Vicious witch." Enzo whispered his voice full of admiration for the beautiful witch. Bonnie blushed as those that surrounded the pair rolled their eyes.
"It's just vampires are not a new thing to witches. At least in New Orleans." Davina shrugged.
"We are taught from a young age about vampires, mostly what to watch out for and how to defend ourselves but no I'm not surprised in the least that Niklaus Mikaelson and his siblings are murder fluffs."
The women of the table leaned onto the it, laughter falling out of their lips. All except for Rebekah who crossed her arms and pouted, "Murder fluff?"
"I have to say, I like this Murder Fluffs title," Katherine looked thoughtful before she smirked over at Klaus. "It fits so well for the mutt of the family."
"Brother, please do tell me when you get bored of the peasant." Niklaus growled, as Katherine stuck her tongue out at the hybrid. Perhaps he was losing his touch? Those around him needed a reminder of just who he was.
The door opened before Katherine could open her mouth for a response, all the vampires turned towards the door. Liz was gently tugged behind her neighbor as Caroline was tugged behind Niklaus and the witches lined up with the vampires. Damon was released from his migraine and Tom had grabbed Elena pulling her back behind the supernatural creatures that surrounded them.
"Nadia," Katherine let out a sigh, opening her arms up to wrap her daughter in them. "You have returned."
"So it seems the battle is about to begin." Finn murmured loud enough for the room to hear. Elena looked on nervously, Liz noticing the young woman, walked up to the child she had known since she was born.
"Elena sweetheart, come here." Liz whispered, pulling the young woman into her arms. Elena clinged to the older woman, tucking her head in the other woman's neck. "Why are you so scared? You're human now."
"They will come after me, like always." Elena muttered quietly. "My blood…"
Liz frowned, turning towards her daughter, "Why wasn't I informed, Caroline?"
"Elena and Tom were kidnapped, Mom. They didn't exactly have time to tell us the situation." Caroline groaned, a pale hand reaching to push a stray hair behind her ear. "They brought Tom and Elena to New Orleans until we could deal with it. That's why she's been staying here but you know why she's been under guard."
"The travelers." Liz nodded, looking down at Elena with a knowing look. "I still don't understand why you would trust them, Elena."
"I thought if I could help them then I'd finally be free," Elena admitted. "Someone has been after me or my blood for years now. I couldn't handle being a vampire for god's sake! I need a normal life but my blood will mean someone is always coming after me."
"I should have seen this coming." Caroline whispered to herself, squeezing Niklaus's hand.
"You thought she was safe." Nik whispered in her ear.
"The travelers are people with many skills. They've had generations to plan but they want to destroy magic and allow it to start over," Nadia spoke softly. "As cursed witches, even if they deny the very connection, part of the way their magic works is to enhance some of their natural gifts. They cannot practice magic like Freya or Bonnie but I was born a Traveler and my Mother."
"The doppelganger bloodline popped up through the travelers which is why the bloodlines ended up in so many places. The travelers can never settle, those who break from the pack end up creating traveler bloodlines but the dilution must allow for some to settle into one place."
Katherine nodded, "Father was a traveler, part of the reason he could stay in one place was because of the lack of fellow travelers around. If they congregate, which is the main way they can practice magic, then the curse starts to pull. Elena comes from my bloodline and is the doppelganger, her blood would be potent even with its diluted traveler blood."
"Would I...would they have killed me?" Elena asked nervously.
"Without hesitation, the spell does not say how much blood is required," Nadia shook her head. "They most likely will try to get you and the other doppelganger alone, make a useless deal."
"But all I'd ask for was to be left alone. My friends and I, all I want is for us to be left alone." Elena shook her head. Tom wrapped an arm around her waist whispering comforting things in her ear, understanding how hard this was for her. Elena ran with the understanding that she was a key ingredient to many supernatural problems, after meeting Stefan and being buried in the supernatural, Elena stopped wishing for adventure and just wanted a normal life.
Yet Tom was starting to understand that her being a doppelganger, and himself being one would mean someone would always come after them. Enzo, the one most often on guard duty, explained that one time while Elena was sleeping, the Traveler's plan from their knowledge would destroy magic. Meaning Elena's vampire friends would be endangered.
"What are you going to do?" Elena asked, taking strength from Tom's touch.
XXX
The morning after the big holiday Bonnie went straight for Niklaus and Caroline's bedroom, praying when she knocked, nothing untoward was happening. Friends may share a lot of things but there were some things Bonnie just did not need to see.
Ever.
She patiently waited for a voice to call her in or the door to open. Bonnie's mind raced, unable to leave the thought alone. They needed to do something about Elena. Her and Caroline's best friend since childhood had changed, perhaps irrevocably so. Ever since Elena had gone through the transition, her once patient and kind friend who worried over breaking Matt's heart, knowing that his feelings were far stronger than her own, had changed. Sure, Elena could be selfish at times, what teenager wasn't? If Bonnie was honest to herself, she had been a terrible friend to Caroline when they found out what Katherine had done to her.
It was Elena who talked to her. Elena who eased the grief Bonnie had felt about one of their best friends becoming a vampire. She ensured that despite Bonnie's misgivings, the witch was able to see how unchanged Caroline was.
And the ways Caroline did change well…Bonnie understood that it was for the better. The blonde cheerleader stood taller, and while always brave, she held her own in a way Bonnie had never seen before. Despite the positive changes, Bonnie still was troubled over Caroline losing her humanity, and how Elena was being enveloped into the Salvatore's drama.
Especially the way Damon couldn't help but one up his brother. Bonnie smelled trouble, knew that he was bad news, Elena knew that he was bad news. Yet he stayed in their circle and Caroline and Bonnie shared many concerned glances at the way the two got close. Vampire Elena was unable to accept her lot. She struggled with being a vampire, mostly what it meant she could no longer have.
Bonnie thought that was Elena's last straw and the fact Caroline gave Elena a chance to be human again even after having the cure shoved at her without her consent. If that didn't show Caroline's loyalty and generosity, Bonnie didn't know what could. Letting out a sigh, how long did it take a vampire hybrid to open the fucking door?
Raising her hand to knock on the door, it opened revealing a shirtless Klaus leaning against the door with an annoyed look in his gaze. "This better be good, little witch."
"We need to have a talk. I'm worried about Elena." Bonnie glanced to see a blonde head crawl from underneath Klaus's arm.
"You saw it too?" Caroline frowned, biting her lower lip leaning into Niklaus's side as the arm that held his weight shifted to wrap around her waist.
"I don't know what's wrong with her, Care." Bonnie sighed in frustration. "Keeping her locked up isn't doing anyone any favors. Enzo says that she mostly just talks with Tom. He's actually handling all of this pretty well."
"What do you want us to do, Bennett?" Niklaus looked down at Caroline before returning his gaze back towards the witch. "She almost went straight to the Travelers and we still don't know what kind of spell they would have casted with her blood. We gave her freedom and she got herself kidnapped."
"That was hardly her fault."
"Elena had nothing to do with that!"
The two females laughed as they finished at the same time. Bonnie returned to her serious facial expression, "We need to decide what we're going to do. I have an idea but I don't feel like having to fight an entire family of vampires because you guys don't like my plan."
"Family meeting it is then." Caroline chirped, ignoring the loud groans that echoed around the house. "You lot really need to work on privacy." The blonde muttered. Bonnie did not try to hide her laugh as Caroline entwined their arms walking towards Niklaus's study.
It didn't take very long for Freya, Finn, Elijah, Kol and Rebekah to step into their brother's study. In fact, by the time the trio were at the door, Elijah had just stepped towards the door. Spotting the ladies in front of his irate brother, Elijah held the door open earning a beaming smile from his soon to be sister-in-law.
"I have to work so much harder to get her to smile at me." Nik pouted.
Elijah smirked, "I don't force pills down her throat every morning."
"You are just lucky that Nadia wasn't with her mother in the 1500's." Niklaus growled, "Or I would have many amusing stories to tell."
"Where are Katherine and Sage?" Caroline asked as Rebekah was the last to step through the door.
"Your mother kidnapped them for the day." Rebekah smirked with a perk in her step. "Suddenly your personality makes so much more sense."
"Bitch." Caroline retorted with a teasing tone, allowing Niklaus to wrap his arms around her waist pulling her onto his lap. With his supernatural strength she really didn't have a leg to stand on. It wasn't as if she weighed anything to him, the plus side was that she had an excuse to use him as a pillow, much to the amusement of his siblings.
She didn't think about the loud bumps she heard as she left a room.
"As amusing as the two of you are, why the hell did preggo blondie call a family meeting?" Kol, ever the wildest of them all, was practically vibrating in his seat.
"Preggo blondie?" Caroline raised a brow.
"Anything else would earn me a dagger in the heart." Kol said without batting an eye. Looking warily behind her to his brother whom Caroline knew just how… reactive he could be.
"Kol have you ever considered just using our names?" Bonnie asked, " I asked for this meeting. I think I have an idea that would solve the issues with Elena."
"We are discussing the same Ms. Gilbert, yes? The same one whose two boyfriends refused to let anything happen to her and ended up in a worse situation than if they had just done nothing?" Finn questioned, a silence echoed.
"Did Finn just make a joke?" Kol finally spoke, unable to take a moment of silence.
"Elena just wants to have a future. She wants to go to college, have children and we already have a plan on dealing with the Travelers. Let Caroline and I talk to her, take her out into the city, have a girls day out and really get into her head. We can find out what we need to do to ensure she stays far away from the supernatural world."
"As long as she is human, Elena's in danger." Rebekah rolled her eyes. " I mean we could offer protection but I'm tired of the doppelganger drama."
"Didn't Katherine say we needed to draw the travelers out?" Bonnie turned her attention towards Elijah and Klaus. The two Mikaelson's who could get their siblings to toe the line.
"Yes, the plan was to use Elena and Tom as bait."
"Give Elena your protection, for her human days. Spread rumors of the doppelgangers' existence to ensure the supernatural world believes it and no one will go after them again." Bonnie insisted. "Do that and Elena will go along with the plan."
XXX
With a nervous heart Elena knocked on the door to Tom's room doing her best to ignore the way Enzo followed a few steps behind her. Hiding her irritation, Elena turned towards Enzo as the door opened, "Do you have to follow me around everywhere?"
Enzo chuckled, "I'm under orders to ensure you don't sneak your way out. Apparently, your predecessor had a nasty habit of using people to escape."
"I'm not Katherine!" Elena retorted angrily, hearing a low chuckle, she turned to find Tom smiling down at her in the doorway.
Enzo shrugged, "So it's not true that those Salvatore brothers have repeatedly gotten you out of sticky situations or promises you made?"
Elena winced remembering how she had met Elijah and the deal she had tried to make with him only for it all to go up in flames. Truthfully, Elijah did end up betraying them but knowing it was for the rest of his siblings, Elena couldn't truly blame him. The fact that Jeremy was enjoying a human life, even if every phone call was him trying to get her to come live with him, was the only thing keeping her going some days.
Enzo whistled, "Watch out for that one, man. Man eater!"
Tom shook his head further opening the door so that Elena could come inside, knowing that Enzo would be able to hear from the door. Idly, Tom wondered why a bunch of vampires didn't invest in sound proofing. Asking his question out loud, Elena laughed a little.
"Something about the sound-proofing being more dangerous. Caroline has since told me that they can usually tune out what they don't want to hear."
Sitting on his bed, Tom patted the spot next to him wrapping an arm around Elena's shoulders. Tom leaned his head against hers as Elena settled into his side. They sat together quietly for several minutes before Tom voiced his curiosity.
"You know my life has been absolutely hectic for a couple years now. I wanted a normal life but everything I do ends up back where I started. Caroline let me suck the cure out of her to give me a normal life and even then I ended up kidnapped! Tom, I'm so sorry I dragged you into this."
Lips pressed into her forehead, "It's not like you planned on us getting kidnapped. Besides from the sounds of it, I would have eventually been pulled into the supernatural world anyway."
Elena sighed, "When I met Stefan I was stuck in depression. I didn't know how to just move on from my parents' deaths. Jeremy was drowning and I desperately wanted to feel how I used to. Meeting Stefan was like color was brought back into my world, I just didn't know what that would cost me."
Tom didn't remove his arm around her shoulder. He sat listening to Elena knowing after a few times of her coming to him that she needed someone to talk it out to. Sure, she had Caroline and Bonnie to talk to but Tom could tell that it brought her relief to know she wasn't the only doppelganger around. A part of him couldn't believe asking her on a date led to all of this.
"You loved him." Tom responded warmly. "You accepted him. I saw the way he looks at you. I mean it's weird because he has my face…" The two laughed together at that.
"Weird seeing someone with your face, right?" Elena laughed softly, bringing a hand to her lips.
"Definitely a disorienting experience."
"I never meant to hurt him." Elena said soberly, leaning her head against Tom's shoulder. "I never thought that I would fall for Damon. Transitioning into being a vampire awakened things in me I didn't realize I had buried deep down. I had to break it off with him."
"You don't have to explain yourself to me, Elena. We all have pasts." Tom murmured against her forehead.
"Meeting you was a shock to my system. Getting to know you the past few weeks has been amazing. Tom…I want a future with you. I just can't see how we can have one when everyone in the supernatural world knows I exist."
"By now I'm sure they know I do as well if that makes you feel better."
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Elena cracked a smile, nudging Tom with her shoulder. Tom laughed, squeezing her shoulders tightly.
"I think as long as you don't go making any moves on your own we will be okay. The Mikaelsons seem to want us both alive, considering the mess we potentially could be in, I'm willing to listen to them."
"Tom, the Mikaelsons are dangerous." Elena turned to him, her eyes wide. "They are willing to do anything to get what they want. Klaus wanted his curse broken and used Katherine, Jenna and I to get it. Katherine was almost sacrificed and when Caroline and Tyler escaped, he used my Aunt instead."
Tom gently pushed Elena's stray hair behind her ear, "Has he done anything since? Nothing excuses what he and his siblings have done, Elena. But the longer you hold the past against him, you risk ruining your friendship with Caroline, she is with him yes?"
"You saw them get engaged." Elena scowled.
"Our ancestors are with them now too, at least Stefan and Damon are here for you. Katherine is with one of the brothers, Elijah?"
"Now there is a weird ass relationship." Elena muttered. "Yes, Tom. Stefan is in agreement with Klaus and says that it's the best way to keep me safe."
"Damon?"
"Doesn't trust him but is willing to work with him if that means he's allowed freedom to move." Elena agreed begrudgingly.
"He's the one who hurt Caroline. The one you tried to keep away from her?"
"I didn't know what he was at the time." Elena admitted. "Not the whole time anyway."
"Elena, if Caroline forgave you for not knowing how to help her with a being much stronger than you. Perhaps you can forgive her for falling for Klaus?" Tom suggested. "I've seen the way they interact. She won't let harm come to you even with all she has personally going on."
"I know. I'm just worried about every plan we've ever made. Any plan they make tends to go wrong. We're lucky that their plan with Silas actually managed to go well… Klaus is unpredictable. What if he decides he needs doppelganger blood?"
"We know that the Travelers most definitely want our blood. They need us to be the last of the doppelgangers, so either you and I die or Stefan and Katherine have to," Tom pointed out the information Nadia had been able to finalize during her trip. "They are in the city, it's only a matter of time."
"Are you saying we should trust them?"
"I think we have no other choice. If we make ourselves useful then perhaps we can get that normal life."
XXX
A.N: Thank you so much!