Chapter 8
"Sometimes I wonder if I should give Stefan his memories back," Niklaus murmured quietly. Knowing his brother could hear every word, Niklaus didn't turn his head when he said, "Elijah, what of your contacts?"
"It is as expected. Not even one of our people spotted Damon Salvatore outside Mystic Falls," Elijah reported dutifully. His brown eyes stared at his brother's back. "I don't suppose Stefan Salvatore is the fratricide type?"
Niklaus chuckled, "I'm afraid Stefan didn't even have the thought during our time together. Shame based on what our siblings have told us."
Elijah hummed noncommittedly. "At least it appears the animals' attacks have stopped. Yet I wonder how long Stefan can keep his brother locked up."
"They have a human descendant living in the old Salvatore home. Well, the rebuilt one," Niklaus said, smirking. "Stefan is hardly an idiot, but his understanding of our world is abysmal. Always knew Katherine would make a poor parent."
"We can hardly call ourselves decent sires," Elijah pointed out. "It was only after that idiotic trio began a turning spree that we stepped in."
Niklaus rolled his eyes, "Noble, as always, Elijah."
A knock was heard, and the duo turned to see their sister leaning against the doorframe, "You both seem to be forgetting something. Our brother has yet to tell Caroline the truth."
Niklaus growled, "Rebekah, would you mind your own business?"
Elijah's mouth twisted, "I could easily recover the potion, Niklaus. It would be good if you had a plan to save her friend. Might lower the blow."
Niklaus looked rankled at the suggestion that he could lose Caroline. Especially over the pint-sized doppelganger that clearly didn't show Caroline the same devotion as the blonde did her. His siblings looked rather solemn at his silence. Kol let out a long, dragged-out sigh, having strolled in after Rebekah, "I see this is going to go over well."
"Kol," Elijah hissed quietly.
"If our brother has decided to tread the idiotic path, we can't stop him," Kol shrugged. "She complained all summer about her friends, but the moment you say anything negative about them, her hackles get raised."
"Idiots, telling Caroline that one of her oldest friends needs to die so that her lover can lift his curse? Yes, that is going to go marvelously." Rebekah huffed, looking at her nails, already bored with the conversation. "It is a Saturday. Are we going to solve anything, or can I leave?"
Niklaus looked over each of his siblings, all of whom had warned him. In one form or another, keeping this secret away from Caroline was dangerous. He never intended to get the blonde so intimately involved with his family or himself. When the time came that summer to part, Niklaus wilted at the idea of never seeing Caroline's sunny disposition again.
It was a moment of weakness on his part, keeping up a friendship or flirtation with Caroline over that year. He almost didn't go back to Georgia the following summer, but the thought of not seeing Caroline after a year part didn't sit well with him. Niklaus found himself unable to stay away. Before Caroline Niklaus had been content fucking beautiful women as he pleased, he rarely kept them around for long.
That summer Caroline had been so brave, he could hear her heart hammer in her chest as she dared to ask what they were. He tried to tell her that she was a beautiful woman he enjoyed time with, planned to hint that that was all it could be. The moment he looked into her blue eyes after her question, Niklaus found himself unable to denying that he wanted her, and not just for a quick tryst. Then she found the coffins.
"Elijah, make sure that elixir is ready for the doppelganger. I assume you'll wish to handle Katerina? I'm sure you are pleasant enough in the bedroom," He spoke finally, standing up and receiving a nod from his elder brother.
"Finn, how is it going with the mayor?" Niklaus turned towards his eldest brother as he entered the room.
"I've been invited to… what they call a council meeting."
Niklaus nodded, "good. Especially if the sheriff is part of this group, it will make gaining her trust easier. Keeping Caroline close to us is essential for her safety."
Rebekah rolled her eyes, "Now then, let's see how long it takes you to, you know, actually tell her."
Ducking to avoid the study chair Niklaus had thrown at her, Rebekah tilted her head to the side as the chair broke against the door. Not for the first time, the original wished their elder sister had survived in the ancient world. Being around this much testosterone was terrible for her health. Throwing the wreckage of the chair back at each brother, she rolled her eyes as each easily caught the offending item.
"Temper brother," Rebekah winked at Niklaus as she opened the study door and heard it close just as the leg of the chair she had thrown was once more aimed for her head.
XXX
Damon groaned coming back into consciousness. Damon could feel the hard cement beneath him. Standing the dark-haired vampire glanced up to see the slab on the metal door open. Allowing him to peek at his brother and something-great nephew. Damon sneered at the small peephole that allowed food to pass through to prisoners.
"Is this any way to treat family?" Damon said, flippantly rolling over onto his back, his blue eyes glaring at the small slab. The ground was hard, and if he were human, it would hurt significantly more than it did. He had to give it to his brother. Spiking the drinks at the party with vervain had been a smart move.
"You didn't give us a choice, Damon," Zack said. "The animal attacks are getting out of control. There is only so much the town can cover for vampires."
Damon scoffed, "Stefan just wants to keep me away from his precious Elena."
"I want to keep people safe from you. Elena is part of that," Stefan denied even as a part of him whispered in his ear that the only reason to went to these lengths was because of Elena.
Whenever Damon caught up with him, Stefan would high-tail it out of town. Knowing that he would follow. He never once stopped him from feeding on the residents of the town. He didn't always kill them, either. Yet the dead bodies were piling up, and Damon was the only other vampire in town. Damon scoffed, looking at his brother, who so badly wanted to return to their human days, fighting against his instincts. It was ironic that it was Stefan's fault they were vampires in the first place.
"Stefan, I know you are smarter than that. Besides, you know exactly why I am even in this godforsaken town."
"You think you can free Katherine?" Stefan questioned, sharing a look with his great-nephew.
"Zack, I can handle it from here," The younger Salvatore told their nephew.
"Are you sure?" Zack looked towards the door warily.
"He's filled with vervain. I'll be fine, Zack," Stefan assured his descendant despite knowing it was less of a concern for his wellbeing. And more of a concern about what his brother would do if unleashed.
"Yes, Zack Steffi-poo will be fine. Just two brothers talking," Damon added his two cents, chuckling. Stefan waited until Zack was out of earshot before turning back towards his confined brother.
"Damon, this has got to stop. You are killing people, and it's becoming harder to conceal," Stefan hissed. "You don't need to kill to feed. Can't you let them live?"
"Now, where is the fun in that?" Damon asked his brother. "I did promise you an eternity of pain, did I not? How does it feel that you can't keep your dear older brother on the straight and narrow?"
"Hasn't this gone on long enough? Why are you trying to get Katherine out now?"
"Because Steffi-poo, there is a comet coming that a witch can draw from that can be used to break the spell," Damon breathed excitedly. "Do you know what that means? Katherine can finally be free!"
"Just where are you planning on finding a witch? Not just any witch will do, Damon," Stefan said, shaking his head.
"I'm thinking about asking our favorite Bennett witches to help," Damon grinned. "You are familiar with Miss Bonnie Bennett?"
"She's a teenager, Damon," Stefan hissed. "She's not even a practicing witch."
"She's a Bennett witch. I assume from the dirty looks she has sent you that you've given her the creepy supernatural vibes that all those witches complain about,' Damon said smugly.
"Good luck with that plan stuck in here, Damon," Stefan said, shaking his head.
"You know this won't be able to hold me for long," Damon taunted, not minding when Stefan slammed the slab shut. The dark-haired vampire shook his head with a smile on his face. Now, he had to ensure he didn't ingest any more vervain to regain his strength. He was sure Zack or Stefan would make a mistake. Neither one was precisely the lock them up and keep them type after all.
XXX
Rebekah was in her room, glancing at her enlarged closet with a frown. According to Caroline's mini-course, Mrs. Lockwood was the committee leader and oversaw recruitment. Due to her family's lack of paper legacy towards the town, despite having lived in it for far longer than it was considered a backwater town, Rebekah would not be considered a Founder's daughter.
But that's never stopped someone from participating before. Rebekah smiled, thinking about upstaging all those Founding Fathers' twats, except Caroline was competing this year. Usually, Rebekah wouldn't let that bother her, but the vampire liked the bubbly blonde. Whose snide remarks were as razor-sharp as Rebekah's own?
It was lovely to have a female friend if Rebekah was honest with herself. While Rebekah most likely would not participate. It doesn't mean she didn't plan on being the most gawked-at bystander in the stands, or if she did decide to compete in a knock-out alongside her friend.
Miss Mystic Falls was months away, yet the town was already excited. Small, read-classy betting pools were created, all managed by Mrs. Lockwood.
Rebekah thought it was amusing how vibrant the town was about every single event it decided to host. It had been over a century since Rebekah had seen such enthusiasm by an entire town over its history. It thrilled the blonde to see such extravagance, something her brothers teased her relentlessly about.
"Yes, Rebekah, dress up in a pretty gown and flaunt that you were the one who started the whole garter trend," Niklaus had muttered more to himself as he looked over the books with Finn.
"Rebekah, I am busy trying to read up on our latest contracts. Can we discuss the difference between fuchsia and coral later?" Elijah sighed with his polite tone, which she often heard him use when attempting not to insult someone.
"Fine," Rebekah pouted. "I'll go see Caroline. She at least is civilized enough to understand the importance of the question."
Looking over her plans, Rebekah pulled out her cell phone, making a note to get a new one soon. Her manicured nails inputting a familiar number. "Caroline, please tell me you are available for dress shopping. My brothers are idiots," Rebekah said instead of a greeting.
The vampire heard her family's favorite human laugh. Informing her that she was planning to go shopping today if she didn't mind tagging along with Elena and Bonnie. Rebekah opened her mouth to speak her mind, saying hell to the possible consequences. When she remembered her brother's curse and Caroline's proven loyalty to her friends. Instead, she sighed dramatically, "I suppose I can suffer if it means I get real advice. You wouldn't believe how annoying Nik is being."
Ultimately, Caroline and her gang of misfits were not very difficult to find. The original vampire simply listened in to find them at a local dress shop catered to formal wear. Rebekah internally squealed at the sight of modern dresses. Nik often just ordered from a catalog or built a design himself. Everything he picked was divine; he was wretchedly good at fashion.
"Care, I thought this was just going to be us," Bonnie said, glancing at Elena in concern. Rebekah paused in her strides, not wanting to be seen yet; instead, she decided to listen in. Soon, she could hear the doppelganger's voice.
"Care, you said this was just for the three of us," Elena put in her two cents.
"Rebekah is a friend of mine. It's still a girl's day; this will allow you to get to know her" Caroline stood her ground. "She's never gotten to do a pageant before. Imagine how hard it is to be a new kid?"
Caroline smiled when her two oldest friends begrudgingly agreed to their threesome becoming a foursome. Knowing that there would be no better time to make an entrance, Rebekah stepped into their sight and waved at them. Elena and Bonnie offered up small waves as their faces looked only the tiniest bit stressed.
Bringing Caroline into a hug, the original vampire glanced at the two teenagers, sharing a concerned look. Rebekah smirked at the knowledge that her presence bothered them. For her part, Caroline understood that the two aspects of her life held tensions against each other. But she couldn't bring herself to care too much. Not today.
"You know I'm not planning on participating," Rebekah said over her shoulder. "I just want to make sure you make my brother into a puddle of testosterone. Now that will be amusing."
"You don't want to compete? It will be fun!" Caroline chirped brightly. The blonde pointed to the other two, "Elena is the only other real competition this year, and she has no real interest. In fact, if it weren't for me, she would have completely forgotten about it."
Caroline smiled as Rebekah looked thoughtful. No, she couldn't really bring herself to care. Not on a day when she can share a very special part of herself with three people she loves. When Caroline was little, she would spend hours and days with her maternal grandmother, Sarah Fell. Caroline loved spending her days with her grandmother while her parents worked long hours. Her days were spent elbows deep in crafts and several planning sessions in which Caroline sat at Sarah's feet and watched her put even the likes of Carol Lockwood in her place.
Caroline was six when Sarah first told her how Sarah Fell won the Miss Mystic Falls pageant. The six-year-old sat on her grandmother's knee in awe over the pictures of handsome young men and women in beautiful gowns and how Sarah had outshined them all to win the crown. As silly as it was. It was Sarah who took Caroline to dance lessons and taught her about how people cared about perception. Sarah would admit it was a skill worth having that her daughter struggled to learn. Still, Sarah was determined Caroline would master it.
Liz Forbes was a woman who went against convention, often butted heads with Sarah over what she was teaching her granddaughter. Yet Caroline loved the power her grandmother seemed to wield in town; it was different than the respect given to her mother. At ten, Caroline knew she could not follow in her mother's footsteps; she wasn't cut out to go against the grain. She loved frilly things, pink, dresses, and make-up. Caroline found it powerful how many of the founding families listened to the women, even if it was the men who typically held seats.
Caroline respected it as a kind of power; why put yourself in the fire when you could simply help guide? Her grandmother absolutely loved the town festivities; Sarah Fell was a woman who loved history. Taught Caroline to both admire her history and be critical of it. Her afternoons with her grandmother were a favorite part. When her grandmother passed away, it was a hard pill to swallow. Her mother had barely shed a tear, but Caroline could hear her sobbing in her father's arms at night. Sarah Fell had been an enormous presence in Caroline's life. Now that she was gone, Caroline spent most of her time alone, at least until she was old enough to join the committees herself.
"Well, if you are sure… I would love to make Nik have a headache having to support both of us," Rebekah smirked.
Caroline beamed as she narrowed her gaze on her other two best friends. With Miss Mystic Falls only weeks away, Caroline corralled Bonnie and Elena into her car to help her find the perfect dress. She ignored the way Elena and Bonnie laughed at her exuberance. As Rebekah walked to join them, Caroline couldn't help but think at least one person who took things seriously was with her.
"Alright, ladies. Now that we are all here, we need to talk battle plans," Caroline said, giving them her most charming smile.
XXX
The Friday after the Founder's Day Ball, Liz Forbes finally eased off questioning Caroline on her pen-pal-turned-boyfriend. After meeting the rest of the family during the celebration, the woman's concerns were eased slightly. To the point Liz Forbes agreed to allow Caroline out if he picked her up at home first.
"Good evening, Sherriff Forbes. It's a great pleasure to see you again," Caroline could hear her boyfriend's velvety voice greet her cautious mother.
Cursing silently at her boyfriend's punctuality, she looked at the clock; it was exactly seven. Damn him. Didn't he know it was rude to show up on time? At least five minutes, or she will be at risk of being rude for making him wait thirty minutes while she finishes getting ready! He was supposed to be a freaking thousand-year-old vampire. How did he not know this!
"Stupid old ass vampires and their even stupider centuries-old customs," Caroline muttered to herself. A low chuckle made Caroline freeze in the scream she wanted to let out. He heard her.
Was dating a thousand-year-old vampire worth it?
"Evening, Niklaus, was it?" Liz could be heard through Caroline's bedroom door. Caroline hit her head against her door, groaning softly at her mother's transparent attempt at making him uncomfortable.
"Only my family ever uses my full name. I prefer to go by Klaus," The original vampire replied with a smirk, amused at the mother's polite greeting to knock him off his game.
"Well, Klaus, why don't you come inside? Caroline should be ready any moment." Liz formally invited him inside, scooting out of the way and holding the door open. Niklaus stepped through the door with an easy smile and confidence, feeling the magical barrier dissolve, allowing him entrance.
"Caroline, Klaus is here!" The sheriff yelled towards the end of the hall, indicating where his little blonde's room was.
Caroline yelled back, "I'll be right out!" as she quickly brushed out her now-curled hair and applied the lip gloss he complimented her on. Grabbing a tiny black purse, she quickly walked out the door, sighing in relief as she noticed them talking peacefully.
"Everything alright?" She questioned, glancing over at her mom, knowing that Bill Forbes's allowing their daughter out with an older man had bothered Liz tremendously. Even after the many discussions, Caroline, her mother, had with her father, it took meeting him in person for Liz Forbes to settle down.
"I haven't threatened to shoot him, Caroline," The sheriff smiled softly at her daughter. "Honey, you look beautiful."
Caroline beamed at her mother and hugged the older woman, "Are you on call tonight?"
"Yes, so make sure you are home by midnight, okay? It's not a school night, but there have been animal attacks. I'd prefer it if you two stayed in a busy place."
"Understood, Sherriff. Keep to the places you have eyes." Nik grinned cheekily at her. To Caroline's shock, her mother's lips twirled up.
"I can see why my daughter likes you. You are both troubles," the sheriff said, shaking her head. "Have fun, okay, Hun?"
"I will," Caroline promised, accepting Nik's arms as he led them out of the house, with Liz Forbes watching them walk towards his car.
"I'm sorry," Caroline began apologizing, only for him to pause in front of the side door. Niklaus grabbed her chin and gently tugged it up, stopping her rant, "Why are you apologizing, Sweetheart?"
"For my mother?" Caroline replied in an unsure voice. He could see the confusion in her eyes. Continuing their slow pace towards their car, Niklaus carefully chose his words.
"Your mother was lovely, Caroline. I think she is right to be concerned about you; you are still a minor in this society."
"But you're a thousand years old, " she-'Caroline stopped when she noticed the darkening of his gaze.
"I can understand the differences between when I was human and now. Indeed, I've always only involved myself with other supernatural creatures or human women of age. But that age has changed so often over time. I'm willing to be patient if it causes you less heartache. Your spark drew me to you, not how villainous your age makes me seem."
"So, you aren't angry? And you are hardly a villain even if you have a habit of stabbing your siblings during a family argument," Caroline asked carefully, peeking over her shoulder.
Nik opened the door for her, allowing her to enter the car first. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Liz Forbes staring at them from her spot in the doorway with a slight smile. Niklaus didn't allow Caroline to see, but a part of him was relieved that Liz Forbes appeared satisfied for the moment.
"No love. Unlike my family history, I find your mother's caring rather endearing." Niklaus had far too many things in motion to comfortably set forth and place another item on his to-do list.
However, for Caroline, he would have prioritized charming her mother even before the doppelganger, especially considering they were in the same class. It was not as if he didn't know where to find her, but her new vampire companion could be a problem. Shaking himself out of his thoughts, Klaus Mikaelson shifted towards more pleasant thoughts.
"Now I hope you like French. There is this lovely French restaurant a town over. That should fall under keeping you in public spaces," Niklaus said, smirking at Caroline. He watched as the teenager let out a slow breath, "I've never been to one. I do live in a small town, remember."
"Someday, I will take you all over the world: Paris, Rome, Tokyo?" He suggested.
"Nik?"
"Yes, Love?"
"Does my father know you're a vampire? I mean, he wasn't exactly happy with me going out with you," Caroline asked with a curious look. "Your family told me my hometown had a history with the supernatural."
"Your father does know about the supernatural and is one of the more informed humans I have met. Not exactly a smart one, but he knew enough to be wary," Niklaus admitted as he started the engine. He glanced over at Caroline, watching her stare into her lap. Knowing she needed to think, he chose not to say anything more.
"He let me date a vampire. He warned me not wanting me to go, but it wasn't like he chained me up to keep me away from you!" When Caroline decided to speak several minutes later, Niklaus had to stop himself from chuckling at her rant.
"Would you have listened? I mean, I am a rather handsome man." He smirked at her as he quickly changed lanes.
Caroline scoffed, "No, probably not. But still, he is my father. Shouldn't he have tried harder?"
"You can't always save your children, especially if you cannot tell them the full truth. He would have had to tell you about vampires, something that, after meeting your mother, was clearly not an option."
"Mom knows about vampires?" Caroline asked in shock.
"She is the sheriff. Why do you think your town tends to have a lot of animal attacks? A vampire is hunting his prey near here and leaving them for dead."
"But… then how come she didn't recognize you?"
"My siblings and I are a myth, remember? Very few people know we are real, and your father clearly didn't share that with your mother. Even if she knows about the supernatural," Nik glanced over, concerned at how Caroline paled. "Sweetheart?"
"Why? Why keep it a secret? I understand when I was little, but I'm close to graduating, and if they know, it must mean our town is like the Mecca of the supernatural world. Why wouldn't Dad tell Mom about you?"
"I may have promised that you wouldn't be harmed by my hands, not that I think he believed me."
"But he may have thought if he told, then something bad would happen to me," Caroline finished his thoughts. Niklaus released the wheel with one hand reaching over and grasped her hand.
"My reputation does precede me."
"But I'm perfectly healthy and safe," Caroline retorted. "You haven't hurt me at all!"
Niklaus smirked, "that's why he is going spare. If you sing my praises, he has difficulty telling you what he's kept from you. I thought it was poetic justice. I mean, did he not enter an affair while still married to your mother?"
Caroline frowned, "I don't want him worrying about me, but I'm still mad that he couldn't come up with a decent reason. Honestly his brain couldn't devise a way to keep me from going. This is from a man who caught Elena, Bonnie, and me sneaking out constantly!"
"Darling, I think you are forgetting one thing."
"What's that?"
"You are absolutely unfathomable, and males never stand against a woman like that."
XXX
Beep! Beep!
Sunlight hit Caroline's face as her nose scrunched up in irritation, her arm reaching over to slap her alarm clock. "Damn alarm," Caroline groaned, nuzzling her pillow when she heard a low masculine chuckle. Shivers went down her spine as she lifted her head, the alarm no longer blaring, to look towards the corner of her room. Where Niklaus stood amongst at least seventeen vases filled with roses.
Mouth opened wide; Caroline quickly sat up, looking around her room. Her eyes scanned the various vases filled with bright red roses in full bloom. Her room smelled heavenly, and Niklaus used the distraction to move closer to her bed without Caroline realizing it.
"Good morning, Sweetheart," Niklaus purred from his spot against her wall. He pushed himself off the wall until he was perched on the side of the side, sitting beside a shell-shocked Caroline. Blue eyes met his mischievous blue, sitting alongside her. Caroline immediately leaned into his touch as he cupped her cheek, his thumb gently rubbing across her skin.
"What are you doing in my room?" She whispered, instinctively moving closer, enjoying how his touch warmed her entire body. At Niklaus's second chuckle, Caroline cringed. What kind of question was that?
A warm palm cupped her other cheek, gently making eye contact. Pressing his lips to hers, taking it slowly, a smirk forming his lips as Caroline gently pressed her lips back against his.
Several kisses later, Niklaus pulled back and whispered, "Happy Birthday, Sweetheart."
The smile on her lips dropped as she realized what day it was. "Omg! It's my birthday! Ugh! With everything going on, I forgot! Who forgets their seventeenth birthday! I know it's not big, unlike the sweet sixteenth or the liberating eighteenth, but still!" The blonde jumped up, much to the amusement of the vampire, who reached out, wrapping his hands around her waist and pulling her on top of his lap.
"Relax, Caroline. Your mother had to leave for work, but she left you a lovely note and present in case she won't be able to come home in time for your party. Don't worry, you won't be late for school either. I thought you might have been busy; what with dealing with my annoying younger siblings, I thought I would help," Niklaus chuckled, watching as the blonde calmed down.
Caroline twisted her legs, so they wrapped along either side of her boyfriend, her arms wrapping themselves automatically around his neck. "How exactly are you helping? All I see is you distracting me when I should get ready for school."
Niklaus released one of his hands, reaching behind him, revealing a long white box, "I thought you would want to be the star of the day."
Mouth gaping, Caroline carefully lifted the lid to reveal a stunning dark blue dress. Based on the length that would reach her above her knees, the sleeves cut off just above her breasts, and the cloth sparkled as she touched it. "You want me to wear this to school?" She let out breathlessly.
"Obviously, I have your party dress coming later this afternoon," Niklaus let a smirk gracefully form across his face. His petite blonde brought her hands to either side of his head, bringing him into a passionate kiss. They shared several passionate kisses before Niklaus reluctantly pulled away.
"Now, shouldn't you be getting ready for school?"
Caroline pressed her lips to his in a gentle kiss before hopping off his lap and entering her closet. Talking all the way, Caroline described to him how the other two friends would decorate their locker every year on their birthdays. "I wonder what the theme will be this year?" She wondered aloud.
Niklaus chuckled quietly as Caroline's dialogue continued, his eyes never leaving her as she walked out, pulling her hair into an updo. "Help me?" She requested, turning her back to him.
"With pleasure," He all but purred, slowly zipping up the back of the dress. His fingers lingered on exposed skin as he pulled the zipper. He didn't miss the shiver of her spine, forcing him to press a kiss to her neck in an effort not to delay her further. He might be able to get her out of trouble with the school, but without full knowledge of who supplied the town with vervain, it was hard to know who was protected and who he could nudge to his whims.
Taking her hair gently in his hands. Niklaus expertly twisted her hair without causing any pain by unnecessarily tugging, clutching a clip from her top dresser, and securing her hair in place. "Well, now you look far too lovely to allow you to tend to that dreadful public school."
Caroline turned around with a knowing smile on her face. She pushed against his chest with a laugh.
"Yes, and how would you explain me playing hooky to my mother? She already has a hard time knowing I'm dating an older man. I can't believe you managed to get her to be okay with it."
Niklaus pressed his lips against her neck, "I have a way with mothers. As long as they are not my own."
"That and my father is afraid of you." Caroline rolled her eyes. "Are you ever going to tell him I'm safe with you?"
"No," Niklaus answered without thought. "Your mother will do that for me. Why bother with an unnecessary conversation?"
Caroline reluctantly pulled away, grabbing her backpack, "Come on, Scrooge, you are taking me to school."
"As my lady commands."
XXX
Rebekah was seething across the hall from Caroline's locker on her birthday. Their tiny blonde human had spent hours talking about her friends and their birthday traditions. How Bonnie and Elena would decorate her locker, usually with a balloon or two before school. Then Caroline described the party she held in detail, mainly inviting just friends for a small birthday party. If the sheriff would allow her to have a more enormous bash, Caroline admitted she would make it a huge deal.
It was why Rebekah pleaded and pouted, even threatening Elijah and Finn to ask the sheriff if they could host a birthday party for the blonde instead. It wasn't all that hard, considering both brothers were currently attempting to get their lovers to move in with them. Sage was now staying one town over, unwilling to deal with the enlarged family more than she had to. While Katherine… well, Elijah was still trying to insist that Niklaus would not murder her on the spot.
As a dutiful sister, Rebekah offered her services on each front, including limiting her snide remarks if they dealt with Sherriff Forbes themselves. Rebekah came into school alongside her brother, knowing Niklaus showed off one of his gifts. In contrast, her elder brothers set up for the party. She neatly invited most of their grade and cheer team. Only to find that Caroline's so-called best friends had not done their usual locker decoration.
They weren't even around, "I can't believe them," the vampire hissed as her brother held her back by her elbow.
"Perhaps they had a good reason for forgetting," Kol offered, his brown eyes narrowing at the two laughing girls. They were chatting when Stefan Salvatore walked past them, and Elena suddenly quieted as she watched him.
"Trouble in paradise?" Rebekah snorted. "Some friends they are."
"Now, now, sister, perhaps we can use this to our advantage," Kol purred, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "What will our sweet Caroline do when she sees her friends abandoning the tradition?"
"Hold it in. Put a smile on her face and be furious until she can find a way to deal with it, usually with an underling," Rebekah answered quickly. "She's much like Niklaus, only she doesn't dagger her siblings in a rage."
"Exactly! Why not use it to our advantage and inch her towards seeing the doppelganger as we do?" Kol whispered, careful to keep it low enough that the vegetarian vampire couldn't overhear.
"How do we do that? All we have are presents! And we didn't even bring them to the school!" Rebekah pouted. "How I'd love to wring that little doppelganger's neck."
"Nik loves birthdays. Give him a ring, and I'm sure he will have a bloody amusement park here by lunch." Kol shrugged. Gripping her phone tightly, Rebekah immediately sent out a text.
Care to surprise the birthday girl?
Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum dropped the friend ball.
-Bekah
As the message was sent, Rebekah's nose twitched as the familiar scent of Caroline floated under her nose. Rebekah watched Caroline excitedly move towards her locker, wearing a gorgeous blue dress that the vampire immediately recognized as one Nik had been designing.
Kol whistled, "Our brother truly knows how to dress a woman."
"It's even funnier when all those women suddenly realize how straight he is," Rebekah snorted, grabbing Kol's hand as Caroline's smile dropped at her undecorated locker.
"Look, if it isn't the birthday girl!" Kol called out, wrapping his arms around Caroline and twirling her around so that her dress twirled around her legs. Caroline laughed out loud, missing the looks of guilt that flashed onto Elena and Bonnie's faces.
Kol smirked, sharing a knowing look with Rebekah. Gently placing her down, he reached into his backpack and pulled out a plastic crown. Rebekah knew they had real crowns deep in their family accounts, but that would hardly be appropriate to wear in school. Still, how Caroline's face lit up as he placed a crown on her head was heartbreaking.
"This isn't real, is it?" Caroline gasped, looking at Kol skeptically.
Kol patted his chest with a wounded look, "you think I wouldn't warn you if I placed something valuable in your hands?"
"I wouldn't put it past you to make me think I ruined or lost something precious as a practical joke," Caroline deadpanned. Carefully fixing the crown on her head, she sighed in relief when it felt like a plastic crown.
"Don't worry, love. You'll wear the real one at the party tonight," Kol laughed as Caroline gawked at him, forcing the blonde to chase after the brunette, leaving Rebekah to sneer at the doppelganger and witch.
"Where is the birthday tradition Caroline told me about?" She asked the two as she walked past them, smirking at how their faces drained of color. She pulled out an invitation and pressed it into Elena's hands.
"Caroline would still like you to be there. Even if you clearly forgot your best friend's birthday," Rebekah said sweetly.
Rebekah nearly had to stuff her hand into her mouth when she heard the "God. I hate her" from the doppelganger's lips.
"Caroline is dating her brother," The Bennet witch sighed. "She is just trying to get under your skin. We did forget about our birthday tradition. Caroline is never going to let us live it down."
Elena groaned, "I feel bad, but with everything going on with Stefan and Caroline hanging around the Mikaelsons most of the time, I completely blanked it was October."
"After school, we will go shopping before her party and get something only Caroline could love more, and she'll forgive us. Mostly," Bonnie frowned slightly. "Maybe we should sign up to her committees as well."
"All of them," Elena agreed.
XXX
Lunch was even more delightful than Kol thought it would be. True to form, the moment most of the student body exited the school, word spread about the limo and live band arriving in the parking lot. Caroline had been walking towards lunch between Elena and Bonnie when Rebekah and Kol approached them with giant smiles.
"Caroline!" Rebekah sang, "You must come along quick. Nik's second surprise has arrived."
"Second?" Bonnie questioned her friend, glancing down at Caroline's dress. Taking a deeper look, Bonnie noticed the higher quality of the fabric.
"Nik gave me this dress for my birthday," Caroline blushed.
"It really does look great on you, Care," Elena said encouragingly.
"Yes," Rebekah rolled her eyes. "My darling brother has an amazing fashion sense. Now, Caroline, hurry up. You want to make the most of this surprise!" The blonde initially gently wrapped her fingers around the younger girl's wrist, pulling her away from the two chits, who obviously ignored the blonde until she was needed.
Rebekah shot Caroline a quick smile as Kol wrapped his arms around both girls, pulling them towards the front of the school. Footsteps alerted the vampires to the two followers, barely whispering with their curiosity. Rebekah was beginning to think her eyes would get stuck with the amount of eye-rolling she had been committing since moving to this town.
"You got to be kidding me," Caroline gasped, smiling with glee as her hands clapped together at all the stalls that were set up around her. Various stands were staffed, offering students cuisine from all over the globe for free. In the middle of the lot was a large stage, on stage performing was…
"Taylor Swift?" Caroline gasped, ignoring the chuckle by her side until solid arms wrapped around her waist.
"I thought if I couldn't bring you across the world at the moment, why not bring the world to you?" Not expecting her boyfriend to be so close, Caroline jumped, hearing his voice, turning herself to face his laughing eyes. Before Caroline could really get a complete thought out, she blurted out.
"How the hell did you get Taylor Swift?"
Niklaus laughed deeply, keeping his grip tight against her waist, pulling her against him. "Darling, I've had years to collect all the money I could ever need."
"That totally explains why you yell at Elijah when your precious stocks go down," Kol smirked, winking at Caroline, who failed to hide the twitch of her mouth.
"Kol," Niklaus gritted his teeth, "what can I do for you brother?"
Kol's grin widened, "My dear brother. I'm here to celebrate the wonderful Caroline." The brunette turned to face his sister, grinning in place, "Isn't that right, Bekah?"
"Ignore them, Caroline," Rebekah said, smacking Kol. "My brothers must jockey for position every time they come together, even if the separation has only been for an hour."
"How did you get approval for all of this?" Caroline asked, glancing around. A part of her was gleeful when she saw the shocked expression on Elena and Bonnie's faces. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as Matt rolled his eyes at something Tyler was saying with a plate of food in his hands.
"Ugh. How the hell did Matt become friends with that mutt? I can practically smell the wolf in him." Rebekah's nose twitched. "I'm surprised he hasn't activated his curse yet."
"What's wrong with Tyler?" Caroline asked in concern, glancing over at the overly aggressive boy she had known all her life. It was only when Nik pressed a calming hand on her shoulder that the teenager realized her heart had started to race.
"The Lockwoods are a founding family, yes?" Nik asked her gently.
"Yeah, the same as the Salvatores, Forbes, Fells, Gilberts, and the like" Caroline shrugged. "Not that the Forbes count for much, but we've been connected to the sheriff's office for generations."
"Some of the original inhabitants of this land, as you are aware, could turn into wolves on the full moon. The Lockwoods must have married into one of the surviving lines," Kol explained softly. "You don't turn into a wolf on the full moon unless you activate the curse."
Caroline bit her lip as understanding began to dawn on her, "How does one activate the wolf gene?"
Niklaus smirked at her, "That's my girl."
"Caroline, they have to be the cause of someone's death," Rebekah answered her question, glaring at her brother. Rebekah understood better than the rest of her siblings that for all that Caroline could accept them- some of the darker aspects of the supernatural had yet to sink in for the teen.
"So, Tyler has to kill someone? But he's so angry. We've all even joked that he would be responsible for manslaughter because of all the partying he does," Caroline hissed quietly.
"Are you telling me my temper tantrum-throwing friend is potentially going to turn into a giant dog?"
Kol brought his head between his legs, keening so hard that tears were in his eyes. Niklaus's lips turned into a thin line, but he reframed from pushing his brother into the ground as Rebekah looked on softly at the blonde. "Only if his actions bring upon someone's death, most often they do the killing themselves. The wolf gene makes them more… volatile than others."
"Mrs. Lockwood isn't going to like that," Caroline mumbled. "It's not like Tyler would listen to me… ever since he hit puberty, it's a wonder Matt's managed to stay friends with him for so long."
"Love," Klaus cut in softly. "We can keep an eye on him if that would make you feel better, but being a wolf is part of who he is. He may not know it yet, but it's always been there. It is very unlike becoming a vampire."
Caroline let out a sigh, "Tyler's an asshole most of the time… it's just hard thinking that he could be responsible for someone's death and have to go through that. I mean, if the movies are horrible, I can't imagine the reality of it."
Finally calmed down, Kol patted the blonde on the head, "We can keep an eye on him. He's only got the temper. I doubt he is in any danger. Enjoy your party; maybe get caught with my brother in a closet?"
Caroline blushed as she punched him in the shoulder, wincing as her hand landed on a hand instead of the intended shoulder. Kol gave her a knowing look before grabbing his sister and calling out, "Don't do what I wouldn't, Nik!"
"I could always give him a time-out, love," Nik whispered in her ear. Her boyfriend's response brought a smile to her face.
"No daggering. But I know what you can do to get my mind off the creepy idea that a guy I've known all my life is about to transform into a giant puppy," Caroline said with a glint.
Niklaus brought his face close to hers, "And what is that, my sweet?"
"Dance with me," Caroline kissed him, laughing as he grabbed her hands and pulled her into a twirl.
"As the birthday girl wishes."
XXX
The Next Day…
High school was somewhat predictable after a few decades of attending, even if he mostly stayed out of public whatever town he plotted down roots in. Sometimes, he would sign up for college or high school courses to keep up the appearance he was younger than he was. Ignoring the whispers, he couldn't help but overhear Stefan grab his textbooks, which were useless when something out of the ordinary happened.
"Is that Gilbert? Who is she with?" A teenager whispered from a short distance away. Stefan's interest was piqued, Elena had arrived. Normally, that wouldn't cause a ripple in the school. She had been attending since freshman year, and the whispers regarding her and her parents' deaths had finally died down.
Her friend shook her head, whispering, "I have no idea. Isn't she dating the new kid? Stefan Salvatore?" Whispers continued to bombard him as he made his way towards the front of the school. The vampire frowned, curious who Elena could be with that would cause such a commotion.
The clacking of heels was not unusual in a high school until a distantly familiar perfume floated in the air. That caught his attention; slamming the locker door closed, he looked towards the door to find Elena. Only the brunette was decidedly not dressed like the Elena the vampire was familiar with. The young woman certainly looked like Elena, except Elena didn't usually dress in heels and a short skirt, especially at school.
Not like the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, Stefan paused in his path, unable to look away. The students around them whispered, questioning the man who was with Elena Gilbert. Only Stefan didn't believe she was Elena. Narrowing his eyes as his nostrils flared up, a familiar smell permeated the air. Then he observed Elena again, he saw the curls and a playful smirk on Elena's face.
A smirk he hadn't seen since 1864.
She may look like Elena, but the woman in front of him was most definitely not Elena. The woman's brown eyes lit up at seeing him a look of recognition in her gaze. Stefan watched as she patted the stranger's arm. The man glanced up and rolled his eyes, "Katerina" he rumbled in warning.
The Elena-look-a-like smirked at her companion, "Just one moment. I've been looking forward to this day for a very long time." The man took a long look into the woman's eyes. It was only a second before he gave her a small smile.
Katerina… It had to be her. Stefan's mouth opened in shock, "Katherine?" He whispered, knowing she would be able to hear. It couldn't be she was trapped under the church. Memories popped up he had long since thought about, the day he was turned, forcing his brother to transition, and the way his father lay dead. The couple stopped paces from him, and the woman looked Stefan directly in the eye.
Giving him a large smile, the brunette practically pranced over to him as she purred, "Hello Stefan. I've heard some interesting rumors about you my little descendent."
"Katherine? How? We saw you get locked in the church crypts?" Stefan's brows furrowed. "How are you not desiccated?"
Stefan's eyes left Katherines only when a pale hand wrapped itself around her waist, "Yes, Katherine, you never did tell us about your little death trick."
Katherine pursed her lips, crossing her arms and lapping them over the man's leaning into his chest, her heels barely leaving the ground, yet she remained upright. "'Elijah, you know I don't like giving out my secrets."
"Damon's spent his entire existence trying to help you." Stefan's voice conveyed the slow-building anger inside. Katherine met her ex-lover's gaze and offered no apologies.
"Stefan, I told you once that I always got what I want. And what I wanted most in 1864 was freedom, the Lockwood's easily allowed my escape with a little bribe which Elijah is the sole reason I'm in this bloody town. I'd rather get your brother off my back before he changes his mind."
Stefan shook his head, "You never looked for us. Damon's been…"
"I know exactly what you and your brother have been up to, Stefan." Katherine smiled. "I see your attentions turned towards my descendant now. I hear she is such a bore." The vampire smirked, seeing the way Stefan's fists clenched at the insult towards the doppelganger.
"Katherine, we do have a meeting to get to. My siblings are waiting," Elijah murmured in her ear, eyes carefully watching the reactions of the humans surrounding them. Katherine let out a sigh.
"Looks like this reunion is going to have to be cut short," Katherine pouted. Then she spoke loud enough for the humans in the room to hear, "Say hello to my cousin for me Stefan."
Before she could step away, Stefan found himself grabbing her arm, causing Katherine to emit a small gasp of pain. It was only a millisecond later that another hand grabbed his, pulling it back roughly, causing the bone to crack.
"Mr. Salvatore, I would be more mindful about where you put your hands."
Stefan Salvatore watched as the woman who transformed him into a vampire, who tricked both his brother and him into trusting her, walked away in the arms of what Stefan could clearly tell was a strong vampire if his brother was someone Katherine had feared. His mind was whirling at the implications.
Why were they at the high school? Just what exactly was Katherine up to. Suddenly, Stefan knew that he would have to be a lot more truthful to Elena if Katherine Pierce was back in town. Their resemblance would be taken in as distant relations, but Elena would have questions. Questions Stefan hadn't ever wanted to answer but perhaps it was better this way.
XXX
A.N: Thank you everyone for the love for this story! As always please read and review!