Chapter 7
"Love, you are lucky I find you divine beyond measure," Niklaus whispered in her ear as the couple stepped into the Mystic Grill at precisely 7 o'clock. Caroline beamed at him, leaning against his chest, his arm wrapped around her middle, steering her to where two teenage girls were waiting, talking to a fellow blonde teenager.
"Care!" Elena called out with a smile, her eyes glancing curiously at the original next to her. Bonne smiled back from her spot beside the brunette, "So this is the famous pen pal?"
"Is that what we are calling it these days?" Niklaus's voice held a strong British accent, and Caroline couldn't help but smile at the way all the women and girls openly stared at her man.
"Here, I thought I had moved past using the term pen-pal. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Niklaus Mikaelson," The original introduced himself, offering a hand to shake.
"Bonnie Bennett," Bonnie returned, a frown appearing when her hand touched his. She immediately pulled away, and Caroline looked between them in worry.
"Elena Gilbert," Elena greeted, casting a strange glance at Bonnie for her behavior.
"Matt Donovan," Matt shook his hand. "Your brother has a mean throw, by the way."
Niklaus grinned, "Yes, Kol is rather…athletic when he chooses to be. I take you you've all met my sister Rebekah as well?"
The trio nodded; Matt's face turned a tad pink at the mention of the sister. Bonnie rolled her eyes, "I think your sister is Care's new right hand in Cheer."
Caroline rolled her eyes, "Yeah, because she cares about it as much as I do!"
"Care, aren't you a part of at least 6 school committees? I don't know how you can care about them all equally." Elena let out a small laugh. It sounded almost like chimes to Caroline.
The blonde fidgeted slightly, earning a squeeze around her waist. "I find Caroline's devotion to her community admirable. My family isn't used to caring so deeply for one particular place."
There was a moment of silence at that. Elena blushed at the comment while Bonnie narrowed her gaze, unsure of what to make of this man from whom she got that strange feeling. The feeling she got was similar but different from when she touched Stefan. Either way, she would look at it; these were her friends.
Niklaus's eyes twinkled, "Shall we all take our seats before we continue?" The blonde teenage male blinked, "Right, of course, I managed to save you the usual table, Care."
Caroline beamed at her friend, "Thanks, Matt. Is your shift almost over? Maybe you can join us?"
Matt shook his head, "I'm closing tonight. But I will be your waiter tonight, so you'll see me."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Matt," Nik said, "Careline speaks of her friends here fondly."
Matt grinned at Caroline, who stuck her tongue out, "Didn't mention the Great Freeze out then?"
Caroline groaned, placing her head into her hands, "Please don't."
Nik raised a brow, "Now, love, this is something I must hear." Caroline piqued through her fingers to look at him, and he once again squeezed her waist.
"It was the summer before Freshman year," Elena began, waving Matt off as he apologized, needing to visit his other tables. "We had all just finished try-outs for the open spots on Cheer and Football."
Caroline moaned pitifully, changing to burying her head into his shoulder, her hand resting on Nik's thigh. Underneath the table, she pressed her manured nail into his thigh.
Her lover smirked, "Oh? Tell me more about my favorite cheerleader."
Bonnie shook her head, "The Football team at the time was led by…"
"Liam Fell," Caroline snarled. "An ignorant wannabe who thinks he is all that because he is from a founding family. A branch member, by the way, not like many founding families even have enough of the old money left as is expected for possibly the.."
"Lockwoods and Salvatore's," A masculine voice chimed in.
Elena beamed, "Stefan!"
Bonnie smiled stiffly at the newcomer, something that Niklaus noted down to think about later. Perhaps it was time to talk to the local witches after all. He watched as the doppelganger stood up, took his former friend's hand, and pulled him to join them.
Niklaus had to hide his smirk in Caroline's hair, noticing how Stefan's eyes dilated when she got close. What the hell was the boy eating? His siblings were right; Stefan was no longer the vampire he had met. Niklaus had yet to determine if that was the better or worse.
"Niklaus, this is Stefan Salvatore. He transferred here at the same time as your siblings," Elena introduced.
"It's a pleasure," Niklaus greeted, meeting the vampire in the eye, pleased at how Stefan's eyes seemed to narrow in on him and then refocus. The original sat back, glancing over at the younger vampire with interest.
XXX
A familiar smell lofted under his nose. Stefan didn't need to glance to know who it was coming from Rebekah. What was it about her that kept dragging his attention towards her? He watched as Rebekah placed her textbook in her bag minutes before the bell began to ring.
"Hey, what are you staring at? Bored of me already?" Elena's soft voice echoed in his ears.
Stefan Salvatore didn't know what to do. Something was tugging in the back of his brain insistently. As if there was something he should know.
"Bored of you? Elena Gilbert, I could never," Stefan teased, gently taking her tanned hand as they exited the classroom.
"How are you liking the football team? I admit I think I'm happier off the cheer team." Stefan could vaguely hear Elena's voice. Stefan instantly felt guilty. His attention drifted from Elena. The one who brought him back to this town. His pull toward her made staying away so difficult during those summer months. While he argued back and forth with Zach about the dangers of being in town.
A woman so different than her practical twin. He had to get to know her. What he found was mesmerizing. A young woman Stefan had felt that could understand him in a way so few could despite the time separating them. It's a rare connection. His connection to Elena he could understand. He felt it deep in his soul.
The way he was always aware of Rebekah was disturbing. A puzzle he was unsure he wanted to solve… yet couldn't remember how. "It's alright. I promised Zach that I'd…" Stefan drifted off as his eyes found his fellow new kids in the hall. Right next to Caroline Forbes, who waved happily as Elena.
"You'd what?" Elena asked, waving back. "We can talk about it later," She offered, noticing his eyes on his fellow new peers.
Stefan smiled. Elena Gilbert had nothing on one Katherine Pierce. "I promised him I would try harder. You know, be a part of the community, that sort of thing." He finished just as they pulled to a stop by the bubbly blonde. "Caroline, Rebekah," Stefan greeted the duo, then turned towards the loan male, "Kol."
"Stefan," Caroline smiled. "You should have stayed with us at the Grill last night! Elena told me something came up?"
Stefan rubbed the back of his neck, "Yeah. I got a message I was needed at home. It looks like my brother will stay in town longer."
Stefan internally sighed at how Caroline seemed to freeze at the mention of his brother. "I take you've met Damon." He sighed.
The Salvatore watched as the male Mikaelson scoffed, "You could say that. It's more like I needed to pull his filthy paws off Caroline. Tell me, Salvatore, do all your family members like them young?"
"Kol, that's uncalled for. Stefan is not his brother," Elena defended Stefan immediately, her brown eyes gazing at Caroline expectantly.
"Tell me, Elena, have you met men like the elder Salvatore?" Rebekah asked mockingly. Her blue eyes gazed at the brunette, already knowing the answer. "Let's just hope Damon doesn't share the same taste as his brother," She added, casually glancing over at the way Stefan winced.
Katherine really did a number on the brothers, Rebekah admitted. Her Stefan had been free of guilt, yet the Salvatore brothers were not on friendly terms. The elder tired of cleaning up after the younger…seeing the younger now. Rebekah wondered if brothers would always be the cause of your pain. Yet Rebekah couldn't imagine her life without them, even when they had a habit of murdering her lovers.
"Damon's troubled," Stefan admitted. "We didn't have the easiest time growing up. I'll talk to him for you if you'd like?"
Caroline gave him the best smile that she could. Tight, not reaching her eyes, she said, "He just flirted, that's all. He didn't hurt me or anything."
"Thank god for that," Kol muttered under his breath. "It's a pity he seems to know how to party."
"I'll make sure he won't bother again. Sometimes he doesn't have manners when drunk," Stefan said poorly, excusing his brother.
"See that you do," Rebekah says, crossing her arms. The warning bell rings, "That's the bell. What class are you heading to?"
"English," Elena finally found her voice. "You have Algebra with Caroline, right?"
"Right," Kol murmured. "See you around, Salvatore, Gilbert." The male gently wraps his arm around Caroline's shoulder and tugs her with him as Rebekah trails behind, giving Stefan a stern glance.
The duo stared at the trio for a moment, "That was weird," Elena laughed awkwardly.
"Damon tends to do that." Stefan let out a sigh, smiling ruefully at her.
"Brothers tend to do that." Elena smiled shyly back. "Have I ever told you about the first time Caroline and Bonnie met Jeremy?"
He gave her his best smile before softly speaking, "I like you, Elena. Truly, I like you a lot. I'm looking forward to spending a lot more time with you."
"Me too," Elena whispered. "I'd like for you to get to know my friends better. I know they haven't made the best of impressions."
"They are protective. I say that's a good quality to have." Stefan smiled at the way Elena immediately brightened; the grip on his hand tightened. He leaned down just a tad to allow Elena to kiss his cheek.
"Better get to class," Elena chuckled. Having been raised a gentleman, Stefan immediately offered her his arm, "Would my lady like for me to escort her to class?"
"Why, yes, I would," Elena giggled.
Stefan tried to get a certain blonde out of his mind as he escorted Elena to class. The way she glanced back at him. He was missing something. Even after the hundred and fifty years as a vampire, he felt there was so much about what he was that he didn't know. Could Rebekah be a vampire?
He hadn't been looking for a daylight ring…but how the blonde held herself. How daring Kol Mikaelson was…they knew no fear. Not wholly unusual in humans, but theirs was born from knowledge. Stefan shook his head; he would see if he met another vampire.
Wouldn't he?
XXX
Earlier that Summer….
Rebekah had few joyful memories of her human life. The world was rather dark and dangerous. Her father was born a Viking, and her mother was raised in a small village targeted by a Viking's raiding party. Her father's people were rough, battle-ready, but not stupid. Even the humans of today could see the brilliance that it took to pillage an entire people yet bring the best of it into their culture.
It was how the longest-running empires survived.
Not every man is a good one. However, if they lived past twenty, every single one of them was wise. Her parents, by trade, were severe, harsh people due to necessity. Her mother's magic was both a blessing and a curse to their father. He viewed it as a tool that could be used in an emergency, not something her mother should have dabbled in daily. Instead, her mother practiced secretly, befriending her new village's witch, Ayana, once it became clear it would be helpful in the new world.
Her father had been less than pleased when the secret came out. He tried to forbid his children their birthright. Tensions would ebb and flow in their home from their father's agitation of their dependency on her mother's magic. The way magic made her less dependent on him. Not to mention how her brother, Niklaus, breathed always set him over the edge. It was as if he could tell his wife kept a secret from him.
Not that she or her siblings knew Esther held such a secret.
One of the few happy memories she had included one in which, on her sixteenth birthday, Esther asked her to join her on her morning walk before daily chores began. Esther talked about meeting Mikael. Her mother glowed, discussing how strong he was and how safe she had felt in his presence. Esther then showed her the necklace, telling her how it was passed down from mother to daughter. It was supposed to go to the eldest, but her sister had been away when the village was attacked. Her mother had pressed the necklace into her hand and told her to run. It would help protect her when she found her sister and soon met Mikael.
Esther spoke of the necklace as if it brought her back together with her family. Returning to the remains of the village, allowing her to meet Mikael. Her life might not have been perfect, but she never regretted trusting her gut. That was when Esther pressed the necklace into Rebekah's hand, telling her that as long as she had this necklace, it would help protect her. That the magic in their family would keep her safe like it did with Esther.
Rebekah vowed that she would always keep the necklace on her, keep it safe.
It took only seconds after Caroline had left for the night, after awakening the Mikaelson siblings. For Rebekah to reach up to her neck, expecting the familiar weight of her mother's necklace, only to find it missing. Rebekah's nostrils flared, and her eyes widened in shock only seconds after seeing her fellow blonde leave.
Using her gifted speed, the original sister fled down where their coffins still were, her hands wandering into the cushions of her coffin in search of the precious steal. Screaming in frustration when she found nothing, Rebekah stood up, ready to search for her most beloved brother to find out what he did with her necklace.
Only he never touched it before. In the multiple daggering events over the years, her brother had never touched the necklace. Despite knowing the cold truth about the woman, Niklaus allowed his siblings any precious memento of their human lives if they wished for them. Rebekah knew each brother kept a braided bracelet that their brother Henrik had fashioned for each of their last human birthdays. Rebekah's was used for a decorative hairpiece during the Renaissance that was still in her possession.
The only thing Rebekah never took off aside from her Lapis was her mother's necklace. She couldn't believe that she had lost it. Rebekah remembered vividly that Stefan Salvatore had asked about it during their time in the twenties, right before she was daggered…. Patience was never Rebekah's strong suit, so it pained her to pace in her room, waiting for the only brother who would indeed have the answer to return.
"Nik," She hissed, entering his studio, leaning against the doorway as he picked up a pencil and pointed it towards his canvas. "Where is it?"
Rebekah didn't have to be in front of him to know the roll of his eyes as he mockingly said, "Rebekah, you'll have to be more specific. What exactly are you referring to?"
"Mother's necklace! It was not around my neck when I woke up. Nor is it in my coffin. What did you do?" She shrieked, stepping into the room using a manicured nail to poke her brother in the chest.
Niklaus let out a sigh more out of resignation than proper exhaustion. He dropped his pencil back onto its tray, lifting his gaze to meet his fuming sibling. With a drawl bordering on insulting, "Why would I ever touch your things? I have better things to do than hide your precious necklace."
"It was our mothers!" Rebekah sputtered in fury. "Who knows what magic it held that we haven't tapped into because of your savage hate of her."
"I didn't take the bloody thing, Rebekah! Perhaps you lost it," He sneered before softening at Rebekah's lips quivering.
"Bekah, where did you last see it?"
"The club before you daggered me. Mikael had found us and…." Rebekah's mouth opened in a gasp. "Stefan was the last person I was with before you pulled me away."
"Then maybe you lost in the shuffle. We were in a hurry, and it was already ancient when the woman gave it to you." Niklaus pursed his lips. "I shall have come companions go to Chicago, look into the fire. Perhaps they documented what they found. I will send a witch to try and track it. I assume you have another item of mother's that can be used to track it?"
XXX
"Rebekah, you have to help me!" Caroline wailed.
Rebekah blinked, quickly scanning their surroundings for any sense of danger. It was a rare day when they did not have cheer practice. When she saw the human walk towards her with surprising speed for a human, Rebekah allowed herself to be dragged behind the main building. Sighing in relief when it was clear Caroline showed no signs of physical injury. The vampire quickly thought back, trying to locate what could be causing Caroline such a panic.
When she could not come up with an explanation on her own, Rebekah took a calming breath. Calming herself down internally, the vampire raised her brow, "what's going on?"
"Miss Mystic Falls is coming up, and I still haven't found my perfect dress!" Caroline hissed. "I've been planning this for years, Rebekah. Years! Yet I can't find the damn dress. I need to kick the rest out of the water!"
Having ensured herself that Nik's girlfriend was not in any real danger, Rebekah let out a laugh. Laughing at the pout on the blonde's face, Rebekah wrapped her arm around the girl's shoulders. "Darling, you are dating my brother. We've collected thousands of dresses. We also have the cash to burn if nothing suits your fancy. What is this, Miss Mystic Falls, anyway?"
"It's part one of my amazing future," Caroline said dramatically, grinning as she practically hopped alongside the long-legged blonde beside her. "Every year, the town holds Miss. Mystic Falls is a beauty pageant that would go a long way on my college application. You also get to stand on the float in the parade and host the next year's pageant. Typically, a founding family's daughter will win."
"Nepotism at its finest, I see." Rebekah's lips formed a feral smile. Caroline might have been afraid if Caroline hadn't seen how Rebekah lit up at the idea of being a cheerleader or fan over the multiple girls' nights they had over the summer.
"Do you want to compete?" Caroline asked. "There is still time to sign up. I imagine between you and me, no one could compete."
Rebekah laughed, "As fun as those sounds, I think watching you win would be much more fun."
Caroline's nose twitched, "you don't think I can win against you?"
Rebekah shook her head, "I think it is unfair to make my brother choose between the girl warming his bed and his sister. Even if it would be fabulous to watch him get irritated."
Caroline shrugged her shoulders, still smarmy about the whole thing. She always prided herself on being the best; beating a beauty like Rebekah would prove to the entire town that Caroline Forbes was a winner. Still, it was nice to see Rebekah caring for her family enough not to focus on how winning could be good for herself.
"Now, tell me your plan for winning this little pageant," Rebekah grinned. "Perhaps my years of experience at being overlooked could be useful?"
"I have a binder at home filled to the brim with those most likely to compete," Caroline shared with an impish grin. "Honestly, the competition isn't very tough. The most serious contender will be Elena if she gets her head out of her ass and decides to compete."
Rebekah rolled her eyes internally, the doppelganger again. What was so special about her. "Truthfully, everyone seems to just fall over for Elena. She doesn't even have to try," Caroline complained.
"If she doesn't try, how is she competition for a vicious, ambitious young woman like you?" Rebekah questioned quietly, following the girl towards her own locker. She knew her brothers were outside waiting. Nik refused to allow anyone but himself to escort the blonde home. Protective prick, Rebekah thought warmly.
"That's just it. She will forget all about the pageant and then remember how much it meant to her mother. Admittedly, that year was spectacular. I've seen the footage. Then she will find herself with everything she needs just like that! Without even having to lift a finger!" Caroline groaned in frustration. "She could win too. This year, she will definitely get the sympathy points."
"Let Nik handle the dress; for a man, he actually does have taste, and for you, he will make you look ravishing. After all, it's his eyes he cares about most." Rebekah shot her a wicked grin as the blonde blushed. "What other parts are there?"
"The next highest section is the dance; we will need someone to escort us and do the traditional dance."
Rebekah snorted, "easily accomplished. All my brothers are excellent dancers, though I assume you'd prefer Nik?"
Caroline blushed again. "The talent and questionnaire portions are all rather easy. I have those planned out perfectly. I know exactly what they are looking for. My two Aunts and my grandmother won alongside Elena's mother."
Rebekah smiled, "then you shouldn't have a problem. I would allow my brother to pick out your dress. He is rather clever about these things and should be your escort unless you want the poor soul you chose to meet an unfortunate accident."
"Nik wouldn't! Besides, I've already asked him," Caroline defended.
Rebekah snorted, "he would. Now, are you coming over again tonight? This history assignment is boring, and they get so many facts wrong. I'm sure you'd much rather hear the more interesting truths."
"I wish I could, but it's the Founders Party. You guys should come!" Caroline clapped her hands excitedly. Before Rebekah could respond, the human grabbed her hand, forcing her to follow to avoid suspicion among the teens.
"Founder's Party?"
"Well, it's supposed to be a ball, but it sounds tacky. This year, it was postponed by about a week due to the increased animal attacks. It's always held at the end of September." Caroline made a face, causing her friend to smirk at the girl's expression. "It's to celebrate the founding of our town, obviously after your village, you know… Founding members bring their family heirlooms, and you get to look at history." Caroline rolled her eyes.
"I have to go, as my mom is the sheriff and a member herself. It also looks good to be a part of the many town activities," Caroline shrugs. "I'm sure Elena and Bonne will at least stop by. I think Elena needs to give Carol Lockwood her father's watch."
XXX
Caroline Forbes nervously fiddled with her hands as she parked her car into the Lockwood estate. Her blue eyes glued on the large mansion with dread; up until this point, she had gotten away with acknowledging Nik as a pen pal she met while visiting her father. Befriending his family was quickly explained away, only now the entire Mikaelson clan was back in town.
Some with a guest if Rebekah's grumbling was any indication. Now, her mother would most certainly meet Nik, and she was nervous. Having police officers for parents meant that everyone in her orbit was under intense scrutiny. All her previous boyfriends had never lasted long because dating the sheriff's daughter was not the most fun experience.
It's partly why she invested in the town and all its traditions. It kept her busy and wanted instead of being ignored by her parents and, to a lesser extent, her friends. Caroline frowned, thinking about Bonnie and Elena, who were showing her more attention than before. All because they were curious about her relation to the new family. The blonde doubted they even noticed the change.
Elena seemed almost relieved about something but also put off in a way. As if she expected Caroline to keep wanting what she had. Well, Caroline was tired of wanting people who seemed to prefer Elena. She wanted to be around more people who picked Caroline. The Mikaelsons seemed to like her enough. They were worldly compared to the people of Mystic Falls. If they wanted her around, Caroline had to be something special, right?
They saw something in her that much of her small town did not.
"Ready, Sweetheart?" Nik's voice was soft, knocking on her window. Caroline jumped slightly as she climbed out of her car, noticing his siblings surrounding the pair.
Caroline looked down at her outfit with a slight frown. She wore a braid around the crown of her head, letting the rest of her blonde hair fall to her shoulders. She chose an above-the-knee-length white dress with a white shawl around her shoulders. Caroline took a chance at glancing up at her boyfriend. His blue eyes were looking down at her intently. She blushed at the barely concealed heat behind them.
"Me? Are you ready for your first Mystic Falls party filled with judgmental small-town talk as they judge everyone?" Caroline's sass pleased Niklaus as he offered her his arm.
"This is the famous Lockwood mansion?" Kol looked around, looking exactly like his brothers as they all judged the mansion. Caroline had to hide her laugh behind her hand as they all walked towards the queue to the door.
Glancing towards the silent redhead on Finn's arm, "Hello! I don't think we've had the chance to meet yet. I'm Caroline Forbes."
The redhead glanced up and down at the blonde, "Sage, I've heard much about you from Finn."
Kol and Rebekah shared a look before shifting their faces to mimic gagging, earning a scowl from Finn. Caroline watched as Elijah slapped his siblings with such speed that if Caroline hadn't seen their eyes widen, she would have missed it. Before Rebekah could retort, her eyes found their way towards an exciting site.
"Your little friend, the blonde boy… he has a sister, correct?" Rebekah licked her lips, turning into a sly smile.
Caroline's smile turned into a scowl, seeing a familiar face, "That's Vicky. She is the opposite of Matt, but he adores her even if she turns into a carbon copy of their mother."
"Not a fan, Care-Bear?" Kol smirked.
"I wouldn't have a problem if I didn't have to watch a friend watch his sister turn into their whore of a mother," Caroline seethed, earning chuckles from the vampires surrounding her.
Sage faced the direction Rebekah had pointed to, "Who is that with her?"
Kol rolled his eyes, "the Lockwood boy. Star football player and arrogant ass."
"Meaning he is Kol's human competition," Rebekah chortled, stepping out of the way of his punch. "Play nice, brother; we are in public."
"He is hardly competition. He is just particularly aggressive for a human. I doubt he is treating the young Lady Donovan with respect due to a young lady," Kol said, scoffing at the idea of a mere human being competing for a vampire.
Sage's eyes light up in recognition, "You said wolves once ran in these parts, yes?" her question geared towards Finn.
"Yes, part of the reason for our father's insistence we be faster and stronger than the enemy." Finn looked shocked at how Nik answered Sage… it could even be considered respectful. The eldest, Mikaelson, schooled his features into a neutral face. He faced nine hundred years in a coffin due to a different worldview than his siblings. He knew the main reason his siblings hadn't fought for his release was because of his own closeness with their parents and his lack of enjoyment of their new circumstances.
Finn never liked what his parents had made him become; it was something he could only truly confide to Sage about. His siblings, every single one of them, had moments of joy in their immortality even when they lost so much to it. Rebekah forced herself into the changing fashions of the centuries. Kol took the opportunity to learn more about magic than any living being. Elijah, always the academic, enjoyed traveling, while Nik dived deeply into his darkest desires. Niklaus's most cruel behavior could always be connected to the family.
Nik was cruel with purpose; it was a trait he had shared with Mikael. Had learned at the man's feet. While Finn could only truly mimic their father's coldness, Niklaus learned and cultivated the trait. Despite not sharing the blood of Mikael, they did share a mother. A woman who could be just as cruel and cold as her chosen husband. Unlike their parents, his brother's cruelness was based on a desire to see them all safe. It was a trait he could admire even as his fingers curled at the memories of his years in the dark.
The vampires watched as the young Lockwood boy pulled the Donovan girl away from the crowd. Finn's back relaxed as Sage's hand reached behind him and gently pressed into his side. "Seems like the young Lockwood doesn't want Mommy and Daddy to see him with the girl of his choice," Kol practically giggled. "Oh, this party just got interesting." He was almost jumping along as they slowly moved up the line.
"Kol," Elijah said softly, a warning clear in his tone. He met Finn's eyes as they silently commiserated over younger siblings who had never learned in all their centuries alive. That was Finn glanced over to his most temperamental sibling to find his human partner, narrowing her eyes at the Lockwood boy.
"Fine. I'll behave," Kol pouted. "Do these people need to stand out and greet every last guest?"
Caroline rolled her eyes, "Being a stickler for polite society means you get invited in, remember. Are you telling me that the Lockwoods are werewolves?"
The Mikaelson siblings all shared a look, trusting Caroline to make the correct inference. Rebekah hesitated before answering, "Wolves used to run these woods until Mystic Falls was founded. We were not there to see the founding; it's hard to know what families married the wolf tribes of the area. It's most definitely possible with the boy's temper."
Kol snorted, "Tyler is as prickly as Nik was before Mother spelled us all to immortality. I say he most definitely is one, meaning all our brother needs is a vamp-" His mouth was closed by Elijah, who was glaring daggers at him.
"Yes, Kol, do remember," Rebekah preened at her brother being told off not just by their noble brother but by the human member of their group. Her heartbeat sped up at the idea that Caroline caught her brother's mix-up. Taking her cue, Kol stuck his tongue out in childish antics. Finn and Elijah just sighed as Sage and Niklaus looked disturbed at how they both grinned at the scene. A cough from someone behind them got Caroline's skin rolling. Ignoring the fact that there was some plan they were not telling her, the blonde turned towards the sound and felt Nik's grip around her tighten.
"Damon, " She greeted softly. "It's great seeing you again."
"Where's your brother?" Rebekah asked. Glancing over the dark-haired vampire's shoulder. "Or did he ditch you for Elena?"
Damon casually observed the group, replying in his usual salty manner, "You know, younger brothers. They much prefer the company of a pretty girl than their annoying older brother."
Luckily for Caroline, they had finally made it to the top of the queue, where she greeted Mrs. Lockwood with a smile. "Mrs. Lockwood, have you met the new family in town? This is Finn Mikaelson with his girlfriend Sage. His younger siblings Elijah, Niklaus, Tyler, and I go to school with Kol and Rebekah."
Carol Lockwood shook hands with each Mikaelson as they were introduced. Her eyes were calculating as she eyed the rich material of the eldest Mikaelsons. Decision made, she flashed them her most charming smile, "Welcome! Please come in, and I hope you enjoy learning more about our lovely town."
XXX
Much to Niklaus's surprise, the Founder's party turned into a rather fruitful day. Almost immediately upon entering the party, Rebekah locked eyes with Elena and growled low. Only the intervention of Elijah and Finn, who firmly wrapped arms around her and pulled her to their sides, stopped the blonde from massacring an entire room.
"What is the matter, sister? Surely these immature teenagers cannot anger, so" Elijah's words were soothing. Still, his eyes glanced around the room to see what upset his sister. Finn had released his grip on their sister's mouth as she spat, "that bitch has mother's necklace!"
"You'll have to be more specific, Rebekah," Sage bluntly spoke, her arms crossed as she stood to the side farthest from the siblings. Her eyes glanced around. "every female here is blasted in jewelry."
"The stupid doppelganger bint," Rebekah spat as Elijah's grip tightened. "She stole my necklace!"
Nik quickly found the doppelganger in the sea of Mystic Falls residents, having familiarized himself with that face for two lifetimes. "Ah. Miss. Gilbert does appear to be wearing our mother's necklace. Either she managed to steal it from your coffin, or dear old Stefan managed to swipe it off of you and then gave it to her."
Caroline gasped as she realized what necklace Rebekah was talking about; it was the locket that Elena had shown off as a gift from Stefan. It was old and appeared to be the type of something an old founding family like the Salvatores would pass down. It never occurred to her that perhaps Stefan had gotten it from another source. The blonde wanted to hit herself in the head; the man was a vampire. Why would stealing be a big deal?
"Stefan gave it to her; he could have placed something in it as protection? He and his brother do not get along," Caroline spoke quietly, knowing that her entire party would hear it. Kol said, "Of course, the vampire who smells like a rabbit would want to protect his precious doppelganger from his brother. Probably filled it with vervain."
Given his siblings' glances, Kol simply shrugged, "Rebekah and I have known him since the start of the year. It may have only been a few weeks and longer if you count Chicago, which he does not remember Rebekah. It's clear he no longer follows the human diet. I've caught him struggling with blood lust more times than a vampire his age should if he was feeding properly."
Nik sighed, mumbling, not thinking Caroline was still in his arms, "I figured as much. Considering how much fun Katerina had playing with the Salvatore, I was surprised to find him prowling around her descendant."
His siblings tensed while his brother's lover smirked, thinking that perhaps the party would be more fun as the blonde human turned from her boyfriend. "Who the hell is Katherine, and what does she have to do with Elena? And why the hell do you need a werewolf and vampire?" Caroline asked, half in exasperation, half pleadingly. How many times had the Mikaelsons mentioned something about Niklaus's plan today? Two? Three times, and still, she had no idea what it meant regarding her friends.
"Now is not the time, love," Nik tried to placate her, stepping closer to remove the distance she placed between them. Only he was stopped by the icy blue of her eyes stopping in front of her. The hybrid sighed, "It's a long story, Sweetheart. Perhaps when no stray ears are nearby?"
"Well, it's a good thing you have eternity to tell me," Caroline snapped. "While you lot decide what I should or should not know, I will see my friends. They might ignore me and think me a pretty dumb blonde at times; at the very least, they don't purposely keep me in the dark."
Nik felt a twinge of regret as he watched the pretty blonde walk away in a huff straight towards the Bennett witch and doppelganger, who smiled back at her. He watched as she was cocooned into their company, forced to ignore how the doppelganger glanced at his family ever so often.
"Now, that could have gone better," Kol said bluntly.
"Kol, shut up," Rebekah hissed, landing a punch to his shoulder that the vampire didn't bother to dodge.
"What?" Kol whined softly. "It's not our fault our beloved brother forgot to tell her that to break his curse, her best friend has to die. Even if she doesn't earn any of her bloody best friend awards, that doesn't mean she is going to be okay with her death."
Sage let out a breath, "all of you are idiots." The redhead raised her hand to keep the blonde vampire from squawking at being lumped in with her brothers. "All of you have known about your mother's ritual for centuries. All of you have talked to Caroline for an entire summer, while Niklaus has known her the longest; that doesn't stop any of you from being guilty of hiding it."
"It's Nik's project!" Rebekah shook her head, crossing her arms and offering the redhead a dark scowl. "Finn, why did you even bring her?"
Niklaus let out a string of quiet curses as his hand landed on his sister's shoulder. "I told him if he absolutely had to have Sage in his life, she could come here."
"Why?" Kol questioned, glancing at the redhead, and shrugged. "I don't really care who my siblings fuck. You've been a vampire for how many centuries? You have yet to show us why you should be called a Mikaelson."
Sage's fingers tightened their hold on Finn's hand. Taking a breath, Sage began, "Your brother daggered Finn for nine hundred years. I made sure to make myself scarce. I never believed you'd keep him asleep for that long. So, tell me, Kol, why the fuck should I do anything for your family when you stole the only thing I wanted?"
Niklaus struggled to keep the growl in his chest at how Sage pointed out exactly where he had gone wrong. Hadn't he just finished informing Caroline about the supernatural? Now, he had to deal with her reaction towards the ritual that would allow him full access to his birthright, the one his mother not only kept from him but cruelly ripped away once it was unleashed.
"Enough," He growled. "We are at a party. Sage is a part of this family now, no matter how the rest of us feel about it. She has more than proven her loyalty to Finn; as long as his goals align with ours, Sage is on our side."
The look Finn gave him was enough to let Niklaus know that perhaps he wasn't as horrible of a brother as his younger siblings liked to say. It was reminiscent of how he had told him the truth about the daggering, that the effects of sleepwear off after a while, even if he could not move, Finn could hear everything. It felt like a punch to the gut, knowing he had put his eldest sibling through that under the guise of ensuring his family remained whole and safe.
It was why he allowed Finn to leave to go find Sage. The redhead was the one thing Finn said gave him respite from their parent's teachings. She gave him something to look forward to, which Finn asked for in exchange for helping his brother with his goals. And so, until he could win Finn around, Sage must be made to feel, if not like she belonged, accepted due to her closeness with their eldest sibling.
XXX
Caroline was almost gleeful at seeing the way Elena became more withdrawn from Stefan as the night progressed. Talking to the brunette alongside Bonnie informed the blonde that Elena's new beau was more secretive than she would like. She could not notify Elena about her discovery of Damon and Stefan's secret via the Mikaelsons admitting to knowing Stefan in the past and the daylight ring on Damon's finger.
As mad as she was about their secret keeping, Caroline fought hard to bite down her vindictive side. As pissed as she was at the Mikaelsons and her childhood friends, she did not want to be the cause of either of their suffering. Caroline did what she did best and told Elena that she should go over and demand answers.
"I'm telling you, if he is being this cagey, it's not good news." Caroline shook her head, looking at her friend with a glance of pity. Her selfish side was doing a happy dance at Elena's misery; there was only so much a girl could stand at being second fiddle before being pleased with some misfortune, alright? Luckily, the more significant part of Caroline was concerned for her friends, surrounded by vampires.
Rebekah assured her that the Salvatores were low within the vampire ranks, barely out of their infancy in terms of their immortality. Stefan had been more of a danger to humans when Rebekah had known him in the twenties, the blonde vampire admitted, but he clearly held a different diet now than when she had known him prior to his compulsion to forget.
"I know!" Elena said frustrated, her brown eyes kept glancing over at Stefan, who appeared to be in a heated debate with his brother. "I think it's his brother they don't really get along. Stefan did tell me they fell for the same girl once."
Before either Bonnie or Caroline could respond, they quieted down as the man they recognized from earlier in the week walked towards them. Feeling a pair of eyes on her, Caroline's face split into a large smile as her boyfriend walked up to them. "Excuse me, ladies," Nik offered his most charming smile towards the confirmed doppelganger and Bennett witch while proffering his arm towards the blonde of the trio. "May I have this dance, Miss. Forbes?"
Caroline's smile turned into a frown; as happy as she was, he came to her. She was still rather peeved at him. Sighing, Caroline found herself pressing her hand against his, "Yes, you may."
Niklaus carefully pulled her away from her friends, wrapping his free arm around her waist. The music picked up, allowing the couple to fall into pace with some of the other dancers. "Caroline, I must apologize."
Caroline raised her brow, "And what exactly are you apologizing for?"
Niklaus took a step forward, locking his gaze with Caroline as she took a matching step backward. "For not sharing everything with you. I'm not used to sharing information, love."
"Don't you trust me?" She whispered.
"Absolutely," Niklaus whispered back, taking his hand above her head and leading her into a spin so she landed against his chest. "I'm trying, Caroline…trust is hard for me. I will tell you everything just…give me time, alright?"
Caroline nodded, "Not too much time."
Nik couldn't help but grin, "I wouldn't expect anything else. Have I met your friends' approval, Sweetheart?"
"You have surpassed any ideas they had about who my supposed older lover could be, "Caroline grinned as one of his hands pressed against her lower back. With ease, Caroline aligned her hand to his as her other hand pressed against his shoulder. The music began to play a new song, Niklaus easily keeping with the pace, leading Caroline with a charming grin.
"Talked about me, have you?"
Caroline shrugged as he spun her around once, "I've mostly managed to not speak about you. They knew I had made a pen-pal, but Elena's drama came first."
"We've been together for almost two years," Nik glanced over at Caroline's two human friends, anger flashing at the idea of his sweet Caroline being shuffled to the side over the doppelganger. Or perhaps Caroline decided to keep them a secret, Nik couldn't help but think. "You had no opportunities to discuss your happiness? Or is it that you are ashamed?"
As the dance ended, Caroline pulled away slightly from him; her eyes were glazed, overlooking like sapphires, Nik noted. "I've never been ashamed of you," She whispered fiercely. The music began to pick up again as a new song began to play. She tightened her hold on his hand, and Nik allowed her to drag him away from the crowds.
They passed Finn and Sage, even Elijah, who glanced up curiously until Nik waved him away. Elijah was needed to ensure that Kol didn't do anything too destructive while in the company of so many townsfolk. Once they reached the outside gardens of the Lockwood estate, Caroline let go of the hybrid's hand. Nik paused in his pace, watching as his human lover began to pace back and forth.
"When I returned from that summer trip to start my sophomore year, I wanted to shout that I met this amazing older man. Cultured, mature, filthy rich-" Caroline rolled her eyes at this, "but Elena had started dating Matt by then. The whole town, and I do mean the whole town, had been betting on when it happened. I was happy for them. I didn't want to ruin their moment." Caroline took a deep breath that she had somehow been able to avoid during her rant.
Finally, she looked at him, really looked at him. Nik felt the urge to close the space between them but held back. "I didn't mean to hide you, Nik. It just was never the right time. By then, you were a secretive pen-pal that they joked I was hiding for some silly reason. I wanted to tell them that I was the first one to fuck a hot, older foreign man," Caroline watched as his lips twirled at her description.
"Perhaps it was better this way," Nik amended, taking only two steps to close the distance between them. He cupped her face gently as their foreheads pressed together. Caroline felt her eyes close as his breath warmed her face; seconds later, she felt his lips on hers. Automatically, she pressed hers against his, kissing him as thoroughly as she was capable of as her arms wrapped around his neck. He pressed himself against her as her back felt a thump, indicating he had pushed her against a tree.
"Mmhm," Caroline moaned softly against his lips as he pulled back, allowing Caroline to catch her breath. "They were unprepared for you. I don't think they really believe that you are mine."
Nik chuckled darkly, kissing her shoulder, "Not long now."
Catching her breath, Caroline met his gaze, "Not long until what? You never did tell me what brought you to Mystic Falls. I'm not dumb enough to believe it was to date a high schooler. I'm done with the secrets."
XXX
Elena walked away from the dark-haired Salvatore brother, fury in her brown eyes as she exited the Lockwood mansion. Her mind barely paid attention as her feet took her across the estate. Only when a hand carefully wrapped around her wrist did, she turn around.
"Stefan," She breathed a sigh of relief. The Salvatore offered her a charming, not small smile as he released his grip on her wrist.
"You are fast when you want to be," Stefan chuckled. "I saw you leave in a hurry. Did Damon say something? I can talk to him if you want me to."
"He told me about the 1864 Salvatore brothers who fell in love with a pretty girl. It was just… very creepy the way he fixated on the church" Elena shivered. "It was almost as if he was talking about you and Katherine. Seems like love triangles run in your family."
Stefan laughed uneasily, "Yeah, I guess it can look that way. Damon's always been a history buff. I'm glad he seemed to stay away from your friend Caroline, right?"
Elena nodded, "Damon really creeped her out when she met him at the Grill. He's not going to be a problem, is he?"
Stefan offered Elena his arm, smiling crookedly as she lifted it across her shoulders. "I don't think he will be much of a problem anymore. I hear he plans to leave town for a while."
Stefan pushed down the cringe at lying to the young woman when her expression showed pure relief. Instead, he nudged her softly, "I'm sorry. I know I haven't been the most upfront about things. It's just things with my brother are complicated. Not exactly early in the relationship material."
Elena snorts, "Can't say I'm the only one suffering that dilemma. Caroline spent a good chunk of the time bemoaning that she knew Nik was hiding something from her but couldn't figure out what it was."
Stefan chuckled, "Nik is Rebekah and Kol's older brother, right?"
"One of many," Elena grimaced. "Caroline is an only child. I'm surprised she is handling him, having so many siblings so well. She never grasped the concept of sharing well."
Stefan raised a brow, causing Elena to laugh, "Well, one time when we were ten. She just got a brand-new doll, I can't recall exactly, but she bragged about it constantly. One of our classmates wanted to play with it. Caroline punched her in the nose."
Stefan coughed, "really?"
Elena shrugged, "to be fair, she punched the girl for making fun of Bonnie. I still have multiple instances of which Caroline did not share well. It's just shocking she is handling a big family so well."
"People do change, you know." Stefan didn't say that the woman who wore her face before was far different than the woman she was now. His grip tightened as his superior, hearing, picked up his angry brother, trying to seduce another guest. Stefan kept his face neutral, knowing that his brother would soon get a taste of vervain-tainted blood.
"It's Caroline!" Elena continued with a smile. "I love her, but she is all about the town activities, cheerleading, being the head of every committee. She thrives on being in control. It's hard being around her sometimes."
"I get it, but maybe this guy is good for her," Stefan encouraged. "I want to be honest with you, Elena. Can we schedule some time to talk tomorrow? I owe you an explanation, but I saw my brother dive into the Lockwoods open bar. I should go get him," The vampire lied.
Elena drew a hair behind her ear, "Alright. We can talk later, but we are going to talk."
"I promise," Stefan vowed, kissing her forehead as he dropped her off by her car before jogging towards an unknown destination. Elena let out a soft sigh as a smile flew across her lips. Caroline's warning rang in her ear. Elena was cautious about what he was hiding, suspecting it had something to do with his brother and potentially a family history of love triangles?
Who would teach their children that? Elena thought to herself, rolling her eyes as she remembered how the Lockwoods bragged about owning slaves for centuries. Most of the founding families had some skeletons in their closets. So lost in her thoughts when she turned to unlock her car she didn't see a man walking by.
"Katherine?"
Elena blinked as she recognized one of the older siblings she had glimpsed earlier. "I'm sorry, I don't know who Katherine is. My name's Elena." The brunette introduced herself as a warning bell went off in her head. Who was this Katherine she kept hearing about? They couldn't be the same person, could they? The name was repeated around her but was famous over the centuries; perhaps it was just a coincidence.
"Apologies. You just look so much like my girlfriend," Elijah smiled at the doppelganger, glancing up in the direction he had watched the Salvatore go. "She said she was coming into town tonight and would meet me here."
"Oh. I hope she contacts you soon. Do you need to make a call? I have my cellphone?" Elena offered. "I know how hard it can be to fit a phone in the dress code the Lockwoods usually request."
Elijah chuckled, "That is very sweet of you, but I have mine. Are you on your way home?"
Elena nodded, "Yeah, it's getting late, and I did promise my Aunt Jenna I wouldn't stay late. It's why we took separate cars tonight. You are Kol and Rebekah's brother, right?"
"One of many, actually. Finn is the oldest; I was just going to get the car. I'm afraid Finn and I have to call it a night early. Business meeting in the morning."
"I won't keep you," Elena offered him a smile. "It was a pleasure..?"
"Elijah Mikaelson."
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Elijah."
A.N: 2.0 Finished on 4/27/23