Caroline had just navigated the sleek curves of the road to the Salvatore Boarding House, her headlights slicing through the night, to drop Elena off. Now, the car hummed softly as they traced the familiar path to Bonnie's house, the atmosphere a blend of relief and the residual warmth from their unexpectedly pleasant girls' night out. So pleasant in fact that Rebekah briefly contemplated putting in a good word for her brother - well, two of her brothers actually. But she decided against it, understanding that while she had spent a nice day with Bonnie and Caroline and she hoped the two girls felt the same, they weren't exactly BFFs, so the love department still felt like forbidden territory.
The car's gentle purr came to a halt in Bonnie's driveway. The brunette unclicked her seatbelt and leaned over to envelope Caroline in a warm, lingering hug. She then pivoted towards Rebekah, her eyes holding a glimmer of amusement.
"So… should we hug or something?" Bonnie ventured, her tone teetering between jest and sincerity.
Caroline burst out laughing at the awkwardness between her friend and Rebekah.
Rebekah shot Bonnie a pointed look.
"Right. That would be too much."
"Yes." Rebekah confirmed with a nod.
"Ok then, see you around." Bonnie declared casually, though her eyes were warm. To Caroline, she added, "Care, text me when you get home." She then slipped out of the car with grace, her silhouette blending with the shadows of her home as she waved them off. The engine purred to life again, and the two blondes departed.
Rebekah's mind wandered. She knew this would most certainly be her first and last night out with Elena. With Bonnie, she wasn't sure. They'd had some fun. The witch had turned out ot be agreeable company, but Rebekah knew she was fiercely loyal to Elena, perhaps even more so than Caroline. Rebekah really hoped she would get to spend more time with Caroline though. As Matt had repeatedly told her, she did have quite a bit in common with the other blonde vampire - more than a similar taste in men. Besides, she knew nothing would please her brother more than to see her make nice with the woman he coveted.
From the moment she and Matt had kindled their romance, Rebekah felt an unsettling rift weaving its way between her and Klaus. It was an intangible, uneasy distance, born, perhaps, from what she could only interpret as jealousy from her once closest confidant. Initially, the notion had a forbidden sweetness to it — her favorite brother, envious of her human love — and she basked in that rarity, flattered and secretly thrilled. But at this point, it was seriously starting to mess with her mind. Rebekah simply missed the special complicity she and Klaus used to share. She longed for the return of their unique understanding, that silent language spoken in shared glances and half-smiles. Perhaps, seeing her bond with Caroline would help her get back into her brother's good graces.
The silence in the car was a comfortable lull until Caroline's voice, warm as the summer breeze, broke through.
"Against all odds, I enjoyed today with you."
"Thank you… me too," Rebekah responded, the corners of her lips curling into a sincere smile.
"I'm sorry about Elena." Caroline apologized. "I know she acted kind of bitchy today. But she really has the sweetest hear. It's just there's a lot of… history between you guys, still raw and gnarled." She defended her best friend.
Rebekah nodded, understanding yet resolute. "I get it. There's a lot we need to sort through. But, and I mean no offense, it's not something I'm eager to do. I don't like Elena, I never have and I probably never will. There's just this thing about her aura, a sense of entitlement that I cannot seem to stand. So as much as I love Matt…"
Caroline simply nodded, her eyes steadfast on the dark road unwinding before them, accepting the unsaid words that hung heavy between them.
As Caroline's vehicle eased into the opulent embrace of the Mikaelsons' driveway, Rebekah's voice emerged again, softer. "Thank you for the ride. You didn't have to."
"No problem." She paused. "We should do this again someday."
"Um…"
"Just the two of us. No Bonnie. No Elena." Caroline reassured her.
"Okay. I would love to."
"Great, so we stay in touch."
Rebekah nodded. As she prepared to disembark, an impish spark ignited in her eyes. "Will you come in, say a brief hello to Nik?"
Caroline shook her head in response.
"Come on. Don't make me drag you in." she insisted. "Nik will kill me otherwise!"
She laughed at the other blonde's comment and a thought immediately entered her mind. 'Was Klaus really so obvious about his 'feelings' for her?' Even with his siblings?
"I'm sorry. I believe I've reached my Mikaelson quota for the day," she said half-jokingly, the corners of her mouth twitching upwards. "But do relay my greetings to 'Nik'."
This time, it was Rebekah's turn to laugh. She then nodded and the two blondes shared a parting handshake, a seal on the evening's unexpected camaraderie. Caroline lingered only until Rebekah's form disappeared into the grandeur of her ancestral home and then drove off.
oOoOoOo
Klaus lay in his bed, the soft glow of the moonlight seeping through the curtains. In his hand, he held a pencil, its tip dancing over his sketchbook that rested on his lap. He was recreating an image of Caroline, her visage from the Founder's Party etched in the corridors of his memory.
As he drew, his mind couldn't help but wander back to the night of his mother's ball, where she had been nothing short of ravishing in a similar dress. He recalled how she had accused him of trying to buy her off with a fancy dress and an expensive bracelet when in reality, he had just reckoned a woman of her order and caliber deserved the best the world had to offer.
They had shared their first dance that enchanting evening and they had had their first real conversation… even though he had already started opening up to her a couple of days before on the occasion of him saving her life on her birthday.
Her candidness, both gentle when they'd briefly discussed their complex relationships with their fathers and fierce when she'd hold him off in regards to his sire bond with Tyler, had struck a chord deep within him.
'A feisty one', he had thought to himself.
Rebekah had returned from her girls' day out less than an hour ago. Klaus, ever so curious and uncharacteristically eager, had besieged her with questions about her outing. Rebekah had merely chuckled and rolled her eyes at her brother's lack of countenance whenever Caroline Forbes was involved.
Klaus was taken aback to learn that his sister and Caroline had plans to venture out together again soon. He of course knew they had a couple of things in common but he hadn't expected them to come to that realization so fast. But then again, he would only believe it when he would see it with his own eyes.
His mind a whirlwind of thoughts about the captivating blonde, Klaus reached for his phone. He crafted a message, his fingers surprisingly hesitant over the cool screen.
Klaus 11:19 pm
Good evening, love
I was hoping to see you tonight.
He received a reply almost instantly.
Caroline 11:20 pm
Good evening
Klaus 11:20 pm
How are you?
Caroline 11:21 pm
I'm fine, thank you.
I asked Rebekah to tell you I said "Hi"
Klaus 11:22 pm
She did.
It brightened my evening. Thank you.
Klaus 11:24 pm
Caroline,
Would you be willing to go on a date with me tomorrow?
Caroline nearly let her phone slip through her fingers in astonishment at his words. She should've anticipated this; a mere exchange of pleasantries would have come through a phone call from Klaus, not a text.
Caroline was right, Klaus had effectively chosen to text her because he feared facing yet another of her common rejections, ones that he seemed uniquely privileged to receive.
What was she supposed to respond? She couldn't, with all her common sense, actually say yes. Her heart raced, a flurry of reasons why she should decline crowding her mind. Yes, the Founder's Party had been a magical blur of knowing smiles and longing gazes, but still… this was Klaus. HE was still Klaus.
Moreover, with her impending departure looming like a shadow over her, engaging in what could bloom into affection seemed a perilous game. Why risk entwining their lives only to sever the ties soon after, leaving nothing but echoes of what might have been and the bitter taste of heartache? No, Caroline Forbes was smarter than that. She didn't need yet another person to miss and make her feel bad; she had her friends for that: Elena, Stefan, Bonnie and Matt.
Klaus 11:33 pm
Caroline?
Caroline 11:35 pm
I do not think that's a good idea
Klaus 11:36 pm
Please?
Klaus 11:38 pm
I will be on my best behavior.
Caroline 11:42 pm
Fine.
What time should I be ready?
Klaus' heart leapt, a triumphant smile spreading across his face, his eyes alight with the joy of a thousand suns.
Klaus 11:43 pm
I'll pick you up tomorrow morning at 9 am.
Sweet dreams, love.
Klaus set the phone down gently on the nightstand, as if it were a fragile relic rather than a piece of modern technology. His heart fluttered, soaring with an emotion he struggled to recognize. Hope. His feelings for Caroline had been held captive in a sealed chest in a corner of his heart for 7 years, and now that she was back in his life, the chest had been unlocked, and those feelings were threatening to overwhelm him completely. The silence of his room was no longer oppressive but comforting. He looked down at a blank page of his sketchbook, a canvas upon which he could paint his burgeoning feelings in the hues of possibility.
Caroline had agreed to a date. Caroline Forbes, the woman who had become his unexpected north star in the shadow-drenched infinity of his existence, had said yes. The weight of that affirmation settled in the pit of his stomach, a delightful turmoil of nervous anticipation and barely contained joy.
A soft chuckle emanated from his lips, the sound alien and welcome in the solitude of his chambers. He had lived countless lifetimes, been both monster and savior, yet the thrill of tomorrow's promise made him feel startlingly human. It was a sliver of normalcy, a strand of time where he wasn't Klaus the Original Hybrid, the King of New-Orleans, but simply Klaus, a man smitten by a woman's grace, her spirit, her fire. He realized, in the quiet with only the moon as his confidante, that the prospect of spending mere hours with Caroline Forbes had him more exhilarated than the promise of eternity without her.
His thoughts drifted to the details of a date he had yet to plan. Would she favor the simplicity of a picnic under the sprawling limbs of a mighty oak, or the quiet elegance of an art gallery, where they could lose themselves in colors and shapes, metaphors and strokes? Deciding to trust in his knowledge of Caroline, Klaus reached for his phone and set out to plan a day they would both remember forever.
oOoOoOo
In the quietude of dawn, as usual, Elijah was the first to rise in the Mikaelson household. With the new day's light barely brushing the sky, he embarked on his morning ritual. After savoring his breakfast, a mere cup of tea whose steam danced in the cool morning air accompanied with an English blueberry muffin, he ventured outside. His footsteps, a soft patter against the ground, carried him to the mailbox, its contents a daily assortment of the mundane and the occasional intrigue.
He sorted through the mail with practiced ease, his fingers recognizing the familiar texture of his correspondence. The letters bearing the names of his siblings were set aside on the table adjacent to the dining area, waiting for when they would eventually arise.
Retreating to the sanctuary of his room, Elijah closed the door with a soft click. The world outside his room ceased to exist as his attention was wholly claimed by the letters in his grasp. One, in particular, stood out like a beacon in the night—a script so elegant and distinctive that it could belong to none other than her.
He placed the remaining letters on his desk and settled onto the warm sofa, its familiar cushions embracing him. His fingers deftly unsealed the envelope, extracting the treasure within.
08/09/13
Dear Elijah,
I trust this letter will find its way into your hands. I hope it finds you well. As well as one can be when one shares space with a psychopath sibling with murderous tendencies. Living with Niklaus must surely be trying, even for one with such endless patience.
I have been trying to keep my distance as we agreed. It hasn't been without difficulty though. I believe you know my silence does not mean I do not think about you… I never stop… And I hope you sometimes think about me too.
There is a lot I want to say. And even more that I can't say. Writing has never been my preferred form of communication. I have always been more adept at expressing myself through my actions. You, however, weave magic with words. I sometimes find myself revisiting your old letters – whenever the ache is too intense and I am out of breath. Your words make me feel close to you.
I simply wanted to reassure you that I am fine. You do not need to worry about me.
My wish, whispered to the night sky, is for your presence here beside me.
With all my affection,
K.M
Elijah's eyes traced her words once more, each a gentle caress, a lament for their shared solitude. He remained on the sofa, the letter's edges softened from his touch, his gaze distant. Time held no dominion over him as he sat there, lost in the sea of what-ifs and memories.
How could she even wonder if he thought about her?
He never stopped.
He missed her. He yearned for her. With a fervency that time seemed only to sharpen. With a quiet, resolute ache for the woman who remained, as ever, just beyond reach.
Katerina Mikaelson.
oOoOoOo
Klaus and Caroline were nestled in the plush seats of his sleek SUV, the vehicle slicing through the serene road back to his abode. The world outside was a blur of tranquility, but inside, an awkward hush hung heavy between them. The atmosphere was thick with a tendril of anxiety and reluctant excitement.
Caroline was the epitome of casual elegance, clad in a grey, pattern-embellished top paired seamlessly with blue denim jeans — an attire chosen under Klaus' specific guidance. She had, however, in anticipation of an unforeseeable turn the day might take, also packed a ravishing red dress and a pair of black high-heels, their presence a silent acknowledgment of the endless possibilities that a day with Klaus held. The latter was dressed with a dark shirt buttoned to the top and a matching pair of jeans.
"You are uncharacteristically silent today, love." Klaus eventually pierced the quietude, his eyes steadfast on the road before him.
"I've never had a fluent tongue in your company." She said, lifting her gaze towards him. "Besides, I'm steeling myself for a day in the lair of the Big Bad Hybrid." Her words were playful, a teasing lilt to them.
He spared her a quick glance, his expression inscrutable, "Is that the guise in which you see me?"
Caroline swiveled to study his profile; every line and angle that composed his visage was schooled into impassivity, a mask she knew he bore well whenever he felt too vulnerable for comfort.
"You already know the answer to that question."
A small silence stretched between them once more before Caroline offered a more tangible response, her voice a soft feather in the dense air, "I do not see you like that." She paused. "If I did, I wouldn't be here."
oOoOoOo
Upon their arrival at the stately Mikaelson Mansion, Klaus alighted with a fluid grace, swiftly rounding the vehicle to gallantly open Caroline's door.
At the sight of his siblings in the driveway and the realization that none of them had left the house yet, Klaus let out a low growl.
As Caroline treaded cautiously beside Klaus towards the entrance, Kol, ever the charmer, swept forward, seizing her hand and pressing his lips in a feathery kiss upon her skin, "Good morning, sweet Caroline."
A smile, polite yet distant, graced her lips, even as Klaus sent a lethal glare sharp enough to cleave mountains towards his impudent younger brother, "Back off, Kol."
"Oh, relax! Can't you see we're on our way?" Kol quipped, his eyes flicking towards his irked brother but lingering, a tad too appreciatively for Klaus' liking, on the stunning figure beside him. "Unless of course, you want us to stay…" His voice dropped to a sultry whisper as he addressed Caroline.
Her reply was a stammer, a slight hitch in her normally smooth demeanor, "Well, I don't – I don't mind." She warily glanced at Klaus and smirked as she saw his jaw tightening.
Rebekah and Elijah, keen observers of the unfolding drama, couldn't stifle their amusement, the sound a soft melody in the tense air.
"Yeah, let's not pretend Nik wouldn't literally dagger you." Rebekah snarkingly commented.
"Perhaps, it's time for us to go." Elijah interjected, always the voice of reason.
"Finally a brilliant idea! Thank you, Elijah!" Klaus exclaimed, not even bothering to hide his high annoyance from Caroline.
"To the pleasure of seeing you again, Miss Forbes." Elijah said with a congenial smile.
"I hope so Elijah. And please call me Caroline." She requested, the smile reciprocated, warmth in her tone.
Elijah inclined his head in acquiescence, holding the door open for his sister.
Elijah nodded and opened the door for his sister.
"See you later, Caroline." Rebekah chimed, sliding gracefully into the car, met with an assured "Definitely" from the blonde on the driveway.
"Farewell, sweet Caroline," Kol offered one final hand kiss, his eyes gleaming with mischief before he too disappeared into the vehicle.
Once his siblings left, Klaus, seemingly emboldened or perhaps just relieved, captured Caroline's hand in his and lead her into his house, surprised when she didn't instinctively pull away.
The second Caroline set foot in the Mikaelsons' Manor, she froze, her breath stolen.
"Oh my God…" she gasped, her voice a reverent whisper as awe painted her features. Before her lay an opulent expanse that transcended location, transcended reality. "We're in Paris!" The words, imbued with wonder, echoed through the grand hall, testament to a day that promised to be anything but ordinary.
Ok, there is a lot to unpack here.
You just read my thoughts. It's my turn to read yours. Please comment and share them with me!
Until next time, take care and stay safe.