One year later
They get a lot accomplished in simply one year.
Caroline ached to see Chloe again, so they headed back to London. Chloe nearly cried with joy upon learning Klaus and Caroline were a couple. Even with Chloe's generous hospitality, Klaus insisted they stay only a week and soon they flew to Spain. He took her to Barcelona, then onto Zaragoza. From there, they traveled down south to Madrid and Toledo, where they stayed for a while because Caroline adored the culture and the people. Finally he took her to Seville and they somehow landed right on the coast in Gibraltar. And only half a year had gone by.
One morning she woke up to see the beautiful view of the sun rising over the water from their hotel window. Klaus' body is pressed to her back, his arm wrapped possessively around her. She swore there was no better thing in the world then to wake up in Klaus' arms.
As silent as a mouse, she wiggled her way out from his arms, secretly adoring the way his arm hugged tighter around her. She made it out from underneath him, giggling at how he mumbled something under his breath and grasped helplessly at the empty sheets where she just a moment ago lay.
Her lips met his, his mouth resting in a reassured smile.
"I'll be back soon," she whispered. It was early and she knew that the beach wouldn't be empty for so long. And it didn't hurt that her lover was a deep sleeper.
Pulling on Klaus' tee and a pair of shorts, she crossed over the room to the balcony and hopped down, landing lightly on the sandy beach below. Running her fingers through the floury sand, she smiled gleefully, before racing down to the water. She adored the beach. It was one of the few places where she felt absolutely free and peaceful. Seeing a far off lighthouse, she resolved to walk to it and began to slowly walk, kicking her feet in the waves that rolled onto the sand. It was then, that Caroline finally allowed herself to ponder about life back home.
Even though the life her and Klaus lived was paradise, her friends back at home were facing their own horrors.
Elena was a vampire. What made it worse was that she had died drowning in her car at Wickery Bridge, the same place where her parent drowned. From what she had heard, Matt was also in the car and when Stefan was trying to pull Elena out, she had forced Stefan to save Matt, thus Elena had drowned. Damon's blood had somehow been in Elena's system, something Caroline hadn't quite heard directly as she was crying over the phone too loudly. Elena had decided to transition. Klaus hadn't said a word, but held her as she cried on the phone and talked to Stefan, who had said that it would safer to not come and make Elena more anxious. Damon and Stefan were having enough trouble as it was teaching her the ropes.
When Stefan hung up the phone, Caroline threw her cell at the wall, letting it crash as she sobbed even harder.
"Caroline, shhh! Sweetheart..." Klaus turned her over and hugged her tightly to his body, letting her tears soak his shirt.
"Sh..She never wanted this..." Caroline finally said after a while, her body hanging limply in his arms and her face glistening with tears. "She wanted to get married one day and have a few kids. She even...even told what their names were going to be," she said with a watery laugh. Klaus lifted her up and laid her on the bed, allowing her to cuddle up and lay her head on his chest.
"I guess I feel like I should be happy...you know because she and I will have eternity to be friends...but she's never going to be the same," a few more tears fell and Klaus held her tighter.
"Aren't you going to say something?" she asked after a few moments of more silence. His silence scared her. "Are you upset because you won't have her to make hybrids?"
"Caroline, you know I never meant to do that ever again once you became mine," he said with a small air of offense.
"I'm sorry," muttered Caroline, but he wasn't finished.
"I was just thinking that none of us wanted this. You surely didn't, my siblings and I never imagined living the way we do now...I'm just sorry that you have to see your friend go through something you know is so horrid."
She wished deep down that Klaus cared for Elena as much as she did, but she knew that Klaus could never feel full compassion for his doppelganger. But at least he tried...and that's all she asked for.
Caroline shook her head. It probably wasn't good to dwell on such thoughts. She didn't want Klaus to feel her grief forever.
She did, however, feel an unnatural tightness in her chest. She looked at her whereabouts and realized she was almost right below the lighthouse. Whilst in her thoughts, she had walked too far away from the hotel.
"Shit," she muttered. This is exactly what Klaus had told her not to do. With their bond, the farther away from each other they were, the more pain they would feel...and the pain would be magnified for their partner. Klaus would probably be waking up in pain right now, wondering where the hell she was.
She turned around, intent on getting back to the hotel, when she heard his distinct voice in her mind.
Caroline!
He sounded scared. Besides the pain in her chest, she could now also feel his anger and vexation at her not taking heed of his words.
"Caroline!"
She only had a moment to open her mouth when a body hit her full on the back and strong arms turned her around. She gasped when Klaus' mouth fell harshly onto hers, shivering when she heard him moan.
"You fool. You beautiful fool," he whispered into her mouth, before kissing her again. His hands swept over her body, lifting her legs around his waist so he could hold her closer. The pain in her chest was absolutely gone.
Do you understand now, imp?
She shivered at the intensity and anger of his voice. She nodded frantically, taking his head into her hands. She stared at him, hating that she had made him feel so lost.
All I wanted was to take a look around. I'm so sorry. I didn't understand.
He leaned his head down against her forehead, breathing in deeply. "I think you have another apology to make, love..."
She looked at him with confusion.
"Ummm...I'm sorry that I'm such an idiot?"
He chuckled, but shook his head. He leaned down so his voice was right at her ear. "It really hurts a man's pride when he wakes to find his lady missing..."
Caroline chilled at the threat in his voice, but lifted up her face to kiss him. "Do I get a punishment?"
Klaus raised an eyebrow and smiled that devilish smile only he could do. "Only for the naughtiest girls," and in a flash, he was running back down the beach, grasping Caroline to him as he raced back to the place where a ravishing punishment awaited.
Kol and Bonnie are seated on Bonnie's couch, sharing a bowl of kettle corn and watching a movie. To Bonnie's relief, Kol hadn't brought up the topic of Elena once he came over. She needed time to be away from the Salvatores and even Elena for a bit after the drama and Kol was her best escape. He only hugged her once he came into the house, letting her know that he understood, before pulling out a few movies and letting her take the lead.
They sat in silence the entire first movie, both having much to say, but neither knowing exactly how to begin. Bonnie was the first one to speak, after the movie ended.
"Elena is different."
Kol turned to look at her, but he only showed sadness...to her surprise.
"I know."
"I know she's a vampire now and I'm trying to understand that she's never going to be the same...but she's too different. She doesn't want to see me as much, she just stays locked up in her room with Stefan, Damon, or Jeremy...just talking to them. She told me once that Stefan takes her hunting at night, sometimes at day. I made her a daylight ring so she can walk in the sun, but other than that she doesn't seem like she wants to see me..." Bonnie stopped talking. It was too much, letting it all out.
Kol shifted closer to her from his position. For the first time, he's not thinking about making her uncomfortable or trying to woo her. He wanted to ease her pain, rid it from her body like a disease.
"She might be like that for some time, Bonnie. Everything she's feeling is being magnified. She's probably feeling insecure, sad, frustrated...she feels like her whole world is crashing down. Just know that she loves you. You are still her best friend and soon the pieces will slowly fall back into place."
To his surprise, Bonnie's head fell lightly onto his shoulder.
"Thanks Kol. I needed to talk to somebody."
He smiled, looking down at the dark beauty. Who knew that one day he would fancy a witch?
"You're welcome, Miss Bennett."
She turned to stare at him, his eyes already looking down adoringly at her. They stare at each other for what feels like forever, until Bonnie does the unthinkable.
She kisses him.
He doesn't even know it happened until Bonnie cupped his cheek and she's kissing him again, her lips hesitantly tasting his. Through his shock, he naturally kisses back, relishing the way she smiled contently when his hand slid up her side. Her dark skin was just as smooth as it looked. His fingers lightly traced her skin as they hesitantly kissed each other a little more passionately, Bonnie sweeping her tongue along his lower lip.
His lips are on her neck when he stops, smirking when Bonnie moans in frustration.
"Are you sure you want this, Bonnie? Once this is over, I'm fairly sure there's no going back."
She growled, pushing him down on the couch so she's straddling him. "Positive," she whispers. She's done resisting him.
When she stripped off her shirt, that's all the answer he needs. And Bonnie Bennett loses herself to the wonders of Kol Mikaelson.
Klaus shut off his phone with a heavy laugh. "Caroline, I have some..."
"Klaus, I'm a vampire, I heard the whole thing."
So Bonnie and Kol were a couple. She thought she would never see the day that Bonnie gave herself to Kol, but life did have a thing of messing up her beliefs.
"I must say Kol sounded very happy," Klaus commented indifferently. To Caroline, however, she could feel how happy he was for his brother. Another Mikaleson was finally having some luck.
Klaus' hands started to reach under the back of Caroline's shirt, resulting in Caroline squirming like a child.
"Klaus, seriously? Can you last one day without being horny?"
"You're one to talk, sweetheart. I want to see your scar."
Caroline silenced at that, allowing Klaus to lift the back of her shirt. She felt his fingers trace the scar tissue on her back, her permanent reminder of her first epic survival story.
"It looks the same, doesn't it?" She asked sadly, still not used to the idea of having a scar that ugly for the rest of her life.
She felt his lips on it and heard his loving voice again.
It's still just as heroic looking as when I first saw it. Are you sure you still want to do this, love?
She turned to him and kissed him full on the mouth. I'm sure.
They landed in Athens in the late morning, giving them time to send their belongings off and stroll down the pathway in the woods.
"Do you think it's still there?" Caroline asked, unconsciously squeezing Klaus' hand tightly.
"I know it's still there, love," he reassured her. He couldn't believe that she was brave enough to come back to the city were her nightmare had come to life. How could it be possible to love her more and more every day?
They found the clearing soon enough. Caroline let go of Klaus' hand, walking slowly to where the grave lay, hidden to all but her and those who had been with her that day.
Klaus watched her sit down next to it. She smiled and began to talk. Klaus turned away, letting her have her privacy.
When she came back, there were tears in her eyes, but she smiled up at Klaus with a happy gaze.
"I did what I wanted to do," she said simply, holding out her hand for him. Klaus shook his head and she frowned in question.
"I wish to say a few words too," he responded and walked to gaze down at the grave. The flowers lay dead on top of it, but still looked beautiful under the bright sun.
"I hope you are with your family. I, of all people, would understand how much they mean to you. Rest in peace, Dominic. And thank you...thank you for saving my Caroline."
He took Caroline's hand, laying a kiss to it when a single tear dropped down her cheek. And with a last glance, he led her away from the past and into her future.
For she still had so much of the world to see.