Loving you Forever

Chapter 8

She could feel his warmth surrounding her as she fluttered her eyes open, sunlight streaming through the open curtain. His arm was secured firmly around her waist, keeping her pinned against his side with her head on his chest. Caroline slowly lifted her head and looked at his sleeping face, the only time she thought he looked as innocent as he really was at heart. "It is rude to stare my love." He whispered, a smirk forming on his lips.

"Only at things that are not yours." She answered and kissed his bare chest, before allowing her head to fall back to it.

"And I am yours, now and forever." Nik replied, kissing the top of her head, "Do you want to talk more about it?"

"I think I am mostly still just confused about everything that it means to be a vampire." She whispered, snuggling deeper into him, unsure if she was making sure he couldn't leave her or to ensure that she didn't leave him.

"Where would you like me to start?" He asked, his voice careful and tense.

"You said you could not go in the sun without a magical ring or you would die, is there anything else that can kill a vampire?" She was amazed at her own question, but she assumed if he told her that it would prove that he trusted her.

"Yes, a normal vampire can be killed by an over-exposure to vervain, a wooden stake through the heart, beheading, removal of the heart, fire or a bite from a werewolf. As an Original though, it is nearly impossible to do any such thing or to be even assured that it would work. Obviously we have not tried the beheading, or heart removal, but the others have proved to be unsuccessful." Nik answered her honestly.

"You said you were over three hundred years old, will you live forever?" Caroline couldn't even really fathom what living forever would even entail.

"Yes, we will never die." He replied, and Caroline caught a hint of something that sounded like regret.

"So, I will grow old and die, but you will forever remain like you are now?" She couldn't imagine that either, him always looking like he did now and her graying with age.

"Yes, I will always look the same. If you wish, you may grow old, and live a normal life, I will respect your decision…." He couldn't bring himself to finish his sentence.

"My decision? I could become like you if I wished?" She asked, sitting up, and looking over her shoulder to look at him.

"I can make you a vampire Caroline. We could be together for the rest of time." He responded, doing his best to stop himself from dragging her back down to him, "But that is not something we need to discuss right now."

"You would want me with you for the rest of time?" Caroline asked, astonished that he would even suggest it.

"Of course, I told you. There is no one I have ever loved more than you and I never want to lose you." He told her, not sure why she was still so hesitant to believe him.

"How did you become a vampire?" Caroline questioned, and twisted her body around so she was sitting facing him, instead of having to look over her side.

"That is a very long, complicated, and ugly story." He answered, trying to evade the question.

"You promised to tell me everything." Caroline pointed out, giving him a glare for good measure.

Nik let out a sigh as he admitted defeat, "We grew up in a land that is across the ocean, very few people know that it even exists. I was born there, we all were. My parents relocated to that part of the world after the death of an older brother to a plague. They wanted to raise their family somewhere without a constant fear of death against something they couldn't prevent. Well, they weren't as right about our new home as they wished they could be. My youngest brother, Henrik, was killed when he was sixteen by some creatures, werewolves, that lived in a nearby village. In response, my mother, who was a very powerful witch, turned my father, siblings and I into vampires, the first vampires." He gave her the shortened and least gory version he could think of.

"That sounds awful." Caroline commented, "So where is your father then? You said he was turned as well."

"That is an even more complicated story." Nik responded and pushed himself off his back, swinging his legs over the edge of their large bed, "And I would rather not discuss it right now."

"Then we won't talk about it." Caroline told him, running her hand over his shoulders, "You can tell me about it when you are ready to share it. I am done pressuring you into telling me things before you are ready."

Nik turned to look at her, "Tell me again why you are still here? What have I done to deserve this loyalty, this understanding?"

"Because I love you, with my entire being. I don't care what happened in your past, as long as I am allowed to be a part of your future." She responded, running a finger up and down his cheekbone.

"I will love you forever." He told her and gave her a long lingering kiss, "And I promise never to keep anything from you again."

"That is all I ask." Caroline replied and gave him another long kiss. When they separated she said, "I think I will go for a walk through the market today. I think all the business will do me some good as I think on this some more."

"Of course. Take as much time as you need. I promise not to pressure you into making any decisions." Nik told her, and pressed a kiss to her forehead, "I love you."

Nik entered the main sitting room with a sigh, and he immediately poured himself a strong glass of liquor. Edward looked up from the parchment he was reading and Raymondstopped interrogating their sister about her whereabouts during the night.

"Nik, are you alright?" Rebekah asked as Nik sat down in a chair next to Edward.

"I told Caroline everything last night." He answered before downing half of his drink.

"Did she leave?" Raymondquestioned, moving to sit closer to his brothers, Rebekah close behind him.

Once all his siblings were seated around the fire, Nik answered, "No, she didn't. She is being very understanding, and accepting of everything."

"Are you sure? I don't see how any woman would be happy with the amount of lies we have shared with her over the last few months. Or be okay with the fact that she is now a member of a family of monsters." Raymondput out there, having a hard time believing his brother's words.

"I would have the thought the same thing, but she does not feel that way. Caroline says that she loves me, and that is more than enough for her to look past what I am, what we all are." He told them, and finished off his drink.

"Does she know the truth behind her previous husband's death?" Edward inquired, carefully watching his younger brother.

"Yes, she figured that out on her own." Nik answered and went to pour himself another drink.

"Where is Caroline now?" Rebekah asked, she was very concerned for the well-being of her best, and only friend.

"Getting ready to go the market, she wants a little distraction and time to herself." He responded, not looking away from his task.

Rebekah flashed from the room before any of her brothers could even think of what to say on Nik' statement.

Nik turned and looked at his brothers, "She went to talk to her, didn't she?"

"Of course. Rebekah loves Caroline as well, we all do. She wants to make sure she is alright." Edward replied, "Did you ask her to turn?"

"I gave her the option, she has not yet told me her intentions about it." Nik replied.

"She needs to be quick about it. We have already been here almost three years, he is going to find us soon, he always does." Raymondreminded them, wishing that they didn't have to live their lives with so much worry.

"I am aware of that Kol, but we must give her time. This is a lot to take in." Nik said with a glare aimed at his younger brother, "Do not bother her about it. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand." Raymondreplied with a huff before he left the room, "Just don't let her think too long Nik, or you might regret it."

Nik and Edward were silent as they watched Raymondleave. Once he was gone, Edward said, "He isn't wrong. The longer she stays human, the more danger she is in. I know you know this, but I just want to make sure you are thinking about it."

Nik just nodded his response, and lost himself to his thoughts as Edward returned to his papers.

Caroline was about to open the door to head out to the carriage when a hand stopped her. She turned around and was met with the blue eyes of her best friend, "Care, I can talk to you for a little bit please?"

"Of course Bekah." Caroline replied with a small smile and followed her sister into a sitting room just off the entrance hall, "What do you want to talk about?"

Rebekah sat down in one of the many chairs before saying, "I wanted to apologize for not telling you the truth about my family before. I feel like I betrayed you in some way. I told Nik to tell you sooner, before you were together on your wedding night."

Caroline noticed that tears were pooling in Rebekah's eyes, and quickly sat on her knees in front of her, and took Rebekah's hands in hers, "I don't blame you for anything, nor am I mad at you. You are my best friend, and I love you."

"Nik said you were very understanding and accepting, but I don't see how you can be. We lied to you for months, and I lied to you for almost a year. It is my fault you are even a part of this family now. How do you not hate me for putting you in this kind of danger?" Rebekah asked, some of the tears falling down her face.

"Bekah, I don't blame you for anything. You changed my life in the best possible way. When I met you, I was in such a dark, lonely place, and you saved me. You gave me something to look forward to, and that was what I really needed. Introducing me to Nik was by far the best thing you could have done. I am truly happy Bekah. I love being a part of your family, and I could never hate you for allowing me to become a part of it." Caroline told the younger looking girl.

Rebekah looked at her friend and said, "I will never lie to you again Caroline, that I can promise you. I have never had a friend like you in my entire life, all three hundred years of it. Even before you married Nik, I considered you my sister and I will do everything I can for the rest of our lives to never let you down again."

"I don't think that you have let me down, but I feel the same way. I will never betray you Rebekah, my dear sister." Caroline promised the blonde and pulled her into a tight embrace.

Three days after she had learned of his immortal state, Caroline found herself sitting in the library. It was dreary afternoon and had left her stuck inside, much to her displeasure, but it was something that was not uncommon at this time of year. She heard the door open and footsteps approach her, "I was wondering if you were going to return." She said and turned to look at the man standing nearby, "You said you would be…" She stopped when she took in her husband, it was not who she was expecting. She put on a smile, "Oh, Nik. What are you doing in here?"

"I ran into Rebekah in the hallway, I hope you don't mind, but I asked her to occupy her time with something other than you." He responded and sat down on the long sofa with her.

"I always love seeing you." Caroline replied, unsure with whatever the look was that had was on his face, "What is wrong my love?"

"Do you remember when you asked about my father?" Nik asked, not looking at her, instead his eyes were focused on the fire in front of them.

"Yes, and if you remember I said I would not ask about him again." Caroline pointed out, and put her book down on the table next to her empty cup of tea as she sat up to look at him.

"Jasper, my father, is not a good man Caroline. He has hated me for as long as I can remember, and turning me into a vampire only seemed to heighten that hatred." Nik started to say, not waiting to give any sort of warning for his story, "For the last three centuries Jasper has been hunting me, like an animal. He wishes to kill me."

Caroline gasped at the information, and took his hand into her own, "I am so sorry. Why does he wish to kill you, his own son?"

Nik flinched at her choice of words, "I am not his son." Nik told her, "My mother had an affair with a man, a werewolf."

"How could you know this?" Caroline asked, trying to see why this would still led to anyone wanting to kill a child they had raised.

"To become a werewolf, you must trigger the curse by killing a human being. The curse is passed down from parent to child, and you must be born a werewolf, you cannot be made. When I became a vampire, I committed my first human kill. Though I was a vampire, I was also still a werewolf, and so I am a combination of both." Nik explained to her, and finally tore his eyes away from the flames to look at her, "Transforming into a werewolf revealed my true parentage, turning Jasper against me, and my mother. She placed a powerful curse on me that prevents me from accessing that part of myself, or from creating more like me."

"That is a horrible to thing to do, especially for something that was beyond your control." Caroline stated her thoughts aloud, horrified at the actions of his parents.

Nik was pleased that he was on her side, but doubted she still would be after he shared the next bit of information, "Caroline, I told you no more lies, and I meant them, but what I am about to tell you must remain between just the two of us."

Caroline nodded, "Of course, I would never betray your trust."

"I tore out my mother's heart when I found out that she cursed me." Nik told her and looked away, he was still ashamed of himself for letting his anger control him like that, "I told my siblings that Jasper had done it out of scorned pride for her infidelity."

Caroline gasped at his confession, not exactly sure how to react. She knew he had every right to be angry with his mother, but she couldn't see how killing her had been the correct course of action. But, she also knew that there was probably much more to the story, things that only he would understand because he had been the one to experience it. Caroline took a deep breath and said, "Thank you for telling me."

Nik wasn't sure what he had been expecting, but he knew that what she just said wasn't it. He turned to look at her, his eyes full of amazement, "You aren't going to yell or call me something terrible for killing my mother?"

"I cannot say that I understand what you did, but I am sure you had justifiable reasons. I can also see that what you did hurts you, that you regret your actions. That is what truly matters." Caroline informed him, "It does not change my feelings about you."

Nik smiled at her and brought her in for a kiss, "Thank you for your acceptance. I don't know what I would do without you."

Caroline just smiled back at him, "Hopefully you will never have to find out." She leaned in for another kiss but he pulled away, "Is there something else?"

"Have you given any thought to becoming a vampire?" He asked her, his eyes searching hers frantically.

"I am still thinking on it. You told me I could have as much time as I needed. Has something happened to change that?" Caroline asked, annoyed that he was asking this of her right now.

"Not yet, but I worry." He let out a long breath before continuing, "Jasper is constantly hunting for us. We move every few years to try and stay a few steps ahead of him. Raymondhas reminded me that we have been here for three years, and there has been a lot of popularity surrounding the family lately."

"Because of Rebekah's party and then the wedding." Caroline inserted, seeing where he was going with his thoughts.

"Yes, Jasper was sure to have heard about them. I am afraid of what he will do to you if he comes across you before we can protect you. As a human you are much more vulnerable then you would be as a vampire." Nik explained to her, "I just don't want to lose you."

"Have you heard anything about Jasper being here?" Caroline asked, hating how everything just seemed to be piling on her all at once.

"No, we have not, but we have started to prepare the house for a rapid move if it is needed." He told her, "Edward's birthday is this weekend. We are going to discuss everything in more detail then and you will be a part of it. You are a member of this family, and will have a say in what we do."

"Can I have until then to come up with my decision?" She asked, looking down at their joined hands resting in her lap.

Nik squeezed her hands, "Yes you can. I am sorry if it seems like I sprung this on you."

Caroline gave him a small smile, "I know you are pressuring this because you care, and you love me."

"You are too good for me my love." Nik replied and gave her a long, leisurely kiss.

Caroline giggled when he pulled away, "I don't think you give yourself enough credit." She replied and gave him a kiss of her own, "What should I get Edward for his birthday?"

Nik raised his eyebrows at her, "That is an interesting change of subject."

"You are the one that mentioned it." She reminded him, her brain already trying to figure out what to get the eldest member of their family, "What are you getting him?"

"I honestly hadn't thought about it." Nik replied, laughing at her insistence that a gift was required, "But I will get to thinking about it right away."

"Good, I think I will head into the market tomorrow, and see what ideas I can get from there." Caroline told him, she already had an idea, and hoped they would be available.

"Just promise me you will be careful." He asked of her, and was seriously considering going with her, though he really disliked shopping.

"I will ask Rebekah to come with me to help ease your worry." She promised, and was rewarded with a gracious smile.

"Thank you. I love you so much." Nik replied and pulled her in for another kiss, hoping that soon he would be able to kiss her without having to hold anything back.