I apologize for such a long wait! If there's anyone still reading this, thank you so much for your continued support! I have a million and one reasons why this took so long, but I would prefer you enjoy the chapter instead :)
WARNINGS: usuals
Matt's eyebrows rose when he saw Vicki come downstairs that morning. Donning a floral sundress, she kissed him and Rebekah good-morning before popping two bagel halves in the toaster. Both blondes shared a look from the kitchen table where they finished their own breakfast; Matt's burning with curiosity and Rebekah's with a warning to keep his questions to himself.
"I'm surprised to see you this early. You're usually still sleeping or at Damon's," he started carefully. The kick Rebekah delivered to his shin was expected, but still hurt nonetheless.
"I couldn't sleep and Damon's busy, so here I am," she laughed as she spread butter on her perfectly toasted bagel. "Shouldn't you be at work?"
"Yes he should. He does have a child to provide for," Rebekah gave him a pointed glare.
He shrugged, "I have the day off."
"We should do something today. If you're up to it," she glanced at Rebekah's slightly bulging stomach quickly.
"I could go for a spa day," she batted her blue eyes at Matt, her black lashes coated with mascara brushing the skin just under her eyes. "My back has been starting to ache as of late."
"I gave you an hour long massage yesterday. How could it still hurt?"
"Our son is heavy," she gave him a pointed look. "This will be the norm for the next few months, so get used to it."
Matt licked his lips as he watched her, unable to stop the rush of lust that overtook him when he stared at his pregnant girlfriend. Now that she was starting to show, he'd hardly been able to keep his hands off of her. Kol had often joked about him having a freaky fetish that he never talked about and he was beginning to think he was right. Rebekah was beautiful, but she'd never been sexier than she was with her stomach growing from carrying his baby. And he knew this new fascination would only grow as her stomach did.
But it wasn't just her swelling belly that turned him on so much. He daydreamed at work of what it would be like to see her be a mother, to watch her breastfeed and change diapers and humming him to sleep and it all turned him on so much. Perhaps it was because he had never seen his own mother do these things, but every time Matt thought about Rebekah being the mother of his children, that he was going to bear witness to this phenomenon again and again for the rest of his life, it took all his restraint to keep himself contained. Like right now, as he closed his eyes and willed down his growing erection.
"Good morning fellow housemates," Kol said merrily as he strolled into the kitchen. Matt quickly looked back down at his plate. The last thing he wanted was for Kol to notice and his partner was very observant.
Rebekah's brow furrowed. "Since when do you two have the same days off?"
"Since I called in this morning and told them I was sick," he grinned as he sat beside Vicki. He ruffled her hair and she swatted at him in annoyance, though she couldn't help her smile. "I heard we're all having a spa day."
"We are having a spa day," Vicki pointed between Rebekah and herself. "You and Matt can find something else to do."
Kol pursed his lips, "Fine. It's not a real massage if they aren't giving happy endings anyway."
"You're disgusting," Matt chuckled as he shook his head.
"I try," he winked before turning to Vicki. "So are you going to an actual spa? Or is Damon turning his home into one? I'm sure he'd love to give you a very happy ending."
Vicki shoved him as she rolled her eyes. Matt immediately noticed the change in his sister's expression when Damon's name was brought up.
"We're going to an actual spa," she reiterated pointedly.
"I'm sure he's given you many happy endings."
"We're just friends Kol. I told you this."
"And I told you that Damon Salvatore doesn't do just friends, especially with babes like you."
"I don't know whether I should be flattered or disturbed that you just called me that in front of my brother."
"Disturbed," Matt gave Kol a small glare. "They're just friends Kol. Let it go."
"Alright, alright. I was only having a laugh," he held his hands up in mock surrender.
"I think I need to lie down for a moment before we leave. I suddenly feel exhausted," Rebekah huffed as she stood. Matt's eyes traveled to her stomach again, the bump slightly visible under the loose dress she wore, and was reminded of his half-hard cock. If he thought Rebekah was sexy now, he couldn't imagine how he was going to handle her waddling around the house, only wearing his T-shirts and sweats. He wouldn't be able to look at her without wanting to jump her. God, he had it bad for this woman.
"I guess you need to lie down too?" Vicki's eyebrow rose as she stared at her brother. He flushed as he gave her a crooked grin. Kol snorted loudly as he got up.
"And you call me disgusting," he smirked. "I always knew you had to have some kind of hidden freaky fetish but I never thought it would be pregnant women. Is this because of your mommy issues?"
Rebekah glared at him, "You're tactless."
"I don't have a fetish. I just think your sister looks hot carrying my baby," Matt chuckled as he stood. "You're the one that always sleeps with women twice your age."
"Because they're more experienced."
"I'm sure."
"I don't discriminate mate. I love women of all ages, shapes and sizes," he winked. "I just happen to favor the ones that know how to please a man."
"As riveting of a conversation this has turned into, my child does not need to hear how much of a lecher his uncle is," Rebekah huffed as she walked out of the dining room. Matt chuckled at Kol's face before following, leaving their siblings to their own devices.
"Sometimes I wonder if she feels uncomfortable around him," Rebekah sighed to Matt when they were in their room and their door was closed.
"Vick? Why?"
"Because all Kol ever seems to discuss is the number of women he's bedded or her relationship with Damon. I didn't want to say anything earlier, but it is rather odd that she has been spending more time here lately," Rebekah dropped onto the plush bed and sighed in relief.
"She hasn't said anything. I think she would if he did bother her."
"Would she?" she looked at him through her lashes. "For the first time in a long time she has a real place to call home with people that she can trust. If I were her, I wouldn't do anything I thought would destroy that, even if I felt I was being harassed."
"I'm sure he knows he means well, but you make a good point. I'll talk to her about it," Matt sat beside her with a hand on her back. "I also think I should talk to her about Damon. If something happened between them, I want to know."
"Matt—"
"I know you think it's none of my business, but it is Becks," he said quickly. "She's been through hell and back and she pretends she's fine but I know she's still fragile. And as much as I like Damon, I don't want him taking advantage of her."
Rebekah smiled softly, "I know, but we do know Damon and he knows what she's been through. As…crude as he can be, he wouldn't hurt her."
Matt sighed, "You're right. I just want to look out for her."
"And we love you for it," she kissed the corner of his mouth. "If you must know what happened then tread lightly. Don't push her to talk if she doesn't want to."
"Yes ma'am," Matt muttered as he caught her lips in a full kiss. His hand snaked from where it was resting on her knee up to her leg to settle on her stomach. When she pulled away, he chased her lips with his and pushed her down gently, mindful of their child between them. His hand slipped from her stomach to under her sweats, which also happened to be his, and he pressed his fingers between her legs. She gasped and jerked as he slowly massaged her nub.
"Matt," she panted as his lips moved to her neck. "Matt!"
"What?"
"I'm spending the day with your sister, not in bed with you," she gave him a pointed look when he pulled away.
"C'mon Becks, I'm dying!" he whined.
"Dying? You had me before breakfast!"
His hand skimmed her side and over her belly, "Doesn't lying in bed and letting me take care of you sound better than the stupid spa?"
The blonde bit her lip as his hand kept massaging, gently rubbing her nub in slow circles and destroying her will to leave the room. Matt's other hand lifted her shirt up, revealing her pregnant belly and he let out a huff of air at the sight.
"Hey baby," he murmured as he kissed her navel area. "You want to stay with Daddy today, don't you?"
"You're not suggesting I blow your sister off to stay in bed with you," she smiled knowingly when Matt's forehead dropped to her stomach.
"Of course not," he groaned. Then he smirked, "That doesn't mean we can't be fast."
"I need to shower and dress."
"How convenient; I need to shower too," he wiggled his eyebrows and she giggled.
"You have been insatiable lately, not that I'm complaining," her fingers raked through his hair. Though she was often tired, she loved that Matt didn't seem able to keep his hands to himself. Her hormones weren't the only ones that had been changing.
"I told you, you pregnant with my baby is the sexiest thing I've ever seen," he purred against her thighs. "I can't wait until you're stomach grows and you start waddling. I bet your stomach will be so big you'll only be able to wear my T-shirts around the house."
"And the maternity clothes we bought last week," she reminded with a giggle. "Do you want to see me fat?"
"Not fat, pregnant," he kissed the side of her stomach. She laughed for another moment, an idea dawning on her.
"Was Kol right about you having a fetish?" her eyebrow rose. A light blush dusted his cheeks and she laughed again. "Really?"
"I wouldn't call it a fetish…" he scratched the back of his neck, looking down in embarrassment. "It's not like I'm turned on by other pregnant women…there's just something about you and the baby…I can't really explain it."
Rebekah's smile grew wider as he sputtered out words. Fetish or not, Matt's eyes and hands were constantly glued to her and she loved it.
"What?" he asked in alarm when she gasped and her hands flew to her stomach.
"Feel," she grabbed his hand to press against her swollen womb. They waited in tense silence for a moment before Matt felt a small bump against his hand. It startled him with how small and sudden it was that he jumped, his mouth dropped and eyes wide with complete awe.
"He's really in there, isn't he?" he breathed with his lips pressed to her skin. "I feel you in there little man."
Watching him interact with their unborn child filled her heart with so much joy she thought it would burst. How she ever thought he wouldn't want their child was beyond her. She couldn't have found a luckier man to father her children and she fell in love a little more every time he bought another baby toy or discussed the colors he wanted for the nursery. When he came home with a book of baby names one afternoon she'd been so turned on she gave him the ride of his life on the couch, not giving a damn that Kol or Vicki could come home any moment and catch them.
"You think he can hear us?" Matt whispered, voice thick with wonder and joy.
"Yes. He knows his father's voice by now. You speak to him every day," she murmured, a huge smile taking over her face. "He knows how much he's loved."
"He'll always be loved," he kissed her stomach again. Identical pairs of blue eyes met again as they basked in the moment.
"I was thinking…we should name him after Henrik. He's the reason any of this is possible," Matt said softly. Her eyes watered as she pulled him up by his shirt and crashed their lips together. His sincerity never failed to surprise her, given the kind of man he was, but she couldn't help falling in love with him all over again for it. Losing Henrik was something neither she nor Kol would ever recover from, but Matt willing to keep his memory alive through their child relieved some of that pain.
"Henrik Niklaus Donovan," she murmured when they parted. "I think he and Klaus would both love it."
"I think so too," their noses rubbed together. "I know it won't ever bring them back but at least they'll always be a part of our family."
"You're such a good man Matt Donovan," she whispered fiercely, not even bothering to wipe the tears that had trailed down her face. "Our son is so lucky to have you as his father."
"And you for a mother," he murmured as he kissed the corner of her mouth. "And I'll be the luckiest man alive when you become my wife."
He said it with such conviction she didn't know whether to cry or kiss him. She settled for the latter and threw herself into his arms, thoughts of leaving the house at all flying from her mind. Matt matched her passion, pushing her onto the bed and settling between her legs, mindful of their child. Her legs wrapped around his hips and she dragged her hands through his golden blonde hair, her nails lightly scratching his scalp as his hands forced the sweats off her slip hips. She lifted them to aid in assistance, moaning when one brushed over her thigh at the same time his lips moved to her neck.
"Becks, Matt, we've got a problem," Kol said through the door as he knocked. Both blondes pulled away breathlessly, pausing for a brief second as they tried to regain themselves.
"What?" Matt called back.
"Vaughn wants all of us to come in for questioning. Tyler and Jeremy were arrested."
"What?" Rebekah cried as she pushed Matt off of her and pulled her sweats back up. She ran to the door and threw it open, meeting her brother's solemn gaze. "Arrested for what?"
Kol looked between them solemnly.
"For murder."
Katherine squeezed water from the ends of her hair before it dripped onto her pristine counter tops. She caught her doleful expression in the mirror and turned away, grabbing her dress from the rail it was draped over and pulling it on quickly. She stared at her feet as the dress nearly brushed the tops of them and tied the thin strips of cloth used as strings behind her neck before pulling her hair to one side. Combing her fingers through it, her mind wandered to the blonde currently sleeping off her hangover and how, by tonight, she would be back in a place she had promised she would never send her again. She had considered not doing it, but then she thought about her purse full of cocaine and knew it was the only option left.
The brunette looked to the ceiling as tears sprung to her eyes. It wasn't fair. Mikael might've been dead but the destruction he'd done to their lives was irreversible. And they were all forced to suffer the repercussions while he lay dead in a grave; the easy way out. He would never have to live with what they went through while she had to send Caroline to rehab for the second time. The only thing worse was the blonde turning back to drugs as a coping mechanism rather than coming to her. She preferred to surround herself with strangers and vices at a bar than turn to her family, to her for help. In Katherine's eyes, Caroline chose drugs over them, over her. After everything they had gone through together, what they had meant so little for her to renege on her promise of remaining clean. She couldn't decide whether to be more angry or sad but both were overwhelming her quickly.
Tears leaked from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Grabbing her towel from around her body, she brought it to her face and stuffed some in her mouth to muffle the sound of her sobbing. Her heart pounded with rage and despair as she tried to gather herself, focusing her thoughts on happier times that seemed so far away now. She was furious with Mikael for causing everything, with Caroline for betraying her and Damon for abandoning her now when she needed him. He was always better with handling these situations.
"Mistress?"
Katherine turned quickly, wiping her eyes as Caroline entered her bathroom wearing only a thin black robe and a towel wrapped around her hair.
"Caroline," she said hastily. Blinking rapidly, she kept her eyes focused on the blonde as she willed away her tears.
"What's wrong?" she asked quickly as she approached her. Katherine attempted to move out of her reach but didn't do enough to avoid her soft hands cupping her face, coercing their eyes to meet.
"What?" she asked quietly. She shook her head and removed herself from Caroline's arms with great effort, the touch both welcome and unwanted. She brought her hands to the side of her nose and wiped furiously and the tears trailing down, watching her own deadened expression in the mirror.
"If this is about last night…I'm sorry," Caroline said gently. "Thank you…for bringing me home. You didn't have to do that."
"You were so drunk you could not even walk, so yes, I did," she bit out. She felt guilty when she saw Caroline flinch in the mirror.
"I don't really remember anything. The last thing I remember is telling Jesse that I was going to lie down in the back…" she laughed humorously as she looked away. "I'm really sorry Katherine."
"Just for that, or for everything else as well?" the brunette couldn't help but snapped as she faced her stunned submissive. "Do not stand there and pretend to not know what I am talking about!"
"What?" she cried as she took half a step back.
"I found the drugs! There were dozens of them in your purse!" her voice rose an octave as her anger finally peaked. "You swore to me you would never go back to that!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Do not take me for a fool!" she screamed back. "Your purse was full of cocaine! Do not try to deny it!"
The blonde gaped at her in shock, "It wasn't mine!"
Katherine snorted as she crossed her arms over her chest; it was clear from her expression she didn't believe her. Caroline's bottom lip trembled as she took a step backwards.
"I didn't relapse!" her voice wavered. "I don't know what cocaine you're talking about but I swear I didn't do it!"
"Oh let me guess: you were carrying them for someone else?" she scoffed. "How many times have you used that excuse for me when I would visit you at the strip club Caroline? How many times did you tell me you were clean and you never were? You might be able to lie to the others and yourself but you will never be able to lie to me!"
"Katherine I swear—!"
"Just tell me this: how many people did you have to fuck to get that much cocaine?" she snapped so viciously that Caroline jumped. "How many tricks did you turn so they would supply you?"
Caroline gaped at her callous words, her heart growing heaving with each second Katherine kept her furious gaze locked on her. Her shock and anguish, however, quickly turned to anger; how dare she assume that she cheated just because she found her with drugs? And how dare she assume she even relapsed? Sure, she was having a difficult time dealing with everything that happened, but that didn't give her the right to assume she relapsed, especially when she had been fighting herself for weeks to not score something more potent than alcohol for her. Because of Katherine, she kept her promise and stayed sober and how the fuck did she not realize that?
"Fuck you!" she snarled. "You don't have the fucking right—!"
"I have every fucking right! I have every fucking right to know what the fuck you do outside this house! You are mine, therefore I do have the fucking right!"
She closed her eyes in regret the moment the words left her mouth, missing the fury that crossed Caroline's face.
"I did not mean that."
"Yes you fucking did!" Caroline snarled. The brunette's eyes flew open at the hostility behind her words and she realized she went too far.
"Caroline, I am so sorry," she breathed. But the blonde was too furious to listen.
"You think you own me, just like Mikael thought he fucking owned me! Like I'm some fucking dog!" she laughed in disbelief as fresh tears fell down her face. "You think I'm out every night screwing people to get my fix? Well fucking newsflash: I haven't taken a hit of anything stronger than marijuana in over two years because of you! I stayed sober because you deserve better than that! But what the fuck is the point if you don't even believe me when I tell you I'm not lying? No matter what I do, you're always going to think I've relapsed because that's what addicts do, isn't it?"
"No," Katherine shook her head as she walked towards her. The blonde kept her distance, taking large steps backwards and staying out of arms reach.
"You know what I do when I go out? I sit at the furthest seat in the corner so no one talks to me! I drink Tequila shots, then blab to the first fucking person that feels sorry enough to come talk to me about you and Damon and everything else I've fucked up in my life until I pass out because I have a problem that isn't drugs that I don't know how to fucking deal with!"
A tense silence filled the bathroom as both women stared at each other with tears running down their faces. Caroline moved first, turning away from Katherine and bringing a hand to her eyes to hide her pain. Her feet were unsteady as she walked towards the door, but paused when Katherine tugged on her arm hard enough to bring her in contact with her chest. Her hands braced the brunette's arms to regain her footing at the same moment she turned her head towards her and their lips brushed in a nearly phantom touch. The distraught blonde froze, and Katherine took advantage of the pause to press their lips together for the first time in months.
Caroline whimpered, caught between wanting to give in and needing space, but Katherine wrapped her arms around her and trapped her to her body, not giving her the distance she craved and hated simultaneously. The need to be closer, to be consumed, was strong, but so was the need for control. A harsh sob escaped her before she could stop it and she broke down, slowly sinking to her knees as she let out her sorrow. Katherine dropped next to her unceremoniously and wrapped her arms around her as she sobbed into her shoulder.
"Hush darling," she soothed. It did nothing to calm her and she could only hold her as she cried wordlessly into her skin and hold in her own tears. "I apologize for my words. I did not mean them, I was only afraid."
"I didn't take any drugs!" she sputtered, her face red from tears and emotion. "You have to believe me!"
"I do chéri, I do," she cupped her face between her hands, catching some of her matted blonde hair, and kissed her hard. "Hush now. I'm sorry."
She kissed her forehead and rubbed her back methodically, drawing the shaking blonde into a hypnotic trance until her sobs calmed and her tears subsided and she was left leaning against Katherine with her head on her shoulder completely drained. The carpet made her legs itch, and she only just realized she was only wearing a bathrobe.
"What happened here?" the brunette's hand brushed over a dark, long scar just above her breast. The blonde shuddered when her fingers made goosebumps along her skin. Her first reaction was to lie and say nothing, but the look in Katherine's eyes made her reconsider.
"The first of…Mikael's customers. He wanted to mark me, so I would always remember," she said blankly. Katherine stared at the mark with a sinking heart, wondering how something so insignificant could have such dark meaning.
"Are there…more?"
She nodded as she pulled her robe tighter to her body self-consciously. When Katherine put a hand on hers, she looked up questioningly.
"Show me."
"Why?" Caroline asked before she could stop herself.
"I want to understand what you went through. I know I will never fully be able to comprehend the horror you faced…but I would like to try," she said softly. Her words gripped at Caroline's fragile heart, and she slowly allowed her to pull her hand away from the robe, and then push the silk off her shoulders. Baby blue eyes closed in shame as olive hands roamed pale skin, tracing every dark, heinous scar created by cruel men.
Katherine felt her throat close when she finally saw the extent of the abuse she endured, vehemently wondering if anyone would be upset if Mikael's grave was defaced. What could possess anyone to hurt someone as innocent and beautiful as the woman before her, she would never understand.
"After a while, it stopped hurting. They would make more marks but I stopped screaming. That made them mad; they liked to hear screaming," her voice was just above a whisper. "I would just keep my eyes closed the whole time, even after they left. It was…It was easier to pretend that it was all a nightmare in my head than reality. When I heard your voice…I thought that was part of the nightmare, taunting me, until you were touching me and there. I thought I had died, until you told me to open my eyes," she gave her a watery smile. "You were even more beautiful then than the first time I saw you, and I knew I would be okay."
Tears slipped from Katherine's eyes when she brought their lips together gently. Instead of pulling away, she gave in to her desire and carefully wrapped her arms around her slender neck. Slowly, she climbed into Katherine's lap, knees on either side of her waist as their tongues meshed gently. When she needed air, she only pulled back a fraction, panting against Katherine's lips as she caught her breath.
"I would not stop until you were back in my arms. I could not," she said quietly as her fingers slid through her damp hair. "I could hardly breathe until I found you. I was so afraid that you were…that we had come too late—"
Caroline silenced her with a hard kiss, moaning as she pushed her body as close to hers as possible. Her hands roamed from her face to her shoulders, unable to keep them still out of the need to touch her in some way. Katherine's fingers dug slightly into her back, moaning against her lips when the blonde slowly grinded her hips down and creating that much missed friction between them. Slowly, the brunette's delicate hands slid to the front of the black silk robe and pushed it open. Caroline shuddered when her fingers danced along her breasts and created goosebumps on her skin. Her stomach clenched with anticipation and desire as they moved lower to her stomach and traced along a faded, jagged scar. When they skimmed the beginning of hair down below, she jerked back.
"Do not fear me," the Bulgarian beauty pleaded. Caroline closed her eyes as she fought an inner battle. She wanted to give Katherine control, as she always had. She wanted to be taken care of, looked after. But the thought of being exposed again, even to someone she loved, was daunting. With exposure came pain, and she wasn't ready to face it.
"I—I can't," she started to move but Katherine kept her arms around her and in place.
"Yes, you can," she kissed the jagged scar along her breast. "You can."
Her lips never moved from her skin as she spoke, her hands continuing that torturous trail down to her quivering thighs. The blonde parted them instinctively when fingertips danced along her inner thigh and she bit her lip, fighting her need to run and fight and give in. She wanted this; it had been so long since they went without it. But would it be the same after all this time? What if the attack changed her so much that this was nothing like it used to be?
Katherine's fingers brushed against her nub and she jumped from surprise and pleasure. She stroked her lightly and kept her darkening brown eyes on her face, her breath coming out in short huffs as she toyed with her. She groaned when the blonde's head fell back after a long, sensual stroke that made her thighs open even wider and allowed her to rest her full weight in her lap, allowing her to slip one finger inside her tight heat. Her hips started rolling, her hands gripping at her shoulders in need as she whimpered and shook from pleasure.
"Just let go. Let me care for you," her voice dripped with lust as she steadily added another finger and fucked her slowly. "Do not think about anything or anyone but this."
When her thumb added pressure to her clit on top of the fingers inside her, Caroline moaned throatily as she rolled her hips faster. Slowly, the fear of exposure left and the battle for control ended. It was fine for her to give in; nothing would happen because Katherine wouldn't let it happen. As long as her Mistress was here, she would be fine.
Her shaking fingers found the ties to Katherine's dress as the brunette pushed her robe past her shoulders, fully exposing her chest. She cried out when she latched onto her nipple and sucked, her fingers never losing rhythm and slowly driving her to the brink. Sweet release was so close she could nearly taste it and she rolled her hips faster, worked faster to pull Katherine's dress down and slide the black bra off underneath. So close, almost there—
The blaring ringtone of Katherine's cellphone startled her and she yelped as she reached her peak. The brunette never released the rosy bud from her mouth, nor did her fingers stop as she fell into orgasm, shaking and breathless and crying out wordlessly as she rode her fingers until she was left a shaking mess. The cellphone was still ringing when she slumped forward, resting her forehead against Katherine's and kissed her languidly.
"Ignore it," Caroline muttered against her lips when the phone ran a third time. She laughed as she pulled away and stumbled to her feet. She caught the call just before it went to voicemail.
"Hello?"
"The cops are going to pick Caroline up right now! You better have a damn good explanation for why you're not here!" Mason snapped by way of greeting. She slapped her free hand against her forehead.
"Merde!" she swore lowly. "Stall them for a while longer. We will be there shortly, I promise."
"Hurry up," he sighed before hanging up. She stared at the phone for a moment before throwing it on the ground and running to the closet, grabbing a pair of slacks and a silk button down shirt.
"Put these on. We must leave for the police station immediately," she threw them at Caroline as she struggled to tie her dress back properly.
"What for?" the blonde stared at her in alarm. "About the drugs?"
"Non, for Tyler and Jeremy," she sighed. "You have missed much."
"What happened?"
"They are suspects in a murder investigation, and the police wish to question you. If they do not speak to you today, they will arrest you," she murmured as she buttoned her shirt as quickly as possible. Caroline gasped out loud.
"What?"
"I will explain all on the way, but we must hurry."
"It's about time! Where the hell were you?" Mason snapped when they arrived. They immediately dropped their linked hands.
"We were—" they shared a look. "We had—"
"Follow me," Vaughn spared them from answering. They walked past crowded desks and heckled officers with desks covered with folders to a back room that smelled like Chinese food and body odor assaulted their noses. Caroline bit her lip apprehensively when they stopped in front of the door.
"Detectives Messer and Pritchard will interview you," Vaughn gestured to the stone-faced officers that walked with them. She looked between them nervously, slightly curling in on herself at the thought of being in their presence alone.
"Can you come with me?" she grabbed Katherine's arm.
"No," one spoke gruffly.
"I will be right here," she soothed while pressing a kiss to her knuckles. She spared another reassuring smile as she was led into the room, their eyes never breaking contact until the door was shut. Caroline searched the window and she put her hand to it, wishing she could see her.
"You can stand here if you want. Shouldn't take more than a half-hour at the most," Vaughn sighed as he turned on the microphone and speakers. "It's just a fishing expedition."
"You think they're innocent?" Mason asked quietly.
"Doesn't matter. I still have a duty to aid in this investigation."
"Do you think they're innocent?" Mason repeated. Vaughn looked in the interrogation room for a moment before heaving a heavy sigh.
"I think that, given everything you all have been through, if they killed these people…it was for a very good reason," he said finally.
Katherine's cellphone buzzed in her purse and excused herself to answer.
"Hello?"
"Hey. Jenna called the rehab center and they've got a spot open for Caroline, whenever she's done being questioned," he said gently. The half-smile fell from the brunette's face and her early guilt hit her hard. Her knees buckled slightly and she reached out to hold the wall for support.
"Katherine? You okay?" he asked softly.
"I…I cannot do this to her. Not again," her voice wavered. "I am so sorry Damon, I can't send her away like this."
"You were on board with it yesterday," she could hear the frown in his voice and she squeezed her eyes shut.
"That was before last night and this morning," she murmured before briefly explaining.
"I've never heard of this Dr. Maxfield. Is he legit?" Damon sounded skeptical. "I didn't even know someone could specialize in sexuality."
"I do not know much about him either, only what Jesse has said."
"Can you trust this guy? What do you know about him?"
"He has been watching over Caroline. He wants to help her Damon, genuinely," she sighed. "I think we should try this. All of us."
"Why?"
She sighed, "Whether or not you believe, you are just as much a part of her life as I am in every sense. She misses you Damon. She believes you do not love her, perhaps believes you never did. If you came, it would mean so much to her."
"I…I don't think that's a good idea," he sighed deeply. "Things won't just go back to the way they used to be Katherine."
"Non, but they will be better," she stressed. "Unless your feelings for us both have changed, I do not see why we could not try this. What other options do we have?"
"Kat—"
"You did not hear her this morning. Our girl is still in there. All she needs is our help to find her way back," she bit her lip, nearly desperate with need. "Please Damon. We both need you, and you need us even if you do not want to admit it."
He was silent for a moment.
"You really think this guy can help?"
"I think it will help her more than forcing her into another rehabilitation center. Abandoning her right now would not benefit anyone."
He was silent again and her stomach turned with anticipation. It felt like eternity had passed in that small hallway before he answered.
"If you really think this will help…then I'm in," he said finally. "Tell me when the sessions are and I'll come."
"Thank you," she breathed, a wide smile stretching across her lips. "You will not regret this, I promise."
"What should I tell Jenna?"
"Tell her we appreciate all that she has done, but we will not be sending Caroline away," she bit her thumb, her heart nearly bursting. "You do not know what this means to me."
"I do," he murmured. "Call me when you get home, okay?"
Katherine leaned against the wall when they both hung up, her body heavy with relief. For the first time in a long time, things were changing for them all.
She went back into the interrogation waiting room and watched the end of Caroline's interrogation with newfound anxiousness. Now that she wasn't going to be sent away, they could, perhaps, further explore what happened this morning, even make Jenna her personal therapist if she was willing. And if this Dr. Maxfield was willing to help them, perhaps they could all regain the intimacy they once had. She sighed happily; everything was finally falling into place again and she felt better than she had in a long time.
"We're done," one of the officers opened the door and Caroline immediately flew to her side. Katherine felt warmth spread through her when she immediately linked their fingers together.
"We'll call if we need anything else. Thank you for your cooperation," the second officer said without a hint of sincerity. Vaughn quickly ushered them out the rooms and to the elevators.
"Thank you guys. I know this has been a pain in the ass," he muttered. "Tell them to hang in there."
"We will," Mason shook his hand firmly.
The drive back to the mansion was spent in silence, but more relaxed than before. Katherine couldn't help her smile when Caroline held her hand the entire way. Things were going to change, and she was thrilled that something was finally going right.
"I feel like I need another shower after being in there. They freaked me out," she said when they arrived home.
"Of course darling. And afterwards…we should speak," she said softly.
"Yeah…definitely," she paused before she leaned in and kissed the brunette on the lips. Katherine gave her another quick kiss before sending her on her way. Reigning in her smile, she went to Jeremy's room and knocked on the door, frowning when she received no answer.
"Strange," she murmured as she went to Tyler's next. Her brow furrowed when she knocked and received no answer again.
"Tyler!" she called as she knocked on the door. She frowned when she received no answer and twisted the handle, surprised when it was open. Her brother wasn't in his bedroom, but she saw the door to his bathroom cracked and a light coming through.
"Tyler, I must tell you—"
She stopped cold when she pushed the door open and was met with the sight of Tyler's battered face. He froze when he saw her, holding a cotton ball to his face as he cleaned a cut over his eyebrow. His right eye was swollen shut, his bottom lip cut and swelling.
"Oh my," she breathed as she ran to him. "What happened to your face?"
"Nothing," he mumbled as he looked down. She made a noise of protest in the back of her throat.
"Tyler, this is not nothing!" she cupped his face gently, mindful of his wounds. "Who on earth did this to you?"
"No one. It was an accident," he pulled away from her and continued cleaning his cuts. She snatched the cotton out of his hand and dabbed more peroxide on it before doing it herself.
"Who did this to you?" she nearly growled.
"It's not a big deal Kat. I'm fine."
"You are not fine! Your nose is certainly broken and your eye is swollen shut!" she snapped. "Stop deflecting my questions and tell me who hurt you!"
"It was an accident. It's not a big deal," he glared at her. She ignored it, silently inspecting the rest of him.
"You did not look like this when I saw you after your arraignment, so I know it did not happen there," she muttered. "So this must have happened after you left."
Tyler started to shake his head but was stopped by her glare.
"Your mother told you to come straight home Tyler! Please tell me you did not do something to cause more trouble for yourself!"
"I haven't gone anywhere Kat," he sighed quietly. Her brow furrowed; then someone must have come here, and the only people that were here that she knew of were Hayley, Dolly and—
"Did…did Jeremy do this?" she asked is disbelief. When Tyler avoided her gaze she felt like she was punched in the gut. "Mon Dieu."
"It's not what you think. We just had a fight," he said quickly. "He was upset because—"
"Hayley is pregnant with your child," she finished, blinking back a sudden onslaught of tears in her eyes.
"How the hell did you know that?"
"Dolly overheard your argument. Did he hurt you anywhere else?"
He shook his head.
"What happened Tyler?"
"We just…he was upset about Hayley and the baby and prison and…he told me to leave him alone and I wouldn't."
She stared at him in disbelief, as if she didn't want to believe it. He didn't want to either; he couldn't believe he bullied Jeremy into hitting him.
"That does not give him the right to lay his hand on you. After…after everything that he has experienced with abuse, for him to do this is…" she shook her head as one tear fell. The relief she felt at finally getting through to Caroline quickly evaporated when she realized that they might have lost Jeremy. Never would she have thought that the younger could do something like this, that he was even capable of this level of violence. And to see Tyler so vulnerable nearly tore her heart in half.
"Don't get mad at him. He didn't even know what he was doing," he said as he gripped her shoulders. Katherine was nearly scared by the desperation in his voice. "He's not himself. Ever since everything with Mikael he hasn't been himself, you know that."
"Tyler, he broke your nose! He gave you a black eye! How can you defend him for causing the abuse he endured for years?" she exclaimed. "I know he has been under a lot of stress, but we all have! That does not excuse him!"
"I bullied him into this! We said some things—I said some shit to him that would piss all of you off!" he exclaimed. "We were trying to hurt each other and I said all the right things to push him over his breaking point."
"Where is he now?"
"I don't know. I woke up and he wasn't there. And he's not answering his cellphone," Tyler muttered as he pulled away from her. When he woke up this morning and Jeremy was gone, he nearly felt sick from how exposed he felt. It had been a long time since he bottomed during sex and Jeremy hadn't been gentle, not that he expected him to be. Even still, having no one to care for him the way Stefan would afterwards made him feel shittier than he did when Jeremy discovered the truth about the murders, and it angered him that the other couldn't even face him.
"He will not get away with this," she said lowly as she walked out of the room. Tyler followed quickly, pleading with her the entire way to her room and snatching her cellphone out of her hands as she dialed.
"Give it to me!" she snapped.
"Don't tell anyone," he pleaded. "Please Kat, it's not a big deal!"
"Yes it is! If he is capable of doing this to you, the man he claims to love, then he is capable of doing it to us!"
"You know Jeremy! He would never hurt any of you!"
"I used to think the same of you Tyler!" she shot back. "Abuse is never acceptable, and he does not get a free pass! I refuse to ignore this because you think he is too fragile to face what he has done!"
"It's not his fault! I purposely pissed him off to this point!" he screamed desperately. He winced when a few of Katherine's tears finally started falling. She grabbed his arm and dragged him to the full-length mirror in the corner of her room.
"Look at your face!" she forced him to confront his reflection. "Jeremy did this to you! Even if you think he has a good reason, he had no right to abuse you like this!"
Tyler shook his head while he looked at himself in his good eye. What happened last night wasn't abuse; it was an argument and a misunderstanding. They were enduring a lot of stress, so lashing out like this was normal.
"It was an accident," he said softly.
"How often have you heard that same excuse from other victims? How many times did I give you that excuse for Thomas?" she cried as she cupped his face. "This was no accident Tyler! His fists did not accidently make these bruises!"
"I'm not a victim!" he snapped as he pulled away. "You weren't here last night Katherine! I said things that would make all of you hit me!"
"That does not give him the right to actually do it!"
They stared at each other angrily.
"Look, we'll agree to disagree about if it was right or wrong," Tyler ignored her snort. "Just…don't tell anyone about this Kat, please. He needs to get help, not to be alienated by his family."
"The hell we will agree to disagree!" she glowered. "We are all under stress, but none of us would be excused for doing this! Do not let your love for him cloud your judgement! We must find him before he does it again to someone else!"
"Who else would he hurt? Not you! Not Damon or Caroline or anyone we know!" he snapped.
"He hurt you, that is enough," she growled. "We have to deal with this Tyler, whether or not you want to."
"What does that mean?"
She glared at him pointedly, "You said he needed help."
"He does!"
"Then we will force him to get it," she took her cellphone back from him.
"What—What're you doing?" he spat as she turned her back to him and pressed the phone to her ear. When he tried to take it back she side stepped him and went into her bathroom, shutting the door and locking it before he could reach her.
"Katherine, don't!" he screamed as he pounded on the door with his palm. "Don't you fucking dare!"
On the other side of the door, the brunette's tears slowly fell as she dialed Damon's number. For all the progress she had just made with Caroline, it almost felt like it didn't matter when she saw how shaken Tyler was.
"What's up?"
"You need to come right away. Something…awful has happened," her voice wavered. "Please hurry Damon."
"I'm two minutes away. Hang tight."
She nodded as she hung up, forgetting he couldn't see her. Taking a deep breath, she exited the bathroom, preparing herself for the weight of Tyler's anger, but was only met her brother's nervous pacing.
"What did you do?" he exploded. "I told you not to tell anyone!"
"I am sorry Tyler, but I refuse to make excuses for him because of all that he has been through. He knows better, and I cannot believe you cannot see how wrong this is," she shook her head sadly.
"I should've have told you fucking anything! You can never keep your fucking mouth shut, can you?" he snarled angrily as he stormed out the room.
"Tyler!" she screamed after him. He ignored her as he kept walking, nearly running Damon over when he rounded the corner and startling them both.
"Woah," the raven-haired man steadied them by his shoulders. "What's going on?"
"You would call him!" Tyler shot his sister a dirty look, "She's just being overdramatic like usual."
"Look at what Jeremy did to his face!" she exclaimed to him. Damon's brow furrowed as he actually took in his best friend's appearance.
"It's not a big deal! I'm fine!" he shoved the taller man away. "You both get so fucking worked up over the stupidest shit!"
"This doesn't look like some stupid shit to me," Damon said with a slight edge. "Jeremy did this to you?"
"It's not what it looks like—!"
"It is exactly what it looks like!" she snarled. "Do not defend him! You would not defend another if they had done this to us!"
"That's different!"
"What's going on?" Caroline asked as she came down the hall in her silk robe. She stopped abruptly when she saw the three of them, her eyes widening when they saw Tyler.
"Go back in your room Care. We're okay," the billionaire sighed.
"Jeremy really did this?" Damon asked Katherine again.
"Yes, and he believes that he deserved it!" she spat nastily as she glared at her brother. "He has spiraled out of control and now he is missing!"
"He isn't missing!"
"Oh? Then where is he?" she retorted. When he didn't answer, she snorted. "That is what I thought. He could not face the truth of what he did and he ran away!"
"He didn't run! He's coming back!"
"Not unless he receives help!" she growled, finally losing her patience. "If he does not get the help he clearly needs, he is not allowed back in this house! If this is what will happen every time he is angry then he cannot stay here!"
"You can't kick him out of my house!"
"No, but your mother can," her eyes narrowed when his mouth dropped.
"Don't you fucking tell her a damn thing!" Tyler screamed furiously. "I swear to God Katherine—!"
"I agree," Damon interrupted loudly. "If Jeremy did this, he can't stay here and he shouldn't."
"You don't even fucking live here! You don't get the right to decide that!"
"Call Jenna. Tell her we will need that court order," Katherine told Damon firmly. "Tell her it will be for Jeremy and that we will need it immediately."
"No!" Tyler bellowed. "I will deal with Jeremy! We're not sending him to some fucking rehab facility!"
"No, you won't. Because you'll just accept whatever apology he gives you," Damon scoffed. "You're not going to deal with him, you're going to excuse him the way you are now."
"He's been through enough! He doesn't need to be locked up on top of everything else!"
"It's for his own good, and yours!" Damon snapped. "Just because he's been through a lot doesn't mean he can beat someone when he wants to! How can you not understand that this is domestic abuse?"
"Because it isn't! This was a fight!"
"I didn't see any marks on his face when I saw him this morning! And we all know that you are stronger than him!" Katherine snarled. "He must take responsibility for his actions and you cannot let your heart cloud your rationale and prevent him from receiving help!"
"She's right Tyler. You being in denial over this isn't helping him at all," the raven-haired man said softly. The billionaire looked between the three of them like a wild animal that was being cornered.
"Jeremy always forgave me when I hurt him! Why shouldn't I do the same now?"
"You never put your hands on him!"
"Not physically, but—!"
"Do you hear yourself?" Katherine cried, her tears making a fresh appearance. "Do you hear your words Tyler? If this were me, or Caroline, or any of us you would be furious! If this were Jeremy you would not hesitate to take action! How can you not do the same for yourself?"
"It's Jeremy! Why don't you guys understand that?" he shouted. "This is our Jeremy! We can't just abandon him when he needs us the most!"
"Our Jeremy would've never done this," Damon said quietly. The fight deflated out of the billionaire and he leaned against the wall, his shoulders sagging as if he carried the weight of the world on them.
"We are not going to abandon him. But he cannot come back to this house until this is resolved," Katherine said quietly as she stood next to him. "What he did was wrong and he needs to be held accountable."
"You can't—!" Tyler started, but stopped when both of them glared him into silence.
"Call Jenna," Katherine repeated. Damon nodded as he pulled out his cellphone and dialed her number.
"Jeremy really did this?" Caroline asked worriedly. Tyler nodded, unable to look at her with the shame he felt.
"He…he took my cellphone instead of his when he left. I don't know why," he mumbled as he stared at the floor. "You said you saw him this morning?"
"Yes," she turned to Caroline. "Will you give us a moment darling?"
She nodded, quickly pulling Tyler into a hug and kissing his cheek.
"It'll be okay," she breathed as she pulled away. He nodded, though he didn't agree.
"This morning, I found Caroline's purse that she brought with her when she went out the night before…and it was full of cocaine," Katherine murmured as soon as her door was closed. "You were still asleep, so I asked Jeremy what I should do and he said he would take care of it."
"What?" Tyler's eyes widened in alarm. "You don't think…?"
"I would have never suspected it but now…now I do not know what he could be capable of," she shook her head as more tears fell. "What if I made it worse by giving him access to those drugs?"
"No. Jeremy would never…not after what happened to me and everything that…there's no way," Tyler breathed, his stomach hurting from the anxiety and tension building. He didn't think Jeremy would turn to drugs, but he had never expected him to attack him either.
"Tyler, it could be possible."
"He's not an addict! Don't slap a label on him!"
"I do not mean to. But he has been under tremendous stress as you have said. Perhaps he did not want to cope any longer," she said softly. "If that is the case, then he needs to be helped before he becomes one."
A lump formed in his throat at the words. Katherine put her arms around him and their heads together, giving him silent support.
"I can't believe I'm losing him like this," he whispered. "I thought when I lost him to Mikael that was bad but…losing him like this is so much worse."
"What do you mean?"
"He has brain damage. Pearl told my mom when he came out of surgery," he blinked rapidly to keep from tearing up. "She said…she said it could change his personality. I never thought it would be like this."
"If that is true, then he needs this intervention," she wrapped her arms around him and kissed his temple. "Do not view this as punishment, but as mediation. But I was serious about not allowing him back into this house until he has been helped Tyler. You are not the only one that lives here."
"I know," he hugged her back, needing something solid to hang on to as he felt his world fall apart. He knew, deep down, what Jeremy did was wrong. But he wasn't ready to admit that the person he loved, the person he would give his life for, the person he was possibly going to prison for, could do this to him.
"I shouldn't excuse him…it's just that he's going to hate himself when he realizes what he's done. And I don't want anyone else to hate him too."
"We do not hate him. But we cannot ignore this," she kissed his forehead. It broke her heart to witness this extent of Mikael's ruin over her family.
"He's not a bad person Kat," he said quietly.
"I know chéri, I know."
"Jenna's on her way. She filled out the form for a 51/50," Damon sighed as he rejoined them. Tyler made a noise of protest in the back of his throat.
"Was that really necessary?"
"I think it is," his eyebrow rose as he looked him up and down. "She also had to call your mother since she's Jeremy's emergency contact. She's on her way too."
"Fucking great," he laughed bitterly.
"Tyler, this is for his own good," Damon said firmly. "He needs help. And just because you don't want to admit that doesn't mean it isn't true."
"I know that Damon. I just would've preferred to do this my way, without any of you involved," he glared as he stormed past him. The raven-haired billionaire shared a look with Katherine before they both followed him.
"You need help too," Damon called to his retreating back. "You need to go to the hospital."
"No I don't. I've had worse."
"Do you hear yourself? You sound like a battered housewife!" he cried. "Why can't you see how wrong this is Tyler? If this was anyone else—!"
"But it's not anyone else! It's Jeremy, the one who's been beaten worse than this! Who's gone through more bullshit than any of us combined!" he snapped back. "Why can't you understand that he's not some goddamned abuser that needs to be locked away?"
"He's out of control Tyler! He needs to be locked up before he does this again!"
Tyler shook his head angrily as he stormed downstairs and into the parlor. Going behind the bar, he grabbed the first bottle of Jack Daniels and a wine glass and filled it halfway before taking a long sip. Just before he could pour more, Damon snatched the bottle out of his hand and threw the glass on the ground, making it shatter into pieces and whisky coat the hardwood floor.
"What the fuck Damon?" he roared.
"You're not starting that shit again! Not fucking today!" he yelled back. "You can get pissy all the fuck you want, but if you take one more fucking drink I'll have Jenna 51/50 your ass too! Don't think I won't!"
Tyler curled his fingers into fists, his lips setting into a thin line.
"Now, your mother, Jenna and the paramedics are on their way for Jeremy and they're going to need you, his husband, to sign him into their care and you're going to do it. Because if you really love him, you'll make sure he gets the help he needs. But only you can make that decision Tyler, and you have to do it sober," Damon finished with quiet desperation. "Jeremy needs you to be all there. Do this for him."
The billionaire's shoulders sagged visibly and he collapsed in the nearest barstool. He covered his face with his hands and closed his eyes as he collected himself. Damon was right; he needed to be sober to make decisions, because they now concerned Jeremy's life.
"You're right. I'm sorry," he muttered when he sat next to him. Damon put a hand on his shoulder and said nothing. They sat in silence until Katherine found them fifteen minutes later.
"Everyone has arrived. They are trying to decide if they should have the police locate Jeremy," she said softly. "They are waiting for your permission Tyler."
The billionaire was on his feet and running to the foyer immediately. Jenna stood to the side, her head bent as she talked on her cellphone. His mother was pacing, her heels hitting the marble floor hard with each step as she spoke with two paramedics wearing navy blue scrubs and white tennis shoes. A third paramedic standing with a gurney stood by the door filling out a chart; his eyes met Tyler's and he gave him a sympathetic smile.
"Mr. Lockwood, I'll need you to sign this to approve the 72-hour hold," he handed him the clipboard and he took it with a shaking hand. His breath started to come in short breaths as he read and nearly felt yesterday's lunch come up.
"Tyler!" Carol exclaimed as she ran to her son. Her hands immediately cupped his battered face, "Are you okay? What the hell did he do?"
"Mom, please don't," his voice cracked as he pushed her away gently.
"You have to keep him longer than 72-hours!" she cried to the paramedic. "He needs to be restrained with a straitjacket! He's going to hurt himself or someone else at this rate!"
"No! He's not going through that!" Tyler shouted immediately, his heart dropping into his stomach. "I refuse to do that to him!"
"Tyler, your face is a mess!" Carol cried frantically. "He shouldn't be allowed near anyone without protection!"
"You don't even know the fucking story!" he snarled. "I'm not putting him in a goddamned straitjacket! I can't believe you'd even suggest I do that!"
"Jeremy isn't in his right mind! He needs help!"
"He doesn't need that!"
"Tyler," Jenna touched his shoulder and he jumped. "I think your mother is right on this."
"No, she's not! He's not crazy like me!" he growled. His vision blurred when he became slightly lightheaded and shook his head sharply to make it stop.
"Seriously?" Damon scoffed. "Tyler, you just agreed with me when I said—!"
"I know I did! But that doesn't mean he needs this!" he screamed. "What the fuck is wrong with all of you? This is our Jeremy!"
"Our Jeremy that needs help Tyler!" Katherine's lips trembled as tears streamed down her face. "Please chéri, do this for his own well-being!"
The sound of a car door closing followed by the alarm made them all pause. Slowly, all their heads turned to the front door, landing on Jeremy walking up the stairs. He paused when he saw them and his blank expression morphed into one of confusion. Tyler swallowed heavily, his legs weak like they would give out that moment. The lump in his throat returned full force when Jeremy's eyes finally landed on him.
"Hey," he gave the billionaire a tentative smile. "What's going on?"
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