𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧- 𝐄.𝐌

29. The Ritual

"So last night." began Caroline looking at Maeve who sat across from her in the Luncheonette coffee shop.

"Yeah...before that." Maeve reached over the table and grabbed Caroline's hand, "How are you?"

"I'm okay."

"Really? How many have accepted that answer?" Caroline didn't respond. 

"Did it get easier for you?" Caroline asked nervously. "Accepting that you are okay? Being okay?"

"Caroline our situations are different. I cannot tell you it will be okay or that it gets easier. But I can tell you that it is possible. One day, you can live with memories of him and not be haunted by them. Maybe not today, but one day you will be okay." said Maeve softly. "I am sorry I wasn't there that night. I didn't know. I found out yesterday and basically..."

"Got distracted by Elijah." Caroline cut Maeve off. Maeve blushed red and looked down. 

"I am sorry Care."

"Its alright."

"It is not alright. I should have been there for you."

"Its fine Mae, really. I had Elena and Bonnie and Matt."

Maeve sighed apologetically. "Yeah...But I wasn't there. I wasn't there to comfort you. I wasn't there to let you know that everything would be okay. I was at a stupid dinner with the Mikaelsons and Salvatores. That was wrong."

"Maeve. Its fine. I'm okay. I will...although forgive you if you tell me something." Maeve raised a single brow at the sudden suggestive look on Caroline's face but nodded her head anyway for Caroline to continue, "Tell me you kissed last night."

Maeve chuckled deliriously shaking her head. "We didn't. We talked."

"Just...talked? Really? I don't believe it." exasperated Caroline. "I saw you two last night. It was romantic. You are bore." Caroline rolled her eyes.

"Sorry. If you want smut...go online." Caroline made a face at Maeve. Both continued on eating in silence for a moment. Maeve thought back to the night before. The conversation she eavesdropped on between Elena and Esther. 

"Can I ask you something" asked Caroline setting her fork down on the plate.

"Sure."

"What happened last night? Other than the almost romantic moment with Elijah. You look distracted."

"Esther is planning to kill them all, Care. I don't know how but she is going to do it. I don't know how to help them." told Maeve to Caroline in a grimly voice. 

"Holy shit! What?"

"Yeah and Elena is most likely helping them." Maeve sighed. "I know she's your friend and I am not going to pretend that her grudge against them is non-reasonable...she should hate Klaus...he is using her as blood bag but what about the rest? Rebekah and Elijah only wanted to help her but she was the one who betrayed them. Elena hasn't even talked to Finn and Kol and she basically signed their death warrants. Why? Because Esther said so.."

"What are you going to do now?"

"I'll figure something out." Maeve told her with an assured smile. "Now, what happened between you and Nik?"

"He's annoying." Caroline said matter of factly.

"Oh...really?" Maeve said with a knowing look. "What did you say?"

"I──how did you know I said something?"

"You are Caroline Forbes and he is Klaus Mikaelson. Stubborn and egoistic, respectively, idiots is what you both are."