spamalot } { crossed wires

[vampireboulevard]

Moving clear across the country so that her fiance could join another pack to get away from his crazy dad is not exactly what Caroline Forbes had planned on doing with her life at this particular age, but when it comes to things like fiance (mostly that fiance being Tyler) and getting Tyler away from his crazy dad she's willing to make little changes in order to benefit the good of all. It also helped that Elena and Matt were already on this coast to make the transition a little easier.

(It was five hours to Palo Alto. Five hours driving was still better than all the coordination it takes for a five hour plane ride.)

Still, once she actually arrived in Beacon Hills, she's willing to admit that she may have prejudged this town a little harshly. It's actually more than a little adorable. It's got a Mystic Falls vibe all it's own, but lighter, which I guess is what happens when your mayor isn't a psychopathic alpha werewolf trying to make your life miserable. Talia Hale? A plus alpha from what Caroline could tell - which, she could tell a lot, if just knowing Cora even as little as she does is anything to go off of - and she has a feeling they're going to be very happy here. The TV station even approved her transfer to the local syndicate, so as soon as they find an apartment, she's pretty much set.

Which is what she, Elena and Matt (poor, poor Matt) are doing while Tyler is doing his alpha bonding with Talia and getting to know the pack as a whole. It's been a few days of meetings up at the Hale house, and him coming back to the hotel seeming so much happier than she's seen him in a long time, and that? That is worth every inconvenience, every hiccup, every ounce of homesickness because they fought for this for so long, and now they finally have it.

(This is probably the only universe in existence where Caroline Forbes would actually be grateful for Klaus Mikaelson. Whadaya know?)

She's coming out of one of the buildings, finishing up the details with the realtor, when she spots Tyler coming up the sidewalk and grins. Once they part ways, she's skipping over to him, throwing her arms around his shoulders and pulling him in close. "I love this town."

Comments

[grumpypuppy]

"I don't know how much safer he expects to get past an alpha of an old family line protecting him," Derek snorted.

[impetere]

Cora gives Derek a bit of a look at that, sitting up a bit from behind the dog. "He's human, Derek. He's human dealing with a human problem. He doesn't see us as being stronger as a pack, he just sees a group of people he cares about who are going to be in front of mobsters, because of him."

[grumpypuppy]

Derek thought a moment, then gave her a questioning look. "The Graysons are mobsters?"

[impetere]

She takes a deep breath, leaning back against the couch and scrubbing a hand over her face. She wasn't supposed to say that. She forgot that that wasn't all common knowledge.

"They had ties at least. Part of the reason why they wanted Stiles was because they wanted him to do some shady stuff online for them and he said no."

[grumpypuppy]

"Huh." Derek bit his lip a moment as he thought. "I'm actually tempted to call Nik now. His mate's son, Gabe, used to joke that their pack was secretly the Russian mob. Which they aren't, but does make me wonder if he knows anything about them in his travels."

[impetere]

She nods a bit. "Might be worth a shot? Just ... don't let it get back to Stiles. Scott knows, but I don't think he was supposed to tell the rest of us."

[grumpypuppy]

Derek laughed. "You forget, I'm the Hale that's good with keeping secrets." Like Paige... his marriage... things like that. "It's what happens when Peter's your mentor."

[impetere]

"Yeah, I remember." She's still a little sore about the whole wedding incident, even if she understands the reasons why. But that's water under the bridge from a long time ago.

She picks at Bob's collar again, before looking down at her hand. "I should probably go home."

[grumpypuppy]

Tilting his head, Derek listened a moment to the sounds upstairs. "Well, you actually had a reason to come here first and it's currently hiding in his room playing a video game."

[impetere]

She glances up at the ceiling, before giving a bit of a shrug. "If he doesn't want to meet me now, it's okay. My feelings will not be hurt."

[grumpypuppy]

At that, a wolf tinier than Cora came to the balcony overhang, his spiky blonde hair sticking out all over the place from the shower. "No, I want to meet you! I just totally forgot I was supposed to come back downstairs and started playing a game with my friend online."

Derek snorted. "Cora, meet Liam." He looked at his foster son and motioned for him to come down, and the fourteen year old ran down the steps and jumped to land on the floor next to the table. "Liam, this is my younger sister, Cora."

[impetere]

Cora flashes him a grin and a wave, given that she's being held in place by Bob at the moment. "Hey, Liam. Sounds like you've been giving my brother a run for his money."

[grumpypuppy]

Liam grinned in a way that had way too much mischief behind it. "He's just getting used to me, that's all. He's not that old and lazy."

"Hey, sitting right here," Derek stated, amused. "And you're going to regret that later."

"He doesn't even know how to play lacrosse, Cora. How does he not know this? it's the best sport ever."

[impetere]

"That's because Derek grew up in ye olden days of sports like 'basketball.'" She draws finger quotes around the last word, unable to resist the opportunity to make a jab at her brother. "You should talk to Scott, Isaac and Stiles though. They used to play lacrosse at the high school back in the day."

[grumpypuppy]

"Olden days my -" and he cuts himself off.

"Ass?" Liam helpfully finishes, earning a look from Derek.

[impetere]

She laughs. "He's in high school. Do you honestly think that's the worst thing he's heard?" Really, Derek, it's okay to use a little foul language when warranted. Or at least that's how she sees it.

[grumpypuppy]

"No, but we try to at least act like we weren't raised by wolves."

"But I was raised by wolves." Liam pointed out. "Still am, too."

"That's not the point." Derek sighed, the boy was too smart and too sarcastic for Derek's well being.

[impetere]

"Besides, I've met your wife." Cora gives him a bit of a look. "And her family. You might as well indoctrinate him now."

[grumpypuppy]

He pointed at Cora. "You're supposed to be on my team here."

Liam went to sit next to her, petting Bob. "I like her."

[impetere]

Cora grins back at him before shaking her head. "I'm the aunt. I'm never on the parent's side."

[grumpypuppy]

"Oh, Cora, when you have kids, just remember this moment." Derek went to stand up. "I'm going to start dinner. Do you want to stay and join us?"

[impetere]

She pauses, considering for a moment and tipping her head to the side. "Give me a ride back to the preserve when we're done?"

[grumpypuppy]

"Sure." He opened the fridge, looking in. "So, I have steak or chicken. I'm thinking trying Fiona's barbeque recipe. Any complaints?"

"None from me." Liam grinned.

[impetere]

Cora shrugs. "I'll eat whatever. Just feed me."

[grumpypuppy]

Derek snorted, and he went to go start up the grill outside. He'd just cook both, and hopefully Fiona would have something left between the three wolves.