Hey everyone,
after losing my writing flow upon finishing Sanctuaries - and going into severe panic mode over that - I wrote this one-shot as a mere excercise to get back into the spirit. So please be gentle, it is really just a little something which I nonetheless hope some of you might enjoy. I know, Klaus/Caroline is probably not going to happen as they are suddenly trying to sell Hayley as the nice girl next door who has soo much in common with Klaus (uh-huh!), but it would seem that I still like to write about those two together. ;)
Set after TO 1x01, and I do of course not own either TO or TVD.
Please enjoy! :)
XX
The swamps surrounding Lake Cataouatche, a popular fishing spot right south of New Orleans, were not overly dense and dark, but they would need to suffice for the time being. He could not afford to leave the city for any length of time, not right now, not with everything that seemed to be coming at him from all sides. Yet he urgently craved a few moments of silence and solitude to clear his head. With his thoughts in a turmoil greater than any he had experienced for centuries, he was prone to make mistakes, and that was the very last thing he needed in the Big Easy's current climate of betrayal, violence and more or less veiled threats. Strategies needed to be developed, decisions had to be made, and for all of that, he required the full functionality of his considerable brains.
Klaus closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath of damp night air. It was almost midnight, and yet the night did not seem to bring any respite from the day's heat and humidity. Giving a mirthless smile at how nature mirrored the atmosphere in the Quarter to perfection - or was it the other way around? - he settled on a large, weathered boulder and focused his senses on the animal sounds surrounding him, trying to erase every distraction, every unwanted thought from his mind. Listening to crickets, toads and even the occasional bullfrog, he felt himself settle. Well, not that the Original Hybrid could ever truly and completely relax, but this was as close as it got, and over the years he had learned to make the most of what little relief he could give his tortured mind and senses.
It was not until very much later that he allowed his thoughts to revisit today's events. Elijah. Klaus' eyes closed involuntarily at the remembrance of the moment he had daggered his older brother. It had been a necessary step, considering how his sibling's sentimentalities were beginning to cloud his judgement. In his own way, Elijah at times even surpassed Rebekah when it came to being led astray by feelings and neediness. Klaus had never understood how his siblings were so blind to the fact that securing their survival was their first and foremost duty, and that any sort of attachment to anyone outside of their family invited in weakness, vulnerability and ultimately, their doom. How could they still not have gathered the principle of their existence? They were the most powerful family ever, and that was what they were meant to be and would continue being for the rest of eternity. No-one, not Marcel, not the bloody witches, not the werewolf girl and her spawn, would ever be allowed to jeopardize their position. He would make certain of that, the way he had done for a thousand years. He had seen Elijah's eyes resting on Hayley with the little spark in them that no other woman beside Katerina had ever been able to evoke, and he had understood what that meant. His brother cared for the unborn child, it was obvious, but it was even more evident that the baby was not his only reason for doing what he had done.
With a heavy sigh, Klaus ran a hand through his hair. He had always hoped that Elijah's penchant for pursuing the most unsuitable of women had culminated in the Petrova doppelgangers, but it would seem he had been sadly mistaken after all. Hayley was an attractive girl, who was he to deny it, but certainly not the most beautiful or spirited they had ever encountered. What weighed even more heavily was the girl's lack of class. Klaus had never judged a woman for having sex without being in love - he himself had never had sex being in love - but in his eyes, that was not what 'class' was about. It was about something else. She had no style, no culture, and what was even worse, no wish to better herself in that respect. It had not been more than mildly entertaining to sleep with her; her passivity had taken him by surprise, and not pleasantly so. He liked his women more lively, more adventurous and sassy in bed. For a split second, an image of Caroline appeared before him, standing in his Mystic Falls mansion, fearlessly yelling at him that she should have turned her back on him ages ago. Suppressing a smile, he forced the thought out of his mind and refocused. Caroline was the very last thing he needed to distract him right now. He had told Elijah that he had not cared for anything in centuries, and it had been an outright lie. Part of him had been secretly relieved that Caroline had turned down his invitation to come and stay with him in New Orleans. Back in Mystic Falls, everyone knew he had 'a thing' for her, as they used to call it, but no-one, not even Caroline herself, had any idea of how deep it truly went. And not a soul would ever know, for nothing would mean a greater threat to him and his family than his own feelings for the vivacious blonde who had been a challenge at first and subsequently turned into something entirely unexpected. Yet, he must not delude himself about what his true fear was. She was a liability, but what paralyzed him even more than the danger she represented should Marcel or the witches ever hear so much as a whisper of what she meant to him, was how overwhelmingly afraid he was of how she made him feel. It was frightening, dangerous and of absolutely no use to anyone, least of all to him and his quest for power, hence he was best advised to preoccupy his thoughts with things that had a more immediate effect on his life and his goals as he was currently pursuing them.
There was no denying that daggering Elijah had hurt him almost physically, and some long-lost corner of his heart was bitterly sorry for what he had done. However, he needed to handle things in his own way, and his brother's increasing attachment to Hayley and the unborn child was becoming more and more of an obstacle. The child. He had still not entirely grasped the concept of becoming a father, and why all of this had happened. Hayley had not been the first werewolf he had slept with, so what Sophie Devereaux had called 'nature's loophole' had to have something to do with his transformation into a hybrid. Well, he might just as well indulge in finding out more when all of this was over, in order to avoid anything like this from ever happening again, but for now, he needed to be practical. He had accepted that this baby was to become a reality in a few months' time, that it was blood of his blood, and what was his, he would protect. This did not, however, include the werewolf girl. Once the child was born, he would entrust the care for the baby to his sister. He had briefly considered killing Hayley, and he had not finally made up his mind on whether to follow through or simply send her on her way. His tendency was toward the latter, and for one simple reason. Her path would invariably lead her to Tyler sooner or later, and that was exactly what Klaus wanted. He had given Caroline his word not to harm the mutt, but he had not promised not to do everything in his power to drive a wedge between them. And Hayley would prove to be an excellent wedge, once Tyler got over his self-righteous indignation at having been betrayed by the girl he had believed to be his friend. The moment the baby was born, Hayley would cease to be of importance to either the witches or anyone else - with the remarkable exception of Elijah - which would give him the freedom to finally end Marcel, his cronies and the bloody witches. He was still reeling with rage over how impertinently Sophie Devereaux - with his own brother's blessing - had dared to dictate his actions, and the damned witch would pay dearly for it when the moment came. In the meantime, he would need to work on cementing a broader basis for his ambitions, which meant that he had to win allies. It was not that he could truly be killed, but taking on an entire army of vampires on his own was not only strenuous, it was downright stupid. A kingdom based on nothing but a pure coup d'état, without the commitment and support of devoted underlings, could never hope to be one of stability and perpetuity, which was one of the simple truths of ruling he had understood over the course of the centuries. So he would stay in Marcel's and the witches' good graces for now, finding out every single piece of information he could and being at his most persuasive, charming... and threatening. Once the moment to strike arrived, Marcel would be very surprised. Although the boy should not be. He should remember his sire well enough to know that when the smoke cleared, Klaus always came out on top.
Once he felt his inner turmoil subside enough to face the world anew, he made his way back to the city at full Original speed, knowing he was too fast for any of Marcel's watchmen to discern, and finally coming to a halt in front of Rousseau's. There had been something about that bartender, Cami, that seemed to have captured his former protégé's genuine attention, and Klaus intended to take full advantage of that. Even if she turned out to be no more than a fleeting interest for Marcel, he was interested for the time being, which meant that she was of major importance to Klaus. Marcel did not share his toys, and he hovered over them almost as carefully as Klaus did over his, therefore he would keep a very keen eye on this girl. And... he also needed to watch himself - the little bartender was clever, very observant and downright curious, and he would not play into Marcel's hands by revealing anything of a personal nature to her.
Stepping into the crowded room, he felt dozens of eyes on him. The chatter quieted almost imperceptibly, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw one of Marcel's 'inner circle' of daywalkers disappear into a backroom, undoubtedly informing his master of Klaus' arrival. He spotted Cami at the end of the long counter and slowly made his way across the crowded room. He kept his eyes on her and suppressed a satisfied grin when he saw her noticing him and blushing ever so slightly. Oh yes, the girl liked him, and this would prove invaluable going forward. For now, she returned her attention to a guest sitting opposite her at the counter, someone Klaus could not yet see through the thick throngs of vampires and humans that populated the room. He was just about to reach the heavy wooden bar when a large group of people parted and he could finally see who Cami was talking to so animatedly. It was a woman, a slender girl with long, blond hair that fell over her shoulders in soft waves. A fancy drink was in her hand, and her laughter floated through the air, a light, carefree sound that made all his insides go soft and rigid at the same time.
It was Caroline.
No. What in hell's name is she doing here? Klaus ignored how his heart seemed to briefly stutter, and how some rebellious part of him wanted to shove everything and everyone aside, flash over to her and just crush her in his arms. Yet, he needed her out of here before anyone took too keen an interest in the new arrival. And in the way he was all but drinking her in right now. Brazing for what he was about to do and doing his utmost to appear indifferent, he approached her, gave a flushed Cami a quick nod and leaned on the counter next to Caroline. He knew that she had noticed him even before he had appeared at her side, and knowing that she could feel his presence in the midst of a crowded room did something to his heart again. Very slowly, her head turned, and he saw her eyes brighten. Come on. I do not need this right now.
"Klaus," she breathed, a guarded smile splitting her face.
"Caroline," he said formally, giving a courteous nod and leaning over to kiss her cheek. Damn. She smelled like... gold, ivory... light. And what was even worse, he could hear her heart miss a beat when his lips briefly touched the velvety softness of her skin. Just like his own did. "What are you doing here? Are you not supposed to be hundreds of miles away, preparing for yet another lecture on 'Problems and Ethics of Journalism in Society'?" At the very same moment, he saw her eyes widen and he could have bitten his tongue. Could he have been any more obvious in displaying his stalking tendencies?
"How...?" she started to say but stopped at the sight of his dark glare, and confusion spread on her lovely features. He knew she had expected him to be thrilled at her unexpected visit, and bloody hell, he was, but this was dangerous for her, and he needed her to leave. Immediately.
"Excuse me for a moment," he muttered and disappeared towards the restrooms without any further explanation. Once he had closed the cubicle door behind him, he grabbed his phone and typed at full Original speed.
Leave the bar. Now. Meet me at the Blind Lagoon, east of the city, in thirty minutes. No discussion, Caroline.
Ten seconds later, his mobile vibrated.
Fine.
With a subdued sigh of relief, he stepped out of the restroom only to run straight into Marcel. "Hey, man, what's up?" the younger vampire bellowed with false joviality, bringing a hand crashing down on Klaus' shoulder. "Where've you been all day?"
Forcing his most boyish grin, Klaus put his own arm around Marcel's shoulders. "You know how it is, mate. Always busy. So why do you not buy the next round and tell me about your day?"
With a thundering laugh, Marcel pulled him towards the bar. "Still trying to find out about my secret? Forget it, friend!"
"We shall see," Klaus muttered while scrutinizing the room, finding her gone. Good. "I have the distinct notion that one day, you will be only too happy to tell me, Marcel." He raised a brow at the other man's thunderous laughter and let himself be dragged off to where Cami was polishing glasses, inconspicuously eyeing the two of them.
But his thoughts were elsewhere.
Thirty minutes later, Klaus arrived at the barren shores of the Blind Lagoon. He stood quietly for a moment, concentrating, and after an instant, he heard her breathing from a cluster of small trees to his right. Without any further hesitation, he flashed towards her, taking her by surprise judging by the startled look on her face. She really needed to pay more attention to her surroundings, he thought wryly, or she would not last overly long in this insane supernatural world, even less so with him unable to be at her side. They stared at each other for a few heartbeats... irregular heartbeats... before Caroline put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at him.
"What was that all about, Klaus? You nag me forever to come and see you here, and when I do, you just order me around, sending me away? What's going on?"
"Nothing. All is well. Caroline, you know that I am always delighted to see you, and I am very sorry indeed, but we will have to postpone your visit to another time. I am rather busy for now, and I..."
Her voice pierced his like a razor. "Cut it out. I don't believe you. Something is wrong, and I want you to tell me what it is. You have never, never been too busy for me, not even when you were in the midst of making hybrids, looking for the cure or hunting down Tyler, and you've apparently even bothered to find out about my college schedule. So you'd better tell me what's the matter."
Klaus had to stifle a smile. She was one hundred percent Caroline, as always, the only one who ever dared bossing him around. And the only one whom he would ever allow to do so. "Things are rather complicated right now. I have many a problem to handle, and as much as I have always appreciated your role as my permanent distraction, I cannot be bothered with any diversions in the current situation. I must therefore ask you to please return to Whitmore and not come to New Orleans again unless I tell you it is safe to do so."
"Safe? What do you mean, safe? Are you in any danger? Is Silas...?"
He shook his head, rigidly controlling his overwhelming desire to reach out and touch her face. It was glowing in the pallid moonlight, although Klaus was not entirely certain it was the moon that made her glow. Maybe it was her very own light, the light he had irresistibly been drawn to ever since he had first laid eyes on her. Clenching his teeth and balling his hands into fists, he fought the feeling down with all his might.
"No, this is not about Silas. Suffice it to say that New Orleans is no place for you at present, and I must ask you to trust my judgement on this. Go back to college, Caroline. Tonight. I will... come and see you once everything is resolved to my satisfaction, but I need you to leave. Go. Now. Or I will make you." His last words were uttered in a low, eerie hiss, a tone he had learned over the years made everyone's skin crawl. He should have known better. Caroline simply glared at him and folded her arms across her chest.
"Nice try, Klaus. You said it yourself - you'd never hurt me, so you can just as well stop trying to scare me off. It doesn't work, not anymore. Not with me. And you should know me well enough to realize that I'm not sent away that easily when I don't want to go. So spit it out already. Why are you so keen on me leaving? And incidentally... you haven't even asked me why I'm here." Her voice had lowered to a mere whisper, and despite her cheekiness, he could sense the insecurity behind her last words. It touched something deep inside him, something only she had ever been able to reach, and he did not even understand what it was. The only thing he knew was that however much he tried, he could not resist after all, for she was right. He needed to know. Taking one measured step towards her, he locked his eyes with hers.
"Why are you here, Caroline?" he whispered, marvelling at seeing her eyes widen and hearing her breathing hitch infinitesimally. He had known for a while that despite her continuous protestations, she was anything but immune to him, and yet her reactions, these little, almost unnoticeable signs, never failed to leave him thunderstruck. So... if he pulled out all the stops, pressed and each every button he had learned to push over his long millennium on this Earth, he had no doubt whatsoever that she would succumb to his charms in no more than the blink of an eye. But for the first time in his life, instant gratification was not what he was after. It had taken him long enough to understand that he needed her to come to him, that in this one single case, between the two of them, it was the only way. Yes, he was able to seduce her, but he was not willing to act on that knowledge. Not yet. Not before Caroline had thrown every doubt, every reservation overboard and seduced him. And now here she stood before him, her face flushed, her eyes sparkling. She had come after him, and despite still seeing the doubt in her eyes, Klaus understood what an incredible step this was for her. For both of them. Only that she had chosen to take this step at the very worst of moments.
Caroline cleared her throat and looked up at him fearlessly. Oh, how he liked it when she looked at him like that! "I am here because you invited me a gazillion times. I am here because I want you to show me your city, as you promised me on the phone that day. I am here because I... need to know something."
And once more, Klaus was unable to resist. "What do you need to know?" he asked quietly, taking another step. They were inches apart now, so close that he could all but feel the warmth emanating from her. She bit her lip, very obviously suppressing a shiver.
"I need to know why I wanted to come. Why I wanted to see you."
He closed his eyes for a moment, concentrating on the desperate struggle to bring his raging system back to order. I wanted to see you. Klaus let himself savour her words, those words he had longed to hear for such a long time, before he focused his entire being on what he needed to do now. Heaven and hell knew there was nothing he could ever have wanted less than send her away, but she could not stay. If a few whispered words could throw him off balance like this, the Gods only knew what her continuous presence would cause inside him and as a consequence, to everything he was planning. Had he not just daggered his own brother for no other reason than being a sentimental fool? With an effort that strained him more than he had ever thought possible, he made his voice sound politely detached while giving her an indifferent smile.
"Caroline, listen very carefully. I do appreciate your coming here, you know that I do, but right now is simply not the time. Go back to college and concentrate on your studies and on your... freshman parties or whatever else it is young college girls occupy their time with." He paused. "Let me know if you need anything, if you are in trouble or if anyone bothers you at all." Whoever puts a hand on you, love, will beg me to let him die. "Whatever it is you require, I will gladly give it to you. But for now, I need to truly focus on my business in this town, and I simply do not have the time to play tour guide." Seeing her wince at his last harsh words, he gritted his teeth. He hated being like this with her, but she would never leave otherwise. And her next words proved him right.
"Why is it that I still don't believe you, Klaus?" she asked calmly, although he could hear her accelerated heartbeat. "Look, I came all the way from Whitmore to see you. Don't you think you owe me the truth? You've always been honest with me, as far as I can tell, so please don't destroy what little integrity I see in you." She gave him a lopsided grin, and it was all he could do not to grin back at her. He briefly lifted a corner of his mouth in a cold smirk before he stepped back, trying to put some distance between himself and her intoxicating scent. Honesty. Maybe he should give her a little piece of the truth, the one piece that would make her leave and not attempt to return anytime soon. She would learn about it eventually, but if he bent the facts a little now, it would blow things out of proportion and make her despise him again. Then, someday, when everything was over, he would rectify the situation, and he would find a way to make her forgive him just as she had forgiven so many of his cruelties already. But for now, he just needed her gone. Ignoring the stubborn part of his subconscious that was whispering how he needed anything but that, he straightened to his full height and gave her a condescending smile.
"You want honesty? Well then, I am most happy to oblige. The truth, Caroline, is that I am about to become a father. The woman in question lives under my roof, and I do not deem it a very clever idea to have you interfere with my... domestic situation."
There was a deafening silence when her jaw dropped and her incredulous eyes sought his. Klaus could clearly see that she was desperately looking for signs that he was lying, that he was making a sick joke, so he remained quiet and simply returned her gaze. Ever so slowly, he saw realization dawn on the lovely face he had grown to care for so deeply. Hurt was invading her beautiful blue eyes, hurt and betrayal of an intensity so unexpected it made him wince inside and want to pull her close and reassure her that none of this had anything to do with what she meant to him. Another truth, but one he could not speak.
"That's impossible. I mean, vampires can't procreate, so how could that happen? And who... who is she?" Her eyes narrowed when a sudden thought seemed to cross her mind. "The bartender, the blonde? I saw her looking at you and.."
"No," he replied coolly, "it is not her. It happened back in Mystic Falls, and as to how it happened, I believe you are well acquainted with the proceedings of hot hybrid sex, is that not right? But I do not know how the pregnancy was at all possible. The world of the supernatural seems to have some surprises in store every now and then. Be that as it may, you will understand my reasons for not wanting you here, do you not?"
"Mystic Falls?" Caroline whispered, her voice on the verge of breaking. It made his heart clench very uncomfortably, and he braced for her next words. "When you were still in Mystic Falls, you... well, I thought... never mind. So who is she?"
Summoning up all of his acting skills, he gave her a little scoff. "Caroline, if you care to remember, you have been rejecting all of my advances, every single one of them, from the very beginning. I do not believe you have any right to be cross with me over sleeping with someone else while you are shagging that pathetic boyfriend of yours. What do you expect from me, Miss Forbes? Eternal celibacy while pining away for you? Please. Let us skip the drama and concentrate on what matters, which is you leaving town. I do not want you here, complicating things for all concerned parties."
"I could not care less about what you want right now. Who is she, Klaus?" Caroline snapped, her hands back on her hips now. A flash of warmth raced through him at the fire in her eyes. And the poorly disguised jealousy in her tone. For an instant, he wondered whether he had ever wanted anyone the way he wanted Caroline right now. With another great effort, he let his eyes ice over before he deployed the one weapon he knew would win him the battle, this little war he did not want but had to fight.
"Her name... is Hayley."
It had the effect of a pistol whip. Caroline recoiled and took a few steps back, staring at him with such disgust that he would almost have laughed out loud, had there not been a faint glimmer in her eyes. No. Fight the tears, Caroline, please, or I will never be able to see this through. She swallowed, and Klaus saw she was doing exactly what he had silently begged her to do - she was battling her tears. In a nonchalant move, he leaned against the nearest tree, gazing at her with false indifference and waiting for her to say something. Or leave. But she just stood there, her eyes on him, her hands balled to fists so tight that her knuckles were turning white. After a very long while, she spoke again.
"Out of all people in the world, you had to get it on with that bitch? She betrayed Tyler, she betrayed everyone, and she willingly and knowingly worked on sending twelve hybrids into certain death! Could you have found a greater slut anywhere?"
"Says the woman whose boyfriend dedicated his life to kill me, no matter who else was to be hurt in the course of the events? Who repeatedly used you as bait to distract me, not caring about whether I would injure or even kill you? Who prefers to spend his time hidden away in some wilderness, allegedly helping a werewolf pack, instead of dedicating his time to the woman he claims to love, now that he is once again free to do so?" It was a very low blow, and he knew it. The look on her face spoke volumes. Klaus could have kicked himself, yet he needed her to leave, and getting her angry was the quickest way to achieve that goal. Caroline stared at him, her eyes clouded, very obviously trying to hold it together and get a grip on her emotions. Taking a couple of deep breaths, she pressed her lips into a thin line before asking another question.
"Do you feel something for her?"
He raised a brow and returned her gaze evenly. "Yes, I do." Indifference. Disinterest. Disdain.
"I see." She lifted her head and looked at him, her usual defiance returning to her eyes. She had gathered her wits, and Klaus was beyond grateful for it. This would only take a few more moments, then Caroline would be on her way and out of danger, and he would go about his business without any further distraction from her. "I wouldn't have taken you for someone like that, Klaus, for someone who gives what is left of his nonexistent heart so easily first to one girl and then to the next after not having felt anything for centuries," she said, her voice as distant and cold as his own, "but as all of you don't fail to point out on a regular basis, I'm just a baby vampire, and what do I know about life and people?" Turning towards the small road that led to the lake, she gave him a curt nod and muttered, "Good luck. And don't call me."
Klaus watched her stalk off at human speed, her shoulders rigid, and he could not help the consuming sense of loss that threatened to overwhelm him at the sight. It had taken him long, so long, to finally reach a status of something remotely resembling friendship with her, and he did not even want to think about the herculean efforts he would have to make to get back into her good graces once his problems were solved. He would do everything in his power, and he would never yield until he succeeded, but it would be one piece of work. He looked at her slowly retreating frame again, feeling the mask of indifference crumble from his face. He craved her, now more than ever, and knowing that tonight, she had offered him the possibility of making her want him with equal measure on a silver plate did not make things any easier. Closing his eyes, he confined her scent to memory, that bewitching, sweet scent that lingered in the air even after she had left. That grew stronger in his mind by the second. That was becoming... too strong to merely be in his head. His eyes flew open, zeroing in on Caroline's slender frame standing right in front of him again.
"What..." he started to say, only to be interrupted by her finger on his lips.
"You lied to me, Klaus," she whispered. "It's still me, isn't it? I could see it in your eyes when you came to my graduation and told me you intended to be my last love, and I can see it on your face now. You don't want me to go, despite all this baby and Hayley business. Which I am still not sure when and how to forgive you for, but that's not the point, at least not right now. Why are you really sending me away? And stop evading the truth," she commanded imperiously. Klaus was acutely aware of her finger that was still lingering on his lips. In a gesture so tender it surprised himself, he covered her hand with his and softly kissed her finger. Once, twice. He saw her eyes close and suppressed a sigh when he took her hand and placed it on his cheek, leaning into her touch. She tore her eyes open again, and although he could clearly read the igniting desire in them, he also saw the deep-rooted doubt. She was afraid of her own courage in coming here, and confused about the contradicting feelings she harboured for him. Strong feelings they must be, one way or the other, or she would never have come. Realizing that, there was no chance for him to keep his mask in place as he smiled at her, his fingers imperceptibly caressing hers.
"I did tell you the truth. There is an eclectic variety of problems I am currently facing, and I require my full concentration to handle them. Yes, you are right, Caroline, I do not want you to go, and I do not feel a thing for Hayley. It was a drunken tryst, no more, no less, whose consequences we are all facing now. Look, love, there is little I could ever want less than your departure, but you cannot stay for a number of reasons, not the least of which is your own confusion when it comes to me."
"How am I supposed to ever get that straight if I don't see you?" she demanded, her thumb gently stroking the side of his face which made him want to close his eyes and just stand there for hours, enjoying her touch. Instead, he gave a light chuckle.
"You will have enough boring lectures at college to provide you with the time to think about it. And I will give you another piece of truth, trusting you to be reasonable enough to accept my judgement on this. There are many people in this town who would like to see me and my family defeated. Whilst this is not something that is easily accomplished - if at all - those people will gladly take every opportunity to use our weaknesses against us. Elijah's nobility and sentimentality, Rebekah's craving for allegiance and attention, my... thing for you. And I cannot and will not allow anything to interfere with my plans to take back what is rightfully mine."
They were both silent for a long while. But neither hand moved so much as an inch. Finally, Caroline raised her eyes to his and pressed her fingers more firmly to his cheek. "So I am your weakness, is that what you are saying?" When he did not reply, she took another step towards him, and now it were his eyes that widened at the sudden move. "Tell me something. Will you ever stop being a megalomaniac terror?" She sighed. "Klaus, you said you wanted me to choose you, but you know me. How do you think I could consider that at all, without any second thoughts, if all you can ever think about is how to bring others to their knees and have them dance to your tune? Why is that so important to you, anyway?"
Now it was his turn to sigh. Elijah had asked him the same question. "It is who I am, Caroline. I am the most powerful being in the world, and I want everyone to know that there is no trifling with me, or my family for that matter. I have spent centuries running from my father, unable to strike roots or lay my head down for a quiet night's sleep without having to look over my shoulder at every turn. That is what I have grown tired of, and that is why I want no-one, no-one, to question my power ever again. It is a permanent home I crave, a family, a kingdom, and I can have none of it while I have not erased each and every single threat to my plans."
"I understand that - well, up to a point, at least," Caroline muttered, "but how do you plan on ruling a kingdom, have peace and convince me to choose you if your universal solution for any kind of problem is to rip off everyone's head?"
"I did not rip off Tyler's after all, did I now?" he retorted, his eyes soft when they rested on her angelic face. "And to my knowledge, the Salvatores are still alive as well. I even provided Damon with my blood without asking for anything in return when I last visited Mystic Falls, would you not consider that some kind of progress?"
She smiled at that. "I suppose we will have to make do with small steps for the time being."
Giving a chuckle, he removed her hand from his cheek and bowed his head to plant a gentle kiss on her fingers. Then his face turned stern as he raised his eyes to hers. "Caroline, I am very serious about this. However much I would love to have you here, by my side, showing you the wonders of New Orleans like I intend to do someday, I need you to leave. Will you, for once, please not fight me?" His voice lowered into a barely audible whisper, and once again, he heard her heartbeat accelerate. This girl would be the death of him, that much was certain. "I am thinking of you every single day, and that is not going to change. Whatever the future will bring, wherever our paths may lead us, this is the one thing you must never doubt. You have told me once that you knew this, but you have never heard me say it, and that is what I want you to take with you wherever you go. And whatever becomes of us." He could not help the crack in his own voice, but for the first time in his life, he did not care. Taking her other hand, he brought both of her hands up to his lips and kissed them lingeringly.
"You were right. I am in love with you, Caroline."
Her eyes closed and he felt her squeeze his hands so hard it would have pulverized a regular vampire's bones. They stood like that forever until she opened her eyes again. He saw determination... and something else.
"All right, I will leave. Until everything is solved. But before I do, I am asking one thing of you."
"Name it. It is yours."
She looked into his eyes, then at his lips, and back into his eyes. All of his insides seemed to turn into jelly at her breathless whisper.
"With your own lips. In your own body."
Klaus knew he should refuse. Send her on her way without further complicating things between them... but rationality had never been one of his core competencies. Nor had restraint. He would make the very most of this one moment, of this one instant that was theirs alone - and he would give her something to think about. His hands cupped her face, his thumbs softly stroking her cheeks as he drew her near. She did not close her eyes, as if wanting to savour every second of what was about to happen, wanting to read each and every emotion on his face. And for once, he would gladly let her. In slow motion, he brushed his lips across her cheekbone, his voice a silken purr.
"I know that one day, my breathtaking Miss Forbes, you will allow me to do what I have been desperately craving ever since our first dance. You will let me make love to you."
He heard Caroline give a small gasp, saw her eyes close and breathed another feather-light kiss on her soft skin, this time on her temple.
"Very gently, very tenderly..."
He kissed her right eye while his hands moved to caress her neck.
"Discovering every inch of your beautiful body..."
His lips were on her left eye, and the tips of his fingers never stopped exploring the velvety skin beneath her jawline.
"Giving you every pleasure you can think of..."
He pressed a tender kiss to the corner of her mouth, feeling himself harden at her helpless little moan.
"And even more pleasures you could not even put a name to..."
The other corner of her mouth. Another soft moan that drove him right out of his mind.
"Until you beg me to take you like the savage I have turned into."
And after an eternity of yearning, longing, wanting, Klaus' lips finally touched hers. His eyes closed, and he was utterly defenseless against the sensations invading his system. Everything about her was sweetness, passion and pleasure, even more so when her lips parted and willingly granted him entrance. Her soft, delicious tongue met his immediately, playing with him, challenging him. Wanting him. He could all but taste her want, her desire for him, which was what made him entirely lose his head. He smashed her onto a fallen tree trunk, burying her beneath him, not able to stop a wild groan from escaping when he felt her heated response. Her hands were all over his back, pulling him to her while she kissed him with a ferocity he would never have expected from playful, gentle Caroline Forbes. Fuck. I'll never be able to stop this. Their breathing was ragged, laboured, and Klaus' lips raced over her neck, his tongue leaving shimmering, wet traces on her lovely skin while his human teeth bit her again and again, soft and hard at the same time. Her increasingly uncontrolled moans did their own to spur him on, not that he needed any persuasion whatsoever, and he began to slowly lose himself, forgetting everything and everyone but Caroline. Hell, how he wanted this girl! Her hands had slipped underneath his Henley, making him give a dark, feral growl at feeling her fingers on his bare skin. Tearing open the top button of her shirt, he buried his mouth in her cleavage, unable to get enough of the intoxicating taste of her skin and her sounds of lust that filled the night like a symphony. A symphony written for no-one but him.
And Tyler Lockwood.
The thought was like a gust of cold water, making him fall out of the heavens and crash back onto Planet Problem with a very loud thud. Chivalry be damned, but... this was not right. Not now, not like this. Squeezing his eyes shut and suppressing a frustrated groan, he softly kissed his way back up to her face, holding her close and slowing them both down with calm determination. When her eyes opened with some difficulty, they were glazed and dreamy, and once more, Klaus' heart constricted at how indescribably beautiful she was to him. Even more so now that she had allowed him - no, asked him - to taste her. He wanted her, he wanted everything from her, but the last few minutes had strengthened his resolve. What she could give him, he needed her to give wholeheartedly and without any reserve. He wanted her to give herself to him and to him alone. He would never tolerate another man - boy, in this case, he thought with an inward snort - looming in the back of her head. Damn. What did this girl do to you, Niklaus?
Sitting up, he pulled her onto his lap, carefully avoiding gathering her too close, for the thresholds of his self-control had been lowered to virtual nonexistence, and he was painfully aware that it would not take more than a little friction for him to forfeit all reason and do what he was dying to do right now. Gently caressing her face, he gave her another soft kiss and leaned his forehead against hers with a heavy sigh, feeling her arms wind around his body.
"What is it, Klaus?" she whispered, still a little breathless, "why did you stop? I mean, it was... wow."
Yes. That does not even begin to describe it.
He kissed her temple again and rested his cheek against hers, his lips close to her ear. "Caroline, I do want you. Madly. So madly that I do not trust my own restraint." She snuggled closer to him, and her gasp echoed his when her thigh brushed his rock-hard erection.
"What do you need restraint for?" she murmured, her lips suddenly on his neck. When her tongue touched his skin, Klaus let his head fall back and gave a soft moan. The feel of her mouth against his flesh was beyond compare, and with every last ounce of his being, he craved more of the sizzling sensation. He pressed her against his neck and locked her in his embrace while giving himself over to her brazen assault.
"Love," he whispered a short moment later when he knew he could not take any more of her tantalizing touch without losing his hold on himself, "you make me ache to take you right here, right now. Is that what you truly want, Caroline? Think carefully."
She leaned back, her hooded eyes on his, and it was more than evident just how badly she wanted to say yes. Almost as badly as he wanted her to. He could see the battle raging inside her head as clearly as if she had been voicing it aloud. After a while, her eyes closed and she let her head sink onto his shoulder again. Her voice was barely audible when she finally spoke.
"Yes and no. Yes because I really want it to happen. It feels... amazing to touch you. To be touched by you. God, I can't believe I'm actually saying this!"
Klaus smiled and pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head, hearing her give a shaky breath. He knew she would need time to grasp that she had kissed him of all people - the Big Bad that had besieged Mystic Falls and her friends on more occasions than anyone cared to remember. Another reason for both of them not to do this tonight. He wanted her to decide with absolute certainty whether she did or did not want him, and not have her shag him on a tree trunk out of a sheer whim. Tyler Lockwood was gone and not bound to return anytime soon - something he knew for a fact, from what his informant had told him about the werewolf girl he was helping - but he was a loose end, and Caroline would need to tie that end on her own. Just as he had to put his house in order before he could think of anything further with her. Resting his cheek against her hair, he inhaled her scent, confining it to memory. His eyes closed when she spoke again.
"And no because you're right, Klaus. I don't want it to happen like this." She straightened and took his face in her hands, making him open his eyes to look at her. Her gaze was fierce, open and honest... and something about it made his breathing falter. "When it happens, I want you to lay the world at my feet. I want you to make love to me in a way you've never done before in a thousand years. I want us both to make love. And I think neither of us is quite there yet, wouldn't you agree?"
No, I would not agree, my love. One of us is.
He covered Caroline's hands with his and very slowly brought his lips to hers, kissing her deeply and making them both sigh with delight. "Will you promise me something?" he asked against her lips when he finally managed to bring himself to release her mouth.
"What?" she breathed, brushing his nose with hers before she pulled him close to kiss him again.
"Promise me that the day you will let me lay the world at your feet, the world will include myself."
That pulled a giggle from her, a light, happy sound that made Klaus think of sunlight, a warm breeze and spellbinding beauty.
"So, what will you do once you are at my feet, then?" she teased, humour dancing in her eyes and voice. In a flash, he lifted her from his lap, stood and pressed her against him, her back to his front, one hand gently caressing her throat, the other flat against her stomach. It gave him a deep, intense pleasure to feel her tremble in his arms the way she did. Her heart beat like a jackhammer when his lips touched her earlobe.
"I will kiss my way from your toes... to your feet... your ankles... calves... thighs... and... wherever you want to feel my lips. My tongue. My teeth. My hands. Until I hear you scream my name. And then I would start all over again," he chuckled hoarsely, letting his tongue trace her ear. Caroline's moan had a hint of despair to it, and she leaned into him, her hands at his hips. Her voice, too, was husky when her head dropped onto his shoulder.
"I promise, Klaus. With you, it will be all or nothing. No compromises."
"No compromises."
He whirled her around, burying her in his arms and hugging her to him for a long moment, revelling in how fiercely she held him before he very reluctantly released her. "You should leave now, Caroline, before I truly throw everything overboard. Take my car, I have a garage full of them. I left it in the parking lot right next to the road." He handed her a key. "Drive back and... think. Think long and hard. And, Caroline, whatever you do, wherever you go - do give me your word that you will take good care of yourself."
She stood in front of him, swallowing, her eyes on his face. There was a suspicious moisture in them that made the lump in his throat grow to the size of a watermelon. "Will you do the same, Klaus? I know you can't be killed, but... I have a choice to make, and I don't want that choice taken from me, okay?"
"You have my promise. You will let me know whenever you need me, won't you?"
"Yes," she whispered, then hesitated. "You won't forget about laying the world at my feet, will you, Klaus?"
He kissed her once more, long and hard. "And there I always took you for such a smart woman," he grinned before he cupped her face and stared into her eyes, not making even the smallest of efforts to hide his deep longing. "How can you even ask a question like that, Miss Forbes?"
"Good," she merely said, leaning into him once more before she started to leave. After a few steps, she halted but did not turn around. Her voice was barely audible. "I'll miss you." Without another word, she flashed off, leaving him to stare after her and listen to his own thundering heart. An instant later, he heard his car's engine ignite before screeching tyres told him she had left at top speed.
For a long time, he stood rooted to the spot, eyes closed, trying to process everything that had just happened. He required a moment of peace and silence to store the memories, pure and unpolluted by any external influences so he could produce them in all their splendour whenever he had need for them. Need for her. His eyes stared unseeingly in the direction she had disappeared into, and unconsciously, he felt his lips form three silent words.
Choose me, Caroline.
It was the precise moment he heard a faint sound in the underbrush. With the speed of a snake on the hunt, he turned to identify the source of the noise, but not a second later, a voice resounded from the darkness. An all-too-familiar voice.
"What a remarkable turn of events, my friend," Marcel said with an eerie calm that was very unlike him. "I think the stakes of our little game have just been raised in my favour, wouldn't you agree?"
Closing his eyes again, Klaus fought down the violent surge of hatred and fear that flashed through his system. Hatred for his friend-turned-enemy who had just now been given the perfect weapon by none other than Klaus himself. Fear for the one woman he knew he would forever protect with everything he had.
As of right now, mate, it is no longer a game.
It is war.
