I got this idea after watching the latest episode of TVD. I know this story-line will not have a bit of Klaroline in it, but I couldn't help but write it for my peace of mind. This is un-beta'd because I literally wrote it in half an hour.
Special thanks to Erika and Lindsay for encouraging me this afternoon and answering my weird questions. Love you!
She wasn't surprised really.
She knew that her mother's death wouldn't go unnoticed by him, that was proved by the delivery of white flowers that still sat by the front door of her house.
She wasn't surprised that after threatening to kill Sarah Salvatore that Stefan ended up calling Klaus. Caroline wasn't herself and if there was one person who knew how to handle her at her worst, it was him.
Him burying twelve witches on the forest for her proved that.
She wasn't surprised to see him in the club outside Whitmore, quietly watching her in the shadows as she had fun reveling in her bloodlust. She acted like the little jump she felt in her stomach was a flare up of lust, not longing.
She wasn't surprised that Klaus didn't compel her to turn it on like Stefan and Elena wanted him to. He quietly followed behind her, cleaning up her messes without saying a word. Healing and compelling people to forget she had fed from them, a stark contrast from they expected.
What surprised her was how he did manage to get her to turn it back on.
She was sleeping dreamlessly in her room at home. No emotions meant no dreams. All she remembers was a sea of black and then her mind was suddenly filled with memories.
Memories of her mother.
Liz watching Caroline walk across the stage as graduation, her mother hugging her right before leaving for senior prom, being dropped off at college. Her and her mother sitting at the grill laughing over dinner. One particular memory seen from the window of her bedroom was of Liz checking on Caroline and kissing her forehead after her 18th birthday.
Memories of the past.
A dream of dancing around a ball room in a blue dress, feeling more alive than ever. Her giggling over an application while sipping on champagne. Her sitting and dancing with Tyler at the 20's dance. Dreams of herself sitting and talking with Elena and Bonnie. Feelings of euphoria at learning Bonnie was alive.
It was too much and Caroline woke up, shocked to find herself crying and her emotions in full force. Elena's arms were wrapped around her as she sobbed, Stefan hovering in the doorway, and Klaus sitting on the edge of the bed, his expression unreadable.
She can still feel the touch of his hand on her temple.
Instead of anger, all Caroline feels is regret.
Regret over turning off her emotions, attacking innocent people.
Regret over taking the easy way out.
Gratitude and confusion over how Klaus of all people knew what to do.
"How did you know?" Caroline asked Klaus the next morning. She was walking him to his car as he was heading back to New Orleans.
He shoved his hands in his pockets, mulling over her question as they reached the end of the sidewalk.
"Your light, Caroline, is the one thing that keeps you human," he responded quietly.
"You just needed to be reminded of it."
Caroline swallowed and look down at her feet to avoid his penetrating gaze.
"Thank you," she whispered quietly. He seemed surprised at her response but nodded his head in response.
"Anytime, love."
She refused to acknowledge the way her chest constricted at the pet name. She was too messed up right now to think about what this meant for her, for them. She just needed to get through this, taking it one day at a time.
"I guess I'll forgive you for breaking your promise," she chided softly, looking up to meet his eyes. They narrowed in amusement at the wry smile on her face.
"You knew I'd never keep it," he smirked.
"I'm glad," she confessed.
There was a pause as they both let that thought sink in.
Caroline cleared her throat and mustered a tiny smile on her face.
"Thank you for the flowers. They were really beautiful."
"I figured those would be more appreciated than an appearance at the funeral," he remarked and Caroline nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, Stefan and Damon probably would have tried to kick you out," she chuckled, the noise sounding foreign coming from her.
"About Stefan-"
"Can we not go there?" she asked, her heart dropping into her stomach. She couldn't go there with him. It would be too much. Klaus shut his mouth and looked down at the ground, his face unreadable.
"I don't know what's going on, but I just know that it's too complicated to talk about during a goodbye," she confessed.
"Just know that if he hurts you-"
"You'll kill him?" she teased, the corner of his mouth turning up in response.
"I'll always protect you, love," he shrugged, her heart bursting in her chest. She reached out and took his hand into hers.
"Thank you," she looked into his eyes, trying to convey how much him coming to her meant to her. His blinked in response, but he squeezed her fingers back. He leaned forward and used his other hand to brush the curls off her forehead.
She closed her eyes and felt his lips place a searing kiss on her temple, the feeling sending shockwaves down her body. Her mind may be confused, but her body never lied. She didn't feel like this with Tyler, Matt, or Stefan. Klaus consumed her and her body with every single touch.
But it's not time for them.
Not yet.
Klaus looked at her hesitantly, not sure if his gesture would be received well. She smiled, a real smile for the first time in what seemed like forever. He squeezed her fingers briefly before letting go to walk over to his car. Caroline watched him reach the passenger door before he whirled around to look at her one last time.
"You know, your mother and I didn't get along. But we did have two things in common," Klaus said fiddling with his keys, a very un-Klaus like gesture. Caroline narrowed her eyes in confusion. He took a deep breath and shrugged his shoulders.
"We both know how extraordinary you are, that you're bigger than this town."
She bit her lip in response taking a deep breath, her heart swelling with emotion that she hadn't felt in weeks.
"And what it feels like to love and adore you with everything that we have."
Whoosh.
She can't breathe. The searing look in his eyes, the seriousness of his tone, the honestly of his words hitting her straight in the gut.
She can't handle this now. Not today, tomorrow, or any time soon. It's way too much.
She tried to form words, her mouth opening and closing. He doesn't saying anything else, just smirks at her speechless form as he turns to go to the driver's side of his car.
"Klaus."
Her quiet words wouldn't have been heard if he was human. He looks up at Caroline as he opens the car door. She takes a deep breath and smiles feebly at him.
"Someday." she whispers, trying to convey the hidden meaning behind her words.
Klaus' face breaks out in a smile and her heart aches at the action.
"Someday," he repeats.
Someday she'll be ready. Not now. She has too much to work through, too many emotions to sort through. Too many human activities she needs to do.
But someday she'll go to him and will be ready.
She'll be ready for her forever.
As always, please read and review and tell me what you think! I swear my next story will be a lot happier!
Until next time,
Kaitlyn