Klaroline Writing Week Day 1: A canon Klaroline moment done in your own way

A/N: 1. So now that I have somewhat started writing again, I will be posting all of my drabbles, including all KLAWW drabbles, here as well as on Tumblr! 2. Drabble Warning: I know we all hate it, but because of the prompt I had to include some lines from the show. Ugh I know. Anyways this is a "What should've happened after the kiss scene" drabble. Enjoy!

She really hadn't expected him to come. But when he did, oh how relieved she was to see him- the real him, and not Silas. However, she was not ready for the onslaught of emotions that came with his return. Her experience with Silas and learning that what you saw was a reflection of your buried internal thoughts had opened her eyes- and maybe even her heart. She was finally able to admit that she felt something for this man- the man who spent a thousand years killing and hunting and believing love was a weakness. She felt something for him. Felt what exactly? She didn't know, but there was something there, something that had replaced all the hate she had once carried in her heart for him, and she was done denying it. But that didn't mean she was ready to be with him, if she ever would be. Just being around Klaus was a challenge, but she wanted to be around him, oh how much she craved to be in his presence, to talk about the world and art and his experiences and everything she could do now that she was a vampire. Because he made her feel alive, something that neither Tyler nor Matt had ever made her feel. And when she had first realized this, that's when she knew; she knew that it was over between her and Tyler. She would always love him, but she wasn't in love with him. Because what she felt for Tyler now wasn't half as consuming as what she felt for Klaus.

And she was ready to take him up on his offer. She was more than ready; she was desperate to get out of her cursed hometown. To travel the world with the one man who had lived through its building. To get to know the broken man who had slowly- very slowly- but surely, crept his way into her heart, and possibly even put the pieces back together to help him be the great man she's seen tiny pieces of. If only she isn't too late.

Even though she was 99% sure he was in love with her, the million unreturned calls and the fact that he had just up and moved to New Orleans without even a word to her (or anyone for that matter) all in addition to her human insecurity buried deep down, made her think otherwise. Did he finally realize that she wasn't worth his time? Did he find someone else? (Well, that's highly unlikely, but still.) Was it all just for the thrill of the chase?

Thank God her morbid thoughts were interrupted when she felt the presence of the man in question behind her. She didn't even have to turn around to know it was him; the powerful aura that filled the air and the overwhelming feeling of loving eyes gazing at her gave him away. She smiled before turning around to face him.

"How'd you get here so fast?"

"I received your graduation announcement. It was… very subtle. I assume you're expecting cash?"

"That… or a mini fridge."

The extensive flirting wasn't lost on either of them.

"Well I had considered offering you a first class ticket to join me in New Orleans…"

He mistook her hesitance for rejection. It wasn't It was shock. Uncertainty. Relief that he still cared.

"…But I knew what your answer would be. So I opted for something I knew you would accept… Tyler is now free to return to Mystic Falls."

"What?"

That was not expected at all. She was almost sure he would ask to show her the world yet again, but when he didn't she most definitely did not expect him to set Tyler free. Which she knew was extremely hard for him. His face said it all when he said those last few words. But his love for her and desire to see her happy overcame all of his pride and stubbornness and desire for revenge.

"Because of you, Caroline. It was all for you."

She was… ecstatic, to say the least. Proud. Proud of herself. Proud that the once selfish, insecure, neurotic human girl had grown to be the one person who could change the most feared, sadistic, vengeful, and lonely thousand year old hybrid for the better.

"He's your first love. I intend to be your last, however long it takes."

He rushes to kiss her cheek, like he's afraid she'd reject him- which hadn't crossed her mind- but takes his time to pull away, as if to savor the moment just in case it was the first and last time he would get the chance.

"Congratulations, Caroline."

There was something in his face. Sadness, disappointment, resignation. Maybe even jealousy of the fact that it was the thought of Tyler being back that put that huge smile on her face.

"Let's get out of here-" he started to say with a sigh before Caroline cut him off.

"Wait."

The hopeful yet scared look on his face was something to save forever. Caroline took a breath before going all in.

"What if… What if I wanted to say yes?"

"Yes to what, love?"

He knew what. He just didn't want to get his hopes up.

"Yes to… travelling the world…with you. Yes to following you to New Orleans to defeat whatever it is you got going on down there. What if things with Tyler aren't really like they used to be?"

"As happy as I am to hear you say that, I sense a 'but' coming."

With a sad smile, she continued.

"But… as much as I want to- and trust me, I want nothing more- I need to stay in this horrible town for just a little longer. I need to make sure everything with Silas is taken care of, make sure my friends are okay. I need to tell Tyler he can come back and tell him that maybe… maybe we're better as friends."

He has a feeling she isn't done, so he waits silently.

This is it. Where I lay it all out. Here goes.

"And then when all that is done, I promise that I'll find you. You'll show me the world just like you promised, right after I come to New Orleans and help you fulfill whatever Old World king-fetish you have. And you will, because I believe in you, and… I care for you. More than is healthy. So go down there, take care of business, and when we're both ready we'll see what happens."

She's crying, she notices. And when she looks back up from wiping her tears, she notices Klaus' watery eyes. She places a hand on his cheek, and brushes away the stray tear that had fallen before saying the last of her grand speech.

"Just remember that I believe in you, because despite what others may think, or even what you may think, you have grown to be one of the greatest men I know."

His hand reaches up to cup the hand on his face. She repeats his action from before, leaning in to place a small kiss on the corner of his mouth, not rushing it though since she knew he wouldn't pull away. Oh how she wishes she could've kissed him just a little more to the left, to finally taste the lips she had been ashamedly dreaming of for a long time, but she knew that that would just tease the both of them. So she lingers by his lips for just a little while longer and whispers against them.

"Wait for me."

"Until the day I die."