Disclaimer: Here is the continuation of Loved in Shades of Wrong. This will be a series of five one-shots that occur after the end of the original fic. It's not necessary to go back and read that fic if you haven't, but it'll make more sense if you do :)
"These days, doesn't matter what you say,
I'm a mess when you're away.
And unless you come back,
I'll be one step closer to insane…"
"No, no, no! I ordered crimson roses, not red roses! This is a prom, not an anniversary party!" Caroline told the boys bringing in the floral arrangements. Stepping up to one of them, Caroline looked him in the eye and said, "Take those back and bring me back the crimson rose arrangements I asked for, pronto."
Watching the florists van drive away, Caroline wondered if she should have put a time limit on to her command.
"Compulsion to put together prom? Didn't think you'd stoop so low."
Caroline turned to face the amusement in Stefan Salvatore's eyes. "It's prom, Stefan. I have waited 18 years for this! I am going to make sure every detail is perfect, right down to the strength of the toilet paper in the bathrooms.
"So no, compulsion to get the right flowers is nowhere near the low I'd stoop to ensure the flawlessness of this day," Caroline finished, putting her hands on her hips, daring him to challenge her.
Stefan put his hands up in surrender. "My mistake! God, I forgot what a control-freak you were."
Caroline narrowed her eyes at his teasing. "Is there a reason you're here, Stefan, or did you just want to critique my event planning?"
"Yeah, actually," Stefan said looking down, "I needed to- well, I wanted to… I'm taking Rebekah to the Prom and it's a really big deal for her, being her first high school dance, and I want it to be perfect for her and-"
"Oh, my God…" Caroline gasped in mock surprise. "Is Stefan Salvatore… nervous about taking a girl to the prom? I've officially seen it all."
"Stop, Caroline. I'm not nervous for me. I'm nervous for her. She's had a millennium of tough breaks. You know that. She's just wanted somewhat of a normal life and Prom is part of that... I just-I want her to be happy."
The tenderness in his eyes as he talked about Rebekah made Caroline want to weep. Rebekah wasn't the only one who had it rough. Stefan himself had a century and a half of it and the last time she saw him care this much for a girl was Elena. With the way that turned out and knowing the pain he went through each day seeing his brother happy with his ex-girlfriend, Caroline was glad to see Stefan acting this way over another girl.
"Normally picking out corsages wouldn't be a problem," Stefan continued, "but Rebekah's like you. She puts emphasis in the details. And seeing all the trouble you went through with the florist, apparently flowers are a big deal."
"It's okay, Stefan," Caroline said gently. "How can I help?"
Gratitude at her understanding reflected in his eyes, as he looked at her with a small smile. "Look, I know you two aren't exactly friends, but I appreciate your being kind to her. She hasn't had much of that in her life so she usually distrusts it. Lately, I've felt her coming around to trust you a little more, so I was wondering if you would know what kind of corsage she would like?"
Ah, the dilemma of the perfect corsage. Luckily, Caroline herself didn't have that problem as she ordered her own a month in advance.
"Yellow, open rose with white hydrangea accents, and a sheer, white bow. It'll go perfect with the dress I saw her purchasing at the mall last weekend."
Stefan stared at her in awe. "What would I do without you, Caroline?"
Caroline laughed. "Well, let's hope you never have to find out."
"I owe you one," he said turning away.
Caroline had already shifted her mind back to planning mode, when Stefan came jogging back to her. "Caroline, listen… I know you decided to go alone tonight, but I was wondering… could I get you a corsage, too? I mean, it's the least I can do-"
"Stefan," Caroline interrupted, "thank you for wanting to take care of me, but I'm okay. I've already got my corsage ordered and I've planned enough time to pick it up on my way home."
Putting on a brave smile she knew he'd see through anyway, she reiterated, "I'm okay. I've got this."
Stefan stared at her, knowing how much she'd rather have an escort but bowed down to her wishes. "All right. But if you change your mind, just give me a call."
Caroline gave him a reassuring smile, knowing there was no way she'd change her mind and become a third wheel.
As Stefan walked away, Caroline thought back to all the reasons why the top Prom Queen candidate was going to be at Prom alone.
The most significant reason being Klaus.
In the week she had spent with him, he turned her world on its head. He made her feel things she didn't want to feel, made her acknowledge what she thought was best left ignored. He started a thirst in her for a life far more enticing than the one she was currently living. He just… made her want more.
Unfortunately for Caroline, in making her want more, Klaus left her wanting more from a relationship than any boy in Mystic Falls could give her. She no longer wanted to play it safe with the local boys. She wanted a guy who would indulge with her in the beauty of the world, a guy who would help her explore her true nature as a vampire.
She wanted… well, Klaus.
But that was out of the question. Not only was he totally the wrong guy, the guy who would give her friends and family hernias if they found out about them, he was also kind of… gone.
After filling her mind with preposterous desires, Klaus up and left her. What pissed her off the most was his claim to love her. How could he love me and still leave me? It doesn't make sense!
He told her she needed to find herself, find out who she wanted to be and what she wanted out of life. And then he made me want him and walked away when I did.
Caroline was still bitter at their turbulent good-bye, but mostly she had regrets. He was right. If I gave in to my vampire instincts and didn't like who I became, then I would blame him. I would use him as an excuse to rid myself of the guilt.
But how do I explore this side of me? Klaus had reintroduced her to the allure of blood from the vein. The need for it coursed through her every day. Most days she suppressed the need, but there were a few days she gave in.
When the craving got too strong, Caroline would drive three towns over and pick a person from a sleazy bar. Each time she'd try to bring control to the feed, but each time she had gotten carried away and ended up leaving her prey in the hospital, suffering from severe to fatal blood loss.
The next few days she'd be good. She'd drink only from blood bags when she needed to and wouldn't think of doing anything else. She'd be so good it almost made up for her attacks. Almost. Then the craving would start up again, and she'd find herself repeating the cycle.
Just the thought of her indiscretions brought out the need for blood within her. Feeling the veins around her eyes pulse, Caroline bowed her head and breathed through it. Control, Caroline, she scolded herself. Prom night is not the time for spiraling!
As the need subsided, Caroline turned back to her clipboard and put all thoughts of Klaus and the urges he brought out in the furthest recesses of her mind. I cannot let ghosts of hybrids past keep me from putting on the best Prom Mystic Falls has ever seen. She had a reputation to uphold.
"Now the distance gives me reason to wonder
How I'll recover from our farewell…"
"Are you freaking kidding me?!" Caroline exclaimed at the florist. Not only had they messed up the flower arrangements for the event, they had also sold her corsage to someone else by accident.
"So let me get this straight, not only am I going to Prom date-less, I also have no corsage?!" she said to no one in particular. "Is the universe trying to give me the worst Prom ever, in the history of Proms? Ugh!"
Turning on her heels, Caroline tried to think happy thoughts to keep herself from snapping.
It's okay, Caroline, she told herself as she got her hair and make-up done. Just think of all the people who are going to be blown away with the night you've put together for them. It's going to be a freaking fairytale. Nobody will ever forget it.
These thoughts got her through the rest of the preparation process. When she got home with her hair done in an elegant up-do that left a few strands grazing her shoulder, and her make-up looking natural and flawless, Caroline raced to her room to get into her dress and shoes.
You're running late, Caroline! But at least you'll arrive in the most beautiful dress ever!
Caroline looked at herself in the mirror. She wore a beautiful, strapless beaded ivory dress. It fit her perfectly, like it was made for her. The classy up-do and light make-up complimented the look perfectly. She added on delicate, dangly earrings with an equally delicate necklace to match.
Something's missing…
Rummaging through her drawers, Caroline tried to find something that would pair nicely with her ensemble. Frustration built inside her as she came up empty handed. I've got nothing!
Then she remembered an equally elegant bracelet she had gotten as a gift a year ago. Opening the box that held it safe, Caroline stared at the diamonds winking at her from their infinity shaped setting.
It was one of the only things she had left of him. This bracelet, a beautiful blue dress, and a drawing of her. It was all she had left of Klaus.
She never allowed herself to dwell on him, so she kept these items hidden from daily view. So what if I don't have a date or a corsage? I can still wear this and pretend there is still someone who cares for me tonight.
Snapping the bracelet on carefully, Caroline stared at her wrist and smiled. While everyone is living their fairytale tonight, I'll be living the most tragic tale of all. But nobody will know, because I will smile like I am happy and mingle like I have never felt loneliness at all. And I will be happy, she told herself, touching the bracelet, because I'll have a part of him with me tonight… Besides, who needs a corsage when you can have a diamond bracelet, instead?
Shaking off her sentimental thoughts, Caroline went on her way to the event she had been preparing for all her life.
She arrived late, but made quite an entrance. The entire planning committee stopped what they had been working on and applauded their leader for the event she had put together and for looking stunning while doing it. Caroline laughed at their gesture and said, "Alright, people, let's give everyone a night they'll never forget!"
As the night progressed, Caroline watched Rebekah dancing happily on Stefan's arm, Elena and Damon dancing so wrapped up in each other, and Bonnie and Jeremy laughing while getting drinks. All while Caroline took care of the small details that made their night perfect. She tried to enjoy herself, but watching her friends, Caroline felt a tinge of jealousy.
"You know, you could have said yes to me."
Caroline turned away from watching her friends to face Matt.
"I could have, but that's not fair to either one of us. You deserve a shot at happiness and a normal life, Matt. I want that for you. You should have brought a date. A human date," she said sternly.
"Yeah, well, I didn't. See, my past two girlfriends turned into vampires, so I didn't think it'd be fair to put that kind of a curse on someone else," he joked with her.
Caroline tilted her head, staring at him in amusement. He always knew the right things to say around her. In a matter of moments, he had taken her mind off her own problems and turned it on himself, knowing she couldn't walk away from an opportunity to meddle.
"You're going to find someone perfect for you, Matt. She's going to make you so happy, you'll completely forget about the vampire girlfriends you once knew. You're going to live happily ever after. For all of us," she told him, wishing she could turn back time and be the one for him. Life was so much simpler then. Quarterback boyfriend, head cheerleader girlfriend, I had the ideal life. What happened to us?
Matt rolled his eyes. "Will you dance with me till then?"
Caroline smiled and accepted the hand he offered.
She may not have come as his date, but Caroline spent the rest of the evening laughing and dancing with one of her best friends, completely shedding the glum mood that had been haunting her all day.
As the night started to wind down, Caroline and Matt danced quietly to a sad slow song. The night had worn them out, so they were content to dance in a comfortable silence with her head resting on his shoulder.
Caroline's mind had wandered to the clean-up that would start in an hour when Matt suddenly stopped dancing. "Uh, Caroline," he started.
Caroline looked up at him, wondering what had happened. "I think there's someone here to see you."
Following his line of vision, Caroline turned to see the one person she had resigned herself to never seeing again. Not with the way they left things.
There outside the French doors, his face lit by the trickling lights Caroline had set up to give the outside a romantic atmosphere for the senior couples who needed to get air, stood Klaus.
Her hand slid off Matt's shoulder as her feet carried her outside without any conscious thought. By the time she reached him, he had moved deeper into the shadows. "Klaus," she called softly.
"Caroline," came his deep reply. The timbre of his voice washed over her, and she closed her eyes in the unexpected pleasure she felt.
"Open your eyes, love," he said stepping closer to her, "I have something for you."
Caroline could never resist presents, and Klaus's gifts were the most exciting of them all. Her eyes immediately popped open, causing Klaus to smile at her joy in something so easy for him to provide. I would buy her a hundred gifts to have her look like this always.
Taking hold of her right hand, Klaus pulled his left hand from behind his back and proceeded to tie on the most exquisite corsage Caroline had ever seen to her wrist.
In the middle sat an orchid of a soft peach color, surrounded by delicate ivory calla lilies. Threaded throughout them were pearls that matched the beading on her dress. Caroline didn't own a ton of expensive jewelry, but she knew by the luminous luster that these pearls were the real deal.
Unable to take her eyes off her wrist, Caroline said, "This is a nice surprise, after the way the florist botched my corsage order."
"That would be my doing," Klaus said, pulling his hand away. "I bought it off of them, so I could bring you this. This seemed to suit better."
Always with the gifts and flattery. Keeping her eyes down, she said, "I'm surprised you came back… after the way you left… the way I made you leave… I didn't think I'd see you again."
Klaus waited until she raised her uncertain eyes to him before responding. "You may be intrigued by the darkness, Caroline, but I am pulled by your light. I couldn't stay away for long."
Caroline's eyes turned skeptical as she asked, "so you're back for good now?"
He hesitated before answering firmly, "I'm back for now."
Her light dimmed, but Caroline took the moment for what it was. "Well, I'm surprised to see you here. Didn't think high school Proms were your scene."
"They're not," he agreed, "but they're your scene and I wanted to see you. I… needed to see you."
The look in his eyes assured her of his desperation. All the anger and resentment she had been holding on to seeped out of her in that moment.
Indicating the faint sounds of music coming outside, Caroline asked, "since you're here, want to dance?"
Klaus smiled, relieved she wasn't going to cause a scene. "Not just yet. I have something else for you."
Caroline's eyes narrowed as he pulled a pouch out of his inner-breast pocket. Pulling something out, Klaus stepped behind Caroline and proceeded to clasp on a necklace. Looking down, Caroline saw an intricate brass locket hanging from a long silver chain.
Picking up the cage-like pendant from where it nestled between her breasts, she studied the red orb that was placed inside it. She tried to find a clasp to open it so she could study it closer.
"It doesn't open," Klaus said.
Caroline dropped the necklace and asked, "and which princess did you steal this one from?"
Klaus glanced at the bracelet on her arm that held the story of a princess. He had seen it as she danced with that human-boy, Matt-something, and knew there was still hope, that he hadn't come back in vain.
"No princess. It caught my eye one day, and I felt it belonged on you. So I bought it."
His words caused a fluttering inside her, knowing that he thought of her now and then, the way she thought of him.
"Now, may I have this dance?" he asked quietly, holding out his hands to her.
With a small smile, she placed her hand in his, and for the briefest moment it felt like all was right in her world again.
"You outdid yourself with the lights," he mentioned, pulling her closer.
"Yeah, well… I went to ball last year, and it inspired me. That night was like a fairytale… and I wanted the rest of Mystic falls High to be able to experience that kind of beauty."
The memory of that night made him smile. She had resisted him so hard, but knowing she treasured that day pleased him.
"I'm surprised to find you here with Matt instead of Tyler," Klaus commented.
Caroline missed a step at his name. "Tyler… left. With his parents gone and… the place he and I were at… he just left. Said there was nothing here for him anymore."
Klaus narrowed his eyes in disgust. "He abandoned you? Didn't even fight for you?"
Shrugging, she answered, "we both wanted different things. I wanted different things."
Her eyes pleaded with him to drop the topic. His distaste for the boy grew, but he could put it aside for her. Pulling her closer to him, Klaus continued their dance.
They danced together quietly for a while, content to just bask in each other's presence.
Eventually, Caroline's curiosity got the best of her. "Did you find the cure?"
Klaus stilled for the smallest moment, before answering, "I did."
Caroline stopped altogether. "What?! What did you do with it? What about Silas?"
And just like that, their moment was over. Letting go of her hand and waist, Klaus explained. "When Elijah came back with the witch, we went in search of Katerina. We found her with her hunter, Galen Vaughn. We took them to an island where the witch knew Silas to be buried. The cure was secured within his grasp. The witch was able to wake Silas enough to loosen his hold on the cure so that I could retrieve it. Once it was in my possession, the witch sealed Silas once more. Elijah and I destroyed the caves in which he rests so nobody can reach him again. He is not a threat to any of us anymore."
"But what about Katherine?"
Klaus growled at the thought of her. "Elijah is handling her. It appears he has some lingering resentment of her escaping us 500 years ago. More so than even I do. Makes me wonder what happened between the two."
The thought confused Caroline, so she moved on to another question. "Where's the cure?"
He studied her face for a moment before answering, "it's in a safe place."
"But Klaus, Elena-"
"Doesn't want it," he finished for her.
"Look at your friends, Caroline," he said turning her so she could look inside the room. "They're all content with their lives. The cure is better left forgotten. I won't destroy it, because it can be used for a greater purpose someday, but Elena isn't it."
Turning back to face him, she asked, "what about your hybrid army? Don't you want to make any more of those?"
He was silent as he mulled the thought over. "I find I rather like being one of a kind. Nobody to question my superiority, cause a revolt, that sort of thing," he said, reminding her of what Tyler had done.
"Besides," he continued, "being around Elena would mean being around you… and neither of us is ready for that just yet."
Caroline stepped back as the anger returned. "so that's it, you're leaving again? Leaving me to wake up in the morning wondering whether you were even here or if I just wanted this moment so bad that I dreamt it up?"
"It's no dream, love." Touching the pendant that rested against her chest, he said quietly, "Wear this for me. You'll know I came back for you. That I'll always come back for you."
It wasn't enough for her. "You said you were leaving to protect me! I don't feel protected knowing you're worlds away!"
"You are protected," Klaus said firmly, narrowing his eyes. "Rebekah knows better than to let anything happen to you. As does Stefan. If you ever feel afraid, go to them. They know how to reach me."
It hurt her that he left no way for her to go to him directly. He was purposely keeping them disconnected.
Her eyes were welling up as she asked one last time, "stay."
Klaus inhaled sharply at her plea. "Love, you know I can't… not now. You need to figure out who you are without me, because once we are together, I won't ever let you go. You'll never get this chance again."
Stepping close to her, he took her hands in his. "Wolves mate for life, Caroline," he whispered gravely. "I've found my mate, but she isn't ready to be mine just yet. I've waited a thousand years for you. I can wait a few more."
This agitated her even further. "You think you're doing this for me. You think this is what I want, but it's not!"
Bringing her hands up to his lips, Klaus placed a reverent kiss on them. "This is not what you want, but it is what you need. I'll always give you what you need, Caroline. And right now, you need me to leave."
Walking backwards he called out to her one last time, "but I'll be back, sweetheart. I'll always be back for you."
"Baby, save me. Give my troubled heart
What it's been aching daily for.
I'm hoping you know me enough to see that
I can't be alone anymore…"
Sooo how was it? Do I suck at one-shots? I probably do, but bear with me, only 4 more before this leads into another 10 chapter fic.
Also, I put a few graphics for this fic up on my tumblr (givemelovelikeklaroline). Check that out if you want :) I'll put a link to it on my profile!
Please review and let me know how you like this! One-shots make me extra nervous :/
AND next one-shot: what happens when a few years down the road, one of them develops a relationship with a mutual... friend?
