Hey, so this is my first vampire diaries fic, so don't be to hard on me, but I'd really appreciate reviews to know how I did :) Basically, it's set in 4x21 when Caroline and Klaus are in the woods talking, but this is how I pictured it might have gone had it actually been Klaus and not Silis, just some fluffy Klaroline love, I ship them so hard! Hope you like it!
"Truth is I've tried to stop thinking about you" he pauses looking into my eyes "and I can't" I exhale in obvious frustration as I walk a few feet away trying to clear my head. "Come to New Orleans" I hear him say from behind me, what is he thinking, I can't just run away with him "What are you afraid of?" The question sounds more like a challenge
"You" I snap turning to face him "I'm afraid of you" I don't know where this sudden burst of courage came from, but what have I got to lose from being completely honest with him
He sighs looking hurt as his eyes move to the ground "You don't have anything to be afraid of Caroline, I'm not going to hurt you. I think you and wolf-boy's plan the other night made that perfectly clear" I can feel his voice rise with anger as he brings up Tyler. He takes in my surprised expression and scoffs "Did you really think I didn't know what you two were up to sweetheart" He moves in closer to me, closing the distance between us in a single step. He puts his hand up to brush a piece of my hair aside and leaves it linger on my cheek as he speaks "I always know" he breathes "and I need you to believe me when I say that I was not going to hurt you"
I pull away "you already had Klaus, from the moment that you came to mystic falls all you've done is hurt me and everyone I care about."
"Well that's being a little dramatic now, don't you think love"
"Wherever you go people get hurt, I can't forget that, and I certainly can't go with you" Even as the words leave my mouth I can tell he's not buying it, we both know that's not really my problem, after all, my death list is growing rapidly as well, I just pray that he won't call me on it, that I'll have hurt him enough that he leaves and never comes back.
"That's not going to work this time Caroline" I see his face go back into his patented serious look "When are you going to stop lying to me, to yourself. You can stand out here with your moral compass all you want, berating me for being such an awful person but deep down you know that I'm no worse than your friends. Everything I've done I've done for my family! Can your precious Salvatores make the same claim, what about Bonnie? Elena? Don't make me laugh. So why don't we skip all of the dramatics and for once in your life Caroline be honest with yourself. Don't do what everyone expects of you. Don't do anything for anyone else. Do what you want, because you deserve to be your own person, and if you can honestly tell me that you want me to leave and never see you again, then I'll respect that, but for once in your life, make a decision for yourself, not for anyone else.
His challenge hangs in the air between us like a thick cloud, the only thing that separates us. I debate my answer for a while, knowing he is a patient man (at least when it comes to me). I could lie to him, but I'm actually starting to see his point. It has been so long since I made a choice based on what would be best for me, I'm sick of it always being all about Elena… but is this the choice that I want to make, I guess there's only one way to find out: Brutal honesty.
I take a deep breath and see Klaus perk up in front of me, staring at me expectantly for an answer "You're right" I begin "I am not afraid that you will hurt me" I can see a smirk play at his lips "but I am afraid of you, Klaus" It drops "I know you, I Know how you work. You fill your eternity by obtaining things, and the harder they are to obtain the more you want them. Stefen told me about when he was with you; you never compelled anyone to behave because "a real ripper enjoys the hunt". That's what I am, isn't it? Just another challenge." I can feel the tears welling up behind my eyes as I realize the truth for the first time "You don't care about me Niklaus" I can see him shift, about to protest, but I continue before he can "You are a hunter, this is what you do, you chase your prey until you've won. Well, congratulations." I can't stop the tears from flowing down my face as I turn back to him "You've won, I'm all yours, and yet even as I'm saying this I know that your interest in me is slipping away, I told you I was too smart to be seduced by you, well clearly I was wrong" I slip to the ground, grasping my knees in my arms as I realize just how pathetic I was to truly think he cared about me. "This is what I was afraid of, it's what I've always been afraid of, that as soon as I began to care, you would slip away, just like everyone else."
I feel him move closer "You done?" I nod my head miserably. He sits on the ground beside me shaking his head as he exhales completely exasperated "Caroline Forbes, I'm about to tell you something that I'm sure not many people have told you lately. You're wrong" I look at him with a questioning disposition and he wipes one of my tears away as he begins to speak "You think that I will cease to care when you are no longer a challenge? Have you met you; you're always a challenge love, that's what I like about you. You're strong and stubborn and sometimes annoying as hell, but you are never boring, I may be a hunter, but I know when to give up, when something isn't worth it, and trust me, if you weren't worth it, I'd have given up a long time ago"
I'm taken aback by his words, they seem so genuine, so honest, no tricks, no flirty smirks, no underlying meaning, for the first time, I think to myself, I am actually having a conversation with Niklaus Mikaelson, just the man, not "Klaus" big bad original hybrid, and I like it. I like him, and I want to go with him, I realize that I really do want to be with him. I Begin to laugh through my tears and before I know it Klaus has stood up and is offering me his hand. I think for just a moment before reaching out and grabbing it "Thank you" I smile brushing the dirt off my jeans
"So, where do we go from here?" He asks
"Well, I still have to graduate"
"Of course"
"And then… " I pause giving him a sideways grin "I'm sure it wouldn't take long to compel myself into University of New Orleans"
The forest practically lights up from the smile he gives me "Sounds radiant"
We start our way back towards town, and just when we get to the edge of the woods he begins to look nervous "Caroline love, there is one more thing I need to tell you…"