KLAROLINE UNIVERSE! Our prayers have been answered! Seriously, how STOKED were you all to see that amazing scene last night? I can't even begin to describe how loudly I squealed! :D What's next for Klaroline? SOMETHING for sure, based on the pictures I saw! But here's a lil' something to hold you all over 'til next week ;) Enjoy & review, m' loves! :)

One-Eighty by Summer

"Go on just say it- you need me like a bad habit;

One that leaves you defenseless, dependent, and alone,

Are you afraid to say what you want to? Tell me you want to"

-Taking Back Sunday

Caroline gazed at the silver bracelet in her hand, and inhaled a sharp breath as her frosty blue eyes gazed at the simple, yet so very complex, words scribbled on the white card before her.

From Klaus.

She could barely breathe when she thought about all that had transpired since last night: she had a birthday. She had a funeral. She fought with Tyler. She made up with Tyler. She was bitten by Tyler. She nearly died because of Tyler. Klaus saved her life.

Klaus. Saved. Her. Life.

She shook with rememberance as his smooth words replayed in her head; his voice like velvet against her ears, as she awaited her untimely "death."

This time, she'd really be dead.

Only, she didn't die. Klaus came to her rescue- he was the last one who should have come to save her. She wanted to chalk this up to bitter irony, but she passed. There were no words in the English dictionary that could describe how shocked she was when he walked into her bedroom.

Seriously, what could anyone say?

Caroline gulped softly, and pressed her eyes shut- how could this be happening? How somebody like him- a monster, a villian, a sick individual- care about her measley, eighteen year "life?" How did he even know her "life" was in danger?

And what the fuck was she supposed to do with this goddamn bracelet? How would she explain this to Bonnie, to Elena, to anyone?

Caroline quickly retrieved the jewelery box, and set the gift inside of it, because really- what else could she do?

Caroline let out a deep exhale, and self-conciously hugged her arms across her body. She felt fine-better than fine- when it came to her physical well-being. Klaus' blood successfully cured Tyler's bite, and she was just so happy not to be in any pain anymore.

But what about her mental well-being?

Just when she thought things were going to be okay with Tyler- just when he told her that he loved her- her "life" did a complete 180, in ten seconds flat.

One half of a makeout later, he almost killed her.

Maybe that's what Damon was talking about way back when he warned her about werewolf bites- when he told her not to be Tyler's friend.

Whatever. It's not like she gave a shit what Damon had to say, anyway. He'd better fix his own drama before he lectured her about anything, she thought.

But now, she wished she had listened to annoyingly-right-but-incredibly-judgemental-Damon. Because if she had, Tyler wouldn't have almost killed her, and the psycho-siring-hybrid-from-hell wouldn't have had to come her rescue. Now, she was hella confused, and undoubtedly nauseous.

But apparently, being nauseous wasn't on the agenda today- she had something more immediate to deal with.

"I'd like it if you wore that bracelet, love. It cost a fortune."

Caroline gasped as she nearly jumped out of her bed when she heard his voice- thick with determination, and oozing with confidence. She held her hand onto undead heart as she watched Klaus moving towards her; a gentle smirk on his face, and an intent stare in his eyes.

The air in her bedroom suddenly felt heavy with questions, and anticipation- mostly hers.

"How did you-" she began, and she stopped when Klaus was standing less than two feet away from her, towering next to her bed.

"I've been invited in," he smiled. "Lucky you- you were in need of a hero last night," Klaus noted.

Caroline inhaled a long breath as she gazed into his sea blue eyes. His golden hair resembled the color of honey as the rays of sunlight peeking through her window shone on him in the most godly of ways. His tan shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, and his strong hands- the hands that lifted her into his arms to feed her his blood- were characteristically placed at his sides.

She so vividly remembered each second she'd spent with him the night before- it almost felt like a dream, the way it was so surreal.

"Why did you save me?" she asked, in a voice that was so quiet, he had to inch in closer towards her to hear her. "And-and why'd you give me this?" she asked, a bit more fiercely, as she held up the box that housed her new bracelet.

Klaus grinned, and assumed his place at the edge of her bed. Caroline instinctly curled her knees to her chest.

Just because he saved her life didn't make him a savior. He was still Klaus, and he was still insane, by a landslide.

"You're still suspicious of me," he noted, as he watched her movement, and she let out an incredulous laugh.

"Can you blame me? You're Klaus. You've tried to kill me and my friends!" she suddenly shrieked. "Would you trust you?" she asked, with wide eyes.

Klaus stared at her for a moment before he shrugged a shoulder, nonchalantly.

"I suppose not," he answered, as he bit his lip, and looked down at the ground. "But I also suppose you want some answers," Klaus added.

Caroline nodded eagerly. Hell yeah she wanted answers, because truthfully speaking- she had no idea what the fuck happened between last night and this morning that made her feel okay about being around him.

"I just-I don't get it," she replied, feeling the heat swelling in her chest, as Klaus still looked at the ground. "What's your motive?"

Klaus finally looked back up at her, with furrowed brows and pursed lips.

"There is no motive, love."

Caroline scoffed and shook her head, gripping the box so tightly, her knuckles turned a ghostly white.

"I don't believe you. I know you saved my life and all but... I just... I don't trust you. You're... a monster, for lack of a better word," Caroline replied bluntly, and he shrugged again, this time, almost apathetically.

"We're all monsters, Caroline. Don't you forget that," he smiled, and she bit down on her lip. "And about trusting me... I've never asked you, because I don't expect you to," he said softly, and Caroline stared at the hybrid as his blue eyes glimmered.

The intensity in his stare sent shivers down her spine.

"Then what do you expect?" she asked curiously, as he tapped his fingers against his pant leg, anxiously. "Because if you're expecting me to turn against Tyler or my friends-"

"This hasn't a thing to do with Tyler, or the rest of your Scooby-Doo gang," he interjected, and she sealed her lips shut, as she waited for him to continue. "This is about you and I, Caroline. I meant everything that I said to you last night. Surely you remember what we spoke of."

Caroline remained silent, and Klaus slowly turned to face her completely. She didn't know what it was about the look in his eyes, but it made her feel shy- almost embarrassed- for accusing him of having ulterior motives.

Were Klaus' intentions really so pure, afterall?

Caroline's breath got caught in her throat when he inched in even closer-so close that he was now face-to-face with her.

The hairs on her skin rose when he grazed her cheek ever-so-softly with the tips of his fingers.

It was the simplest of touches, but it made her stomach flip, nonetheless.

"Caroline," he whispered, reminding her of how softly he spoke to her the night before, when he convinced her that her life was worth living.

It was that soft voice that he used when he opened up about his own doubts about living, and the same gentleness that told her there was so much more for her to see, to have, and to want.

Whether she wanted to admit it or not, Klaus' words inspired her.

She shut her eyes and tried to breathe evenly, as his hand now traveled down her neck in the most thrilling of ways, and back up her porcelain skin, until he was brushing back her blonde locks.

"Caroline," he repeated, in his gentle whisper, and her eyes reopened to meet his- now he was a centimeter away, and her heart was in danger of bursting. "Put on the bracelet," Klaus said, more as a request rather than an order.

Caroline gulped as she looked down at the box unsurely, as Klaus continued to stroke her skin.

Her mind screamed no as she flipped it open and stared at it, while her body became captivated by the simple, yet intricate weaving of the links that glistened with the sunlight.

She felt Klaus' eyes burning through her as she cradled the box in her hands, letting out a soft breath between her lips.

"Help me," she mumbled softly, and Klaus cocked his head, awaiting the rest of her words. "Help me put it on," Caroline finished, as she looked up into his eyes.

Klaus' smile spread to his cheeks, and without a word, he delicately retrieved the bracelet from the box, and held it in his hands. Caroline slowly offered him her wrist, and he gazed at it longingly.

He suddenly put the bracelet on his lap, and a curious look arose to Caroline's face, as she wondered what he was doing. His eyes were fixated on the charm bracelet that was already donned on her wrist.

"Two bracelets may be a little redundant, don't you think?" Klaus asked.

Caroline looked down at the bracelet that Tyler had given her yesterday, just hours before he bit her. The nauseaous wave swept over her again, as she impulsively went to remove it, but Klaus stopped her hand.

She looked into his eyes- he was wearing that signature smirk.

"Please, allow me," he said.

Caroline didn't confirm or deny his request as he quickly snapped the charm bracelet off of her skin, and leaned over to place it on her night table.

When he did, his chest brushed against hers.

Caroline thought she might just have a heart attack, right then and there. Klaus lingered before her, for a second- his mouth dangerously close to hers, as they met in a mutual gaze.

She felt her stomach knot even tighter as he took her hand into his, and ran his thumb across her skin. He slowly, but expertly, enclosed the new bracelet around her wrist, and clasped it silently.

Caroline had never felt so tension in her life- especially when it came to just putting on a new piece of jewelry.

She gazed down at the bracelet, still feeling how close he was to her.

"Thank you," was all she could muster, as Klaus studied her.

"I knew that would look beautiful on you the moment I saw it," he replied, and her cheeks instantly flushed.

He immediately cupped her face with one hand, and Caroline reluctantly looked up into his beautiful, aquatic eyes. She regrettably felt a surge of something in her veins.

Something she shouldn't have felt for him.

"Genuine beauty, Caroline," Klaus spoke softly, as his hand stroked her jawbone. "You are genuinely beautiful."

Caroline felt his fingers trickle to her chin, and slowly lift her face up to meet his. Their noses nearly touched as he spoke, again, in that infamous whisper.

"You may not trust me, or want me, or believe me, now, but you will. Someday you will know that I saved your life not only because you asked me to... but because I couldn't watch you die. Someday, Caroline, you'll look down at that bracelet and remember it not as an ulterior motive, but as a symbol of new beginnings- your new beginning with me."

Caroline's eyes followed his, in what felt like a hypnotic gaze, though she was positive that this trance she was in was purely involuntary.

"How can you be so sure?" she asked, attempting to sound brave, though her voice came out meager, at best.

Klaus flashed her a smile, and brought her in closer- her breathing became even more labored the second she swore she felt the gentle brush of his lips against hers.

He wasn't even kissing her, yet, it was the sexiest of things that he could have done in this very moment.

"Because you can't resist me, love. You won't resist, rather," Klaus informed her, as his mouth traveled to her ear, and his lips touched her skin- she felt electricity running through her veins. "It's only a matter of time."

And with that, he was gone just as quickly as he had appeared, leaving his last words to echo through her head, as the tone of his voice resonated down to her core.

It was only a matter of time.

If only someone had gotten her a watch for her birthday.

I hope you loved the tension ;) Reviewwwwwww!