A/N: I'm a little late to the game on this particular idea, but once I got into watching The Originals, I couldn't help but to think how different (and awesome) it would have been with Caroline included. I'm going to do my best to tell a version of the show that features her from the beginning. Obviously some things will be different, but I hope to still keep as true as possible to the show. For the purposes of this story, I'm not sure how much I'll include the happenings of the Mystic Falls gang. As they aren't mentioned too much in The Originals, I don't foresee including them much here either. This picks up right at the end of the Klaroline scene at the end of season 4.

They left the football field arm-in-arm, only half paying attention to their surroundings and any would-be killer ghosts. The rest of their attention was focused on each other; being in the presence of one they'd gone so long without. It was like coming home. As they neared Caroline's house — having walked to spend as much time together as possible — she spoke up.

"You know, my graduation gift, that was very sweet of you. Tyler deserves happiness, wherever he can find it."

Klaus found himself in a puzzled silence, hoping she would perhaps clarify.

"But I wonder," she continued, "is it too late to take you up on the offer of a visit to New Orleans?" There was a slight timidity to her voice; she wasn't sure if his answer had changed.

"Caroline, are you serious?" He was entirely floored by her, and not for the first time.

"Yes. And before you ask, I am beyond sure about it. Will you give me a little time to get some stuff together and leave my mom a note?"

"Of course love, take all the time you need. I'll just grab my car and be back to get you." He walked away from her but turned on his heel to speak again. "By the way, it's quite a long drive, be sure to wear something a little more comfortable." He smirked at her and then left, not seeing her shake her head at his antics.

He returned not long after — he took his own advice and changed into his signature boots, jeans, jacket, and Henley — fully expecting to see her in mid-pack-freak-out mode, but was instead surprised to find her sitting in the living room, waiting on him and her stuff by the door. He raised his eyebrows and spread his arms in question.

"Okay, maybe I wasn't entirely forthcoming. I've been planning this trip for a while and I decided that whether I saw you today or not, I would be leaving for New Orleans right after graduation," she explained standing up to meet him. "So, ready to go then?" She was all smiles and sun.

Klaus nodded, still somewhat in shock. They reached the front door and he helped her gather her luggage while she removed an envelope addressed to her mother from her bag and placed it on the table by the door. She followed him out and into the waiting SUV.

Through their first half hour of traveling, Klaus was at war with himself about whether or not, or even how, to tell Caroline about what he had discovered in New Orleans. On the one hand, she was going to find out anyway and he'd much rather it came from him. On the other, he wasn't all too keen on telling her of his indiscretion, even if it had been fueled by alcohol and rejection.

In the end, he decided to wait until they were a little further along in their drive, at least several hours away, lest she be tempted to ditch him completely and head back to Mystic Falls.

"It's pretty late, love, you should try to get some rest. As I said, long journey, and I'm not sure even you could fill the 13 hour drive with scintillating conversation."

"Yeah, I suppose you're right. Wake me if you wanna switch or something."

She was just getting ready to attempt to make a pillow out of her folded arms, having already decided her jacket made an excellent blanket, when he handed her his own balled up jacket. She took it with a small thanks and he smiled before turning his eyes back to the road. She tried to ignore the distinct Klaus-smell that suddenly surrounded her and eventually was able to nod off.

A few hours later, Caroline was much more well-rested and Klaus entirely unchanged, if perhaps a bit pensive. Apparently driving for hours on end didn't particularly phase a centuries old hybrid. The sun was just barely risen when she deemed herself conscious enough to hold a conversation.

"So, where are we?"

"Somewhere in the middle of Tennessee. You're awfully adorable when you sleep you know," he said with a little smirk.

She groaned and slapped her hand to her forehead, "I didn't drool did I?"

He laughed. "No, but you talk. Mostly incoherent gibberish but I did catch my name a time or two."

"Great. That's just awesome."

"No worries love. As I said, it was downright adorable."

"Ugh, fine. Can we just…change the subject here?"

"Actually Caroline, there is something that I need to tell you. But I'm not quite sure how you'll react."

The lighthearted mood evaporated quickly. She turned in her seat to look directly at him, her face full of concern.

"I didn't kill anyone, in case you were wondering."

"I wasn't, but thanks for making that clear. Now seriously Klaus, what is it?"

He sighed, long and deep, and kept his gaze trained on the road as he spoke.

"You remember that wolf girl Hayley?"

"Yeah…"

"Well, back in Mystic Falls, she and I had…what you might call a drunken one night stand. And apparently because of my hybrid genes or because the universe delights in my suffering she is now pregnant with my child."

A beat of stunned silence.

"Are you serious?!" One glance at his agonized expression told her the truth. "Oh my God," she brought her hands to her mouth, "you're completely serious."

Caroline leaned back in her seat, hands still over her mouth and stared straight ahead.

The silence seemed to stretch on for eternity. Klaus knew he needed to give her time to process such information, but Caroline's uncharacteristic reserve was breaking him to pieces.

"Caroline love, please say something. Yell, rage at me, please, I deserve it, just please say something."

Despite his pleading, he still wasn't sure she was going to answer until she spoke ever so quietly.

"I'm not angry Klaus. I'm…sad."

He was momentarily relieved before the confusion set in. Sad? She continued:

"I know we didn't exactly have an exclusive thing so I'm not really mad that you slept with her. Besides you don't seem to like her all that much, so I don't foresee a repeat of that happening." She glanced over at him.

"Definitely not."

She nodded and smiled a little. "Just checking."

"Are you going to tell me why you're sad then? I realize I am not the ideal candidate to be a father but —."

"No, no, it's not that," she interrupted. "It's just…well, I've never been a big fan of Hayley to begin with, and to find out that she gets to have the one thing I never will just breaks my heart. I'm sad that I'll never get to have a baby with the man I love…not that I'm saying she loves you or anything. She doesn't, right?" She sounded unsure.

"God no. I assure you, the dislike is entirely mutual."

She chuckled; glad to know she at least wouldn't have to contend with that.

"If it's any consolation, sweetheart, were this to happen with anyone, I would have made an entirely different choice in mothers." He gave her a significant look that left her flustered and just a tad overheated.

She cleared her throat and tried to think of literally anything else to say, but nothing would come. He'd successfully rendered her speechless. He decided to show her a little mercy.

"There are some things that you will need to be aware of while in New Orleans, love. Firstly that Hayley will be around, for her protection as well as the child's. Secondly, she is in need of protection because New Orleans is currently under rule of a tyrant named Marcel, who, incidentally, I raised, mentored, and turned. He cleared the city of werewolves and I seriously doubt he wouldn't find a hybrid child a threat, ergo, the protection. Which means that you will have to be just as careful. Marcel could end up trying to use you as leverage against me, so watch yourself. Rebekah and Elijah are both there to help watch over Hayley and now you as well."

"I can look after myself Klaus. Alaric taught me a few things when he was teaching Elena. I was actually going to offer my help with Hayley. I can run whatever errands she needs and even stay at the house and keep an eye on her. I figured I'd pass myself off as an old friend of Rebekah's or something. Since saying that I'm your…girlfriend? I guess? Might cause some problems."

"Girlfriend will work; I suppose that is the contemporary term for it. I do love your intelligence love. We'll stick with that for now and in the mean time, you will be extra careful about whom you talk to. There's no way you can get into New Orleans without Marcel knowing, so when you meet him…"

"I'll be just fine Klaus. I wouldn't be sitting here with you if I didn't know how to handle myself around psychotic killer vampires."

"Very funny sweetheart. But I'm serious. Marcel is no one to mess around with. He has an iron hold on the witches in the city. I watched him kill a witch just for practicing magic in the Quarter. He doesn't allow any kind of magic in his city," Klaus warned.

"God, what a jerk. So what's the plan for Marcel? Because I know for a fact that you aren't just going to let that fly."

"Right you are love. But for now, I am playing the long game. As much as I dislike saying it, Hayley is the priority right now and Marcel must believe that I am on his side. While I'm busy playing the long lost friend to dear Marcel, I am also working towards infiltrating his inner circle and dismantling it piece by piece. I will relish the look on his face when it all comes crashing down around him."

"You're a little creepy sometimes, you know that?"

Klaus simply laughed in response. He was indeed, but it got the job done.

"Well, if you need me to do anything to help with the dismantling, let me know."

He was surprised at her willingness. "I will. You're just jumping in head first aren't you love?"

"I plan on making myself useful while I'm in New Orleans, in whatever way I'm needed."

Klaus was thoughtful for a moment before speaking again.

"Caroline, I want you to know, while I appreciate you offering your help, I do not intend to use you for my own gain. I want you in New Orleans solely because I would like to spend time with you. I'll not be using you for any plots against Marcel. In short, you will not be bait in any sense of the term," he finished giving her a pointed look.

She looked away, ashamed of her past experiences with him. "Yeah, I'm sorry about…all of that."

"I'm not. Not for my part anyway; it did allow me the chance to get to know you. I am sorry that your friends did not see fit to treat you better. You are a queen amongst them, Caroline, and they should have known that."

"Klaus I…thank you. You're the first person who's ever really seen me that way."

"How unfortunate. The world should see you that way."

She gave an embarrassed chuckle. "Don't you think you're just a little bit biased?"

"Never. I am ever the objective one, love."

They continued their drive chatting back and forth about life in New Orleans and even some about each other's past. Caroline felt he needed to know just how fortunate he was to never have met her before she turned. And he in turn felt she should know that he was once a very human man — emotions and all. They laughed together and Caroline felt more buoyant and cheerful than she had in quite a while. It baffled her that she could ever feel so at ease around someone like Klaus. And Klaus…well, he hadn't felt so exuberant and calm in centuries.

They crossed into Louisiana, just a few hours from their destination. Klaus still felt a bit of trepidation at having Caroline so near to the dangers that lurked in every nook in cranny, but he knew what she was capable of. While he wouldn't quit worrying about her, he did trust her. That didn't mean she'd necessarily be going anywhere alone, however. Despite his unease, he couldn't wait to have Caroline in the city that he so adored.

A/N: It's a start. Here's to hoping we don't crash and burn! Hope you enjoyed and please review!