Welcome to my collection of Klaroline (at the moment- I am open to prompts and other pairings in the TVD universe) one-shots inspired by random songs or ideas I've had. I know I have written some sad/angsty fics and I will try and do some light-hearted moments in the future! Due to the first piece being inspired by 5SOS, I thought the title for this collection was fitting. But if anyone has a better name, please tell me.

Disclaimer- I do not own TVD or have any rights to the songs I take inspiration from.

This was inspired by Ghost of You by 5 Seconds of Summer.

Without further ado, on with the story...

The first thing he noticed when he woke up that morning, the first thing he notices every morning is the empty space next to him. He never once moved to her side of the bed; couldn't fathom sleeping where she used to. Klaus glanced at the old coffee cup on her bedside table. The lipstick marks were fading away with time and he knew that he should throw it out but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Klaus was self-employed and had the liberty of working from home. But it wasn't home anymore; it was a cage. A beautifully disguised prison that he didn't dare step outside of. Of course, he left the house sometimes, he couldn't have one of his siblings getting worried and checking up on him. Again. Pretending like everything was okay was something Klaus had mastered over the months. When surrounded by his family and the few friends he hadn't pushed away yet, the artist could try to push his never-ending thoughts to the back of his mind. It was only when he was alone that he could truly see just how hollow his life had become. Ironic, he thought bitterly, that was Elijah always said before I met her.

He got up to do meaningless tasks around the flat to occupy his mind. All too soon, he was left with nothing to do and he found himself sat in front of the half-finished portrait. The feelings he had repressed all day were flooding back to the surface and Klaus simply sat there and let it happen. He kept telling himself that it would be alright, that everything would be fine. What a fucking lie! Grabbing the bottle of bourbon that was to his left, he filled up a glass and downed its contents in hope that he could drown it all out.

But, as always, she appeared at that time. He reminded himself that she wasn't real, that it was his mind playing a cruel trick on him but the sight of her made all of his hurt go away in a heartbeat.

"Caroline," he breathed out. The corner of his mouth tugged into a gentle smile of its own volition but he made no move to hide it. She always brought out this side of him.

"So, still painting, huh?" She sat on her usual spot on the couch across from him. The knowing grin she sent his way was both playful and full of concern. To her, it seemed like he had been sat at the painting for hours on end. Truth be told, he had been. But he hadn't added any colour or improvements to it. He simply stared at it. She was not aware of the fact that Klaus had lost his muse. Klaus had lost her. He hadn't painted, sketched, even picked up a pencil or paintbrush, in months.

"Of course, love," this was his minds automatic response. There was an underlying sense of tiredness in his voice. Tired of what he had to go through when she inevitably left.

She laughed at his answer, a melodic sound he could never get enough of even when she was still around. "Some things never change, Nik. You were sat at that painting when I left you this morning," Caroline replied shaking her head at him. "Why don't you put that paintbrush down? We can do something more...fun."

He knew exactly where this was headed. They'd been having this same exact conversation for months. And the ending was exactly the same. Klaus would lose her; she would have to leave him again.

"Pray, tell, my love, what is that?" Playful Klaus had come out. No one ever saw him anymore but it was saved for the special occasions she came back.

Let's dance. "Let's dance." The grin on her face lit his heart on fire, a sweet burning that he craved. Oh, how he craved her. The blonde put her hand out for Klaus to take, "Come on then, Nik. It's rude to keep a lady waiting."

"I assure you, Ms Forbes, I am nothing if not a gentleman," he stood up and, with a smirk, he complied with her demand. Caroline guided his hands one to her waist and the other in hers. He smiled down at her and prayed to God she didn't see the desperate look in his eyes. She never does.

"There's no music, sweetheart," he reminded her, one eyebrow arched.

"We don't need music, silly," she giggled at him and the sound alone made him feel like he was walking on clouds. The blonde began to hum a familiar tune which reminded Klaus of a time that was lost on him. His smile grew wider as they danced through their apartment, eyes never straying from each other.

Caroline laughed as he twirled her around and lifted her up in his arms. Once she was successfully standing on her own two feet, she leaned her head on his chest as they swayed back and forth. The sun was setting outside and Klaus was not entirely sure just how long she had been in his arms. Not long enough in his opinion. Then again, he would never be satisfied until she was back in his arms forever.

"I've missed you, love," he whispered into her head.

"Missed me? I was only gone for a couple of hours, Nik," she said into his chest. "I think someone's getting a bit clingy," Caroline teased him.

"I guess it has only been a couple of hours," Klaus replied solemnly. He studied her eyes for the longest time, memorised every feature on her face before it was all over. In a few minutes, she would be gone. Caroline always left after he says those words. He tried to change his phrasing so that she would stay longer but, without fail, his arms would be empty again. There was nothing that he wanted more than to stay in this house and dance with her forever. But it seemed like fate had other plans. Plans that resulted in nothing but Klaus' eternal misery.

"I'm sorry, Niklaus," she turned to face him. He was surprised since she had never said those words to him before. Never in one of these encounters has she ever apologised to him. With good reason since she didn't necessarily do anything wrong.

"What could you possibly be sorry for, Caroline?" His brows were scrunched up in confusion; this had never happened before.

She gave him a small sad smile, "For leaving you."

This threw him off guard. Does she know that she isn't real? Is his mind forming a Caroline that is somehow self-aware? Because that was just cruel. "Wh-what?" That was all he could manage to croak out.

"This is goodbye," she cupped his cheek and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "I`ll always be with you, Nik, remember that. It`s time for you to start living again."

"It`s not that easy," he frowned at her. Doesn`t she get it? He was in love with a ghost and Klaus was sure he would never be as happy as he was when she was around. Caroline was his world and he was lost without her there to guide him.

"When has that ever stopped us?" The blonde had a knowing grin on her face but her eyes depicted a sadness he knew was reflected in his own. At that moment, he knew that it broke Caroline as much as it broke him. They needed each other but the universe had a twisted way of always making sure Klaus was miserable. The pair were not ready to part from each other.

"It was easier when there was an us. You`re gone, Caroline. And I don`t want to let you go. I can't. Not yet, I`m not ready."

"I want you to live your life, baby. See all the places we were going to and I will be there every step of the way. Just because you won't see me doesn't mean I haven't been watching over you. And I will continue to watch over you because you, Niklaus Mikaelson, are the love of my life."

Klaus took Caroline's hands in between his own and placed his forehead on hers and noticed that she was now squeezing her eyes shut to stop the tears from falling. He closed his eyes and kissed her temple, tears falling down his face as he spoke, "I promise I will find my way back to you, my love. However long it takes." The last words were spoken with a gentle voice, a smile gracing his features.

She too smiled at the familiar words before replying, "I'll hold you to that, Nik."

"I love you, Caroline Forbes."

"I love you, Niklaus Mikaelson," her voice was light as she kissed his cheek one last time. Her tears mingled with his and he had to squeeze his eyes shut again because he wasn't ready for this. "Goodbye, Nik."

"Goodbye, my love," his voice was low but filled the now desolate room.

He downed another glass of bourbon, the burning sensation at the back of his throat the only indication that he was still alive.

Klaus thought about their encounter; their last encounter. The words she had spoken held a harsh truth he forced himself to come to terms with. He had to start living again. If not for himself, if not for his family, then at least for her. Yes, she was gone. For now. But the one thing that would get him through what was to come was the comfort that he would be reunited with her. He'd promised her.

He took another shot, a lot stronger this time, truth and alcohol swirling through his mind. After all, every dancer needs a dance partner, her melodic voice rang in his ears, the memory of their first dance flashing in front of his eyes.

Well, if you're my partner, I would be an utter fool to refuse, love.

Thank you for reading! Tell me what you think and until next time. If there are any songs in particular that you would like me to write about, send them my way.