Title: Redemption

Pairing: Klaus, Caroline

Rating: T

Summary: This day was going to be slightly different because she wanted to talk to him. She was playing piano for him since four months, but they never talked to each other. Not even once. (AU/AH)

Note: One shot for now. I mean no offense to anyone. I don't own these characters except this imaginary plot. Reviews are always welcome =)

Caroline sat, waiting in a corner at her cousin's bar. She was fiddling with her blind stick, thinking why Klaus' men didn't arrive yet. They had to come by this time to pick her up, yet they didn't.

This day was going to be slightly different because she wanted to talk to him. She was playing piano for him since four months, but they never talked to each other. Not even once.

It all started four months ago. She had decided to stay with her cousin, Lexi, for some time, as her mother was going to be busy in coming time period. Being sheriff was never so easy task to Liz Forbes. The time Liz would spend with her daughter was very little, yet Caroline understood and appraised her mother for what she was.

Caroline was never mistreated by anyone around her despite of her visual impairment. Liz was a very protective mother. So totally Caroline was brought up in a healthy environment.

Just for some change, she thought of visiting Lexi who was living at Seattle and running a bar and grill of her own.

Caroline liked when on every night there would be a musical band performing at the place. On one night, she took an opportunity to play her favorite instrument, piano.

When she was at school she had attended for keyboard classes. And because of her love towards the instrument she had continued it to the next level.

At first it had become hard for Caroline as she couldn't find the position of the keys. It was one of the times that she was depressed because of her disability. Maybe it was also one of those times that she had actually wanted to see world out there. She wondered how it was like to have sight. To see, and capture the beautiful moments in her life was her ever unfulfilling wish.

Of course, that didn't stop her from giving another try.

Her mother encouraged her and in addition she was one stubborn person. She practiced hard.

Now playing piano was a piece of cake to her.

And that was how she managed Klaus' interest.

She didn't know when heard her playing, and how she managed to grasp his interest, but one day his right hand man, Stefan and other of his henchmen came to Caroline.

They simply asked that if she could play for Klaus.

At first, she was too surprised because he was one of those people living with dark fame. Before Caroline came to Seattle she never heard of him. But according to Lexi he was popular for his dangerous deeds. People were afraid of him.

Lexi didn't like it when Stefan put out Klaus' proposal which had Caroline playing for him sometime until she leaves the place and in exchange of that Klaus was ready to pay her. So there was no forcing of things upon her. Klaus' henchmen had behaved in a civil manner.

Still Caroline rejected.

Not because she didn't want to play for him, but as she didn't want to do it for money.

She clarified Stefan sternly that she won't accept if they had offered riches.

Klaus only wanted to listen to her playing that instrument.

And then it started.

She would be taken every night to his place. Stefan led her the way into a room. He had made her sit near the instrument.

Caroline had heard the door shut sound. She was alone then. But she had a feeling that she wasn't. Someone was watching her, someone was there in that room with her.

Probably he was Klaus Mikaelson.

He didn't make any sound. Caroline felt nervousness claiming her. She played in front of many people and never was that much tensed. In front of Klaus, it wasn't as easy as she imagined.

Though she had run fingers on the keys before she started, which was an act to take her mind from anxiety.

Every night when time was up she would stand and wish him by saying "Good night, Mr. Mikaelson."

Caroline smiled at another memory. She tripped down then and someone rushed towards her, supported her to stand straight. He gave her cane.

"Thank you, Mr. Mikaelson" was all she said. Not even then he talked to her.

Today someone had almost attacked her. Caroline shivered at the thought. She still could feel that burglar's hands on her. She was at a supermarket when a gang entered. Lexi was there too.

But that didn't stop them from taking advantage of her weakness. Caroline tried her best to fight, but then suddenly she heard sounds of shattering glass, growls of men, and public's panic. She cried until her surroundings became dangerously quiet.

"Lexi!" she called out for her cousin, while searching for her cane.

"I'm here, Care!" Caroline felt Lexi's hands around her in a comforting way. "Hush, it's fine. Everything's over."

"Wh—what happened?" Caroline asked trembling a lot.

"Are you fine, Ms. Forbes?" Stefan's firm voice came from her left.

Her teeth fluttered and she managed a nod. "Wha—what did you do?"

"We have to get out from this place, Ms. Forbes, before we draw too much attention," he said helping the cousins in finding their way out of the market.

Caroline wasn't too innocent to understand that the gang was dead. But she didn't understand the reason why. Why Klaus had his men kill them?

Actually she had to be repelled by that violence, but she couldn't. She was glad that she was saved from them.

So, she wanted to thank him again.

She then heard Lexi's voice. "Your hero's waiting for you." She teased using nick name they had given to Klaus.

Caroline smiled lightly. "Stefan's here?" she asked standing up from her chair.

"No. A guy named Marcel. Another of Klaus' henchmen came for you today."

Caroline frowned as Lexi walked her out from the back door, towards the car in the alley.

"Ms. Forbes," they heard another low pitched male voice.

"Hello," Caroline wished back the guy, Marcel.

He opened door for her and Caroline got inside the car. "Bye, Lexi."

"Yeah, take care."

When Caroline reached Klaus' place in twenty minutes, Marcel once again opened door for her and led her inside. She didn't need any assistance though.

To get to the piano room, Caroline had to take two lefts and a right, approximately fifty steps from the entrance. There was no stair case involved during the walk.

"Thank you," she mumbled to Marcel as she got in.

Once again she walked in front of familiar eyes. She wasn't bothered like she used to be. She was now comfortable surprisingly. Placing cane against the wall beside the piano after she found the seat, Caroline ran fingers on the keys slowly.

She began to play one of her favorite solo pieces. She wanted to tell him how she felt then. Happy and relaxed. And when she was done, she didn't move from there.

Caroline's heart was unusually beating faster.

"Thanks for what you did today, Mr. Mikaelson," she mumbled. "Though killing is not required."

She thought she wouldn't get a response from his side. But he did respond for the first time.

"Then what do you suggest Ms. Forbes?" he spoke. His voice was silky and warm. Hmm, this is how he sound like. The closeness of him shuddered her a little. He could be merely around ten feet away from her.

After hesitating for a minute, she replied. "Probably a warning?"

She heard sort of huffing sound from him. "I presume you are well aware of their intentions Ms. Forbes." He said. Caroline listened as his footsteps closed her. It shivered her to the core, though she knew he wouldn't harm her. "Do you have any idea what would happen if Stefan wasn't there for you both?"

Caroline gulped a swell formed in her throat as she nodded. Soon some kind of woody cologne surrounded her. Caroline bit her lip and touched the keys of the piano.

"I shouldn't have said those words. I'm sorry," she mumbled tensely and tried to get up. Once again she was about to trip down but he caught her hand, gave her support. "Oh, thanks again." She laughed out a little embarrassed. Caroline found his skin warm against her, like his voice.

"That's fine." He mumbled breathing upon her skin. "Need not apologize."

Pursing her lips into a thin line, she turned around to leave. Suddenly she remembered something.

"Did you have your men stalking me?"

He took a moment before answering her in a callous tone. "I asked them to look after you."

She was taken surprise by his words. "Why?"

He didn't reply for that. Caroline waited for almost a minute while standing in front him. He did it for her? It was an unexpected thing.

Other than her mother no one had looked after her.

"Are they been watching me from the day one?"

"Yes."

Biting her lip she stretched out her hand to reach her cane, which was passed by Klaus. "Here, take this."

"Thanks for your concern, Mr. Mikaelson." She was trying to more polite and grateful to him.

When she opened the door, she heard him speak again. "As a matter of fact, Ms. Forbes," he paused and let her turn around to face him. "The world completely filled with cruel people. Being soft towards them may not help you in survival."

Caroline tilted her head to a side. That isn't absolutely true, she wanted to argue against him. She understood that he was broken inside. He had gone through something which she hadn't. Or else people wouldn't jump into conclusions.

"If the world is that much cruel then you wouldn't have your men to look after me." She stated calmly. And then a smile graced her face.

"Good night, Mr. Mikaelson."