Love reading all your fanfics you've all come up with! It keeps me motivated to continue coming up with stories and keeps me enthralled with the Klaroline story (not that it's difficult to do with the amazing characters).

The Originals season 5 is less than 15 days away now! Yes!

Keep writing! Enjoy my loves – Always and Forever

***Disclaimer: all characters and backstories belong to the wonderful creators and writers of TVD/TO - Julie Plec, you're a true inspiration!***

~TVD/TO~~TVD/TO~~TVD/TO~~TVD/TO~~TVD/TO~~TVD/TO~

Fourteen. That's how many calls I've missed from my friends. Sighing, I place my phone back on the passenger seat and focus on the road. I only have 214 miles left until I arrive at my destination. I allow my mind to wander on the long, dull drive. As soon as I had my humanity back on, I cried until my tears were all dried up and then I left – packed a tiny little bag, hopped in my car and drove south.

I have no idea what got into me but I needed something other than the pitying looks from my friends and the guilt I feel every time I look at Stefan.

My solution? Drive to New Orleans.

Why? I have no idea.

Perhaps, I needed to feel guiltier and the only place in the world where I can accomplish that is in New Orleans. Or maybe, I needed sympathy from the one person who doesn't usually give it.

Passing another sign, I realize I have already gone 210 miles – only 4 left. How did so much time pass already?

Once in town, I follow my GPS to the French Quarter, figuring that would be a good place to start asking around. Parking on a side street, I get out of the car and find myself bombarded with music and the smell of Cajun spices. I straighten my clothes that have gotten wrinkled on the drive and I toss my phone into my purse along with my keys. I wondered around the streets until the sun was fully set and the city was lit up with twinkly lights and the people gathered in crowds along the sidewalks. The phone in my purse rang for the fifth time since arriving in Louisiana, so I pull it out to see Elena's name pop up on the screen.

I slide the screen to the left to ignore the call when I hear, "People tend to worry more when you ignore them."

Spinning around, I find someone that I did not expect to see. "Enzo?" I cross my arms. "Are you following me?"

"Guilty as charged, gorgeous," he smiled.

"Well, I'm fine. You can go back to Mystic Falls now."

"Now what fun would that be, love?" He nears me and I take a step back inadvertently.

Suddenly, there was a whoosh and Enzo ended up against a wall. "The lady made it quite clear that you can go," said the Original Hybrid. His hand closed around Enzo's throat and added, "And don't call her 'love' ever again." Klaus drops Enzo's feet on the ground. "Leave this place and forget you were here."

Enzo looked dazed – obvious sign of compulsion – and vamped off into the crowds, away from us.

"So, you needing to be the alpha male is still a thing with you, huh?" I shake my head as he turns. I see the look he was giving me and I can't help but smile at him.

Between the confusion and the excitement on his face, he laughed at my comment and said, "No need to prove anything, love. I am the alpha male," as if it was verbatim to that night at the decades dance.

I tilt my head a back and grin. "God, it sounds so much better coming from you."

"What does?" He asks, nearing me.

"Calling me 'love'. You say it better." This got a satisfied smirk out of him. "How'd you know where to find me?"

"I have eyes and ears everywhere."

"You mean you have minions everywhere," I reiterated.

"Precisely," he agreed. He offered me his arm to me, which I thought about declining to keep face but contact with another person sounded nice right about now, so I slid my arm through his and held onto his bicep while strolling through the crowd. "Not to take a good thing for granted, love, but what are you doing here?"

I could feel his eyes on me but I looked down at the ground, refusing to look at him. "My mother died of cancer."

Stopping in his tracks, he used both hands to turn me towards him. Softly, he places a finger under my chin to make me look at him. His eyes were full of apology and worry. "Caroline...I didn't hear. I'm sorry for you having to go through that."

"That's not even the worst part," I say as I rip my chin out of his hand.

"And what's that?" He was gentle, non-pushy; something I've only witnessed a few times.

"I shut off my humanity," I whisper.

"Caroline, no..." He sounded disappointed.

"You're not seriously judging me right now, are you?" My eyes flair up at him.

"No judgement, sweetheart. Just wish I could have been there to convince you otherwise." He crossed his arms. In this very moment – and not for the first time – it was difficult to believe he could bring so much ciaos and destruction. "Come. Let's get a drink."

We stopped at a small bar on Bourbon Street and he sat us at a high-top in the corner. I watched and eavesdropped on the conversation between the bartender and him. The blonde asked, "Who's that?"

"Caroline. A vampire I grew acquainted with in Virginia." My eyebrows rose at the fact that he was telling a human about the supernatural world.

"Wait, the Caroline?" He nodded. "Wow, I can't believe she came for you."

Once back, drinks in hand, I say, "You have a type Klaus."

Not even denying it, he answers, "And what is wrong with strong, independent, fiercely loyal, confident women?"

"She knows about me. You must be pretty close," I take a drink.

"I compelled her to only remember when I speak to her. I'm having her chart my life." He glances at me with a smirk. "Are you jealous, love?"

I almost spit out my drink, "No..."

"'However long it takes'," he reminded me. I smile at him and then stare at the glass in my hands when he asks, "What did you do when you shut if off?"

"What makes you think I did anything?" Deflection is usually a good tactic.

"Every vampire does," he answered simply.

I downed my drink and asked, "Do you have all night?"

"Caroline..." I sensed his patience leaving him.

"Okay, okay." I sigh. "I broke Elena's neck and said horrible things to her. Bonnie came back from the dead and I didn't even acknowledge her. I compelled a pre-med student to do surgery on Stefan and Damon's last living relative who was awake for the whole thing – she almost lost her heart. I almost killed Tyler and Matt. I forced Stefan to turn off his humanity and then slept with him. I killed multiple people. And then I set fire to the last letter my mother had ever written me before reading it."

"You slept with the Ripper?"

"God! That's all you heard out of all of that? Yes, I slept with Stefan." I wipe my face once realizing I had shed tears when recalling everything I had done.

"That wasn't all I heard but I took your mind off it for a moment, yes?" I look at him shocked but nodded. "I'm sorry about the letter. I can only imagine that it said how proud of you she was and that you're a strong woman who can get through anything."

"How do you know that?"

"Because I know you." His hand covered mine. "And despite my own horrible upbringing, I can recognize a real parent when I see one. She was willing to risk inviting me into your house in a desperate chance save you, regardless of the quarterback's warnings. She was going to do anything to save her daughter."

I remained silent and still, soaking in the words. They brought me more comfort than all the words my friends have said combined. Softly, I say, "Thank you, Klaus."

His eyes glistened. "You never really said why you came here."

"Until about five seconds ago, I wanted to turn it all off again and I needed someone to convince me not to. I've been crying for days and couldn't find anything my friends were saying as a good enough reason. But I've been with you for not even an hour, and you..." I trailed off. I look at him. "You always seem to know what to say. Guess it helps being like a billion," I joke, trying to lighten the seriousness of the mood.

He smiles, "I'm glad I can be of assistance."

There was as silence in the air so I glance around to find the bartender looking our direction. "So, the blonde that keeps staring at you, what's her name?" I ask after drinking my second glass.

"Camille."

"Caroline...Camille..." I muse, laughing softly.

"I'm sure I don't understand."

"Seriously?" His face is un-phased. I wave my hand and say, "Never mind. But," I look at him seriously, "it's okay if you like her."

"Meaning?" He leans close and I find his face inches from mine.

"I'm not ready for what you're offering me."

"Forever, you mean?"

"Exactly. One day, maybe. But that doesn't mean I wish for you to be miserable waiting for me."

"I've lived this long without a mate. What's another century?" He leans back in his chair again.

"Never hurts to explore your options. Maybe you'll realize one day that waiting for me is lonely, or I'm not the one for you."

"I'm a patient man Caroline. And I have my time occupied - I have my daughter. I'm far from lonely." His thoughts took his attention but it was worth seeing his face light up with memories of his daughter. "Let's go!" He suddenly announced as he stood and places a few bills on the table to cover our tab.