This is my first fanfiction, so I would be grateful if you could leave reviews and tell me what you think :)

Set after The Vampire Diaries season 5 finale and The Originals season 1 finale. Beware there are spoilers.

I hope you enjoy :)

Caroline Forbes stood, her back supported by a tree trunk. She tried not to think about how one Klaus Mikaelson had ripped her top off against this very tree, and kissed her senseless, as though she was his life source. As well as other things, which she tried not to dwell on.

These thoughts of Klaus, though unwanted made some of the numbness recede. But it was still there fogging up her mind, making her heart feel like a weight pulling her down.

She had felt like this for hours now, ever since - well - Bonnie died. She was torn away into who-knows-what, as The Other Side ripped itself apart. And Damon. Damon was gone too.

Caroline didn't know who to turn to. She felt her best friend, Elena, would be an obvious choice, but she was finding comfort with Alaric, her almost-uncle/ guardian/ boyfriend's best friend- whatever he was to her. Jeremy was with them. It seemed to Caroline that Elena was more upset about Damon, her boyfriend/ex-boyfriend/ friend-with-benefits, than her best friend Bonnie. This made Caroline feel uneasy and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on.

Then there was Stefan, taking a leaf out of Damon's book and drinking himself senseless. Caroline could only hope he wasn't going to turn his emotions off and turn ripper on them. Nobody could deal with that right now.

Stefan had every right to feel that way. He had lost his brother. He had also been re-united with his best friend, Lexi, and then lost her again.

Caroline would usually try to comfort him, as he had done so many times for her, but she needed to grieve in her own way.

It was strange how some force had drawn her to this part of the forest, filled with memories of Klaus and all the things they'd done there the last time they met.

Caroline found herself taking her phone out of her pocket and calling Klaus Mikaelson. It was like for a moment someone else, someone irrational took over her body.

"Caroline?" Klaus's voice was filled with apprehension and joy. But still his voice was laced with that seductive slyness, which somehow did something for her. Caroline could imagine him now, a smirk spread across his ridiculous face.

"Klaus." She suddenly felt foolish for calling him, and wasn't sure what had compelled her to do so. Especially foolish as her voice cracked slightly as she spoke. She still hadn't cried over Bonnie and Damon's deaths. She felt guilty.

"And what do I owe this pleasure, sweetheart?" As he spoke, Caroline felt a sudden urge to talk to him. Maybe it was the way he called her sweetheart.

"Klaus, Bonnie's-" her voice cracked again, a strange strangled noise emerging from her throat.

"Gone." She managed at last her voice sounding hollow.

"Gone?"

"Dead." She replied flatly, the word feeling like poison on her tongue. "Damon too."

Klaus was silent for a moment. Caroline could hear him breathing softly through the phone, as he processed her words. At last he spoke.

"Perhaps you need to get out of Mystic Falls for a bit, love." His hopes were written all over his words. A silent invitation. That's all she needed.

She quickly packed an overnight bag at home, said goodbye to her mum, and was soon on her way to New Orleans.


When Caroline arrived at the Mikaelson's place in the French Quarter, Klaus was leaning lazily against a pillar which supported the porch, his arms folded across his chest.

As she approached, he pried himself off the pillar, and strode towards her, his face surprisingly serious. Missing his usual smirk.

As they met in the middle of the driveway, without a word, Klaus wrapped his arms around Caroline. At first she felt tense and hesitate, but eventually she leaned into him, resting her head on his chest and wrapping her arms around him. They fitted together perfectly.

She felt instant comfort, as if she were – she tried to think of the right word- home. As she felt comfortable at last, the numbness inside her vanished and a lump appeared in her throat. She felt the tears building up in her eyes. She let them out. She was crying at last. The tears ran down her cheeks and onto Klaus's chest, dampening his top. He didn't say a word, only tightened his arms around her.

It was curious, Caroline thought, how she found such comfort in someone considered by most as a monster. But she wasn't so different to Klaus. She had done bad things. Unforgivable things. Only she was careful to hide them.

They weren't so different after all.

And Klaus wasn't all bad. She had seen the vulnerability in him. The humanity. There were things he cared about- she guessed she was one of them. And the passion he put into his paintings- someone so evil couldn't paint something so beautiful.

When the tears finally ran dry, Caroline's eyes and throat felt raw. She pulled ever so slightly away from Klaus so she could look up at him. He was gazing at her, his emotions painted all over his face. There was still no smirk.

His hand slid lightly down her arm, sending shivers down her spine, and he tenderly laced his fingers through her own.

He then gently led her towards the house.

"You need sleep, my love." Caroline followed him with no objections.

Thoughts? I am open to suggestions and may do other one-shots if anyone is interested.