Title: Three Wishes Granted and One That Wasn't

Author: Razorbackgal0225

Rating: T—for upcoming language and adult situations

Disclaimer: I have a mortgage and a car payment. Since I have those, it should be obvious that I don't own anything connected with the Vampire Diaries, book or TV, or the Originals. If I did, well, a certain pairing would be much more front and center.

Author's Note: After starting and binge-watching Vampire Diaries in two months, enough that I'm caught up to the new season, I can't get this pairing out of my head. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for crossover events, but until that time, I'm making it happen anyway. Apologies to Damon, he actually is one of my favorite characters, but I do hate what he did to Caroline in Season 1. This will be a four-parter, so bear with me as I post. I hope it's not too OOC.

Wish One

It didn't take long for someone to determine the Mystic Falls Silas problem was intertwined with the New Orleans Marcel and Davina problem. The power Davina was wielding was linked directly to Silas and it became necessary for the two groups to unwillingly work together. Threats were issued, ultimatums shouted and eyes rolled during the initial reunion, but eventually a plan was devised. After rescuing Elijah and ensuring Stefan was back on the non-Ripper wagon, the scheme began. It took all of their combined efforts, including a mistakenly resurrected Bonnie, but they did win. Silas was desiccated and Davina stripped of her powers. Klaus had taken great pleasure in relieving Marcel of his head, especially after the former King of New Orleans had attacked and staked Caroline. Although Klaus had managed to keep his feelings for Caroline a secret from Marcel until that point, it became crystal clear when the hybrid roared into the warehouse, tearing apart the guards and descending on Marcel in a fury.

The rescue of Caroline and destruction of Marcel had another result, the end of Marcel's compulsion of Camille, the bartender with which he had been apparently fascinated. She was sitting in Rousseau's, after-hours, as everyone tended their wounds and discussed next steps. It was obvious she was still terrified, eyes darting everywhere and hands gripping the edge of the table. Caroline felt for her and slowly, so to not startle her more, joined her.

"Are you okay?" Caroline asked, knowing the answer already.

"No, I'm not," Cami answered, her voice shaky. "I just found out that everything I've thought was real and normal in the world isn't. All of these people I've seen every day are creatures that I didn't even know existed." A tear escaped her eye and she quickly wiped it away. "I mean, you look like a normal college student and I saw what you did back there. I… I don't know how to process any of this."

Caroline sighed sadly. "I know you may not believe me, but I know exactly what you're going through. I didn't know any of this was real either, until I woke up after being smothered to death and was starving for blood. I won't tell you that one day you'll wake up and everything will be better, because that's not how it works. But it does get easier. It does mean you'll know things no one else does, but things make a little more sense."

"How long have you been…this way?" Cami questioned softly.

"Two years. It seems much longer," Caroline responded, a bit of laughter in her voice. "There's been a lot that's happened."

Cami smiled slightly, but it faded quickly. Tears filled her eyes again and she whispered, "I don't know if I can do this."

Caroline reached across the table, taking Cami's hand in her own. "I think you can. You haven't fallen apart after everything that's happened the last couple of days and I think that says so much about you. You're strong." She paused for a moment. "But if you really don't want the memories and knowledge, one of us can compel you to forget. It will be like none of this ever happened." The tone of her voice clued Cami into her hesitancy to offer.

"You don't think it's a good idea?"

Caroline smiled. "My views on compulsion have changed over the last couple of years. I try to only use it when I absolutely have to. Someone used it on me before I changed and it was hard to deal with when all those memories came back. But if you want, we can do that."

After a few minutes, Cami decided. "No, I don't think so. I'm pretty sure Marcel was compelling me and who knows what else. I don't want any more of that."

Once her decision was made, Caroline explained the advantages of vervain and that it might be a good idea to find some. Cami thanked her and headed to her house, escorted by Elena and Stefan. Rebekah and Elijah had gone out to round up any remaining Marcel-loyal vampires and Bonnie and Jeremy had returned to the hotel down the street where the visitors were staying. Caroline was about to leave herself after downing one last bag of B Positive when she was stopped by her rescuer.

"I couldn't help but overhear your discussion with Camille regarding compulsion," Klaus said, standing between her and the front door. "Were you being truthful about past events or were you simply being empathetic Caroline?"

She took a deep breath. This conversation ranked low on her list of things she wanted to do, but Klaus had saved her life not two hours before and she didn't want to disturb the quasi-friendship they were maintaining. They hadn't talked much since her arrival to New Orleans with the Gilberts and Salvatores, but she had still been so relieved to see him bust through the doors of the warehouse where Marcel had taken her. "Yes, I was telling the truth. I don't like compulsion that much because of how it was used on me."

Klaus took a menacing step towards her, but she knew him well enough to not be scared. After all, he had just decapitated his former protégé because he had the audacity to hurt her. "I'm surprised I've never heard this story before. As far as I know, you weren't in contact with many vampires prior to turning. That doesn't leave very many suspects as to who this person was." Caroline frowned, worried where his thought process was leading. "Since you are friends with Stefan the search is narrowed even further." His gaze left hers for a moment and flickered behind her. Caroline knew Damon was still in the bar and hoped he had enough sense to not get involved.

"Klaus, it was a long time ago and so much has happened since then. There's no reason to go dredging up old memories and stirring up trouble," she said evenly, doubtful that her statement would be enough to keep Klaus from overreacting.

In less than a blink of an eye, Klaus was directly in front of her, raising a hand to her cheek. "Why do I have a feeling your denial is more about protecting him than the actual truth of what happened, love?" Caroline closed her eyes, letting his accented voice rush over her for one unguarded moment. She didn't want to admit it, but she had missed hearing him over the last months. It was probably this momentary weakness that kept her from issuing a firm denial to his next question. "Did he hurt you?"

Caroline eyes flew open and met his, which were filled with concern mixed with a healthy dose of anger. She should have immediately refuted the idea, but she didn't. Instead her lips parted to speak but nothing came out. For Klaus, the lack of denial was as good as an affirmation. In the same miniscule amount of time he needed to be in front of her, he was across the room, slamming Damon into the wall using only the grip on the younger vampire's throat to trap him. Caroline gasped at his sudden movement and rushed to intervene.

"Klaus, no, don't do this. There's no reason for it!" she pleaded. "It was forever ago."

"What did you do to her?" Klaus spat out through gritted teeth. Damon grabbed Klaus's arm and tried to pry his hand off his throat. "What was bad enough that you had to compel her?" The hybrid squeezed harder, making it impossible for Damon to answer.

"Klaus, please," Caroline begged quietly, touching Klaus hesitantly. "He's…changed since he's been with Elena. And she would be devastated in anything happened to him. So please, don't do this."

For a moment, Klaus didn't move, continuing to apply pressure to Damon's windpipe. Caroline could see Damon was fading as his attempts to break free were weakening. Suddenly, Klaus released him and Damon slid down the wall, slamming into the floor with a sickening crunch. Klaus leaned over him, every inch the slightly psychotic killer he had been when he first came to Mystic Falls. "Know this Salvatore. The only reason you're not staring at your beating heart in my hand right now is because Caroline wished it. The very girl who you used is also the reason you're still alive. I would remember that if I were you as even she may not be able to stop me the next time." Klaus straightened and walked out of the bar.

Caroline watched for a moment as Damon slumped to the floor. She considered helping him up, but decided against it, instead flashing out of the bar into the street. She immediately spotted Klaus walking down the street and she rushed to catch up with him. "Klaus, wait," she said breathlessly.

"Now is not a good time Caroline. As you might imagine, I'm rather upset," he answered as he continued marching down the sidewalk.

"I know." Again placing a hand on his arm, he paused and spun to face her. She gasped, the absolute fury in his eyes causing her heart to pound. She watched, fascinated, as the muscle above his jaw clenched and unclenched as he fought to regain control over his anger. At some point, Caroline would be forced to examine how Klaus's reaction to her past made her feel, but it wouldn't be now. Instead she squeezed his arm lightly, offered a shy smile and said, "Thank you."

His jaw tightened again and he closed his eyes. When he opened them, some of the rage had dissipated and was replaced with the strange affection that was generally there when he looked at her. "One day Caroline, I may not be able to give you what you wish."

"That's why I'm grateful," she answered. There were a million other things that flew through her mind but she knew she wasn't ready to say them. When Klaus had first begun his weird and twisted courtship of her, she had been in love with Tyler and convinced Klaus was evil. Sure, some of the things he did were sweet and considerate and he had saved her a couple of times, but he was also responsible for some of that very same danger and had inflicted so much harm on her friends. However, over the last few months, she started to realize that the world in which she and her friends lived wasn't simple good versus evil. Battling with Silas had shown that in full contrast. Klaus was no longer the worst person they had fought. That revelation, coupled with Tyler's apparent abandonment, had begun a slow, slow change of heart of which she was only starting to process. Standing in the middle of a New Orleans street at 3:00 in the morning was certainly not the place to evaluate her feelings. So, she squeezed his arm again before moving her hand. "I'm going to head back to the hotel."

She had taken only a few steps before Klaus was beside her. "I'll walk you there," he said. Caroline didn't turn her head quickly enough and he saw her small, pleased smile. Hiding a smirk of his own, he offered his arm. One day, he thought, she will be my queen.