A/N: Takes place sometime in the future. Refers to Caroline's mom getting sick, Klaus is in NOLA and some familiar TVD/TO characters will be in this but it is pretty much AU with no baby (cause honestly that storyline is just wrong). This is a Klaus, Caroline story, endgame is Klaroline. No beta, all mistakes are mine.

Disclaimer: Still own none of it.

Friends then…?

Chapter 1: The Call

Klaus looks towards the people surrounding him at the dining table. Never in a millennia did he think he'd find himself here, surrounded by family and, yes, friends. Ever loyal Elijah, Rebekah, a most devoted sibling, Haley, the confidant and queen among wolves, Marcel, the adopted son/sometimes enemy, and Cami, the girl who looked past his faults and saw things in him that he struggles to see in himself.

She was an unexpected, yet pleasant, surprise. He was drawn to her. At first, the blond locks and striking eyes are what drew him in, a reminder to what he let go. Her sass and cleverness struck a chord, her constant prodding to find his dead heart, her unending arguments and stubborn will to make him do the right thing. Yes, she reminded him of her, the one he would never have - she is his friend, partner, lover…and human which always causes him to smirk a little.

He's found a contentment that he hasn't felt in a long long while, if ever. The fight to always be alpha, to rule in one way or another has been won. In the battle for the quarter, he collected a mismatch set of loyal companions who learned to put their differences aside if they were ever to find peace and live amongst each other. Of course, he never let them forget who the ultimate ruler was, the king. He hadn't softened or learned to bend that much but just enough.

He rarely lets himself think of Caroline these days. He looks around the table and supposes he has Caroline to thank in some part for where he is now. Her challenging him at every turn, holier than thou speeches of compromise and ultimate friendship have left an undeniable mark, scar more like he scoffs to himself. He eyes clash with Cami across the table, he's momentarily lost sight of who she is as he see's Caroline's smile. His eyes soften in a way Cami has never seen and her smile grows. Klaus refocuses and realizes, in a rare moment of inertia, he's let his mind wander. He adores Cami, he truly does, but she's not her and will never be.

His phone buzzes in his pocket. He ignores it wanting to enjoy this moment of quiet companionship. The incessant ringing causes all eyes to turn to him with questioning looks to answer it. He sighs, and takes out his phone. The name on the caller ID causes him pause, Stefan Salvatore. It's been some time. He hesitates just long enough for the call to go to voicemail. He releases the breath he didn't know he was holding. Elijah looks at him questionably. Before he has a chance to speak, the phone rings again. He apologetically rises from the table and swooshes from the dining area to his private quarters.

He answers.

"Stefan, mate, what a surprise, I wish I could say it is a pleasant one."

Stefan snorts into the phone, "Nice to hear your voice too, Klaus."

"It's been some time. What is it? Elena jump ship back to Damon again? Feeling reminiscent, longing for former times?" he jokes.

"I'm not calling to rehash old times, Klaus, nor create new ones," he says.

"I'm busy, mate. Whatever it is I'm sure you and your group of incompetent heroes can handle it after all this time," Klaus annoyingly replies.

Stefan deeply sighs into the phone and says the one thing that causes Klaus to stop his tirade of unappreciated witticism, "It's Caroline."

Suddenly all those feelings of contentment and satisfaction dissipate.

Klaus is silent on the line taking the time to grab a whisky from his private selection. He takes a drink waiting for Stefan to continue. When nothing further comes, Klaus breaks the silence and asks the question, "What happened?" For a moment, the irrational fear that something permanent has happened to her, his light. He quickly dismisses that notion. If things were that dire, he's certain he would've heard before now.

Stefan takes yet another deep breath and quietly says, "Her mother died that's what happened."

"Though tragic, I don't see why that warrants a call, Stefan. She was human, people die," he stresses the people part. "Please convey my condolences to Caroline for me, will you?"

Klaus feels his anger stir. Caroline is fine. Why is Stefan calling about something he can't do anything about? She was human, humans die. Humans are not his concern. Like Cami, the thought occurs in the back of his head. He grimaces. The Sheriff meant something to Caroline. He paces, feeling like a caged animal. Caroline made her choice, it wasn't him. She has her friends, Mystic Falls, her life. None of them included him, he clearly recalls.

"Nice chatting and catching up, Stefan. Now, I have things to attend to so…" he's abruptly cut off by Stefan's words "She's asking for you, everyday since Liz passed away."

Klaus is stunned into silence.

"She calls out your name in her sleep. Some days she goes out into the woods and doesn't come back until well into the night. We're worried. She says she goes to a place she feels at peace. She's spiraling and no one can seem to get through to her. She walks around in a daze, unfocused. She's lost her only family she had left. She…."

Klaus interrupts his speech, "How long?"

"What?"

"How long has this been going on?"

Stefan replies, "Liz passed 4 months ago. It's been 4 months."

"You're barely calling me now," he screams into the phone.

"When she started asking for you, we thought we misheard. Then, we thought she was having a temporary moment of insanity. Finally, we admitted we needed to call you but every number we had, had been changed. It turns out you really do know how to make yourself disappear. One night I stole Caroline's phone. She kept it close at hand for some reason, almost as if she were expecting you to call. I thought maybe, just maybe, when you heard you would call, but you didn't. I found a number with your name next to it. I dialed it and well, here we are."

Klaus cracks the tumbler he is holding before he smashes it against the wall.

"She needs you, Klaus," Stefan finally breaks down and admits.

He takes a deep steadying breath. He had moved past Mystic Falls, she forced him to. He had finally accepted his life in the quarter would not include her, at least not in this century.

A sigh escapes him. He knows he'll go to her. She's his light, his friend, he admits with a soft smile. He'll always come for her, always.

"I'll be there as soon I can. I have some things I need to clear up here first. Just…just keep her safe," Klaus demands.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The crash upstairs grabs attention. Cami, uncertain of what is going on gets up to investigate. Elijah tries to stall her, "Now isn't a good time, Camille, trust me."

Cami laughs him off, "Elijah, when is it ever a good time with your temperamental brother. I'll be ok. It's me, remember, his girlfriend."

Elijah shakes his head, "No, Cami, I promise you this is different."

She disregards his warning and makes her way upstairs.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Elijah and Rebekah share a look. Rebekah shaking her head, "Poor girl, she never really had a chance, did she?"

Marcel looks at them both and asks, "Who is Caroline?"

Haley answers with a smirk on her face, "Only the love of Klaus' eternal life. You know the 'one that got away'" she air quotes.

Marcel widens his eyes, "Well it doesn't sound like she 'got away'" he air quotes back. "It sounds like she's asking for him."

"Yes, so it appears" Elijah says. "It seems we may be having a visitor soon. Sister, (he turns to Rebekah) ready Caroline's quarters. If I know Niklaus, he will be bringing Ms. Forbes to our home."

Rebekah, with too much sass to be sweet says, "Does that mean that Camille is moving out? I suppose I could just ready her rooms?" she smirks.

Elijah always respectable gives Rebekah 'the look'. Rebekah laughingly walks away from the dining table. It seems like things are going to get interesting around here again, she thinks to herself.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Cami slowly approaches Klaus' bedroom. She may be his girlfriend but she's not stupid. She knows never to just barge into his private domain.

"Klaus," Camille calls out to him. He abruptly stops his packing and turns around.

"Cami, love, we need to talk," he says. "I need to go away for a few days to go see a…friend. I will likely be bringing this friend back with me for a while. I think it would be best if you stayed at your place while my friend is visiting."

"You understand, don't you sweetheart?"

"You don't have many friends, Klaus." She pushes, "Who is this person, where are they from?"

"It's someone from my past. I can't go into more detail than that, please understand, love."

Klaus is about to walk away telling her as he goes, "I need to talk to Elijah before I leave to ensure my kingdom doesn't fall apart while I'm gone. If you need help packing your things up, ask Josh, he's here to help you."

Cami takes a step back. "Ppack my things up?" she stutters, "Am I leaving for good?"

Klaus turns back around and slowly approaches her. He delicately runs his hand down her cheek, "Ah Camille, the brave bartender. There is so much you don't know. I imagined we'd have more time together. I thought…," he trails off. "No matter, my light needs me, and so I must go."

He turns to leave and she calls out, "Your light? What nonsense are you sputtering? This morning I'm in your bed and now you're asking me to pack up. Your sense of humor is lacking, well, humor?"

He continues to walk away, Cami calls out "Wait, Klaus…I don't understand."

Klaus looks over with a hint of regret. "And, you really don't need to. Please make sure you're not here when I return. I'm truly sorry, Cami. You should know, I don't apologize to many." He swooshes off leaving Cami in his wake.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Elijah, Elijah…," he yells throughout the compound.

"Niklaus, I am here."

"I have to go away for a few days. I'm not sure when I'll be returning. It could be as soon as tomorrow. I'll know more once I assess the situation."

"Yes, I know. I…" he hesitates, "…heard the entire conversation. I assume you'll be returning with Ms. Forbes."

Irritated by that comment, Klaus harshly responds "Yes, that is my intention. Try not to ruin my kingdom while I'm gone."

"Of course, brother, I'll see you in a few days."

He nods, "Oh, and Elijah, please make sure Cami isn't here when I return."

Elijah gives a slow nod and walks away.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Klaus dials the number that changed everything a short time ago.

It goes to voicemail. "Stefan, mate. I managed to take care of those things sooner than expected. I'm on my way. I'll be there in a few hours. Caroline better be there, unharmed."

A/N: Next chapter will be mostly Klaroline. I don't have a timetable on when to expect new chapters, I complete as inspiration strikes and time allows. And, still being fairly green to fanfiction, I can reasonably commit to 2-4 chapter short stories though I fear with this idea it has potential to go on for much, much longer. So, if you like it, I will continue (though I probably will regardless, can't help myself). Lastly, I keep thinking that of all the people who have been there for Caroline, it was Klaus. It made sense to me that he would be the person she'd want to see after her mom's passing, at least to me it makes perfect sense, which is where this idea sprang from. Till next time. Hope you like enough to review, follow etc.