DISCLAIMER: I DID NOT OWN THE CHARACTERS OR THE VAMPIRE DIARIES.
Caroline was in a forest, walking down some barely-there path. She heard that voice. His voice. Klaus.
"I dare you."
His words echoed through the trees in her dream. Again. It wasn't like that was the last thing he said to her before he got staked, or even the most significant ones he'd said to her ever, they were just ones that stuck. How did he know how to push her? The challenge in his tone that she just couldn't resist. It was infuriating. A giant version of that stupid smirk he perpetually wore floated in front of her dream self, like a stupid half wolf Cheshire, mouthing the words over and over. She should probably be used to it by now, it generally featured in every dream she had, but it still managed to cause a shiver of some emotion to radiate down her spine. She saw Tyler in her dreams too, warning her that he wasn't quite what he seemed. Granted, that part of her dreams had some merit. Ever since he showed up at her house and told her that he wasn't going to die, he had been acting odd. She expected some sort of withdrawal or shock for a while. Escaping death has historically made people focus on the fragility of like and all that shit. So it was a rather nice shock to notice that instead of isolating himself like she expected, he became more attentive and sweet and all around thoughtful. He was looking at her differently too. If she left herself, she might have compared it to the way Klaus used to look at her, but of course the only time she let herself think of him was when she dreamed; she was too afraid of what her mind might whisper to her if she allowed her conscious to begin to reflect her subconscious.
The upbeat music of her alarm clock woke Caroline from her strange, meaningless dream. She rolled out of bed and got ready for her day. She had promised Elena that they would have a 'normal girl' day, complete with shopping, movies, ice cream, and complaints about boys. Lord knew Elena needed it. She was still having trouble with the whole 'baby vampire' thing (but if Caroline was being honest, she was glad she wasn't the youngest anymore) plus she still had to decide between the two Salvatores. Apparently, since becoming a vampire, Elena had some new memories popping up and she wanted to spend some time thinking about them before she talked to someone about it. So Caroline was playing the distraction game, something she was very good at. At least, that was the plan. When she saw who was waiting in her bedroom when she returned from fixing her makeup, she doubted very much that Elena would need Caroline to divert her mind from the Salvatore Brothers.
"Hello, sweetheart."
His voice was quiet. His accent was exactly as she remembered. He was exactly as she remembered, down to the necklaces he wore. The only change was his expression. The smirk that vexed her sleeping hours was missing. He looked, Caroline observed, almost nervous. A small, hopeful smile was barely present on his face. She stood, shocked and speechless, until the smile grew a fraction. Then she proceeded to freak out.
"What the flying fuck are you doing here? You're not supposed to be alive! Everything was good! Why do you have to ruin this?"
It was, admittedly, not her best or most eloquent line of questioning, but it was the best she could do under the circumstances. While his continued existence explained why almost everyone she loved, including herself, was still alive she still hated him for returning to infuriate her while she was conscious. It was bad enough that he invaded her head while she slept. She marched over to the hybrid and slapped him on his chiseled cheekbone.
"Well? Explain yourself!"
"I was switched in to someone else's body before this one was staked. Bonnie just managed to restore me-"
"You mean she knew? And she didn't tell us?"
"Only because I threatened to harm Jeremy if she did, love. I assure you she wanted to. She really despises me." He was attempting to calm her down, using a 'soothing' voice and ridiculous up and down hand gestures,
"Of course she does! You're a murderer! You're a liar and an asshole! You can't jus
If her mind hadn't been clouded by her rage, she might have wondered why he was defending her friend or why he hadn't blocked or dodged her slap. But it was, so she continued to allow it to dictate her words.
"We were so much better when you were dead! God, we were happy! And now you come back and ruin everything! I threw a freaking party, for Christ's sake! We-"
"You threw a party?" Klaus looked wounded. "You hate me so much?"
"Yes! I was better off without you in my life!" Caroline cringed. She hadn't included her friend's lives. She had inadvertently made it personal. That was going to be a problem. He could easily misunderstand. He might think she was feeling... Things. She was becoming increasingly exasperated. Why couldn't he just leave her alone!
"Why?" He seemed genuinely confused.
Seriously? The fact that he attempted to murder almost everyone she knew wasn't a reason for her to hate him? Okay, he saved her life twice. And he saved Damon. And maybe because he knows that both the Salvatores have tried to, and succeeded in, killing multiple people, she might reserve judgement on murderers. But still, this was Klaus. Even if she would probably forgive anyone else if they did the things they did, he was special.
"Just... Because!" That was lame, even considering the circumstances.
"Because?" Klaus was amused now. "That is the best you could come up with? Very well, if we're going to be childish about it, because why?"
"Eragh!" Really, Caroline? Resorting to sounds already? She tried to cover it, speaking as quickly as the words came to her mouth, not bothering to filter in her attempt to mask the fact that he had beaten her. "Because you screwed with my head! Because I have a boyfriend you nearly killed and he nearly killed me because you told him to and because, despite that, you saved me!"
"Because I saved you, you wanted me dead?"
"Yes! You confuse me! I was thrilled to get some time to think and be away from your stupid drawings and pretty jewelry and fancy dresses and your damn compliments that always sound so fucking sincere!" She hadn't meant to swear. Or say the bracelet was pretty. Or express any of what she just said in the first place. Great. This was not how she had hoped her day would be going. "You are so annoying and... And... Persistent! It's infuriating!"
Klaus was still confused- at least, he acted like he was. "Why would that-"
She didn't let him finish. Acting out of anger, or frustration, or the pent up emotions that had been growing inside her since the day he saved her life, Caroline swiftly rammed her face against his in a desperate kiss. He responded immediately, kissing her long and hard, wrapping one arm around his waist and tangled his other hand in her hair, keeping her mouth against his.
When she finally managed to break the kiss, Caroline looked at Klaus, horrified that she let herself even touch the damn hybrid. They stood there, him with his stupid smirk, and her with a look of abject horror at what she had just initiated on her face. They remained in silence for a beat, before she broke it.
"Get out. Just leave. Don't you ever speak to me or acknowledge this conversation ever again. Leave me alone and leave my house."
"Come on, love, you don't seriously want to be rid of me, especially if the quality of your, err, conversation is any indicator."
"I said go!"
Klaus grinned wolfishly and Caroline thought he was going to try to kiss her again, but he simply nodded and said "I'll leave, sweetheart, but you'll see me again soon, I expect."
"Whatever. Go."
And so Klaus left, and Caroline was left to figure out what just happened between them. She probably would have stood there all day if her phone hadn't begun to beep, alerting her to a new text message. When she looked, Caroline discovered that Elena was waiting to do their 'normal girl' day at the square and she was late. Caroline replied, letting Elena know that she was on her way. She checked her make up in the mirror on the way out the door and was horrified to realise that her lipstick was smudged. She removed it and reapplied, before going out to pretend that she was a normal girl, with a normal life, and normal feelings, for a day.
