I was inspired by a fan art that I saw on Twitter today and this kinda just popped in my head haha

I listened to "Wait" by M83 while writing this so...double the pain *cries* enjoy!

"How is he?" Caroline asked walking up to Rebekah who was standing outside Klaus's bedroom door. "I brought him another blanket."

The Blonde Original turned her head slowly to face Caroline. "How do you think he's doing? Matter a fact, he's doing just peachy, Caroline. It's not like my brother was bitten with a lethal vampire bite or anything! An extra blanket will definitely cure him great job!" She finished sarcastically.

"I'm just trying to help."

"We don't need your help! This is a family matter, you're not his family." Rebekah spat sternly.

"Rebekah enough, I beg of you." Elijah came up from behind both blondes.

Rebekah rolled her eyes before walking past Caroline, aggressively shoving her in the shoulder in the process.

Caroline swallowed down the lump in her throat and blinked the tears out her eyes.

"She's right."

"Car-"

"No she's right, I don't deserve to be here." She sniffled.

Elijah stared at her thoughtfully. "Rebekah is just...she's taking this harder than all of us, she and Niklaus were the closest."

"Caroline, you mean a great deal to my brother and I know he means the same to you or you wouldn't be here."

"I haven't seen him in a century and I only decide to come back because he's dying?! Would you want to see me if you were in his position?"

"Yes, I would." He said without hesitation making Caroline scoff. "Because in my final days I would want to be surrounded by the people I love and Niklaus is no different."

Caroline shook her head. "I left him."

"No you didn't and he knows that. He doesn't blame you Caroline and he's not angry with you either. You had obligations and Niklaus understood that but as long as you came back to him one day, he gave you all the space you needed."

"I should've been there for him." She softly sobbed.

"It wouldn't have changed the outcome, there's nothing you could have done." Elijah reassured her.

Caroline understandably nodded. She wanted to see him, the anticipation was killing her not knowing how bad it was. Elijah was trying to keep her calm and it was appreciated but it didn't make her stomach turn any less. Just the thought of Klaus dying seemed unreal. He was the Original indestructible hybrid, he cannot be killed yet here they are just waiting for the final second. Caroline wanted to vomit thinking about it, thinking about a eternity without the man she grew to care so much about.

The man she grew to love.

She hadn't told him she loved him and when she planned to is when she got the call of her mother passing. In that sorrow, Caroline chose to move back to Mystic Falls but at the cost of leaving Klaus behind. At the time, she thought she wanted to be alone and pushed Klaus away as much as she could no matter how much it killed her. But she wasted an entire century, a century with him she'll never get back.

Freya slowly creeped out, closing his door behind her as she walked out.

Elijah and Caroline took a few steps towards her, their somber expressions matching her's.

"I uhh...I gave him some healing herbs to at least attempt at dulling the pain." Freya explained nervously clearing her throat.

"How much time?" Elijah abruptly asked.

Freya sighed with a frown. "Honestly, it's just a matter of time. Klaus is fighting it but the more he tries to prevent the inevitable, the worse it gets. He won't make it past the night." She concluded, biting her trembling lip.

Caroline felt like someone just punched her in the chest.

- He won't make it past the night.

Playing on loop in her head and it just wouldn't break. Soon he would be gone and there was nothing she could do about it.

"Can I see him?" Caroline abruptly asked.

Freya's eyes softened. "Umm I don't know if that's a good idea..."

"Please." She begged.

The witch sighed, non defensively crossing her arms over her chest then nodded. "Sure."

Taking a deep breath, Caroline walked past her resting her hand on the knob. When she walks into that room, she'll be walking into a harsh reality. But it was a reality she had to face and with that thought she quickly turned the doorknob stepping inside the dark room.

The room was lit up with just candles, all the blinds were closed and Chet Baker's "My Funny Valentine" playing on the record player. She faintly grinned before slowly making her way to his bed where he was lying.

She took in his fragile appearance. His cheeks were sucked in, skin partially losing its color, he was drenched in sweat, his body limp and emaciated.

Klaus was almost unrecognizable.

His eyes were shut and head facing up to the ceiling still not acknowledging her presence, she wasn't sure if he even sensed her in the room.

Caroline bit her bottom lip hard to stop it from trembling and sucking up her tears threatening to stream down her face. Standing over his bed now, she simply looked down at him without a word coming to mind. Shock was dominating her.

"You came."

The abrupt voice snapped her out of her own thoughts.

Klaus slowly opened his eyes, turning his head just as slowly to look at her. Their eyes met intensely, saying what their words couldn't. This was their first face to face meeting in a 100 years but Caroline could still remember that mischievous glint that lived in his eyes that she loved so much.

It was gone.

The life in his eyes was gone.

Caroline gulped. "Of course I did."

He just stared at her with deep thought and curiosity.

She looked down at the floor, playing with her fingers nervously. "Clearly it's been awhile."

Klaus smirked. "I've made quite the first impression with my appearance. At least you can see what you've been missing out on." He joked making Caroline giggle.

"I missed your laugh." He added.

Pressing her lips together, she lifted her head up to him.

"I missed you." She admitted with a smile.

A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips, never wanting her to stop smiling.

Suddenly Klaus began excessively coughing leaning to the side of the bed. He grabbed the bucket there, coughing up dark blood into it. He then winced in pain falling back onto the bed holding his stomach.

Caroline felt helpless as she watched the horrific scene taking place right in front of her.

Klaus screamed in pain, screeching and piercing her ears. He was begging for it to stop. He was sweating and crying profusely and she knew it was because he was still trying to fight it off; a warrior until his last breath.

As admirable as that may be, he was causing himself unnecessary pain instead of letting it take its course. She couldn't let him do this to himself.

She hastily climbed into bed with him, bringing his body to hers and cradling him in her arms. She scooted back on the king size bed until hitting the headboard.

His body relaxed into hers as Caroline softly caressed his damp hair and held him safely in her arms. She dabbed the blood clean off his mouth with one of he rags on the nightstand. His head rested against her chest, he wanted to feel her heartbeat. To feel the life he was truly fighting for. But Klaus was weak, the weakest he had ever been in his 1000 years of existence and he wasn't sure he could do it anymore, not even for her.

Breathing patterns were back to normal and the screams and yells halted as his eyes closed in exhaustion. He just concentrated on Chet Baker's voice still playing in the background and Caroline's pounding heartbeat. Her soft hands comforting him with every stroke.

"It's supposed to be me saving you, love remember?" Klaus cheekily said softly, his voice barely present.

She faintly laughed. "You can't always be in control, Klaus."

"I could say the same to you." He panted with a smirk.

Caroline laughed. "Touché Mikaelson."

Klaus's eyes were still closed and his breathing level slowed as he relaxed more into her. "I'm tired, Caroline...so cold."

Her chest tightened at his soft words. "I know." She said in a hush tone, pressing a lingering kiss to his damp forehead, before reaching out to cover him with his comforter.

They both just laid there on the bed together silently. Caroline bit back her emotions, she needed to be strong for him this time just like all the times he was for her. Klaus needed to know its okay for him to go, it's okay for him to let her go.

She grabbed one of his hands and interlocked their fingers together as she closed her eyes now too.

"I've never taken the time to really look at the stars before." Caroline commented looking up at the dark sky.

"Quite fascinating hmm?" Klaus smirked lying next to her on the grass, staring up at the moonlit sky decorated with millions of stars.

Caroline smiled. "Very. Why'd you want to come here?"

He shrugged. "It's peaceful and quiet. Really helping me reflect on a lot actually."

"Like?"

Klaus sighed. "To think a lot about my past sins and few regrets."

She turned her head to face him. "What kind of regrets?"

Klaus paused for a second. "Maybe if I wasn't so selfish towards my siblings for starters." He answered still looking up as she was looking at him.

He licked his lips. "My whole life I feared being left behind, being as lonely as my father said I should be. They were all I had at the time...I couldn't lose them, no matter how many times they reassured me they weren't leaving, I was never convinced."

"That's where the daggers come in and also the beginning of the end of us actually being family." He explained.

Caroline wanted to comment but restrained. She created this dream for him and he needed it in more ways than one. Instead, she simply just let him continue venting and their eyes still not meeting.

"I ruined our family, at least what was left of it but I didn't care as long as I had them. But did I really have them on my side? Was their love for me genuine or out of fear like the rest? You're not supposed to have those thoughts about family."

"Sounds exhausting." Caroline said.

Klaus lightly grinned. "It was, but now I can't help but think it didn't have to be that way at all. Maybe if I hadn't meddled in Rebekah's love life or life in general I wouldn't always have an inkling of her abandoning me. My trust in them would be stronger we could have been stronger. If I wasn't such a selfish prick I would have known then what I know now."

Caroline gulped. "And what's that?"

"Being alone doesn't equate being lonely. I was never truly lonely, I just didn't know how to be on my own. But I think now I do or at least don't mind entertaining the idea but either way I'll be okay with it." Klaus said proudly.

"Amazing it took me dying to realize that." He laughed softly under his breath.

She faintly smiled at his mature realization about himself, something only the lucky ones would be able to witness. Caroline was proud of Klaus and she could tell so was he. The bittersweet timing made her want to tear up but she promised herself she wouldn't, she had to be strong for him.

"Sometimes I wish I met you in another lifetime, Caroline Forbes. Circumstances would be different and being together would've probably happened sooner." He blurted.

Caroline gasped.

She noticed his chest that just a few seconds ago heaving at a normal pace now gradually slowing down.

Klaus continued. "Time. That was our enemy, we entered each other's lives at the wrong time. I regret not being able to spend more time with you. I wish I could have done all the things I promised you, showing you the world and treating you as the queen that you are. Spending eternity together..."

He drifted off, swallowing down the lump in his throat.

Caroline cursed the one tear that escaped down her eye. She didn't want to make this situation about her, it was for him but what he was saying was hitting close. The emotions she was feeling were undetectable and fumbling on the inside.

"Klaus..." She was able to at least get his name out.

"I love you." He said still never gazing away from the lit stars.

She felt weak in her knees even though she was laying down. The three words she always believed he felt for her but never said them aloud. Klaus had a gift for throwing curveballs at her so why would he be any different even as he was dying?

His lips began to tremble and he gulped as a small tear streamed down.

For all the years of knowing him, Caroline had never seen him so vulnerable but he didn't seem uncomfortable about it. At the same time he didn't let his vulnerability rule him either.

He turned his head on the grass to finally face her, she was met with lively but tearful red eyes. Klaus reached down to hold her hand which she quickly gave him. This was the most overwhelming experience of her life, holding his hand knowing this would be the last time.

Klaus held onto her tight as she scooted her body closer to his. Their heads resting against each other's, both sighing contently.

"Caroline, loving you for the past few years is the most alive I've felt in centuries. You did what no one else would...you gave me a chance. Thank you." He smiled .

She rolled onto her side, cuffing his face in her hand and bringing him in for a passionate kiss.

Klaus immediately began moving his lips along with her's hotly, turning over on his side as well. He pulled her body close so their clothed chests were pressing each other's. His arms wrapped around her waist and one of her hands holding his face. He lowly moaned as Caroline deepened the kiss, probing her tongue into the hot cave of his mouth.

The scorching passion radiating from this kiss was so powerful and great it made them both lightheaded with bliss.

Neither wanted this to stop, to have to be familiar with he idea of never kissing or touching each other again. Their mutual tears marinated between their lips, intensifying the already heated exchange.

Caroline placed her hand on his chest, over his heart and could feel the soft faint beatings.

It was time to say goodbye.

She detached her lips from his slowly, fingers still caressing his stubbled cheek carefully.

"I love you too." Caroline choked out into a whisper.

Klaus's small smile slightly widened and the tears he tried fighting off escaped little by little. He didn't want to end on a sad note because he wasn't sad, he's actually never been more happy.

He rolled onto his back again, pulling her with him. Her hand and head resting on his chest and his arm wrapped around her. They both looked up at the stars sparkling like diamonds in above them and peacefully relaxing to the quietness and feel for each other.

"I know." He whispered slowly closing his eyes.

There was nothing more at peace than the woman you love saying she loved you back. Klaus didn't need anything else than that, as much as it hurt he knew he could go on knowing it was okay. She gave him the strength to accept the inevitable and go with peace.

Caroline did that for him and he'll be forever grateful that he was able to be in her life. He hoped whomever she loved in the future will treat her with the upmost respect and the way she deserved. He'll always be a part of her and even gone, she'll always be a part of him.

Love never dies, just strengthens in time.

Klaus's body began to grey and desiccate in Caroline's arms, for he was cradled up next to her on the bed. With a final gasp, his entire body went completely still.

Caroline finally opened her eyes and nothing but tears and silent sobs came out. She still held onto his dead body, not ready to let go just yet.

Caroline was glad she was the one to give him peace in his final minutes. She already missed him and she wasn't sure she knew if there would be a day when she would stop missing him. But what she felt for him would always be there and never falter, no matter who came into her life afterwards.

Time would no longer be their enemy.

Thanks for reading. Reviews are appreciated :)