Klaus/Caroline & Stefan/Katherine. I've loosely followed the journey of the 101st Airborne.
South England, June 5th 1944
The sun rose from the east with a beautiful red hue. It was a peaceful morning, the whole world, it seemed was asleep. Klaus watched as the red sky spread, coloring the few clouds and tainting the fields of crops and animals that were interrupted by narrow roads and broad airfield strips.
Klaus hated the sight, the crimson skies made his own blood run cold. His fathers mother, for all she was an old snake, used to detest a morning like this. It was a bad omen she would say. Klaus couldn't disagree with her, not now, now when he stood on the cusp of the European invasion.
He itched to paint it, to burn it forever in his mind so that he could hate mornings such as these should he make it out alive.
'Penny for them,' a quiet voice said. Klaus turned to find his best friend Stefan at his side. He carried two tin mugs and handed one to Klaus.
'I hope this isn't your shitty coffee,' Klaus muttered.
'I make good coffee,' Stefan defended. 'The army just gives us shitty supplies.'
Klaus took a sip from his mug. 'Ah, it's your shitty tea.'
'Well you don't know whether you're American or British but I figured either way you'd bitch at me,' Stefan took a sip from his own mug.
'Is that any way to speak to a superior officer?' Klaus raised an eyebrow.
'I forgot about that, congratulations. Whose arse did you have to kiss to get it?' Stefan took another sip from his mug.
'Jealous are you second lieutenant?' Klaus asked.
'Not in the least first lieutenant,' Stefan said with a smile.
'Well if it wasn't for you I wouldn't be here,' Klaus said. 'Thank you.'
'If you want to make out with me just say,' Stefan said.
'You're a tosser do you know that,' Klaus snapped.
'Tosser and tea, he's British, I must publish a memo,' Stefan teased.
'Fuck off,' Klaus said fondly.
They fell silent, both contemplating what it took to get to this moment, wondering about their future. This could be the last sunrise they ever watched together.
'It looks like blood,' Stefan said after a while.
Klaus nodded, he understood Stefan's words. Blood would spill come tomorrow and the world would be forever changed.
Klaus thought of his family, his overbearing mother, his remaining brothers and sisters. He thought of his girl, his Caroline safely tucked up in bed he hoped, just a few miles from here. He even thought of his best friends girl, Elena. He'd never met her but he'd seen a picture. She was pretty. His mind traveled to his men, the soldiers who would risk their lives. Not everyone was going to survive this, and that sickened him.
Klaus tossed the last few drops of tea and Stefan did the same with his coffee. They turned around and regarded the large airstrip. The invasion had been called off for this morning, Klaus didn't think they would get another cancellation.
'Come on friend, we have a war to prepare for,' Klaus said with a sigh.
South England, May 1943
'Why you wearing a Yank uniform then?' The barmaid asked.
Stefan laughed as Klaus grit his teeth. 'Dual nationality love,' Klaus licked his lips. 'About those beers.'
'Then how come you didn't come over when we was first attacked?' The barmaid raised an eyebrow and stuck her chest out.
'I was in prison,' Klaus said.
'Oh, what for?' She leaned closer.
'I asked a barmaid for a beer but the incessant woman just asked me questions instead of serving me so I throttled her,' Klaus snarled.
'Hey easy up buddy,' Stefan rested his hand on Klaus' shoulder.
'No need to be so bloody ignorant,' she snapped.
'Just get us a couple of beers darlin,' Stefan said. 'Nik, go sit.'
Surprisingly Klaus did. Stefan paid for their drinks and joined Klaus at the small table. 'She's the fifth person to ask that!' Klaus huffed.
'I know,' Stefan tried to keep his face straight when he took a drink of the bitter ale but it was warm and full of gas. 'Should have got bourbon.'
'You're not in Virginia now kid,' Klaus said as he looked around.
Stefan made a face of agreement. They spent a quiet afternoon playing cards and watching locals come and go. Most were pleasant but some of the older men in particular seemed to find offense in their presence. Stefan didn't mind, he knew he wouldn't appreciate an invasion of Mystic Falls by a bunch of cocky young soldiers.
'How long do you think we'll be here for?' Stefan asked as he twisted a coin on the table top.
'Long enough for me to commit a murder,' Klaus glared over at the barmaid while he shuffled the cards.
'Oh come on she's cute,' Stefan said.
'So was my first wife and she turned out to be a real bitch,' Klaus sucked on his cheek.
'A divorcée at twenty five, I'd judge you but I don't give a damn,' Stefan grinned. Their banter was starting to relax Klaus.
'You'd divorce Aurora if you married her too,' Klaus said darkly. 'I was drunk when I did.'
'Married her or divorced her?' Stefan asked.
Klaus stared out the window for a moment. 'Both,' he finally admitted.
Stefan laughed. 'We should get back,' he said.
Klaus groaned dramatically but he got up. 'Thanks for the bitter love,' he called to the barmaid.
Stefan followed him out but there was the sound of a crash and a loud familiar voice called 'Seriously!'
'I'm sorry I-' Klaus started but he was cut off.
'Not another one of you British jerks posing as an American soldier. You know it's illegal to impersonate an officer don't you!' She said. Stefan looked around his friend.
'Caroline?' Stefan said.
'Oh. My. God. Stefan Salvatore get over here!' She cried and reached out to hug him.
'You look great,' Stefan smiled. Caroline posed and smirked at him.
'So do you. I told you that you would suit green,' Caroline said.
'Did you see Elena before you left?' Stefan asked.
'She's still as beautiful and sweet as ever,' Caroline smiled.
Stefan felt relief. It had been months since he last saw his girl and even though they wrote to each other regularly he missed her terribly. The mail wasn't that reliable either, it had been almost a week since the last letter.
Someone cleared their throat. 'I'm sorry, Caroline this is my friend Klaus, who is not impersonating anyone by the way.'
'I'm sorry,' Caroline blushed when she turned to him.
'It's okay,' he grinned and Stefan raised an eyebrow. His friends temper seemed to have completely vanished. That was an interesting development.
'Stefan we have got to meet up,' Caroline said.
'We will,' Stefan said. They exchanged information and agreed that they'd meet the following Saturday.
South England, July 1943
The sun burned high in the sky and for just a moment Klaus let his mind drift to Chicago, to the basement of Gloria's where it would be cool, where some jazz musician would be on stage, the beer would be cold and the bourbon would warm his throat.
A noise to his left and Stefan slithered across the grass on his belly like a snake. He tapped his finger on the map that lay before Klaus and indicated a company of enemy soldiers were across the ridge.
Klaus swore, a whole fucking company!
Their CO Captain Tanner had ordered the four platoons split. Klaus hadn't been happy with the order but he led third platoon south with Stefan leading fourth. Despite orders they kept in close contact and Klaus was glad they'd disobeyed their CO. Tanner was a dick and Klaus intended to tell him so next time he laid eyes on him.
Through hand gestures Klaus asked if first and second platoon were by any chance at least cornering the company of enemies in. Stefan tightened his lips and shook his head.
'Son of a bitch,' Klaus swore quietly.
They set snipers along the ridge, and spread their men out and Klaus prayed they had the illusion of a whole company rather than half of one. They edged forward slowly, and on Stefan's command Klaus breeched the ridge.
To Klaus' relief they took the enemy company by surprise and after a minute or so of stimulated firefighting they surrendered. B company was devastated to find that they'd been beaten by only half of A.
'Where the fuck is Tanner?' Klaus snarled as he bit into a crab apple. They were small and bitter and they'd given him stomach ache before but he didn't care. The foul taste distracted him from his equally foul mood.
'Word is he got lost,' Stefan sat next to his friend in the grass. A few of the men were already dozing in the sunshine.
'If that was over there we'd be dead by now,' Klaus stuck his thumb in the general direction he had decided Europe was in.
'I know,' Stefan said as he sniffed one of the apples.
'The Krauts won't be as easy as B company,' Klaus said.
'I know that too,' Stefan bit into the apple, coughed and spat it back out. 'These things are fucking disgusting.'
'Well don't fucking eat them then,' Klaus sighed. He took the half eaten one from Stefan and finished it off. There was a war on. It didn't do to waste food.
'Hey, look,' Stefan said.
Klaus lifted his eyes to find the other half of Able company making their way across the field.
'Pricks,' Klaus said as he chewed Stefan's apple.
'I thought I told you two to split up,' Tanner said.
'Good thing we misunderstood your orders sir, or we'd be dead,' Stefan said as he stood up and reached a hand down to Klaus. Klaus took it and let himself be pulled to his feet.
'I heard,' Tanners voice was dry.
Stefan made a face at Klaus and they moved off to gather their men into order for the march back to base.
'Major Jackson wants to see you two,' a runner said as soon as they stepped into base. Klaus resisted the urge to kick something and they left their men in the careful hands of their sergeants.
They crossed the green together and passed under the flag flying high on a pole. The Manor House loomed in front of them, shabby but still majestic enough to catch the eye of a passer by. Klaus was enthralled by it and would have loved to find the time to properly explore it, but time wasn't something he had the luxury to indulge in these days.
'Imagine having your home commandeered,' Stefan said as they walked through the halls.
'It'd be shitty,' Klaus agreed as he passed by walls that had seen better days. There were blank spaces where paintings had once hung. Klaus wished he knew what they were.
Jackson was busy in his office when they arrived, but his secretary Caroline was more than a distraction for both men.
'You look pretty love,' Klaus said as soon as he laid eyes on her. There was something about Caroline Forbes that chased his dark moods away.
'And you need a bath,' she wrinkled her nose.
'War games,' Stefan said by way of explanation as he took a seat next to her desk.
'So this dance tomorrow night?' Klaus said as he sat on the edge of Caroline's desk. She shooed him away.
'You're too late, someone already asked me,' she said.
Klaus' heart sank and a wave of nausea not caused by too many crab apples came over him. Caroline wasn't his girl, not yet, but he didn't like the idea of her stepping out with anyone else.
'And did you say yes?' Klaus asked.
'Of course I did,' Caroline smiled sweetly.
'So tell him you got a better offer,' Klaus suggested.
'Lieutenant Mikaelson that would be very rude,' Caroline mocked. 'Especially as he's sitting behind you!'
Klaus looked around but there was only Stefan in the room. Stefan shot him a wide smile and Klaus swore.
'With a mouth like that I definitely won't be going to any dances with you,' Caroline said.
'After you've had a mouth like this you won't want anyone else's,' Klaus leered.
A pink blush crept up her neck and Klaus couldn't help but feel a smug heat in his chest.
'T-that's just rude,' Caroline flustered.
The door opened and Major Jackson stood with folded arms. 'You two get your asses in here!'
Stefan set the drinks on the table and took a seat next to Caroline. She was deep in conversation with Klaus about Chicago.
'I've never been outside of Virginia until now,' she said.
'You picked a hell of a place for your first journey,' Klaus said.
'What can I say, I wanted to see the world, this was just where I ended up,' Caroline said with a smile.
'Is that why you joined up?' Stefan asked.
Caroline shook her head. 'My mom suggested it, she thought I'd enjoy it. We didn't think I'd get posted overseas but here I am.'
'Well I'm glad you're here,' Klaus said as he stood and held a hand out. Caroline took it and followed him onto the dance floor.
Stefan watched them with a smile. Honestly he missed Elena more than he would ever admit. He wondered what she was doing now, reading, or writing in her journal for him like she promised she would. She would love it here, she had loved the uniform the few times he managed to visit before he was shipped out, and she would more than love the dancing. He imagined holding her in his arms and pressing his cheek to her hair as they twirled around the floor.
Something caught his eye, and he watched as Caroline and Klaus moved past him. His hand held her close and she looked good in Klaus' arms. Stefan hoped they made it work, Caroline would be good for Klaus. She would kick his ass when he needed it.
The tempo changed and they moved into a jive. They were both good dancers and Stefan found himself smiling as Klaus spun Caroline around. When the song ended Klaus took a seat but Caroline grabbed Stefan's hand.
'No,' he pleaded but she pulled him to his feet.
'Pretty please,' she said as he wrapped his arm around her.
'One,' he sighed.
'Elena Gilbert would have my life if I only made you share one dance with me,' Caroline said.
They fell into an easy rhythm together. 'She would love this,' Stefan echoed his thoughts from earlier.
'We would have so much fun,' Caroline agreed.
'You seem fond of Klaus,' Stefan said.
'Don't tell him, but I really like him,' Caroline admitted.
'He really likes you too,' Stefan whispered against her ear as he moved them around the floor.
Caroline sighed. 'But,' she said as if the confession pained her.
Stefan chuckled. 'He's not so bad. He has his demons but he changed, he grew up since I've known him.'
'I think somewhere along the line we're all having to,' Caroline admitted softly.
'I guess we are,' Stefan said.
'So when he asks me out on a proper date,' Caroline pulled back.
'Go for it,' Stefan said. He'd noticed a subtle change in his friend ever since he met Caroline, and he had to admit her liked him more than he ever did.
When the song finished they sat down and Stefan made sure to lean across the table to Klaus. 'Thanks for loaning me your girl.'
Caroline smacked him in the arm and both men laughed but Stefan gave her a friendly hug. He didn't miss the long look Klaus and Caroline shared though and it made his heart sing.
London, October 1943
'Come on,' Caroline said over her shoulder as they hurried through London.
Klaus kept her hand tight in his and pulled her back and against his chest. 'Where do you think you're going?' He asked as he crowded her against a wall. They'd been dating for months now and Caroline could never tire of Klaus using his body to get a reaction from her.
Caroline giggled. 'I've never been here before, I'm excited.'
'You're excited are you,' Klaus whispered as he caught her lips. Caroline closed her eyes and wrapped a hand around the back of his neck.
'Behave,' she scolded breathlessly when they pulled apart. Blue eyes bored into hers and Caroline felt like she was falling, she always did when he gazed at her, like she was the only girl in the world.
'Now how can I do that when I have the most exquisite woman in the world on my arm,' Klaus whispered against her lips.
Caroline rested a palm on his chest. She had meant to slap him but instead she focused on the feeling of his heart beating strong through the olive drab of his uniform. 'I want to go dancing.'
'Of course you want to go dancing,' Klaus said as he took a step back. Caroline dropped his hand but hooked her arm through his. They took their time walking together. Klaus had spent a good part of his youth in London with his mothers family and he pointed out some of his favorite haunts and landmarks.
When they walked through the doors of the Savoy her heart leapt. 'Mr Mikaelson I presume,' the desk clerk said over his glasses. Klaus nodded.
Caroline knew her sweetheart had plenty of money about his family so staying at the Savoy was no treat to him. 'My father housed us here when we were children and he was here on business,' Klaus explained as they made their way up to their room. 'My siblings and I used to chase each other around the hallways. Rebekah was always first to get lost, distracted by some boy or other.'
The room was large and there was only one bed. Caroline gave Klaus a pointed look and rested her hands on her hips.
'I'm not presuming,' he held his hands up. 'I'll sleep on the sofa.'
'You better sleep on the sofa Mister, I'm not that kind of girl,' Caroline said. Klaus smiled and grabbed her around the waist.
'Oh I don't know, you seem to like this,' he kissed her lips, 'and this,' his mouth moved to her neck. 'This.' He nipped her earlobe and sucked lightly on the skin behind her ear. Heat blossomed between her legs and Caroline moaned and pushed him away.
'You would tempt a nun!' Caroline said. Klaus smirked at her. 'I'm going to freshen up. Read your newspaper.'
'Yes ma'am,' he said as he sat down.
Caroline locked the bathroom door behind her and tugged on the collar of her shirt. This was a bad idea, no this was a terrible idea. Two days with Klaus had seemed like a good idea when he suggested it, and she had thought it would be a dawdle but sitting on his lap for part of the train journey to allow a weary mother to sit next to them, and then his hand in hers, his kisses. He'd have her undone by the time their leave was over and they had to return on Tuesday. This was the first time they'd managed to get a forty eight hour pass for the same two days, and Caroline wasn't about to waste it, and as much as she would have liked nothing more than going to bed with her handsome fella, the thought of getting in trouble and being sent home in the family way did not appeal to her.
Klaus would just have to keep his britches on and Caroline would force herself to ignore the ace between her legs every time he kissed her.
An hour later Klaus escorted her to dinner downstairs. Despite rationing Caroline found the food at the Savoy delicious and inventive.
'How about we go for a walk before we come back and you dance the feet off of me,' Klaus suggested.
Caroline nodded and he led her outside. It was a clear October evening, and they walked to Trafalgar Square then took a turn around St James Park.
'You never told me what made you join the army,' Caroline said.
Klaus sniffed and took her hand in his. 'My oldest brother Finn and my youngest brother Henrik were both killed at Pearl.'
'Oh Nik I'm so sorry,' Caroline stopped and pulled him around to face her.
'It's okay,' he said softly.
'No, it's not,' Caroline hugged him. 'Were you close with them?'
'Not with Finn, but Henrik and I were great buddies,' he smiled to himself. 'Our mother is overbearing, at times stifling but we used to beg and plead for her to bake for us. Mother is good with sweet foods. Henrik always managed to sneak more than our siblings and he would share with me no matter what.'
'He sounds adorable,' Caroline said.
'He was. Do you know when I heard about Pearl Harbor I was drunk, laughing with my buddies in a jazz bar in Chicago. It came over the radio and everything was quiet and I had the clearest picture in my mind of Finn, his eyes, his face, but to this day my memory of Henrik is distorted. I sometimes struggle to picture his face,' Klaus looked down and Caroline took his hands in hers. 'I sobered instantly, and after spending several days with my family I enlisted. I asked for the most dangerous job in the army, and they put me into the Airborne division.'
'I'm sure your brothers would be proud of you,' Caroline said.
'Are you kidding, they'd laugh at me and call me a bloody fool,' Klaus said but his face was smiling and Caroline pressed a kiss to his lips. Klaus placed a hand on the small of her back and deepened it. The world melted away, it was just them and a pleasant buzzing in her head, but the wail of a siren pushed them apart.
'What?' Caroline asked as Klaus tightened his arms around her. It was dark now, and searchlights flashed across the sky. For a moment it was empty but then Caroline gasped at the sight of planes high above them like flies in the sky.
She startled as the first bombs fell and Klaus took her hand, pulling her from the park back into the streets of London.
'Where are we going?' Caroline asked.
'We used to play down here,' Klaus whispered as they entered a narrow alley and then Klaus stopped at a wooden door. He pushed a few times and nothing happened so he turned his back to it and with the flat of his foot kicked it open. 'Come on.'
Caroline followed him into a dim room and down a set of concrete stairs. Klaus fussed around for a moment and then there was light from an old kerosene lamp. The sirens were still roaring, but the sounds were dimmed underground. 'What is this place?'
'Kol, Rebekah and I used to come here to escape our father,' Klaus said. 'We had apartments above this. I'm surprised it isn't being used as a shelter.'
'Perhaps its not safe,' Caroline whispered.
Klaus looked around the room and then he reached for her and pulled her into his arms. 'Lets dance.'
'To the sounds of bombs falling?' Caroline asked but Klaus shushed her and pulled her against him.
They moved quietly and soon Caroline rested her head on his shoulder. Klaus set his lips against her head but it was Caroline who turned her face up for a kiss. Klaus kissed her as they moved, chaste at first and then deeper as the desperation got to both of them, and then they were tumbling back against the benches that surrounded the room.
Caroline's fingers found the buttons on his jacket and Klaus was more than eager to help her remove it. Caroline tugged at his neck tie next and popped the top few buttons on his shirt as he eased her skirt up her legs.
'You feel amazing,' Klaus whispered as he kissed down her throat and removed her jacket and tie. And then, much to her surprise, he fell to his knees and pushed her skirt up.
'Klaus,' Caroline gasped.
'I prefer it when you call me Nik,' he murmured as he hooked his fingers into the elastic of her knickers and dragged them over her hips.
'Klaus, Nik what are you doing?' Caroline gasped as he pressed his mouth to her pussy. 'Oh god.'
Caroline buried her fingers in his hair as his tongue licked her there, as he tasted her juice. Caroline didn't know whether to blush or grind against him because it felt so good to have him there. He moved his tongue around her button, and then he was licking her slit and he was inside her, two long fingers caressed her walls gently. Caroline gasped as he dragged his tongue back and did something that made her belly tighten. She tried to close her thighs but he was there between them and his eyes were locked on hers.
Caroline came with a cry and he let her slump back onto the bench as he crawled over her. 'Nik,' she panted but he just kissed her. She could taste herself on his mouth, and it made a fresh wave of arousal tingle between her legs. She reached for the belt buckle on his pants. Klaus stood up, pulling her with him and helped her remove his pants and then her skirt. He had just laid her back and was leaning over her when she realized how much trouble he was. Caroline didn't go for bad boys, she liked good boys like Matt Donovan and Tyler Lockwood. Klaus Mikaelson was nothing like them, he was older, rougher. Divorced, tainted. She had never wanted anyone more.
'I'm a virgin,' she blurted.
'That's okay,' Klaus said.
'No, no you don't understand, I wasn't meant to do this, not until my wedding,' Caroline said. 'I don't want a baby yet.'
Klaus made a noise and he kissed her then he sat back and reached for his jacket. 'Don't kick me,' he pleaded as he brought out a few GI issue condoms. 'There's- there's something else.'
'What?' Caroline asked. Klaus made a face and pulled something else from the pocket. 'What is it?'
'I was going to ask earlier but then the sirens started,' Klaus murmured. He opened a small black velvet box and Caroline gasped when she saw the contents. The ring, a simple gold band, held a cluster of diamonds. They sparkled and shone and she knew the ring wasn't cheap.
'Nik,' she felt tears prickling at her eyes.
'You're my girl, Caroline, and I want that to be forever. Be my forever,' he touched her face reverently.
'Nik,' she said again.
'I love you, I think I loved you from the first moment I saw you, please, Caroline,' his eyes were wide and vulnerable and Caroline wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.
'Yes, yes I'll marry you,' Caroline said. Klaus laughed and with shaking fingers he took the ring and placed it on her finger. Caroline kissed him again and held her hand up to gaze at it. The dim light in the basement room didn't do it justice and Caroline longed to examine it in the daylight.
'We don't have to,' Klaus waved between them. 'This isn't why I asked you.'
'I want to,' Caroline said. She'd realized tonight how fragile life was. When the siren wailed something inside her clicked and she knew she didn't want anything else.
Klaus stood and she helped him out of his shorts. His cock was long and hard and Caroline wanted to touch it but Klaus was busy with the condom wrapper. She decided to take a chance and leaned forward, wrapping her lips around the head.
Klaus groaned and his hand slipped into her hair. With gentle movements Caroline licked the head of his dick but then he was pulling her away. 'As much as I don't want you to stop, if you do that I won't last.'
Caroline felt her chest blush and she carefully unbuttoned her shirt as Klaus settled between her thighs. His kisses this time were gentle, and Caroline had never felt so treasured. He reached down and then he was sliding inside her. Caroline felt a slight sting and she hissed but he was kissing her lips and her throat and then he had one of her nipples in his mouth. Caroline wrapped her legs around his hips.
'Okay, Nik,' she said. He pulled out slow and slid back inside. It was uncomfortable at first but soon he built a steady rhythm. Caroline gripped his back and wished she had stayed in their hotel room because the bench beneath her was hard and unforgiving but the weight of her fiancée above her made it worth it. When he slipped a hand between them and his thumb brushed her clit Caroline cried out. 'Oh.'
Klaus chuckled and kissed her again and Caroline couldn't get enough of his lips as they kissed and rocked together. She could feel it building in her tummy again, and her toes curled in her shoes as the first waves tickled at her pussy. She clenched and fluttered around his cock and with a cry she felt her orgasm wash over her.
Klaus came a few moments later with a grunt. Caroline stroked his hair and pressed kisses to his face. 'I love you.' she whispered.
'I love you,' he returned as he found her lips once again.
Outside the all clear sounded.
South England, February 1944
'Tanner's getting replaced,' Stefan said as he straightened his tie.
'Really, when did this happen?' Klaus asked as he stepped into the room. Stefan grinned at him in the mirror.
'When you were on your honeymoon,' Stefan said. 'He got promoted to major and shipped off someplace.'
'About bloody time,' Klaus grumbled. 'He's killed all of us at least twice during the bloody war games!'
'Word is he wasn't happy at all, blamed his platoon leaders,' Stefan sucked on the inside of his cheek.
'You're loving this, you bloody woman,' Klaus said but he couldn't keep the grin off his face. He was married to the best girl in the world, and they'd spent three lovely long days between the sheets in a tiny Inn a few miles away from base. Klaus had decided he didn't want to waste too much of his leave traveling and Caroline had been happy to go anyplace as long as they were together.
'I thought you would love it more,' Stefan admitted with a grin. 'But that means something, invasion must be coming soon.'
'Have they mentioned where or what it'll be?' Klaus said.
'Nothing yet, no,' Stefan said. 'How's Caroline?'
'How do you think?' Klaus grinned.
Stefan chuckled and shook his head. 'We have a meeting to get to.'
'Only back and you're already busting my balls,' Klaus grumbled.
'I thought that was Caroline's job,' Stefan said.
'Shut up, what are we late for?' Klaus asked as he followed Stefan from their billet and down the stairs.
'We're meeting the new CO,' Stefan said.
The officers were gathered in a room downstairs when a blond man was escorted in.
'I know him,' Stefan said.
'I don't,' Klaus frowned.
'Alaric Saltzman, he went to college with Damon, married to Elena's aunt,' Stefan said. 'He's a good man.'
Klaus nodded. Stefan was usually a good judge of character but a good man didn't make a good commanding officer, Klaus had learned over the years.
'He's a career soldier, joined up before the war started,' Stefan added.
Saltzman gave a speech about unity and fighting a war and training. Klaus had heard it before but he listened from necessity. After he spoke Saltzman made his way to where Klaus and Stefan stood.
'Salvatore,' Saltzman shook Stefan's hand. Stefan grinned at him.
'Are you well?' Stefan said.
'I am, I saw that brother of yours six weeks ago,' Saltzman said.
'You should tell him to write to me, I haven't heard from him since I left,' Stefan said.
'You know Damon, writing's not usually his thing,' Saltzman said.
'True. It's nice to have you here, we're both looking forward to working with you,' Stefan said.
'Mikaelson isn't it,' Saltzman turned to Klaus.
'That's right,' Klaus nodded.
'Nice to meet you,' Saltzman said and shook his hand. 'I've heard plenty about the both of you.'
'No good in it I hope,' Klaus said.
'If there was good in it then it would be worth forgetting,' Saltzman said.
Klaus laughed and turned to look at Stefan. Maybe this guy would do alright.
South England, June 5th 1944
'I haven't seen my wife in five weeks, and we live three miles apart,' Klaus said softly.
They were ready to jump in full kit with weapons and parachutes attached. 'I know pal,' Stefan said.
He couldn't stop thinking about Elena now, sweet innocent Elena who had no idea he was about to go up in a plane to jump behind enemy lines, in enemy territory. He could die and she wouldn't know for weeks. He wished, that just one last time, they could speak, but the mail had come and gone with no friendly letter for him. It had been almost three weeks since he had any new correspondence from her, but he knew it would probably arrive in bulk in a few days time. He hoped he was alive to read it.
'If I die,' Klaus started.
'No,' Stefan said.
Klaus made a face at him. 'If I die take care of her. She doesn't deserve to be a soldiers girl, she deserves so much better.'
'If I die will you check in on Elena, tell he I thought about her every day?' Stefan said softly.
Klaus nodded sharply. They shook hands. 'I'll see you in France brother.'
'You bet your ass,' Stefan said as he walked to the plane where his platoon were waiting to board.
Normandy, 6th June 1944
Stefan was alone. It was dark but there were enough noises around him to keep his teeth on edge. He kept low and crept forward to the cover of a high hedgerow.
The jump had lost him his weapon but he did have a hand pistol and a knife, both gifts from Klaus a few days before. A knife wouldn't be much good against a long range weapon though.
A noise, a click behind him, and the passwords 'flash' and 'thunder' were said. Stefan eased out of his hiding place and clicked.
'Flash,' he said quietly.
'Thunder,' came the response. He recognized a sergeant from B company but he didn't know the other three men.
'Who's in charge?' Stefan asked when they got cover.
'You sir,' the sergeant said.
'Okay,' Stefan said. He placed the men and they started to make their way through the dark. They picked up stragglers along the way including three men from his own platoon, but it was almost dawn when they came across their first enemies. The ambush was easy, textbook, and they opened fire on the soldiers. They were fired back on, and Stefan wrapped his hand around the hilt of his knife but there were no injuries. Stefan moved them forward after he collected a German rifle and ammo from one of the fallen men.
They encountered no more enemy fire until they managed to hook up with most of the company. Klaus was nowhere to be seen and Stefan tried to ignore the tight feeling in his gut. There were others for him to worry about. He was ordered to assist in a mission to take out a concrete bunker blocking the causeway, and by the time he and his ragtag platoon got back Klaus was striding through their meet up point.
'You survived then,' Klaus nudged his shoulder.
'I didn't want you having all the fun without me,' Stefan shrugged.
Saltzman approached and they discussed their position and current mission. 'We're going to clear and capture buildings in Mésières. Ettinger you're here with first platoon, O'Malley you and second are taking the one next to him, but don't go in until first have cleared that one. Mikaelson you and third take this one across the street from first, and Salvatore, support Mikaelson and then you and fourth take this one, you get the picture.'
'Swinging action covering each other,' Klaus said.
'Exactly. Now, next question, do we have full platoons?' Saltzman asked.
'Fourth is probably the weakest one,' Stefan said. 'I only have seventeen men.'
'I'm at full capacity,' Ettinger rubbed his head. 'Ten men should make us even.'
'More or less,' Stefan said.
'Last count I had thirty three,' Klaus said.
'Second has twenty nine,' O'Malley admitted.
'Okay, we can do this men,' Saltzman said. 'Lets get this war won.'
Normandy, 6th June 1944
'What's in the can?' Stefan asked as he dropped onto the grass beside Klaus. It was late, almost midnight. Klaus couldn't remember the last time he slept.
'Fucked if I know,' Klaus said as he carved it open with his knife. 'Have you eaten?'
'An old lady gave me a bit of stale bread,' Stefan said as Klaus jammed his knife inside the can. A piece of what looked like fruit came out.
'You take it,' Klaus screwed his nose up. Stefan did.
'Peaches,' he said.
'I like peaches,' Klaus sighed as he stuck his knife into the can. They ate in silence. 'Today was good.'
'How do you figure that?' Stefan took another slice from Klaus' knife.
'We survived,' Klaus said. Stefan produced a bottle of wine and used his own knife to hack the cork off. 'Where'd you get that?'
'Some old man was handing them out. Told me the Germans were saving it for a special occasion,' Stefan shrugged. He took a mouthful then passed it to Klaus.
'It's good,' Klaus said thoughtfully.
'Do you think we'll survive tomorrow?' Stefan asked.
'We've got to, if we think we're dead then we are,' Klaus said. The tanks were still rolling from the causeway onto the road. Klaus watched them go for a while. 'I might try and get some sleep.'
'Did you get a billet?' Stefan asked.
'Nope,' Klaus said as he wrapped his coat in a ball and laid down.
'Ah what the hell,' Stefan sighed defeated and laid down next to his friend.
South England, August 1944
They had been fighting in France for weeks before they were shipped back to England, and they lost more men in the battle for Carentan than Klaus was comfortable with.
Caroline practically leapt on Klaus when she saw him and he wrapped his arms around her waist.
'God I love you,' he said as he buried his face in her hair.
'How are you, are you hurt?' Caroline asked as she pulled back and looked over him.
'No,' Klaus said.
Caroline smacked his arm. 'That's for joining the army.'
'Ow!' Klaus cried. Caroline hit him again.
'And that's for volunteering for the Airborne division!' Caroline said.
'That hurts woman,' Klaus said. He could see Stefan laughing behind her.
'And that,' she hit him again. 'Is for calling me woman.'
Klaus caught her waist and pulled her close for a kiss. Caroline sighed against him and he let his hand slide along her back. 'Is this your way of telling me you were worried about me love?'
'Don't get cute,' Caroline snapped but she kissed him again. 'How long are you home for?'
'I have no idea,' Klaus admitted.
'Let's make the most of it, lets go for a picnic,' Caroline decided. 'Stefan will you join us?'
'No, no no,' Stefan said. 'I have letters to write.'
'Well you're welcome to join us,' Caroline said.
'No, I'm not,' Stefan met Klaus' eyes. His friend was grinning as he hugged Caroline. 'But thanks for not leaving me out. I'll see you both later.'
Caroline had already packed a picnic and Klaus carried it as they walked across the green fields to a little copse of trees. 'I love coming here,' she said as she laid the blanket out.
Klaus watched her for a moment, and as soon as she removed her cap he caught her by the hips. 'You couldn't have brought us someplace private.'
'Klaus, you know if I get pregnant they'll send me home,' Caroline said softly.
'And what would it matter, you're my wife,' Klaus whispered against her lips.
'Because if I had nothing to do all day I'd go crazy worrying about you,' Caroline said.
Klaus let his hands drift down her arms and cupped her hands in his. 'You'd have our child to take care of. If something happened to me at least-'
'No, no don't say that,' Caroline covered his lips with her hands. 'If something happens to you, which it won't, then I'll treasure every memory we ever made together.'
'I just don't want you to be alone,' Klaus said softly.
'I'll never be alone again, not when I know that you love me,' Caroline said.
Klaus buried his face in her shoulder and she pulled him down to the blanket. Despite their conversation they made love under the trees.
'I'm disappointed you know, every time we do this and my monthly arrives, I'm disappointed that I'm not having a baby,' Caroline confessed later as she nibbled on the bread she'd brought.
Klaus pulled her against him and kissed her hair. He rested his chin on her head and tried desperately to commit every detail of their afternoon to his memory.
Holland, 19th September 1944
The jump into Holland was done in the afternoon with little resistance. Klaus paused for just a moment and watched as their air support left them. They wouldn't be back in England, he'd been told, and there was something final about this pleasant afternoon.
Dread filled him, it was a clear path into Eindhoven. They faced little resistance and easily took their objective bridge.
'I don't like it,' Stefan said as he dropped into place beside Klaus.
Klaus paused and looked around at the throngs of celebrating Dutch. Women kissed them, men cheered and children leapt into their arms.
'No, watch out for snipers,' Klaus called. 'And keep bloody moving!' He hollered at the troops.
By the time they reached their rest zone it was dark but there was warm food and Klaus sunk into an easy slumber. In the morning he looked upon "Hell's Highway" with trepidation.
They held position for weeks, their days were filled with firefights, patrol and sentry duties, covering road blocks and freeing part of Holland from Nazi control. Klaus hated the trench like warfare, he itched to move and to make progress, but he was stuck in one place and it frustrated him.
'I wasn't built for standing still,' he grumbled to Saltzman.
'Well tell that to Hitler,' Saltzman grinned as he signed a piece of paper and reached for another.
'Little bastard wouldn't stand a chance,' Klaus agreed.
'Are you fantasizing about killing Hitler again?' Stefan asked as he dropped documents on Saltzman's desk. Saltzman groaned at the sight of the paperwork.
Klaus grinned wide. 'This time it's a good one Stefan, you'll like it. I'll hang him upside down and slowly drain him of every ounce of blood in his pathetic little body.'
'I'd settle for a bullet to the head, get it over and done with so he didn't blight our earth any longer than necessary,' Saltzman said reasonably. Klaus made a face at him. One bullet was too good. Hitler deserved to suffer.
'See that's the problem with you, no imagination,' Klaus said as he opened the dispatch papers.
'Give me those,' Saltzman complained snatching them from Klaus' hand. 'Don't you have a platoon to terrorize?'
Klaus shrugged and handed them over. It was raining, and his billet leaked. At least Saltzman's office was dry and warm. He didn't tell the man that though, so he closed his eyes and let his mind drift forward in time to Chicago. Caroline would be on his arm in a pretty blue dress he decided, and they'd be listening to good music, dancing, drinking the best booze, and then he'd take his girl home and make love to her until the sun rose.
'Hey,' Stefan kicked him. Klaus opened his eyes. 'There's something out here I think you'll like.'
'Yes, please, get him out of my hair!' Saltzman snapped.
Klaus followed Stefan, irritated at being disrupted from his fantasy but his irritation disappeared when Stefan led him into a liquor shop and handed him a bottle of bourbon. 'Lets toast Holland.'
Bastogne, 21st December 1944
'Oh hey Lieutenant Salvatore,' someone called. Klaus turned and watched his friend take an envelope from a mail runner.
'It's from Elena, this is the first in weeks,' Stefan grinned as he looked at the small rectangle of paper in his hand. He turned it over carefully but he couldn't see a date stamp in the poor light.
'Well jerk off over it in private,' Klaus complained as he turned back to the dark road. It was starting to snow, tiny white flakes drifting through the air and hitting him in the face. The empty faces of the men passing them by didn't do much for company morale, and Klaus could feel the weight of their situation nip at his heels as the cold December air was doing. They collected what supplies they could carry and Stefan tucked the letter away for later. 'What the fuck are we walking into mate?'
'Bastogne,' Stefan turned the word over in his mouth. 'Do you think this place is worth it?'
'All roads lead to Bastogne,' Klaus murmured. 'If we hold Bastogne, we protect Antwerp from the German tanks, or so I'm told.'
'You know I don't mind fighting, I don't mind being under siege or behind enemy lines. It's what we were trained to to, but fuck if I don't wish I had some winter gear,' Stefan said. The movement kept them warm, for now, but Klaus knew they would need to stop and rest, and fight. Fighting was tough enough without having the weather to contend with.
'You and me both mate,' Klaus said as he tucked his hands in his pockets. One of Caroline's letters was there, and the paper warmed his nipping fingers. He ran his thumb along a crease that had been created somehow and thought of the little patch of skin underneath her ear where he liked to rest his nose as he dozed off to sleep.
'From the hot haze of Normandy to the bitter mists of Bastogne,' Klaus sighed.
'Fuck, you should write that down,' Stefan licked his teeth.
'You're the writer, I'm the artist,' Klaus shivered as they plodded along the road.
'So I'll write a book and you illustrate it,' Stefan shrugged.
'That's not a half bad idea,' Klaus admitted. The trickle of retreating soldiers was waning away now, and it was just the 101st Airborne making their way into the thick woods of the Ardennes.
Klaus had never been so cold. He pushed his hands deeper into his pockets and hurried from Saltzman's tent where the man was actually trying to shave to the foxholes they'd dug out for shelter. They'd been here three days and he hadn't seen his friend since they dug in. He found Stefan huddled in a hole in the ground shivering and staring at the German lines.
'Tomorrow's Christmas Eve,' Klaus said by way of greeting as he landed in the hole next to Stefan.
'M-merry Christmas,' Stefan said. He was pale, they all were, and his hands were tucked into his pockets but he edged closer to Klaus for warmth. Klaus didn't have much to share.
'You've been quiet,' Klaus said. There was a brief bit of movement from the German lines, not enough to concern him, just a soldier darting from one place to another. He turned to look at Stefan and saw his jaw smooth. 'You shaved.'
'Army regulation,' Stefan said. 'Melted the snow to do it.'
'You're a better man than I am,' Klaus said. Stefan's lips looked blue. Klaus looked away, focused on the German lines. 'Do you think they're as cold as we are.'
'They have winter coats,' Stefan sniffed. 'I got a "dear John".'
'What?' Klaus turned incredulous eyes to Stefan but the other man didn't meet his gaze.
'Elena, she dumped me. She's in love with someone else,' Stefan said. His voice was flat, emotionless. Klaus felt the urge to throttle someone, probably Elena and her new lover.
'Who?' Klaus asked as he tried to get closer to Stefan. They were shivering in time it seemed.
'My brother,' Stefan licked his lips.
Klaus swallowed and tried to sink into his clothes. 'If she can do that, then she's not worth your misery.'
'I shouldn't have left,' Stefan said. 'If I stayed then she wouldn't have fallen in love with someone else.'
'Is that what she said?' Klaus asked. 'In her letter.'
'She told me that her feelings for me had changed. She cares deeply, and she loves me, she's just no longer in love with me, and its not fair to either me or her for her to continue to pretend,' Stefan said. Klaus didn't doubt that Stefan had memorized the words by now. He knew how much his friend cared for his girl, he couldn't imagine how he would feel if Caroline did that to him.
'What is this, two of my four platoon leaders in one foxhole,' Saltzman snapped.
'Did you know, about his girl, about Elena? You're friends with his brother after all,' Klaus asked him.
Saltzman faltered and that was all the answer Klaus needed. 'It wasn't my business to tell,' Saltzman said.
'How long has it been going on?' Klaus asked.
Saltzman made a noise, something akin to a growl. 'I got Jenna's letter about a month ago.'
Stefan rested his head on Klaus' shoulder. 'Just warming up my ears.' He said. Klaus had never felt so angry on someone else's behalf. He wanted to break all of them.
'You could have said something,' Klaus said with a curl of his lip.
'I didn't want to hurt Stefan, I thought it was best he didn't know for now,' Saltzman said. 'I'm sorry Stefan.'
'Don't be, your best friend got the girl,' Stefan shivered. Klaus rested the side of his head against Stefan's.
'I said I don't like two platoon leaders in the same foxhole,' Saltzman said again.
'The German's will see you if you stand there too long, and if you don't move I'll shoot you myself,' Klaus said quietly. To his surprise Saltzman left.
Klaus stayed in the foxhole and he fancied he was warm.
'I'd like potatoes, and butter, hot melting butter,' Stefan said.
'A good steak, fuck,' Klaus said wistfully thinking of the meat melting in his mouth. 'Eating it next to a roaring fire.'
'With some quality bourbon,' Stefan agreed.
'And pie, apple pie,' Klaus felt his teeth ache with the want of anything good and hot. 'I'd walk over to those Germans and surrender if they had some of that hot apple strudel they love so much.'
'We both should, maybe they'll give us coats,' Stefan sniffed.
The shelling started perhaps thirty minutes after Saltzman left and they ducked their heads into the foxholes in an attempt to hide their eyes.
'Come to Chicago with me,' Klaus called out over the noise.
'What will I do there?' Stefan asked.
'I have a bar, you can work in it,' Klaus said as a blast landed beside him.
'When do you want me to start?' Stefan's voice sounded teasing.
'Tomorrow?' Klaus asked.
Among the blasts and the carnage they found themselves laughing, at what Klaus didn't really know. Perhaps it was the ridiculousness of their situation, perhaps it was the misery forcing the laughter but Klaus didn't miss the tears on his friends cheeks. He didn't say anything, but he didn't leave him for the rest of the day either.
Bastogne, 30th December 1944
'Be careful!' Stefan hollered as men ran under the window where the sniper lay in wait.
The men ducked and Stefan took aim with his rifle. He had no idea where his snipers were, but he lay quiet, focused, and sucked in a breath. There was a slight breeze, and he adjusted for gradient.
The bullet hit home true and he slid from the roof of the building. He'd just landed on his feet next to three of his men when the blast went off.
White pain sliced into his side hip and thigh. Stefan cried out and fell to the ground. 'Not a good time to get hit sir,' Jones said.
'No fucking kidding,' Stefan snarled though clenched teeth. He couldn't walk so they dragged him along the ground until they could get cover. A medic landed on him and then Klaus was there.
'Shrapnel,' someone said and he could feel them poking around.
'Just give me some god damned morphine,' Stefan said.
'Don't got none,' the medic said.
'Stop whining like a little bitch,' Klaus said but his eyes were flashing. He was worried. 'Don't you dare die on me.'
'Don't intend to,' Stefan said.
'You've got a brother to punch in the mouth,' Klaus reminded him.
Stefan snorted out a laugh and tried not to yell out as they lifted him onto a stretcher then placed him on the front of a jeep.
'You got hit just in time,' Klaus called out. Stefan kept his eyes on his friend as the jeep moved away. He hoped it wasn't the last he saw of Klaus Mikaelson.
