Extended Summary

Caroline will be 25 and living in New York; living there since she was 17. Her mother married Stefan and Damon's father, but after her mother died she only kept in touch with Stefan because she still counts him as a brother. Her dad took off when she was a baby and she never contacted him. Stefan will go to New York to visit her to tell her he is engaged; traveling there with Rebekah and Klaus. Once there he tries to see his sister happy again after coming up with a plan with Rebekah involving her brother. Klaus will be 26, and like Caroline, he doesn't get serious with dating. He'll become interested in Caroline, especially after learning about her lifestyle, but she resists him because of the rules she set long ago. With Caroline planning Rebekah and Stefan's wedding she ends up having to spend time with Klaus and the two become closer, but she will still resist him emotionally; even when he figures out he actually likes her and wants to try something serious with her. Klaus learns why she chose to live her life as she does, and tries to help her realize that the tragedy she faced wasn't her fault and hopes she'll move on from it; even if she's dead set on reminding herself of it.

Chapter 1

Caroline moved around the room gathering her clothes and putting them back on as she tried to ignore the voice directed at her. She couldn't quite understand how every man she'd been with turned out the same; they were fine with casual in the beginning but they all ended up wanting more from her eventually. She wished they would all understand that she didn't have anything to give that they wanted from her; her heart died years ago. She was just a ghost of her former self passing through this world until the day death would finally claim her; even if her brother refused to believe it. A ghost of a smile crossed her lips as she thought about Stefan since he was due to visit any day now; even if he was intent on his arrival being a surprise. She briefly wondered if she should go to her house tonight instead of her apartment, but thought against it; she wanted to be alone without the memories she would have at home.

"I was thinking… maybe you might go on an actual date with me?" Caroline heard from the man she had just left in bed and turned to face him emotionlessly. He seemed like a nice guy, and he probably was, but she wasn't interested in anything romantic. It was a shame to think she would have to end their arrangement since it hadn't been going on long and he was good in bed; she'd have to start browsing again and provide paperwork once again to show she was safe to sleep with.

"And I was thinking how it might be time to end our arrangement… I told you that I'm not in for a serious relationship."

"I know… I just thought… that maybe we could be good for each other, and I'd like to see you more than just to hook up." The guy responded as she began gathering her things to put back in her purse.

"Listen Sean… you're a nice guy, so go find a nice girl that can give you what you're looking for; I'm not it." She insisted before walking towards the door to the hotel room she was in with him; she did hate to walk away from a good sexual partner, but he was getting too attached.

"How do you know that if you won't even give it a try?" She heard him ask and she paused with her hand on the door handle.

"I don't want that life… not anymore." She answered before opening the door; once again pausing when she looked back at Sean without any feelings. "It's been nice knowing you, but it's over; goodbye Sean." She finished and shut the door before walking away without another glance. While she was waiting on the elevator she checked her phone to make sure she didn't have any messages and once she saw none she pulled up her social media.

She figured she might as well get back to browsing since it would take a few weeks to get the results back once she went to the clinic. She knew the nurses and the doctor there probably hated her presence and thought she was just a slut with how often she came in to make sure she hadn't caught a STD from anyone, but she didn't care; she would rather be safe than sorry. It had only been three months since she had been there, which was a shorter amount of time than the last time, so she knew she'd have to call in her appointment first thing in the morning. Riding down in the elevator she phoned one of her wingmen, Luke, to see if he would be available in a couple days to hang out but he was going to be out of town with his boyfriend.

Deciding she didn't want to go back to her house she flagged down a taxi to take her to her apartment. It was getting pretty late so she turned her phone off to save her battery since she forgot it at the house and leaned back in her seat. The taxi driver kept trying to have a conversation so she gave him a lame excuse to shut him up as she waited to reach their destination. She was ever so glad to arrive at the apartment building and escape the cabbie as she rushed inside her apartment and went straight for the shower. She knew she wouldn't be staying there much when Stefan came to visit, so after her shower she made sure to ensure everything was how she would need it the next time she came before going to bed.

Klaus POV…

Klaus listened on as his sister and her new fiancé talked about their upcoming wedding and how Stefan's sister, or ex-stepsister in his own mind, would be the best to plan it. He found himself rather bored and couldn't figure out why Rebekah had been so insistent that he join; aside from being her favorite brother like she had told him. He had tried to ignore their voices so he could catch a little sleep, but that plan had been shot out the window a couple hundred miles ago, so he felt a tiny amount of relief when he saw the New York City skyline come into view. That relief was stripped away when they arrived at a house with all the lights turned off and no car in the driveway.

"What's going on mate?" He asked as he leaned forward into the front seat, but he saw Stefan shake his head. "Did you not tell your sister we were coming?" He asked and saw Stefan smack his hand against his forehead.

"Let me try calling her… she may be having a night out." He replied and Klaus let himself fall back against his seat again. "We could try looking for her at her apartment…" He began but Klaus interrupted him.

"You don't have a key?" Klaus asked impatiently; all he wanted to do was get to a room and go to sleep. He saw Stefan shake his head before looking over at Rebekah.

"We could get a hotel room for the night and find her tomorrow." Rebekah suggested, but Stefan shook his head again.

"I'd feel better if I knew she was alright… we'll go check her apartment and if she doesn't answer we'll get a couple rooms." Stefan reasoned and Rebekah nodded before they began backing out of the driveway. Klaus inwardly groaned as he tried to keep his anger and impatience inside; he didn't need to lash out at either of them. He watched the streets go by as they passed them leading on until they were further inside the city. Once they were at one of the buildings Stefan pulled their car into the gate and gave his name before driving around the garage. Klaus was about to ask what he was doing but he saw Stefan point out a particular car and say it was his sister's before finding a spot close to it. Klaus saw the uneasy look on Stefan's face as he suggested it would be better if he went to get her alone, but he didn't give a reason for it before he got out and went into the building.

"Well little sister… what do you think that's about?" Klaus asked and Rebekah gave a small shake of her head before she turned in her seat to look back at him.

"His sister is a bit like you… she uses her apartment for nights out so she never has to bring a guy home; that or she goes to their place." Rebekah answered slowly and Klaus felt his eyebrows rise as his eyes opened more than they had been. "You two should get along nicely… you both hate relationships." She stated and he acted like he wasn't interested, but inside he thought it might be a good opportunity to at least have like-minded person around over the next few weeks; especially if he could work something out with her. But then again… he didn't know what she looked like or if she was actually against relationships like his sister said she was.

"Oh I doubt that Bekah… you know you women are the romantic types; it's probably just a phase or something for her." Klaus inserted so she wouldn't see through him and understand that the sounds of a casual fling was interesting.

"Seeing as she hasn't dated for 8 years I doubt it's a phase, but Stefan still has hope she'll settle down eventually." Rebekah answered without looking at him and he thought about answering, but he saw Stefan walking back to the car looking less excited than he had been earlier. Klaus didn't say anything as Stefan got in the car and held up a key in front of Rebekah, but he wondered what had gotten his friend so downtrodden in the past few minutes.

"Well?" Klaus asked and saw Stefan look back at him.

"She gave me her key… she'll come home tomorrow after work; she's staying here tonight." Stefan answered and Klaus released a frustrated breath with the thought of having to wait until they made it all the way back to the house before finding a bed and getting the sleep he had been wishing for.

"You alright Stefan?" Rebekah asked and Stefan nodded before turning to her with a smile.

"Yeah… I just got scolded for showing up at my little sister's apartment in the middle of the night without warning when she's got to get up at 4, yet she's only been in bed for an hour." Stefan replied and Rebekah gave a little laugh before Stefan shook his head and began driving them away. Klaus glanced down at his watch and realized it was already 2 in the morning, so he knew the girl would likely have an attitude tomorrow when he and his sister got introduced; side-effect of having a night out when there was work the next morning. He didn't pay any more attention to the couple in the front until they were back at the house and walking inside.

Klaus looked around as he was led through the lower levels to see it wasn't what he had been expecting. Stefan's sister was a party planner, but there weren't any pictures on the walls or shelves; there were diplomas and paintings around, but nothing else to suggest it was home to a woman in her mid-twenties with a job that planned happiness for others. Surely the girl had friends, so why weren't there any pictures of them with her, or pictures of Stefan and Damon? He was pulled out of his thoughts when Stefan had him follow him to the kitchen so he would know where everything was before showing him the bathroom and the room he would be staying in. Klaus put his suitcase on the bed and began putting the clothes in the empty dresser next to the bed and finally realized how staged the room looked; almost like he had stepped foot into a model home. He didn't linger on it too long as he felt his exhaustion come back into play and laid down to go to sleep.