AN: Hey everyone! The idea for this story came to me after I saw a quote that Nina Dobrev posted on her instagram which said: "Life is for deep kisses, strange adventures, midnight swims and rambling conversations." I immediately thought of Klaus and Caroline so I wanted to do a one-shot on it, but i've decided to split it into three parts now! Enjoy!
~O~
"See you tomorrow, Caroline!" the older woman smiled, as she tugged her coat on tighter and waved to the young blonde woman.
"Bye Grace! See ya tomorrow!" she smiled, as she finished wiping the counter and put the rag down. The older woman gave Caroline a kind smile before heading out of the coffee shop. Caroline sighed, looking around the empty coffee shop and down at her watch. It was 11:30 and Tyler still hadn't come to pick her up. He had told her he'd be there at 10 but she hadn't heard from him since they talked that morning. She washed the rag and set it out to dry in the back. She made sure everything was off in the kitchen, before turning off the lights and heading back out front. She grabbed her phone from her purse and dialed Tyler's number, waiting as it rang several times. Finally, he picked up. She immediately heard techno music in the background and a lot of talking as well.
"Tyler?" Caroline asked, furrowing her eyebrows when she heard a female voice answer back.
"Nooooo, this is Haley! Who is this?" the girl, who was seemingly drunk, yelled into the phone.
"This is Caroline…his girlfriend," she stated, emphasizing the word, making sure the girl got it loud and clear. She wasn't sure who this Haley girl was but Tyler better have a damn good explanation for it.
"Girlfriend?" the girl laughed, "I'm his girlfriend!" she giggled into the phone. Caroline let out a small gasp and she furrowed her eyebrows once more, letting out a nervous laugh.
"I'm sorry, I must've heard you wrong..Did you say you were his girlfriend? " Caroline questioned. She must've heard her wrong…Tyler wouldn't be cheating on her with some other girl. They'd been going out for a good three years now, and they were making plans on moving in together soon. The girl was drunk and she was probably just joking. Yeah, that was it.
"Yup," the girl said, emphasizing the "p" sound. "We've been dating for a few months now! Isn't that right Ty?" she exclaimed. Despite the loud music, she could heard Tyler's muffled voice in the background. She heard a few muffled complaints from Haley before she heard a voice on the other line once more.
"Care?" Tyler asked.
"Seriously?!" Caroline exclaimed, pacing back and forth.
"Caroline, I can explain...," he started, but was cut off by Caroline.
"Just tell me the truth. Are you cheating on me with that girl?" she questioned, as her hand played with the small diamond pendant on her necklace, a gift from Tyler on their 2 year anniversary. He didn't answer.
"Tyler, tell me. Now," she said again, her eyes beginning to fill with tears. There was a long pause and an audible sigh from his side.
"Yes, but I-,"
"No, Tyler. Don't try and give me some bullshit excuse, please. We're done, you can go and have fun with your little slut now," Caroline stated coolly, keeping the tears at bay.
"Carebear come on I-," he started, using the nickname he made for her when they started dating but was quickly cut off.
"Go fuck yourself," she muttered angrily into the phone before hanging up. She threw the phone into her purse, sitting down on one of the chairs in the shop. A single tear made its way down her cheek, but she wiped it away angrily. She wouldn't waste tears on Tyler. He obviously thought she wasn't worth anything when he was cheating on her with that Haley girl, so he wouldn't be worth her tears tonight. But she needed to do something tonight, something that would take her mind off of this. Her thoughts were interrupted by the dinging of the bell at the entrance, and a husky accented voice.
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't help but notice you were open and I'm starving. I just got off a plane from Japan and I-," the man began saying as he walked towards her but Caroline put up her hand to motion him to stop.
"I'm sorry I-," he began again
"It's fine. I was actually just closing," Caroline answered, locking her eyes with the stranger's stormy blue ones. He was cute, with his short, curly hair and the business suit he was currently sporting.
"Oh, my mistake. Sorry for that then," he apologized as he gave a boyish grin to the blonde in front of him.
"No It's fine," she smiled. He gave her a dimpled smile before nodding, "Well I'll be off then." He gave Caroline a wave as he started for the door.
"Wait!" Caroline yelled, making the stranger stop in his tracks and turn to her.
"Yes?" he questioned.
"Wanna go somewhere?" she asked, making the stranger furrow his eyebrows as he let out a surprised chuckle.
"I'm sorry, what?" he asked again. Caroline sighed, grabbing her purse and her coat as she stood up and walked over to him.
"Let's go somewhere. I know you don't know who I am and I don't know who you are, I mean for all I know you could be some crazy serial rapist or murderer, but honestly right now I really don't care. I've had a really bad night and I just wanna do something to take my mind off it because if not I'm gonna go crazy and-" Caroline stopped as the stranger put a finger up to her lips, immediately silencing her.
"I think you've already gone a little mad, love," he chuckled at the blonde's ramblings. He couldn't deny she was attractive with her blonde curls, cream colored sweater that fit her like a glove and dark jeans that clung to her body. Not to mention those mesmerizing blue-green eyes of hers. He moved her finger from her soft lips as she let out a small laugh.
"I guess I have," she said, looking down at the floor. "But, are you up for it?" she questioned, looking back up at him.
"Sure," he smiled. Caroline let out a delighted gasp and she smiled back at the stranger. She turned off the lights as they headed out the door. She grabbed the keys from her purse and locked the door, then turning to face the handsome stranger.
"So where to?" he asked, an amused smirk on his face.
"Anywhere," she smiled. He let out a chuckle.
"Going to have to be a little more specific than that," he answered. Caroline sighed and shrugged.
"I mean it, anywhere. I'm up for a little adventure," she answered. He nodded, before pointing to the black town car in front of him. "Shall we?"
"Seriously? You have your own personal driver?" Caroline questioned, as a man with salt and pepper hair stepped out of the driver's seat and opened the door for them.
"What can I say, I'm an important man," the stranger smiled, as he motioned for Caroline to get in first, which she did. The stranger followed after her, closing the door and giving the driver an address she wasn't really familiar with. It gave her a nervous, anxiousy feeling in her stomach but she honestly didn't care. All her life she'd always planned everything she was going to do and never strayed from her plans. But tonight was going to be different. She'd spent too much time being a complete neat-freak and she wanted to enjoy herself and forget about that two-timing asshole of an ex-boyfriend.
"I hope you're not taking me to some sort of creepy warehouse where you're gonna keep me hostage," Caroline joked as they began their drive. The blue-eyed stranger gave her a sideways glance and raised his eyerbrows at her.
"Who ruined the surprise?" he joked back, which earned a laugh from Caroline.
"So what's your name Mr. Important Man?" she asked.
"Niklaus Mikaelson, but you can call me Klaus," he answered.
"I'm Caroline. Caroline Forbes," she replied.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you Caroline," he smirked, to which Caroline nodded.
"Seriously though, where are you taking me?" she asked.
"You'll see."
~O~
Half an hour later, they reached their destination. They stepped out of the car and Caroline took in her surroundings. They were somewhere in the suburbs, that was for sure, but this place was a bit more isolated than that maybe more on the outskirts of town. It was a small, one story building with a red neon sign that said "Jenna's Bar and Grill".
"A bar, seriously?" Caroline asked, raising an eyebrow at Klaus who shrugged in response.
"What can I say? I'm hungry and I want a drink. Besides, you look like you could use one as well," he answered as he started walking up to the building. Caroline huffed, but followed suit behind him. They stepped inside and the smell of beer and fried food infiltrated her senses immediately. There were men playing pool in one corner of the bar and others sitting at their tables with a beer in their handed as they talked and laughed, while the sound of "Thriller" filled the background, the music emanating from the jukebox. Klaus grabbed her hand and pulled her over to the bar, where they both took a seat at the stools.
"Well, look at what the cat dragged in," the bartender smirked, as she placed her hands on her hips.
"Jenna, looking lovely as always," Klaus answered, winking at the brunette.
"Yeah yeah yeah, put it in writing," she teased, as she wiped her hands on her apron before placing them down on the counter, "so what brings you this side of town?"
"Just got back from a business trip and I was looking for a place to eat. I walk into this lovely lady's coffee shop but she was closing so I decided to come here," he answered.
"And why is she accompanying you?" the brunette asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
"What can I say? My good looks won her over," he joked, as he turned to Caroline who shook her head and laughed.
"Well sweetheart, you watch out for this one. He's a heartbreaker," Jenna winked at Caroline.
"Don't go ruining my reputation, Jenna!" Klaus said to Jenna, who only pursed her lips and rolled her eyes.
"So what can I get you both?" she asked. Klaus motioned for Caroline to go first.
"A Heineken," Caroline answered
"One for me as well and some buffalo wings and fries please," Klaus replied. Jenna nodded as she took their order and went to serve their drinks.
"So, a beer? I thought you'd like some fruity drink or a cosmopolitan," Klaus stated, as he turned to Caroline.
"And I didn't take you for a Buffalo wings type of guy. I thought it was fish and chips," Caroline noted.
"A bit stereotypical don't you think?" he asked.
"I could say the same," she quipped.
"Touché," he smirked in response. Jenna came by and placed their beers in front of them before heading back to give the order for Klaus's food. Klaus raised his glass to Caroline, "Cheers to going to bars at midnight with random strangers."
Caroline nodded and laughed, "To going to bars at midnight with random strangers." They clinked their glasses before both taking big sips of their drink. They both set their drinks down and Caroline turned to Klaus.
"So why are you such an important man?" she asked. Klaus looked up from his drink and raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"You said you were an important man. So what do you do? Are you like a prince from some unknown country or some British intelligence agent or something?" she asked, resting an arm on top of the bar counter. Klaus chuckled at her answers and shook his head.
"No, love, though those would seem like pretty great jobs. I'm actually the CEO of a car company in Britain, Hybrid Motors. I've been travelling all across Europe and some parts of Asia so that I can finalize the deals to bring my cars over to them. And that's also what brings me here to the US, besides my younger sister's baby shower," he replied.
"You have a sister?"
"And 3 brothers," Klaus nodded.
"And they all live here or?" Caroline asked.
"My eldest brother Finn lives somewhere in the South of France with his wife Sage, and their two kids. My other older brother Elijah splits his time between London and here in New York since he's getting married to his wife Katherine soon. Meanwhile my younger brother Kol is somewhere in California trying out an acting career and my sister Rebekah lives here with her husband Stefan," Klaus answered. Caroline's eyes were wide, her mouth forming a perfect 'O' as she listened to him.
"Wow, that's a lot to take in. So why are you the only one still living in England?" she asked. Klaus took a sip of his beer and shrugged. "It's where I've grown up, plus it's a beautiful, cultured city while New York is highly overrated."
"Hey!" Caroline exclaimed, "I'm a proud New Yorkan so watch your mouth! And besides, saying things like that in a bar like this is gonna get your ass kicked."
"Don't worry, love. These people all know me and my dislike for the city," Klaus answered, before he turned to Jenna, "isn't that right?"
Jenna looked up from the drinks she was making and nodded, "It's true. He's made it very clear, but we still manage to deal with him." She gave them a smile before turning back to her order.
Klaus took another sip of his beer before setting it down, and pointing at Caroline. "What about you? What's made your night so horrible?" he questioned. She scoffed and let out a small laugh before grabbing her beer, "I'd rather we not touch that subject." She pressed her lips together before putting the glass to her lips and taking a long sip.
"Oh, now that's not fair is it? I told you about why I was so important, it's only fair that you tell me why you wanted to get your mind off something," he responded. Caroline sighed as she placed her drink on the counter. She looked down at her lap and shook her head.
"Have you ever realized how blind you've been to what's going on in your life? Like, you try so hard to believe that everything's perfect and happy…but then one thing happens when everything comes crumbling down and you realize you've been living a lie?" she asked, raising her gaze to meet Klaus's. He pressed his lips together and nodded.
"Well, that's what happened. I'd been dating my boyfriend for three years and though I always thought we were so happy, there was a part of me that knew we weren't really like connected you know? But I shrugged it off; I didn't want my insecurities and worries to get the better of me. Anyways, today he was supposed to pick me up at 10 yet it was 11:30 and he still wasn't there, so I decided to call him. Long story short, I find out he's been cheating on me for the past few months with some girl named Haley and all along he'd been making plans with me for us to move in. So yeah, that's my sob story," she stated quickly, grabbing her glass and chugging the remainder of her drink, blinking several times to prevent the tears that formed in her eyes from showing. She set the glass down hard and looked straight at him with her light blue eyes, "Now you know why I wanted to get out of there so badly."
He nodded before taking a sip of his drink once more and setting it down on the counter.
"Want to hear my sob story? I'm sure it'll make you feel much better about yours," he stated drily.
"I doubt that, but okay," she said hesitantly.
"Well, my clan of siblings and I obviously had a mother and father at some point, right? I mean, if you could even call them that," he said bitterly, letting out a small scoff before continuing.
"We were a wealthy family. My mother's father had been a famous architect and my father was a business tycoon; we always had everything we wanted and we looked like the picture perfect family. However, behind closed doors, all was not well. Besides the fact that my younger brother Kol had always been rebellious, due mostly to the fact that he spent his time with me, my father and I were constantly arguing. Ever since I was a child, we never had a good relationship. Our mother forced me to try and get along with him, but as I grew older our arguments grew worse and more physical."
At this Caroline's eyes widened, to which Klaus only shrugged in indifference.
"Any child has disagreements and arguments with their parents, but I honestly think none were as bad as the ones my father and I had. And as a child, and even when I was growing up I always wondered why. Then, when I turned 18 I finally found out why. It turns out, I wasn't his son. My mother had had an affair with some architect at her father's firm, and I was the product. My father was furious and kicked me out of the house and disowned me," Klaus said, as he grabbed his drink and finished it, slamming the glass down on the counter.
"No father should ever treat their child that way, regardless if they're not their child by blood. That was cruel," Caroline responded. She couldn't imagine what a young Klaus had felt when the only father figure he'd known, regardless of their heated arguments, kicked him out and disowned him. It was heartbreaking and made her breakup with Tyler seem pathetic in comparison.
"Yeah, well that was Mikael for you. That sadistic old bastard," he muttered bitterly, staring off for a few seconds, before turning his head to face Caroline once more.
"Anyways, as you can see I worked my way up from that, but it wasn't without the help of my brother Elijah who not only gave some money to get my business started when I was struggling with several jobs, but joined me in that company once it was established. I owe him everything. It's because of him that I'm here at this bar next with such a beautiful woman," he said, his tone lighter as he gave Caroline a smirk.
"What a charmer," she laughed. Klaus furrowed his eyebrows and grinned, "I was referring to Jenna, of course." He chuckled heartily as he saw Caroline's expression turn into one of shock, as she reached over and slapped his arm.
"Jerk!" she laughed.
Klaus nodded with a smile before turning his head to the bar. "Jenna, I think we're gonna need another round. Actually, just keep them coming."
~O~
Two more hours had passed and by now, both blondes had lost count of how many beers they had. Klaus had gotten rid of his jacket and had loosened his tie and Caroline was getting giggly.
"So my brother Kol didn't think I'd do it, 'YOU'RE A COWARD NIK! YOU WON'T DO IT!' he yelled at me. And being the competitive teenager I was, I wanted to prove my younger brother wrong," Klaus stated, as he recounted a story from his childhood in England.
"No!" Caroline giggled, cupping her hands over her mouth, eyes wide. "You didn't!"
"Oh, but I did love! I ran across my whole neighborhood, in all my naked glory!" he chuckled as grabbed his glass, furrowing his eyebrows when he found it was empty. "Jenna, sweetheart, more beer!" Jenna walked up to them, a smirk on her lips.
"I think it's time I cut you two off," she stated, grabbing the glasses from in front of them.
"Aw, don't be such a party pooper!" Caroline whined, placing her arms down in the counter and giving Jenna a pleading gaze.
"Sorry kids," she smiled as she walked to the sink and placed the glasses inside.
"Buzzkill," Klaus muttered, which earned a small giggle from Caroline. A few seconds of silence passed as the song on the jukebox ended, and the beginning tune to "Benny and the Jets" began to play.
"Great song," Klaus commented, as he began nodding his head to beat of the song.
"I love this song," Caroline smiled, moving her head from side to side to the beat as well.
"Hey kids, shake it loose a lemon bar say it gonna wanna take a feather," Klaus began singing off key. Caroline turned to him and shook her head as she laughed.
"Those are not the words," she laughed. Klaus turned to face her and laughed as well. "Those are exactly the words." Caroline continued laughing and shook her head.
"Sorry lyric police, what are the words?" Klaus joked, raising an eyebrow at Caroline.
"You're gonna hear a handsome music so the walrus sounds," Caroline sang, closing her eyes and moving up and down to the beat.
"Walrus sounds?" Klaus half-asked, half-laughed as he looked at Caroline. Caroline gave him a smile before turning her body to face him, placing a hand down on the counter and lifting herself slightly of the stool as she moved towards him, singing.
"Say Penny's no longer in a cement jet," she sang. Klaus moved back slightly, taken aback by Caroline, but couldn't help but laugh.
"You're scaring me," he joked.
"Oh, but you're so laced down," she continued singing, as she sat back down, dancing slightly to the song. Klaus smirked as Caroline turned her head to him.
"Buh, buh, buh, buh, Bennie and the Jets," they both sang, smiling as they moved slightly towards each other, before setting themselves on their seats once more. The men and women playing pool at the other end of the bar turned to face them, shaking their head and laughing.
"Ooh, in the wind and the waterfall," Klaus sang off-key once more, closing his eyes tightly, singing the words passionately. "Ooh baby she's a revocaine!" he sang in a high-pitched voice, opening his eyes once more and looking at Caroline who laughed at his singing.
"She's got electric boobs!" Caroline sang, turning her head to Klaus once more.
"Boobs?!" Klaus asked incredulously, holding in his laughter.
"And mohair shoes!" she continued singing, not paying any attention to Klaus as she moved her head from side to side.
"You know I read it in a magazine!" Klaus sang, raising his voice higher at the end.
"Oh ho," they both sang, "B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets!" Caroline leaned her head back, laughing at their singing; Klaus laughing as well. The people around the bar began singing along softly and nodding their head to the rhythm, while enjoying the blonde's singing. Caroline moved her body up and down to the rhythm as Klaus hummed the tune, following Caroline's movements. He stopped and turned to the blonde in front of him, before getting up on the stool and up on the counter. Caroline let out a loud laugh, "What are you doing?!" she yelled.
"I'm getting up on the counter! Come on, join me!" he smiled, extending his hand out to her. She shook her head, laughing, as she placed her hand in his and got up on the counter as well.
"You're crazy!" she laughed as they stood on the counter, the other people in the bar beginning to crowd around them.
"Well, I'm not the one who asked a total stranger to spend the night with her. Now that's crazy!" Klaus commented, a smirk on his face.
"Oh whatever!" she said, with a roll of her eyes as she began dancing to the song once more. Klaus chuckled as he watched Caroline dance, before joining in too.
"She's got electric boots! A mohair suit! You know I read it in a magazine, oh ho, B-B-B Bennie and the Jets!" the blondes sang, as the crowd that formed around them sang along. Caroline raised her hands up above her head as she moved her body from side to side, to the beat of the song.
"Bennie!" they sang, the crowd singing back to them. "Bennie! Bennie and the Jets!" the crowd sang along with them in unison. The tune continued playing as Klaus and Caroline turned to each other, dancing with Klaus moving his body from side to side and Caroline moving her hips to the beat of the song. They laughed as the crowd continued cheering them on.
"You guys are awesome!" they heard someone say and continued laughing. Jenna, who had been watching the spectacle and occasionally sang along from behind the bar, tapped Klaus's leg.
"I'm closing soon, so wrap it up!" she yelled at him, to which Klaus nodded. He got off the bar, turning to offer his hand to Caroline who was still dancing along to the song. She tilted her head back laughing as she thanked everybody and took Klaus's hand, getting off the bar and stepping onto the stool. But in her drunken haze, she almost slipped. Klaus immediately grabbed her by her hips and brought her down to the floor, their bodies pressed against each other.
"Woops!" Caroline giggled as she met Klaus's gaze, the laugh dying on her lips as she took in his serious expression.
"That ex of yours is a bloody fool for letting a woman as beautiful as you, go," he stated solemnly. His eyes searched hers for some sort of response, but before he could say anything else, he felt Caroline's lips on his; they were soft and inviting. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him. Before the kiss could deepen however, Jenna interrupted them.
"I'm closing, kids! Get a room!" she half-exclaimed, half laughed. The two quickly separated, with Caroline looking down at the floor in embarrassment, blushing, and Klaus giving Jenna a lopsided grin.
"Till next time sweetheart!" he winked at brunette bartender, who only shook her head in response as she waved goodbye. He grabbed Caroline's hand softly as he led them out of the bar, where Klaus's town car was waiting.
"I'm sorry about the kiss," Caroline stated.
"Don't be, Caroline. I enjoyed it, didn't you?" he asked, as they walked to the car. She pressed her lips together and shrugged.
"I did, it was great. Wonderful, really I mean it was probably one of the best kisses I've ever had but I just broke up with my boyfriend and I-,"
"You feel as if it was some sort of rebound? I don't feel it was. Look, love, in the few hours we've spent together I've connected with you in a way I've never connected with anybody. I've shared stuff with you that usually takes me years to tell someone, or hell! I don't even say anything! I know you feel the connection between us, so don't try and think of it as some 'rebound' because it's not. I leave on a flight back to London tomorrow at 6pm after I'm done with my sister's baby shower, so why don't we make the most of tonight?" he said, as he took both of her hands in his and looked at her. She looked down at their hands, and then back up at him, meeting his gaze. She knew that he was right. In the few hours she'd spent with this man, she'd felt more connected to him than she did with Tyler in the 3 years they were together. It was easy to talk to him about anything, even her very recent breakup, which though it hurt, it was starting to fade away little by little thanks to the help of the handsome, blue-eyed man standing in front of her. The singing and dancing inside the bar made her realize that, that was the most fun she'd had in a long time…years maybe. And all of it, was thanks to him. Hearing that he was going back to London tomorrow did make her sad, she didn't want him to go. But he was right and she wanted to make the most of what they had for the night.
She smiled at him and nodded.
"Ever gone swimming in a lake before?"
~O~
AN: So, that's it for the first part. I'll have the second part uploaded by sometime this week! I know Klaus maybe seemed a little OOC with the whole admitting his past with his family to Caroline after knowing her for only a few hours, but I just wanted it to fit with the story and with the fact that they feel that they have such a strong connection after such a small period of time. The scene of them singing and dancing at the bar was from the movie "27 Dresses" which I absolutely love (Katherine Heigl is great and James Marsden is ridiculously hot!) and it's also one of my favorite scenes from the movie. If anybody wants to see the scene then Youtube "Bennie and the Jets 27 Dresses". Hope you all enjoyed it and remember to review!