*(This is my first story with this wonderful pairing, Klaroline! Please give it a chance, I plan on posting more soon. :) )*
Finally, it was my favorite time of the year again. The time where I wander back to the quiet town of Mystic Falls or wherever the hell my siblings are and try to stir up as much ruckus as humanly, or inhumanly, possible. I don't think my siblings considered it their favorite, but to hell with them, it only comes once a year. Now there's a lot I could say about myself, but why bore you with the details right now? Let's just say, I'm dangerous, and I wouldn't like it any other way. My name is Niklaus Mikaelson, some call me Klaus and some, usually closer folks, call me Nik. I'm a bit of a lone wolf myself, I usually stick to myself; however I can't deny that I love all the attention from others. Anywho, let's not worry about all the bothersome details, it's time for my annual birthday bash and that's all that matters.
I found myself back on that familiar highway I've driven what seems like countless times. Flying down the road at outlandish speeds in my old 1967 Mustang, the deep glossy black with sapphire blue racing stripes making it blur to any onlooker. I decided to make one last stop before the last 150 miles home. It was a bit of a run-down piece of junk gas station with a pathetic, dirty store. *sigh* "Oh well, it'll do." I pull up to the pump and kill the engine. The old door squeaks as I slowly get out, stretching. I immediately notice a little country girl checking me out from the store, a smirk creeps up on my face. I adjust my sunglasses and run my fingers through my hair a bit. As I sauntered over to the pump her eyes never left me, "Doesn't she know how obvious she's being?" I thought to myself, and then chuckled a bit. Oh I do love the attention. I put the rusty nozzle into my tank and begin to fill my car. "Hell, let's have a little fun…" I exaggeratedly walked as best I could into the little store "Damn, this place is a dump!" I thought again for the hundredth time. Now I may not look like much today but I have standards, and being a part of such a rich family, I've grown fairly accustomed to luxury. I first look lazily around until I find something that might make the rest of the trip a little more enjoyable. A fine bottle of Grey Goose Vodka, not my favorite, but it'll do. I pick it up, pop the top and take a quick swig, all while eyeing the little country girl, who, not being as obvious now, was still stealing glances as frequently as she could. Her eyes locked on mine while I downed a bit more of the strong drink. Once I got a closer look, I realized how quickly she wouldn't be worth my time. "Well, eff. Forget it." This time I walked much lazier up to the register counter to pay for my gas, vodka, and… "I'll take one pack of those fine red, unfiltered Marlboro's." I muttered in a low voice. "As well as this," I set the Goose on the counter "And the gas on pump four." "Alright, sir that will be $67.40 please." The fat, balding attendant practically demanded. I gave him a bit of a glare, not even trying to look that intimidating. The man suddenly looked like he was visibly shaking "U-hhh uhhh so sorry sir, let me give give give you my my employee-ee dis-discount." The disgusting man barely sputtered out. I paused for a brief second, then nodded my head "That's better." I smirked. I placed my money on the grimy counter and walked out not even looking back towards that pathetic girl. I popped a long cigarette into my tight mouth, still grimacing at this place, I hurried up my pace a bit to the car while lighting the damn thing. Probably not the safest thing to be doing around gallons of gasoline, but I don't like anything that doesn't have risk or excitement. I took another swig from the clear bottle before getting back into the car. I slammed the door, probably a little too hard, didn't bother at buckling my belt just placed the vodka somewhere I could reach it and started the Stang. Before taking off I let off another long sigh with my head back then took the biggest puff one could stand from the stick before peeling out of the dump. The next 150 miles I spent my time blasting my radio, belting out every word I knew while draining the rest of the bottle and smoking all but the last two reds.
Caroline's POV
I was walking down the sidewalk, changing my iPod and texting Elena back after my spout at the Lockwood house. I wasn't going to be depressed, this time would be different. I will bounce back stronger this time and not… OH WHO WAS I KIDDING!? I can't just let this go so easily; he was cheating on me! ME! CAROLINE FORBES! I sighed again "Damn that Tyler… He has no idea how much this hurt" I thought to myself. Tyler Lockwood was many a girl's dream boyfriend. I mean he was strong, well-built, and handsome with his dark hair and beautiful smile as well as being the star varsity player of three sports back in high school. But high school has come and gone and we're 22 now, things have changed. He's changed; and apparently moved on as well. We'd been dating since the summer before senior year and even though we've had our many ups and downs and mini break-ups here and there just like many couples have; but this was it. This was completely over. Tyler was no longer my boyfriend, my Ty, my go-to guy that loved me. No. He was just a lying cheating man-whore who decided this skank of a Hayley was better than ME. CAROLINE FREAKING FORBES! Ugh! How could he…? That's it! I'm doing what every young girl has done at least once in her life, "I am swearing off all boys forever!" I sent my thoughts back towards Elena and placed my phone back in my pocket, beginning my brisk walk home again.
Pulling me out of my funk and mental ranting was the revving of an overly loud engine that must've not had a muffler. I looked back a ways and saw a very fancy, sleek sports car driving out an outlandish speed. Where were the cops when you needed them? "Hmm I'll show this douche!" I thought and just as I was about to flip off and yell at this idiot to slow the hell down I caught just a brief glance at what must have been the most beautiful man on earth. Could you call a man beautiful? Yeah, sure that was okay. Because holy smokes he was G-o-r-g-e-o-u-s! With a capital 'G'! He must've seen me staring instead of yelling like I had begun to do, and he let off this devilish smirk. I mean nothing else could describe the way he looked with his cocky lips, curly blond perfect hair and those dimples even though barely visible through a much too thick beard… Could life get much better than that? Wait, wait, wait a minute Caroline! You JUST said no more boys, like EVER! Oh what the heck, I can check them out still right? NO. I let out an exasperated moan once he sped by and continued my walk towards.. *beep beep* my phone notified me of a reply from Elena. "I'm so sorry Care, come on over and let's talk about it. I'm at the boarding house. :)" Without realizing it I had unknowingly made my way back to my house, ran into my room to freshen up then hopped in my car and quickly drove to meet up with my best friend.
General POV
Rebekah pulled the blinds apart as she heard the outside gate creak open. She let out a long sigh, bracing herself before saying to her older brother, "Elijah, it looks like the prodigal son has returned for another crazy time of shenanigans." She finished her sentence with a smile she couldn't help. She hadn't seen her big brother in quite some time and even though he's wild and reckless she still loves him and his company. Elijah looked up from deep concentration in his reading and let out a small smile of his own. He got up, almost reluctantly put down whatever he was reading, and straightened up his suit and gave his younger sister a wider grin. "Well, let's not keep him waiting then." He continued in an actual cheery tone. They heard the music stop, the car door close and the front door open suddenly when their overly exuberant brother shouted, "The life of the party has returned!" The two siblings looked at each other and couldn't help but smiling again. Rebekah couldn't hold in her excitement anymore and ran up to her Nik and leaped into his open arms giving him the tightest hug she could manage "Oh Bekah I've missed you my little sister!" Nik smiled and Rebekah let out a long giggle. She did this for a good long while till she pulled away suddenly with her nose scrunched up "Ew Nik you stink! Have you been sleeping with pigs?" She grimaced "So the lone wolf has returned." Elijah said joyously to his brother before patting him on the back twice. "She's right Nik, what have you been up to?" Elijah asked suspiciously "This? Oh no this isn't stink this is sexy!" Nik laughed out a big guttural laugh, with a little noticeable hiccup at the end "Booze and cigarettes! Remember I'm the life of the party sweetheart!" He winked at his baby sister. She replied by pinching her nose with her fingers. "Seriously Nik, and what the hell is up with this bloody beard?" she griped back at him. "Well, in truth I just haven't had much time to *hiccup*" He bent over slightly and placed a hand on his knee, then continued "I haven't had much time for cleanup and the past hour and a half I've been *hiccup* having a good ole' time." "Drinking and driving? Now that's my brother!" a new voice chimed in. "Kol!" Nik exclaimed giving his younger brother a big hug, picking him up and spinning him around. "Oh hell Nik you really do stink!" he coughed out, brushing off his shoulders and shaking his head. "Shit, if I'm going to be treated this badly by my own family I guess I better shower around here!" Nik exclaimed, then laughed out another guttural laugh and ending with his usual handsome smirk. He ruffled his younger brother's hair while he was complaining some more nonsense he turned back to Rebekah and Elijah and motioned for his brother to retrieve his bags from his car. Elijah let out a quiet sigh and nodded his head out the door. Rebekah wandered off to the kitchen to make a little something for the returnee.
Niklaus's POV
I shake my head at my ridiculous family and start trudging upstairs towards my room in this giant ass house. Looking down at my dirty hands, I wasn't paying attention once I reached the head of the stairs I walked right into our oldest brother Finn. "Mind paying attention more?" He said, sounding a bit on edge. "What? No love for your little brother?" I feigned with my trademark smirk "Two words Niklaus, Hang Over." he muttered as he started his descent down the stairs; I turned to him to point to that that was indeed just one word and he shut me up by just raising his hand quickly. "Well, he'll be no fun today. Wait, when has he ever been 'fun'?" *sigh* I continued on down the hall and into my extravagant room, drowning in my thoughts. I tore off my sweaty t-shirt and discarded it into a pile. Looking into the mirror I examine my left side. Over the ribs there are still the obvious purple and black bruises; evidence of my previous drunken experience back in New York just a few days prior. Almost a response to viewing these memories my head started pounding. "Damn Vodka…" I let out one more sigh until I shed the rest of my clothes and haphazardly threw them into the messy pile before heading into my bathroom for a long overdue shower.
Caroline's POV
Elena was coddling me on the couch in the Salvatore library. Oh I cried and I cried. Don't think it's been that bad since I was little and my dad had told me that he was leaving my mom and me for some guy. I finally set up after drenching Elena's shoulder with my tears when Damon walked slowly, carefully into the room, as if being expecting us to yell at him to get out. "It's *sniff* okay Damon, come on in, I'm done with all of this crap crying." I managed to convene enough confidence that Damon bought it. "Sorry to interrupt" he practically whispered "I just wanted to see if you girls needed anything." "I would love a glass of water, if you don't mind too much, Damon?" Elena answered "Caroline, want anything?" She asked "Maybe a cup of coffee; with just a dash of bourbon?" I giggled at Damon "Coming right up dearies!" he winked "You're lucky I love you two!" he laughed as he shuffled out of the room. I smiled up at Elena and she smiled back. "You're lucky to have such a great guy like him. He honestly would take a bullet for you Elena." I sighed "So romantic…" I smiled even bigger and Elena giggled "He's amazing in just so many ways, I don't know why it took me so long to realize it, but I'm sure glad I did." She closed her eyes remembering something sweet. We sat and talked, without the crying and my ranting this time until Damon came back in with the water and my special treat "Thank you Damon, honestly." I smiled at him "You've been a great friend and a great guy to Elena, and I don't know I just really felt I should thank you for some reason." I sniffed at the end almost feeling tears coming back, but I pushed the feeling away. No. I was done with crying forever as far as I was concerned. "Aw shucks, thank you sweet pea." He responded sincerely with one of his signature huge handsome grins. I couldn't help but smile back, as did Elena. We all laughed and badmouthed Tyler for another twenty minutes.
"I'm so sorry to ask you this Caroline, but I really need to run over to see Stefan, something's come up and I was needing to run this letter over to Elijah's house. Would you mind running this over there on your way out?" He practically pleaded. "Oh not a problem, you go take care of your brother Damon and Elena I do need to be headed back home soon as it is, my mom is actually going to be there for dinner tonight if you can believe that or not!" I smiled a small, sad smile and then hugged Damon and Elena goodbye, took the letter and headed out to my car towards Elijah's house.
Niklaus's POV
I stood in the shower for about twenty minutes without moving, thank goodness we had like the biggest water heater known to man. I lathered up with soap, like big time, I didn't even realize how filthy I was until now. "Had I not showered since New York? Oh hell I don't remember…" I put a thick layer of shampoo in my hair and scrubbed till my arms tired, then just stood there, again deep in thought, letting the water relax my tight muscles. Man there were many thoughts passing through my head, all the distance travelled, the people I met, the girls I, well yeah, the booze I drank and the amount of times I woke up having no idea how I got there. "Why was I being so damn careless these past few months?"Yeah, yeah I know, 'Young and Reckless' and all but I wasn't as young anymore. I rested my head against the shower wall and just let the water fall.
Caroline's POV
I pushed the call button at the giant gate and the sound of Elijah's voice almost startled me by my car "Hello Caroline. What a surprise! What brings you to this edge of the forest?" he asked with a smile I tried to catch my breath before responding my hand still over my heart on my chest. I smiled back and informed him I had a letter for him from Damon. "Oh? Oh yes, that's right. Well actually it's not for me it's for my brother, would you mind handing it to him inside? I have my hands full at the moment." Yes he did, he was actually carrying a large bench to some part of the forest as it looks. "Your brother…" I said in almost a question but Elijah didn't seem to notice. "He's inside?" he nodded "Yes you haven't met my other siblings besides Rebekah have you?" I shook my head "My apologies Miss Caroline. Yes my brother is upstairs fourth room on the left. He'll want to make sure it's actually handed to him I'm sure. Thank you again dear." He said in a kind, gentleman tone. Elijah was always very polite and upright every time Caroline has ever seen him and everything she's heard bore the same testimony. "Not a problem, Elijah." I smiled back as he typed in the code and buzzed me through the gate.
I knocked on the front door carefully and waited just mere seconds before the blond bratty Mikaelson that I didn't quite care for answered. She looked fairly taken back to see me standing in simple casual dress with my hair a bit messed up on her front step. She gave me a fake smile and waved her hand for me to come inside. "Well, well, Miss Caroline Forbes. What on earth brings you here?" she asked with a very menacing, but well hidden tone to her voice. "I'm sorry to intrude Miss Rebekah Mikaelson," I responded back with equal venom through partially gritted teeth. "But I am here on business from Damon Salvatore. I need to hand deliver something to one of your brothers; Elijah was busy outside but told me where to find him." I finished with a slight glare and my arms crossed. She didn't respond but just nodded suspiciously and let me head upstairs. I walked slowly down the long hall, counting the doors carefully so I didn't walk into the wrong one. I don't know why I felt nervous, there was just something different about this family. Maybe it was the accents, or the mysteriousness, or the need for a house this damn big. There; number four. I knocked twice carefully and waited for a response. "Alright, I guess we'll just see." I swallowed before turning the knob and carefully walking in, closing the door behind me, I took in my surroundings.
The room, simply put, was huge. It had such well-done elegant design that I felt a tinge of jealously for not having such fancy things. In one corner there was an oversized easel holding some partially done painting that looked fantastic even though it wasn't finished. And behind it was a huge table with drawings, tools and all sorts of little things. The room was full of character and with that I'm sure many stories of whoever it belonged to. The other side had a very dedicated area for a humongous poster bed with drapes on three sides, it had definitely hadn't been slept in recently. I looked up and noticed what looked like letters of sorts hung in frames over the bed on the wall. After seeing the whole set up of this room I really was wondering who and what this Mikaelson was like.
General POV
Caroline looked around for a little bit longer before finding the bathroom door with steam coming out from underneath. She sighed, she needed to hand deliver this letter thing or whatever the hell it was. She crossed her arms again and tapped her feet for a minute or two before she decided to knock on the door. Klaus was still showering, he hadn't heard the young blond knock earlier or her walkabout his room. He heard a faint female voice say something like "Excuse me?" "Ah, Rebekah can't leave her brother alone for even a moment can she?" he thought to himself. He was done showering anyways so he just told her to come on in. Caroline slowly opened the door only to shriek and step back in surprise. When a normal person tells one to come on in, that person is normally fully proper and decent. Klaus was opening the shower door up and grabbing a towel just as Caroline had stepped in and saw his full backside in all of its hot glory. She quickly covered up her eyes with her hand and put her head down in shame, of course after a second to take it all in and, well, you know, stare. "Holy shit!" Klaus exclaimed as he wrapped his towel around his waist quickly and turned around to face this girl, who apparently wasn't Rebekah and was taken back again. Both of them muttered at the same time "You…?" Then they stared at each other again in shock of saying the same crazy thing. "What the in the hell are you doing here?" he asked incredulously "And I can ask you the same thing!" she squeaked back at him. "You're obviously some creep who is showering in like the most freaking richest home in town!" She accused
"Wait, wait, wait a minute dear." He sighed, while honestly eyeing her a bit "You may have gotten the first part right, but I'm not just in this home for no particular reason. I sort of live here. On and off that is." "WHAT!?" Caroline was starting to freak out "Calm down Caroline, breath, breath, breath." She mentally reminded herself "YOU are a Mikaelson?" her jaw started to drop "You look nothing like Elijah or Rebekah!" she still wasn't convinced. "What about Kol, Finn or Henrik?" He asked innocently "Who!?" she asked back, total confusion on her pretty little face "She has no idea who I am… Lovely…" He smirked that same damn smirk she saw earlier when he was speeding off in that pretty little sports car of his. Caroline sighed and rubbed her temples. He just kept smirking "It's the beard. Isn't it?" he asked. She couldn't help to fully stiffen that giggle that escaped those perfectly smooth lips. He chuckled at her response.
Niklaus's POV
I'm still in shock to see the pretty little thing I spotted earlier on my drive into town standing in my hot bathroom while I'm wearing nothing but a towel. I couldn't help but smirk at that thought. Damn was she a gorgeous one. Her beautiful blond hair, the way she laughs off of those perfect lips with that perfect complexion the way she looked just a moment before all flustered and bewildered. The door to the bathroom was open and out of the corner of his eye he saw his bed and just the thought of pushing her down with that look of pent up frustration and those lips, those sweet lips… "Stop it right there… You know that's not going to happen right now Niklaus." he told himself "If these thoughts continue I'm going to have a problem on my hands, seeing how I'm only wearing this damn towel."
Caroline's POV
If only I could get the thought of his perfect back out of my head and oh my gosh "That ass…" I started to pondered "That was the hottest thing I've ever seen in my whole ex… CAROLINE SNAP OUT OF IT! You cannot even start to think that way about a complete stranger especially not after the recent breakup! And ESPECIALLY if they're a Mikaelson!" I shook my head nonchalantly out of that mindset, while quietly wondering what was going on in his head. But there was no denying he was beyond extremely attractive. His arms were ripped with muscle and his chest must've been sculpted by Michelangelo himself. And that towel was dangerously low on his hips... Again I come out of my fog and notice that he must've seen me staring "Oh kill me now… please someone just kill me now!" I kept thinking over and over again. I couldn't help but giggle about his comment on his beard. That was the one thing that was just so out of place. "It's just too much facial hair for a pretty baby face like his." She sighed lightly.
General POV
"Well Miss…?" Klaus started "Oh, Caroline. Caroline Forbes." She told him. "Ah, Sweet Caroline." He mused "What brings you to… My bathroom?" again, another smirk from those strong lips "Oh, I'm sorry for the rudeness earlier, I just. Oh never mind. I was just supposed to deliver this, um, letter, paper thing to you from Damon Salvatore." She managed to barely get that sentence out. "Come on! Get it together Caroline!" He cocked his head to the side slightly, just like a dog who had heard something far interesting. It was adorable. Then he nodded his head slowly like he realized what it was before she handed to him. "Well, that was very kind of you to deliver! Thank you sweetheart." He said that ever so kindly, it made her heart melt a little. "Hey now!" she tried to give him a disapproving stare as she put her hands on her hips in an annoyed manner, his only response was to raise his eyebrows as if curious as to what she'd say next. But she continued on, unphased, "You cannot call me any cute little things like dear or sweetheart, until at least I learn your name. And maybe even after, still not. It's kind of creepy."
He showed feigned pain as he whispered "Oh that hurts sweetheart!" as he put a hand to his heart like she just said the most insensitive thing in the entire world. "What a drama queen…"she growled in annoyance. Then he reached out his strong hand towards her, and she shook it in return as he said in a low growl, manly man voice "Niklaus Mikaelson. Very pleased to meet your beautiful acquaintance" she couldn't help but blush at that but she tried her very best to control any embarrassment. "Well Niklaus, I must get going back home. Again my apologies for the… Um…." She noticeably looked him up and down again and then stopped at the top of the towel while swallowing she continued. "Circumstances of our meeting." She then put her head down and turned and walked out and away from him. He just stood there fairly dumbstruck at the entire conversation. "Makes me wonder what the rest of this crazy day has in store." He pondered out loud.