Hey all! This idea has been floating around for a while in my head and I'm just throwing this out there for feelers to see if there's any interest in it. I've primarily only written One Tree Hill fanfiction but this has been all consuming to me in my thoughts and I decided to get it out.

This is my first foray into Vampire Diaries fandom and especially the beloved Klaroline. However, I'm pretty happy with what I've written so far so if you like, give me a shout and let me know so I can keep writing. I have a few chapters written and a story outline so I'm just seeing where it takes me.

Enjoy!

Chapter 1

"Oh."

The word dropped softly off her lips, the meaning sinking in as it slowly lost it's sound in the room. Surrounded by white walls cluttered with drawings of the human anatomy, she focused her attention on the small fish tank in the corner of the office. The doctor was talking but Caroline Forbes couldn't pull her attention from the swirls of blue and gold and orange moving along the sides of the tank.

The fish were moving, she was not. And she was just as trapped.

She swallowed hard and looked up with a bright smile.

"Caroline, I know this is a lot to take in. Are you sure you don't want to call your mother?"

Doctor Turner could not have been much older than Sheriff Forbes, Caroline's mother. She had kind eyes and a warm smile and Caroline found herself picturing her mother's face as she told her this news. The image ended up murky in her vision however and she wasn't entirely sure if it had to with her strained relationship or her lack of fully processing the news herself.

"Nope." The word was punctuated with another smile. Control was all she knew how to handle and right now, the only control she had was to not acknowledge what was happening. "So, what's next? Surgery? What are my treatment options?"

This was everything that she was good at in a nutshell. She planned. She took the reins. She needed to know the end result so that she could prepare; work on contingencies. Folding her hands over each other, she laced her fingers together and settled them over her knee. The doctor had the decency to look uncomfortable, and Caroline found comfort in that.

"We can slow it down." Doctor Turner evenly spoke, her words punctuated with a tinge of reality instead of laced with hope. "We can manage it."

"Manage." Caroline repeated, the crown of her forehead wrinkling slightly and then smoothing once the words fell into place.

Manage to her meant booking caterers and music for the grand openings she planned. It meant an outdated and antiqued file a fax that held all her important appointments and contacts. It was boards covering the walls of her office filed with color swatches and fabric samples to create the spaces she designed.

She managed her mother from the time her father had walked out on them to this very day by ordering all her meal deliveries and overseeing her online banking. It had been managing student body president, Miss Mystic Falls, and cheer captain all at once.

She had been managing her whole life, and it was what she was good at.

"The pain, the symptoms." The doctor continued her throat clearing. Caroline glanced up then, a deep breath releasing from her chest. Now, she realized, for the first time, she was going to have to be managed.

No not her, the cancer.

"Caroline."

"Right." Caroline acknowledged, her blonde curls bobbing with her head. "Can you also manage getting my parking validated?"

x-X-x

"Hi mom."

"Hey Care." She could hear her mother shuffling and could picture her in her office. "What are you up to kiddo?"

Caroline huffed, frazzled as she shoved the boxes she had in her arms into her trunk. "Just trying to get to this appointment that Stefan set up. I'm running a little late."

She could envision her mother quirking up an eyebrow.

"My appointment this morning ran long." She slid beneath the wheel of her car, her head resting with a soft thud against the head rest. It felt good to hear her mother's voice; a comfort she wasn't expecting. "Hey Mom, I was thinking I could come up in a few weeks for a long weekend. Do you think you can swing some time off work?"

"Sure honey." Her mom easily answered but Caroline could practically feel the tension feed into her mother's shoulders even from hundreds of miles away. Liz wasn't a fan of taking off work. "Everything ok?"

"Everything's great."

It wasn't technically a lie. Caroline was happy. She had an amazing business co-ran with her best friend from college. It was growing and successful and she loved it. Her love life had been in a bit of a dry spell as of late but friends and work happily filled that void. She loved the city she lived in; the historical architecture and rich city ancestry. There always seemed to be something else to do or see or learn.

"Your birthday is coming up." Caroline offered the only explanation that fit and she could feel her mother relax at her explanation. "And I hate to break it to you ma, but you're not getting any younger."

She sank into her mother's laugh. "That's for sure. You should see some of these spry young kids that come through here from other counties to train with me. They get more and more baby faced every day."

Pulling her phone from her ear, she sighed at the incoming call waiting.

"Mom, I gotta go. Stefan is beeping in."

"Sure thing. Give him my best. Love you."

The line was dead before she could even muster a response and the call swiftly went to Stefan.

"I'm on my way." Her words overpowered whatever he was in the process of saying. Shoving the key into the ignition, she started the car and made her way out of the parking lot. "I'm sorry. The morning has kind of gone to hell."

"You got all the portfolios, though right?"

Caroline grinned without permission. Her world has been turned on it's axis but the rest of the world moved right along as if the axis was still correct. Her mother was still the Sheriff; married to her work and the responsibility of the town. And Stefan still remained the focused and determined businessman intent on nothing more than growth and development.

"Yes sir." She mocked as she easily pulled into the traffic. Her tone took on a softer context. "Stefan, you worry too much."

She didn't want to consider how much he was going to worry about her with her news.

"Caroline." He breathed into the other end, and she could just imagine how pensive his face looked. "This is a huge deal. It's going to be in the heart of downtown and the historical features with that impact the financial implications alone…"

"Hey." The resolute in her voice seemed to break Stefan from his train of thought. "It's all going to work out. I promise. I'll see you soon."

X-x-X

When she was a child, Caroline had visited Charleston, South Carolina every summer. Her father had rented a small beach bungalow one street from the beach and she had grown up along the brown shorelines of Folly Beach just a few miles from a lighthouse. Summers there had been some of her happiest memories with her family.

It was a lot of things that made her choose Charleston as her home, but there was a lot of nostalgia attached to the historical town and peaceful beach. It seemed surreal now, stepping past the old Woolworth building now; empty from being a host of retail shops since the original store had closed so many years ago. She could recall coming to the lunch counter with her mother and eating greasy cheeseburgers and chocolate milkshakes. It was a building she would hope to restore to some of its former glory with this next project.

If she were being truthful, this was just exactly the project she needed right now as a distraction. It would take months to complete if not longer and the smallest of details and the massive amount of research that it would take would cloud her mind from recent news she had been given. Stealing once last glance at the building, more determined than ever to get the contract she hurried down King Street, her heels clicking along the brick pavement of the road.

The gallery she stepped into was open and modern, the light from the overhead sun streaming into through a series of sky lights. There was one floor laid with what looked like original wood planks and a loft towards the back of the narrow building that housed more art works. In the center of the room, a center piece sculpture of a small child surrounded by birds and flowers grabbed Caroline's attention immediately.

Circling around it, she took note of the detail in the various flowers and the placement of the birds; the tranquility on the face of the little girl trapped in stone. The gallery was empty and glancing at her watch she was pleased to see that she was at least 20 minutes early for her meeting. The paintings along the far wall were all modern or abstract and not particularly her taste as but she could appreciate the beauty and the effort as she climbed the suspended stairs up to the loft. Here, she found a piece much more her taste; a collection of soft hues and lovely landscapes.

Setting her briefcase down, she took the small steps towards the painting in the corner to her right. It was the clear centerpiece of the collection in her opinion, but it was off center and not framed with light as it should have been. She had never been out the country, but the scenery before her had her imaging Italy or France. Not being able to place the point of view, she was able to focus her attention on the details of the vineyard; the various shades in the grapes and rogue weeds traversing the ground, the sun rising across the horizon in various shades of gold and blush and orange. She particularly was fond of the purple iris that hugged the edge of the vineyard.

"What are your thoughts, love?"

Caroline spun away from the tranquility of the painting and turned to face the voice attached to the question. She was startled both by his sudden appearance and if she were honest just how attractive he was. Two distinct dimples formed around his grin and his eyes shone with was she attributed to mischief. He was dressed in dark blue jeans and a coordinating dark Henley that matched just one of the many shades of blue in his eyes. There were paint spatters across both articles of clothes and even flecks speckled throughout his light blond curls.

"Well I'm no expert." She sighed, pulling her attention away from him and back to the painting. He came up behind her a moment later the fabric of his shirt just grazing the back of her dress. She expected him to school her then; a clear artist who had already formed an opinion.

"Enlighten me." He teased instead, his breath fanning across her neck before stepping to the side of her and bending down to read the small plaque on the wall.

"Son Espoir." Caroline recited in perfect French as he smirked and erected himself upright. "It means,"

"His Hope" they both finished together. The dimples made a reappearance as did a quirk of his eyebrow for her to continue. He was impressed she knew French. When she hesitated, he prompted her once more. "You don't agree."

"It's not my painting."

"What is art, if not the observers interpretation?" he prodded further. "Tell me sweetheart, what does this bring out of you?"

She gently rolled her eyes at his flirt. "I think at first glance it's very practical."

"Practically is not a favorite in your book?"

She grinned tilting her head gently towards him. "Let me finish." She admonished playfully. She brought his attention to the corner of the painting. "I think you look at this and think of something practical; like a vacation or a honeymoon. Maybe this where he lives and it's the view from his bedroom. But like a lot of things, just because it's practical doesn't mean it's not hopeful."

"Well now I find I am intrigued. Elaborate further on that if would be so kind."

"Just look at the sun. It's a sunrise; not a sunset. The day, the world is just beginning. Every day is a fresh start full of life and hope and a second chance." His eyes stayed riveted as her fingers deftly moved down the side of the painting as he watched her outline the irises painted on the canvas. There was a small knowing smile gracing her face as she spoke next. "Irises. Did you know that all flowers have a symbolic meaning? Friendship, affection, love, loathing…" she kinked up her eyebrow has her grin grew. "Irises; they mean hope."

He softly pulled her wrist down from where she was pointing. His touch shrank away from her much too soon as her arm fell against her side. He continued, a gleam she couldn't place in his eye. "Tell me more love, this union of practically with hope."

"Ah." She pursed her lips together, her hands wishing she had something to grip onto; like her briefcase or reality. Blowing out through her nose she braced herself and turned to face the charming man next to her. "Well, for instance, I am about to interview for a job. Practically, I know I can get this job. I have the background and the expertise and the experience. I've poured over every detail for weeks to ensure I'm prepared for it." He was beginning to enjoy the small sighs that she released once she stopped rambling for a moment. There was a quiet softness to her features as she looked at him again. "But hopefully, I will get the job. There's room for both."

"And what exactly is the job?" he inquired twisting his body to lean against the open railing of the loft and granting himself a better view of the beautiful woman in front of him. "Art critic?"

He found her laugh infectious. "Of course not." Her head shook still with a small laughter. "The old Woolworth building on King? The owner of this gallery wants to reopen it into a restaurant."

"You like this idea." He deduced from the vibrance in her voice and the color in her cheeks. "Tell me, what intrigues you about this?"

Caroline had no idea what she had spent the better part of the last ten minutes indulging the handsome stranger. Without permission, her mind flickered to her morning and news that accompanied her all day. There was a visceral part of her that wanted to acknowledge the fact that with a very finite ending in front of her, she throw all caution to the wind. Flirt with the delicious man in front of her, abandon the time-consuming job ahead of her, take the leap for something more.

"I have very fond memories of going there as a child." She finally settled on her answer somewhat grounded in truth instead of the multitude of other answers; the history, the research, the distraction. It was a punch in her gut at the realization that she may not even see the final result. "It would be wonderful to see it restored to a structure of integrity; somewhere new families can make memories."

"I'm Nik." He extended his hand out to Caroline, and she ignored the charcoal on his fingers as they transferred to her own hand once he took hers. His grip was strong but there was a softness not just in the touch but in the feeling. She had expected such an artist to have more calloused and rough hands. His thumb lingered a moment too long over hers before he pulled away. Seeing the mess he left on her porcelain skin, he grimaced pulling out a handkerchief from his back pocket. Her mouth popped slightly open as he stuck the small garment in his mouth, his tongue wetting it before it connected with the skin on her hand. The intimacy of the move stuck her; she couldn't remember a time she was last this close with someone. "You'll have to forgive me…"

"Caroline." She finished for him, her hand still heavy in his as he removed the last bit of charcoal from her skin. His fingers traced along the lines of her palm as his other hand ghosted the underside of the hand he had possession of. "Are you a palm reader Nik?"

"As a matter of fact," he grinned, a crooked smile forming along his features as he finally removed his touch from her. He liked the way she said his name. "I am. I see a bright future for you. You may even get this job today." He threw his hands up in the air dramatically. "It's all very muddled though. The owner of this gallery can be fickle and temperamental."

She giggled. "Trust me, after my morning, I can handle just about anyone. Besides, anyone who can paint a picture like that, can't be that hard to handle." She pointed to their recent study beside him.

"And if he doesn't give you the job?" he asked after a few brief moments of silence. He found himself wanting her to keep talking.

"You venture a lot of questions Nik." she playfully admonished giving him a genuine grin. "If I don't get the job, that will be okay. I'll get the next one."

"Because you're practical." He reasoned and watched as another slow smile formed on her features. She winked at him as she answered him.

"No, because I'm hopeful."

"Caroline! There you are." Caroline turned her attention away from her companion to see Stefan nearing the top of the steps with a studious gentleman dressed in a smart suit right behind him. His tracks slowed considerably seeing she wasn't alone. He acknowledged the gentleman quickly but striding up to him and reaching out his hand. "Klaus, it's good to see you. I see you've met Caroline."

Klaus held his hands up in show. "Sorry mate, don't want to get you sodded up." He dared to turn his attention to dumbfounded Caroline next to him. Her mouth had dropped into an adorable 'o' shape. "Yes, I have been getting acquainted with lovely Caroline."

"Elijah." The quiet man in the suit behind Stefan made his presence known by reaching his hand out to Caroline and clasping it around hers. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance Miss Forbes. I've heard so much about you from Stefan and I greatly admired your work at the Francis Marion."

Finally, Caroline reacted and heartily shook Elijah's hand. "Yes of course, thank you. It's Caroline, please. It's so great to meet you as well. I've done quite a few parties in your restaurant on Meeting Street."

There were a few more pleasantries exchanged between the men but Caroline was having a hard time focusing on anything they were saying. Her gaze locked with Klaus's (or was it Nik?), her brow kinking in the middle of her forehead in both confusion and mild fury at the situation. She could clearly read the amusement dancing across his features as the development. This was certainly a day of surprises, and if she thought she had been walloped by the bomb this morning, she was absolutely stuck down by the fact that she had carried on critiquing a potential clients artwork for the better part of twenty minutes. Somehow the latter seemed far worse in comparison.

"Well, shall we get started?"

"Actually Stefan," Klaus stepped away easily from the railing, gliding slowly past Caroline his gaze never leaving hers. "I've got to take off I'm afraid. I'm confident with the job in your capable hands." He pulled Caroline's hand from her side and brought it to his lips, softly landing a kiss on her knuckles. "And of course, yours love. This has been a pleasure. I am certainly enlightened."