I decided to take the advice of my very first commenter, Lola, and turn this into a multi-fic about the group going on a vacation of sorts : ) Of course, we already know it's going to be anything but a simple vacation. This is mostly dialogue, because I'm still feeling out character traits, but it sets the stage.

This chapter is going to start all the events that lead up to what happened.

-Before-

Caroline sighed as her phone buzzed for the fourth time in five minutes. She rolled away from Tyler to reach it on her nightstand. As she sat up, he shifted and rolled so that his back was to her. Caroline rolled her eyes as she answered the call, she'd deal with Tyler's weird new behaviors later.

"Hey, Elena. What's up?"

"Hey, I'm so glad I got a hold of you finally. Listen, I need a huge favor."

"How huge?"

"Leaving the country huge."

"Me? I've never been anywhere! What could I possibly do for you in another country?"

"Not just you. All of us. Rebekah just left. It looks like we're going to have to work together with the Originals, again. Apparently, there's some artifact in Italy they need to get their hands on, but there is a complication. Have you ever come across an Incubus?"

"Like, the band?"

"No, like the supernatural creature, very similar to a vampire."

"Can't say that I have."

"Well, apparently they pre-date vampires by a couple thousand years, and Europe is swarming with them. Their version of Klaus has beef with our Klaus, and this artifact will turn the tides."

"So, we have to help our mortal enemy, so as not to benefit more mortal enemies?"

"Exactly."

Caroline sighed. "When do we leave?"

"Tonight. You can fill in Tyler right?"

"Yeah, see you tonight."

The phone beeped as Elena ended the call. Caroline turned to Tyler and shook him.

"Hey, wake up, sleepy head."

"mmph"

"Come on, Tyler, this is serious."

"What?!" Tyler flipped over, glaring at her. Caroline jumped back, as if burned. Quickly regaining her composure, she snatched her purse off of the floor and shouldered it.

"Well, Mr. Crabby, we have a plane to catch. Big supernatural thingy! Call me when you're in a better mood. I'm going to pack, I suggest you do so as well."

She stalked out of the room, expecting Tyler to relent and call her back, like he always did. She got all the way to the door before she realized he wasn't going to.

By the time she got home, Tyler was the last thing on her mind. Italy! Caroline couldn't help but become almost giddy at the thought of hitting the travel jackpot her first time out of the country. Even if Klaus was going to be there. She snorted in disgust at the thought of fending off the Original vampire's flirtations.

"An indefinite amount of time in a foreign country with Klaus, lovely!"

A voice behind her made her jump as she touched the handle of her front door.

"I was just thinking the same thing about you, Caroline, love."

"Klaus! What are you doing here?" Caroline crossed her arms and waited for a good answer, which she knew would probably be a long time coming with this one.

"Just wanted to see if you might need my help packing, since you've never left the country before."

"I think I can handle it. Clothes, shoes, make-up, toiletries. Anything missing? Or do you want to tell me why you're really here?"

Klaus smiled, leaving no doubt of the wolf's blood coursing through his veins. "Caroline, your intelligence is a credit."

"To who? My mother, for raising me right? Welcome to the South." She rolled her eyes and opened the door, motioning for Klaus to follow her.

"If you're going to beat around the bush, you might as well do it while I'm packing."

Klaus barely hid his cocky grin as he sauntered in behind her. "I hope you're not expecting Tyler any time soon. Wouldn't want him to get any silly ideas."

"No, Tyler is at home, being a grouch. Hopefully, packing while being a grouch."

"Has Tyler been very grouchy lately?" Klaus's innocent tone of voice gave him away.

"He has, as a matter of fact, and I suspect you're here to tell me why."

Caroline pulled her luggage from the back of her closet and laid the pieces open on her bed. As she waited for Klaus to finish stalling, she began to fill them with her favorite pieces of clothing.

Klaus was oddly quiet, standing near her vanity, gazing down at something on it. "You still have this?"

"Still have what?" Caroline glanced over her shoulder. Klaus was holding up the sketch he had done of her. "It's a sketch of me, I'm vain. The end."

"You aren't vain, love." Klaus said softly.

"Red bikini or blue bikini?" Caroline held the items in question up, as if to prove him wrong. The mischievous glint in his eye returned.

"Both, or none. I really prefer none."

"Klaus, don't be creepy. Now, are you going to tell me why my boyfriend is being a crabass, or what?"

"All right, but don't kill the messenger, ok, love?"

"Whatever."

"So, remember that little stunt you pulled, where you pretended to break up with him because of Hayley?"

"Mmm."

"Let's just say, you were lying, but they weren't."

Caroline slammed the lid of her suitcase closed. "No, Klaus. We're not doing this. It has already been established that nothing happened between them."

"Nothing happened between them when he was gone. Something is happening now."

"No. Stop it. You're just doing that thing you do again. Messing with my head."

"No, I wouldn't do that, not like this. You know I wouldn't."

Caroline glared daggers at him from across the bed, then threw up her hands "Ok fine, maybe you're just wrong. Tyler wouldn't do that to me."

"Caroline, don't be daft. Why else would Hayley be staying there with him?"

"Because he's a nice guy! Everyone stays there, haven't you noticed?"

"When's the last time you stayed, over night?"

"I don't know! Why don't you tell me, since you're always watching me."

"Before Hayley. When's the last time he touched you?"

"Today."

"No, really touched you."

Caroline picked up her phone and sent Elena a text. "Ready. Klaus being annoying. Send help."

"I don't know. He's not like you, he can control his impulses."

"Caroline, I have controlled a thousand impulses since the first time I laid eyes on you. You don't even feel the tiniest bit threatened by me, anymore. Otherwise I wouldn't be in your bedroom, right now, would I?"

"Klaus, don't you have to pack?"

"Already done. But I can take a hint. I'll see you at the airport."

"Yep."

There was a breeze as Klaus zipped out of the room, and out the door. As the door slammed shut, Caroline finally sank down on her bed. Her legs had been like jelly the entire time she had been talking to Klaus, but letting him see that would have been like letting a piranha taste blood. She knew there was something off with Tyler and Hayley, but she hadn't wanted everyone to think she was turning in to insecure, neurotic Caroline, again.

Little tears began to prick at her eyes, and Caroline wiped her face, angrily. There was a knock at her front door, and she took a few deep breaths before going to answer. As she rounded the corner into the foyer, Bonnie waved through the window pane.

"Here I am, the cavalry." She laughed as Caroline opened the door. "But I take it I'm a bit late, since I passed a very sulky Klaus on the corner."

Caroline rolled her eyes. "He's so, ugh. I wish he'd just pick a new target."

"I wish he'd pick a new country. Maybe he'll find a reason to stay in Italy, but I doubt we'll be so lucky."

"Well, I'm finished packing. Are we meeting Elena at Damon's, or just going to the airport?"

"I think just going to the airport. It's almost time for our flight anyway. Klaus is so magnanimously allowing us to use one of his private jets. I can only imagine how much fun ten hours in a confined space is going to be."

"Yeah. Any elaboration on what this artifact is?"

"Not yet. I'm sure Klaus is waiting to have a captive audience."

Caroline pulled her luggage off of the bed and began to take it out to the car. Bonnie picked up her smaller bags and followed.

"Oh, shoot. I should probably call Tyler and make sure he packed."

"No need, Rebekah and Stefan are going to get him. Klaus predicted he was going to be difficult."

"Interesting."

The car was packed with Caroline and Bonnie's stuff quickly, and the two of them settled in to their seats to head to the airport. The new Icona Pop song was just starting as they pulled out in to the street and Caroline turned it up with a chuckle.

"Doesn't this song just make you want to dance like no one's watching?" She shimmied to the beat as Bonnie laughed at her.

"Or like everyone is watching. I hope Klaus lets us hit some of those legendary Euro clubs."

"I'll just let slip that I brought some dancing clothes with me. We'll be in a club in a snap."

The ride to the airport was quick, but they found themselves the last to arrive. As they parked, Caroline spied something she didn't like, beginning with H.

"Why is Hayley here?"

"Good question. How do we get rid of her?"

"Better question. I can't even snub her, though. Tyler doesn't know what Klaus told me."

"Wait, what?" Bonnie raised an eyebrow as she regarded Caroline.

"Oh, he's just filling my head with stuff again. He said that Tyler and Hayley started something when she showed up here."

"Hate to say it, Care, but I wouldn't be surprised. Tyler has been really irrational lately, and undependable."

"Ugh, I don't want to think about this. Let's just go."

Bonnie shot her friend a sympathetic look as they exited the car and joined the others on the tarmac. It seemed like there would be no lack of drama on this trip, as Elena and Rebekah eyed each other warily, and Stefan and Demon both seemed to be itching to get their hands on each other. Matt and Jeremy were off to the side, trying to avoid being in the middle of the tension. Klaus was already making his way up the stairs to the plane, Kol not far behind.

"This trip is going to be great fun." Caroline forced the words through gritted teeth.

"Oh, you bet."

OK, let me know what you think : ) Like, I said, mostly dialogue. Please be gentle : )