AN: Thanks to everyone who left a review. Since many asked for a continuation, I decided to make a multi-chapter story out of the one shot. Let me know what you think!

Klaus was vigorously working on a new canvas in his study. His feelings were in a turmoil. What was he doing? He took interest in a human girl, so much that he started to meddle in her affairs.

After driving her home, he gave her his cell phone number and compelled her again to tell him immediately if her boyfriend were to lay a hand on her again. Once would have sufficed, but he wanted to make sure.

Even though the sun was starting to rise he could not head to bed. He could not get her out of his head, she was all he could think about. This behavior was very unlike him. He stopped himself from continuing and decided to get a change of scenery by going out. Maybe this would clear his head a little, he thought.

He tried to distract himself by looking into some information he had received earlier this week. Apparently a whole werewolf pack was outside in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. They would just be perfect for his little experiment. Since he broke his curse and became a hybrid again, he wanted to create more of his own. He wanted to create a race that was superior to any other. An army that would stand loyal behind him.

By the time he got home a familiar face was sitting on his doorsteps.

"Now, to what do I owe the pleasure of you visiting my humble home?"

"I need your help," the young man said jadedly. "My brother was bitten by a werewolf."

"Ah, the fatal werewolf venom. You're right in coming to me. I'm sure we can help each other out," Klaus said with a wicked smile. "Let's talk inside, shall we, Stefan?"

"Hey mom, you just got home?" Caroline greeted her mother who just came back from work. She had not come home for the entire night and it was already 12pm.

"There was a car crash right around the Grill. Some stupid kids were drunk and high and hit a street lamp," Sheriff Forbes explained exhausted.

Caroline tried to act normal and pretended she had not known about the accident, much less had been there.

"That's horrible. Is everyone fine?" Caroline asked genuinely concerned. She felt guilty since she was at fault, too.

"They're in pretty bad shape. Looking at the scene they must have been driving way above the speed limit. It's a miracle they're even alive," she replied and then looked at her daughter worriedly. "They're about the same age as you. Please be careful while you drive, okay? Don't drive too fast. Don't drink. And don't you take drugs!"

"I know, mom. I don't," Caroline actually had to smile about her mother's concern. She hugged her and let her mother stroke through her hair. Ironically this was more soothing for her mother than it was for her. She chuckled quietly against the crook of her mother's neck before she tore herself away from her.

"I'm so happy to have you in my life, sweety. I don't know what I'd do without you. Promise me you'll be more careful when you're out at night, okay? The kid who was driving was rumbling on and on about a girl he had almost hit."

"What?" Caroline caught her breath.

"He was talking about a girl who apparently stood in the middle of the street and while he tried to evade her they crashed against the street lamp. But there was no girl anywhere and nobody saw a person that matched the description. I think he was just too high and hallucinated."

"I-I see," Caroline tried to find her equilibrium again.

"What would I do if it was you? I can't even go there," her mother said, not knowing how close she had been in losing her daughter. Caroline felt guilty all of a sudden. Even though she actually had not wanted to kill herself, truth was that she also had not tried to prevent it from happening. And although she did not regard her existence as meaningful, she never thought about her mother. How could she be fine leaving her mother alone by herself? Letting her go through the most horrible experience a parent could think of - losing their child.

Stricken with guilt she felt she was the most terrible person. She hugged her mother again and promised her she would be more careful in the future as to not get hurt. And she did not only mean walking the streets at night, evading drunks driving cars. She realized that she did not live only for herself and that she should cherish herself more. Something had to change and she finally had the courage to face something she had been too scared to do until now.

"That reminds me I got something for you," her mother said and went to the living room, searching through a drawer. "Here you go, sweety."

She handed her a small present. The box was unskillfully wrapped with violet wrapping paper and the two sides of the ribbon were unmatched. It was so like her mother, she had never been the wifey type, engrossed in baking, sewing or gift wrapping. All the more Caroline loved the effort her mother had put into this.

"Why did you get me a present? It's not even my birthday," Caroline asked surprised while opening it.

"Just a little something. I feel better if you have it."

Inside the box there was a cute leather bracelet with a flowery pattern carved into it.

"It's beautiful, mom. Thank you!" Caroline really loved the bracelet and she asked her mother to put it on immediately. But somewhere in the back of her head, she wondered why her mother gave her this out of the blue.

"I'm glad you like it. I'd like it if you wore it often," she said and squeezed her hand lightly.

"I will!" Caroline promised and hugged her mother once more.

"Okay, honey. I think we have reached the limit of hugs for today. My back won't take much more. Let me go to sleep, I'm tired," she said with a smile on her face.

"Of course. I was about to go out anyway," she replied.

"You're meeting Ryan?" Caroline nodded once, nervous about seeing him.

"Alright then I won't wait for you for dinner," she said, knowing she usually came home late when she was with her boyfriend.

"Actually I think I'll be home earlier today," Caroline responded, trying to find courage in her own words. She decided she was going to end it with him after all.

"I'll order take out then. How about Chinese?"

"Sounds good, mom." With that she left her mother alone and went outside, heading to her boyfriend's.

On her way to him she could feel her legs weaken, her heart racing, and her breathing accelerating. Never had she felt more afraid in her life than now. However, she was also never more determined as she was at this moment. She knew this had something to do with the mysterious man she met last night. Klaus.

He had saved her, he had figured out that her boyfriend was hitting her, and he had offered her help. She did not know why she trusted him, but she believed his words. They were sincere and his intentions were good, she just knew. There was no reasonable explanation for trusting a complete stranger. However, on some unfathomable level, she felt drawn to him.

Once she was in front of his apartment she hesitated a few minutes before she finally rang the bell. Unconsciously she checked her pockets for her cell phone a couple of times. Just in case Ryan would not take it well she wanted to call the man named Klaus for help. It was strange how much she already depended on him even though they just met a few hours before.

There was the loud buzzing coming from the door and she pushed it open. Nervously she went upstairs to the third floor, going through the words on how she wanted to break up with him over and over in her head.

"Hi Ryan," she greeted him softly. His face was stern and impassive. He did not reply and just waited for her to come inside.

She entered the living room and stood in front of the couch where Ryan was sitting down. The TV was on, broadcasting a football game. Cans of beer were scattered all over the place and two boxes with leftover pizzas were lying on the coffee table. The place was a mess. She automatically reached for the empty cans in an attempt to clean the place when Ryan lashed out on her all of a sudden.

"Leave it!"

Caroline shrieked back immediately. She honestly did not know what she did wrong. Was this still about yesterday? She had had the impression he had been fine with her leaving early, but apparently he was not.

"I'm sorry I went home early last night. I wasn't feeling well," Caroline apologized, trying to soothe his anger. He let out an irritated sound in response.

"Oh, well, if the angel isn't feeling well, how can I be mad about it?" He asked rhetorically, reaching for another can of beer and not looking at her.

"What's wrong, Ryan?" She asked, noticing that something was off about him today.

"What's wrong with me? Everything is perfect! Just perfect!" He squeezed the can hard and smashed it against the ground next to her. She yelped out in response, surprised by his outburst.

"Look, I see you don't feel well, I'll leave you alone," she said, concentrating on an even voice. She tried to leave as she realized he was in a very bad mood and it scared her.

"Why did you come?" He stopped her, though still looking at the television screen.

"It's okay, I'll tell you another time," she replied quickly, trying to take her leave again.

"Where were you last night?" He asked her menacingly. Her heart skipped a beat and it felt like it had stopped entirely until it started to pump her blood so quickly, she could hear her heart beat in her own ears.

"What do you mean? I went home after I was with you and the others," she tried to sound as normal as she could. He turned off the TV and stood up, turning around to her. Although he was standing about fifteen feet away from her, she clasped on her cell phone in her pocket scared.

"You went straight home?" He asked her, his voice unreadable.

"Yes," she crooked out.

"I tried calling you."

"I went right to sleep. As I said I wasn't feeling too well," Caroline lied as convincingly as she could.

"WHY ARE YOU LYING TO ME?!" He walked toward her and grabbed her by her arms.

"I'm not lying! Ryan, stop it! You're hurting me!" She cried out.

"STOP LYING TO ME!" He slapped her hard on her face, making her fall to the floor. "I saw you! I saw you with that man!"

Caroline's eyes widened and the tears she had tried to hold back started pouring out.

"Yes, I know! I tried calling you, but you wouldn't pick up, so I went to your house, but no one was home. So I waited. And you know who I saw leaving a man's car in the middle of the night?! Who was talking to that man on her porch for several minutes?! Who couldn't stop looking at him with her big blue eyes?!"

"Ryan I can explain! Please listen to me!" But instead of hearing her out he kicked her, although she was already lying on the ground.

"How long have you been sleeping around my back already, huh?!" He kicked her again, ignoring her sobs and pleas for him to stop. "HOW LONG?!"

"It's not like that, please stop..." she begged him, trying to brace herself for the next kick.

"How could you do this to me?! I love you! Why are you doing this to me?!" Tears started to stream down his face, making him only more violent. "Did you come here today to break up with me?! Because of him?! You're leaving me for him?!"

Caroline tried to get away from him, slowly crawling to the door. She had never seen him this angry before and she knew she had to get out of there, otherwise she was not sure whether she would survive this one.

"No, I won't let you leave me! I won't! I WON'T, YOU HEAR ME?!" He grabbed her by her hair and straddled her on the floor. After he slapped her twice he ripped off her scarf and placed his hands around her neck, adding pressure on it. "I won't let you leave me. I love you too much..."

"S-Stop it, please!" She crooked out, terrified. She couldn't breathe and she panicked. He was too strong to push him off of herself and her attempts to hurt him in order to free herself were in vain. She struggled with him desperately, but it was no use.

This was it, she thought. She would die like this. And even though she had been accepting of such a fate just the night before, she desperately wanted to stay alive now. She did not want to die. Not like this. Not after she finally saw a light in her life.

With the last strength she could summon she reached for the empty bottle of tequila next to her and hit his head with it. He cried out in pain and collapsed next to her on the floor. Coughing and shaking she stood up and stumbled to the bathroom, locking the door behind her. She instinctively reached for her cell phone and called the one man who promised her he would help her.

After the first ring he picked up and his voice sounded serious and concerned. "Caroline?"

"K-Klaus?" She sobbed into her cell phone.

"Where are you?" He asked straight away. He had compelled her to call him should her boyfriend hit her again and the second he saw her name on his cell phone's display he knew she was in trouble and he did not want to lose any time.

"I'm at his place," she said shakily. "He tried to k-kill me, Klaus. Please help me!"

"Who are you talking to?!" Ryan's voice echoed from behind the door, making Caroline jump in surprise. He tried to open the door, rattling on the door knob. "Is it him?! I'm going to kill him! OPEN THE DOOR!"

"I-I'm so scared, Klaus... Help me, please," she whispered, crying.

"Listen to me, you will calm down. Because I will come. I gave you my word I would come. Do you trust me?" He tried to assure her.

She visibly relaxed a little, her breathing slowed down, she stopped shaking so hard, and she did not feel as scared anymore. He gave her something she could concentrate on, something she could hold onto.

"Yes," she replied, genuinely trusting him.

"Good, love. Now give me the address." She complied and he told her he would be there in two minutes. How could he be there so fast, she wondered, but she believed him nonetheless. Two minutes. She only had to hold on for two more minutes. "Try to get out of there, can you do that?"

Since he had never been invited to the apartment, he had to get her out before he could help her. Although he was very creative when it came to forcing his way inside, he did not want to lose any time. She was scared and he did not want to leave her in this situation any longer than he had to.

"I'll try," she said weak.

"I will come, Caroline," he told her with much emphasis before he hang up.

"Who are you talking to?! Open the door!" Ryan pounded against the door.

Caroline stood up and walked across the small room to the window. She opened it and looked down the backyard. It seemed so very high. But she had to get out of there. There was a bush alongside the building's wall and if she managed to jump right into it, it might cushion her fall, she thought.

She climbed up onto the window sill and tried to find the courage to jump out. But her legs would not move, she was too scared. Behind her she could hear Ryan running against the bathroom's door in order to break in and she knew it would only be seconds until he succeeded.

She repeated the stranger's words in her head, that he would come for her. She focused on her memories of him, how he had saved her already before, the first time she saw him. The confusion she had seen in his eyes, the hard face, but also the tender touch with which he held her in his arms. And also the second time she saw him, when she woke up in his home. His sophisticated appearance, his English charm, but also the loneliness she saw behind that facade. A lonely soul just like herself.

The door tore from its hinges and she could hear Ryan call her name from behind. And in this moment she closed her eyes and let go. She jumped out the window and fell three stories down.

It felt liberating. She always regarded the situation between her and Ryan as normal, she was used to it. And even though he treated her horribly, she always knew he did it because he was not able to express his love any other way. She felt like she ought to stay with him, because deep down he was loving her in his own way and she had to try handling it. But that was not what love is. She did not love him and she could not stay with him any longer, simply because she owed it to him. Even though she needed a complete stranger to open her eyes for her, the step she just took out the window, was her own. She freed herself from him with her own means. Like this she had no regrets.

Bracing herself for the hard impact she closed her eyes again and held her breath.

"When I said to get out of the building I didn't mean for you to break your neck by jumping down a three story high apartment complex," Caroline heard a familiar voice say next to her ear.

Klaus was carrying her in his arms, breathing heavily from running at full speed for two and a half miles.

"You came," she exhaled. "You really came!"

She started to cry and laugh at the same time. And even though he saw her all beat up, bruised from obviously being hit just a few minutes before, the sound of her heavenly giggling distracted him so much that his anger subsided for a moment. Unable to stay unaffected from the gorgeous scene in front of him waves of chuckling escaped from his mouth as well.

"I am a man of my words," he pointed out. Well, at least sometimes, he added the last part silently in his head.

"Thank you," she said softly, sincerely grateful. He looked into her blue eyes and became entranced immediately. It felt almost like compulsion only that he was the one being compelled for the first time. By her, her innocence and her light.

He nodded once before he tore himself away from her gaze. Ryan had witnessed the whole scene from above and vanished from the window. He was on his way down.

"As promised I will take care of him. Take a seat and enjoy the show," he said smiling wickedly. Caroline was put down next to the building wall and she regarded Klaus quizzically. What did he plan to do?