Always Mine...

in this world, or the next.

Chapter 1

A/N: Please excuse the mistakes and enjoy!

The frenzied breaths filling her lungs abruptly left Caroline in a whoosh. Her eyes widened as her mind seized on the crazy notion that the Original Hybrid was standing before her.

"H-h-how is this possible?", she managed in a strained voice.

A cruel sounding chuckle was her answer, causing Caroline to frown. Klaus had never made a such a noise, even on his really bad days.

And he'd called her his wife.

She focused on the being in front of her, studying his tensed frame. He was poised like a panther preparing to attack its prey. His glowing eyes tracked her tiniest movements, sizing her up to launch himself at her if she foolishly decided to run.

Which she knew better than to do.

If this really was Klaus -back from the dead, why was he so agitated and why wasn't he speaking?

"You're dead." She said plainly, louder this time. She mentally kicked herself for sounding so bitchy. She had no idea what state he was in and she was well aware of the deadly poison in his double fangs. Once bitten, twice shy and all that.

He bent down and retrieved her phone, ending the call. Stepping closer, he inhaled deeply. "Ah, still as lovely as ever, aren't you pet?"

The raspy British accent was the same, but the condescending tone was new. "Pet?" she hissed, temper flaring, "I don't know what's going on here, but don't ever call me that again."

"And still so bossy." Klaus smirked, "I know your sharp tongue has so many more talents than cutting poor men like me."

Face flaming at his gall and insinuation, Caroline snatched her phone out of his hand, just as he grabbed her upper arm in a vice like grip. She sucked in a stuttered breath at the menacing look on his face. Fear shot down her spine. "Klaus! Let me go!"

"Hush." he commanded harshly, sliding his arms around her back and clutching her close.

He was hugging her?! Caroline forced herself to remain still, unsure of how to react. This was Klaus, for Gods' sake! He would never hurt her, but he'd also never spoke or acted that way toward her either.

Something was different about him.

Besides, she was way past lying to herself over her feelings for the Original Hybrid. She'd locked herself away for a week after his death, crying and cursing him for showing her what a good man he could be and leaving her behind.

She'd later accepted the fact that she was doomed when it came to men and picked herself up, throwing herself whole-heartedly into finding a way to prevent her girls from merging –so much so she even missed their sweet sixteen birthday.

God, she was an awful mother.

She found herself relaxing into the embrace, even sliding her arms around his lower back and pressing her face into his neck. His sexy, masculine scent was too alluring and she began greedily breathing him in.

Klaus squeezed her even tighter, growling lowly in his throat. "I've missed you, Caroline." he rasped quietly.

Oh, my.

Her heart ached at his admission, filling with that traitorous feeling of hope she despised. The emotion had caused her to lie awake at night and wonder what they could have been. It was devastating in any form.

"How are you alive?" She murmured tentatively, pulling away from him. He let her leave the embrace, but held her close still -his strong hands holding her hips in place. Caroline could feel his warmth through her jeans and it sent shivers racing over her body.

The golden glow had faded from his gaze. The tempest blue she'd adored returned to his searching eyes. "I've never perished." he replied after a moment, seeming to pick his words carefully.

"Rebekah saw you and Elijah stake each other."

His jaw tensed. "Elijah is gone, then?"

"You both died." Caroline placed her hands on his chest. "You don't remember?" She chewed her lips, noticing the way his eyes kept glancing at her at her mouth.

He simply said, "Impossible.", as his face loomed closer to hers, eyes heavy lidded and filled with determination.

Klaus was going to kiss her.

She would oppose this idea under normal circumstances, but Klaus was back from the dead! Give a girl a break!

Her once-lover was alive again and her heart sang with joy and happiness. Caroline licked her lips, locking eyes with Klaus, mentally urging him on.

Kiss me, please.

Just as he neared closer, she closed her eyes and sighed when his full lips covered her own. The velvety softness was firm against her mouth, melting her with all his movements.

The kiss was so hesitant and sweet, Caroline gladly kissed him back, gripping his shoulders for support. She stood on her tip toes as she licked his lips, looking to deepen the kiss until it was all she could think about –just like the ones they used to share.

Klaus hummed with appreciation and met her challenge head on, slipping his strong tongue inside to mercilessly stoke hers. Caroline was helpless against the on slot of heady arousal he inflicted in her. He held them both upright as she sagged against him, lost in the euphoria of her emotions.

Caroline was finally able to reason with herself when he broke away with heavy breaths. She stepped back as soon as his arms dropped to his side.

There, she'd had her kiss, now it was time to get some answers-

"I'm not your Klaus." He said suddenly, halting her train of thought. She gaped at him. "He's dead."

"Then who are you?!" She fought down the immature impulse to wipe her mouth with disgust.

"I am Niklaus Mikaelson." He looked like he wanted to grab her again, so she took another step back, eyeing him with distrust. "From another alternate reality, very similar to yours up until two years ago."

"Two years ago?" That's when her Klaus had sacrificed himself with his older brother, Elijah.

He nodded, watching her carefully. "In this world, Elijah and I took the Hollow into ourselves so we could stake ourselves and save-" he choked out the next word, "Hope."

"Everyone knows that." Caroline retorted, "So what happened differently in your world?"

"That's exactly what didn't happen." He ran his hands through his cropped curls. Caroline remembered her Klaus had let his curls grow longer, and preferred it to this Klaus' shorter version. He continued explaining, looking so upset her heart ached for him, "So much happened since then, Caroline, I fear even you won't be able to forgive me."

She quietly sighed, glancing into his eyes, silently urging him to continue.

"I lost everything, Caroline, and I didn't react well."

"What did you do?" she asked with growing horror. He was the strongest being on the planet, what could be so bad, even he hesitated to admit it?

He looked right into her eyes and Caroline felt dread settle in her gut at his desolate gaze.

"I turned it off."

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tiffywa~