A/N: So I said it'd be 2 parts, but its going to be 3.
Klaus wasn't sure what he'd been expecting when he was brought to the hospital room. The advisors who'd met him at the airport had tried to talk up Elijah's chances while at the same time going over bits and pieces of what he needed to do-after all, the country would be looking to him for leadership in these next few weeks...possibly longer. He had tried to listen to them, but his priority was on getting to the hospital to see Elijah for himself and to talk to his mother. Esther Mikaelson was a loving mother, wanting the best for her children, and she always told them the truth, no matter how young they might be.
Elijah had never looked so helpless.
It wasn't right, seeing him with various tubes, surrounded by different machines monitoring his health. He barely looked alive, his skin not quite the right color, his hair falling in ways that wouldn't adhere to Elijah's standards. Maybe it was the florescent lights of the room, coating everything with a distinct shine that screamed hospital. Or maybe it was the mood, the doctors and nurses somber as they moved in and out of the room, noting vitals or murmuring something to Esther. She sat at her son's side, book in her lap that she was reading quietly from.
Klaus remained in the doorway, not quite wanting to interrupt the scenes. He smiled briefly as he listened to her read, remembering the story from his childhood. It had been one of Elijah's favorites.
She must have sensed him, she always seemed to have a knack for that with any of her children, because the book was set aside and she was walking toward him seconds later, pulling him into a tight embrace. His family wasn't one for hugging, not once they passed what qualified for childhood. Henrik was the only one who still bothered with it, not quite having passed the age where it was frowned upon.
Klaus hugged her back though, feeling that she needed the comfort, knowing that he did as well. "How is he doing?" he asked as they pulled away from one another, both of them turning to look at Elijah.
He didn't like seeing his brother like this, didn't want this to be the way Elijah would be remembered if he didn't...no. Klaus couldn't think of it like that. His brother would pull through no matter what the diagnosis might be. Elijah was strong, stubborn like the rest of his siblings. Too stubborn to die.
"Broken ribs, broken leg, but it's the swelling of his brain that has them worried," Esther informed him as she headed back to sit down beside Elijah. "They've been working to keep it down but he hasn't woken and they don't know how he'll be once he does."
Klaus nodded as he headed over to the bed, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder. Elijah felt so weak to his touch, the vulnerability shining through as though he was infinitely more breakable than before. "What do you need me to do?"
"I'm sure the advisers have already gone over quite a bit with you on your ride from the airport. They'll get you through the next few days. You don't need to worry about talking to the press yet. Jenna is dealing with all reporters," Esther murmured as she looked at Elijah before glancing up at Klaus. "Though you have to know that it won't take them long to find out the girl's name. The one they caught you with in the library." Disappointment coated her tone but Klaus ignored that.
"I need to send someone out there to help her deal with the paparazzi." He couldn't leave Caroline to those wolves. He knew she was stressed enough with her worry for him and finals; she didn't need to deal with the vultures trying to bang down her door at all hours.
"I'm sure it'll all blow over in a few days with you being here now," Esther replied with a wave of her hand, dismissing the idea.
"Considering Caroline will be flying out here next week I doubt that," Klaus murmured as he looked over at his mother, noting her shock at that information. He'd never brought any girl back with him to the country, never had them meeting his family if he could help it.
"I hardly think now is the best time for that," Esther started, nodding toward Elijah. They already knew there would be one funeral for Finn and Mikael and with waiting for Elijah to swing one way or another, she didn't see how having his current dalliance around would be appropriate. But Klaus shook his head.
"I need her here," Klaus sighed and looked back at Elijah. He needed to know that his family was safe and in his mind Caroline was part of that family. Two were already going to be buried in the ground. He didn't want to be worried about where she was and if the paparazzi were causing mayhem for her. He also wanted to be able to hold her, to breathe her in as he tried to make sense of all of the changes that were crashing down onto him.
He'd been a mess in the airport, barely keeping it together, but having Caroline there with him had helped calm him, let his mind focus like it needed to instead of continuing on in the messy manner it had been.
Esther had never heard her son admit that he needed anyone before, not even her. It seemed that dalliance might not be the appropriate word for the girl after all. "Very well. Pick some of the guard and send them there to help her through the days until she's here."
Klaus knew just the ones to dispatch to New York. "The governess is around for Henrik but I'm sure he's been sticking close to Rebekah anyway. Try to give her a break once you're back at the palace," Esther continued before flipping back to the last page she'd been on.
"Who's giving you a break?" Klaus asked, noting the dark circles under her eyes.
"A mother never has a break," Esther replied before nodding for him to go.
He walked over to her, pressing a kiss to her forehead before leaving the room, steeling himself for the onslaught of information and changes that were about to bombard him. First though he needed to let Caroline know that he was sending a team to help her out and ensure her safety and then he would have to dispatch that team to head to New York city asap.
Hopefully before the paparazzi figured out her name.
It had been four days since she'd seen Klaus, her life changing in ways she couldn't comprehend. Not even a day after he'd left and there was a group of men and women whisking her out of her dorm room and getting her set up in a hotel room that they could better secure against the paparazzi that were constantly trying to photograph her. Caroline's mind was a whirlwind, her usual routine disrupted and for a girl who liked order it was almost enough to bring about a panic attack. But she held onto the little things she could control-her bedtime routine, her study methods-and kept her mind focused on what mattered.
She kept in touch with Klaus, the two of them talking at least twice a day. She could hear the tiredness in his voice, got a sense of the wariness that was running through him with everything that was being suddenly thrust upon him. She listened, knowing that was what he needed, offered advice where she could-which mostly came down to what she herself was doing; taking it all a step at a time and try not to get overwhelmed. Maybe it wasn't much but he seemed a bit happier, a bit lighter whenever they said their goodbyes.
Finals were finally over and Caroline was back at the hotel, packing for her trip. Most of her clothes were staying back at her dorm room with everything else for the next semester, but she'd needed more things to wear than the team had initially taken. Thankfully they'd managed to get in and out of the dorm room with more of her clothes, bringing her mother back to the hotel with them.
"Is it bad?" Caroline asked, because she knew some reporters had made their way down to Mystic Falls.
"They've learned pretty quickly to not bother me," Liz assured her as she sat down on the bed. None of them seemed to want to mess with a Sheriff who was more than happy to fine them for stepping a foot outside the law. Her friends and others in the town were another thing entirely but Liz didn't want to worry Caroline anymore than she was currently.
She pulled the passport out of her purse and handed it over. "How long are you going to be there?"
"I don't know," Caroline frowned at that before putting the passport into her purse. "I mean, spring semester doesn't start until the end of January so I've got a few weeks at least." Klaus and her hadn't exactly gone into the details. Christmas was a little over two weeks away though and she hadn't ever spent it away from her mother. "I'll let you know."
Liz nodded, not entirely sure how she felt about any of this. She understood Caroline's need to accompany Klaus, to be there for him in his time of need, but it was the rest of it that worried her. She'd seen the two of them at Thanksgiving. That boy loved her daughter, she'd seen it clear as day every time Klaus looked at Caroline. And she'd seen the beginnings of that same look being directed by Caroline at him. Her daughter had simply needed to drop the last of the barriers she'd put around herself after the catastrophe that was the Lockwood boy. Liz had been happy to see it happen but now...she couldn't help but worry for the scrutiny that her daughter was about to come under.
"Promise me, Caroline, that you will not forget your own dreams in the middle of all of this," Liz urged, catching her daughter's gaze, needing her to know she was serious about that.
"I won't," Caroline assured her with a small smile. She knew her mother only wanted the best for her.
"And you're calling me every other day," Liz added. Caroline usually contacted her every few days while she was away at college, but now her daughter would be in an entire different country on another continent. She needed to know that Caroline was okay.
Caroline sat down on the bed and hugged her mother hard, thankful that Liz embraced her back just as tightly. "You always did like pretending to be different princesses growing up," Liz murmured into her hair before sighing.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Caroline laughed, not quite ready to look too deeply at all of the ramifications of being in a relationship with Klaus. For now she wanted to focus on being a shoulder he could lean on. The rest of it could wait. "Now come on and help me figure out what the hell I'm even supposed to bring to wear."
Klaus was advised against being there to pick her up from the airport. They thought it'd be easier to slip her out of it unnoticed if he remained behind in the palace to meet her. He hadn't liked the idea of Caroline being pushed around like a dirty little secret that was being hidden from the world. The papers in his country were already looking into her background, reporting the basics of her childhood, of her parents' divorce and any achievements she had made through the years. There weren't any photographs circulating from her teenage years yet but Klaus knew it was only a matter of time before some did, trying to paint her in a bad light.
He refused to aide in the rumors circulating about her by not greeting her with open arms. Plus Henrik wanted to get out of the palace, not enjoying being cooped up inside, and Klaus had never been able to deny his baby brother anything. So he took him along with the guard that now accompanied him everywhere to meet Caroline at the airport.
It amazed him how much had changed in the last few days. No longer could he simply take one of the cars out and go for a drive, he couldn't walk out into the city without security following him everywhere he went, needing to alert them so they could initiate the proper protocol. He'd dealt with some of that as a child, vaguely remembered always being accompanied to school and friend's places that he was even allowed to venture to. But he'd gotten the strings to stretch when he was older, reminding everyone that he wasn't even the spare heir and he wanted to live his damn life, ready to abdicate all future honors if they didn't give him room to breathe.
They'd given in, letting him come and go as he pleased, a precedent that his brother Kol had taken to as well, but those leniencies were over. Until Elijah woke Klaus was being seen as the heir to the throne, and if-when-Elijah woke he'd be second in line, still not allowed the freedoms he'd once had. To say it was going to be an adjustment was an understatement.
His thoughts were heavy, constantly looping back to the latest conversations with the advisors and Klaus tried to push them out. He wanted this to be a joyous reunion, or at least as joyous as it could be with the melancholy that his life was currently dipped in. Which was another reason why he'd let Henrik accompany him, knowing his baby brother needed to do something instead of sitting around at home waiting to hear the worst.
"Do you think she'll like me?" Henrik asked as they stood outside the terminal, waiting for the plane to deboard.
Klaus looked down at the seven year old who nervously looked back at him, shuffling slightly back and forth as he stood there, biting his lower lip. "If I recall correctly, the two of you got along just fine every time you Facetimed me for help with your homework and she ended up being the one to help," he pointed out with a smile.
"But that was on the Internet. Rebekah says that I am...overwhelming," Henrik scrunched up his nose, trying to remember if that was the word his sister had used. "That I talk too much."
"Sister are supposed to think that," Klaus told him before ruffling the boy's hair. "And you'll find that Caroline is quite the talker too."
Henrik pushed his hands away and tried to get his hair to fall back how he liked it. "But isn't Caroline going to be my sister?"
Klaus' eyes widened at that. "You need to stop listening to anything Kol says," he murmured.
Kol would be the one to put such notions in Henrik's head. Even if Klaus wanted to marry Caroline, it was a bit too early to be talking about such things. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her away, something he'd been certain would happen at any minute before she knew he was a prince. Now that she knew Klaus had a feeling it'd be even more likely to happen. Maybe it would have been best if they'd ended that day on the side street, but he couldn't help but hold out hope that she would stick by his side forever.
"He said you'd say that," Henrik replied before his attention went back to the walkway. Members of the royal guard filtered out, Caroline in the middle of them and chatting away with one of them that Klaus thought was named Lexi.
She stopped as soon as she spotted him, her bright smile and the concern in her eyes easing any worry that Klaus had been feeling. Caroline headed right to them and Klaus kissed her in greeting, his hand staying on the curve of her back as she turned her attention to Henrik.
Now that she was there he couldn't seem to stop touching her, needing to know that she was truly there.
"Hi, Henrik. It's so nice to actually meet you in person," Caroline greeted the boy who was looking shyly at her. "How did your report on penguins go?"
"I got top marks," Henrik told her with a grin.
"I'm not surprised. You were really interested in them so I bet that spilled out when you had to share your project," Caroline replied and Klaus watched as Henrik became a little more relaxed, nodding along with what she said.
Klaus took the small carry on from her and handed it off for Lexi to carry. He slipped his hand in Caroline's, giving it a squeeze. She looked over at him, seemingly searching his expression before giving his hand a squeeze back. Klaus expected Henrik to take his other hand but his brother took hold of Caroline's other one as he started to tell her more facts about penguins.
Klaus readied to say something about her maybe being tired after the flight and perhaps they should pepper her with facts later, wanting to give her an out to his little brother who could be a bit overwhelming with his enthusiasm, but Caroline was happily chatting away with Henrik and Klaus figured it was better to let it happen. She was relaxed and Henrik was smiling, something Klaus knew could cease at any moment with all that was happening.
A number of cameras flashed as they made their way to the exit, Klaus assuring Caroline that her bags would be delivered to the palace. The reporters were calling out for them to say anything, to look their way, but the royal guard quickly ushered the three of them into the back of the car before heading off toward the palace.
Looking online at photographs of the palace hadn't prepared Caroline at all for seeing it in person. The city wasn't unlike the few others she'd been to before, though the architecture was breathtaking, reminding her of some European exhibits in the museums back in New York. The palace in the center of it all, something that looked even more like it was out of a fairy tale than anything she'd seen before, caught her attention as soon as they turned the corner.
They had to pass through an ornate gate to get onto the actual grounds, though Caroline noted a an entrance on the side that people were walking through.
A statue of one of the kings riding on a horse was in the middle of the square that the palace sat on. She had no idea what century the building had been erected, but the stonework and columns took her breath away as they neared it. There were statues on top of the building, ones she couldn't quite make out as she pressed close to the window, trying to take it all in. She tried to count the number of windows that she could see but there were too many, some long surrounded by the columns and others not as large, with white frames around them.
Klaus gripped her hand a little tighter while Henrik was engrossed in his book. Caroline could feel her nerves starting to get to her, the enormity of who Klaus was really starting to sink in now that it was in front of her. He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it, the gesture calming her some.
Royal guards could be seen in various positions in the square, there probably were even some in places that she didn't notice. Their convoy of cars turned off toward a side entrance that was heavily guarded with a steel gate opening and then closing behind them. "This will be the way you'll come in," Klaus explained as the car continued down the drive. "The front door is for the tour groups and for when there are official ceremonies. We tend not to go into the areas on the first two floors that are available to the public. They're clearly marked so it shouldn't be hard for you to pick them out."
It seemed that like the White House the palace was also open to the public in certain areas.
Caroline wondered what it must have been like to grow up having people venture in and out of your home as they pleased. She doubted they could go everywhere, that would be a security risk, but just knowing that there could be others in the house during certain scheduled hours was an odd concept to her.
"We stick mostly to the south wing. It's only for the family and the staff that helps run it. Special guests are in the wing next to it," he continued as the car finally stopped.
"So I'll be in the next wing?" she asked, trying to take it all in.
"No, sweetheart, I've got you in the room that's attached to mine," Klaus assured her and Caroline let out a thankful sigh for that.
"We don't live here in the summer. We're in the castle that's by the beach then," Henrik added as the car door opened and she was helped down onto the ground, Klaus following behind her. Henrik rounded the car to meet up with them.
"Prince Niklaus," an older looking man greeted from the top of the steps they were heading up. "You're needed. There's been some new information that's come to light that you're required to look through."
"Caroline only just arrived," Klaus replied, clearly not wanting to leave her but she could see that he was torn, knowing he needed to deal with whatever the matter might be.
The man looked ready to reiterate how important it was and Caroline squeezed Klaus' hand. "I'm sure Henrik can show me around while you deal with what you need to," Caroline told him. "It'll give us time to get to know one another better, won't it, Henrik?"
"Can I Nik?" Henrik's excitement nearly bubbled out of him. "I'll make sure to show her all of the good places. Like the kitchen so she can see where to get ice cream."
"I'm liking his plan," Caroline laughed, letting Henrik take her hand again.
"I'll find you in a few hours," Klaus told her, pressing a kiss to her cheek.
She smiled reassuringly at him as he headed off with the man, looking back over his shoulder once or twice before disappearing down the hall. "So ice cream?" Caroline asked as she looked back at Henrik who grinned at her before tugging her in the apparent direction of the kitchen.
It wasn't news that Klaus wanted to hear. Further tests had come back for Elijah, declaring him brain dead after the latest seizure he'd had in the hospital room. They urged for Klaus to sign the papers ceasing life support, all signs apparently stating that even if by some miracle that Elijah did wake that the chances of any kind of recovery were less than 5%.
This wasn't the kind of decision Klaus had ever thought he'd be making, future king or not, he shouldn't be holding his brother's life in his hands. They might have wanted him to sign off right away, to further push him into the role of king that loomed ahead of him, but this was a family decision, not just his, no matter how the advisors might try to persuade him.
The hospital room was as bleak as it had been before, the fresh flowers that adorned a few of the surfaces doing nothing to brighten the room. Death seemed to hang heavily over Elijah, urging him onward, but still his brother's heart was beating, chest rising with every breath he took. And Esther sat by his side, holding his hand as she continued to read to him.
She looked up again at Klaus' presence, seeing the turmoil in her son's face and knew what he'd been advised to do. "They can't expect me to make this decision," Klaus murmured as he stared at Elijah, willing his brother to wake, for a miracle to happen.
"The decisions of Kings are never easy," Esther told him as she rose to stand beside him.
Klaus wanted to protest. He wasn't King yet. He was simply a man who didn't want his brother to die.
It seemed though that Elijah decided to look out for his younger brother one last time, taking the decision out of Klaus' hands. His vitals dropped, the machines beeping wildly as his pulse flatlined. The room chaos in seconds, doctors and nurses rushing inside to try and help him while ushering Klaus and Esther out.
They knew as soon as the doctor stepped out that Elijah hadn't pulled through that time.
Klaus caught his mother as her knees gave out at the news, another of her family to be buried in too short a time. The next hour went by in a blur and Klaus wasn't sure he'd ever be able to say what happened during that time. One second they were standing outside the hospital room and the next his mother and he were back at the palace, standing in Henrik's doorway and watching the boy and Caroline playing a video game together.
Henrik was the first to notice them, a brief flash of hope in his eyes before he was shaking his head and sobbing. Esther was at his side in seconds, rocking him in her arms, and watched as Caroline crossed the room to be at Klaus' side, wrapping him into a tight hug. She watched as her now eldest finally broke down and started to cry, clinging desperately to the American girl she still had to officially meet.
It surprised Esther that she was actually thankful for Caroline's presence. She didn't think Klaus would have let anyone else comfort him like the girl was doing and Esther knew very well that her son was going to be in need of a great deal comfort in the coming days with his accession to the throne and then with their family along with the country going into mourning.
It had been three weeks since Caroline had gotten off the plane but it felt like it was much longer than that. So much had happened in such a short time that everyone was still reeling from it all. It wasn't even a day after the funeral that Klaus had to endure the accession ceremony, becoming the rightful King and taking on all the responsibilities that went with that. Christmas had come and went, a small affair that was more somber than cheerful, the usual duties of the royal family pushed aside as the country let them mourn.
Grief weighted everything down, the country and royal family still in mourning even as routines were slowly gotten back into. The country would continue to do so for the next year and then the coronation ceremony would happen. It would take about that long to plan it and have everything built and grown according to tradition and the advisors thought that it would give the appropriate amount of time for grieving.
Caroline had gotten to know Klaus' siblings. While Henrik had taken to her right away and Kol had gotten along with her well enough, Rebekah had been a bit colder, not quite sure how to take her in, but that was slowly changing as the two got to know one another.
Esther had been an enigma, some days approachable and helpful and other times watching her with a cool gaze. Caroline thought it was because of the grief she was experiencing. It had to be screwing with the woman's emotions to have lost her husband and two children all in one fell swoop.
"Your Highness," Caroline greeted as she knocked on the door to the study that Esther was currently inside. She watched the older woman look up from the book she was reading. "I was wondering if I could ask you about colleges."
Esther arched a brow at that before motioning for her to enter. "Yours is set to start back up again in a few weeks," she replied, lips thinning a bit at the idea.
Caroline nodded, trying not to twist her hands. "Yes, back in New York." She didn't want to go back there though, didn't want to leave Klaus behind to deal with everything on his own. He had his siblings and his mother but Caroline had noticed that he was leaning on her in ways he didn't with any of the others. But she'd promised her mom she wouldn't give up on her dreams. "I was wondering though about the colleges here. I don't know what the policy is for...members of the royal family with taking classes?"
She wasn't one yet, but she was guarded as though she was one of them any time she did leave the palace. "Is it something I would be able to do?"
Esther watched her carefully. "You would want to transfer here instead of going back?" She smiled as Caroline nodded, a weight dropping from her shoulder at this possibility. "I don't see a reason why we wouldn't be able to make that happen. Your grades are phenomenal so whichever of the two you'd like to attend would be happy to have you. And you'll be delighted to know that undergraduate degrees are free here so you won't need to worry about a scholarship."
Esther rose and headed over to the desk, scribbling a few notes onto her calendar. "Beyond that costs money but most businesses end up paying for their employees to go if they need it. I'll have information about the two colleges that we help fund made available to you so you can pick which would be the best option for you."
Caroline breathed out, relieved that this was going to be a possibility. If it wasn't she'd have kept looking for a way, done online classes if needed-though she much preferred actually sitting in class-because leaving was not an option that she could live with. "Thank you."
She was surprised when Esther turned back to her and walked over, taking hold of her hands. "No, thank you. I worried you would leave when the time came and knew that would devastate my son. I doubt it's been lost on you how much Niklaus needs you around."
"I wouldn't have been able to concentrate on anything if I went back." She'd barely been able to do so for finals and he'd only been gone a few days. Caroline couldn't even imagine what it would have been like to be away for an entire semester. "Though I am definitely going to need to explain this all to my mother." That would not be easy.
Esther squeezed her hands. "I'll make sure you've got details on the colleges before the end of the day so that you'll be able to have a reasonable plan when you do talk to her. I'm sure that will help."
"It will. A lot." Her mom would just want to know that she wasn't quitting college and her dreams.
A knock at the doorway stopped her from saying anything more and the two glanced over to find Klaus watching them. "Might I steal her for lunch?" he asked as he walked on in, kissing his mother's cheek and then Caroline's.
"Of course," Esther patted his cheek for a second before smiling at Caroline.
Klaus took hold of Caroline's hand, threading their fingers together as they left the study. "Do I want to know what my mother and you were discussing?"
"She's going to get me details about college out here so I can transfer," Caroline told him. She hadn't expected him to stop walking, nor did she expect his startled expression that quickly turned into a beaming smile. She could see the touches of his mother in him then and his siblings as well. "If you want me to stay anyway."
"Of course I do," Klaus replied, pulling her in close before her insecurities could get the better of her. He kissed the tip of her nose before moving away and tugging her toward the stairs.
She followed him, laughing at the excitement that seemed to have taken him over. Caroline couldn't even think of the last time she'd seen him look this happy about anything. "I thought we were going to eat lunch?" she said as he brought her to one of the backdoors, holding out her jacket to help her into.
"We will," Klaus assured her as he pulled on his own while she found her gloves.
She wrapped one of the scarves around her neck and pulled the hood to fit correctly before following him out onto the grounds.
It looked like someone had bathed the area in a snow, another scene out of a storybook come to life. It was still lightly falling down, adding another fresh coat to the already pristine white, though there were a few indentations from where Henrik must have walked earlier, a lopsided snowman marking where the boy had stopped.
Caroline let Klaus tug her along the hedged path toward the royal stables. Lunch could definitely wait if it meant they were going to be seeing the horses for a bit. She could never pass up that kind of opportunity, especially since the stables were heated.
He stopped them right outside the gate that led into it though, clasping hold of her other gloved hand. She quirked a brow at him, wondering what had him looking so nervous. "What?" Caroline asked as she tried to wipe some snow from his brow.
"I wanted to do this but I wasn't entirely sure if I should," Klaus started, not at all making sense. "I didn't want to tie you down here. You want to see the world and while I can do that it won't ever be like it might have been. There will be so much planning involved, so many requirements…"
Klaus frowned and Caroline shrugged. "I happen to like planning."
He reached over and ran his hands up her arms at that. "I know and I love that about you." She beamed at that and he brushed his gloved fingers against her cheek. "I don't think you'll ever know how much it has meant to have you here."
She didn't expect to him to get down on one knee next, nor for him to pull out a little black box from his coat pocket. "There is no one else in this world that I could ever love as much as I do you," Klaus told her as he pulled off his gloves and opened up the box to reveal the most intricate ring she'd ever seen. "You're ridiculously stubborn, loyal, protective of those you love, and you love and care more than anyone I've ever known. There's no one else that I want to have by my side, as my Queen, besides you, Caroline Forbes. I will love you forever if you'll have me."
He tugged the glove off her hand as she tried to remember how to breathe. "Will you marry me?" Klaus finished and she pressed her free hand to her mouth as she nodded, losing her voice for a moment.
"Yes," she finally breathed out.
Caroline couldn't help the happy tears from falling as he slipped the ring on her finger before rising. Klaus wiped at her cheeks and then kissed her, soft and slow, wondering how he'd gotten so lucky.
She laughed as they broke apart, looking down at her ring as best she could through her tears. Her happiness was overwhelming, emotions bubbling out of her, and she hugged Klaus tightly, not quite believing any of it was real. But his arms held her tightly against him and she breathed in his scent, feeling the weight of the ring on her hand.
"Oh god, I have to let my mom know before the news gets hold of this," Caroline murmured after a moment and it was Klaus' turn to laugh. He fished his phone out from his pocket and handed it over to her.
"Let's have that conversation in the stables and out of this dreadful weather that you so love," Klaus suggested as he pushed the gate open.
"There's just something magical about snow," Caroline chided as she dialed her mother's number, smiling as she realized that Klaus had Liz in there as a contact.
Klaus brought her hand up to his mouth at that and kissed the back of it, admiring the ring he'd placed on it before her mother answered the phone. This probably wouldn't be an easy conversation, no doubt Liz Forbes would be worried about many things, but as he watched Caroline's face light up even more when she told her mother the news Klaus couldn't help but think that it was all worth it for that smile.
It had taken a little over a month for Liz to schedule time off. Partly because she wanted to make sure everything would run smoothly while she was gone (after being Sheriff for over eight years and not taking any real breaks she was justifiably worried) but mostly she had needed to give herself the time to process everything that Caroline had told her.
Klaus being revealed as a Prince of some foreign nation had been one thing but his now being King and having proposed to her little girl was another entirely. She worried for daughter, how could she not? This was a world that Caroline had no real experience in, one that Liz thought my chew her up and spit her out faster than anyone could expect. Her daughter was stubborn though, and Liz knew better than to try and talk Caroline out of anything once the thought was in her head. Her daughter would see it through to the end, no matter how bitter it might be.
When photographs of Caroline at an underage party had leaked to a few gossip magazines Liz had worried about the backlash that would come with it, but the palace had rebutted easily enough with lists of her daughter's charity work, her earning of a college scholarship, grades in both high school and college, as well as information about her being valedictorian. It tipped the scales in Caroline's favor and for that Liz was grateful but it didn't lessen any of the worry.
This was only the beginning, if Caroline did marry Klaus then it would be a lifetime of people watching in fascination as she rose or fell. Her daughter wasn't even twenty yet; how was Caroline supposed to know if she could handle that for the next fifty plus years?
But this trip wasn't supposed to be about her worries. It was about meeting Klaus' family and sharing in the congratulatory celebration for the engagement. So Liz was determined to be as cheerful as she could be and push aside her concerns as best she could manage.
The car door was opened and Liz stepped out, smiling as she spotted Caroline at the top of the steps. One thing that wouldn't have to change was apparently her daughter's sense of style. It fit in a lot better here than it seemed to back in their small town.
Caroline grinned brightly as she bounded down the steps to meet her. "I'm sorry I couldn't meet you at the airport," she murmured as she hugged her mother. "The flight delay kind of threw the schedule off. At least you didn't have to deal with the press, right?"
Liz squeezed her a little tighter before pulling away. "I can't have them arrested for trespass here." Something they'd learned she would happily do if they stepped a foot out of line with her.
Caroline laughed and started up the stairs. "Don't worry about your bags, they'll get them all to your room while I show you around. Do you want anything to eat first? I know I was starving when I got off the plane and it's easy enough to get something whipped up. Though dinner will be in about an hour."
"I can wait," Liz assured her as they entered the palace, amazed by all she saw.
"Then I'll give you the basic tour so you'll be able to navigate. Though ask if you need help with directions." Caroline scrunched her nose as she looked over at her mom. "I still ask for directions every so often."
Liz followed beside her, listening as Caroline told her bits of history about the various rooms, things Liz knew she'd never remember but she enjoyed seeing her daughter's enthusiasm about all of it. The break up with Tyler had dulled her some but it seemed that Caroline was shining brighter than she ever had before and Liz really liked seeing that.
A staff member stopped them briefly in the hall, apologizing for interrupting but there was a matter that Caroline needed to decide on. Liz watched as Caroline read through the report for a few minutes, nibbling on her bottom lip before tapping the paper, option chosen. The man left and Caroline simply smiled before continuing where she'd left off.
They ended the tour in the room for her and Caroline shut the door. "So how much do you want to lecture me about what I'm doing?"
Liz laughed at that. "You know me too well."
"I did live with you for like eighteen years," Caroline pointed out as she sat down on the bed. "I want this, mom. It's intimidating at times, like oh my god I'll be Queen of a nation I'm still learning about, but like at the same time I want to do it. I think I'll be good at it. And technically it's using what I'm still in college for." She looked pointedly at her mother then, because yes she was still attending college. "Just instead of event planning for other people's weddings and stuff, I'm doing charity events and dignitary visits. My own wedding."
She held out her hand as Liz sat down beside her, letting her mom get a good look at the ring. She'd sent photographs via text but that wasn't the same as in person. "And I love him."
Liz remembered that feeling, back when she had loved Bill, before it all turned sour. No matter how bitter the ending of their marriage, it had given her something wonderful in the form of their daughter. "I know," Liz told her, gently patting Caroline's hand. "And I know he loves you. I'm happy for you but I'm your mother so no matter what I'm going to worry."
"I can handle that," Caroline grinned and rose from the bed. "But we should head down to the family dining room now or I can't guarantee that Henrik won't have eaten all the good appetizers."
"I can't wait to meet that one." She'd heard countless stories about him in their phone calls.
"He might be a little shy at first," Caroline cautioned as they head out of the room and down to the dining room.
"It's lovely to see you, Liz," Klaus greeted, looking slightly more tired than when Liz had last seen him. Though considering the weight he now carried around that was to be expected. "I hope the plane ride wasn't too long."
"Good to see you again too, Klaus," Liz replied before pursing her lips. "Or am I supposed to say Your Majesty?" Wasn't that what she'd read online? "And it was better than any plane I've ever flown on before."
He blinked, startled by the question, and swallowed as he tried to come up with an answer. Liz couldn't help but feel a little smug at throwing him off a bit.
"My mother never called my dear Mikael by that in all the years she knew him," Esther commented as she entered the room, smiling in greeting. "At least not in the private areas of the castle and I don't recall her ever doing it in public. Mother-in-laws tend to be exempt considering they do give their most precious thing to the King."
She reached out to shake Liz's hand. "It's a delight to finally meet you in person after the countless emails. "
"Countless emails?" Caroline asked as she sat down, looking between her mother and Esther who smiled conspiratorially as they looked at one another.
"Nothing for you to worry about," Liz replied as she sat down beside her.
Caroline glanced over at Klaus who shrugged, as in the dark as she was. He leaned over. "I say we just be happy that they're getting along," he murmured quietly as Henrik bounded in to join them for dinner.
She wasn't a fan of being in the dark about anything but Caroline supposed Klaus was right as she watched his mother and hers happily chat away, her worry over the two being awkward around one another vanishing, and giving her one less thing to be concerned about.
It was easy to look back on his life at times and think of how he should have done things a bit differently. Maybe paid more attention on one class or another. Definitely kept up with the so-called family business instead of getting his way and leaving it behind for college.
Except if he had done that then Klaus wondered if he ever would have met his sunshine fiance who helped ease the burden of running an entire country in ways that she didn't even know. Simply waking up in bed beside her and falling asleep with her there next to him helped loosen the strain that he felt on occasion. Having her there at his side for various functions with diplomats and others who attended luncheons at the castle or made appointments to discuss various matters was a godsend Klaus wasn't entirely sure how he'd do without.
Caroline seemed to know precisely when the stress of it all was getting to him and the touch of her hand, a look of concern, or her beautiful smile helped relieve it enough for the moment to let him carry on. Without her there Klaus wouldn't have been surprised if his temper wouldn't have gotten the best of him, his impatience over the tediousness of certain aspects of being king having him boil over and lash out as he had as a teenager.
The people adored her almost as much as he did. So while there were things he wished he'd done better in the past, Klaus knew he wouldn't change any of them if it meant he'd lose out on her.
"You've got your pensive, lost in deep thought look going on," Caroline murmured as she exited the bathroom and headed over to the bed where he'd been looking over a report.
Her tiny pink shorts and white tank top didn't quite meet the criteria for what the future Queen should wear to bed, but Klaus loved the way the outfit showed off her legs and the curves of her breasts. "Is the report really that interesting?" she continued as she got under the covers.
Klaus dropped the report onto the bedside table, his attention focused on her. "I've completely forgotten what it said already," he told her, turning onto his side so that he could look at her better. He propped himself up on one elbow, his other hand moving to slide along her hip and then under her tank top to draw along her skin.
"Oh really?" Her fingers were already tangled in his necklaces, running along the newest one that she'd gotten for him as a Christmas gift a few months back.
"Mmmm," was all he managed to get out as she pressed closer to him, using her grip on the necklaces to drag him even closer so that their noses brushed.
He loved how she closed her eyes at that little bit of contact, sighing happily as he lightly kissed her nose, then her cheek, and moved onto the edge of her lips before finally kissing him back. It started off sweet, just the gentlest of touches but as his hands smoothed up the skin of her back and her hands tightened their hold on his necklaces she bit down on his bottom lip causing him to groan. Klaus didn't let her celebrate her little victory for long, pressing her back against the mattress as he kissed her again, unrelenting as he licked along the side of her mouth, enjoying the way her legs wrapped around his waist then.
Klaus moved, nuzzling her cheek before he kissed her neck, enjoying the little keening noises Caroline made as his teeth and tongue lingered in spots. Her tanktop was quickly discarded, baring her upper body to him. He'd always loved her breasts, couldn't get enough of the feel of them under his hands, in his mouth as he used tongue, teeth, lips and hands to have her gasping. Her hands were in his hair, threading through his curls as she murmured encouragement, hips rolling against his.
The covers and sheets were pushed aside, something Klaus knew she'd want fixed before they actually slept, but from the way she helped lift her hips so he could drag her shorts and panties off he didn't think Caroline minded in that moment. He was ready to continue downward, to kiss along her stomach and hips before making his way where he really wanted to be but Caroline seemed to have other plans as she pressed a hand to his chest, moving so she was sitting as she kissed him again.
Her hand drifted down his body, fingers dragging along the waistband of the boxers he was wearing before rubbing along the length of him through the material. Klaus swallowed hard at that, noting her wicked little smile as they pulled slightly apart. He caught her hand before she could get it under his boxers.
He meant to take his time with her tonight, to show her precisely how much she meant to him as best he could without words. "Klaus," Caroline narrowed her eyes, clearly wanting to pleasure him as well, but he gently pushed her back down.
"Later," he promised before kissing her again. There was a hunger to it that he hadn't ever felt before, a yearning that nearly overpowered him as his hands slid down her body. She gasped against his mouth as his fingers slid against her sex, sliding through her wetness.
If he could spend every night learning her body over and over again he'd rule for a thousand years, just to hear the delicious little sounds she made as he pressed his thumb against her clit. It was the way she gasped out his name though that Klaus loved the most. There wasn't any sound as intoxicating as his name on her lips.
There was no protest as he made his way down her body this time, her thighs parting easily for him. She was a writhing mess in moments, fists wrapped up tightly in the sheets she laid on top of, back arching as he finally sucked her clit. She came with a sharp cry and he kept up his movements, enjoying the way she fell apart.
He discarded his boxers before kissing his way back up her body, enjoying the way she still trembled slightly even as her hands drew down his back, trying to hold him closer. "I am so glad your family isn't anywhere near our bedroom," Caroline murmured and Klaus laughed at that before kissing her softly.
Her hand wrapped around the length of him, stroking him a few times before guiding him into her. Klaus pressed his forehead to hers as they started to move, easily finding their rhythm. He couldn't help but gaze into her eyes, trying to express just how much he loved her, unsure if she'd ever really know. He could say 'I love you' a million times and Klaus didn't think it would ever do his feelings towards her justice.
"I know," Caroline murmured, as his lips seared against her neck, over her jaw. His hand slipped between the slide of their bodies, easily finding her clit again.
"Oh god," she sobbed out as he continued to rock into her, the stroke of his fingers almost too much. It wasn't enough though, straining at just nearly was driving her insane. "Please, Klaus."
He didn't think he'd ever be able to deny her anything, giving her the pressure that she was desperate for. It had her careening over that precarious edge again, her sensitive skin already heightened from her first orgasm. Klaus followed soon after, murmuring promises about forever as he rolled off of her, dragging her to him as she tried to catch her breath.
Klaus kissed her shoulder, fingers sliding along her stomach, forever thankful that he'd met her. "You are so gonna have to put the covers and sheets back together so we can actually sleep," Caroline murmured after a few moments and Klaus laughed at that, nipping her shoulder lightly before she wiggled out of his grasp to locate their clothes.
"It was entirely worth it, sweetheart," Klaus mused, appreciating the view as she tugged her clothes back on before tossing his boxers at him. He caught them before they hit him in the face.
"Get up and help me with these," Caroline urged as she tried to untangle the sheet from the cover. He chuckled at her frustration as they got them untangled and then stood back as she got the sheet on to her exact specification before helping him put the cover on top.
She smoothed her hands along the blankets, smiling at the clean lines they'd made, before the two of them got back into the bed and under the covers. "What would you do without me?"
"I don't intend on ever finding out," Klaus replied as he tugged her close, smiling against her forehead as she curled up against him. He would do everything in his power so that he never would.