Chapter 2

It feels like only yesterday that you left me all alone,
I still now can't believe that you are forever gone.
I keep on searching for you in the glimpses of our past;
But the only thing I find is a basket full of sorrows that will forever last.

It should have been clear to everyone that Caroline didn't want to see them or talk to them, at least.

But it had the opposite effect. Every minute, someone would come barging into her hospital room, apologizing her to and crying in front of her, telling her how hard it was for them. As if losing her husband, wasn't hard enough for her.

In the end it was Klaus who understood her need to be alone and forced everyone outside. But apparently, he was out of his mind too.

"You're staying at my house"

"What?" she asked, hoping she'd heard him wrong and turned to look at him.

He looked at her, unfazed by her question and suppressed his smile by biting the inside of his cheek. That was the first word Caroline had said to him, ever since she'd found out about Enzo's death. "I said you're staying at my house, sweetheart. The doctor just signed your discharge papers-" he started but was cut off by her.

"I know what you said. I just want to know how you assumed that I'd stay at your house?" she asked harshly. Her voice was hoarse and clogged up because of the tears swarming in her eyes. "You didn't ask me. Just like you didn't ask me if I wanted to attend his- she took a deep breath at that time – his funeral" she completed as her eyes blazed with anger and a wretched sadness.

At that moment, Klaus could easily see the heartbreak and vulnerability she was feeling. He had felt the same thing. Once.

He sat down at the edge of her bed and picked up her hand in his, stroking it lightly with his thumb. "I assumed so because I thought that after everything you would want to support your best friend. That maybe you would care enough for me to come with me" he said softly and he honestly didn't feel a bit ashamed for using the guilt trip to get her to listen to him. It was for her, own, benefit and he was done being the polite guy now.

Okay. That sounded weird even to his, own, ears.

He was not polite but he definitely tried to be, with Caroline.

And she had abused this as much as she could. She was risking her safety at every turn of life.

But now that he had seen her truly break down, he would never let it happen again.

He saw a look of realization pass through her eyes and she immediately looked towards him with sad eyes. "Nik, I- she stuttered out helplessly, unsure of what to say when she had only thought about how she was suffering so much herself and never even thought about how he must've felt.

After all he had lost his best friend too.

And you've lost your husband. A sour voice from her subconscious rang in her ears.

At the end it's not the look on his face or the words he says that force her to agree. It's the thought of loneliness creeping into her. She's already lost one of her best friends and she's just not willing to lose the other. Ever.

"Sweetheart, I know you've suffered a great loss and you're hurting right now but you need to stay strong. You need to stay strong for the people around you. Everyone here cares a great deal about you. That is why as soon as they heard, they came here, leaving everything else" he told her even though the words left a bitter taste in his own mouth.

None of the people outside cared about her. Not enough anyway.

"You're strong, beautiful and so full of light" he whispered pulling her close to him when he saw her hands shaking slightly as sobs shook her body. "This isn't an easy time. Bloody hell, it's horrifying but the only way you're going to get through this is if you keep yourself intact." He said, tenderly rubbing her back, as her tears wet his shirt.

"It's too soon" she said, shaking her head, as if she was almost refusing to believe that he was gone.

He nodded, resisting the overwhelming urge to shake her and tell her to go back to how she used to be. But he knew that she needed to mourn properly before she could move on with her life. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and squeezed his arms tighter around her, though, mindful about her sprained wrist and her broken leg.

After what seemed like a lifetime, Caroline pulled back and he let her. "Fine. I'll stay with you but I don't want to talk to them" she told him, in her no nonsense tone.

Klaus nodded, respecting her wishes. "I'll send the nurse to help you get ready" he said and quickly turned around to stop the victorious smile from creeping onto his face.

Just when he was moving towards the door, he felt something hit his back. It wasn't hard but it was irritating. When he turned around and saw a pillow lying at his feet, he raised his eyebrows and looked at Caroline who was glaring him, petulantly. "Stop smiling" she told him, which made him grin wider.

"Of course, sweetheart" he said, his voice teasing like he was making fun of her. He placed the pillow back on the bed and pinched her cheek like he used to when they were kids.

But unlike the last time, she didn't poke out her tongue at him or laugh or smile. She simply scowled for a moment before looking away. Klaus could almost sense her diving back into the memories of their teenage years where there used to be three of them.

Now they were only two.

He pressed his lips into a tight line before storming out of the room, mindful not to slam the door on his way out. Because that would definitely upset her and she didn't need to be any more upset now.

Moving in with Klaus seemed like a good decision to Caroline at first. But after just two weeks of living with him, she was almost regretting her decision.

Her decision to move in with him was mostly based on the fact that she wouldn't feel lonely in her own apartment. But she rarely ever saw Klaus which made her feel even more uncomfortable and out of place in his house.

He was always at his office or working in his study at home. She felt like he was avoiding her. He barely shared two sentences with her and avoided her like the plague.

She had a feeling that maybe it was because he was tired of keeping her around and she understood that obviously keeping her now must be a huge burden for anyone. Besides, her life was ruined. Not his. He still has his own life to live and enjoy and maybe she was becoming a problem for him.

So that was what prompted her to express her desire to go back home at dinner one night.

"I'm going back home tomorrow" she announced, keeping her head down focused on the soup in front of her. She only looked up from her bowl when she heard the clatter of the spoon.

Klaus dropped the spoon from his hand as soon as his mind registered the words she was saying. She was leaving? He looked up at her, letting the shock and anger on his face show. "No" he said, shortly, gripping the knife laid out on the dining table tightly in his hand.

She frowned at his odd behavior. "I didn't ask you. I just told you" she said firmly, trying to put him in his place. She had let him dictate her life for the past two weeks because she was grieving but now it was over. "Besides, I think I've overstayed anyway" she muttered under her breath, trying not to sound bitter.

"How do you suppose you're going to do that?" he asked, genuinely interested in her answer. "You can't take care of yourself. Bloody hell! You can barely walk on your own" he added, getting more frustrated with her by the second.

She jutted her chin, defiantly. "I can take care of myself, just fine, thank you" she expressed, stubbornly. "I'm not a kid, you know"

Klaus narrowed his eyes at her before standing up abruptly and walking over to her side. "Wha- she was unable to complete her sentence when he pulled her up by her arm, startling her. He let go of her arm and she stumbled unable to remain steady on her still broken leg.

"Ouch!" she yelped loudly as her leg bent once again and she almost fell down before his arm came and wrapped around her waist, holding her steady against him.

"That's how well you can take care of yourself" he stated, not one bit intimidated by her glare or the slight moisture in her eyes. "Do I need to elaborate more on why you're going to stay here?" he questioned, daring her to say yes so he could teach her the lesson of her life.

Stubborn girl, he thought.

Arrogant douche bag, she thought.

He helped her back into her seat but she pulled her arm away from his grasp harshly trying to convey how upset she was by his way of elaboration. What if she'd gotten really hurt?

As if reading her thoughts, his gaze softened and he bent down in front of her chair and looked straight into her eyes. "You know I would've never let you really get hurt" he said in his low voice, looking at her intently.

She internally groaned. How could he ignore his damn puppy eyes and that damn accent of his when he was looking at her like that?

"Alright, fine. But I still can't stay here" she argued, less violently.

He frowned. "Why ever not?" he asked, perplexed. He thought she had been living here comfortably and he had even made himself scarce in his own penthouse, trying to give her space. He'd hired two full time nurses to ensure her comfort and had even made sure to settle her up in his own master bedroom with the most comfortable bedding and an amazing view as well.

"Does something bother you? Are you not comfortable enough here? Is the room not to your liking?" He asked worriedly, already thinking of adding another nurse to look after her and maybe get her one of those fancy orthopedic mattresses so she could rest easily.

Caroline shook her head and bit her lip, unsure of how to tell him.

He must have sensed her discomfort because he raised his hand and caressed her cheek before moving it to tuck some stray hair behind her ear, tenderly. "What is it, sweetheart? You know you don't have to hide anything from me." He offered gently, running his fingers up and down her earlobe.

She sighed, pleasurably by his ministrations before looking down at her knotted fingers. "I know you're avoiding me and I've become a fulltime burden for you" she said, all too quickly before slowing down. "I mean you don't come home because of me. That's a pretty obvious sign for me to go somewhere else" she stated, covering her embarrassment with a nervous chuckle. But the growing blush on her cheeks was too obvious to be ignored.

"Caroline" Klaus said, baffled. "You're not a… a burden. You're my responsibility, love and one I'm more than happy to take care of" he said, trying to conceal his laughter at which she looked up at him confused. "As far as, my absence goes, I'm sorry for that. But honestly, I've been keeping myself away only to give you space and time to recover- he was cut off by her.

"I don't need to recover alone" she cut in and then went silent. "I agreed to move in with you, not because I wanted someone to take care of me but, because I needed my best friend to be with me" she explained. She sniffed lightly before saying the next words. "One of the most important men in my life is gone" she said and her voice quivered and her grip on the tablecloth increased. "But I need to be sure that the other isn't. I need to know that you're here. That someone's here"

By the time she had finished her sentence, Klaus had his arms wrapped around her tight and she was already losing herself. She sobbed into his chest again, not caring how pathetic she looked. Because she knew, he was Nik. He would never judge or mock her.

He would just support her.

Time flew on wings since the last time I saw you,
Nothing in this world matters to me like the way you do.
Holding your hands; I wanted to walk the whole world with you
But my wish remained unfulfilled, as you left me in the middle of the road saying, 'I Don't Love You'.

"Shh! I'm here" he whispered into her ear soothingly, repeatedly pressing kisses to her head. Without another word, he gently swept her off her feet and picked her up in his arms, mindful of her leg. Automatically, she wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him, pressing herself tighter against him, taking the momentary comfort his embrace provided.

He lightly kicked open the door to the master bed and deposited her on the bed, motioning for the nurse to get out. As he placed her on the bed, she still grasped his shirt into her fists. He sat down right next to her at the edge of the bed and stroked her hair. "It's alright, sweetheart. I'm right here. Shh!" he cooed her, running his fingers gently through her hair.

"It's too much Nik. I can't. I just can't." she cried out, waving her arms around wildly as she wailed loudly. Klaus held her arms and caught them in between his own, rocking her body slightly. "I can't sleep. I can't eat. I can't do anything without him coming to my mind. It's not fair. He shouldn't have been the one to go" she kept crying desperately as her body shook in his arms. "I wanted to go to the dinner. He was so tired and he didn't want to go. But I told him to take me!" she almost shouted out. "It was all my fault. It should've been me!" she yelled loudly, her voice going raw and laced with anguish as she tried to hit herself.

To hurt herself. Physically. So that she could feel something. Something other than guilt and grief.

Klaus froze only for the slightest moment, feeling the rage overtake him when he heard her blame herself and then hope that she had died instead of him.

If that had been the case, he was sure Enzo would've been dead anyway.

By his hand, most probably.

He grasped Caroline's face in his hand and turned her gaze towards his own face. "Listen to me Caroline Margaret Forbes" he said, sternly. "This is the first and the last time you've said or even thought such bullshit. Enzo's death was not fault and I will not have you thinking otherwise. It was his time to go. Just like one day it will be time for Elena, Bonnie or myself to go. And if- he corrected himself – and when it does happen, you are going to be strong because no matter where we are, we'll be watching you" he explained. His tone going from angry and stern to gentle and compassionate. "He's watching you and I doubt he would've ever wanted you to be like this. Imagine the pain he must be going through, watching you fall apart" he told her and felt relief sweep over him as she calmed down just a bit but the tears didn't stop.

"If not for me, please calm down for him"

He hated saying that but it actually worked which made him depressed and relieved at the same time.

She cared more for Enzo, than she did for him.

"Please stay with me, Nik" her soft murmur pulled him out of his bitter thoughts and he looked down to see her gazing up at him with her adorable, wet big blue eyes, red nose, pink cheeks and such kissable, swollen lips. He bent down and pressed a kiss to her forehead and nodded.

"Sleep" he said, simply leaning against the headboard as he pulled himself into the bed. She instantly curled up to his side and placed her head on his chest tentatively. Soon, he felt all tension ease away her body and she relaxed next to him, placing her hand on his torso.

A few minutes of tantalizing silence passed before Klaus looked down to find her sleeping. Light puffs of her breath fanning across his neck and face.

In that moment, he found that suddenly he wasn't tired anymore and all traces of sleep vanished from his body. He lay still, awake and tried to collect his bearings. He couldn't believe that Enzo's death would've ever devastated her to point that she would wish for death on herself.

And just the thought of her gone, gave him goose bumps. No. It was not allowed. Maybe she would hate him forever for it but he had to do it. If only to save her. He would have to talk to Rebekah in the morning. But till then, he had the night to enjoy with Caroline in his arms.

Rebekah hid the annoyance she felt by stretching a fake smile on her face. She absolutely hated how little Liz Forbes actually knew Caroline. The older woman had been going on for hours about how Caroline would move on with her life now without anyone to support her.

Of course, Rebekah's automated response had been, "You have nothing to worry about. She has Nik"

While Liz had smiled gratefully, Rebekah knew that the seed she was planting was being buried deeper and deeper into the other woman's mind. After the thumps up she had received from her brother Klaus, she literally had no one in her way now.

She wouldn't rest until Klaus and Caroline were together and one.

"You know, Caroline's still really young. She could get married again" Rebekah suggested cunningly as she sipped on her tea whilst sitting in the Forbes' sunroom. "She could settle down again. Maybe with someone from a more… stable background" she added with a small smile.

Liz nodded. "You're right but you know Caroline and you know how stubborn she is. She'll never agree to something like this" she said with a sad sigh.

Rebekah carefully placed the saucer and teacup back down on the table and licked her lips. "She's your daughter. I'm sure you know that there's times when you need to do the right thing for her. Even if she doesn't agree" she said carefully. "You're her mother, after all. You wouldn't do anything against her welfare" she reassured her easily.

Liz looked at Rebekah with narrowed eyes. "What do you mean exactly?" she asked, cautiously hoping that what she was thinking wasn't wrong.

The younger blonde gave an elegant shrug. "I mean nothing but Caroline and Nik's happiness" she replied confidently.

Liz' eyes widened. "I don't think you- she was cut off by Rebekah.

"No. You don't understand. I've seen how much my brother adores Caroline and how much she depends on him" she pointed out, coolly. "They are both made for each other" she gushed with a shine in her eyes as she imagined her brother with his teenage love.

"They don't love each other" Liz argued, weakly.

Rebekah waved her hand dismissively. "But they care for she other deeply" she elaborated, quickly. "Besides, I can guarantee you that Caroline does have feelings for my brother" she piped in sneakily. "She'd confided in me herself" she added as proof and it was true to some extent. In their teen years, Caroline had once admitted to her that she had a crush on her brother.

"What about Klaus, though?" came a heavy yet tired voice from the doorway.

Both ladies turned to look at Bill Forbes standing there. From the looks of it, he had come straight from office.

"Bill, what are you doing back so early?" Liz questioned, a bit startled by him being home so soon.

But he ignored her and went straight towards Rebekah who gave a serious look, without any amusement. "Do you think Klaus will ever love her?" he asked again, looking directly at Rebekah.

"…With time. He will" Rebekah assured him confidently, stopping herself from dancing in victory. These people were so easy to manipulate.

With that Bill sighed in relief before dropping down on the couch next to his wife. "Give it a little time. We'll convince Caroline" he replied firmly giving his wife a warning glare when she tried to interfere.

"I'll talk to Elijah and he'll convince Nik" she lied expertly, knowing she only had to report back to one brother and that wasn't Elijah. It was the man in question. Nik, himself.

With that said, she stood up and grabbed her bag before heading to the door. "I'll see myself out" she said, urging them to relax. Just as she was about to leave, she turned to the worried parents. "My brother will take care of Caroline more than anyone else. I can guarantee you that much" she assured them a little tenderly, understanding that they must be worried about their only daughter.

"Thank you Rebekah" Liz said, equally softly with tears in her eyes.

The younger blonde nodded once before walking out. As soon as she was out of the house, she felt a sudden stab of guilt in her heart for tricking the mourning parents but she knew none of her words were a lie. Caroline would be happy with her brother. With time she would learn to love Klaus and he would lay the world at her feet, in return.

In the end, she knew that this would make her brother happy so she lifted her head, wore her sunglasses and walked to her car.

As soon as she was seated in her white Audi r8 spyder, she plucked her phone out of her purse and typed a quick message.

It's done. Now only your and her parents' part is left.

Without a second glance, she dialed a familiar number and breathed in deeply when she heard the other person pick up the line. "Rebekah" came a calm reply. "How can I help you?"

"Elijah" she greeted back, slightly nervous. "Are you at the office?" she asked curiously.

She could imagine him rolling his eyes and pulling his tie. "It is ten in the morning and unlike our beloved brother Niklaus I do prefer showing my face in the office every now and then"

"Your sarcasm really is refreshing 'Lijah" she replied dryly. "I need to talk to you. It's regarding Nik and Caroline" she said seriously and the line went silent.

There was shuffling on the other side of the line before her brother's immediate reply came through. "Meet me in my office in an hour" he told her firmly. "And drive carefully" he said, before the line went silent.

She placed her phone back into her clutch and shifted the gear into reverse before speeding out of the Forbes' household.

When Klaus woke up, he felt an unusual weight on his chest. But he also felt warm and so wonderful. He squinted his eyes and looked to his bedside to see what time it was. He almost flew out of bed when he saw it was almost ten o clock in the morning.

He had never slept so long.

He looked down to see Caroline still sleeping, peacefully, and contently tangled up with his body. Half of her body was resting on his with her head buried in his neck and her arms thrown over his torso. Even her legs were tangled with his.

He remained still when his mind flew to her injured leg. What if he moved and caused her pain?

But a small part of his mind knew that it was more of than excuse than anything. He enjoyed being tangled up with her.

He imagined his life being like this every day and he found that he looked forward that possibility. To be honest, he felt excited for such a chance.

He stayed still and buried his nose in her thick, blonde hair inhaling her scent. It calmed him to the extent of delirium.

The ring of a text message brought him out of his thoughts and he quickly switched his phone in silent so Caroline would remain undisturbed. He opened the text and a smile automatically grew on his face.

His sister really was the best.

He smiled and looked down at the sleeping girl in his arms. All the things he was willing to do to have her by his side.

He lightly nudged her, not to startle her. "Sweetheart" he cooed in her ear, softly. "It's time to get up" he said, shaking her lightly.

She groaned and tightened her arms around him.

He chuckled quietly at her antics and suppressed the urge to snap a picture of her. "It's time for you to have some breakfast and then you have to take your medicine" he was surprised any one of the nurses hadn't even woken them up yet.

Then again, he had sent them away, himself.

"Go away" she mumbled in her sleep.

"I can't when you have yourself wrapped up around me, love" he quipped teasingly and watched as she cracked an eye open to look at him and then back at their position before she yawned and pulled herself into an upright position.

Her cheeks blushed bright red and she coughed uncomfortably as she moved away from him slightly.

"Good morning, sweetheart" he said softly and unable to help himself, he reached out and tucked a stray lock behind her ear. "How did you sleep?" he asked, curiously. Because he had slept the best he had in a long time.

"Very good, actually" she murmured sheepishly. "For the first time, I didn't dream of him, Nik" she said turning to Klaus with a sad smile on her face.

He gave her a tight lipped smile in return before stroking her cheek with his thumb lightly. "It'll lessen with time" he told her. "The pain" he elaborated.

"I hope so" she said quietly before looking away as she felt the tears building in her eyes.

Klaus sighed before standing up from the bed and grabbing his cell phone from the nightstand. "I'll tell the housekeeper to get some breakfast ready so the nurse can give you your medicine and then- he was speaking when she cut him off.

"Can you take me to him, today?" she asked in a small voice, peering up at him with pleading eyes. "Please" she added, her eyes blinking rapidly as she tried to control her tears.

Klaus clenched his fists but nodded. "And then you go to visit your parents?" he asked, looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

She frowned but nodded. "Fine. I'll go" she agreed, begrudgingly.

He refrained from saying good girl knowing it would set her off like a ticking time bomb. Instead he walked out of the room, determined to do just as he had promised.

After all, accepting your loved ones' death was the first step to moving on and he had every intention of helping Caroline move on.

I am still trying to figure out the reason behind your actions,
With a smile on your face, you broke my heart into fractions.
I promise to myself that I will break free of this chain
And will win over this war, no matter how much it pains.