A/N: I know guys! I'm awful! My goal was to try and update weekly on Wednesdays and it's been what? Three weeks?! I'm so sorry! I hit a bit of a block. I couldn't get past a section of this chapter for a while and I've been doing most of my writing at work actually! It's been slow in my position and they've given me permission to read and write to my hearts content. So I took a little time and referenced some of my fave fics for inspiration and I was able to get this one out for you guys today! It's only slightly shorter than chapter two! I'm hoping the further into the story the little bit longer I can make the chapters for you! It should give you comfort that I have the story mapped out already, I just have to write the chapters! I've already started on writing Chapter Four so the goal is to get it out to you guys next Wednesday! I'd really like to get on a steady update schedule for you guys!
Thank you to everyone who's read, favorited, followed and reviewed this story! Please please please, let me know what you think and if there's anything you'd like to see! I'm always open to suggestions! Your responses help me so much! I hope you all enjoy!
Chapter Three:
"Good Morning Sunshine!" Caroline quickly answered her phone knowing it would be her extremely hung-over best friend, Katherine.
"Who pissed in your cheerios this morning?" Katherine grumbled on the other end.
"I'm just happy Kat. Can't you be happy too?"
"Care bear, you know full and well that I just woke up and why I'm calling."
"Yes Kitty Kat, where am I picking you up this time?"
Katherine had been her best friend for years along side Elena, her twin sister. Kat had always been a little promiscuous and tended to need to be picked up from her latest flings house every couple of weeks.
Katherine muttered the address as Caroline scribbled it down on some scratch paper.
It turned out Katherine's mystery man didn't live too far from Caroline's place. It surprised Caroline that Katherine didn't recognize the area and just show up on her doorstep.
Katherine sauntered across the mystery man's front lawn and plopped in the front seat.
"So, last night" Caroline began.
"Don't start" Katherine grumbled.
"My night was great. Thanks for asking" Caroline winked at Katherine as she rolled her eyes.
"I'm sorry I dipped out" Katherine mumbled.
"It's ok Kat. I know you have "needs" as you so poetically put it, but don't worry, Klaus came over and kept me company." Caroline blushed as she remembered who she was talking to.
"Oh, I'm sure he did" Katherine turned enthusiastically in the passenger seat as she faced Caroline. "Well? Anything new happening on that front?"
"Sadly no. Remember when I told you I went to visit him at Rousseau's and told him all about Tyler?"
"Yeah and you said he kissed you but didn't really give you the chance to kiss him back."
"Yes! Seriously Kat, even though I was an emotional wreck at the time, I hadn't had a kiss like that in a LONG time! I want to kiss him again! I don't want him to just be my friend anymore. Kat, I've wanted more from him for so long and now that I'm single and he's within my reach, it's like I'm frozen!"
"Well, what did you guys do last night?"
"We sat and watched movies like we always do."
"Have you talked about the kiss at all? Or even like about how he's dealing with the conversation in the first place?"
"No. I'm not even sure how to bring it up. I mean, we sit on my couch and cuddle like we are a couple every night almost. We tell each other about our day like we are married. I feel like I'm afraid that talking about what happened will take us further backwards" Caroline sighed.
"Care, if you guys never re-approach the subject you're going to remain in this limbo stage." Katherine opened her door as Caroline parked the car. "Why don't you call him and see if he wants to go out tonight? Get a little liquid courage in both of you."
"He works tonight at Rousseau's. He made sure to let me know I'd have to watch "awful" movies by myself tonight if you ditched again" Caroline shook her head as she opened her front door.
"Well then, I guess you and I are hitting up Rousseau's tonight" Katherine winked as Caroline's stomach started doing flips.
LATER THAT EVENING
"Come on Care, it's time to come out."
Caroline opened her bedroom door. "Are you sure me bombarding him at his place of employment is such a good idea?"
"You are not bombarding him. You're just paying him a visit while he's on the clock. Bartender types love that!" Katherine just smiled.
Caroline rolled her eyes at her best friend. Her and Klaus had spent practically every night together snuggling and watching movies for the past month. He had normally always been on the day shift at Rousseau's but tonight he had a bartending call in sick and didn't want to leave them short staffed if it were to get busy.
"I guess it can't hurt." Caroline sighed as Katherine escorted her out the door.
When they arrived, it seemed to be just picking up for the night. Music was already bumping inside the bar and people had started to form a small line to get in the door.
"Looks like you lucked out Barbie. He may be too busy to even visit with you" Katherine winked at her. "Who are we kidding! Klaus has NEVER been too busy for you!"
Caroline and Katherine strolled in and headed straight for the bar to get their drinks.
"Couldn't live without my company for one night, love?" Klaus said as he approached them.
Caroline shook her head and rolled her eyes at him. Katherine replied, "If you don't want visitors we will be happy to take our business elsewhere for the night." Katherine's gleam in her eye was challenging Klaus.
"I always appreciate visitors. What brings you ladies in for a visit?"
"We were bored, and Care bear here mentioned you had to work tonight so we figured, what the hay?! Why not?"
Caroline shrugged her shoulders and smiled as Klaus looked her way. "Can a girl not visit one of her best friends at work without the Spanish Inquisition taking place?
Klaus smirked. "What would you ladies like to drink?"
"Two tequila sunrises please!" Katherine shouted as the next song began to blare through the speakers. "I sense Care here needs to let loose a little."
Klaus walked away shaking his head. His night was about to get interesting if Katherine continued to order drinks for them both.
"Here you are ladies" Klaus said as he slid their drinks across the bar top. "Enjoy. Let me know if you need anything."
"Come along sweet Caroline, time to dance!"
Katherine dragged her to the middle of the room where people had begun swaying and bouncing the to the bass of the music. Caroline could feel Klaus's eyes on her as they made their way to a comfortable spot. It she shook her hips a little extra, it wasn't an accident. As they danced Katherine had made sure to remind her that Klaus couldn't take his eyes off her.
A few hours had passed, and Caroline could already tell that Kat was not going to be around much longer to take her back home. She was laying her claws into her next catch in her string of one-night stands. Caroline chooses to take her leave and head back toward the bar.
"Everything ok, love?" Klaus asked as she walked up to the bar.
"Yeah, I'm fine" Caroline smiled softly. "Kat ditched me for a new toy."
Klaus nodded.
"How late do you work?" Caroline asked.
"I'm supposed to be here until close" Klaus frowned. "Do you want me to call you a ride home?"
"No, I'll stay for a while. I'm full blown sober. I'll just sit and enjoy your company"
"Well, if you get tired or whatever, you're welcome to the couch in my office. You know the way."
"Thanks. Can I get a water though?"
"Sure."
Caroline sat and watched Klaus work for a little while before she decided to head for the office. She took a seat on the couch and began combing through her emails to help pass the time. At some point one of them must've been too boring and she dozed off.
"Caroline," Klaus spoke softly.
Caroline shuffled and began to rub her eyes. "Hey" she mumbled as she began to return to consciousness. "Sorry. One of my emails must've been extra boring" she giggled.
Klaus tucked a stray curl behind her ear as she sat up more and smiled at her. "Want me to take you home?"
"Don't you have things to finish? I can wait, or I can call a cab."
"Don't even think of it. I can swing in tomorrow afternoon to finish balancing. Let's get you home."
Caroline grabbed his hand as he pulled her up from the couch.
As they got settled in Klaus' car, Caroline grabbed his hand again. She was hoping her subtle hints would clue him into how she was feeling about him. She couldn't remember the last time anyone had given her such a serious case of the butterflies like Klaus did. He always had, and Caroline felt like now was the time to explore it.
"Something on your mind Caroline?" Klaus softly rubbed his hand over the top of her knuckles as he drove.
"I think we need to address something" Caroline stated as she spun in her seat to face him, never letting go of his hand.
"I'm listening" Klaus replied.
"When I came to see you the other week, you kissed me."
Klaus nodded in response.
"You haven't even thought to kiss me again?" Caroline was beginning to think that maybe he didn't feel the same for her as she did him.
Klaus sighed as he parked the car in Caroline's driveway. Caroline stared at him waiting for an answer.
"Caroline," Klaus began. He slowly took her chin in his free hand and stroked his thumb across her jaw. He pulled her in and lightly kissed her lips. As he pulled away he watched Caroline's mouth turn up into a smile. "I've wanted to kiss you for years, love. The timing has never been right. First you were always with Tyler, may he rot in hell, and then we lost touch for so long. You just came back into my life but some odd chance. I was afraid that kiss was a taboo subject. That it would scare you off again."
Caroline quickly kissed him again. "Definitely not taboo. You should do it more often. Actually anytime you want."
Klaus grinned in response.
"Did you want to come in?"
"You don't mind? It's like 3 o'clock in the morning."
"Exactly. You should just stay Klaus. You look exhausted. We can figure more of this out in the morning."
Klaus followed her into the house. "I'm going to go throw on my PJs. You know where everything is if you need anything."
Klaus took a seat on her large sectional and turned on the TV as he made himself comfortable, kicking his feet up. "Sweet Home Alabama" was on one of the stations and knowing it was Caroline's favorite movie, Klaus opted to leave it on.
"I'm going to make some popcorn, are you going to want any?" Caroline questioned as she peaked her head into the living room.
"Sure."
Caroline quickly settled into Klaus' side when she returned from the kitchen. As they both sat in silence and snacked on popcorn Klaus couldn't help himself in thinking 'I'm never letting her go now.'
As the movie ended, he glanced down at his chest and found Caroline lightly snoring, fast asleep. He pulled her a little closer to his chest, clicked the TV off and drifted to sleep himself. He'd never felt so content. He hoped tomorrow ended up being as good as tonight had turned out.