Chapter 3:
"Mistreated, misplaced, misunderstood. Miss, no way it's all good, it didn't slow me down!" Caroline belted out one of her favorite songs as she rummaged through her dresser. Her window was open wide to allow the clean crisp morning air into her room.
Lifting up a teal top she stared at it for a moment before crinkling her nose up in disgust and tossing it to the side picking the song back up, "Mistaken, always second guessing, underestimated. Look I'm still around. Pretty pretty plea…" Her voice trailed off as she lifted her head and caught site of the man who had haunted her all night.
"Please, don't stop just because I'm here." He spoke from his spot on her bed a wolfish grin curling onto his lips. His hands rested on his stomach and for all intense and purposes he looked harmless but both of them knew better.
"Don't you know how to knock or something?" Caroline snapped out in order to hide the fear that crawled through her bones at this very moment. With slow deliberate movements she turned around to face him, she didn't feel right with her back to him and doubted anyone really did.
"And ruin the surprise?" The rhetorical question was out of his mouth before he could stop it. His eyes roved over her body, drinking in everything about the blonde. Klaus finally sat up and flung his legs off her bed, fixing his clothes as he stood to his full height before facing her.
Caroline stood straighter once he was on his feet. She felt smaller, weaker, and she hated it even though it was true. "You're going to kill me." It wasn't a question because she didn't have a doubt. She knew if someone had done to her what she did to him, she'd want to kill them. She stared at him openly when he laughed; it wasn't warm or gentle like the one that she heard during the ball.
"No not yet, love." Klaus responded as he moved closer to her. It amused him how Caroline instinctively side stepped so she wouldn't be trapped and it almost brought a smile to his face when she squared her shoulders in defiance. That was what he liked about her most, her defiance. She defied her nature, she refused to become a monster….to let her humanity go.
Caroline opened her mouth to demand to know why he was in her room and then she saw the sharp predatory look in his eyes and thought better of her demanding tone. Never in a million years did she think she would admit that she missed seeing his humanity but at that moment she did, even if it was only to herself. "Then what are you doing here?" Caroline internally winced when the words left her mouth; they didn't sound any less demanding then the other set.
Klaus lifted his eyes back to her and carefully placed a glass figurine back onto her dresser. "Well, originally I had come here to rip your heart out." A part of him took pleasure in the way she flinched backwards and yet another part was pained by that simple gesture. "I want answers first, love." He sighed as he stood looked her over. She wasn't stupid; he knew she would know what he was talking about.
"I-I didn't know." Caroline cursed herself for the crack in her voice. She was stronger than that, if she was going to die she'd die with some pride damn it! "You didn't know?" He asked, his eyebrow lifting in disbelief of the statement. "You really expect me to believe that."
She bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes for a second; she knew better then to outright lie to him. He was much older than her and probably had tons of tricks on how to read people. "I didn't know they were going to stake your brother." She corrected and this time it was the truth, she met his gaze unwaveringly to prove it.
It was only after a long minute did Klaus slam his fist down on the dresser and send the delicate figurine to the ground. "What in the bloody hell did you think they were going to do?" He restrained himself from yelling but only barely.
Her eyes were no longer focused on the Original; instead they rested on the shattered fragments of the figurine. Caroline gasped and her eyes jerked up to focus on his when she felt a hand around her throat. She could feel each individual finger on her neck and all she could see were his eyes, glowing gold with anger and disappointment. "I thought they were going to use him to bargain." She managed to choke out as she attempted to pry his hand away from her throat.
Klaus' eyes searched her face for any sign of lying and finally when he was satisfied her released her and jerked his arm away from her grasp. Turning on his toe he stalked towards the opposite wall, dragging a hand across his face. His shoulders were slumped in something Caroline would call defeat if he had been any other person.
"Elijah had Elena. He was threatening to kill her." Caroline had no idea why she felt compelled to explain her actions to him. "What else were we supposed to do? Let her die?" She felt her emotions bubbling to the surface, everything she had kept balled up inside from the moment he had looked at her like she had destroyed him.
He closed his eyes tight and gritted his teeth, getting himself under control before finally turning to face her again. The desperation on her face punched him square in the gut and he was thankful he no longer had to actually breathe. "You used my affections for you." His voice was strained but much calmer than it had been just seconds ago.
"I'm sorry." Caroline finally whispered and she was surprised to find that she actually meant it. She hated that she actually meant it. "I had to save my friend. She's my family." If he could identify with anything it would be the need to save family and she knew that. She watched him as he studied her and she was relieved when his shoulders lifted and the spark returned to his eyes.
Klaus didn't say another word as he turned and started for the door. His steps only ceased when he heard her knees hit the floor and something that sounded like a choked back sob. His brow furrowed and he turned to look over his shoulder only to be faced with Caroline picking up the pieces of the ballerina he had broken.
Caroline carefully picked up each piece, blinking back tears as she picked up the biggest piece left. Turning it over in her hand she remembered the day she had gotten it. It had been so very long ago.
-Flashback-
A young Caroline bounced off the school's stage to a very loud applause. Her blue eyes twinkled with joy as she looked over her shoulder and waved one more time at the parents that had gathered for the talent show.
However the face she was searching for wasn't present. It never really was. Her smile dimmed as she pushed through the curtains. "That was amazing Care." Elena laughed as she ran up and hugged her friend. "Where did you learn that?" Bonnie questioned as she too embraced her friend with pride.
"TV?" She answered almost sheepishly and only got two more laughs and another set of hugs. "Good luck Lena." Caroline said to her best friend as Elena's name was called out and the brunette rushed towards the stage.
"I'm going to go change." Caroline told Bonnie and started towards her stuff to change. "There she is." The masculine voice made her spin around and she shrieked out "Daddy" before racing towards him. She sprang from the ground and wrapped her arms tight around his neck. "You did wonderful. I'm proud of you." Those words alone were worth more to her then any trophy could be.
"Thank you." She beamed and it only grew when he laid a present in her hands. "I'm sorry it's late Caroline. Happy Birthday." Caroline didn't waste any time ripping through the paper but what she found made her gasp. "Thank you Daddy." She said her vision blurring as she swung her arms around him again. The little ballerina smiled up at father and daughter from the box she had lovingly placed on the floor to hug her father.
-End Flashback-
Caroline put all the pieces back on top of her dresser to try and fix after school. Grabbing the first pair of jeans she saw and a red top she bee lined it for the bathroom, wiping tears from her eyes as she went.
Klaus was gone off the stairs before she could spot him watching her. He knew what he had to do. The sight of Caroline kneeling on the floor picking up the broken pieces wouldn't leave him until he did it either.
