She couldn't remember when was the last time she had felt so refreshed. The both of them were walking in the streets that were filled with Klaus' memories, but he was creating new ones with her.
''New Orleans looks like the ideal place for you'', she said.
''Well, if you say so…'', he answered with a smile.
She wasn't sure about any of this. She was feeling completely lost into that huge city. However, she was not alone. He was by her side, since the moment, when they left together from the motel. She was having a strange de ja vu; she was recalling the intense moment Elena had with Damon in that motel, when they had gone to find Jeremy. She was still human back then and not entirely certain about her feelings towards him. She remembered how she judged her and now, she had done something very very similar. She smiled.
''What's going on?'', asked Klaus joyfully.
''Nothing… just an old memory…'', she answered.
''Sad or happy?'', he insisted.
''More like unexpected.'', she said mysteriously.
''Ok, then.'', he backed off. ''Shall we continue with our tour?''
''Actually, I'm kind of bored.'', she said.
''What?'', he asked surprised, ''Are you kidding me, sweetheart? How can you be bored in this city? I've been here for a whole year and I'm still not bored.'', he scolded her.
''Come on… Please… I'm starving. Can we go eat something?'', she asked looking at him with her puppy eyes.
''Are you sure that's what you want? I have a lot more places I want to show you. But if you insist… I'm asking you out. And pay attention, love; It's going to be a date.'', he said playfully, but with a serious look.
''If this is some kind of challenge, I guess I accept. Where are we going?'', she asked just to keep the conversation going. She loved talking to him as much as she loved staying silent and just look at his eyes. She was slowly discovering a part of him that was exactly like a part of her own self. He wasn't wrong when he told her that they are the same. At that time, however, she wasn't really able to realize the truth.
''It's a surprise.'', his voice interrupted her thoughts. ''But I'll tell you this much; it's one of my favorite places to go, here in New Orleans, and that is basically due to the people I usually met there.'', he said.
''Should I be worried about that last one? Considering your… former friends, I shouldn't really look forward to that meeting.'', she said, not even sure if she was serious or not.
''You shouldn't be worried at all, love.'', he reassured her, '' I'm pretty sure everyone will like you and become your friends too, soon enough.'', he said and smiled. ''But we should get going. It's already ten o'clock. I hope you're not tired.''
''Not at all.'', she said, becoming more and more impatient minute by minute.
''I can't believe that this complicated part of our lives is over.'', said Elena to Damon, talking about the whole sire bond thing that was a really big obstacle to their already complicated relationship.
Damon had taken the cure and became human. This way, the sire bond was broken for good, and Elena finally realized that everything she felt for Damon since the very beginning was real. The love, the longing, the lust, everything. And since she didn't want to become human after all, even if she had the cure, she changed Damon again.
Damon, on the other hand, was finally sure about her feelings for him. There was no sire bond, no… crisis no-humanity period, no more; ''I don't know what I feel'', which usually ended with the choice called Stefan. Now, they could be together without anyone judging them or being against them. Their love was true, endless, timeless and stronger than ever. And they both knew that.
''Neither do I'', answered Damon after a long pause, looking into her eyes.
''Hello! We're here, too!'', said Rebekah, who was standing next to Stefan. ''This was supposed to be some kind of double date, not a ''Let's remember Damon and Elena's memories!'', she yelled.
''Calm down a little.'', said Stefan kissing her forehead.'' We can talk about our memories, too.''
Stefan wasn't exactly a normal couple, but they were crazy about each other. Mostly Rebekah. She knew that Stefan really liked her and she was happy that finally someone had appreciated her. She really liked him, too. He was sweet and caring, when she needed it, but a part of him was also wild and unpredictable. She couldn't really decide which part of him she liked the most.
Stefan, however, could. He liked it when Rebekah was being insecure and asking for his attention, but when she was sure of herself; that was driving him crazy. She knew that she had him wrapped around her little finger and he enjoyed that, sometimes. He surely preferred the self-confident part of her.
And when those two parts of themselves, those two flames merged into one, this… was creating fireworks that could be seen by anyone who was around them. And that made them a really great, if not perfect, couple.
''No.'', she answered. ''I think that our memories should remain private.''
''As you wish.'', Stefan agreed, giving her a smile that could melt an iceberg.
The four of them were eating in a fancy restaurant that Elena had picked. It was a bit expensive, but the food was worth it. After all, there was always compulsion, that could be easily used.
''That lobster is delicious.'', said Damon. ''But Elena's lobster is much better.'', he finished.
''Sorry to disappoint you, but the lobster we ate last week was delivered by this particular restaurant.'', said Elena, unable to hold her laugh.
''Anyway…'', said Damon ''what do you think about the food, guys?'', he asked Stefan And Rebekah.
''Not to insult you or anything but I'm not really interested in the food right now'', answered Stefan, always looking at Rebekah.
''Good, old Stefan.'', said Damon more to himself than anyone else.
''Come on, stop with the rivalries.'', said Elena, tired of their usual… competition of who will tell the biggest insult to the other.
''Elena is right.'', said Rebekah,'' I think we can call it a night.'', she added.
''Ok, then. I guess we can go home.'', said Damon and held Elena's hand. ''Goodnight. Oh… you can pay for the food, I guess… Can't you?'', he asked kind of… satisfied.
''Goodnight.'', said Stefan and Rebekah together. ''And yes, we can pay'', added Stefan.
''Welcome to my bar!'', said Klaus, opening the door for her.
''What do you mean ''your bar''? Is it really yours?'', she asked surprised.
''Well, yeah… I bought it and all, if that's what you mean.'', he told her.
''It's amazing! I like you taste, it matched mine…'', she said.
''Like I said; we're the same, Caroline.'', he repeated what he had once told her.
''That remains to be seen…'', she said. ''So… I don't think we will be alone here, will we?'', she asked without thinking twice about it.
''Oh… So you want us to be completely and utterly alone.'', he said joyfully. '' I'll see what I can make about it.''
''That's not what I said!'', she said, a little louder than before. But considering that almost everybody in the bar was a vampire, her voice sounded very much louder.
''This is Caroline.'', said Klaus to break the silence. ''A… friend of mine.'', he finished and suddenly lifted her up and kissed her in front of everyone. Friend with benefits, thought Caroline and probably everyone else in the room. She was surprised by his gesture, and she was pretty sure that wasn't planned. It was his… inspiration of the moment. She was a little embarrassed but she couldn't be more flattered, either. That showed her his true intentions. It wasn't just a happy reunion that existed to entertain him. He wanted it to be serious. And she was truly happy about that.
After her cheeks' color went back to normal, she noticed how perfect that bar was. It was gothic and the only colors that existed were red and black. Mystery, passion and fire, she thought.
''Did you decorate it?'', she asked.
''No, of course not. I just had the ideas. Camille did, the bartender.'', he said and dragged her to a small table behind the bar.
''Let me introduce you to Caroline.'', he said to a beautiful blonde girl.
''Hi.'', said Camille,'' I've heard so much about you, I feel like I know you already. Klaus is talking about you every day. I think I know everything about you.'', she said smiling.
''Does he?'', Caroline asked surprised and looked at him. She thought for a second that his face turned red, but it must have been her imagination.
''Oh, yeah. He does.'', Camille said. ''And, by the way you can call me Cami. He calls me that way.'', she said and looked at Klaus, too. Caroline felt a little jealous and wondered if ever Klaus and Camille have been together this whole year.
''Cami is one of my best friends. And she's just a friend. '', he said like he had read her mind. She loved how mentally connected they were. Or she was just overreacting.
''Cami taught me that, even the most powerful creature on earth, aka me, has its weaknesses and needs some friends from time to time. She taught me that feeling emotions is not a weakness, too. It's strength. I believe she understands me better than anyone else in this city, excluding you, of course.'', he finished.
''What about Haley?'', asked Caroline. It was something he hadn't told her face to face, but she knew because he had left a very long voicemail, explaining everything that had happened, including Hayley's pregnancy. She was aware that it was a sensitive subject.
''As far as I know, Hayley is somewhere in Australia, with her baby son, trying to forget everything that had happened and move on. The baby is growing normally, however, it has its senses kind of… magnifies, like a hybrid. And it eats every king of food. Even the normal one. But enough with these, love. This is supposed to be our night, and I don't want any unwanted intruders to get in the way.'', he said.
''So… I guess I'm glad we covered that up.'', said Caroline a little confused but satisfied.
''What can I get you?'', asked Camille who had remained silent all this time.
''I asked for some special… stuff.'', said Klaus mysteriously.'' Is everything ready?''
''I thought you'd never ask.'', answered Camille, with a smile. ''Follow me.''
Klaus put his arm around Caroline's shoulders and pulled her closer. She felt his body touching hers and breathed heavily. She realized how much she wanted him at that particular moment. They walked a little and then got out in the fresh air.
It was some kind of balcony and, in the middle, there was a round table. A red round table. He knows me so well, she thought. On the table, there were different kinds of dishes so she could choose the one she wanted to. Or the two. Or the three. All around the place there were roses and candles.
The truth was that she never considered Klaus to be romantic, but she loved all these so much. It looked like the perfect date and she hoped it would be.
''I should get going.'', said Camille and then hugged Caroline tightly and waved her hand, as she was leaving. She left the two of them alone.
Klaus pulled her closer and looked into her glowing eyes that were filled with happiness. He loved that feeling. The feeling he had when he was slowly realizing that she was happy because of him. After all this time, he finally managed to make her happy.
And she was happy. Right or wrong, she knew that her feelings for him were growing stronger, minute by minute. Suddenly, he pulled something out of his pocket. It was a small black box, but she had a strange feeling about it. It looked familiar. Klaus slowly opened it and she immediately realized it was the bracelet he had given her, when they first met. She remembered that night.
That night he had saved her and let her in to a secret; about the world that was waiting for her. It was exactly two years before, she thought suddenly. How did I forget? She had stopped celebrating her birthday since the day she realized that they were more important things to do. It's just a coincidence, she thought. It's just a coincidence. But it wasn't.
''Happy Birthday, Caroline.'', said Klaus with his deep voice and smiled at her.
''You're amazing.'', she said. She hugged and kissed him, with her eyes open. His look left her breathless. He pulled his lips from hers and looked her at her with desire.
''I love you.'', he whispered. He kissed her again and they both felt they were meant for each other. She wished that that moment would never end.
Me, too… she thought. And then thought about it again.
''Me, too'', she said.
So… Today one of my best friends and big Klaroline shipper has birthday today, Irene. 7th of May. This special chapter is dedicated to you, love. Happy Birthday!