Klaus awoke slowly, his body screaming in protest from laying on the stone floor all night. A sweet perfumed scent filled his nostrils and a ghost of a smile appeared on his face.

Caroline.

He inhaled deeply, keeping his heart steady as he savored her scent. His head was cradled in her lap and her fingers brushed soothingly through the curls of hair at the nape of his neck.

Smiling inwardly, he recalled his first real meeting with Caroline Forbes. An angel, he had fancifully thought, walking into her bedroom that fateful night. Even faced with death, the light within her refused to dim. He had been star-struck seeing her, and had immediately felt an unfamiliar stab of guilt piercing through him for using her for his own means.

Each interaction afterwards wetted his appetite as he grew curiouser about her. He had pursued her for a year, growing more and more enamored of her. It had come as quite a shock to him when he realized just how much she had come to mean to him. For centuries, he was unaccustomed to caring for anyone other than his siblings. Yet when two of his brothers fell at the hands of her friends and she had pleaded with him for mercy for her friends, he had been unable to resist her.

If it hadn't been for a liquor-fueled one-night stand, he would have stayed in Mystic Falls, pursuing Caroline.

But he had slept with Hayley Marshall and while there was no love between them, the result was a greater love than he had ever dreamed of - unconditional love.

Hayley had given him Hope, in more ways than one, and he would forever be grateful to her. He couldn't have asked for a better mother for his daughter. Hayley had turned out to be the strongest woman he had ever known, able to bear heartache and stand toe-to-toe with him, and his dysfunctional family.

She deserved so much better, Klaus thought wistfully. They all did.

A pang of regret stole through him as his thoughts drifted to Cami, a woman who certainly deserved better than what she got. Kind and soft-hearted, but fierce in her devotion to her friends - and him. She had desperately tried to help him become a better version of himself, for not only Hope, but for himself. She had tried her best and had fought valiantly, but as it happened too often, succumbed to the overconfidence that came too easily with new vampires. Finding herself endowed with real power and heightened emotions, she had overplayed her hand, which led to her downfall.

And now he was here with Caroline. She had helped him on numerous occasions these past two weeks, and here she was once more, out of the kindness of her heart, even though he knew he didn't deserve it.

Caroline continued to stand out in his memories, a shining light casting shadow over the memories of every woman he had ever bothered to remember. He never quite gotten her out of his system. She had always lingered in the back of his mind, even as he tried to forget her.

She had captured his fancy years ago and never let go.

Klaus opened his eyes slowly, wanting to stay where he was, with his head in her soft lap. Just one more moment before he had to face the reality that the Hollow was still inside him.

His entire family, especially Hope, was in danger as long as the Hollow was still in play. Her dark magic continued to pull and tug at him. Hallucinations had only been a small part of her vengeance. Now that they no longer worked on him, she would resort to something else. There was no doubt in his mind that whatever it was, it would be infinitely more painful.

And he didn't want Caroline around when that happened. He had hurt her enough in the past and he would never forgive himself now if she ended up hurt, or worse, because of him.

He sighed and felt Caroline's fingers still.

A sad smile crossed his face, knowing that she knows he is awake now and simply putting off the inevitable. Leaving the comfort of her lap, he stretched.

Caroline searched his face. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," he said, attempting to reassure her with a smile.

Taking her hand in his, he looked at her. "Thank you," he said quietly. "I don't know what I did to deserve your kindness -"

"Klaus -"

"Let me finish - please." Klaus took a deep breath. "I will never be able to repay you for what you did for me yesterday - or these past few days. All I can do is keep you safe."

Before she could argue, Klaus continued.

"I need you to be safe, Caroline. I don't want to lose anyone else - I can't lose anyone else. And especially not you, not after all you've done for me, for my family."

He swallowed hard, forcing himself to continue.

"The truth is, I'm feeling a bit - peaky, and I -" he stumbled to a halt, looking into her blue eyes, full of concern. Taking a deep breath, he continued. "I'm not sure how much longer I can hold on."

How could he do this? Everything he had ever wanted was within his grasp and a twist of fate was forcing him to send the one person he desperately wanted away. Every fiber of his being screamed in protest - how could he send her away when she was everything he had ever wanted? But he felt himself getting weaker while the Hollow continued to consume him.

"I don't want you to see me if -" he closed his eyes, shaking his head, before meeting her gaze once more. "I don't want you to see me like this. Go home, Caroline, to your family, your girls. Please."

There was so much he wanted to tell her. How grateful he was to her for helping him. How beautiful she was. How she was never far from his thoughts. He had lived a thousand years, done unspeakable things and none of it - none - made him feel as low as sending her away did.

Caroline opened her mouth wordlessly. Unbidden, tears rolled down her cheeks.

"No - none of that, sweetheart," he murmured, wiping away her tears. "You know I am helpless against your tears."

"I can't help it -" she whispered. "Klaus, I -"

"Don't," he said fiercely, holding her face in his hands. "Don't."

She nodded, understanding, staring at his face as if she would memorize every detail. Slowly, she leaned forward and softly pressed her lips to his.

He held himself utterly still, savoring her soft lips on his, losing himself in her touch.

Too soon, she pulled away, her eyes locked on his.

His inner voice screamed for her to stay. Just a moment longer. Just one more kiss of her sweet lips.

Instead, his eyes fell to the necklace she wore, holding wedding bands from long ago. Hers and Stefan's.

"Promise me - no matter what happens, that you'll see the world and all it has to offer. Promise me that you will keep your heart open," he asked.

Caroline nodded and smiled weakly.

"Although, if I could offer you one piece of advice? I'd recommend you try to find someone without siblings."

Caroline laughed, choking back her tears as Klaus teased her.

"How do you do that? How do you make me laugh when - the worst is happening all around us?"

If only she knew, he thought. He cherished the moments he made her genuinely laugh. Her laughter was a soothing balm on his darkened soul; her smile capable of leaving him breathless and driving every thought out of his head. He ached to see her smile, to hear her laugh.

"It's a gift," he said smiling. "I know it's an odd thing to say, Caroline. But I'm - proud of you. You were born for this life. And that light of yours continues to shine bright, despite all of your sadness and heartache. Promise me you'll keep shining."

She nodded once more, her face crumbling while tears threatened to overwhelm her.

She was beautiful, he thought. Even in this moment, when her eyes were swimming in tears, as she bravely struggling to remain strong - for him. When she had asked him all those years ago, why her, he had answered honestly.

You're beautiful, you're strong, you're full of light.

It was as true today as it was then.

He cupped her face, his thumb lightly brushing against her cheek, and resting his forehead on hers. "You have always known, Caroline," he whispered. "It was always you. Always."

He breathed her in once more, desperate for this moment to last.

And then she was gone. The air stirred for a moment in her wake and he was left alone in silence. A few of his tears fall freely and he hastily wipes them away. Taking a deep breath, he made an effort to get himself under control before he must face his family.

The Hollow within him is growing and he can feel himself getting weaker. He doesn't know how much longer he has until she takes over completely. And once she does, he'll be a threat to his daughter - to his entire family, with no way to slow him down. He must speak with his family and tell them to do whatever it takes to keep Hope safe - even if it means killing him.

A/N: Thank you for the favorites and follows! Would love to have some more feedback, so please, leave a review. I really would like to know how the story is resonating with you. Thank you!