Author's Note

I've settled on the 'length' I want to try and make my chapters. So, 2,000 words is to little and 4,000 isn't too long but it isn't my ideal length if you will. My goal is to write right in the middle so 3,000 words. This chapter sadly isn't 3,000 words but i'm slowly getting there so hopefully the chapters to come only get longer.
This chapter is completely flashback solely because I had a lot I wanted to write on the 'ball' night and i wanted to get it all down and move on. So Here it is.

P.S. If you notice slight differences in this chapter it's because I've re-posted it but this time it has been edited by DPrettyGirl818.

I've gotten into this nasty

habit of running away from love,

but maybe one day

I find the exception to that.

When Caroline finally got to the Mikaelson mansion, where the ball was being held, she was just in time to not be too early but not obnoxiously late either. She wore the dress that Nik had had delivered only a few short hours ago, accompanied by a pair of white gloves just to 'fit in' with the sophisticated crowd that she knew would be in attendance. As soon as Caroline made it through the door Esther grabbed a hold of her and pulled her to the side.

"Caroline you look absolutely gorgeous, and you did a wonderful job helping to organize this evening. Thank you." Esther said and dare Caroline say it, there was a rare genuine smile on her face. Gosh, it seemed that even Esther Mikaelson had a soul. Usually she was glum and moody, and when she wasn't that she was yelling orders at everyone around her.

"No problem Mrs. Mikaelson, I'm happy to help." Caroline's words were muffled by the herald announcing everyone to grab a partner for the next dance, which would be a century's old waltz chosen by Esther. Completely ignoring Caroline's attempt at chatting amicably, Esther glanced behind her to the end of the staircase were her daughter was descending.

"Rebekah looks lovely this evening, don't you agree?" Esther asked bluntly. A confused Caroline turned around to find Rebekah at the end of Esther's gaze. At the end of the staircase Rebekah stood in an off the shoulder green dress holding her hand out as, her long-term high school crush, Matt Donavon, led her out to the floor where the majority of tonight's guests were dancing.

"Oh look, and there's Niklaus." Surely enough descending from the top of the staircase was Nik, except instead of being alone as Rebekah had been there was a girl quickly following him. Caroline's heart gave an unexpected jolt of displeasure. She was gorgeous, with a short fitted black dress, as if to say screw your formal evening gown dress code. Her dark chestnut brown hair lay in tousled curls down her shoulders. She talked animatedly whilst her hands moved continuously about. "And who is she?" Caroline asked turning back to Esther, not wanting to look at the girl any longer.

"That's Tatia, Niklaus' girlfriend." It looked like he was annoyed with the girl, but when they met the bottom of the stairs they locked hands and set out to dance. "I do wish to talk some sense into my son and have him make Tatia a Mikaelson sometime soon." She replied in frustration seemingly completely oblivious to her insensitive tone. Caroline wasn't sure what she was feeling. As soon as the words had left Esther's mouth she felt the sudden urge to run, to leave the stupid party and just roll up in a ball and cry, and with nothing else to do she did. Mumbling a faint "I need some air" to Esther, Caroline ran outside and took a deep breath of the cold evening air. Berating herself for her stupidity in even thinking that the dress meant Niklaus felt something for her she manages to hold back the retched tears threatening to fall. After getting a hold of herself Caroline makes her way across the enormous front yard of the Mikaelson's Mansion. A beautiful white horse stops her in her tracks. Horses were so simple and so majestic. Sometimes Caroline wished she could be a horse running through an endless meadow of purple flowers. How simple things would be for her then.

Nik saw her storm out in a flash. She was breathtaking and he had noticed her the second he had started walking down the staircase and his eyes had fallen on the blue evening gown he had sent her. He left Tatia with a baffled look on her face and no explanation, as he quickly followed Caroline outside in fear of finding that she had already left. He let out a relieved breath that he was unaware he was even holding, when he spotted the beautiful blonde in question a few feet away, near his family's horse. Practically sprinting those few feet in her direction, he came up behind her in what felt like mere seconds.

Hearing the quickening footsteps, Caroline turned. "Caroline" He managed to utter. A faint smile appeared on her face as if to acknowledge his attempt to open a conversation and Nik quickly saw through her façade knowing that something was wrong. "Caroline what's wrong?" He placed a hand on her shoulder, only to have her shrug it away as if he had burned her and step back turning her gaze back to the horse. "Nothing, I'm fine. Just fine." Not wanting to push her, Nik stood there gazing at her as she stared at their horse.

"You're staring." Caroline said stating the obvious. "I prefer to think of it as admiring a beautiful subject." He said still holding his gaze fixed on her. She giggled and this time he saw a genuine smile graze her face. Yes! I'm getting somewhere he cheered to himself.

After another brief interval of silence, Nik spoke again. "His name's Henry." She looked at him confused. "The horse." Nik said feeling the need to clarify. When she didn't reply he continued. "We named him after our brother, Henrik. He died four years ago. He was on eleven" His gaze moved to the floor as he realized this was the first time he really ever talked about his deceased younger brother. This time she was the one putting a hand on his shoulder. "I know, Rebekah told me a while ago. I'm sorry." At first he felt a bit of anger. He didn't want her pity, intending to lash out he looked up and saw something in her eyes that completely astounded him and deviated from pity. Regret maybe? No, it was pure empathy, only capable of being given by those who have felt the same way before. Realizing this he also recognizes another blatant fact. Caroline's lost someone just as important to her in her life.

Seeing Nik study her reaction she told him the answer to what she knew he wanted to ask. She took a deep breath. "My dad left my mom and me when I was really young…for another man...I hardly ever see him or spend time with him now. His life doesn't include me anymore." The initial shock washed over his face quickly but Caroline caught it before it vanished. "Yeah, I guess that just adds to my qualification of 'damaged goods'." He took hold of her face, forcing her to look straight into the ocean of blue that were his eyes. He gently wiped away the stray tear on her cheek. "Don't you ever dare think of yourself as anything less than beautiful. I can assure you sweetheart you look absolutely mesmerizing in that dress." And with that he put a smile on both their faces. "Come, I want to show you something." He took her hand in his and led her inside. Warmth coursed through her body and Caroline took this time to revel on how his hand felt around hers.

Nik took her to his studio, where the walls were covered in paintings of all sizes and sketches covered the desks. "So what did you want to show me?" Caroline asked as she stumbled into the room behind him. He turned around and smiled. This time it wasn't giddy or a smirk, it was him smiling, and it only seemed to happen around her. "One of my passions…" She gave him a curious look before she gazed at a table behind him covered in drawings. She looked through a couple and found one of a women's face, deeming it her favorite of all that she's seen thus far.

Caroline turned around with the drawing in her hand. "Who's this?" She asked ushering the drawing towards him. "No one special." He took the parchment from her and set it on the table. He looked through the rest of the drawings having one in particular he'd like to show her. "Now this…this is my personal favorite." He handed her the drawing and he watched her eyes go wide. It was a drawing of her, on the first day they had 'crossed' paths. In the drawing she had her head tilted a bit to the floor, as if to hide her blushing cheeks.

When Caroline looked up to meet Nik's eyes she noticed how close they had come to stand together. Clearly she wasn't the only one to notice, Nik leaned even closer aiming to kiss her and right before his lips connect with hers she turns away. "I can't. I won't be your distraction or whatever it is you want." Confusion immediately clouds his features and he pulls back staring at Caroline who's now not looking at him.

"Caroline, love, what are talking about?" He goes to place a hand on her shoulder but once again she takes a step back. "Esther told me about you and Tatia…and how you're planning to propose." This time she did turn around to try and gauge his reaction. Clearly caught off guard he stood there with his mouth hanging open and not saying a word, so she left.

A few minutes after, he wiped the dumbfounded expression off his face and went to find Rebekah down stairs. A search that was short lived, when he saw Rebekah storming towards him. Just as he opens his mouth to ask where Caroline had disappeared to, there was a painful stinging on his right cheek where Rebekah had slapped him. "You bloody idiot!" Nik took hold of her wrists when she attempted to get in another slap.

"Rebekah calm down, you're causing a scene." She pulls her hands out of his grasp as he drags her into one of the many sitting rooms in the mansion. He closed the double doors and slowly turns around to meet Rebekah's burning gaze. "What did you do to Caroline?" Anger evident in her tone. She held up a strong stance he'll give her that, with her arms crossed and never breaking eye contact. Nik combed his fingers through his hair and let out an exasperated grunt. "I didn't do anything. It was Esther, she told her about Tatia." A knowing look eased Rebekah murderous rampage. She turned her back to Nik feeling a bit of guilt for jumping to conclusions. "Do you know where she might have gone?"

After their little spat Rebekah willingly told him that Caroline had gone home. Within five minutes he made it, and he was pretty sure he had gone over the speed limit to get there. He slammed the car door and sprinted towards her house.

Caroline had heard the car coming up the drive way and the sound of a door slamming. She got up from her place in the living room, where she had been sitting on the couch for the past fifteen minutes since she left the party. She walked to the front door only to see Nik running towards the house. Hesitantly she opened the door and went outside.

"What are you doing here?" Caroline asked the second Nik stepped on the porch. He caught his breath and then explained his reasons. "I'm here to apologize, and I have some explaining to do."

"Go ahead then explain, apologize." She looked utterly annoyed and he knew why. He could have told her back at the mansion, but instead he didn't like a coward.

"I'm truly sorry, that you had to find out about Tatia the way you did but let me assure you that shipped has sailed. She did something incredibly unforgivable, and I have no desire of ever getting involved with her again, much less propose marriage to her." He searched her eyes for any hint of her reaction.

"So why did Esther say she's your girlfriend?" Caroline asked directing her gaze to the floor instead of meeting his eyes. "Well, you've met the woman, she lives in her own world. One of which she likes to think Tatia and I are still together." She looked up as she nodded, taking in what he was saying. "What did she do?" Nik really didn't want to get into this right now especially not with Caroline, but a part of him knew it might be the only way to get her to trust him. Taking a deep breath he proceeded.

"She seduced my brother." He said looking away. Caroline's eyes went wide, expressing her initial shock. "Oh my gosh, Kol?" She guessed. "Gods no…It was Elijah. He always seemed to hold a torch for Tatia even while we were together." Once again Caroline's eyes went wide as he revealed this new piece of information. "Wow, what a bitch." He smirked when he heard her mumble. "But I'm over it already and Elijah and I are on good terms. So I see no reason to rehash my past mistakes."

"Well, you may not, but I definitely do." He gave her a confused looked that was asking for her to elaborate. "She's gorgeous. Her beautiful hair, her skin just radiates, and do not get me started on that dress." She shot her hands up and down in demonstration, and then tiredly lowered them when she finished.

Reaching out he grabs hold of her hands before running his hands up and down her arms, inwardly smiling that she hadn't pushed him away. "Love, the only dress I'm thinking about is the one you're wearing. Have I told you how ravishing you look this evening." She pressed her lips into a tight line trying to hold in her laughter. It didn't help and within seconds she was laughing. Soon enough both of their faces were plastered with a giddy smile.

"Why me?" At first he didn't understand what she meant by that. When he finally did get it he thought long and hard about what he would say next.

"I fancy you, you're strong, you're beautiful, you're full of light, I enjoy you, and no one not even Tatia will change that." He softly grabs hold of her face like he did earlier in the evening. "Do you understand me?" He barely understood what was happening as Caroline ambushed his lips with hers. He immediately responded but the kiss came to an end when Caroline pulled away. She pressed her lips in a tight line but this time for a completely different reason. She looked to the ground in attempt to hide her blushing cheeks. "Uh…It's late I should probably go inside and get some sleep." She maneuvered her way around him toward the door. She could hear his barely audible laugh at her innocent and shy tactics.

"Goodnight Caroline." He whispers leaning close, kissing her cheek, and retreating to his car. Caroline stood there watching him for a couple of seconds until she yelled out. "Nik!" He turned around at the sound of his name. She was running towards the car, gathering the dress so she wouldn't ruin it. Before he could ask what she was doing her arms were wrapped around his neck and his around her waist as she pressed their lips together one last time.

"Goodnight." She said when the kiss finally broke.

Author's Note

Ugh! I was really hesitant and weird about writing the 'kiss'. I just find it weird kind of. Reading something like it is sweet and simple but writing it is another story, or maybe it's just me. I don't know, but I would appreciate your thought son the matter.
Last thing, I might be sticking with 1 chapter flashback and the next not, or going back to half flashback half present time. Either way the story will still alternate between the two.