Wow thank you all for your kind words and reviews, it means a lot. This story is quite dear to me and turned out just how I wanted it to which was a short tale of discovery and learning to love again.
There have been some very much appreciated comments and questions which I intend to turn into prompts for one-shots in this verse so let me know if there's anything you'd like to see from their travels and keep any eye out for them.
Thank you for reading, and enjoy! : )
"So, you didn't fancy Tokyo then?"
"How do you…"
"I'm pretty sure the estimated flight duration would be more than three hours from France to Japan love." Klaus leaned back in the air craft chair, arms folded behind his head and legs stretched out in front of him and a smug expression plastered across his devilishly handsome face, the Pilate had just made his usual announcements with divulging as little information as possible. It was the same private jet and Pilate they had used to travel from Rome to Paris, and with Caroline's trademark diamond smile the guy was putty in her hands and he agreed to keep her little surprise a secret, no compulsion needed.
"I always thought you were joking when you'd offered to take me there.."
"Me joke? Now would I do such a thing?" Klaus turned to her in his chair, his head resting against the back of the cream leather, his hair adorably messy and a playful smirk etched on his lips.
"Haha, you know what I mean.."
"Indeed, but I would take you anywhere you ask Caroline, you know that," His gaze shifted for a second before glancing back as though he'd just remembered something and was asserting his confidence "though I must say even the thought that you remembered that conversation at all makes me happier than you'd imagine, so why don't we cut the surprises and tell me exactly what's going on hmm?"
"Ha nice try big guy, but no, you said you'd let me handle it, so let me handle it…a-and um you'd be surprised at how much I remember a-actually.." If he could be bold, then so could she, for him she would try, she would be brave and truthful, but for now she wanted to impress and show him how she felt, how much she'd actually remembered, to return the gift of life in all of it's beauty that he had shown her over the past 10+ days, she could, and if not for just him but finally for herself, without worrying about what anybody would think.
"I thought I just said no supri…"
"Ah ah ah enough, just sit back and relax." She held up a waggling finger and grinned as he tried to suppress his own, and with that he picked up a book from the pull down, arm rest table between their seats and lost himself to the pages.
Caroline was surprised at how easy everything had been to pull together, she was surprised at Klaus's easy, no questions asked attitude, but even more so she was surprised at herself, at her sheer determination and how normal and right this all felt and at how fast the decision had came to her and already made, without having to think twice.
They had returned to the Château after The Louvre and hastily started to pack their items, their old belongings and new, things they'd picked up along the way, memorabilia and merchandise.
Caroline had bought a vintage, wooden Mahogany photo frame from a small indoor market they'd found on the way back from the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle one day, she'd then carefully placed the single pastel pink flower that had sat between Klaus and herself on the table in one of the last Parisian bistros they ate at, between the two plates of glass and buried it amongst her softest towels and linens.
At the same time Klaus was carefully folding the napkin he had leant to Caroline when she was cleaning up after enjoying a particularly good désert de chocolat one evening, after realising she had smooth, dark melted chocolate as well as the remnants of her blush pink lip gloss on her lips, she pouted and pressed her mouth to the soft fabric with a giggle, leaving a perfect kiss shape that smelt like heaven on earth. When he didn't think she was paying attention, he pocketed the linen to keep and treasure and had taken extra care when packing it along with his toiletries and underwear.
Along with agreeing to let Caroline deal with the unknown plans and arrangements of their next adventure, Klaus had also unbeknown to him agreed to give Caroline the necessary cell phone contacts and information and all of the travelling documents needed for her to book the trip. Once again Klaus had found himself happily succumbing to Caroline's breathless charm and pearly white smile, and those eyes, so big and clear with a hint of youth and innocence that could just melt him right on the spot, and handed everything over.
However there was a very sour moment when Klaus had also automatically handed Caroline several of his credit cards to which she had instantly and pointedly denied. Klaus had point blank refused to let Caroline pay a penny for him, and she didn't know whether to be mildly annoyed at his stubborn arrogance or strangely charmed and swoon over his gentlemanly façade.
Caroline had won in the end, naturally, Klaus was starting to realise that he could not say no to her, not anymore, he could not allow himself to disappoint her in anyway, only if there was a situation that would put Caroline in grave danger or running straight into another mans arms then Klaus would happily give her anything she wanted, anything to see that smile and that small knot of satisfaction he felt in his stomach that told him 'you put that smile there'.
Caroline convinced him with her perfectly shaped arched eyebrow and best diva pout that she had Air-miles saved up on multiple credit cards that she could also spend on accommodation, and she had a lot of savings left over from her senior gap year in college when she didn't actually get to the chance to go anywhere.
As it happened when Caroline had made the necessary arrangements whilst she made sure she was completely out of earshot of the meddling hybrid, she was told that Klaus's private jet did not require any form of payment and also a complimentary car would be waiting for them at the airport upon arrival.
She was advised on where was best to stay, somewhere local and quaint and suitable, somewhere for him, where he would like, a way of saying thank you and showing him what he deserved in return for the kindness and generosity and utter amazing-ness he had shown to her.
And everything was accomplished with full discretion, the thought fluttered pleasantly and surprisingly in the pit of her stomach.
Within a few hours they were on their way and up in the air, and tucked up comfortably side by side in the first class private cabin.
Now and then Klaus would put his book down and just watch Caroline, carefully and questionably but delicately so, as she flipped through a magazine or closed her eyes and lost herself to the music pumping through the earphones provided.
Sometimes she'd catch him, gazing and eyeing her, his expression soft and eyes searching yet guarded, it was killing him, the not knowing part, she knew that, but he trusted her, he allowed his power-charged, egotistical, alpha male domineering side to take a back seat, he allowed himself to show vulnerability and the very fragile fear of the unknown, after years of struggling to find acceptance within himself and more importantly within the comfort of others he was finally starting to open up and let people in, letting her in, trusting her undoubtedly and with very little thought to it.
And it hit her with such intense emotion, because she realised, she knew, he had never stopped, from all those years ago when he would constantly be vying for her attention, trying to buy and woo her, from then to now, he had never given up, he was just waiting, like everything he had felt and had wanted was just put on pause until she walked right back into his life again. Only now it felt more real, both more and less desperate at the same time, like this was his last chance and he wasn't letting go again, she felt it, she understood it now.
She had made the right choice, she just had to tell him, show him.
The car was waiting on the runway when the jet landed, the chauffeur stepped out with a silent suave tug of his hat and welcoming smile and opened the trunk for the airline staff to transfer the luggage. Caroline climbed into the back, tugging Klaus with her and laughed at his bemused expression as he surveyed the black tinted windows, obstructing all views from the outside.
A few minutes later the driver sat down in his seat and turned to look back at Caroline expectantly, in return she nodded and quietly added "Take us straight there please, take our stuff to the a-um where we're we'll be staying, a-afterwards."
The driver simply smiled and nodded and turned back around to start the engine after muttering a quiet, friendly but unmistakably English "Yes ma'am."
Klaus smirked at the exchange, curiosity and interest piqued but simply relaxed back in his seat, his hand stretched out beside him, in the middle of him and Caroline, fingers flexing and rubbing against the fabric of the interior and occasionally gently brushing against the hem of Caroline's sun dress as she smiled back at him, brightly and confidently even if it did feel like her heart was going to explode right out of her chest.
Roughly Thirty minutes later the car gently eased to a stop, Caroline and Klaus had been chatting idly with nothing much else to do in the confines of the dark small space, not that they wanted to do anything else, there was nowhere else Klaus could think he would have rather been then right there with Caroline taking about nothing and everything, free and easy and dare he let himself think domestic.
She was nervous, he could tell, she'd swept her curls back from her face more times than he could remember to count, she would clasp her palms together and then rub them against the sides of her dress cascading around her thighs, she'd rub her ankles together, the leather straps of her sandals squeaking and go off deep in thought in the middle of a conversation.
He wished he could take it away from her, the anxiety and uneasiness she was so obviously feeling, he wished he could understand and above all he wished that whatever this was, wherever they were, that it wouldn't back fire, wouldn't be a mistake, because of him, because he didn't react the way she would want him to, or didn't say something she would expect him to say and suddenly the weight and severity of it all became too much. The atmosphere crackled between them tense and hot and the low hum of the engine became too loud in his ears as his heart pumped hard and fast.
The driver eyed the pair carefully and silently through the reflection of the rear-view mirror, he sat still and patient and clicked the engine off with a quiet jangle of the keys.
"Caroline? What is it? Where ar.."
"You, you told me once, that um, that there's a whole world out there waiting, Great cities and art and music, genuine beauty, a-and that I could have all of it, a-a thousand more birthdays, I just had to ask…"
"Word for word, I'm impressed... but I thought that's what we were doing, have been doing the past.."
"We have and it's been, it's been just, just, ugh I don't have to explain how amazing it's been, how much it's meant, you know that right, but I just want, I want to show you, to reciprocate…"
"You don't have to do that, I never expected that from y.."
"But what about you? Who have you asked? What have you been shown?" He deserved this, he did, he need not look for redemption no more.
"Caroline I.."
"Just, just sshh, come on." And with that, without further thought to doubt her actions or talk herself into a bottomless pit, Caroline flung the door open and pulled Klaus over the seat and out of the car with her.
The small surprised gasp and quick intake of breath from Klaus beside her was enough to transform Caroline's fluttering stomach of nerves into ones of excitement and happiness, and her small shy smile hiding on her lips spreading into a wide toothy grin that almost met her bright eyes.
His hand tightened around hers from where she had pulled him from the car, and it was a grasp of pure comfort and re-assurance and leverage, as if letting go would lead him to floating away.
They were standing in what seemed like a large, tiled, fancy market square, only empty of stalls and filled with statues and lamp posts and off in the near distance a huge, hard to miss grand building, painted white and pale green, with golden fixtures on the windows and pillars.
Klaus's heart started to beat double time, as memories flooded back to him from centuries ago, memories of Art and pride and devotion, and suddenly it was like a déjà vu, old memories becoming new again.
They were standing before The Hermitage Museum, Caroline had brought them to St Petersburg, Russia, she had brought him to the place where his own artwork was hanging among the upscale walls and ceilings, because she chose to, because she wanted to.
And suddenly years of compulsion, killing, and turning innocent people into sickly loyal minions, following after him, beckoning to his every call and whim, it wasn't enough anymore, it didn't matter, none of it weighed up to the entirety of this situation they were in now, this small, easy almost effortless thought was all he realized he ever needed.
"You, you remembered?"
"Of course I did, I told you, you'd be surprised at how much, shall, um shall we?"
Klaus turned and looked at her, pinning her with a stare so soft, so revered, that it pierced her heart and tears threatened to sting from behind her eye lids, he glanced down at their linked hands as she attempted to step forward and pull him along into the crowds of people who he'd just realized were also there with them. Caroline laughed, high pitched and soft, she couldn't help it, she'd made the right choice she knew it.
"Come on I didn't drag you all this was to suddenly stand there and say nothing, what are you waiting for?" She started to move forward and glided her hand up his arm to link in and grip more firmly on to his shirt, she pressed her side flush up next to him and firmly moved him along with her, perfectly instep.
Nothing, he thought, shock and awe sweeping over as he walked with her, I'm not waiting for anything, not anymore.
"And you just, just took it?"
"Well they annoyed me so.."
"Oh god forbid." Caroline laughed around the glass of deep red wine she was holding and shuffled closer to the fire place where the embers inside it were burning bright and warm just a few feet from them.
They were sitting on the floor of a small but spacious open plan and quaintly decorated two bed roomed apartment, with en-suites, a plush kitchen come dining area and snug living area that looked out on to the beautiful night sky of St Petersburg.
They had spent hours at The Hermitage earlier that day, walking and talking, learning and discovering, a considerable lengthy amount of time was spent in the small room that housed Klaus's landscape. There was a bench just opposite and as Caroline sat staring at the artwork, her eyes filling with unshed emotion as she drunk in the history and depth of the piece, Klaus stood behind her, leaning in, one hand placed on the bench, fingers entwining with hers just slightly so and his other hand brushing gently at her shoulder, a heavy re-assuring weight, his skin warming hers through the thin layer of fabric she was wearing. His voice was a low, gentle whisper in her ear as he explained every stroke of the paint brush and scratch of the charcoal.
He joined her on the bench, their thighs pushed close and for a long while they simply looked at the piece together and the small accompanying works of art around it, their glances swapped from the walls to each other and back again, silently they spoke to each other with a simple gaze, no questions or answers needed, enough emotion was conveyed without words.
When they felt it was time to leave, Klaus brushed a finger tip against the golden frame of his own work, his heart and soul poured into paint and water and lead and he guided Caroline from the room with a knowing smile, he didn't know when he would be back but he knew it wouldn't be the last time, there were reasons now, there was an excuse and a purpose, a reason to remember and to celebrate.
They'd spent the remainder of the daylight hours scoping out every piece of art, every stone structure, they walked the length of the waters edge around the back of the building, they then watched the sun lower in the sky and pull the night down onto the horizon as it glimmered over the water and then made their way to the waiting car.
No matter what they did, they were close, always some part of them touching the other, and it was easy, thoughtless, and effortless like gravity, it felt natural and no expectation of anything else, not yet, just the warm brush of skin on skin and the pulsing of heart beats beating in time.
Now hours later they were sitting opposite the fire place in their small rented apartment, which Caroline knew Klaus loved, it was different yet enough and the walls spoke of years of history and love and life. They sat side by side, their backs pressed against the small love seat behind them and Klaus was still telling stories from his past experiences at The museum, Caroline wouldn't, couldn't, evertire of listening to him, the way he came to life and his voice would rise and fall when expressing a certain point.
With each story from his past, he opened up, he bared himself and invited her in, to hear more, to feel what he felt, and she reveled in it.
As the time ticked on lazily, and their wine glasses emptied and re-filled over and over, empty plates and dishes scattered the floor around them and sometimes subtly and sometimes not so much they would inch closer together.
Caroline tucked her legs behind her knees and leaned in closer, facing Klaus completely, Klaus braced his arms on his bended knees and rested and arm on the sofa behind them, their bodies arching into each other perfectly as they continued to talk and laugh, but as the conversation gradually ebbed away and the fire crackled loudly and persistently, everything became too apparent, too much, how long would they dance around each other, how long would they try.
Klaus sat his glass down and gently took Caroline's from her grasp and replaced it with his own hands. If he never accomplished anything ever again in his life, he would be happy with this, he could finally say he would die a happy man knowing that had came here, Russia, Rome, Paris, to this stage in his life with Caroline, he proved to her she was worth much more than what she had back then and that's all he wanted. But if it were all to end now, if it were to diminish and disappear and go back to the way it was, he had to know, he has to take this moment and find out, there's no more waiting to be done.
Klaus leaned in and took a small deep breath, brushed a thumb against the warm skin of Caroline's hand and spoke, hushed rasp, gentle and quiet.
"Why Caroline? Tell me why did you bring me here? What did you almost say that day in Paris? Why only all those days ago did you choose to turn up on my doorstep?"
"Because you asked me to, you asked me to let you show me the world, and I refused, I declined because, because I thought it was just you, you wanting your own way, showing off and.." She broke off and tried to pull away, her hand itching to reach up into her hair, an automatic reflex when she wants to close up and hide her real emotions, but his hands were firm around hers and he only tugged her back closer, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Don't pity me Caroline, I don't need it, I don't want it.."
"No, no I-I was spoilt, I didn't know what I wanted back then, nothing was enough for me, but you, you offered me everything I needed and I threw it all back at you just to spite you, I pushed you away because I was frightened of how aware I was of just how much I needed what you could offer me."
"I understand.."
"You said you'd leave and I let you, I let you because I knew nothing would be enough for me, not back then, when I was that person, but I always saw the good in you, you need to know that, and I knew you'd be waiting for me, even though I never knew I was going to come find you, to take you up on your offer until I was actually on your door step.."
"What did you run from?"
"Myself, I ran from myself, I knew that I would find the real me, here with you, wherever you are actually, as selfish as it sounds I needed to be reminded of what it felt like to be longed for and looked after, to re-discover those feelings, I've been so closed off and cold and, and I just.."
Caroline choked on her words as Klaus lips were suddenly just there, a sweep away from her own, his whispered words hushed over her lips with a warm breath.
"What do you want from me Caroline?"
"Nothing." The hard swallow in his throat was audible as his chest heaved and his eyes roamed over her face and settled on her lips, he wanted but he wouldn't take, he wouldn't reduce them both to something that would end in regret, he needed to hear, to feel, what she truly wanted and hopefully nothing more. He closed his eyes as she moved to his ear, her breath ghosting over the shell as she whispered rough and hoarse, pleading, a final declaration, this was it.
"I-I brought you here because I needed to show you that I want nothing more from you than I know I already have, it's my turn now, my turn to show you what is available when you open up the way you have, I'm not playing around now, this is it for me, if um if you'll h-have me th.."
She was on her back, cushions scattered around her in a flurry, her head carefully cradled within Klaus's hands, his fingers scratching softly at her scalp, his body warm and heavy hovering over as his lips tenderly claimed hers, both protectively and achingly gentle, taking back what was always his, and showing promise for the next 100 years.
"Show me, please Caroline, show me more, forever."
Fin…