The sound of soft piano playing filled the spa with a calm serenity that made Caroline want to take a nap. Why had it taken her so long to enjoy one of these? She lived in Los Angeles. The city was crawling with these retreats.

Well, the money had to deal with that a little. She wasn't as rich as Klaus or Rebekah.

Currently, Caroline was lounging in the comfiest chair known to mankind. It was true. She had dubbed it that while trying to keep from falling asleep. Rebekah sat next to her, in the same state of mind that she was in. Her eyes were closed, and she was enjoying the shoulder massage one of the employee members gave her, as another gave her a pedicure. Caroline was reveling in the feel of a hand massage, while receiving a manicure.

The room was dark, with deep brown walls, and a window that showed the night sky outside. Candles were located all around the room, placed carefully so that the atmosphere had a soft glow to it. The two women were in a secluded, marble floored room, so that no one would bother them. The only company they had was each other, and the ladies giving them the heavenly treatment.

"Do you get these often?" Caroline asked, opening her eyes to face Rebekah. The other girl shrugged as best she could while getting a massage.

"I haven't been of late. Too busy," she sighed, shimmying down further into her chair. Caroline smiled.

"I would enjoy this luxury everyday if I could. It feels so good," Caroline moaned happily.

"Stop that. You sound like a mewling prostitute," Rebekah commented seriously. Caroline let out a little squeak of surprise, but then started giggling. Better start watching what noises came out of her mouth.

"Sorry," she apologized quietly.

"Whatever," Rebekah said dismissively. Caroline racked her brain for things to talk about. This was her chance to crack the spoiled actress. She couldn't possibly be that cold all the time. As seen when she was with Stefan, both at the clothing store, and outside Klaus' trailer yesterday. Wait! That was it!

"So…how are you and Stefan doing?" Caroline asked nonchalantly. She watched Rebekah's brows furrow.

"What do you mean?"

"You two seemed cozy yesterday," she suggested, trying her best at gossip. Obviously Caroline did this all the time with Elena and Bonnie. With Rebekah, she wasn't sure how to go about it.

"We're fine. Stop being nosy."

"I wasn't trying to be nosy," Caroline said meekly. "Just trying out girl talk."

Rebekah's eyes opened, and she seemed befuddled by what Caroline was saying. Not in a how-dare-you-ask-me-that way, but more of a what-in-the-world-is-this-sorcery look. Did she honestly not have that many friends? Weren't little socialites supposed to have a ton of fake friends even? Rebekah was literally around no girl. Ever. Besides Tatia and Katerina, the only people she knew were her family and ex boyfriend.

"Girl talk?" she said, sounding as if she were trying out the word for the first time. "Well…he helped me a lot last night, after everything with Alexander. But…I was glad to find out he was cheating."

"You were?" Caroline asked, confused. Rebekah nodded.

"I like Stefan," she admitted softly. "I got really bored with Alexander, but I didn't know how to break it to him. This made it easier."

"Oh. That's good then. Have you told Stefan how you feel?"

"No," Rebekah said quickly, taking a deep breath as the employee left her shoulders, and scurried away to get a facial mask she had mentioned in passing. "I don't know how."

"Just come right out and say it. Suggest going on a date to get to know each other better?"

"But I already know him. He's a friend to Nik," she said, as if that should have been obvious. "Is that how you and Lockwood started talking?"

"Not exactly. We're still 'talking' right now, but I think it's moving to something more. I had text him earlier to see if he wanted to go out and do something when you and I finished here, but he said he was busy with clients."

"Lame," Rebekah sighed.

"I know!" Caroline agreed. "I'm ready to be more, and he suddenly has a busy schedule."

"No, I mean lame excuse," she corrected, rolling her eyes. "He's not in that much demand."

Caroline reached for a sip of her tea after her manicurist moved away, and retrieved the facial mask goop that Rebekah's lady had gotten. Was that true? Was Tyler making up excuses to not spend time with her? Or was she just being insecure?

"He always seems busy," Caroline tried. Rebekah shook her head gently, so she wouldn't mess up the work on her face.

"He's not. Trust me. Nik is his highest paying customer. He rarely gives anyone else time because of it. You know how well my brother likes to share." Caroline couldn't argue with that.

"What would he be doing then?" Rebekah shrugged.

"Hell if I know. But I hope I'm wrong, if that's any consolation."

"Thanks," Caroline said, relaxing back in the chair, while the woman behind her massaged her cheekbones.

Would Tyler really be trying to avoid her? Had she done something to turn him away? Caroline tried to let the worry slip away when she felt the cucumber slices fall gently over her eyes. Now wasn't the time to worry about that. No, now was the time to enjoy peace and serenity. She was in a fluffy robe and slippers, letting her stress from work rub off every time the masseuse put her expert fingers on Caroline.

"We are going to let the mask set for a few minutes, and then we'll be back to remove it for you both," one of the ladies said softly.

"Thank you," Caroline said quietly, smiling as she heard the women shuffle out.

It was silent for a while, as Caroline and Rebekah listened to the music playing, and got lost in their daydreams. Caroline hoped her talk with the younger blonde would encourage her to talk with Stefan more. She wanted to see her friend happy after everything he had done for her. Rebekah deserved to be happy too, despite her bratty tendencies.

It was a while after the employees had left before Caroline could hear faint noises coming from the hallway.

"Do you hear that?" Caroline whispered to Rebekah.

"Sounds like somebody doesn't understand that this is a place of relaxation," Rebekah commented. Caroline sighed, trying to get back into her happy place. Assholes.

But she couldn't relax, because the sound was getting closer to their room, until it eventually stopped.

"Ah. Found you," an accented voice said. Ugh. She could practically hear the smirk he wore.

"Hello, Nik," Rebekah greeted, sounding exasperated.

"What are you doing here?" Caroline asked, in much the same tone Rebekah had. "This is girl time."

"Well I have Tatia with me. Does that count?" he asked innocently. He was so not innocent though.

"Hello girls," Tatia greeted quietly. "I'm so sorry for the disturbance. Klaus hates these places."

"Men," Rebekah scoffed.

"Why are you here then, Klaus?" Caroline asked. Why was he interrupting her one chance of spa heaven?

"What can I say? Tatia is very persuasive," he drawled.

"Let's leave them alone, Klaus. You're bothering them now," Tatia tried. Caroline could have hugged the girl.

But Klaus was persistent. Caroline heard his footsteps as he moved closer to where she was reclined, and then stopped. At this point in their friendship, she could tell when he was smiling, even if she couldn't see him.

"What?" she asked curtly. Klaus chuckled.

"Just trying to figure out how cucumbers aid in the beauty process," he mused, grabbing one of the slices from her eyes.

"Hey!" Caroline exclaimed, her eyes popping open. Klaus was chewing the slice, looking around the room as he deciphered his thoughts.

"Delicious…but still no answer for my question."

"Klaus…I have to get to my appointment," Tatia reminded him. Klaus nodded.

"Why don't you go ahead, sweetheart? I need to make sure my assistant hasn't annoyed my baby sister too much."

"She hasn't," Rebekah said dryly. "You may leave now."

"Now sister," he chided gently. "Is that anyway to treat your big brother?"

"Yes," all three girls said in unison. Klaus was taken aback.

"I had no idea you thought so little of me," he said, feigning hurt as he walked over to one of the chairs. Tatia sighed.

"I am going, Klaus. Come see me when you are done torturing these poor girls," Tatia told him, walking out without giving him a chance to answer.

"Would you go with your girlfriend? She actually tolerates you being a nuisance," Caroline grunted, lying back in her chair. This was why she needed an escape in the first place. Klaus was literally everywhere she went. Even though he had told her it was okay to go with Rebekah for a while.

"So tense today," Klaus remarked. How could someone not be tense with him around?

"Nope. I'm fine," she lied skillfully.

"I'm not. Would you two shut up, or sod off?" Rebekah complained.

"Sorry," Caroline said softly, getting up from her chair, and stomping out of the room. Facial mask be damned. She didn't know anyone there, and she didn't care if they saw her in this utterly infuriated state.

Just like she thought, Klaus followed her out too. He was so not there to see about Rebekah. Liar.

"Don't be angry, love. I only wanted to say hello."

"Well, you did. Now you can go bug Tatia," Caroline huffed.

"I irritated her enough this morning. I thought I'd give you a little attention," he smirked.

"Well you have. Now shoo."

"Ouch," he drawled, placing his hand over his heart.

"Don't give me that. Why can't you be more like Tyler? He wouldn't be so infuriating."

"That's because he's too busy being a narcissistic suck up," Klaus said seriously, no longer amused now that Caroline had brought up the one man he hated her talking about. She smiled triumphantly. Success.

"Oh? Did I hit a soft spot?"

"Not at all. But he does agitate me, so it would be wise for you not to bring him up."

"Why do you still go to him if you hate him so much?" Seriously. It made no sense whatsoever. Klaus shrugged.

"He's good at what he does. I need the best to be the best. It's as simple as that. Otherwise, his ass would be dumped within seconds."

"You're so kind," Caroline said sarcastically. Klaus' eyebrows rose in amusement. She wished he would stop looking at her like that. It made her uneasy. Caroline hadn't forgotten the ride home last night. She had feelings for Tyler, not Klaus. She had to remember that.

"I am. More than you know in fact. If I wasn't, I wouldn't point out that your little boyfriend is right over there," Klaus said, nodding toward the opposite direction she faced.

Caroline turned around, and saw that Klaus actually wasn't lying. Tyler stood at the end of the hallway, smiling as he stood in a large reception area. Caroline smiled in return, waving to him. Tyler didn't see her though. He was talking to the lady behind the counter. Her heart began to beat faster. Was he there to surprise her?! That was so sweet!

Her grin widened momentarily, realizing that this was why he had said he was busy earlier. But she quickly found out it wasn't her he was there for.

Hayley came out in a white bathrobe, just like the one Caroline wore, and was smiling at Tyler. Like, a flirty smile. Not a friendly, buddy-buddy smile. It was an I-know-you-better-than-anyone-here smile.

The kiss they shared after was certainly more than friendly too.

"Oh my god," Caroline breathed, realizing her mistake. He was seeing someone?! That was why they hadn't kissed. It was why they hadn't started dating officially. Tyler was stringing her along, like some fool who didn't know any better.

"Caroline—" Klaus began, but she turned on him.

"Is this your doing?" she accused. "Is this some big joke to get me to quit? All this time I thought we were becoming friends, but you were just biding your time until this happened? Is that it? Is this the grand finale?" How could she have missed it? Now that she thought about it, everything was so obvious!

"Easy, love. You're going to make a scene," he said to try and calm her down.

"Easy?! No. I can't believe you would do something this horrible."

"How could you think I would do something like this?" he hissed, his eyes wide with anger. "I hate that piece of scum!"

"Or maybe that's just what you wanted me to think! This was all some scheme for your stupid little game. Well fine!" she said, tears streaming down her face now from the hurt and embarrassment, smudging her mask up. "You win."

"Caroline…" Klaus said, his eyes no longer angry, but afraid.

"Don't," she said, backing up to grab a towel on a nearby table. "Just don't."

She began wiping at her face frantically, trying to rub the goop off, while keeping her dignity in tact. Caroline needed to get out of there. Now. She didn't care if she was in a robe and slippers, or if she looked like a mess. She felt like a mess.

Her heart felt like it had been torn to pieces, and it was all because of a stupid game.

Klaus watched as Caroline ran off, completely bewildered by what had just happened. Was he being blamed for something this inconsiderate jerk had done? But, well, he supposed he could see how Caroline would come up with that assumption.

But she was wrong. Klaus would never wish something like this on her. No matter how much he hated Tyler. This only added fuel to the fire.

It was why he found himself walking over to the piece of shit right then.

"Klaus," Tyler said in surprise, "What are you doing—"

The man didn't have time to finish, since Klaus' fist connected with his jaw. Tyler fell to the floor, and Klaus followed him, sending punch after punch to his disgusting face. Hayley had her hands over her mouth as she watched the scene in horror.

"Klaus!" he heard Tatia yell from behind him. It was enough to make him stop punching Tyler. Eventually, he even backed off.

"Don't ever go near her again," Klaus growled. "You understand? And if I find you anywhere near me…you won't be so lucky."

"Are you threatening his life?" Hayley asked, standing up for him.

"I would stay out of this if I were you," he said seriously, glaring at her without shame.

"It's fine Hayley, it's fine. I'll stay away. And I'm not pressing charges for the assault."

"What?" Hayley asked, surprised. "But—"

"Let's just go," Tyler said quietly, staring at Klaus intensely until he finally walked off with his little pit bull.

"What's going on, Klaus?" Tatia asked gently.

"Sir, I think you need to leave," one of the employees informed him. Klaus nodded, putting his hand around Tatia's waist, and walking to the entrance with her.

"Tyler's been cheating on Caroline," he said, his voice low so the whole damn place wouldn't know.

"How awful!" Tatia exclaimed.

"Fucking asshole," he seethed, his anger not wanting to calm down.

"Klaus—"

"I can't believe he would do that to Caroline of all people! She wouldn't harm a soul!"

"Klaus…"

"What right does he have making her cry?! If he didn't want to be with her, he should have broke up with her like a proper man. If he was with someone else, he shouldn't have been trying to get her into bed. Now she thinks it's my fault for his affair."

"Klaus," Tatia said more forcefully, trying to get his attention. He stopped his rant, turning his gaze toward her. She looked sad, as if Tyler's actions had gotten to her too. So he wasn't the only one.

"Yes?"

"Caroline is a big girl. She'll pick herself up from this. You've already done enough."

"It'll never be enough Tatia," he said, shaking his head. "I want him to remember what he's done, and to never do it again."

"Please calm down," she pleaded with him. "It's going to be okay."

"I'm sorry, love, but I need to take a walk. I'll meet you back at your house." Klaus gave Tatia a chaste kiss on the forehead, before marching out of the establishment. He needed to clear his mind. All he could think about was Tyler kissing Hayley, and right after Caroline was praising him. She had actually wanted Klaus to be more like him. The thought disgusted him. He would never be like that dog.

Klaus shoved his hands inside his pocket, feeling the cool breeze across his face. Where could he go to get this off his mind? He needed to be distracted as soon as possible.

"I can't believe that Klaus would do that!" Caroline cried on the doorsteps of Stefan's trailer. Stefan rubbed her shoulder comfortingly, trying to calm her down. Thankfully he had a break from filming when she had arrived. Caroline needed to be around someone she could trust.

"I really don't think Klaus would do that. He has his moments, but he would never break your heart like that. You two have been getting along so well." Of course Stefan would stick up for him. They were friends.

"Oh, but he would. Klaus loves his games. He wanted me to quit. He wanted me to give up on this job," she reminded him. "I wouldn't put it past him."

"He gave up on all that a long time ago. You can't really consider leaving, can you? Everyone loves you."

"I am. I am considering it. It's not so far-fetched. I can't be in a place where my boss would do something so cruel. Tyler isn't innocent in this, but neither is Klaus."

"Caroline—"

"I know…that you don't believe it's him. I know. But I do. And it sucks, Stefan," she said, fresh tears rolling down her face. "I thought we were friends, and then he betrayed me."

She buried her head into his shoulder, and he continued rubbing his hand up and down her arm. No matter how many times she tried, the tears just wouldn't stop. It was becoming less and less about Tyler being with Hayley, but more and more about Klaus orchestrating the whole scandal.

Caroline knew it was wrong to let him win after so long, but this particular incident hurt the most. It wasn't some childish prank. This had messed with her heart. She had begun to feel comfortable around Klaus, and he had to go and ruin everything.

"Look…if we just talk this out with Klaus, I'm sure you'll realize that he had nothing to do with it. Honestly, he hates Tyler. So Klaus wouldn't work with him. It wouldn't make sense."

"Then he had us all fooled," she said quietly.

"I think you need to sleep on it, okay? Let me take you home. Are Bonnie and Elena there tonight?"

"Yes," she mumbled. Caroline was surprised he remembered their names. She had told him about her friends some time ago, but she didn't mention them often.

"Then let's go. I'll drive you. No limos necessary," he joked. Caroline cracked a small smile. At least he was trying.

"Thank you."

"It's what friends do for each other. Don't think anything of it," he said quietly. Stefan carefully eased her head off his shoulder, and helped her stand up. She was still a mess, but at least she was out of that white robe and green gunk.

Together, her and Stefan walked to his car. Caroline was ready to go home and forget this whole mess. Whether she would be back tomorrow was undecided as of now, but her mind was already swaying one way. The question that remained was if would she follow through with it.

Would she able to leave everything she had come to know behind?

Klaus walked up the front steps to Tatia's house. It had been hours since he had left the spa treatment. His walk hadn't exactly helped him. If anything, it had made it worse.

Especially when he had dropped in on some of Caroline and Stefan's conversation.

She truly thought he had betrayed her trust. Klaus had done no such thing. Even with Stefan telling her that, she still wouldn't believe it. What more did he have to do to prove his innocence? How could he prove it? Caroline wanted to leave.

And he didn't want her to.

He kicked a rock that was lying on one of the steps. This was insane. Klaus shouldn't be dealing with this. What if he hadn't been at the spa earlier? Would she have considered him a culprit if he hadn't been standing right in front of her? Or was she blaming him because it was convenient? Whatever the reason, he would fix it in the morning. They would talk, and he would fix everything.

Trudging into the house after unlocking the front door, he closed it behind him, and headed up the stairs. Maybe being around Tatia would help ease his sorrows. She would help him forget this whole mess.

"I'm here, sweetheart," Klaus shouted, walking into her bedroom. Her house wasn't as nice as his abodes, but still elegant and expensive nonetheless. Her bedroom was massive, with a four-poster bed against the wall. The color scheme of her room were calming greens and browns.

When he walked in, the first thing he noticed were the packed bags in front of that very bed.

Tatia walked out of the bathroom, holding a small suitcase in her hands. She looked somber, and uncertain.

"Hello, Klaus," she greeted.

"What's going on?" he asked, staring at the luggage. Were they going somewhere?

"We need to talk," she said seriously. Klaus straightened up, his face hardening. This didn't sound good.

"About what?"

"I applied for a modeling job back home a long time ago. A little less than month ago, I got a letter saying the job was mine. I just told them I would take it. I'm going home."

"Oh…well why didn't you tell me earlier? We could have gone together."

"Klaus…I'm not sure I'll be back," she said sadly, causing Klaus' breath to stop. And there was the catch.

"You might not be back?" Was this a joke? It was a joke, right?

"I don't know how long I'll be gone. I'm going to the airport tonight though. I can't stay here any longer."

"Are you not happy? Tell me what's wrong, and I'll fix it."

"You are what's wrong…in a manner of speaking. This can't be fixed if I don't leave."

"What do you mean?" he asked, his voice cracking. Why did she have to go?

"Don't play dumb with me, Klaus Mikaelson. You know what. You know that I've been forced to watch you and Caroline grow closer. I saw the way you looked at her when you danced at the ball. I saw that anger in your eyes when Tyler kissed Hayley, and the way you looked at him with jealousy when he flirted with Caroline. You feel something for her, and I can't watch as you drift away from me. I deserve better than that, Klaus. I love you, but I can't stand idly by and watch you fall in love with someone else."

"Are you out of your mind?" Klaus asked, his voice rising a little. "I could never be in love with Caroline! I love you! I want to be with you!"

"Look me in the eye and tell me you don't feel something for her!" she exclaimed, dropping her bag and moving to stand in front of him. "Look at me and tell me you don't want to be with her!"

Klaus' anger was boiling at this point. Caroline was about to leave her job, and now Tatia was about to leave him?! Was this stomp on Klaus' heart day? He wanted to shout to Tatia that she was being ridiculous. That he could never love someone like he loved her.

But then it hit him. Klaus considered the thought of Caroline leaving a wound to his heart.

Tatia was right, and he couldn't deny it anymore.

His mouth worked for the right words, but he couldn't find them. How had that happened? He thought about Caroline more than a man should think about any woman that wasn't his girlfriend. But at the same time, he didn't want to let Tatia go. He truly loved her. And he didn't love Caroline.

"I care about Caroline. But I don't love her," he said honestly.

"You've kept your heart guarded for so long, that you don't even recognize the signs anymore, do you?" she asked quietly. "Klaus, you feel strongly about her. Love or not, it's something I haven't seen in you for a long time. I don't know if I've ever seen it. So can you imagine what it's like for me to witness you feel all those emotions for a girl that isn't me?"

"Tatia…"

"No. No, Klaus. The two of us…we need to focus on what we want. I need to focus on my job, and you need to focus on what's in your heart. Because it's not me."

"Please don't do this to me," he pleaded. Why was she telling him what was in his heart. It was his heart!

"You're in denial now, but you won't be for long."

"I've never loved anyone like I love you though. How can you not see that?"

"I do see that. Which is why it hurts so much that your feelings for Caroline are stronger than your feelings for me. I can't do this anymore, Klaus," she said, tearing up more. "I can't."

Tatia moved slowly toward Klaus, wrapping her arms around his waist. He vaguely registered that his arms went around her too; his own tears beginning to fall freely.

"I'm begging you—"

"Goodbye, Klaus."

Klaus took a deep breath, and let go of Tatia, kissing her tenderly on the cheek before finally leaving her room. No sense in staying there any longer. He could tell he wasn't welcome. It would be awkward staying there any longer with a girl who no longer wanted his affections.

He stumbled out of her house, unsure of what had just happened. Klaus should have put up more of a fight. The girl he loved just broke up with him, and was leaving the country. And just like Caroline, she didn't believe him when he spoke the truth. Was his credibility really so low?

Again, Klaus didn't know what time it was when he got to his building. It probably took longer because he had to stay out of the streets, so the public wouldn't see him. He was in no state for pictures, or articles about a forlorn actor who walked around dazed and confused.

The building his penthouse resided in was lonely looking. Nobody was around but the doorman. Klaus gave a quick wave before dragging his feet toward the elevator, and up to his place. Today he wanted to be where he could overlook the city. He wanted to see if he could catch Tatia's plane leaving, or maybe just drink until he forgot her.

Then again, maybe he would be drinking to forget Caroline. There was no denying it anymore. His girlfriend had noticed where his attention had been of late. How his thoughts always came back to the little lamb that knew how to push his buttons. He sighed, walking to his bar and grabbing a bottle of whiskey, before taking a seat on his couch.

Tatia was gone, and Caroline hated him. Both not believing a word he said.

What. A. Mess.

A/N: Sorry to cause any confusion on this manner, but Klaus has both a mansion, and a penthouse. Why? Because he's rich, and he can. Haha.

Hope you enjoyed! =]