It was the dead of night when he awoke once again unable to sleep his mind teasing him with ideas of how his life actually as like. He turned his head tilting slightly to get a view of her, his Caroline. She was exquisite and she was his for no other reason than she loved him. Simply that and because of that she had left her home to stay with him not knowing if he would live or die, remember her or not. Klaus searched his mind finding that image of her in her white gown staring at him like she was ceaselessly in love. He felt the grin forming on his lips matching hers that evening he squeezed his eyes shut wishing to remember more.
What he does remember makes his grin return, the way she looked sitting beside him all day. That curve in her smile when she looked at him only to find him already watching her waiting for her to speak and that luscious way she ran her fingers through her soft waves he could spend hours sketching. His eyes drifted further than her lashes to her sweet and perfect nose down to the impossibly provocative line of her lips. His own parted wanting a taste he turned to lie on his side watching her as she slept as if guarding her from some great evil. Klaus' eyes ventured lower down to her chin and the curve of her jaw to the base of her neck where he longed to plant kisses. His hand shot out before he could think placing itself just above her collarbone tracing to her bare shoulder where he pressed his lips lightly.
She shifted then he looked up only to meet her sleep hazed ones a perplexed look on her face, "Hey," she softly said her hand coming to cup his cheek, "What are you doing up?" Klaus shrugged in response unable to look away from her powerless against the worried look on her face when she gazed at him making him feel inadequate somehow. "Is the bed too fluffy," she inquired moving to get up and toss some pillows away trying to fix whatever might be wrong. "Because I can move," Klaus stopped her from going any further away from him than she already had by putting his hand on her shoulder keeping her there. "No," he told her with a crooked smile, "You're perfect."
Caroline felt herself redden knowing he hadn't meant it in any other way other than her laying position but still everything he said she couldn't help but dig to find another meaning or take it to heart. "How about I make you some tea," she suggested moving to her side to get a better look of him when he answered feeling she was speaking enough for the both of them. "Just stay here with me," he whispered his eyes focused intently on hers as she turned into goo at his word choices yet again. She nodded knowing if she spoke her voice would shake and he would worry for her. "You make the dark spaces in my head go away. You keep me sane by just being right here."
Caroline could feel him opening up about what he felt, eager that he trusted in her enough to let her in to what he was thinking instead of trying to make her feel better. "You just can't seem to sleep or is it something else?" she entreated him lightly not wanting to push but needing answers only he could give to her. Klaus' eyebrows narrowed as his arm came up his hand rubbing his neck a few times as he played a mental game with himself. Caroline saw the battle in his eyes wanting to find the right words without hurting anyone.
She knew the feeling intimately too. He looked so insecure like this a big part of her wanting to kiss his worries away because she knew he was stronger than this. Than his insecurities about her and the ones about himself that he had harbored long before he knew her she held her breath as he began. "I don't find it easy to say what is on my mind when it comes to being honest about how I feel." Caroline raised her eyebrow in response. Klaus pushed upwards on his elbow as he tried to communicate what was on his mind, "I know that you know" he waved his free hand gesturing to her, "I sometimes talk and I get this smirk like I know what I'm actually saying but I don't." he looked at her feeling his words inadequate, "Sometimes I talk but I don't really say much. A lot like you."
Caroline moved up on her elbow as he had still not saying a word, "That sounded bad, let me re-tract. I just meant that we keep it simple." Klaus tried to explain as the line on her forehead deepened. "You ask me about the weather I say it's nice or I ask you how you are today and you say fine. In our minds our thoughts are racing with a different response."
"So you're saying we should talk more but with more depth and actual feelings," she questioned tilting her head as he nodded in response. "Something like that," he finished weakly embarrassed that he had said anything at all before she smiled encouragingly. "Okay," she agreed with a nod of her own as she pushed herself up further still leaning on her hand but sitting up to look over him.
"Here's what I'm thinking when you look at me like I'm an alien and not your wife, I am thinking how could done this to you?" she sighed thinking about her voice shaking which she didn't want to happen, "Barged into your life because I was unhappy with my own and didn't realize it until I met you. Let you crawl inside of my heart and rip it up every time you look at me like I'm a stranger." She said with force.
"This is what I think when You look at me and I can't breathe because you have this look on your face and this sparkle in your eyes as you watch me do something as simple as look back at you. I want to cry because I think he's done it! He's remembered me, but then you speak and in your voice I can tell it's not you." She touched her fingers to her quivering lips as she dared herself not to cry. "Because I watch you out of the corner of my eye looking to see what you'll do next to make me fall harder."
She looked away from him then his sad expression too much to bear at this point, "Because even before when I didn't know you. I searched for you disappointed when I never caught sight of you lingering near me. I went my whole life like that waiting for you. I'm still waiting." Klaus sat up as she continued to speak, "So maybe you can't be without me right now but I can't be without you always." She whispered succumbing to her tears as he reached out to take her in his arm letting her free herself of her thoughts and unfulfilled desires. "Just once I wish you would say my name and mean it like you did the first night we met, the first night you kissed me and married me and made love to me." Klaus sniffled his arms gripping her tightly in his embrace her words muffled into the warmness of his tattooed chest her lips brushing just above his heart setting his nerves on fire. His head rested on her shoulder he didn't whisper words of comfort or ask her to stop from falling apart because he didn't need to, he licked his lips before he pressed a small kiss to her neck.
"I look at you and I can't believe you're real sometimes, that you were put on this earth to love me," he whispered into her ear feeling her start to cry again, "Me out of everyone. I never thought I was worth much, hearing it as often as I did growing up. A person starts to believe it." Klaus wiped his tears from his eyes still pressing her close to him like an anchor. "My heart squeezes tightly at the thought of disappointing you by not giving you what you want. That man you feel in love with because I don't know him. I'm competing with myself and I'm losing you before I've gotten to properly know you." He said as he enlightened her with his darkest thought, "I'm afraid I'll look across the bed to find your space empty."
"How's that for sharing," she asked softly her face still against his skin in an attempt to lighten the heavy mood they found themselves in. Klaus took a deep breath of her refusing to let her out of his embrace, Caroline seemed all too content to stay near him anyway. He chuckled as his hand went into her hair at the nape of her neck as he blinked back his tears. "It's a start," he joked back earning a raspberry on his shoulder as she tried to move out of his embrace a moment later.
"Where are you going?" he asked amusement in his tone as her fingers pressed into his shoulders wanting to push herself all the way up from the makeshift bed they were on. She lifted her head to look at him his fingers wiping away any leftover tears on her cheeks as he stared down tenderly at her. "It's dark outside and it's Saturday." She said simply before she took a cleansing breath relieving herself of any residual sadness. "Saturday is for sleeping and you will not take that away from me." Caroline smiled as his hold on her body loosened, "You should make me some tea and then walk me to bed," she instructed standing up his shirt still the only thing on her body as she rose above him.
She enjoyed the look of awe on his face as she did her legs peeking out his shirt fitting her so comfortably she saw no reason to ever take it off unless he wanted her to. She walked languidly but with a purpose reaching the light switch to flick it on. "Tea's not gonna make itself Klaus," she said as she walked out of the room knowing he wouldn't like how she had referred to him. She heard his footsteps behind her not a moment later smiling victoriously to herself as she continued down the darkened hallway her bare feet padding against the stone floor causing echoes to be heard.
"Does my Darling wife want a spoonful of honey in her chamomile," he asked a bit miffed at her dismissal of him when she parted from the room. Caroline it back her smile turning her head, "She would, thank you my dear husband," she replied before she turned back around walking straight into the kitchen to set herself on the counter. He walked in switching on the light the sight of him half naked sending a shiver through her. She watched as the muscles of his back moved with every motion as he prepared her tea.
The rippling action of his arms nearly drove her insane as she swung her feet side to side from where she sat like a Cheshire cat watching him work. He placed the pot on the stove pushing a few buttons on the digital appliance to warm the water before he turned around exposing her to the front of his chest he moved to his right leaning his hips against the counter as he crossed his arms. She smiled at him as he surveyed his wife his mind set about finishing his bodily inspection of her retracing his steps from before from her hair to her neck before his eyes went further.
He rubbed his fingers together itching to touch her like his eyes were about to even under the lighting in his kitchen she was beautiful his opinion of her would never change. Even in his last breath she would hold his heart and no other could ever hold a candle to the woman inside his white undershirt revealing to him just how cold the kitchen was. Klaus felt a smirk form on his lips as his eyes traced over her chest to the curve of her stomach thinking the only way it could get any more lovely was if she was pregnant with his child.
The thought stuck him in the chest before he realized it, he pictured it a smile growing more prominently on her lips at the idea of a child. He had never thought about it before now, or maybe he had he wasn't as sure as he is about her right now. The tea pot distracted him from his thoughts as he turned shutting off the stove top and setting the pot aside. "She's my wife," he mumbled to himself as he searched high and low for a cup before he felt his wife beside him holding two out for them.
"Thank you," he said as he took them off of her hands and placed them on the counter where low and behold she had already placed the saucers. "Calls me Klaus," he muttered hearing her stifle a laugh as he moved around taking the tea from a box Rebekah had brought by for them. He found her reaching for the honey in the top section of the pantry his shirt on her riding up just a few inches almost invitingly before he looked away. His intent was to finish preparing the tea not think about ripping that shirt away from her for offending her beauty by hiding it away under its fabric. He once again set to work feeling her beside him he turned his head to her.
"I found honey and spoons," she informed him in an important tone before she placed them on the counter and turned on her heel skirting away from him. He watched her move his hand unknowingly dipping into the boiling hot water burning his fingers. He winced turning his head to look at his hand before she turned to look back. "What's wrong?" she asked innocently. "Nothing," he replied in a low tone sucking his finger into his mouth to try and relieve some of the pain before he opened the honey to pour her some.
He then set to work on his own tea and turned back around with both cups in his hand. "Your tea Mrs. Mikaelson," he said in a mocking tone as he smiled making her shake her head in amusement when he bowed. Klaus refilled their cups once more after silence had befallen them once more locked away in their thoughts over how they had come to this point. He stood when there was no more tea to be had and he knew morning was just upon the horizon. Caroline's eyes followed him as he set aside her own empty cup and took her hand in his.
She felt the butterflies in her stomach arise anew as her delicately held her hand in his own and she knew this was the part where he would walk her to their room. She followed his lead silently her eyes on their hands as they moved passed the living area stopping by the stairs to shut off any lights and turn on the n for the porch. He didn't speak even when there were millions of words to be said, lingering thoughts that he needed to express and desires that were for now going unfulfilled.
He simply walked hand in hand with her up the many stairs until they landed on a familiar door. He waited for her to stop as well as his other hand held the knob to her door. "Goodnight Mrs. Mikaelson." He uttered before he pressed a chaste kiss to her cheek. He heard her gasp as he pulled away from her his hand turning the knob to let her in before he his hands let go of her and the door simultaneously.
He strode across the hall to the room he had decided upon when they first came here intent on sleeping alone. If he was going to woo her he couldn't very well sleep in the same bed with her, sooner or later he would need to touch her. He craved to have her under him already and with her earlier confirmation that they had already made love Klaus ached to know what that was like. The knowledge of his flesh against her own made him quake with excitement and he knew he would soon need to have her closer to hm and not just in his embrace while she slept.
"Goodnight Nik," Caroline said softly a hint of devastation in her words made him stop his head turning to get one last look of her but he missed it. She shut her door before he could blink let alone change his mind and barge right into her room to take her in his arms keeping her cradled to him all night. He took another step looking back at his own door living with his decision. Dejected but knowing that for right now it was good to be apart until he could get passed this nagging feeling something was about to happen. Klaus felt out of sorts with his family, especially Elijah, the idea that they might all be hiding something from him was too much. He needed to focus on Caroline, on how to get her to love not only the man he was before but the man he was now.
With that thought he turned his own doorknob and entered the other room his eyes now accustomed to darkness lead him across the room his bare feet scrunching in the soft carpet. He shut his door silently as he undid the button on his jeans his hands setting to work on the zipper next before they went to his waist tugging them down his legs. He stood up pants in hand tossing them on the edge of the bed before he picked up his bed sheet tossing them aside. His earlier words eat at him as he saw the other side empty his head shooting to his door knowing who lay across from him.
He placed his knee on the bed scooting up as he placed his other on moving to tuck himself inside the sheets. He lay on his back staring at the shadows on the ceiling counting to himself, "One black sheep, two black sheep," and so on as he shut his eyes trying to force sleep along. He felt an itch on his chest his hand going to relieve it when he opened his eyes and smiled. "She called me Nik," he said out loud his smile as big as it could get as he made himself comfortable once more wishing his senses were filled up with her lingering scent on him.
He murmured his name trying to figure out how she said it, each syllable that spilled from her lips alluded to a deeper feeling he had growing still inside of him. He turned on his side whispering her name into the silence of the room hoping this time he would dream only of her and not the dark shadows that persisted in his shattered mind. Klaus awoke once more from a nightmare his dark curtains just barely doing the job of keeping the sun far away as he shaking his head to calm himself. Sweat ran down his back wetting his sheets as his hands rubbed up and down his face roughly trying to remove the images of Henrik holding hands with him and Caroline.
He turned his head half expecting her to be there but her spot beside him is empty. He sits up looking around the unfamiliar room realizing where he was, she was real and across the hall probably snuggled up in her own bed. He sighed thankful he hadn't awoken her once more as he felt goose bumps appear on his flesh. He scooted off of the bed not bothering with his pants his body overheated even as it met the fresh air flow from the vent by his door. He quietly opened the door peeking out just to be sure he was truly alone before he crept out of his room into the hallway leaving his room door eyes went to her door wanting to go inside just to see her for a moment before he decided against it. He walked quietly to the stairs his hand on the wall as he took the first step down his back wanting to protest as he continued down.
Caroline fought to sleep after he had come with her to the door where she had planned to sleep before unclear as to why he wouldn't come in or look at her for more than a few seconds. Upon hearing him exit his room she snuck out of her bed tipy-toeing to the door to hear him as he paused right outside of her own. She waited but he never opened the door. She thought quickly coming to only one conclusion, they needed each other to fall asleep so whatever was in his mind about not lying down with her earlier he would have to forget.
Caroline knew he was the reason she was unable to fall asleep successfully and with the days they had had they needed it or else they might go mad. She swings open her door seeing his open before she followed him down the stairs like an expert ninja concealed in the shadows hiding behind almost every curtain as she moves through the house only to find him fixing himself a drink while muttering to himself. Its then she realizes she isn't a ninja or a spy or anything, she's normal and this is her home.
The adrenalin dies down but not before she can dare herself to move closer to him without acknowledging him she serves herself a drink as well. Klaus holds out his glass to her and she clinks hers with his before they sit on their couch once again with silence looming over their shoulders all long deep looks when the others eyes are focused on their glass. Klaus feels her eyes on him before meeting them directly Caroline turns her head to look at him fully her hand finds his locking it in her grasp.
Once again the dishes go undone as they both stand their bodies buzzing with a renewed energy that makes it difficult to think about sleep. The first time they met Klaus is sure he felt like this because how else could he fall in love and marry the girl that haunts his dreams in one day without such a feeling that makes his heart lighter with just a touch of her hand. Caroline takes a breath wanting to ask him to stay, to hold her in his arms so she could find some much needed rest. Even if it's a tiny bit selfish she doesn't want to care she wants her husband in their bed with her after all they've been through. She needs him to lie with he just as much as she needs him to love her which outweighs him having to remember her.
It took one day of him chasing her through town giving her what she wanted to admit her feelings for him before she even knew him. He made her love him when she didn't want to do it, when she believed in the farce of Tyler Lockwood. She hardily notices when they go back up the stairs lost in her thoughts of how to make him come to her. She forgets that when they relive their moment from not long ago she sees his plan leaving her once again so she tugs on his hand drawing him back.
He opens his mouth to speak but she doesn't give him a chance to taking a page out of his wooing book. Caroline kisses him right as they reach her door a smile on her lips as he groans in delight feeling his body relax as she remembered the many times he stole a kiss from her. She pulls away still smiling before Klaus moves back into her space smiling just the same as her as he gently pushes her against the door hearing a slight thud when her body hit it. She smiles as his hand protects her head from hitting the wood his lips firmly moving against hers in the best and darkest of ways making her respond to him almost breathlessly.
"Come to bed," she whispers as he presses soft tender kisses to her lips not wanting to stop the feeling of euphoria imploding inside of him at how she feels pressed against him. He nods as she kisses him taking his breath and follows her inside. Caroline lets go of his hand to crawl onto the bed he smiled as she climbed into the covers, "I might be a bit tired," he relented crawling in after her. His lips burning to run over her own once more, or twice he thought as she tucked him into the bed her fingers touching him every now and again as she did.
She leaned over him almost as if reading his thoughts pressing a kiss to his lips once more he tilted his head his hand in order to get a better angle tasting the tip of her tongue prompting him into action. He reached his hands up cupping her face intent on kissing her more deeply as she sighed her mouth parting in access for him. He rolled over his body half laying over her as he kissed her his lips crushing hers taking all she had to offer as his hands roamed her one in her soft curls the other sneaking up her arm by her face to intertwine their fingers as they continued like this.
"Nik," she murmured as they continued to kiss simmering down her eyes opened just as his did the smiles on their faces hurting their cheeks wanting to take more but knowing they probably shouldn't. she said his name again in that way that nearly drove him to the edge kissing her once more, begging her to say it once more, imploring her with his eyes until she did giggling, "Nik stop." She laughed.
He pressed his forehead to hers their noses touching as they caught their breath her gentle warmth making him feel as if he could fly. "You don't know how long I've wanted to do that," he said softly as she shook her head lifting herself to him. She found his vulnerability incredibly stimulating hearing him speak like that made her want to kiss him more. She wanted him to feel as she did wanting to comfort him a part of her knowing words wouldn't do she reached up kissing his nose making his smile broaden his cheeks flush.
"I think I figured out why we can't actually sleep," she said plunging forward, "It's because we force ourselves into bed holding each other our minds thinking we want what we'll never have." Her fingers traced the curve of his jaw. He moved his head sucking her finger into his mouth making her redden in response as she spoke, "So we stay awake or pretend we are sleeping only to see one another lying across from us." Caroline uttered as he kissed her finger releasing it, "We say what we want and this bed or wherever we lie together is a sort of confessional."
"When I turn on my side Caroline and I see you, this relaxed look on your face as your fingers clutch to me while rest I feel the corners of my lips curve into a smile at your presence." He says licking his lips getting just that last bit of her taste on his tongue. "I want to express what I feel for you without knowing who you are. It seems only my kisses will do." He said before he kissed her again.
"It seems," she whispered giving into his sweet lips relishing in the experience pushing away her many thoughts of how wrong it was. Facts were facts and the fact of the matter was that he was her husband and she was his wife, they were in their bed and he was lying on top of her giving her the most intimate of kisses. There was nothing wrong about it in this moment. "And while I'd like to do more of this," he murmured still placing kisses to her mouth "I have out next date to plan," he insisted letting her go, "So I will need my rest to plot the evening," she raised her brow at his choice of words, "Plan, I meant plan." He said nodding his head as he moved her to him wrapping his arms around her waist, "Rest now, you'll need it."
He felt her smile against his chest once more, "Besides I've noticed the sun through these curtains and I'm trying desperately to work on my back tan," he joked pushing her hair from her face. She was bursting to laugh but bit her lip not commenting, "Not working," he asked as he lifted his arm to show her, Caroline's eyes weren't focused on his color but the flex in his arm.
"Nope," she said snickering she placed a kiss to his chest before snuggling in closer to him, "besides I like this pasty british thing you have going for you." She said laughing as he looked down at her mildly offended. "I guess that makes me the pretty one in the relationship," she finished with a shrug before she felt his lips at her temple. "That has never been more true." He said as he shut his eyes the dark he saw not bothering him as she held him close.
AN: so...Happy reading hope to hear your thoughts. :))