Extra-long chapter… sorry (7,226 words!). I feel like this is kinda sloppy, since I haven't written anything in so long, and I feel that I could've done so much better with it. But here it is, anyway, and I'll try to write the next chapter much better. Sorry that it took a thousand years to update, and that it's not my best. (& as for the email part, please forgive the way that I have set it out; I couldn't think of another way).

Thanks for reading!

"Goodbye, Damon" Elena said with a smile from the Salvatore's doorway, before leaning up to kiss her boyfriend lightly on the lips.

"I'll see you tomorrow" Damon replied after she had pulled away, watching Elena in adoration as she backed away from his door, before turning on her heels and making her way towards the pavement with a smile on her face.

She sighed as she began to walk in the direction of her house, wondering to herself if Jeremy would be home from work at the Mystic Grill yet. She glanced at her watch; 9:30pm. His shift didn't finish for another half an hour, and since she didn't really want to be home alone, she decided that she would pay Caroline a quick visit.

After bumping into Tyler today in the hallway at school, he had asked her to speak to Caroline about giving him a second chance, which obviously meant that he had had to tell her about everything that had happened between them. Elena didn't think that he deserved another chance with her, and was going to visit simply because she wanted to make sure that her friend was okay.

Caroline didn't live too far from the Salvatore's home, and as Elena turned the corner and began to walk down Caroline's street, she was sure that she could hear the distinct sound of lips smacking together. Maybe Tyler had made up with her already.

But nothing could prepare her for what she saw as she reached the path to Caroline's home. Was that… Klaus?

xxx

"Caroline, what are you doing?"

The expertise of Klaus' lips on her own caused Caroline to question where she was for a brief second, and she most definitely couldn't put a face to the voice that had startled her.

Much to Klaus' displeasure, Caroline pulled her mouth away from his, and set her eyes on Elena as she stepped back from his embrace.

"What are you doing?" Elena repeated more sternly this time, shaking her head slightly and stepping closer to Caroline.

Klaus rolled his eyes, before glaring at Elena and raising his eyebrows at her. "Surely, Elena, love, you aren't that naïve?".

"Why are you here?" Caroline asked, avoiding Elena's question with her own.

"I heard about Tyler, and I came to see if you were okay…" she answered, shaking her head at Caroline, before smirking at her. "I see that you didn't waste any time, though".

"What the hell is that supposed to mean!?" Caroline snapped, stepping closer to Elena, her brows furrowed in anger and her fists balling up at her sides.

"Well, to say that you only recently broke up with Tyler, you sure looked pretty content with your tongue shoved down his throat" Elena said in an equally dry tone, motioning towards Klaus with her right hand and resting the other on her hip.

Caroline scoffed at her, and folded her arms across her chest, before countering; "Yes, and how long exactly did you wait before jumping from one Salvatore's bed to the other, Elena?".

Elena gasped at Caroline's words, her hand coming to rest on her chest, illustrating just how offended she was. Klaus only laughed, and Caroline stared into her eyes, her mouth set in a thin line and her arms still folded across her chest.

"That isn't the same, Caroline" Elena said quietly, hurt evident in her voice. But Caroline wasn't backing down.

"How so, Elena?" She asked, tapping her foot, as if impatiently awaiting her answer.

"Damon isn't a monster!" Elena spat, before pointing her finger at Klaus and continuing. "He is! He killed my aunt Jenna!".

"You're such a damn hypocrite, Elena! Damon has killed so many people! Are we all supposed to just forget that now, because you've decided that he's the love of your life all of a sudden!?" Caroline screamed at her, stepping even closer to her, so much so that they were almost touching.

Klaus didn't know whether to be concerned for Caroline's safety, or aroused.

"He was responsible for Vicky's death" Caroline continued, Elena taking a step back as Caroline took one forward. "And as much as I love Stefan, he isn't known as 'The Ripper' for no reason, Elena. How long were the two of you together for, exactly?".

"You know that Stefan is a good person, Caroline-"

"Yes, I do. Stefan is amazing. But my point is that you know nothing about Klaus, so don't you dare call him a monster!".

"Oh, and you know everything there is to know about him, do you?" Elena scoffed, turning to walk away from Caroline, her path being blocked as Caroline sped in front of her, preventing her from getting past.

"I'm not going to miss out on something that could be potentially amazing, Elena, just because he has a past".

"Move, Caroline. I don't want to look at you right now. You're disgusting".

Klaus was about to lunge forward and rip Elena's heart from her chest; how dare she talk to Caroline like that!? But Caroline shot him a warning glance, and he refrained himself.

"You know what's disgusting, Elena?"

"What, Caroline?"

"That you play on the emotions of both Damon and Stefan. How bitchy is that!?"

Elena let out an angered grunt, before bringing her hand up to slap Caroline's face. Caroline caught her wrist mid-air, however, and then her other, free hand descended onto Elena's cheek, and she smiled in triumph as she saw the red marks that her fingers had left behind.

"Now that that's settled…" Caroline said, letting go of a startled Elena's wrist and backing away from her. "Get the hell away from my home".

Elena shook her head at her once more, before stepping around Caroline and walking away from her house.

"Oh, and Elena?" Caroline called, watching closely as she spun around to face her. "Be sure to pass the word around, okay?".

She smiled at Elena sarcastically, before turning on her heels and making her way back towards Klaus.

"I'm sorry about that, I didn't expect her to-" Caroline began, but her sentence was cut short as Klaus brought his lips down to hers once again.

"You think that this could be amazing?" He asked her after he had pulled away from her, and she nodded, before wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him in close for another kiss.

xxx

After Klaus had said good night to Caroline, and, with all of his self-control, finally left her alone, he had made his way home, a smile on his face the whole time.

Reaching his front door, he focused his ears on the sounds that seemed to be coming from his living room. Was that Stefan? Singing?

He opened the door, stepping into the hallway and calling for his sister.

"Rebekah, love?"

"In here!" He heard her call from their living room, and he shrugged out of suit jacket, hung it on the coatrack to the left of him, and made his way towards the sound of her voice.

"Well, isn't this just adorable?" He asked mockingly as he watched Stefan dance with his sister. "May I ask why you are not playing music?".

"There isn't any music" Rebekah answered, before pulling away from Stefan and turning towards her brother. "Good night?".

"Great night" Klaus corrected her, walking towards the book shelf in the corner of the room. He opened a door at the bottom of the shelf, one that Rebekah hadn't even noticed before, and pointed inside. "Stereo".

"I didn't know that we had that!" She exclaimed, walking towards where her brother stood and peering into the well hidden cupboard herself, as if this would somehow confirm its existence. "Why didn't you tell me!?".

"First of all", Klaus started, closing the door abruptly, causing Rebekah to stand up straight and glare at him. "It's my stereo, not ours".

"Is there a 'second of all'?" Rebekah questioned, folding her arms across her chest and tilting her head at him.

"Yes, there is" He answered, walking around her to stand in the doorway, before turning back and asking, "Where is your brother?".

"Our brother" Rebekah corrected him, making her way back over to Stefan, who was now sat in their armchair, and sitting on his knee. "Which brother are you referring to?".

"Kol".

"In his room".

Klaus nodded at her once, before leaving the living room and standing at the bottom of their stairs, bellowing; "Kol! Get your arse down here!".

He returned to the living room, taking a seat on the sofa opposite from where Stefan and Rebekah were sat. "Did you two have a good night?".

"Yes, thank you" Stefan answered him, deciding not to mention the fact that Elijah had walked in on himself and Rebekah in a very compromising position earlier. "Did you?".

"It was fantastic" He answered, smiling at the memory of Caroline's lips on his own, of how her perfume smelt, her beautiful laugh. Everything about her made him smile, actually.

"What do you want, Nik?" Kol muttered as he appeared in the doorway of the living room, his arms folded across his chest and a glare on his face. "This had better be important, because there is a Russian woman, with a cucumber, on a webcam waiting for me upstairs. You know that I have a soft spot for Russian women. And a hard spot".

"Kol!" Rebekah yelled, wrinkling her nose up in disgust at him. "Learn to keep some things to yourself!".

"You're one to talk!" Kol countered, walking towards the sofa and taking a seat next to his brother. "Oh, Stefan!" he mimicked Rebekah's earlier words in a rather high pitched voice, causing Stefan to lower his head in embarrassment and Rebekah to throw a nearby book at his head.

"Enough!" Klaus shouted, standing up from his seat and moving towards the fireplace. "This is exactly why I called you down here!".

"Okay, whatever, just get on with it" Kol mumbled, leaning back in his seat on the sofa and bringing his hands to rest behind his head.

"Caroline is coming here tomorrow, for a date, and I want the two of you to behave" Klaus said, pointing between his two younger siblings with his index finger. "Understand?".

"You're dating Caroline now!?" Kol asked in disbelief, standing up from his seat and folding his arms across his chest. "Please don't tell me that I'm the last one to know about this".

"I knew" Rebekah said with a smug smile, sticking her tongue out at Kol as he gave her the middle finger.

"So did Elijah" she added, just to be that little bit bitchier.

"Fantastic" Kol mumbled, before shaking his head at Klaus and turning to walk back towards the door. "I'm always the last to know everything!".

"Kol!" Klaus called, and after his brother had spun around to face him again, he added; "Best behaviour".

Kol rolled his eyes, before making his way back towards the stairs and to his bedroom. Klaus hadn't bothered to call Elijah down here; Elijah was always on his best behaviour.

He turned his attention back to Rebekah, who was still smiling from annoying Kol.

"Best behaviour, Rebekah".

"Yes yes, whatever, Nik".

Klaus nodded at her, before walking in the direction of the door. Just as he reached the doorframe, he turned back round to face Stefan, and questioned; "I trust that you'll be here tomorrow evening, too, Stefan?".

Stefan turned to Rebekah, who nodded her head at him. "He'll be here".

"Good" Klaus replied. "Could you be so kind as to give Caroline a ride over here?"

"Sure" Stefan answered with a smile, which, to his surprise, Klaus returned with his own, before leaving the two of them alone in the living room.

"He must have really had a fantastic night!" Rebekah exclaimed, giggling as Stefan brought his hands up to tickle her sides. "Stefan, stop!".

xxx

"Oh, is that right? Well, why don't you go and fuck yourself, Bonnie!?" Caroline screamed down the phone, before hanging up on the Bennett witch with a grunt of anger.

Only moments before, Bonnie had rang Caroline, asking how, after everything that Klaus had done to Elena, Caroline could even think about dating him.

Elena, Elena, Elena! Caroline was sick of everything being about her, of everything being the Elena show, of having to make decisions based on how Elena would feel about it.

Well, not anymore. Who needed them? They weren't really her friends if they were so judgemental and tried to control her life all of the time. Not to mention the fact that, after the way Damon had treated Caroline, Elena wasn't bothered in the slightest, and was with him now anyway.

She sighed, flopping down on her bed and wondering what to wear for her date tomorrow. It's not like they were going anywhere fancy, just to his house. Wait, what was she thinking? Klaus' house was about as fancy as it could get!

She reached for her phone, before navigating to her list of contacts and clicking on Stefan's name. After around 3 rings, he picked up, and Caroline smiled at his friendly tone.

"Stefan! How are you?"

"I'm good, Care, just on my way back from Rebekah's. How's Miss Mystic Falls?"

"I'm fine, thank you" She replied, laughing at his chosen name for her. "You got anything planned for tomorrow?"

"Erm, yeah, I'm going to the Mikaelson's again. Klaus has asked me to pick you up on my way"

"Oh, okay. What about before that?"

"Nope, nothing"

"Well, how about you come here a bit earlier and help me choose something to wear?"

She could hear Stefan laughing from the other end of the phone, and she smiled, since Stefan had such a great laugh.

"Caroline, don't you think that's more of Elena or Bonnie territory?"

"Yeah, well, since neither of them are very supportive of what I have going on with Klaus right now, and since I told Bonnie to go and fuck herself earlier, you're the best friend I've got right now".

Stefan's laughter grew on the other end of the phone, and before Caroline could stop herself, she was laughing along with him.

"Fine, I'll help you"

"Thank you, Stefan! You're the best!"

"What time should I come round?"

"Well, Klaus asked me to go to his house at 6pm, so, around 4pm?"

"Sounds great. I'll see you tomorrow, Caroline"

"Bye, Stefan!"

She hung up the phone, and closed her eyes, unable to control the smile that was beginning to form on her lips as she began to think of the wonderful evening that she had shared with Klaus.

xxx

Klaus sat on his bed, his back leaning against the perfectly propped up pillows and his legs outstretched in front of him. He was trying to read one of his favourite novels, but since his thoughts kept returning to Caroline, he finally gave up and tossed the book onto the empty space next to him.

He sighed, bringing his hands to rest behind his head and staring up at the ceiling. That woman was simply mesmerizing.

His bedroom door opened, and since Klaus' thoughts had been elsewhere and not focused on the sounds around him, he wasn't expecting his sister to walk through the door.

"Tell me about your date, then, now that Stefan has gone and I have nothing better to do" Rebekah said, picking up the book and setting it on Klaus' bedside table, before sitting down and crossing her legs, staring at him expectantly. She was also curious as to why he hadn't told her off for not knocking before entering, as he usually did.

"It was perfect" He answered, smiling at the thought of just how true that sentence was. "In all my years, I've never had a date like it".

"Did you take her to the beach?" Rebekah questioned, pulling one of the cushions that Klaus was leaning on away. "Like you said you were going to?".

"Yes, I did take her to the bea-" He began, his sentence being interrupted as Rebekah threw the pillow that she had stolen at his head, laughing as he looked up at her, confusion evident on his face.

"What was that for!?" He questioned, before picking the pillow up from where it now rested on his lap and throwing it back at his sister.

She laughed, replacing it where it had previously been, propped up behind him along with the other ten cushions that she could count.

"I don't know what it was for" She replied honestly, turning back to face him. "I just felt like throwing it at you".

"Fair enough…" he replied, narrowing his brows at her, before finally laughing himself and letting his gaze fall back onto his celling.

"So, it was the best date of your life, huh?" Rebekah asked, causing Klaus to turn back to her with a smile and a nod. "I'm glad that you're happy, Nik".

"Why are you being so nice to me, Rebekah?" He questioned, raising his eyebrows at her. "Are you plotting something against me?".

"Don't be such a jackass!" She spat, leaning forward and smacking him on the arm. "I don't need to have an ulterior motive to be nice to my big brother".

"Well, I'm glad that you're happy, too, sister" he replied, letting his eyes drift to anywhere but his sister's face, in an attempt to make this situation a little less awkward for himself.

Rebekah got up from the bed with a smile, before walking towards Klaus' bedroom door. She turned just as she was about to leave, and said; "Nik?".

"Yeah?".

"I like you better like this".

He turned to face her then, frowning in confusion. "Like what?".

"Happy" She replied simply, before smiling at him once more and leaving the room.

xxx

Caroline was sat up in bed, typing away furiously at her laptop as she tried to complete yet another English assignment. She wished that Stefan was here; he was amazing at literature, and could have written this crap that she had spent far too long on now in 5 minutes.

A box popped up in the corner of her screen, indicating that she had an email and distracting her greatly. She clicked on it, her heart practically jumping from her chest when she noticed who had sent it.


New PM

From: Niklaus Mikaelson
To: Caroline Forbes

Good evening, my love. I trust that since our departure, you have taken to rather intriguing activities, such as checking your Facebook messages?

Fondly, Klaus.

Received: 10:18pm


She smiled to herself, wondering why, even when he was being so facetious, he was so compelling. She typed her reply, clicked 'Send', and settled into a conversation with him.


New PM

From: Caroline Forbes
To: Niklaus Mikaelson

Actually, I am working on an assignment right now. At least, I was, before you distracted me. And the only reason that I ever go on Facebook is to talk to my adoring fans. Speaking of, how are you?

Caroline.

Received: 10:20pm


New PM

From: Niklaus Mikaelson
To: Caroline Forbes

Well, I do apologise. You consider me an adoring fan?
I am well, thank you. In fact, I am better than well; I am happy. Which, by the way, has not gone unnoticed by my siblings, and is entirely your fault.

Klaus.

Received: 10:25pm


New PM

From: Caroline Forbes
To: Niklaus Mikaelson

Gosh, Grandpa, it took you five minutes to reply!? & Yes, I do. You're like, the head of my fan club.
I make you happy?

Caroline.

Received: 10:27pm


New PM

From: Niklaus Mikaelson
To: Caroline Forbes

Do forgive me, sweetheart, I am still grasping the technology that you are so accustomed to. That's like, so, like, cool, like, that you would make me the head of your fan club. Like.
Do you even need to ask that question?

Klaus.

Received: 10:31pm


New PM

From: Caroline Forbes
To: Niklaus Mikaelson

Don't sass me, Mikaelson. And, for future reference, you make me happy, too.

Caroline.

Received: 10:33pm


New PM

From: Niklaus Mikaelson
To: Caroline Forbes

I make you happy. That makes me even happier.
Have you spoken to Stefan at all tonight?

Klaus.

Received: 10:38pm


New PM

From: Caroline Forbes
To: Niklaus Mikaelson

You're adorable.
& Yes, I have spoken to Stefan, why do you ask?

Caroline.

Received: 10:41pm


New PM

From: Niklaus Mikaelson
To: Caroline Forbes

You think that I'm adorable?
I was just making sure that you knew that he was picking you up tomorrow. I trust that he told you so.

Klaus.

Received: 10:45pm


New PM

From: Caroline Forbes
To: Niklaus Mikaelson

Yep, he told me. & You really are adorable. From the way that you get mad at the easiest things right down to those beautiful dimples of yours.

Caroline.

Received: 10:47pm


New PM

From: Niklaus Mikaelson
To: Caroline Forbes

Thank you, Caroline, though I am not possibly as beautiful or adorable as you are. Oh, and I ask you to please, not call me 'adorable' in front of my siblings tomorrow; I must maintain my masculinity.
I am truly sorry for what happened with Elena tonight, Caroline. I know that you care about her deeply. I thank you, though, for defending me like you did. Nobody has protected me like that in a very, very long time.

Klaus.

Received: 10:51pm


New PM

From: Caroline Forbes
To: Niklaus Mikaelson

Oh, God forbid that your masculinity be compromised with!
& Thank you, I am too. I'm sorry that she couldn't accept what I have with you. But I'm not going to live my life by her or anybody else's standards anymore. I want to be with you, Klaus, and that's all that matters. I'll protect you in any way that I can, just like I know you would do for me.

Caroline.

Received: 10:53pm


New PM

From: Niklaus Mikaelson
To: Caroline Forbes

You want to be with me? As in, you want to be my girlfriend?

Klaus.

Received: 10:56pm


New PM

From: Caroline Forbes
To: Niklaus Mikaelson

Is it too soon to put a label on what we have?

Caroline.

Received: 10:57pm


New PM

From: Niklaus Mikaelson
To: Caroline Forbes

Probably. Just, answer me this, though; would you want to be my girlfriend one day?

Klaus.

Received: 11:01pm


New PM

From: Caroline Forbes
To: Niklaus Mikaelson

Of course I would. You'd want to be my boyfriend?

Caroline.

Received: 11:03pm


New PM

From: Niklaus Mikaelson
To: Caroline Forbes

What kind of a question is that? You know the answer already.

Klaus.

Received: 11:07pm


New PM

From: Caroline Forbes
To: Niklaus Mikaelson

Well, until we feel the time is right, shall we just say that we are… I don't know, dating? Romantically involved?

Caroline.

Received: 11:10pm


New PM

From: Niklaus Mikaelson
To: Caroline Forbes

Perhaps we don't need any sort of label.

Klaus.

Received: 11:13pm


New PM

From: Caroline Forbes
To: Niklaus Mikaelson

Perhaps not…

Caroline.

Received: 11:15pm


New PM

From: Niklaus Mikaelson
To: Caroline Forbes

You should probably get some sleep, sweetheart.

Klaus.

Received: 11:18pm


New PM

From: Caroline Forbes
To: Niklaus Mikaelson

Probably, though I did want to finish this assignment tonight. You're a good distraction.

Caroline.

Received: 11:20pm


New PM

From: Niklaus Mikaelson
To: Caroline Forbes

Well, does it come as a surprise to you that I'm a good distraction? I mean, come on, love, what am I not good at, really?
Good night, sweet Caroline. Tomorrow cannot get here soon enough.

Klaus.

Received: 11:24pm


New PM

From: Caroline Forbes
To: Niklaus Mikaelson

Well, it seems to me that you're not very good at typing, since my Grandma can reply to messages faster than you can.
Good night to you, too. See you tomorrow!

Caroline.

Received: 11:26pm


New PM

From: Niklaus Mikaelson
To: Caroline Forbes

I shall ignore that semi-insult.
Say hello to me in your dreams, love.

Klaus.

Received: 11:30pm


New PM

From: Caroline Forbes
To: Niklaus Mikaelson

Ignore it all you want, I still speak the truth.
I'll make sure to say hello to you, since I'm sure that you will say hello to me, too, once you have fallen asleep.
Bye!

Caroline.

Received: 11:32pm


New PM

From: Niklaus Mikaelson
To: Caroline Forbes

Sweet dreams.

Klaus.

Received: 11:36pm

xxx

The next day, Stefan was sat on Caroline's bed, hoping that she would make up with Bonnie and Elena soon, so that he would never, ever, have to do this again.

"Pink shorts and white vest, or yellow dress?" Caroline questioned, glancing at the outfits that she had laid out on her bed, before turning towards Stefan, an expectant expression on her face. "What do you think?".

Stefan, who was sat on the opposite side of the bed from where she stood, glanced at the outfits next to him. "I like the dress. It's much more… date like. I know we're only going to his house, but, it's still a date".

"Then why are you in jeans and a tee? Not very… 'date like', Stefan" Caroline questioned with a smile, laughing at Stefan stuck his tongue out at her.

"Because, Rebekah is my girlfriend now, and since Klaus isn't yet your boyfriend, you still need to dress to impress".

"That's the worst logic I have ever heard, Stefan" Caroline teased, before picking up the dress and holding it flush against her, turning to look at her reflection in her mirror. "But, you're more help than Elena or Bonnie when it comes to choosing outfits. Definitely the right choice to go with the dress".

"Cool" Stefan muttered, not really paying attention, and glancing at the watch on his wrist. "Caroline! It's 5:45! Hurry up and get dressed!"

"Okay, okay, chill!" Caroline exclaimed, before running towards her bathroom with a giggle. "You're such a moody bum".

"Hurry up!" Stefan called after her, sighing as he glanced at his watch once more. They were definitely going to be late.

"Stefan!" Caroline called from the bathroom.

"What?"

"Flats or heels?"

"God help me"

xxx

"Look at the time, Caroline" Stefan groaned as they piled into his car, pointing towards the digital clock on his dashboard. "6:15! We're late!"

"Oh, be quiet, Stefan!" She replied, buckling her seatbelt and pulling the vanity mirror of the passenger side down, before proceeding to check her hair and makeup.

"Your hair and makeup is fine, Caroline" Stefan mumbled as he noticed what she was doing. "You did spend almost an hour on each".

"Shut up and drive the damn car".

xxx

"You're late" Klaus said to the pair of them as he opened the door to his home, moving aside so that they could come in.

"Blame Caroline" Stefan grumbled as he made his way past him, causing Caroline, who was following closely behind him, to roll her eyes at him.

She began to follow Stefan into the living room, where she could hear Rebekah complaining about them being late, when Klaus grabbed her at the waist from behind, pulling her back and into him.

"Not so fast" he said with a smile, slinking his arms around her and bringing his lips to her neck, against which he mumbled; "Hello, sweetheart".

Caroline, who was giggling uncontrollably, brought her hands down to rest over his, proceeding to untangle his arms from her waist so that she could turn to look at him.

"Good evening, Klaus…" She sighed, smiling just before he brought his lips to meet hers.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, returning his kiss with just as much passion, and Klaus used his hands, that were resting at the small of her back, to bring her body closer to his. She opened her mouth to invite him in, and couldn't help but moan beneath their kiss as his eager tongue finally met hers.

"Damn!" A voice from the top of the stairs startled her, and Klaus pulled away from her with a groan to glance up at Elijah and Kol, who were descending the stairs.

"No wonder he likes you so much!" Kol continued, finally reaching the bottom of the stairs. "With an arse like that, I think I'd be following you around like a lost puppy, too!".

"Damn it, Kol!" Klaus exclaimed, in no way trying to hide his anger towards his younger brother, who was doing nothing right now but laughing. "I told you to behave yourself!".

Klaus began to walk towards him, intent on letting his fist teach his imbecile of a brother a lesson, when Caroline brought her hand up to rest on his chest. He looked down at her, and she shook her head at him, silently pleading him not to ruin the night before it had started.

He composed himself, clearing his throat and straightening his shirt with his hands.

"I apologise on behalf of my brother, Miss Forbes" Elijah said humbly with a smile, before tugging on Kol's shirt with his hands and pushing him past Klaus and Caroline, through the front door and out onto the front yard.

"Elijah, what do you think you are doing!?" Kol spat, moving to enter the house again, only to be pushed back out by Elijah.

"I'll take him somewhere, where he cannot bother you, Niklaus" Elijah mumbled, before stepping out to meet Kol on the front yard with a sigh.

"I'm not going anywhere with you!" Kol shouted, again trying to move back into the house, only to be pushed out by Klaus this time. "Damn it!".

"Even if I was to say that I would take you to a strip club, Kol?" Elijah questioned.

Kol, now intrigued, turned to face Elijah with a raise of his eyebrows. "I thought you hated strip clubs?"

"Yes, well, I do; they are full of vixens and randy men" He replied, folding his arms across his chest before continuing. "If it will get you away from this house, however, then I will accompany you".

"Ah, what the hell!" Kol replied with a shrug of his shoulders, before speeding off towards Elijah's car. "Shotgun!".

"There is nobody to call shotgun against, you absolute cretin!" Elijah called after him, before following Kol and walking towards his car, mumbling incoherent sentences about how 'Niklaus owed him greatly' and such.

Caroline laughed softly as Klaus shut the door behind his two brothers, and when he had turned back towards her, she said; "I really like Elijah. Kol, not so much".

Klaus laughed at her softly, before taking her hand in his own and pulling her towards his living room, where Rebekah and Stefan were waiting. "Welcome to my life, sweetheart".

xxx

An hour or so later, Klaus, Rebekah, Stefan, and Caroline were all sat in the Mikaelson's living room, laughing with each other and drinking wine.

"Tell me what Stefan was like in the 20's!" Caroline pleaded Klaus and Rebekah, who proceeded to laugh at her suggestion as Stefan buried his head in his hands. "Was he just as broody?".

"Worse, actually" Rebekah answered from her place on his knee in the living room's armchair, shrieking as Stefan playfully poked her in the side.

"He was quite the dancer, actually" Klaus answered, before setting his wine glass down on the table in front of him with a devilish grin.

"Don't you dare tell that story!" Stefan warned with a point of his finger, the smile on his lips failing to make him appear as serious as possible, though.

"What story? Tell me!" Caroline said to Klaus from her seat next to him on the sofa, bringing a hand up to rest on his that lay on her shoulder. "Pleaseeee?"

"Okay, so this one night, we were all in this amazingly over-crowded club" Klaus began. "What was it called, Rebekah, love?"

"Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club"

"Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club! That's the one! Anyway, we were in there, the three of us, when Stefan started to brag to Rebekah here about his amazing dance skills…"

"He asks this girl that we were sat with to dance, this dirty harlot, I think her name was Veronica or something like that-" Rebekah started, only to be interrupted by Stefan.

"Hey! In my defence, I was only trying to make you jealous, Rebekah"

"That's no excuse Stefan, mate" Klaus chuckled, picking his wine glass back up from the table in front of him with the hand that wasn't around Caroline's shoulder. He took a sip, set it back down, and continued. "She was positively vile".

Stefan flicked his middle finger up at Klaus, only causing him to laugh even more.

"Anyway, she agrees to dance with him…" Rebekah started, a small laugh escaping her throat as she did so. "And so Stefan pulls her onto the dance floor, flashing all of his best moves, when suddenly, he tumbles forward, and his hands- haha! His hands-" she stopped, her laughter getting the better of her, and Klaus took over.

"His hands ended up clutching her bosom" he said, causing Caroline to nearly spit out her drink as Klaus brought both of his hands in front of him, squeezing two imaginary breasts mid-air.

"That's horrible!" Caroline exclaimed, laughing at Stefan's mortified expression.

"Oh, you haven't heard the worst of it, love" Klaus replied, slinking his arm back around her shoulder and pulling her close.

"Turns out that Veronica the harlot…" Rebekah said, leaning forward slightly towards Caroline, "Was married!".

Klaus added, through laughter; "Rebekah and I watched, positively mortified, as her husband prowled across the dance floor towards Stefan here, and punched him square in the face!".

Caroline laughed too, so much so that her eyes closed and her head leaned back. "Oh my God!".

"It hurt, too!" Stefan exclaimed, making a fist with the hand that wasn't around Rebekah's waist and punching the air. "Guy had a good punch!".

"How would it hurt though? You're a vampire" Caroline questioned Stefan curiously.

"He was a vampire, too" Stefan replied, glaring at his friends as all three of them laughed at him hysterically.

"Caroline! Throw me those tissues, please!" Rebekah cried, catching the box of tissues in her hands after Caroline had picked them up from the coffee table and tossed them at her. "I'm crying!".

"I'm glad that you all find my misery so amusing!" Stefan grumbled, before pulling his arm from around Rebekah's waist and crossing it, along with his other arm, over his chest.

"Aw, my poor Stefan" Rebekah cooed, throwing the box of tissues back onto the table and resting the one that she had used on the arm of the chair, before bringing her lips down to kiss his cheek.

"Got any more stories?" Caroline asked hopefully, causing Stefan to groan in protest and bury his head in his hands once more.

xxx

"I'm shattered!" Stefan said with a yawn, causing Rebekah, who was sat on his knee, to ask; "You wanna just sleep here, with me? We'll go to bed right now, if you want; I'm pretty tired myself".

"Sounds great" Stefan replied with a smile, before kissing her lightly on the lips, and then turning towards Caroline. "You wanna drive my car home? I'll walk by and pick it up tomorrow".

"Yeah, thanks, Stefan" She replied with a smile.

"Why don't you just stay here, too?" Rebekah questioned, smiling slightly at Caroline's shocked expression at her suggestion. "Besides, you've been drinking. You can't drive".

"Rebekah…" Klaus began, only to be silenced by a glare from his sister.

"I'm serious! We have a spare bedroom, don't we?"

Klaus turned to look at Caroline, trying to read the expression on her face, before finally giving up and asking; "Caroline?".

"I am pretty tired…"

"Great!" Rebekah exclaimed, jumping up from Stefan's knee and pulling him up by his hand. "You can borrow some pyjamas of mine, Caroline. I'll leave them on the bed in the spare bedroom".

"Thanks, Rebekah" She said sweetly, watching as Stefan was pulled away from the living room by Klaus' sister.

"Good night, Care!" He called over his shoulder, before disappearing through the door of the living room.

"Night, Stef!" She called after him, giggling as she heard Stefan grumbling about how Rebekah had never once offered him the lend of some pyjamas, to which Rebekah had replied that she wasn't into cross-dressing.

Klaus sighed, before standing to his feet and offering his hand to Caroline. "Shall we, sweetheart?".

She nodded, placing her hand in his and letting him pull her to her feet.

xxx

Klaus didn't let go of Caroline's hand once as he led her towards and then up the stairs, and then to the spare bedroom, which just happened to be the room next to Rebekah's.

"This is where we say good night, my love" Klaus said, pushing the door of the spare room open and waiting for Caroline to go inside.

"Good night, Klaus" She said quietly, bringing her eyes up to meet his with a shy smile, before slowly leaning forward and letting her lips meet his.

Her left hand was still placed firmly in his, and she brought her right up to his hair, letting her fingers run through the soft locks as she began to explore his mouth with her tongue, causing him to groan in approval and slink his free hand around her waist and pull her in close to him.

"Klaus" she moaned as his lips left hers to kiss along her jaw, and she freed her hand from his to lock it with her other one at the back of his neck. Klaus took the opportunity to use his now free hand to caress her cheek, smiling as she shuddered slightly beneath his touch, moving his kisses to her neck.

The sound of his name leaving her lips in such a way had fuelled something inside of him. Perhaps it was because he had been waiting for this for so long, or maybe it was just so damn good for him to hear his name this time, rather than that moron Tyler's. Whatever the reason, he found himself wanting nothing more than to have his way with her right there where they were stood.

Which was what made it so hard to pull away from her.

"Let me guess" Caroline mumbled as his lips left her neck, and his eyes locked with hers once more. "Too fast?".

"Too fast" He breathed, bringing his lips up to kiss her forehead and both hands to caress each of her cheeks. "It won't kill either of us to wait a little longer".

"Speak for yourself…" She mumbled, causing him to chuckle lightly, before letting his hands leave her cheeks to wrap around her waist and pull her into a hug.

"Laugh all you want, Mikaelson! But if you are to find me dead tomorrow, consider it your fault" She joked, burying her head in the crook of his neck and closing her eyes at the comfort that it provided.

"Good night, sweet Caroline" He sighed, closing his eyes and inhaling the scent of her sweet shampoo.

"Good night" She cooed into his neck, kissing him lightly on his pulse point before pulling away with a smile.

He kissed her softly on her lips once more, before backing away from her and disappearing through a door at the end of the hall.

Caroline sighed, before entering into her own room and closing the door behind her.

xxx

Caroline was sure that she was in hell.

The bedroom that she was staying in was sandwiched between Rebekah's bedroom on one side, and Kol's on the other.

Caroline had heard Elijah and Kol return home not so long ago; Elijah muttering incoherent insults at his younger sibling as they tumbled through the door, and Kol ignoring him as he led not one, but two women, both of whom he had brought home with him (presumably from the strip club), to his bedroom.

And now here she was, lying on her back in the overly sized, comfortable guest bed, the sheets wrapped tightly around her and her eyes widened in a mixture of shock and horror, as her ears absorbed everything that was happening on either side of her.

To the left of her…

"Oh, God, Stefan, that's it! Faster!"
"Rebekah, if I go any faster, you might split into two"
"Just do it, Stefan!"
"Fine…"
"Holy shit!"
"How can shit be holy?"
"Do you have half of a brain, Stefan?"
"No… I was just wondering-"
"Oh, shut up!"

To the right of her…

"What was your name again?"
"Rochelle"
"And what was yours?"
"Monica"
"Fantastic… hey! Monica! Did I tell you that you could stop that!?"
"No… Oh great master Kol…"
"Well then, please continue. Oh, that's right...right there. Now, Rochelle, why don't you grab that cucumber over there and-"

"Enough!" she cried, jumping out of the bed and flashing towards the door, before leaving and stepping out onto the landing, quietly closing the door behind her.

She covered her ears as she walked past Rebekah's bedroom, hoping to never again in her existence hear Stefan make such noises, and finally reached the door that she had witnessed Klaus disappear through earlier. She knew that it was his bedroom, anyway, since he had brought her up here the day that she had ran the kissing booth.

She didn't even bother to knock; she wanted nothing more than to get on the other side of that door, since it looked rather sound proofing.

She hurried into his room, closing the door behind her and leaning against it, closing her eyes at the relief of having the sounds quieten down. It was still not quiet enough, though.

"Can I help you, sweetheart?" his voice startled her, and she opened her eyes, glancing at him as he lay on top of the sheets of his bed with a book in hand, in all his shirtless glory.

"Have you heard that live porn show across the hall!?" she asked in a disgusted tone, trying not to stare at his perfectly sculpted chest, and failing miserably.

He noticed this, and chuckled lightly, before tapping the bed next to him with his free hand and watching as she made her way over, slipping underneath the sheets next to him.

"I can imagine that it would be much more louder for you, over in that room, than it is for me in this one" He answered, before setting his book down on the bedside table and slipping underneath the sheets himself, opening his arms up to her, and sighing in contentment as she snuggled up to him.

He grasped one of her hands in his, bringing it up to rest over his motionless heart, and turned his face to look at her. "Just close your eyes, sweetheart, and block it out".

She did as she was told, closing her eyes and smiling as she felt his lips lightly kiss one closed lid, and then the other. She hitched one of her legs up and over both of his, snuggling her face into his shoulder and placing light kisses on his flawless skin.

Klaus closed his own eyes, then, and as they lay there in an entanglement of legs, and feet, and arms, they both drifted off into a blissful sleep.