Kindness

Kindness - the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.

A week later Caroline still hadn't heard from Klaus. After the night they spent together a million and one thoughts ran through her mind.

Was I awful?

Does he hate me?

She tried to keep up with her work and not dwell on it, but it was incredibly hard.

It was in the last hour of her shift that she noticed Klaus take his usual seat.

It was strange seeing him in here after all this time.

Her heart rate accelerated and she hoped that he requested a different waitress. She could bear the thought of waiting on him after the night they shared.

She replayed the thoughts over and over in her mind and couldn't seem to shake him out of her system. Charlene interrupted her from her thoughts.

"He wants you." Charlene said.

Caroline was honestly shocked. Why would he want her?

She hesitantly walked over to his table with a glass of bourbon in hand. Shakily, she placed the glass on the coaster in front of him.

"I already have your order in, but if you need anyth –"

"Stop." He held his hand up to stop her from speaking. "Why are you so nervous?" He questioned.

"I'm not." She lied. He knew she was lying too.

"You're lying, Caroline." He took a sip of his bourbon and didn't dare to take his eyes off of her. "Tell me what is troubling you."

She knew he knew what she was talking about and he was toying with her. She tried her best not to completely lose it in front of him.

"You know damn well what's bothering me!" She told him trying to keep her voice down.

"Sit down, Caroline." He commanded. "I don't want you to cause a scene."

"You caused one by coming here!" She accused.

"I own this place, Caroline." She blushed crimson knowing that was the truth. Caroline was embarrassed. Klaus noticed and sympathized with her. He didn't come here to belittle her.

"I didn't come here to embarrass you, love." He reached for her hand and held it.

"Then why did you?" She asked.

"I came to give you this." He slid and envelope across the table. She looked at it warily, but eventually took it.

She opened the contents and found the deed to the pub. She was honestly shocked and taken back. What was he trying to do here? He hadn't spoke to her in a week and now he was trying to give her the pub?

"What game are you trying to play, Klaus?" Her eyes narrowed at him.

"I'm not playing one, Caroline. It's yours. I'm giving it to you because I want you to have it." He told her.

"I don't want it." She slid the envelope back to him and stood up. His kind gesture angered her. What type of person did he think she was? It hurt her to know that he thought of her as a woman that was after money.

"It was never about money Klaus. I slept with you because I liked you and even thought for a moment that I was falling in love with you… but it was never for money." She took off her apron and placed it on the table. She was absolutely done with Klaus and done with this place.

She knew she let the entire thing go too far. She had to find another job.

She walked out of the front door. She felt Klaus at her heel, but kept going anyway. After all, she expected him to follow her.

"Wait, Caroline!" He tried to stop her.

"Klaus, I don't want to –"

He cut off her words by grabbing her around the waist and pulling her in for a kiss. She protested at first, but eventually wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I can't get my mind off of you, Caroline." He said in between kisses, but eventually pulled back.

"I thought that if I stayed away from you for at least a week, that would clear my mind of you. It didn't work. When you said you almost fell in love with me it made my heart swell because I did fall in love with you. I don't know when it happened. I just realized that there's not a single person in this world that makes me feel the way you do. I knew I couldn't just have you, but I knew you deserved more. That's why I'm giving you the pub, Caroline. I'm doing it out of kindness, because I am in love with you."

Caroline stood there stunned. She didn't know what to say or how to react.

She brought her hand up to his cheek like she had before and kissed him again slowly.

"I can't take the pub away from you Klaus, but I do want you." She told him.

"I want you too, Caroline." His forehead touched hers and they stood like that for a few moments. "Why don't we go back inside and get something to eat?" He offered.

"That sounds nice, but do you think my boss will let me off?" She asked smiling.

"I think they can afford to give you up for one night." He laughed.

After that night, Caroline and Klaus continued to see each other casually. After about six months of officially being together, Klaus eventually proposed during Caroline's last shift.

That night, she accepted the deed to the pub and accepted Klaus' wedding proposal.


That's the end of it! Thanks for reading!