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(7)


It was noontime when Caroline, who was sitting on the living room, heard a knock on the door. She opened the door to see a middle aged woman and a pretty young lady whose age she thinks is the same as hers. The woman is smiling at her while the lady is looking down on the ground.

"Hi! What can I do for you?" asked Caroline.

The woman was the first one to speak. She wears a modest white dress that shows the curves of her body from the appropriate places. Her hair is black and her face is sophisticatedly made up. Caroline somehow felt small with her simple get up consisting of a simple yellow blouse and a pair of jeans.

"Hello. Good morning. We're the Graysons. We live a couple of blocks from here, just near the town square. My name is Emerald and this is my daughter Emily. We're on our way to church when we decided to pay a visit to the town's, new residents, I believe?" She flashed a smile.

Caroline just looked at her as she talks. Aside from the obvious impression of confidence she gives out, there's something about the way she talks that tells she's someone on a mission.

"I'm the town mayor by the way." Emerald continued, extending her arms for a handshake.

Before she knew it, Caroline had let her mouth open to make an 'Oh' sound. "Hello Mayor Grayson. It's very nice to meet you. My name is Caroline. We're not really staying here to live for a long time. We're just the temporary caretakers of this old house." Caroline answered as she took the mayor's hand for a shake.

The mayor was looking at Caroline from top to toe while she was talking. She smiled again and answered, "I see. I only heard about your arrival while I was in the town market. I just thought it would be nice to say hi after I learned of the news. Our town is not really big and we seldom have new people going here for residence."

"Oh, I've never really been around but I'm sure the town's a nice place. We feel quite comfortable in here and safe." Caroline said, her polite smile is still plastered on her face.

Caroline noticed how the lady called Emily kept on looking at her but also kept on looking down immediately when Caroline tries to look back at her to smile. What a very shy girl.

"Well then I think you might like what I'll tell you next." The mayor said, smiling. Caroline turned her gaze back to the mayor. "The town is having our annual lights festival tonight. You might want to go in the town square tonight and join in the celebration. There will be night markets, a lights display show, dancing, and fireworks. And oh by the way, by 'we' you mean you and...?"

"Oh I'm with uhm, a..."

"Good afternoon lovely ladies. My name is Klaus." Klaus appeared behind the lady called Emily.

Emily jumped, startled. She turned around to face the man who just spoke behind her. She accidentally met his gaze and became trapped in it all of a sudden. She's not aware of it but she's staring at Klaus.

"Oh I'm very sorry, it seems I startled everyone. I can't help but overhear your conversation and I think it would be appropriate to introduce myself to the mayor." Klaus smiled and continued to talk as he walks past the visitors into the doorway.

Emily, who was staring at Klaus, looked down at once he's already right beside Caroline.

"We thank you very much Mayor Grayson for the warm welcome visit. It's a pleasure." Klaus continued.

Caroline spoke next. "Klaus and I are working in the house together. Thank you very much for the invitation, I'm sure tonight's going to be fun."

Caroline didn't fail to notice how Emily had reacted upon seeing Klaus earlier. Is she crushing on him? She continued to look at Emily who is now making shy yet adorable glances at Klaus.

"Oh, believe me it is going to be fun. Right, Emily?" Mayor Grayson turned to her daughter. Caroline noticed the tenderness of Mayor's eyes as she looks at her daughter.

Emily's head went up straight at the sound of her name. "Yes." She blurted out right away. "Mom's right. I-it's going to be fun there." She stuttered as she tried to meet Klaus' face. "I uhm, I hope you'll come later."

Caroline turned her head at Klaus and saw how he also keeps on staring at Emily. Klaus is dangerously locking eyes with her. Caroline immediately heard the girl's heartbeat go faster as she averted her eyes from Klaus' stare, while blushing. This girl is seriously having a crush on Klaus.

She didn't know where it came from but after seeing how Klaus looked at Emily and how his stare affected her, she clapped her hands together straight away to get everyone's attention to her.

"Okay!" she said in an energetic tone. Then she instantly placed both her hands around Klaus' left arm and told their visitors, "Well then we're definitely going later! Right, Klaus?"

Klaus slowly turned his head from Emily to Caroline's hand on his arm. He moved his eyes up at Caroline and then looked down to chuckle, dimples forming on his face.

Klaus turned to fully face Caroline and met her eyes. "Of course, sweetheart"

Caroline swallowed and turned back to their visitors. "We'll see you then I guess."

Emily looked down again after she saw the affectionate gesture Klaus and Caroline just shared.

Emerald's arms went to her daughter's back as she says, "That's great! It's very nice finally meeting you. We'll just see you later."

They said goodbye and then walked towards their car. Emily was still looking down as her mother holds her by her tiny shoulders while they walk away.


Klaus sits on the couch gaping at Caroline who's standing opposite him. He can't help but be amused at what just happened. When the mayor and her daughter left, Caroline immediately pulled her hands off his arms and went inside without a word.

"So much for keeping a low profile" He commented.

Caroline, who is standing with her hands on her waist and her back on Klaus, turned around to face him.

"Whatever you're planning to do with that girl Klaus, I'm not going to let you." Caroline told him, now with her arms crossed.

Klaus gave out a small amused laugh. "Caroline I'm not planning anything to do with her."

"Well I saw how you looked at her!"

Klaus continued to grin. "Tell me love, how did I look at her?"

"Well you...you're staring at her like...like..." Caroline doesn't really know the answer to that. It was then that she realized she only didn't like it, that's all. She sighed and turned her face away.

Klaus stopped grinning and just looked at her. He stood up from the couch and walked towards Caroline. "Shall we back out then? I didn't really expect you to say yes to them."

Caroline was still bothered by how she had just acted. She can't be jealous, can she? She ignored that thought instantly.

"I already said yes. We should go. We'll just find the mayor, say hi, don't chat with anyone and just come back home."


Caroline, already dressed in a blue casual dress and a jacket, is ready for their unplanned trip to the town square for the festival. She checked her phone first for any messages.

Bonnie texted her she already found the spell that can reverse the one that made the vampire slayers somewhat super humans. Now all they're waiting for is the return of Tyler with other werewolves and then they'll end all their problems once and for all.

She walked to Klaus' room to inform him of the news. She noticed the door was wide open. She didn't see Klaus so she went inside to check.

"Is there a problem?" Caroline heard Klaus' voice behind her. She turned around and saw him standing. Apparently Klaus had just finished drying from his shower as he appeared with only his pants on.

Caroline looked at his unclothed chest and turned her face away immediately. She heard Klaus snickered. "I'm sorry I thought you weren't here." Caroline said. She didn't fail to notice the mark on Klaus' bare chest. It wasn't that prominent but she saw it anyway.

"You don't really have to be so shy love" Klaus answered. "Is there something you want to say?"

When Caroline faced him he's already wearing his gray shirt. "Bonnie sent me a message. She already found the spell against the council."

"Yeah, I got the message as well. Your friend really does live up to her last name. I'm actually glad for her. She's finally accepted who she really is and now she's exploring her capabilities." Klaus was looking intently at Caroline.

Caroline didn't miss what Klaus was trying to tell her. She smirked and then just sighed.

Klaus realized Caroline isn't going to say anything so he told her next "Well then, I think both of us are ready, shall we go?" He smiled.


The festival was indeed magical.

The town square was illuminated with bright colored lamps hanging on strings. The town may be small but there are so many people. There were children, teenagers and adults. There were stalls selling fancy stuff. At the middle there was a stage where Caroline and Klaus saw mayor made a speech about the celebration. A band plays and there was dancing.

It was really fun and Caroline was enchanted.

"Wow, I never imagined a small quiet town like this creates such events. We've never had anything like this in Mystic Falls" Caroline said as she walks around with Klaus. She's looking up at every corner and smiling with delight.

"Yeah, it's indeed very nice." Klaus agreed. "I actually planned on telling the mayor we couldn't go because of obvious reasons, but I'm very happy you said yes." he continued.

Without even looking at him, Caroline knew he was smirking. She felt really irritated by how smoothly Klaus had reminded her of why she agreed to this but she just can't help smiling. She just turned her face away to hide her little smile. She was only thankful Klaus isn't asking her more about her action that afternoon.

They still can't get the mayor to see them because she's busy being surrounded by a large group of people. They don't want to attract people so they decided to just sit in a bench not too far from the town square until they find the mayor alone.

"I haven't seen Emily yet. Did you?" Caroline asked Klaus.

"No I didn't. But I don't think she'll show up tonight to meet us" Klaus answered.

She faced Klaus. "How do you know that?"

"I believe the poor lady's depressed after what happened this afternoon."

Caroline's eyebrows met. What does he mean she'll get depressed? Is it because of what she did? It was only a crush she has towards Klaus why would she get depressed about that?

"What do you mean?" she asked him.

Klaus smirked. "When you lived for a long time, you get to meet different kinds of people. Those kinds of people, they still have in them the ways of their ancestors." Caroline was listening. "They were actually looking for a potential husband for Emily. They heard a new man in town and so they visited, hoping they meet a decent bachelor. And I believe you already noticed how she had looked at me. Then what happened next is that you claimed me as yours and then it's now over for a possibility of me and Emily getting married. Shallow maybe but it's simply like that." Klaus told Caroline.

Caroline sat up straight. "What? But that's ridiculous! I mean, why can't she just mingle among other people her age, get to know someone and fall for him? She's very pretty and I'm sure she'll meet someone who will love her."

Klaus laughed a little. "Well that's their lives. Now you agree how humans are ridiculous now don't you."

Caroline rolled her eyes and smirked. "Of course not, but I can't blame anyone if they become ridiculous and pathetic especially if that person doesn't receive any love. But at least Emily's mother loves her and cares much about her."

It was too late when Caroline really thought about what she just said. She found herself holding her breath when she realized how insensitive her remark was. She looked at Klaus from the corner of her eyes and saw him looking far ahead, over the colorful lights in the town square.

Of course she already knew Klaus' family history. She then asked herself, when did she start to care about this monster's feelings? She perfectly understood before that Klaus isn't capable of real feelings but after all the times she had been with him, she knew she may have already started to think otherwise.

She knows how he cares for his sibling, although in a twisted way. He even understood about that very 'human' thing with the mayor and Emily.

Caroline slowly turned to Klaus. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean-"

"Shhhh" Klaus interrupted her. "Look over there." He pointed his index towards the town square.

The people are gathered around an open area with paper lamps on their hands. The man on the stage was counting, and at the count of three, each person freed his own lamp and let it fly into the sky.

Caroline watched in amazement. She stood up and looked at the utterly beautiful night sky, illuminated wonderfully by the enchanting sky lanterns along with the bright shining stars.

"Wow. It's incredible." Caroline was almost speechless.

"Yes it is."

They watched the night sky in silence.

"I'm sure you've seen this before."

"I have. With Rebekah. And also with Elijah. But we were in other parts of the world... I can show you more of this if you want to." Klaus whispered to her.

Caroline just breathed a gleeful smirk at Klaus and shook her head. Unbelievable. There he is again.


They were able to corner the mayor while people are still enjoying the view of the night sky. After they greeted the mayor, both of them just went straight home.

The hybrids told Klaus nothing happened while they were away. It's past 10 at night; apparently they were only gone for about three hours.

Klaus escorted Caroline at her bedroom door.

"Well that was really fun. I didn't really expect this to happen today." Caroline told Klaus.

"Yeah, well I'm sure you had fun." Klaus smiled at her.

"I did. But that's it. I mean, there should be no more of that. We can't agree anymore to future invitations. We're lucky no one really paid attention to us, being new and all that. It's too dangerous." Caroline said.

Klaus let out a gentle laugh. "Perfect, now you just had to remind yourself about that."

Caroline responded with a small laugh. Well she really felt good tonight.

Klaus walked nearer Caroline so they stand face to face with smiles on their faces.

"Good night Caroline" Klaus told her when their little laugh ended.

Caroline looked up at Klaus and saw him studying her face. They gazed at each other with flicker of light in their eyes.

With all her might, Caroline averted her eyes to the side and swallowed. "Good night." she whispered.

Caroline looked down while she waits for Klaus to turn around and walk away.

She's very much aware of their closeness. And she's very much aware of her fast breathing. And she's very much aware of the fact that they're breathing the same air. And of course, she's very much and perfectly aware of the fear and desire starting to crawl under her skin.

She doesn't want to look up his face but she can't seem to turn around and close the door either. She continued to look at the floor when she noticed Klaus' hand very slowly reaching for hers. At the slightest touch of his fingers, she pulled her hand away at once and her head instantly went up to face Klaus.

That was a big mistake she knew she cannot anymore undo. She's already trapped in his gaze and there was no way out.

The next thing she knew, they were kissing passionately against her bedroom wall.


They finally kissed! I really hope you enjoyed this one. Please review! I really like to know how you think about the chapter. :)