Hi everyone! So here's chapter 7 :) So if you read my last chapter you know they're in Vegas (woooo!) and there is so much stuff I want them to do there so this is basically just the first part and there are going to be at least 2 more parts to the Vegas bit before we reach my planned time jump which I may change from five years to ten. I will hopefully have the next bit up in a couple of days. I do not own the characters of the Vampire Diaries but this story is my own. Thanks to everyone who has followed, favourited and reviewed! Means so much to me :) If you have the time, please drop a review to let me know how I'm doing! Happy reading!


"Rise and shine, sleepyhead!"

Part of her knew that is was cruel to be shouting at the top of her voice this early in the day and inflicting it on someone who had a hangover but the bigger part of Caroline found it too amusing to reign herself in.

Plus mildly torturing the Original Hybrid was too good an opportunity to pass up especially as his pain was self-inflicted.

As soon as Caroline's voice pierced the quiet morning and intruded his sleep, Klaus bolted upright and began shooting confused glances around himself before clutching his head and groaning. Caroline couldn't help but giggle.

"Are you always this chipper in the morning?" Klaus croaked out from his dry throat.

"Being chipper is essential to being a cheerleader. You could say I'm naturally perky and positive." Caroline said as she skipped across the room and yanked the curtains open.

The consequential sunlight spilling into the room caused Klaus to flutter his eyes closed as it sent pain shooting through his head and made Caroline chuckle.

"As much as I would like to torture you further, Klaus, we have a flight to catch. So, get up and let's get going!"

Now he knew she was just tormenting him mercilessly as she jumped around with a cheerful smile as she said those words.

"Flight to catch?" Klaus questioned her, confused and still fuzzy from drink.

"Yeah, you paid for us to go to Vegas, remember? Now come on! I'm excited and the flight leaves in an hour. Bonnie called to say that Kol will pick us up from the airport. Hurry up, Klaus!" Caroline trilled as she practically danced out of the room on a cloud of happiness.

Slowly, the events of the previous night came crawling back to Klaus's mind and made him cringe with embarrassment.

Never again would he listen to any advice given by Damon Salvatore.

Still, as the memory of Caroline's soft lips pressed against his cheek as she whispered a fervent thank you drifted back to him, Klaus thought that perhaps it hadn't been such a terrible plan after all.

xoxoxo

Of course, they were flying first class. Nothing less for Klaus Mikaelson, Caroline thought wryly as she boarded the plane behind Elena. Caroline had only flown once before and that was from New York to San Francisco with Elena and they had gone economy class. Flying first class was an unexpected luxury and she eagerly searched for her seat before strapping herself into the window seat so she could watch the plane take off. Caroline happily took a book from her bag and settled it on her knees and began to read. Unfortunately for Caroline, her peace and happiness was disrupted quickly by Damon who plunked down in the seat next to her.

"Looks like we're flight buddies, Blondie." Damon said, earning him an angry scowl from Caroline.

"Yeah, no that's not going to work for me. Move." Caroline attempted to shove him away from her.

"Can't. This is the seat allocated to me on my boarding pass. Feel free to check if you like."

Damon tossed the bits of paper at her and, to Caroline's dismay, she realised he was right. With a glare marring her face she whipped her head round Damon's body to face Klaus who was in the seat across the aisle from her. Currently, he was resting his head back on the seat with his eyes closed. Apparently, his hangover had yet to completely dissipate.

"Seriously, Klaus? You put me and Damon together?" Caroline whispered furiously. She knew this trip was too good to be true.

Klaus opened his eyes to fix her with a pained look.

"Sweetheart, I booked the last few seats for the earliest flight to Las Vegas and they were assigned to us randomly. I'm sorry but you'll just have to ride it out."

Grumbling, Caroline turned back to her seat and stared pointedly out the window, studiously ignoring the smirk that was gracing Damon's handsome features.

"Think of this as an opportunity to get to know each other better, Blondie. Besides, I'll be switching with Stefan as soon as we take off." Damon eyed his brother carefully who was sitting much further towards the front of the plane with Elena. Both were chatting animatedly but Stefan glanced around and nodded at Damon's comment. The elder Salvatore relaxed visibly at that which didn't go unnoticed by Caroline.

"Aw, jealous are we, dick?" Caroline mocked him, her voice dripping with disdain. Damon clenched his fists and glared angrily at her.

"God, you're just never going to get over that incident with me when you were human, are you?"

Unbeknownst to the bickering vampires, Klaus's ears pricked up at this comment. He had always wondered what Caroline had been like as a human.

"Incident? You compelled me, manipulated me, fed on me and did other numerous repulsive things to me for months. It wasn't an incident, you jackass."

Before Damon could even open his mouth to retort he found himself pinned to his seat with Klaus's hands wrapped around his throat, a murderous glint in his eyes. Caroline gasped.

"Is this true, Salvatore?" Klaus spat.

"Umf...Y-yes..." Damon managed to choke out.

Klaus's hand tightened and Damon started to turn a sickly shade of blue. Other passengers were starting to look over at them now with concern and Caroline knew that she had to intervene.

"Klaus! Stop it, leave him alone." She cried.

"He. Hurt. You. Caroline." Klaus gritted out.

"I'm...s-sorry, C-caro-l-ine." Damon just managed to gasp the words out before his eyes started to roll back into his head.

"Klaus, let go right now! He's apologised and I'm over it, now stop!"

Glancing at Caroline and seeing her glaring at him, Klaus finally relinquished his hold on Damon's throat and Damon sucked in a lungful of air, grimacing at the pain in his neck. Klaus stalked back to his seat and Caroline sunk back into her chair, a small smile on her face. Damon glared at her.

"Thanks for that, Blondie."

"Oh get over it, Damon. It was just an incident." She quipped as the safety announcements began and the plane started moving.

Damon flagged down an air hostess and ordered a scotch.

"Oh, can I have a very large glass of vodka, please? Thanks." Caroline smiled warmly at the hostess as she disappeared to get their drinks.

"Day-time drinking? Didn't think you had it in you."

"Yeah, well I think I'm going to need it if I'm sitting next to you indefinitely." Caroline snarled for even though they were now up in the air the seatbelt sign had yet to turn off.

Damon just smirked at her before leaning over her to get the window view.

"Oh my god, you're so annoying!" Caroline cried, attempting to whack him away with her book to which he just laughed and began to elbow her.

This was going to be a long four hours.

xoxoxo

"It's weird isn't it?" Elena said softly.

Stefan looked at her confused to find her looking earnestly at him.

"Us." She said.

"What? No, of course it isn't." Stefan protested shaking his head. But she just flashed him a warm, coaxing smile and he knew he still couldn't lie to her.

"Okay, yeah it is weird." And they both chuckled.

"Do you think it will ever get better between us?" Elena asked.

"Things are already on the way to being better. You have Damon and I have Rebekah. We're both happier now than we ever were when we were together."

Elena nodded vigorously.

"I am sorry, Stefan. For what happened between us."

"It's okay," Stefan said sadly, "things worked out for the best."

"Even if your brother is frustrating."

They both chuckled again and turned to look at Caroline and Damon who were four rows back and squabbling still.

"Do you think they will ever make things right?" Stefan asked tentatively, turning back to Elena.

"Yeah they will. If they gave each other a chance I think they could be the best of friends, they behave so similarly sometimes and they're so stubborn." Elena vented.

Stefan chuckled again but abruptly stopped when Damon appeared silently beside them casting him a dark look.

"Switch places with me, baby bro? Vampire Barbie is doing my head in."

Stefan nodded graciously and headed to Damon's unoccupied seat causing relief to spread across Caroline's face.

Damon got himself settled in the seat beside Elena and she ignored him, going back to the magazine she had abandoned about twenty minutes after take-off to talk to Stefan.

"You can't ignore me forever, Elena." Damon murmured breaking the uncomfortable silence between them.

"Not forever no but I can give it a damn good try." Elena said and idly flipped a page.

"Please forgive me, Elena? I love you and I'm sorry for being such a dick. Sometimes I do things that I don't have to do."

"No," Elena said, raising a finger and pointing it at his confused face, "Do not pull the same crap you pulled on Alaric."

Damon slumped back into his seat miserably.

"Nice try though." Elena said, smirking behind her magazine.

xoxoxo

Caroline breathed a sigh of relief as Stefan slid into the seat beside her. She had spent the first hour of the flight next to Damon because of turbulence which prevented them from removing their seatbelts and going their separate ways. An hour that Damon had utilised to his advantage by reducing Caroline to wanting to tear her own hair and Damon's throat out.

"Hey, Care."

"Stefan, thank god. Damon was driving me insane."

"Yeah we could tell." Stefan laughed at her as she began to frown.

The two friends started laughing and joking, just like old times. Caroline found herself regretting the way they had left Mystic Falls abandoning Stefan, one of her best friends, without warning. She had missed him terribly on the road.

"I'm sorry for ditching you Stefan and for being mean at graduation. I was a bitch." Caroline said quietly.

"Don't worry about it, Care. You're safe, Elena is safe and well I understand why you were not yourself at graduation." Stefan said, flashing his mind back to the way Tyler had dumped the blonde beside him.

She smiled brightly back at him.

"You do owe me a favour though." Stefan said, putting on his serious vampire face.

"Anything." Caroline said earnestly.

Taking a deep breath, Stefan suddenly blurted out the one thing Caroline hadn't expected.

"CanyoubefriendswithRebekah?"

Caroline's eyes widened at Stefan's request. Be friends with the she-devil? Was he insane? Clearly he was considering he was her boyfriend.

"I'm sorry, you want me to be friends with your psycho bitch girlfriend?"

Stefan grimaced at the nickname.

"Caroline, she really isn't that bad. You're my best friend and I want you to get on with my girlfriend. I think if you gave her a chance you could be really close friends. You gave Klaus a chance."

She should have known being friendly with Klaus would be used against her.

"She doesn't have many friends and I think she would really appreciate it if you made the effort to include her. She's only got me and her brothers but that's not the same as having girl friends."

Caroline sighed knowing he was right. She couldn't imagine how Rebekah had managed to survive a thousand years without having a single female friend. She must have been terribly lonely.

"Fine. I'll try to organise a girls night and invite her to it. Happy?"

Stefan's answering smile was reward enough for agreeing to it.

"Very happy, thanks Caroline."

"No problem." Caroline smiled back at him, unaware that Klaus had been eavesdropping on their entire conversation smirking. He knew that the two blonde vampires would get on incredibly well after they got over their stupid competition and dislike towards each other. He was sure that Rebekah would love Caroline as much as he did.

Love? Jesus, he was going soft.

xoxoxo

The rest of the flight was uneventful. Somehow Damon had managed to wear down Elena's resolve against him and the two were happily holding hands as they stepped off the plane with Damon holding their hand luggage. Stefan and Caroline just rolled their eyes and went to collect their suitcases whilst Klaus went to go and meet Kol.

It had been thrilling to see the strip as they landed in Las Vegas and Caroline was almost giddy with excitement, practically flattening everyone in her rush to get off the plan and into the bright lights of Vegas. It was still early, only about four in the afternoon but already she couldn't wait to check into the hotel and get into the casinos. She was also looking forward to catching up with Bonnie and finding out the details of her relationship with Kol.

Excitement flooded through her as she exited the airport, eyes frantically darting everywhere for a glimpse of Klaus or Kol and itching to be on her way to the hotel.

"Welcome to America's playground, darlings!" Kol called to them from his spot leaning on a large, black SUV. Klaus was stood next to him carefully looking at her face, relieved that she seemed excited and happy. Caroline quickly rushed over to them but made it clear that she was rolling her eyes at Kol's outburst.

Kol carefully took her hand in his and bent over kissing it.

"We haven't been properly introduced. Kol Mikaelson, the most handsome of the Original vampires and suitor to your friend Miss Bennett."

Caroline laughed at his outrageous behaviour. Perhaps he really had changed. And Bonnie's 'suitor'? She was definitely going to get to the bottom of that!

"Caroline Forbes. We met briefly in New York."

"Ah yes. The lack of information you gave your friend and I really sent my brother into a tailspin. He's been unbearable to live with." Kol whispered conspiratorially whilst winking at her, causing her to giggle again. Klaus just frowned at his brother's behaviour, jealous that Caroline seemed to be much more receptive to his annoying younger brother than she was to him.

Kol took her luggage from her and tossed it haphazardly into the boot. Luckily for Caroline, she didn't have anything breakable in there otherwise it would have been smashed to smithereens with the brute force Kol put behind his throw. He carefully opened the back door for her and helped her clamber into the back seat before shutting the door and turning back to Klaus.

"She really is a tasty little thing." Kol whispered, mindful of the vampire ears lurking about before turning his gaze to the approaching Salvatores and doppelganger.

"Say another word and I'll tear out your liver." Klaus whispered back keeping a fake smile plastered on his face.

"Well, I suppose it's a better threat than daggering me again." Kol shrugged before hopping into the driver's seat.

Finally, the others arrived and everyone and everything was packed into the SUV with little trouble. Soon enough they were heading to the hotel each filled with a different kind of anticipation and excitement.

xoxoxo

"This is incredible!" Caroline squealed for the hundredth time since arriving at the Mirage Hotel. The Originals and their groupies (as Kol had dubbed them) had five rooms at the beautiful hotel. Kol and Bonnie, Damon and Elena, Stefan and Rebekah were sharing a room each whilst Klaus and Caroline had two adjoining rooms. Caroline wasn't sure if she was excited or nervous about the adjoining room situation but right now she didn't care as she leapt onto the huge queen sized bed that didn't even take up a fraction of her room at the Mirage.

She started giggling uncontrollably as she enveloped the softness that was going to be her bed for the next few nights.

"Is the room to your liking, love?"

Caroline sat up to see Klaus as he nervously lingered in the doorway that joined their rooms. He was studying her face carefully for her reaction.

A beautiful smile spread across her face as she leapt up from the bed and ran towards him, throwing her arms around his waist and nearly flattening him. He chuckled lightly and brushed a hand through her hair.

"It's wonderful, Klaus! Thank you so much!" She squeezed him tightly, not comprehending what having her body so close was doing to him. Klaus wished he could hold her like this every day, wake up to her sleeping next to him, tasting her lips whenever he wanted, hearing her sigh his name as his fingers-

"Klaus?"

Hearing her call his name brought him abruptly out of his lustful fantasies.

"Sorry, love, I wasn't listening. What did you say?"

"I was just asking what time we were going to head down to the casino?"

"Oh, I thought we could head down to dinner around seven and then explore the casinos from there. There's a new steakhouse that has opened here that I thought we should try. It's meant to be very good."

Caroline's answering smile was dazzling, until she looked at her watch and her face dropped. She glanced back at him with a panicked look.

"You need to go! I only have two hours to get ready!" She shoved him none too gently back into his own room and slammed the door shut, scurrying back to the bed and dumping her suitcase on it.

Klaus stared blankly at the closed door between their rooms, looking forward to being able to see her face again.

He'd thought that getting an adjoining room would be a great idea to get to know Caroline some more but having her so tantalisingly close may push his self restraint to the limits.

Klaus turned slowly away from the door and began to unpack in a daze.

xoxoxo

Walking side by side with Klaus as they entered the hotel lobby, Caroline couldn't help but once again be stunned by the beautiful saltwater tank located behind the front desk. She knew that the aquarium used artificial coral designed specifically to mimic a real life reef such as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the variety of colour and species of fish was astonishing. The bright colours of the exotic animals and plants that swam or swayed cheerily in the tank reminded Caroline of the Disney film, the Little Mermaid. The film didn't hold a candle to seeing the real thing though.

"Do you like it?" Klaus asked gesturing to the tank which still captivated Caroline's attention.

"Yes, it's so beautiful."

"I didn't know that you were such a fan of the ocean." Klaus said curiously.

"Well, it's not really the ocean but there's always been something about the sea that has appealed to me. When I was a little girl I wanted to be a mermaid, just like Ariel in the Disney film. I even asked my mum if I could dye my hair red."

Both chuckled at this revelation.

"But of course, I found out that I couldn't actually be a mermaid and when I was eleven I decided I wanted to be a marine biologist instead. Prove to everyone that I wasn't as stupid as blondes appear."

"What changed?" Klaus asked.

"I joined the cheerleading squad and suddenly nothing else seemed to matter other than being popular and getting good grades. I didn't have time to read the encyclopaedias' on marine life that I was given as a kid because I was always at practice or competitions. The dream just sort of faded away."

"I'm sorry."

Caroline shrugged.

"It's okay. I wouldn't change what I did for the world. I met Bonnie and Elena through cheering and I liked being made cheer captain and leading a team. It was fun. Besides, I can have as many dreams as I like now that I have eternity to fulfil them." She grinned at him.

They had reached the restaurant Klaus had suggested at this point and were being shown to their seats next to Stefan and Rebekah who were the first to arrive.

"Finally! We've been waiting bloody ages for you." Rebekah cried, crossing her arms irritably.

"It's only ten past seven, sister, you can't have been waiting that long."

Rebekah snorted and rolled her eyes. Her brother knew how much she hated being kept waiting and she was still irritated with him for dragging Stefan away from her to chase the slip of a girl in front of her.

"Caroline."

"Nice to see you again, Rebekah." Caroline uttered before taking the seat next to Stefan.

"Likewise." Rebekah sneered sarcastically. She didn't much care for the blonde vampire who had caught her brother's affection. She was too peppy, too bright and far too annoyingly smiley for Rebekah's tastes.

"Bekah, play nice." Stefan whispered.

Rebekah rolled her eyes but restrained herself from making the other blonde vampire feel more uncomfortable than she already was. Instead she settled for fiddling with her knife and fork, impatiently waiting for the others to arrive.

It was only a few more minutes before Kol and Bonnie joined them, Kol pulling her chair out for her before she sat down, but it was nearly half an hour later when Damon and Elena finally arrived both a bit out of breath with messy hair. Caroline raised an eyebrow at Elena who just blushed and avoided her eyes.

"Now the gang is all here, why don't we raise a toast?" Kol asked, raising his glass of champagne and entwining a hand with Bonnie's.

"A toast to what?" Elena asked.

"A toast to new friends, new relationships and happiness?" Stefan suggested, gazing happily into Rebekah's eyes.

"Well, I was just going to toast to getting drunk and living it up in Vegas but okay." Kol said causing everyone to laugh.

"Cheers!" The group clinked their glasses together.

Caroline caught Klaus's gaze as they raised their glasses and smiled softly at him, mouthing a quiet thank you. His answering smile was blinding.

xoxoxo

Caroline was grateful for the fact that she had a digital camera with a huge memory on it. She just couldn't stop snapping photos of everything and everyone as the night wore on. They had started with a delicious meal in the heritage steak restaurant before watching the volcano eruption that had dazzled the young vampires and their witch friend. Of course, the others had seen it once or twice before but watching the awe spread over their faces they couldn't help but be amused. Caroline's fingers were beginning to hurt from incessant picture taking but she wanted to immortalise everything she experienced in photographic form forever.

Now they were entering one of the casinos that Mirage provided. Caroline had never gambled before and so she decided to hang back to try and learn the ropes whilst watching the others. As luck would have it, the boys had meandered off in one direction to play poker leaving all the girls, including Rebekah, to entertain themselves.

Rebekah turned to look at the girls.

"Well, I could ask for better company but I suppose you'll have to do. Shall we go get some drinks?" She said in an airy voice.

Before Bonnie and Elena could protest or insult the Original sister, Caroline leapt in.

"Yes, we would love to. Lead the way!"

Rebekah looked surprised at her outburst but nodded and began walking towards the exit of the casino.

"Caroline!" Elena hissed at her.

"What? I think we should get to know her. She's Stefan's girlfriend and he would want us to make the effort."

"She's not as bad as you think, Elena. She was polite to me in New York." Bonnie said, following swiftly after Rebekah.

"Fine!" Elena said before stalking off after Bonnie with Caroline in tow.

They ended up in the Lobby Bar which provided excellent drinks with a clear view of the casino and tropical views of the aquarium. It was relaxing and Caroline was relieved that she could finally have a chat with her girlfriends even if Rebekah was slightly unwanted.

"So, Bonnie. Please explain to us the Kol situation. What is going on with you two?" Caroline blurted out before she could stop herself.

Rebekah breathed out a relieved sigh.

"Thank God you asked, Caroline. It has been driving me mad watching them two dance around each other." Rebekah said, raising her mojito to her lips and taking a long sip.

"Okay, I guess I do owe you an explanation. Well, it happened like I said, with Kol being sent back from the Other Side and needing my help to redeem himself. I thought that it meant that I was supposed to rehabilitate him into society, make sure he didn't kill anyone and basically just be a better person. He took it to mean that I had to fall in love with him. I guess, both had to happen in order to redeem himself. You see, I couldn't fall in love with him if he was the old Kol but the new Kol, who is sweet and funny if impulsive and annoying, is a different story. I'm beginning to fall for him." Bonnie sighed, looking frustrated at herself and her feelings.

"You know, nobody has ever been stupid enough to fall in love with my brother before but I've seen the way he looks at you and the way he's been since he came back and I like him better this way. I think you might be the best thing for him, Bonnie." Rebekah said sincerely, although it looked like the words tasted a bit bitter in her mouth.

"Well I for one think Kol Mikaelson is one lucky guy!" Elena said raising her strawberry daiquiri to her lips.

Caroline cheered and the four young women drank their cocktails chatting idly.

"I was thinking," Caroline began, "we should have a girls night tomorrow night. We haven't had one in ages and it will give us all a chance to let loose."

Bonnie and Elena nodded enthusiastically whilst Rebekah sat awkwardly sipping her drink.

"Rebekah, would you like to come with us?" Caroline asked with bated breath.

Rebekah looked at her through narrowed eyes, trying to see if there was anything to suggest foul play in Caroline's expression but seeing none nodded eagerly to her request and began prattling on about all the things they could do.

Caroline smiled in relief. Perhaps the youngest Mikaelson wouldn't be so bad after all.

xoxoxo

The boys came and found them soon after they had made their plans for the following evening and dragged them back into the casino to play some table games. Caroline found herself hovering behind Klaus as he joined a game of Craps. As far as Caroline could tell, you had to place a bet on what would be the outcome of the roll of dice. It was a fast-paced game and soon everyone's excitement about playing began to rub off on her own mood and she found herself eagerly awaiting the outcome of the dice, laughing and cheering when somebody won and groaning when they lost. Soon enough it was Klaus's turn.

"Blow." He said to her, holding the dice out in front of her face in his upturned hand.

"Excuse me?" Caroline said incredulously.

"Blow on them for good luck. You are after all the most beautiful girl in the room and I am lucky to have you standing next to me, sweetheart."

She caught his intense gaze and blushed furiously.

"Fine." She said rolling her eyes.

Klaus held the dice out to her once more and as she blew softly and coolly on the dice, she caught his gaze once more and nearly gasped at how dark and lustful it had become. Clearing his throat, he rolled the dice and Caroline held her breath as they rolled. He won and Caroline cheered wrapping her arms around his neck.

Every time it was Klaus's turn to roll the dice, Caroline blew on them for good luck and Klaus always won. By the time they turned away from the table, Klaus was ten thousand dollars richer.

"I'll have to take you everywhere from now on, love. You're obviously my good luck charm." Klaus said and winked at her.

Caroline laughed heartily, shrugging off the serious tone in his voice.

They wandered around the casino for a while chatting aimlessly and drinking cocktails. Kol and Bonnie drifted into view some time during the night with Bonnie yelling at him for using compulsion so he could win a game of roulette. Kol was trying to appease her by saying he would use the money to take her out somewhere nice causing the Hybrid and baby vampire to laugh.

Stefan and Rebekah had long since retired to their room to get 'reacquainted' with each other and Damon and Elena followed not too long after.

"Fancy a game of blackjack, love?" Klaus inquired as they drifted towards the table.

"I don't know how to play." Caroline confessed.

"It's easy. You have to draw cards that total as close to 21 as possible without going over. You get two cards, an ace can count as one or eleven points, kings, queens and jacks all count as ten. All other cards count as the numeric value shown on the card. You add up the value of your cards and then you can choose to have another card or stick to what you have, whichever you think will get you closer to 21. If you go over 21 you bust and therefore lose."

"Okay, that sounds pretty straight forward."

They made their way to the table and the dealer dealt them in. Klaus and Caroline looked at their cards and remained completely impassive.

"Would you like to hit?" The dealer asked.

"No." Said Klaus.

"Yes." Said Caroline who was dealt another card. The dealer also dealt himself another before asking them the question again to which they both said no.

"Okay." The dealer showed his cards to reveal that he had bust by getting a score of 25.

"It's just between us now, sweetheart. Shall we make things a little more interesting?" Klaus said with a glint in his eye.

Caroline's inner competitiveness came out and she couldn't resist the temptation.

"What did you have in mind?"

Klaus grinned cheerfully.

"If I win, you go on a date with me."

Caroline gulped.

"And if you lose?"

"If I lose, you can use my credit card for your 'girls night'." Klaus finished quite seriously.

"Deal." Caroline grinned.

"Okay. Ladies first."

Caroline overturned her hand triumphantly revealing a 6, a 4 and a King totalling 20.

Klaus stared at it impassively before overturning his own cards, revealing an ace and a Queen. Totalling 21.

Caroline's jaw dropped.

"Looks like you owe me a date then, love." Klaus's smirk spoke volumes before collecting his winnings and heading towards the casino exit.

Caroline caught him up as he was getting into the lift.

"You tricked me." Caroline cried.

"I didn't trick you, love. I won a game fair and square."

"But you knew I couldn't beat you so you knew you would win!"

Klaus just grinned at her as the lift reached their floor and led the way to their adjoining rooms. He paused briefly outside his door.

"Tomorrow morning, 10am. Be ready and I will take you on our date."

Then he entered his room chuckling leaving a shocked Caroline behind.