AN: I'm sorry for the lack of updates and short chapters. I recently got a new job and it takes all of my time.

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Caroline didn't know what to do. Her heart was divided. Any other day she would've been over the moon after receiving that letter. But now? Not so much.

She knew that she really didn't have something holding her back. Yes, she had her friends there in Santa Cruz, and her job. But this was an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Deep down she knew why she didn't want to leave.

Klaus.

She was in love with him. Since the night she danced for him, she couldn't deny her feels for him anymore, and the thought of never seeing him again made her heart ache and her stomach turn. But he was her patient. It was wrong, unprofessional. And even if he wasn't, she wasn't entirely sure he would feel the same way.

He had been very thoughtful, and she felt his eyes on her every now and then while she worked. Not every man would take the time to decorate a stage with fairy lights and make it look so romantic for a woman if he didn't have feelings for her. But what if she was reading these signs wrong? Her job let her be quite intimate with him, while still being professional.

Still, she held onto the hope of something happening between them. And now that tiny little hope was being crushed.

Not knowing what to do, she looked for support and advice in her friends.

"Care, these are amazing news!" Elena said proudly as she handed the letter to her sister for her to read. "You must be so excited." She added while jumping from the couch to hugher friend.

"Oh!" Caroline exclaimed surprised but hugged her back anyway. "Yeah, I guess." She said.

Elena quickly pulled back and looked at her confused.

"Why aren't you more excited? Is it because you have to move?"

"Maybe…" Caroline replied, not knowing something better to say."

"Nah, that's not it." Katherine said. "You've always been one for adventure, you dreamed of living in New York because that's where you could perform, and ballet is your life." She added. "And now you don't look excited. There's something else holding you back."

Damn Katherine, she could read Caroline so well.

The time to come clear finally arrived and Caroline sat down with a sigh. She told her friends everything that was going on about Klaus, from their rocky start to the night he made her dance for him. She told them about their fights and the time she spent the day with him because it was the anniversary of Henrik's death.

She told them everything.

And of course they had questions, but Katherine's were lighthearted like "Is he hot?" while Elena's were… a little bit more judgmental.

"Isn't it wrong for you to be romantically involved with a patient?" Elena asked rhetorically.

Caroline looked down and nodded.

"Yes, that's why I haven't acted on these feelings."

"But he won't be her patient for much longer." Katherine commented with a smirk. "He'll be well enough to walk on his own soon and you won't be his therapist anymore."

Elena looked scandalized.

"It would still be unprofessional, right?"

"Oh come on, cut her some slack!" Katherine told her sister. "No one chooses who we fall in love with. You heard her yourself, she hated the guy at first, but these things happen." Then she turned to Caroline. "Forget about him being your patient and you being professional. The problem here is that you have to choose and you don't know what to do. Stay here for this guy, even though you don't even have a relationship yet, or go to New York and make your dream come true."

Caroline swallowed hardly.

"Is he worth all that?" Elena asked. Caroline wanted to say yes.

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The day finally arrived. This would be Klaus' last physiotherapy with Caroline.

The past year had been a roller coaster of emotions. He lost his brother and his capacity to walk. He even lost his will to live. But then he met Caroline, started walking again, and now he had a reason to wake up every morning. Sadly, he couldn't do anything about his feelings towards her because she was his therapist.

That is, until now.

Klaus didn't remember the last time he was this nervous. He wasn't sure what he was going to say to her. They had to go to one last session first, but maybe at the end of the day he could make a move. Or at least taste the field; see if he could meet her again sometime.

The truth is, he was afraid this would be the last time he saw her. What if she started working with another patient and left Klaus to move on with his life? The thought of never seeing her again made him feel sick. If only he knew she felt the same way about him, all the anxiety would be gone.

That day Caroline arrived a few minutes early, as usual, and was received at the door by Rebekah.

"I'm glad you came early, I made some tea! I just wanted to talk a little bit since today is your last session with Nik, right?" she asked as she leaded Caroline into the living room

"Yeah, it is." Caroline replied and sat down on the couch in front of Rebekah, who handed her a cup of tea.

"I can't thank you enough for all you've done. I'm so happy to see Klaus walking again." Rebekah said happily, and quite emotionally, which was something Caroline wasn't used to yet. She wished she could've got to know Rebekah a little bit better.

"I was just doing my job." Caroline replied, trying to keep her face even.

"Still, I think he will finally be able to move on with his life, which is what Henrik would've wanted."

Caroline smiled softly and nodded.

Klaus was making his way down the stairs –he never thought he would use those again, too used to using the elevator due to his chair-, he was still nervous, and when he heard the door bell ring, his heart jumped in his chest. But as he got closer to the first floor, he heard Rebekah and Caroline talking.

"Do you know who your next patient will be?" his sister asked.

"Actually…" Caroline hesitated. "I'm quitting my job." At that Klaus stopped walking and leaned against the wall that separated the living room from the hall.

"You are?" Rebekah asked surprised.

"I got a job offer in New York, I don't know if you know this but I used to dance ballet and I got requested by The School of American Ballet to teach."

Klaus' heart dropped. He swore he could hear it break in thousands of pieces. She was moving away, and he would never see her again. He leaned against the wall for more support as he felt like his world was crumbling down –again-. When did he fall in love with her this deeply? Why was this affecting him so much? He felt like he couldn't breathe, like there was some heavy weight on his chest.

"That's wonderful! It's a shame you have to move across the country." Rebekah said.

"Yeah…" Caroline said softly.

"But The School of American Ballet, that's huge, isn't it? It must be a dream come true." Rebekah added.

"You have no idea. I always wanted to dance. I can't now, but at least I can direct the dance shows and teach the future stars, that's itself is a huge honor." Caroline replied with a tone much lighter.

Klaus couldn't help but smile softly at this. That was his Caroline, so full of light, so passionate about what she loved. This was her chance, the one thing that would take her a step closer to her dream. Who was he to get in her way? After all she went through, she deserved to be happy. He, more than anyone else, understood that.

He couldn't hold her back. He wouldn't. He wouldn't be stand in her way to be happy.

So he put on a brave face and walked into the living room.

"New York, uh? Make sure to send a post card." He said with a smirk.

Caroline looked at him and smiled softly, but Klaus it didn't look as bright as it should have.

"I will." She put her now empty tea cup down and got up. "Ready for our last session?"

"Ready." He lied.

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Two weeks later, Klaus found himself doing something he used to love, but after the accident he thought he would never do. He went on a long walk on the beach at night.

That night, unlike the one when Henrik died, the sky was clear and the waves were soft. The ocean was calm and the breeze felt like a sweet caress on the skin. It was painful to think he used to do this all the time, looking for inspiration for another painting, but then abruptly stopped after the accident.

He savored the feeling of his feet touching the sand or the cold water at the shore. He missed that. To know he lost all this once and now he had it back was overwhelming. And he knew who he had to thank for.

Taking a deep breath, Klaus pulled out his phone from his pocket and dialed Caroline's phone.

She picked up shortly after that.

"Hello?"

"Good evening, love." He said smiling at the sound of her voice.

"Klaus… hi… What's up? Everything okay?"

"I know your flight leaves early in the morning, so I won't take much of your time. I'm standing on the beach, looking up at the full moon and I can't help but think something is missing… you."

Caroline didn't say anything, but Klaus heard her breath hitch.

"I wish I could have said it in person but I don't I would've been brave enough. And I don't mean brave enough to say it, but to actually let you go."

"Klaus…"

Caroline's voice was shaky.

"You deserve happiness, Caroline, and I'm not about to stand in your way. I'm not going to ask you to stay for me. I just wanted to tell you this because you need to know how meaningful you are to me. You found me as a broken man, you put my pieces back together and fixed me, and for that I'm forever grateful. I know you had hard moments in your life too, so if you ever feel low, I want you to remember that you're beautiful, you're strong, full of light, and there's nothing you can't do. You made me love again, that's quite the miracle."

At this point he could hear Caroline crying softly in the other end.

"Goodbye, love. Be happy."

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AN: Oh no! Caroline is leaving! But don't worry, this isn't the end! What do you think will happen next? This Klaroline story is just starting!

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