"According to Damon I'm just your type," Enzo said as Klaus reached the stairs seething in rage stomping taking the stairs two at a time ignoring the ache in his spine. That was when he heard her achingly wonderful voice respond, "I'm married and you are so out of your league either way."
Klaus smiled as he stopped midway catching her attention her face lit up at the sight of him and Klaus knew he had nothing to worry about. Kol pushed past him making him remember they were not in fact the only two people there.
He cleared his throat finishing his way down the steps reaching her enclosing her in his arms as she laughed, "Miss me that much?" she questioned as he cradled her head to his chest. He smiled leaning into her ear, "Yes," he murmured brushing her hair aside.
"There's something we should discuss," he said gravely as the front door opened once more rather dramatically his sister coming into view with an energy he was certain could light up a whole city if not a small country.
Caroline knitted her eyebrows together pursing her lips before she heard Stefan come in greeting them both, "Can we talk about it later?" she entreated with a light kiss on his chest so no one could see. Klaus answered her with the upturning of the corners of his lips in an unsure smile.
"Leave it to Rebekah to steal the thunder at her own underhanded get together," Kol said as he shook Stefan's hand patting him on the back as Caroline hugged the blonde. "Good luck with that one mate," he whispered in his friend's ear.
Stefan nodded knowingly to him as Klaus came around hugging him in congratulations as well, "It's about time. You've had that ring for months now." He said quietly winking at Stefan as he looked back at him stunned. Klaus nodded as his friends eyes asked if he remembered.
"Does she know yet," he murmured as Enzo tried to listen in making it painfully obvious to them both as Klaus placed a finger over his lips and subtly shook his head once. "It's something I should tell her alone." He replied as Stefan nodded in agreement.
Klaus turned eyeing the man who had been listening in finally acknowledging him, "The last time I saw you Damon had set you on fire," he said with a light in his eyes. He chuckled puffing out his chest as Enzo shook his head bothered by his greeting.
"I thought you didn't remember anything," he responded Klaus rubbed his jaw, "I remember," Klaus said before Stefan interjected, "He just can't remember the last few year. Uni years are right there, right Klaus?" he said nudging his best friend.
"Right," Klaus said as Caroline's hand reached for his, "Why don't we get started on the festivities," he suggested taking his sisters hand as well. She looked beautiful filled with the prospect of marrying the man she had loved forever.
Elijah found Kat on her way out of his office as he arrived taking her by surprise she tried to make a break for it. "Katerina," he shouted after her forgetting decorum as he loosened his tie and removed his shoes breaking into a run as he followed after her.
She looked back at the sound of his voice saying her full name mustering the dirtiest look she could, she was surprised when she saw him break into a sprint coming after her shoeless and his tie undone a sight that she found rare and rather thought-provoking.
"Will you just wait one moment," Elijah said as he almost caught up with her his eyes drifting to what shoes she had on impressed that she could move so quickly as she always wore the most distressing of heels on her feet that made her legs look rather fascinating as she leaned over his desk.
"Leave me alone," she said her voice echoing in his empty home as she ran towards the back looking to escape through the back side entrance of the fence. She heard him grunt before she felt herself being grabbed and falling forward onto her stomach his arms around her waist as she tried to kick him off.
"Get off," she exclaimed as she tried to turn over amazed that he had what it took to tackle her like that, she ought to murder him by the pool. "You are such a," she shouted at him as he turned her over she was about to finish that sentence with a few choice words when she felt his lips on hers firmly.
"I told him," he said inhaling sharply from how hard he had kissed her, she looked dizzy which scared him for moment before she beamed up at him. "He already knew," he added softly caressing her cheek as she wrapped her arms around his back.
"Kol," she said without question making the corner of his mouth upturn into a smirk as he nodded in confirmation to her. "You know if you ever tackle me again," he cut off her sentence again with his lips and a grin mumbling he wouldn't.
"You're right you won't" she sighed as he held her prisoner under his body, "You're cutting off my air supply Eli," she told him with a small push. He chuckled rolling off of her body, "We have a home warming to get to." She smiled as he shook off the grass from his favorite gray suit.
Murderous thoughts raced through Klaus' mind as he looked around the room with so many happy faces a few he wished would disappear namely being Damon and his little friend Enzo but unlikely for the moment. His mouth twitched but he refused to look like anything other than a gracious host alongside his wife.
"Are you going to tell her now," Kol asked sneaking up behind him with a glass of amber liquid he sipped as he paused next to his brother. His eyes were still on his date as he sent her a coy smile that had her blushing into her drink before turning her back to him.
Klaus rolled his eyes, "No, shut up," he warned his brother in a low voice as they stood for a few more moments in silence. Just when Klaus thought his brother might have actually given up discussing such a matter he heard his brother's mouth open again.
"And now," Kol asked snickering into his glass as he turned to look at his brother directly a glint of amusement in his eyes much like when he was a child. Klaus eyed him darkly muttering, "Kol," before he uncrossed his arms and reminded his brother how much taller he was than him.
Kol was unintimidated as his older brother moved closer to him in warning, in fact his mile only grew knowing Klaus wouldn't make a scene in front of Caroline without having to reveal himself. "What," he chuckled, "Every moment that passes is a wasted opportunity."
Klaus backed down taking Kol's empty glass along with him, "Thank you," he gritted his teeth deciding for now it was best to keep his distance from both Kol and Caroline.
He began to walk away but he wasn't quick enough for Kol, "Go to her."
Klaus paused turning his head, "Stop that," he told him no longer paying attention to exactly who was surrounding them. Kol's eyebrows shot up and he turned away confusing Klaus for just a second before he sensed her.
"What are you guys talking about," Caroline asked sneaking up on Klaus and Kol her hand wrapping itself instinctually in Klaus' as she turned them both to look at the younger Mikaelson. She looked from him to Kol but neither of the two spoke in reply awkwardly.
Caroline opened her mouth to speak but Kol interjected speaking finally, "Nik here was just about to tell you something," he insisted gesturing to his brother with an open hand, "I insist." He said with an innocent grin.
Klaus' eyes could have sliced through his younger brother if that was a power he possessed, "I was-I," Klaus looked away from his brother into Caroline's beaming face unsure of how to go about telling her especially with everyone around.
It wasn't exactly ideal, he had pictured flowers and candles, the two alone and a very long night of catching up ahead nothing at all like this. "What is it?" her voice broke through his thoughts reminding him how different reality and fantasy were.
Flustered he scratched his cheek under her inquisitive stare, "Eh, urm, Kol stop smiling." Klaus growled out to his little brother making Kol spurt out bursts of chuckles as he straightened.
"I am not," Kol replied.
Klaus huffed, "You are, it's distracting," he insisted shifting his stance placing himself closer to Caroline but leaning into Kol's personal space as he spoke. He felt Caroline's hand land on his arm and run to his chest gently apply pressure asking him silently to lean back away from Kol.
She smiled at him as he looked from her hand on his chest to her before she turned to the younger Mikaelson, "Kol go away," Caroline said her eyes giving him no room to argue they both watched his shoulders slump as he walked away.
Caroline waited a moment before she turned on Klaus curiously, "What is it," she entreated with the most innocent of faces that made a smile paint itself on his lips displaying his loveable dimples a he cradled the side of her face.
"Um, Elijah's here," he said watching her face fall as he pretended it hadn't turning his attention to his older brother.
"Oh," Caroline said quietly beside him as he found her warm hand by his thigh and held it in his.
"Hello big brother," Klaus said with a curt nod sticking his hand out for his brother to take.
"Niklaus, Caroline," Elijah greeted shaking his brother's hand and kissing Caroline's cheek before stepping back.
Kat interrupted the awkward silence stepping in to hug Caroline and push Klaus on his shoulder,
"Any better," she tested warmly.
"Loads," Klaus said cryptically as he hid his face in Caroline's hair.
"Kol stop looking like you have a big secret," Rebekah whined a few feet away from the group making them turn their attention back to the younger Mikaelson.
"I can't help that I have one of those faces," Kol said standing next to Damon and Bonnie looking over at Klaus who if possible was more annoyed at him.
Elijah looked back at Klaus and then back to Kol with a face of discontentment, something was going on, something he knew nothing about it seemed. For once Kol actually did know something but for now he would have to wait to find out.
Until then it was Elijah's job to keep the peace amongst them for Not only Klaus' sake but for Rebekah's, "Kol, quiet," he said sternly making his brother's smile grow rising to the challenge.
"Make me," Kol countered suavely releasing Bonnie from his hold as he stepped toward his older brother dropping the gauntlet.
Elijah moved away from the small huddle of people in path to his younger brother muttering, "Menace," under his breath.
"Suck up," Kol replied waving a finger at him nonchalantly not noticing Klaus stepping away from both Kat and Caroline to stand in between them both.
"That's enough both of you," he said forcefully getting both men's attention as he did with the hardness of his voice. "It's my party after all." Klaus said staring them both down.
Elijah being a gentleman was the first to take a step back straightening his suit, "Niklaus is right," he said finally as he felt Kat's hand on his arm.
"No, he's not," Kol said clearly enjoying himself.
"Shut up Kol," the room shouted at once without meaning to making him look around at all their faces.
"Where is Klaus," he asked confused.
Caroline gasped as Klaus' arms wrapped around her waist making her nearly jump from her skin,
Nik, you scared me," she sighed turning around to face him without hindering his embrace. She smiled blushing at the way he looked at her feeling the butterflies in the pit of her stomach learn how to fly.
"I apologize Lovely," he whispered as his hands ran softly up and down her back making goose bumps appear all over her skin.
"No, don't," she said observing the way his eyes widened as he took in her appearance, "I just thought you'd have spent more time with your brother's than helping me get rid of all the balloons." Klaus chuckled at that re-living the last few minutes before she disappeared from the room leaving him to follow her.
He leaned his head in further enjoying the way she stood on the tips of her toes in order to have him closer, the tip of his nose traced her cheek as he spoke, "Cause you're afraid of them right?" he said as he rose upwards looking at her directly.
"Right?" she said confused before her eyebrows shot up and her mouth fell open, "How did you…" she asked her forehead scrunched up in confusion hope dawning in her eyes.
Klaus smiled then, "I…uh. I remember you." He said finally his left hand cradling the side of her face as he saw the way relief washed over her and into him. He finally got to tell her what he had been meaning to tell her now all he wanted was to take those pretty pink lips and place them against his.
"You do." She nodded to herself confirming it as her fingers grazed over the hairs on his cheeks and over his jaw into his neck line and hair.
To him it felt as if she was memorizing him though he didn't mind it, her touch was to see the heavens from the highest of mountains. "I do," he recognized with a lick of his lips.
"Haha, you do." She laughed as she leaned up and forwards into him her lips onto his and she kissed him without reservation. She felt him lift her until her feet barely touched the ground and he span them as they continued to kiss.
"Caroline?" A voice called from behind them or beside them she was uncertain as she was to dizzy and happy to notice until they called her name a fourth time. Klaus released her lips but instead of opening her eyes to a happy man she was met with a hard look pointed at someone else behind her.
She turned her head to see where Klaus' annoyance was directed to when she saw him, "Tyler?"
"Stefan? Could you be a dear and," Rebekah said trailing off at the look on her boyfriend's face her eyes asking what was wrong with him.
"Tyler is in the backyard with Caroline," he said pointing at the French doors beside them where the threesome could be seen clearly.
"What," she exclaimed turning her head her hair whipping in the wind from the motion.
"And your brother," Stefan said looking worriedly at his fiancé who looked like she might hyperventilate.
"Which one," asked Elena coming from beside the couple with a new bottle of wine not bothering to serve herself a glass as Damon responded, "Which do you think," with a smirk only he could pull off.
"Just when I thought this night was going to be dull," Kol remarked loudly crossing his arms looking as if he might have planned the encounter himself just to stir up some trouble for the couple.
"Shut up," Bonnie and Kat said at the same time Bonnie taking it a step further before Rebekah could pounce on him by placing herself in front of him and putting her hand over his mouth shaking her head at him reprimanding him.
"Well, what are we all doing standing here," Elena said almost dejectedly, "Let's go listen to what he has to say," she said rushing closer to the house boarder. They ran to the side French doors hiding behind the white curtains straining to hear what the threesome might say.
The eldest Mikaelson stood staring at them all with a shake of his head, "Get away from the doors," Elijah said impatiently taking Kat's hand, "The kitchen window is better." He dragged Kat along with him before the rest of the party could beat him to the kitchen.
"I just need two minutes with Caroline," Tyler started moving to grab Caroline's arm before Klaus' hand stuck out and grabbed Tyler's instead. His eyes were difficult to read but either way Tyler knew to back off.
"No," Klaus said simply with a quick shake of his head.
"Nik," Caroline said trying to be reasonable but Klaus turned on her.
"I won't allow you to be alone with him," he said pointing at Tyler venom dripping from his words as he looked from her ex-fiancé to her.
"Allow me," she almost growled curling her fists her nails digging into her palms as she looked at him his taste still in her mouth and frustration growing deep down where even the butterflies in her stomach stood still.
"Caroline," Tyler said moving closer but still not touching her almost concerned that they might have to duel again though he didn't see any water nearby for Klaus to dump him in.
"Wait just a second Tyler," Caroline said sparing him a moment's glance before looking back at her husband. "Can't you see I'm in the middle of an argument?" she said as she flipped back her hair hatting it in her face as she was angry.
"He's here for you," Klaus almost whispered harshly, "Can't you see that," he asked almost exasperated, almost out of breath feeling as if the ground might open up and swallow him whole. As if he might cross over to the other side and have to watch from afar as she forgave Tyler forsaking him.
"And so what if he is," Caroline said in the same tone not seeing why Klaus was acting out this way.
Klaus took a deep breath, "Fine," he said, "Just do what you want you will anyway," he spat with finality before he began to walk away.
"What is that supposed to mean," she called after him not bothering to turn her head to look back at him he sighed the look on his face softened when he saw how shaken she was but she never turned to look at him so he didn't mellow out completely.
"Whatever you take it to mean," Klaus said still stalking away.
Caroline felt a wave of hurt her head snapping back at him to see him leave after delivering such a blow, she took a step forward to follow him when she felt Tyler's hand on her arm making her pause.
She shut her eyes and took a deep breath before she turned on him. "Why are you here," she demanded turning around to look at the man who had perpetrated this whole ordeal.
"It's not what it looks like," Elijah said stepping away from the window as they all took a step back hearing Klaus finish stalking inside. He slammed the door behind him ending up in the kitchen to grab a bottle of water when he heard his brother speak.
Klaus shoved Kol aside and took his place, "Move over," he growled as he took his spot by the window listening in as well. He ignored the snickers from his baby sister and Caroline's friends as he did so.
"Your mother wouldn't tell me where you were and I kept calling you but your phone was cut off," Tyler said looking at his hands as he fidgeted trying to explain himself.
"I know," she said crossing her arms mater of factly.
"You know?" he asked his eyebrows meeting, "And you never got back to me?"
"Don't look so surprised," she said without hesitation, "You used me." She said trying to look as if she wasn't arguing with him. "And my husband as in the man I really love, you know the guy that is inside right now listening in on this conversation because he has a dark sense of reality."
"Is that why you're whispering now," Tyler said moving closer to her to better understand her.
"Yes," she whispered almost inaudibly.
"What is she saying," Klaus whispered his hands on the window like a child looking out for Santa on Christmas eve.
"I dunno," Elijah mumbled from beside him his arm over Kat as they all crouched by the window straining to hear something, anything that might indicate what Caroline and Tyler were discussing.
"I should have just stayed out there," he grumbled as he took his nose off of the window.
"We both know if you had stayed out there longer you would have slept with the roses on the patio tonight." Kat said softly as she looked at him.
"I do have a way of letting my mouth run off," he muttered looking down before he glued his eyes back to the window.
"Someone write this down, Klaus Mikaelson admits," Kol begins before he is shushed.
"She's talking again." Bonnie said swatting him.
"Look I just I wanted a chance to tell you in person that I wasn't ever planning on," Tyler tried to continue even though Caroline had a way of interrupting him even now.
"What falling for Vicki Donavan?" she questioned with a tilt of her head, "Breaking Mason's heart even? She leaned her head in, "Leading me on and never telling me at least until I found out on my own, again, that you were sleeping without wedding planner behind my back."
"Yes to all of the above," he said.
"No, I'm not done, for all he world to see except for me." She said pointing at herself thinking how perfect it was that he even had it in him to look sheepish. "Well as you can see. I already knew all of that Tyler."
"Look I don't want to fight," he interjected placing a hand on her shoulder before she shrugged it off.
"I'm not fighting I'm listing examples of what you've done," she reminded him in a firm voice before she flipped her hair again. "Are they looking through the windows?" he nodded in response after checking making her huff.
"Well it doesn't look like they're getting back together," Kat muttered after Klaus had left the room the group of them still watching the two outside square off.
"Really," Elena said looking at her with a shake of her head as Kat shrugged knowing Caroline wouldn't even consider it after being with a Mikaelson. They were hard men to shake.
Caroline shook her head done with a conversation she didn't want to ever be having and that was currently getting her nowhere. All she wanted was for everyone to leave and for Klaus to come lay beside her. It was supposed to be the happiest day of her life. The day he remembered her and yet she was mad at everyone including him.
She crossed her arms jutting her hip, "I need you to just leave my presence because you being here actually annoys the crap out of me." She hissed at her former fiancé. She felt a cold chill as he came towards her anger evident in his eyes. "Just go," she told him quietly.
"Fine, I said what I wanted to say anyway," he muttered as he looked directly behind her, "Some family you married into though, they've been watching us from your kitchen."
She frowned her eyes squeezing shut in annoyance mumbling in their defense, "Of course they all have." Before she realized he had already left her side leaving her to talk on her own. She shook her head turning around with a deep breath.
She entered her home her face impassive as she shut the door behind her the few people who had strayed to the kitchen still remained but Klaus was nowhere to be seen. "Did he…" she began to ask but found she didn't know how to finish.
Elijah stepped forward gesturing out of the kitchen, "His studio," he said gruffly before coming to stand behind Kat. Caroline tried t ignore how silent the room was as she excited refraining from turning around and smacking Damon as he waved a flirty goodbye to her.
She walked slowly to his room every echo of her adding feet reminding her of the first day here with him, their first night. Both of them lost, a little unsure and absolutely wonderful the memories swelled in her chest as her anger resided. Her hand lifted to the knob on the door turning it softly, "Nik," she called into the room as the door swung open.
The light flitted in as she took her first step inside the smells of oil paints and new materials filling up her nose as she scanned the room for him. She found him in the corner of his sunlit cave like a hermit in the corner frightened of what might happen if she came. "He's gone," she said softly.
"He shouldn't have come here in the first place," he answered quickly his face looking remorseful as her eyes widened he opened his mouth to say something but ultimately shut it. He turned his back to her leaving her to decide whether or not she would stay in the room with him or leave. Klaus worked in silence his charcoal pencil working over the canvas frame in quick and meticulous strokes.
"She's turning out beautifully," she whispered coming up from behind him her hand landing over his stopping him from working. He side eyed her but she was far from looking at him, her eyes were in awe at the sight before her. He had started to work on her portrait and from the looks of it she was impressed.
"She's you," he murmured unmoving except for the slightest of tilts to his chin to get a better look at her observing his work. A small smile appeared on her lips before she shook her head, "No she's much more beautiful than me, she's how you see me." Caroline said her fingers tightening over his hand as she spoke.
Klaus took the moment to move closer to her wrapping his other arm to her side, "You shouldn't be working, you could further injure your hand," she quietly chided as she rested her head in the crook of his shoulder inhaling his soothing scent.
"I felt inspired," his lips brushed against her skin, "It's not hard around you. You know?" he whispered against her forehead as she pressed her side against him making him hug her to him.