What? It's DAY TEN! Tomorrow's the big day!

There is a ton of dialogue in this snippet. I kept seeing this scene over and over again in my head, and wanted to write it down like I heard it. Also, for the sake of the story, Klaus and Caroline are past the whole "I hate you...rawr" part of their relationship. They're friendly...maybe even friends. Needless to say, she's not repulsed by him.

This one isn't as long as the others either. Short and sweet. =)

"Elena Gilbert!"

Caroline's heart sunk.

Elena won.

She won. Not her.

Put a smile on your face and be gracious toward your friend, she told herself.

Caroline did as she told and brightened up her face and hugged Elena.

"I'm so happy for you! You're going to be the best Miss Mystic Falls this town could asked for." She wasn't completely lying. After all Elena had been through the last three years, there wasn't anybody who Caroline thought deserved it more. Still, the old competitive Caroline who cared about this sort of thing began to rise in her again as she watched the Founders lay the sash over Elena's shoulder.

As soon as her and the other four remaining nominees left the stage and the focus wasn't on her any longer she grabbed the nearest bottle of champagne and headed for the door. The cool air hit her face and she swallowed hard to keep the tears at bay. It was over.

Now what?

She took a drink of the champagne and delighted in the sweet bubbles as they ran over her tongue. "At least I still have you," she told the bottle. She turned around and rested up against the railing of the deck when she saw him step from the doorway and join her.

He walked beside her and placed his hands on the rail. "I voted for you," he said.

"Well, you were probably the only one," she snickered and took another drink.

"I highly doubt that." He took the bottle from her and drank from it himself.

This was not how the night was supposed to go. She was supposed to be crowned again and enjoying the festivities as the second consecutive year winner. Instead she was drowning her sorrows and taking comfort in the one person she probably shouldn't.

"Can I ask you something?" she finally spoke, breaking the silence that had fallen between them.

"Anything, love," he said and handed the bottle back over to her.

"Why..." she began but took another drink before starting again, "Why, do you like me so much?"

His eyes lit up and with it came a smile before he said, "I've told you why."

"I guess, but then...why me? I mean, look at you," she thrusted her hands toward him.

"What about me?"

"Well, besides the whole mass murderer thing, you're," she took a moment and considered what she wanted to say. She looked him up and down, noticing how refined and gorgeous he looked in his black tailor-made suit. He definitely knew how to make an impression. Her eyes shifted to his face and marvelled at the way his lips always seemed a shade pinker than most, and how his blue eyes were rival to even Damon Salvatore's.

Not wanting to out right admit that she was attracted to him, she went for a more indirect approach, "You know you're hot." She cocked her head to the side and waited for him to deny it.

"Am I?" He scooted closer to her.

Her eyelashes fluttered and she smirked at him, "Yes. And powerful. And wealthy. You can have anyone you want."

"Well, I obviously can't have anyone that I want," he whispered. His eyes lingered on her mouth, and she felt herself blush.

She wasn't so sure in that moment. He would be the perfect ending to the evening. Before when she didn't get her way, she would throw herself at any guy just to reassure herself that she was worthy of love, or at least hot enough to have sex with. But, that was the old Caroline, the neurotic attention whore that she'd been fighting so hard to rise above. And if she must admit, she didn't want her relationship with Klaus tarnished by her insecurities.

As though he could sense her inner dilemma he continued their conversation. "Do you mind if I ask you something?"

"Nope." She was happy for the distraction, "What would you like to know about the former Miss Mystic Falls?"

"Why does it matter to you so much?"

"What?" She knew he was asking about the competition but wasn't sure she wanted to tell him the truth. Honesty wasn't what kept Klaus Mikaelson at an arm's length.

"The competition, Caroline." Her name always sounded fancier when he said it.

She took a deep breath, "I don't know, because it always has." The bottle was near empty when she took another drink. "I don't want you to get the wrong idea, I am happy for Elena, but..."

"But?" he urged her.

"But," she sighed. "I've always had this unhealthy competition with Elena. No matter how hard I tried it was always her that came out on top. But when I won Miss Mystic Falls, it was like, I had arrived or something. I finally had something that Elena didn't," she sighed again and slumped her shoulders, "I probably sound completely petty to you, don't I?"

"Not in the slightest," he shook his head. "I think I have a small idea as to what it feels like to want something no one else has."

"Me being Miss Mystic Falls doesn't really fall into the same category as your quest to become a Hybrid." She couldn't help but chuckle at his attempt in sympathy.

"Hm, maybe not."

He began to laugh with her, and she started to feel her heavy heart begin to lift.

"So, that's the only reason you wanted Miss Mystic Falls, to stick it to Elena?"

She scoffed at his insinuations, "No," she pushed his arm playfully. "I know you're a fancy world traveller, and Mystic Falls is just a tiny blurb on this earth, but, it's my tiny blurb. It's home."

He didn't respond and so she continued, "When I became a vampire, I felt my life literally slip away, I felt really dead. But being part of the community and being able to still hold on to something from my former life, it just made my transition so much easier."

"Caroline..."

"I know, I know, it doesn't matter. I shouldn't hold on to things that are so trivial. Isn't that what you say?" She turned around to face the vast landscape of the mansion.

He stepped toward her and grabbed the bottle from her and put it aside. "I'm not going to lie, I think this drivel is below you," he waved his hand at the party going on inside. "I don't say that to lessen your disappointment." he quickly added, noticing her shake her head. "I...I just want you to know that, to me, you are so much more than Miss Mystic Falls."

Once again she wasn't sure of what to do with his flattering words, so she shrugged them off and replied, "You're so full of it."

"Let me try again." He stepped forward and ran his hand down her arm and turned her toward him. He leaned forward and his eyes bore in to her. "I can promise you that in the thousand years of my existence, I have never met a woman as beautiful," he placed a hand on her cheek, "as bright," and then the other, "or as warm and caring as you are, Caroline Forbes."

Nobody leaned in first, and if they had, Caroline didn't notice. Their mouths found each other on their own, both wanting the same thing at the same time. She finally allowed the sweet words he had spoken take hold as she gave in to her desires. Their was urgency in his kiss and she returned it with fervor, enjoying the taste of champagne as it lingered on their tongues.

The last year as the reigning Miss Mystic, she had transitioned, not only in to a vampire, but a completely different person. All of her relationships, all of her sadness, her victories and her defeats, have led her to this moment. Klaus wasn't what she thought she wanted, but the night hadn't turned out the way she thought she wanted either.

As they continued their embrace, Caroline smiled in to his mouth. She knew her life would never be the same, and a night that would've ended in an empty bottle and tear soaked pillow, suddenly felt like the beginning of something exciting, and wonderful. A brand new life for a brand new Caroline.

I hope I didn't disappoint. This week has been a lot of fun and I'm sooooo thankful for all of the readers and reviews!

Let me know your final thoughts. Was there a favorite? Was there a scene that I missed? And also, was there a specific chapter that you would really love to see more of? I'm not great at multi chapters but I could definitely give it a try if enough of you want it.

You guys are the best! ~ Deej