Hey reader babes! A holiday present for you all, an update! Sad news: this will be my last update of the year. Good news: well read the chapter :) Sad news: I'm sorry I couldn't make it longer, but this was where I wanted to cut things off before we move into the second half of our tale. Good news: if you like fluff you will enjoy this one.

Our kids deserve a moment of basking in togetherness right before things get shaken up again? What could possibly go wrong? ;)

p.s. Please ignore grammar/spelling mistakes that are probably more abundant than usual. Must pack for vacation tomorrow and didn't have time for another sweep.

Enjoy!


"Elena and Elijah? I had no idea! I can't believe she didn't tell me!"

Klaus laughed, continuing to stroke Caroline's hair as he laid next to her and regaled her of the story of how he came knocking on her father's door in Chicago. The surprised and incredulous "O" shape of her mouth made him chuckle; as did her indignation over the fact that her best friend had not mentioned a word of secret relationship to her.

"Yes love and how much have you told Elena about us?" Caroline conceded his point with a stubborn glare.

The night had been spent talking and not talking, the two of them finally clearing up all their misunderstandings. Caroline told him the story about Tyler, Klaus admitted the unfortunate conclusion he had jumped to and his resulting mistake, which Caroline did her best not to hold against him. She decided that flying halfway across the world was a pretty big apology gesture, so he deserved a little credit.

"I'm so glad you're here," Caroline admitted, as the light on the other side of the curtains began to turn pink, signaling a new day. She yawned. "Is it stupid that I missed you?"

Klaus shook his head, learning in and placing a soft kiss on her lips. It wasn't stupid. He had thought the same thing. It was unusual for him, missing someone. Of course he missed his mother, since she died, and missed Rebekah when he didn't see her for long periods of time, but it wasn't until after Caroline was gone did he truly understand what it was like to crave someone's presence. To have an extreme need to be near another person, to touch them, to see them smile or frown, to hear their voice as clear as day. The idea of depending on someone that way made him uncomfortable, but he clamped down on the unpleasant feeling and chose to enjoy the fact that he finally had what he wanted.

Caroline nodded off, before he had a chance to give her an answer. Klaus pulled her in close and tucked his chin over her head as they fell asleep.


It was near midday when Caroline awoke. The previous night seemed like it was some weird dream. She was still wrapped in Klaus's arms, as he lay there sleeping. It was a wonder he wasn't jet lagged, she was still having a bit of trouble getting back into an American sleeping scheduled. Carefully she lifted her self away from him. Getting out of her bed would be a bit of a problem, since it was pushed up against the wall and Klaus was on the open side. She lifted herself up and placed her leg and arm over him, so that she straddled his body, slowly trying to get out of bed without disturbing him.

"Well this is certainly a splendid way to wake up." Caroline's eyes snapped up to see Klaus's wolfish morning grin.

"I was trying not to wake you," she said.

"And let me miss out on this?" His arms snaked around her waist, flipping her around. Caroline's squeal of surprise turned into a moan as Klaus began pressing open mouth kisses across her chest.

"No," she groaned in an unconvincing protest against his ministrations, "I have to shower. Eat. Join the land of the living."

"All things that are vastly overrated," Klaus smirked up at her, his tongue darting out across her skin. Caroline grabbed the sides of his face and pulled his mouth away from her body. At the rate he was going, they wouldn't leave the bed until that evening, if at all.

"Seriously," she said narrowing her eyes, "I have to go to the hospital."

Klaus relented, with a heavy sigh. He wasn't going to argue with her needing to go check in on her father. He rolled away and sat up, running a hand through his ruffled curls. Caroline bit back a secret smile, taking the sheet and wrapping it around her as she stood up.

"Come on," she said reaching her hand out toward him, "let's get some breakfast, I am starving." Klaus smiled and took her hand.

He retrieved his suitcase from downstairs, changing into a pair of loose sweatpants. Caroline stayed wrapped in her sheet toga, enjoying the way that those pants looked slung low around his hips. Her eyes met his and she jumped, embarrassed to have been caught staring. Flustered, she quickly turned her attention to the coffee maker.

"Would you like to have dinner in the city tonight after we see your father?" Klaus asked, "it's been a while since I've visited Chicago."

Caroline scooped some coffee grains into the filter and snapped it shut, pressing the on button. The percolator began clicking and steam started to rise from the pot. "Um, maybe," she said, her back to him as he leaned up on the counter across from her, "I'm not sure how long I'll stay with my dad."

"We can always go back to him after dinner," Klaus suggested. She turned again, searching the cabinets for cups.

"We'll see," she replied, opening the draw and pulling out two silver spoons. Klaus studied her back, her flakey replies peaking his concern. She was evading him for some reason. He walked over to her, reaching for her waist and turning her around to face him. She leaned into his body, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

"Everything alright love?"

"Yeah. Why?"

Klaus pressed his forehead to hers. "You're a terrible liar." Caroline rolled her eyes, in that way she had when something he had said was usually right on the mark, but she didn't want to admit it.

"I'm just not so sure you should come see my dad with me," she said, "the whole meeting him…it seems sort of soon."

Klaus ignored the feeling of hurt her words caused. It was true, he had never been one for meeting parents—that hadn't even been his intention in suggesting that he would accompany her to the hospital, he simply wanted to be there for support. "You're right," he said, pulling away and leaving her in the kitchen. He sat down on the green couch in the living room, staring into space. Caroline came in a few moments later and sat a cup of coffee down in front of him, saying something about taking a shower, before skipping back up the stairs. The cup of coffee sat on the table, steaming and untouched, as Klaus continued to get lost in his thoughts. He brow furrowed deeply as he tried to figure out what he was feeling at that moment and why he was feeling so bothered.

The answer came to him and he shot up off of the couch, rushing up the stairs, and to the bathroom where Caroline was showering.

Caroline shut the bathroom door and turned on the water, letting it run for a while as she stared at herself in the mirror. She studied her features one by one. Her face, her hair, her eyes; everything seemed the same. She was still the same Caroline Forbes who had left Mystic Falls to travel around Europe with her famous best friend and unintentionally caught the eye of an infamous rock star. A rock star she had-against all better judgment and reason-slept with. A guy who a billion girls would kill to have wake up naked next to them in bed.

It all seemed so surreal.

She gave her arm a good pinch, flinching at the sharp pain.

Okay so it wasn't a dream.

A giant smile spread across her face. It didn't matter that he was a rock star, or that a billion and one girls would kill to have him, because he wasn't that to her. He was just Klaus. Annoyingly persistent, infuriatingly smart, unfairly sexy, always surprising Klaus. A guy who had just travelled half way around the world for no other reason than to see her, to make sure she was okay.

Steam collected on the bathroom mirror, blurring her happy reflection, and she turned to step into the shower—humming to herself as she let her head fall back into the spray. As the water rushed over her, the happy feelings were soon met by the niggling insecure ones. The unstoppable glow she had been feeling only seconds ago began to shrink away as she realized that perhaps this was it. Maybe she had been wrong about him the entire time and he would go back to Europe and forget all about her. The thought pained her, but it didn't seem like much of a stretch. Klaus had a million fans ready to fall at his feet. What made her so special? Now that she had given into him, she couldn't see how she was any different than any other groupie that had fallen victim to his charms.

Lost in her worried musings, Caroline yelped in surprise as the shower curtain pulled back, revealing an irritated looking Klaus. On instinct, she covered her chest with her arms, trying to blink away the drops of water that were running into her eyes.

"What are you doing?" She snapped, a little annoyed.

"You still don't trust me," Klaus replied, not caring that water was now leaking onto the floor.

"What are you talking about?"

"I take a redeye flight from Spain, come all the way to see you, to apologize to you, and you don't want me to meet your father—"

"Klaus my dad just had a heart attack and is recovering from surgery, I don't think it's the best time for—"

But he wasn't listening to her as he continued with his tirade. "I follow you around like an idiot for two weeks, all throughout Europe, trying to get your attention, trying to—to prove to you that I'm worth your time and even though every step forward with you results in two backwards I keep trying. I never do this! I don't do this."

Caroline shut off the water and stepped out of the shower, grabbing a blue towel from the rack and wrapping it around herself. She felt vulnerable, and being wet and naked wasn't helping.

"What is it Caroline," he asked as she stood in front of him, "what do I need to do to prove to you that I fancy you—that I more than fancy you, that I—" Klaus stopped himself, trying to find the words he wanted to say, "I don't care about people. And especially not other women. Not in this way, not for a long time."

"Why do you?" She ventured, wondering if it was a legitimate question to ask.

He let out a small laugh, enjoying a private joke with himself, Caroline was about to be offended but then he spoke. "I've been asking myself that since the moment I met you," he cupped her face in his hands, "I'd very much enjoy the chance to find out."

Caroline looked up into his grey-blue eyes, noticing the vulnerability that she was had been feeling reflected back to her. She realized that it wasn't a line. Klaus still wasn't backing down. He really did like her. For some crazy reason that neither of them understood, he picked her.

"So what are you asking?"

"A chance," Klaus replied, tracing his thumb across her cheek. He could see him holding his breath as he waited for her to say something. It was interesting, the way he seemed to be just as terrified of rejection as she was. Nonsensical…but interesting.

Caroline lifted onto her toes and kissed him, her way of saying yes. She felt him smile into the kiss and relax, his warm lips covering hers. With a heavy breath she broke away, a bashful smile played at the corners of her mouth. "Okay that got way serious for a moment."

"Too serious," Klaus agreed, "I don't think that's our thing."

"Definitely not."

His hands left her face, trailing down to her towel, and opening it. Her body flushed at the appreciative glance her raked over her. "Now onto less serious things."

"I could argue that perhaps this is more serious," Caroline countered her hands reaching for her pants.

"Why must you always argue with me love?" He leaned down and planted a firm kiss on her lips, pulling away to push her back against the vanity counter. Caroline scooted herself on top of it, sitting next to the sink.

"I like having the last word," she said slipping her fingers beyond his waistband.

The wolfish grin that crossed his face then made her shiver in anticipation. It was a product of his bad boy persona that she very much enjoyed. "So do I."

"Well I—" His mouth cut off her reply as he kissed her again, his tongue darting past her teeth. Caroline hitched her knee around his waist, drawing him closer, heat pooling between her legs.

"If you are going to copulate in this house," said a voice in the doorway, "at least remember to shut the door."

Caroline pulled away from Klaus, whose shocked expression mirrored her own.

"Stephen!" She shouted in surprise, hopping down from the counter and reaching for her discarded towel.

"You're lucky it's me and not your father," the older man said with a slight grin. He threw an amused yet meaningful look at Klaus. "I think seeing his only daughter being ravished on his bathroom sink would give him another heart attack."


The next day Klaus had an early flight back to Spain. Caroline was sad that she couldn't come with him to the airport, but due to the fact that he was supposed to be in Europe with his "girlfriend" Elena, it wouldn't look could for him to be spotted in Chicago with another girl.

They had spent the previous day with each other. Caroline had spared a couple hours to go visit her father at the hospital, which meant Klaus was left alone with Stephen. It had been more than incredibly awkward sharing breakfast with him after being caught naked with Klaus. Awkward that was, for Klaus. Caroline almost felt bad that Stephen was enjoying so many jokes at his expense. It surprised her that Klaus's devil may care attitude seemed to lock up when he was around her parental figures. He became the ultra mannered and respectful Klaus she had caught a few glimpses of while they had been staying in London. She was coming to the realization that he was a man of many personalities. After an innuendo filled breakfast, she took pity on him and explained to Klaus that while Stephen was her second father for all intents and purposes he wasn't anything like her dad.

Growing up, Stephen had always been the parental figure she could talk to without feelings embarrassed or that she would face some sort of judgment or punishment. He was like a cool uncle who wouldn't exactly buy you booze when you were still underage, but wouldn't begrudge you when you go drunk for the first time when you were only fifteen.

When she returned from her hospital visit, she was happy to see the two of them getting along. She sat with them in the living room and listened to their conversation as Klaus and Stephen compared travel stories. It was also nice to know that Klaus wasn't the least bit homophobic. It was something that always worried her. When Tyler had met her father and his partner, he had been visibly uncomfortable. It wasn't that he was homophobic either, but she could tell that he just didn't know how to act around them. It was something that never improved over time.

Klaus stood with Caroline in her father's living room. Stephen was still upstairs sleeping; it was so early that the sun was not even a hint in the sky. She yawned, tired from not getting much sleep the night before. They had played it low key, dining on leftover sympathy casseroles and enjoying a movie and a cuddle on the couch. Once Stephen had gone to bed the cuddling because a little more PG-13 and they soon moved upstairs, not wanting a repeat of that morning.

"You're positive I can't talk you into coming back with me?" Klaus asked her for the billionth time. Caroline shook her head.

"I need to stay with my dad. He needs me." As much as it pained her to leave Klaus and the promise of the rest of her summer in Europe behind, she volunteered to stay in Chicago so she could take care of her dad as he recovered. Stephen was busy with work travel and things wouldn't slow down for him until the summer was over.

"This will be a long four weeks," Klaus said kissing her again, drinking in as much of her as he could.

"I believe last night you were the one who said we could make it," Caroline reminded him. The discussion about the future of their relationship had been quite lengthy the night before. Klaus would be away until the end of the summer and was scheduled to start filming straight after that. Caroline would have to go back to work in Mystic Falls.

"Well due to the modern wonders of technology I'm sure we can find some work arounds," Klaus's wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"Oh no!" Caroline said, "I'm not starring in the Niklaus Mikaelson sex tape scandal. No thank you."

He chuckled and kissed her again. It was slow and greedy, a memory being made to carry the two of them through the coming weeks apart. The whole moment reminded her vaguely of when she had said goodbye to Tyler at the beginning of the summer. Hindsight was definitely twenty-twenty. She remembered talking to him in her room as she packed, not feeling that she would miss him half as much as she was feeling that she would miss Klaus now. It was almost enough to make her feel a bit of retroactive guilt, now that she was the one being left behind. Klaus's fingers pressed into the skin of her waist, holding her tightly, letting her know that she wasn't being left behind by choice. He would miss her just as much as she missed him.

Outside, the cabbie honked impatiently, and Klaus tore himself away with a heavy sigh.

"Time to go love," he whispered, "I'll call you when I land."

With another quick kiss, Klaus grabbed his suitcase and opened the door. Caroline leaned up against the door frame as he headed out to the street, and disappeared into the yellow cab. He threw her a small wave from the backseat as the cab jerked and rolled away.

As she watched the cab turn around the corner, she could feel her body tingle, her skin already aching again for his touch. She wanted nothing more than to run after the cab to stop him, like she was a heroine in a romance movie. As dawn began to break, she stood there fantasizing about dragging him from the street and back upstairs to have him change his mind about leaving and ravish her again. She let out another drawn out sigh, turning back into the house. This would be a long four weeks.


Hope you liked. This is one of those chapters that I started writing out from Klaus's pov and then went back and realized I wanted it to be in Caroline's. But I'm sure you smart readers can see between the lines and realize that they are both suffering from the same insecurity/not understanding why the other person would feel insecure. Our lovely OTP aren't quite on the same page yet, but for now they are basking in the new bliss of finally being in a relationship-ish sort of situation.

In lieu of Christmas presents feel free to leave me beautiful reviews, comments, theories, questions. Enjoy your holidays, I'll be back in 2013 with more Everybody Talks!

xoxo

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