I don't own The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, any characters, or the concept of Klaus as a daddy. Seriously, I never would have come up with that on my own, no matter how fun it's become to exploit.


Initially Caroline found Klaus's self-proclaimed title King of New Orleans more than a little over the top. Not out of character, of course. He'd always possessed an affinity for dramatic flair.

This was one of those times his Shakespearean proclivities made one hell of an impact. The enormity of his destruction hit her with each word that slipped off his tongue. So much was conveyed in his tone alone: fury, anguish, victory. Part of her was tempted to question how much of this travesty was for his daughter and how much was for his personal gain.

Or, crazy idea so hang in there, maybe this once they were one in the same.

It was still uncomfortably weird to think of the infamous Klaus Mikaelson as a parent. Hell, her father had turned out to walk the fine line between loving and abusive, and he was nowhere near the monster the original hybrid was.

He was cruel, bloodthirsty, and after a thousand years more than likely insane.

Caroline shook her head to clear her thoughts, hugging herself as she sighed.

"Okay… wow," she said slowly. "Kind of an odd spot for a date, but okay. Seriously. Wow."

Mischief glinted in his eyes. "I wasn't aware the terms had shifted. Had I know this was a date I would have reserved this setting for another more appropriate moment."

Damn it.

Caroline scrambled to shift gears. "I've been meaning to ask. Is it normal for your lackeys to try staking new neighbors?"

Klaus arched an eyebrow, mild displeasure dimming his gaze at her change of subject. "Not unusual, no."

"Yeah, well, tell your stalker buddy not to do it again." She paused. "I mean… we're good. I'm assuming."

"Friends… then?"

The tentative words filtered back in as she recalled quite possibly the most bizarre turning point in their… acquaintanceship. The first time she had heard a genuine tremor of uncertainty in his voice. A rare sign of vulnerability that he only showed her once more later on.

Klaus feigned interest in the ground as he strode back to her. "Once again, it was nothing personal. Marcel understands his duties."

Caroline scoffed. "Your friend's duties include killing the vampires who try to move in?"

"Well, if you're moving in, might I offer you a room?" Klaus asked, a dangerous edge to his pleasantry. "My home doesn't lack for space."

He'd gotten much closer in the space of her blink. Flustered, Caroline smacked his chest with the heel of her hand, glowering when he just laughed at her. "Don't change the subject," she accused.

Klaus continued to laugh. "Why not? Wasn't that the game you started?"

"No!" Well, yes, but that wasn't the point. "Look," she said, diverting her eyes and laying her hands flat as though on a table. She needed a moment to realign her thoughts. "I just gave some consideration to actually traveling, like you used to talk about. Except you weren't supposed to still be here when I visited."

"I see." His voice was too calm for her liking. "Where else have you been so far?"

Nowhere.

Caroline hadn't been anywhere else yet. Oh, she and her friends had one had plans. Elena wanted to go to Chicago and work as a doctor in the most dangerous neighborhoods she could find. Bonnie had departed for Oregon, hoping to find some peace and solace from the dramatics witchcraft had brought her over the years.

Not that Caroline herself hadn't considered her options. New York had been an obvious stop, as well as Seattle, Paris, Rome, Tokyo… the longer she'd thought about it, the more she'd found Klaus's offers to travel slipping back into her head. He continued to plague her long after his absence, something she had been so certain would fade after not getting so much as a text from him.

"I've been around plenty," she lied.

Klaus immediately scowled at that. With a disapproving look, he shook his head and brushed past her. Well, freaking fantastic, thought Caroline. He still had a hair-trigger switch for his moods.

"What?" she called after him.

"Nothing, Caroline," he threw over his shoulder, words dripping with sarcasm. "By all means, continue your worldly travels. If you ever happen to stop by again, try not to cause any trouble in my city."

What the hell was this? Caroline growled and flashed in front of him, putting her hand on his chest. "Wait," she started.

He shoved her hand away, though made no effort to put space between them. "Perhaps you remember me as the hybrid who owned nothing but his pride and maybe a sibling or two in coffins throughout the years. But you seem to mistake who I am here. This is my city." He became more heated as he spoke. "My streets, my humans, my 'wolves, my vampires, and the few witches I permit to remain. You want to vacation—" somehow he made the word sound like a curse "—here, fine. But do not forget whose domain you are in."

Caroline was left speechless. When she couldn't summon a response quick enough, he gave her one last curt look and zipped off, vanishing before she thought to look which direction he would actually go.

She groaned and rubbed her eyes. Where had any of that even come from?

"Pain in my ass," she muttered.

At least he hadn't taken her too far from civilization. Caroline wound her way back to familiar territory. Much of her world felt surreal now.

Shopping, she decided. Shopping always made her feel better, didn't it? A small comfort, but a human one that reminded her she'd never completely lose her sense of self. She meandered further from the culture-steeped levels of town, finding a more familiar American urban atmosphere once she put some sizable distance between herself and the French Quarter and Klaus's stupid tantrum.

Yet when she sat in a chain café well into the evening, barely tasting her burnt macchiato, Caroline realized she was obsessing over every detail of their date—Outing, she corrected herself. Klaus had reneged on calling it a date. Why she'd started, she had no clue.

If anything, they'd spent more time together than ever before. Well, positive time, anyway. Time where he hadn't bitten her with his venomous hybrid teeth or had to wander the dark forests with her while looking for a dozen insane witches. Their banter had always been mean-spirited, and often lead to corrosive arguments.

So why was this different?

When somebody decided to share her table, Caroline caught his now-familiar scent before she saw him. She groaned. "Okay, seriously, you have to cut out the whole following me thing if you don't want to be labeled a stalker."

Marcel shrugged, folding his hands over each other. "In time, baby vamp, being called a stalker will become a compliment. I'd be sparse with what you think are insults if I were you. Other less intelligent vampires might think you're flirting with them."

She sat back, startled. "You—no. I am not flirting with you," she objected. "Don't even start getting any ideas."

A wry smile twisted his lips. "I like my head exactly where it is, thanks."

"Like Klaus would care. He just left me!" She hadn't meant to blurt out the last part, but now the dam had burst. "Once upon a time Mr. I'm Going To Ruin Everyone's Lives With My Stupid Plans could take a jab, but he just freaked out and left!"

To her surprise, Marcel nodded. Something akin to sympathy glowed in his eyes. "Trust me. I got to experience years of the guy's temper when I was a kid."

Caroline threw her hands up in the air. "When did this become Crazytown?" she asked. "The Klaus I knew never had kids around. I didn't even think he knew what they were anymore. I mean, he'd know what they were, but—when did this start happening?"

Marcel sighed heavily. He leaned back, glancing around the café. "I really just wanted to see how alive you were, baby vamp. Not open the Pandora's box of Klaus's personal issues." When all he received was a cold stare from Caroline, he grimaced. "Look. I know what part of him you did—to a degree. But I've also been around him for the past few years, so maybe I can give you a few pointers on what a decade can do to a man."

"Nice try," she said. "He's been cuckoo for centuries. Pretty obvious."

"Well, yes. But this is the first time he's been a father, too."

God, she was so sick of hearing about that. "Yeah. I'll bet it's just been a real turnaround for him. Loved what you guys did with the witch cemetery, by the way."

Her barb didn't go unnoticed. "Hey, Klaus is the history buff," Marcel claimed, raising one hand. "What's past is past for me." His tone seemed contrastingly bitter to his words. Caroline took a swig of her coffee so she wouldn't have to fill in the silence. Marcel seemed more than willing to do it for her. "All I'm saying is, before you go at it with him like he's the same sociopath you knew in Mystic Falls, maybe you should get a better look at his new family."

The very idea made her uncomfortable. Caroline shifted in her seat. "How did you know where I was from?"

Marcel smiled. Always that same smile, yet somehow it was becoming a little more reassuring than unnerving. "You really should stop by the compound, baby vamp. Take a look around. He didn't start painting blondes until he came back from his little trip from Mystic Falls, after all."

She wasn't going, Caroline decided before he even finished his sentence. Not a chance. No way. Klaus could go to hell, for all she cared.

She'd be gone before he even thought to calm down.

And besides, she was just visiting.


A/N: Thanks to those who continue to support me! You guys are the best.