A/N – OMG guys I really am sorry it took me soooo long to get this chapter up. I wasn't sure how far I wanted to go with this chapter and ended up re-writing it like 3 times. I'm still not completely happy with it but I'm tired of making changes. I hope you all haven't given up on me and I hope you enjoy this latest installment. Don't forget to R&R I know I probably don't deserve it but I love reading everything you guys have to say.

XI

Klaus carried Caroline back to his SUV that was still at the jail. Gingerly he laid her down in the back seat and gave her a couple blood bags to drink while he drove back to his house. When he arrived home he once again picked Caroline up and carried her into the house. Caroline was feeling slightly better and her wounds were now finally starting to heal but she was too exhausted to walk so she didn't argue.

Klaus carried her straight to his bedroom and gently laid her on his bed. He then went into his private bathroom and began drawing a bath. Caroline fell asleep as soon as her head hit the soft pillows on Klaus' bed but was woken up only minutes later as Klaus carefully removed her clothes and carried her into the bathroom and placed her in the tub. Caroline moaned quietly as she felt the warm water envelope her aching and tired body. 'God this is good' she thought to herself as she sunk down further into the tub trying to ignore the fact that she was completely naked in front of Klaus.

Klaus didn't speak as he gently washed Caroline's bruised body as discreetly as possible, then shampooed and rinsed her hair. Slowly Caroline's body came back to life and when Klaus was finally satisfied that she was as clean as she could possibly be, he reached into the tub and pulled the plug, letting the water drain out. Cautiously he helped Caroline stand up and step out of the bath. He quickly wrapped a large towel around her and led her back into his bedroom. No words had been spoken since they had left the old witch's house and Caroline was starting to feel a little uneasy with all of the intimacy that Klaus was showing her. Looking up at him as he sat her down on the edge of his bed she finally decided to break the silence.

"Thank you," she quietly whispered as he stroked her cheek. It wasn't much and Caroline wasn't particularly happy with the simple statement but it was all she could come up with at the moment.

"I want you to rest Caroline," Klaus said as he pulled a t-shirt out of his dresser and handed it to her. "I'm going to go get your bags from the Bed & Breakfast. I don't want you staying there anymore." Caroline bit her lip as she processed what Klaus had just said. She didn't really want to be alone and vulnerable, but did she really want to shack up with Klaus? Klaus didn't wait for a response and left the room without another word. Caroline stared blankly at the door for a few minutes before she finally pulled the t-shirt on that Klaus had given her. It smelled like him, and for a moment she just relished in his scent.

Caroline didn't remember falling asleep, but when she woke up she noticed that there was a throw blanket covering her and the room was now dark. It didn't take long for Caroline to realize that she wasn't alone on the bed and rolled over slowly to find Klaus laying on top of the bed next to her. He was still fully dressed but looked to be asleep as he laid on his back with his hands interlaced resting on his stomach. Caroline carefully rolled back over and started to get up off the bed trying not to disturb him.

"Where are you going, Love?" Caroline froze and winced at the sound of his voice.

"I don't know," Caroline said dumbly. She didn't know where she was going to go but she didn't feel right sharing a bed with Klaus. "Do you have a spare room that I could sleep in?" Caroline frowned at her own idiocy. Of course there was a spare room. There were probably half a dozen spare rooms in Klaus' mansion. Klaus rolled to his side so that he was looking at Caroline's back.

"I think it would be best if you stayed here with me for now Caroline. I'm still not fully convinced that you're completely healed and I want to keep an eye on you." Klaus patted the spot where Caroline had been laying with his hand. "Come lay back down. I promise to be a complete gentleman." Caroline groaned quietly to herself but laid back down in her original spot with her back turned to Klaus. Klaus settled back into his own position of laying on his back and listened to the sound of Caroline breathing until she fell back to sleep.

Caroline awoke once again, this time in a cold sweat and screaming. The images of Alaric and the torture cell were still fresh in her mind as she woke from her nightmare. She felt something strong and solid around her and struggled to pull away for a moment thinking that she was once again being held captive.

"Shh, Love. It's alright. I'm here. You're safe," she heard Klaus whisper in her ear and she suddenly relaxed as she realized that it was Klaus who was holding her tightly, not chains. Slowly Klaus turned her so that she was facing him and gently stroked her cheek.

"I don't want to be scared anymore," Caroline whispered. "I don't want to be the victim." Klaus nodded as he gently stroked her hair.

"You don't need to be Caroline. You're a vampire, and you're strong. It's just that no one has ever taught you how to reach your true potential." Klaus paused as he thought for a moment. "I can teach you, Caroline, if you will let me." Caroline stared at Klaus as she tried to find an ulterior motive to his words. Did she really want to go to The Dark Side? She wasn't so sure.

"Klaus, I…" Caroline started but was quickly interrupted as his mouth lowered onto hers, pulling her into a deep passionate kiss. Caroline couldn't fight him off, didn't want to fight him off, so instead she completely succumbed to Klaus as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her. Caroline could feel the low growl that came from Klaus and it made her whole body shake. Klaus gently moved on top of Caroline and slowly moved his hand up her thigh, pushing the t-shirt that he gave her up past her waist. Caroline closed her eyes tightly as she felt Klaus' mouth move down her neck, laying kisses on the soft skin just above her collar bone. Quietly she purred as she felt Klaus pull the t-shirt off of her and continued to move his mouth down her body, leaving a trail of goose bumps everywhere he touched.

Caroline knew she shouldn't be doing this. She knew it was a bad idea. She silently cursed herself as she moved her hands and pulled Klaus' own shirt off then unhitched his pants and pushed them down as well. Caroline kept her eyes closed as she felt Klaus' kisses move back up towards her mouth. She could feel his weight shifting as he prepared to enter her and she tightly wrapped her legs around his waist.

"Look at me," Klaus growled at Caroline, his voice full of heat and passion. Caroline stalled for a moment then slowly opened her eyes and looked at Klaus. Keeping his eyes locked on hers he slowly entered her. Caroline moaned loudly as she felt him penetrate her but did look away. And it was then that she suddenly felt every wall of defense that she had ever put up against Klaus come crumbling to the ground.