Disclaimer: I don't own any of the songs used or the show.
Setting: Non-shows. Klaus is King of New Orleans and has never traveled to Mystic Falls (with the exception of breaking the curse), and he doesn't know Caroline, not like he does in the shows.
Description: Klaus meets Caroline in a cemetery, and they strike up a bond, causing them to feel again.
Song: Feel Again by OneRepublic (Requested by NikMik)
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!
Please review at the end!
He was over a thousand years old, and lived by his own rules. He cared for nothing, felt nothing, except for family. As for others, he looked down on them, and used them.
He didn't care what others thought of him. He relished their fear. He lived for their fear. It was something to feel their repulsion and terror whenever he came near them. He heard the hearts of the pathetic humans beat faster than ever, as they realized what and who he was.
He was the King of New Orleans, the Original Hybrid. He was Niklaus Mikaelson.
Looking out into the night, Klaus smiled at the beauty of his city. If there was one thing, he could appreciate, it was beauty, especially that which would never age.
He gripped the cold steel rails from the balcony of his apartment, and inhaled deeply. The scents of the Cajun cuisine filled his nostrils, and the smell of the blood from the humans who still lived in the city. Closing his eyes, he listened to the hustle of the city, and the cars passing through the streets.
He relished these moments to himself, although they always brought to light the loneliness he felt. It was a mistake to say he felt nothing, for he did. He felt the fear of living alone with no one to share his life. He felt the hatred of knowing his family had found just a joy, without him.
Long since he had removed their daggers, and let them live their lives on their own. Finn had found Sage, and they lived their lives far away from the trouble Klaus caused. Kol visited now and then, but mostly traveled on his own. Rebekah stayed in New Orleans, vowing to never leave her brother, but didn't live with him. Elijah was the only one who remained faithful. He lived in the apartment, though he preferred the house built on the outskirts of the city. He had found happiness and contentment with Katherine Petrova.
Yes, Klaus had let her go. Only on the vow, she stay away from him, so he would never have to look at her face.
It had been years since he had broken his curse, and became a Hybrid. He was whole now, or at least he thought he was. He had spent many days afterward, creating his army, and negotiating a truce, with Elijah's help. The one thing he wanted, at the time, was the doppelgänger, well her blood, at least. If it was up to him, he would have drained her completely, and been done with it, but his brother, the noble one, had convinced him to negotiate. It was better to have allies than enemies. Not that Klaus cared for it, but for once his brother was right.
He got the blood he needed, and he let the Gilbert girl go, and live her life. He remembered sitting at the table of the Salvatores' home, discussing the terms of the deal. He remembered the way a certain blonde vampire stood in the corner, and watched in silence.
She had captured his attention more than once, but he never said a word to her, nor she to him, but he never forgot her face or the look of curiosity in her eyes when she looked at him, and sympathy. It was like she could see into his soul at the look.
Klaus shook his head at the memory, and straightened up. That was ten years ago. He had moved on since then. He had traveled around the world, searching for wolf packs that would join him, searching for something that would make him feel like he belonged.
Even with his army standing with him, he still didn't feel. He felt nothing like a family. It was crazy he knew, but there it was. Klaus Mikaelson was alone.
Turning on his heel, he headed towards the door. He needed a walk. He entered the streets of New Orleans, and walked in silence.
He strolled through the streets, calmly, avoiding the small glances from the people on the streets. Normally, he loved the way the people cowered in his presence, but this time, it didn't affect him. He walked through the city, and made it to the cemetery downtown.
He sighed, as he walked through the grounds. It was very calm out here, and quiet. He shook his head, thinking about the past years of his life. Normally, they would never bother him, but on a night like tonight, it was almost certain to creep up in his mind.
He lifted his head as he came to a full stop in the center of the cemetery. Standing a yard away from him was a blonde haired figure in front of a tombstone. He inhaled deeply, and realized the person was a vampire. An unfamiliar vampire.
He walked slowly towards the figure, and smiled as he recognized her. It was the blonde vampire from the truce meeting ten years ago.
She seemed to sense his presence, and turned her head. She caught his eyes with a piercing gaze, he remembered fairly well, but didn't move.
"May I ask what are you doing out here, love?" Klaus asked, stopping a few feet away from her.
She lowered her gaze. "I don't think that is any of your business." She replied, in a somewhat cold tone.
He smiled. "Well, seeing as this is my town, I think it does." He remarked, watching her raise her brows and laugh lightly.
"My, aren't we full of ourselves?" She asked, laughing once more.
He smiled and dipped his head. "I see I need to introduce myself." He began, lifting his head just to watch her shake hers.
"I already know who you are." She replied, seriously. "I remember." She added, turning away from him to look at the tombstone in front of her.
He nodded, and glanced at the stone. "Elizabeth Forbes." He read out loud.
She stiffened and nodded softly. "Yeah, my mom." She whispered, with sadness and a distant tone in her voice.
He sincerely looked at her. "You have my sympathy." He whispered, nodding.
She threw her head back, and jerked it to him. Her face showed anger for a moment, but then she dimmed when she saw the truth on his face. "Thanks." She whispered, her eyes lowering and then lifting again.
He nodded, and watched her wipe her nose on the sleeve of her long sleeved shirt. "When did she?" He asked, attempting to be civil.
She bowed her head. "Two weeks ago." She whispered, dropping her arms from her chest and turned to face him.
He glanced at the stone, and felt his heart tug at her words. "How?" He asked, not really understanding why.
She turned her head away from him. "She died protecting me." She whispered, moving away from him.
Klaus watched her walk away. Something in him was drawn to her. He shook his head, and followed her. "You're a long way from Mystic Falls, love." He whispered, as he caught up with her.
She scoffed. "Yeah, well we got tired of all the drama, so we left." She stated, walking faster through the cemetery.
"Why New Orleans?" He asked, picking up his speed with her.
She scoffed, and stopped to look at him. "I don't know." She stated, throwing her arms outward. "We traveled everywhere in the United States, because we wanted to see it all, and we stopped here." She explained, tears brimming her eyes. "And I don't know why I'm telling you this." She added, shaking her head.
Klaus didn't know either. All he knew was something was keeping him there with her. "What are you going to do now?" He asked, watching her shift on her feet.
Caroline shook her head. "I don't know." She whispered, lowering her head. She glanced back at the stone and let the tears fall. "She was all the family I had left." She whispered, closing her eyes.
Klaus swallowed, and turned his head. He knew exactly what she was meant. Something in her voice told him that she needed something or someone. "Why don't you come with me? You look like you could use a drink." He suggested, not really knowing why he suggested it.
Caroline opened her eyes and looked at him. This was not the same Klaus she remembered, who bargained for her friend's blood. This was a different Klaus, and she was a different Caroline.
If he had asked her that question ten years ago, when he had bargained with the Salvatores, she would have refused, very adamantly. Even though she had witnessed the loneliness on his face, she would have refused. Friends above all or that was the way it used to be.
Though, ten years ago, Elena hadn't aged. By accident, she had been transformed into a vampire, and was no longer able to grow old, and that had changed her. She had pushed all her friend's away, and in an attempt to find the so-called cure, she had pushed Caroline completely away. The only way Caroline could feel anything was through her mother, and since her mom was all she had, they had left.
They had packed up their bags, and left with no word to her friends or anyone to where they were going. For ten years, they traveled, never staying in places for too long, never making connections, until they made it to New Orleans.
It was the one place they felt a little like home. Caroline didn't have to hide her nature, and Liz worked without fear of her daughter being found out.
Caroline jerked out of her memories when she realized he was waiting on her answer. With a soft smile she nodded. "Sure."
Klaus returned her smile, and motioned for them to leave. "By the way, we have not been properly introduced." He replied, watching her dip her head. "I'm Klaus." He replied, tilting his head to the side.
Caroline smiled. "Caroline." She responded, as they left the cemetery.
He smiled as her name rang through his ears. "Pleasure to meet you, Caroline." He returned with a nod of his head.
She smiled and dipped her head. "You too, Klaus." She said, studying him carefully, as they walked onward towards his apartment.
After a few drinks that night, Caroline awoke the next morning in the bed of the most feared man in the world. She sat up straight, and looked down at her appearance. She sighed in relief as she glanced beside her at the man sleeping soundly, her mind replaying the events of the night before.
She leaned back against the headboard, and bowed her head. They had gotten drunk, but not too drunk to have sex. She remembered laughing with him, and talking with him. With Klaus! A man who her friends described as being the most horrible person in the world, who had killed millions.
Caroline shook her head, and climbed out of the bed. She walked to the double doors in his bedroom, and opened them. The sun was just beginning to rise in the horizon, and she was taken aback by the sure beauty of it. The sun reflecting off the tops of the buildings with a soft light, the light reflecting onto the water to the east of them. It was all beautiful.
She heard footsteps coming behind her, stopping beside her against the railing. She bowed her head. "I suppose I should thank you for keeping me company last night." She replied, avoiding his gaze.
Klaus nodded, and smiled. "You're welcome." He whispered, turning to her. "Caroline," He began, watching her close her eyes.
"Look, Klaus, last night was a mistake." She replied, turning to him, pain in her eyes. "I mean, you must think I'm a girl who just goes home with every man she meets, but that's not me." She ranted, shrugging her shoulders.
"I know that, Caroline." He responded, calmly.
She opened her mouth and gaped at him. "What?" She asked, breathlessly.
Klaus smiled. "I know that you're not that kind of girl." He explained, stepping closer to her. "Which is why I'm asking you to stay." He whispered, watching her eyes widen.
Caroline shook her head as if she was in a daze. "You're asking me what?" She asked, blinking a few times before focusing her eyes on his.
Klaus smirked. "I'm asking you to stay here with me." He replied.
"But…we've just met. How can you ask me to stay when you don't know me?" She asked, stepping back from him.
"Then stay, so I can." He whispered, shrugging his shoulders.
She smiled, and then let out a scoff. "Do you do this to all girls you meet in a cemetery?" She asked, glaring at him.
He shook his head. "No, as a matter of fact, the women I bring home don't live long enough to remember or I compel them to forget." He replied in honesty.
Caroline rolled her eyes. "And you expect me to stay with you after confessing that?" She asked, pointing at him. "I've got to go." She replied, turning to leave.
Klaus shook his head, and followed her, stopping her before she reached the bedroom door. "I'm asking because there is something about you, Caroline, and I want to know what it is." He replied, earnestly.
Caroline lowered her eyes for a moment before lifting them again. "I'll stay." She whispered, but lifted her finger to him. "Only if you understand that I won't be living here. I still have the apartment, me and my mom were renting, so, I'm going to stay there." She explained, lowering her hand.
He smile and nodded, at least she wasn't leaving the city. "Fair enough." He whispered, watching her nod firmly.
"Good." She replied, lifting her gaze to his, and that started their relationship.
~X~
The first one to notice the change in Klaus was his brother, Elijah. Klaus was happier and hardly moody anymore. Elijah wasn't sure what to make of it, until the day he met the blonde vampire.
He watched them from a distance, as Caroline made Klaus laugh from a story she was telling, and he couldn't help but feel certain that the blonde was good for his brother.
Hearing that his brother was beginning to feel again was something new for Elijah. Besides family, Klaus never cared for anyone, but himself. Now, during the months with Caroline, Klaus was caring deeply.
Klaus seemed to notice the difference, but he never said a word. He realized one morning as he was dressing that life seemed brighter with Caroline.
He turned around in his room, and headed to the small chest on his dresser, and opened the lid. With a small frown on his face, he lifted the object in his right hand.
"Henrik would be pleased." Elijah remarked from the doorway.
Klaus lowered the object, and closed the lid. "What are you doing here?" He asked, turning to face him.
Elijah smiled. "She's good for you, Niklaus." He stated, glancing at the chest.
Klaus sighed. He didn't say a word as he turned to leave the room, brushing past his brother on the way. He stopped when Elijah grasped his upper arm carefully.
"Be careful, Niklaus, I know how you get. Don't push Caroline too far." He replied, wisely.
Klaus gazed at him for a moment, and then gave a curt nod before walking away.
He walked through the apartment, pausing when he came across a blonde head sitting in the sitting room, staring into the fire from the fireplace.
"Caroline?" He asked, stepping into the room.
She sighed. "Today was my mom's birthday." She whispered, distantly.
He nodded, and moved to squat in front of her. "Anything I can do, love?" He asked, watching her gaze shift to his.
She smiled. "No," She whispered, softly. "You've already done more than enough." She added, moving her gaze to his hands on her knees.
"Caroline," He began, watching her lift her head.
"Klaus, you remember months ago when we officially met in the cemetery?" She asked, though she knew it was a stupid question.
He nodded, and smiled. "Of course, I do, love." He answered, lightly.
She smiled, and moved her gaze to his lips for a moment. "Remember when I told you, that my mom was all I had left, and she was the only reason I felt anything." She replied, watching him nod. Slowly she shook her head. "I was wrong."
Lifting her right hand, she touched his face. "You make me feel again, Klaus." She whispered, searching his eyes.
He smiled, as his eyes closed. Slowly, they opened, and he leaned forward a fraction. "You make me feel again, too, Caroline." He whispered, watching her face shine with happiness.
"Do you mean it?" She asked, watching him carefully.
He nodded. "I've searched this world for over a thousand years, searching for something that I wasn't sure what. I wanted something, Caroline, and I didn't know what that was. Until I met you." He whispered, huskily. "When I'm with you, you make me feel things I thought were gone forever. I…" He trailed off, not sure where or how he was going to say the rest of it.
"Caroline," He searched her eyes. "I…" He sighed, getting his courage up. "I love you."
The smile he received after his declaration was enough to let him know that he chose his words correctly.
She closed the distance between them, and touched her lips to his carefully. Kissing his lips with mild passion, she pulled back, watching him smile his dimpled smile. She returned the smile, and let out a small laugh. "I love you." She whispered, waiting for him to respond.
And he did.
All night long.
The King of New Orleans, the man who never felt anything except for family, finally felt something. He could feel again, all because of a baby blonde vampire named Caroline Forbes.
I tried to stay true to the song, but when I heard it, which I got to admit, love the album with this song on it! Anyway, when I listened to this song, this story came from it.
I hope to the one who requested it, you find it satisfying. Though, it is not one of my best ones, but I did enjoy writing it.
I have received almost a dozen requests, and I promise I will get to every one of them! I'm writing as fast as I can, and I apologize for taking so long!
Next One: Close Your Eyes by Michael Buble. Followed by: When You Say Nothing At All by Allison Kraus.
Until Next Time...