She had woken up first, so she snuck down the stairs to make their morning drinks and bring them back up to bed. Coffee for her, tea for him. Elijah was already downstairs when she padded down in the shirt Klaus had been wearing last night, and he gave her a look that said he noticed. She blushed a little and tried not to spill anything as she carried the two cups up the stairs. She heard faint music as she passed Rebecca's room, so she must have been awake too. Having spent her life as an only child, she enjoyed the feeling of living in a house full of siblings, even if they weren't really hers.

His eyes were still shut when she came back in but she saw him smile when he heard the cups set down on the nightstand. She leaned down to kiss him and he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her back into the warm bed.

They sat for a few minutes in silence, drinking their caffeine and waking up. He liked that she didn't have to talk first thing in the morning, it was something that annoyed him about most people. He had expected her to wake up chatting his ear off, because she was so high strung and talkative, but he was pleased to find she was just as caffeine dependent and groggy as he was first thing in the morning. He finished his cup and laid back down next to her while she took her last sip. Finally he spoke.

"Do you want to see your mother before we leave?"

"I'm going to need more coffee for this conversation." she set her cup down and buried herself under the covers, as if that could shield her from answering the question.

He pulled himself under with her, sitting up so the covers looked like a tent. It immediately reminded her of the silly blanket for they had made when he was still in Tyler's body and they were in the farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. She looked up at him and couldn't believe how important he had become to her since then.

"I'm serious. We're leaving in a few days now, and who know when we'll be back. If you want to see her, now would be the time."

"I can't just show up. She sent me away because she thought I was in danger, she'd be furious if she found out I came back here. Besides, it's... complicated"

"I think I can manage to keep up"

"Well, it's just, things with her haven't been easy since I've become a vampire. She doesn't love me the same way, and she's afraid of me. I saw the locks on the inside of her bedroom door. She doesn't trust me. And there's the thing with my dad, where she blames me a little for him being turned, and even though they've been divorced forever she still cares about him and it's like it's my fault he's dead."

"Human lives are short. I don't want you to regret it if you miss a chance to see her."

"You're right. I do want to see her, and I can deal with all that stuff I guess, but still, there's you and I'd have to explain Tyler to her and thats a lot to deal with."

"You don't have to tell her about me or Tyler."

"But I do. I can't look her in the eye and lie to her, not after all the lying I've already had to do. There's no way she wouldn't ask where Tyler was. I can't just be like, oh, hey Mom, Tyler's dead because he and Bonnie agreed to sacrificing his life by switching his spirit with that of a thousand year old original to save a whole bunch of lives including mine, Yeah, the same one that came over to drip blood in my mouth on my last birthday because he got Tyler to bite me and I almost died, and by the way, I'm totally in love with that crazy original and we're off to London in a few days. Do you have any idea how crazy this all sounds?"

"So it's settled. I'm going to have to meet your mother."

"You've met her before. Just not as my boy- uh, just not as someone I'm dating."

"I can be very charming when I need to be."

"I've noticed. But she still won't like you."

"She couldn't possibly hate me nearly as much as my own mother." he said softly.

"Stop. I didn't mean it like that. Anyone who really knew you would love you. You're amazing. But you have to understand the parts of you she's seen haven't been the best. You've done bad things to people she cared about. You're the reason why I almost died that night, and it scared her that you could be the one to save me too."

"You're over thinking this. You hate lying to her, and you know she won't be around forever, so you want to see her before we leave. You don't want to tell her about me because it won't be pleasant, so you've come up with a list of excuses to not see her, but I won't let myself be the reason you miss a chance to see her. So you're going to see her today, I'm coming with you, end of discussion."

She raised an eyebrow. "Someone's awful bossy today. Is there any chance I can talk you out of this?"

"None at all. I've already checked her schedule and I know she doesn't go to work until 6 tonight. Call her and say you're coming over for lunch and that we'll bring it, I'll find something nice that can be delivered."

"You're impossible." she sighed.

He just smiled and handed her the phone.


Two hours later she was on the front porch of the house that had always been her home, at least until recently. It was unsettling how quickly the Mikelson house had become home to her.

Her mother had been warned that Caroline was bringing a guest, but she was still shocked when she saw who was standing next to her daughter. That monster that had been responsible for the festering wound on Caroline's neck that made her think that she could actually watch her daughter die that night. That evil creature who played the situation so that he could have an invitation into their house. What was he doing there?

She leaned out to hug her daughter, she had been so worried about her, not knowing where she would go or how she would stay alive. Liz pulled Caroline inside so she wouldn't be seen, then looked back at Klaus.

"Well, don't just stand there, you already have an invitation in this house." she said dryly, looking him up and down with disgust.

She spent a few minutes asking her daughter if she was ok and begging her to get back out of town. The council was still breathing down their necks, and she was lucky to have Damon as an ally that they didn't know was a vampire, but there was little she could do to protect Caroline in this place. Finally she asked the question no one wanted to deal with.

"Honey, where's Tyler? And what is he doing here?

Caroline's eyes welled up and Klaus started to reach over to put a hand on her back, but he remembered her making him promise not to act all boyfriendy before she could tell her mom what as going on.

"He died. Tyler's gone. I can't tell you all the details, but it was his choice, he did it to save me, and Damon and a lot of other people."

Liz looked horrified. "Does his mother know?"

"No." Caroline whispered "It's right for her to know, but I just can't be the one to tell her. Not yet."

Liz was blinking back tears. She had grown close to Mrs. Lockwood, they both had lost their husbands, and they both spent the last few months worrying about their only children, who they had sent away to keep safe. How could she tell her friend that her greatest fear had been realized?

"And... him?" she asked looking over at Klaus.

Caroline felt like she was going to have a panic attack. Her chest felt tight and and her mind couldn't find the right words. She had rehearsed this, but all the things she practiced had slipped away.

"I.. um.. Klaus is.. we got to know each other, and, we're like. um." she cringed. Why was this so hard to get out? Just rip the bandage off, Caroline. "Klaus and I are together. I love him and he loves me and we're going away soon. Somewhere far away where the council can't get to me, and I know you think he's awful and that I'm in danger but you have to believe me when I say that I'm safer with him than I could possibly be alone or with anyone else."

Liz sighed. Caroline could be so dramatic. If this was a normal human daughter and human boyfriend she would throw her daughter in her room and kick the guy out of the house, using her police connections to scare him away. There was no way she would ever let human Caroline near the murderous, conniving psychopath sitting at her kitchen table. But she was helpless against vampires, her only weapons were her words, and even those could get her killed.

She shook her head disapprovingly. When Tyler bit Caroline, she had thought her foolish daughter had picked the worst possible boyfriend. She was a vampire and could kick the ass of any guy who dared treat her wrong, but she goes and picks the one werewolf in town, the one person who had a built in weapon that could kill her? But this one took the cake. How old was he anyway? Damon was a hundred and sixty something, and she had a feeling this one was a lot older. It was beyond inappropriate. But what could she do?

Liz just looked at her daughter "You're not as invincible as you think you are. Why do you always have to pick the person who can hurt you the most?"

Caroline bit her lip. She wanted to throw the whole Romeo & Juliet, you-just-don't-understand-us style screaming fit, but her mother had heard it before.

Lis glanced over at Klaus, then back at Caroline. "He's going to manipulate you and he's going to kill you."

Klaus stood up, causing his chair to skid across the room. He looked like he was going to start screaming at Liz, but Caroline looper her arms around his waist and started pulling him to the door. He snarled and stuck in place. So much for charming the parents.

"We'll go, mom. I didn't mean to upset you. I just wanted to see you. This is my choice and you can't change my mind."

She tried to drag him out but he wouldn't budge.

"Sheriff Forbes, I really do love her, and as long as I'm alive nothing will ever kill her."

Liz sneered at him "You're not alive. And I've heard this before. Get out of my house."

"Mom, please. You have to believe me. He's telling the truth, this is different."

"Believe you? I don't believe anything I'm seeing anymore. This town is full of monsters, and you're standing next to the worst one. I don't believe that he can be what makes you happy. Not if theres any trace of the human daughter I used to have."

Caroline just shook her head sadly and walked out. She had hoped for better, but in her mind she had known all along this is how it would go. Klaus paused for a moment, looking at Liz with his brow scrunched, trying to think of what he could say to change the situation, but he followed Caroline out the door. Liz watched, horrified, as he wrapped an arm around Caroline and kissed the top of her head as they walked to the car.

"It'll be ok, love. We'll come back here and see her again when she's had enough time to deal with this."

"That could take years, decades even. You'll be sick of me before she comes around to the idea of you."

"Sick of you? Is that what you honestly think the future holds? She's right about one thing, I am a monster. I've done terrible things and enjoyed them. Terrible things to you and people you hold dear. And you still gave me a chance. There's a light in you I can't begin to understand, but I know that I need to hold on to you as long as you'll let me. I'll keep you forever if you allow it. I'm less of a monster when you're here with me."

She smiled up at him. "And I'm stronger when you're next to me. I'm a better vampire and I stand up for myself. I do exactly what I want to do without apology. Being around you makes me feel like the best I've ever been. I'm finally free. You don't have to worry about holding on to me, my place is with you."

"Well aren't we a pair."


When they returned to the Mikelson house she ran straight up the stairs to Rebecca's room and pounded on the door. a rather annoyed looking Rebecca opened it. She threw her arms around her and pulled Rebecca into a tight hug. At first Rebecca just stood there, but she awkwardly patted Caroline on the back and eventually conceded and hugged back.

"What was that for?"

"Thank you. For being happy for us."

Rebecca raised an eyebrow.

"We went to see my mom. It didn't go so well."

Rebecca smiled. "She wouldn't be a very good parent if it did go well. Nik is... well, he's Nik. He thinks he can charm people into giving him his way, but more often than not he just creeps them out."

Caroline pouted. "Does it ever get easier?"

"No" Rebecca replied "But it never gets boring, either."

"Is that your dress for the party?" Caroline pointed at the tiny hot pink thing hanging from one of the posts of Rebecca's bed.

"If you could even call something that small a dress. He's going to be here, and I intend to do everything possible to keep his eyes on me."

Caroline was surprised. "Stefan's coming?"

Rebecca smiled. "Nik went to talk to him. I don't know what he said or did, but Stefan agreed to join in as we see you two off."

Caroline beamed. He had kept his promise after all. "So we know he'll be here and he'd have to be blind not to be staring at you all night. So now all that's left is a way to get the two of you alone."

Rebecca tilted her chin up "I think I can manage that."


A few days later Caroline was staring into an empty suitcase. She only had a few outfits and she was sick of all of them already. She didn't want to go back to her Mother's house to grab anything either.

"You'll find thing to fill that up with once we arrive in London." he purred into her ear.

She leaned back to feel the warm body standing behind her. Twilight really did get all the details wrong. There was nothing cold or frozen or sparkly about her vampire.

"And how am I going to pay for all those things?"

"You could always compel the salesperson, or, of course, I would be happy to pay. I have money you could spend for centuries, and I would enjoy watching you do so."

"I think you underestimate how good I am at shopping."

"I'll take that as a challenge." he said, tucking her hair to the side so he could kiss her neck. "Go on, love, try to spend it all, I dare you."

"Hmm, looks like I snagged a guy who's both super old and super rich, I feel just like Anna Nicole Smith."

"You're much smarter and more beautiful than Ms. Smith, Caroline, and I object to being called super old."

"You are super old. You're like, a thousand."

He pulled her around to face him and stroked the side of her face. "Do I look super old?"

"No"

He grabbed her hands and slid them under his shirt.

"Do I feel super old?"

"No" she stammered, feeling the muscles tense under her palms.

"Do I..."

She pulled him in to a kiss, letting her hands wander under his shirt before pulling it off. As soon as he felt it leave his skin, he backed her into a wall, pulling at her clothes to get them off in a hurry. He grabbed her wrists and held them above her head with one hand, holding her captive while he kissed down her neck and his other hand traced a line down her stomach.

"Twenty Minutes until the guests show up!" Elijah's voice called out from the hallway.

Klaus scowled and backed away.

Caroline smiled and led him to the closet. "Lets get you in a suit."


They would be leaving for London the following evening, so Rebecca and Elijah saw it fit to throw a dinner party for the going away celebration. There weren't many people invited, seeing Klaus had exactly zero friends.

Bonnie had said yes, and surprisingly, so had Stefan and Elena, although Elena had only said yes through Stefan, who explained she didn't want Damon to know she was coming, because he would throw a fit and keep her from being able to attend. Damon had sent his invitation back, torn into a hundred little pieces. Matt had been invited, but he politely said no, he was still wary of the originals.

Caroline had put on the ice blue cocktail dress that she had picked out with Rebecca the day before, and she had Klaus almost all of the way into his grey suit. Of course Rebecca would insist that the party be dressy. He leaned down so she could fix his tie when she heard Elijah shout to them again "Any Minute Now!"

Rebecca was downstairs, fussing with the place settings on the dining room table and barking orders at the compelled humans that were lighting candles and stirring pots of food. She smoothed her hot pink mini dress when she saw them come down the stairs, and walked over to the couch to put on the dangerous looking black heels she was carrying. Rebecca knew Stefan would be there, and she didn't intend to make herself easy to ignore.

Bonnie arrived first, followed shortly by Stefan and Elena, who had obviously come together, but made awkward attempts to keep a certain amount of distance between them.

Elena went straight to Elijah, pulling him in a familiar hug, and then hesitantly greeted Caroline, completely ignoring Rebecca and Klaus.

"Hey Care."

"Elena."

"I'm sorry about what I said before. I still care about you and your friendship is important to me."

"It's fine, 'Lena, I'm just glad to see you again before I leave." Caroline wasn't really over it, but she didn't feel like fighting with Elena that night. She just wanted to enjoy seeing her friends before going off to London.

The doorbell rang again. Klaus and Caroline exchanged confused looks. Everyone was already there.

Rebecca smiled triumphantly. "That would be my surprise guest"

She sauntered over to the door and flung it open, only to look horrified at the person standing in the doorway.

Damon stormed across the room to grab Elena by the wrist and started to pull her out of there, but her new vampire strength made it a little difficult for him.

Rebecca looked furious. "That is not my surprise guest."

"I should hope not" smirked Klaus.

Damon and Elena were having a full blown argument in front of everyone. It was the usual, she was mad at him for being controlling and trying to take her choices away, he was mad at her for being stupid and putting herself in danger. They kept inching closer to each other as they argued, she was grabbing his jacket and he had his hands on the sides of her face. Eventually they ran out of words and just glared at each other, unaware of the room full of people staring at them.

He raised an eyebrow at her and smirked.

"Not now" she growled "I'm mad at you"

"I'm more mad at you" he replied, and kissed her.

Elena kissed back, locking her arms around his neck. Damon pulled her in closer.

Caroline's mouth hung open. Those two were all passion. She looked around the room to Stefan, who was busy looking at something very interesting on his feet and Rebecca, who was glaring at Damon while running her hand across a wooden table.

Elijah cleared his throat loudly a few times before they got the hint. Elena blushed a little but Damon just smirked.

"Set another place setting for Mr. Salvatore" Elijah called out to the humans.

"No, we were just leav-" Damon started, but Elena looked up at him stubbornly "Oh fine" he conceded, gritting his teeth.

They were all sitting around the table enjoying the first course when the doorbell rang again.

Rebecca jumped up from her place, next to Klaus and across from Stefan of course, and ran to the door.

Caroline looked up from Klaus's other side to watch her. She looked around and no one else at the table seemed to know what was going on either, except for Elijah, who gave Rebecca a knowing glance.

"Well I thought Becca had been making it all up, but here you are."

Klaus snapped up from the table "Kol!" he pulled his brother into a hug.

"It took you long enough" Rebecca chided him.

"Well I lost my cell in an incident I'd rather not retell the details of, and I had been ignoring the messages you left at the hotel for over a week before they concierge started to get pushy. If I knew our dear brother had risen from the grave, I'd have returned earlier."

Elijah greeted his youngest brother and introduced him to everyone, although most of them had already met him when they were trying to kill the originals last year.

Klaus pulled Kol over to his side of the table. "Kol, I'd like to formally introduce you to someone very special to me, Miss. Caroline Forbes."

Caroline smiled at the formal introduction. She and Klaus both managed to find ways to dance around the words 'boyfriend' and 'girlfriend', they just didn't seem to feel right for what they were.

She stood up and extended a hand to shake his, and to her surprise, he kissed it, his lips lingering just long enough for her to feel uncomfortable, and she pulled the hand away as he smirked up at her."

"Perhaps I wasn't being clear, Kol. Caroline and I are together. You would do well to consider her part of this family and treat her with the appropriate level of respect and decorum."

Caroline almost giggled at the jealousy in his voice. It was fun to see him flustered like that.

"Oh, Niklaus, It's been ages since I've seen your feathers ruffled this much. And even longer since you've kept a woman around long enough to get all formal about things. How is Katherine, by the way? Or should I be asking you, Elijah?"

Klaus edged closer to Kol "Mind your tongue, you little runt, or I'll remove it."

"Funny, I remember her not being very fond of you." he turned to Caroline "What made you finally give in to all his begging, sweetheart? Did your heart break at how pathetic he was, chasing after a little thing like you? What made you humor him, did he give you lots of money or just start killing people you cared about?"

Caroline wanted to slap him, but she had remembered what Klaus had told her of Kol and she knew he was trying to get a rise out of her. Kol liked bloody battles, parties, bawdy games, reckless women and strong drinks. He was as much a hedonist as Klaus, perhaps even more so, but unlike Klaus he preferred immediate payoffs to the long game.

"You're way off, Kol. And since your little comments were clearly chosen to make both myself and Klaus uncomfortable, you should know that you're going to have to do better than that. I was a high school cheerleader and a fucking beauty pageant winner. If you choose to continue this little game, you will never win against me. I'm better at it. So why don't you shove your snide comments right up your ass and change your tone. If you really want to know, I'll tell you the whole story of why I'm with Klaus some other time, but for now-" she reached over to the table and set the bottle of bourbon in front of him "I'll agree to tell you one reason why I love your brother for every shot you take."

"I've been drinking for centuries, doll, you might run out of reasons."

"I doubt it. You're welcome to try, though."

Kol smirked, and motioned for one of the humans to bring out extra cups.

"I like her" he said to Klaus, and clapped him on the back.

Kol smiled at the table of guests in front of him. "Well I won't be drinking alone, so how about you all join me for a drink as I have my first three."