Warning: There's a little bit of smut.

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"You got some serious explaining to do." Camille said. And she was right, Klaus knew it and he spent most of the previous night and the following morning rehearsing what he was going to say to her.

Now he stood on her hallway with his best puppy dog eyes and a pissed off Camille at the door.

"I know. May I come in? I brought Chinese take out for dinner." He said lifting a paper bag with food in it.

Camille stepped aside and let him in.

"You forgot our anniversary." She said as she closed the door and Klaus flinched. "So unless you have a five course meal and candles in that bag I don't see how I'm supposed to forgive you."

"That's the thing…" Klaus said putting the bag down and turning to her. "I'm not here to beg for a second chance. I'm here to tell you something."

Camille frowned and froze. Klaus saw how her shoulders dropped and she sighed.

"You're seeing someone else." She said as if she had just realized some ugly true.

"No." Klaus corrected. "I'm not, technically. It's more complicated than that…" Klaus motioned to the couch for her to sit down.

He told her everything, from the accident and Henrik's death to his year on the wheelchair and Caroline. He admitted to love her, even while dating Camille. It was impossible not to, since she was such a big part of his life.

Camille, being both a bartender and a therapist, was very good at listening to people, but it didn't make this hurt any less.

"We moved to New York because you hoped to see her again, didn't you?" She asked, although she already knew the answer. Klaus shook his head in shame.

"Yes. When I met you something about you reminded me of her and I realized then I couldn't keep pretending I didn't miss her. I knew she was in New York so I came here, even though the chances of running into her in such a big city were practically zero." He said and then sighed. "And yet it happened, I ran into her and everything I ever felt for her came rushing back to me." Klaus confessed. "That has to mean something."

Camille frowned.

"I left my home, my job and even my family for you, and you were chasing after some other woman?!" She asked angrily.

Klaus flinched.

"I never asked you to come, you just tagged along." He said and the second the words were out of his mouth he realized he was a moron.

"Are you fucking kidding me right now?!" Camille yelled as she got up from her seat and started pacing around her tiny living room. "You could have said something! You could have told me the truth or at least asked me stay in New Orleans. I came with you because I thought you wanted me to, that we had a future together! You bastard!"

Klaus sighed hopelessly. He deserved this, and even more. He wouldn't be surprised if she slapped him.

"I'm really sorry, Camille. I will pay for your moving expenses." He offered.

"Oh, you would like that, wouldn't you?" She snapped. "I go back to New Orleans and you get me out of the way so you can after your physiotherapist… Who, by the way, sounds incredibly unprofessional."

At that Klaus got up too and practically growled at her.

"I made a mistake, Camille, so you can be mad at me but don't take it out on her. She doesn't know any of this, I haven't told her about my feelings yet." He said.

"Why not? Is it because you have no balls?" She asked with a mocking tone.

Klaus rolled his eyes.

"No. Because I've clearly deceived you enough for a lifetime, I knew at some point I had to do the right thing. You've been good to me, more than I deserved, and cheating you was out of the question, even if I haven't exactly being faithful to you."

At that Camille's eyes seemed to soften. She then sighed and rubbed her forehead tiredly.

"You should go… I'll send you the bill." She said putting an end to the conversation.

When Klaus left Camille's apartment that night he was exhausted, but he also felt relived.

It was only then that it hit him. He had no excuses now, it was time to confess his feelings to Caroline and convince her of leaving Tyler to be with him.

His stomach dropped and he thought he would throw up.

He needed a plan…

.

Tyler went an extra mile for this date, Caroline could tell. That night Tyler went to see her ballet show and then drove her to the restaurant where they had their first date. It was a simple but lovely Italian place that she loved.

He was trying to make it up for the lost time and Caroline appreciated the effort, but something didn't feel right. The night before she had dinner with Klaus and it felt like a real date. She had butterflies in her belly whenever he smiled or complimented her; she got tingly all over if their feet brushed underneath the table. It was exciting, like a first date should be.

But now? She didn't feel any of those things with Tyler. She tried to convince herself it was because after two years of dating those things go away, but still, something didn't feel right and she couldn't stomach it.

Caroline tried to shake that feeling away to focus on her date. Tyler was very sweet and thoughtful. He listened to her as she told him about the ballet show and her plans for the next season. Then he caught her up with everything that was going on at work and the reason behind all those late nights at the office.

"I really thought that with the promotion things would get better, not worse." He said at some point in an apologetic tone.

"It's alright, I guess." Caroline said. "I mean, you're never around and I miss you, I feel like we've grown distant, but I know it was the right decision for your career."

Tyler nodded his head slowly.

"It is and I'm so glad you feel that way." He said. "You see, I don't think I could be doing this with someone who doesn't support me the way you do. I know we're a little bit distant now, I feel it too, and I want to fix it. I took this job with our future in mind, I wanted to make sure I could provide for you…"

"Tyler…" Caroline sighed.

"…but what's the point if it's keeping me away from you?" He said annoyed. "So, I promise I'll make a bigger effort to be around more." Tyler added before getting up. He walked around the table and Caroline watched with wide eyes as he knelt down in one knee.

"Tyler? What…?"

"I love you and I want to grow old with you. You're wonderful, sweet, thoughtful, insanely hot…" He added with a chuckle. "A little bit of a control freak but I love that about you and if you think you can love me just as much then I ask you to become my wife." He said.

Caroline blinked as he took a box from his pocket and opened it to reveal a beautiful diamond ring.

"Caroline Forbes, would you marry me?"

…

[text] From: Stefan

Good luck man. You know where to find me if you need me. Go get her!

Klaus put his phone back into his pocket and looked up at Caroline's building. He couldn't help but remember two nights ago when he walked her to her door. The very same excitement he felt that night appeared in that morning making his hands shake. One held a bouquet of flowers while the other held a drawing of her along with some loving words he hoped he would get to say out loud. Probably not, since he wasn't sure he would be brave enough, hence the note.

The building door was open and Klaus saw men loading a truck with some boxes.

Someone's moving out, was the obvious thought in Klaus' head.

However he wasn't expecting to see those men coming out of Caroline's apartment. Was she moving out?

He stepped aside as two men carried a coffee table out followed by another man with a clipboard.

"Um excuse me?" Klaus called out. "Is this Caroline Forbes here?" He asked.

"Not at the moment, no."

Klaus' shoulders dropped.

"I wasn't aware she was moving out… I'm an old friend of her." He quickly explained since the man was giving him strange looks. "Do you know where I could find her?"

"No idea, son. All I know is that we have to get her stuff out of here quickly. There was something a marriage proposal, that is all I know."

Klaus' stomach dropped.

Marriage proposal. Caroline was getting married and he was too late.

He thought he would get sick, the tearing pain in his heart left him feeling dizzy. He shook his head and suddenly all that faded away. The pain was quickly replaced by anger.

"Stupid." He said to himself in a low mumble.

He felt so stupid for thinking he had a chance with Caroline. She was in love with someone else.

"Stupid. Stupid. Moronic. Idiot!" He cursed as he walked out of the building. He threw the flowers and the note into a trash can and rushed back to his studio.

If she wants to marry another man, let her.

She wouldn't be getting a drop of Klaus' attention anymore.

He stormed into his studio and went straight to his mini bar. He needed a drink, even if it was 10 am. The room was dark and the only light came from the fireplace –yes, he was fancy like that-.

Klaus could feel Stefan's worried eyes on his back and after downing his first drink Klaus sighed.

"She's getting married." He said hoping it would reply any question in Stefan's mind.

"Who's getting married?" A female voice asked and Klaus quickly turned around in surprise.

Stefan was nowhere to be seen. Instead Caroline was sitting on the couch looking at him with a frown.

"Caroline…" Klaus said surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"I needed to talk to you and Stefan let me in." She replied. "Are you okay? It's a little bit early for Bourbon, isn't it? Something wrong?"

Klaus looked down to his now empty glass and put it down.

"It's 5 o'clock somewhere, right?"

Caroline frowned.

"What's wrong?" she pressed.

"Nothing." Klaus said shaking his head. "Don't worry about it." He insisted before sitting down on the other end of the couch.

What was she doing there? Did she come to torture him? Obviously not on purpose, but couldn't she tell her presence was killing him?

"So…" Caroline said changing the subject. "Who's getting married?" She asked again. Klaus frowned and tilted his head.

"Well… you are." He said and Caroline gave him a weird look. "I went by your place and I was told you were moving out because…" Klaus stopped. Something didn't fit in.

Caroline sighed and looked down.

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about." She started. "I'm not getting married. Yes, Tyler did propose, but I said no. That's why I'm moving out. I was already living with him and after I said no, well… we broke up. I'll be staying with a friend for a while."

Klaus stared at her in surprise.

She's not getting married… Could this mean…?

"You did?" He asked softly and Caroline nodded.

"I loved Tyler once, but I don't anymore. Marrying him would've been wrong. I'm not even sure I ever loved him enough to accept his offer. I know what I should feel for the man I would marry and I think I have you to thank for."

Klaus frowned at that.

"What do you mean?"

Caroline took a deep breath and got up. Klaus watched her as she poured herself a glass and downed it quickly.

"I thought it was too early for that." He said tauntingly.

"Oh shush, I could use the courage." She replied while putting down the glass.

"Caroline, what's going on?" He asked. Caroline turned to him and once again took a deep breath.

"I have a confession." She said. "I fell in love with you when I was your physiotherapist." Klaus thought someone had just dropped a bucket of ice cold water on him.

"You did?"

She nodded.

"Of course at the time there was nothing I could do, I worked for you. And even if I didn't I still didn't have any reasons to think you wanted the same." Klaus swallowed hardly, if only she knew how much he wanted her. "That was until our last phone call, but by then it was too late." Caroline shook her head in regret. "Leaving Santa Cruz was one of the hardest things I ever had to do." She explained. Her departure was hard for him too. "With time I was convinced I had moved on and I started dating Tyler. I did love him, truly, but then I found out you were in New York and all these old feelings came back…" She shook her head and turned back around.

Klaus couldn't believe it. All this time he didn't have the balls to tell her he loved her and now there she was, being braver than him and making him the happiest man alive.

"I know what it feels like." She continued. "To know someone who drives you crazy, who fights you, but still love them passionately, to not being able to get them out of your head. It's their words that can hurt you the most, because they're so important to you and yet you hope they never use that against you, that they never hurt you because they hold you dear to their hearts just as much as you do them." She then turned a little bit and looked at him over her shoulder. "Tyler doesn't do that to me. You do. I love you. I always did."

Klaus got up and walked to her. He placed his hand on her arm and made her turn to him completely so he was facing her. He saw then a few tears running down her beautiful face.

"Don't cry…" He begged.

"I'm sorry." She said. "I wanted to tell you sooner, but I was with Tyler, and you're with Camille, and I didn't-"

"I'm not." Klaus interrupted. "I'm not with Camille anymore. I broke up with her last night."

"You did?" Caroline asked while wiping some tears away with the back of her hand. Klaus nodded his head.

"Yes." He replied. His hands traveled to cup her cheeks tenderly. "I broke up with her for the exact same reasons you broke up with Tyler." He confessed. "All this time we wasted pinning for each other, too scared to say something, when we could've been together…"

"Does that mean…?"

"Oh Caroline." Klaus silenced her with a kiss. It was soft and sweet and Klaus felt Caroline's body pressing against his, as if she had melted with his touch. He then rested his forehead against his and smiled softly. "It means I love you too."

Caroline let out a tearful laugh.

"You do?" She asked.

"Since day one." He replied. "I'm sorry it took me so long to say it, love. If you think you could forgive me and give me a chance, I promise you Caroline I will never hide my true feelings from you ever again." His hands then moved down to wrap themselves around her waist and pull her closer.

"There's nothing to forgive." She said and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm just glad you're here with me now."

Klaus sighed with relief. He finally had the woman he loved in his arms and his heart ached in happiness instead of despair. He leaned down and kissed her again, because now she was his, he was hers, and he could kiss her as much as his heart desired.

Yet the longing was still there and no matter how close Caroline was to him, he still felt like she wasn't close enough. Soon he had her pressed against the mini bar.

His hands roamed her frame while hers gripped his Henley for support. Her knees were as steady as jelly by now. Klaus easily picked her up by the back of her thighs and placed her on top of the bar, glasses clinking with the movement. Klaus' lips traveled down her neck, placing hot, open mouthed kisses on the skin and coaxing sweet little moans from her. Her legs instinctively moved around his waist, incrementing the pressure and the friction against her.

Caroline was just as eager as he was. She rocked her hips against his and she could feel his hardness underneath his jeans.

Klaus moaned. He knew he could easily lift her dress and fuck her senseless right there but it would all be over too soon. Instead he picked her up once more and this time he laid her gently on the couch, lips hungrily kissing each other.

They hastily took each other's clothes off and took a moment to take in each other's bodies. Caroline's ivory skin popped up against the dark leather couch. Her blond hair glowed with the warm tones coming out of the fireplace, and her eyes shone in delight while her hands traced some old scars on Klaus' body, scars that she had seen years ago.

"I love you, Caroline." He said softly.

"I love you too." She replied. Klaus leaned down to kiss her hungrily and soon he was buried deep inside her.

…

"Klaus?" Stefan called out as he walked into the gallery. "Are you here? How did things go with Caroline?" He asked as he made his way to the back to where Klaus' studio was located. His friend hadn't replied his text and he was starting to get worried. "Klaus?"

Just as his hand landed on the door knob a long, loud female moan was heard. Stefan quickly snapped his hand back, like the door knob just bit him. He opened his eyes widely as he realized whoever was behind that door just had an earth shattering orgasm.

Stefan quickly turned around and left the place.

"Nope! Nope! I didn't hear that."

…

The fire was very small and Klaus threw another log to keep it up and warm up the studio. He then turned to see Caroline sleeping on the couch, a blanket covering only half of her naked body. She was so beautiful, he had to immortalize that image on paper.

By the time Caroline woke up, Klaus was finishing the portrait on his sketchbook.

"How long did I sleep?" she asked while rubbing her eye.

"Just an hour, but we did stay in most of the day." He said in a teasing tone.

Caroline groaned and curled up.

"Come here, I'm cold." She said. Klaus could never say no to her, so he quickly put the sketchbook and his pencil on the coffee table and walked back to the couch. Caroline threw part of the blanket on him and snuggled onto his side.

"Better?" He asked.

"Mhmm…" she hummed. "I could use some food though."

"I can order us some take out." Klaus offered.

"I will have to leave eventually, you know?" She teased. "Bonnie is probably worried."

"Bonnie?" Klaus asked.

"The friend I told you I would be staying with until I get a new place."

"I see…" He said clicking his tongue. "Call her and tell her you won't be home tonight." He then said. "Stay with me."

"What for? So you can watch me in my sleep and draw me?" She joked. "It's only romantic once, the second time it's just creepy."

"What can I say? You're my muse." Klaus said.

Caroline smiled for a moment, until she remembered what Camille said the night she met her.

"Am I? Really?" She asked surprised.

"Always been." He reassured her.

Caroline smiled again and pursed her lips.

"I'm craving Chinese tonight, don't you?" She suddenly said, letting Klaus know she wasn't going anywhere any time soon.

.

THE END

AN: Yes it is the end! Maybe there will be an epilogue? Writing this ff has been a roller coaster of feelings, I hope you've enjoyed it. I couldn't have done it without you!

Please don't forget to leave a review and thank you all for your support!