I'm so sorry for taking so long to get this chapter up, but my life has been so hectic. I'll explain at the bottom.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! I TRULY APPRECIATE YOU ALL!

Please remember to review at the end! :)

"How many are coming?" Rebekah asked, in the stillness of the library.

Elijah turned from the wall covered bookshelves and bowed his head to the book in his hands. "Three responded. They should be here by morning." He answered, moving to the medium-sized desk.

Rebekah nodded and folded her arms across her chest. "Have you informed Nik?" She inquired, softly.

Elijah shook his head. "He has been a little busy. I thought it best to wait until this evening to inform him of the developments." He returned, lifting his head to look at his sister.

"If they come sooner, you know he will not like it." She responded, shaking her head.

"I know." Elijah paused and tilted his head forward. "But the more time he spends with her, the closer the curse ends."

"Do you think he will figure out the connection between them?" Rebekah asked, with hope.

Elijah smiled. "He suspects something. He even asked Bonnie, but she would not tell him."

Rebekah smiled. In her mind, she knew her brother would not rest until he figured it out, and for some reason, she wanted to be there when he did.

~XXX~

"You can't do that."

"Do what?"

Caroline frowned and glared at the man across the table from her. "You can't give me an opening like that."

Klaus smirked, and leaned back in the chair, watching her. "I can move my pawns where I like, Caroline." He remarked, watching her eyes move over the chess board. "It's you who left your queen unguarded."

Caroline's eyes jerked up, and she opened her mouth to defend herself. "The King will defend her." She retorted, moving a chess piece, which took one of Klaus' pawns.

Klaus' expression drifted to contemplation, and her words ran through his mind. Would a King defend his Queen? His eyes moved to Caroline, and his heart strengthened. If the Queen was her…

He jerked out of his mind palace and saw her looking at him, curiously.

"Is something wrong?" She asked, concern hitting her tone. It had been two weeks since she saved him, and still, she worried there would be residual effects on him or worse…

Klaus shook his head. "No, nothing…" He answered, moving another piece, which moved one of her knights off the board.

She studied him. His face looked drawn and tired, even more so than usual. "Have you been sleeping?" She asked, shaking her head.

He sighed and shook his head in accord.

"Klaus…" Her voice scolded. "You need your rest."

He smirked and scoffed. "In case, you have forgotten, love, I am immortal. I don't need sleep." He remarked, folding his hands together in front of him with his arms resting on the armrests of the chair.

"Immortal or no, everyone needs rest, like sleep." She countered, letting her heart warm at the word love.

He studied her. "I thought that was what this was." He returned, motioning to the chess board.

She scoffed and shook her head. "No, this is having…fun." She revealed, pausing at the last word.

He hummed and focused on the board. Fun… It seemed like such a foreign word. Fun was something that had been missing from his life since the curse. How can anyone have fun when they are cursed? He frowned. Fun ran alongside feelings, and it was dangerous.

Caroline felt her chest tighten, and without guessing, she knew why. Klaus had closed up. Standing up from her chair, she moved towards him and knelt beside his chair. Placing her right hand on his right arm, she shifted his focus to her. "It's not a crime." She argued, quietly.

He turned his eyes to her and exhaled through his nose. "For me, it is." He remarked, sternly.

She shook her head. "Why?" She asked, honestly.

"Because the last time, I allowed fun, I suffered greatly." He answered, after a moment.

"Henrik…" She whispered, lowly, her eyes lowering.

"How do you know that name?!" He snarled, standing with a quickness that caused her to land on the floor with a shocked expression on her face. He turned around to find her sitting on the floor, staring at him with shock melting into understanding. How could she understand his outburst? How could she understand anything?

He looked away from her expression for a moment before gradually holding out his hand towards her, giving in. She glanced at his hand before slowly placing her right hand in his, and allowed him to help her stand. His other hand grasped her other arm, and her hand grasped his forearm. She was a bit unsteady on her feet, as he practically pulled her up with his strength.

"Oh…" She muttered, staggering forward, landing close to his chest. The closeness of his body made her catch her breath. Looking up into his eyes, she swallowed. "I'm…" She began, as his eyes searched hers.

He cleared his throat. "You didn't answer my question." He rumbled, but he didn't push her away. He couldn't. She felt so right.

She finally found the strength to take a half step back. "My mother," She answered, breathlessly.

He should have known. Her mother, as he was informed, was a scholar of the past, and the woman in front of him was just like her, in beauty and intellect. Caroline was smart, brilliant, actually. It was one of the aspects that made him admire her. He admired her intelligence, her strength, even her stubbornness. Why…he couldn't say.

Actually, he wasn't sure what to say.

"Why do you not speak of him or the other brother?" She asked, not realizing exactly what she had just said.

Klaus picked up on her mistake, but he didn't acknowledge it. Instead, he swallowed, feeling her hands tenderly hold his arm and his hand.

"Memories don't have to hurt, Klaus. In fact, they may help." She continued, gently.

His jaw clenched at her words.

"I know you feel, Klaus," Caroline spoke, firmly yet gently.

He started to shake his head, but her hand flew up to stop it. "Please don't." She stopped him. "We have come this far, Klaus."

He felt her words, actually felt them, enter his darkened soul. It was lunacy. "Please leave." He cracked, stepping back from her, letting go of their connection, feeling the coldness of the separation.

She shook her head and stepped forward. He seemed to sense it, as he whirled to face her, and pointed towards the door.

"Leave!" He shouted, roughly.

"Klaus…" She began, slowly begging him.

"LEAVE!" He roared, literally shaking her body with the force of his tone, before turning his back to her.

She straightened her back and lifted her chin. "No." She stated, just as forcefully, folding her arms over her chest.

He growled and faced her with his eyes flashing. "Caroline," He ground out through his teeth.

"No," She began, moving towards him. "We've been over this and over this, Klaus." She continued, her eyes flashing. "Why do you continue to shut me out?" She demanded, glaring into his eyes.

"Because…"

"Because why?" She pushed, moving ever closer.

"Because it hurts!" He shouted back. He caught his breath and shook his head with a low growl before pushing past her, but she wouldn't let him go.

Reaching out, she grabbed his hand and held it with a strength that surprised him.

He stilled and turned his head to look down at her hand holding his, which continued to surprise him. The simple fact that she was not shrinking away from his touch. She was accepting it.

"You have to tell your side sometime." She quietly spoke, encouraging him.

Klaus wanted to. For a reason that made him take a step back, he wanted to tell her. He wanted to tell her everything, but fear of her reaction made him hesitate. She had accepted him so far. He couldn't take the chance.

She read his eyes. In her heart, she felt his fear. In some way, she knew what he feared. Leisurely, a smile touched her lips, a soft, tender smile. "I won't judge, Klaus." She encouraged, gently.

He wanted to believe her. He truly did, but for too long he lived in the shadows. His family was a different story, but her…

He cared for Caroline too much to lose her faith.

Gradually, she let go of his hand and stepped back. "I'll be in my room when you're ready." She revealed, moving towards the door of his bedroom, and opened it before leaving him alone in his room.

As the door closed behind her, Klaus closed his eyes. The loneliness of the room surrounded him, and he hated it.

Turning on his heel, he moved towards the window. Leaning against the stones, he felt the coldness through his shirt. His hybrid eyes scanned the woods, and he inhaled deeply.

The truth…

She had to know the truth.

~XXX~

Caroline sat on the floor next to the foot of the bed, with her knees drawn up to her chest and her arms encircling them. Her head leaned against the base of the bed and was facing the far window as the afternoon sun glistened through the opening.

The sun was warm and welcomed her, but she didn't feel like welcoming anything except him. She had thought if she gave him space he would come. She was tired of pushing him. She knew if she kept pushing him he would pull away and the progress they had accomplished for the past few months would vanish. She didn't want that. She wanted to move forward. To explore what they had, or could have. It was crazy or seemed like it should be, but she cared for him. He was a friend, like her wolf, but…deeper.

In many ways, she admired him. She admired his strength to survive. She admired his loyalty to his family, his honesty, even though he was stubborn about it.

She frowned. They had been making progress for the past few months, and she thought, after saving his life, she had earned his complete trust.

"Why doesn't he trust me?"

"I do, Caroline."

She jumped and jerked her head to find him standing under the threshold with her door open. She was about to stand when he shook his head.

"Please, stay." Klaus requested, holding his hand up, as he closed the door and moved towards her. "I hope you don't mind…" He began, slowly.

She shook her head, still stunned and speechless.

He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. Moving across the room, his eyes surveyed the light in the room and nodded to himself. It was a reflection on her. She was light and so was her room. Not like him. He frowned.

This was stupid, foolish.

He was about to turn to leave when he found his eyes gravitating towards hers. In the simple gaze, he lowered his body to the floor, and sat against the wall, directly across from her.

"I don't talk about Henrik because it was my fault. Everything that happened, the curse, the exile, everything was my fault." He began, sorrowfully. He lowered his eyes from hers, ashamed of the pity look she was obviously giving him. He cleared his throat, and let his mind form the words. "Henrik and I were close. I needed to go to the village to pick up some supplies, and he wasn't supposed to go along, but I convinced mother to let him." He continued, refusing to let his eyes shift towards her. "In my anger, I let Henrik die." He added, feeling a hand rest on his hand, which was on his drawn-up knee.

He moved his eyes down to his arm finally lifting to her. She had moved to his side, and the kindness of her expression gave him hope.

"You didn't kill him, Klaus." She comforted, lowly.

He shook his head. "I might as well have." He stated, looking away from her. "I later discovered that Mikael had set it up." He revealed after a moment.

Her gasp brought his eyes back to hers. He scoffed and nodded. "He wanted me gone, and what better way to get rid of a son he despised than to have the vengeful villagers kill him?" He taunted with scorn. "He fouled up when Henrik died and I lived, though he might as well have won." He added, shaking his head.

Caroline's head shook. "He didn't win. You lived to save so many. You and Rebekah, Elijah and Kol, you all lived to save the lives of the villagers. I imagine that Henrik would be proud of you because he didn't die in vain." She argued, tears filling her eyes.

He turned his head for a moment, but her hand cupped his chin and turned it back to her. "Mikael didn't deserve you for a son, and he still doesn't." She revealed, strongly.

The confusion on his face made her smile through her tears. "Because you, Niklaus Mikaelson, King of the Vampires and the People, are the most honorable man I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and knowing, and Mikael has no honor." She argued, passionately.

"Do you truly believe that?" He finally spoke, watching her nod.

"I would not have said it otherwise." She answered, leaning forward, holding his eyes until she was close to his face. Feeling his scruff against her cheek, she pressed her lips to his cheek. A spark connected them at the simple gesture, and yet she stayed in that position for a few seconds before carefully pulling back.

Locking eyes, they searched each other's eyes, and a soft smile touched each of their lips.

~XXX~

She felt him enter the room before she turned around from folding down her bed for the night. "Checking on me?" She asked, turning to face him, and frowned as she took in his expression. "Kol?"

Kol stayed on the other side of the room, not wanting to get closer, not yet. "Did Elijah come see you?" He asked, his voice tight.

Bonnie shrugged her shoulders. "He came by this afternoon." She casually answered, watching his reaction, and then smiled. "Is this because a particular person is arriving in the morning?" She asked, carefully.

His jaw clenched, and it gave her what she needed to saunter towards him with a smile. "Kol, darling Kol, he is a friend." She comforted, placing her hands on his chest.

He growled, deep in his chest, causing her to smile even more.

Leaning up, she placed her lips on his. "He's just a friend." She repeated, carefully. "A friend who saved my life, and without him, I wouldn't be here."

He growled once again and looked towards the left. "I don't like owing him." He snapped, and she touched his face, tenderly with her right hand, turning it back to look at her.

"There is nothing to owe." She remarked, lowly, but he shook his head.

"He saved the woman who owns my heart, the other half of me, my life. Bonnie, I owe him." Kol revealed, holding her eyes.

She smiled, and stroked his face, gently. "Don't tell him that. He'll make you pay up, and knowing him, he'll probably make you do something stupid." She remarked, with a stern look.

The statement made him smile, and he nodded, leaning forward to place his forehead on hers for a moment of peace. "The sun is setting." He whispered, in the solitude.

Bonnie hummed and tilted her head ever so slightly against his. "And peace and love fill the air this night." She concluded, with a strong tone. "They are getting closer."

He smiled and caressed her face with his right hand. "Can you see how long?" He asked, lowly.

She shook her head against his. "No, but I do know that it will be soon." She frowned, and the nails from her left hand scratched his shirt covered chest. "A trial will be placed before them."

"Why does it always have to be trials?" Kol asked, with mild frustration.

She smiled. "Because trials determine how strong love is and if the bond can weather any storm." She answered, with wisdom. "Like the one we encountered." She revealed, and he hummed, threading his hand through her hair.

"For that, I nearly lost you." He choked, feeling her mouth come close to his.

"But you didn't." She whispered, with her lips brushing his as she spoke, and her breathe mingled with his.

He smiled, and stepped closer, opening his mouth to brush his lips against hers. "I'm so glad I didn't." He whispered, with finality as his lips captured hers, and they both moaned before melting together in the stillness of the room and evening.

~XXX~

"Your other siblings don't know the truth, do they?" Caroline asked as they both leaned against the wall, while still sitting on the floor of her room.

Klaus lowered his eyes, feeling her eyes on his face. "No,"

She nodded and turned her head to gaze forward. "You should tell them. This is not something you need to keep to yourself."

"I didn't. I told you." He returned, glancing towards her.

She smiled. "You did, but I am not family. They deserve to know the truth, Klaus, and you know it." She remarked, looking at him, carefully.

"It wouldn't matter." He muttered, moving to stand up, and moved towards the window in her room.

She bowed her head, slightly, before crawling on her knees to stand up. "It matters." She confided, firmly. "They would understand."

"Understand what?" He asked, gazing at the darkening sky.

"That you were a pawn, and Henrik died because of Mikael." She firmly spoke, moving towards him.

He turned on his heel until he faced her, and caught her eyes. "You really believe that, don't you?" He asked, needing the answer.

She smiled and nodded. "I do." She answered truthfully. "I know you can kill, Klaus, but your own brother…" She paused, shaking her head. "You wouldn't kill family. You have too much honor." She observed, decisively.

"You think you know me." He shot, but it wasn't harsh. No, it was inquisitive.

"Not as well as I…" She paused, her words failing her for a brief moment. She licked her lips and bowed her head.

He turned to gaze at her, wanting the words that seem to hang in the air between them. Something moved between them. Something powerful, something that made her eyes flashed yellow, like the times before, but this time, something happened.

Caroline's eyes searched his, and slowly his eyes changed. Lifting her hand, she saw his eyes melt from a golden yellow to a deep blue. "Klaus…" She whispered, feeling a pull towards him like she had before.

They were entranced, and they were so close. So close when rustling from below caused Klaus to pull back, quickly, and pushed Caroline behind him, just in case.

He frowned as his eyes surveyed the ground below, and saw three bodies sneaking close to the border. His eyes narrowed, slightly, as he recognized them, and groaned, as he stepped back, pushing Caroline as he did, not noticing how her right hand had rested on her chest when he had broken the tension.

"What is it?" She asked, breathlessly.

He shook his head and glanced at her. "We have company. Stay here, until I send for you." He ordered, avoiding her eyes.

"Is it…" She paused, following him to the door.

He paused and risked looking at her, his eyes now returned to their golden yellow. "It's not the Five, but I won't take that chance. Stay here." He ordered, strongly, waiting until she nodded before he left the room.

The door clicked as it closed, and Caroline placed her hands on the carving on her side. She could feel his mild anger, not at her, not at what had transpired, but for something that he had not been told. She could feel him.

Her eyes closed as she thought over the realization. She had felt him before, but this time it was different.

It was…stronger.

She turned and leaned against the door. Her right hand raised to her lips. "What's happening?" She asked the silence. Lifting her eyes to the ceiling, she shook her head. "I need answers, please." She begged, sighing.

In the silence, she wondered.

Why did his eyes change moments before?

"What's happening?"

PLEASE BE KIND! If you don't like it, don't read it!

My life has been topsy-turvy the past two months. You guys know I resigned from my job last month (mainly because my boss was a bitch who took money from the drawer and wouldn't write it down, and I got the feeling she was going to frame me), and about two weeks after that, I had to put my beloved dog (a Siberian Husky) down. I'm still reeling from that, so my mood to write has been minimal. I had just enough to write one paper for my class at the time, and now working on others. (never-ending for a Grad student)

I'm working to get the next chapter going. I have a little free time now, so I'll try to get more chapters as quickly as I can.

Next Chapter: King's Favorite

Sneak Peek: "So, Klaus, when do you meet the famed Lily?"

Klaus fumed at the mention of this... dark-haired cretin meeting Caroline. She was his and his alone. There was no competition. He growled lowly in his chest, much to the other man's amusement.

Elijah rolled his eyes and stepped forward. "She is in her room, and only when Niklaus requests will she join us."

The dark-haired man smiled and lifted the glass in his hand. "Well, then, request her, I mean we didn't come all this way just to see your...pretty face."

Klaus snarled, and turned on his heel and left the room with the other man lifting his eyes to his companion, as the door slammed behind Klaus.

"Was it something I said?"

Until Next Time...