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An Unlikely Match

Chapter XXIII

They spent almost the entire weekend in bed, but they didn't attempt to have sex. Klaus was still sore and although he tried to pleasure her, she was adamant on waiting for him to be better before they partaken in that activity. Caroline didn't know how it happened, but all of sudden he turned into the one person she couldn't be without. It hadn't been that long ago when she had realized her feelings for him were changing, but she was still surprised by how good they were together. They seemed like teenagers in love for the first time; puppy love. Every free second – which happened to be every second for the past two days, they were kissing, touching, laughing or talking. The only moments they were apart happened to be when a trip to the bathroom was in order.

Caroline had decided to let him stay in her bedroom seeing as her bed was bigger and more comfortable. Her room also contained a private bathroom with the only bathtub in the house. Although he had been released he still had to avoid as much movement as possible during the first few days after his surgery, which led Caroline to help him with almost everything.

He thought she was overreacting, but soon he realized he was fighting a losing battle against her will. But he had to admit, it felt good to have someone to care about him after such a long time going without it.

It was Sunday afternoon, and they decided to venture downstairs and watch some TV. Only Caroline had visited the first floor in the past two days. She wouldn't allow him to travel up and downstairs unnecessarily, but even then she only left her bedroom when she had to get them something to eat. After much reassurance from Klaus he convinced her to let him go downstairs with her help – not that he needed the help, but he knew it was the perfect bait.

They were making out on her couch, the TV long forgotten, when she heard someone unlocking the front door.

"There's someone opening the front door!" she broke the contact of their bodies, trying to regain her composure and patting down her hair.

"But we're just kissing, and we were just getting started," he said trying to kiss her neck, but she slipped from him and headed to the door to meet Katherine.

"Hey," Caroline said, pulling her hair into a messy ponytail.

"How is working as a nurse going?" Katherine asked, as she followed the TV's sound, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine" he answered, his eyes narrowed at the TV.

"You don't seem to be fine," Katherine said as Caroline stood behind her looking at the floor.

"I should go check the laundry" Caroline said leaving the room. She couldn't face Klaus. They hadn't talked about their status. In fact she didn't even know if they were in a relationship or not because they hadn't talked at all. At the hospital they just shared some kisses, but for the last three days they had been living like a couple, a happy couple. Caroline was a little scared. Things were moving too fast. She realized that she was maybe attracted to him and then they kissed, and she thought she felt something more than just attraction, and a week later they were behaving like they had been a couple since high school!

Klaus didn't seem very pleased. He didn't like her reaction at all. They didn't talk about it, but what was there to talk about? They spent every waking minute together, they slept together… he was pretty sure they were in a relationship, even if it only started a few days ago. He didn't want to hide it, but Caroline seemed to disagree with him about it. A million thoughts crossed his mind as Katherine talked about things at the hospital. Is she embarrassed to be me with me? Is it because she still loves Mason? Am I only a distraction? Is she in it only for the physical aspect? - were some of the thoughts crossing his head, and as much as he tried to concentrate on what the brunette was saying, he couldn't. He was very angry. Whatever the reasons were behind Caroline's reaction he had a problem with it. He thought they were happy, even if it was recent. He thought she was into this as much as he was, although he knew for sure she wasn't in love him with. Yet.

Some minutes later Caroline entered the room again. She hadn't wanted Katherine to go after her and find out there was no laundry being done, so she returned to the TV room. Katherine tried to engage the couple in some conversations, but Caroline was distracted and Klaus angry.

"Spit it out guys. What the hell is going on?" the brunette blurted out. She may not know Klaus that well, but he wasn't putting any effort into showing that he wasn't mad, and she could read Caroline like a book.

"What?" they asked together, though with completely different tones. "There's something off. Caroline, you're as nervous as a girl on her first date ever, and Klaus, you're even more unbearable than usual. So, what's going on? What are you hiding?" Katherine asked, her hands on her hips, as she waited for an explanation.

Both Klaus and Caroline failed at attempts of denial and Katherine refused to let it go.

"Okay," Caroline admitted, realizing there was no way to keep something from her best friend, "I'm seeing someone and it's bothering Klaus because I decided to make it a secret," Caroline fidget with the hem of her top, avoiding to look at the man in the room at all costs.

"What do you mean? Someone other than Mason?" Katherine asked confused and shocked.

"As if Mason would ever agree to make our relationship a secret again. He was happy when my mother and the rest of the hospital found out. He's too proud to do it again, especially now that my mother is dead. He would never agree to make it a secret," Caroline explained, and Katherine nodded, knowing that was what Mason would do.

"Can't blame the guy," Klaus offered under his breath.

"But why is Klaus so angry?" the brunette asked not knowing why Caroline dating made him angry, although she remembered how mad he was when Caroline hooked up with Damon.

"Because now this house has rules and you've just broke one. People can't enter without dinging the bell. You never know what you will find in the living room. Besides if I'm keeping it a secret it's because I don't want people to know." she rambled nervously.

"Why can't people know, Caroline?" Katherine asked, raising one of her eyebrows suspiciously.

"Yes, Caroline. Why?" Klaus asked sarcastically.

"It's complicated," the blond girl answered, her eyes peaking at Klaus for a moment. He was even angrier than before.

"More than Mason? I mean how can anything be more complicated than a hidden wife he eventually chose over you? When your mother found out you were having sex with the guy she worked her tits off to bring to the Presbyterian? There isn't much more complicated than that," Katherine continued to appraise Caroline's reactions. There was more to it than the blond was leading on.

"It's just complicated, okay?" Caroline reacted defensively, but raising her voice.

"Is it Damon? Please tell me you're not stupid enough to try to have a relationship with a womanizer!" Katherine sat on the couch. She couldn't believe Caroline could be that naïve.

"This conversation is a bit too feminine and asinine for my tastes. I'm going upstairs. Kat, thanks for stopping by," Klaus offered, while he slowly moved out of the room.

"Take care Klaus," she said turning immediately to Caroline, thankful the guy was leaving. She knew she could make Caroline talk, but they had to be alone.

"It's not Damon, Katherine," Caroline rolled her eyes.

"Who is he? Do I know him?"

"Kat, I really want to give it a shot before I tell anyone. Things have been so complicated with Mason, and it's also very recent. You know how much I hurt after my last relationship and I don't want to feel that pain again, so I've decided to take things slow. There's no rush into making things official, we're getting to know each other, finding out how it is to be with each other. At the right moment I'll let everyone know. I just need time. I want it to work, but I can't see the future, so I want to know for sure. I don't want to be hurt again," Caroline explained her feelings, unaware that Klaus had listened to her every word.

He still had difficulty walking even with the TV room just by the stairs. He was still making his way upstairs when she had spoken, her voice carrying into the stairwell. He was relieved to know it wasn't any of the things he thought. She was just afraid of things not working out between them. She was afraid of being hurt again. He still remembered the nights she used to cry for Mason. They actually only stopped after they had kissed just two weeks ago. He couldn't help but feel powerless when she cried like that and he would do everything for it never to happen again. But what were the odds of him hurting her? Maybe he would never hurt her like Mason did, but he always broke the people around him. He hadn't been able to keep even his family, how was he going to keep Caroline without hurting her? He would have to watch himself because Caroline couldn't be broken again. The best thing for her would probably be to stay away from him if he really loved her and step away. But he was in too deep. He couldn't imagine his life without her.

Katherine tried to convince Caroline to confess who her mysterious man was for twenty minutes, but ended up giving up and leaving. Elijah had been waiting for her outside and she promised she wouldn't take longer than ten minutes, but she had stayed thirty.

Caroline didn't know how to look at Klaus' face. She knew he was hurt. To everyone else he might only look angry, but she knew him better now. She knew under the mask of anger, he was bleeding, he was hurting. But what should she say? What could she say? They had never mentioned where they stood, and that was probably because men like him didn't do relationships. Maybe Katherine was right and she was stupid to believe she could have a serious relationship with a womanizer. But what were they then? Sex buddies sans the sex part? Friends with benefits? Should she end whatever they had before they actually had sex?

The blond was lost in her thoughts, thinking about everything that had happened since he moved in. She remembered when he was there for her, she remember when she helped him with his nightmares and violent episodes. Since the first time she entered his bedroom, he hadn't had a violence fit following his nightmares. She had learned to wait for him to regain complete awareness of his surroundings before she talked him out of going into a riot. Then she remembered Thanksgiving, the many non-date dates they went. She was so lost in her memories, that she didn't hear him approaching her, almost an hour after Katherine left.

"Sweetheart," he said, softly and she bit her lower lip thinking of what she could say to him. Or worse, what he had to say to her.

"I'm sorry," she immediately offered, feeling bad for putting him in that position in the first place.

"Don't be," he moved to where she was, touching her face, while she looked embarrassed for her previous actions. "Don't say anything," he completed, moving his index finger to her lips and then replacing it with his own lips. He could feel her tense body relaxing in his arms the moment he kissed her. He moved over her, kneeling over her, each of his legs by her side. It hurt like hell, but he needed to be closer. He didn't deepen the kiss even when he felt her lips parting under his. His movements against her mouth slow and soft while his hand moved to her head and stroked her hair. This was a different kiss. He didn't look for her tongue as he usually did within a matter of seconds. There wasn't the usual rush of desire. All it held was love and reassurance.

He slowly separated his lips from hers, still leaning over her. His forehead touched hers while he looked into her eyes, "Take your time, love." he moved his lips to her forehead, wrapping his arms around her and bringing her face to his chest.

"Did you hear what I said?" she asked, only then realizing he probably did as he was still moving quite slowly.

He nodded, kissing her head.

"Just take your time. I know he broke you and that you're not done putting the pieces back together. I don't want to rush you. I want to make things right this time. I've never done this and I admit I've never done the right thing before. I ruin every single good thing in my life and I know it doesn't give you the best prospect, but I'll try my best because you're worth. I've never met someone like you, Caroline. You're smart, strong, and full of light. You're compassionate, already ready to forgive and you never judge the people you love, ever. It doesn't matter what people do you're always supportive to them, but never to their mistakes because you don't negotiate your principles. You're giving and when I say you're the most beautiful woman I've ever met I don't mean only your beauty. I mean all of you," he said as he stroked her hair, holding her close to his body, feeling her tears soaking his shirt.

Caroline couldn't stop her tears. It had been the first time in her life someone had said something like that about her. It warmed her, his pride in her. Like the way Mason was proud of his sister. Like the way her mother was proud of her career and proud of Elijah and Katherine. She had always wanted to make someone proud of her, maybe because she felt like she failed both her parents. But even wanting that more than anything else, she felt like she had never accomplished it and some days she thought she never would. Until that moment when Klaus had spoken those words with such honesty and care. Here he was, with his knees bent around her, saying how he admired her. She broke their embrace briefly, wiping away a few tears, before looking at his blue eyes. The blue eyes that had always mesmerized her. She softly caressed softly his face while tears still fell from her eyes, "No one has ever told me something like that,"

"I meant every word, sweetheart," he offered a smile.

"I know, that's why it matters," she said, moving her head back to his chest.

"How was he?" Elijah asked when his girlfriend entered the car.

"He's fine, angry, but fine," she said adjusting her seat belt.

"Niklaus doesn't know how to rest. I remember when he was five and he broke his foot, and had a cast for two weeks, though it was supposed to be a month. Even though he was very young he found a way to ruin the cast, leading the doctor to remove it completely," he chuckled at the memory of Klaus holding a naughty face while he submerged the back of his cast in boiling water and melting it.

"Oh, it isn't about his condition at all. It seems Caroline is dating someone, and he's mad because she wants to keep it a secret and the house now has rules." Katherine shook her head slightly at her friend's decision. She was almost thirty, what was the point of hiding a relationship? Relationships failed, most of them did, if whatever she had with this guy didn't work, she could simply move on to the next, especially when the brunette was sure Caroline was only rebounding.

"Oh," Elijah answered surprised by the development.

"What?" Katherine asked curiously, knowing her boyfriend was thinking about something.

"Klaus seems to care about Caroline in a way I'm sure he hasn't cared about anyone in the past ten years. Even before Henrik died, he had always been collected and closed to the outside world. He only cared about us and this one girl he fell in love when he was eighteen. He didn't have any friends, Rebekah and I had always been his best friends, and that was it for him. He didn't need or want anyone else. The first time I saw him since he left was last year, but based on the gossip at the hospital, my suspicions are probably right. Caroline is the first person he's cared about in a very long time," the heart surgeon explained, while Katherine held his hand. She knew Klaus was a sensitive subject to Elijah, and that he wanted nothing more than to have any sort of relationship with his brother, even if they never went back to what they used to be.

"Do you think he has romantic feelings for her?" Katherine asked a while later, the idea just crossing her mind.

"It's possible, but I know my brother, he wouldn't make a move, especially because she's been hurt by Mason," he said after giving it some thought.

"What if Caroline made the first move?"

"Then things would be different, but you seem so sure she still loves Mason… Didn't you say she was depressed about it just after Thanksgiving?" Elijah asked as they approached his building.

"Yeah, you're right. She still loves him, and then there's this new guy, that is clearly making Klaus jealous. He wouldn't be that angry if he was her mysterious guy," Katherine shrugged, and although Elijah was about to disagree, he kept his thoughts to himself. His brother was a very proud man; he would never agree to keep a relationship a secret, especially not after what they went through with Tatia.

"I finally told mother I work with Klaus," he changed the subject, partially.

"A year and a half later," she mocked her boyfriend before offering him a warm smile, "I'm proud of you, 'Lijah,"

"She admitted he visited last summer,"

"Did he meet the rest of your family?" Katherine asked.

"No, Finn and Sage moved to Glasgow and Kol was vacationing through Europe," he explained, as they entered the building's garage.

"This is a good thing. This will probably bring down some of his walls now,"

"Maybe," Elijah said, remembering his latest conversation with Klaus. He could see what Klaus wanted, but it seemed like he couldn't do it.

"But that's not the only thing I talked to her about," he offered once they entered the elevator, his arm moving to her shoulders.

"Oh?"

"I've talked to the chief, and he agreed to give us a couple of days-off on New Years' Eve. The thirty-first is a Monday and he said we could go back to work on Wednesday. I'd like to bring you to meet my family," he smiled softly at her.

"Last time we planned a holiday together things went downhill," she said nervously. Truth was she was anxious about meeting his family. They were foreign, and probably as collected and formal as Elijah. She was afraid of what his mother would say of her. She was as far from poster girlfriend as it got.

"Last time I was a fool, that won't happen again, darling," he said as they stepped out of the lift.

"I'm not sure about this, 'Lijah," she admitted her insecurities, something he wasn't used to yet. The first time they dated, she used to be confident and showed no weakness or vulnerability. But since she had confessed the atrocious things that she went through as a child, she had been showing more and more of her vulnerable side. Although it broke his heart to know she felt like that, it also made him feel responsible for her, to take care of her. He felt like she finally trusted him with her heart and that was all he needed to move their relationship to the next level. He had no doubt Katherine was the one for him.

"The invitation still stands. I told Alaric I was going to check with you and would give him a final answer tomorrow," he unlocked their apartment.

"Okay," she smiled at him, in a way that was rare to see on Katherine's face. She was sarcastic, fierce, witty, and tough. That soft smile was normally reserved to after they made love.

"You don't need to be afraid; I'm not going to hurt you again. We've been together for some time now and it's natural for you to meet my family. I want you to meet them, I want you to get used to the family you're entering," he cupped her face, before kissing her briefly.

"I wouldn't call it 'entering'," she quipped.

"Katherine, I think I'm not as good at being subtle as I think and I'm probably failing in sending you the right signs. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, I want to make you my wife someday, I won't settle in just sharing an apartment with you. When I met the board I told them I was planning to get married to you next year," he offered her a smile, while he eyed her joyfully.

"Thank you for letting them know before me, I feel special and like I have some sort of say in it," she answered sarcastically, but he could catch her uneasiness as well.

"Honey, you're the one that has to inform me of something, and that would be if you want to get married to me when I finally ask you," he smirked, but she didn't share his amusement.

"Are you serious, Elijah?" she sounded almost insecure.

"Of course I am. You're it for me, Kat. But let's not talk about it anymore. I like traditions, and I'm not going to talk you into marrying me. I want to propose someday, and give you everything you deserve," he kissed her again, and this time it wasn't fast at all. Although, their clothes quickly found their living room's floor.

Caroline was finally back at the hospital, and although she missed working, she missed Klaus even more, and it was only her second day back. She had been on call that night and it had been more than twenty-four hours since she had left him in her bed the previous morning. She called during her lunch break to check on him, and found out he was just like any man when they got sick: whiny, pitiful, pouty and needy. And being a doctor only made it worse.

She wanted to talk to Damon, to see if he had any of his more complicated surgeries recorded. She knew that Klaus could only be distracted by drawing for so long and since painting wasn't an option because of the pain he had little to do.

She knocked on his door, and heard Damon's unintelligible reply. She assumed it was his permission, and opened the door, but she wished she could un-see what she saw next.

"Whoa," Damon exclaimed, the moment he saw the door opening.

"Oh my God, I'm sorry," Caroline said her face red as a tomato as she closed the door as quick as possible. She only hesitated a moment before walking away.

"That was awkward," Rose said, her shirt still unbuttoned, her breasts already missing his touch. She was sitting on his desk, while he stood in front of her, exploring her upper body with his hands and mouth.

"I think the secret is out," she smiled warmly.

"Baby, everybody knows we've been having sex for months," his lips side looped, in his trademark smirk.

"No, everybody knows you have been having sex with every woman in this hospital for months. I just happen to be one of them," she smiled, poking her finger into his also exposed chest.

"You know it's been only you for a couple of months now," he whispered, kissing her neck, before moving to her earlobe.

"Which I can't understand why," she muttered with her eyes closed.

"After my last fight with Mason I realized I need to grow up," he stopped kissing her, looking at her with a serious façade.

"Too bad, I was enjoying your carefree and irresponsible side too much," she said before kissing his chest.

"Rose…" it was his turn to moan, but she knew it wasn't only a moan.

"Damon, I've been married for eight years, my husband left me, got himself a girlfriend that he became head over heels in love with, and I was left with a divorce. I don't want commitment, I don't want anything serious. I want to have fun. It's been too long since I just had fun," she said almost frustrated. Rose checked her watch, seeing they only had five more minutes in their lunch break.

"I'm sure that I'm giving you a lot of fun, actually there's no one better to give a girl some fun than Damon Salvatore," he wriggled his eyebrows, deciding to drop the subject. He should know that the moment he wanted to be serious about someone, for the first time in his life, he would be rejected. Karma wasn't something to be ignored.

"And I do have a lot of fun, and good doesn't cover the sex, but that's it, Damon, and I thought that was okay with you," she said softly, as her fingers slipped along his chest.

"I was trying to treat you right," he moved his hand to her chin, making her look at him.

"Trust me; you're treating me just right," she moved her hand to behind his head, kissing him deeply.

"If you say so," he said against her lips, as they broke apart to breath.

"I do, now how about you lock your door, so we can finish what we started, this time uninterrupted," she bit her lip, reaching underneath her pencil skirt and slowly removing her panties. Their residents and interns could wait another five minutes. Or ten…

"Your wish is my command," he captured her lips heatedly, before doing as she said.

Caroline was standing in the front of the nurses' station trying to erase the images of Damon and Rose having sex from her mind. It was just her luck that she was under the pediatrician's services that day. Talk about awkward.

Fifteen minutes after she was supposed to join them, Rose finally appeared, looking absolutely composed and flawless in her perfect clothes. Caroline needed to get the guts to ask her how she managed to look so nice after having sex during her lunch break. She was always a sex-mess after she and Mason left the on call room. Her hair would always scream what she had been doing and no matter how much foundation she applied, she still looked flushed afterwards.

"I'm sorry for entering the office. I heard a voice after I knocked and I thought it was Damon saying I could come in," Caroline rambled, as she talked to Rose, who simply smiled.

"Don't worry, Caroline. I'm sure I'm not the first or the last to be caught in that position in that office," Rose added nonchalantly.

"You're probably right," the resident offered, still embarrassed and uncomfortable.

"How is Klaus?" the attending doctor asked as they headed walked towards their patient's room.

"Whiny, but getting better," Caroline chuckled.

"Sick men are just boys. My first experiences as a pediatrician was way before I actually started treating children. I was definitely one every time Mason got sick," Rose smiled softly at the memory. "I'm so sorry, Caroline, I forget you two… I should stop talking about how life used to be while I was married. I just can't help it," the hazel-eyed doctor apologized immediately.

"It was a big part of your life. It's natural that you still remember it and bring it up," Caroline offered, feeling bad for Rose.

"But I don't need to keep saying it, especially not around the girl who still likes my ex-husband," Rose spoke lower, so only Caroline heard, as the resident's interns were following them.

"I'm seeing someone else," Caroline admitted. It was awkward to be this close to Rose, but they had a lot in common. She wouldn't allow her terrible experience with Mason destroy a potential good friendship. Rose was one of the sweetest people Caroline had ever met.

"And it doesn't mean anything, Caroline, but that's okay. Mason will move on and so will I eventually. I still care about him… he's not a bad guy and I want him to be happy. If you're the one to make him happy, then I just have to accept it," the pediatrician offered, knowing that Caroline was in the same situation as she was. Having sex with someone doesn't mean you forgot the one you loved.

"Rose, I… I'm not comfortable talking about Mason with you. I'm sorry," Caroline looked uncomfortable, as they approached their patient's room.

"Neither am I, but I just wanted you to know I'm not going to hate you or dislike you if you decide to get back with him," Rose offered a tight smile before she opened the door to talk to her patient' parents.

Rose was finally offering Caroline her blessing. Not that Caroline ever needed it, but it was good to know Rose really didn't see her as the dirty mistress who stole her husband and wrecked their marriage.

Then Caroline remembered the last few days she had spent with Klaus. It had been so amazing, and she felt so comfortable and safe with him. Although he had sent her to the hospital once, he still made her feel protected. But what exactly were they? Were they giving into their physical attraction? She knew that that wasn't true, at from his perspective. He had made it clear that he actually liked her. But what about herself? What did she feel for him? The nonstop kissing and groping was making her feel like a teenager again, and while there was nothing wrong with that, it didn't scream feelings either. What if she was just fulfilling her needs? What if she had been missing having someone to be intimate with? Her life before Mason had been filled with boys. She knew none of the men she had been with meant anything to her, but it helped, especially when she used to think she would never be in a serious relationship.

But Klaus was different. There was something different between the two of them and she couldn't put her finger on what it was. Maybe it was the same as before, but instead of just satisfying her primal needs, she was rebounding. Maybe it was more significant and she was indeed falling in love with him. The thought of being in love with him crossed her mind a few times, but she knew she had been in a very vulnerable place since her breakup with Mason. She wasn't in the most reassuring moment of her emotional life. Mixing whatever she felt for Klaus for love or anything like that was just too easy. When someone gets hurt like she had been, whatever emotional connection they build with someone else feels magnified because you need them more than you usually would. She knew for sure she cared deeply for Klaus. She could even say she loved him as a friend.

He had been there for her in a way only Katherine used to be, but she couldn't compare the kind of comfort they brought to her. Katherine was her best friend, but she was a female. When she slept at her place, she didn't curl against the brunette's body. Katherine's touch – which was limited to a hug a year – didn't bring the comfort Klaus' did. Katherine cared about her, but she didn't protect her whereas Klaus was a tad overprotective. There were a lot of emotions Klaus brought that Katherine just didn't and couldn't. And she knew it was because he was a man… all man. And if he really liked her as he said, she had to be careful. She couldn't break his heart, she couldn't lead him on, and she couldn't make a mistake assessing her feelings for him. She had to be sure if she was with him because she liked him. Even more so because he was her best friend and they shared a great sexual attraction. Only time would give her those answers, but in the meantime she would do her best to be honest with him and herself.

The gang was going to Matt's after work. It was a Friday night and the week had been exhausting. They were being audited and auditors made most people uneasy, even if they were sure they were doing their work just fine. Everyone had been a little jumpy and with the end of the week, the audit was a concern for Monday. Elijah had told Katherine the audit was probably going to last a month, if there weren't any problems.

"Are you coming with us?" Katherine asked, finding her best friend pensive and sitting in front of her locker.

"Where?" Caroline asked distracted.

"To Matt's. You seem too broody these days. I knew Stefan's personality would rub off on you. Good thing next year he won't be an intern anymore and maybe you'll be salvageable," Katherine rolled her eyes, more to Stefan than to her best friend.

"I've been thinking about a few things. Trying to be honest with myself," the blond offered, with a small smile and sigh.

"Is it about your mysterious guy?" Katherine arched her eyebrow. She was still curious about whom he could be, but she wouldn't let it show. If she acted casually about it maybe Caroline would spill.

"Not just him, but about myself and Mason, my new family, my late mother. My life has been turned upside down in such a small period of time, and I think I overlooked some of the consequences and how those things affected me." She let out a huge sigh and leaned back into the lockers. "I feel emotionally unstable. I feel needy and vulnerable. I feel like I'm welcoming whatever relationship anyone is offering because I desperately want people to be part of my life and most importantly, allow me to be a part of theirs," Caroline confessed, and Katherine wasn't too surprised to hear those words. Truth to be told she had been thinking along those lines as well and had even talked to Elijah about how concerned she was.

"Maybe you should see a shrink? You father could recommend you the best," the brunette offered.

"I don't need therapy, Katherine," Caroline answered dryly.

"Therapy can be good. It helped me a lot after I left my parents' house," Katherine shrugged.

"You've been?" Caroline asked surprised. She didn't have any problems with therapy, but imagining someone as strong and self-sufficient like Katherine to have gone surprised Caroline.

"I'm such a messed up person, but at least I'm undamaged enough to go through a medical career and somewhat function socially. When I started high school I wasn't sure I would ever be emotionally capable of living socially," the brown-eye woman admitted, leading Caroline to feel for her. Katherine was a survivor, and she would always have the blonde's admiration.

"You're not messed up, Kat," Caroline protested softly.

"Maybe not anymore, but I used to be. I was too defensive, I didn't trust anyone, I used people at every opportunity I had. And I never allowed myself to care or be cared for. Did you know I only allowed a boy to kiss me without freaking out about it in my sophomore year… of college? I had my first voluntary sexual experience when I was twenty-three and it was with a girl because I was too afraid of men. After that day I was afraid of both, talk about traumatizing experiences," Katherine admitted chuckling a little bit in the last part, and although Caroline knew some of those things, she didn't know most of them.

"But you got over it and you have a brilliant career ahead of you, friends you care about, and a wonderful boyfriend," Caroline pointed out.

"And therapy helped me. You're right. A lot of things changed in your life and in a short period of time, and yes, I can see you welcoming and embracing every new person in your life. Some people are like that and that's okay for them, but that's not the woman I met a year and a half ago. I'm not saying you were a better person back then, but you've changed a lot Care, and maybe it's time for you to find some balance between not letting anyone in, and letting everyone in," Katherine insisted on her advice, and Caroline actually gave it a thought for a moment. Maybe she should look for a shrink, although she'd rather ask Alaric to recommend someone from the hospital rather than her father. He said once he didn't know a lot of people at the Presbyterian and she didn't have time to look a doctor away from her work.

"This guy I've been seeing… I'm so happy when he's around. He's so nice to me, he makes me feel safe and I feel like nothing bad will happen when he's around. Am I in love?" Caroline asked out loud the question that had been constantly in her head for the past week.

"Or could it be that Mason hurt you so much that the first guy that actually treats you well, even if only for the five minutes you've known each other, makes you think you're in love? Could it be that you just need this safety you're talking about and you're misreading it as love?""How can I get those answers? I don't know how I feel…" the blond asked frustrated and tiredly. Her brain would produce smoke if she kept thinking about Klaus that much. Not even when she broke up with Mason her thoughts were on something like they were in Klaus now.

"You could try to be very honest with yourself, to try to bare your soul, but that's not an easy task to do alone. A professional would help you by asking the important questions," Katherine said, based on experience. She knew sometimes people just didn't ask themselves the right questions.

"Yeah, maybe you're right. I need to know who I am now, where I stand before I commit myself to someone else. I don't want to enter into another relationship from hell and I definitely don't want to hurt him," Caroline concluded. She had to admit she had a little bit of prejudice going into therapy. Her mother used to say it was for weak people who couldn't handle even themselves. But Elizabeth Forbes could be wrong a few times. Or a lot of times when it came to emotions.

"I'll see you on Sunday? You and Elijah are coming for Christmas, right?" Caroline said after grabbing her purse from her locker.

"You mean Pre-Christmas?" Katherine laughed.

"Well most of us will be working on the 24th," Caroline shrugged.

"You still want Elijah to go even knowing he's Jewish?" Katherine asked amused remembering his face when Caroline invited him to celebrate Jesus' birth in her house and went on and on about how people these days only think about gifts and forgot the most important thing about the holiday.

"Don't remind me," Caroline's face became red as she remembered Elijah uncomfortably explaining that he was Jewish just a few days ago. But that she was right- people forgot what Christmas was really about.

"We'll be there," Katherine smiled to her friend walking away. "But wait, I came to ask if you were joining us today," the brunette turned on her heels.

"I'm not," Caroline offered a small smile, "Rain check?"

"Oh yeah, date night,"

"Something like that," Caroline smiled, and Katherine saw her best friend's face lighting up. Maybe this new guy was indeed more than she initially thought? Caroline definitely didn't glow after making out with Damon Salvatore a couple of months ago.

"At least you're not bailing on us on Christmas… or is he the one you're actually spending Christmas-Christmas night with?"

"Clever, but no, I'm not telling you about him yet," Caroline smiled at her friend knowingly. If Caroline admitted to spending Christmas night with Klaus she knew Katherine would find a way to miss her shift that night and camp outside Caroline's house to see who the guy was. She could pretend all she wanted that she didn't care that Caroline was keeping it a secret, but the blond knew her friend too well to buy Katherine's indifference and coolness about the subject.

"It was just a suggestion. I don't like my best friend ditching me every other Friday," Kat whined playfully.

"I've only bailed on you two Fridays," Caroline shook her head.

"The last two and you know I'll be traveling with Elijah next weekend, so that makes it three," Katherine said dramatically, and Caroline knew it was the trip that was bothering her friend more than anything else. She was nervous about meeting Elijah's family.

"You know I was taking care of Klaus last week, and how can you hold it against me if you won't be here next Friday?" Caroline smirked.

"Who keeps complaining she doesn't know anywhere but New York and Raleigh? You could very well go to England with us. You would love Europe,"

"Katherine, Elijah isn't looking for his family's approval, although that would be nice and I'm sure they'll like you," Caroline moved her hand to best friend's shoulder, knowing that was as much touching the brunette could handle after their Thanksgiving dinner.

"Whatever. Go home and go to your pre-pre-Christmas eve," Katherine rolled her eyes, walking away again.

"What?" Caroline frowned at her friend.

"Bye, Caroline," Katherine offered before leaving the blond in the locker room, who was quickly lost in her thoughts again.

AN: Next chapter is all about Christmas, but it won't be written like the Thanksgiving chapter. It's more about Klaroline than all interactions during the celebration. There's a long Calijah (not Kalijah, that you got here ;)) moment coming where they talk about their respective ones and things. And there's something very, very, very, very special coming. Nik is introduced among other things, but not by the person you think. I usually don't like when I read stories where they make sure there's a Niklaus or Nik opposed to a Klaus meaning Klaus is the bad side of Niklaus and that Nik (or even Niklaus) is the good part. In this story that's not the meaning of Klaus being called Nik.

I still need a beta to start one of my new stories, so if you're a beta or knows a beta that edits Klaroline stories, please let me know :)

Thanks a lot for the many reviews, most people voted for Inevitable, but want to let you know I'll write the three of them. It's just I'll start with that one. I think this one has 12-15 chapters more... but if I have more betas, I can handle more stories without stopping updating every week.

Thanks a lot to my current, and lovely, beta Erin.

Have a nice weekend you all. And don't forget to review and make this girl happy :)

Babi