"Is this what you think I want?" Caroline laughed as she held up the dress he'd given her. "This is for little girls."
"Why love, what's wrong with it?" Klaus frowned as he raised himself up on his elbows.
"It's fluffy. Fluffy and pink and lacey and –fluffy. Not to mention-"
"Fluffy?" Klaus smiled. "It suits you."
Caroline rolled her eyes. Klaus gave a hearty laugh.
"Adorable."
"Shut up." Caroline bit back her smile. "I can't do this."
Klaus cocked an eyebrow as he slightly tilted his head and sat up on the bed.
"It's just a party. My brother wants to do this to clear the air between everyone."
"It's not your idea then?" Caroline questioned.
Klaus laughed. "No. He wants to make up with the Salvatores and to assure them I'm safe to be around I suppose."
Caroline let out a cheerful laughter.
"That y-you're safe t-to be around-" she bursted into another laughter.
Klaus smiled as he nodded slowly.
"That's gold." Caroline chuckled a bit more as she turned around to look at herself in the mirror. She held up the arm of the pink, long dress which was almost completely covered with lace.
"Lacey and fluffy." She muttered.
"You want me to take it back to the store?" Klaus eyed her.
Caroline glared at him. "Don't you dare...I...can get used to it."
Klaus shook his head as he laughed.
"I knew it, love." He walked up to her and pulled her back closer to his chest and swayed a bit.
"You love it. You'll look adorable." He grinned.
"Stop that." Caroline wiggled in his arms and he laughed again as he moved in to whisper in her ear.
"Beautiful..."
Caroline closed her eyes slowly and sighed.
"Such a temptress."
Caroline grinned.
"Get out."
Klaus chuckled and gave her a small kiss on the cheek.
"I'll pick you up."
"I can find my way to your house, thank you." Caroline smiled.
"Nah, I think I'll pick you up." Klaus smiled back.
"Whatever." Caroline turned away to hang the dress.
She heard Klaus say. "Just because you're nervous to officially meet my brother."
"You—." Caroline threw the hairbrush she'd just picked up.
She heard Klaus laugh as he disappeared.
She turned away with a soft smile on her lips and rolled her eyes. "I'm. not . nervous.— not at all." she said to her reflection.
"Not a bit." She said as she ran her hand through her hair. She only needed to figure out how to tell her mom and dad.
"What're you trying to say, Caroline? He's here? Why didn't I know about this?"
"Mom, this isn't easy to explain so just don't jump to conclusions okay?" Caroline put her hand on her mother's knee to keep her still, Liz Forbes calmed down slighlty and stared into her daughters' eyes. "Klaus is here because I want him here."
"What are you saying?"
"He saved my life." Caroline said softly.
"What?"
"I was...I tried to kill myself while we were...when I was with him. This was before we got...involved." She said slowly as she watched her mother's reaction. Mom...Tyler died because he came to save me. He was attacked by a crazy pack of hybrids. Something went wrong with their transformation and...they killed him. Klaus didn't know he was there. He didn't—but I did blame him for a long time. Not nearly as much as I blamed myself...but still."
"Oh, Caroline..." Liz Forbes moved to embrace her daughter but Caroline stood still.
"Mom, please listen..."
Liz nodded.
Caroline looked at her hands.
"After Tyler died, he didn't push me to do anything I didn't already wanted to do. He left me alone. I had so many chances to run and I wasn't scared of him like before. I'd seen him, what he was really like. I knew that even if he came after me...it wasn't the same between us. It just took me so much time to admit that to myself and it's so hard to explain all that happened to you because mom it's not easy. It's just not what you think. I refused to drink blood for some time and I knowingly put myself in danger so many times...He saved me each time and eventually he gave me the choice to turn back home because he could see how much...it hurt me to know I was to blame for Tyler's death."
"It wasn't your fault." Liz said quickly.
"Mom, I know that. I know it wasn't. I know it wasn't what Klaus planned or what I caused directly. But it happened because of me and it killed me. It still kills me."
Liz nodded slowly.
"Baby, your friends...they need to know the truth."
"They won't understand mom." Caroline felt the tears suddenly flowing down her face, "They will blame me, they'll blame Klaus."
"Honey..." Liz Forbes gently lifted up her daughter's face to look at her own.
"Klaus is hardly innocent. Now, I want to believe you and I know you're a smart girl. But he's smarter. What if he's manipulating you? What if he's playing? What if he knew?"
Caroline looked at her mother.
"What do you mean?"
"Maybe he knew Tyler was there, maybe he didn't stop it because he knew you loved him."
"Mom...please stop talking." Caroline got up and turned around.
"Please, just consider—" Liz Forbes stood up.
"No!" Caroline yelled. "I already know the worst of him mom, but he wouldn't be able to look at me if he'd done such a thing. He loves me."
Liz shook her head, her face was pained.
"I hope to God you're right, Caroline." She said slowly. "But remember," She looked into daughter's eyes. "This man abducted you, kept you away from home for a year, tried to kill your friends, killed Jenna...he's capable of anything. Just because he says he loves you doesn't mean—"
Caroline closed her eyes. "Mom, please. He changed."
"So he doesn't drink from humans?" Her mom challenged.
Caroline sighed. "Not like before."
Liz cocked an eyebrow.
"He doesn't kill them, I mean... Damon drinks from humans but you two are buddies." Caroline pointed.
Liz sighed as she shook her head.
"I don't know what you want me to say Caroline. I will stand by you through anything but I can't help but wondering just how much he's supposed to have changed and what happens if you end things? How do you know he won't hurt you?"
"He would never—"
"Your dad won't like this."
"You mean the guy who tried to kill me when he learned I was a vampire? Even he hurt me, mom. So trusting Klaus isn't really an issue and also I can do without the approval of the man who decided to actually be there for me only when I was lost."
Liz was silent for a few seconds before she spoke. "We died everyday while you were gone."
Caroline's face softened when she saw her mother's pained expression.
"I know." She said softly. "But as long as you trust me to handle it, it'll be fine. "
"'The Mikaelsons invite you to' —you're kidding me." Damon looked at Klaus. "You're inviting us to a party?"
Klaus smiled. "I know...But considering your girlfriend—" he looked at Stefan and then back at Damon. "—stayed with Elijah for the better part of the last year I'd say it could be enlightening for the two of you. And between us girls, I belive that's Elijah's goal as well."
Stefan and Damon looked at each other.
"Why did you bring it yourself? Ran out of slaves to do your chores?" Damon smiled.
Klaus shook his head. "No, just decided it'd be better to tell you face to face that I don't want you around Caroline."
Stefan raised an eyebrow.
Damon grinned. "Why? Jealous because we had a fling before you came to town? Relax, it was nothing serious. Just a couple of kids having fun."
Klaus stared at him with a deadly smirk playing at his lips. "Oh I know all about the fun you had. I just don't like it when the woman I love is threatened by incompetent bullies."
Damon pretended to be shocked. "I still have a lot to learn. Also... I wouldn't hurt her. Much."
Klaus was right infront of him, looking directly into his eyes.
"No, you wouldn't, and trust me, I know the full length of your history and how you were vile enough to keep her in your bed by compulsion." He hissed through his teeth. His eyes were sparkling with a deathly glim.
Damon puffed. "Like you never did that."
"Never, actually." Klaus said, tilting his head. "Never needed to." He squinted.
Damon squinted back.
Stefan rolled his eyes.
"Will you two boyfriends drop it? We get the message Klaus. Staying away from Caroline."
"Nice to know, this way I won't have to kill the two of you. For some otherworldy reason she's quick to forgive those who wronged her, including me," he said grimly. "But I'm not like her in that aspect." He turned to look at Stefan. "I assume you know."
"Oh, I do." Stefan confirmed.
"Good. Very well then. I'll be off now." Klaus smiled and walked away.
Damon turned to his brother.
"I still don't wanna go and I still think we should compel Elena to tell us what really happened." Damon said to Stefan.
"Elena's hiding something to keep us safe and that's all I know."
"And you trust her decision?"
"What other chance to I have, Damon?" Stefan asked.
"I don't know, tie her up, make her say it."
"Whatever she knows, for whatever reason she left with Elijah it's because she didn't want to risk our lives. It's something Klaus doesn't know, yet ."
"And Caroline?" Damon asked.
"I think she's kept in the dark just like us."
"That explains it."
"One thing we know, Klaus doesn't seem to care about making hybrids anymore."
"That's because killing Elena didn't work, remember? The question is why doesn't he try again?"
"No, there's something else. Something which must be far more horrible than death for Elena. I know her, she wouldn't run otherwise. Anyway she's safe for now considering how Klaus seems to care about what Caroline thinks. As long as he wants to keep her happy he wouldn't try to hurt Elena."
"Or us, like he says but...these are all assumptions, brother."
"I know..." Stefan nodded. "The Klaus I know wouldn't care as long as he found a way."
"Yup, just because he's distracted by barbie doesn't mean he's forgotten all about his plans."
"So what do you suggest we do?" Stefan asked.
"I don't know yet. I'll let you know when I come up with something. "
"Yeah, think as you dress up. We should keep the original brothers happy." Stefan threw a silver tie to his brother.
Damon rolled his eyes. "Screw them. You think Elena's coming?"
"Jeremy said she's resting and as far as he knows she's not invited to any parties."
"Great." Damon sighed. "Nice way to avoid choosing a date for the party."
Stefan ignored his brother's remark as he started to leave the room. " Shut up and get dressed."
A/N: Remember, reviews are Klaroline kisses.