Words are Weapons 21
Thanks guys for all the support and kind words. I'm having so much fun writing this story.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters.
Caroline wasn't feeling great the morning after her night of drinking with the boys. Klaus was sitting up next to her with his laptop, looking way too chipper when she cracked one eye open before quickly re-closing it. His smile was annoying when he saw her groan her way into sitting up. Her hands went to her head, making sure it was still there. It was there and it pounded. She was so thirsty.
With a lot of noise, she put her legs over the side of the bed, moving a lock of brown hair out of her face. "I need blood, water, Advil, and something to eat," she croaked in her morning voice.
"In that order?" he asked with a grin. This was the Caroline he got to see because of their link, the one with messy hair and mascara smudges. She was perfect in her imperfection.
"Yes," she said as she stood with more moaning and groaning, but she froze mid-step. It was as if someone hit the Pause button on her as she was caught with one foot on the ground, one in the air, leaning forward. "Klaus, um, did I do or say anything last night I'm going to regret?" She didn't need anything else on her plate and she didn't usually forget things that happened, but weird things happened around Klaus.
She dared to peek at him over her shoulder, still stuck trying to get out of bed, balancing carefully. Should she have flipped back the sheet covering his lap? Was he wearing the offensive boxers or not? She was looking closely at his lap for science she told herself. She at least knew she was fully clothed and she was sure they didn't have sex, but did she make him take his clothes off again?
He lost his smile and looked down. Oh boy. What did she do?
"Tell me," she said, heart in her throat, lip caught between her teeth.
"There was one thing…" She held her breath. What did she do? What did she do? Did she try to jump him? It was that, wasn't it? "You said…that you were my friend."
Oh. She finally put her other foot down and straightened, twisting to see him better. "I am," she said simply with a furrowed brow at why that was some dramatic revelation. "I am your friend."
His smile was beautiful. He had egged her on a bit because she was so amusing, but he was still surprised she admitted it and so easily.
"Then you said that you and I would be BFFs, I believe the term was, and you told me that you would replace this bracelet," he said, holding up his wrist, "with a friendship bracelet you made yourself."
He pushed his luck, she thought, with a very dramatic sigh as she rolled her eyes. "There's no way I said that," she vowed, "I missed that week at summer camp in 6th grade and I'm still mad about it." Seeing him grin, she grabbed her pillow and hit him with it as he dodged her blows, laughing.
.
.
.
"What's the problem?" Elijah asked Freya as he watched her tear her hair out.
"I don't know," she said, completely frustrated. "It's not working. I have everything and I've tried all day, but it's not working. She'll be coming and I can't stop her."
Her fingers moved from the soil, ashes, and blood over and over, touching them and trying to figure out the problem. She'd written the spell out and she knew it by heart, having studied it for years, waiting for her chance to be rid of her guardian. She made a knife for Klaus not that long ago that was correct, so where did she go wrong this time?
"Are you sure the ashes are real?" Her wild blue eyes bore into Elijah.
"They are Viking ashes, as you requested," he confidently said.
"What's going on?" Rebekah asked as she walked in. So far, so good was the answer for her.
The work room was an absolute mess. There were spilled bottles leaking various colored items onto the table top. The windows were open and a light breeze was fluttering the curtains. Rebekah only practiced magic for a very short time, but she felt comfortable in the space. It could have been her mixing up potions and chanting spells.
"She can't make the weapon," Elijah said and she didn't see the lethal look Freya shot him as her fingers went to her trusty blue pendant hanging around her neck.
"Hope will end up with Dahlia if we can't kill her," Rebekah said, snapping at her siblings.
"Can we wait her out?" Elijah asked. Dahlia and Freya were only awake one year out of every century. If they couldn't kill Dahlia, maybe they could just defend against her until the year was over. By then, in a century, maybe Hope would know how to make the weapon to protect herself.
"The only difference between when I made the weapon before and now is you two constantly in here." Is this what having a family meant? Constantly being in their presence when trying to accomplish something important? Why wouldn't they leave her alone? If Rebekah wasn't shoving food in her face, it was Elijah asking how she was doing.
Rebekah hadn't just messed with the blood. That was the start, but the night before after Freya went to bed at 4am, she also added some of their backyard soil to the Norwegian soil, mixing it all up. She also found some fine silt outside to add to the ashes, similar enough in color to contaminate them. Freya's only option was to start from scratch, getting all new ingredients, which would mean another significant trip for Elijah to get not only the ashes, but soil too.
"From now on, I'll seal my door with magic."
"It's so wonderful having a sister," Rebekah snarked. She only had to stall Freya a little longer.
"If you feel you must do that to accomplish your goal, do it," Elijah said. He'd confirmed with Gia that nothing unusual happened to her. She'd been keeping a low profile and hadn't seen Klaus at all.
"Elijah, how are we going to get Dahlia once the weapon is made?" Rebekah then turned to Freya. "Do you have a way to contact her?"
"She doesn't just want Hope," Freya said, fingers never leaving her pendant. "She wants all three of us witches together. She'll punish me for leaving her. If I go out in public and perform magic, she'll find me."
"It's better you stay in here then until we're ready," Elijah agreed. "When will Niklaus meet Dahlia?"
"I don't know," Rebekah said, pushing a hand through one side of her hair.
"Do you think you can find out?" Freya asked. She'd have Elijah as her protection if Rebekah went out.
"He snapped my neck yesterday," she said reminded them, "but I can find out." It was her turn to be given a task. Elijah got the ashes and Freya was making the weapon. "I'm going to meet Marcel tonight. I'll see if he knows anything. If that doesn't work, I'll talk to Nik."
Elijah knew he wouldn't be able to get anywhere with Niklaus, but Rebekah and Klaus had a relationship different than the one he shared with Klaus. Elijah was the one who attached the bracelet and was the one to dagger him also.
"Let me get back to work," Freya said, ready to try again.
.
.
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After a greasy breakfast and the other things Caroline listed, plus vervain, she felt better physically. Klaus felt ok too. Things were progressing. Bonnie and Davina were working on the spells. Rebekah was doing what she could to stall the rest of the Mikaelsons. Caroline still had moments where she was reminded of her very dark time, intrusive thoughts persisting, but she tried to focus on being productive to keep herself sane. Her moods were all over the place though. She'd be laughing one minute and crying the next. She had no idea when they would change, just that they would.
They replaced her phone while out for breakfast. When they returned, she used his laptop to work on her fundraising ideas, more and more things coming together. As always, she felt good about being able to cross items off her to-do list. Then he used his computer and she worked on her plans. All of a sudden all of the little things that she'd been able to overlook for a few days piled up and she couldn't take it. There were dirty dishes on the counter. She had no place to put her clothes, still mostly in bags. Klaus was all mellow and she was the one freaking out. She couldn't concentrate. She could feel herself getting worked up.
"I'm so sick of this," Caroline snapped at Klaus out of nowhere. "Also, I can feel you breathing on me."
He quirked his brow at her from across the table, not sure that was possible.
"You're hovering," she repeated, needing to get some space. He was across the table, yes, but he was still always so freaking close. She felt like the walls were closing in on her.
"Where is it you suggest I move?"
"Don't be like that." Being stuck so close to Klaus constantly had become a huge issue for her. Not being able to get more than ten feet from someone for so many days wasn't normal and she really would do almost anything to be in a room by herself for even five minutes. With the loft apartment and not being able to go for a walk on her own, there was no place to get privacy except the bathroom, but even then Klaus had to stand near the door.
Klaus stood up, put his arms out and stepped back dramatically as far as he could into the kitchen area.
She made a face.
"Where can I go?" he repeated, a little cranky himself, not sure what she wanted from him, holding up his wrist as a reminder. He would like to get a few minutes away from her too. There was absolutely no privacy ever. He liked to hide out in his art studio to get away from his minions and family and as much as loved spending time with Caroline, it was hard. It was hard not being able to get up and do whatever he wanted. It was hard being inactive for so long. There was their brief visit to his home the day earlier, but overall he was not usually so idle.
Caroline crossed her arms over her chest, aggravated. "You wanted this, not me."
"Did I?" His eyes narrowed and hers sparked lightning. "I don't recall holding you down and attaching that bracelet to you. You were the one who told Bonnie not to bother getting it off."
"Clearly, I made a mistake," she said, nose in the air.
"Clearly," he repeated and then he looked at her, trying to regain an even-temper. "I'm not going to fight with you about this. Let's just get through the next few days."
Caroline stood, sending the chair flying. She wanted to fight. She desperately wanted to fight with him. Why was he being reasonable? "Too bad."
He put his hands behind his back and it irked her so much that she closed in on him, right in his face. "Don't act all superior to me."
He stayed quiet and she looked for buttons to push. "In a few days, I'm out of here, leaving everything behind."
His eyes shuttered.
"Aww, did I hurt your feelings? How does it feel to be the one with unrequited feelings? You're the poor sap I was a month ago. Do you get off on the pain, Klaus? Do you think about all the things I did with Stefan and wish it was you with me instead of him?"
She circled him and watched his face get more and more red. She was hurting herself too, but she could feel it, really feel it and she never felt more alive. What was a minor annoyance turned into a much bigger conflict, but also the possibility for a greater release of her anger.
"I wasn't the one…" he started and then he bit his tongue. He wouldn't have done any of the things Stefan did. She would see that if she wasn't so upset, he knew. This was just another way Caroline was letting out all the emotions she didn't let herself have for almost a month.
"Go on," she said. "Finish your sentence. At least you weren't the one who what? Say it," she yelled. "Fight me!"
"No," he said calmly, watching her.
"Fight me," she yelled again. "I want you to fight me. Be real. Tell me what an idiot I am. Tell me I'm not the woman who fascinated you, that I'm ruined. Say it," she said, angry tears in her eyes. "Tell me I'm playing games with you and you hate it. Tell me I'm ruining you, hurting you too."
Klaus didn't say anything, caught between wanting to give her the fight she wanted so badly and telling her that everything would be ok.
"You can't even do that for me," she scoffed nastily and she turned away from him. "I can't wait until I'm gone."
He snapped.
"Don't turn your back on me," he yelled, irate that she couldn't leave well enough alone, digging in and taking advantage of his feelings for her. She wanted to fight, they would fight.
It stopped her in her tracks and she kept her back to him, wanting to see how far he'd go, feeling chills go up her spine.
"I said, don't turn your back on me." His voice was lethal. This was the thousand year old Original Hybrid.
Slowly she faced him, squaring off. The small apartment felt even smaller.
He was flushed and he gave her what she wanted, pointing at her. "I've been here for you like no one else. I've been the one to listen to you cry. I've been the one who makes sure you eat and drinks blood. I've been the only one who has watched you fall apart. I've given you space and let you choose what you want to do. I don't know what I'm doing and yes, it does hurt, but I've gone along with everything you've wanted since day one," he yelled, getting closer and closer to her, mere inches separating them. "What more could you want from me? Why isn't that enough? Why must you push me away now? I know I'm not the one you want. Have I not messed with your head? Do you need that?"
"So you're whipped by me," she taunted. "What else is new?"
He did not like that one bit, she saw as his head reared back. Then he took a step back, trying to rein in his temper, but not being able to do so. There was a quick flash of yellow in his eyes and she loved it. She noticed how hot he looked, big and imposing right in front of her in the bright kitchen. His blue eyes and blonde hair didn't look angelic now. He gave a good as he got.
"You're one to talk, sweetheart," he snapped back, referring to Stefan, with a sneer. "Too soon?" he asked with false sincerity. It was the Klaus who first came to Mystic Falls talking to her just then. It was familiar, except this one knew her and possibly knew her better than herself.
Her eyes blazed, letting everything out, glad to have someone she could really go toe to toe with. "You're angry. Does this mean you'll bite me?"
That stopped him and all the fight left him, stunned. "No," he said softly. "Do you really think I'd hurt you?" How could she think that after everything?
She stomped her foot when she saw how much she hurt him deep down. Klaus was so vulnerable under that shell, especially vulnerable to her and she went too far. All of it was too much. He hadn't done anything wrong and that frustrated her because she felt like she did everything wrong.
"Ugh, Klaus, we're fighting and it's mean and I'm finally mad at someone else for no reason and now you're really hurt." She realized what she'd done, being awful again, and she began to cry. Was she really that bad of a person? "I don't want that and I don't want to be able to say these things to you, but I want to fight because I feel helpless. I don't feel helpless when I fight with you, but I hate it too. If I say yes, will you keep fighting with me?"
His eyes lightened, understanding her a little more as she spoke quickly, the words spilling from her in a panic. "Yes, because if you believe that, I will be very angry."
She cried harder and he pulled her into his arms. Why couldn't she pull herself together? Why was turning her humanity on so much harder than she imagined?
With Klaus holding her close, Caroline cried into his chest, soaking his shirt, and his hands stroked her hair, soothing her, finally being able to tell her everything would be ok. He kissed the top of her head and it was so sweet, she cried all the more.
"No, I know you won't hurt me. Klaus, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't mean any of it," she barely got out. "I saw a chance to let a lot of anger out and it landed on you. I'm sorry for everything. Please forgive me." Her arms held onto him.
"Already done, sweetheart. I'm sorry, too. I tried to stay out of it and I made it worse. I'm a bit moody myself, you know."
"You've been so steady and I want to be like that. You're handling this better than I am." She sniffed into his shirt, rubbing her face into it. "I didn't mean any of it. I just wanted to make you as crazy as I was. Please, believe me." She had to get back to a good place with him. He meant so much to her that she knew she was repeating herself, but she couldn't help herself. Klaus had to forgive her.
"I didn't mean any of it either, Caroline. I'm here for you as long as you let me." He pulled her even closer, speaking into her hair. "You're not helpless. You're so strong. You're managing far better than anyone else I know would under these circumstances. I'm so sorry, Caroline," he said. "I'm so sorry that you're lost. I'm sorry that you lost your mom. I'm sorry that everything fell apart. I'm sorry that I have no idea how to help you." He realized he hadn't actually told her that before. "You're going to be ok. Do you remember when I was in Tyler's body and you were afraid? I told you then that you would have a beautiful life. That's still true."
Caroline was quiet as the tears stopped. She could hear Klaus' steady heartbeat under her ear. Klaus had seen it all and she believed him. Every day she made progress, but there were setbacks as she tried to move forward. It might take a while, but she knew she could do it. Klaus had faith in her.
"I'd really like to go one day without crying, but you've been great, Klaus." She exhaled, feeling like she'd run a marathon as she took a step back from his embrace, wiping under her eyes. She spoke without thinking, ready to try and move past their spat. "If we were dating, that would have ended up as amazing angry sex and then better make up sex."
He groaned, feeling the tension start to leave him when a new tension snuck in, rubbing a hand over his face. "Caroline."
"But we aren't dating, we're friends. What colors would you like in the friendship bracelets I will manage to weave for us?" she asked with a grin, wanting to be back to ok with him and herself. He rolled his eyes with a smile.
"I have an idea," he offered. It wasn't something he would do, but he thought of something that might work for the struggling beautiful blonde in front of him.
Klaus took her arm and led her over to the cabinets. Reaching in, he pulled out a stack of plates into his arms. He put one in her hand. "Smash it."
She quirked a brow, not sure. It seemed so cliche and it would make a mess.
"Go ahead. Smash them."
It wasn't like her and she felt like most of her anger was gone as quickly as it came, but deep down she was still frustrated at the situation she created. Focusing that energy, she threw the plate on the concrete floor where it landed in tiny little pieces.
She smiled and grabbed another. Klaus went to his computer and put on some music to fit the mood: punk. The volume went up as high as it could go. Caroline threw all the plates, sometimes yelling out her feelings as she heaved them as hard as she could against the floor, getting nicked on occasion by flying shards. When the plates were done, she moved onto the bowls and cups, giving some to Klaus for him to throw too, as she danced and smashed. It became a contest to see how much they could pulverize the material. The sound was deafening against the polished concrete floors along with the feverish guitars, but it felt so good.
Caroline let out a breath when they were done and he turned down the music, surprised no neighbors paid them a visit. "Thanks. I feel better." She looked up at him. "If I pick a stupid fight with you again, hand me a cup, ok? Now we can't eat and have a huge mess to clean up."
He shrugged his shoulders, unconcerned with the practicalities.
Caroline couldn't help what she did next. Her hand reached out and she fixed his hair for him as he smiled.
Working together, they cleaned up the dishes, putting all of the dust and shards into the trash and tying the bag off. They'd have to replace what they broke.
Caroline returned to the table and coaxed Klaus into sitting right next to her, not wanting him to think anything she said during their fight, including him hovering, was how she really felt. They had lunch off of same paper towels a little later.
While she was online, she accidentally came across a website advertising something in the local area. She covertly clicked on the link, making sure Klaus couldn't see, and it seemed like a golden opportunity. She signed them up for the activity and when it was an hour ahead of time, she closed the laptop and gave him a smile he was instantly suspicious of.
"Porn, again?" he asked, knowing she was up to something.
"Klaus," she yelped. "No. I would never," she said, putting her hand on her chest with a small smile. "We're busting out of here. Come on."
He knew they needed at least dishes and he was ready to do something else. It was boring not having his things around. They were splitting time with the computer, but there was only so much online television he could take and clearly they needed to get out of the apartment more before they both went crazy.
Outside, she gave him the address and he plugged it into the SUV's GPS. He found a parking spot nearby after a short drive. The address led to a gray building with large windows, black shutters, and the classic black wrought iron New Orleans was famous for.
"Caroline," he asked when they stood in front of it, people going inside past them, "What are we doing here?"
"To say sorry for this afternoon, to say thank you for going along with all of my crazy ideas, and to say thank you for everything you've done the past couple of days, which I appreciate more than you can ever know, I signed us up for something I think you might like. My treat."
He squinted at the building, still really unsure what was going on in there.
"It's a painting class," she said and his eyes lit up, making her feel really good. She saw the idea advertised and it looked perfect. "They teach us how to paint one specific painting, but I need that help. You don't. I think you should paint whatever you want. It's three hours and we get to drink while we do it!"
She clapped at that part and he grinned. She pointed at a liquor store across the street. The website mentioned it's nearby location. They had glasses inside the art class for them to use.
"I know that this is your thing and you miss your studio. Our place is too small to paint, but maybe it will help you think." She wanted to give back to the people around her and this was something small she could do for Klaus who really had been incredible.
"Caroline, I…" he said, touched. "This is brilliant. Thank you."
She almost wanted to blush. She took his arm and they bought some wine and joined the class. The room was larger than expected with stations set up all over. They were early, but the business encouraged people to come and hang out. They took their seats in the back of the room. Cracking open the wine, Caroline encouraged him to start his painting. She was going to wait for the instruction.
There were about 10 other people in the class, leaving empty places so they weren't on top of one another. Caroline people-watched. There were couples and friends doing it. Most were enjoying drinks before class began like they were. She tried to peek at what Klaus was doing since he immediately started to create something, but he hid it. Her canvas was blank while his hands moved from the mixing palette and canvas, back and forth. He didn't say anything about the lack of paint colors or measly brush selection. He was looking at his phone often she noticed.
"You could have asked me to pose," she said over her glass of wine. Seriously!
He looked up and winked which made her grin. Was it weird she got the best feeling whenever Klaus winked at her?
Another few minutes went by and she was dying to see what he was doing, but he angled his canvas away from her. "Klaus, you're going to finish before I start," she said, whispering. There was about twenty minutes before they were supposed to begin.
"That's the idea," he said, moving quickly.
"Can I see?" she asked, trying to sneak under his arm, grabbing his bicep to move it out of the way.
"When we leave," he promised, loving the feel of her body so close to his, and she consoled herself with wine. He looked up to see the clock and worked feverishly. It wasn't his best worst, but for less than an hour he thought it was passable.
He set the painting down facing away from Caroline. Taking her hand, they walked to the sink. He cleaned the brushes and paint up. Caroline blocked him, smiling at people. She told a few that he was a germaphobe which was why he was washing everything. Klaus was using more material than he was supposed to. With a minute to spare, he pilfered the canvas from the unused station in front of them to get set up again.
With a smile, the instructor came out and introduced herself. She showed the painting they would be duplicating. It was a scene of New Orleans at night. Caroline wasn't sure she could do it, but she was ready to try. There was something comforting about trying something new with Klaus.
They went step by step. Klaus did the same painting as Caroline, again wanting to share an experience with her. He did let her peek at his, which had his own style she noticed jealously. He smiled at her. She did well. The instructor came around every few steps, helping them along. Of course, the teacher was impressed by Klaus and he was smug which made Caroline smile.
"Do you want my help?" he asked when she was hesitant over a step where they were adding shadows. He noticed she was squinting and biting her lip.
She wasn't sure. She wanted it to be hers, but he knew what he was doing. They had barely started and his looked great.
"Can you tell me again what I'm supposed to do here?"
He explained it and helped her mix the correct color and she put it on the painting, proud of how it looked like the original.
"Thanks, Klaus." She noticed once again that he let her decide how to handle it, but helped her with it. He was being so patient with her.
They drank and talked as they painted, light conversations. She asked him about what he liked to paint and why. Flittering here and there on various subjects, they chatted.
"Do you think Rebekah would die if she knew we were off painting and drinking while she's working so hard in that crazy house?"
He smirked. "Yes."
She laughed.
"Rebekah," he said as he added some texture to the sky, "has a special bond with Hope. If not for daggering me, I would have said we've been getting along better too." He thought about it. "She's more than made up for it," he said finally and Caroline agreed. Rebekah had been putting herself in danger for him and his daughter.
Painting did help him think and when they were almost finished, something came to him. "Caroline, do you remember when Dahlia visited me?"
"When I drew on your face?" She grinned, not believing she even had the nerve to do that. How could she forget it? That was about as artistic as she was, drawing a handlebar mustache on Klaus. "I was young and beautiful back then."
His eye roll could not have been bigger. "I haven't been sure how to keep Dahlia in the living room or getting her there out of someplace else, keeping her off balance. Obviously, meeting in my home is an absolute she'll have to agree to. She should be suspicious. I did try to kill her after all."
"Yeah," she said as she watched his hands move so elegantly over the canvas. The paint and the accent had Klaus looking and sounding more refined than ever. Could she admit that she was glad that the hunkiest and most talented guy in the room was with her?
"I told you how fastidious she was with her clothes, how much she disliked any signs of dirt and dust. I can use that."
"How?"
"I think my house needs some renovations," he said with a gleam in his eye. "Starting tomorrow the front foyer will be ripped up for some new flooring. It's a quite dusty job, you know," he smirked. "How do you feel about indoor gardens?"
She lifted her glass to take a sip, "Love them."
"I was thinking planter boxes in the courtyard. I want them deep enough for some small palms or ferns."
"Sounds messy," she agreed, loving the idea, but seeing an issue. "How will you get this past Elijah?"
"Why would he care?"
She shrugged and went back to her painting, getting the moon's glow just right. If he said it was fine, it probably would be fine. In the end, Klaus would make the living room the best possible spot for Dahlia to speak with him, plus having her go through a dusty front door would set her off automatically.
It was a Sunday afternoon, but Klaus got on his phone to his usual contractor and told him he needed the foyer ripped up the following morning. He told him to leave the mess, he'd take care of it, and to return on Wednesday to finish the work. Tuesday was the day they would be meeting Dahlia and Klaus didn't want any extra people around for Dahlia to possess. He made all of the arrangements, including paying through the nose to get the job started immediately with his odd request. Klaus had to wait the following day to call for a soil delivery.
Caroline found that adding her signature to the painting was hard, but also a really fun part. She liked the stamp of ownership it represented. Klaus signed his with a flourish as if he'd done it a thousand times, which she was sure he had.
"You've done this before," the instructor said as she came around for the final time. She noticed it before of course, but his work was better than the original.
"He's a professional," Caroline said, proud of him. Yeah, she could admit that she liked being there with him.
"Thank you," he said, all shy and sweet looking.
The instructor complimented Caroline's painting also, finding many nice things to say about it. Caroline had to admit she was pretty happy with it too. For three hours, no experience, and a bottle of wine split with Klaus, it was good. Klaus saw her happy with herself for something she accomplished by her own merit, something simple and pure, and it made him happy too. Maybe she got a little relief from painting like he did when he painted.
"Klaus," she said, standing in front of his when it was just them, "Yours is really good."
"I've been doing this a very long time, sweetheart. Yours is beautiful." He moved them over to hers and mentioned a particular area of her painting that he really enjoyed. "You have a good eye."
He was curious. "Did you like it?"
"It was really more fun than I thought it would be. Yeah, yeah I did like it."
They finished the wine and cleaned up as they waited for the last area of paint to dry. It was acrylic and wouldn't take long. A few people came over to say hi and check their works out, obviously impressed by Klaus'. Klaus and Caroline did the same, saying hello to others and admiring their works as they wandered. There was laughing and teasing all over.
"You two are the cutest couple," an older woman said.
"We're just friends," Caroline said shyly.
"Sure. Sure," the woman said with pity, patting Caroline's hand which made Klaus smirk.
"Now you like humans," Caroline said so only he could hear and it made him chuckle.
Outside it was warm and sunny. Klaus had his two paintings in his hand. Caroline had hers.
When they got to the car, he opened the back seat to put them inside.
They turned to each other and at the same time said, "I want you to have it." He wanted her to have some New Orleans when she inevitably left. She wanted him to have a sincere thank you for everything from her.
"Caroline," he said, sincerely, "That was perfect. Thank you."
She got shy again. He was looking at her with so much emotion.
"I did this quickly and I hope this doesn't upset you, but this is for you too."
He turned his secret painting around and she clapped her hands to her mouth, beginning to cry.
"It's not good. I should have spent more time on it if I was going to give it to you. Forget it," he said, mad at himself, turning to put it into the trunk to throw away. "You don't need another reminder."
She stopped him with a hand on the arm. "Klaus, no, I love it. Give it to me, please."
He gave it to her and with her heart in her throat, she admired the painting of her mom. It was the picture she picked for her mom's obituary. How could he create something so profound in such a short period of time? Caroline traced along her mom's cheek as tears gently fell down. "She was so beautiful."
With reverence, she put it in the back seat along with the others. Shutting the door with their work safely inside, she wiped under her eyes. She saw him standing by her side. He didn't need a bracelet to be there she knew. She didn't deserve such devotion or even friendship.
Without words, she threw herself into his arms, hugging him around the neck as tightly as she could. He was surprised, but his arms circled her waist.
"Klaus, I will never, ever forget this. I love it. Thank you for doing it for me." The words were whispered near his ear and she squeezed him even tighter before letting him go with a kiss on the cheek.
Stepping back, she smiled, needing to get past the emotional moment. "Can we go to dinner?"
"I'd like that," he agreed.