Hey guys! I am finally back with an update and I would like to apologize for how long it took. This past week, I was on vacation and didn't really want to do anything except relax, but now that I am back I will try and update a lot quicker!
Enjoy :)
On their way to the foster home that Ari was currently living in, Caroline noticed that Klaus was being quieter than usual.
"Is everything okay?" The blonde asked as she put her hand on his arm.
As a crease appeared in between his eyebrows, Caroline realized that indeed, there was something wrong.
"Last night, I thought that our date went splendidly well..."
"It did," he agreed through gritted teeth. "I just have a lot on my mind lately."
"Within the span of a few hours, you've started to have a lot on your mind? If I came on too strong last night, I want you to know that that wasn't my intention at all."
"You didn't come on too strong, sweetheart." He reassured her.
"So, then was it Katherine's blatant behavior? Because if it was, I'll have a talk with her immediately."
"Love, honestly don't worry about it. There are times when I have bad days and it seems like today is one of those days, so just ignore me."
"I want you to be happy, Klaus." Caroline told him.
"As do I," he agreed. "But really, give me a day or so and everything will return to normal no problem."
"Okay," she sighed. "Do you think we have time to stop by a toy store? I want to get Ari something."
"Of course," he nodded. "I know just where we can go to get Ari a gift. And then we can head to the bakery."
"Bakery?" Caroline said. "Damn, I don't even know what his favorite pastry is." The blonde sighed as she put her face in her hands.
"Lucky for you, I do. When I visit Ari, we talk about these things after all." Klaus assured her, giving her one of his smiles that unfortunately didn't reach his stormy blue-gray eyes.
Smiling at him dreamily, the blonde leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"You're one of the greatest guys I've ever met." She admitted.
"Is that so?" He asked. "From what I remember, when we first met I was an asshole to you."
"True," she agreed. "But you calmed me down when I was freaking out on that wall."
"Indeed," he smirked. "That was our first kiss." The Brit recalled, a ghost of a smile appearing on his lips.
"But certainly not our last." She reassured him as the light turned red and she pressed her lips to his own.
"Red Velvet Cupcake." Klaus told her as he placed his leg on the gas and they pulled away from one another.
"What?" Caroline asked, the confusion evident in her voice.
"Ari's favorite is that particular cupcake. He enjoys eat the cream cheese first and then biting into the cupcake.
"Why do I have a feeling that every time you visit him you get him sweets from the bakery?"
"Because I do?" He said as he bit down on his bottom lip and looked down at his lap.
Laughing out loud, Caroline smiled widely and settled back into the seat.
"You're an angel." She told him, looking at him in awe.
"Far from it," he declared, looking away from her.
Within the next hour, the two were entering the foster home. As Caroline was smoothing out her shorts, she shifted from one foot to the other.
"You're nervous." Klaus said, stating the obvious as he sighed and put his arm around her shoulder.
"I am not," the blonde denied as she moved a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"If you're not then why are you all jittery?" Klaus asked her, looking at her with his eyebrows furrowed together in a knowing expression.
"Fine!" She huffed as she stomped her feet together and winced as the pain traveled to her knees.
"Are you alright, darling? You should have taken your crutches with you."
"I am not some invalid, Klaus. And anyway, I have to start walking on my own if I want to get better anytime soon."
"You already are better though, sweeting. And for that I am forever grateful."
"Are you?" She challenged as her bright blue eyes lit up and a small smile appeared on her glossy lips.
"Oh yes," he nodded as he moved closer to her.
When he was just about to place his lips on her cheek, one of the instructors came towards them.
"Shalom," she smiled as she waved at them and motioned for them to come inside further.
"Shalom," they said in unison as they followed her into the lobby.
"May I ask if Ari Shechets is here?" Klaus said as he looked at the older woman.
"Of course," she responded. "Ari is currently enjoying a story being told by one of our volunteers, but I can call him if you'd like."
"Oh, no." Klaus quickly said. "We'll simply wait for the lad to be finished, won't we, love?" He added, looking in Caroline's direction.
"Yep," she nodded.
"Very well then, you may have a seat over there." She told them, motioning to the sofa behind them. Then, the woman looked down at her watch and said, "Ari will be out in about fifteen minutes, but for now you may look over the magazines or even play with some of the other kids in the playroom."
"Where is the playroom located, precisely?" Caroline asked as she held up the large box. "We've brought the children some cookies. Hopefully that is allowed."
"Of course it is," the woman smiled. "That is very kind of the both of you, truly."
"Thank you," they said, smiling at one another fondly.
"Now, how about you two follow me to the playroom and when Ari is finished, I'll tell him where you guys are at. May I have your names?"
"Caroline and Klaus." Klaus answered as he took ahold of the blonde's hand.
Nodding, the woman motioned for them to follow and they did just that.
Twenty minutes in, Klaus and Caroline were playing hide and seek with the kids that didn't have any activities. As the blonde counted to ten, she heard a little girl's giggle and opened one eye.
Looking in his direction, she spotted him at face level with a girl that couldn't have been more than two. He was making silly faces at her and her curly blonde hair was bouncing up and down in excitement as she clapped her hands together.
The other kids surrounded him and watched him with wonder in their different colored eyes. All of them had smiles on their faces and Caroline decided to move in their direction even though she was supposed to be counting.
Smiling, she sat down beside Klaus and placed her hand on his back.
Looking over his shoulder, the Brit gave the blonde a wide smile that finally reached his eyes and she smiled back.
"Aren't you supposed to be counting, love?" Klaus asked, the curiosity evident in his voice as well as the amusement.
"Yep," she nodded. "Except as I was counting, I heard this adorable little girl's giggles and had to see for myself what was going on." Caroline told him as she motioned for the little girl to come closer. Moving on her little feet, the little girl fell into Caroline's arms and she picked her up.
"And what did you see?" He asked, even though he very well knew the answer that she would supply him.
"You having a blast, of course." She replied as she wiped away the remnants of the cookie from the girl's lips gently.
"Of course," he agreed, chuckling. "With all of these kids around me, I cannot help it."
"I don't blame you." Caroline stated. "Although I am upset that you have successfully gained all off their attention and they no longer seem interested in playing hide and seek."
"Well, what can I say? Children happen to be very fond of me- why, I know not." He admitted.
"I do," the little girl proclaimed as she moved her chubby fingers in unison.
"Do you?" Klaus asked and Caroline looked down at the beautiful princess with a curious expression in her bright blue eyes.
"Mhm," she nodded. "You talk funny." She told him as a brilliant smile appeared on her little lips and her green eyes turned a shade lighter.
"I agree," Caroline said as she burst out laughing.
The two of them laughed in unison and the girl began playing with strands of Caroline's blonde hair that matched hers so well.
"Mama." She said as she moved her little fingers to Caroline's cheeks and squeezed gently.
Caroline's smile wavered and she looked over at Klaus, unsure of herself.
"Enough, Ellie." The woman that led them to the playroom said as she took ahold of the child and held her in her arms.
"Mama," Ellie repeated as she outstretched her hands in Caroline's direction.
As tears filled the blonde's eyes, the excited footsteps coming from the doorway made her look that way.
Ari was running in her direction with a charming smile on his lips and as soon as he was close to her, he wrapped his arms around her.
"Caroline," Ari said as he smiled brightly. "You finally came."
"Of course I did, sweetheart. How are they treating you here?"
"Good," he assured her. "I just wish I had an actual home, you know?"
"Yeah," she sighed as the two sat down on the carpet together.
The other kids trailed away with Klaus' urging and soon thereafter, he joined them.
"Caroline and I brought you a treat, lad." Klaus told him as he held up the white bag with a smile on his lips.
"The Red Vel-" Ari started as his excitement seemed to escalate and he clapped his hands together.
"The Red Velvet Cupcake," Klaus finished for him as he handed the bag to Caroline.
Caroline took out the cupcake and Ari's eyes lit up as he outstretched his hand.
Laughing, Caroline handed him the cupcake as if she was the server and he was the prince which made the little boy laugh harder.
A couple of minutes later, Ari devoured the cupcake and as he munched on the last bite, he gave the two of them a toothy grin.
"Ari, your tooth!" Caroline cried out, just realizing that he was missing his top tooth.
"Oh, yeah." He said as he ran his tongue over the empty cranny. "My tooth fell out two days ago." He clarified as he clapped his hands together.
"Did it? How'd it fall?" Caroline wondered, genuinely curious.
"I was eating a plum and I bit into the seed. My tooth was already shaking, though, so it was gonna happen."
"True enough," she agreed. "But would you like a word of advice?" The blonde offered as she wrapped her arm around his shoulder.
"Sure," he nodded, looking up at her with genuine inquisitiveness written all over his face.
"Well, I'm going to go ahead and assume that you want your teeth to be straight, yes?" She asked.
"Mhm," he nodded. "My aba and ima had straight teeth without having to wear those thingies." He confessed, a sad look appearing on his face.
"Aw," Caroline sighed as she gave him a kiss on the forehead. "You know what would make your parents happy, Ari?" She asked as she saw his eyes fill with tears.
"What?" He sniffed as he wiped at the tears that escaped.
Before the blonde could answer, Klaus went to Ari's other side and placed a soothing hand on his shoulder and gave him a reassuring squeeze.
"Your parents would be happy if you allowed your teeth to grow of their own accord without licking them." Caroline told him.
Nodding, Ari wiped away his tears and gave the two of them a watery smile.
"Can we go to the park?" He asked them as he motioned in the direction of the door that would lead them outside.
"Yes," Caroline told him immediately. "Let's go to the park!" The blonde cried out excitedly.
The next few hours seemed to fly by as as the two were pulling up to the base, Caroline noticed that Klaus was quieter than usual.
"Everything okay?" She asked him, the confusion evident in her voice as she placed her hand on his cheek gently.
Pushing her hand away, he removed his seatbelt and got out of the car. Frowning, Caroline got out as well and as she approached him, she saw him running his fingers through his dirty blonde hair.
"What's going on, Klaus?" Caroline asked as she went around him and stopped in front of him.
"I need some space, Caroline." He admitted, looking up at her under his eyelashes.
"Space?" She asked.
"You're suffocating me, Caroline..." Klaus clarified as he cleared his throat and itched the base of his neck.
"We've literally been dating for two days, Klaus. How in the hell am I already suffocating you, pray tell?"
"We were together for most of the day yesterday and today... I just need some time apart from you."
"Are you breaking up with me?" The blonde asked, the confusion evident in her voice as well as the disbelief.
"Looks like it, yes." He nodded. "I'm sorry,"
"You're sorry? Because of you everybody on that fucking base thinks that we're dating! What the hell are they going to say when we start ignoring one another?
"I know," he nodded. "I shouldn't have said what I did, but it is done and we can't go back in time... You shouldn't care what they will say considering that in two weeks you will never have to see any of them save your friends ever again."
"Right," she nodded. "Screw you, Klaus." She spat before she turned on her heel and walked away from him with her hands clenched into fists.
Though Klaus wanted to run after the blonde that he was growing to care for deeply, he kept his feet planted firmly on the ground... He wouldn't allow his father to talk nonsense about Caroline, she didn't deserve it. Also, he thought that if everything between them worked out after the program came to an end, all would be well.
For the next two weeks, he would have to solely focus on the cadets, not Caroline.
There you have it! And some of you may wondering or not why I decided to have Ari's tooth fall out because he ate a plum- well, when I was like five or six, my first tooth fell when I myself was biting into a plum, so I thought why not? Also, Klaus is totally being an ass, I know, but he'll regret it! Duhhh, hehe
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~Hana :p