Pairing: Klaus and Caroline.

Summary: Klaroline through the years. All human.

Rating: T.

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Caroline was four when the Mikaelsons moved in Mystic Falls from England. She was playing in the garden when she first saw the siblings. There were five of them. Soon she found out that Finn was the eldest - and he was twelve. Elijah was next in line, he was ten. Niklaus - or Klaus, or Nik - was eight. Kol was six and Rebekah was only four, as herself. Her Momma told her that Esther Mikaelson, their mother, was once again pregnant.

The first time she spoke with Rebekah was at school, when the girl asked for some of Caroline's crayons. They befriended really quick and by the time they had to go home Caroline and Rebekah were already best friends. The next day Esther invited Caroline over their house and she met the rest of the family. Esther was kind and had a gentle smile, Caroline liked her. Mikael was one big scary man, she shivered with fear when he smiled down at her. Finn was too prim, calling her Miss Caroline. Elijah was like an older brother and they bonded over a movie and their passion for books, although Caroline couldn't read, she loved when her Momma was reading to her and she knew that she'll grow up loving books. Niklaus - or Klaus, or Nik - was quiet. He barley mumbled out his name and a hello. He looked awkward and shy, a contrast to his brother Kol who was charming and a ball of mischief and fun.

But out of all of them, she liked Niklaus the most.

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She was ten and Klaus was fourteen when she first realized that she had a crush on him. Mikel died when she was seven, dragging along with him in the grave Henrik, who was only three. The family was devasted, and Klaus became quitter than before.

Eventually Esther married another man, a man that Caroline grew to love like her own father.

Klaus was a teenager now, sort of, she was still a child. He grew up and turned fantastic. His eyes got darker and more beautiful. His hair was curled with a touch of light brown and blonde. Girls from their school talked about how great and how hot he'll be when he'll grew up.

They never talked too much, she was his little sister's best friend. Not someone of importance.

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The first time she realized that she was in love with him, she was fourteen and he was eighteen, full grown-up now. Incredibly sexy and smoking and perfect in every single way. He was the eldest now - Elijah and Finn already left for college - and he was acting like a true man.

He never noticed her, ever. She stood by and watched as girl after girl entered his bed, all of them with the same purpose - be his girlfriend, fuck his brains out. She was bothered by them, yes, but never mad. She knew that they never stood long enough for him to fall in love with them.

And then, there was Tatia Petrova.

Elena Gilbert's cousin.

She didn't left the first time, nor the second and the third.

"They are dating now." said Rebekah one night when they were in the kitchen in the middle of the night eating ice-cream. Caroline almost choked on her spoon, but she quickly recovered. Or at least tried to.

"Really? Oh, wow. I always thought that Klaus was the love-them-and-leave-them type of guy."

"He is. I don't know what's the matter with him. I don't even like Tatia. She's such a skank."

Caroline let out a strangled laugh.

"What matters is for him to love her, right?"

"Eh, they would break up soon enough." Rebekah said. "I hope so at least."

They heard footsteps approaching and soon enough Klaus entered the kitchen. His hair a delicious mess and his chest bare, leaving in display his tattooes. He looked surprised to see the girls.

"What are you both ladies doing at such hour?" he asked moving his gaze from Rebekah, to Caroline and then back at Rebekah.

"Eating ice-cream, Nik, what do you think? Gossipping about you and Tatia." she offered him a smirk.

"Surely other's life is far more interesting than mine. Back me up on here, Caroline." he said, smiling at her and moving to get a bottle of water.

Caroline blushed furiously and bit down on her lip before returning the smile, her braces on full display.

"S-Sure. Yeah, right. I wanted to end the conversation, but you know Rebekah."

"You liar! You wanted to continue!" Rebekah defended herself, slightly annoyed by the turn of the situation.

"No, the what matters is for him to love her, part was actually a cue for us to end the conversation." Caroline said. Suddenly Klaus burst into laughter.

"Love." he said still chuckling. "Caroline, sweetheart, you're hilarious."

She was utterly in love with him.

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He eventually left for college only to come back five years later.

He was twenty-three. She was ninteen - not a kid anymore. Not an awkward teenager.

It was Thanksgiving and she apologized to her father for not travelling in California for holidays. She wanted to spend it with her friends. She wanted to see Nik. They barely talked these years. Via text message, sometimes, and Rebekah used to force her to talk to him on the phone when he called.

He sounded as dark as ever. Lonelier maybe, but his voice held the same warmness and sexiness. Her voice always trembled and she was always acting like an idiot.

She turned out to be great, though. Slim, but curved, and beautiful in an angelic way.

Although she wasn't one to forget, she never had luck in love.

When Caroline first saw Klaus, all those emotions and feelings from back when she was an awkward teenager hit her with full force, and she became a shivering mess of nervousness and love. She never stopped loving him, she just forgot how to do it, but now, seeing her like that -

- smiling, laughing and hugging his family brought back the old feelings.

He turned around when she cleared her throat, but remanined roated on his spot. God, he was even more handsome than before. He was a man now. A perfect, handsome, hot man that, she was sure of it, had every girl and woman at his feet.

Klaus was looking at her with surprise, lust and dare she say - love?

"Oh, wow." was all he could mutter, before Esther slapped the back of his head, making him laugh ashamed. "Hello, Caroline."

"Klaus." she said smiling lightly at him.

They hugged, of course, and she was way too happy to snuggle up against his chest and he looked more than content to keep her there forever.

"It's good to see you, sweetheart."

"Good to see you too, Klaus." Caroline smiled up at him when they broke apart. "Still breaking hearts?"

"I believe that's your thing now." he winked at her.

That night she found out about his passion for her. She found the thousand of drawings that he made of her.

That night he showed her how much he loved her.

That night she returned his love.

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"Can you believe it?" Rebekah asked excitedly, jumping up and down, making Stefan laugh at her. "Can you?"

"I don't think that anyone believes it." Kol said amusedly. "I'm still processing everything."

"I know, right!? I mean, Nik and Caroline... together and in love?" Rebekah almost shouted. "It's insane."

"I think the terms Niklaus and in love it's what shocked us the most." Elijah laughed and everyone followed."

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"I can't believe I'm marrying my childhood crush." Caroline moaned exasperated, while Klaus pressed kisses down her throat.

"I can't believe I'm marrying the most perfect woman in the world." he returned, making her splash him with water. "Ouch, what was that for?"

"For being such a smooth talker and having me completely under your spell. Even after eighteen years, can you believe it? I loved you for eighteen years. I mean it feels like yesterday I met you. When I was four and you were eight. Now look at us! Twenty-two and twenty-six."

"And still counting." Klaus said amused. She splashed him again.

"Asshole."

"I love you, Caroline."

"Aww, I love you too, goofball." Caroline giggled and kissed him sweetly on the lips.

"Thank you for not giving up on me, my love."

"Never." she promised before claiming his mouth once again.

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I fucking loved writing this. Please REVIEW. :)