4x07 AU. Everything is Klaroline and nothing hurts.
'Cause you brought out the best of me
A part of me I'd never seen
You took my soul wiped it clean
Our love was made for movie screens
Caroline was stressing out, desperately trying to ensure that the Miss Mystic Falls pageant was running smoothly while simultaneously keeping Klaus distracted and away from Tyler. While she usually took pride in terrorizing the underclassmen girls and wait staff into doing her bidding, today it was more aggravating than anything trying to keep everyone on task. All she wanted to do was to prove herself worthy of her title even in her small town. She felt herself slowly coming undone mentally after she had to even snap at the orchestra for playing funeral type music instead of more upbeat rhythms.
"And how am I doing?" Klaus asked as she turned. His voice was amused, as he must have heard her barking orders earlier at the others. He had a smile on his face that was playful, not mocking like Tyler would have been about her attitude today if he was the one escorting her. But he wasn't, instead he was nowhere to be seen today and that she wolf once again took up all his time.
"You're…perfect. Which is so beyond annoying I can't even look at you," she complained, but even as she said those words she couldn't look away from him. How he was able to match his tie to her dress should have disturbed her, but she was glad he paid attention to such details as it showed how much he cared about pleasing her. She tried to bury the feelings that were bubbling up inside her when she was around him, but they were getting harder to squash as the numbers of their encounters grew.
"They didn't waste any time, did they?"
She turned and followed his gaze to see Tyler entering the party with Hayley across the lawn, who was dressed in a trashy looking red dress completely unsuitable for the occasion. Their hands were intertwined and Caroline felt a surge of jealously at the action, but knowing she had to keep up with the charade that they had broken up so she trampled those urges to cause a scene.
"Let's just get today over with," her tone reflecting the bitterness she actually felt as she briefly glanced at Klaus. He looked sympathetic for her pain, but there was something else lingering behind his expressive eyes that she couldn't decipher.
"I feel partly to blame for your pain today," he said ashamedly as they headed away from the rest of the party after picking up a bottle of champagne and two flutes from the open bar. She instantly looked at him as the slowly walked together along the lakeside on the Lockwood property.
"I've known for some time about Tyler's indiscretion with the wolf girl, but I didn't want to say anything about it to you." And just like that Caroline felt as if a knife was twisted into her unbeating heart. Unfortunately she was right all along about that were-slut and this game of charades Tyler had been playing. Only she was the one being played. How awfully convenient that they could play the part of blissful lovers when that's exactly what they were.
"What?" Her tone was just as confused and hurt as she felt. She couldn't believe that once again she was played as a fool for someone else. It really was never her, she was never the one just a stepping-stone to someone else.
"I didn't want to hurt you and moreover I knew you wouldn't believe me if I was the one to tell you, especially after our last encounter in the woods. I threatened him to tell you, but he refused to come clean when I came back from Italy." She let his words sink in and realized the truth in them. They had been playing her for a week now. And she knew he was right, she would have never believed him over Tyler her supposed "epic" love.
As they reached the stone bench Klaus's mood seemed to shift in a new direction and his focus became entirely about her and pleasing her. They talked with his focus being completely on her and she surprised herself by laughing at some of his anecdotes as they drank the champagne. As they walked back to the party nearly an hour after secluding away, her arm was resting in his she felt a lightness in her soul. He had made her forget about her pain and made her laugh, something that hadn't happened for a long time even in her happiest time with Tyler. As the crossed the small wooden bridge back to the party their arms remained linked, but before they got back to rejoin the rest of the party he stopped her in her tracks.
"I never answered you question if I ever thought about being human," he began lowly and immediately he had her rapt attention as he went into his story about his time in the Andes many years ago. She watched his face more than she listened to his words, his expressions completely mesmerizing her. She knew when he talked about the hummingbird being constantly on the verge of death he was talking about himself. Elena had told her the story of his family's transformation and how his stepfather hated him for what he was. She felt a surge of empathy knowing how it felt to be treated that way by someone who was supposed to love you, especially a parent.
When he started to lead her back to the area where the rest of the guests were still milling around, she stopped him suddenly when realized she couldn't take another step further. He turned to look at her confused as she moved closer and with slight hesitation due to nerves, she kissed him. It was a small lingering kiss at the corner of his mouth, but it was enough for the moment. She knew she had to be the first one to make a move with him, knowing his fear of rejection.
He pulled back from her completely confused, but his eyes were shining with hope and wonder.
"What was that for, sweetheart?" His voice was strained as if he was desperately trying to maintain his control on his actions.
"For telling me that story, for making me laugh today when I thought it would be impossible, but also because after what I'm about to tell you I may never get the chance again to do that again."
"Then don't tell me," he said roughly before pulling her back into him,
his eyes clouded over as his lips furiously connected with her. Instead of pulling away from such an aggressive action, she gave in completely letting him hold her securely to his figure as his hands snaked their way into her hair as hers grabbed the lapels of his suit jacket. She didn't care who was watching anymore she was done playing the part of the "little blonde distraction." Sooner than she would have liked they parted from each other, both breathing heavily their eyes focused solely on each other.
"Tyler's been unsireing your hybrids to lead them against you," she said shakily looking him in the eyes, but her entire body was shaking as the words left her mouth.
"I know. You don't live for a thousand years without being able to pick up on lies and betrayal from those around you."
His tone was overly casual, but she knew he spoke of the pain of having his father hunting him down for centuries. She opened her mouth to try to justify her actions, but she couldn't bring herself to, as she knew she had no good enough answer. His steely gaze seemed to be pulled from her watering eyes to something over her shoulder and as she turned to see Tyler followed by Hayley stalking over in their direction, Tyler's face a mask of rage and hostility while Hayley's was pure smarminess. She turned back to look at Klaus only to find his place next to her vacant, and she knew she would face the firing squad alone.
After a public reaming from Tyler about her display with Klaus countered by her accusations of his actual cheating he finally admitted to many indiscretions behind her back while in the Appalachians. The words had not needed to be said, but it was clear to both parties that their relationship and friendship was over. However, she didn't own up to the fact that she had spoiled his take over plot, but rather would let him face those consequences on his own. She quickly left the Lockwood mansion after trying to maintain her usual cheerful composure, and only on the drive back to her house did she allow herself to fully breakdown.
A few days later Carol forwarded her photographers collection of pictures from the pageant to put in the local paper. Looking at the glossy images only tore from her chest again. Amid the pictures of prominent town leaders and contestants was a candid picture of her and Klaus. She didn't know when the image was taken during the day, but the expressions on their faces spoke volumes. They were looking at each other warmly and a genuine smile was glowing from her at him.
Realizing what she needed to do she grabbed a pen and an envelope from her desk. Writing furiously on the back of the image she quickly sealed it in an envelope and swallowing her pride she got in her car and drove to his mansion her hands shaking the entire ride there. She slipped the envelope under his front door before quickly retreating back to her car before anyone could discover her presence. Now she could only hope and wait for anything as she laid in her bed with the day's events rolling around in her mind.
After a restless night of no sleep she awoke to a pained head and heart the next morning. Dragging herself out of bed she trudged to her bathroom ready to wash away the feelings of last night and yesterday along with her unclean hair. As was customary even despite her low spirits she began to hum in the shower trying to relax and gain focus.
As she washed her hair she couldn't help but sing the lyrics that were invading her mind, "Come on skinny love just last the year. Pour a little salt we were never here. My my my - my my my - my my my my - my my ... Staring at the sink of blood and crushed veneer…"
Singing had always been a way to express herself when she could really articulate how she was feeling. As she ran through the rest of the verses in the song as she exited the shower she was feeling better but not by much. Changing into her robe, she exited the bathroom only to stop at the sight before her.
Sitting on her unmade bed, dressed in his customary black Henley and blue jeans was Klaus and in his hands was the picture of them that she had left him the previous night. Despite feeling vulnerable in her state of somewhat undress she approached him cautiously.
"Hi." Her tone was small sounding, almost like an anxious child.
He looked up at her, his face an array of emotions, but the most visible one was exhaustion like he hadn't been sleeping at all either.
"Do your really mean what you wrote?" He asked straight away holding up the picture of them carefully as to not crease it by being too rough.
"Every word," she breathed moving closer to sit next to him on the bed. "Spending time with you that day and just talking was the happiest I have been in a very long time. And I really am sorry for the part I had to play in all the deception with the hybrids. Can you forgive me?" She added quietly.
He looked her in the eyes to see the truth lying there amidst watery irises. He moved closer, raising his one hand to cup her chin bringing her face closer to his.
"It will cost you a kiss," he said softly as he leaned into her.
"I can accept that offer," she whispered back before meeting his lips in a tender kiss.
Sorry I didn't get this out sooner, minor health crisis but all is OK. Review my lovelies, xoxox! ;)
