Black Roses

by xKlaroStylesx

Species of all kind are welcomed at the Whitmore Academy for the Supernaturally Gifted, but that doesn't mean they all necessarily welcome each other. Ambitious supreme witch Caroline Forbes shares a mutual loathing with arrogant yet mysterious vampire Klaus Mikaelson. A spiral of events occur when their two dueling worlds collide and they have to ask themselves, 'is it worth it'

20. Chapter 20

Warning: rant ahead.

First of all, I know it feels it's been a really long time since the last update, but considering the shape of the world right now I've had little to no motivation to do anything creative. The passion I had for this story began to dwindle because I haven't been in the best mental state, adjusting to this new normal just isn't easy but I'm getting through it and I love y'all and this story too much.

On a serious note, I've received not necessarily rude comments but not constructive ones either on the last chapter and the one before where reviewers are basically hating the direction I'm going in, which is fine you have that right, but it was really disheartening actually. Two not-so-great reviews outshined all the amazing ones. I was annoyed and angry when I first saw them and my first instinct was to DM a very strong worded response lol and explain myself until I realized, this is my story and I don't need to explain anything to anybody. This is the story I want to tell, the direction could not be more clear and after nearly three chapters of this particular arc, I have to ask why are you still reading it? Why are you still reading a klaroline story if you're rooting for their demise more than their reconciliation? Why would you want them to be apart longer than is necessary? There are plenty of other stories that will probably give you what mine doesn't and that is perfectly fine.

I'm always open to discussion and criticism if it's constructive and I can see where that reviewer is coming from, and none of you will ever know how much I take your feedback into account, but blatant misinterpretations is when I start to get offended and makes me believe you're not understanding the characters or the pace of the story at all. I can't make everyone happy, I wouldn't be a writer if I thought that.

Anyways, I want to thank all my other reviewers who have been enjoying this angst arc and for simply being supportive overall. Really appreciate all the love. I know these have been a hard few chapters, trust me it's been hard to write them but I think this one will make up for all the suffering. Fingers crossed it doesn't take me too long for the next chapter, and maybe I'll even be able to determine how many chapters are left! Crazy it's already been a year since I started writing this story...wow.

HAPPY READING! Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy xoxo

---

Caroline sat on her bed, patiently, hands in her lap and feet swinging back and forth. The short blonde curls surrounding her head tied up into a high ponytail. Picking at her cuticles anxiously but never looked down. Her eyes never left her bedroom door that was only slightly cracked open—enough for her to hear mumbles of the raging argument downstairs.

It had already been 30 minutes and they were still fighting. She was supposed to stay in her room until they said it was 'okay' to come back out, but Caroline had never been the stay in place type of person. Her curiosity got the better of her as she climbed out of bed, carefully widening the space of the door so it wouldn't squeak.

Poking her head out through the minimal space, making sure she was in the clear before squeezing her little body through. Crawling on the newly polished floor so that they wouldn't see her shadow. The bats on the staircase did well of keeping her hidden—the voices became louder the further she went. Biting on her bottom lip until she had the perfect view.

Her mother hated that habit.

"You're being dramatic."

"Dramatic? Do you even hear yourself! Our daughter nearly burned down the entire house just now!" Bill scoffed.

Caroline heard, sitting at the top of the staircase intently. Whatever her mother said in response got jumbled in translation.

"She's only eight years old, Liz. Eight fuckin' years old, and you already want to transform her into your next weapon!" Bill accused.

"Oh don't act like you care about Caroline's sudden safety, when we all just know you're upset she took from my side of the family. You're upset about what she is." Liz fought back.

"She's my daughter, our daughter. There's no one I care about more. I willingly married a witch and started a family with the common knowledge that there was a 50/50 chance our child would inherit your supernatural traits. That is not what—"

"And the chances were not in your favor and now you're punishing her for it!"

"Punishing? You've completely lost it."

She saw him wave off but her mother pulled him back to her by the arm.

"Just admit you're afraid of her."

"She's not the one I'm afraid of." He insisted.

Caroline watched as their dark shadows threw up their hands, broke glasses and stomped off. Tears spilled down her chubby cheeks because she knew her parents were fighting about her.

About what she did. An accident that she was sure would shape her family forever.

Covering her ears and tucking her head into her lap, soaking her summer dress—immediately regretting the decision of snooping. She's never heard her parents fight, never to this extent at least, and knowing it was because of her mistakes made the guilt worse. There was something wrong with her, there had to be.

She waited for the noise to stop but it never did. Still covering her ears as she lied down on the cold hard-wood floor. Knees tucked in and eyes screwed so tight it made her head throb.

"Daddy, please stop." Caroline sobbed, so faintly knowing no one could hear her.

The breaking of the stairs made her eyes flutter open, just slightly, her tears fogged most of her vision. Her sniffles dwindled, only being able to make out the brown dress shoes now tan don't before her.

"Sweetheart?"

Caroline cleared her throat, flashing her fake but effective pageant smile with clapping hands.

"Great job ladies! I actually think that was our best practice all semester." She congratulated.

Seeing her fellow cheerleaders happy made her happy, if only briefly. Last night was horrific, starting with the college frat boy slipping her a roofie and ending with her absentee father trying to weasel back into her life. The faint silver lining was Klaus showing up but even that ended horribly.

She hadn't told anyone about her father calling her, not even Katherine on their way back to campus—she didn't tell her about Klaus either.

There was only one question nagging:

Why now?

Her father hasn't made an effort to reach out to her since his abrupt departure, not even when she nearly died at 12 years old. She called him everyday since he left without a call back or letter in return. The bitterness and anger returned remembering how much his absence took a toll on their family. How her mother became more controlling, hovering and demanding. Thinking of all the town's father/daughter activities she wasn't able to participate in, knowing he was shamelessly building a new family for himself.

She was the reason why he left. Developing her magic frightened him so much the only option he had was to start a new life without her in it. She accepted never hearing from him again, even with her personal life in limbo this was still the most content she's ever been—until now.

Caroline felt like that same insecure and scared eight year old girl all over again. Worst part about trauma is having to experience it alone...

Her mind was too preoccupied and definitely not in the cherry mood. After so long of finally getting her coven back on her side, she didn't want to burden them more with her personal life.

"I know I've been pretty hard on you ladies lately, but it's because I knew you were capable of doing what I just saw." She beamed. "Let's end practice early today, I think you all deserve it. See you all tomorrow for Homecoming prep. We only have about a week and a half to make this Whitmore's most iconic dance in history!"

Great, more pressure.

She watched her squad disperse, happily skipping over to the bleachers to retrieve their gym bags and water bottles. Gossiping over dress options and who's going with who. Caroline was sure she overheard Elena ask Bonnie if she and Klaus were still going together—not that he formally asked in the first place.

"Caroline?"

The witch swiftly turned to see the source of the accented feminine voice from behind her.

"Rebekah, hey." She greeted, wiping the one tear under her eye.

"Are you alright, you don't seem as cheerful as the rest of us." She wondered. "Considering you've been on us all semester about being illegitimate wastes of time, I thought you'd be thrilled we're finally proving our worth."

Caroline granted her a half grin. "Yeah, I'm fine. Well no I'm not, actually, but that has nothing to do with the squad. You girls don't deserve to feel anything but proud."

"You don't have to fake a smile for me, Caroline. You said you're not okay so don't pretend like you are." Rebekah insisted.

"Thanks." She said, genuinely appreciating the kindness.

Rebekah nodded, leaning back and forth on her heels. "Is it because of my brother?"

Caroline's forehead creased.

"Your melancholy, is it because you and my brother aren't together anymore?" She clarified.

-Well...

"Of course not." Caroline claimed.

A smirk tickled the corner of her lips. "Good, no point in wasting good mascara over his drama anyways. Though I must say he hasn't been that great himself since the split, at least from what I've observed from afar. We know he doesn't tell me anything."

Caroline had to resist expressing the pleasant relief of knowing he was hurting just as much.

The blond vampire lowered her tone, looking around to make sure they were alone enough.

"You didn't hear this from me but a little birdy told me he finally got rid of that red headed parasite. It only took five years but he finally came to his senses, thank god." She informed him with an eye roll. "That trollop has had her claws in him for so long it's about time he realizes he could do better—has done better."

The implication in her words couldn't be more clear, but Caroline forced herself not to react. Lifting her eyebrows in faux shock—performing a masterful clueless act as Rebekah continued to gossip.

She didn't want to deceive her but, too many people were invested in her personal life. Too many people were quick to post judgment on her relationship with Klaus, and the awkward stage they were currently in. The last person who needed to know about their heartfelt interaction the previous night was his nosy little sister.

"Great." Caroline said.

Rebekah tilted her head and eyebrow arched. "Really? That's all you have to say, after everything she put you through?"

Caroline sighed, suddenly growing more annoyed. "Rebekah—"

"I know me and you aren't exactly friends okay, I'm not an idiot, Caroline. I know what you must think of me, that I'm a try-hard, invasive and annoying. You wouldn't be the first nor last." She said with pursed lips.

"Rebekah that's not—"

Her hand raised to silence the interruption as she continued. "And you'd definitely rather not talk about your personal life with your ex's little sister, I get it. But what you need to understand Caroline is that this is more than a breakthrough for your love life...it's a breakthrough for my brother."

The vampire's light grey eyes suddenly flooded with tears that never dropped. Swallowing the emotions that formed in the center of her throat and clearing it so words could escape—they hadn't yet.

Though Rebekah always seemed like the sibling who wore her heart on her sleeve the most, the Mikaelson family didn't believe emotions. They were raised to bottle it up and stash it away.

If they felt, the answer was clear-don't.

Caroline learned that early on when first meeting Klaus, and even more as the two became more familiar. She's seen his shell crack each time they spent together—so natural and effortless.

Rebekah's lips pursed, her face once again stern despite her flushed face. "Aurora was a constant reminder of everything my brother hated about himself. He didn't let her go because self loathing was easier than evolving. Drowning in misery was better than confronting it—it's the only time I've ever seen my brother as weak."

"He never listened to me, obviously." She rolled her eyes. "Why would he? I'm just his nosy little sister, but after 500 years of being a selfish narcissist, being a better man never appealed to him until he met you."

Caroline knew if she didn't leave now the control over her own emotions would be severed. She didn't need to hear this, not now.

There was already something she planned to do after practice—another difficult decision that'll either be the best or worst she's ever made—she couldn't break just yet.

Backing away, Caroline grabbed her gym bag from the burning turf.

"I need to go, but great practice today." She said, throwing the bag over her shoulder and beginning to walk away.

Looking over her shoulder she could see the blonde vampire looking down discouragingly and embarrassed.

Caroline sighed, swiftly turning back around. "I don't think you're annoying, Rebekah."

The other girl looked up with hopeful eyes.

"If anything, you're the least annoying person around here." The witch determined with a soft smile before finally walking off, never knowing how much that made her day.

---

"Can I come with you?"

"Not this time sweetie."

"Okay...then when will you be back?"

"I don't know, Caroline." He sighed.

"But why, why don't you know!" She whined.

"Caroline." He warned, sternly.

The blonde child pouted, crossing her arms and stomping her foot.

Bill zipped his luggage closed before turning to face his pleading 8 year old daughter standing by the doorway.

The little girl hit her lip, swinging side to side and cuddling her stuffed animal in her arms.

"Are you still mad at me...for what happened the other day?"

He bent down to her level, letting out a deep breath.

"No, of course not." He claimed. "What's happened to you—what's happening—isn't your fault. It's..."

Words drifting off in despair.

"Then why are you leaving?"

Her little sniffles and teardrops stabbed his heart repeatedly.

Eyes pinched shut as he hung his head low—not able to handle staring her in the eyes and lying or making her feel worse. The way she was looking at him was as if she already knew, preparing herself for the devastation after the denial fled

Leaning forward, he pulled her into his chest for a tight hug that the young witch instantly reciprocated. He kept her there for a while, a little while longer. Her small arms wrapped around his neck and never daring to let go. Tears staining his shirt as he kissed her reddened cheek and rubbed her back.

"I love you baby. No matter what, never forget that." He whispered.

"I love you too daddy."

The anxious leg tapping was getting the best of Caroline as she tried to occupy herself while waiting inside the on-campus cafe. Sitting alone at a window view table but thankfully none of her peers bombarded her with assumptions—they loved doing that. She didn't bother changing out of her sweaty practice clothes or touching up at all. Honestly, she was too nervous to do anything but show up.

Inhaling and exhaling, her shaking hands peeled open a sugar packet to dump it into her unsweetened hot tea. The steam felt nice in her palms, soothing, as well as the burn against her lips. Her death glare lingered on the cup sitting across from her, lonely and waiting for the past 10 minutes.

-He's not coming.

She concluded.

Not that she was expecting more from someone who refused to see her for the majority of her life. If anything Caroline felt like a fool for being hopeful in first place—she knew better.

-Expect nothing and you'll never be disappointed.

Her mother always preached—Caroline was finally understanding the beauty in those words.

Like clockwork, the minute she decided to leave he showed up in all his late glory.

"Sorry, I'm so sorry I'm late. There was so much traffic from the hotel." He claimed, throwing his bag next to his chair encore taking a seat.

Caroline's eyes glistened, like she was starstruck by the brunette man sitting across from her. Granted, she hasn't seen him for a decade with only pictures from her childhood to go off from.

He didn't look any different. Handsome, same quaffed chocolate brown hair, and charming smile. Bill Forbes was the perfect All American man. You'd never think this face belonged to someone who abandoned his family.

She cleared her throat, pushing back her hair.

"At least I know I didn't get punctuality from your gene pool." Caroline sassed, sitting back with folded arms.

He chuckled, placing his coat on the back of his chair. "You were a feisty child, nice to know some things haven't changed."

"Not that you would know." Caroline mumbled, taking a sip of her drink.

Bill's smile slowly fell.

Caroline muttered a spell under breath, steam now hovering and escaping his drink. He looked up at her with intrigue and fascination.

"It was getting cold." She shrugged.

He lightly grinned. "Your abilities are extraordinary, hopefully I can see more in the future?"

Her frown remained, not welcoming his flattery.

Bill coughed. "Um, well I was also late because I stopped on the way to pick up these for you."

She turned her lip up at the bouquet of yellow roses he put on the table.

"Lilies are my favorite flower, not roses. 'B' for effort, though." She claimed, pushing them away.

"How's your mother?" He asked while moving the bouquet to the side.

"You really want to talk about mom?"

He sighed. "I'm trying here, Caroline. Can't you at least give me that credit?"

She scoffed. "Wow, you really have some nerve. Do you think I owe you something? You want credit for reaching out to the daughter you willingly walked out on 10 years ago and ember looked back? Some kind of reward for waiting a decade to grow a pair and stop being a fuckin' coward!"

"That's enough Caroline. I'm still your father and I won't allow you to talk to me in any kind of way—"

She slammed her palm on the table.

"You stopped being my father the moment you found out I had powers, when you found out what I was and decided you didn't want me anymore."

He scrunched his forehead. "What? Caroline I never said that or implied I didn't want you. I would never—"

"It doesn't even matter." Interrupting his explanation with a waving hand. "It's been 10 years, 10 long years but I've been doing just fine without you so why now? Why are you invading my life now?" Her eyes watered.

With all the turmoil going on in her life this was the last curveball Caroline needed.

-This was such a mistake.

She underestimated how emotional she would be during this meeting. So many questions she wanted to ask but too scared for the answers. Fearful that this reunion will be fleeting and pointless, setting herself up for yet another heartbreak.

Bill Forbes rubbed his forehead. "I feel like there's nothing I can say that will make you think better of me, and we have so much to get through but I missed you. You're my only daughter, graduating from high school at the top of your class. Valedictorian, following in the footsteps of Forbes' witches before you by achieving the ultimate goal, being a given leader by your senior year."

Caroline's eyes widened. "How—how did you know all of that?"

"I have my own sources." He smirked. "I know there's a lot of explaining to do and our relationship is going to take awhile to evolve but honestly Caroline, I just want to know you. I want to know my daughter."

The tension in her body and face slowly released. He sounded sincere and despite all of her pimped up anger over the years, Caroline couldn't pretend this wasn't we hyping she's been waiting for. This was her dad, the man who shaped all her relationships without even being present—she wanted to know him too.

After exhaling through her nose, Caroline picked up her cup to take another sip of her drink.

"How's Steven?" She asked while placing the cup down.

Bill grinned. "He's fine. Told me to tell you 'hi' and he already has your graduation present picked out and ready to ship. I swear he's convinced you're more his child than mine."

Caroline couldn't deny the smile twisting her lips.

"Drink your tea before it gets cold again." She insisted.

"Lucky for me I have my own personal microwave."

His joke was bad, horrible even, but surprisingly made the witch laugh.

Baby steps.

---

Splat. Splat. Splat.

Klaus' back faced the doorway of the art studio while his brush stroked the canvas. White, yellow and grey paint splattered all over the sheet covered floor, as well as his bare arms, black wife beater top and ripped blue jeans—those specifically meant for when he was working.

He had confined himself to his artwork for the past two hours, trapped inside with his inspiration and Guns N' Roses banging through his headphones until they bled. Deciding now was a better time than any to finish his senior project that he'd been putting off.

Instead of burying himself into the first person within breathing distance, Klaus practiced a new coping mechanism. Delving all his emotions into his art—the strategy he developed for his entire childhood up until the day he moved out of his parents' home. For a while he lost all inspiration, all appeal to form an escape for his thoughts to take a life of their own...

-Until her.

Shaking his head, the brush stroking the colors until they began to blend. The strokes grew harder, more violent. His hands drenched in a dark green and eyes bulged while the music grew louder.

He felt guilty for even thinking about her after what he put her through. Getting rid of Aurora was only part of the problem but would that be enough? Would it last? If Caroline chose not to forgive him, would he be strong enough to resist slipping back into old ways? He wanted to be strong for Caroline—for himself. For her to know he was capable of being the man she deserved.

Klaus liked to believe he was stronger than his demons but more often than not, they caught him at his most vulnerable—making him feel like that same helpless little boy again.

-No. No. No!

Snap!

The paintbrush slowly fell, broken in two. Headphones thrown across the room in furry, breaking in half.

Klaus groaned, huffing and puffing while his paint covered fingers ventured into his hair before coming down to the back of his neck, interlocked together. His head tilted back as he paced back and forth around the mess now surrounding his bare feet.

A presence outside the door made his hairs take up and the creak from the now opened door made him pause. Klaus swiftly turned around, goosebumps immediately forming—he never got goosebumps.

"Hi." Caroline said, her voice raspy.

Klaus swallowed audibly. "Hi."

He hoped she didn't notice his brief tantrum, but from the way she was looking at him it didn't seem to matter. She definitely took note of the obvious mess, but only a few glances here and there before reverting her attention back onto him.

They stared at each other for what felt like a lifetime. Time suddenly had no meaning as both took this moment to bask in each other's presence. Klaus noticed the gym bag drooped over her shoulder, hair tied up into a high ponytail, cheeks a blushing pink and drenched sweat from head to toe.

She just finished practice, he observed. Knowing he was avoiding his usual spot at the bleachers for that exact reason. He couldn't bare being near her and not taking at least one, longing glance.

Caroline cleared her throat. "I didn't mean to intrude, your sister said you might be here."

Klaus had to literally force himself to not appear smug at the implication that Caroline asked about him today—about his whereabouts. She wanted to see him, for whatever reason she wanted to see him.

For the first time he didn't mind Rebekah's invasive behavior.

"Of course she did...and for future reference, you're never intruding." He assured her. "Though if I knew you were stopping by I would've cleaned up a bit."

Caroline twisted her bottom lip between her teeth, looking around the chaotic multicolored hurricane surrounding him—his sanctuary.

"Nice snowflake by the way. Is this your senior project?"

Klaus' eyebrow lifted confusedly until he noticed her looking past him, admiring the tainted piece he was working on before his mini breakdown.

"Yeah, it is...although I didn't think my work was that literal." He said shyly, scratching the back of his head and a nervous laugh following.

"I actually find it pretty complex." Caroline countered, cautiously walked into the room, still admiring it as very detail became more visible.

Now standing in front of his artwork and immediately dissecting. The snowflake was the most vibrant subject in the piece, all on its own in the cold snowy night while wooden barriers hid it from the rest of the world.

"I've never actually seen any of your work before, but this one speaks to me. Like the snowflake's light is being hidden and the barriers represent fear. There's something lonely about it."

A small proud grin appeared on his face.

He didn't think watching Caroline praise and devour his work could feel so comforting.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

The smile that she was itching to show never came. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, crossing her arms over her chest and eyes shifted frantically instead.

Klaus could sense something was weighing heavy on her mind without her needing to say a word. Hoping this wasn't her way of telling him she doesn't forgive him, last night meant nothing and their chances of rekindling are slim to none.

Worse case scenario.

They stood in silence with Caroline's obvious hesitation hovering in the air like a storm cloud.

"Not to sound like I don't enjoy your presence, love because I always do but may I ask why you sought me out? Surely not to analyze my metaphorical snowflakes." Klaus teased, leaning back against the table behind him.

-Oh yeah, right.

For a minute Caroline forgot why she was here—slowly losing her courage by the second.

She cleared her throat again, taking a deep breath.

"Okay, um, so something happened last night..."

"We shared a moment at the bar where I told you how much I still want you, after threatening your date's life." Klaus recalled, smirking.

"It wasn't a date." Caroline pointed out.

Klaus shrugged. "Tomatoe, tomato."

Caroline had to bite back a smile. She knew her cheeks must've been the lightest shade of pink, but she didn't know how much Klaus' fingers were itching to capture it on paper.

She shook her head. "Anyways, something else happened...my dad called."

Klaus' smirk fell and eyes stunned at the unexpected news. He wasn't sure what he thought she was going to say but this was the last on the list.

Only a week ago did Caroline briefly confide in Klaus about her bleak family history. Her father abandoning her at the most pivotal moment in her life was the highlight. Clearly an event she didn't want to discuss nor share but she shared it with him; when she trusted him.

Klaus could see how much of a negative impact this was taking on had on her, the film covering her eyes to add a gloomy shine. His first instinct was to rush to her side and embrace her in his arms—letting her cry into his chest until she couldn't anymore. Kissing her on the head and whispering promises that she was going to be 'okay' and was never alone.

But he couldn't do that.

"Oh." Was all he was able to get out.

Slapping himself in the face would be less humiliating.

-Why did you come to me?

He wanted to ask.

The basic acts of affection and consoling still needed some improvement.

Caroline didn't seem to take offense, honestly his reaction was more than appropriate.

"Yeah, 'oh'..." She said, a sniffle at the end.

His head tilted curiously. "Caroline—"

"I'm fine, really." She insisted, clearing for her throat that was clogged with her hidden tears.

"It was right once you left, not a long phone call but maybe 10 minutes or so. We actually just had tea together after my practice today, to talk and catch up on the 10 long years we didn't see each other, his choice." She added. "But after awhile I actually became more comfortable so it wasn't too bad."

Even though Klaus knew nothing of this until now, he still felt guilty for not being there for her.

-But she's here. She could've gone anywhere but she's here.

"I'm glad everything turned out fine. I know that couldn't have been easy."

"Definitely wasn't easy." Caroline confirmed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "There's more..."

Klaus's eyebrows shot up.

"So...my dad is only going to be in town for another day because he has to go back to New York for work, but he asked if I'd go to dinner with him tomorrow night. I haven't given an answer, yet, I told him I'd think about it and let him know."

"I see." Klaus nodded. "Have you made up your mind yet?"

That's when Caroline's eyes stopped aimlessly shifting and landed on his. A question hidden in the crevices of her gaze that weighed on her like a boulder.

Caroline licked her bottom lip.

"I did, I'm going to accept the invitation." Nodding her head. "Figured I owe it to myself to get the closure I've always wanted from him."

"Well deserved closure, might I add."

The witch's grin was small and not effective.

Klaus could sense there was more to this surprise visit solely based on the way she was fidgeting with her fingers.

His eyes silently squinted as he tried to study the resistance in her eyes.

"Something tells me there's even more to this story..." Klaus accurately assumed.

She looked up at his concerned gaze while giving herself a silent pep talk.

-You are not a coward. You can do this Caroline. It doesn't mean anything, he's your friend-ish.

Taking a steady breath, Caroline blurted it out.

"I was wondering if, um, you could go with me?" She timidly asked.

Klaus held his breath but his face softened.

-This is real? No one is pinching me so maybe I'm dreaming.

His mouth agape as he was lost for words. "Caroline—"

Panic quickly took over the situation and she wanted to crawl in a hole and never come out.

-Of course he wouldn't want to assist you, especially after last night. Now you just look desperate!

She shook her head. "Wow...um, you know what I shouldn't have asked. It sounded a lot better in my head. This is weird right? This is weird."

"Caroline—"

"We're not together anymore so this isn't some kind of obligation. I mean, why would you want to tag along for a dinner with your ex and her absentee dad? Surely to make for an incredibly awkward evening that's going to end with everyone yelling at each other. It's not like I need you or anything but..." She finally took a breath in between her rambles.

"I don't think I can do this alone." Caroline confessed. "Meeting up today was stressful enough, I thought I was going to combust every other second. No one else besides you knows the depths about me and my dad's relationship and I want to keep it that way, but I just don't think I have the strength to tackle something like this on my own. Having a friend by my side might help, at least a bit."

"Friend, hm?" Klaus teased.

Her lips pursed. "If you're going to be smug about it then nevermind—"

His hand was around her small wrist before she could even think about walking away—she wondered when he got so close in the first place. Pulling her back towards him with their chest nearly touching—her hand pressed against his the only ounce of separation. Their gazes locked and breaths labored as they stood in front of each other, both harboring longing stares. The close proximity giving them both headaches.

Klaus tried not to think too much of the proposition but how could he not? They went from not even looking at each other for a week to crossing paths two days in a row, with an invitation to meet the family, no less.

It took awhile longer for Klaus to realize he was still holding her, immediately dropping her hand and creating a safe distance between them. The last thing he wanted was make assumptions on how she was feeling towards him—even now.

"Sorry..." He said under his breath, placing his hands behind his back.

Though he could've sworn he saw a hint of disappointment on her face. If only he knew how cold she already felt.

Already missing the way his thumb caressed over the skin of her wrist so calmingly, if only all her problems and anxiety could be cured through his faintest of touches. She wanted to sob at how right it felt, how much she didn't want him to let go. His gaze never faltering, trapping Caroline in a web she was struggling to break free from.

That she didn't want to break from.

"What I meant to say is, love, I'd be honored to assist you." Klaus said with a genuine smile.

Caroline weakly returned the expression, bottom lip shaking as his acceptance began to sink in.

Okay, so this is happening. She's going to meet with her absentee dad after a decade, and just to add some razzle dazzle to the chaos, her ex boyfriend who has been on her mind 24/7 was also tagging along. As if her nerves weren't shot enough.

Never a dull moment in her life.

"So it's settled."

"That it is." He affirmed.

"Thanks Klaus, really I appreciate this a lot." Caroline said gratefully.

Honestly she was waiting for him to say 'sike' and cancel on her entirely—wouldn't be too surprising.

"No thank you, for trusting me." He spoke softly.

She didn't acknowledge the comment because honestly she had no idea what this meant. Did this mean she still trusted him? Even with Aurora finally out of the picture Caroline still found herself with lingering doubts.

Why was the first person she thought of in a haste of companionship the one who hurt her the most? Why was everything about him so complicated and made her second guess herself?

"Then I guess I'll see you tomorrow night." She said after what felt like the longest awkward pause.

Klaus watched her turn her back to him with a hopeful heart and saddened eyes.

"Never doubt your strength, Caroline." He added. "You're confronting your past while those like me have been going out of our way to avoid our own as much as possible. From where I'm standing, you're the strongest person I've ever known."

Caroline's eyes grew misty but never turned back around to face him. Her death grip on the doorknob loosening when realizing she was seconds from ripping it off.

"I'll text you all the details." She dodged before practically rushing the door in.

---

"When's daddy coming back?"

"We already discussed this."

"Then tell me again."

"Caroline." Liz warned.

"Tell me again!" She stomped her foot.

"Your father is never coming back! He left us, he left you because he couldn't handle having a supernatural child. Is that what you wanted to hear? Do you feel better now."

The young girl's face scrunched up as she started sniffling.

Liz yanked her by the arm and shook her shoulders. "Stop it Caroline. Stop it right now! You need to be a big girl, and big girls don't cry over any man. They do not wallow in self pity and misery. You are a Forbes witch, you were born destined for such greatness. A future filled with power and domination. All your father would've done is hold you back from being everything you could ever to be—from your true self. He isn't worth a single tear on your pretty face."

Caroline sniffled, wiping her tears and snotty nose with her forearm.

"None of that, Caroline." Liz said with a stuck up nose as she retrieved a handkerchief in her pocket.

Properly wiping her daughter's face with a reassuring smile.

"I'm going to make you the best damn witch our family has ever seen, by any means necessary. I promise."

The night was cold and misty, not that weather ever fazed vampires but Klaus had to admit he was severely done with the cold evenings. Tired of not knowing if the puff of air hovering around him was cigarette smoke or his breath.

As promised, Caroline texted the details for meeting her father. She chose a quaint yet expensive restaurant in the city with an impeccable French cuisine—based on Klaus' research. He vividly recalled her telling him how badly she desired to go to Paris someday, and him promising her he'd take her.

Felt like a lifetime ago.

Klaus was the first to arrive, not wanting to preside her by asking to carpool and she certainly didn't volunteer-unsurprisingly. Honestly, he was relieved to have alone time before confronting his ex-girlfriend and her father all in the same night. It was more overwhelming than he let on. He never had girlfriends so meeting the parents was never an obstacle he needed to leap over, but it was as nerve wracking as everyone said.

Though this man was practically a stranger to Caroline, surely she still valued his opinions. Especially now when the status of their relationship was hanging by a thread. What if he doesn't like him? Does he know he's a vampire? Is he as prejudiced as Liz Forbes? Will he convince Caroline to do better?

Klaus leaned against the wall outside the restaurant with jittery fingers balancing the cigarette between his lips, exhaling the smoke upward. Digging the heels of his black dress shoes into the ground while the other hand found home in the pocket of his slacks. Caroline didn't tell him to dress formally but he tried to cover all his bases. He wanted to make this night perfect for her, grateful that she asked him to be her safety net for the night.

No matter if they were together or not she knew he'd always be there for her—comforting.

"Excuse me sir?" The outdoor receptionist addressed, gulping at the slow turn of Klaus' head. "Do you have a reservation?"

Klaus' eyes rolled as he tilted his head, inhaling another mouthful of nicotine before simultaneously releasing it through his mouth and nostrils.

The young man gulped again—no more than 18 years old—trying to look anywhere but at the smirking vampire.

"Would there be a problem if I didn't?" Klaus asked, coldly.

He hesitantly pointed his head towards the bold and red 'ABSOLUTELY NO LOITERING NEAR THE PREMISES sign stamped on the window and sandwich board.

"Just doing my job, um, sir."

"Sir?" His eyebrows shot up amusingly. "I could get used to that."

Klaus laughed, menacingly, approaching the boy who was seconds from shitting his white uniform.

"Dave, is it?" Reading off his name tag. "And you'll be serving?"

The boy slowly nodded. "Sometimes, yes." He flinched when Klaus' free hand landed on his shoulder.

"You seem like a decent chap, normal. Probably go to school, friends. A pretty little girl who invades your every waking thought, and a family you'd put your life on the line for. Dependable and overall just good, with a lot of life to live. Destined for such greatness. I see that in you, I do."

The scared human wasn't sure where this conversation was leading.

"With me feeling a bit benevolent lately, and having to attend a rather important dinner in just a few minutes, I've decided not to have blood on my hands for once." Klaus declared, leaning more into his ear. "But, I do however want you to know I have the ability to rip out your heart for sport. If you cherish that nice future I just mapped out for you, you'll do everything in your power to make this night as effortless as possible."

The host's audible gulp amused the smirking vampire. He knew the threats were unnecessary but his arrogance and boredom took the wheel.

"Klaus..."

He lifted his head to see a formally dressed Caroline standing by the restaurant entrance.

The teal pouf dress brought out the hint of green circling her iris while her see-through strapped heels elongated her creamy legs. Her curls pinned up into a neat bun with two loose strands in front. Subtle makeup but enough for Klaus to be mesmerized by her enhanced beauty. Just when he didn't think she could look more like a dream he refused to wake from.

Mouth hanging dry, lost for words completely forgetting about the frightened host he still had his arm wrapped around.

Klaus cleared his throat, roughly patting the boy on the shoulder.

"Speaking of..." He slowly approached the waiting blonde whose hands were propped on her hips and a scowling face. "Hello sweetheart, you look positively stunning."

"Are you seriously going to act like you weren't just threatening that guy?" She scoffed to distract her blush.

"I was merely asking the poor lad what was best on the menu and then he insisted on giving us the best seat in the house. Under Forbes, for three." Klaus said, turning his head to give the young host a knowing a smirk.

Dave feverishly nodded. "Right—right this way." He opened the door for them to enter, arm shaking.

Klaus chuckled under his breath as Caroline walked in first, deciding not to point out that she already knew he was lying. Her nerves for the night ahead was enough for her to handle.

The pair followed behind as they were led through the lively restaurant, up new stairs, not saying a word to one another.

Klaus' eyes peeped over at the blonde walking beside him with her hands securely around her clutch in front of her. The awkward silence amongst the soothing music and unrelated chatter driving him insane.

He placed his hands behind his back as he leaned down to her ear. "In all seriousness love, you look beautiful tonight."

The familiar goosebumps that awakened by his most subtle remarks ran up her arms. Surpassing chills creeping down her spine at the feel of his warm breath tickling her skin.

"Thank you." She said just as softly with a timid grin. "Thanks again for coming here tonight, you didn't have to."

"I wanted to. I told you whenever you need me I'm here."

Caroline didn't respond as they finally arrived at their table. It offered a star studded view of the city. Caroline took a seat as Klaus sat across. She tried diverting her eyes away from the charming man who was staring insistently with heart eyes.

"I hope you like the table and view. I'll assign you your waiter to be here shortly—"

"Oh but mate, I was so looking forward to you waiting on us for the evening." Klaus pleaded.

He was taking too much pride in the control he had over this kid who was nothing less of a nervous wreck.

Dave nodded, placing three menus on the table before exiting down the stairs.

His smirk minimized when he noticed Caroline glaring at him.

"What?" He asked innocently.

"Terrorizing the employees wasn't part of the deal." Caroline said.

"I did no such thing." He denied effortlessly.

She shook her head looking down at her menu, grinning.

Klaus returned the expression, skimming through his own menu aimlessly.

Caroline's eyes shifted back and forth between Klaus and the entree section. Rubbing her lips together and picking at the fabric of the menu anxiously.

"I know this is confusing." She blurted. "I know I'm not making this easy for either of us by inviting you here."

He looked up at her with narrowed eyes. "Caroline—"

"And I know this has to be frustrating for you and I'm still figuring everything out, but I wasn't expecting this to happen and—"

"Caroline stop." His voice was more calm and collected than hers despite his agitation.

He didn't realize how tightly he was gripping onto the menu until it was halfway bent.

Carefully, he placed it down beside his glass of water.

"Just, stop okay? You needed a friend and that's what I'm here as. I'm not asking anything of you and you don't need to explain yourself. Tonight isn't about us and things have been so far so good. Let's keep it that way." He concluded, snatching his ripped menu to read again.

Caroline exhaled leaning back in her chair. The only person here who was stressing over Klaus's presence was her—even if she's the one who invited him.

"Your father does know how a clock works, doesn't he?" Klaus blurted.

She appreciated how not awkward he was trying to make this already awkward evening.

"Punctuality isn't his strong point, I've learned." Caroline answered, deciding to drop the subject of their relationship drama.

"That's gotta be nagging at you."

Caroline's lip quirked at his teasing remark. "You have no idea."

Both smiling to themselves while avoiding one another's eye contact. It was infuriating as much as it was comforting to be like this together, at ease and friendly—like nothing happened. Stirring contradictory feelings in the pit of the witch's stomach.

"I know I know I'm late, again."

Bill Forbes' abrupt appearance causing them both to snap out of their own heads.

"I tend to lose track of time often being back here. For a small town there's a lot of traffic." He added, sounding out of breath like he just ran a 10K marathon.

"You look beautiful, sweetie." Bill complimented as he pulled out his chair to take a seat.

"Thanks dad." Caroline weakly smiled, looking across from her to see Klaus with his head tilted and squinted eyes directed at her father who seemed to be ignoring him.

-Oh, right.

Her dad meeting her ex...nothing weird about that.

She drank half her glass of water, loud gulp in the aftermath before she found her words again.

"I guess I can finally introduce everyone. Dad, this is Klaus Mikaelson. Klaus this is my dad, Bill Forbes."

The two men finally looked at each other, curiously. Klaus put his menu down while Bill crossed his arms defensively. Both not seeming pleased to see the other with dagger eyes and unspoken threats dancing on their tongues.

The only thing these men had in common was Caroline, and hurting her in some way.

Klaus was first to relax his jaw and hold out his hand.

"Mr. Forbes."

Bill and Caroline's eyes simultaneously stared down at Klaus' waiting hand. He looked in disapproval while she was shaking with nerves.

For a minute Caroline was certain someone was going to be stabbed—likely her father. She didn't give him details about her breakup with Klaus, just that she asked a friend to accompany her—but she was sure he knew more than he was letting on.

He unclenched his face. "We don't have to be so formal, especially since you're three times my age. Call me Bill." He said then reached out to pull Klaus' hand in for a rough handshake.

Caroline let out a breath she just realized she was holding in.

The host, Dave, promptly returned to their table after the handshake fell. Sharing a hesitant glare with a smirking Klaus as he asked each of them if they were ready to order.

Now that introductions had been settled without a murder scene occurring, Caroline found here appetite again.

-Maybe this won't be so bad.

She hoped.

---

"New York is incredibly loud and expensive, I swear I give a leg for rent for a month." Bill laughed. "But it's also lively and full of such culture, Caroline you'd love it."

"I don't doubt it." She mumbled, peeling off pieces of cake with her fork while Klaus watched her sympathetically.

The trio managed to make it past their entrees and a couple of drinks without anyone storming off or yelling. The conversation remained light, though everyone felt they were walking on eggshells. Bill didn't want to come off smothering, Klaus didn't want to overstep and Caroline didn't want to cling on him for support. Whenever he mentioned how amazing his new city life is, with his husband, in New York, she wanted to burst into angry tears.

She could see Klaus in the corner of her eye itching to jump to her rescue, wanting to grab her hand, but Caroline knew if she even touched her there'd be no holding back how she was really feeling.

Her fake pageant smile has been her best friend since she could remember, tonight was no different.

Bill ruffled in his chair. "What I meant was, I'd love for you to visit. I want you to visit. You can stay with me and Steven for a couple of weeks or a month, we already have a room set up for you."

That made her food playing stop and her wide blue eyes to level with him.

Her mouth felt dry but she was able to speak.

"You have a room for me...at your home in New York?" She asked in disbelief.

He nodded with a grin. "Nothing is decorated of course because I wanted you to make it your own when you see it, if you see it." He corrected himself.

Caroline's lips and legs were shaking with emotions. Her face was reining a pretty pink while bottling it all in.

He actually wanted her to be a part of his life and vice versa. It made her nauseous thinking of all the time he wasted by cutting her out just to come back now and say everything she's always wanted him to say.

Her breath caught in her throat when she felt Klaus' hand holding hers under the table. First instinct was to pull away, second was to cue the waterworks that have been building up all week, but neither occurred. She instead accepted his hand and squeezed tightly, never looking at his direction but she knew he didn't mind when he reciprocated the same reassuring affection. It was exactly what she needed.

She could smack herself in the face for it later.

"That sounds nice." Caroline said after finally finding the words.

"I'm not sure what plans you have for after graduation but, maybe you can spend the Summer with us in Manhattan?" Bill suggested.

The lump in her throat bobbed in her throat while her straight back stiffened at his request—loosening her handhold.

Graduation was the furthest thing from her mind. He was now laying it on thick like he was trying to squeeze 10 years into 10 minutes. Caroline barely knew this man and he was already extending invitations to his home. She thought she was going to faint despite already being seated.

This was all just too much.

Klaus instantly felt cold when Caroline pulled her hand away and tucked it onto her lap. He was staring directly at her while she was staring at her father.

"Um, I need to use the ladies' room." She quickly excused herself, standing from the table and walking downstairs.

Not bothering to give either man another glance.

Both men watched her leave before fixating back on one another, not sure what to say to fill the awkward void. They just sat there, glaring, with their hands folded on the table like two alpha males.

Bill Forbes shifted in his seat, still not breaking eye contact.

"I feel we might be here awhile. Might as well take a peek at the dessert options." He said, picking up the smaller menu.

Klaus squinted his eyes, cautious.

"Maybe we can order something for Caroline before she comes back. Which do you think she'd prefer, a soufflé or the berry crepes?"

"What are you doing?" Klaus bluntly asked.

Bill paused his browsing to look up.

"This whole nice dad act you have going on, I'm not buying it and surely Caroline isn't either. You're a lot more transparent than you think."

He scoffed. "You think you have me all figured out."

Klaus shrugged. "Well you have to admit your sudden interest in the child you left behind a decade ago may raise an eyebrow or two."

"Not that I need to explain myself to you, but my intentions with my daughter are pure and the only approval I care about is hers." Bill sternly claimed.

Klaus' head slightly moved to the side. "I just hope you know the only reason I didn't snap your neck the minute she informed me of your arrival is because you're her father."

"Is it odd that I find that threat so comforting?"

He laughed off. "It's even more comforting knowing when I'm not around Caroline has people here who are looking out for her. Even if they're life murderous immortals."

Klaus smirked. "Took her awhile to adjust to the new normal."

Bill grinned, twirling the metal fork between his fingers. "She's a special girl, my daughter."

"That she is." Klaus agreed.

"And she cares a great deal about you." Bill claimed.

The vampire lip twitched but a smile never reached.

Instead he lifted his shoulders in an up down motion. "I don't know about that..."

"You're here aren't you? To my understanding she actually refused to come without you."

"Why did you come back to Whitmore? After abandoning your own child for almost half her life you just, randomly decided to stop by for a visit?" Klaus asked, one chief to detour the topic away from their relationship.

Bill sighed. "Okay, okay I'm not proud of how I handled Caroline's upbringings. For what I did, for hurting her, and I'm damn sure paying for it but I have some regrets. Even if she might not fully forgive me."

Klaus chucked under his breath. "At least we're both in the same boat of disappointing Caroline. Just another thing we have in common I suppose."

The other man grinned.

"Can I ask you something? What does a worldly 500 year old immortal see in my 18 year old daughter?"

Klaus hummed, pressing his lips into a tight line.

"Given that you didn't take the time to learn about witches, let alone the supernatural community in general you don't know how any of this works. You don't know that vampires are perfectly capable human beings before being murdered into creatures of the night."

Bill tensed at the information, more of the reminder that Klaus was indeed a fully functioning dead man.

"I wasn't much older than Caroline when I became a vampire. At the time I thought life couldn't get any scarier, uncertain." Klaus managed. "Took me a long time to accept what I am and discover the beauty in it—immortality. I've been everywhere on this planet more than twice. I've explored the grandest of cities, witnessed extraordinary monuments and met the most elite of people...yet none of it made me happy—whole. For centuries I created chaos and painted towns red with other's blood to feel something, anything. I was never content with simply being."

His fingers tapped against his thigh while looking down at the table.

"Took me half a century to find a purpose again, something to live for." His eyes brightened when they returned to the other man. "To once again explore those cities, climb those monuments and meet more people. But to experience them through the freshest of eyes and perception. Your daughter did that for me. When I look at her there is never ending light—never ending hope, a chance for fulfillment. Even if I don't deserve it..."

Bill starred sympathetically.

"Caroline hasn't told me all the details about you two but, whatever happened, based on tonight something tells me that hope isn't all lost."

For the first time that night, the two men shared a look that embodied an unspoken understanding. Klaus didn't want to admit how much he appreciated the reassurance, especially coming from Bill Forbes.

Not having time to even sneak a subtle 'thank you' before he spotted Caroline walking back up the stairs, wiping down her dress that had droplets of water on it. When she came into view he saw her eyes were slightly red and swollen, likely from crying.

"You two didn't kill each other while I was away, nice to know."

She said with a soft smile, taking a seat in her chair again.

Instead of bothering her with the obvious, Klaus returned the sweet expression, as did her father who raised his glass to both.

---

"You and Klaus seemed chummy. Am I going to have to fight him for your attention now?" Caroline joked as she and her father took a stroll around the lit city.

After finishing dinner it was already 11 PM. With the night going more smoothly than expected, none of them realized how late it was. Klaus offered to head back to campus so Caroline and Bill could spend more time together before he flew back to New York in the morning.

She was surprised and grateful how great the night was ending, given how weird it began.

The two devised to grab ice cream on the corner instead of the fancy sweets Caroline couldn't even pronounce. They laughed, smiled and indulged in as much comfortable conversation as they could in the minimal time they had.

Lucky for her, being with a parent excised curfew limits.

Bill threw his head back in laughter at her comment. "I'm afraid it's the other way around, and I feel like I'd lose."

Caroline abruptly stopped in her tracks—it looked like she could kill her lying face down on the pavement.

"What?" He asked innocently.

"Seriously!" Her foot stomped but held zero impact. "Tonight has been so nice, can you please not ruin it?"

His eyebrows furrowed. "What did I say, exactly?"

"You know what." Her eyes rolled as they began walking again.

"Can't fault me for being an observant man and what I observed tonight was how much this boy feels for you." Bill claimed.

-Just when things were going too well.

"Dad stop—"

"I could see it in the way he looks at you, talks about you. Hell I even saw it in the way you look at him when you pretend no one is noticing."

"Stop!" Caroline yelled, her clawing hands in the air and eyes burning when they stopped again in the middle of the walkway. "Please, just stop."

Her pleading and raspy voice concerned him. She looked like a volcano on the brink of eruption, so fragile and unwound.

Cautiously placing a confronting hand on her shoulder—she thankfully didn't brush him off, relaxing into it instead.

"I didn't mean to upset you, I didn't. I guess I'm just confused on why you invited him tonight if..."

He trailed off with a deep sigh, seeming like he regretted opening Pandora's box.

Purposely Caroline left out details about her and Klaus' falling out. She didn't want to be judged for what happened and asking him to attend tonight despite everything. Even though she justified all her reasonings in her head, even she began doubting the lies.

Her cold knuckle dabbed the corner of each eye, finally looking up at the concerned man.

"Being a mess sorta runs in the family, right?"

He rewarded her a close lipped smile. "It's what makes us human. I might not have been able to give all the advice in the world growing up but I do want you to know that it's okay, to still feel the way you feel about him. To still want him."

His claim slapping her in the face like the wind.

Caroline scoffed. "Wow, we are so not having this conversation."

"I just don't want you to feel you need to be ashamed of anything."

"And now we're having this conversation." Her tone exasperated.

-Just what I needed.

Caroline thought. The last thing she wanted from the night to was to receive relationship advice-not even because he was her dad but because this situation was stressful enough without more people inputting their two cents.

"Look I know I'm just your dad and this is the kind of thing you talk about with your friends—"

"I don't...talk about him with my friends." Caroline said, almost embarrassedly.

Bill didn't ask for an elaboration, he already knew by the shameful expression on her face—granting his daughter a comforting smile instead.

"Teenage romance..." He sighed, clicking his tongue against his teeth. "It's a pesky little thing, isn't it? Makes you think life can get no better while also thinking it's the end of the world. This story of the forbidden fruit has been told since the beginning of time, just with different characters. As dangerous as it is alluring. You always feel you have no choice when in reality you have all the cards."

He was speaking as if from experience, sparking her interest, but Caroline never showed it.

"You care about him."

"Dad." Her voice was wary.

"You care about him." He repeated with a wider grin. "It's nothing to be ashamed-"

"I'm not ashamed!" She fired back, taking in slow breaths as she attempted to collect her thoughts. "He lied to me. Kept secrets from me about himself that you can't even imagine."

"So he has a past, we all do." Bill shrugged. "Given that he's lived twice the life you have that really shouldn't be such a shock.

"Great, so even my own dad is team Klaus. Unbelievable!" She grumbled with her hands thrown in the air.

Bill caught up to her when she began walking ahead of him in frustrated strides.

"Caroline, I'm not on anyone's side besides the one that makes you happy and I'm sorry if you hate me to say it but, I think Klaus does." He said.

Her father signing up for the Klaus Mikaelson fan club was an unexpected turn of events. Caroline was expecting him to overcompensate by putting on the alpha male and overprotective dad performance from the movies. Deep down she was actually looking forward to it.

Despite having zero knowledge of why the two broke up in the first place, he was raging hard for a second chance Caroline has been beating herself up over since that fateful night.

Biting her lip and shaking her head while looking at the man in front of her.

"Why does this matter so much to you? Why are you so sure Klaus is the one for me?"

Translation: Why does this matter so much to me? Am I sure Klaus is the one?

"Takes one to know one." His lips subtly quirked. "As someone who pulled a complete miracle out their ass to achieve and succeed at another chance to be in your life again, anything is possible."

Her eyebrow raised into a curve and lips pursed. "Don't get too cocky."

Bill's face crinkled in laughter. "Fair enough,

Caroline laughed. "He does-did. Ugh I don't know." She sighed harsher than intended, fingers pulling at her post-dinner curls.

Her heels clicked loudly on the pavement while she paced back and forth.

"Yeah, okay you win!" She blurted so loudly onlookers were beginning to turn heads. "Klaus makes me happy, really happy, probably the happiest I've ever been but he's also the most frustrating, pigheaded and secretive person I've ever met! How-how he makes me want to laugh, scream and kiss him at the same time. The way he makes my blood exceed it's boiling point almost every single interaction out of annoyance or flattery. Ugh! He just makes me feel..."

"Everything." Finishing her statement. "All at once." He added.

Caroline took a much needed breath, nearly fainting from the unintentional ramble she set herself on. That happened easily whenever she talked about Klaus. Even before she had any feelings for him she would manifest new insults just to keep him the focal point of the discussion. She couldn't get enough. He was always there, in the corner of her eye like a little pest that wouldn't bugger off and made her feel...all at once.

The realization hitting her like two armor trucks. A low gasp slipping through her lips when understanding that her mind has been made up this entire time, she always knew exactly what she wanted.

She wanted him.

Caroline mumbled something under her breath, pushing her back while allowing everything to settle in. Slapping her hands down to her sides, surprised she had no tears to wipe off; she was so sick of crying.

Her shoulders shrugged lazily, in defeat, while staring at him blankly.

"I'm scared." She finally admitted, low and raspy. "I'm scared of getting hurt again, or me hurting him."

Bill muffled a laugh. "I highly doubt you could ever hurt him."

She was taken aback, almost offended by his assumption. "Why, because you know me so well? You have no idea who I am, what I'm capable of."

His eyebrows furrowed.

"I'm not the same innocent little girl you left behind 10 years ago. The naive girl waiting on the porch everyday for her daddy to come back and save her but he never did, so don't presume to think you know anything."

-Oh great, the tears are back.

The waterworks falling from her eyes sprayed her cheeks. "Why didn't you want me?"

Her sniffles mingling into her words.

He couldn't bare staring into her tearful eyes for longer than a second but he needed to. Forcing himself to take in the pain he caused the one he loved the most.

"Oh Caroline but I did, I always did." His palms caressed her tear-stained cheeks, making her cry harder. "There was never a moment I didn't want to be your father, but I was under the impression you didn't want me to be. I was willing to wait and not ruin the chance of being banned from seeing you for good."

The chilling cold reddened her quivering bottom lip as she awaited a response. He stayed silent for a while, like he was trying to figure out what else to say or if anything would be worth saying.

She could see him struggling, feeling slightly victorious for it.

"I can't make up for the time we've lost, and I'll never forgive myself for allowing your mother to sink her claws so deep into you but what I can do is be here for you now." He finally said. "To be your father, move forward and be a part of your life the best way I can, if you'll have me. Though I'm sure I'm breaking every rule in the dad handbook by approving my 18 year old witch daughter to date a 500 year old vampire."

Caroline laughed and sniffled at the same time.

Bill grinned. "I understand your fear of opening your heart again, to dive into the unknown because it's terrifying not knowing what's at the end but the best things in life are."

This sounded hauntingly familiar.

"What if you stayed scared?" He pointed out. "What if you were fearful of judgment and your feelings, you would've never given Klaus a chance and discovered that, maybe, he was exactly what you were looking for."

You're still so young Caroline, and boys are a dime a dozen but the way you feel about Klaus reminds me of when I met your mother."

Her eyebrows narrowed. "Mom's a piece of work so I'm not sure that's a compliment."

He laughed. "Dating a mortal was as frowned upon as witches dating a vampire, and she fought it for as long as she could—until she realized she loved me back. Until she realized she couldn't live without the human boy at the normal high school who she met at a wild yet memorable party one night...as I couldn't live without her." Her father explained.

Caroline was sure her jaw was on the floor.

"The denial and fear of rejection was fleeting. She went against her coven and everything she thought she knew of the world to be with me. Eventually started a life together and gave me the most precious treasure in my life."

She smiled back.

"Then why did you leave us, me? You say it wasn't because of my powers but it's no coincidence." Caroline pleaded.

It's the answer she's been waiting for since the day he left, never thinking she would actually get an opportunity to ask the question.

"I'll admit I was scared, terrified even. There was a 50/50 chance you would develop your mother's ancestry, and I thought I was prepared to handle everything you were becoming. I wanted to be a good father, the one you deserved, I really did."

"But you didn't even try?" She challenged.

He sighed. "I was young and dumb. Selfish and unprepared to handle the life I thought I could handle. My love for you and your mother outweighed any fear until then, but I wasn't walking away from you Caroline, I was walking away from your mother." He confirmed.

Her forehead creased with limes of confusion.

"I could see it happening, so clearly, how she was ready to exploit you the minute the kitchen caught on fire. I knew. You were her ticket to fix all her mistakes when she chose me over her coven. She didn't care about me or you, just herself." Bill accused, astonishing Caroline.

-No...no my mom might be invasive and annoying but she cares about me. It's always been for me. Right?

Caroline shook her head. "You're lying."

"I really wish I was. I do."

"Then if you felt she was going to corrupt me into just as shallow of a person why did you leave me with her? Why did you never come back for me?"

"Going away with you was the initial plan but...your mother always got what she wanted in the end. I saw that firsthand. When she found out what I was planning, she threatened to take you away from me for good. I'd never be able to see you again. I couldn't take that risk so I left and when I tried to return she told me you didn't want to see me and to not come back. But I did...I came back for you."

Her watery eyes widened. "You did?"

He nodded. "But Liz insisted you were the one who didn't want to see me and if I had any chance of being in your life I had to keep my distance."

"10 years worth of distance?"

"As long as it took. But you're 18 now and this is your last semester I couldn't risk not taking the opportunity I've waited so long for."

"Dad—"

"I should've known and I should've fought harder and I won't make excuses for that but never think it was because I didn't want you or love you Caroline. You are the best thing to ever happen to me.

"Mom never told me about how you two met or anything much at all about your relationship. "Who knows how much more she's been keeping from me?" Caroline scoffed. "And she had the nerve to judge me and my relationships when she did the exact same thing! Pot meets kettle, much?"

"Your mother has changed quite a bit over the years and not all for the greater good. She has a heart full of secrets, that's what makes her tempting as ominous." He claimed.

She was rendered speechless the more the conversation continued, unsure if she could handle what else he had up his sleeve. It shouldn't be too shocking that her mother ended up being a hypocrite given that most judgy people were, but she was under the impression their marriage was accepted. Liz never told her any of this, never even bothered during the millions of times Caroline asked about her father. Too busy grooming her into a hateful witch just like her, manipulating her into doing her bidding and fighting for her praise.

Her whole life wasn't what it seemed.

Caroline twisted her lips, suppressing a hysterical laugh threatening her mouth. She felt all she could do was laugh.

"No wonder I'm such a wreck, my whole life has been just one big lie after the other. I don't even know who I am." She said with a pouty lip.

"You want to know what I think?" Bill arched one eyebrow. "I think you know exactly who you are, and exactly what you want. You have a choice and only you know what's the right thing to do for yourself. I can give you all the advice in the world but it's meaningless if you don't believe in your heart that it's right."

"We're all flawed, Caroline. We've all done things we're not proud of or bad things we take too much pride in. No one is built in perfect form that is what gives us our humanity. People evolve on a daily basis. You've fallen for an extraordinary creature, a man who has lived many lifetimes. He's not the same person he was even a decade ago. So now you have to figure out if you are willing to accept the beast as much as you accept the man.

She sniffled. "You know, for a beginner, you're really good at this whole parenting thing."

"I'm a fast learner." He said, smirking at Caroline's playful eye roll.

She grinned wider. "I really missed you dad." Her throat choking up.

For the first time of the night, Bill's eyes began to well just as intensely before pulling his daughter into a hug-their first hug in 10 years. Caroline relaxed into the embrace as she hugged him back, closing her eyes and marveling in the second safest arms she's ever been in.

This night had potential to be the worst decision she ever made, only for it to be exactly what she needed. Having her father back was everything she's dreamed of since she was a child, and feeling like a fever dream as it played out in the present. Everything he said was correct. Learning of her past, her family's past, put all in perspective what she needed to do for herself and to finally stop dragging herself through the misery.

"I missed you too, baby." He whispered against her hair, making her smile before they pulled away.

Both laughed as they dabbed their mutual tears away.

"Come on, let's get you back to campus before Klaus convinces himself I kidnapped you and hunts me down till death."

She knew he meant it as a joke, but it was an accurate one.

Caroline nodded, her smile never falling as her arm laced with his and they walked towards the parking lot.

---

The pencil in his hand was gliding gracefully across the page. Sitting propped up against his headboard Klaus took the much needed alone time to reflect on the night. Though it ended better than anticipated, the uncertainty of where him and Caroline would go from that moment on was frustrating.

He didn't want to be frustrated with her. He said he could be patient, and still held onto that, but being friends with her didn't seem like an option either. The feelings ran too deep for either of them to see that as a possibility, but what if that was what she wanted?

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Initially ignoring the annoying banging until it started again but even louder. He growled, throwing his sketchbook to the side as he hopped out of bed.

Klaus practically yanked the door off its hinges in murderous flare, thinking it was one of his obnoxious siblings or Enzo leaving his key again.

He had never been so ecstatic to be wrong.

"Hey." Caroline greeted.

She was still wearing her green dress, but her neat bun was now dropping curls over her shoulders with her heels dangling in her grasp.

Klaus swallowed. "Hi."

"Are you alone?" Her eyes scanned past him to observe the room herself.

He nodded, bringing a pleased smile to her lips.

"Can I come in?" She asked.

Klaus looked at her suspiciously, curious why she was here after they already said goodnight to each other.

-Did everything go smoothly with her father?

"Are you okay?" He inquired.

"I don't know yet." She answered hesitantly but her smile remained, confusing Klaus more. "So, can I come in?"

Klaus realized he still hadn't given her a response, too busy trying to figure out her motive.

He opened the door fully and stepped to the side so she could enter; closing the door behind her.

It felt like forever since she was last in his room but everything still seemed the same. His bookshelf seemed lighter like he removed a few of the novels from their place. Her attention landed on the bed, blushing at the memory.

Klaus took a seat on the bed, observing her as she observed his sanctuary, trying to dissect her visit without needing to say anything.

Both their lips parted as their gazes met. He never felt so feverish and anxious with her before.

His eyes widened as Caroline approached him determinedly, dropping her shoes to the floor in the process. Her hips swayed intimidatingly, bottom lip between her teeth and view never leaving him.

The scene moving so fast Klaus didn't realize she was already directly in front of him, standing between his opened legs.

Nearly choking as he swallowed when her hands landed on his shoulders and leg hiked over until she was comfortably straddling his lap. Her dress bunches up enough he could see her stockings underneath.

-Bloody hell...

Klaus felt like stone, completely unmoving, keeping his hands by his side, resisting the urge to touch her.

Even with the urge being so, so tempting.

He didn't want to be presumptuous, wanting her to make all the first moves but this was literal torture. She felt too warm and soft against him especially after being so long since they last touched. Feeling embarrassed that there was no way she couldn't feel the hardness in pants, but she never said anything.

Her arms now wrapped around his neck as their bodies meshed closer—feeling each other's warm breaths fanning their faces with each gasp. The vampire gulped, again, for what felt like the 10th time since she arrived. His eyes subconsciously shifting between her inviting lips and mesmerizing gaze.

"What are you doing?" He asked, finally garnering words.

"Trusting you." She answered, accompanied by a smile. Twirling the curls on the back of his neck between her fingers.

Still unsure of what where she was going with this, Klaus sat there completely at her mercy.

He felt the small breath she took before elaborating.

"I want you to bite me."

-Huh?

Klaus' eyes blinked rapidly, completely bewildered by her abrupt proposal.

"What?"

-There's no way she's asking what I think she's asking...

"I want you to bite me." She repeated without hesitation.

Klaus' mouth opened and closed, not wanting to say the wrong thing. Is there a right or wrong for something like this?

If he had frown lines they'd be wildly apparent by now.

"Caroline, where's this coming from?"

"It's a simple 'yes' or 'no'."

He chuckled darkly. "Love, there's nothing simple about what you're asking of me."

She knew this was not only a long shot but also made her seem out of her mind but, this felt right. After all those debates of begging for a right moment or right time, she finally found it. She wanted Klaus in her life. No more bets stacked against them—she was all in.

Caroline could see the self battle bouncing through his eyes, when he wasn't trying not to look in her direction.

Klaus briefly closed his eyes and sighed.

"I—I don't want to hurt you." He said softly.

Her smile was sympathetic. "You won't."

"No, you don't understand." He shook his head.

"Klaus—"

"I could kill you!" He growled in her face. "I could lose control and drain you dry within seconds, do not understand that?"

Unfortunately, she did.

"I've done it before, countless times. The bloodlust is it's own monster with a mind of its own to the point where I can't stop it. And you, Caroline..." Looking down shamefully. "I've been craving your blood for as long as I can remember, even before now. Calling to me like a siren—so potent and alluring to the point where I couldn't think of much else. Only intensifying as we got closer."

The witch pressed her lips together so she wouldn't freak out over him telling her he's been wishing to drain her of blood since they met. She felt the small sweat droplets accumulating on her forehead, widening why she wasn't running away yet."

"So many moments of temptation, opportunities...but I fought them off. Too many close calls that you didn't even notice while we were together. That I kept at bay because I would never forgive myself but there's only so much self control I can practice. If I have even the smallest drop, I don't think I will be able to stop."

His voice was strained, like he was already holding himself back. Knuckles bulging from the tight fists resting on both sides of his bed.

Caroline understood his resistance, trying not to think too deeply into what he just said, but he wasn't understanding her purpose

"I know you will. I trust you..." Hoping her reassuring smile would ease him

"I don't trust myself." Klaus said, shaking his head. "If something happens to you because of me—"

"I'm not a damsel in distress, Klaus, and I'm not a compelled zombie who has no idea what's happening. This is something I'm asking you to do, for me. This is something I want." She declared.

"Caroline..." Shaking his head again.

"It's okay."

She was scared, terrified—would she be sane if she wasn't?

There was the possibility that Klaus would lose himself and drain her dry. There was a chance his monster would dominate and rip her throat out. There was always a chance for tragedy but she was trusting her gut, and her gut was telling her this was right.

Any further protest died on his lips the moment her hands reached both sides of his face. Staring adoringly into his eyes like she was dissecting the windows to his dark soul. The pad of her thumb caressed his jaw while the other ghosted over his bottom lip—but her gaze never left his. Gradually, her fingers ventured further on his face—over his forehead and underneath his uncertain eyes like she was studying him.

"Show me." She softly pleaded.

He knew exactly what she meant.

A gasp escaped her pretty lips when his vampire features abruptly appeared. The set of impressively sharp fangs hung over his full raspberry colored lip while his reddened eyes mesmerized and frightened her. The blackened outline of his iris made them appear more intense and threatening—bulging and hesitant. His eyebrow hairs replaced by a bumpy texture of skin. Lips redder and fuller.

Caroline had never seen a more magnificent species. Her fingers weren't idle as they continued exploring the spidery black veins underneath the scorching eyes. Her movements slow and wary as her exploration contained, noticing how much Klaus was restraining himself.

His fingers digging into the sheets roughly, not wanting to lunge forward and allow his primal needs to take over.

So badly did he want to run; feeling uneasy about the amount of control he was granting to her. Klaus was not a submissive man but Caroline's dominance gave him no other option-and who was he to oblidge?

He waited for the other shoe to drop where she would come to her senses and walked away from him for good. The evil, hideous and shameless creature who took pride in blood and pain. Why would she want that back in her life?

Caroline had never taken the time to actually admire a vampire. Always under the assumption they were as hideous as the demons in her grimoire but...Klaus was remarkable and somehow became more attractive in all his fang glory.

Her mouth opened and closed a few times, still touching his face until her fingertips settled on his sharp cheekbones. Her heart pounding against her rib cage like a drum, making her pulse point throb.

The body doesn't understand the difference between panic and excitement, good anxiety and bad. It's only job is to tell you to run. Fight or flight. The reasonable reaction would be to listen to that sensor and run as fast glad you can. Some do, and some ignore it.

Everything inside of her was screaming at her to climb off this demon and get the hell out, but Caroline wasn't one of those reasonable people—not anymore.

Her soft smile reached her eyes as she nodded her consent.

With a half grin, Klaus warped an arm around her waist to pull her closer onto him. He could already hear the rich blood flowing throughout her body, triggered by her erratic heartbeat.

It was the most melodic sound he's ever heard.

He scraped his nose along her jaw before venturing down to her neck, inhaling her mixed scents. Getting high from the smell alone.

In all his days the cravings have never been so strong, he wasn't sure if it was her blood itself or their bond. Klaus has never had a connection with his victims, simply a disposable means to an end. He always had feelings towards Caroline, whether it was hatred or care either way his time with her was meant to be savoring.

Klaus cradled one side of her head to bring her neck closer to the goal. Torturously, nosing his nose along her ivory flesh before planting a simple kiss in its wake, eliciting an almost moan from Caroline.

"Don't move." He commanded against her skin when he felt her squirm.

How could he expect her to stay still?

The anticipation was gnawing at her like a dog with a bone. His strong hands holding her to his front and luscious lips marking her soul in the most subtle fashion. She nearly forgot that in any second his fangs were going to be driving through her throat. A part of her was scared, knowing how this could end in any way, but she never wanted anything more.

Everything about this felt all kinds of wrong and right.

Klaus left a final kiss to her pulse point, his face crinkling as his fangs emerged that instantly dove into the sensitive flesh.

Caroline's entire body jolted forward. She gripped both his shoulders for dear life, eyes screwed tight and mouth pressed together to muffle her high pitched scream.

The pressure was relentless and pain excruciating—not that she was expecting this to feel like a prick to the finger. It was the most intimate experience either of them have been through.

Klaus drank slowly, moaning against her skin and reveling in the sweet metal taste of her blood flowing into his mouth. The countless fantasies he's imagined didn't hold a candle to reality. Five centuries and never has his taste buds felt so alive; rejuvenated. He could feel the bloodlust begging for control which only made his hold on her hips tighter, as did her grip on him.

Only a few seconds had gone by but the pressure finally subsided enough for Caroline to relax into the embrace. Her eyes remained shut but her groans transitioned into pleasurable moans as she pulled him in closer.

She could feel life slowly being drained from her body with every motion, gasping while her hips pressed down on his lap.

This was everything, he was everything. All she could think about and want was right here in her arms.

Caroline felt wetness against her cheeks, only taking a minute to realize a few tears had fallen down her cheeks. Initially she expected it was from the shooting pain of his fangs buried in her neck, but no.

Her heart was bursting and chest tightening. The overwhelming passion and love she had for this man cued the unexpected waterworks.

Oh god.

She loved him.

- I love him...

Caroline always assumed the journey to finding true love had steps, a process, that didn't equate to only a month being together. Love had a timestamp and each relationship was the same. She thought Tyler Lockwood was destined to be her first and only, it was her plan. There was always a plan.

Before him she viewed life in such trivial fashion—a map of exactly how her future would play out. Her future and all that would lead you to it was already decided. Klaus didn't fall into any of those cards, he was never even a second thought. Klaus was her enemy, her foe and that's all he was meant to be—another vampire to dispose of.

He wasn't supposed to become her everything.

Love, heartache, happiness, tears, warmth, need, passion and desire.

She felt it all with him.

There was no more hesitation or fear.

This was it. In this moment she knew what she wanted her life to look like, what she needed for it to be fulfilled.

He made her laugh as much as he made her scream.

He made her smile as much as me made her cry.

He understood her in a way no one ever dared.

He never wasted a second not expressing his want and desire for her.

He was everything she never knew she needed.

He made her feel exceptional.

He made her feel safe.

He made her complete.

All her love was merging with her guilt and it made her cry more.

"You could never hurt him."

Her father said.

She didn't want to, but she already had.

She was madly and undeniably in love with this beautiful yet complicated man, and couldn't imagine another moment in her life without him.

Caroline winced when she felt his fangs retracting. His mouth full of blood and vamp features still visible as he pulled away. His tongue lingered sweeping up the leftover blood drops, brushing his thumb over the open wound before gently pushing against her pulse point. Exhaling in relief when he felt the strong pumps of her heartbeat—still as apparent as ever.

"I'm stronger than I thought." Klaus said under his breath, praising himself.

She wasn't sure if he meant to say that out loud but it made her heart soar.

Their foreheads rubbing against each other as both caught their breaths. Klaus smiled lazily while smoothing her hair down and closing his eyes for a minute as he relaxed against her.

"Are you—Caroline you're crying. Did I hurt you?" His face quickly transitioned into worry.

She madly shook her head side to side, not wanting him to feel guilty about what they just did. He didn't know it was her own realization's fault for her unexpected cries.

"No. I feel fine." Caroline insisted.

Her warm palms calmed against his cheeks when she sensed his protest—her smile melting into his heart.

There was nothing painless about what they just did but Caroline had never felt so content—close second would be their first night.

She felt whole.

"I just missed you." Caroline said with nothing less of a smile playing on her lips.

Klaus let out a breath of relief, squeezing her hips so she moved more on top of him.

If only she knew how much he missed her, no amount of words could depict but she already knew.

Deep down Caroline wanted to confess her new revelation but right now didn't feel right, and she wasn't sure when that right moment would be. These new and unusual feelings were here and not going anywhere, but her nerves and excitement once again clashing. She needed to access this for herself before ever bringing it up to him.

Right now, she just wanted to be here, in the now and never let him go.

Caroline pleasurably sighed, eyes fluttering again as pressure from the bite lessened when his tongue glided over the two puncture wounds. The few blood lingering blood droplets were consumed sensually and slowly. Soothing her in every way possible, feeling her body relax against his. Eyes still closed as his hand snuck its way into his hair, tugging on the dark curls as his determined licks transitioned into demanding kisses. His lips puckered over the flesh before his human teeth came out to play, with his tongue to ease. Then repeat, and repeat until she said stop.

And she never would.

Branding, marking and making her his. She couldn't think of a better way to live.

Not being able to take it anymore, Caroline pulled him by the hair and crashed her lips against his before he could say anything. Klaus didn't waste a moment not kissing her back, squeezing her hips as their mouths slanted over each other. Tongues mingling, gasping into each other's mouth as the kiss deepened. Her happy tears meshing into the kiss, causing more intensity. Underestimating how much they missed the pure passion that had been building over the past week. Tasting how much they missed each other and longed for this moment they didn't think they'd ever get again.

After sharing such intimacy with him, Caroline knew there was no going back and vice versa. For the first time thinking with her heart instead of her head.

Caroline's hand cuffing his face while the other tugged on his hair. They smiled against each other's lips, basking in their choice.

For good.

---

EEEEP! You know how relieved I am they're back together? I didn't know how much more I could take writing angsty klaroline lol

So, what do you think about Caroline's shocking realization? Bill's visit and more of Liz's skeletons in the closet?

Both Klaus and Caroline have parent issues. Half of Caroline's is resolved, just wait until we finally get to Klaus'...

I patiently await your reviews!