Chapter 31.
A few weeks later.
Klaus stood leaning at the small bar overflowing with students as they all tried to grab the young man's attention behind it, serving drinks. He decided to wait his turn so that he could give Caroline a few extra minutes with her friends. A smile touched his lips as he saw her in the middle of her small group smiling brightly at them. He knew she missed them and he hated that sad shadow that passed in her eyes whenever she thought about them. He kept telling her that a lot of time had to pass before her friends had any kind of relationship with him, if ever, and even though she agreed with him, she still suffered from it. On his part, Klaus was so used to being hated by anyone that their coldness barely registered with him, but for Caroline he was willing to mend whatever bridges he could if that would make her happy. There were still her college years to consider, and he wanted her to have the college experience she dreamt of with her friends, but they in turn had to accept that he was now a permanent part of her life.
Another smile tilted his lips up as he remembered their conversation about college. They had been in bed, in each other's arms talking about everything and nothing when Klaus had asked her what was the first place in the world she wanted to visit. She had looked up at him and with a smile asked,
"Rome, Paris, Tokyo?"
He shook his head at her with a smile. "Sweetheart, your crush is showing…you remember everything I ever told you." He teased her.
"Oh hush!" She shushed him, "You're one to talk! You've been crazy about me since the moment you met me."
"Guilty as charged." He readily admitted as his hand caressed her naked back up and down.
She bit her lower lip and lowered her eyes, she sighed happily as her fingers grazed his chest. "Remember when you talked to be about Venice?"
"Of course."
"I was so nervous to be on that bed with you…"
"Totally couldn't tell." He teased her again.
"Stop it!" She chided him as she playfully hit him on his shoulder. When he just grinned at her, she sighed again and rested her chin on his chest. "I could see it in my head, the Laguna…the gondolas…"
He gently brushed his fingers through her silky hair. "You want to go there first?"
"Yes." She nodded happily.
"All right then." He agreed immediately. "As soon as you're settled in college and can take a few days off-"
"College?" She interrupted him quietly.
"Yes." He said, kissing her on the forehead. "I remember everything you tell me too, you know…your plans. The career you want, which by the way, I think you'll be fantastic in."
"Really?...Thanks." She smiled at his enthusiasm but something in her eyes made him frown.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Nothing." She shrugged slightly. "I've been so happy these last few days with you…I don't like thinking that I have to be away from you."
"Away from me?!" His breath caught in his throat just at the idea.
Her knuckles went up to caress his cheek. "Yes, my love, because no matter how fast you and I both are, coming from college to Mystic Falls everyday will be impossible."
He relaxed at her words. "We don't need to do that. I can buy a house or an apartment closer to your college and we can stay there."
"You'd do that? Really?" Her eyes danced happily, brightening her whole face. "I'd still have to sleep at the dorm sometimes cause the girls and I agreed that-"
"Hey," He stopped her. "It's your college years. Your experience. I want you to live it whichever way you want." He knew that he tended to be possessive but he would fight against his old instinct and bad habits. He promised himself that whenever he felt that feeling overtaking him, he would remind himself that they had forever and if he wanted that forever with her, he'd never clip her wings.
"I love you." Caroline told him softly as she slid her body up his, making his breath hitch.
"Me too." He answered simply before taking her face in his hands and kissing her lovingly…
His attention was brought back to the present as he felt the barman put two champagne flutes near his elbow. He took them and walked towards Caroline and her friends. Before he had even reached his girlfriends' side he saw Elena's eyes on him before she looked down and her body stiffened.
He gave a small nod with his head towards Stefan before giving the flute to Caroline. "Here, love." He then turned to look at her female friends. "Hello girls. You both look beautiful, tonight." He complimented them as he felt Caroline's body rest lightly against his.
"Thank you." They both said under their breath and then the whole group fell silent.
"...and after five seconds...the silence is officially awkward." His sister arrived suddenly on Matt's arm in her brightly yellow gown and slid her body between Elena and Bonnie until she stood on the other side of Caroline. "Should I ask if you're enjoying yourselves?" She then asked with a smirk on her face as she looked at each of them, before finally winking at her brother.
"We arrived about fifteen minutes ago," Caroline said smiling gratefully at her. "And I have to say that you and April did a great job...everything looks wonderful."
"Thank you," the original girl replied with a nod, "considering that the other girl who was supposed to be helping us, kept bailing on us to go-"
"I apologized for that more than once." The other blond girl said, perusing her lips. Klaus frowned at his sister, so what if Caroline preferred to spend time with him instead of decorating this stupid hall?
Matt clapped his hands to grab everyone's attention. "We were going to get our official prom picture taken, right?" He said looking at Rebekah.
Jeremy, who had just arrived took Bonnie's hand and said that they would go with them and Klaus saw Caroline leaning to say something in Bonnie's ear. Bonnie smiled and replied something before saying, "See you later." And she left with the other three.
"Save me a dance, Care ...okay?" Matt asked Caroline before getting lost in the crowd. Klaus frowned slightly, wasn't Rebekah enough for him to dance with?
"Of course." Caroline said with a surprised look.
"I think we'll go grab a drink...I'm thirsty." Elena said to Caroline before taking Stefan's hand and smiling at her friend.
Caroline waved and smiled back as they left.
"Shall we dance?" She asked him with a wide smile. "I remember promising you a dance at my prom." A smile a little too wide. She was trying to compensate for her friends' coldness and he didn't like that she felt the need to do that.
"It's why I came." He told her as he entwined his fingers with hers and walked the few steps towards the dance floor.
She immediately went into his arms, her body glued to his from shoulders to knees. "Did I thank you enough for this wonderful dress?" She asked as the ivory dress she was wearing swished around their feet. He had given it to her a couple of weeks ago when he heard her grumbling with Rebekah about not having yet found the dress for the prom. The look of awe the moment she saw the pearls encrusted gown that shimmered in the lights was all the thanks he needed. She had touched it reverently while looking at him with such joy in her eyes and then had suddenly dropped it on the floor to fly into his arms and thank him with a breath-taking kiss.
He put his cheek against hers. "You don't have to pretend with me, Caroline."
He felt her sigh against him, understanding what he was talking about. "It's just that I hate to see them treat you this way." She said with a sad voice.
"And I already told you that it would take time for them to get used to us, together...lots of it!" He reminded her.
"I'm sorry I'm putting you through this." She said as she pressed her cheek closer to his.
He laughed under his breath. "Through what? An uneasy smile or two? I came because I want to be with you, I don't care about anything else...and if I'm honest," he added with a satisfied smile and a shrug, "it feels good to see the wariness in your friend's eyes since my siblings keeps repeating I'm getting too mushy."
That made her smile with her teeth showing even as she shook her head at his words.
"There it is.' Klaus said, happily smiling back as her smile tugged at his heart strings. "As long as I have that smile in my life...I'm good."
"You have a way with words, Mr. Michaelson...play your cards well and you can have all my dances tonight." She told him as her hands wound tighter around his neck.
He laughed again, loving the feel of her body close to his, as he remembered the fun they had when they had played cards recently.
Her lips pouted out. "Why are you laughing?"
He chuckled. "You? Cards? Yes, I laugh."
"Making fun of my playing...is not very nice of you" She pulled a grumpy face, pulling her lower lip even more down. "...or Kol...or Rebekah."
Unable to resist, he took that lip between his and she kissed him back.
"What you don't know, sweetheart," he told her once they broke apart, "is that I love that you're such a poor player, especially...when you and I, finally got to play for clothes."
"That was fun." She said softly with a mischievous smile on her lips.
"Yes, that was decidedly fun!" Playing with her in only her undies had been such a turn on.
All of a sudden, Kol's face was between them ruining the moment. "Hey there, darlings. My God, Caroline you're a vision! May I-"
"No. Go away." Klaus frowned heavily at his brother, keeping Caroline in the circle of his arms as he turned away from Kol.
"Klaus." Caroline chided him before turning to Kol. "You came!" She told him happily.
"Yeah..." The younger original answered her with his usual grin on his face while ignoring Klaus. "I figured there are worst ways to spend the evening than looking at sexy girls all dressed up. In fact," He added as his eyes took in the young girls milling around. "I wouldn't mind tasting a few..."
Caroline's arm left Klaus neck to grab Kol by his suit lapel. "You promised me to behave!"
"Good luck with that." Klaus said under his breath, gaining a frown from Caroline before her eyes turned to Kol again. "You promised!"
"Relax, darling." His brother winked at her, giving her a reassuring smile. "You don't know what kind of tasting I was talking about."
Incredible! She had made him promise not to feed on anyone here…and he was keeping it! She already had his whole family twisted around her finger.
"Well, what can I say to that?" She said as she released his jacket and wound her arm around Klaus again. "Have fun then."
"You too." Kol said with a lop-sided smile. "...even if it's not sex for once." He added before rushing away as he saw Klaus about to grab him by the neck.
"And you keep insisting on making him stay?" Klaus huffed at her. His eye brows rose up to his hair line as he took in her pink cheeks.
"He's family." She said simply.
"He gets on my ne-"
"May I interrupt?" Stefan's tall figure suddenly appeared next to them.
"Why does everyone want to dance with my girlfriend? Don't you have one of your-"
Caroline put her mouth over his shutting him up and Klaus forgot what he was about to say.
"She's all yours...for the dance." He told the vampire, as he reluctantly released his hold on her. "I'll go get myself a drink."
Klaus walked towards the bar again and after ordering a drink, he turned to look at where Caroline and Stefan were dancing together. They seemed to be in a serious conversation and he hoped that Stefan wasn't going to ruin this night for her…or he'll have Klaus to answer to. In that moment, he noticed Elena and Bonnie leaving the restrooms, laughing softly with each other.
"Hello ladies." He greeted them as they got closer to him.
They both went rigid then coldness seeped on their features, their eyes turning hard. Without Caroline around they didn't have to hide it.
For Caroline. He thought as he fought to keep down the anger that immediately started burning in his stomach.
"I know you hate me girls," And I'm not exactly your fan either, "but I need to ask you something for Caroline."
At the mention of their friend's name, their gaze softened somewhat and they both waited for him to continue.
"We're doing a small graduation party at the mansion for her and Rebekah…and I would like to invite you to come join us...it will be just us family...and Rebekah invited Matt too. I'm sure Caroline would love to have you all there...so if you want to celebrate your graduation with us...you're more than welcome." He stopped, wondering if he should say more and decided that they needed to know. "The only reason she didn't invite you is because she thought you'd feel forced to come...not because you really wanted to, so I'm inviting you as I know you won't mind saying no to me...and it would be okay...she'd never know." Klaus looked from one girl to the other, waiting for their answer. He realised that he was holding his breath as he hoped they would say yes. Seeing Caroline happy was all he cared about.
"I want to come." Bonnie was the first to speak, her eyes meeting his for a long moment and she seemed to read something there. "Thank you."
Elena had her head down but then she looked up, pushing her hair away behind her shoulder. "I'll ask Stefan but I'm sure he'll say yes...so count us in, too." Her tone was lukewarm but she was ready to take a tiny step for Caroline…and that's all that mattered.
He gave them both a small nod, and they hurried away.
He went back for his drink and after taking a sip turned to look at the dance floor trying to spot Caroline and Stefan. Caroline was like a beam calling out to him and he saw her immediately, the twinkling lights above their heads catching the blond of her hair and the pearls on her dress. He realised that she was now dancing with Matt but his mind barely registered that change as his eyes moved slowly over her beautiful face. His bl took in her soft, pale skin, the slender curve of her neck and the soft wisp of hair that had escaped her up style and was touching her cheek as she moved slowly with the music.
"You're one very lucky bastard, you know that, right?" Stefan's said softly next to him, his gaze looking at him before turning to look in Caroline's direction like Klaus.
Klaus' eyes never left Caroline as he whispered. "Yes, I know." He had told himself the same thing, every morning from that first time he had woken up to find her sleeping next to him.
"And you totally don't deserve her."
Klaus' eyes turned to ice chips as he turned side-ways to look at the younger vampire, then his eyes went back to the girl they were talking about. He forced his shoulders to relax. "Yes, I know that too, ripper."
The tightening of Stefan's jaw was the only indication that his famous title still got at him. "But even a blind man would see how much you love her." He continued, "And she, you."
Klaus' chest expanded, his eyes still never wavering from Caroline, who seemed to be listening very intently to whatever Matt was saying. "And so…"
"And so…I pity the fools who'd ever try to come between you." Stefan concluded quietly.
Now Klaus did turn his eyes straight into the man's beside him. "Will there be such fools you think?" He asked him softly but with steel in his words.
"No, I don't." Stefan replied with a small shake of his head, before walking away.
That had almost felt like some kind of blessing. Not that he needed or cared for one but still…Klaus thought as he walked to reach the dance floor.
A crease appeared between his brows as he saw Caroline hug Matt tightly, with eyes that looked a little too bright. Had he made her cry?
"I think I'll better go look for Rebekah now." Klaus heard the busboy say.
"Yes, you should." He replied, staring Matt down with a cold stare.
"Don't mind him." The blond vampire whispered to Matt, who flinched at Klaus' gaze before hastily leaving.
"I missed you." Caroline said before fusing her lips to his.
"All the remaining dances are mine." He said with his mouth still on hers.
She broke the kiss to look at him for a second. "Deal." She said with a bright smile.
They laughed quietly together when a Bon Jovi ballad started, both of them knowing it was Stefan's doing. Then other ballads followed and they stayed there on the dance floor, their bodies gently swaying together and basking in each other's company.
"Caroline!" The Bennet witch suddenly called her friend loudly.
"What the hell, now?" Klaus complained. If she was going to ask for a dance too she was going to be disappointed.
"Could you tell your...Kol to stay away from me please?" Bonnie hissed between her teeth, her eyes deep into Caroline's.
"Did he do something to you?" His girlfriend asked worriedly.
"No...He's just being very..." She shook her head as she sought to explain. "Persistent and... annoying."
"That's his full time job." Klaus told the dark skinned girl. "But a strong witch like you can surely handle him."
She sighed heavily. "It's what I did...and he said it makes him like me more." Yes, totally Kol. Klaus thought with a hidden smirk.
"If you want I could give you one of my daggers..." He offered only half-joking.
"Klaus!" Caroline turned stern eyes on him, before looking at Bonnie. "He's just kidding. Just ignore Kol...he lose interest, fast." In a few weeks she already had his whole family pegged.
"He'd better." Bonnie told her before picking up her long skirt and hurrying away.
"Why is being here so important again?" Klaus asked Caroline with a confused look that made her laugh.
"Because it's my prom...and you gave me the most beautiful dress in the world and I had to show it off."
He put his mouth close to her ear. "Well, I can't wait till we're home and I can take it off you."
"Very, very carefully..." She told him with a serious look in her eyes. "You're not ruining this beauty in any way."
Knowing exactly as to what ruined dress she was referring to brought a roguish smile to his lips.
"And you stay away from my shirt's buttons." He retorted with another laugh, thinking of how much she liked to take off his shirts without opening any buttons. Not that he cared about his clothes. He loved that she was as eager for him as he was for her. He thought many times in the last months how she would say or do something and completely surprise him and it was the same when it came to their love-making. She was eager and bold but could turn shy and blush unexpectedly…like when he catches her hungry gaze on him. It's what had happened in the library and it was sheer luck that they hadn't broken that comfortable chair she loved so much to read in. She had torn his shirt off him, buttons flying everywhere and his hands had frantically pulled up her dress, desperate to feel his flesh against hers and be one with her. From the chair, they had ended up on the carpet, limbs entwined and completely breathless.
And after when he had looked at her and saw her flushed cheeks as she took in her torn dress, whispering at what the others in the house would think of them, he had wanted her all over again.
"Where's your mind at?" He asked already knowing, as he saw her far away gaze.
"Right next to yours on the library carpet," She bit her lower lip in that way that drove him crazy. She put her cheek against his, hugging him. "My big, bad wolf.' She sighed hotly in his ear.
And suddenly he was hungrily kissing her, forgetting the people around him, forgetting where they were and just wanting to taste her mouth. Her lips opened under his assault, her tongue twirling around his. She stopped to take a breath, and resting her forehead against his, giggled softly as she seemed to feel the students' gazes on them.
"Klaus...take me…"
Klaus felt his body go hard and he completely stopped breathing. Caroline smiled at feeling his reaction, "home." She added.
"What about your prom night?" He asked her even if he was more than ready to leave.
Her gaze turned bold in his. "I prefer to be home...doing some private dancing of our own."
"Do you now?" He said as his eyes returned her hot look.
"But I do want to take the prom picture before we leave..." She suddenly said as his hand sought hers and started leaving the dance area.
"We can stay longer if you want." He told her, his fingers tightening on hers.
"No. But I want our picture...we still haven't taken a good one since we've been together."
"That's if you don't count the ones in my cell phone." He wiggled his eyebrows.
Her steps halted, her lips opening in surprise. "You said you would delete those."
"And I will," he promised her, as he started walking again. "...one day."
"Klaus..."
"So," he told her as the couples around them made way for them to pass. Without doing anything, people gave him a wide berth. "You know we've been together, exactly seven weeks today?"
Her hand tugged at his and he looked back at her and her lips descended on his. His arm turned around her waist as she said. "Rebekah and Kol are right, you know? You're getting all soft and mushy on the inside."
He gave her a dark look but she just laughed in his face.
Getting near to the pictures stand, they found a line of couples waiting before them. Never leaving Caroline's hand, Klaus moved to the first couple. He'll show her mushy.
"We go first." Klaus told the young man who was helping his girlfriend with her dress.
The young, strongly built student turned a deep frown on him but then looked in his eyes and just said. "Of course."
"How's that for mushy? Didn't even have to compel him." Klaus told Caroline with a superior look on his face. He then turned his blue eyes on the photographer, pinning him with his glare. "Keep taking pictures until I tell you to stop."
"Klaus!" He heard Caroline whisper embarrasingly at him.
"Your picture prom and our first real one together...I want it to be special." He turned from the photographer who was bobbing his head up and down like a wobbly toy and took a step to be closer to Caroline and pose for the picture. "...and that won't happen if you keep on frowning." He told her as his finger went up to smooth the crease between her brows.
"Note to self..." She grumbled to herself, "Don't tease Klaus about going soft..."
He was about to frown at her when he saw mirth in her eyes as she tried to hide a smile. His mouth opened in a wide smile of his own.
"I love you." She whispered softly.
His heart strings tugged hard but happily, like each and single time she said those three small words to him. Her sigh blew softly on his cheek as he touched his forehead to hers, looking deeply in her eyes. He felt the light from the camera blink on them but he was completely lost in her loving gaze, once again completely in awe that all that love shining in them was all for him. He leaned down to kiss her lips and the camera flash blinked once again.
After a thousand years of loneliness, Niklaus Michaelson had found the love of his life, his soul mate and he would die in a heartbeat for her but since he couldn't because of the sire bond, he would live for her, protect her, making sure she was happy, fulfilled, living the life she wanted every day. He'd show her the world; give her the moon or the stars if she asked for them, standing always by her side, forever thankful that she wanted him there.