Title: Dream a Little Dream of Me
Rating: PG-13
Summary: While I'm alone and blue as can be, Dream a little dream of me. Post 3x21, Before Sunset.
-Dream a Little Dream of Me
Stars shining bright above you
Night breezes seem to whisper "I love you"
Birds singin' in the sycamore tree
Dream a little dream of me
Say nighty-night and kiss me
Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me
While I'm alone and blue as can be
Dream a little dream of me
Stars fading but I linger on dear
Still craving your kiss
I'm longing to linger till dawn dear
Just saying this
Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me
INSTRUMENTAL
Stars fading but I linger on dear
Still craving your kiss
I'm longing to linger till dawn dear
Just saying this
Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries far behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me
Caroline looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings. It took her only moments to recognize where exactly she was. Klaus' home. It wasn't just that it wasn't the fact that it was his home that she stood in that made the setting strange. It was filled with people dressed in their finest, dancing, drinking champagne and music playing in the background. Confused at her current setting she glanced down, noticing her attire and suddenly it all clicked. The party, the familiar blue dress she wore, the gloves, even the diamond bracelet which she had thrown at Klaus that night. It was the night of the Mikaelson ball. It was a dream, it had to be. Even so, Caroline looked around, trying to find a familiar face. Anyone. It wasn't just that she so no sign of a friend, but even the faces there weren't familiar. In such a small town there should have been someone that she knew, but there wasn't a single one.
So she just stood there, staring in confusion. It was only as she was beginning to realize the strangeness of the location she found herself in, the clarity of the things around her that a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Hello Caroline."
She spun at the voice, finding the owner of it standing behind her, a smile on his face. Klaus too wore the same tux from that night, all the way down to the white bow tie. Shaking her head free of from confusion she found her voice. "This is the weirdest dream ever." With a humorless laugh she moved to sidestep him and walk past her dream incarnation of Klaus, but he stopped her, moving quickly to block her escape. "Seriously?"
"If I recall, last time we did this we danced. Why break tradition?" Klaus asked, smiling at her again and holding out his hand.
For a moment she watched him with suspicion, wondering what the hell was wrong with her that she was dreaming about this moment and about him there with her of all people. Klaus was dead, so she did her best to write it off to that. If she was honest, she had thought about him occasionally since he had been locked up tight in his very own coffin. Even if he was dead in a sense, curiosity won out and she lay her hand in his own, allowing him to draw her onto the dance floor. Caroline's expectation had been for Klaus to take his formal position, just as they had that night. Instead, he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her against him and grasping her hand, much in the way he had that night at the 20's dance.
"So," Klaus began, "a dream?"
"Of course," she responded as if his question was absolutely stupid. How the hell could the Klaus of her imagination not even realize that? He seemed amused at her response, and she hated that. "What?"
"I'm aware it's a dream. In fact, I have a very good idea of what is going on. Do you?"
"Why are you so annoying even in my dreams?" Caroline asked in hotly. She sighed and looked over his shoulder, refusing to meet his eyes. He chuckled in response and the frown on her face deepened.
"Not trying to love, just trying to allow you to reach the proper conclusion."
At his words she turned to him and narrowed her eyes. "Which is what?"
"How are things?" Klaus asked. When she didn't respond he elaborated. "In the real world with your ex-teacher on a one man mission to rid the world of vampires."
At that she stared at him, mouth gaping open slightly. It was only a dream she reminded herself. No matter how aware her dream Klaus seemed, no matter how clear and sharp her surroundings were. "I don't know what you mean?"
"Lying in your own dream love?" Klaus asked with a cocked eyebrow. "Let me guess, the streets aren't as safe at night as you thought they would be with me gone. That you got rid of one monster only to contend with another that is hell bent on killing all of you, no matter what species you are."
At his words Caroline swallowed and looked away, hating the way they hurt. It was all true. She remembered the relief that everyone had felt at immobilizing Klaus. That feeling was quickly replaced by one of dread, dread of an entirely different monster, one that used to be their friend. The council was on their back, Mrs. Lockwood and her own mother cast out for their betrayal for harboring vampires, their own children. The nights weren't safe anymore. Not for vampires, and not for anyone that was friends of a vampire. All because Alaric might be lurking around the corner. To Alaric you were either for or against him.
"You silence says enough."
Caroline's attention snapped back to Klaus. She expected a knowing smile on his face, regardless of the fact that this Klaus was only a figment of her imagination. Even so, she saw nothing of the kind of his face. Instead, he seemed to be watching her own face intently. Still, his words angered her. "I'm sure you would be thrilled then. To know that even now that you are gone we aren't safe. Why am I even talking about this with you? You aren't even really here. Your dead, in a coffin somewhere. Gone."
"True. This is a dream. I am dead for sure, and in a coffin I suppose as you claim." Klaus paused for a moment and smiled. "But who is to say I'm not really here?"
"Do you know how infuriating you are? Even when you aren't real?"
"Oh I'm quite real love," Klaus said and drew her closer, their bodies pressing more firmly together.
When he drew her closer she clutched his shoulder, prepared to push him away, yet she didn't. This position was much more intimate then the previous times they danced. If it wasn't a dream, if this was real, in public she would have pushed him away, embarrassed by their proximity. It bothered her for a moment to realize that because it was a dream she didn't push him away. His body against her own should have bothered her, dream or not. Caroline reasoned with herself it was okay to ignore the fact that she willingly stayed in his harms when she had more important questions to ask of him. "That makes no sense," she whispered, "you just said this was a dream, you can't be-."
"This is a dream," he said softly and looked around at their surroundings. "Quite clear isn't it? I do have a very good memory."
Something about his words made her tense and he looked back down at her almost as if he sensed her distress. If it was the real Klaus he probably would have.
Klaus continued to stare down at her. "I think you already understand, you just don't want to. You don't find this entire thing odd?"
It was odd, and as she admitted that to herself her stomach began to sink. She would have stopped dancing if it wasn't for the fact that he continued to lead her slowly on the dance floor. "I don't know what you mean." Her voice was breathy as she spoke. Even to her own ears it didn't sound convincing, almost fearful. The real Klaus would have picked up on that also.
Klaus stopped dancing, lowering his head and looking into her eyes. "I'm amazed that everyone continues to underestimate me. It's impossible for any of you to fathom what I can do Caroline. Don't think just because your friends have me immobilized with a spell in a locked coffin that I'm entirely without some ability."
Refusing to believe is words she shook her head. "No, that's impossible."
"Really?" Klaus asked with a slight raise of his eyebrows. "Vampires can access dreams, control them. I can assure you that my own ability far exceeds anyones. And if you'd like to be technical, I'm far from dead. Sleeping perhaps. What do people do when they sleep Caroline? Don't they dream?"
"Yes, but-." Caroline couldn't speak though, because the man holding her did seem entirely of his own control, he was very much the Klaus she knew. If it was as he said... "What do you want?" The seriousness on his face seemed to disappear and he smiled down at her. It wasn't the first time she'd seen that smile. It was so boyishly innocent and sweet.
"Want? From you I seek only your company. If I'm to invade anyone's dreams I'd much rather it be for pleasure."
They had started dancing again at some point, but Caroline barely noticed. Instead she only stared at him, to shocked to respond.
Klaus' face slowly sobered again and his eyes flickered over her face. "I am pleased to see you made it to safety Caroline."
"Are you?" She whispered. "Really? I was relieved you died. You tried to kill Elena." Klaus frowned down at her, a slow burning anger appearing in his eyes. Caroline could only hope that if it was really him that he couldn't harm her in her own mind.
"It was a regrettable decision. One that led me into this situation. Although, Tyler breaking the sire bond also enabled my demise." He studied her for a moment then spoke again. "Something I'm assuming you were aware of."
Caroline didn't respond, but she didn't need to, she suspected he already knew the answer.
"Of course," he said, seeming to accept it. Halting his steps again he lowered his head, closing the distance between them until there were only inches keeping them apart. "To answer your question, yes, I am still relieved that you are safe. I'm starting to find there is little you can do to change that or my feelings for you."
Klaus always surprised her in the way he spoke to her, always. He looked off to the side suddenly, focusing on something else entirely, and then turned his attention back to her. With a kind smile he released her waist, stepping away. With her hand still in his own he bent at the waist and pressed a kiss to it.
"It seems our time here is over Caroline. I'll see you soon."
Caroline woke with a gasp, staring up at the ceiling of her bedroom. There was a noise, blaring and annoying. Turning her head Caroline found herself staring at her alarm, the red numbers telling her it was time to get up and get ready for school. The thought alone filled her with dread, but she couldn't focus on that for long. Not as her dream came back to her, the entire thing playing out again in her mind.