xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A/N guess who will be back….

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It became more and more crowded on the rooftop as time passed. People left, and then more people came. The people that came for dinner, were replaced by people with drinks in their hands. Young and old folk were standing with their beers looking out at the view. Rays, the colour of tangerines, blushing pinks, and contrasting clouds made a spectacle in the sky.

Stefan and she had been sitting here for quite a while now and they were in surprisingly good spirits. Maybe it was the alcohol. Maybe it was the positivity of everyone around them. Maybe because they were closer friends now. Maybe because they were on a rooftop staring at the city sky. Maybe because they were too tired to worry anymore. Maybe it was all of those things combined.

'I have a very important question,' Stefan said, his face blank.

'Hmmm…. Are you going to ask me, or what?' Caroline said while staring at the waiter, he was quite enjoyable to look at. She had found out his name, his name is Todd.

'Did you like your Goo Goo?' Stefan asked curiously, That was his important question huh, very important.

'I mean…. What's not to like, it's yum!' she said, thinking back to its chocolatey yumminess. 'Would recommend after a mental breakdown.' Caroline was deadly serious, people underestimate the power of chocolate.

He had a grin on his face, as he leaned back in his chair. 'Ahh, I am glad I had a feeling you would like it. I am not saying you are a Lexi copycat, but you do remind me of her.'

'Haha, well I will take it as a compliment,' Caroline said, pretending to put his words in her pocket with her hands. 'Weren't you two close?'

'Let's just say that my birthdays were never boring since I met her,' Stefan said nostalgically. Some fun would be good she thought. The worry monster could wake up tomorrow.

'Hmm.. how about we pretend tonight is your birthday,' Caroline asked casually, 'What would you want to do?'

'Would you be my dance partner, Caroline,' Stefan teased.

'I solemnly swear,' Caroline said, thinking of Harry Potter, 'I will be your dance partner.' She raised a finger, 'On the condition that we will do karaoke too.'

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sue had been right, Broadway really started to feel alive in the evening. Stefan and she had been barhopping. It was a bit like skipping a song in the car. Didn't like it? Next.

But at last, the time had come for karaoke, 'Let's goooo,' Caroline said excitedly, drink in hand. 'I have been waiting for this moment.' It was dark outside now, and she was intoxicated enough to let out her inner popstar.

They had plenty of karaoke bars to choose from, and deciding not to be too picky Caroline chose the one that seemed the most crowded. That was usually a good sign. At some point during their bar-hopping, she had managed to acquire a cowboy hat, with her hands on her hat as not to lose it, she stepped through the doorway.

The music immediately hit her senses. Sure, she could hear it outside, but nothing beats standing in the room. And she realised it sounded good, great even, not that it was surprising, they were in Music City, after all. There was lots of local talent to go around. Looking around, it was like she could taste the great vibes and the energy of the people around her, it was electric. Bars where you don't know anyone give you a certain kind of freedom, and that amplified how she felt.

It hit her that she was having fun. But doesn't the brain work funny that when you think stuff is good, automatically you also think about what is bad, like whatever Klaus was up to right now.

She shook her head, that is for the Caroline of tomorrow to deal with. Instead, she wanted to channel positive energy and clapped at the redheaded girl that just finished her performance. Wait... wait a second, oh my god, it was Sue, what are the chances. Her red top flowing, Caroline started making her way over to her. 'You sure are bad at waiting for people,' Stefan muttered, catching up with her.

'I am just going to say hi to Sue, I mean what are the chances.' Caroline said, glancing at Stefan, before continuing dancing her way through the crowd. Caroline had once heard that dancing your way through the crowd is the most efficient way.

The stage had blue lights and Sue was standing in front of it chatting to multiple people. Not wanting to interrupt, Caroline decided to chat aka compel the DJ to put her next on the list for Karaoke.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The first thing she noticed was Stefan's surprised look, well what did he expect, they were in a karaoke bar for god's sake. He knew she was going to sing.

Caroline looked at the crowd, the people looked at her in anticipation, those that were sober enough that is. It was showtime.

Mouth to mic Caroline started speaking. 'This is to the simple things we lost,' she said with a mysterious smile, looking at no one in particular. Everyone experienced nostalgia, this song is for everyone. The mic seemed to work fine, but she could do with moving her mouth a little closer to it. The blonde caught eyes with Sue then, who gave her a thumb up. 'Yas girl!' Sue shouted.

That gave her the confidence she needed, it was time to sing. The words appeared on the screen, but Caroline didn't look. She knew this song by heart.

I walked across an empty land

I knew the pathway like the back of my hand

I felt the earth beneath my feet

Sat by the river and it made me complete

Her eyes moved through the crowd as she sang, never staying on one person at the time. Images flashed by in her head of all the simple things she had lost. Snapshots of her life in Mystic Falls, and a younger version of herself rushed by.

Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?

I'm getting tired and I need someone to rely on

It was hard not to notice his presence, Caroline's bad guy radar was spot on. It was oddly predictable that he would be here but still surprising. A part of her had hoped he would see her perform, the dark part inside her that didn't want to admit it aloud.

I came across a fallen tree

I felt the branches of it looking at me

Is this the place we used to love?

Is this the place that I've been dreaming of?

Klaus was leaning against the bar with his eyes fixated on her. Caroline didn't know she had missed him until she saw the way he looked at her. Every girl wanted to be looked at that way. It felt bittersweet singing for him and his stupid dimples knowing that after this song, her morals would prevent her from taking what she really wanted.

Oh simple thing, where have you gone?

I'm getting old and I need someone to rely on

And if you have a minute why don't we go

Talk about it somewhere only we know?

This could be the end of everything

So why don't we go

Somewhere only we know

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

As she walked off the stage the applause was still ringing in her ears. The blonde couldn't help but smile. Her next task was to avoid you know who. She pulled her cowboy hat further down her head as if that would help. Sue was still standing in front of the stage with her friends and caught her eyes. 'You were amazing!' Sue said happily, 'happy to see ya enjoying yourself in our town t'night.'

'Yes, she was, wasn't she?' Klaus said from behind her. Her shoulders tensed but she didn't turn around to face him.

Instead, Caroline plastered her Miss Mystic Falls smile on her face, and said, 'Aw. Thanks! I heard you sing when I walked in the bar, and all I thought was 'I am in the right place.'

'Ah what a sweetie you are,' Sue said warmly, raising her drink, 'Tell the bartender you know me, you'll get a discount. Treat you and your friend to some drinks, the cocktails here are bomb.' The redhead was referring to Klaus who was now plastered to her side.

Not wanting to disappoint Sue she let out an appreciative thank you and told her to have a great night. The smile fell from her face as soon as she turned to face Klaus. His stormy eyes were twinkling, and she couldn't believe he was acting like he hadn't threatened her in a parking lot just earlier that day. 'Champagne, love?' he asked her pleasantly.

The blonde glanced over her shoulder to see if Sue was in earshot. But she happily concluded that Sue was too engaged in conversation to hear or care what she said. She glanced at Klaus and his overly handsome face. Caroline felt a sense of power in shutting him down. 'I'd rather die of thirst but thanks,' she said walking away from him.

But then her head felt a touch lighter all of sudden. Wait a second, the jerk had stolen her hat. Caroline whipped around to face the thief. 'Give. It. Back,' she said glaring at him. Klaus was spinning the cowboy hat on his finger. He raised his eyebrows as if to challenge her, his smirk was wide.

She was not going to let him get away with this. In attack mode, Caroline made a dramatic jump, and… failed to acquire her cowboy hat because Klaus raised it high above his head in a quick movement. While she was tall, grabbing it would entail her body touching his and she wasn't sure that was an amazing idea. So instead, Caroline opted for crossing her arms and letting out her signature remark, 'Seriously?' The blonde was hoping her glare would scare him into submission.

Klaus was not impressed. 'One drink,' he said smiling at her. 'Champagne. We have something to celebrate after all.'

'And what is that,' Caroline said sassily, 'the death of our potential fling?'

'Oh Caroline, you enjoy me too much for it to be the end of what we started,' He shook his head smiling, 'No, love, we are celebrating your first day out in the wide world.'

'Do I look like I am enjoying myself?' Caroline fired back, gesturing at her unamused face.

Lights were dancing in Klaus' eyes as he spoke. 'Perhaps you are not ready to admit it, but not to worry sweetheart, I will be there when the time comes,'

The blond thought it best to admit defeat because Klaus was in a persistent mood, she sighed. 'One drink.' Caroline said pointedly, 'and I will get my hat back.'

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Stefan had a worried expression on his face as he looked at her, he was standing on the dance floor, looking a bit out of place now. She waved at him, and mouthed, I am okay. Caroline was sitting next to Klaus on a bar stool. The blonde was sipping her glass of champagne, and to be honest, she had no idea what to talk about. It had been a long day and she had already decided she would leave the Elena stuff for tomorrow.

But it seemed that Klaus knew what to talk about. 'I owe you an apology,' he said.

Caroline was stunned in surprise at his apology. She had expected endless teasing, banter, and sexual comments. You know their usual stuff if you forget the times she unloaded her emotional baggage on him.

As she turned to look at him she noticed him run his hand through his dirty blonde hair, was he nervous? Maybe he was. His apology had seemed sincere. It must be a bit out of his comfort zone to admit his mistakes so honestly.

'My family is a touchy subject, and to be frank hearing you mention Elijah made me paranoid,' Klaus provided in explanation. Wow, that seemed oddly self-aware. 'I already knew he plotted against me. Though, thankfully he made the right choice in the end. But to hear that you two met, made me worry that he was working with you to get to me.'

Caroline nodded slowly. This was a glimpse into Klaus' mind and all she could think is that the man has issues.

'Because the truth is you do get to me, Caroline,' Klaus admitted, his eyes tormented. 'I fancy you.'

Her eyes widened at his words, and instinctively she felt herself inching closer to him, listening closely.

'I once told my brother that love is a vampire's greatest weakness. That we do not love and that we do not care,' he said, with a broody face to match Stefans.

'That sounds lonely,' she said, taking a sip of champagne.

His face was stricken with emotion. 'It can be… But it has also protected me. I have made many enemies over the years.' He swallowed before adding darkly, 'Which is why I need an army.'

'You sure this is not the paranoia talking,' Caroline asked curiously.

Klaus chuckled, 'It's not paranoia if there are actual people after you.'

Caroline let out an unconvinced, 'Hmmmf.'

'I want to be honest with you, love, as you have been with me. I talked with a witch, and I will need Elena's blood to make my army of hybrids.'

Caroline swallowed and a deep frown appeared between her brows. 'Well, what do you expect me to say to that, good luck honey! Have fun draining my childhood friend.'

Klaus shook his head. 'Katerina is on her way with Elena's blood as we speak. I have a theory that the doppelganger doesn't need to die. So Stefan, who is kindly listening in, I wouldn't worry,' he informed her.

Her mouth fell open. 'You know, you are making it really hard for me to like you.'

'The only reason I am willing to keep Elena alive and test this theory is because of you. That is how you are affecting me already, you are a weakness. But I want you in my life, if you will have me.'

The mixed emotions she was feeling confused her, she closed her eyes. 'You know you, scared me today,' Caroline said sadly, 'I thought you were going to hurt me.'

Klaus shook his head, and said apologetically, 'I would never hurt you. I only wanted the truth.'

Caroline glared at him and said, 'Friends don't back their friends into a corner of a parking lot to question them,' Her hand was holding her glass tightly, it was almost breaking.

Klaus' eyes lit up, 'I am pleased to hear you'd consider us friends.'

Caroline shrugged, 'I am not sure if I still do. In the future, you'll have to trust me to tell you the truth without acting all sinister.'

He tilted his head, a playful smile on his face, 'I know you'll need time, Caroline. But hearing the word future come from your lips gives me more joy than you can imagine.'

'Don't get me wrong, you'll definitely need to do more groveling to get back in my good books. And it would be in your interest NOT to hurt my friends, which must be inconceivable to an all evil hybrid overlord… But to rule us out completely would be stupid, god knows why I like you… But I do.'

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I hope this chapter gave your Klaroline heart some joy.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx