Thank you to Sci-fi Christian, OKBooey31, florabloom101, Aleandra Odinson, LuxAeterna113, Psyc0gurl0, CinderNella, khadur448, Evi15, ignore common sense, babyvfan, Marceliita16, Amy guest, PsychVamp, BiancaR, drewwnesss, carasderin, LadyKlaus, justine, Runaway'96, LittleMissBrit, Lovely Rain Dancer, BlueJean452, DawnWalnut, chillwithJyl, Clara, Sunfiresarah, ryanduong1, adamo393, ApekshaStar, and glevez25 for reviewing!

Just passed the 600 review mark :) You are all amazing :D

Oh, and that last episode… I think I died because of all the feels…

Disclaimer: I do not own TVD.

Chapter Fifteen

A Little More, A Little Less

Mystic Falls, Virginia 2010

Caroline woke feeling better rested than she had in weeks. She was shrouded in a happy warmth, still lying comfortably on Klaus' chest. She knew she should probably move away from him, but this was just so damn cozy, she couldn't bear the thought of it. Instead, she trailed her fingers lightly over the hard planes of his chest, sighing in contentment.

Her head told her that what she was doing was too fast, too soon. But her heart told her to damn it all. To take a chance.

For now, she decided to go with her heart. Truth is, she missed Klaus so much… The way they used to be. She loved him. She just wanted to be allowed to love him like she used to.

So she continued to trail her fingers down his bare chest, eventually tracing the tattoo that now adorned his upper arm. He certainly did not used to have that before.

She couldn't say she was displeased by it.

"Good morning." She was startled out of her thoughts by his voice and she tilted her head so that she was looking up into his face. He was smiling back down at her. It wasn't a smirk but a real, rare smile, with dimples and all. Caroline's heart skipped a beat.

"Morning." She whispered. Klaus' hand had somehow found itself under her shirt during the night and was now sitting on the small of her back, his thumb tracing small circles on her skin. He leaned closer to her so that his forehead was touching hers.

He made no further move, putting the ball in her court.

She arched up to place a short kiss to his lips, making her choice to just be there with him right now.

Neither spoke of what would happen next. They did not discuss Mikael, or the fact that Klaus was finally free of him. They didn't speak about the fact that she could have died or that he'd saved her and she him. In fact, they didn't say anything at all.

Caroline simply settled back in his embrace laying her head over his heart. She placed a gentle kiss to his chest, before snuggling back into him. Klaus' arms tightened around her, holding her close.

It was peaceful. Right.

And they both knew it wouldn't last.

Caroline sighed as she walked down into the half-finished parlor of Klaus' home. Her hair was still damp from her shower, and she wore one of his shirts and a pair of sweatpants she found, her own clothes being dirty with blood. Klaus had left an hour before, needing to check on some 'business'.

He didn't need to ask her to wait there for him. He knew that she wanted to talk to him. It was time they figured everything out.

Only, when she heard the door opening, signaling his return, she didn't get to have the talk she'd wanted.

"Were you a part of this?" Klaus growled ferociously at her, not bothering with a proper greeting. He was absolutely livid and Caroline had no idea why.

"A part of what?" She asked, utterly bewildered.

"Stefan's little plan to take my family!" Now he was standing right in front of her, his nose almost touching hers. At this proximity, she could see the worry in his expression, hidden under all of that anger.

"No! Of course not! I care about them too, you know? How could you even think that?" Caroline couldn't help but feel slightly offended that he thought she would do such a thing.

"All of this… it was just a distraction, wasn't it?" Klaus continued, scoffing to himself, adopting a betrayed expression. Immediately, Caroline felt her own anger dissipate; Klaus always had trouble trusting others, even her, and she realised that he was afraid that her affections weren't real.

"No, Klaus, no, it wasn't." She told him, almost tenderly. "I had no idea Stefan planned to take your family. I swear it."

"Why should I believe you?" He hissed, grabbing her upper arms roughly. She ignored the slight twinge of pain that came from his tight grip.

"Look at me Klaus, you know me." Her hands now held his arms lightly, trying to get through to him. "Am I lying to you?"

For a moment, all was quiet, both still holding onto each other as his eyes searched hers for any signs of deception.

"I am sorry, love." Klaus said lowly after a short while, looking somewhat ashamed as his grip on her arms loosened.

Caroline swallowed, her nerves beginning to calm. "It's ok…" She moved hesitantly closer, worried that he would snap again. When he didn't do anything of the sort, she leaned into him, lifting a hand to his cheek. "We'll get them back."

"We?" Klaus asked gruffly, an eyebrow rising in question.

"Yes, we." She gave him a small smile.

"Caroline," Klaus began after a moment, "you do realize that we will be going against your friends."

"I know." She sighed. Believe me, I know. "I also know that I am the best chance that all of them and you will make it out alive."

He regarded her for a moment. "Very well then."

"Klaus. Just please try not to harm them. For me." Her hand was still against his cheek, and trailed it so it was on the back of his neck. Her eyes implored with his.

"I cannot promise you anything." His words came out cautiously but it was a victory in Caroline's eyes.

"I know." She smiled. "Just try."

He nodded his consent, his fingers playing with a lock of her hair before he pulled her closer into his arms. He did not kiss her like she thought he would, only laid his forehead against hers again, like he had earlier that morning, sighing. He stayed like that for a brief moment, his face open and almost vulnerable. It was an oddly beautiful thing to witness.

And it was gone too soon as he placed a rough kiss to her forehead and his emotionless shield suddenly passed back over his expression. He pulled away from her abruptly, walking towards the door.

"Get dressed, will you, love?" He called over his shoulder. "We have work to do."

Sadness encompassed Caroline's heart as she witnessed the man she loved struggle with his emotions. But she put that to the side, along with thoughts of having a 'talk' with him.

Klaus was right, of course; they had work to do.

Caroline felt her stomach tumble with nervousness as she walked into the Mystic Grill. She felt Klaus walk in behind her, a hand on the small of her back. The two of them walked straight over to Elena and Damon where they stood close together.

"Don't mind me." Klaus said, interrupting their conversation. Caroline almost hesitated but Klaus pulled her forward, his arm circling around her waist firmly. She glanced up at him, questioningly, but he only threw her a pointed look.

"You gonna do this in the Grill?" Damon said by way of greeting. He didn't even look at her, focusing only on Klaus. His ignoring stung more than she would care to admit. "In front of everyone? It's a little beneath you, don't you think?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. I just came down to my local pub to grab a drink with my girl. Isn't that right, love?" Klaus looked purposefully back down at Caroline, smirking widely at her. She was just about to reply when Damon spoke once again, his voice laced with anger and disappointment.

"And you, Caroline, what are you doing? Have you completely lost it? You're sleeping with the enemy! What, are you going to kill for him too? What the hell is wrong with you?"

Despite the guilt that toiled in her stomach, Caroline found her eyes narrowing at the older Salvatore, her temper rising. "Look, Damon, think what you want. But I am here to help you. All of you." She glanced briefly to Elena, who looked away. Caroline then turned her eyes up to Klaus, making sure that he knew she included him into this equation. "I am the only one here who can try and control the situation, okay?" She turned back to Damon.

Why can't you just trust me for a minute?

"My sister seems to be missing. Need to sort that out, mate." Klaus said, getting back on topic, a proud smile on his face as he glanced down to Caroline briefly. She, in turn, felt gratitude.

She was grateful because, even though he would jump to her defense, he also let her fight her own battles. She was equal to him, and that was a rare thing in her life.

"Cute, blonde bombshell, pyscho. Shouldn't be too hard to find." The older Salvatore replied with no small amount of snark.

"Damon." Caroline intoned with a small glare.

"Truth is I've grown to rather like this town. Think I might fancy a home here. There are a few things that would keep me here." Klaus looked to Caroline again, smirking. "I suppose you are wondering how this will affect you… Well, I was convinced that it would be best if it doesn't affect you in the slightest." His eyes were still on Caroline's as he said this, telling the world that she was the one doing the convincing. Abruptly, he looked back at Damon and Elena. "That is, if I get what I want and everyone behaves themselves. You can go on living your little lives however you choose. You have my word."

"What is that you want? What more could possibly want?" Elena spoke for the first time, ignoring Caroline's presence completely. The blonde vampire, in turn, tried to ignore the pain of her rejection.

"My sister, for one. Oh, and you could tell me where Stefan is while you're at it."

"Stefan skipped town the minute he helped Blondie save you." Damon directed another dark look at Caroline.

"Well that's a shame. You see, your brother stole from me. I need him found so I can take back what is mine."

"Look, he won't get hurt, Damon. You know he's my best friend. I would never let anyone hurt him, even if he is being an idiot." Caroline added to Klaus' statement.

"Oh, so he's the only idiot? That's news to me, Caroline." Damon couldn't resist another snarky comment.

"This seems like it's your problem, not ours." Elena said, almost harshly.

"Well, this is me broadening the scope, sweetheart." Klaus was not subtle about his threat as he leaned menacingly closer to the brunette. Caroline knew this could get out of hand any second and pulled on him, trying to make him move back. She only managed when Klaus gave in.

"Look, we're going to go, now. Think about what we said." She stated before walking agitatedly out of the Grill, with Klaus behind her.

His hand was once again on the small of her back, letting her know that she was not alone.

Caroline's throat tightened as her eyes filled with tears. She quickly swallowed them away, not wanting to show any weakness.

How is that the supposed 'evil, daddy Hybrid' has my back and my friends don't?

"How could you do this?" Caroline hissed as she entered Klaus' bedroom, fury in her voice. God! I should have known it was all too good to be true!

"Do what, love?"

"How could you tell you're hybrid to hurt Jeremy? He's just a kid and he's my friend!" She yelled, shoving angrily at him as he tried to approach her.

"Don't worry, sweetheart, I know the boy would survive, what with that nifty little ring of his." Klaus replied with a sardonic smile.

"And if he wasn't wearing it?" Her question caused his smirk to drop, his face becoming stiff. "If he didn't have it? Would you still have done it?" He didn't answer. "Huh, that's what I thought." She scoffed, turning around to walk away.

"Caroline." A hand suddenly appeared on her arm.

"No!" She wrenched herself from his grasp, angrier than ever. "Just leave me alone, okay? I need some time to think."

As soon as the words were out, Caroline turned around and stalked off.

Caroline watched from the sidelines at Klaus put the dagger back through his sister's heart. She had returned only moments before, still angry and wanting to have another word with the Original hybrid.

But then she saw Rebekah, lying there next to her brother, and remembered that she was going to help Klaus.

She wasn't sure what to think of this, though, as the dagger slid back into the youngest surviving Mikaelson. Their earlier fight made her hesitant to say anything against him, even though she disapproved of this.

Her disapproval went out the window when he turned to look at his side and Caroline could see a single tear running down his cheek. She walked forward quietly until she was right behind him and wrapping her arms around his waist. She held him to her even as he froze, burying her face in his back, trying to give him some measure of comfort.

She wasn't sure if it was working when suddenly he turned and pulled her tightly into his arms, his face in the crook of her neck. He said nothing, nor did he sob out his feelings. No, he just held her, his back tense with worry, not making a single noise.

She ignored the wet feeling of tears on her neck and only continued running her fingers through his curls, murmuring words of comfort to him quietly.

"Stefan's really lost it, hasn't he?" Caroline voiced the question that had been inside her. She and Klaus were once again in his bedroom, sitting together in his bed. She had his hand clasped tightly in hers. Their earlier fight was nearly forgotten, though Caroline was sure it would come up again. All of this avoiding wouldn't last forever, much as she wanted it to.

Her mind went to other matters.

Stefan, her best friend Stefan… He was so different now.

"Yes, I think so, love." Klaus replied, almost ironically. Caroline decided to ignore his tone, her mind too full with worry for her oldest friend.

"I've never seen him like this. So vengeful. Full of hate." She admitted. It was true, the Stefan she knew would never have threatened to drive Elena off a bridge. The Stefan she knew would never look at her with so much disappointment.

Was it wrong for her to want everything? She wanted to be with Klaus, she wanted to admit she had forgiven him and not feel guilty for every minute she spent with him. But she also wanted her friends. She wanted them to understand, like she understood. She wanted to be able to talk to Elena and Bonnie about this stuff, she wanted to make fun of Damon, she wanted Stefan to call her bella again.

Nothing was black and white, couldn't they see that?

"Do you blame me for making him like this?" Klaus asked, his voice holding curiosity.

"I don't know… You're not exactly faultless in this whole situation, Nik. I mean what you did… it was terrible. But, we're old. You're not the only one who has done terrible things." She replied with honesty.

We're all shades of gray.

"What now then, sweetheart?"

"I'm still sticking to what I said before. I won't let you hurt him."

Klaus simply nodded in acquiescence.

Nothing more was said.

Caroline watched with relief as Klaus slowly pushed the last coffin back into place. They had finally managed to get the Original family back together again, minus one coffin. She knew nothing was anywhere near solved but, for now, she planned to at least take this as a win.

"They're all together again, Klaus." Caroline said, shooting a smile at the Original as he turned to face her. "You're all together again." He approached her slowly, walking up to her and placing his hands on her cheeks, giving her forehead a quick, gentle peck.

"That we are, love." Caroline found the hidden behind those words and had to fight off a blush.

"Will you open them?"

"Soon, sweetheart, but not yet… We still have some unfinished business to take care of…" Caroline knew immediately that he meant Stefan and his current possession of Esther's body. Klaus had told her about it after they made up from the fight. Caroline hadn't been happy about it at first because it was another lie but eventually she found herself having some small measure of understanding. She still wasn't happy about it but there was nothing she could do about it now but to help Klaus in his endeavor to get her back.

She was snapped out of her thoughts when Klaus pulled her away from the coffin room, taking her by the hand. He nodded to the hybrid at the door, indicating that he should stay on guard. The hybrid looked like he was about to say something when his mouth suddenly opened wide with surprise. There was a disgusting squelch sound and the hybrid's eyes soon lost its light.

As he fell to the floor, he revealed another person to her and Klaus. A very familiar person holding the heart of the hybrid tight in his now bloody hand.

Elijah.

Caroline froze in her shock, her hand gripping Klaus' tighter.

"So, Niklaus." The older Original said, briefly glancing at Caroline. "What did I miss?" Elijah continued. "You look surprised to see me. So it wasn't you that removed the dagger from my chest?" This time when he glanced at Caroline, he kept his piercing gaze on her. "What about you Caroline?" He scrutinized her shocked expression. "No, it wasn't you, either." He decided in the end, his gaze lingering a second longer before returning to that of his brother.

"You look like you could do with a drink." Klaus said almost nervously, stationing himself so he was in front of Caroline, a subconscious act of protection. "And we have a lot to discuss, so shall we?" He gestured to the dining room behind them.

Elijah seemed to have different ideas, however, as he jumped towards his younger sibling. Klaus was quick enough to push Caroline out of the way but, in doing that, he couldn't avoid the blow himself; he went flying back, breaking through the glass door behind him.

Klaus was steady on all fours in an instant, while Caroline just barely got over the sudden shock of being pushed across the room. "Easy." He growled menacingly. "I just finished renovating." In the next moment, Klaus had a hold on Elijah. "You know you have every right to be mad at me. But I kept my word, I reunited you with our family."

Finally, Caroline oriented herself and started towards the brothers. Panic rose through her as Elijah attacked Klaus again, only for Klaus to open one of the coffins (Kol's, her mind reminded her) and pull out a dagger.

Caroline froze as the Originals stood in a stalemate. She was unsure on what to do. She wanted desperately to help them, but how could she? She was barely a match for one Original, let alone two. She wouldn't be able to stop them fighting.

She found herself watching them with wide eyes, her heart beating fast with worry.

"Don`t make me do this to you again Elijah!" Klaus shouted.

"Come on. Use it. I dare you. You'll have Kol to deal with."

"Mikael is dead." Klaus said after a moment, stepping back from his elder brother.

"What did you say?" Said elder brother looked more shocked than Caroline had ever seen him.

"I killed him. With his own weapon. He's gone Elijah. Forever." And good riddance to him, Caroline thought, her eyes narrowing and anger rising at the mere mention of the 'father of the millenium'.

"Why do our family remain in these coffins? Finn for over 900 years, Kol for over a century." Caroline had never met Finn, so Elijah's words about him did not really affect her. But Kol… Kol had saved her life once. They hadn't really seen much of each other when she was with them, but, when they had, it had always been… eventful. Caroline didn't quite miss him but she did feel guilty that she was partly responsible that he wasn't out enjoying the world. He shouldn't be daggered. She knew that Klaus hated being without his family, but he was a cautious man, a controlling man. He was scared to open the coffins because he would rather lose his family on his terms than on theirs.

The whole business was just plain complicated and Caroline still didn't if she was doing the right thing here.

"Because of Stefan Salvatore." She heard Klaus replying. "He holds the one thing keeping me from freeing them. There are things that you do not know about our past, Elijah. Our mother's death. Things I never wanted you to know but I`m ready to tell you now. I only ask that you remember the oath of loyalty you once swore to me."

He went back to Kol's coffin, standing over it. Caroline was almost tempted to try and stop him. She didn't.

"What are you doing?" Elijah asked.

Klaus slid the dagger back into his younger brother's heart.

"Always and forever. I need you to stand by my side. Be my brother. Help me destroy Stefan and I promise you our family will be whole again."

It was only when Klaus closed the coffin's lid that Caroline finally approached him. Elijah was watching his brother warily, but resignedly and she knew he wouldn't start with another reckless attack again. She didn't glance at him for more than a second, however, her eyes instead focusing on Klaus, the way his shoulders were tensed, the way his eyes reflected his true age. She knew he was feeling more than he was letting on.

Klaus seemed to be watching her as well as he closed the distance between them, his hands immediately going to cup her cheeks.

"Are you alright?" He asked in low voice, eyes burning into hers.

"I'm fine, Klaus." Caroline covered his hand with hers briefly. He nodded once and pulled away, turning back to his brother. She observed the two Originals whilst her mind wandered.

Am I really fine?

Caroline herself wasn't even sure. Everything was beginning to take its toll.

Why can't all this crap just be easy for once?

The days after Elijah's awakening, Caroline barely saw either of the Mikaelson brothers. They were scheming together, she knew. She also knew that Klaus needed to reconnect with his older brother. Still, she found it difficult not to feel rather… put to the side by them both.

There was a rare moment, however, when she caught one of them alone. She didn't hesitate to join Elijah where he stood outside in the large garden. For a while, the made simple small talk, that is, until Elijah voiced a rather unexpected opinion.

"Caroline, I must say, I certainly didn't expect to find you with my wayward brother. Last I knew, you didn't remember a thing about us." He told her.

"Well, my own wayward brother took care of that." She replied with irony.

"Robb? But he is long dead." Elijah looked at her quizzically, his normally wise and calm eyes filled with confusion.

"Yes, but Mystic Falls isn't exactly your normal town." She offered no further explanation and he asked for none. "Elijah…" Caroline hesitated for a second. "What are you doing, really? I find it hard to believe that you are truly on Nik's side… You're planning something, aren't you?"

"You always were too clever for your own good, dear girl." The affectionate term hit Caroline hard; he hadn't called her that since she was human. She found she quite liked it. Out of all of Klaus' siblings, Elijah was the one that Caroline had felt the most connected to, even after he disappeared back in 1551. He had always been good to her, and had saved more times than she could count.

Still, that didn't stop her from questioning his intentions. "Are you going to hurt him?" She asked plainly, bluntly.

"You mean do I plan to kill him?" She nodded. "No. Niklaus may be many things but he is still my brother." Elijah turned to look her straight in the eye. "That does not mean he does not deserve to be punished for his crimes, of course, but I will not be the one who will end his life forever. You have my word on that, Caroline."

"Good." Caroline replied, getting closer to him. "Because, if you did plan to, you would have to go through me." She cocked her head, regarding him carefully. "Now I may not be an Original, and I may not be the most aggressive of vampires, but I still have a few tricks up my sleeve. I wouldn't let him get hurt without a fight."

"I thought you might say that." Elijah smiled sardonically down at her.

"So, we're understood?" She asked, ignoring his last comment.

"Yes, we are." Elijah confirmed, amusement dancing on his usually stoic features.

"Okay." She nodded before she adopted a tentative expression. She wasn't sure whether or not she should continue with what she wanted to say… In the end she decided to simply do it.

"But, Elijah, just... be careful."

Elijah seemed surprised by her statement and she noticed his eyes softened the tiniest bit towards her.

"You needn't worry about me. I have always been the cautious one of my siblings." He touched her shoulder briefly.

"I know. I wanted to remind you, anyways." She smiled at him and backed away. "I'm going to go. Don't forget what I said."

She didn't wait for his nod as she blurred away.

It was only a few hours after her conversation with Elijah that Caroline came to a very important realization. She really had forgiven Klaus. She really, really had. She wasn't denying it anymore. Why else was she so determined to protect him? Why else was she always feeling so guilty?

She couldn't wait another moment and burst into Klaus' studio unexpectedly. He turned around just in time for him to catch as she ran up to him and placed a fevered kiss to his lips. He returned it after only a moment, one arm cinching tightly around her waist, his other hand tangled in her hair.

They kissed for what seemed like forever until finally she pulled back.

"Not that I am displeased by this turn of events, sweetheart, but what brought that on?" Klaus asked as soon as their lips parted from each other's.

"I forgive you." She told him. "Klaus, I forgive you."

For a moment, he only looked shocked. But, soon enough his face brightened with pleasure, whilst his eyes darkened with something that made a shiver run up Caroline's spine.

The next thing she knew his lips had captured hers and he was kissing her even more ferociously than before. It wasn't gentle or loving like their touches had been these past two weeks. No, it was something darker, sinful and full of passion. It was all biting and licking and sucking.

Caroline gasped as Klaus slammed her into the wall, her entire body jarring with the contact. Klaus didn't even flinch, trailing his lips down her cheek and to the hollow of her throat. One of his hands was on the wall behind her, locking her in place whilst the other went to her thigh, pulling her up so that both of her legs were linked around his waist. She let out a small moan as he continued to kiss that sensitive part of her throat, her fingers digging into his shoulders. His hands were now working at her shirt, and he pulled back from her throat only to pull it off, leaving her clad only in a bra.

For a moment the both of them went no further. Klaus' lust-filled eyes met hers, as if asking her permission. Caroline hesitated only a second. If I do this, there's no more avoiding, no more looking the other way… But she wanted him, so bad.

She nodded and, quick as lightning, his mouth returned to her throat. He didn't linger there long, his tongue still doing wicked things to her as kissed down her chest. He pressed her tighter against the wall.

Soon enough, it wasn't only her shirt that was lying on the floor.

In the midst of it all, Caroline only heard one thing, clear as day.

"I love you."

This time she was sure she hadn't dreamed it.

Well, I hope you all enjoyed it! I was originally going to add in the awakening of the rest of the Mikaelson but I kind of think that could take up a whole other chapter soo… Luckily I have some of those scene already written sooo the next chapter should be up soon!

Next chapter: Original family goodness, some klaroline conflict, some more revelations, and some solutions ;D

Thanks for reading and let me know what you think!

RW