Notes: Yay! Thanks so much for your reviews on that last chapter! It's been awhile since I was so nervous about one. And here, as promised, in the rest of it. Thanks to everyone who's reading!

FEBRUARY – WEDNESDAY

CAROLINE:

She holds her breath as she rolls the dice, willing them to be kind to her. Caroline was right in the danger zone, not for the first time. Klaus had lucked into buying all three of the green properties on the board and had built them up, a tiny hotel sitting neatly on each. Her funds were dwindling and the $1400 she'd have to pay him if she landed on Pennsylvania Avenue would be a disaster.

"If you're not going to roll you should probably breathe, love." He's clearly amused, the jerk.

Caroline glares and let the dice go, managing to hold in the crow of triumph when she rolls the double sixes which would land her safely on GO. She holds out her hand and Klaus obligingly slaps $400 into it. It's an argument they'd already had. Klaus had maintained that the official rules made no such provision for earning double for landing on GO. Caroline, after needling him for being suck a stickler, had insisted that it was how she'd always played. Klaus had eventually relented but had somehow managed to land on the space, and collect the extra money, more than Caroline had. Every single time he'd been extra smug.

"You're still looking a little cash poor," Klaus notes innocently.

Caroline grits her teeth, irked at the reminder. She hates losing but the dice had so not been on her side. She'd collected a good number of properties but had only managed one Monopoly. A weak one, the pink squares, and she hadn't managed to do much building having only two houses on each.

She needed to trade.

Klaus had been hinting at the very same thing but Caroline had been hesitant to do it. Klaus was every bit as competitive as she was and he wouldn't make it easy on her. She contemplates her pile as Klaus rolls. He lands on Chance, grumbles when he has to hand her $50. Caroline grins (hey, every little bit helped!) before making her offer. "Connecticut and Vermont Avenues for Marvin Gardens."

Klaus makes an amused noise, "Honestly, do I look like an amateur? Why would I give you such an advantageous monopoly, and a safe spot on the board, for such a piddly one in return?"

"Because you're a gentleman?" Caroline suggests, shooting him her sweetest smile and batting her eyes just a bit.

Klaus, damn him, is unmoved. "You'd not respect me in the morning if I took it easy on you. I'll take Connecticut and Vermont and one of your railroads."

Caroline considers it, letting her eyes shift around the room. She sees a clock on her sweep, startling slightly as she registers the time. "It's 12:30? Geez. I really should be getting home."

Klaus shakes his head, pointing at the window. The snow is still falling thick and heavy and she can't see anything but a few blurry spots of light from the building opposite. "Not a good idea, sweetheart. It looks like it's only gotten nastier out there."

Caroline pushes herself to her feet, straightening her dress and padding over to the window. "It's not that bad?" she tries.

She feels him come up beside her, glances over to see Klaus looking incredulous. "I have no desire to leave my lovely heated flat to see just how bad it is. And I'd not feel right about you doing so either."

She shifts restlessly, chewing on her lower lip. It's probably stupid but it's been such a good night, a near perfect first date, that she's kind of afraid to push her luck. They can't screw it up if it ends neatly, maybe with another kiss, and a hopeful goodnight. If she stays, what happens in the morning? Will the awkwardness she'd been expecting flood in?

Klaus presses her arm against hers, and she looks over at him once more in question. He leans in closer, his voice dipping conspiratorially, "Mind out of the gutter, love. I'm not the sort to put out on the first date, no matter how much I liked your brownies."

She swallows down a laugh, trying to look annoyed, "I have a hard time believing that."

He pastes on a wounded expression, a hand coming up to rest over his heart, "Hurtful, Caroline. Very hurtful."

Caroline turns to face him, eyebrows creeping up, "Oh, really? So if I were to ask Kol, or maybe Rebekah, if they had a pertinent story or two…"

"Liars. The pair of them," Klaus declares. "You shouldn't believe a word they tell you. Particularly about me."

"I'm sure."

She finally lets the laugh out, and Klaus joins her. With one last glance out the window, at the snow that must be piled high in the streets, Caroline heaves a sigh, resigned and far less nervous about it. Klaus' timing, as usual, is perfect. "I'm going to need to borrow some clothes. And please tell me you have a toothbrush around here."

"I do. Are you tired? Would you like to head to bed now?" Klaus casts a glance back at the board game spread out over the coffee table, before a too innocent grin steals across his face, "Maybe concede defeat?"

So not a thing Caroline did. Ever.

"You wish," she tells him firmly. "But I'll take the clothes. I might as well be comfy when I kick your ass."

Klaus shakes his head, takes a step back, "Give me a minute. And maybe send Kol a text, yeah? He'd never admit it but I think he might worry if you don't turn up."

Caroline wrinkles her nose, "Ugh. Do I have to? I know you're right but he's going to be so gross about it."

Klaus chuckles, "I'd apologize but I find that mostly useless where Kol's concerned."

He leaves, heading down the hallway that she knows leads to the bedrooms and Klaus' studio (though she's never been in any of them) and Caroline reluctantly heads to the entryway to retrieve her bag and her phone. There's several texts from Rebekah subtly (in the beginning) to not so subtly (an hour ago) inquiring about how her night is going. Caroline taps out a quick message, letting Bekah know that things had gone well and that she'll see her at their regular lunch on Thursday.

Whether or not Rebekah would deign to wait that long before launching her interrogation was debatable.

There are a couple of texts from Kol as well. Caroline rolls her eyes as she skims them, suggestive in varying degrees, and really wished they hadn't agreed that Perv Jar offenses had to happen when they were both inside their shared apartment. The most recent message had been sent less than ten minutes ago.

Kol:

[WEDNESDAY 12:27 AM]

I do hope you've turned into a pumpkin, darling. Otherwise you're being VERY naughty.

Kol:

[WEDNESDAY 12:28 AM]

At least make him work for it. Honestly. No one likes a strumpet, Caroline.

Kol:

[WEDNESDAY 12:31 AM]

And let me know if I should leave the light on for your walk of shame. I do pay half the utility bill, you know.

Caroline lets out a noise, half annoyance and half disgust, and then formulates a reply. She's half tempted not to, to let Kol wonder where she is and what she's doing, but Klaus had a point. For all Kol's protestations regarding anything he deemed 'mushy sentimentality' he would worry if he didn't know where she was.

Caroline:

[WEDNESDAY 12:40 AM]

Leaving aside all of the things THAT ARE NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS, and you really need to stop asking about because it's super creepy, I'm fine. I'm still at Klaus' and I'm going to sleep IN HIS GUEST ROOM since it's still freaking blizzarding.

She sends it, allows herself a tiny evil smirk before sending another.

Caroline:

[Wednesday 12:41 AM]

But thank you for being concerned! You're the sweetest, roomie!

She follows it with an array of emojis, including plenty of hearts, imagines Kol's face twisting in revulsion when he reads it.

Serves him right.

Caroline digs out her charger and heads for the kitchen, plugging it into one of the outlets she'd noticed earlier. And then she eyes the half eaten pan of brownies. Caroline decides that she deserves another one. She had made them, after all.

Although the fancy bar of dark chocolate that she'd chopped up after finding it stashed in Klaus' fridge had been the thing that made them really good.

She cuts herself a square (and maybe it's a little generous) and leans over the sink to eat it, not wanting to bother with getting a plate and having to wash it. They'd run the dishwasher after clean up and leaving a dirty plate all night would kill her.

She hears Klaus' footsteps approaching, hurriedly chews and swallows. Klaus doesn't blink at her less than graceful position. But, as he'd pointed out, he had seen her look worse.

And he'd once said that he liked that she was comfortable with him.

Caroline runs her tongue over her teeth before she speaks, hoping to catch any chocolate smears, "Kol was exactly as charming as you'd expect. And I'm pretty sure Rebekah's prepping one hell of a q and a."

Klaus seems unbothered by the news but if anyone is used to the loose understanding of boundaries his siblings seem to have it's him. "I think I'll avoid checking my phone tonight."

"Do you really think that'll stop them from giving you the third degree?"

"Not at all. But if they're going to insist on being nuisances I can at least make it difficult for them. Spread the aggravation around a bit."

Caroline turns the tap on, sweeps the last of the crumbs down the sink before stepping away. And closer to Klaus. "Good luck. At least you can kind of hide from them if you have to."

"Mmm. A definite perk. Particularly since I had the locks changed after Kol and Rebekah's elaborate little set of pranks."

Caroline elbows him playfully, "Don't brag. That's rude."

Klaus catches her elbow and steps in front of her, his hand skimming up her bare arm. Caroline stills, breath coming out in a rush as she looks up at him. His touch is far from unwelcome, and it's not the first time he's done something similar tonight. But something in the way he's looking at her is different, more intent, and she feels her face warming.

"Forgive me," Klaus murmurs, a fingertip brushing a cheek that Caroline knows must be pink. She meets his eyes steadily, daring him to comment, but Klaus merely smiles, tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. "When can I see you again, Caroline?"

Caroline blinks, surprised at the quick subject change.

Klaus' smile grows, his dimples coming out in full, disarming, force. "Since Mother Nature has prevented this evening from ending in the traditional manner, and I can't walk you to your door and ask you for a second date, I thought I'd take it upon myself to do so now. Before I beat you at Monopoly and put you in a foul temper."

He laugh is surprised, loud in the silence of the kitchen. She rests against the counter, tipping her hear to the side in challenge. Klaus follows her, his lean frame pressing lightly along the length of hers. "Those are big words. I look forward to making you eat them."

"We shall see." Klaus' hand cups the back of her neck, his thumb stroking the hollow below her ear. "And my question, love?"

Caroline pretends to think about it, reaching out and winding her hands in his shirt to bring him closer. "Well…" she drawls tauntingly, "I assume I'll see you around like I usually do…"

Klaus' head dips quickly and his lips on the spot his thumb had been teasing sends a shiver arcing down her spine and Caroline crowds closer, tipping her head to the side. He drops another kiss there before he speaks again, low in her ear. "Just you and me. Perhaps a proper restaurant, should the weather cooperate."

His teeth grazing her earlobe makes it difficult for Caroline to think. She manages, after a long pause. But not before she sneaks her hand under his shirt, feels his abdomen twitch under her palm. "I'm working this Friday and Saturday…"

"The Gala. I remember. Sunday? Dinner?"

He says the last word against her skin, brushing the side of her mouth. Caroline nods, letting her lips part. She's about to say something, attempt to hash out the details, but Klaus is pulling her into him, an arm firm at her back, settling his mouth over hers.

His tongue sweeps in and Klaus lets out an appreciative hum. Caroline slides a hand into his hair, just in case he gets any crazy idea about stopping anytime soon.

She's fairly certain she'll be sleeping alone tonight, and it's probably for the best. But that doesn't mean she can't enjoy this – the way he tastes, how warm he is against her – for a little (or a long) while.

They can always figure out their second date over breakfast.