When Caroline came to again it was already dark. Night had fallen, wrapping them all in its blanket of shadows. Silence extended all over her, but at least the throbbing in her head had eased considerably. Moreover, her ankle had been reduced to a dull, insignificant bother that could be easily ignored.

A glance at the clock revealed that it was a quarter to five. She'd slept for over 8 hours due to the painkillers. A soft breathing rasped through to her. Klaus. Immediately the events from the evening rained down on her.

Now, she could analyze them with clarity. There was no doubt that she was starting to feel something for him. She didn't think it was love- there had been no time for that to actually develop –but she certainly felt quite strongly about the man.

Until yesterday, she'd been convinced that he didn't and would never reciprocate, but her perception had been mildly altered after seeing him with her. He'd lowered his walls a great deal and the concern in his mercurial orbs couldn't have been faked.

He cared for her.

Perhaps he saw her as a friend.

That was mostly the case and she preferred to think so. Have low expectations so that her heart would not be shattered again. God, when had all of this become so complicated?

Suffocated by the lack of fresh air and hoping that it would help ease her troubled mind, Caroline gently moved her foot. The pain wasn't intensified greatly by the small feat so, with increased confidence, the woman dragged her feet to the edge of the mattress and stood up.

Gingerly, she applied pressure on the bruised ankle, but to her joy, found that it could take it. In a few small steps, the blonde reached to the balcony wincing at the slight creak of the floor. Instantly, green eyes searched for the sleeping figure on the ground, hoping she hadn't woken him up.

Thankfully, he appeared lost in the realm of sleep. The image prompted her to momentarily pause. Klaus seemed so peaceful. No nightmares haunting him, no sadness hidden behind his every word. What's more, a faint smile lifted the corners of his lips.

This was probably the Klaus Mikaelson before war and other family drama- like Henrik's death- had rendered him cold and emotionless. Although the woman could bet her life that was only a façade. A mask to shield his real self.

Just as she was opening the terrace door, a piece of paper that hadn't been there before caught her attention. Curios by nature, Caroline derailed from her path and directing her cautious steps around the makeshift bed, she reached the timber, polished table on which it laid.

The light was dim, a few flickers of moonlight emerging from outside and, at first she could not make out what it was.

Black, pencil lines were all she could distinguish. Not much, but enough to understand that it was a drawing. Klaus's drawing.

Hesitance crept in. Most likely it was personal. Her conscience was screaming for her to put it back and that if he'd wish to share it with her, he would, but her heart insisted that she take a better look.

Eventually, the latter won.

Retracing her steps back to the open door, the sketch clutched in her hand, she exited into the crisp night air, closing the entrance after her. The slight chill served to wake her up entirely and for a moment all she could focus on was the view extending before her.

Still early in the morning, the moon was low, barely above sea level, preparing to vanquish her place to the sun. Light and dark. Always in equilibrium. Neither able to exist without the other. Kind of like how she viewed Klaus. He wasn't fully consumed by darkness, but nobody could call him a person of light.

No, he existed in a sort of balance between the two, both fighting to take over, neither fully succeeding.

Plopping down in one of the rocking chairs, as to not put too much strain on her leg at once, Caroline inhaled the salty aroma of the ocean, more potent at night and, basking in the comforting peace, took another look at the drawing.

Her heart caught in her throat.

Admittedly, a personal image, perhaps from his childhood –Henrik - had been expected. Anything but what lay before her eyes.

A genuine representation of the horse she'd ridden today stared back at her: perfectly groomed, thick mane and humane eyes. Yet that was not what had rendered her speechless.

It was her.

She was staring at a perfect portrayal of herself. From her wavy curls, freely blowing in the wind to the carefree grin on her lips, he couldn't have been more accurate.

The image exuded the utter exaltation she'd felt today when he'd helped her accomplish one of her childhood dreams. Warmth had made its way to her eyes, blurring her view of the breathtaking landscape, but Caroline didn't give a damn.

They were happy tears, a smile already blooming on her face.

Perhaps he had more light than he let on, after all.

Minutes trickled by and Caroline remained enchanted by the drawing. Sunlight was starting to bleed from above the crystal ocean, signaling the start of another day. A good one, hoped Caroline. After all, there were only two days left before some of the guests would start arriving for the preparations of the wedding. Then, more or less a week before all of this would come to an end.

Many thoughts wrestled to take over, but her brain could only focus on the picture of herself. She should probably put it back, before Klaus woke and noticed that she'd seen it. The unpredictable man might consider it an intrusion of his privacy.

The last thing she wanted was to take two steps backwards regarding Klaus and for him to retreat back to his impenetrable shell.

Her plan was not to be carried on because barely had she stood up that the door to the balcony was opened, the silhouette of her roommate towering over her, clad in a black t-shirt and matching shorts. Worry lingered in his glance for a few seconds as he searched her eyes for any sign of distress or injury. Since meeting him those seemed to be among the few things that could befall this innocent woman with whom life seemed fixated on picking a fight.

Only when he found nothing did he allow it to drop down to her ankle, see how it fared.

To say his eyes didn't reach their destination would be an understatement. What they stopped on was the piece of paper clutched in her hand. A curious eyebrow rose, but all mystery dissipated when Caroline tentatively attempted to hide it behind her back.

Quickly Klaus understood that his drawing was the culprit for her puffy eyes.

The goddamned drawing he'd forgotten to hide. The one that spoke too much of him, allowing another crack in his armor. The armor that he still couldn't lower entirely although he'd promised to try. The armor that his own family was responsible for building. Sturdy warfare really was his father's specialty, wasn't it? That and ruining people. Tearing them down and shredding their souls until all that remained was a gaping, black abyss that not only swallowed his victims but also anyone in their close proximity.

When one suffered like he had at the hands of the people supposed to offer unconditional love, a reluctance to let anyone in tended to creep in and wreck all possible relationships. However, the woman standing before him had managed the impossible: won his trust.

That and only that was what kept him from getting angry at her for going through his private belongings. Had it been someone else, Klaus wasn't sure he would have tolerated such behavior and that said offender would have escaped unharmed. Inhaling deeply, one apologetic look from the woman was enough to make most of his annoyance dissipate. It was a weird effect she had on him.

"I didn't know you liked to draw," offered Caroline once it became clear that he wasn't about to start the conversation.

"I used to," he walked past her and sat down in one of the chairs, facing away from her, concentrating on the sun slowly climbing back to its throne. "Now, I'm not that sure."

What was there for him to draw inspiration from? Having returned home, Klaus had attempted to use his art as an outlet for all of his ire, hatred and desire for vengeance. But there were only so many pieces with blood, gore and death that one could hang around his house and remain sane.

The sketch that Caroline was holding was the first time in months that he'd felt the need to immortalize a moment. Keep it there for when life returned to that darkness characterizing him so that he would remember. Remember Caroline and the few moments in which he had pretended that a death threat did not loom over his head and hers for being near him. Pretend that he was not responsible for many deaths that would have been prevented had he cared enough to question what was being imposed on him.

Pretend that he was worthy of being in her light.

"It's really good," she bit her lip and sat down in the other chair.

Klaus remained turned away from her, concentrating on the dawn braking in front of them, lost inside his own thoughts. Caroline wasn't even sure he'd heard her. It was frustrating how he went from being a person which obviously cared to a stone cold wall that refused to budge an inch. Showing emotion –he seemed to view it as weakness. Sure, to the wrong person it could be considered leverage, but not with her. He'd never hurt her so why would she ever wish to do such a thing? More importantly, how could he think so lowly of her?

Maybe it was the early hour or the paradise that enveloped them or maybe it got simply too much for her mind to take, but she couldn't keep quiet. Watch him literally isolate himself and pay for sins he had not committed.

"It's not healthy, you know?" she addressed him. "Keeping everything bottled up, acting like you don't care."

"I don't," he immediately bit back. "I can't care. If I do, then I open myself up to him again. He can take it away from me again."

Who was he talking about? What was he referring to? Caroline was almost afraid of the answers and sure that they did not justify his manner of carrying himself.

"And faking indifference, isolating yourself from people who genuinely care of what befalls you is the solution?"

"It's worked out well these last months."

And it had. All he'd did was drink, sleep and seldom eat, when his body required it. After Henrik nobody but Camille had managed to get him to somewhat come back to the land of the living. And when she'd died, he'd slipped even further into darkness's embrace, his fears confirmed. Until Caroline.

She'd managed to make him open up more than Camille ever had in such a short time. It was terrifying. She was drawing out the best part of him, the one that couldn't surface, the one that others had taken advantage of.

"Has it? Has it truly worked out, Klaus? Were you happy when I met you? Because you seemed to be the opposite."

There she went. Offering him a piece of brutal honesty that he couldn't counter. Yet she was missing a crucial part of the bigger picture.

"Being happy is not my goal in life. I've come to terms that such a thing is impossible for me."

"Oh yeah? And what is exactly your goal? Because being miserable in a bar, drinking yourself to death and pushing everyone away from you surely can't be it," she had stood up, her voice climbing with each convinced word. How dare he speak like that? "I mean I know I never actually met neither Henrik nor Marcel, but I'm sure those amazing persons you described wouldn't agree with your outstanding life philosophy."

"Caroline," a warning undertone seeped into his voice. "Stop!"

"No! I'm done walking on eggshells around you. Marcel gave his life so that you could live. Do you honestly think this is what he had in mind?"

"Caroline," a sternness that he'd never used with her before showed.

"I bet that he's watching and resenting you for throwing his sacrifice to the wind. Both of them are probably let down by what you've become: a bitter, jaded man stuck in his own past, refusing the hand extended to him over and over again."

Too late did Caroline realize that she had probably crossed a line.

"That's enough!" he stood up, downright fuming, rage boiling behind his caustic eyes. "You have no idea what you're talking about, Caroline. Don't push me because you might see a side of me you won't like."

While Klaus was expecting fear, disappointment was all Caroline showed.

"Right now, I would give anything to just see a side of you," liquid clouded emerald eyes. "Anything real and not just a piece of fiction you sell to the world because in spite of the countless warnings my friends gave me, of how you nearly killed someone in front of me and almost killed me, I still reached out to you," one of the tears rolled down. "But now I see that it was all wistful thinking. You'll never trust me enough, you'll never allow me in and I'm done. I can't see you ruin what's left of your life and have you ruin mine in the process. "

Under his regretful gaze, Caroline slipped towards the door, faltering, silently begging him to say something. Argue with her. Contradict her. Give her a reason to stay. Anything.

Nothing came. Only acceptance and that served to harden her conviction that she was doing the right thing even though it hurt.

"You can go or stay for the wedding, I don't care, but after that I'm going back to Mystic Falls and you'll get your wish and never see me again," she mumbled before turning her back, slamming the door in her wake.

For a brief second she was paralyzed, watching the balcony and hoping against hope that he would come after her. That he would find it in him to prove her wrong. Of course that he didn't.

Feeling like the biggest fool of all for still saving some kind of false faith only for Klaus Mikaelson to squander, the four walls enclosing her resembled a prison that she longed to escape. Going for the first article of clothing her eyes rested on: a flimsy sundress and a pair of sandals, Caroline bitterly realized that the drawing that had started all this was still tightly wound in her fingers.

Unable to help it, she cast one more look at it. Happiness was just as clear in her features there as the tears on her face. A lone one fell, smudging the pencil. Now both reality and fiction told the same story- the one of a hurt woman.

A woman who was tired of being hurt by the people she cared about .

The sketch was now a perfect reflection of her feelings and she could bear no longer to watch it. So she let it drop down to the floor and finished getting dressed as quickly as possible.

Dead set on leaving the room immediately, Caroline was oblivious to stomping all over the drawing on her way out.


Left all alone, Klaus pondered on everything Caroline had reproached him. Undoubtedly, she'd hit a nerve with her harsh remarks, but he was left wondering how much was actually true.

Were Marcel and Henrik truly disappointed with him?

They were the only reasons he'd got out of bed for a long time so that thought was really disconcerting. Of course, they'd want him to make the most of his life, but what was he supposed to do?

Every time he let someone in, they died.

They died because of the bloody family legacy he had following him.

Yet with Caroline, he'd wanted nothing more than to let her in. Tell her everything and give the free choice of standing by him. But he'd reigned himself in all so that her safety wouldn't be jeopardized.

All he'd wanted were two weeks of reprieve from running away, to just be a man who was sharing a room in Malibu with a beautiful woman, but it appeared as if he couldn't even manage one hour.

Nothing seemed more appealing than chasing after her, but if he did there was the risk of losing her forever.

You are losing her anyway. She's walking away from you.

As if to amplify his inner voice, the sound of a door being closed reached him. Convinced that Caroline had left and unable to keep staring at the beaming sun that reminded him of what was slipping past his fingertips, Klaus stepped back into the hotel room.

Meeting his expectations, it was deserted. Plopping down on the bed, a crumpled paper in the center of the room caught his attention. Slowly, he walked towards it although he knew before picking it up what is was. And he knew it very well.

His drawing.

She'd walked all over it in her fit of rage and he couldn't blame her. All she'd tried to do was get to know him, maybe help ease him out of his shell unknowingly opening up wounds that to this day continued to bleed profoundly. Although her words had cut him deeper than bullet wounds and torture methods, it wasn't her whom he blamed. He didn't even blame Mikael.

The only person whom he loathed for the situation he was in was himself. He had known it would only end in heartbreak yet he'd still agreed to come with her. Try as he might to fool himself that he was simply doing it to protect her, clearly there was something deeper that he'd refused to acknowledge for fear.

And now it was too late.

What could have been was now wreckage from which there was nothing to salvage. Caroline had made it perfectly clear that she no longer wished him around her. She didn't care about him anymore.

Just as he was about to finish destroying the piece of paper Klaus caught something he hadn't before.

A smudge ruining Caroline's innocently happy face.

Understanding dawned on him. Tears.

It probably made him a slimy bastard but in addition to his heart clenching for being the cause of her pain, he also felt relief. Relief because that meant that she still somewhat cared.

Not all was lost and maybe it didn't have to be.

He could find her, tell her everything and then allow her to choose.

Klaus had almost gone out to do just that when it occurred to him that maybe the story didn't have to end like this. Because surely once she understood who he really was, she'd go running in the opposite direction.

Maybe he could steal a few hours if she allowed it. A few hours were all he needed. A proper goodbye before honesty finished ruining whatever it was building between them.

With that in mind, Klaus settled down at his laptop to make suitable preparations, including a phone call to someone with whom he never would have thought to speak again.


Meanwhile, Caroline had drifted towards the closest beach. Still early, there were a few people there, three of which soundly slept through what appeared to be a hangover, judging by the empty bottles of vodka scattered at their feet.

I could use some alcohol too.

It would help numb her. Make her stop feeling. Enter a blissful state of unfounded giddiness.

However, it would only be a temporary cure and she refused to wander down the path Klaus normally chose. The path she'd so fervently criticized.

Bearing that in mind, Caroline plopped down on a more isolated patch of golden sand, previous events still running circles in her head.

Admittedly, she'd been too harsh with the man, crossing some boundaries and undoubtedly slashing at barely closed wounds, but she couldn't help it. It was downright disconcerting to see someone so hell bent on being alone and miserable. On discarding the sacrifices others had made. All for some bloody secrets he refused to tell.

She was tired of secrets. She was tired of watching them ruin everything in their wake and that was precisely why she'd lost it. Because whether they wanted to accept it or not, she cared about that stubborn man.

Drawing her knees to her chin, Caroline focused on the ocean lying at her feet. She remained there for God knows how many hours, simply staring into the distance and seldom studying the people that had started to fill in. Families happily enjoying their holidays, mothers tenderly caring for their children, couples showcasing their love with passionate kisses. Such a diverse crowd and love seemed to be the one thing connecting them.

Suddenly, thoughts of her own wedding with Stefan that should have been right around the corner invaded her. Surprisingly though, they didn't linger as much as they normally did, being replaced by those of Klaus and their complicated relationship. If one could name it that way and if it continued to exist, assuming that he hadn't taken off already.

A thud pulled her out of her reverie only to be greeted with a ball slowly rolling away from her. Alerted- and with good reason if one took into consideration the last couple of days- green eyes darted around in search of the culprit.

It revealed itself in the form of a young girl, no more than 6, running in her direction. Ebony curls framed her heart-shaped face, wide charcoal eyes focusing on Caroline. She was wearing a cute bathing suit with pink ribbons and polka dots, plump cheeks red from the effort of running in the sand.

Picking up the ball, Caroline met her halfway and dropped to her knees in order for them to be eye level.

"I'm guessing this is yours," she smiled and handed the red ball back.

The girl nodded, smiling joyfully and thanking Caroline.

"It's no problem sweetheart. What's your name?"

"Laura," came the quick, bold answer. "Would you like to play with me?"

There it went. Typical child bluntness and faith. How she wished her life would be just as easy and carefree like that of youngsters. Wearing their hearts on their sleeves like jaded adults no longer could.

"Please," the girl added. "My parents said they're tired and I have no one else to play with."

Glancing to the left, Caroline understood that the people focusing on her must have been the girl's parents. They appeared young and also to be having their hands full with a newborn baby they were trying to soothe. Almost begging was the gaze they sent Caroline.

"Of course," she eventually agreed.

After that the next couple of hours went by in a blur, Laura getting the most of her time as Caroline obliged to most of her requests –playing football, volleyball and building a sandcastle. Eventually, her parents came over to collect their daughter, gratefully thanking the blonde for spending some time with the little girl.

Bidding them goodbye and promising to return to the beach tomorrow, should she have the time, Laura finally let go of her hand and planted a sweet kiss on the surgeon's cheek.

Alone again, some of her sour mood came back at the realization that she would have to go back to the hotel. Come face to face with Klaus following what was said between them seemed like a daunting task. Mostly because she was tired of fighting, but also because following some reflecting, the woman had come to the conclusion that she'd made a mistake too by dragging Henrik and Marcel into the discussion.

Maybe you won't have to face him. You did say he could leave, after all.

That pestering voice in her head was right again. Not entirely surprising, that mere thought made her cringe. The honest truth, that she wouldn't ever admit unless he apologized, was that she would miss him and she did care whether he stayed or not.

Out of the blue, a couple of teenagers started chasing each other down the beach, venturing dangerously close to her. Their heavy footsteps combined with a surfboard tumbling right next to her led to the source of Caroline and Laura's pride: the imposing sandcastle to crumble.

A sad smile broke out at the association her mind unwantedly made. The foundation had been the cause of the problem –shaky and small in comparison to the gigantic towers. Just like her and Klaus. Their relationship was based on a string of secrets and lies, neither really knowing the other.

I don't want him to go before we get a chance to clarify things.

That realization had Caroline on her feet immediately, briskly walking back to the hotel. When she got there, she bypassed the friendly receptionist, not even bothering with nodding at her on her way to the elevator. Which was taking too damn long. Her nerves extended to the limit and unable to sit around doing nothing, she decided to take the stars.

Hoping she wasn't too late.

Nearly afraid, the medic gathered her wits and opened the door, feeling all air being knocked out of her lungs.

There was nobody inside. Not a trace of the man could be found and she had even searched the balcony. The makeshift bed had been tidied up as well.

He was gone. And this time for good, Caroline could wager.

Prickling her orbs, tears were threatening to surge when she noticed, right on top of the blankets a small scroll. Upon picking it up, Caroline made out a few words written on the back, but impossible to discern so she unfolded it, feeling her heart race in anticipation.

Another drawing met her beguiled eyes and it was almost identical to the one she'd discarded in anger took over her again at how well he managed to capture emotion inside his works and transmit it to the people around him.

Thank you for your honesty, was scribbled in a corner.

It felt like a goodbye. It probably was one too. And it sure as hell wasn't supposed to hurt like this. Seeing him leave had always been part of their deal, but she couldn't help herself.

Emotions always did get the best of her.

While she collapsed back on the soft mattress, that annoying voice in the back of her head reminded Caroline of the neatly written sentences on the back of the paper and she breathlessly turned it and read them.

I'm prepared to grant you the same honesty you offered me, show you something real –as you so bluntly put it. But I should warn you it is not good things that await to be told, more likely worse than anything you could ever imagine. In case you choose to hear them anyway, please meet me in the parking lot at 7, but if this has become too much for you, all you have to do is not show up. I will understand, my bags are already packed and you will never hear from me again.

Within seconds of reading and processing the message, Caroline checked the time finding that it was almost 5 o'clock. Which meant that she had two hours to decide whether she wanted this entangled story with Klaus to continue or if she should put an end to it before either one got too emotionally invested.

Like you're not already neck deep in sentiments.

Still, regardless of how much she pretended it was a hard choice, in the end it was one of the easiest ones she'd made in a long time.

There was no way that she was allowing Klaus to walk away without first hearing whatever he had to say. Although she doubted his 'sins' were as grave as he wanted to pretend. Not like he was a serial killer or a hit man, right? He was a soldier, for crying out loud.

With that in mind, she took a shower to get rid of the sand stuck in her hair and also used the time and soothing water to ponder further on what was to be done with Klaus. Yet the situation was so complicated that it sent her into a tailspin and awakened a raging headache that prompted her to decide to just play it by heart.

Putting on a clean set of clothes and applying minimal make-up, the woman was ready with half an hour to go. Nerves were starting to creep in and as a result she started to pace all over the room. Doubt was starting to creep in.

Cold feet.

She was getting cold feet at the thoughts of what Klaus had to tell her.

Perhaps it truly was a dark story that revealed a sinister side of him. If he'd truly done unforgivable, despicable things, maybe it was better if she didn't know. It might be better to preserve the image she'd constructed of him and not allow it to crumble to pieces.

Eventually, and with only minutes to spare she did decide to risk it and go meet Klaus anyway.

The what-ifs would have weighed like lead on her heart if she didn't hear him out.

True to his word, Klaus was indeed waiting for her in the parking lot, back resting against the passenger seat of a black sedan.

He'd most likely rented a car, deduced Caroline immediately. To leave if she wouldn't have come.

One thing she couldn't miss was how his eyes lost some of their distant, unforgiving look upon seeing her.

"Hello, Caroline," he greeted as soon as she was within hearing range.

She responded with a curt nod, finding that having him face to face amplified every feeling hidden within her heart. Be it anger, frustration or something warm and fuzzy that she refused to name, in his presence they increased tenfold.

But she wasn't about to show it until he told her everything. That was why she was here after all.

"Could you, please, get in the car?"

His question was somewhat guarded, Klaus also resorting to hide all emotions from her. Still, some longing managed to seep through anyway.

"Why?"

"I promise it will all make sense if you get in the car."

Wide grey eyes waited for her answer and although he was acting quite strangely, Caroline finally exclaimed," Fine!" and entered the open passenger door, assuming he wanted to go to a more secluded place.

A few minutes both remained quiet until the blonde noticed he'd got out of Malibu and onto the highway.

"Where are you taking me?" she breathlessly asked, an ounce of fear mixed with typical curiosity.

"You'll see."

Furrowing her eyebrows at the cryptic sentence, she bit back," I'm not here to play games with you, Klaus."

"I know perfectly well why you're here and we'll get there, Caroline."

"When will that be?"

Sucking air into his lungs, most likely to avoid a more rash answer to her incessant interrogatory, Klaus took his eyes off the empty road for a second and stared at her.

"I have something planned for tonight, a way to try and make up for the times I've hurt and let you down. After that, I will tell you everything you desire to know."

"Something planned?" she echoed dumbly after him. "Like a surprise?"

The disbelief in her tone amused him to no ends even if the prospect of bringing his past out into the light had him cold and sweaty at the same time.

"Exactly like that."

The rest of the short trip was peppered with false speculations on Caroline's behalf as she tried to figure out where they were going. She wasn't even close.

"Los Angeles?" Caroline read off the sign not believing her eyes. "What are we doing here?"

"You'll see," he smirked and expertly maneuvered the car in the bustling streets.

Never would Caroline have pegged him as the type to have gone to Los Angeles before. It didn't seem like his scene.

"We're here," and he pulled up the car on Hollywood Boulevard of all places.

The second Caroline exited, her mouth opened wide in awe of what extended before her: the most elegant shops she'd ever laid eyes on, street artists clad in their costumes and fully in character, but most of all the lights. A million lights engulfed the City of Angels, making it even more spectacular than movies depicted it.

Klaus enjoyed watching awe stretch across her face and hated to interrupt her moment, but they were on a timeline.

"Come with me," and he led the way through an intricate string of alleys until their destination extended before them.

"Oh my God," was all Caroline could say when her eyes landed on the neon lights above the dark, maroon building.

Cirque du Soleil.

The place where she'd dreamed ever since being young to go to. A trapeze artist- she'd said she would be, but her overprotective mother, who had just become a single mom, had refused to allow her to climb such a dangerous contraption.

When childhood had ended, her dream had morphed into that of at least seeing a trapeze act at the renowned circus.

"How…" she started to ask but found the response herself. The plane ride. She'd mentioned it then as their first date. "You remembered. I wasn't sure you'd even heard me."

Giddiness as she'd seldom experienced enveloped her. If this didn't show he was a good, attentive man, Caroline didn't know what would.

"Thank you!" she jumped into his surprised hands. "Thank you so much!" Words paled in contrast to what he'd done for her. He'd made true of her oldest unaccomplished dream. Not even Stefan- to whom she was engaged- had ever done such a thing even though she'd mentioned Cirque du Soleil a lot more often to him.

Come to think of it, he was probably contemplating what lie he should say next to screw Valerie behind her back.

"We should go in," he mumbled even though letting her go was the last thing he wanted. This was probably their last embrace because once she knew everything, not even this gesture would compensate for it.

"So that's how it's going to be? You won't even say 'Hello,' Nik?"

That voice. He knew that voice before turning around and to say he wasn't pleased she'd shown up here was an understatement.

As burned, Klaus let go of Caroline, muscles tensing, jaw clenching at the woman's voice. In sync, both turned to look at who had addressed the words. Recognition shone brightly in Klaus's eyes along with an emotion she'd never seen before and upon turning her head, she could gather the same in the stunning, blonde woman who'd spoken.

"What are you doing here, Rebekah?"

"Seriously?" a nervous chuckle escaped. "That's all you have to say to me after two years, Nik?"

Who was this woman? Caroline wanted to ask, but even with her presence she felt like she was intruding, let alone if she were to speak. Was she an ex-girlfriend? Whoever she was, Klaus was becoming more and more nervous and agitated. More so, this Rebekah was the only person Caroline had heard call him Nik. It exuded a deep personal connection between them.

"I don't see what else is there to say. Everything that was needed was said a long time ago."

"Yet you're the one who called and asked for a favor."

"I also remember telling you not to show up here."

The iciness in his tone was very explicit, but without effect on the woman.

"Yeah, well, we don't always get what we want, Nik." Unexpectedly, some of the haughty fight in her dissipated. "I just wanted to see how you were doing."

"You've seen that I'm fine. Why are you still here?" he seemed to somewhat shelter Caroline from view and apparently Rebekah picked up on it too.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to Barbie here?"

Caroline narrowed her eyes at the mocking in the other woman's voice and pushed away from Klaus. "My name is Caroline Forbes, not Barbie. Nice to meet you," she extended her hand with false politeness at the woman who grabbed it.

"Rebekah Mikaelson," her grip tightened but Caroline's face didn't move a muscle. What she couldn't help was her mouth dropping open at the surname.

Mikaelson.

She wasn't an ex-girlfriend, but his sister.

"Judging by your face, I take it you didn't even know Nik had a sister, right, Caroline?"

Her dumbfounded expression must have been enough to confirm Rebekah's suspicion. "I knew that he had a family he didn't speak to. I didn't need any more details," she felt compelled to argue, not let smug Rebekah be entirely right.

"That's because he's ashamed of us. All of us although some have done nothing else but offer him love."

For the first time, the blonde showed that she cared for her brother, resentment coloring her face.

"That's enough, Rebekah," Klaus regained use of his limbs and stepped forward. "We have to go inside."

"Right. I forgot about the show you had me arrange. It was for you, wasn't it?"

Was that jealousy Caroline heard in Rebekah? All she could do was nod, still very much shocked by the family reunion.

"I guess I should thank you then," her eyes warmed considerably. "At least I got to talk to him and know he hasn't wound up dead in some ditch. Still, Caroline, if I were you I would watch myself so you don't end up like the previous unlucky girl."

Connections were being made in Caroline's mind. She was starting to unravel some Mikaelson mystery. Was the girl Rebekah was speaking of Camille?

"Rebekah," warned Klaus.

"You know I'm right, Nik. Make peace with him before it's too late for all those near you."

Now it seemed like she was begging, but Klaus remained stoic as ever.

"Never," ice flooded Caroline's body at the tone he used. "I will never make peace with him and you know very well why."

Resigned, Rebekah shook her head, "Elijah," she bit her lip." You know he walked away from it too and I know he would love to hear from you."

"You also know that's not going to happen," he shifted his weight from one foot to the other, words taking their toll on him. "Both of you need to stay away from me or Mikael might find out and you have seen the consequences."

Dark red lips formed a sad, accepting smile. "Just remember one thing: Always and Forever. Elijah and I will never forget, Nik."

With that she left a very shaken up Klaus Mikaelson and a somewhat illuminated Caroline Forbes. He was running from someone in his family. He'd distanced himself and in order to ensure that he'd stayed in Syria fighting in a bloody, senseless war until his mind and body could no longer take it, only to seek refuge at the bottom of a bottle once he'd come back.

Klaus was like a statue, watching the retreating figure of Rebekah Mikaelson, the only person who could have helped him pull of Caroline's surprise. To say it hurt to see his little sister again after two years and to be this cold towards her undeservedly but for her safety was not enough. It had been like ripping open the scars that Caroline had left untouched this morning, leaving his heart a flayed, bleeding mess.

"I…" Caroline fought for something to say, but came up empty. Questions, reassurances, none wished to come out.

"I'll answer whatever it is later, like I promised," he shook her and his heartbreak off. "Now we have a show to attend."

Inside the theatre a red haired woman with striking turquoise orbs, dressed in a white leotard greeted and led them to the stage. There must have been around 3 thousand seats and they were all empty. On the Swan Lake decorated stage waited a man in a matching costume and another woman who seemed younger, her raven costume giving an edge the others didn't possess.

They were led to a couple of front row seats where a bottle of what seemed to be expensive champagne waited. This was too much, way too much. It was like a scene from those sappy movies she watched in secret but pretended not to like in front of others.

Heaving a sigh at the beverage Klaus turned at her," It seems like my dear sister has taken some liberties with this."

"Oh, it's totally fine," she answered way too quickly, Caroline realized too late. Heat blossomed in her cheeks at the smirk Klaus threw.

Having had the liquor poured into their glasses, the actress excused herself and headed to the stage. Barely had they clinked their glasses- at Caroline's request –that the lights went off, leaving only a couple of spotlights shining directly on the showmen who had climbed up on their trapezes.

An intricate story was heaved with their ballet moves combined with artistic gymnastics and death-defying jumps from a trapeze to another. It was the story of the well-known Swan Lake, which always made Caroline weep and now was no difference.

Their dramatic movements conveyed even more emotion than usual, prompting silent drops of liquid to slowly roll down her cheeks when the ending neared. The ultimate sacrifice of the main characters in the name of love had her bawling and the final jump in which he caught her tight in his arms signified that their love would last forever, protected by Heaven and its angels.

Though he could genuinely say that the representation was the best he'd ever seen, Klaus had remained mesmerized by a different thing altogether.

Caroline Forbes was living every second of Swan Lake, breathing in sync with the star-crossed lovers whose ending was so tragically beautiful.

By the time it was done both spectators were on their feet excitedly clapping the vivid performance. The three actors soaked it in for just a few moments before the same girl- Odette- came to them.

"You were extraordinary," gushed Caroline before she had a chance to say anything. "It was the best show I've ever seen in my life."

"Thank you," she laughed sincerely." I heard that you dreamed of being a trapeze artist when you were young. Would you like to try it now? It's totally safe, there's a net down to catch you, should you fall."

That second phrase was enough to eradicate any sort of doubt Caroline had. There was one other thing remaining for this day to be downright perfect. "Will you try with me?" she asked Klaus hesitantly, sensing a refusal coming.

Remembering that after they left Cirque du Soleil he will have to honour his promise and tell her everything about his past, he acquiesced to her outrageous demand.

For the next hour, the girls took Caroline under their wing while Klaus learned what he could from the male artist. Both were fearless and open which delighted their teachers who proudly declared they were ready for a slightly more complicated move.

Caroline was to jump from one trapeze and Klaus to catch her while hanging upside down. If Caroline were honest, a small amount of fear was starting to seep into her bones, making her hands sweat and feet tremble.

Until now, everything she'd tried had been under the supervision of professionals so the prospect of being on her own was quite daunting. Precisely that was why she hesitated before starting to swing, although Klaus was already waiting for her.

"You've got this, don't worry!" the new friends she'd made encouraged.

Risking a glance at her partner for this crazy endeavor, she found him focused, but apparently relaxed, swinging freely on the trapeze. No hint of uneasiness could be grasped in his movements as if he'd been doing this all of his life, not only for 60 minutes.

Not one to ever back down, the blonde breathed in deeply and started the routine, careful to be fully in synch with Klaus. All courage summoned, she unclasped her hands from the cold metal, feeling the force of air hit her in the face as she soared, presumably in the man's direction. Not that she could vouch for it since her eyes had been clammed shut the second she let go.

Panic was starting to set in when after a few seconds nothing happened and she continued to fly in the air.

Thank God there's a net below, she thought grimly, I hope it's not too rough.

That was exactly when firm hands enclosed around hers in a tight grip.

He had caught her.

Adrenaline still coursing through her veins, heart pounding in her chest, Caroline opened her eyes when their speed lessened by a fraction and found herself staring right into clouded pools of bright cerulean. Open like they never had been before, simply returning her gaze, wordlessly conveying the emotional depth of the moment. It made her weaker than even the jump had to see him like this and know she was the reason behind it.

Sweaty hands were starting to slip to Caroline's horror. "Don't let go," she breathlessly murmured.

"I won't," and the intensity with which he regarded her sent a shiver through her body.

It was like they were communicating nonverbally, mostly with their eyes but his even tighter, unrelenting vice was also worth a million words.

Were they ever referring to the trapeze act or was more implied there?

Of one thing was Caroline certain: she wasn't imagining this. Impossible.

When they came down they were jumped by their proud professors who urged them to call whenever they came back into the city, assuring them that Cirque du Soleil Los Angeles's doors would always be open to them.

Crisp, night air hit them as they exited the building, but Caroline was way too excited to care. Another one of her dreams had been ticked off her bucket list. It was more than she could have ever imagined.

Gratitude was immense- enough to almost forget how upset she'd been at the beginning of the evening and the reasons why. Even if Rebekah Mikaelson had provided her with plenty of much-needed answers, lots of new questions had arisen, but everything was going too well to be spoiled by those matters.

At least not right now. She wanted to ride the excitement as long as possible.

"Let's go to the beach," she proposed unexpectedly.

Confused, Klaus furrowed his eyebrows, but apparently he wasn't bursting with excitement to have a certain conversation yet because he agreed and started to lead the way.

Like he'd read her mind, the man's footsteps stopped at a small, secluded beach where no more than twenty people could fit at once.

There was nobody else but them at that late hour.

A cold breeze hit her head-on, kicking sand into her eyes. Not easily bothered and entirely mesmerized by the little paradise around her, Caroline lowered down into the sand, staring into the distance. Contemplating her life and how the last couple of hours had affected her.

One thing was certain: they'd shifted her view of Klaus entirely and helped clarify some of the things she felt.

Alerted by movements to her left, Caroline turned and found her companion sat next to her, probably closer than he'd ever voluntarily been to her.

"I think it's time you got the answers you sought."

His voice was steady, but minute micro expressions betrayed how he really felt. Physical pain was close to what he was exuding.

She hated it.

More importantly, she hated to be the cause of that.

"No," she interrupted him. "I don't want to know anything else. Not anymore."

"But there are things that need to be said. Things I have to tell you about me, my family, what we've done."

Everything sounded so ominous it strengthened her decision. Klaus was worthy of her trust and his past couldn't change that. A man capable of doing all those things for her can't have done much wrong in the past and whatever his family had done, Caroline would never hold against him. Nor did she need to know right then.

"Not tonight," she turned so they were facing each other. "I know I'm probably not making a lot of sense right now. I mean, I'm the one who kept badgering you with knowing everything, but this is the happiest I've felt in a long time," she stopped for a bit. "I don't want anything to ruin this night, Klaus."

The words slipping her mouth were like a blessing to him. He would get some more time with her. Deep down, a voice was screaming that he wasn't doing the right thing, that if Caroline knew just what his secrets were, she would be running in the opposite direction and that, in the end, this moment, this lack of sincerity would come back to haunt him.

Despite that, all that he managed to utter was a whispered, "Neither do I."

The wind picked up on his murmur and helped it reach the blonde who smiled in response. Biting her lip and pondering whether she might end up destroying the magic on her own, the woman gathered her wits and covered his hand with hers.

Startled, his eyes immediately drifted down to their entwined hands, feeling to urge ingrained in him throughout the years to pull away. Something held him back though and all he did was relax his fingers and enjoy the warmth radiating from the outstanding being beside him.

Under the moon's spell, safe inside the cocoon created by her soft light, the two remained like that for a few minutes, both gazing at one another, millions of emotions running through their bloodstream, neither daring to move.

Finally, Caroline decided to act. There was no telling what the future held and she might regret wasting this opportunity all of her life. Bearing that in mind, she leaned in and gently pressed her lips onto his.

Electricity erupted though their bodies. At first, Klaus was stiff as a board, surprised by her boldness probably, but then his lips softened. His mouth was on hers unyielding and Caroline could feel the rapid beats of his heart, harmonizing perfectly with the hammering of her heart. It was like they'd been molded into the same human being and all with an innocent kiss.

Then, his lips stopped their assault and his hands found her shoulders.

"No," he mumbled and slowly pushed her away.

Out of breath, flushed and surprised all Caroline could manage was a raspy," Why?"

"We can't do this, Caroline. I can't do this to you."

"What are you talking about?" the sting of rejection clear in her words.

"If you knew who I truly am, you wouldn't be kissing me."

"Stop it already," she cut him off. "I told you that right now I don't care about the things you've done in the past. I know who you are now and I did mean to kiss that person."

"No," his protests grew weaker." It's not in the past. It could come back and haunt me any day and I don't want to put you through that."

"You're not. I'm doing this myself. Just give me, give us a few days. Let go of your ghosts, of that cloud of darkness following you around and allow yourself to live."

"I don't deserve that."

"I think you do. I doubt that those things you've done can be as atrocious as you make them out to be. From my experience, it's always the wrong people who have the guilty conscience. Those truly responsible for hurt in this world couldn't care less. It's the ones fighting for good or to be good that are consumed by remorse."

With that, all fight vanquished from his body. He knew she was misled and missing vital information, but maybe he could do as she said. Just these days.

"Be happy," Marcel's and Henrik's voices resonated within him and they were the little push he needed to give in.

To seal his deal with himself and make his choice obvious to Caroline, Klaus kissed her again. Tentatively at first, passion rose with each second they spent entwined. Her lips were warm and soft, her desire for him evident and strong like the waves crashing upon the shore next to them. It was wondrous and yet terrifying at the same time, like one of those storms in which people find themselves caught and unable to escape. It was threatening parts of Klaus that he'd kept under lock and key, parts that he couldn't name and at the same time, it was making Caroline feel again. Feel more than she'd ever felt, perhaps.

When they separated it was strictly due to the body's annoying necessity for air. Then, he captured her into his strong arms, and they remained like that- united as one- and taking in their silent accomplice's – the moon- rays' reflection on the water.

It was pure bliss and both surrendered to it. No declarations of affection or love were spoken but they weren't necessary. Actions spoke so much more than puny words of love ever did.

Too bad all good things must come to an end. And their happiness was included on that list.


A/N: Thank you immensely to everyone who left a review or followed/favourited this story! Your response affects me deeply and it's wonderful to see that some of you are still engaged in this story. The fact that not everyone abandoned it means the world to me and I would also like to offer a special 'Thank you!' to those few reviewers who have stuck by me since the beginning of this story.

Please, keep letting me know what you think! Because hearing your thoughts does make a diffrence and constructive criticism helps me deliver better and better chapters every single time.