Caroline and Klaus finished their evening with a toast to more pleasant evenings and decided to call it a night. Klaus didn't offer but rather insisted he escort Caroline to her bedroom, which she secretly found endearing.
"Well here we are", Caroline stopped in front of the door and turned around to bid Klaus goodnight.
"Goodnight Caroline", he replied with a husky voice.
Caroline was mesmerized by it, finding herself staring into his blue eyes drifting down to his lips. It was a tempting color of red, she could even say it was nicer than her lips. She slightly shook her head to chase the thoughts away and gave him a quick nod, disappearing into her bedroom and locking the door behind her. She couldn't take one more step, it was too much. His eyes, his smile, his voice, and his lips. It was all too much. What in the world was that?, she asked herself completely shocked.
And as if the surprises weren't enough, Klaus emerged from one of the unexplored doors in her bedroom carrying what it seemed to her a dress. Not again, she thought.
"What the hell Klaus", she exclaimed walking briskly towards the door that opened to another bedroom.
She looked at him disapprovingly with hands on her hips as if silently saying, explain.
"Well, I remembered that I only stocked your wardrobe here with dresses but no nightwear. I brought a nightgown, and it's not as sheer as those you see in movies. You need not worry love", he had the audacity to assure her. Caroline was now amazed with how smoothly he evaded the main point.
"What is my room doing, just a door away from yours Klaus?", she asked in a calm yet dangerous tone.
"I thought you wouldn't want a room near Hayley's and opted to put you here since its the farthest from her. Besides, you could always lock the door if there's too much tension for you love", he was giving her those damned dimpled smiles again. Once again she was irritated with how cute he can be even when he was in his devious state.
"Well I certainly won't forget to", she promised making Klaus regret he ever suggested it.
Klaus chuckled at his failed attempt and gently lay the nightgown on her bed. He gave Caroline another dimpled smile to which she only crossed her arms, making him chuckle again. The moment he stepped inside his room, he heard Caroline whoosh and shut the door behind him, locking it as well. Well she was thorough, he said to himself.
The evening wasn't that bad, at least to Klaus's final summation.
Caroline eyed the cream-colored nightgown on her bed. It definitely wasn't sheer, thank goodness. It was elegant and almost just like those she saw in movies. She eagerly put it on after her shower and admired herself in front of the mirror, it made her realize something. Klaus was keeping her here, she should be furious, having the worst time of her life, and hating every waking moment she spent with him. But she was enjoying it, loving it almost. She slept once again with a confused mind, a guilty feeling, and a happiness she never felt before.
Caroline was awoken by the gentle heat of the sun on her skin. Opening her eyes she squinted at the curtain she vividly remembered were closed before she went to bed. The heat rose to her cheeks when she realized who could have opened the curtains. Of course he would have a key. It's his house after all. But he should learn to respect my privacy, she was already practicing how to scold the living daylights out of the hybrid. Fuming, she walked to the door carefully turning the knob which was unlocked. As expected.
Klaus was sitting with legs crossed on one of his antique armchairs facing her, as if waiting for her arrival. She in turn crossed her arms, which earned a raised eyebrow from Klaus.
"Good morning, sweetheart. Had a good night's sleep I suppose", he smirked and let his eyes wonder from her gorgeously tousled hair, to her radiant face, appreciating her beautifully curved body, down to the dainty toes peeking from the length of the nightgown.
"It would have been better if someone didn't sneak in to invade my privacy and open the curtains", she demanded his confession. But of course, Klaus wouldn't give in that easily. He was loving their battle of wits every time an issue not favorable to one would arise.
"Don't worry, love. Next time I'll double check your doors to see if they are indeed locked. We wouldn't want anybody else seeing how lovely you look in slumber now, do we?"
Klaus stood up and put his hands on Caroline's arms, assuring her.
"Do you have other requests love?"
"Yes. As a matter of fact I do. Please give me the keys and the spare keys to both the doors in my room", Caroline smirked.
Niklaus smirked back at her, thinking he could still get away with his little tricks. But Caroline called for Rebekah, much to his surprise.
"Now Rebekah, I know we're not on good terms and all. But wouldn't you want a little harmless payback for your brother? All you need to do is assure me that he's giving me all the right keys to all the doors in my room, including the spare ones and payback's done," the two blondes looked at each other with understanding and Rebekah nodded.
Caroline beamed at Klaus and extended her hand, motioning him to hand her the keys.
Niklaus felt helpless as the two important women in his life stood up against him. Squinting his eyes as a warning to Rebekah, he handed Caroline all the keys she asked for and crossed his arms, glaring at the two women.
"Now you won't do a thing to punish Rebekah, or you will answer to me. And you should know better than to ruin things Klaus, we're doing good so far. I took a chance, try not to screw it," Caroline gave him a warm smile despite the warning.
When Niklaus nodded Caroline went back to her room, locking everything and continuing on with her morning routine. Rebekah gave Klaus an apologetic look, to which he gave her a sly smile.
"I warn you Nik. I'm going to tell Caroline. I wonder what punishment she has for you next?" Rebekah chuckled and hurried out the door.
Once Caroline exited her air conditioned room, the heat of New Orleans hit her. Thanking herself that she had put on a pair of shorts and a breezy shirt, she skipped down the stairs and headed for the door. And like magic, Klaus was there before she managed to step outside.
"Ugh, Klaus! You can't keep me here forever. You can't expect me to brood all day the way you do," Caroline pouted.
Klaus only raised an eyebrow at what she said,"You really think I brood all day love? That I spend days locked up inside my house scheming plots? That's a rather crude assumption."
Caroline pursed her lips, embarrassed."Fine then, you can guard me while walking down the streets," she negotiated.
Klaus laughed and it made her happy much to her despise. It was the first time she ever saw Klaus in such a light mood, it almost seemed a dream.
"Don't you think a guide would be a much more preferable companion, love?" he offered his arm to her and they walked together towards his obviously new Maserati. She looked around to try and spot her car, but she didn't.
Once inside Klaus's car, Caroline absorbed the classy surroundings and the high end design. Nonetheless her suspicions did not subside.
"Why did you buy a car Klaus?"
"I simply needed one love," it was his only explanation.
Caroline still eyed him suspiciously, she had a feeling where the conversation would go. She sat back and relaxed her posture, pretending to let the issue drop.
"Would you fancy one for yourself Caroline?" he ultimately asked.
"I knew it! You sneaky devil! I'm totally happy with my car, where is it?" she was twisted in her seat, trying to fully turn her body towards the hybrid.
"You do know it has the stench of that filthy werewolf love," Caroline thought it silly if he thinks it was a deal breaker.
"I can always have the car washed Klaus, so you better work on getting my car back. I want it parked in front of the house, where I can see it. I'm giving you 'til tomorrow morning." And the decision is final, Caroline promised to herself.
Klaus groaned in disapproval. He wanted to spoil her, give her gifts worthy of her queenly stature. If only she would accept, that had always been the dilemma.
As they drove near the French Quarter, Niklaus asked Caroline what she had planned to do.
"Well, I'd like to taste the food here. It is sort of my first time being far away from my hometown, and I'd like to try something new", she pondered on the restaurants they slowly passed by.
"A good idea, and I know just the place to start your adventure," Niklaus mused. He was happy Caroline was embracing the changes little by little. Soon, she'll be opening her mind to a lot more wondrous possibilities.
Caroline had agreed in eating at the cafe Niklaus had picked. She was nervous when the man started ordering dishes she had never eaten or thought of eating before. As an array of dishes filled their table, Klaus had helped her sort through all of it, tasting and judging if she wanted more.
It was already late into the morning when they finished, and Caroline felt she no longer needed to eat lunch. She had loved most of the dishes, and was especially biased with the gumbo. Never in her life that such an odd-named food could be so satisfying.
"I'm so full. I don't think I can stand up for a while," Caroline grumbled, placing her hand on her stomach.
"I can always carry you love,"Niklaus offered and was ready to do so, if Caroline hadn't stood up before he even reached her.
"No thanks, I can handle myself,"she put up a finger warning him not to go closer.
Klaus raised his hands in surrender and followed Caroline that was heading out of the cafe.
Caroline and Niklaus walked beside each other, a safe distance between the two of them. Niklaus watched Caroline as she watched the throng of people go about their daily lives, and he enjoyed each moment seeing how it made her smile.
"See something nice sweetheart?" he wanted to know what she was thinking
"The people here, they're not brooding like you. They're free, fun, outgoing. How come you became king of New Orleans, when the people act opposite you?" she answered.
"That's the point love. They don't need another rowdy leader to wreak havoc and possibly upset the balance. They need someone who can control them, limit them, and protect them. What's in New Orleans stays here, and what doesn't belong here never will. It's how we keep them from going out of control. If you noticed, all supernatural beings are mixed here, almost, if not for Marcel banishing everyone. And its hard to keep peace between different species love. You have to let them know you're superior to all of them." he looked to her, searching her eyes for reaction.
"And that's what you're trying to do, right? Control me,"she stated.
Klaus only chuckled,"God forbid I control you Caroline. You are a free spirit, a wild beautiful flower. You've never really followed my orders, and continue to defy me. If you did, your beauty wouldn't stand out like it does now. I think we're far from you being controlled by me."
"But you are trying," she was stubborn.
"No, love. Why would I want that? You're a strong woman, and if I try to control that, it would mean destroying the woman I love. You are defiant because you fight for what you think is right, you fight for the people you love even if they don't deserve it, and sometimes its because you simply want things to go your way. I admire that in you. You're fearless in the way you stand up to beings even more powerful than you, and talk to them like you can defeat them singlehandedly. You're a natural born leader, the way you organized those events, making sure everything is perfect and you stay on top of everything with such grace. And the most important fact that you are full of light, in the middle of this dark and dreary world full of curses and wars, you are uncorrupted. Caroline, to me you are genuine beauty." Klaus ended his speech and left a chaste kiss on Caroline's lips.
Caroline felt her eyes fluttering after the kiss. She looked at Klaus who was smiling warmly at her, it gave her butterflies in her stomach.
"I never thought that was still possible," she muttered.
"What is, love?" Klaus was curious.
Caroline looked up to him and smiled brightly,"that's for me to know and for you to find out," and gave Klaus a peck on the cheek that made her feel giddy all the same.
Caroline smiled to herself, and thought that she just might like getting used to the feeling of butterflies.
