Caroline woke up to the warm rays of the New Orleans sun. She lazily stretched her limbs, not all too excited to get out of bed. Which was unlike the past days when she had been eager to spend her days, or rather, to spend the time with Klaus.

She had been pretty decided when she said that she would be friends with him and try to understand him, but she felt her resolve wavering. Klaus had been difficult, threatening her like he always did with others. And much to her surprise, it hurt more than she thought it would. Like a sword slashed across her heart. She suddenly broke her train of thoughts, not wanting to continue. Being with Klaus was overwhelming. He terrorized every aspect of her being, from her morals, to her judgment, even making his way into her sense of fashion. She thought back to the time she had worn his henley, seeing the cheeky smile on Klaus's face that was mixed with a whole lot of glowing pride. She had also felt proud, of being able to put that smile on his him and the proud behavior he had exuded made her more than happy. He was proud of her for simply wearing his clothes.

She kept on wondering how such an old vampire who has probably seen almost everything, could be happy with such simple things.


Klaus listened as Caroline moved lazily on her bed, her soft movements soothing his weary soul. Today would be the start. He had a feeling that she would be angry towards the actions he would exhibit, hell, how could he trust his feelings that always seem to get him in trouble the past week. He shrugged it off and continued downstairs and started calling his hybrids, ready to enforce his plan.

He was just sending the hybrids to do his bidding when Caroline came down the stairs, her eyes immediately trained on the hybrids on their way out.

"Make yourselves scarce," it was Klaus's golden eyes that made them disappear in a mere second.

Caroline huffed and proceeded to the kitchen, ignoring Klaus's presence and snatched a blood bag from the fridge. From the corner of her eyes she saw him approaching, and was thankful when Rebekah sped in out of nowhere with a box looking similar to the one Klaus had sent on the night of their ball. She sighed in relief, glad that there was at least one thing to be excited about.

"So you got me one?" Rebekah looked at Caroline as if she was asking an outrageous question.

"Caroline, you're a big girl. You can get your own dress. But, don't worry. Just go to this address and the people there will help you in making one that perfectly suits you," Rebekah handed Caroline a card, unable to resist the contagious smile Caroline was offering and smiled back.

"Thanks, Bekah. Although it would've been better if I at least had a girlfriend to be with, it would've been fun," Caroline suggested.

Rebekah thought of it and agreed in her mind. But her brother had been in a shitty mood and there was no denying it was because of another rift between him and Caroline. Next time though, Rebekah wouldn't let the chance pass to be able to shop with a girlfriend who won't stab her in the back. She had yet to decide if it was indeed Caroline.

"No Caroline, I have my dress already. Take Klaus. He may not look like it, but he would know enough to make sure you get a gown of royal caliber," with that Rebekah strutted off to her room with the gown still in the box.


Caroline awkwardly looked to Klaus and broke the contact as soon as she made it. Klaus showed off a devilish grin from her reaction, making her scoff.

"Very well then sweetheart, when shall we start playing dress-up?" Klaus offered his hand to her, hoping that she at least will be civil.

To his relief, Caroline gingerly took his hand and followed the lead to his car.

"Klaus, speaking of cars. Where's mine?" This got Klaus in a precarious situation.

"Speaking of cars," Klaus led Caroline to an obviously brand new silver Boxster Porsche.

This almost had Caroline in a fit. She didn't think he'd go as far to really buy her a car. She glared at Klaus, who avoided it by looking at the car and telling her the alterations he had requested to be done with it. She scoffed at him feigning ignorance to what she was feeling right now.

Without warning she rushed past him and got in the driver's seat. She looked at him with eyes full of mischief, it had Klaus's radar going off in all ways. Only Caroline.

"I'm driving. You coming or not?" Caroline chuckled as Klaus sped into the seat.

Caroline laughed as she drove as fast as she could, taking advantage of the horsepower. Niklaus suddenly thought giving her all those perks suddenly seemed like a wrong idea. He held to the car as she made sharp turns, just to make sure he wouldn't be thrown off his seat. He was enjoying this fun side of Caroline, the times when she didn't let the righteousness in her kill the moment.

"You know Caroline, I'm starting to think that you plan to lose me by having me tossed by your careless driving," Klaus looked at her with a neutral expression, hoping he wouldn't give anything away.

What he didn't know was that, for the few seconds that Caroline had looked at him she did see something. She saw the flicker of hope in his eyes, and for once she didn't want to be one of the people to extinguish it. She laughed at his question, throwing him off when she uttered her next words.

"I'd never lose you Klaus. Besides, my driving is perfectly safe."

Klaus couldn't keep the warm smile off his face, the one that Caroline loved most. The kind of smile that just radiated his happiness that was because of a simple thing. She had at least, accepted that these were the kind of things that made her happy. Looking back to the road, their fight about going to the ball invaded her thoughts again. She was pretty sure he was already making plans behind her back.

"You know Klaus, I meant it. When I said that I was too harsh about saying those things when I said I wanted to go to the ball," Caroline could feel his curious gaze on her. She also felt that Klaus might do another nasty recoil, so she didn't give him the chance too.

"You know, we really are similar in more ways than one. I would do anything to protect the people I care about, just like you would to your family. I just do it better than you do," Caroline beamed at him.

Niklaus couldn't believe it. Caroline had actually said they had something in common, when just a few months ago she would freak out at the thought of even comparing. Caroline shone brighter than ever before Niklaus' eyes. The girl just kept giving him surprises. Not to mind, they were probably the nicest non-deadly surprise he's ever had the past thousand years.

"You know Caroline, I did have expectations with the surprise you had promised me for this week. Although, I never could have guessed that it would be this promising. But it doesn't mean I'd be a better person altogether just because you said that," Niklaus was amused when the woman only laughed at him.

"Way to ruin the mood Klaus. I'm not expecting you to change overnight, and I'm not even expecting you to change your personality. It's who you are, I would never want you to change who you are. There can simply be changes in the way you do some things, like lessen the tyranny and actually gain true loyalty. That would give you true strength. Besides, you being you is exactly what I-" Caroline cut herself off. She almost said it. With nervousness suddenly taking over her, she accelerated the speed of the car once more.

But Klaus wouldn't have any of it. "Is what love?"

Caroline continued on ignoring him despite the question and the endless glare he gave her. She was thankful when they finally arrived at the boutique, eagerly getting out of the car and motioning Klaus to follow her inside.

Klaus just sighed, shook his head and followed suit. He would let it go for now, but he hoped she would do a little slip up in the near future. A smirk formed on his face when he thought of a little brilliant idea so he could extract the truth from her. It would be a dirty little trick. But Klaus had a feeling that he would reward her for whatever she had to say, he would be sorely pleased. For all the experience he had with Caroline, she had always held back anything that might create a deeper connection between the two of them. And with Caroline within his reach, he'd be bloody hell damned if he let this little occasion just slip between his hands.

No, this time he won't settle for just a confession. This time he would make sure it would be the start of everything. Then of course, there's the matter of him facing the consequences for the last few stunts he had pulled on Caroline. He would have to appease her first, and now, he had just the perfect opportunity.


When Klaus entered the shop, Caroline was already moving from dress to dress frantically. He watched her glow each time she would pick up a gown, and when she would find fault in it she would frown and carefully put it back. Klaus noticed that Caroline had already sorted through a good number of gowns, but still without a choice.

"Perhaps you can let me help love. I'm sure you'd trust me with these matters, especially if you consider the fact that the last two gowns I gave you had exquisitely given at the least, an amount of justice to your beauty," Klaus gave her a devilish smirk showing his dimples.

Caroline knew he was right. She had instantly agreed in her mind, but she wanted to enjoy the sight of Niklaus' dimples and that devilish smirk sending shivers throughout her body. She pretended to muse and think before finally saying yes, almost sighing as Klaus tore his gaze from her and instructed one of the tailors in the shop the details for a customized dress.


The drive home had been conducted with an average speed, very much like the calmed systems of Caroline and Klaus. It was as if their minds read each other, knowing that their fight is about to come to an end. The only thing left to wonder about for Caroline, was how it was going to end.

Once they entered the mansion, Caroline had immediately excused herself to her bedroom. Klaus had told her that they needed to talk before she actually went to sleep. Caroline had only nodded before flashing upstairs.

After a quick shower, Caroline knocked on the door joining her bedroom and Klaus's. When no one answered she opened the door, her eyes widening at the sight before her.

Klaus was dripping wet, with only a towel hanging dangerously low on his hip. She tried to refrain from looking at him, but her eyes seemed to have their own life as she invisibly traced the planes of his chest going down to his abs, until it reached the v of his hips. Oh God, Caroline was almost sure she would faint. Turning around to stop herself from imagining things beyond what should be, she closed her eyes as she almost felt herself blushing.

"Don't shy away now sweetheart. You know you've seen it all before," Klaus chuckled as he dried his hair with another towel.

"Ugh, Klaus. Just get yourself dressed as fast as you can," speeding to his dresser, she pulled out the first pajama she saw and threw it to him. All the while avoiding his image.

Once Klaus said he was done, Caroline turned around only to be infuriated with seeing an image of Klaus in a pajama without a shirt. She could still see the v of his lower abdomen, his pajamas hanging low as the previous towel was on his body. It didn't help at all.

"So what do you want?" she quipped.

"Easy love. And here I thought a little effort would go appreciated by you," Klaus feigned hurt which only earned an eye roll from Caroline.

"Well you should remember, I'm too smart to be seduced by you," it was Caroline's turn to answer with a grin on her face.

"Ah. The last time as I remember quite vividly, did not need an ounce of seduction sweetheart. It was of our own accord. I was even fully dressed," Niklaus had a glint in his eye as he menacingly approached Caroline.

"Klaus," Caroline had a warning in her voice.

Klaus continued on walking until he invaded her personal space. He stopped when he was a few inches short of her face, his warm breath fanning on Caroline's lips making the hair on the back of her neck stand on end.

"Let's make a deal sweetheart," his words were almost a whisper with his lips almost touching hers.


Yeah. Cliffhanger. I know. But next chapter will be full of shivers that reaches your bones and branding moments. I'm reserving my energy for that. Thanks for all the support ;)