Disclaimer: All rights belong to Julie Plec and the amazing writers of the Vampire Diaries.

A Portrait for Caroline

Chapter 2

Caroline sat at the bar trying to blow off steam with alcohol as she called to the waiter to refill her glass. The music was pulsating and she was looking for other things to satisfy her thirst besides the booze. She had to admit the bartender was looking especially hot tonight. Maybe she would take him outside for a blood test later.

"Hello I'm empty." She said waving her glass.

"I think you've had enough." He said being the typical bartender.

She scoffed. This was only her ninth drink of the evening and she was a vampire so it wouldn't exactly kill her to drink every pesky feeling she had away.

"Look at my face. This is me straining to care less about what you think. Nope I can't." She said laughing.

Turning off her humanity had been the best feeling ever. She had never felt more alive since she had became a vampire.

"Okay. I'm going to call you a cab." He said trying to walk away.

Caroline grabbed his wrist and pulled him back to her.

"Okay here's the thing. My mom just died and I just put her dead, cancer riddled body into the ground four hours and thirty two minutes ago."

"I'm so sorry for your loss."

"Oh no no no. I don't care about that. I'm just saying that my feet have been crammed into the world's most uncomfortable heels for an entire day and your tequila is the only thing that seems to be helping."

He gave her a look of utter shock like he couldn't believe what she had just said about not caring about her mother, but her humanity was off and therefore she didn't feel anything at the moment.

"Okay, I'll grab you another drink."

"Thank you."

Caroline thought she would finally get a moments peace when a guy with black hair who looked sort of familiar sat his beer down beside her. Ugh. Wouldn't she ever catch a break today?

"Caroline Forbes the girl from the swimming hole."

Then recognition clicked inside her and she put on her best fake smile. At least now she found a snack and she could stick it to that goody two shoes Elena in one foul swoop. It was like killing two birds with one stone.

"Liam, the boy I totally forgot existed." She said with a laugh.

"Ouch." He said as a reply. "I was about to tell you how sexy you looked."

She gave a small little laugh. She might as well humor him before she took what she wanted.

"You are drunk."

"Slightly buzzed. Getting my ass whopped in shuffle board upstairs."

"Look at you. I stood all day at my mom's funeral."

His face changed from that boyish grin to a look of concern. Ugh. She so didn't need another condolence right now.

"God you're cute, Are you a doctor yet?"

"Your mom just died?"

"Do you want to get out of here?"

He looked at her with utter disbelief. God people really had to stop doing that or they would eventually piss her off and no one wanted that.

"Ugh."

"What? Girlfriend? We all know you're not dating Elena Gilbert."

"Why would I be dating Elena?"

She laughed. Poor unfortunate bastard who was yet another victim to mind compulsion. Elena had wiped his memory of their entire relationship and he still had no clue about it.

"You wouldn't, but even if you were it wouldn't matter, because nothing matters." She said moving closer and moving her fingers across his chest.

"Not. A. Thing."

She smiled and dragged him outside. Poor unsuspecting bastard. When he had suggested that they make out there she shoved him into a nearby telephone boothe. God. Who used those anymore?

She dragged him back up and started making out with him. He was a really good kisser. She didn't know why Elena had dumped him to go back to Damon. She exhaled as Liam kissed her neck. She was starting to want his blood more and more. She wanted him dead more and more. She felt her fangs poke out as Liam looked at her with a look of terror and confusion.

"Caroline what?-"

Before he could finish the sentence her fangs were deep into his neck. She kept on feeding on him until a soft voice as smooth as caramel stopped her.

"I think you're making a rather big scene love."

Caroline exhaled and looked as Klaus made his way to Liam and grabbed him by the head turning on his compulsion.

"Get out of here and forget what you did here tonight."

Liam blinked and ran out of range. Caroline scoffed and shoved Klaus.

"What do you think you're doing? That was my dinner."

He took out a hankerchef and cleaned the left over blood on Caroline's face.

"I was stopping you from making a huge mistake trust me. Now come on we're leaving."

"Where are we going exactly?"

"Back to my hotel. You have a lot of explaining to do Caroline Forbes."

Caroline rolled her eyes and took Klaus's hand following him into the darkness of the night.

Klaus poured Caroline another drink as she sat on a comfy sofa that was surprising for a hotel. She had just finished clueing Klaus in on everything he missed while he listened patiently to her go on and on for hours about why she had to shut off her humanity. She didn't want to lose control. Not like that.

"So now you know the whole story so what are you going to do about it? Are you going to make me flip the switch back on like almost everyone is going to when they see me again?"

"You know I wouldn't do that Caroline. Plus I might actually have a shot at the you that cares less than the you that cares more."

She laughed even when she was an emotionless bitch Klaus was still hitting on her,

"Plus I have no right to judge you after the number of things that I've done wrong."

"Like what?"

"I haven't been completely honest with you and I figured if you're emotionless then you won't care about them nearly as much."

"Go on. Tell me all about it."

"I have a daughter now."

"When did that happen?"

"Well it was before I left Mystic Falls, I got Tyler's friend Hailey pregnant and well one thing led to another and now I have a daughter named Hope."

"Wow. The old me would have blown up at you, but then again the old me would have cared. So are you and Hailey together now?"

"No. We're not together."

"Any other special women in your life?"

"Not that I can think of at the top of my head."

"Well in that case, did you want to pick up where we left off at in the woods? I know you enjoyed that day very much." She said tilting her head back and kissing him.

If she couldn't get her blood fix then she at least wanted to get something out of tonight. Klaus kissed her back but pulled her away.

"No matter how much I enjoy that. Some of us do need sleep."

"How long are you planning on staying?"

"Not for very long, but I did come to give you a piece of advice after your mom died."

"You heard about that?"

"Believe it or not I still do keep tabs on you. I wanted to come to make sure you were alright, but seeing as how you turned off your humanity I see my services aren't needed here."

"So what was the advice?"

"You have a chance to start your life over fresh without any pesky emotions. I say start it over completely. If you won't leave that college of yours or Mystic falls for that matter than try reinventing yourself and getting rid of a few pesky things from your past. Maybe get a new wardrobe. It's a new life Caroline. Embrace it."

She smiled and gave him one last lingering kiss.

"Have fun in New Orleans."

"The invitation to visit me still stands if you're interested. Find me if you turn back on your humanity or find me if you're just looking for a good time. I don't mind either way."

She grabbed her purse and threw it over her shoulder.

"Goodbye Klaus."

"Goodbye love. Try not to strain yourself too much."

"Oh I won't"

And with one last lingering look at Klaus she left his hotel room as happy as ever.