Disclaimer: If I owned it, Kennett would rule the world. Just saying.

"The Man I Love" by Helen Forrest - He'll build a little home, just built for two; From which I'll never roam, who would? Would you?

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Caroline applied the final swipe of Crimson Streak to her lips. She had been purposefully ignoring the treacherous piece of parchment that was sitting next to her mirror.

It had been funny, the range of emotions that she had flitted between just yesterday. Annoyance - both staged and real - at Rebekah, elation at seeing Tyler. It was as though a piece of her that was missing had been brought back to her. She felt secure, warm. She'd felt a strange sense of guilt as she helped him climb the back fence to get into her house. She was guilty of duping Rebekah, that was all. And then more and more guilt flooded her as the Tyler waved the drawing, demanding to know what had happened. Nothing. Nothing had happened, nothing she should feel guilty about. And yet Tyler's wounded, confused face had tore at her.

After a month of separation, one fleeting frantic kiss, and he was gone.

But she was Caroline Forbes. Atlanta may be burning, but she would rise again. She woud make this dance a success, regardless of blonde she-devils meddling with her carefully laid plans.

And it was. She smiled at Matt, who looked quite frankly adorable in his costume, a word of warning on her lips. She didn't want him to get hurt. She knew what it was like to be in his position. Elena loved him, but he just wasn't Stefan. In much the same way that Matt had loved her, but just not in the same way he loved Elena.

The jokes and shouts caused her to turn around, the sight of Tyler stopping her heart in fear. She was angry, she was annoyed, and yet one little mischievious grin had her giggling. He was so wonderful, so young, so perfect for this silly little dance. He was everything that she needed in that moment.

And then the peace was shattered as Damon sidled up to them, a grim look on his face.

Quite possibly the oddest crew of Bonnie, Jamie, Stefan and Klaus had assembled in Alaric's classroom. Caroline's hand instinctively wound round Tyler's when she saw the man that plagued her thoughts. The anger rolled off him in waves when he saw Tyler, his white suit standing out amongst the sea of darkness and despair in that tiny room. What a contradiction.

"Where have you been, mate?" Klaus asked slowly, liquid gold oozing in his eyes.

Tyler stiffened, squeezing Caroline's hand, "I've just got back in town"

"That's funny, I don't recall giving you permission to leave in the first place" Klaus ground out, cold and harsh. Stefan however, rolled his eyes and threw Caroline a smile.

"Really?" Damon widened his eyes, "Your going to do this right now? How about you dominate Tyler another time Klaus? Say when Momma Original isn't running about plotting your - and ultimately all - our deaths?"

Klaus's eyes remained trained on Tyler, the gold flecks glowing. Caroline pulled her hand out of Tyler's, so both could be on her hips, "Why do you always have to prove you're the alpha male?"

Klaus smirked, the deep blue pools trained on her now, "I don't have to prove anything love, I am the alpha male"

"Seriously?" Caroline challenged, her face clearly unimpressed by the testosterone overload in the room.

Klaus simply dimpled a smile as Stefan commented to no one in particular, "Well, that was interesting"

"So, what do we do?" Caroline asked Bonnie hopefully. Time to organise. She could do that. Anything to keep the tangle of her thoughts from muddling even more.

Bonnie's eyes flickered warily to Klaus as Stefan translated, "Bonnie's reluctant to say, given that Klaus just tried to throttle her date"

"Klaus!" Caroline chastised before she could even think about what she was doing.

Tyler clicked his tongue at the familiarity between them, Klaus smiling even more, this time in Tyler's direction. Caroline put a steadying hand on Tyler's forearm, which he immediately shrugged off. A low growl eminated from the Original, as Stefan quickly intervened, "Tyler, you should head back to the dance. Keep everyone safe"

"No" Tyler replied stonily.

"Tyler" Klaus smiled silkily, "Go back to the dance"

Caroline's breath caught. The charade was moments from ending, the non-bond would be discovered after less than twenty four hours. Tyler drew a deep breath, and turned on his heel without a backwards glance. She sighed, thankful, as Damon piped up, "Caroline, you should check the rest of the school for anymore of Esther's minions... Klaus can go with you for protection"

Tyler paused in the doorway, his back tense. He flitted away, it clear if he hadn't left at that moment Damon would have a festering bite to contend with. Klaus stalked past her, offering his arm with raised eyebrows. She narrowed her eyes at Damon's sneer, ignored Stefan's inquistive smile, Bonnie's fearful eyes and Jamie's confusion as she stomped out the room, ignoring the gentlemanly arm.

They trailed down corridor after corridor, Klaus wandering along quite amiably with both hands behind his back. Caroline stamped as hard as she could, to show her displeasure, her arms swingly wildly either side of her. It was petty, it was stupid, but she was hoping he'd just step close enough to 'accidently' hit him. They were both silent, Klaus' body language indicating he was quite cheerful. Nothing like the cold indifference she had been subjected to over the past week - at the dress shop, at the Grill, picking up Rebekah from cheerleading practice. He suddenly veered left, into a deserted classroom, with a satified, "And now we wait"

The classroom was dark, the silvery light of the moon filtering through the blinds, casting long shadows against the desks. Klaus ambled along, looking genuinely interested at the projects and posters that lined the walls. The entire scene was surreal. Here was a man who actually fought in the the Second World War, in a vintage suit, reading highschoolers take on the affair.

She eyed their deserted state and couldn't help but giggle. She was alone in a school with a serial killer. They were verging on horror movie territory. Caroline turned to quietly tease him, "Is this where you kill me?"

Klaus turned to face her, his blue eyes flat, dark, and utterly captivating as a hint of panic rose in her chest. The last time they had a true conversation he had betrayed him and his brother ended up with a dagger in his chest, "Oh God, is this where you kill me?"

The devious smirk she'd come to know so well spread across his face as his hand extended towards her. Her arms immediately crossed, because, no. Just no. There was no way he was allowed to start that old school, suave charm, "Seriously? You're asking me to dance in a deserted classroom?"

"What else do you suggest we do, love?" Klaus replied evenly, his hand never faltering. It was just there, in the air, ready to pull her over to his side, "It's customary when at a dance, is it not?"

Caroline backed away, opting for distance. It really just made things easier. She trailed her fingers in the chalk marks of the board gently, creating delicate interweaving patterns. She didn't need to worry about her costume anymore, because the dance had gone to hell the moment he had swaggered in. Everything had gone to hell the moment he swaggered into their lives, "Awkward silence? Look for your mother? Stick pins in our eyes?"

"We both know she's long gone and you only dragged me across the school to keep me away from Tyler. Come on. One dance" His lips curled into a sinfully delicious smile, "I won't bite"

It was his one card, his one real move against her. The dare, the challenge. And she took it, rolling her eyes, because, really. But she gently placed her hand in his all the same, as he led her further into the room, further into the darkness. He twirled her gently under his arm, his dark eyes fixed on her as he pulled her towards him. And of course this song, of all songs, had to play,

Someday he'll come along, the man I love

And he'll big and strong, the man I love

His hand skimmed her lower back, pressing flatly against her, his fingers weaving gently in the crimson threads of her dress. He twirled them seamlessly, as she gripped onto his strong shoulder. It shouldn't, but pressing against his lean form had her melting into his arms, "Why are you even here?"

"Rebekah - well, Esther" Klaus amended quickly, "Asked me"

"And why are you dancing with me? You're mad at me, remember?" Caroline used the hand that was placed on his shoulder to gesture around the room. They were abandoned, alone. If wasn't for their vampiric hearing, they wouldn't have anything to dance to. The thought of it jolted her. To the casual observer, they would just be another couple, swept away by love, by the moment. Dancing to nothing but their beating hearts and the light of the moon.

Her parents had been that couple, once. It was one of her first memories, watching them laughing as they danced around to the kitchen to no music. And then it all changed. It was unerving just how comfortable she was, languidly weaving through the shadows with him, "This isn't anger, it's vaguely romantic"

Klaus quirked his eyebrows, "Only vaguely?"

"Stop deflecting and answer the question" Caroline snapped, tired of the games.

And though it seems absurd, we both won't stay away

Klaus used his grip on her lower back to pull her closer, his warm breath dancing on her cheek, "You would have loved the 1920s Caroline. The girls were reckless, sexy, fun. They literally used to dance until they dropped" He whirled them suddenly, causing to pull herself more firmly against him. To keep from falling. That was all.

"I don't suppose that ever happened to their dance partners?" Caroline smiled sweetly, before scoffing, "You give me emotional whiplash"

"What would you like me to say?" Klaus questioned, his gaze pulling her in. It was magnetic, it was dark, he could be oh so disarming. And she hated it.

"Don't. Don't do that. Stop putting everything onto me" Caroline muttered, her eyes zeroing in on the moon over his shoulder.

"And what exactly is everything?"

"Everytime something big happens between us, you make me deal with it all and I'm sick of it" Caroline growled angrily, annoyed with him, and his perfected technique of messing with her head.

"You're not making sense, Caroline" He murmured gently, squeezing her hand as though to comfort her.

"I'm dancing with you by the light of the freaking Moon. Nothing makes sense. And you make the least sense out of it all"

Klaus paused, "You should be nicer to me. I'm leaving town tomorrow"

Caroline snapped her head back to him quickly, her eyes wide, "Where are you going?"

"The world is my oyster" Klaus smiled cryptically.

I'm waiting for the man I love

It hurt. It shouldn't hurt her, but it did. He had promised her the world so many times, and now he was just going to up and leave. To not bother about his promises, to give up on her. To just be over it all. She shouldn't care. Isn't this what they had been fighting for all along? She kept her eyes firmly on his shoulder as the words tumbled from her lips before she could stop them, "Why are you leaving?"

"There's nothing left for me here" His voice was deep, and the sadness that laced his words made her heart ache.

She looked back to his face, and his eyes were so honest, and so sad. It felt like hours as she was lost, trying desperately to decipher the look that he was giving her. The was sadness, there was desperation, and it was as though he was pleading to her. Pleading that she would contradict him, prove him wrong, show that she was worth fighting for. But she couldn't. She just couldn't. His face came a fraction closer and she instantly turned her head.

"I'd invite you to come with me, but we both know that you're not ready to accept my offer" Klaus mumured into her hair. Her eyes flickered to him as he continued to quietly unravel her, "Not yet... perhaps one day. In a year, or even in a century, you'll turn up at my door and let me show you what the world has to offer"

Caroline paused, vowing quietly "I won't"

"Oh really? Then tell me why your beautiful face is filled with so much regret?"

"I... I just can't-" Caroline began, not knowing what she was trying to say, or where she would end up.

"You're scared" Klaus assessed.

Caroline's eyes flashed. No, she was not. Hell, she just led the Original Hybrid to a deserted classroom without even flinching. Scared? No, "I'm not scared"

"Oh, but you are sweetheart. You're absoloutely petrified" Klaus rumbled, his voice low, "And you should be. But without fear, life would be meaningless. It's a positive emotion, remember?"

"Don't twist that night around on me. Just don't" Caroline muttered, because he couldn't, he just couldn't. She'd accepted that night wasn't what she had initially thought, but it was speical, it would always be special regardless of whether it was Nik or Klaus.

"You mark my words, a small town boy, small town life. It won't be enough for you" Klaus vowed, his voice rough, menacing. Desperate. He was desperate to prove it to her.

"You don't know me"

Klaus stopped their gentle, languid waltz, "And you don't know yourself. You are so young Caroline, but you have eternity to find out who you truly are"

"With you?" Caroline scoffed, "Because you're such a well rounded individual?"

"And yet I'm the best person for you" Klaus smiled as we pulled away from her, slowly unlacing their fingers, "We're not so different, you and I"

"You are so full of yourself" Caroline muttered as she rubbed her hand, trying to rub away the warmth she could still feel from his palm.

"Tell me I'm wrong" Klaus' eyes sparkled her as he set her a new challenge.

"You're wrong" Caroline quickly replied, keeping an eye on his tie. Was that a windsor knot? And a tie pin? No doubt antique.

Klaus stepped back to her, slowly weaving his hand back around her waist to keep her in place. His other gently danced along her jawline, tilting her face to look directly at her, "Look at me, and tell me I'm wrong"

Caroline paused, the pressure from it all blurring her vision and catching her throat. It shouldn't be this hard, and yet it was, "You're wrong"

He nodded slowly, watching a solitary tear fall from her eye, tracing a damp path down her cheek. He leaned forward, inch by inch, gaging her reaction. All she could see was his lips, and she panicked, turning her head slightly, her dark eyelashes snapping shut. He paused, but then gently pressed a chaste kiss to her wet cheek. He pulled back, his breath catching the shell of her ear, causing her to shiver.

"Don't" She protested weakly.

"Not yet, Caroline. But one day" Klaus promised lowly. She opened her eyes, only to see she was alone in the dark classroom.

It dawned on her - she would never see him again.

And so I'm waiting for the man I love

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Hi!

Thank you so, so much to everyone who has favourited, alerted, and of course reviewed. I honestly love you all. I meant to get this out earlier, but I was trying to make some art but I was such a fail, but hopefully the next chapter my friends?! (but don't hold your breath. I've been at it the whole of today, and had to give up! Haha!)

Anyway, thank you all. Seriously.

LoveYouBye!x

[PS. I understand my timeline can be a bit confusing, so just to clarify, in my story, Tyler came back, but he and Caroline went back to her house and had the argument over the picture immediately. No sexy cellar times for them, I'm afraid! :)]