Tangled Up in Blue

by idiot-wind89

A year after Elijah and Elena's wedding, Klaus and Caroline are reunited by a tragic set of life-changing circumstances. AH/AU (continuation of Heart-Shaped Glasses)

23. Chapter 23

A/N: Thank you so much for reading the last chapter. I enjoyed reading all your thoughts. Your interpretations were very accurate. Congratulations!

I need to thank my beta, livingdeadblondegirl, for being amazing with this chapter – she always is though.

I also need to give a shout out to the show Lost Girl, since I was inspired by a particular scene from the first season for a particular scene I wrote here. If you watch that show, you'll know what scene I'm referring to when you read it.

Like I said in the last chapter, I usually don't throw playlists out there, but emotions are running high in this chapter and I had a playlist running through my head if you're interested: "Cactus in the Valley" – Lights, "This" – Ed Sheeran, "I Caught Fire (In Your Eyes)" – The Used, and "Blue and Yellow" – The Used (Blue and Yellow happens to be the tentative working title of the epilogue I plan to write to Tangled Up in Blue once it's finished).

I really hope the chapter is satisfying. It's definitely a long one!

---

There was still an hour remaining before her alarm would inevitably sound for her to start her day, but she was wide awake.

Sleep had become impossible. She couldn't fall asleep and finally once she did, she could never stay asleep. A good night's sleep had become a distant memory.

It had been this way since Saturday night. For nearly a week she struggled for sleep. Though, Saturday she hadn't slept because she had spent most of it crying. Sunday and Monday had been similar, but gradually, she started to become numb to it.

She was still hurting, but she no longer had the strength or the tears left in her to cry.

At some point on those nights, her body had succumbed to sleep, but not before her pillow was thoroughly drenched with tears and her eyes were swollen.

On constant loop was the sequence of events leading up to her fall out with Klaus.

He had been amazing to her that night. She never really expected him to agree to attend the masquerade with her and salvage her night by being her date. She hadn't expected how comfortable she would feel with him next to her, how right it felt to be there with him. For a few moments that night, she imagined that they were there together as something more than friends, that he was actually hers and she was his. She was fooling herself, but it was the best trick she could play.

The painting had surprised her. It took her off guard. She hadn't expected it. Her reaction to it had been mixed. On the one hand, it was a sobering reminder of the night he left her. On the other, it was an intoxicating reminder of the passion they shared and the connection they were building. The fact that he had chosen to depict it on canvas suggested that he remembered as well.

Her cheeks had reddened at the sight of the image – her astride him in a close embrace – luckily no one knew the identities of the two lovers. She would have died of embarrassment. She liked that it was a secret between them.

As far as she knew, Tyler had secured the highest bid on the painting, and he'd kept it. Mrs. Lockwood had come to see her earlier in the week. From what she told her, Tyler had explained away the fight with Klaus to drunken horseplay that got out of hand. Carol seemed to accept that excuse. She was just thankful Tyler wasn't pressing charges, although he was just as culpable as Klaus. She had apologized to Carol for Klaus's behaviour and that seemed to smooth things over enough for Carol to inquire about the dresses for the Miss Mystic Falls event coming up. At least that was one thing she no longer had to worry about.

She still had Klaus to worry about, however. She covered her face over her hands, trying to suppress more thoughts, but it was impossible.

He had infuriated her that night, but he had also enamoured her more than he ever had before.

She recalled how she had tried desperately to hide her smile when he draped his jacket over her shoulders as she stormed angrily down the road in front of him.

He had looked terrible after his fight with Tyler, and it was all she could do then to stop herself from inquiring about his well-being. She was too stubborn and mad.

Guilt had gotten the better of her eventually, however, and that's when she made the terrible mistake of going to his room to check on him.

When she saw the extent of the damage Tyler had actually done to his face in the light, she felt horrible. It was her fault. She shouldn't have brought Klaus to the event that night. He took what Tyler did to her too personally for whatever the reason. He hurt Tyler, and Tyler hurt him because of her. Klaus did that for her, and as much as she insisted to Klaus that she could take care of herself and as badly as she felt, it also made her feel good.

It felt good to know someone was there to defend her like that. She'd never had that, not even with Tyler. She'd been taking care of herself ever since she had left for New York after high school. Having someone to look out for her and even take care of her when she needed to be taken care of had become a foreign concept to her since her mother died, but Klaus changed that.

He cared about her. He did.

And she cared about him, more than she'd like to admit, and it terrified her.

It was amazing the feelings he could stir inside of her with one simple look.

Standing so close to him as she cleaned his cuts, his eyes pulled her in. He stared at her like she was everything. He made her legs shake and her heart beat faster. He made her weak. And, in her moment of weakness, she gave in, not to him, but to her desires.

She wanted him. She needed to feel him against her. She was tired of suppressing it.

And she didn't. She didn't hold back. She kissed him like she had been longing to. She revelled in the sensation of his lips against hers and his hands on her. She yearned for his warmth and the feeling of their bodies pressed so closely together.

She had lost herself in that moment. She fooled herself. She let herself believe they were more than what they were, that he was hers.

But he wasn't. He wasn't hers at all and she was sure he never would be.

He cared for her, but she questioned the extent of its truth. How much did he care for her? Did he care for her enough to stay until the morning, and the morning after that, and the morning after that? His own words and their history put that into doubt.

She couldn't let herself fall victim to false hope again. She wouldn't let him hurt her.

That's when she realized she had to stop no matter how much her body and her heart protested.

Klaus had looked utterly confused when she pushed him away, but she couldn't explain herself. It was better for the both of them in the long run if she didn't. She didn't need to bring up irrelevant feelings that would only make things more complicated for their future relationship. He thought it had to do with Grayson and that explanation was sufficient enough since it was true, in part. She just needed time to heal, get over it, and move on.

Ever since the night of the masquerade, they had been avoiding one another like the plague.

She had spent most of Sunday at the store, immersing herself in work. She spent the afternoon and the evening with Grayson until his bedtime. Klaus had kept to himself in his room.

They had barely seen each other all week. They went through the motions with Grayson and exchanged some small talk relating to him, but that was the extent of it.

The tension in the house was suffocating. She was spending more time at work to avoid it and him, but she could only stay away so much. She wasn't going to punish Grayson for her falling out with Klaus. That's exactly what she was afraid of and exactly what she didn't want. Grayson needed her, and she needed him. Seeing him when she came home at the end of the day is what made it bearable. It made the awkwardness between her and Klaus worth it.

Her emotions had been all over the place ever since that night. She was angry at herself for what she did, she was angry at Klaus for not being what she needed, she hated that her heart ached for him, she was sad, she was regretful, she was scared, but she hid it well. She was a master of control.

When she was alone, that was a different story. She no longer cried, but her mind raced with relentless anxious thoughts. She was worried about what this turn in her relationship with Klaus would mean for them and especially for Grayson. They couldn't live in silence forever.

She was worried about how this was impacting Klaus. He had taken her rejection personally, and she couldn't blame him for that. She had done them both a favour though. They would be better off eventually.

Still, when he left the house last night her heart stung. He claimed briefly that he was going out with Stefan before he walked out the door, but the insecure and jealous part of her doubted it. Her mind instantly jumped to the worst case scenario. She had lied awake in bed imagining him crossing paths with Vicki, reconnecting, and going back to her place. It enraged her to think of Klaus and Vicki sleeping together. He should be with her, not Vicki. The fact that he wasn't was her fault. She pushed him away.

When she heard him arrive home just before midnight that had quelled her anxiety somewhat. At the very least, he hadn't spent the night with her. At most, he might not have slept with her at all.

She fell asleep shortly after that but it didn't last for long.

Here she was again, wide awake, contemplating another day at five o'clock in the morning.

She scanned her phone for texts and emails, noting a missed message from Bonnie last night. Actually, it wasn't a missed message, she had purposely ignored it. The message asked her if she was okay, if Grayson was okay, and why she was being so quiet. She hadn't felt like answering last night and dealing with Bonnie's inevitable phone call.

She and Bonnie typically texted frequently all throughout the week, but during this particular week, for obvious reasons, she had been kind of off the grid. She would have to call her this weekend providing that she didn't call her first demanding to know what was going on.

Sighing as she rose from bed, she thought about what she was going to tell Bonnie. Bonnie had very mixed feelings when it came to Klaus and she dreading hearing the painful, 'I told you so,' from her.

Brushing that thought aside, she started her morning routine early, starting some laundry before heading out for a run in the warm spring weather they'd suddenly been having. When she returned, she dealt with the laundry and started her shower.

Feeling refreshed and rejuvenated from the weather, the exercise, and the shower, she tried to think positively about today. She wasn't going to let Klaus bring her down.

She had made her decision and she needed to live with it. She couldn't continue to mope around.

Taking the time with the curling iron and makeup she'd been neglecting all week, she did her hair and applied some makeup, opting to wear the strapless floral print spring dress she had bought on a shopping trip with Meredith the other week, and had been dying for decent weather to wear. She paired it with a pink cardigan and matching heels.

It was amazing what a new outfit could do for your mood, she thought as she gathered up everything she would need for work.

Before she left, she checked in on Grayson just to confirm he was still asleep. Unsurprisingly, given the early hour, Grayson was still fast asleep in his crib – he was becoming quite the late sleeper. She decided then to leave him for Klaus – who was still asleep himself. If she woke Grayson up now, that would mean she'd have to wake Klaus up when she had to leave and she'd just rather avoid that.

---

Downtown Mystic Falls was just coming to life when she arrived at the store. She had a couple hours before Camille and April were due to arrive and she had to actually open the store. This would give her some time to work undisturbed.

In the middle of attempting to juggle her things in one hand and locating the key to her store with the other, she almost didn't notice Damon open the door that led up to her old apartment.

"Caroline," he said brightly. "You're getting an early start," he observed.

He moved in closer, taking some of the things she was carrying off her hand so she could unlock the door.

"Damon..." she greeted. "I have a lot of work to do," she explained, hoping it was a sufficient enough excuse not to rouse his suspicions.

"I was just leaving for the hospital myself. I'm sitting in on some interviews for Elijah's replacement," he sighed.

She nodded solemnly, unsettled by how life seemed to be moving on so rapidly, as she reclaimed her things from Damon.

"Thank you," she said politely.

"No problem," Damon paused, about to say something more. "Hey, it's Friday, what are you doing later tonight? I still owe you that date," he reminded her.

She hesitated.

"I...uh...I really don't know. I was probably gonna put an extra hour or two in at the store...then I have to go pick up some groceries. This is technically Klaus's free night," she stammered. "I would probably have to get a babysitter...it's kind of last minute."

Damon shrugged, seemingly undeterred by all of her excuses.

"Well, we don't have to go out. I could come by your place after work with take out and a few movies," he suggested persistently.

"Tomorrow is my free night. Tomorrow might work better," she proposed, though not very enthusiastically.

"Tomorrow night is no good for me," Damon sighed. "I have to work ."

"Well, I shouldn't really say 'yes' to anything until I know what Klaus's plans are for later," she admitted.

Damon laughed.

"Just tell Klaus what his plans are tonight and then you can come out with me," he joked.

She smirked at the thought, but shook her head.

"I'll find out what he's doing and I'll let you know. Maybe he and I can switch our nights if he's not doing anything," she offered.

"Okay," Damon accepted, "text me later. Have a good day," he told her.

She let out a sigh of relief as he turned for his car and she entered the store.

The last thing she wanted to do was go on a date with Damon tonight. She wanted to be alone. She wanted to consume herself with work until that was all she could think about. Then, after errands, she had planned on spending the evening with Grayson until he was ready for bed. Following his bedtime routine, there was a hot bath with her name on it and most definitely a bottle of wine.

This was her plan and she hated when her plans changed.

Truthfully, that was only part of it. Why shouldn't she want to change her plans for a dark and handsome doctor? What kind of insane straight woman was she to refuse him and make excuses?

Klaus had everything to do with it, she supposed, even though he shouldn't. She was the one who stopped things from going further between them. She was the one who had misgivings. She didn't want to get hurt again. She didn't want Grayson to get hurt. She had pulled away, resigning herself to the bitter truth that it would never work between them because they wanted different things, and yet, as she was trying to free herself of Klaus, his hold on her grew stronger.

She was making up excuses to avoid going on a date with Damon because she was still pathetically holding out for Klaus, despite knowing it would never go anywhere with him.

It was pathetic. She was pathetic.

Still, it didn't matter to her. She needed time to herself to mope and indulge in a little self-pity. Then, maybe she would consider Damon's offer.

She worked hard for the rest of the morning, getting a lot done between responding to emails and phone calls and perfecting a few more designs.

If she had it her way, she would have stayed closed the entire day to catch up on work alone without interruption, but April and Camille's arrival brought her back to reality.

Checking the camera at the back of the building to confirm it was them, and not the delivery she had been waiting on, she proceeded to the back door to let them in.

"Hey, Caroline," April said as she entered happily, handing Caroline one of the coffees from the tray she was carrying.

"Hey, Boss," Camille greeted with an unusually giddy expression on her face.

She eyed the two curiously, noticing the extra pep in Camille's step.

"You two seem happy this morning?" she inquired.

April looked at Camille expectantly, as if waiting for her to explain.

"I have a date tonight," Camille said excitedly.

Her eyebrows raised interestedly.

"And who's the lucky guy?" she wondered before bringing the much needed coffee to her lips.

"Klaus," Camille informed her with a thrilled expression.

Her surprised reaction caused her to tip her head back a little too far, hot coffee burning her tongue.

She coughed a little as she tried to play it cool.

"Are you okay?" Camille said, laughing somewhat nervously.

"Yeah, I'm fine, I just burnt my tongue," she said.

"I should have warned you I just picked those up," April interjected.

There was an awkward pause, as she struggled to feign enthusiasm for Camille and inquire for the details as she normally would when Camille announced she had a date.

"I know you warned me about him," Camille acknowledged. "I'll be careful. I just thought he deserved a chance."

She bit the inside of her cheek and nodded begrudgingly.

"How did this come about?" she asked, turning her back on both her and April pretending to act busy by sorting through a few fabric samples.

"He was at the Grill last night with Stefan," Camille revealed.

Well at least he wasn't there seducing Vicki, she thought.

"We talked for a bit. I asked him out and he agreed," Camille finished.

"You asked him out?" she asked, as she turned back around.

Camille nodded.

"I know, it's a little bit unorthodox, but it's the twenty-first century. If he wasn't going to make the first move, then I was," Camille shrugged.

She really didn't want to ask, but she found herself asking anyways before she could stop.

"So, what's the plan?" she inquired, still trying to pretend she was excited for her friend and employee.

"I'm not really too sure yet," Camille said with a small suggestive smile that made her stomach churn.

She was about to switch topics and ask about Grayson, but Camille continued.

"I know you had some work to catch up on and errands to do, so April is gonna go over and watch Grayson after her shift until you're done," Camille said sweetly.

If this had been in any other circumstances, she might have been thankful for Camille going to such lengths to ensure she wasn't inconvenienced, but all she could feel now was annoyance, anger, frustration...and jealousy.

"Thanks," she said. "I'm sure Grayson will be excited to see you again. Hopefully he'll be a bit more cooperative," she said to April, forcing an amused smile.

"He was adorable last weekend. He just didn't want to sleep," April mused.

"I hope you don't mind," Camille said to her.

Her comment threw her off guard a little, and she wondered what she meant by it. Could Camille sense her discomfort and her jealousy?

She gave Camille a questioning look.

"Well, I am ignoring your warning. I also kind of stole him for the night..." Camille started.

"I don't mind," she shook her head quickly. "You're a big girl, and tonight is Klaus's free night anyways. He can do what he wants," she shrugged.

Camille seemed satisfied with her assurances.

"I gotta finish putting the tray together for cash before you guys can open the front. I'll call you when it's done so you can count it," she said to April, before heading a little too quickly for her office.

She shut the door behind her, thankful for the privacy, as she leaned against the door and let the tears she had been holding in ever since Camille had informed her of her news flow freely down her cheeks.

---

Her office became her hiding spot for the rest of the day.

She only came out when April or Camille had an issue, or a customer came in with a specific inquiry.

When Camille had offered to pick up something for lunch, she declined, opting to work through her lunch alone in her office on an empty stomach.

Food was the last thing she wanted. She didn't feel like eating. She felt sick to her stomach.

She had reapplied her makeup twice since she arrived from the tears she was helpless to prevent.

Every time she glanced at the clock it was as though it wasn't moving at all.

April had left at five. She'd be going home to change and eat before she left to babysit Grayson until she was done her work and was finished with her errands.

The next time she had glanced up at the clock, it was nearly seven thirty – a half hour until close.

She shot up from her desk, not intending to stay that late. It would be Grayson's bedtime by the time she was finished her errands. She had wanted to arrive home before that. She would have to run her errands on the weekend when she had a spare moment.

Deciding to head directly home, she gathered up her jacket, her purse, and her sketchbook and rushed out of the office to the front of the store to inform Camille of her departure.

As if perfectly timed, the front door opened and she was met with Klaus staring directly at her across the floor and Camille in the centre at the counter.

"Klaus," she breathed, curious about his unexpected presence. "Is everything alright?" she wondered. "Grayson?"

He nodded.

She caught herself looking him over, admiring his grey fitted Henley and necklaces framed by his black collared coat. His curls were freshly washed and his cheekbones were accentuated by just the right amount of stubble – the same curls and stubble she had felt under her own hands not even a week ago. She sighed under her breath resentfully.

"He's with April," he answered plainly, looking just as bewildered as she did.

"Klaus is here to pick me up, after my shift," Camille informed her.

She looked at the clock behind the counter. It was only quarter to eight.

"I'm a little early," Klaus admitted, looking at Camille, avoiding her gaze. "I thought you'd be gone already," Klaus confessed to her, almost apologetically.

"Time got away on me," she explained. "You two should go. I'll stay and close up," she told Camille numbly.

"Are you sure?" Camille confirmed. "I can stay. It's not a big deal."

She shook her head, ignoring Klaus who seemed to be staring at her now persistently.

"I'm sure. Go ahead," she urged, mustering a half smile at best.

Camille's thankful smile made up for what hers lacked.

"Thanks, Boss," she said excitedly. "I just need to grab my things," Camille said to Klaus before scurrying quickly into the back room.

Camille's absence left her standing with Klaus awkwardly.

"How was Grayson today?" she asked, unable to stand the silence.

She felt like this was the most she had said to him all week.

"He was good," Klaus replied.

"That's good," she said, frustrated by their conversation, eager for him to leave with Camille so she could be alone.

She was tempted to ask if he would be home later, but she truly didn't want to know the answer to that question. She supposed she would find out soon enough anyways.

Camille returned as quickly as she had left, looking eager and excited for her date.

"Have fun," she said to them, as Camille thanked her again and walked by Klaus towards the door.

She did her best to contain her quivering lip as Klaus glanced at her one last time before slipping out the door behind Camille.

When she was sure they were gone, she turned the open signed to close and locked the door. She didn't care if they were still technically supposed to be open for another ten minutes.

Certain that she was finally alone, she let her tears fall and her anger boil over. Storming into the back room, she tossed her sketchbook across the room, she dropped her purse to the floor, and in her rage, she knocked over mannequins and display racks. She threw material samples waywardly onto the floor and she slammed her fist against the wall, before sliding down onto the floor herself – a complete and utter mess.

How could she have let this happen? When had she let him slip through the cracks of the wall she had built up as a defence against him? Since when had that wall completely crumbled for him?

This was all her fault, she thought, rubbing her hands over her face. She should have stopped herself before she started. She shouldn't have let her feelings get carried away. She should have protected her heart better.

Now, here she was, thoroughly devastated, and she had no one to blame but herself. She's the one who let herself fall for him again.

She was the reason Klaus and Camille were together tonight. She was the one who pushed Klaus away. She was the one who reluctantly encouraged Camille to pursue him. She had rescinded her claim to him and kept hidden her romantic past with Klaus. She couldn't hold anything against Camille. Who wouldn't pursue Klaus if given the chance? Had Camille known the entire story, Camille never would have overstepped. She didn't know. She was a victim of circumstance.

Still, she hated that the two of them were currently returning to Camille's place for dinner and god knows what else. She hated that Camille referred to it as a date. Since when did Klaus date? She hated it most because she wanted to be the girl Klaus was with. She wanted to be the one he picked up from work. She wanted to be the one he wanted.

But, it was too late. She had already made herself clear. She couldn't go back.

Klaus wouldn't let her even if she wanted to. He didn't do serious. He couldn't give her what she wanted and she couldn't let herself forget that.

Time would heal her as it had before. She would get over Klaus as she had gotten over Tyler. Eventually, she would meet someone new and her broken heart would be a thing of the past, she hoped.

For now, she was miserable.

In the middle of attempting to contain her emotions, her phone began to complain from inside her purse.

She didn't want to answer it. In fact, she thought about ignoring it completely, but then she considered that it might be April.

Reaching across the floor, she grabbed for her purse and fished her phone out from inside.

She wasn't entirely surprised to see that it was Bonnie calling.

Holding the phone in her hands, she debated about whether to answer before finally deciding to talk. While there was a part of her who wanted to avoid Bonnie completely because Bonnie could read her like a book, there was another part of her who craved that. She needed someone to talk to. She needed someone to give her advice, regardless of how critical Bonnie might be of her.

"Hello?" she answered hoarsely from crying.

"Caroline? Where have you been?" Bonnie chastised. "You've been avoiding me with vague texts. What's going on? Have you been crying?"

She sniffled, affirming to Bonnie that she indeed had been crying.

"Is everything okay? Is Grayson okay?" Bonnie said quickly, trying to draw the correct conclusion.

"It's Klaus," she sighed.

Bonnie paused for a moment.

"What happened?" Bonnie asked warily.

She bit her lip in hesitation.

"I'm falling for him, Bonnie," she confessed guiltily. "I'm falling for him and I can't stop it. I can't stop myself, and it hurts," she cried.

There was another pause as Bonnie contemplated how to respond.

"I know, Caroline," Bonnie replied.

Her face contorted in confusion.

"You know?" she questioned.

"It's been obvious for a while," Bonnie said. "I was just waiting for you to talk to me. I didn't want to push the topic too much."

"It has?" she said, still dumbfounded that feelings she had been hiding had been so transparent.

"I can hear it in your voice," Bonnie explained, "the way you talk about him, and you talk about him a lot, Caroline."

She tried to recall her past conversations with Bonnie to confirm her observations.

"Well, I do live with him. He is raising Grayson with me. Of course, I'm going to talk about him," she defended herself.

Bonnie scowled.

"You just admitted to me that you're falling in love with him. You can't deny it now," Bonnie pointed out.

She laughed through her tears.

"Why are you so upset? What happened? Does Klaus know?" Bonnie said, posing a million questions to her at once.

"He doesn't know. He thinks I don't want anything to do with him. We've barely talked since I kissed him last weekend," she sighed, feeling defeated.

"Whoa! What? You kissed him?" Bonnie exclaimed. "I think you need to rewind the story. No wonder you've been avoiding me all week."

So, she did. She rewound and told Bonnie everything. She told her about the weekend Klaus took care of her after she drank too much, about their conversations, the fake tattoo, the dinner Klaus had helped her salvage, and the sexual tension afterwards. She told Bonnie about the masquerade, how Klaus filled in as her date, the painting, the dance, Klaus's fight with Tyler, and her innocent attempt to make sure he was okay that led to the kiss.

"It sounds like you did more than just kiss," Bonnie said humorously, trying to get her to laugh.

"Okay, so we made out," she corrected herself.

"More like had sex over your clothes," Bonnie snorted.

"BONNIE!" she lamented. "This isn't a joke."

"I know, I'm sorry," Bonnie apologized. "What happened? Why did you stop? Did he say something?" she inquired.

"I stopped it," she clarified. "I don't know...I just panicked. I just started thinking about Grayson and what happened last time..."

"He left you," Bonnie said, filling in the blank.

"Yeah...and..." she started.

"That's not what you want, is it?" Bonnie continued.

Bonnie could read her like a book.

"No, of course it isn't," she sighed, "especially now with Grayson. I need more. I want more with Klaus, but..."

"But you don't think he'll be able to give it to you," Bonnie assumed.

She shook her head even though Bonnie couldn't see her on the phone.

"I don't know. I just don't want to get hurt. And it's not just me this time that I have to think about. Grayson could get hurt, too," she answered. "You can say, 'I told you so,' any time," she groaned.

Bonnie was quiet, surrendering her opportunity to remind her of the warnings she gave just after Elijah and Elena had passed away.

"Did you talk to Klaus about it?" Bonnie wondered.

"No, we haven't spoken all week, remember?" she told her. "I was too emotional at the time. I didn't know what to say. I just left."

"You just left?" Bonnie confirmed.

"Yeah," she said.

"Maybe you and Klaus aren't so different after all," Bonnie observed.

She scowled.

"What?" Bonnie asked in a defensive but sympathetic tone. "How do you expect Klaus to be acting right now after you freaked out and left without offering any kind of explanation? He's probably just as confused as you are. He's probably trying to give you your space. He probably thinks you want nothing to do with him," she said, giving her some insight into Klaus's perspective. "You two both have spectacular communication skills," Bonnie laughed sarcastically.

Too prideful to admit it, she knew Bonnie had a point.

"I don't know what to do," she said aimlessly, wiping away a few stray tears from under her eyes.

"You need to stop talking to me and start talking to Klaus," Bonnie urged.

She hesitated over Bonnie's suggestion.

"Caroline, regardless of what happens, you need to tell Klaus how you feel. You can't just bottle it up and pretend your feelings aren't there. It isn't healthy," Bonnie told her.

She began to play with her hair nervously.

"What if he doesn't feel the same way?" she wondered, imagining how devastated she would be. "What if he can't give me what I need?"

"How are you supposed to know any of that without talking to him first, Caroline?" Bonnie asked incredulously. "You have to talk to him and find out how he feels. Let him have a chance to speak for himself. You're driving yourself crazy with anxiety making assumptions about where he's coming from. Only he can tell you exactly how he feels."

She was afraid to talk to him. Her mind automatically thought the worst.

"What do I say?" she asked helplessly.

"Tell him exactly how you feel, and exactly what you want," Bonnie stated simply.

"And if he doesn't feel the same?" she proposed.

"If he doesn't, then you two move on. You honour the commitment you made to Grayson and handle the situation like mature and responsible adults," Bonnie said as if it would be so easy. "As long as Grayson is always your number one priority, you'll both be fine."

"Maybe," she said worriedly.

She heard Bonnie scoff on the other end.

"Why are you thinking so negatively, Caroline?" Bonnie asked. "What if Klaus does feel the same?"

Almost certain of Klaus's rejection, she hadn't really thought about what might happen if Klaus returned her feelings.

"Caroline, it's obvious Klaus feels something for you. I mean, he stepped in as your date to the masquerade; would Klaus do that for anyone else? He defended you physically, not to mention he got physical with you," Bonnie laughed. "He cares about you. At the very least, you know he cares about Grayson, and that he would never want to hurt him. I don't think he would intentionally cross the line with you if he wasn't serious."

She was quiet as she considered Bonnie's conclusions.

"It's one thing to be careful, Caroline, it's another to let your fears hold you back," Bonnie warned. "Give Klaus a chance. He might surprise you. You could have something really amazing if you'd just talk to him and let him know how you feel," she pointed out.

"That's if he doesn't fall for Camille first," she groaned, feeling defeated.

"Camille? What do you mean?" Bonnie asked confusedly.

"She asked him out on a date. He just picked her up from the store," she informed her.

She heard Bonnie gasp judgmentally and she was quick to step in.

"In Camille's defence, I might have encouraged her to pursue Klaus awhile back. She also doesn't know that Klaus and I have history. In Klaus's defence, he didn't know I'd still be here," she said quickly.

That contextual information seemed to placate Bonnie.

"You still need to be honest with him, Care," Bonnie told her. "You should be honest with Camille, too," she added. "When Klaus comes home tonight, talk to him and tell him how you feel."

"What if he doesn't come home tonight?" she thought aloud, being implicitly clear to Bonnie what she meant by that.

"If he's feeling the exact same way you are, then he'll be home tonight," Bonnie assured her.

---

Initially, after her phone call with Bonnie and the advice Bonnie had given her, she was feeling confident. She was ready to close up the store, head home, and wait for Klaus's return so she could talk to him about her feelings for him.

But as she began to clean up the mess she had made of the back room in the wake of her anger and frustration, she grew discouraged.

Fear of Klaus's rejection and thoughts of him being out on a date with Camille overwhelmed and upset her.

If Klaus really had feelings for her, why was he out with Camille?

Everything Bonnie said to ease her mind might actually be untrue.

She hated this uncertainty. She hated the sick feeling in her stomach that grew each time she thought about Klaus moving on to Camille.

How could he do that to her?

Had he hoped she would be at the store when he came by to pick up Camille in hopes she would see them together? Would he be that cruel to her?

Her mind dwelled on Klaus's inevitable rejection, disregarding every positive word and encouragement Bonnie had filled her with.

Stopping herself from crying again or letting her anger get the better of her, she gathered up her things.

She needed to get out of the store and go home for the night. She had to stop thinking about Klaus. Seeing her little monkey and indulging in that hot bath would be a very perfect end to this horrible day.

Having parked out front today, she made sure the back was completely locked up before heading for the front of the store. After ensuring everything in the front was secure, she locked the front doors and stepped out onto the sidewalk.

It was such a beautiful night. The sky was clear and the air was mild. She probably didn't even need to be wearing her coat.

She hadn't noticed the other car pull up beside her as she threw her stuff in the backseat.

"It must be fate," she heard Damon laugh as he climbed out of his car. "What are the odds that I'd run into you going to work and coming home? Not that I'm complaining."

She turned around somewhat bewildered, giving Damon a small smile.

He held up his phone disappointedly.

"You never did call me," he frowned.

She winced apologetically.

"I'm sorry. It was such a busy day. It completely slipped my mind," she lied; it had been no busier than any other day, but Damon had been the last thing on her mind after she found out about Klaus's date with Camille.

"I completely understand," Damon said. "It's okay."

She nodded appreciatively.

"If you aren't in a rush to get home, I picked up some Mexican from that restaurant on the other end of town. I hear it's good, and I was starving after my shift," he said, holding up the bag. "I made sure to get extra for leftovers, so I have some to spare."

Her stomach growled at the faint aroma of the food, an uncomfortable reminder that she hadn't eaten all day.

"April is watching Grayson, I shouldn't keep her waiting," she hesitated.

"Aw, I'm sure she wouldn't mind. You've been at work all day. You could use a break and something to eat," Damon cajoled her.

She sighed, knowing Damon was right, feeling guilty for making excuses to get out of taking him up on his date offer.

It was just dinner, she thought.

She should be going home, preparing to speak to Klaus.

Klaus wouldn't even be there though when she got home. Klaus was out on a date with Camille.

Why should she rush home to spill her guts to Klaus when it seemed so painfully obvious that he didn't care?

"Okay," she agreed, "Let me call April first and make sure it's okay."

%$#%$#%$#^%$&^%&^%&

He and Camille ended up deciding to see a movie after they left the store.

It was a simple first date and that was relieving.

A movie meant he didn't have to make awkward small talk with her. That said, a movie also meant he was alone with his thoughts for two hours.

Truth be told, he wasn't even sure why he was on a date with Camille in the first place, but she had asked the night before and he agreed. It's not like he was genuinely interested in Camille. He supposed he just needed a distraction. Or, maybe he was angry at Caroline for rejecting him and he wanted to pay her back in some way.

Regardless of his reasons, the date wasn't working for either of them.

Between Camille and the blonde actress in the cheesy romantic comedy he had wasted money on seeing, all he could see was Caroline. It was beyond frustrating. He was trying so hard not think about her. Thoughts of her inevitably led back to her stinging rejection.

Caroline had been avoiding him all week, and he had no idea what to say to her in response besides the usual and necessary small talk regarding Grayson. She would wake up early for work and be gone before he woke. She came home after dinner and spent the remaining time before Grayson's bedtime upstairs with him in his nursery. Once Grayson was asleep, she would be in her room and he would be in his.

The distance and tension between them was driving him crazy.

She looked like she was on the verge of tears every time he crossed paths with her.

He'd barely slept at all every night since their encounter. He couldn't sleep. All he could think about was what could have been and how off he'd been about Caroline's feelings.

Even his immature desires to get Caroline back for hurting him with her rejection wasn't working. Though he truly hadn't planned on Caroline being at the store when he arrived to pick up Camille, had he really wanted revenge, it would have been the perfect opportunity, but all he felt was guilt. Caroline looked utterly devastated and disappointed and he hated himself for that. Her expression mirrored the one he saw on her face Saturday night and it killed him.

He had thought about calling the date with Camille off then and there, but what good would that do? It would only make things worse. Caroline had made it clear that she wanted nothing to do with him. He doubted she wanted him around to make sure she was okay. He figured she would appreciate having the house to herself for the night.

They both needed space. He needed space from her if he was ever going to be able to bury his feelings for her. Being around her everyday was not conducive to that. Perhaps they would have to discuss an alternative living arrangement when things cooled down between them.

Stefan had offered up his spare room for him to stay at, but only on the condition that he and Caroline actually talk things out first and he find out where she was coming from. He wasn't ready to do that, though. He wasn't ready to face the full wrath of Caroline's rejection yet.

When the credits started to roll for the movie, he was surprised. His mind had been racing the entire time he barely caught the premise of the entire thing. He couldn't even be certain about how it ended exactly.

"So, what did you think of the movie?" Camille asked as they walked back to her apartment.

She lived just beyond the downtown core, so they had walked to the theatre from her first floor apartment.

"It was okay," he said plainly, obviously unable to contribute more to the conversation as he hadn't been paying attention the entire time.

"I think April and Caroline would like it. I'll have to recommend it," Camille said cheerfully.

"Yeah," he answered distantly as they passed Caroline's darkened store.

"Did Caroline seem off to you today?" Camille wondered, catching him off guard.

He shrugged.

"Not really...why?" he asked curiously, interested to hear Camille's observations.

"I don't know. She just seemed distant and upset today. She has all week really," Camille concluded.

"She seems okay to me," he said, trying to throw Camille off.

"Maybe I'm just imagining it," Camille laughed.

"Between work and Grayson, I think she's just probably a little stressed," he attempted to explain, lying to ease Camille's mind and hide his own guilt.

"You're probably right. Miss Mystic is coming up and now she's also going to be starting on Meredith's wedding dress soon – among all the other projects she's working on," Camille affirmed.

The night was still early when they arrived at Camille's door.

"Thanks for going to see that with me," Camille said politely, staring at him tentatively, as she delayed opening her door and walking inside.

"No problem," he nodded.

"Do you want to come in?" she offered. "It's still early, and I have an unopened bottle of Scotch waiting to be tried."

He should have been calling it a night right there, but instead, he found himself accepting Camille's offer and following her inside.

It was his way of delaying the inevitable. He didn't want to return home to Caroline. He didn't want to talk with her tonight. If he stayed at Camille's long enough, by the time he returned he hoped Caroline would be asleep.

Camille's apartment was a modest one bedroom, he concluded as he took in his surroundings.

"Excuse the mess," Camille apologized once they were inside.

She removed her coat and began picking up stray items to conceal.

"It's fine," he told her as he removed his shoes and jacket and stepped into the dimly lit living room, illuminated only by lights that hung over the mantel of a fireplace that had since been bricked over.

"It's not the biggest or the nicest apartment in town, but it's close to work and the rent is cheap," Camille shrugged.

He sat down on the fake leather sofa and peered around the room more closely.

"My apartment in New York is probably smaller, and I probably pay double in rent," he cringed thinking about it.

Camille laughed as she disappeared into the kitchen to retrieve the liquor she had promised.

"I suppose you'll have to get a bigger place when you return, for Grayson," Camille said, returning with the bottle and two glasses.

She sat down beside him and placed both glasses in front of them on a flat wooden trunk that doubled as a coffee table.

"Yeah," he sighed, overwhelmed by that prospect.

"Would you ever consider staying in Mystic Falls permanently?" Camille asked.

He shrugged.

"If there was a market for my art and I really had to for Grayson, perhaps," he replied. "It's too quiet here though. I like New York," he continued, taking one of the glasses Camille had filled.

"I've never been to New York before," Camille stated, taking her drink. "Caroline talks fondly of it. I definitely plan to go one day."

He winced internally at another mention of Caroline.

Covering up his reaction he raised his glass towards Camille's.

"To New York then," he said, quickly pulling back his glass for a much needed drink as Camille took a sip of hers as well.

"Whoa, that's good," Camille said with a laugh. "Caroline got me that for Christmas. I haven't had an occasion to open it."

He tried to avoid reaction to yet another mention of Caroline. Why did Camille insist on bringing her up at every turn in their conversation?

Nodding, he took another quick sip of his drink.

By his third drink, he was feeling adequately buzzed and Camille's incessant mentions of Caroline became tolerable.

"So, that's how I ended up in Mystic Falls. I followed a boy here and then he decided things were getting too serious and he broke up with me," Camille laughed, clearly feeling buzzed herself. "He left, and I stayed."

She offered to pour him another glass of whiskey but he declined.

"Well, you know how I ended up in Mystic Falls," he reminded her.

"You grew up here though, didn't you?" Camille questioned.

"Yeah, we moved here from London after my father got a job in Washington," he said, not really interested in talking about his family.

"So, you knew Tyler and Caroline?" Camille inferred.

"I did. They were a bit younger than me though. We never hung out. Tyler was an asshole then as much as he is now," he mused. "We never liked each other."

"I guess you getting in that fight with him last weekend makes sense now," Camille noted.

He raised a curious eyebrow.

"I just thought there had to be some history there for the fight to get as serious as it did. I thought you were going to tell me that you and Caroline dated in high school or something," Camille laughed.

His mouth went dry, and he coughed awkwardly to shield his unusual reaction.

"Nah, we never dated," he laughed, casually dismissing Camille's suspicion as he leaned back against the sofa.

"I hear you really don't date much," Camille pointed out.

"Dating really doesn't appeal to me," he shrugged.

"But you agreed to go on a date with me tonight?" she reminded him.

"Well, you did ask me, and I thought it could be fun," he answered, not really being completely honest with her.

He had been using this date as an excuse to get out of the house. He really didn't think it would be fun. Camille was a nice girl, but the date itself had been torture.

"Why don't you usually date? I'm sure there was lots of opportunity in New York," Camille commented.

"Serious really isn't my thing," he explained. "And unlike your ex, I don't like giving women the wrong impression regarding my intentions or my feelings."

Camille laughed as she caught up to him and finished her third drink.

"Well, at least you're honest," she acknowledged amusedly, making eye contact with him. "For the record, I didn't get the wrong impression," she smirked.

He felt Camille shift closer to him.

"I do want serious again someday," she began. "I mean, there's nothing like waking up next to that one person, but I don't want that right now."

"What do you want, then?" he wondered.

She looked at him with a suggestive expression and shrugged.

"I just want to live a little on my own. Have some fun, see what's out there," she said nonchalantly. "I didn't do enough of that before my ex came along."

"That's probably a good ide..." –

As he leaned forward to pour himself another drink, he was intercepted by Camille's hands pulling his face towards her.

She kissed him assertively and it took him a few seconds to process what was happening.

He wasn't sure how to respond at first as her lips moved against his eagerly.

Something didn't feel right about this. There was a voice in his head shouting at him to stop her from going further.

There was another voice in his head telling him that this had been his intention all along. Camille was a distraction, and what better way to distract himself?

He had to stop dwelling on Caroline. Nothing would ever happen between them. She wanted nothing to do with him. He needed to forget about her.

So, he kissed Camille back forcefully.

The kiss was completely devoid of any feeling.

He knotted his hands in her hair and deepened the kiss in an attempt to jolt his senses, but his efforts were unsuccessful.

When Camille climbed over top of him and straddled his hips, his body went completely rigid.

All he could think about was the previous Saturday night and the way Caroline's body had been astride him so intimately.

Camille wasn't Caroline. Her blonde hair was dull by comparison, her lips didn't feel the same, her eyes belonged to a stranger, and her curves were unfamiliar to his touch. He didn't like it.

This was wrong. He felt like he was betraying Caroline.

But he felt powerless to stop it, swept up in a frenzy of Camille's kisses and touches, he struggled to regain his bearings and his control. His voice felt caught in his throat.

He pulled back from the kiss to catch his breath and Camille took at as her cue to remove her shirt and begin undoing his belt and his jeans.

She looked up at him curiously when she realized that he wasn't even hard.

Hesitating, he grabbed her wrist to stop her from going further.

"Stop," he told her. "We can't do this," he explained.

She withdrew her hand and climbed off him bewilderedly.

Camille picked up her blouse from the floor and slipped back into it self-consciously as she began to button it up quietly.

"I'm sorry...I just thought...I didn't mean..." Camille began to stammer. "I guess I did get the wrong impression," she laughed at herself shakily.

"Don't apologize. It's not your fault. I shouldn't have come here. It's my fault you got the wrong impression," he assured her, doing up his pants awkwardly and reaching for his jacket.

"Did I do something wrong?" she asked, clearly confused as to why he had passed up on her willingness to have sex with him, no strings attached, when he told her he wasn't interested in serious.

He shook his head.

"No, you didn't do anything wrong. Like I said, it's not your fault. I just shouldn't be here. There's somewhere else I need to be," he explained cryptically as he stood.

"Is it someone else?" Camille asked unexpectedly. "There's someone else."

He brushed his fingers over his mouth uncomfortably, wiping away whatever Camille had been wearing on her lips.

"I need to go," he said anxiously, passing her as he went for the door.

"It's Caroline isn't it?" Camille concluded.

He stopped, his back facing her as he looked to the side, revealing the guilty expression he didn't even attempt to hide; any effort would have been futile.

"How did you know?" he asked, turning more to face her.

Camille sighed with a shrug.

"The way you look at her...like she's the only person you see...with such yearning and admiration," she revealed, "the way she looks at you the same; the way you talk about each other."

"I didn't think I was that obvious," he said.

"It wasn't at first," Camille admitted. "I dismissed my suspicions because Caroline has been so adamant that there was nothing between you...that there would never be...but it's the only explanation that makes sense."

He nodded, unsure about what to say in such an uncomfortable situation.

"Have you told her how you feel?" Camille wondered.

Her personal question felt intrusive, but at the same time he felt eager to answer it.

He shook his head.

"Why not?" Camille asked, stepping closer.

He leaned back against the wall with a heavy sigh.

"She doesn't feel the same," he explained.

Camille gave him a small smile.

"I think she might," she told him.

"She's been burned by me before," he confessed, quickly seeing Camille's enthusiasm stifled by his admission.

Camille gave him a questioning look, encouraging him to elaborate.

"We have a brief history," he stated, before delving briefly into the details of Elijah and Elena's wedding weekend.

Camille had clearly not been expecting his story, but at the same time she didn't look surprised.

"I didn't know that. Caroline never told me," she admitted, running a hand through her mussed hair. "If I had known about that I would have never pursued you. Caroline acted like she barely knew you at the funeral. She told me to proceed with caution. I didn't even think. Oh my god," Camille said guiltily. "No wonder she was so distant with me today. She probably hates me."

"You didn't know," he said reassuringly. "Caroline doesn't hate you. She wouldn't hold this against you. She's not like that."

His words seemed to calm Camille down, and her panicked expression eased slightly.

She glanced up at him thoughtfully.

"What makes you think that Caroline would treat you any differently?" Camille inquired.

"What?" he asked confusedly.

"If you're so sure Caroline won't hold this against me, why are you so sure Caroline would hold your past with her against you?" Camille countered.

"That's different," he said dismissively. "You didn't intentionally mean to hurt her."

"Neither did you," Camille said.

He conceded her point, but was still not convinced.

"She kissed me last weekend...after the masquerade," he started. "It got intense pretty quickly, and before I knew it, Caroline was crying and telling me not to touch her. She hid in her room after that. We've barely spoken all week," he finished.

A knowing look appeared on Camille's face as she realized why Caroline had not been herself for the past week.

"She definitely hates me," he said, dropping his head pessimistically.

Camille shook her head with a scoff.

"She definitely doesn't hate you, Klaus," Camille argued. "She's just scared."

He looked up at her hopefully.

"She's scared what happened a year ago, will happen again," Camille explained. "She feels insecure...vulnerable. She doesn't realize the extent of your feelings for her."

Stefan had told him the exact same thing, repeatedly. His own insecurity and vulnerability had prevented him from believing it.

"You need to reassure her that the past won't repeat itself," Camille urged him. "You need to tell her exactly how you feel about her."

---

"Do you want another beer?" Damon offered from the kitchen.

She shook her head.

"I need to drive home," she told him. "Besides, I'm not even much of a beer drinker to begin with."

"Ah, you gotta drink beer with Mexican food," he laughed. "I have some wine here though if you'd like," he said.

She laughed.

"You mean I have some wine here," she corrected, knowing he was probably referring to the couple bottles of wine she had collected.

"Yes, landlord, you do have some wine here," he teased. "Can I get you a glass?" he asked.

She looked over the back of the couch at the large decorative clock she had hanging in the kitchen.

April had encouraged her to stay out if she wanted; Grayson was already asleep and hadn't given her any trouble yet.

It was almost ten o'clock.

She wasn't sure when Klaus would be home – if he'd even be at home tonight – but she wasn't in the mood to face him yet.

"I'll have one glass," she relented, deciding that she'd be safe to indulge, having only drank one beer earlier, "but only one."

Damon obliged her and brought two glasses over –one for her and one for himself.

She stretched out on the couch and accepted the glass from Damon as he sat down beside her.

"God, I miss this couch," she sighed, recalling how comfortable it was, recalling the many nights she had fallen asleep on it wrapped in a blanket as she watched a movie – often with Elena.

Klaus had fallen asleep on this couch, too, she thought, remembering the night before Elijah and Elena's wedding when he had drunkenly showed up on her doorstep. He had also left his wallet behind here the next morning and that had gotten her into some hot water with Bonnie and Elena.

"If you take it out of this apartment, I demand a decrease in rent," Damon smirked.

"You might not even be here next month if those interviews went well today," she reminded him.

"There were a few promising candidates, but..."

"None were Elijah," she finished for him.

Damon nodded.

"He was just such a good doctor and surgeon...better than me. That hospital didn't realize what they had until he was gone. They'll never be able to replace him. They're lucky he settled for Mystic Falls. He could have worked anywhere he wanted," Damon explained.

"Elijah loved Mystic Falls. He never felt like he was settling," she informed Damon, a little defensively. "He liked the small town atmosphere. He liked that he was following in Elena's father's footsteps and creating new ones."

Damon leaned his head to the side, looking at her.

"Would you ever leave Mystic Falls?" he asked her.

She shrugged, delaying her answer by taking a drink of wine.

"I did once," she reminded him. "But now, I don't know. My store is here. Grayson's home is here," she pointed out. "Are you looking forward to going back to Baltimore?" she asked, quickly taking the focus off of her.

Damon mirrored her indifferent shrug.

"I miss the face paced atmosphere of the hospital there and the city itself. It'll be nice to get back into it. But, I enjoy being close to Stefan. He's easier to terrorize this way. I would never be able to rent an apartment like this in the city for the rent I pay...and the landlords in Baltimore certainly aren't as pretty as the landlords in Mystic Falls," he smirked.

She rolled her eyes dismissively but she couldn't help but blush at Damon's obvious efforts.

"You're not getting cheaper rent for compliments," she warned him playfully.

"I don't need an incentive to pay you a compliment," Damon responded, his crystal blue eyes were sparkling at her.

She took another nervous sip of her wine.

For some reason Damon felt closer to her than he had seconds ago, his stare felt more persistent, the air felt thicker, and she felt like it was becoming harder to breathe.

"Meredith showed me some pictures from the masquerade. Most of them were of her flashing her bling," he laughed, "but I did get to see your dress in one. It was beautiful. You looked beautiful," he said admiringly. "I'm actually a little jealous Klaus stepped in to be your replacement date."

She swallowed uncomfortably at the mention of Klaus's name.

"You have nothing to be jealous of," she attempted to assure him. "We went as friends."

"Tyler Lockwood came into the hospital early that morning to get checked out. Klaus got him pretty good," Damon mentioned. "That didn't look like just friends to me," he finished challengingly.

"Well, we are," she affirmed hesitatingly. "Which is why I'm here in my old apartment with you, and why Klaus is out with Camille," she emphasized, stifling the bitter tone in her voice at the thought of Camille and Klaus.

Damon eyed her curiously for a moment before the sparkle returned to his eyes and he smiled at her.

"You're right," Damon agreed as he set his glass of wine down in front of him before leaning back. "You are here with me."

She flinched when his hand boldly and unexpectedly brushed against her thigh. It was her turn to sit forward, setting her wine glass down before she dropped it, clearing her throat and debating whether to stay where she was or hop up from the couch uncomfortably.

"Caroline, I...didn't mean to push," Damon said behind her apologetically, his hand resting soothingly on her shoulder.

Her mind raced, contemplating her next move.

"It's okay," she murmured.

She could hear Damon sigh disappointedly behind her.

Did she want this? Should she encourage Damon or push him away?

She could hear Bonnie in the back of her mind urging her to go home and wait for Klaus. She could also hear the insecure voice at the forefront of her mind – her voice – telling her that Klaus probably didn't care how she felt, that Klaus probably wouldn't be home tonight, that he was probably still with Camille finishing what she had started last weekend.

Just the thought made her blood boil and her heart ache and she found her lips curving into a small smile, eager to forget whatever the hell Klaus was doing with Camille.

She turned back towards Damon, leaning in, taking him by surprise as her lips crashed against his.

He was quick to recover however, his lips moving against hers enthusiastically, his hands lifting her legs onto the sofa.

She wove her hands into his hair, holding him against her as he pushed her back against the cushions and climbed in between her legs.

He wasn't wasting any time.

A part of her wanted it that way. She wanted to forget. She wanted to lose herself in the movements of their bodies.

His tongue slid against hers aggressively, taking control of the kiss.

He pinned one of her wrists beside her and used his other hand to grope at her chest.

When she tried to exert her will into the kiss, his lips broke from hers and descended onto her neck hungrily.

With her free hand, she wove it into his hair and pulled him back up to her lips to kiss him as she wanted.

"You are feisty," Damon mused against her lips as he let his hand wander back down to her bare thigh.

The sound of his voice startled her.

It brought her out of the moment and her eyes shot open.

His voice was unaccented and unfamiliar. It was rough and unsettling. It didn't sound like honey tasted. It wasn't the voice she wanted to hear. It wasn't Klaus's voice.

She released his hair now acutely aware that there were no curls.

He continued to kiss her, completely unaware of her sudden stillness.

She took in a breath from her nose, realizing that the spicy and sweet smell she was used to was replaced by a harsh masculine scent.

Even his lips felt and tasted differently.

The cold blue eyes that were staring down at her as his hand slid underneath her dress were not the inviting ocean blue ones she wanted to see.

Her stomach turned anxiously.

This wasn't what she wanted. She was only doing this because she was upset...because she was angry. She was doing this to get back at Klaus. She was doing this for all the wrong reasons.

She didn't want to be with Damon.

He wasn't who she wanted.

She never should have accepted Damon's invitation. She should have gone straight home and waited for Klaus as she intended to do.

Damon's fingers traced the elastic edge of her underwear as his lips stole another kiss.

She needed to get out of there.

"Damon," she said hesitatingly, breaking the kiss and attempting to slide out from underneath him.

The weight of his body against her was too much, however, and that kept her firmly in place.

"Caroline," Damon mimicked her seductively, kissing her some more as his hand tugged on her panties.

She turned her face to the side to evade his lips.

"Damon, I can't do this," she told him, trying once more to squirm away.

He lowered his face to her chest, his lips piercing her skin.

"Yes you can," Damon breathed, believing her words to be a game. "Relax, Caroline," he urged.

"I can't do this," she repeated a little louder and sterner.

His hand released itself from her thigh, and she sighed in relief until she heard him fumbling with his pants.

"Damon stop!" she demanded, taking advantage of the gap between them created as Damon rose to undress by kneeing him in the groin and shoving him backwards on the couch.

"Caroline, what the hell?" Damon growled, as she scrambled to stand up from the couch.

"I told you I can't!," she reaffirmed for the third time shakily.

"Caroline," Damon pleaded, grabbing for her as she walked by.

She yanked her arm from his grasp, slapping him hard in the process.

"Get your hands off of me," she hissed. "I have to go," she stated, picking up her purse hurriedly.

"So you'll sleep with Klaus, but not me?" Damon scoffed, rising from the couch.

She gasped in disbelief at his audacity to speak to her that way.

"You're pathetic," she said dismissively as she tried to hold back the water in her eyes.

A light bulb seemed to go on in Damon's mind as he looked at her amusedly.

"It's because of Klaus, isn't it? You're leaving because of him, aren't you? Don't tell me you actually have feelings for him," he scowled mockingly.

"Klaus was right about you," she spat angrily as she headed for the hallway, grabbing her coat and stepping into her heels. "You're disgusting."

"I hate to break it to you, but Klaus is a hypocrite," Damon told her. "Klaus only puts up with you because of Grayson. He doesn't care about you. If Klaus really cared about you, would he be out fucking your employee right now?" Damon questioned. "You're nothing to him. That's just the way he is. Klaus is never going to change."

She winced at his words as her hand touched the door.

"He and I aren't any different," Damon continued.

She turned.

"Klaus listens to me. He knows the difference between 'yes' and 'no.' He's always been honest with me. He's never lied to me about who he was...unlike you," she countered bitterly before storming out of her former apartment.

---

She clutched her beige trench coat tightly around herself as she walked to the backdoor of the house feeling defeated. This was not how she had planned for the night to go. If she had let her stubbornness and immature need for revenge persist, she'd be beneath Damon on the sofa in her apartment letting him fuck her in some pathetic attempt to forget that Klaus was probably beneath Camille right about now.

But she couldn't stay there; the harder she tried to forget her feelings, the more intense they became.

The entire time she was with Damon, all she could think about was Klaus – was he having a good time with Camille? What were they talking about? Were they even talking? Would he sleep with her? It was never ending, and each time she thought about it, her jealousy and resentment intensified.

When Damon spoke all she wanted to hear was Klaus; when Damon kissed her, all she wanted to feel were Klaus's lips; when Damon looked at her, all she wanted to see was Klaus staring back at her. It was driving her insane. She had to leave. She couldn't stay there with thoughts of Klaus on her mind and Bonnie's voice in her head. Fucking Damon wouldn't solve anything. It certainly wasn't fooling her, and she knew it would only make things worse in the long run.

Whether she got up the courage to tell Klaus how she felt or not, and whether he reciprocated or not, she couldn't pretend with Damon.

It was a good thing she had listened to her mind and her heart and decided to leave, because Damon was not who she thought he was. Klaus had warned her, but she wanted to give Damon the benefit of the doubt. She had made a mistake. She couldn't imagine that he was ever related to Stefan or that Elijah had ever been friends with him. Damon was intimidating, hateful, and cruel.

Opening the back door she tossed her purse down on the dining table dejectedly and sighed discontentedly.

Klaus's car was missing from the driveway. He was still out. He was probably out for the night now...with Camille.

She groaned in frustration. She couldn't obsess over Klaus's absence and his date with Camille. It was one date. Surely, it didn't mean anything. It wasn't a big deal.

Her throat began to swell and her eyes stung.

Who was she kidding? It was a big deal. Klaus Mikaelson dated no one, and now all of the sudden he decides to take out her employee and friend. She couldn't help but feel like he was doing it deliberately in lieu of her reluctant rejection the other week.

What scared her more about that situation was the possibility that Klaus might genuinely have an interest in Camille.

It was one date, she reminded herself; one date that she had tacitly given her approval of by assuring Camille that there was nothing between her and Klaus. She didn't resent Camille. None of this was her fault. She felt terrible. How could she go back on her word now? How could she tell Camille that she had lied? Could she tell her? Camille was interested in Klaus and he seemed interested in her, what right did she have to possibly sabotage that? She didn't want to hurt Camille. Camille had been so excited for this date and she had feigned excitement for her. Now what would happen? Camille was one of the few friends she had. She didn't want to lose her over something that could amount to nothing. It was selfish of her. But at the same time, she didn't think she could keep her own feelings bottled up. It was too painful for her to bear. The stronger her feelings grew for Klaus, the heavier her heart became with her persistent silence on the issue.

Ironically, the thing she was terrified of most – having her heart broken by him – was happening and she wasn't even with him. And it wasn't even his fault, it was hers. She let her fears and insecurities push him away. She was sabotaging her own happiness over what ifs.

Bonnie had already scolded her for it tonight, and she was sure if Elena were here she'd have done the same until she stopped and took a chance...although she wasn't sure how Elena would feel about her taking that chance with her brother-in-law..

Looking into the family room, she noticed the television was set to some channel catered to babies, the floor was littered with Grayson's toys, and the kitchen was a mess with various things Grayson liked to eat.

Instantly, she wondered if Grayson had given April a difficult time that night. She felt guilty for leaving him so long, and leaving April with him for so long when she had originally only planned to be at the store for an hour or two.

Resisting the urge to start obsessively cleaning, she headed towards the front hall, assuming April was upstairs with Grayson.

"April?" she called, as she started for the stairs, glancing up to the second storey.

"April just left," Klaus said flatly as he appeared at the top of the stairs from Grayson's room.

She sucked in a small breath of surprise, not expecting him to be home.

How had he gotten home? She wondered. Perhaps his car was parked out front...maybe he had taken a cab home, although he didn't appear to be drunk.

Regardless, the relief she felt was undeniable.

Jealousy also tugged at her however, as she found herself still wondering about Klaus's date with Camille and still bothered by the fact he'd decided to wear her favourite Henley of his out with her.

"Oh," she said, her mind racing over Klaus's unexpected presence and the fact that he probably knew she had been out with Damon.

"I paid her," he explained, almost sounding annoyed.

"Thank you," she replied. "How was Grayson?" she inquired curiously, peering past him as he descended the stairs.

The sweet scent of his cologne hit her as he approached. She could practically taste it. Her heart fluttered.

"He's asleep, for now," he said. "April said he's been up off and on for the last couple hours."

"Poor guy...poor April," she joked, trying to get a rise out of him.

She would have some serious thanking to do when she saw April again.

He didn't laugh or smile.

"Yeah," he said.

She could tell by the short tone in his voice that he was on edge about something.

When he brushed by her without saying anything more, she knew that whatever was bothering him had something to do with her.

"You're home early," she observed casually. "How was your night with Camille?" she found herself asking, prompting him to stop in the hall.

She held her breath.

"Fine," he replied.

Her heart sank.

"That's good," she lied. "Will there be a second?" she inquired, feigning genuine interest.

Inside she was screaming in protest.

Klaus glanced at her before shaking his head.

"No," he answered.

His monosyllabic responses laced with venom were beginning to frustrate her, but the last one sent a feeling of relief rushing through her, nevertheless.

She arched an eyebrow and before she could stop herself she was already asking the inevitable.

"Why not?" she asked hesitantly.

Klaus gave her another quick look, one that suggested she already knew the answer to that question.

"I was thinking about what you said. I didn't think it was fair. We want different things..." he told her, his eyes wandering over hers quickly once more.

She paused, realizing what he was implying. Her shoulders dropped a little as she began to unbutton her coat.

She and Camille wanted the same things in a relationship. Simple reasoning suggested that if he and Camille wanted different things, then she and Klaus would fare no better.

"You want to see other women," she concluded for him, realizing, with a degree of disappointment, that she hadn't swayed him as much as she thought she had. "Well, it's good that you told her that," she acknowledged – okay, so if it was any consolation, her conscience had seemed to rub off on him to some extent.

Slipping her jacket off, she turned towards the coat rack.

"Actually," Klaus began. "There is only one woman in particular I want to see."

With her back to him and her hand securing her coat on the hook, her body froze in place.

"But she's with somebody else," he sighed, sounding as defeated as she felt.

She wanted to say something, but she didn't know what. She wasn't even sure he was referring to what she thought he might be referring to – or whom.

Why did he have to be so cryptic? Why wouldn't he be more precise? He was so frustrating sometimes. Now was not the time for puzzles or his stubbornness. She needed to hear him say it.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, preparing to turn around to face him again before he spoke.

He released what she interpreted as an annoyed groan that almost sounded like a growl from underneath his breath.

"You're home late," he noted bitterly. "I take it your date with Doctor Damon was more than satisfying?" he seethed.

A tear escaped from the corner of eye as her irritation boiled over.

"Why do you always talk about Damon like that – especially with me!?" she snapped, spinning around on her heel. "So I went on a date with Damon, who cares?" she shrugged angrily, fishing for the answer she knew he was capable of.

- "He'll only hurt you," Klaus reminded her coldly, staring into the living room, avoiding her persistent stare.

She scowled and rolled her eyes, tired of that answer, even though she knew it was the truth, especially after tonight.

"I'm a big girl, Klaus," she argued. "I can handle a broken heart, trust me," she said bitingly. "That still doesn't explain your bullshit one worded answers and the disdain and hatred in your voice. Why does it bother you that much!?" she cried, begging for him to say what she suspected was just beneath the surface, pleading with him to make the first move. "Why!?" she pressed. "Talk to me!"

His body jerked forward as he spun around and grabbed her face intensely.

Before she could even process what was happening his lips were on hers, searing her mouth with a hot kiss that sent electric shocks coursing through her body.

She backed up in surprise.

"I care!" he shouted. "I care that you went out with Damon! Isn't it obvious, Caroline? I don't want to share you!" he hissed. "I don't want anyone else's lips on yours. I don't want anyone else's hands on your body..." he faltered, his eyes digging into hers. "I don't want anyone but you."

Her body was completely rigid, trying to anticipate his next words...his next move...and what her response would be. Her chest was heavy and it was becoming harder to breathe.

He hung his head, letting his eyes fall away from her.

"And I know that's the last thing you want to hear right now," his said almost apologetically.

"Why wouldn't I want to hear that?" she asked shakily, her eyes glazing over with tears.

"Because you're with Damon now," he sighed, "Because you made it clear last weekend you want nothing to do with me," he said lowly turning again for the kitchen.

She bit her lip, struggling for the simplest answer as though she was under the pressure of an examination.

"Damon...and I...tonight," she stuttered, cursing the fact that she had suddenly lost the ability to form a proper sentence at the most inconvenient moment. "I realized..."

Klaus shook his head.

"Stop; I really don't want to hear about what happened between you and Damon tonight," Klaus muttered with his back to her.

"But," she started in frustration.

He ignored her.

"Klaus!" she demanded angrily, storming towards him.

"What!?" he spat, turning around.

She stopped short of him.

"That's all I've ever wanted to hear you say," she admitted.

Without hesitation, she cupped his face in her hands and pressed her lips against his.

She had wanted to kiss him like this ever since she had her taste of him after the masquerade. She had wanted to feel his body pressed up against hers, to smell his scent encircling her, but she had been too afraid.

Deepening the kiss, she pushed her reservations aside. She couldn't deny herself something that felt this good.

His lips responded, massaging hers while his tongue parted them.

Her body shook with want.

She pulled him closer by his necklaces.

No longer taken by surprise, his hands caressed her cheeks before tangling themselves in her hair.

He pushed her back against the wall, kissing her harder, their tongues fighting for control as their bodies crashed into one another.

When he broke the kiss, she eyed him curiously. He was staring back at her with uncertainty.

"Are you sure?" he asked her tentatively, clearly hesitant after what happened last weekend.

She nodded as she caressed the side of his face.

"You didn't let me finish before you interrupted," she sighed.

A reassured smile formed on his lips and he kissed the palm of her hand.

He clasped her hand in his, holding it in between them as he lowered his lips to meet hers again.

His mouth descended onto the tender skin under her jaw. His hands framed her torso, kneading her flesh contained within her dress.

"I intend to let you finish tonight," Klaus murmured against her ear, his teeth nipping lightly at her skin, "several times over," he stated boldly, his lips curling into a Cheshire grin against her cheek.

Heat radiated off her body with his words as she giggled bashfully.

"Klaus," she chastised modestly.

His defiant smirk made her efforts futile, but she didn't mind.

He sucked on her lips once more before returning his to her neck.

His lips and tongue stopped their dance against her throat. The tickle of his stubble made her tingle.

He lifted his head, his familiar blue eyes staring deeply into hers.

"The only lips I want on mine, are yours," she breathed, kissing him softly before pulling away. "And I don't want anyone else's hands on my body except for yours," she continued, reaching for his hands and securing them around her waist.

He collided his lips with hers, kissing her in a way that consumed her entirely, as he tugged off her flimsy pink sweater.

She kissed him this time more desperately as her body began to ache for him.

His hands brushed the backs of her thighs and she shrieked in surprise when he lifted her up unexpectedly.

Wrapping her legs tightly around his waist she shivered with delight at the feeling of his arousal pressing against her through his jeans.

She dug one hand into his shoulder and wove the other into his curls.

"If you drop me," she said in between a series of quick kisses. "I'll kill you," she warned, kissing him again hungrily as he let them fall clumsily against the front door.

The impact hurt a little, and any other time she might have chastised him, but she could barely feel the pain, not as long as his lips were teasing hers, and the warmth of his body - that had her effectively pinned between him and the door - was overtaking her.

He smirked against her lips as his hands griped her thighs higher, practically cupping her ass underneath the skirt of her dress.

She groaned.

"I won't let you go," he assured her as his lips descended down her neck and onto the cleavage the dress she had on accentuated.

Her body quivered with lust and emotion, knowing – hoping - that he meant his words in more than one way.

She wanted to stop him, to ask him if that was a promise he intended to keep, to confirm all the feelings she had for him were reciprocated, but her mind was too hazy with lust.

They could talk later, for now it would suffice to let their bodies do the talking.

At this point hers was screaming, screaming to be touched, kissed, and loved by him.

His was equally as eager as hers. She could sense it in the desperate way his hips rocked against hers and his mouth bit and sucked on the delicate mounds of her chest

She wanted him in every way possible. She had never felt a desire rawer or purer than this.

Deciding to speed things up, she was able to slip out of his hold, her heeled feet dropping to the floor as his hands slid up her legs and over her ass.

Tugging on his necklaces, she occupied his lips with another heady kiss, reversing their positions.

"Upstairs," she mumbled, walking backwards towards the staircase.

He acquiesced to her demand, wrapping his arms around her, taking her lips in for another heart-stopping kiss as his foot kicked the baby gate out of the way.

Their mouths fought relentlessly and their pace up the stairs seemed to mirror their lips' enthusiasm.

They were a little too eager, however. Having not perfected the art of making out on a staircase while staggering up them backwards in heels, she had leant too far back and before she knew it, she was horizontal, sitting on the stairs, while Klaus loomed over top of her, amusement etched on his face.

She laughed at their failed attempt and made a renewed effort to stand, but with a devilish grin, Klaus held her hips, keeping her in place.

Lowering himself onto his knees, he settled in between her legs. He peppered ravenous kisses along her chest and collarbone.

Rather than attempt to stand again, she leaned back, resting her head against one of the risers.

It wasn't the most comfortable place in the world for this to be happening, but there was something strangely erotic about it. That, coupled with the fact that her skin was on fire for him, longing to be touched, she didn't care where they were as long as his hands were running down her calves as they were, his body was draped against hers, and his lips were taunting her skin.

She tipped her head back further as his mouth descended upon her neck, nibbling, sucking, and then licking the tender flesh that was left behind. She wanted him to leave marks. She wanted him to take her, to claim her in every way. She wasn't concerned at the moment about who might see, or how much makeup she would need to cover up his love bites in the morning.

His warm hands cradled both her ankles before tearing off the light pink heels she had been wearing. She couldn't see, but she heard them hit the stairs and topple down until they landed at the bottom.

While his mouth left a trail down her neck towards her chest, his hands ascended over her knees and onto her thighs.

Her breathing hitched as the movement of his hands took the skirt of her dress along with them, leaving most of her legs exposed along with the pink thong she had on underneath.

The cool air rushed against her heat and she whimpered in response to the sensation.

She allowed her hands to wander over his shoulders and around his neck, her fingernails dragging lightly across his skin, garnering an appreciative sigh from his lips as they explored her cleavage.

Biting her lip in anticipation, she watched excitedly as Klaus's hands cupped her breasts before tugging the fabric of her strapless dress down and revealing the pink bra she had on underneath.

Without bothering to unclasp it, he pulled that down too, her breasts pouring out over the folded cups.

His hot breath danced over the newly exposed flesh, aching to be touched.

She whimpered, bucking her hips and lifting her torso in a desperate attempt for any contact she could get.

He smirked, delighted by her implicit approval and desire for him before enclosing a palm over one breast, while his lips kissed the other.

She hummed in appreciation as he teased her sensitive nipples. She revelled in the stimulation; each flick of his tongue or caress of his hand made her core throb harder.

His free hand inched higher up her thigh, only intensifying the unbearably pleasurable tension that he was stirring up within her.

She knew her panties were soaked, she could feel her liquid heat slickening her skin. That was how badly she wanted him.

When his fingers grazed over the drenched material he looked up at her, his eyes beaming.

She smiled and her cheeks went red.

"Don't flatter yourself," she scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"I wouldn't dream of it," he mused as he cupped her through her underwear.

Her hips thrust down into his hand as he swirled his tongue around her stiff nipple.

"Please, Klaus," she panted. "Touch me. I want your hands on me."

Another grin spread wide across his lips.

"Stop teasing," she cried as his forefinger stroked her softly.

Lifting his head above hers, he silenced another impending protest from her with his lips while the hand between her legs pushed the fabric of her thong to the side.

Sliding his finger along her slit, she easily coated him in her juices.

She groaned contentedly against his lips as he pressed two fingers against her swollen bundle of nerves.

He knew exactly the right amount of pressure to apply in that counter clockwise motion she was partial to. Why did it never feel this good when she did it to herself?

His fingers had barely touched her and already she could feel herself on the verge of climaxing.

When he had teased her enough, he outlined her opening before pushing two fingers inside of her.

She gasped, opening her eyes instinctively to look up at him. He was looking directly back at her.

He dipped his face down to hers, their foreheads touching, as his lips sucked on hers and his fingers pumped in and out of her.

She griped his shoulders, digging her fingers into the material, holding on as tightly as she could.

His free hand groped one of her breasts, while the other worked itself into a steady rhythm, curling to hit that sweet spot inside of her while his palm pressed deliciously against her clit.

She moaned against his lips as the pressure between her legs built at an overwhelming speed.

Her skin was burning, her chest was heaving, and she felt lightheaded.

She felt completely wanton on the stairs like this, with her dress bunched around her waist, her legs spread, every muscle in her body tense and her skin glistening with sweat as his lips sucked on her pulse point and his talented hands worked her body into submission.

"Come for me, love," Klaus breathed.

His voice alone was almost enough to send her reeling.

She clawed at his back in an effort to quiet her verbal expressions of pleasure, but it was no use.

Dropping her head back she clenched her eyes shut and allowed her toes to curl around the edge of the stair as she let go and the balance tipped.

She groaned in ecstasy as her entire body shook violently and her centre pulsed and gushed around his fingers.

He kissed her as she continued to hum delightedly against his lips, indulging in bursts of pleasure that continued to erupt inside of her.

"God," she sighed, looking up at him, completely in awe of the fact that he could make her body respond to him so quickly like that with only his fingers and mouth.

"Not quite," he said cheekily, withdrawing his fingers from her once her aftershocks had subsided.

She watched intently as he drew the tips of both fingers into his mouth, sampling her arousal.

She felt like she was floating; her body hadn't felt this relaxed in quite some time.

"More," she pleaded, pulling him down by his necklaces, pressing her lips upon his.

Klaus chuckled into the kiss before lowering his head, planting kisses along her jaw, tickling the curve of her ear with lips.

"I want to taste you," he murmured. "I want to taste you as I make you come again."

She sucked in a nervous breath, his licentious desire reigniting the heat between her legs.

He had never gone down on her before, but suddenly she could think of nothing she wanted more than to feel his mouth against her sex.

Moving down a stair, his face was level with her dripping core. Surprisingly, she didn't feel self-conscious. In fact, she was immensely excited by the sight of him between her legs.

He kissed and caressed her thighs first to taunt her, but she could tell he was just as eager to dip his tongue into her folds as she was.

His teeth grazed her inner thigh as he looked up at her with a devious expression.

"Taste me," she urged, coaxing him closer to her with a hand in his hair, wanting to experience what she had often fantasized about.

He lifted her ankles, placing each one over his shoulders as his mouth inched higher, closer to where she wanted him most.

The anticipation dwindled, however, when they heard a piercing cry begin to sound from Grayson's nursery.

"No!" she huffed in frustration as the cries continued and grew louder.

She had completely forgotten about Grayson in the midst of her euphoria

Klaus mimicked her expression of annoyance as she removed her legs from his shoulders and sat up to reposition her dress.

"I believe that was your fault," Klaus teased, referring to her inability to keep quiet.

"I'll get him," she offered with a disgruntled sigh as she stood. "But that wasn't all my fault," she stated for the record, pointing a figure at him as she climbed the rest of the stairs to Grayson's room.

He winked at her in response.

"Don't take too long," he said, causing her stomach to tie itself into tiny excited knots.

---

As she entered Grayson's room, she heard Klaus descend the stairs.

Grayson's room was darkened, but she was sure the smile on her face could illuminate the entire area.

She traced her fingers with her lips giddily, as she approached Grayson's crib to check on him with the help of his dim nightlight.

His cries had quieted significantly since she had entered the room.

"Hey monkey," she whispered to him softly, noticing his wide eyes staring up at him.

She stroked his hair gently.

"Go back to sleep," she hummed, hoping his break in sleep was only a minor disturbance.

From what she gathered, April and Klaus had just gotten him down to sleep again, so his diaper should be fine and judging by the half consumed bottle on the dining table downstairs, he didn't need to eat.

His eyes seemed to be resisting the urge to close as her hand rubbed his back.

As she watched him she thought about Klaus and attempted to process what had just happened between them...and what it would mean for the little boy she was slowly coaxing back to sleep.

Surprisingly, she didn't feel as guilty or worried as she thought she would. She felt excited and happy. She swore to herself that whatever happened between her and Klaus, their mutual love for Grayson would never change and they would always be there for him. As long as they kept that at the forefront of their minds, Grayson would be fine.

She took the sense of calm she felt and Grayson's contentedness as tacit approval for her and Klaus to pursue their feelings for one another.

With Grayson settled, she slipped back out into the hall, shutting the door behind her.

She could still hear Klaus downstairs, so she stopped by the bathroom to clean up.

Her entire appearance was frazzled from the events of the day and her makeup was smudged from tears and passion.

When she was done, she entered her bedroom, removing her dress and undergarments, selecting a silk robe for bed, in anticipation of Klaus's return.

She had opened her bedroom door purposely so he would get the hint.

As she waited, she tried to quell her nerves by tidying her room. When there was nothing left to tidy, she occupied herself by brushing her hair and staring out at the street from the window bench as she and Elena had done as girls.

Maybe he was having second thoughts? She wondered. Maybe he changed his mind about her. She started to panic.

When she finally heard Klaus ascend the stairs – cursing the baby gate as he did – her heart began to flutter.

She continued to stare out the window purposefully, pretending that she wasn't eagerly waiting for him, pretending that she didn't notice him standing in the doorway staring at her.

"Is Grayson okay?" he asked, breaking the silence.

She looked over at him, setting her brush down.

When she stood, giving him a closer look at the tiny robe she had on, she noticed him swallow thickly. This was definitely not a robe she had worn around the house before.

"He's fine," she assured him. "He fell back to sleep pretty quickly."

"You have a magic touch," he mused, shaking his head incredulously.

She smiled genuinely at his compliment, though her mind was filled with sexual innuendos.

"You can come in, you know," she told him, smirking at his nervous reaction as he stepped inside her bedroom as if it was sacred ground.

"I didn't want to make any presumptions," Klaus told her hesitantly, clearly referring to last weekend.

He shut the door behind him, leaving it slightly ajar.

Her chest grew heavier

"I was scared," she explained.

He nodded understandingly.

"I didn't want it to be like last time," she murmured inching closer to him. "I don't want this to be like last time."

"Neither do I," Klaus agreed.

She looked up at him intently, comforted by his response.

"I meant what I said downstairs," he reaffirmed, resting his palm against her cheek.

She nodded, trying not to let herself be overwhelmed by her emotions.

"So did I," she assured him. "This isn't a false start, or a one off," she stated. "I want you," she confessed. "I want all of you."

"I'm yours," Klaus replied quickly, his eyes emphasizing the truth of his words. "If you'll have me..."

An insecure expression crossed his features that made her heart ache.

"Of course," she said quietly, leaning in to kiss him.

He stopped her, just as her lips were about to touch his.

"Say that you're mine," he said, his request drowning in vulnerability as he cradled her face delicately in his hands.

"I'm yours," she told him without hesitation, and with that, his lips were on hers, consuming her in a kiss that simultaneously filled her with a breath of life, while taking her breath away.

She curled her hands around his neck, pulling him as close to her as she could. She smiled against his lips, revelling in the feel of them, happy to feel the curls of his hair underneath her fingertips.

This was what she had wanted – he is what she had wanted - since the beginning, since that first weekend with him. She had tried to stop herself, but it was impossible.

There was this unexplainable connection she felt to him then, one that was too difficult to resist. That connection had been made more tangible since Grayson had brought them back together.

She couldn't turn her back on it now.

Eager to feel more of him, she tucked her hands under the hem of his shirt and he obliged her by allowing her to remove it.

Tossing his shirt aside, she inhaled his familiar scent as she pressed her hands and lips to his chest.

She wanted to explore every part of him and reacquaint her body with his. It had been a while; her fingertips traced a pattern for her lips to follow over his tattoo that hadn't been there the last time.

Kissing his neck, she slid her hands down his stomach and over his hips, allowing herself the opportunity to touch him after all the times he had walked around the house shirtless.

She griped his belt, undoing it hurriedly and then going for the button on his jeans.

His hands stopped her and she glanced up at him curiously.

"Not yet," he told her, wrapping her hands around his waist as he brushed his hands through her hair, returning his lips to hers.

From there, they descended onto her jaw and then her neck, sucking the tender flesh he had earlier.

She cocked her head to the side, allowing him more access, sighing appreciatively.

As his lips moved from her neck to her collar bone, she felt him untie the belt of her robe to grant him more access to her skin.

Responding to his desire and hers, she pulled away from him.

He watched her fixedly as she slowly pushed the robe off her shoulders, allowing it to slide off her arms and pool at her feet.

She shivered instinctively from the combination of the cool air and Klaus's burning stare.

Her body was completely bare for him to see.

A nervous smile played on her lips the longer he took her in.

"You're so beautiful," Klaus said, seemingly in awe of her, in disbelief that she was in front of him, that she was his.

It was such a cliché thing for him to say, but he wasn't just saying it to reassure her. He was saying it because he meant it. There was an unmistakable honesty in his voice, an honesty that hadn't been there with Damon.

As he stepped closer, he gave her that look that made her knees go weak, that sexy smirk that told her he had plans for her tonight.

His warm hands ran up the length of her arms and over her shoulders slowly before cascading gently down her front, outlining the swell of her breasts and then resting on her hips.

He lowered his lips to where he left off, tickling her collar bone and then working his way down her chest.

His hands caressed her back while he divided his attention between both of her sensitive nipples with his mouth.

She groaned contentedly, as she watched his tongue swirl around both little pebbles.

Once both her nipples were fully erect and in desperate need of more attention, he left her wanting, lowering his lips to her stomach, which he kissed over carefully.

"I missed you," he admitted. "I missed your body," he added, provoking her stomach to clench excitedly at the promise his words held.

She missed him. She missed the way he loved her like this.

Following his hands as they glided over her sides and her hips, his lips trailed a path of kisses along her ribs and onto her hip bones before he lowered himself onto his knees in front of her.

She swallowed thickly, staring down at him anxiously as he admired her lower half which was aching for him again once more.

"Where were we?" he mused, referring to Grayson's earlier interruption.

He peppered kisses along both of her upper thighs while his hands explored the curve of her bottom, kneading the flesh eagerly.

She whimpered in anticipation as his mouth kissed her pubic bone, then moving to the insides of her thighs, so close to touching her swollen pink lips.

When his breath hit her sensitive skin, she practically cried out, in desperate need of more contact. When his lips kissed her centre, her legs shook. When his tongue darted out to taste her dripping folds, she practically buckled over.

He griped the backs of her legs, holding her in place, pressing his face against her, cupping her with his mouth as his tongue circled her throbbing clit.

She tangled one hand in his hair while the other clenched his forearm, her breath growing ragged the deeper he kissed her core.

"Mmm yes," she purred in quiet encouragement. "Klaus, don't stop."

His tongue felt unbelievable. She didn't know it could be this good. She never imagined his tongue was capable of such pleasure.

A few more strokes had her head spinning and her body trembling.

The closer she got to release, her moans intensified.

He teased her, sucking and licking at her tiny bundle of nerves, bringing her right to the edge but holding her back with faintest of touches.

After several taunting repetitions, her body was buzzing, finely attuned to each small bat of his tongue.

"Please," she begged, digging her fingernails into his arm while the other hand held his hair tightly, ensuring he wouldn't stop.

Her legs were on the verge of giving out when he granted her the final fatal strokes that sent her careening over that delicious edge, her orgasm exploding onto his tongue as her body shook intensely under his touch.

Biting her lip, she was able to stifle her passionate cries.

She grinded her hips against his mouth, each of his continuing movements to gather up her juices, prolonging the high she felt.

Her chest heaved as she gasped for air.

"Caroline," Klaus groaned throatily, kissing her thigh as he looked up at her with amazement etched on his face and her bliss glistening on his lips.

She encouraged him to stand, kissing him hard and longingly, tasting herself on his tongue as it parted her lips and slid against hers.

The strain in his pants was obvious against her lower half and she took the opportunity to reach down and unbutton them.

Pulling them down slightly, his thick length sprang free and she clutched it in her hand desirously.

Klaus moaned against her mouth as she caressed him intimately. She ran her hand gently over the velvety skin, slickening his shaft with his precum.

"I need to feel you," he pleaded. "Let me feel you."

She nudged him back towards the bed, pulling his jeans down his thighs as they moved.

He sat and she removed his pants the rest of the way.

Eager to give him the same pleasure he gave to her, she went to lower herself on her knees but he grabbed her elbow to stop her.

"Not like that," he murmured.

She rose in front of him, hesitating for a moment as he pushed himself back further onto the bed.

"In my pocket," he told her, reading her mind.

Reaching in his pocket, she found the square foil packet she had been concerned about.

This had probably not been intended for her. Though she knew he carried condoms with him regardless, just in case, she couldn't up but seethe internally at the thought of Camille.

Glancing up, she had to remind herself that he ended his date with Camille for her. He was here with her. He wanted to be with her. Camille meant nothing to him.

Climbing onto the bed in between his legs, she opened the foil packet as he watched, holding himself up with his hands behind him.

She rolled the condom over him carefully and straddled his hips, her stomach tight with anxious excitement, her heart pounding.

He sat up completely to be closer, his hands brushing her hair to the side as he kissed her deeply.

She lowered her hips, rubbing herself against him seductively.

Her body was aching for her to take him, to fill herself with him completely.

His lips on her neck, and hands on her breasts and hips did nothing but encourage her further.

Physically, she was more than ready, mentally and emotionally, she was still holding back. She needed to be completely sure of his intentions on more time.

"Klaus," she said, prying him away from the attention he was lavishing upon her body.

He looked up at her warily. The tone in her voice had obviously concerned him.

"What is it?" he asked worriedly.

"If we do this," she started resting her forehead against his, "there's no going back. I need you to promise me that you'll still be here in the morning...that you won't leave," she said, fumbling with his hair nervously.

He swallowed as though his words got stuck in his throat.

"Caroline, there is nowhere else I want to be..." she tensed at his words, "I won't leave you. I'm not going anywhere this time. I promise, sweetheart," he assured her.

Her mouth was wide with a smile and she could have sworn her eyes seemed a little misty.

"We don't have to do this if you're not ready. We can wait," he told her, his fingers stroking her back. "I can wait."

His concession surprised her. She wasn't expecting it when they had come this far already. Damon was wrong; he and Klaus were very different.

She shook her head.

"I don't want to wait," she protested. "I'm ready now, if you're ready for tomorrow morning," she told him.

"Love, I'm more than ready for tomorrow morning...and the morning after that...and the next one after that," he said for added emphasis, smirking.

She laughed and he laughed too.

"I am serious," he said, clutching her face in his hands.

Nodding confidently, she lifted her hips and positioned him at her entrance, guiding him into her slowly, inch by inch.

They both sucked in a breath and released it at the same time as she enveloped him.

She hummed contentedly, as she familiarized herself with the sensation of him inside of her, realizing then how much she really had missed their bodies being so close and so intimately connected.

He pressed his lips to her bottom one softly as his hands followed her hips as she rose off of him and then sunk back down.

Picking up the pace, she repeated the movement, loving the way it felt to take him in all the way.

The delightful friction of him stretching her was overwhelming.

She enjoyed having this control over their mutual pleasure

"Lay back," she urged, pressing a hand to his chest to encourage him.

He seemed hesitant to pull away and surrender at first, but he obliged her, resting against the comforter, staring up at her lustfully.

Adjusting her position, she began to roll her hips in a steady rhythm with his cock moving inside of her.

She arched her back, supporting herself with a hand behind her on his thigh as she continued to ride him

Every time she consumed him, Klaus's eyes clenched shut and the sexiest noises escaped his closed lips.

He reached up, cupping her breasts, his fingers dancing over her nipples.

After a few minutes, she couldn't help but lean forward, needing him closer, needing to feel more of his hands and mouth on her, needing to feel the firmness of his pubic bone against her most sensitive spot.

She whimpered at the subtle change in angle and movement of Klaus's hips, which were now meeting hers enthusiastically.

"You feel amazing," Klaus hissed against her ear while his hands roamed over her back and over her ass.

If only he knew how delicious his cock felt moving inside of her, she thought.

She cried out unexpectedly as he hit a particularly sweet spot within her. If he didn't already know how amazing he felt to her, he sure did now.

"You're going to wake Grayson up again," Klaus warned, purposely slamming her hips down against his awaiting length.

She moaned again, trying to reconcile the competing urge to curse him with the desire to scream his name in ecstasy.

"That wasn't all my fault," she whimpered as he nipped at her lips.

Klaus lowered his hips in response, effectively withdrawing himself from her heat.

"I should probably stop then," he teased her, holding her in place above him.

Giving him a piercing glare, she pushed her hips down, attempting to continue on her own, but Klaus's firm grip prevented her from moving any further.

She could feel the head of his cock kissing her sensitive opening.

"Klaus," she huffed in frustration.

He smirked up at her playfully. With that, his hands released her and the force of her bearing down caused him to slide back inside of her suddenly.

Both of them groaned at the feeling.

"Don't you dare stop," she warned him desperately as she rolled and rocked her hips and he met her every move.

When she felt his body slow against hers, she was ready to scold him, until he rolled them over, pinning her beneath him.

"I don't intend to," he informed her, pulling out of her at an agonizingly slow pace before filling her with one quick thrust.

He lifted her legs encouraging her to encircle them around his waist. Her legs held him tightly against her, the heels of her feet digging into the small of his back, encouraging him to go as deep as he could.

She arched her back upwards, eager to feel his chest pressed to hers, and she wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him down, determined to kiss him.

He acquiesced to her desire, lowering himself over top of her, propping himself up with his forearm beside her head.

His lips met hers before she could even lift herself up to meet him.

Their tongues swirled against one another's while their lower halves moved at a steadily.

She raked her fingernails up his back before settling them into his curls. He fondled her breasts teasingly.

The building pressure between her legs was becoming too much and she had to pry her lips away from his to smother her moans in his neck.

Klaus did the same, his lips sucking on her pulse point while she bit and sucked lightly on the curve of his neck.

Her body was shaking against him in anticipation as it began to crumble unstoppably towards her complete undoing.

Klaus's ragged breathing and shallow slow thrusts suggested he was close to his end as well, only holding on for her to finish first.

She tipped her head back against the pillow for air, clawing at his biceps.

He lifted his face from her neck, staring down at her fixedly.

"Ah! Klaus!" she cried, the friction between their bodies and his length stroking her in all the right places making her feel lightheaded.

Her eyes widened as the pleasure consumed her. Sparks ignited inside her womb, flooding her body with an addicting heat as her walls convulsed violently around him.

She clutched his face in her hands, kissing his lips tenderly, his languid movements drawing out her pleasure.

"Let go Klaus," she urged him. "I want you to come for me."

He tore his lips from hers, grunting roughly as he succumbed to his orgasm.

"Caroline!" he hissed through clenched teeth suppressing a moan by crashing his lips against hers.

He collapsed against her, breathing erratically against her chest.

She wrapped her arms around him, holding him close, revelling in the feeling of his body against hers and the sound of their shaky breaths as they recovered.

"That was..."

- "Incredible?" she finished for him with a sated smile on her face.

He laughed breathily, nodding in agreement before brushing her hair back and kissing her again.

"Indescribable," he suggested.

She nodded reciprocating his kiss.

He went to climb off of her, but she held him in place, enticing him to stay with another lingering kiss.

While she was certain he had full intention of keeping his promise to her, she didn't want this moment to end.

She didn't want to let him go; she wanted to stay like this with him forever.

---

A/N: So, did the moment live up to your expectations? I'm dying to know what you thought, so don't hesitate to drop me a review :D

Next time: Will Klaus keep his promise? – the morning after, unexpected phone calls, and unexpected visitors.

I just want to warn you all that it will probably be a while before I update. I wrote most of this chapter on my break. I am back at school now completing a shortened and condensed semester – which means lots of school work. My apologies, please bear with me.

Stay strong Klaroline fandom!