Steven drove around Fells Church desperately trying to find Caroline by searching the typical hot spots that the teens of the town frequented. After searching the school, the mall, the popular hangout spots in the woods, and finally calling her friends he made one last stop. Steven found Caroline at the Grill sitting at the counter with an untouched plate of fries in front of her. The boy behind the bar, Matt, the one that played football, was talking to her trying to cheer her up. She had been crying. The evidence on her face. Steven sat down next to her and Caroline didn't even look in his direction.
"I know what your thinking." Steven stated as he ordered himself a beer. "Your thinking that that if you just close yourself up, and then no one can hurt you anymore. That its easier not to allow people in because it's always the ones that we love the most that can cause us the most pain. What you need to understand is that no father wants to believe that their daughter is sexually active, and we walked in on was very suggestive to that fact being true." Caroline went to interject but was quickly cut off. "I'm not saying that you slept with him. I just want you to try and see things from your father perspective. He missed out on so much of your life, we both did, and he doesn't want to feel like that he losing you just when he got you back. No father wants to believe that they are replaceable. You might not realize it now but your father views Klaus as a threat."
"My father doesn't care enough about to have those thoughts. He's more then proven that today." Caroline had yet to fully look at Steven as fresh tears rolled down her face.
Steven sighed his mouth taking on a hard line as he put down his now finished bear. "No, your father was totally out of line, and I told him just that before I walked out the house and I will be laying into him some more once we get home." This caused Caroline to laugh. The idea that her father would be the one in trouble was comical. "He loves you Caroline. He was scared to death that you took off back to California and that we would never see you again."
"Caroline, are you alright?" Klaus asked from behind the pair startling them, and effectively ignoring Steven making it clear that he didn't trust Steven with Caroline anymore the he would trust Bill. He was Caroline's protector.
"You must be Klaus." Steven offered the young man a small smile. "I'm Steven Caroline's stepfather." He needed to get on Klaus' good side.
"I'm aware of who you are." Klaus responded resting his hand on the back of Caroline's chair as the two finally faced the older man. In the time that Klaus and Caroline spent looking into Izzy they grew very close telling each other everything. Klaus was well aware of the strained relationship between Caroline and her father.
"I'm not her to accuse or judge. I just want to hear your side of the story." Steven justified. And Caroline and Klaus explained everything that happened the previous night. Why Caroline had called Klaus and how the two innocently fell asleep. "I gotta say that I don't blame you Caroline. When I first moved here the woods use to freak me out too. They do get some getting use to." Steven grew up every bit the city kid, and moving down south was a shock for him.
"I would have never done anything when Anna was in the house, You have to that she was my top priority." Caroline rushed to get out.
"I know. I trust you totally Caroline." Steven reached over to give Caroline's hand a squeeze. "So what do you say that we head home?" Steven really wanted to set things right between Bill and Caroline.
"I wanna stay here a little longer." Caroline shook her head emphatically.
"I can drive Caroline home when she's ready." Klaus spoke up.
"I would really like it if you came home with me Caroline." Steven insisted. "I'll tell you what I'll play you for it." Steven glanced over at the pool table. "What do you say Caroline do you know how to play pool?"
Caroline smiled she was fantastic at pool. "Sure as long as I get to break."
Twenty minutes later Caroline and Klaus sat dumb founded as Steven sank the eight ball in the left corner pocket after calling the shot of course. He had hustled them. Who knew Steven was a pool Shark? "So are we ready to leave?" Steven couldn't help the smirk that came across his face. Teenagers narsactic enough to believe that they are invincible.
"Ummm, sure. Just let me go get my coat." Caroline slowly came out of her stupor and moved to collect her things.
"Here let me walk you out." Steven did not miss the way that Klaus' hand possasivly found its way to Caroline's lower back as the trio made their way to Steven's car. Nor did he miss the words of encouragement that Klaus whispered in her ear. If Bill wanted forgiveness he was going to have to make nice with the boy and Steven knew just how to do it.
"So Klaus. I hope that you'll be able to join us for dinner tomorrow?" Steven as as he finished buckling himself in. As it were Klaus was leaning, slightly, through Caroline's open window.
"Sorry?" Klaus wasn't sure what he was hearing. He honestly thought the last place that he would be welcomed would be the Forbes' household.
"Well you see I like to cook big meals on Sunday, and I was hoping that you would be free to join us?" Steven repeated his invitation with a smile. Okay so maybe he was being a little selfish when he invited Klaus to dinner; what a perfect way to get back at his hot tempered spouse? The evening was going to be entertaining. Of course he really did want to get to know Klaus better. there was no doubt in his mind that Bill's little tantrum would only serve to strengthen the attraction the two clearly felt for each other. If Bill accomplished anything it was to gaurentee that the two of them continued to see each other. So dinner would be a great way to get to know the young man that was certainly going to be in Caroline's life.
Klaus quickly looked at Caroline and the hopeful look in her eyes. "Sure. What time?" Klaus sighed. This was going to suck, but he would do it for Caroline.
"We eat around seven so I was thinking that you should be at the house around five thirtyish? It would give us time to sit and properly talk." And with that Steven and Caroline drove off leaving a still shocked Klaus in their wake.
When Steven and Caroline got home she headed right for her room without saying one word to her father. Bill really didn't mind. Caroline was home safe and sound, and not on some plan back to California. He would make it up to her of course; in a day or two when she had time to cool down. She was his daughter after all so maybe more like three.
Later that night when Bill and Steven were preparing for bed Bill brought up Caroline.
"How bad is it?" Bill ask his partner as he stood over the faucet brushing his teeth.
"You know all that progress you made with her? Well lets just say that's all gone and then some. So you better knock it off, and shape up. You can't be hard with Caroline. She's very sensitive, and wether or not you realize it but your words hurt her more then anything." Steven was busy picking out clothes for the next day.
"I'll find away to make it up to her." Bill said more to himself.
"Oh I know you will. And you are going to start by having a lovely and peaceful dinner with Klaus tomorrow night." Steven turned down his side oh his bed climbing in.
Bill nearly chocked on his tooth brush. "What? Are you out of your mind? That boy is not allowed in this house." Bill looked on at his partner in fury. Damnit Steven was suppose to be on his side.
"Oh yes he is, and you will be charming because if you are not I can rethink my position of you sleeping on the couch." With that Steven turned off the light preparing for a honest to goodness night sleep.