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NikMik - You'll learn in one of the upcoming chapters about what happened, but not the extent of it. I plan to reveal that in spurts. As for Caroline's tragedies, that/those will also come to light in time.

IWantColoredRain - How did you know that "Will" is my current favorite TV show? ;)

So glad that everyone is enjoying this! I'm aware it seems abrupt at times, but I'll remind you this originally started as a series of drabbles and was never intended to go to fic-length. The pacing will even itself out with the next few chapters, I promise. In the meantime, thank you all for being your sweet and supportive selves. Keep hitting those follows/favorites and leaving reviews if you feel compelled. It really helps.


PART 3

Parent/Teacher Conferences - 6:56 p.m.

Mr. and Mrs. Salvatore, check.
Mr. Donovan, check.
Ms. Bennett and Mr. Parker, check check.
Mr. Lockwood, put off for as long as possible.
Mr. Mikaelson…

Three days into Parent/Teacher conferences and Caroline found herself facing a major migraine. For the most part, the parents had been bearable. There were the silent ones who were there out of obligation, and the ones who were indifferent. There were the elitist socialites that wondered why their child hadn't progressed as far as their blog trends had suggested despite her repetitive response that they were five-year-olds. Mr. Parker just seemed keen on annoying his wife by asking Caroline meaningless questions about classroom conduct. But it was Mr. and Mrs. Salvatore that had given her the migraine. Apparently the former hadn't given up his conquest. Yuck.

There was one meeting left for the day and she was pretty optimistic that it would be a short one. Henrik was a bright child and that's all there was to it. Finn wasn't much of a talker anyway, from what little she knew of him. Some days, you really did get the luxury of saving the best for last.

In truth, she would have preferred talking to someone who might actually engage in conversation about Henrik. For the past two weeks, Elijah and Rebekah took turns picking him up, which meant on time and very little conversation. If at all. Elijah never said more than two words to her and Rebekah offered little more than a smile since their last conversation. She wondered if Klaus had said something that caused the girl to become closed off. Did he scold her for telling Caroline the truth, instilling a fear of talking to her, like, ever? Then again, what did a 25 year old teacher and a 17 year old high school student really have in common anyway?

Did she miss seeing Klaus? Not really. Not after the way he treated her the last time they spoke. What she really missed was spending the extra time with Henrik. She lamented never getting to keep her promise and finish Where the Wild Things Are with the little boy. He was never as out of his shell in class as he was when they spent the afternoons reading together and her heart yearned to hear just one little giggle out of him. She wondered if he would have coaxed his brothers into continuing the lessons she'd started with him, but secretly hoped they didn't. It made her feel special that a student actually wanted to learn, even more that he wanted to learn from her.

She glanced at the clock distractedly, wondering what was keeping Finn. Their appointment was scheduled for 6:45 and it was on the cusp of the seventh hour. As her foot tapped impatiently, all she could think about were the two cups of coffee she'd inhaled between meetings. If she stepped away, just for a minute, would Finn be offended by her absence? Or what if he just up and left, assuming she was gone, and she'd have to schedule it all over again? It was hard enough the first time getting him on the phone.

At 6:59 she decided to let her bladder win the battle of chance and excused herself across the hall to the restroom. If Finn was late, it was his fault he'd miss her. Or, at least, have to wait.

Minutes later, Caroline returned, revitalized and relieved. She walked briskly back into her classroom, ready to take on the stolid Mikaelson patriarch.

And there he was.

Why, after everything, would he even choose to come back? And yet there Klaus stood, hands clasped behind his back, pondering the artwork on Miss Caroline's Kindergarten Dream Clouds. For a second, she stood frozen to her spot, debating whether he'd seen her and if she had time to bolt. Instead, she talked herself off the ledge and treaded with extra caution.

"Hi," she greeted timidly.

He turned, stunned to see her there. "Hello."

It was more instinctual than anything, but it wasn't cold. He redirected his attention back to the wall and she laced her fingers in front of her, taking baby steps in his direction.

The dream wall was an idea she'd fashioned one evening while daydreaming herself. Each student's picture was posted on the wall, taken on the first day of class, and above them sat their personalized thought bubbles. They spent a week's worth of activity time working on them.

"I see you've found our Dream Clouds." She gestured when she approached. He blinked slowly, smirking as his eyes slid towards her making her feel like even more an idiot for trying. "Henrik's is just up there." She pointed.

"I noticed. His artwork is very distinct in our family."

"Oh?"

"He creates without a need for validation. Pure and candid imagination, as it should be."

"I'm guessing he has a good tutor." He smiled to himself. Yep, there were the dimples. Score one for Caroline. She looked over the cumuli thoughtfully. "They're supposed to represent each one's hopes and dreams. Things they want. What they want to be when they grow up."

"I didn't notice one of yours up there."

"I'm the teacher. And I'm already grown up."

"That doesn't mean you don't have any hopes or dreams of your own."

His look was so sincere that she nearly had to catch her breath. In an effort to detach, she turned away and meandered towards the student tables. She stopped only when she reached the one Henrik usually inhabited, and dared to look his way again.

"So. What would you like to know about your brother's progress?"

"Is that what these things are supposed to be about?"

"Well, yeah. It's to update you on his academic standing," she explained, furthering herself away next to the giant globe that stood by their map of America. "How he's adapted to the new school and his classmates."

"Has he?"

She had the full weight of his gaze now, a head on collision with that perfect visage. In so many ways she wanted to hate him but when he looked at her like that, hopeful and vulnerable to the fear of judgement, she felt something very different.

"He's getting there." She pressed her index finger into Asia and swiveled the sphere to the left in a slow turn. "He seems pretty comfortable with school and with his work. I'm just worried he isn't connecting with anyone."

"He connects with you." She turned her head and he lifted his chin as they locked eyes. He began to move in her direction, slow and tentative in his steps, looking back at the décor as he neared. "I think he likes you."

Her eyes narrowed and the corners of her lips upturned. "Yeah?"

"You challenge him," he continued. "Open him up to things he didn't think himself capable of."

She put her hands on her hips, tilting her head coolly with a little sigh. "Just doing my job." His eyes flicked back to hers and she let out a nervous laugh, letting her arms drop in a shrug. "So are you going to tell me why you're here and Finn's not?"

"He's attending to a more important matter." He glanced at her apologetically. "Not exactly a fair exchange for you."

"Actually, I'm glad it's you." Her eyes widened at her own audacity and she fumbled for a cover. "At least you'll be better conversation."

His brows twitched in surprise and just when his lips began to curve, she dodged the swarm of butterflies with a quick deviation to her desk. She grabbed the folder of Henrik's work and brought it to one of the tables, gesturing for Klaus to join her as she began to thumb through it.

"These are some of the things we've been working on," she told him as he sat beside her. "We've been practicing writing numbers and letters, learning how to write our names," she continued, showing him each completed worksheet, respectively. "Henrik's penmanship is very advanced."

Klaus swallowed, taking each paper carefully and glossing them over with pride. "Fine lines. No breaks. He has utter confidence when he wants to."

"I think it's a matter of what interests him." She laid her arms on the table, overlapping them. "When he's reading with me, he's the most vibrant kid I've ever seen. He's eager and excited and…so in the moment. Totally opposite of how he is in class, you know?"

He hummed. "You must care for him a great deal."

"I do." She nodded, then, remembering where she was, she sat back pushing against the edge of the table. "I care for all of my students."

"Do you?"

"Yes. Besides, I'm not allowed to play favorites."

"Allowances don't always keep you from doing the things you're not supposed to, do they?"

"No." Her eyes swept over him in a skeptical once over. "They certainly don't."

A short silence befell them. The butterflies she'd been trying to evade found their way into her belly and she let them roam free, trying to remember the last time someone made her so nervous. She wasn't scared, no not Caroline Forbes. If she wanted him, she could definitely have him. But…did he want her? It seemed likely at the start, but now? Now they were in the middle of a long pause and frankly, it was enough.

"Well, if you don't have any questions I guess we can conclude – "

"He misses reading with you," he confessed.

She paused and let out a short laugh. "Well that's your fault for giving up your pick-up duties."

His brows raised in surprise and then he dropped his head with a little chuckle. "It isn't the first time my actions have had consequences for others."

"I believe that."

His smile was mild and faded quick with a swallow of nerves. "About that day…"

"You really don't have to."

"Please let me." He turned to face her fully now and she suddenly became aware of her heartbeat. "I shouldn't have reacted the way I did."

"It's totally fine. It's not like I was exactly kind either."

"I want you to know it had nothing to do with you, Caroline. There are things…" He licked his lips and started again. "You were not the cause of my anger, though you were subjected to the brunt of it. And I'm sorry that you were."

She nodded, pressing her lips together in a smile of gratitude. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Hopefully going forward we can overlook this little misunderstanding."

"I'll only overlook it if you promise to start picking Henrik up again. I cannot take the silent nods from Elijah anymore. I mean, seriously, does he not know how to hold a conversation?"

He beamed laughingly, dimples and all. "You have my word."

"Good." She stood. "Then I'll see you tomorrow?"

He stood and nodded and they went their separate ways. Klaus stopped in the doorway and looked back with a frown.

"Two fifty, was it?"

Caroline laughed. "Yeah, right."


Tomorrow quickly turned into the next day, and then the next week. Soon enough they were seeing each other on a daily basis and Henrik was fast tracked from learning two letter words to three.

They had found their level ground and bickering became banter, and banter became flirtation. He never tried to ask her out again, and she didn't make any implications. She worried what would happen if they took their little trysts outside of their after school rendezvous comfort zone. Not that it didn't make her any less hopeful. She was letting the ball stay in his court. After what Rebekah had told her, she didn't want to push too hard or influence him in any way. If he was interested, he'd make the move. And she would let him.

Today Klaus was particularly earlier than usual. At first she thought they might have to run off for their mysterious "important business" again, but it turned out he was just making strides to spend time with her. Not that he'd admitted to anything. She just had a way of knowing these things.

She'd been careless with activity time this afternoon, starting later than she meant to after a minor meltdown with Bryce Donovan. By the time the bell rang, crayons and construction paper were flying. She didn't have time to worry about it until after all of the kids were picked up. When she and Henrik returned to the classroom, she set him up with the reading worksheets she'd gotten offline and got to work cleaning up. Klaus arrived shortly after to laugh at the disarray.

"We were doing arts and crafts," she explained, holding up the Elmer's glue bottle. "Silly me, I gave them glitter."

"Do you need some help?"

She smiled. "Actually, that'd be great."

He sauntered over until they were inches apart, smiling smugly as he wrapped his hand around the bottle of glue, and her hand. "Allow me."

Caroline's eyes darted back and forth between his eyes and his lips, but he took the bottle and retreated to the shelf of supply baskets. She inhaled slowly, letting it out in sharp disappointment. They'd been playing this little game for over a week. The touch barrier had broken and their proximity seemed to decrease with each visit, but he still managed to keep his distance.

"Puh-at. Pat."

Caroline snapped out of her head and smiled at her student. "That's good Henrik."

"C-Cat."

Klaus looked too from across the table she'd started to clean. "He's coming along quickly."

"Yeah. He's a smart kid."

"With a dedicated teacher."

"And brother," she pointed out. "If it wasn't for you always running late we wouldn't even be here right now."

"Mmmm-at."

"I can come earlier, if you like." He reached over her arm for a stray marker, gently brushing the inside of her elbow. "I could help you give him reading lessons."

She glanced down at their somewhat compromising position, then back at him. Her cheeks betrayed her in a light flush but her expression was sly. "Sounds to me like someone is jealous of Henrik and I spending time together."

"Ssssssat."

He hesitated, lips parting as his eyes dropped briefly to her mouth. She barely glimpsed it before his eyes were on hers again, long lashes taunting.

"What if I am?"

She blinked too many times then shook her head with a scoffing laugh. "You're the one that gets to take him home every day." She gathered the last few crayons and went to bring them to the baskets, leaving him perplexed.

"Ih-nuh. In."

While she began to organize the crayons, she barely noticed Klaus coming up behind her. His arm reached around and she could feel his body close to hers. Her stomach flipped with nerves and then excitement. His hand opened up and in his palm lay two red sticks of colored wax.

"You missed these."

She shivered from his breath against her neck and reached for the crayons. His fingers closed around hers and she began to turn over her shoulder.

"Pat…huh-ah-ss…has a cat."

Caroline's eyes widened. "Oh my god." She dropped his hand and turned the opposite way. "Henrik. Did you just read that?"

He looked up his face glowing with fierce redness as he nodded feebly. She walked over and crouched down beside him.

"Can you read it again, to me?"

He looked down at the page, using his finger as a guide. "Pat…has…a cat. A fat cat."

She laughed in amazement and pulled him in a hug without thinking. "I'm so proud of you!"

He grimaced at her hold but blinked when he saw Klaus past the crook of her arm, and smiled. "I did it, Nik!"

Klaus smiled gently. "I heard."

He shimmied himself away from her and was up on his knees eagerly. "Does this mean we can finish the story now?"

Caroline laughed. "Yes. Go get it from the shelf."

He jumped off his chair and dashed toward the bookshelves, crawling along the carpet to look for it. Without thinking, Caroline got up and went to Klaus, grabbing his arms excitedly.

"Did you hear that?!" She nearly bounced on her toes in elation. "He's five! And he's reading sentences!"

His eyes widened slightly and he had to focus on keeping his balance, lips parting as he stuttered a breath. He swallowed and nodded once, smiling back at her. "I've always known he'd be the smartest of us."

"Especially if he has you to compete against," she teased, playfully poking his chest.

He looked down at her finger and slowly raised his eyes to hers. She felt her stomach doing somersaults again.

"Let the wild rumpus start?"

It completely broke their trance and they simultaneously looked down to see Henrik holding his favorite book up. They erupted into laughter, ignoring Henrik's displeased frown.

"What? What's so funny?"

Caroline just shook her head as Klaus answered him a soft "nothing" which did not sate the boy's curiosity, but, luckily, she knew what would.

"Come on, Henrik." She guided him back to his table. "Maybe this time you can read it to me."

"No, I don't think I know the words good enough yet."

As they settled into the tiny chairs to start the story, Klaus watched the pair with apprehension. Something in his chest was rising up and he felt the ripples of tension rolling through him. He took a step forward then stopped himself, trying to mask what he was feeling with as much calm as he could muster. He didn't want to scare her.

"Actually, I should get Henrik home. Nearly dinner time as it is."

They both turned with matching frowns, but it was Henrik who cried out, "No!"

"We've stayed long enough for today, Henrik."

"But I wanna finish the story!"

"And you will. Tomorrow."

Henrik turned around in his seat and crossed his arms with a huff, determined to ignore him. "No."

Seeing the flames growing in Klaus' eyes, Caroline turned to Henrik, stroking his hair back a little. "Hey. I know I promised to read this to you, but it is kind of late. Isn't your tummy rumbling?" He frowned harder, turning his head away. "If you want, you can take the book home and practice and then we can read it together tomorrow. How does that sound?"

"We have the book at home already."

"Even better. Then you can read it tonight, and I'll read it tomorrow. Okay?" He pouted but nodded slowly in defeat. "Good. Go pack up. Go on."

He climbed down from his seat, shoulders slumped as he trudged to the coat closet. Caroline looked back at Klaus and his shoulders eased with relief. She tucked a loose curl behind her ear, and her disappointment behind a smile.

"Thanks for staying to help out."

"It was my pleasure."

He went over and held a hand out to her aid. She graciously accepted and he pulled her to her feet. She stumbled a step and the distance between them was now inches. As she slowly raised her gaze she saw his Adam's apple jump, felt his pulse quicken against her palm.

"Caroline, I…"

"Yes?"

Her eyes darted back and forth between his gaze and his lips, anticipating the inevitable. His eyes dropped too and she felt the draw between them pulling them to closer proximity. Her body was thrumming and warm, breath bated as she caught hints of his musky cologne with every inch she neared. She watched his lips part and his tongue glide between giving them an inviting shine. Finally she lifted her gaze back to his, lusty and hopeful and wanton with need. His breath shook and just as she started to lean in he turned.

"I'll see you tomorrow," his voice drifted as he walked away and took Henrik along with him. He stopped at the door and glanced back one last time. And then he was gone.

Caroline stood rooted to her spot, stomach clenching with nausea as her tingles turned to ice and paralyzed her with dejection. What the hell?


The next afternoon she couldn't wait to see him, to ask what had happened and why he ran. She was so sure he had felt the electricity, that he wanted – no – needed to kiss her as much as she did.

As she waited on the platform for her students to be picked up, she noticed she was being watched. A young, dark-haired man was standing beyond the crowd, towering over the other parents. He stood, hands stuffed in his pockets, eyes narrowed with a skeptical peer. He tilted his head to look past her and must have found what he was looking for because he began to weave through the crowd towards her. She had a weird, off feeling about him. He was handsome, familiarly so, but something about him said danger. As he drew nearer, his dark eyes became brown and his sneer became soft.

"I figure I may as well introduce myself," he spoke and it took her a second to realize he was addressing her. "My name is Kol."

She looked down at the hand thrusted at her and when she looked up again his brows were drawn together and his smile dripped with amusement.

"Mikaelson," he added with a tiny nod.

"Oh!" She blushed and nodded, smiling her teacher smile and taking his hand lightly to shake it. "You're Henrik's brother."

"One of many," he confirmed, holding her hand a little longer than preferable. "Making you the lovely Caroline I keep hearing about." Her blush deepened and she looked down to hide her delight in hearing Klaus may have been just as smitten. "Henrik sings your praises almost every night at dinner."

Her heart gave a little drop and she blinked away her disorientation, taking her hand back. "That's sweet." She tucked a curl behind her ear. "I thought today was…I wasn't expecting you to be picking him up today."

His smile broadened and it made her stomach turn from embarrassment. Was she so transparent?

"I'm only sorry I hadn't done so sooner. But now that I have the proper incentive…" His eyes traveled the length of her, making her want to crawl out of her own skin. "You might just be seeing more of me."

Her eyes narrowed in disgust but she smiled to be polite. It wasn't so much his forwardness that bothered her. That she was used to. It was just that he seemed so…young.

"So where is the little hellion, then?"

"Inside."

"You left him alone?"

"Of course not. One of the other teachers is keeping an eye on him." She nodded as her last student was retrieved then turned to gesture him to follow her. "Like I said, we weren't expecting you."

She led him into the school and down the hall to her classroom, the hairs on the back of her neck prickling her skin all the while. After dismissing her colleague, she walked over to Henrik and crouched down.

"Hey. Looks like we aren't going to get to read today. I'm sorry."

Henrik's face screwed up in confusion and he looked to see Kol walking toward him. "Where's Nik?"

"Settling a debt." He crouched down, smiling. "What do you say to some ice cream, bud?"

"Bekah says you don't have any money."

"You think I need money to get ice cream?" He shook his head with a laugh. "I have so much to teach you. Go on, get your things. Ice cream's waiting."

Caroline rolled her eyes as Henrik obliged and she began to collect the books from his desk, all too aware of Kol blatantly checking out her ass. She straightened quickly, setting her shoulders as she held the stack against her chest.

"It was nice to meet you, Kol."

As she turned to make her getaway, a hand grabbed the crook of her elbow, holding her back. "Don't be like that, darling."

She glanced down at his hand on her arm and then back at his face. "Like what, a teacher?" She pulled her arm away, turning so there was enough space between them that he couldn't reach. "Because that's what I am. Henrik's teacher. And I would prefer if we kept our acquaintance professional."

He smiled like she was making a joke. "My apologies. I wasn't trying to offend you. It's just that I like pretty, older women. Though it tends to get me into a bit of trouble."

"I can see why."

"You are more than I bargained for," he noted, wagging his finger at her. "What would you say to joining me for dinner tomorrow evening?"

"I don't think that's appropriate."

"Nonsense. It would be at our home and you can't say no to that since there'll be others around. I'm sure Henrik would love it, wouldn't you, buddy?"

Henrik glanced to his side, thinking about it before he smiled. "Yeah."

"There, see that? Now you have to come or you'll break little Henrik's heart." She couldn't help but laugh. Charm must have been a family trait. "I promise no funny business."

"For your sake, I hope not. My mother happens to be a former sheriff."

"You've got me all wrong, darling. I wouldn't proposition you unless I were of age. I'm just shy of nineteen, give or take a few months."

"And, what, that's supposed to make me cave to your boyish charms? Emphasis on boy."

He grinned and she couldn't help thinking how adorably like Henrik he looked when he smiled. "Come to dinner and I'll show you the man I really am."

It was the cheesiest line ever. But it was also an opening to seeing Klaus again...