*peeps head out of the window* SURPRISE!

I can't believe it's been two years since I've written one of these and trust, I have missed it but the inspiration was struggling. I tried to have this finished by my birthday which was yesterday but the festivities blocked that goal. I also decided to upload this at 1 AM, and tipsy, so it coud finally be out in the universe and out of the forefornt of my mind so if there are any spelling/grammar errors don't judge me!

This is based on heretic!Lizzie *screams* and klaroline's handle of it.

This is a continuation of the merge sl I've created because a lot of you seemed to have enjoyed the previous chapters, and it provides such quality angst! Speaking of which, there will be quite a bit of klaroline angst here...like a lot but with a happy ending! I stopped watching legacies so I don't really know how they are handling heretic!Lizzie but given their previous material I'm sure it is lackluster (sorry not sorry) so don't base my own presepective on canon.

I'm also still working on the "Black Roses" epilogue so if you haven't caught up on tht story, make sure you do before I take it down as it enters the book process.

Happy reading! :)

"How is she?" Klaus muttered as he poured two glasses of scotch.

"She's asleep, finally." Caroline replied as she made her way down the stairs, sighing when accepting the drink. "After being hyper-fixated on every moving particle and accidentally running into doors with her vamp speed, you'd think that would've exhausted her before night time."

"She's eager. All baby vampires are."

"I know." Caroline said with the glass rim pressed against her lips, pinching her eyes shut as the bitter drink fell down her throat. "God, this is crazy, isn't it? One day she's asking about prom dresses then the next she's asking for O negative blood."

Klaus winced at her attempt of trying to shine light on a not-so light-hearted situation, leaning against the kitchen counter with his arms crossed.

"No, it's not crazy. It's life as a vampire. Which Lizzie now is." Klaus said matter-of-factly.

The glass rim barely touched her lips, taking note of his rude and cold tone.

"I know that too, Klaus."

He shrugged in response before turning to pour himself another drink. His body physically flinched when Caroline's arms were suddenly wrapped around his torso from behind. Her drink forgotten on the countertop. Lips hovering the nape of his neck, leaving a kiss there.

"Guess what? I was able to convince my dealer at the hospital to donate a fresh batch of blood bags."

Klaus cleared his throat, choking out the words, "Given that said dealer is an old flame of Alaric Saltzman's I hardly see the chore. Besides, don't you have enough for yourself?"

"They're not for me silly, they're for Lizzie. We can heat one up for her before she wakes up. I even bought her own special mug." Caroline giggled with another kiss that Klaus was unresponsive to.

She was holding onto him for dear life while his arms didn't even twitch to embrace her.

"Hm, well if you would have discussed this with me first you would've known I already got enough blood for her to last a week. And it isn't the cheap hospital stuff either." He coldly dismissed while detangling her body from his as he walked to the other side.

Eyes burning with potential tears, her lips parted—confused and hurt—Caroline stood there covering her body with her arms while watching Klaus gulp down another drink.

They were never dismissive towards each other, ever.

Never cold.

After such an extensive and trying period of working on their communication during the early days of their relationship, they were no longer distant towards each other either. Even the rough patches were cured within the same day.

The past couple of weeks have been their most challenging and negated all their progress. Caroline never felt more far away from him. The comfort that once united them was fleeting.

Physically, Klaus was there but mentally and emotionally he may as well been in New Orleans..

Straightening her posture, Caroline cautiously made her way over to him. Her apprehensive lip trapped between her lips the closer she came to her hybrid, who seemed to be ignoring her approach as he casually poured another full glass.

"Are you mad at me?" She asked, now sandwiching him between the counter to force him to look at her.

He finally did, but she wish he hadn't.

His facial expression was blank but his eyes told another story. Those lively and promising blue eyes that intrigued her over a decade ago were now glossed over with anger and grief.

He lifted his hands nonchalantly. "Why would I be mad at you?"

Her glare deepened. "Don't do that. Don't make it seem like I'm crazy. The past couple of weeks you've been tiptoeing around me like you're afraid to say something. The rare times we do talk it's short sentences or one word. When we're in bed you usually invade my space, which I would pretend to hate until you wrapped your arms around my waist like there's nothing else in the world you could want." Her bottom lip slightly trembled. "Protecting and holding me all night. But lately you sleep on your side, as far away from me as possible and then gone by the time I wake up. You—you barely even touch me anymore…"

Briefly, his face softened at the clear hurt in her tone as she hugged her body tighter.

She licked her lips anxiously, swallowing. "I know you love me but, even right now…you just—you just don't seem to like me anymore."

-Fuckin' hell. How could she…I don't like her? I don't want to touch her when there's nothing I crave more? Nothing I feel more strongly! How could she think otherwise?!

-Oh, right…

"Caroline…" Klaus sighed.

"This isn't me reading too much into it either." She wiped away the single falling teardrop. "Something is going on with you, Klaus and I feel so helpless because I have no idea what it is and you won't talk to me. You won't tell me anything you're actually thinking and it's scaring me, okay I'm scared because the man I love is going through something but won't let me help. You've been distant to everyone but especially me." She grabbed his glass to place it behind him, reaching out for his hands. "Look, babe I get this has been extremely difficult transition for all of us. Everything is so fresh and delicate and that's not changing anytime soon but we need to be there for each other. We need each other more than ever right now. I love you so much but you need to talk to me—"

"I don't want to talk, Caroline." His voice low and dark, squeezing her hands once before releasing them against her sides.

"We need to, Klaus. This isn't up for discussion-"

"There is nothing else to bloody talk about!" He yelled. "Everything is quite simple. Lizzie is dead! She's a a vampire now and there is absolutely nothing either of us can do about it. Is that enough talking for you, did that cure your incessant need to try and fix everything? An extremely irritating trait Lizzie inherrited from you, hence our current dilemna."

Behind his nostril flare and clenched jaw, he was trying his best to mask how sick he felt for speaking to Caroline—his Caroline—with such disrespect. He never thought he was capable.

The anger and sadness coloring her face the prettiest shade of pink made his stomach drop.

Over a thousand years of witnessing and causing bloodshed, mayhem and trauma, none of it could have ever prepared Klaus for the image that has haunted his recent nightmares.

Nothing could have prepared him to walk into Lizzie's bedroom a week ago and finding her sprawled out on the floor.

No pulse. Her body cold and limp. A tube of Klaus's blood—empty—hanging outside of her loose grip, drawing attention to her severely slit wrists. The color no longer preset in her natrually colored cheeks.

Klaus' screams of terror pierced the world as he rushed to her side, cradling and shaking her lifeless form in his trembling arms.

Lizzie was dead. His Lizzie. Their little girl was gone.

Nothing made sense. The world was off its axis and all Klaus saw was red.

Yelling her name over and over but receiving no response, not feelign the slightest sense of comfort even when a distraught Caroline rushed to his side.

His tears violently fell against Lizzie's bluish grey skin as her name continued to belt out of him. Too distraught to notice Caroline's own screams behind him, or the faint twitch of Lizzie's finger before her eyes reopened and she let out an aggressive gasp of revival.

He frustratingly tugged at the roots of his hair dark blonde curls, pacing in a small circle of the kitchen to attempt at calming his raving thoughts.

Failed attempt.

"Now you want to talk…fuckin hell." He mumbled, tugging at his hair. "The time for talking to me was 12 years ago, Caroline. We could've avoided all of this."

Her eyebrows furrowed. "Klaus—"

"Damnit, why didn't you just tell me about the merge?! Why? We could've avoided all of this if you had just told me!"

Caroline scoffed, offended and hurt. "Excuse me?!"

"If you would've been honest with me about the twin's birthright from the beginning Lizzie wouldn't have felt desperate enough to resort to these ludicrous measures. Even when me and you weren't an item yet, I was here Caroline! I've always been here, for you and for them. Not just as a father substitute or something for you to flirt with, I was here!" He pointed to her heart. "We could have had her entire life to figure it out, not just a few bloody months."

"First of all, don't ever downgrade your importance to us like that again. That's never been the case and you know it. Second of all, I can't believe you're bringing this up again to use against me, not to mention Alaric kept everyone in the dark just as much as me, if not longer. Me and him were in a mutual agreement about how to handle the situation yet I'm the only one getting shit for it. How's that fair?"

"Because I don't give a damn about Alaric Saltzman! I care about you Caroline!" He blurted in her face. "I love you! You're my partner in life, not him! You shouldn't be making promises to him anyways, it should've been to me…to us! In my book me, you and the girls are our own family. We are what matters to me. Our relationship is what matters, and I expected us to be honest with each other. Trust each other."

"We—we do." She said shakily.

"Obviously not." He shook his head. "You didn't trust me. You purposely kept this from me."

Caroline's fists balled up as her own frustration brewed.

"I already explained myself. You think I wanted this, or saw it coming? Our girls becoming vampires is the last thing I desired for any them. It's the last thing I desired for myself! You know that, so how dare you try to shift blame in this situation."

"You're not the victim here, Caroline."

"Neither are you!" She fought back. "You're not the sainthood parent here either so don't delude yourself into thinking this somehow makes you better than me. I can't believe we're even having this discussion as if it's anyone's fault. Why are you so convinced if you knew ahead of time it would've made a difference anyways? Why are you making it seem like I wanted this to happen! She's my daughter too Klaus. I was just as distraught and am just as confused and angry as you are. I apologized several times and have been trying but you're not reciprocating. You said you forgave me but you obviously didn't."

"You're right, maybe I didn't but I would have at least entertained it before your fuckin' incompetence forced our daughter to sign her own death certificate!" He declared.

Caroline pressed her trembling lips together, resisting the urge to fire back oasis the vicious taunts landed. Klaus always reiterated how she's the only one capable of hurting him while failing to understand it worked both ways.

He did love her, which made it easier for him to know which buttons to push. Even if part of her could excuse this—chalk it up to his distress or helplessness—she didn't want to. His words aimed to kill any last hope she had in them and the situation. He needed someone to blame, Caroline understood, but she wasn't going to allow him to keep using her as the punching bag.

Grabbing her bag off the coat rack, she threaded her fingers through her blonde tresses when facing him again with a tearful glare.

"Okay um, before either of us says anything else we regret, I'm going to take a very long walk before Lizzie wakes up. I want you gone by the time I come back." She said before slamming the door behind her.

Through burning watery eyes, Klaus watched as the love of his life walked out on him and there was no one else he could blame.

First instinct was to throw the glass cup against the door. Allow the liquored aroma to marinate the already chaotic scenario, but he managed to remember the girls were sleeping upstairs.

All the years of convincing himself that Caroline would find a reason to leave him were paying off. She finally told him to leave and after everything thar was said tonight, he couldn't imagine her welcoming him back anytime soon.

-Lost one daughter, and the one woman who loved your dumbass unconditionally. You're on a roll, mate!

He didn't feel the small pieces of glass lodged into his palm, until the smell of his own blood alerted him to the self inflicted wound and shattered pieces on the wooden floor.

Sniffling, he disregarded the wound for a couple of minutes as he retrieved his cellphone from his backside pocket.

Quickly dialing, he blinked the tears away as the other line began to ring.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

His foot impatiently tapping on the wooden floor. Blood dripping beside his feet.

Given that it was nearly 11:00 PM, Klaus wasn't expecting an answer band part of him regretted the whole ordeal. Fueled by grief led him to calling the last person he wanted in his personal business, but the only one capable of keeping him from getting lost on the path of no return.

Despite his refusal, Klaus did need help. But Caroline couldn't be that person for him, not right now.

He gasped when the line picked up, already dreading it based off the nagging introduction.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, nodding his head. "Yes, I know what time it is. It's not even that late and—yes—Just—just stop bloody talking! All I want to hear coming out of your mouth right now is…" he sighed, "how fast can you get to Mystic Falls?"

11:30 PM.

The now empty glass twirled between his fingers as the night breeze washed through his short dark blonde curls. The bourbon bottle sitting right side up beside him.

Klaus's melancholy gaze stared down the object in his hand as he sat on the abandoned bench outside of the Mystic Grill—the same bench he shared with his love 15 years prior and instantly knew he needed her in his life forever.

Mystic Falls was an extremely small town. Thankfully none of the locals side-eyed him or acknowledged his presence at all because his thin patience would've resulted in a blood bath; as if he didn't have enough on his mind.

Part of him hoped Caroline would stumble upon the area during her random walk and see him sitting alone. Make a quip of going down memory lane, let bygones be bygones and go back home—while also ditching his literal impulsive cry for help without another word.

"Fuckin' hell."

It had been 30 minutes since the phone call and he was starting to grow cold feet.

Klaus prided himself on being a prideful person. He didn't like relying on others for his well-being. Never asked for help—even when he should have, destined to learn every lesson the hard way. Needing assistance proved that he couldn't handle himself, resolve his own affairs—a weakness. He was still stunned with himself that he reached out about this particular situation—the most challenging of his entire existence. But this wasn't just anything; this was for Caroline and their family.

Just when the thought crossed his mind to leave, he sighed into a subtle smile where the familiar presence appeared behind him.

"Better late than never, I suppose." He commented but still not facing her.

"I cannot believe you dragged me out of bed to come to this disgusting town again."

Klaus shook his head, chuckling. "Nice to see you too little sister."

Rebekah tilted her head, flashing a phony smile. "Oh piss off. The time for civility ended when you disturbed my much needed self-care night."

"Don't be dramatic. New York is only a few hours away and, last I checked you don't exactly need sleep."

"Bottom line is, my time is my time." She retorted sternly. "The fact that you even have the audacity to not be sympathetic is more proof that I should have just let your depressed arse suffer at the bottom of the bottle."

Klaus threw his head back laughing. "Glad you haven't changed a bit. Been dealing with enough of that to last a century."

Rebekah's lips formed a warm grin as she took a seat beside him on the bench. "Mhm, enough small talk. So are you going to tell me what has you calling me and drinking bottle of whiskey at this time of the night?"

His smile quickly fell and was replaced by a deep frown. The glass still aimlessly twirling between his fingers.

"Lizzie's a vampire. My daughter is a vampire." He muttered.

The fellow Original's face softened. "Nik—"

"She...she harmed herself to fix the situation and is now a vampire, and there is nothing I can do about it. This isn't something I can control, 'Bekah. Not only have I lost her but I—I'm pretty sure me and Caroline are done, for good this time."

Her eyes rolled. "Okay let me stop you there. If it's one thing I can assure is that people who are as hideously obsessed with each other as you two are can't just be done. Besides, I know it's hard for you to believe but occasional disagreements comes with the relationship territory."

He shook his head. "We had a fight, a massive fight…"

Rebekah deeply sighed. "What did you do?"

His eyebrows furrowed when turning his head. "Why do you automatically think I did something?"

"Oh how quickly you forget the centuries of you plundering daggers into my heart." She scoffed.

-Touché.

Klaus wiped his hand over his face, nervously licking his lips.

"I said some things to her…things I shouldn't have, horrible things actually and um—" he figeted with the glass cup as his voice lowered, "she told me to leave. The look in her eyes…I haven't seen her look at me like that in a very long time. Disgusted and disappointed...fuckin' hell." His hand rustled through his hair frantically. "She doesn't want to see me, and didn't exactly give the indication that the demand was temporary. So you see, little sister, this isn't an occasional disagreement. I insulted her, questioned her love for her own daughter. I know that's not something I could just forgive. I punished Elijah when he did the same thing to me regarding Hope. I ruined the only source of happiness I had."

"Gee, thanks." She said sarcastically.

"You know what I mean." He rolled his eyes, slumping lower into his seat.

"Mhmm…" A small smile teased the corners of her lips as she snatched the bottle. "You know it's still surreal for me to hear you call the twins your daughters too. It's still surreal that you're a father at all actually."

"You and me both." He lightly chuckled. "One daughter was hard enough but three has been absolute insanity, and now they're all teenagers too which is a battle not even the bravest of men can win." He complained, making his sister laugh.

"And you wouldn't change a damn thing." Rebekah commented before taking in a mouthful of alcohol.

Klaus pressed his lips together and shaking his head. "No, no I wouldn't."

"So let me guess, this fight was about Lizzie?" She asked when handing him back the bottle.

Klaus nodded. "I blamed Caroline. I blamed her for everything."

"Christ, Nik." She cursed under her breath. "You're a real proper prick aren't you?"

"I didn't call you to make me feel worse than I already do, alright? I always knew one day Caroline would wake up and realize who I really am and know she made a mistake giving me a chance. As much as I want to be that man for her I keep proving that I can't."

"Well, nice to know you're as much a drama queen as ever."

He pointed a threatening glare. "I'm serious Rebekah."

"As am I!" She turned towards him. "Nik, you have been my brother for over 1,000 years and trust when I say it hasn't been a bloody walk in the park. I know you better than anyone and when things get rough or uncomfortable you run, or lash out because that is easier than addressing the bigger picture." She explained. "All the many times you daggered us was because you didn't want to confront what was really bothering you. For some reason you took us speaking up and standing up to you as us being against you or abandoning you. So convinced we were leaving your side so you decided to hurt us before we could hurt you. You locked us away until you were in control again and you're now doing the exact same thing with Caroline. You are not in control of this situation and cannot fathom it. There's a bigger picture that you're scared to address so you're taking it out on her instea—"

"I'm not scared of anything." He claimed.

She laughed. "You proved yourself wrong the day Hope was born, and even more so since this new found family you've cooked up with Caroline Forbes. Caring for people is scary, it comes with a price and there's no shame in tha—"

"I'm the one who found her…" Klaus blurted, pouring himself another glass and staring at it as if waiting for it to burst. "I was the one who found Lizzie's body in her bedroom...I never told anybody that."

Rebekah's sighed, reaching to soothingly rub her brother's back.

"Oh, Nik…"

He shrugged off her hand and stood to his feet, taking another swig from the bottle before throwing it on the ground.

"I keep a tube of my blood in Caroline's office for emergencies. All the girls knew about it, I wanted them to just in case something happened…" He tugged at his hair frustratingly, pacing. "She died cold and alone...fuck, I should've seen this coming Rebekah. I should've known, how didn't I know?! I should've noticed how withdrawn Lizzie's been lately. She rarely keeps secrets from me. Ever. She has always trusted me with her every thought and now…what does this mean she doesn't trust me anymore? I wouldn't."

He sniffled hard, trying to keep his tears and emotions at bay but with every word brought a new memory of Lizzie's angelic graying face, the crisp cold of her hand in his...

The falling tears covering his stubble cheeks had a life of their own. The redness of his eyes burning mercilessly as his broken sobs forced their way between his lips.

"You want to know the bigger picture, hm? The bigger picture is that I came home, walked upstairs to find my daughter's body. Me, no one else! For 60 agonizing minutes, I held my daughter's lifeless and limp body in my arms. For 60 minutes I thought she was dead, gone for good and felt guilty when she was revived as a vampire and I felt little relief."

The confession made him slightly gag but he held his composure best he could.

"I swore to protect Lizzie from this, I promised her and failed her once again when she needed me most and now she's a vampire. She's a vampire and it's all my fault! She deserved to have a lifetime of choices. To decide what she wanted to do with her future. She deserved to have the long life that neither me or Caroline were able to because our mortality was stolen from us. That wasn't supposed to be Lizzie. She was supposed to be different. She was supposed to have better."

"Nik, you can't blame yourself for something you had no control over." Rebekah stood up with her arms crossed. "Lizzie's mind was made up, there's nothing you could've done to change that. The merge is no one fault's either, just unlucky inheritance."

"This isn't making me feel any better."

Rebeakh sighed. "Look, yes Lizzie is a vampire but she isn't dead. She's still here with you and now you never have to worry about losing her."

He shook his head. "This isn't the life we wanted for her."

"But it's the life she has, and chose. You're failing to realize how smart that girl really is, and she knew exactly what she was giving up when she drank your blood and slit her wrists. This might not be ideal solution and it's incredibly unfortunate how it transpired but it happened and you have to either learn to live with it or say your goodbyes now."

Klaus snapped his head towards his sister with a death glare. "You really think I'd abandon her?"

"By the way you're acting right now, yeah that's the vibe you're giving me actually. And that'd be a real shame, because I don't know anyone who loves or is as good at being a vampire more than you."

"But this is different. I had to learn to love it. I didn't have a choice."

"Oh, bullocks! Who are you trying to fool here? You love being a vampire and all that comes with it more than any of us…well maybe not as much as Kol." She raised her eyebrows. "You're really good at being one too. Don't start resenting what you are because you're grieving. Stop focusing on all that went wrong and out your energy into what is right now. Lizzie is still alive. Your daughter is still here, with you and is the exact same girl she's always been. You never have to worry about losing her, which I know was a huge fear of yours even before learning of the merge."

Klaus gulped, recalling the many heavy discussions him and Caroline had about coping with the idea of outliving their own children one day.

He slightly flinched when Rebekah stepped toward him, her hand now resting on his stiff forearm.

"Lizzie might be another specie now but she is still Lizzie. I know how much you love her which makes your presence in her life even more imperative now. Lizzie needs someone to teach her not only the physical attributions of being a vampire, but the mental. She needs someone who will teach her how to embrace vampirism. Someone to teach her the beauties and endless possibilities. How to cope with bloodlust, prepare her for those inevitable kills and not view what she is as a burden or abomination. You overcame all those obstacles all on your own. She needs you, Nik, now more than ever."

He twisted his lips, subtly wiped the tear away from underneath his eye.

"You know, um, Caroline's a pretty amazing vampire too."

"Then that makes Lizzie quite the lucky young lady, doesn't it?" Rebekah smirked and managed to earn a small smile from the hybrid.

"And that brings me to my next order of business. The first thing you are going to do when we part ways is go back to wherever you reside in Mystic Falls, shower then kiss and make up with Caroline. You need to resolve things with her before doing anything else."

"I told you, she doesn't want anything to do with me."

"For fuck's sake! How have you been around this long and still not understand women? How has Caroline been dealing with you this long?" She groaned. "That girl is head over heels unbearably in love with you. She obviously wants you. She wants you to fight for her and your relationship. Right now she's angry, and has every right to be because knowing you I know your words were horrific. You have to understand Caroline is hurting as much as you are, Nik. Her daughter died and became a vampire too and I'm sure she's feeling guilty enough. You need each other right now if you're going to survive this transition. She wants to be with you but you have to prove to her that unconditional love is just that, unconditional. Be honest with her, love her and move on. Stop punishing her. If you really want this to last as much as I know you do, you have to bloody get over yourself."

Klaus hummed, reluctantly turning towards his sister with a miniature smile playing on his lips.

Never more has he been grateful to have patached things up with siblings, putting effort into a fulfilling relationship with all of them for moments specifically like this-when they were the only ones who could understand his point of view.

"When did you grow up to be so wise, little sister?"

"I did exactly that, grow up. You should try it sometime." She said half jokingly, drawing out a genuine laugh from her melancholy brother.

12:30 AM

Now showered, partially sober, dressed in a clean black Henley and black sweatpants, Klaus waited impatiently for Caroline's return in their bedroom. His fingers were laced together, resting on his forehead as his foot tapped impatiently on the floor.

She had been gone a little over an hour and he was beginning to worry but forced himself to grant her another 30 minutes before he ripped apart the town looking for her.

After checking on the girls' bedrooms—grateful all three were still sleeping out of fear the fight may have woken them—not ready to face them yet. For the first time ever, the house was completely silent. Living with three teenage girls rarely gave Klaus the solitude or quiet he secretly craved.

Thinking back on life before he learned about the merge slightly making him regret being alone with his thoughts. Remembering how blissful and serene existence felt when he was simply waiting for Caroline in her office to take her out for lunch, an hour before his entire sense of reality changed. Before he learned one of his daughters would die against her will and the love of his life kept it from him.

His cynicism died the moment Caroline gave him the chance to be part of her life and now, without her, old habits were threatening to replace her presence in his heart.

Klaus didn't want to admit he needed her, he prided himself into never needing anyone but that was growing more challenging with the more people he allowed into his life.

Too invested in his thoughts, he didn't even notice the door creaking open until she walked through with an unreadable expression on her face when she looked up at him. She likely wasn't incredibly shocked that he hadn't left.

His chest deflated and fingers stopped their tapping as he absorbed her presence, not realizing how much he missed her. Even when frustrated she still executed so much warmth. Her hair slightly damp from the impromptu rain but no the less beautiful.

"Your hair is wet." He awkwardly stated, causing her forehead to crinkle.

"What the hell are you still doing here, Klaus?" She asked, sounding exhausted while dismissing his initial comment.

He audibly swallowed, untangling his hands onto his knees.

"I was waiting for you."

"I thought I said I wanted you gone." Caroline said in a monotone while closing the door behind her.

-Well, at least she's not yelling.

He nodded. "I know."

"Then why are you still here?" She hissed.

"Because I'm needed here, at home with you. With my family." He said softly, making the baby vampire's eyes briefly relax before she shrugged it off.

"You've made it abundantly clear Mystic Falls isn't your home."

"My home is wherever you are." Klaus declared.

Caroline cleared her throat, blinking away the burning in her eyes.

"Well I don't want you here."

"You don't mean that."

"Yes, I very much do." She sternly claimed. "Look I don't want to argue about this anymore and the girls are sleeping. Can you just do the decent thing and not make a scene by leaving before they wake up?"

"No." Klaus stood to his feet and cautiously approached her. "There is a very short list of things I wouldn't do for you Caroline Forbes but I'm not going anywhere. No more running, from either of us."

She sighed, shrugging off her coat. "Klaus, please. I'm tired and really am not in the mood for—"

Her words cut off by his lips suddenly pressing against hers.

Caroline's eyes widened at the bold intrusion, battling with her mind and body that still loved and missed him. The tender passion that only he could execute sent shivers down her spine and through her toes.

Her lips briefly moved against his before reluctantly pushing against his shoulders, shaking her head.

"Klaus—"

He gulped, licking her taste off his bottom lip. "I admit, that may have been a bit presumptuous but—"

"You think!" Caroline took a step back shaking her head. "Klaus, you need to stop. You can't just kiss me or say pretty words and think that makes up for the things you said. You really hurt me." She choked out, the tears forming against her will.

He shamefully nodded his head "I know. I know."

"No, I don't think you do." She spat, pushing past him and angrily turning around. "I let you be upset with me about the merge because I felt guilty about keeping it from you. My intentions weren't malicious and I really did think I was doing the right thing, but your anger towards me was understood so I let you have it. But this…you blaming me for Lizzie's transformation is something I won't allow." She said sternly. "You and I both know exactly how it feels like to have our choices taken away from us. I'm sickened that our daughter is experiencing the main thing we agreed upon and swore to protect her from, so how dare you throw it in my face like that! Like this is something I could control or wanted for her. You're trying to make me the villain and it isn't fair, Klaus. I won't let you use me as your punching bag anymore for all the horrible things that happen in this family."

He crossed his arms over his chest, intently listening as she continued.

"Shit happens, Klaus. You taught me that remember? But we roll with it and get through it together. That is what people do in committed relationships. We support, not tear each other down. I have forgiven you for countless unforgivable things and the fact that you don't extend even a fraction of the same grace to me is insulting and hurtful."

The quiver in her voice was Earth shattering and he couldn't fathom that he was the one who was hurting her the most—after swearing he never would.

Caroline patted away the wetness underneath her eyes, sniffling as she stared directly into his eyes again.

"I'm not apologizing for anything anymore either so you have two options: you either forgive me or leave me. There's no in-between because I'm tired of thinking I need to prove something to you Klaus. I won't be in a relationship where I have to walk on eggshells in fear that I'm not going to be accepted. That every mistake I make will be held against me forever. I am not that girl anymore, and who you've been lately is definitely not the man I fell in love with."

Her tearful glare, burning with frustration and despair felt like a gunshot through his chest. Even though she was angry with him, Klaus couldn't deny how proud he was of how confident she was and how far she has come.

"You're such a firecracker, Caroline Forbes." He said teasingly but her glare never subsided.

His smirk instant fell, lips rubbing together anxiously.

"Okay, okay in all seriousness I heard everything you just said loud and clear. Processed every single word and…" His head shook shamefully "...god, Caroline it disgusts me how I've been treating you. How I've been making you feel. Taking advantage of you being in my life as if our journey getting here was easy. As if we didn't fight tooth and nail to get to this point, where we both can openly love each other. I lost sight of that. I lost sight of us, and I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for giving up on us when you never did."

The tears sprinkled her cheeks but she paid no mind as he flashed in front of her and grabbed her by the waist, tenderly. The pad of his thumbs drawing invisible circled on the exposed skin, like he always did whenever she needed comfort.

He was relieved she didn't push him away yet.

"There is no one I like or love more than you, Caroline." He grinned. "You have me unconditionally for eternity. There's nothing you can do that will chase me away or make me feel anything less than what I felt when we met 15 years ago. You never have to walk on eggshells around me. You never have to be anyone but yourself with me and...for someone who despised being judged by all my past mistakes I should have known better—I do know better. Even when I was upset about the merge I didn't need to prolong my anger. You were never the main person I was angry with in either situation…"

Caroline's eyebrows furrowed. "Who were you angry with?"

"Myself." He mumbled the confession. "I made so many promises to you and this family and I feel I haven't lived up to any of them."

He let out a subtle breath of relief at the feel of Caroline's soft hands caressing his forearms. Almost forgetting how powerful her touch could be, drawing him out of the darkest places.

"I, um,—" Klaus cleared his throat. "I never thought that one day I would have a family to call my own, especially not with a baby vampire who I was never meant to know. This, what we have with the girls, is the scariest and most fulfilling experience of my entire 1,000 years of existence. I certainly did not anticipate having the relationship I do with Lizzie, and it's been an honor to see her grow into such an extraordinary young woman." He sadly smiled. "When Lizzie ran away to New Orleans a month ago I promised that I would protect her from this merge. I promised that I wouldn't let anything happen to her, and I broke that promise the moment she drank my blood and...there is no one I blame more than myself, but it was easier taking it out on you. That wasn't fair and I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Caroline."

Caroline gasped when Klaus slowly fell to his knees, his arms still wrapped around her waist and face resting on her stomach.

She felt frozen in place trying to grasp the image of him before her. Her eyes continued to well up and arms lifted, unsure of their placement as he buried his sobs into the fabric of her tank top.

Klaus expressing his vulnerability in front of her wasn't new but it wasn't frequent either, and Caroline couldn't imagine ever getting used to seeing such a powerful man literally crumble to his knees.

"I can't lose you Caroline." He declared with a muffled sob. "I can't lose any of you."

"Hey, hey look at me." Her hands on his face guided his gaze towards hers. "You're not losing me, you're never losing me or any of us. We are your family, and we love you so much. You are living up to everything you promised me on graduation night and more."

His head continued to shake. "I'm sorry."

"I know you are." She threaded her fingers through his soft hair before pushing him back to sink to his level, grabbing his hands. "But you have to start talking to me. You have to start trusting me with your thoughts and feelings. I understand how deep your scars are, and I understand it won't be an overnight thing but we have to start somewhere. We're this far into our relationship, we shouldn't be having this same discussion. It's like we take one step forward and three steps back. I want to keep moving forward with you, Klaus but you have to meet meet me in the middle or this can never work."

He nodded, thumbs rubbing over her knuckles. "You're right. I'm just—I'm scared, Caroline."

She sighed, "Me too..." Melting into his hand as it cuffed one of her cheeks.

His thumb caressed her cheekbone and underneath her eye delicately, shooing away the tear stain there as their equally tearful gazes were flooded with adoration.

Both rewarding each other with a reassuring smile.

"I'm saying this to you with words, and will continue to prove with actions that despite how rocky this journey will be, there is no one I rather be going through it with than you. And I will continue to be everything I promised. To be the love of your life."

A grin appeared on her lips as she thumbed away the tear stains underneath his eyes. "You kinda already are…"

"Kinda, huh?" He smirked, squeezing her hip lightly.

She gleefully nodded, biting down on her bottom lip as her hands slid down against his chest.

"I'm really glad you didn't leave." She sighed again, tracing her fingertip over the fabric of his Henley. "God, I don't know what I would've done if you actually listened to me."

Klaus lifted her chin, his eyes burning into hers.

"I will never leave you again."

Caroline nodded before hastily crashing her lips onto his, smiling against his mouth as her falling tears merged with the passionate embrace.

It has been awhile since they kissed like this—really kissed, full of the passion, love and assurance that had fueled them since the first time their lips dared to touch.

This was their first major fight as a couple, and one neither ever wanted to repeat. Just the thought of either walking out on the other again was too painful to entertain.

Klaus knew if he left it would have broken their delicate family for good. Caroline nor Lizzie would ever forgive him. It was still difficult for him to accept that the girls were getting older which meant life would become progressively harder.

Fear.

They were both angry at their fear; terrified of the unknown possibilities and consequences that could come from Lizzie's transition. Taking their anxiety out on each other and blocking out the main cure to their mutual heartache—each other.

Caroline's arms wrapped around his neck as his wrapped around her waist, pinning her to the floor while their lips never parted.

Sure, there were bigger matters to attend to and their baby vampire child was a few doors away sleeping but this was the couple's time to reconnect; to smother each other with immense passion and lust until the sun came up. It had been awhile The rarity of these opportunities where they could be alone was not lost upon either of them, fueling their desire further.

Klaus settled his body between her long legs, wounding them around his waist as his hard chest rubbed up against her delicate breasts, reviving her erect nipples.

Her fingers laced through his dark blonde curls, needing him as close as possible until he was suddenly pulling away from her. But her pout was short lived as she admired the view of him whipping off his Henley and throwing it to the side.

Her tongue involuntarily licking over her bottom lip.

"See something you like, love?" He smirked, lusting over the glint in her innocent eyes.

Their heated gazes locked as Caroline's hand traced down his chiseled chest all the way to his toned abdomen, while her other hand undid the button and zipper of her jeans.

The hybrid couldn't resist looking down at her hand teasing her inner thigh, brushing against the center lightly before bringing it back up to her heaving chest.

A surprised moan of her name fell from his lips, so transfixed by the teasing she was inflicting on herself he didn't notice her other hand sneaking inside his sweatpants.

"See something you like, love?" She said mockingly yet seductively while slowly jerking him off.

-Fuck, I love this woman.

Klaus devilishly smirked.

"You don't play fair." He breathlessly leaned forward to nuzzle his face in the crook of her neck as she continued rubbing up and down his impressive length.

"As if you ever do." Caroline gasped at the gentle assault his teeth and tongue were performing on her neck, feeling the pool of arousal rush south and her need for him amplifying.

His sinful lips decorated her chest with licks and sweet kisses that made her hip buck up into his, paying extra attention to her mounds slightly poking out of her bra.

"Klaus, please." She moaned as his mouth found hers again and his free hand skimmed the skin underneath her bellybutton.

He but down on her bottom lip with his human teeth as he dominated the kiss, only allowing them to part ways for a second so Caroline could pull the tank top over her head before they latching onto each other again.

Both smiling into the passionate exchange of tongues and teeth when Caroline whispered an "I love you" against his lips; which he effortlessly reciprocated.

Just as Klaus attempted to kiss her out of her remaining clothes, a soft knock on the door froze them both in place.

The couple aggressively groaned in unison.

Caroline's head tilted back on the floor, licking her lips as another frustrated groan followed the hybrid now resting his forehead on her shoulder.

"I swear, if that's Alaric I will pull his arms out their sockets and beat him to death with them." Klaus growled into her skin, making her giggle.

She lightly tugged on his hair so he would look down into her vibrant blue eyes—the vibrant eyes that always shined over the darkest parts of his mind. His face sandwiched between her two delicate hands and he realized there was nowhere else he was meant to be.

He couldn't resist lowering his head to entice her into another sweet kiss, gliding his tongue over her bottom lip as he savored her taste like it would be for the last time.

Another knock—more aggressive this time—banged against the door and drew the sexually frustrated lovers out of their heated state again.

"Bloody hell..." Klaus muttered, slightly lifting his face from hers. "Alaric I will easily snap your neck like a twig."

"Um..it's me."

Klaus's jaw clenched and body immediately stiffened, and he could feel Caroline's do the same before looking down at her widened eyes and parted lips.

Hearing Lizzie's soft voice through the thick door felt like a bucket of cold water was just dropped over them, dragging them back to reality. The conversations and confrontations to come from all of this were inevitable yet still difficult to grasp, until they looked at each other.

Exchanging supportive gazes, silently reassuring each other everything was going to be okay, Klaus left a sweet kiss on her forehead before quickly getting off of the floor and retrieving their discarded clothing.

Caroline did up her jeans and combed her fingers through her messy hair, looking over at an anxious Klaus now being fully dressed before opening their bedroom door with a smile.

*wipes sweat off forehead*

Hope you enjoyed! I loved writing this because angst is my favorite thing in the world.

I know most of my more recent drabbles have been angst fueled but this *should* be the last of klaroline being this at odds with each other. And not all my family drabbles have to be centered on the merge, it's just some of my best work lol so if any of you have suggestions please leave a comment or review with your ideas and I will consider.

REVIEWS ARE APPRECIATED!