You know what, screw it She thought. Why did she have to honor his memory when he couldn't even respect hers when he was still alive? And Klaus was a good guy, and he was there for her. Even though he didn't show it, she knew he knew her. In a way not even Stefan ever had, and they'd been together for 6 years.

She'd taken his engagement ring off, and tossed it in her drawer until she needed to fish it out again. But now she wanted something else.

Klaus was sleeping just on the other side of the wall from her room, and she quietly slipped out of her bed with only a long buttoned shirt on. Klaus's bed was big enough for her to lay down comfortably next to him, and she noticed he was still sound asleep, a look of peace on his face.

That face. It...it became him. She could see from how similar and dissimilar he was from Stefan. He kept helping Valerie and the child, he kept listening to people venting about Stefan or about her. He would've let Caroline forget about their kisses if she'd wanted to. He was putting everyone before him. Well now she wanted to put him above her.

Caroline softly turned his face to hers, and his eyes opened. Her fingers went into his hairline and stroked his face. They just stared into each other's eyes for a long minute.

This is what I want. I want you.

Without anymore hesitation, Klaus rolled over onto her, and kissed her. His forehead gently touching hers, he undid the top buttons of her shirt to brush the skin underneath. Their legs tangled now, in a slow stroking motion. They didn't need to have sex. This was enough for right now. Just settling into each other and getting to know what it felt like. Caroline's hands went over his back and gripped the hem of his shirt, pulling it up just enough to caress the bare skin there.

He breathed hard, and his mouth dropped to suck on her chin, brushing her skin from one side of her jaw to the other. She pulled her hand back and brushed the tips of her fingers against his face. They came closer together, so much so she almost wanted to take things off but no, this was too much of an open space and there were people staying here.

Klaus placed his elbow on the mattress to cup her face, and they kissed softly, again and again. This wasn't lust or an impulse. It was feeling out a new beginning. Taking their time to get to know one another in a way they'd never seen each other before. Him, he was a giant with a heart of gold. Her, she was a little reckless, more daring and wanted nothing more than to be happy. She smiled.

"I'm starving." She said. A bubble of laughter escaped his lips, and Caroline went and got pants on in case people came to the smell of food.

Klaus began to mix pancake batter and plugged a waffle maker into the kitchen wall.

"You get very useful things when you get married. No wonder people do so." He noted.

"Were you ever close to doing that?" Caroline asked, stepping away from chopping vegetables for a burger and stood by him.

"Never." He replied, grinning at his own joke.

"Why is that do you think?" She asked, and absently fingered the hem of his sleeve with a couple fingers, then stroked his arm.

"I don't know. I suppose it made more sense to walk away." Klaus said.

"Weren't you ever lonely?" Caroline asked, going to the fridge. Klaus rested against the wall the waffle maker was plugged into.

"Right now? No." He grinned again. She felt warm at the knowledge he looked as happy as she'd ever seen him because they were together now.

"I mean like, who did you tell your stories to?" She asked, bringing what food she took from the fridge with her.

"Perhaps I kept them to myself." Klaus replied. She stared at him with a playful smile until he looked back at her.

"That is a tragedy."