"What are you doing here?" he asked cautiously.
"I'm here to give you a warning," Finn walked closer to him.
"You don't scare me, Finn," Klaus said.
"I should, Niklaus."
"You're dead."
Finn used vamp speed to rush them into a more private place, a place not crammed with kids and families, and jammed his hand through Klaus's chest, wrapping his fist around his heart. "Does this feel like him dead?"
Klaus tried to gain a threatening posture, blood spitting out each time he gasped for air. "How and why are you here Finn? ANSWER ME!"
Finn let him go, causing him to fall against the brick wall and hold his hand to his chest on the floor.
"Someone sent me," he said dramatically.
"W-Who sent y-you," he stammered, trying to keep his deadly reputation even though there was a decently large sized hole in his chest.
"She's made you pathetic," Finn looked at him on the ground.
"Who."
"Caroline."
Veins poured out of Klaus's eyes as the rings around his pupils turned a deadly, gleaming gold. He sped and caught Finn around his neck. "Don't. Speak. Her. Name."
Finn tried to remove Klaus's hands around his neck but it was no use. "She has made you weak, Niklaus."
"I am not weak. You are."
"Am I?" Finn surged up his power and pushed Klaus against the wall, making him crash to the floor.
Klaus tried to stand up but fell against the wall again. "How?"
"You'll find out… eventually."
"You were always so dramatic, Finn. Who sent you," he managed to stand himself up, the hole around his heart almost fully healed, but the loss of blood made him weak.
"I said," Finn grabbed him by the neck. "You'll find out eventually. Warn your friends if you please because there is a whole new threat coming. You really think that everything is sunshine and rainbows Niklaus?"
Klaus tried to speak but nothing came out against Finn's hold on his neck.
"Well it's not, it never will be for you. Be prepared for a storm, because its brewing and heading here soon."
"I… will... p-protect them."
"Try your hardest," Finn moved his hands again but this time to snap his neck. After Klaus crashed to the ground, Finn mumbled something and walked off into the darkness.
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Caroline tapped anxiously on her bare leg as she waited for Klaus to return. It's been 15 minutes since he abruptly left the restaurant.
"What the bloody hell is Nik doing?" Rebekah muttered after the waitress that took their drink orders left.
"I have no idea," Kol answered.
"It's been 15 minutes," Stefan checked his phone.
"I'm going to check," Caroline stood up.
"No, let me go," Stefan stood up.
"Stefan?" Rebekah looked at him.
"Let me check and make sure it's okay, you of all people know how he gets," Stefan assured. "Both of you."
"But I'm an original and he can't kill me," Rebekah said.
"Let me go, he won't hurt me," Stefan reassured. "I'll be back."
Caroline sighed in defeat and sat back down with a huff.
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"Klaus?" Stefan called as he exited the restaurant. "Where are you?"
Nothing.
Something's wrong.
Stefan thought fast and pulled out his phone, clicking call on Klaus's contact. He heard a ring off in the distance so he sped to it. He came across a small almost… alleyway? It was between two buildings at the boardwalk resort. He says Klaus's phone on the floor lit up with his contact information calling him. Stefan bent down to pick up the phone and turned on the flashlight. "Klaus?"
He scanned the dark area with the flashlight until it caught something on the floor. "Holy shit Klaus!" He rushed over and kneeled down on the floor. He was out cold, lying there on the floor. "What the hell happened?"
I shouldn't call Rebekah, Kol or Caroline… or should I?
No.
"Klaus wake up!" he shook him.
Seconds later Klaus jumped up with a gasp, catching his breath for air and holding his chest.
"Klaus hey look at me," Stefan put his arms on his shoulder. "What happened."
Klaus swallowed hard and breathed out. He shook his head and looked down, sitting up against the wall.
"Tell me what happened Klaus!"
"Nothing," he managed.
"You were lying here, in the middle of a Disney World hotel with a snapped neck and blood all over your shirt. Something happened and i'm guaranteed you weren't taking a nap."
"I can't-"
"Tell me, Klaus."
"I don't know!" he admitted. "I-It's all a blur," he rested his head against the wall behind him and let out a breath.
"What do you remember? Let's start with that."
"Someone came here and I think threatened me…"
"Threatened you?"
"Not just me, us."
"Us?"
"H-He or she um-said that there was a storm brewing and heading straight for us or something. The person almost ripped out my heart and snapped my neck."
"Who was it?"
"It was-" he stopped. "I don't remember…"
"How don't you remember?"
"I don't know but he or she must have been a witch because my brain is wiped from the memory of who. I think it was a guy, he threatened Caroline, even you Rebekah and Kol."
"But why here? Why now?"
"I don't know…" he tried to stand up. "Of course we can't get just a few weeks of peace."
"What are we going to tell them? Do you want to say anything?"
"No," he sighed. "Let's keep it to ourselves, they're so happy here and I don't want to ruin it."
Stefan smiled.
"What?"
"She's changed you so much, Klaus."
He looked at his feet. "Why not we head back now, hm?"
She's made you weak.
Why were those words running through his head?
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"Klaus where were you?" Caroline stood up with a worried look on her face.
"Just took a-walk."
"A walk, Nik? You scared us," Rebekah pouted.
"It's not like he could die," Stefan added.
"Are you okay?" she whispered once he sat down next to her.
He nodded and put on a smile. "I'm fine, love."
His shirt that was covered in blood and it was hidden under his jacket now so, she didn't ask questions.
"Let's have a nice meal now, okay?" he suggested.
She nodded hesitantly. "Sure."
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"That was really good, who knew Disney food could be this authentic," Rebekah said once the waitress brought their food away.
"Authentic?" Kol squinted. "Really?"
"Well it seems like it could actually be from Italy," she said. "Kol shut up."
Kol grinned and left a tip for the waitress, who this time, was not flirting with anyone. "Thank you, darling."
"No problem," she smiled and walked off.
"So what now?" Rebekah asked as they started to leave the restaurant.
"Night swimming?" Kol suggested.
"Then I have to shower again," Caroline pouted.
"Well, it's fun!" Kol pouted. "Come on why not? We're on vacation!"
"We're always on vacation," Rebekah mumbled.
"I'll do it," Stefan said. "What he's right, it seems fun."
"You saying the word 'fun' isn't very reassuring, Stefan," Caroline admitted. "Your definition of fun was murdering people with Klaus."
Klaus smirked and looked towards his friend. "It was fun, rippah."
Stefan rolled his eyes.
"Fine, I'll do it," Caroline caved.
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"This is going to be interesting," Klaus murmured as they entered the pool area for like the millionth time that trip.
"It is," Caroline agreed. The pool glowed against the darkness of the ground and sky, the lights on the sides switching between different colors. "I've never done this before."
"Me either," he looked down at her as they set their bags on the chairs they always take. "Surprisingly."
The moon was bright overhead and the little stars twinkled against the black background.
"But it's going to be so cold," she pouted.
Kol ran and jumped in, followed by Rebekah and Stefan.
"Really?" Caroline said, feeling the chill of the water against her skin.
"It's not that cold darling!" Kol said.
"Come on Caroline!" Rebekah added.
She took a step back. "Is moonbathing a thing? Because I think I'll take up that…"
Without warning, Klaus picked her up bridal-style and held her over the water. "KLAUS!" He grinned and looked down at her face as her eyes caught his.
"Three…"
"No no no no put me down!"
"Two…" he swung her a bit.
"NIK!"
"One…" he started to let go and pulled back quickly but not quick enough. She latched her hand around his and pulled him in with her, causing an even bigger splash. Luckily, there was no lifeguard at this point at night so they didn't get yelled at for disobeying the rules.
They both came up at the same time gasping for breath. "Why?!"
"Because you weren't going in!" Klaus laughed genuinely.
She smiled and appreciated this moment. He looked so-so normal right now. Laughing, having fun with her.
Caroline jumped up and down in the water to try and stay warm while Klaus just watched her with amusement, not feeling the chill himself, either because he was well, him, or because she was pressed up against him like that not even a minute ago. Rebekah rode on Stefan's back and Kol flew down the slide.
"Oh, guys!" Rebekah started. "Lets chicken fight."
"Are you serious?" Klaus muttered.
"Caroline, get on Nik's back," Rebekah pointed.
Caroline felt a blush on her cheeks when she met his gaze. She shrugged and he nodded slowly as inched over to him. "How do you want to do this?"
He lowered himself in the water and felt the warmth of her hand touch his bare skin again. "Use my hands as a lift."
Eventually, she made her way onto his shoulders, her face redder than before.
Klaus had to hold in a breath once he felt her on top of his shoulders. Her bare skin was still warm against him despite being in the chilly water. How's that even possible?
"Okay um-" Caroline said awkwardly.
"I'll hold your ankles," Klaus suggested hesitantly.
"Yeah okay," she looked up to the competition. Despite her current position, she would never back out of a challenge. "Game on."
Klaus moved them closer to Rebekah and Stefan as Kol reffed the match. Caroline tried to knock Rebekah down with every shot but whenever she got her down, she popped back up. "How?"
Rebekah smirked and pushed her off of Klaus's shoulders. Caroline came up out of the water with a determined look on her face. "Rematch," she jumped onto Klaus's shoulders again, more comfortable this time and they started again.
"And Caroline and Nik win!" Kol pointed and whistled.
"You've always been so competitive Caroline," Stefan said.
"I know," she smirked.
They swam around for a while, being that they were the only ones in the water they had the whole pool to themselves.
"Marco polo?" Rebekah suggested.
"No," Stefan and Klaus said in unison.
"Come on!" she pouted.
"Sorry Bex, I love you but I hate that game," Stefan said.
"Yeah like you've ever played that."
"Damon and I still had a childhood, despite what you may think," Stefan reminded them.
"Nikkk!" Rebekah whined.
"What?" he sighed.
"Please?" she smiled.
"No."
"Come on Nikkk," Caroline teased.
He seemed to think about it for a second. Seeing her 'beg' for him to play was rather convincing. "One round."
"Fantastic!" Kol said.
"Who's Marco?" Rebekah asked.
"Me!" Caroline jumped up. "I may suck at it, but I'll try."
"Fine, give us ten seconds. Close your eyes. Stefan, you watch and make sure she doesn't cheat," Rebekah pointed to him.
"All right."
"Three, two, one," Caroline said and made sure her eyes were closed. "Can I go under water?"
"I feel like a literal child right now…" Klaus murmured.
"No talking!" Stefan called out. "Only marco and polo!"
"And no, Caroline, don't go under water!" Rebekah called.
"Um-okay! Marco!"
"Polo," came three muffled voices.
Caroline spun around in the water blindly. Klaus noticed the little frustrated faces she made when she hit a dead end or ran into the walls. "Marco?"
They answered her and Caroline heard his voice overpower all of the others. She made her way closer to him naturally, and he swiftly moved away knowing how much it was frustrating her. "Klaus-"
"No!" Stefan called.
"Shoot sorry," she mumbled. "Marco."
He heard her answer her softly. She pounced, hoping to touch him on the shoulder or kick him at the ankle. "Ha!" she screeched when she finally touched someone.
"Caroline…" Klaus said. She heard Stefan, Kol and Rebekah laugh. "Your hand is on my ass."
"Ah!" she screamed and opened her eyes, backing away. "Shit Klaus I'm sorry!"
He chuckled and tried to hide how it affected him.
"Get a room!" Kol shouted.
"Kol shut up!" Caroline hissed. "Klaus I didn't mean-"
"No big deal," he smirked casually.
"That damn smirk," she mumbled.
"What was that?"
"Nothing!"
"Well, I'm it now so why not we continue?"
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"Good night guys," Caroline said as Rebekah, Stefan and Kol retired to their room for the night.
"So we're alone now, finally," Klaus mused.
"They are a handful," she agreed. "But I always wanted siblings as a kid growing up, I was really, really bored my whole childhood… so being with them now feels like I have siblings."
"Well, growing up with them was a handful. Kol snores really loudly, Rebekah wouldn't shut up, Elijah used to argue with me a lot, Henrik was-well he was the only bearable one at times and Finn didn't really care for us."
"Henrik, that's a new name…"
"You don't know?"
"Know what?"
"Sorry, I just figured the doppelgänger would've told you."
"She's not the 'doppelgänger'," Caroline scoffed. "Who's Henrik?"
"Henrik was my youngest brother, he was funny and carefree. He would literally be entertained by drawing with sticks and playing with rocks during the day. He would always come with me when I snuck out to find new flowers to paint with, he liked the colors, especially the orange ones... they were the most vibrant."
"So what happened?"
"He died."
"How?"
"Well it was really the cause of the whole us turning into vampires or deal. We were in the caves on the full moon, since we were not allowed to be outside around the wolves that roamed through the woods. In the middle of the night, Henrik wandered over to me and woke me up, begging for me to take him to see the wolves. I told him to go back to sleep and drop it, but he begged and begged and eventually I caved."
"Why did you cave?"
"Because I was tired and wanted to get it over with, plus… Henrik and I had a special connection, we understood each other and I had to say yes to him," he sighed and leaned against the back of the pool. "We went to see the wolves, it got out of hand and he was attacked. He died in my arms on the way back to the village."
"And that's when Esther and Mikael made you vampires."
"Yes," he looked down at his hands."She couldnt bear losing anymore of us.. so she made us into monsters and tried to kill us anyway."
"I'm sorry…"
"I don't need your sympathy," he said cooly.
She scoffed. "Well then."
"I didn't mean it like that. I just never personally told anyone that before."
"I get it," she said. "Let's get off of this touchy subject."
"How?"
"Come with me," she ran up the pool steps and stood outside, the freezing air hitting her soaked body. She knew Klaus's eyes were following her every move, like he was attracted to her like a magnet. "Come on!"
He got up after her, the water dripping from his shorts onto the floor. "And what do you plan on doing?"
"Can you flip?"
"Flip?"
"Yeah you know when you jump and spin-"
"Caroline."
"No, really do you."
"No, never tried it before."
"Well you never had me before."
He looked at her and her gaze met his. "No, I didn't."
"Well you do now," she tried to say casually, but he took it in two ways. One, she was here with him, finally and here to teach him the little perks in life. Two, she was here with him, and hopefully here to stay. "As you probably know, since you read my Miss Mystic application, I was head cheerleader in Mystic Falls high."
"I'm aware."
"Watch," she took a few steps back and ran to the edge of the pool, flipping off the side and landing with a splash. She came up and fixed her bathing suit that may of slid down too much.
Klaus clapped. "10 out of 10."
"Thank you. Now you try."
"You serious?"
"Yes!"
"No," he protested.
"Come on Nik!"
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"How do you even like-start?"
She stepped out of the deep ends water using the ladder and standing next to him. "Just do it."
He sighed. "I have to?"
"Klaus."
He took a running start and managed to do it semi-perfectly.
"Whoo!" Caroline hollered from the surface, probably too loud for the hour and the kids that were sleeping. He swam up and swam over to the ledge, resting his arms up on top to face her. "How was that?"
"Perfect," she smiled and kneeled down on the floor. Their eyes connected instantly and didn't want to tear apart, even if they tried. She felt him grow closer, slowly lifting himself out of the water to be closer to her. She wanted to move back, but she just physically couldn't-and frankly didn't want to. Her eyes were trained to both his own and his plump, red, insanely-too-perfect-to-be-real, lips. She always wondered why they got to be that red looking, maybe the tint of blood?
Is he leaning in? Wait am I leaning in back?
They were less than two inches apart, she could feel his breath tickle through her body.
"Klaus," she whispered.
"Yes," he closed his eyes as their foreheads pressed together.
She couldn't cave, not yet. They're having fun and she didn't want it to be awkward.
"Hold your breath," she giggled playfully and dove into the water pushing him under with her. They were both fully submerged in the bottom of the contemporary pool, 6 feet under the water. Her hair caressed her face as she giggled under the water, her teeth white and her lips pink. She wasn't even trying and she was beautiful in his eyes, ever since day one. He first met her when he came into mystic falls, hunting the Petrova doppelgänger and turned Tyler into his first hybrid. He remembered seeing her standing there, rubbing the boys back. Kind, caring, bold, sweet and beautiful. She tried to stand up for him, she tried to fight for him and he saw the boldness in her, the fearlessness, even though she knew how dangerous he was. She was so amazing and now all he wants to do is be called hers.
But he knew that couldn't happen yet. He saw the way she reacted towards him, she tensed and he felt how she thought out her actions. She was thinking of closing that gap, sealing it with a kiss. But they have to wait a bit, get to know each other better and build up trust and have that bond before anything starts up.
And they're getting there.
Day by day.
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