You might need to go re-read the rest of the story first cause it's been a minute to say the least…
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"Kol open up!' Caroline knocked on the door to his apartment for the fifth time, 'You know leaving a pregnant woman standing in a drafty hallway is the height of insensitivity.' She rolled her eyes at her own words. Kol lived in a penthouse in one of the Upper East Side's finest buildings; the beautiful carpet lined hallway was anything but drafty.
Caroline sighed when she heard no movement on the other side of the door, 'Fine I guess I will just have to call Esther, she must have a spare key for-"
The heavy door opened slowly to reveal a shirtless Kol, his eyes looked dilated however is hair looked perfect as always. Damn him.
'Hello handsome." Caroline almost laughed at his disgruntled expression before she pushed past him into the apartment, 'I hope the pasta I brought from Scalinatella isn't completely ruined whilst I was waiting in the cold.'
It's Kol's turn to roll his eyes as he pulls a hoodie over his torso, 'Caroline what are you doing here?'
'You weren't answering my calls.' Caroline replied as she walked into the kitchen area.
Kol ran a hand over his face, 'Because I don't want to talk. To anyone.'
Caroline placed the takeout bag on the large island, removing the containers as she spoke, 'You know I don't take no for an answer.'
'Did Klaus send you?'
Caroline stopped what she was doing, her eyes meeting Kol's, 'No.'
Kol glared, 'Why do I find that hard to believe?"
Caroline matched his expression, 'Why do you find it so hard to believe I came here of my own accord?'
'You're not my family anymore Caroline. It's not your job to come pick up the pieces anymore.' Kol stated coldly.
Caroline shook her head sadly, 'I know you and Klaus aren't speaking right now. And that things with Bonnie-' She saw Kol's eyes drop to the floor at the mention of her friends name, 'didn't work out. But I will always be your sister. No matter what my last name is.'
Kol stared at her for a moment but swallowing, 'Fine but I hope you're not expecting me to share that.' He pointed at the container holding the best white truffle pasta in all of New York. This was Kol and Caroline's opinion of course.
Caroline nodded, 'It's all yours. I ate an entire stick of garlic bread in the taxi. It's wasn't pretty.'
Kol finally broke out in a small laugh and Caroline smiled at the little victory.
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'Hey.' Bonnie jumped up from the couch as soon as Caroline entered the apartment.
'Hey back.' Caroline eyed her roommate suspiciously as she dropped her bag beside the coffee table.
'How was work?' Bonnie asked, her hands twisting together.
'It was good yeah, a lot of design meetings at the moment. How about you? You're home earlier than usual.' It was true, since Bonnie started her new job a week ago she barely got home before 9. Caroline was beginning to get worried she was trying to over compensate after what happened at Mikaelson Publishing. Bonnie was one of the most talented and hard working people Caroline knew. But she also knew that having to leave a dream job because she was having feelings for her boss killed Bonnie in every way.
'Yeah I think my new boss is worried I don't actually have a home at this point. Thought I should probably leave on time today.' Bonnie smiled but the anxiousness stayed in her eyes.
Caroline sat down on the armchair, 'Is everything okay? Did Luca call or something?'
Bonnie shook her head, sitting back down on the couch; 'No I haven't spoken to him since we broke up.' It had been a month since the Mikaelson dinner party from hell and a lot had happened. After realizing things would never be the same Bonnie and Luca ended their relationship.
'Then what's wrong?' Caroline asked.
'I know you were going to Kol's today during your lunch break and I was just wondering-' Bonnie's eyes were trained on the sleeve of her blouse as she spoke.
'I thought you were trying to move on from the Kol thing.'
'I am.' Bonnie tried to say without her voice breaking, 'I really am. But I still want to know he's okay.'
Caroline felt torn between wanting to comfort her friend and protect her brother. She had never seen Kol so broken after a girl, she could tell by the state of his apartment that he was doing little else but working, drinking and partying. But she knew Kol would not want her relaying any of that information to Bonnie.
'He will be fine.' She finally replied. And she genuinely believed with time he would be. It was the same way she felt since her own heartbreak; she hoped that time would indeed heal all wounds.
Bonnie nodded in understanding, still wishing she could talk to him. But she knew that wasn't fair, to Kol or herself. She missed him though. The way he made her laugh, both at him and with him. Sometimes she took life too seriously but Kol always managed to show her the lighter side of things.
'You just need time. Both of you.' Caroline echoed her inner thoughts aloud to Bonnie.
Bonnie smiled, 'Thanks Care, for everything.'
'Just practicing.' She lightly patted her five-month bump.
'You're gonna be an awesome Mom.' Bonnie laughed.
'Thanks B, my Mom has been sending me daily emails with things she keeps remembering from when I was little. So I'm definitely in training mode.' Caroline smiled thinking of her mother's both hilarious and frightening baby related emails, 'You know what, it's been over an hour since I last ate. Let's change that, I'm ordering pizza!'
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'So have you fixed things?' Rebekah huffed down the phone at her older brother.
Klaus finished typing his email, clicking send as he answered, 'Fixed what exactly?' He was hoping to actually get out of work at a decent time this evening.
Rebekah clicked her tongue in anger, 'My wedding is in less than a week and you are still not speaking with Kol. And what about Caroline, are you at least speaking to her for the love of-'
'Yes, yes I am speaking to Caroline of course.' Klaus sighed. Things had been tense in the weeks following the dinner with his parents. Before that they had been in a rather good place considering their situation but after their fight things had been strained.
Rebekah continued without much provocation, 'How am I supposed to get happily married when two of my brothers aren't speaking?'
Klaus pinched the bridge of nose in frustration, 'Rebekah I haven't the foggiest idea why you are even talking to me about this in the first place. Kol was the one who started it.'
'What are you? Five? I don't care who started it, you're the older one you fix it!' She spoke in a low whisper even though her tone was full of dismay.
Klaus frowned, 'Why are you whispering?'
'I am in the tailors picking up the bridesmaids dresses, do not try to distract me from the present topic!'
Klaus rolled his eyes, 'For the last time I'm not apologizing to Kol, I did nothing wrong.'
'That's exactly what he said. Why didn't mother give me sisters?' She sighed rather dramatically before Klaus heard her tone perk up, 'Oh yes they look perfect! Okay Nik I have to go the dresses are ready, we will speak about this again tonight.'
'We really won't though. Goodbye Rebekah!' Klaus quickly hung up before his little sister could get another word in.
Rationally he knew he had to speak with Kol but the conversation with Rebekah gave him inspiration for an entirely different interaction.
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Caroline flicked through the television stations before landing on a Will & Grace rerun. Damn she loved this show.
Bonnie went to bed about an hour ago, claiming food coma related symptoms after their pizza fest. Caroline couldn't sleep though; the baby was currently doing somersaults in her stomach. It was something she thought she was hallucinating the first time it happened. And even though now it was a rather regular occurrence it still made her stupid happy every time her baby kicked.
Just as Karen was ripping into Grace's outfit of the day, Caroline heard a knock at her front door.
Caroline stood up and walked over to the door, rather surprised to see the person on the other side of threshold, 'What are you doing here?'
Klaus sighed 'Peace offering?' He held up a small brown bag.
Caroline pursed her lips, 'Depends. Does that bag contain some sort of fried food?'
'Of course.'
Caroline took a step back, 'You may enter.'
Klaus walked past her and kept going until he was standing in her small kitchen.
Caroline followed, reaching for the small brown bag, 'I probably shouldn't even have this, I've ate so much today and I'm only getting bigger by the second.'
Klaus chuckled lowly before shaking his head, 'You're perfect Caroline. You always are.'
His words caused Caroline to look up from the array of doughnuts. This was the first time they had been in a room together since the dinner party with his mother. After their fight the communication between them had mainly consisted of daily texts and emails making sure all was good with the baby.
'Why are you here?' She asked, her voice low.
Klaus sighed, 'Because I hate this. Not talking. I know we're not together but we had a good thing going before that dinner. I thought we were becoming fr-' He broke off before he says anything more.
'Friends?' Caroline offered.
'It might be too generous of a term but I think we were getting there. I want that Caroline. For us to be friends, not just for him or her.'
Caroline stood looking at him, unsure of what to say. She couldn't believe this man could still surprise her after seven years.
Klaus took her silence as a bad sign, 'I'm really trying here Caroline. It's not easy for me to talk-'
Caroline cut him off, 'I know- I can tell you're trying.' She smiled sadly at him.
Klaus let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, 'Clean slate then?'
Caroline smiled, 'I'd like that.'
They walked back out into her hallway and Caroline let out a small sound as Klaus opened her front door.
'Are you alright?' Klaus asked in concern.
Caroline laughed, 'Oh yeah it's the baby kicking. Sometimes it catches me by surprise.'
Klaus's eyes went wide, 'The baby kicks? And you can feel it?'
Caroline tries not to laugh at his expression, 'Yeah I can and as of the last few days other people can too.'
'Wow.' He replied in amazement.
'Do you wanna, I mean if you want you can feel it too?' Caroline asked hesitantly, unsure of his answer.
'Yes.' He replied earnestly, 'I mean if you don't mind.'
Caroline shook her head as she moved closed to him and the open door to the hallway.
Caroline placed his outstretched hand on her protruding stomach, moving it around until she found what she was looking for,
'Fuck.' Klaus swore when he felt the strong kick.
Caroline laughed, 'Why do I get the feeling our baby's first word is going to be a curse word.'
Klaus laughed with her, 'I will try to limit the expletives when the time comes.'
They stand there for a few moments not speaking, both just enjoying the feeling of their baby saying hello.
When they're eyes met again Klaus pulled his hand away slowly, 'I should probably get going but thank you Caroline.'
Caroline nodded in return, partially confused at his sudden departure but a incoming wave of exhaustion hits her so hard she doesn't think twice about it.
After she closed her front door, Klaus walked over to the call for the elevator, resting a hand against the cool metal as he waited. Feeling their baby kick for the first time gave him a surprising feeling of elation and even though they had finally spoken something still didn't sit right with Klaus. He never thought this is where they would end up when they first met. The memory of that night alones causes a small smile form on his face.
Over 7 years ago…
Columbia University spared no expense in their back to school fundraiser for St. Jude's Children Research Hospital. The lawn looked exactly like it did when Klaus graduated. A large stage had been constructed in front of the library with rows and rows of white folding chairs. There was a small section for guests to mingle beside a dance floor with the school's orchestra playing a medley of songs. Klaus smiled, he loved his time at the university despite his parents' desire for him to return to England for his college years. He was the first child to break that mold by not attending somewhere like Oxford or another one of England's highly ranked universities. But by the time he turned 18 America was his home, a notion Kol and Rebekah followed much to their parents' dismay. When Dean James asked Klaus to speak at the fundraiser for his alma mater there was no hesitance in his decision to accept. Mikaelson Publishing donated thousands of books to St Jude's every year, it seemed like a natural fit. That's how Klaus found himself surrounded by Columbia University professors and other alumni trading old campus stories. Not long after his old lacrosse teammate Damon Salvatore went to get them another round from the bar a different dark haired yet familiar face appeared before him.
'Niklaus Mikaelson, how in hell did you get them to let you back in here?'
'Katerina Petrova, I'm surprised to see you outdoors. Does the evening sun not burn your skin?' Klaus teased back.
Katherine rolled her eyes before opening her arms to hug her old family friend.
"So how much cajoling did your parents have to do to make you attend?" Klaus smirked knowingly.
"I don't know what you're talking about. All senior students were expected to attend." Katherine took the last sip of her drink before placing it on a passing waiter's tray.
"When has school protocol ever made you do anything Kat? I'm guessing your parents promised you a free weekend in the Hamptons house? I know you were banned as of last summer.'
Katherine shrugged with annoyance at his accurate assessment, "And a new golf cart. After it got destroyed at the last party they refused to get a new one. Until now of course."
Klaus laughed, "I'm rather disappointed that you didn't try to at least get a new car out of this."
"Hey!" Katherine feigned shock, "A small part of me wanted to support you."
Klaus raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"Well a bigger part wanted to go out drinking with my friend but hey there's always the after party right?" She grinned.
"With stuffy faculty and alumni?" Klaus joked pointing to himself and his surroundings, "I think you and your friend would have better luck elsewhere."
"You and your friend what?" A third voice joined the conversation.
Klaus's eyes moved from Katherine to the blonde now standing beside her. Something strange happened in that moment. He felt his throat constrict at the mere sight of this stranger. Her golden hued blonde hair framed her face in soft curls and her mouth formed a small smirk at the sight of Katherine. She winked at her friend conspiratorially before taking a large sip of her cocktail. Suddenly Klaus wanted to know everything about this girl and he had no idea why.
Katherine winked back at her friend, "I was wondering where you disappeared to."
"The bar duh." She replied, handing her friend a drink too.
Klaus found himself chuckling lowly at her statement and it was that very noise that made Caroline finally look up at the guy standing opposite them.
"Hi." Caroline croaked, her rather strong drink burning her throat as she spoke.
"Hi." Klaus answered immediately, unable to say much more after hearing her voice for the first time. He couldn't help but smirk at her attempt to break their eye contact by looking down into her drink.
Katherine pursed her lips for a moment, her eyes darting between the two blondes, "Right. Caroline this is Klaus Mikaelson, the reason we are at this lovely event. And Klaus this is Caroline Forbes, my best friend."
"Best friend? I didn't realize you had friends Katherine, female ones anyways." Klaus smirked.
Katherine glared, "It's a new friendship. We were assigned roommates this year."
"Well regardless it was lovely to meet you Caroline." Klaus extended his hand to shake hers.
Caroline smiled, returning his words. They shook hands, both smiling at each other as there interlocked hands slowed down their movements but never separated.
Caroline laughed before pulling her hand away as Katherine spoke, "We should probably get going."
"Of course, thank you for coming. Both of you." Klaus smiled again, his eyes meeting Caroline's before the two friends walked away.
The elevator dinged, awakening Klaus from his memories. He walked through the now open doors, hitting the ground floor button before taking out his phone and scrolling through his most recent emails.
But his mind couldn't escape the memory of that night seven years ago. As soon as he got back to his apartment that night he had texted Katherine asking her for Caroline's number to which she replied a rather blanket, 'No'. A few minutes later his phone had buzzed with a new message containing Caroline's number and a few words of warning. He had texted her immediately, never one to pretend or hesitate when he wanted something.
The elevator pinged as he reached the ground floor of Caroline's building. The memory of the night they first met coupled with feeling their baby kick together tonight stayed with him the whole drive back to his apartment.
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Guess who's back, back again? Haha well that's still a bit undecided but I just randomly wrote all of this time today and thought what the hell I will post it and see if anyone still wants to read this story. Let me know!
