A/N:

I hope you all had a very good holiday! I'm back with Chapter 24, a more serious kind of chapter. But we still have some Klaus humor and Caroline embarrassment, so we have a good show. Now on the note of peoples reactions of Klaus and Caroline's indiscretions, there will some mixed reactions, which I was expecting. Some people loved it, others were sorta of in the middle, and the there was a person who said I wrote Caroline terribly. Guys, I love my readers, and I think constructive criticism is great. But if you are going to say my writing is crap, then you can stop right there. I don't appreciate being criticized like that. If you want to give me advice, give it nicely. I'm still in high school, and working on my writing skills is one of the reasons I write fan-fiction. That and because I love you guys! So please, be respectful. I'm not motivated to write when I'm insulted.

Okay, I'm done ranting. Enjoy the chapter everybody!

Love,

Erin

(That's who I really am)

Chapter 24: Discussions, Discussions

Sunlight broke through the massive windows that were the majority of the west walls of Klaus's bedroom. I blinked once trying to adjust my vision to the sudden brightness. Pulling the down comforter around myself as I snuggled down deeper, I heard a masculine chuckle and immediately sat up in surprise.

"Whoa, love. Don't startle yourself. It's only eight in the morning." Klaus's voice radiated in my ears, and I couldn't help but grimace. This was going to be an interesting morning.

"Hi." I said, turning over to face the Original hybrid. Klaus smiled, and I couldn't help but look him down. His chest was bare, showing off his well toned abdomen and his very prominent V. A small sprinkle of golden hair decorated the top of his torso, and the view would make any girl melt.

"Do you like what you see, sweetheart?" Klaus asked, his eyebrows rising in a questioning glance. I then realized that he had totally just caught me checking him out.

"To be honest, I don't even know what I like and dislike at this exact moment." I muttered to myself. I knew Klaus could hear what I had said anyway, due to the superb vampire hearing we had both been blessed with.

"Caroline, what's wrong. We just spent what I thought was a very passion filled night with one another, and you are completely stressed." Klaus asked me worriedly.

"I'm confused, Klaus. That's what is wrong with me. I am so damn confused about everything." I said, hitting my fist against the mattress. Klaus gave me a concerned look, and I just sighed.

"Do you want to discuss what is going on between us?" Klaus asked solemnly. His jubilant personality that emitted from him previously had completely disappeared, replaced with a look of seriousness.

"That would be helpful."

After our mutual decision of discussion, we both got up and got dressed for the day. Parting ways to get ready, I headed towards the closet with a sheet wrapped securely around me. Opening the closet door and turning on the lights, I scanned over the rows of my clothing, stopping a white eyelet lace sundress that I had bought with Rebekah. Removing the hanger from the rack, I laid the elegant piece of clothing down onto the bench beside me.

Searching through my shoes, I found a pair of comfortable teal colored ballet flats. Laying those next to my selected dress, a came to my final destination of the drawers that held my undergarments. Klaus had gotten a little cheeky last night, and had destroyed the panties I had been wearing. I opened the draw and grabbed a pair of white underwear, and quickly shut the drawer back.

I changed in record time, just as a knock resounded off the closet door. Gathering the bed sheet off the floor of the closet, I tossed in the dirty clothes before reopening the closet door. I came face to face with the awaiting Klaus, who I carefully slid by on my way to the bathroom. I entered the en-suite and immediately began to brush my teeth and hair. After I finished my normal health and body routines, I did up my eyes with eyeliner and put a small amount of mascara on.

Leaving the bathroom, I went to the dresser and snatched a small teal bangle that matched my shoes off my bracelet rack. Looking around, I noticed that Klaus had retreated from the bedroom. I also smelled coffee brewing in the kitchen, and decided that was probably his location. Exiting the bedroom, I descended down the stairs at vampire speed, too lazy to take each stair one by one.

Upon entering the kitchen, I found exactly what I had expected. Klaus was pressing the keys on the professional grade espresso machine, concocting a caffeine fueled drink that could raise mountains.

"I'll take a caramel cappuccino, if possible." I said quietly. Klaus turned to look at me, and gave me a quick nod and a half smile before returning to his task.

I aimlessly wondered out to the deck off the kitchen, taking a seat at one of the three patios tables that decorated the vast area. The sun was still rising behind the pale pink tinted clouds, and I could feel the temperature slowing rising to the normal scathing Italian summer heat. My attention was still focused on the sky when the rattling of china being placed before me drew me back.

I looked up, making eye contact with Klaus as he placed my cappuccino in front of me, along with what seemed to be a blueberry scone. He then took a seat across from me, placing his own drink and scone before himself.

"I didn't know if you would be hungry or not, so I brought you a scone." Klaus said politely, and I nodded my head in thanks.

"Let's begin." Klaus said first, breaking the ice of this most awkward conversation.

"I don't really know how to start, to be honest. You have made your intentions very clear, and I understand fully what you want. What happened last night was a lapse in judgment, and will not be used in foul accusation by either of us. Now all we need is to figure out what the hell our plan is to make me less confused." I stated, and Klaus nodded his head in agreement.

"My request is that both of us forget the past indiscretions that occurred while you were under the influence of a love spell my revengeful young sister had put on you. Everything that was said, before and after the reveal be wiped clean and we form a new agreement for our interactions." Klaus laid out his terms, and I nodded in understanding.

"Continuing on to the note of Xander's death-" I spoke before Klaus interrupted me.

"Caroline, I apologize for my actions, and I swear that-" This time I was the one to cut him off.

"Klaus, I understand why you did what you did. You were protecting me. Xander was dangerous and I couldn't see past the guts and gore of it all until I really thought about your reasoning behind your actions. I forgive you." I told him, and a look of relief washed over Klaus's previously tense face.

"Now that that has been cleared up, we have one last thing to figure out. What the hell happened last night?" I asked Klaus, who let out a small chuckle.

"What I remember is very graphic, I must say. You are extremely flexible, sweetheart. And your stamina was nothing like anyone I've ever seen before. Such grace and elegance while doing some very naughty things. Caroline, you really surprised me." Klaus said, and I could feel my cheeks turning fifty shades of crimson.

"Enough! That's enough. We are not going to relive any of those activities any time soon, so please remove those images from your head." I said through a fit of laughter. I will admit, last night had been some of the best sex of my life, but I wasn't going to let Klaus get a big head.

"I promise that no one shall know of our passionate endeavors." Klaus said, smiling at a still laughing me.

"Okay. We have cleared up everything that happened in the past. But now we have to make a plan for the future. You tell you what you want first, and then I'll give you my requests." I told Klaus.

"That sounds fair." Klaus agreed, and I motioned for him to start the discussions.

"My requests include four things. First, you are to give me another chance romantically, since the first time we interacted like a couple was when you were under a spell. Second, you will continue to stay in Italy, with I providing your every need and want without refusal. Third, we will try to avoid arguing with one another on every simple little thing." Klaus spoke with a strong voice, clearly showing that what he wanted was his true desires.

"What's number four?" I asked him, realizing that he had left the fourth requirement from his requests off the listing.

"Yes, number four. This request might be a little hard to follow. But I know you have the strength and determination to follow through with something once your heart is set on it. My final request is that whenever Haley does give birth to this child, I will rightfully take my claim of responsibility as its father, as long as you do something for me." Klaus asked me, and my eyes widened with some many thoughts of what I would have to do.

"What would that task be?" I asked, my voice strained with nervousness.

"I want you to teach me how to be gentle. How to hold in my temper when I get agitated or angry at anyone. Caroline, you seem to hold some power over me, so that when you try to calm me, it actually works. I want you to teach me to treat my child with the love and tenderness you treat everybody else with. Teach me your light." Klaus spoke, and I was in awe of the favor he was asking. He wanted to love, to care, and to be a good father.

"I'm sure I can teach you that, as long as you can follow through with my requests." I agreed, and Klaus gave me one of his charming smiles.

"I have only four requests also. First, I want to give you another chance romantically also, but you also have to give me space when I am frustrated. Sometimes I just need to be left alone. So that means no constant pursuing for my affection. Second, I want to move bedrooms for the time being. Until we are actually a couple, if that shall happen, I don't want any temptations. Third, it may sound a little bratty, but I want a car. Just to borrow one of yours would be fine. That way, if I wish to treat myself to some alone time outside this villa, you will not have to accompany me as my driver. Now, my fourth request." I took a second for everything to soak in. Klaus nodded and motioned for me to continue on.

"Finally, my fourth request requires effort on both of our parts. I want you to stop being violent and quick to cause harm. I want to teach you to be a better man. Because I can't learn to love a beast; but I can learn to love a man who has kindness in his heart. All I'm asking is that we take this relationship slow. I'm willing to stand by you during this Haley ordeal, but I need to know you are all in to changing your actions. I know I need to change my ways also, learning to not so quickly judge. So I think we have our work laid out for us. Are you in?" I asked, and Klaus responded immediately.

"I am all in, sweetheart."

A/N:

So as I said it would be, this was a more serious toned chapter. My idea was to sit Klaus and Caroline down, and really have them work out their issues as adults. I was getting tired on Caroline's teenage POV, so I got to really show her maturing in her decisions. I hope you guys liked it, and if you want to review you feelings, go ahead. But as I pointed out at the beginning, SHOW KINDNESS in your words. I don't like being torn apart when I open an email with your review. Show some of Caroline's light. (Get the reference? Yeah, I know I'm cheesy.) PM me if you have some deeper feelings, because I will answer and we can discuss any confusion or ideas. Have a great day/night!

Goals:

5 reviews

3 follows

4 favorites

These are my goals for myself!

~E