By the time Klaus returned, the sun was high in the sky and the forest buzzed with activity while the Forbes' house was still and calm in sharp contrast. Approaching the porch with crunching strides, he could hear just one heartbeat inside. While Liz had been reluctant to leave her daughter after such an event, he had ensured that urgent work matters had to be seen to by the sheriff.

Opening the unlocked door gently, Klaus stepped through the threshold and into the shade. He was careful to close it silently behind him, relishing the tingling in his bones at the impatience of his wolf. It was biting, pressing against the surface, stirring up a flutter in his heartbeat and urging him to go to her. Klaus' smirked to himself, ran a hand through his hair and turned on his heels to move quietly down the corridor to her room.

She was exactly as he had left her, a vision half-covered by her bedsheets. A low rumble escaped from Klaus' chest before he caught himself, electric energy flooding through his limbs. It drew him to her, tempting him to touch and smell and taste. How inconvenient and illogical his wolf could be. And yet he found himself perching lightly upon the edge of her bed, leaning over to glimpse at her soft features. It was only when he found his hand reaching up to stroke stray hair away from her face that Klaus pushed himself up off the bed, and out of her room in a flash. Standing in the kitchen, he checked himself. His wolf was right under his fingertips telling him to claim and bite and take. Klaus pressed his forehead against the fridge, jaw tight as he swallowed down his urges.

He could hear the rustle of sheets in the next room as Caroline yawned herself awake. Thinking fast, Klaus yanked open the fridge door and hid his face in it as his eyes returned to their normal hazel colour.

Caroline practically leapt out of bed, chest bursting with energy which she was quick to link to hybrid blood. Well, that and the beautiful day outside. Padding barefoot down the hallway in her pyjamas, she felt good. Really good. "Mom?" She called, curving around the doorframe and into the kitchen.

Klaus shut the fridge quickly, pulling out bacon and eggs as he went and enjoying the way she visibly startled.

"What are you doing here? And-" Caroline squeaked, taking a step back and covering her chest where the skin was exposed by her thin tank top.

Dimples broke out on his cheeks as Klaus watched her gawk. "You need to eat, love. You had quite the trauma." Setting the ingredients on the counter, Klaus opened the cabinet under the stove. Sure enough, he pulled out the frying pan. Of course Caroline would have a logically organised kitchen.

"Because of you." She hissed, stomping back down the corridor to her room and yanking a cardigan on.

"Now now, Caroline." He called, mildly amused at his wolf's disgruntlement at her turning her back to him. "Need I remind you that if it weren't for my charity, your mother would be planning a funeral right now."

Caroline was in front of him in a flash, slapping his hand away from where it reached for the eggs. Her brow creased and she glared into his eyes, chin up and unafraid. "My mom. Where is she?"

"She's safe, sweetheart. Work called." Klaus raised an eyebrow and swerved around her to grab three eggs in one hand.

It didn't go unnoticed by her. Watching him crack them on the side of the pan, Caroline snapped back. "Don't call me that. Why are you here?"

"Believe it or not, I don't have to answer you, Caroline." Klaus moved to the bin, and then back again to lay down raw bacon strips.

As he brushed past, Caroline rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, leaning against the island. She watched him play chef for a minute. "Fine. Tell me what you want and then leave."

"What I want?" He repeated.

"Yes." She sighed. "You saved me. I owe you. What do you want?"

Klaus pulled a spatula from thin air and seemed all too focused on the food. It irritated her. How rude of him to intrude on her house, steal her food and then refuse her his full attention.

Then eyes met hers, as though he could read her mind. "An interesting take. Well in truth, I wouldn't say no to a date."

"A date. Seriously?!"

"Yes." The smile evident in his voice. "I would like a date. Tonight, at the Founder's Ball."

"I have a boyfriend." Caroline quipped.

"You have an inconvenience."

"Are you threatening him?"

Now it was Klaus' turn to roll his eyes. His teeth ground together at just how deliciously difficult she could be. "Not at all, love. I'm merely suggesting that if Tyler hadn't made me upset in the first place, you wouldn't find yourself indebted to me."

"I'm not going on a date with you."

His wolf rumbled in his bones. "Caroline." A gruff voice warned, eyes with golden flecks meeting hers.

"No! What is wrong with you-"

"Caroline." He set down the spatula.

"I can't belie-"

In a flash Klaus was in front of her, an arm on either side of her torso keeping her pinned against the counter. "Come out with me tonight." He ordered, instead of asked. Yet, he was careful not to compel her, focusing on the blush in her cheeks and the line of her lips as he tacked on a "please." In his stomach, Klaus could feel that deep pit of dread beginning to stir at her rejection.

Caroline snorted and shook her head absolutely not. Yet she sighed instead of saying no, feeling a soft kind of sadness deep in her chest. Fingertips dancing along the sleeves of her cardigan, she sighed and glanced back at him. His lips slightly parted and not terribly far away from hers, shoulders hunched as if he was trying to control himself. That look did something to her. He was so damn hot. But this can't happen. With a sharp intake of breath, she met his eyes. They were soft, pleading and all of a sudden she couldn't say what she had originally intended to. She owed him too much. "I will go to the ball." She spoke, watching as Klaus immediately grinned, the switch turning so fast that he looked like a maniac. Caroline shot her hands out to his chest, pushing him away from her to stand independently. "You are not allowed to pick me up. I will find my own way there and we can talk. It is not a date." She clarified.

Yet Klaus' grin remained as he sauntered back to the stove, flipping the contents a few times before setting it on a plate. Placing the plate in front of her, Klaus murmured an "I'll see you there," before reaching into his jacket pocket with an uncharacteristic forgetfulness and pulling out a thin blue case with a thick white ribbon wrapped around it. "And a belated happy birthday, love."

And with the wind rush of the front door shutting, he was gone. Caroline stood alone in the kitchen, glancing around with her lips parted before perching herself on a stool and reading the card attached to the present he had just handed her. "From Klaus."

While she tugged at the ribbon tails, Caroline dug into the bacon omelette with her other hand.

"He made you breakfast?!" While Caroline hadn't developed the ability to see through a telephone, she could just tell that Elena's eyebrows could not have moved any higher.

"Why are you not more concerned about the diamonds, the literal diamonds he bought me?!" Caroline hissed into her mobile.

"Klaus is pretentious and definitely has a crush on you, of course he'd buy you diamonds-" Elena drawled. Caroline scoffed at that, as if 1,000 year old hybrids had crushes like high schoolers. "-but make you breakfast?! He's up to something."

Caroline sighed, sitting down on her bed and stroking over the jewellery case absentmindedly. She had stared at the sparkling gems for long enough before snapping the case shut. Of course she couldn't actually accept the gift, even if it was totally gorgeous and would probably pay for her college tuition. "I know. But I don't know what."

"I don't like this, Care. Are you sure you have to go tonight?"

"Elena, it's a founding family event and I'm Miss Mystic Falls. Yes, I have to go. And so do you."

It was Elena's turn to sigh this time. "But I mean with him? It's not too late to just call Matt."

"Matt's going with Rebekah." The 'god, what is he thinking?' was left unsaid.

"No way-" Elena started, but was rudely cut off by the doorbell.

Caroline sat up sharply. No one had texted her that they were coming over, and her mother never came home early on a working day. Odd. "Give me a second. I have to get that."

It was a beautiful day, and Caroline was looking forward to sitting outside and feeling the sun on her skin. With every moment that ticked by, the reality set in - she almost died yesterday. Well, ceased to exist, at least. That thought sat heavy with her, and the whole situation felt raw, complicated and sickening. She didn't want to deal with it yet. And so Caroline ignored it, skipping down the hallway, phone glued to her ear. Approaching the glass pane, she found a smiling brunette with a wide face and too many bags hooked on her arms.

Opening the door, Caroline was sure to take a step back, as far into the house as would be socially acceptable.

"Hi! You must be Caroline!" She yapped happily, brushing past the blonde and quickly dropping the bags. An inhale confirmed - definitely human then.

"Uh, yeah. And you are?"

"Stacy! And this is Addison." Stacy turned back to her, remarkably springy on her feet despite her small frame. As Caroline looked around for an accomplice, Stacy stomped back to the door and yelled out an "Addison?!"

Within just a few seconds a second brunette rushed through the door, this time carting two sizeable suitcases behind her which she parked in the middle of the hallway, effectively blocking the way out.

Caroline looked between them. Vapidly, they stared back with matching smiles. Neither of them moved. Gently, the blonde took a step back and into her house, already thinking about the likelihood of the back door being unlocked for a quick escape. "I'm sorry, why are you here?"

"You weren't expecting us?" The second said, her brow furrowing in confusion, before looking to Stacy.

"We're your team." Stacy answered, maintaining her grin. She spoke confidently and clasped her hands behind her back proudly.

It took a second for the words to sink in. Caroline noted how neither of them moved a muscle - they were definitely not there to kill her. "My team?!"

"Skin, nails, hair and makeup. For tonight? Your team?" Addison explained, an uncertain tone taking over as her eyes narrowed. As Caroline held her silence and confused expression - she never could hide her emotions - Addison looked equally as puzzled.

Eventually the blonde shrugged apologetically. "Who sent you here?"

Stacy fielded that one. "I don't remember." So she was compelled then. Fantastic.

"Are you being paid?" Caroline sighed, rubbing her temples and frankly wishing she'd never woken up at all.

"Yes. It's non-refundable." Stacy smiled sweetly.

"You're sure? He's definitely paying you?"

Addison jumped in then. "Yes."

Caroline sighed, before gathering herself and stepping forwards with a renewed sense of purpose. "And did he give you a contact number at all?"

It had been a quiet day - for him at least - mostly wandering through the woods and trying to avoid both the bustle of party-planning Elijah was conducting in the manor and Caroline's phone calls. Klaus spent his time looking at his new scar, risen and completely unmissable on his forearm. He wasn't quite sure how to feel about it. Of course, there are worse things than bites to have permanently marked on your skin and Klaus was no stranger to tattoos while he was alive, and yet the mark irked him. She was supposed to have one too - his teeth permanently etched on her skin. Klaus supposed he'd never really like his mark until he saw it mirrored in hers. Its pearly sheen contented his wolf, who reared up whenever Klaus stroked over it. He'd been trying his best to communicate with his wolf - to get it to speak in plain English again, or even give him decipherable emotions. It had resisted, and had been resisting hour after hour. He could feel it settle against his bones, very much awake but unwilling to cooperate. Regular werewolves only felt the split between them and their wolves on full moons, and his hybrids never felt it - of this he was sure. So why did his wolf feel so foreign?

And so Klaus had torn a few trees apart and returned home before nightfall. If this was his curse, he would find a way to undo it. Yet as guests filtered into the manor, it was the last thing on his mind. Elijah had done a spectacular job from the catering to the decor, and already a number of locals had come up to schmooze with he and his siblings. It was entertaining in truth, the way humans fell over themselves to get close to them. Klaus was on his third glass of wine, listening to the town treasurer explain the current funding situation to Elijah when he felt her step into his property.

It was an immediate warmth in his chest, and then in his wrist, only increasing as he travelled through the throngs of townsfolk to the front door. Sure enough, she was only a few steps past the threshold when he caught her eye. He could feel his wolf now, right up against his skin and positively preening. She was stunning in the dress he had chosen for her, with her hair tied back exposing clear skin and sparkling diamonds.

Caroline held his gaze until he was just a step away from her. Throughout the day her jitters had only increased, and now standing in front of him it took all of her focus to not shake like a leaf. It should have been easy to relax, what with the manicure, pedicure, hair styling, makeup artistry, massage and on top of it all having the perfect dress sent to her house (though she'd never admit it), but Caroline couldn't relax in the knowledge that it was Klaus who did all that for her. In fact, it set her on edge.

"Good evening." He murmured.

With the deep breath Caroline inhaled came the smell of him. Spiced leather permeating from his pulse point, and god she wanted a bite. She'd already eaten a few hours before, and so her instant hunger jolted through her skin like electricity. "I need a drink." She said in his direction, quickly walking past him to avoid another jolt of hunger.

It was only when she had a glass in hand that she felt a presence behind her. Without turning around, Caroline just knew.

"Stacy called." Klaus murmured as he stepped up to her side at the bar. He glanced down at her face, though he hoped to have a far closer inspection of the work he'd paid for later. "She said that you were a model client."

Caroline didn't turn to him, instead keeping her gaze firmly on her wine glass as she replied. "So you're checking up on me now? Getting a report?"

"On the contrary, I didn't ask her to call me."

"But you compelled her to come to my house."

Klaus' dimples were on full display now. "I paid good money to have her fit you in."

That was when Caroline set her glass on the bar and squared her shoulders to look at him. She couldn't deny that he looked gorgeous, but then again she never could say no to a man in a tux. Ignoring the flutterings in her stomach, she replied "So she told me. Why?"

She watched as Klaus shrugged one shoulder, setting his glass next to hers and leaning up against the bar. "Because I knew that you'd send her away if I didn't."

Even against the bustle of the room, the soft string quartet playing in the far corner and the clinking of glasses as the bartenders danced around one another, Caroline could hear the honesty in his voice. In truth, she'd loved being pampered, even if it had meant cancelling on the shopping trip with Elena and Bonnie she'd been planning. She'd loved not having to make all of the decisions, and of course while she had still specified to each stylist exactly what she wanted, they had delivered on her expectations and then exceeded them.

Eyes wandering down the sharp edges of his jawline, Caroline tried to wrap her head around his words, but before she could muster a response he held out his hand. "May I have this dance?"

Klaus held his hand steady, even as her eyes darted around the room to see others pairing up. Tentatively, she slipped her hand - her freshly manicured hand, he noted - into his. Immediately Klaus felt the warmth, but above all, he felt the electricity which burst out over his skin when it met hers. He turned away, sure that his eyes must be at least partially golden with the closeness of his wolf, and god it took everything in him to reign it in enough to lead her out onto the dance floor. Taking a deep breath as the music started up, Klaus turned to face her taking her waist with his other hand.

She watched him with curiosity, slightly pouted lips and a furrowed brow he wished to smooth beneath his fingertips. Klaus said the first thing to come to mind, as he led them absentmindedly through the other dancing couples. "I'm glad you came."

Truth be told, Caroline was a little flustered with the ease with which he was moving her, a gentle pressure on her waist which steered her expertly. His words barely registered, but thinking on her toes Caroline replied, "Well it was either caviar or sympathy casseroles."

Klaus smirked, pulling her a smidgeon closer before his smile evaporated to broach the topic which had been playing on his mind. "I heard about your father." He murmured into her ear, narrowly avoiding a collision with Rebekah and her human date. He felt her fingers tightening around him, so loosened his grip as to give her more leeway. Their eyes met, and Klaus knew it was just a step too far. Her eyes were wide, like a startled deer before it sprints away. Klaus opened his mouth to sooth her, but was cut off.

"Don't." She bit, but the venom wasn't directed at him. Everything was just too raw, too painful for her right now. She could feel her heart pounding as she tact on a "seriously." Watching as he nodded softly, Caroline felt a little stronger, more powerful at being able to shut down a conversation.

Yet Klaus always surprised her, and as he twirled her around she caught the dimples re-appear on his cheeks. "Very well. Onto more mannered subjects then, like how ravishing you look in that dress." He spoke as though he was commenting on the weather, and Caroline felt the smile curl on her lips. She was blushing - she always did when an attractive man gave her a compliment. A genuine compliment, not the creepy cat-calling stuff she had grown accused to.

It felt a lot like winning, watching her struggle to contain a very obvious grin. Klaus' wolf was content and coherent now - close to the surface but quite happy to just hold her. Caroline looked away first, noting how pleased with himself he was. "I didn't really have time to shop."

"And the bracelet I gave you, whats your excuse for wearing that?" Klaus pulled her closer once again, tilting his head slightly. He'd noticed as soon as she was in his view - to his wolf, it felt of the upmost importance. And sure enough, there was no more childish and dulled silver chain on her wrist, but instead sparkling diamonds which caught the light with every step they danced. His bracelet. Not Tyler's. And yes, that made him and his wolf preen a little.

In truth, Caroline had pulled off Tyler's chain the second she'd heard his voicemail about leaving town. Because of course Tyler ran, Tyler had been running from his problems for all his life. And even last night when he had literally almost killed her, Tyler was running away and playing the victim. She knew that it wasn't his choice, and yet Caroline couldn't find it in herself to forgive him yet. She also couldn't find it in herself to explain to Klaus that Tyler had abandoned her, and the newly gifted diamonds went perfectly with the dress he'd chosen for her. Instead, she smiled gently, meeting his eyes once again.

"You know, you're quite the dancer." Klaus hummed, pulling her off to the outskirts of the dance floor now. Caroline almost rolled her eyes, as the string quartet launched into what had to be the final beats of the song.

"Well, I've had training." She offered as he spun her under his arm. "I happen to be Miss Mystic Falls."

Klaus caught her with both hands against her waist as a small round of applause grew from the crowd around them. "I know." He murmured. God, he wanted nothing more than to tighten his arms around her, breath in her air and keep her close, but the hands she sat on his chest suggested that that may not be an option.

She stared at him for a minute, completely oblivious to the people moving around them. Twice her lips threatened to say something, before closing again. Eventually, Caroline stepped back from him, letting their hands fall with a muttered "I need some air," before she brushed past his shoulder and towards the open doors to the back garden.

Klaus let her, even counting out a ten second head-start before he followed.