CHAPTER THREE

Mystic Falls, Virginia

Caroline's phone begins to ring. Once, twice, three times. She takes a deep breath and presses the answer button. "Speak" she says mimicking his earlier greeting.

"Sweetheart, I'm sorry."

"For?"

"Not recognizing your angelic voice immediately."

"And?"

"Speaking so harshly to you and not giving you a proper chance to explain why you were calling. Screaming at you then hanging up on you. I swear it will never happen again." Klus is met with a silence so deafening, he fears he's hurt her beyond repair. So pushing on he continues, "Caroline, I know I hurt you. How can I acquit myself? I'll do anything….give anything if you will just forgive me this once."

"I shouldn't. I should refuse to speak to you for the next fifty years…"

"A fitting punishment for my transgression."

"But-"

"Yes, Love?"

"But, I don't think I could go the next fifty minutes without talking to you. Despite what an absolute ass you were tonight. So, yes. I forgive you...Nik."

Klaus closes his eyes and releases a breath he didn't know he was holding in. Relief washing throughout his entire body. "Thank you my Love."

"Nik?"

"Yes, my Love?"

"How could you confuse my voice with Rebekah's? We sound nothing alike."

"She had been pestering me all day, called too many times to count. I simply assumed incorrectly it was her yet again."

"Okay, I'll buy that since I have personal experience dealing with her never-ending phone calls when we were on the dance committee. But, there's this new invention you are apparently unfamiliar with...CALLER ID!!"

"In truth, I didn't even look at the screen before answering. However, in my limited defense, you also called me NIk, instead of the usual Klaus and I'm afraid my temper got the best of me. Am I still forgiven?"

"You're still forgiven, but you were the one who insisted I call you "Nik."

"Only at night." he reminded her. "Caroline, why did you call me this evening?"

"Hello, it is night. No sun outside kinda a dead give away." she said sarcastically.

"Sweetheart, you're stalling. Has something happened? Are you hurt? Do you need some more of my blood? Your supply usually lasts longer.." and then he had a terrible thought. "You are still drinking it? Klaus's rapid barrage of questions goes unanswered. He heard her breath become heavy. Suddenly, Caroline starts sobbing uncontrollably.

"Caroline, talk to me…" Trying to be patient Klaus keeps his voice even and in a soothinging tone but the longer it takes for her to respond the quicker he starts to panic. Finally Caroline begins to speak with a voice so broken its almost unrecognizable which only added to his concern for the baby vampire.

"N-NIk d- do you remember the promise you made me?"

"And which of my many promises are you referring to my Love?" Caroline gave a small smile. She couldn't help it whenever he said "My Love" instead of just his usual Love. "Not the one from my graduation...but the other one. The promise you made me in the woods. So I would give you my confession."

"Yes Caroline. I remember it vividly. You were quite specific as to the terms. Klaus' voice suddenly took on a cold and detached tone, uncertain where exactly this conversation was headed.

Flashback*

" So the quarterback has been saved. What now?"

"Don't you have a dying girl to go punish for all her sins?"

"I do. But I won't. For you."

"So you came all the way to Mystic Falls just to back off when I ask you to?"

"No, I came all the way to Mystic Falls to gloat over a corpse to be. As you so poetically put it. But I will leave minus the gloating in return for one small thing."

"And what is that?"

"I want your confession."

"My confession? I didn't do anything. Confession about what?"

"Me. As soon as we're done here, I'm gonna walk away. And I'm never coming back. You'll never have to look me in the eye and cover our connection with hostility and revulsion. You'll never again have to loath the darkest parts of yourself that care for me in spite of all i've done. I will be gone, and you will be free. I just….i want you to be honest with me."

"I'm in college, I'm building a life for myself. I have plans and a future and things that I want, and none of those things involve you. Ok! None of them."

"I see."

"No you don't because, yes, I cover our connection with hostility. Because yes, I hate myself for the truth. So if you promise to walk away like you said and never come back. Then, yes. I will be honest with you. I will be honest about what I want."

"I will walk away and never come back, I promise."

"Good."

End Flashback*

"I need you to break it. I need you to break your promise. I need you to come home, please." Caroline continued, "I know I have no right to ask you to leave your kingdom. Leave your family, leave Hayley and the ba-baby. but i'm asking anyway. Pease Niklaus." Oh how he loved to hear the way his full name sounded falling from his loves lips. To him it was sweeter than honey. The way she said Niklaus almost reverently.

"Sweetheart, as much s i would love to see you. Now is not the right time. I'm in the middle of a war. Enemies are attacking from three sides. The Crescent Wolves, the Quarter Witches and Marcellus' vampires. I can't leave, there's too much at stake. It's not just my kingdom Love. you are this city's Queen, whether they know it or not. "

Thinking quickly klaus suggests another option. "I have an idea, why, why not come to New Orleans. Spend a few days, or weeks here. A small sabbatical. We can be together then, yes? I'll make all the necessary arrangements tonight and by morning you will be in my arms once again. Most importantly you will be safe."

"NO, I - i can't, i can't leave"

"If you are worried about missing your classses dont be. I will send one of my men to compell your professors. Your grades will not suffer. Everything and everyone will be there waiting when you return. Your friends will hardly notice your absence. Your mother however, might be a bit trickier but all will be well. I swear it, Sweetheart." Klaus assuses her.

"NO, IT WONT!! No one will help me. My friends wont help me. I need you to help me!! Please NIklaus." Caroline was spiraling. Hardly making any sense.

"I'll always help, what do you need my Love?" Klaus just needed to keep her talking long enough to figure it out himself or for her to explicitly explain the situatuon.

"I can't count on Elena or Stefan and ofcourse Damon wont help. You know, because he's Damon. Even Bonnie refuses to help just because it violates some stupid Witches code or whatever. And she only breaks that rule when it comes to saving Elena or Damon or anyone else who's last name is Gilbert or Salvatore."

"Breathe, Sweetheart."

"I can't. I cant breathe. I cant lose her, not yet. She's dying Nik!!! She doesnt deserve to die. She's a good person. I, I just need more time. You're the only one I can trust to help me. My "friends" wont even try. I have to save her."

"I'm not exactly the hero type, but for you..I will try. Whom am I to help you save?:

"Save my Mom. Break your promise. Come home to me, please."

"I'm on my way. I'll be home soon my Love."

CHAPTER THREE