0o 5 o0
For the love of God, Caroline honestly didn't understand why people were smitten with this Hope kid. Klaus was obsessed to get his child back and Elijah would kill anyone who dared to cross line. The blonde doubted if Elijah had given up his personal life in the name of Hope's wellbeing.
She was just like any other average kid. Innocence and a set of adorable puppy-dog eyes were the assets. One blink at adults, they would melt down right away.
Whatever.
Caroline came up with a plan to avoid the guards and reunite father and daughter. She said she would take Hope to an animated movie. It wasn't easy to convince Elijah, but Caroline told the bodyguards would get them more attention than required. Moreover she was armed and that's all assurance he needed.
Until that day she thought Elijah wasn't aware of her previous work—which had hanging out with bad guys and stuff—then she got her answer.
Tyler.
Ignoring the free publicity he had given for her, Caroline determined to get the shit done and return to her bed.
"Thank you, Ms. Forbes, for taking me—"
"Alright!" In a clearly annoyed tone, the blonde sang. "You call me Caroline or Care, I call you Hope, okay?" Despite not taking her gaze off the road as she drove, Caroline could feel the toddler's bafflement in the air. She understood she had to speak in Hope's language. "That's how friends call each other." A weird laugh escaped her and met the baby eyes. "Aren't we friends?"
Hope's snicker was delightful, out of purity—like the early morning sun.
That's why she would say kids were dangerous.
"Caroline! Look!" Hope pointed at kiddie train.
The blonde's gaze brushed over things and people around her in the mall. There was no sign of Klaus. She had texted him about her plan. He would show up in any minute.
There was time for their animated movie to start. And Klaus wasn't anywhere to be found.
"You like to go for a ride?"
"I would love to!"
Caroline went to buy a ticket and throw Hope inside the train with bunch of other kids. It started off with an excited ta-ta from Hope. Tiredly the blonde waved back.
She couldn't help but smile looking at these tiny creatures. All of them were glitters, full of gold.
By the time she heard his voice, the train covered half of the distance. "I did make you wait, didn't I?" Klaus crooned beside her.
Ruffled hair made him ten times hotter. He was in causal body fitting black tee. Deadpanned, she looked back at the mini-express.
"Where is Hope?"
She thrust chin up at the train's direction.
Quickly he scanned the kids in that moving. He ignored Caroline totally while stepping the other way.
"Caroline!" Hope's incited tone hit them both as the train finished first round. The blonde twitched mouth when the kid signalled back.
A ghost of smile was seen on his face, watching his daughter with admiring awe.
Caroline could feel jealousy and hurt surrounding her. Not because Klaus gave attention to Hope, but Caroline never saw that look in her father's eyes.
Not even once.
Instead Bill had used her for doing his dirty works. Desperate for his affection, she had done nonviable and inappropriate. When she figured out her father was one twisted man, she had left him.
But it wasn't the end of their relation—he was showing up in her life. And she was running away.
Hope's lively giggles brought Caroline back to the world of living. "Did you see me?" The kid hugged her limbs, making her flinch. "It was awesome!"
It was a fucking train ride.
Caroline patted on Hope's head awkwardly before she peeled away. After a while, she remembered Klaus' presence. He was still observing his daughter as he neared them, making the kid to glance in his way.
Hope looked between the adults questioningly.
"Hope, this is Klaus." Caroline muttered, not being sure how to reveal facts to the little girl, not being sure how she would take them in. "Uh, he is uh—"
"Your friend?"
"Yes!" Caroline accepted. "Yes, he is a friend."
"Hello." Hope greeted.
Klaus rigidly said, 'hello' back at her with wide eyes.
Was he tense? Caroline convinced herself that he was. Maybe he was not ready to interact? Or why he would have pestered Caroline all these days? Groaned the other part of her mind.
Hope observed him tilting head just like her father. She had Klaus' mannerisms. Like a lot.
Aw, ad-or-able.
Caroline inhaled tiredly, trying not to wonder how they would interact further. Moreover she was amused to see the grumpy don struggling to interact with his child for the first time.
"Caroline's friend will make you my friend, too?"
He was your father, silly girl, and would he die before he touched you. She knew Klaus was going to protest from being called anything other than dad. But Caroline saw Klaus responding to his little girl.
"I can be your friend, yes." He sounded like he was speaking to himself. Then he smiled, kneeling in front his daughter, and reached for her palm to kiss behind. "Nice to meet you, Hope."
The little girl giggled and her cheeks blushed to pink. "Thank you!"
A smile ghosted on Caroline's face, as she lingered away, keeping an eye on their conversation. She could have hardly found who was actual baby. Klaus seemed to take baby steps towards Hope; he was trying to understand how to keep up with a kid, with his kid. And for a moment he was lost in Hope's world. Then he returned attention to Caroline and gave her curt nod.
Something about his smile told he was genuinely happy. Caroline felt her heart skip two beats at least.
Good.
So, work was done?
He would not bother her.
Hope spoke to her. "All of us should watch the movie."
Klaus had no option other than giving in.
Caroline did not bother to have company that evening. She simply wished to have drink before sleep. It seemed fair after spending wonderful time with father and daughter all day and getting Hope back to her prison safely.
She came out to drink and stay alone, while earlier incidents replayed in her head.
She couldn't help an eye-roll when she noticed familiar presence.
"What, don't I get some time alone?" she muttered without a look in his direction.
"Someone's in bad mood." Marcel sang, nudging at her arm.
She did not comment on that. As soon as she was done, she would go away.
"Come on, tell me. What's the matter?" he stressed. Caroline forced to look at his concerned face. "Klaus and you are still not on good terms?"
"Good or not, I don't care." Her reply was sharp. "My account has been credited with first installment."
"Hmm."
Though he did not comment, she could plainly feel his mockery. And she absolutely loathed it. Without a glance, she flipped a finger at him. Marcel chuckled as a response.
"You know, in all these years I worked with him I actually saw him smile." He said with no humor. "Hope brought smile to his face and you made it possible."
"You're making it sound like Klaus could not meet Hope without my help." She threw back at his grinning face. "Remember, he was ready to kill me if I did not give in to his whining."
"Maybe." Marcel shrugged. "But you decided to take up the offer. Therefore, you became the reason."
Man, was he different.
"For how long you knew him?" Caroline changed the topic quickly.
"Long enough to understand his intentions and predict his moves." He replied smoothly. After a moment of silence, he continued. "Klaus picked me up when I was left defenseless. He had no reason, but he did.
"I was confused because random act of kindness was not expected from someone like him. Since then my loyalty is with him."
Caroline twitched her mouth while thinking. "What were you before that?"
Marcel was quiet. Quiet for so long that she thought he would not reply.
"A cop who was appointed to catch him."
She snorted. "He lent hand for his hunter. How kind of him."
Marcel shook his head, smiled at his feet. "That was not the exact scenario. However, we had each other's back since then."
She buzzed, wondering why Klaus decided to help Marcel.
"Interesting." Marcel purred, fetching her out her thoughts.
Caroline watched him as he pointed something across the room.
Klaus was in the club already, which she did not know, and he seemed a little cranky and distant as usual. Unexpectedly, he met her casual stare and his posture changed all of sudden.
Alert, his mouth twisted to the slightest giving her an impression that he smiled. But he did not. Slowly he averted eyes to Marcel and gave a curt nod before he focused back on her.
His expression-she failed to make quite out of it. Honestly, she was a bit curious when he tilted head and smile ghosted on his face.
Then gradually he progressed to private cabin.
"It has been a while since someone has gotten under his skin, you know." Marcel passed a comment.
"Oh, pleased to know."
But she was not a saint either.
A soft growl escaped her lips as she made up her mind after Marcel left for meeting someone. Through the crowd she walked to the cabin Klaus was in and opened the door without any hesitation.
He looked her from the guy he was speaking to. One more time she impeded his work, but she did not give two flying fucks about it. Surprisingly he was not pissed off. He had this impassive look before he asked the guy to leave.
She declared as she closed the distance slowly. "I tried, okay? To get you out off my mind. But..."
She stood in front of him inches away, waiting for small signal from this guy who seemed like he was about to reject. And when she contemplated whole scene, she moved back.
"You know what, forget it. Another impulse..."
Almost she turned to go on her way when he quickly grasped her elbow and said. "How about we discuss your impulses?"
Caroline felt the rush, and one look at this guy's face she got her answer.
"In leisure, more intimately."
Then a smile appeared on his face which she mirrored gradually. Everything about them was wild and raw. And she exactly knew what was going to happen next.
0o 5 o0
Almost one year, lol. How y'all? Please review =)
