Hello lovelies! How are we? Sorry that it has taken so long to update this story, I kind of lost my muse after a couple of the reactions I got from the last part. But I finally I got it done and here we are so I had to update for Klaroweek on AU day. I hope it is worth the wait.

First Birthday Party

Two days later, Klaus found himself back at the Forbes house albeit in a much different mood. Gone was the anger and rage he'd previously been it's place was regret and a bit of nervousness if he had to admit it to himself. He hadn't seen nor spoken to Caroline since he had stormed out of her house after their fight and he wasn't entirely sure how she might take his presence.

After Enzo had left that night, he had run and rerun the conversation in his head, his mind creating one scenario after the other of the nature of their relationship, each worse than the other until he was stewing in jealousy that he had acted out rashly when he finally spoke to Caroline. It wasn't until the fog of jealousy cleared later in the night that he realized that he let his past relationships influence his present one with Caroline. Klaus thought to call her or show up on her doorstep dozens of times but had never been able to complete the call or make it out his door before he backed out.

Determined not to do that again, Klaus opened his door and got out of his car, retrieving the two large packages in the backseat before making his way his way to the front door.

The chime of the doorbell had barely quieted before the door swung open revealing a startled Caroline. "Klaus."

"Hello Caroline." Klaus greeted. "You look surprised to see me."

"I am," She admitted, a bit of hesitance in her voice. "Considering how things were the last time you were here."

"I might not have left on good terms, but it is Will's birthday. I told you that I would be here and I am not one to go back on my word." Klaus said before adding. "And, I wanted to be here."

He saw Caroline's gaze soften just slightly at his statement and looked as if she was about to say something however before she could, he heard her mother calling for her from the kitchen. Pursing her lips for a moment like she did when she was weighing options, Caroline said. "I need to see what she needs, she's handling the food and I don't want something to be wrong."

"It is fine, love. I'm not going anywhere." He assured her, the words holding a deeper
meaning for him and he hoped that she knew that. He didn't get a chance to find out because she was gone before he got a chance to see her reaction.

Klaus looked at the other people gathered for the party; his gaze glancing over Enzo's face, refusing to show any type of irritation at the other man's presence until his eyes fell on the only other familiar faces in the group, his sister and Stefan, Rebekah glaring at him irately. He wasn't surprised that she was upset with him; he had been ignoring her phone calls since his argument with Caroline, not wanting to be lectured by his sister. Though it looked as that was going to be unavoidable now. "Stefan, Bekah."

"Don't Bekah me, you ass and act as if you haven't been avoiding me." She snapped.

"I've been busy sister, my life does not revolve around being at your disposal," He countered.

"I might believe that if you had only been dodging my calls but you wouldn't even answer the door when I came to your house yesterday." Rebekah argued.

"I didn't answer my door because I wasn't at home," Klaus said truthfully. He had gone out to exchange the gift he had bought for Will; it had been too similar to the toy that had driven him crazy on the night he'd baby sat for the boy for his liking. Instead he picked up something else that he thought Will might enjoy a bit more.

"Likely story." She replied, eyeing him as she tried to decide whether to believe him or not.

"Bekah, give him a break." Stefan interjected. "It can't be easy for him to be here right now."

"If he wasn't acting like a jealous wanker, he would be in there with Caroline instead of out here with us wouldn't he?" Rebekah asked.

"Yet you wonder why I haven't picked up the phone whenever you've rang me." Klaus muttered though not as low as he thought considering the way that his sister's eyes narrowed even more.

"Well maybe if you had, or called me in the beginning, I could have told you that you had nothing to worry about with Enzo." She declared. "He might act flirty and charming, but it is all talk, nothing more."

"So you are familiar with him?" Klaus asked, surprised.

"Yes, I had the...pleasure of meeting him before you ever became involved with Caroline when he came to work to see her. Apparently they met on her first day of college and became fast friends. And as annoying as he can be, Caroline said he is deeply loyal. He was there for her when she found she was pregnant, even gave that bloke Tyler a thrashing when he left her and Will." Rebekah explained. "There is nothing between them but friendship Nik. As a matter of fact, when I broached the subject, I believe her response was 'Would you date that?'"

Klaus watched as his sister's face change from irritation to a mixture of sadness and empathy taking it's place. "Don't let that red headed witch of a woman ruin what is between you and Caroline. Not every woman is like her."

"I know." Klaus responded, his attention on Caroline who had just reappeared in the room, Will in her arms as she spoke to her guests, informing them of the waiting food and inviting them to partake in it. "Why do you think I'm here after all? To fix this."

/

The party seemed to be a success; almost everyone who she had invited had come, Will loved his gifts, the food had been a hit and so far, the early nap seemed to have helped keep Will from any kind of meltdown thanks to all of the excitement. That was a win in her book.

Looking over at the group of children from his playgroup, Caroline noticed a certain blonde curly haired birthday boy was not with them. Hearing his familiar giggle, her eyes sought him out and located him quickly, he was with Klaus. Situated on Klaus' lap, her son looked very cozy and content if the big smile on his face was anything to go by.

Klaus was reading to Will from a large cardboard book, one Caroline recognized as a new one that he had been given today. They were both quite animate in their reading, the book itself containing various toys within to entertain its reader and Caroline couldn't help but laugh quietly as the two turned dials, honked horns or spun wheels.

Though she was still upset with him and his behavior the other night, Caroline felt her anger at him weakening even more than it already had. Finding him on her doorstep had surprised her, she had just assumed he would stay at home, so his appearance spoke a lot to her.

Caroline had dealt with jealous boyfriends before, Tyler had always acted insanely jealous whenever guys had paid a bit too much attention to her. Something they had fought about quite a bit up until the end. Whereas things with Klaus had been the opposite. Sure they were both guilty of glaring at various members of the opposite sex when they had cast an admiring glance at the other one, but that was it.

So Klaus' reaction to Enzo's presence the other day had shocked her to say the least. While she had no doubt that Enzo had done all that he could to fan the flames of Klaus' anger, something she had spoken to him about, it had still been a bit extreme. Which was why after her temper had cooled, she had begun to think that there was a deeper issue behind his outburst than what had been said. That didn't mean he was going to get a free pass to be a jealous asshole, but it put a halt on the fury of her anger.

When Klaus' attention suddenly turned away from the book and Will, and met her eyes, Caroline couldn't help the blush that came across her cheeks at being caught watching them. Yet she didn't drop her gaze, instead she continued to stare into his blue eyes, ones she could see held a bit of regret and apology. They held each other's gaze for several moments before Enzo appeared at Klaus' side.

Caroline watched as her friend spoke briefly with Klaus, before Klaus removed Will from his lap. He said something to her son before pointing to her, sending the toddler running in her direction. She gathered him up in her arms, while keeping an eye on the two men, at least until they left her sight by going into the kitchen.

/

The tension was thick between the two men as they walked into the small kitchen that was blessedly empty at the moment. Klaus watched as Enzo made his way over to the larger cooler full of drinks, pulling out two cans of soda before holding out one to him in offering. "I wish it was something stronger, but I'm sure that Gorgeous would have my dangling bits for earrings if she caught me drinking at Will's party so caffeine will have to do."

Klaus took the proffered can, simply nodding his thanks before opening it and taking a drink without saying a word. He was waiting to see what the other man wanted to talk to him about, though he had an idea. Thankfully Enzo seemed to not be one to drag things out, getting straight to the point immediately.

"I wanted to speak to you for a moment because I wanted to apologize that if the other night, I might have insinuated that my relationship with Caroline was anything but platonic." Enzo declared.

Klaus studied the other man for a minute, mulling over his words before asking. "Caroline put you up for this, didn't she?"

"Of course she did." Enzo confessed. "I thought she was asking a bit much, I was just testing you to see if you were worth her time, but she didn't see it that way and if I wanted her to ever speak to me again, I had to apologize. Her words, not mine, so here we are."

"You must take her threat very seriously then." Klaus said.

Enzo's eyebrows raised up as if to ask if he was joking. "Anyone who doesn't is a damn fool, present company included. She's like the perky blonde angel of death when she is on a tirade, and I for one do not like being the focus of it."

Taking another gulp of his drink, the dark haired man continued. "She is one of the few people that could make me apologize for something I've done, and only because I hate seeing anyone hurt her, myself included."

"Is this where you give me the 'hurt them and I hurt you speech'?" Klaus asked.

"Well you've already done that, haven't you mate?" Enzo replied, a look on his face that told Klaus that if he didn't know exactly what had happened after he left between himself and Caroline the other night, he had a good idea. However before Klaus could say anything in return, Enzo continued. "Caroline has a huge heart, I'm sure you've noticed. Even after that asshole Tyler left her and Will, she wants to see the good in everyone, especially those she cares about. And from what I've seen, she cares about you. So stop being a prat and make up with her."

"Shouldn't you be warning me away from her?"

"And have Caroline even more pissed off at me? I don't think so." Enzo declared. "I will give you a bit of advice though, forget any kind of grand gesture. Apologies with a bit of groveling work well with her, honesty is the best policy with her."

Klaus nodded in understanding before he turned to leave, only stopping to say. "I'll do whatever it takes to make it up to her, and to make her happy."

"Then we'll definitely be seeing each other in the future." Enzo said, saluting Klaus with his drink before silently toasting him.

/

When the only people left at the party were adult friends and family, Caroline put Will down for a nap. Thankfully the exciting day had wiped him out and he went down easy. She resisted the urge to climb into her own bed and instead headed back out to her guests, only to run into a hard chest just outside her door. It was obvious that he had been waiting for her and she couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. They had been civil to each other but there was tension that hadn't been there before.

"Rebekah and Stefan left, they wanted me to let you know." Klaus stated.

"Oh, okay." Caroline said as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. Trying to think of something to say, she said the first thing that came to mind. "Thank you, for Will's gift. I'm sure he will love it."

"Yes, well I noticed that he seemed to have a talent for painting." Klaus stated, a small smirk on his lips that told Caroline there was more to that sentence than she was aware of. Nevertheless, she knew that her son would get a lot of entertainment out of the little easel, crayons, and watercolors that Klaus had gotten him. She hoped that Klaus would be the one to show him how to use them.

They stood there for a few moments before the smirk fell off his face and became serious. "I wanted to talk to you about the other night and to tell you I'm sorry. I let my temper get away from me and turned into…"

"A possessive asshole?" Caroline finished for him.

"Sounds about right." Klaus admitted. "I overreacted and said some things I didn't mean."

"Yes, you did. Especially considering if you had simply asked me about Enzo, hell you could have called me right after he left even, then it could have been easily avoided." She sighed. "I hope you believe me now that there is nothing but friendship between us."

"I do. Rebekah and Enzo both talked to me. I still don't know if I like him, but I know that you were telling the truth. I knew it that night but I let previous experience cloud my judgment." He declared.

Nodding her head in understanding, Caroline voiced the question that had been on her mind. "It was your ex Genevieve that your mother mentioned, wasn't it? She betrayed you."

Running his hand through his hair, Klaus nodded in acknowledgement. "She did. I was living in New Orleans, enjoying the success I was receiving through my art. I was so busy that it took me longer than it should have to notice the signs. She would disappear without a word, only to return with stuffed bags and claim she was shopping or out with friends. I did not think anything of it due to the fact that when we were together, she was very demanding of my time, demanding that I spend time with only her."

"Then one night, I finished a painting earlier than I planned and decided to drop by to surprise her, but I ended up being the one to be surprised when I walked in on her and one of her 'friends'. I wasn't in love with her by any means, but I did trust her and she broke that trust. Not long after I found out just how much."

"She did more?" Caroline asked.

"I later found out that it wasn't the first tryst she had had behind my back, there had been several actually." Klaus explained. "She thought she had a good thing going; she had me who kept her in the style and luxury she wanted without having to do much for it, and she had her lovers, at least until I found out and ended it all."

The two stood there for a moment, Klaus watching Caroline as she took in what he had said. She smiled at him sympathetically. "We are a pair, aren't we? Both of us have been hurt by those we trusted. However the difference is that I'm not letting it rule how I live my life."

"You sound like my sister."

"Well Rebekah is smarter than you give her credit for." Caroline chastised. "The point is that I know you aren't Tyler, and I need you to know that I'm not Genevieve."

"I know you're not," Klaus disputed, reaching forward to take her hand. "You are nothing like her. You're kind, considerate, and devoted to those you love. I saw that the first night I met you when you first spoke about Will. I'm sorry Caroline, I was a fool to think that you were not worthy of my trust and I want to make it up to you, if you'll give me a chance."

Caroline could see that he was truly sorry, his eyes imploring her to let him make things right and she felt the last bit of irritation at him crumble away. Leaning forward, she brushed her lips softly against his before pulling back.

"I take that as a yes?" He asked. When he saw the small smile appear on her beautiful lips before she gave him a small smile, a huge smile spread across Klaus face. He closed the small gap between them to cover her lips again with his, however with more vigor and passion than she had moments before.

Slipping his arm around her waist, Klaus pulled her as close as he could against his body, both of them forgetting that they were standing in her hallway, with some of her guests just in the other room. All that mattered was being closer, something he seemed to agree with if the way he tightened her grip as he tried to pull their bodies even closer together was any indication. Unable to hold back, Caroline began to suck on his lower lip, eliciting a deep moan radiating from his chest, before she ran her fingers up his neck to his curls. They continued like that for several minutes, only breaking apart when they both heard someone clearing their throat.

"I thought that kid's parties were supposed to be PG." Enzo stated. "All those impressionable minds, not to mention their parents might get quite the eyeful if they had been the ones to find you two."

Watching Enzo needle Caroline gave Klaus a small feeling of deja vu, bringing to mind when he had been similarly annoyed by his younger brother Kol. Except she exposed herself to it willingly. "You only have yourself to blame love, he is your friend."

"What can I say? I felt sorry for him." Caroline explained.

"Hello, I'm right here." Enzo said, interrupting the two but saw by the way they were looking at each other that there was no point. Rolling his eyes, he turned to go back out into the living room, maybe he could sweet talk the Sheriff into giving him telling him where they had moved the liquor cabinet to.

Love it? Hate it? Let me know. And I promise to try and update this more regularly. My muse for writing in general has come and gone a lot lately but I will do my best. And as always, let me know if there are any particular Firsts you want to read.