A/N: Date night and a little bit of cheer before things really accelerate. Thank you for sticking around, the faves, the follows, the reviews – thank you lizzybennettdarcy, Damon X Misaki, MsCindz, An Amber Pen, Purpleme523, Jewelz1642, Soul-Full-Eyes, Angel, Deviljolie, Hopelessromanticatheart26, xxshyangel29xx, beverlie4055, ilyreid, Iansarmy, PenelopeSuriCUTE, SarahCullen4, jessnicole, Ellavm18, spongee09, chibichibi98, PLL and Victorious RULE, PerfectlyGoodHeart and all my guests for the wonderful, wonderful reviews!

Thanks to Rebekah, I knew a little bit about the cuisine of New Orleans and that was a good thing as I sat at our table taking in the elegant surroundings of the restaurant Klaus had chosen. The décor was distinguished and dignified in soft, muted colors but still somehow to infusion the vivid colors of the city through the paintings and priceless art exhibits that bordered the room. It wasn't a surprise to me that Klaus chose this establishment with his appreciation of art. The soft candlelight that glowed from each table of well-dressed patrons excited my senses. The scene was what I would have loved to have pulled off for homecoming, prom.

For a moment I didn't realize the three other people at my table were staring at me in amusement. Rebekah's expression lacked her usual mockery. Stefan knew better than anyone at the table how limited my life experience was and he looked happy for me.

"I'm glad you approve, sweetheart," Klaus leaned closer to whisper. "And this is just the beginning. This place, this city."

I couldn't help smiling at him. "I want to see everything," I whispered.

Our waiter arrived and Klaus relished in ordering for the table, owning the role of "king" that he'd given himself. Not that I would ever tell him so, but it suited him. From selecting our wine to how he directed our conversation, he was every bit the King of New Orleans. I loved being here with him but at the same time, it didn't feel quite real. I was Caroline, former Miss Mystic Falls, Miss Forever Stuck in a Filler Year. I was no queen. I wasn't an ancient indestructible being like he was.

But then as I tried the wine he'd ordered us, his gaze met mine as if to ask if the wine was to my liking and in that moment, yeah, I started to feel that while I had these preconceptions about who I was, that wasn't how Klaus saw me. He did see me as someone beautiful, powerful, worthy. It was written all over his face.

I nodded, my way of saying the wine was perfect. My hand trembled as I set the glass back on the table, not even reaching my lap before he captured it with his. Squeezing my hand gently, he pinned me with a knowing look.

"So you're telling me," Stefan began, "that in all the time you've been down here, Caroline, this is the first time you've been out of the mansion? Klaus, that's not the way to woo a woman."

Klaus smirked. "I quite agree with you, Stefan. But under the circumstances, and I'm certain my sister has brought you up to speed, I felt her safety was more important."

"Well, we did have one day of shopping Baton Rouge," Rebekah pointed out, sipping at her wine. "Unfortunately, Caroline ended up vervained by Klaus' enemies and –"

"That, little sister, was your fault." Klaus' expression darkened as he glared at his sister. "If you hadn't started trouble with Marcel's lot, that incident wouldn't have happened."

"Don't blame me, Nik." Rebekah's anger was building, her blue eyes filled with fire. "I—"

"Hey, hey," Stefan cut her off, glancing at each sibling in turn with an admonishing look. And they allowed it. "No fighting tonight or Caroline and I might have to leave you here and take in the city on our own. Am I right?"

Stefan winked at me and it was all I could do not laugh at that.

Rebekah looked appalled by the suggestion. Klaus' gaze moved to me and his anger seemed to fade. He still held my hand under the table.

"Rebekah did mention everything that's been going on," Stefan said.

"Things are just starting to get exciting, Stefan." Squeezing my hand gently, Klaus released me. "It seems you've come at the right time. I hope you'll consider staying a while. I know it would make two of the ladies in my household very happy."

I nodded and smiled at Stefan to confirm this. Rebekah's feelings were all over her face for anyone to see. So much for my speech on being his friend.

Still, something shifted in Stefan's face. A little of the sadness seemed to lift. There was nothing in the world like being wanted, needed, and he was both in this crowd. Klaus, I knew, wanted him stay too. I always got the sense that he wanted to resume the friendship they'd shared when they'd been in Chicago years before.

But then Klaus had a way of manipulating those around him, even if he cared. Maybe because he cared. It made those same loved ones very reluctant to trust him.

"I have nothing else to do," Stefan said finally. "I'll stick around for a while."

"Good. Very good." Klaus grinned.

Our meals arrived then and I practically drooled when I took in the aroma of the lobster dish Klaus had selected for me. I did my best to be dainty, to be as proper as those around us in this fine restaurant. I was so absorbed in my manners that I almost didn't catch that Stefan was speaking.

"So, Klaus, you have quite a few ladies in your household now," he began. "How's that going?"

Klaus smirked. "Quite well actually. Clarice, who's descended from our family, managed to resurrect my brother Kol and plans to stay with us for the time being with her children. They are making themselves right at home and I'm optimistic that they'll eventually choose to make New Orleans their permanent residence."

Stefan cut a curious glance at Rebekah. "She's descended from your family?"

"Kol," Rebekah told him. "He got a witch pregnant while he was still human, imagine that, and he's managed to keep the line intact all of these decades."

Stefan lifted his brows in surprise at that. "They sound pretty powerful."

Klaus' expression was nothing if not proud. "Incredibly powerful. Each generation more so than the last. In all my years, I've never encountered a witch with Clarice's capabilities and if her daughters will one day be stronger than she…"

"So you didn't know of them before now?"

"Elijah didn't even know of them before now," Rebekah explained. "And that's impressive. Kol kept them a secret."

"Why did he reveal them now?" Stefan asked.

"He needed them to return from the other side," Klaus said. "He had no choice if he wanted to return."

"So there's just the three of them from that line?" Stefan asked.

"From what Clarice told us, yes," I threw in there.

Stefan looked thoughtful. "I just keep thinking about what Bonnie's explained to us," he motioned to me. "Witches are nature's servants and there's always a balance. A balance of power. If nature gave this line of witches, descended from the original witch, all of this power, it makes you wonder if there isn't a weakness to offset it out there."

Klaus' expression led me to believe that he'd considered that. I hadn't. I'd been so fascinated by Clarice and her strength that I hadn't considered there was something out there that could stop her.

"There's also the matter of Davina," Rebekah said. "She supposedly has more power than she's supposed to have and there's another balance upset. Clarice thinks she can do something to help her but…"

"She's the witch who was with…?" Stefan asked.

"Marcel," Rebekah finished for him.

"Is she as strong as Clarice?"

"Not quite," Klaus answered. "Though I have to admit, she put up an impressive fight."

"So that's four witches, your sister and Caroline," Stefan did the math. "The ladies of the house have you and your brothers outnumbered two to one."

Klaus laughed. "Yes, but your arrival adds another member to our team."

"It's not enough," Stefan teased. "Your sister is indestructible, the witches are all-powerful and Caroline? What's your super power?"

"I'm the mastermind," I informed him, squaring my shoulders.

Klaus shook his head next to me, laughing. Rebekah was beaming at me too.

Raising a glass, she said, "She's doing something right. Since Caroline arrived there hasn't been a boring moment and I mean that as a compliment."

Stefan clicked his wine glass with hers.

"Caroline has definitely livened up our household," Klaus said, winking at me as he unfolded his napkin and placed it on his lap.

"She's done wonders for you, Nik," Rebekah explained.

Klaus flashed those dimples at me but offered no argument.

Klaus, Stefan and Rebekah entertained me with tales of their exploits in Chicago back in the twenties and I couldn't help but laugh as they competed with each other over who had their facts straight, who'd acted more outrageously. On the way to a lively dance club just two doors down, they started talking about all the places I'd need to see in Chicago and I tried to listen. I was trying to take in this beautiful city with its bright colors, music and culture.

The band playing at the jazz club was amazing. Klaus left me with Stefan and Rebekah for just a moment while he had a word with the young man behind the bar. Was that how he was getting word to Marcel?

I didn't have a chance to consider it further as Klaus led me to the dance floor for a slow dance, holding me close as we swayed to the music.

"Remember the last time we danced, love?"

"How could I forget? You cut in on me and Tyler at the twenties' themed dance." I gazed up into his smiling face. "You were telling me that I'd show up on your doorstep eventually, to escape my small town life and my small town boyfriend."

"Well, that's how I envisioned it at the time," he told me, gazing into my eyes.

I laughed as he spun me, enjoying the dance as much as I was.

"And then did you envision sweeping me away to New Orleans anyway?" I teased.

"You were in danger, I happened to be there…"

"You were there for me," I told him, smiling as I remembered he arrived the night I'd learned Bonnie had died. "And you're going to work on letting me make my own choices from now on right?"

I knew it was a risk bringing it up now, how he'd been using concern for my safety as an excuse to take my choices away. Keep me locked away. He surprised me by offering a sincere smile after a moment.

"For you, I'll work on it, love," he told me.

Pulling our joined hands in, he touched the necklace he gave me with his finger. Then he pulled our hands against his heart.

"That looks beautiful on you," Klaus whispered. "I'm glad you like it."

"I love it," I admitted, kissing his cheek.

Stefan and Rebekah were at the edge of the dance floor, joining the swaying crowd. I smiled at Rebekah who looked as if she were enjoying herself very much.

"So, is my sister plotting seduction this evening?"

"No." I returned my gaze to the handsome man I was dancing with. "At least I hope not. We talked about this earlier. She still has feelings for him but we agreed that it's probably best that she just stay in the friend zone for the moment with him."

Shaking his head, Klaus grinned.

"What?"

"You always have a plan, don't you Caroline?" he teased.

"Look who's talking," I threw back at him. "Mr. I want to be the king of New Orleans."

"I am the king of New Orleans," he informed me, laughing with me.

"Ah, but it's different, isn't it?" Klaus asked. "Where my plans are mostly self-serving, you plan with everyone's best interests at heart. In that regard, you're my complete opposite. My perfect complement."

"Is that a bad thing?" Programmed self-doubt tried to seep into my brain at that.

"Of course not, sweetheart." His gaze captured mine. "It's nearly a perfect thing."

"Yeah?"

"Centuries ago, Caroline, monarchs ruled kingdoms. The king's role was to protect and fight for what was his, to guard it jealously. Maybe even plot for expansion." Spinning me again, he pulled me closer to him when I returned to his arms. "The queen, however, she was the heart of his people. The queen saw what they needed, cared for them. She was the softer side of his rule that he could never show."

When I didn't know what to say to that, he pressed his lips to mine in the softest kiss.

"You're the perfect queen, Caroline. I always knew you would be."

Klaus was completely serious. Another place, another time. I might have laughed at what he was saying. Instead I stared at him, floored that the most powerful creature on the planet saw me that way.

"Me? A queen?"

"Who else but someone who has known pain, rejection, misuse? Your life experiences have made you incredibly strong but have never managed to extinguish your light," he whispered. "Who else but someone with a pure heart such as yours?"

Tears stung the backs of my eyes. I remembered the drawings of me he'd done. The way he'd drawn me as more beautiful than I saw myself. He really meant it, I realized in that moment. My heart was lost to him as I stared up into his beautiful eyes.

"You're the only one who's ever made me feel… special, loved," I admitted to him, blinking back tears. I didn't want him to see them and I dropped my head.

With a finger, he tipped my chin up and we stopped moving on the floor.

"On the contrary, love, I'm happy that I was the first to ever make you feel that way." Staring into my eyes, it was as if he was willing me to understand. "I don't care who sees you with me tonight or any other night. I want every being in this city to see you're with me, to know that you're mine. I hope that Tyler is somewhere watching and I want him to realize that you were never his. That you always belonged here, with me, by my side."

I shook my head. "He wouldn't care. All he cares about is getting to you."

"Then he didn't deserve you."

Klaus pulled me to him, I thought to resume dancing. Instead he kissed me, so soundly, so thoroughly, that everything – all the beautifully dressed people, Stefan, Rebekah – all faded away. There was nothing but Klaus, his arms around me, his lips on mine.

When he broke the kiss, he leaned in to whisper in my ear, "I only hope one day I deserve you, Caroline."

While his words melted my heart, he pulled me back into the dance and we stayed for a few more songs before Stefan found another place, where modern music played and we were really overdressed. But there was a pool table and some big talk about a battle of the sexes. So for a couple of hours, we drank beer and bourbon and Rebekah and I beat the boys soundly at pool.

Finishing up our game, I watched Stefan and Rebekah put the pool queues away, laughing and talking about some other time they'd spent together. As much as I'd whined and complained that I'd needed out of the mansion for a fun evening, I realized that Stefan had needed time away from it all more than I did. To see him laughing again, in a way he hadn't since things had gone wrong with Elena…

"Are those tears I see?" Klaus whispered close to my ear.

"Shut up," I told him, smiling. "I'm not crying."

"Like you weren't crying at the end of that television show you made me watch last night?"

I scoffed at him. "You have no heart if you didn't think that was sad. After all they'd done to protect her and she just died."

He just smirked at me. He enjoyed teasing me about the things that brought me to tears be it a movie, a new story, or something sweet I ran across.

"He deserves to have fun. You know?" I motioned to Stefan. "After everything that's happened."

"Have you had fun tonight?"

I had to nod. "I've had a wonderful time."

Klaus leaned in to kiss me as other people in the bar began to leave. We closed the place down and Stefan announced it was nearly one in the morning.

"Ready to head back?" Stefan asked as he and Rebekah started down the sidewalk.

"We'll catch up," Klaus said. Stefan nodded as Klaus pulled me by the hand in the opposite direction.

"Is there something you want me to see?" I asked, still a little high from the beers I'd had during the mad pool tournament.

Klaus smiled at me. "There is plenty I want to see with you. But in this moment, I just want a couple of moments of having you all to myself before we go back home."

Walking down the darkened streets of New Orleans, holding hands with Klaus, wasn't something I'd ever thought I'd be doing. But it felt good. I was happy.

"Caroline, this is the proverbial calm before the storm," he said. "Tyler and his lot will make a move soon. How Marcel proceeds remains to be seen. And before it all happens, I want you to promise me something."

Reluctantly, I glanced his way as we stopped walking.

"Promise me that you will not do anything that will place you in danger, that will take you away from me."

I stared at him hard. A muscle at his jaw tightened.

"Promise me, Caroline," his tone held a note of warning.

Well, I was asking him to compromise.

"I promise," I whispered, knowing I would try.

Klaus stared into my eyes for the longest time as if looking for any indication that I was lying to him. Finally, we started walking again and the tension was thick. It'd been such a wonderful night. It couldn't end on such a note.

"Tell me what these streets were like when you were here before?" I asked, ready for him to brush me off.

To my surprise, he grinned. "You would have loved New Orleans a hundred years ago," he began.

"I have the feeling I would have," I told him. "Especially if you were there."

And to my delight, he entertained me with tales of the city in that day as we slowly made our way back to the mansion.