Thank you so much for all your positive feedback on my last chapter! It was truly wonderful to see that you enjoyed it a lot. I'm sorry for taking some time for this chapter. This one took me some time to write. I want to take the time to write this story, which means there will be lots of chapters as I want things to flow a certain way. I hope you continue to read and enjoy it as I have! Review and enjoy!

Chapter 6

The air between them was electric as they walked along the darkened streets of the French Quarter. Klaus wanted desperately to take her hand in his, or wrap his arm around her, but he knew it wasn't safe yet to mark his territory. It was maddening, knowing that Caroline was finally his but he had to play the charade for a little while longer. Marcel couldn't know the effect Caroline had on him or that she had followed him from Mystic Falls. Klaus sighed and looked over at Caroline as they walked side by side. The moonlight made her look almost ethereal and Klaus felt he had to keep pinching himself to make sure none of it was a dream. As if Caroline could sense Klaus's gaze on her, she looked up and smiled softly at him. "I know. Me too."

Four little words, and yet they conveyed the same longing Klaus had at this moment. Soon, he thought to himself. They turned down Bourbon Street and where almost to the door of Deveraux's when someone called out, "Klaus!'

Klaus stiffened instantly. He had hoped to have more time than this, but it was inevitably going to happen sooner or later. Caroline looked up at Klaus, she could see the tension in his shoulders and concern was etched on her face. He mouthed Marcel and Caroline's eyes widened in comprehension. She nodded subtly, as if to say, "I've got this, I'll be fine." Klaus let some of the tension out of his shoulders, but now more than ever, he wished he could drag Caroline to his side. They turned around to watch Marcel walk his way toward them, two more vampires behind him. As he drew closer to them, Caroline let out an inaudible gasp of surprise. It was the man she had stumbled into her first day in New Orleans.

"Klaus, nice to see you out tonight. Although I'm surprised. I thought Sunday was usually a night reserved for family."

Caroline involuntarily shivered at the sound of Marcel's voice. She could hear the interest in it, and underneath it all, a dangerous edge.

"Normally, yes. However, Rebekah has a friend in town and I offered to walk her home seeing as she's not quite familiar with New Orleans yet." Klaus tilted his head to indicate Caroline.

Marcel turned to look at Caroline for the first time. She knew he recognized her by the slow smile that spread across his face. "Ah, yes. I seem to have run into you on your first day in town. You haven't stumbled into anymore people since your arrival, I hope? I'm Marcel and it's very nice to meet you."

He held out his hand and Caroline slowly placed her own in his. She had to summon up all her Miss Mystic Falls training to say evenly, "Caroline. Nice to meet you too."

Marcel bowed low over her hand and raised his head after a pause. But he didn't let go of Caroline's hand. "I see we have something in common. How it is that you know Rebekah Mikaelson?"

Caroline's eyes jerked down to their clasped hands and she saw that her daylight ring was pressed into Marcel's palm. So much for that secret, she thought to herself. "A mutual friend. We'd never met before my coming to New Orleans, but I was passing through and I was told to reach out and find her. It's a perk of traveling these days."

Marcel's eyes slowly looked her over and Caroline held her breath until she could see he'd accepted what she had to say. At least for now, she and Klaus were still safe. Marcel finally released her hand and Caroline had to force herself withdraw it at a normal speed. "I hope you enjoy your time in New Orleans. Will you be around for long?"

"I'm not sure at the moment. I like it here so far though, so we'll see where life takes me."

"I trust you've found some comfortable accommodations?" His tone was even, but Caroline could see he was testing her. She knew he knew she was working and living at Deveraux's.

"Yes. I happened to get lucky and find a place with both work and board on my first day. It so happened Rebekah also knew Sophie. Found that out within a thirty-six hour period. The world is so small these days."

Caroline could see that her answers unsettled Marcel. It seemed he had been looking for something more and was disappointed when he couldn't find it. Nonetheless, Marcel appeared satisfied with her answers and dropped the subject. He turned back to Klaus. "I hope you'll join me for lunch tomorrow, old friend. I feel like you've been closeted up with your family this past week."

"I have and I will be sure to join you. Same place?"

"Does it ever change?"

Klaus smiled and shook his head. And with that, Marcel continued his way down Bourbon Street. Caroline and Klaus watched him walk until he turned down one of the many streets intersecting Bourbon before rushing to get inside Deveraux's. As soon as they gained entrance, Caroline let out a huge sigh of relief. "So that's Marcel? I should have known the creepy dude I ran into my first day was him."

Klaus was visibly tense and Caroline could see he was trying hard to contain his anger at the encounter with Marcel. His fists were clenched behind his back as he paced around the room. "Every fiber of my being is telling me that you need to leave New Orleans right now. The so-called action in Mystic Falls looks like child's play compared to what's here. Especially where Marcel's concerned."

Caroline frowned at Klaus's words and crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm not going anywhere. I knew what was here when I made my decision. I can take care of myself."

"Marcel has a least a hundred years on you, not to mention the entire vampire population within the city limits adhering to his every command. Tell me, where do you have the advantage?"

"I have you."

"Touching as that is, sweetheart, I'm one amongst hundreds." Klaus stopped his pacing briefly to look at her. "There's already too much on the line."

Caroline threw her hands up in the air and marched over to Klaus to grab his face between her hands. "Stop trying to push me away. I did enough of that for the past five years. I'm here and you need me."

"She's right."

Klaus and Caroline spun around at the sound of Sophie's voice. She had heard them enter and the resulting discussion. "You're far better with her here and it's one more person for our cause. You know I won't allow anything to happen to her under my roof."

"It's not the things I'm aware of that concern me, it's the things that can happen outside of the boundaries she has with you and myself."

"Well, you can't keep her in a gilded cage, Klaus. Trust her. I think she knows her own instincts fairly well by now."

Klaus glared at Sophie for a good minute before turning to Caroline and dropping a kiss on her cheek. As he exited, Caroline heard him say, "Your heart is mine if anything happens to her."

Sophie grimaced and looked at Caroline. She shook her head saying, "He's not comfortable with expressing his feelings yet."

Caroline laughed and rolled her eyes. "That much hasn't changed and I don't think it ever will. I know it's coming from a good place though."

"That much is sure. How was dinner?"

"Good," Caroline struggled to keep the blush off her face. "It was nice to hang out with his family in that sense."

"I'd say it was more than good."

Caroline laughed and gave Sophie as small smile. The young witch smiled back and placed a reassuring hand on Caroline's arm. "You did the right thing, don't doubt that."

With a gentle squeeze, Sophie withdrew her hand and went back upstairs. Caroline smiled at Sophie's retreating back and took out her phone. She dialed a familiar number, but it went straight to voicemail. You could always count on Sheriff Forbes to be on the job.

"Hi, Mom. I just wanted to call you and say hi. I'm fine. New Orleans is wonderful. Let me know when you get the package I'm sending you. I've found Klaus and things are good. Great, actually. He's changed. Maybe we'll be able to come see you soon and you can see for yourself. I miss you and I love you, Mom. Goodnight."

"Marcel knows about Caroline."

Klaus had rushed home as fast as he could after leaving Caroline at Sophie's. He wasn't used to feeling this overly protective about anyone. Granted, he'd had some practice with regards to little Kol, but outside of familial bonds? Even back in Mystic Falls, Klaus hadn't put Caroline's safety at the forefront of his priorities. He was always concerned whenever she was involved, but her friends had always been a safety net and he was allowed to concentrate on more pressing matters, like running Tyler out of town. Now, he alone was responsible for her safekeeping and wellbeing. He thanked the gods Caroline had stumbled upon Sophie; he would have placed her there himself if she hadn't. He ran his fingers through his hair forcibly and stared unseeingly at a spot on the wall in the den. Rebekah was sitting on the couch, sorting through her magazine collection, throwing out old issues.

"We knew it was going to happen sooner or later. It's not like we can keep Caroline's existence secret forever. She's already well known as the 'pretty, new, blonde at Deveraux's'. Did you really think people would go about as if nothing changed? Nik, you know how small New Orleans is."

"I know, I know! I didn't anticipate my reaction to Marcel knowing about her."

"Well, we finally get some honesty on your part. And an emotion that isn't broody or pissed. She's got three Original vampires looking out for her. How bad can it be?"

Klaus threw his sister a look that would have made lesser beings fear for their lives, but Rebekah just looked back and raised her eyebrow at him. "Nik. Caroline will be fine. I plan on getting her to come out with me when she has free time. Besides, she's so busy at Deveraux's she doesn't have much in the way of free time. And Sophie's sharper than most. You said so yourself."

Rebekah got up and laid a hand on her brother, "It's nice to see you care for someone other than yourself these days."

And she left Klaus to brood in his own tumultuous thoughts.