A/N: Sorry about the delay with this part. I discovered that these two can be incredibly stubborn when it comes to admitting their feelings. They just won't give anything away. Klaus refuses to soften and Caroline doesn't quite trust him enough to be open straight away. It took them some time to work it out. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this. This will be the final part to this fic. I may write an accompanying piece later, I have an idea in mind. Well, thanks for reading. And thanks for the feedback. It means alot! I do apologise that I never reply to any. I read most of it on my mobile phone so accessing it isn't as easy at times. But enough talking, on with the chapter!
Chapter 3
Neither had aged. But each held subtle differences that the other spotted instantly. For him, it was the wisdom and experience that shone in her eyes. For her it was the ease at which he held with himself, like a whole weight has been lifted and he could finally live. Yet awkwardness lingered between them. One that decades apart could not clear. No amount of avoiding each other would ever lift it. Neither knew what to say, knew what to do. They both may have actively avoided searching for the over time but both had spent a passing moment or two imagining their possible reunion.
She always thought it would be him that found her. Somewhere far away from where their problems began. He'd walk up to her, that smug smile on his face and a witty one liner would just roll off his tongue. She wouldn't be able to help it but she'd laugh. The wall she built to keep him out would crack a little. He'd apologise. He hadn't meant things to turn out how they did. And then he would kiss her. It was a dream. She'd seen too many romantic films in her years. He would never apologise; he was too proud. She wouldn't laugh and the wall wouldn't crack. And there would be no kiss.
He never actually gave any real thought to who would seek out the other. It was just assumed that they would one day find each other. Maybe across a bar, maybe on a street. But never in his home, never in Mystic Falls, never where had it all begun. There would be no apologies, no excuses and most definitely no romantic gestures. Arguments probably but no romance.
Yet here they were, where neither expected to be in sixty short years.
She let get fingers dance across the leather sofa opposite where he sat as she walked around to take a seat. There had been no formal invitation to sit but someone had to make the first move.
"I never meant to come here. All these years I've told myself to never to find you. I thought I was better off without you." When it didn't look like he was going to speak, she continued, "I travelled. I saw everything I thought the world had to offer. I saw the beauty. But I was seeing it all for the first time, it was all beautiful." She took a breath, preparing herself for her next admission, "what I'm trying to say is that I'm ready and you were right. A small town isn't enough for me now. I want you to show me the true beauty the world has to offer. If the offer still stands."
He set aside the pad he had been sketching in and reached for his remaining scotch. The ice had long since melted. "It has been a long time since I made that offer. Truth be told, I never thought you would take me up on it. Hoped, yes. But I am a realist, always have been, and one who isn't used to having what he wants come to him so easily. And you, my dear, have proven in the past to be deceitful. How can I really trust you now?"
"You trust me? After everything you did, you have the balls to ask me that?"
"I do not apologise for my actions, Caroline. Granted some of my choices may have been questionable but every single one has been justifiable. Can you honestly say that without certain sacrifices that I have made, you would have been able to live the life you have?" He took a sip of his drink, letting her consider the question for a moment.
That very thing had played on her mind for many of her later years. Would she have gotten to spend that time with Tyler? Without a pack, without being the Alpha, he doted on her more. They had been truly happy for a short time. Would her and Elena have been able to travel and live a carefree life in Europe? Without the cure, Elena had stayed immortal. She hadn't had to live through losing another friend. And she had managed to live the last sixty years without fear and completely happy. Without a doubt it wasn't all of his doing, but there was a chance that his actions had benefitted them all in some small way.
"I do not expect your forgiveness. Nor do I seek it. If you are truly serious about my offer then an understanding will need to be reached. This is who I am. And I expect total honesty. With that in mind, tell me the real reason you are here. Not your bullshit 'show me the world' reason."
"That is the real reason." It was barely a whisper.
Rising from his seat, "Enough, Caroline! I have had it with your lies." It was the first time he had ever raised his voice to her, something he hadn't actually ever imagined himself doing. He took a deep breath to compose himself. "I think you should leave now." He turned his back on her, focusing all his attention on the fire. This was not how this was meant to happen. He was meant to accept her, no matter what she said. But something always stopped him.
Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself before standing and moving towards the hallway, planning on exiting his life for the last time. She paused, just one step away from the hall. Defiantly she turned on her heel; he was still facing the fire. "I was lonely."
He pretended not to be listening, slowly taking a sip of his scotch.
"Everyone else in my life, they have someone. I don't. Even when I'm with my friends, I feel alone. I thought I'd find the only other person in the world who understands that kind of loneliness. I needed them... I needed you." When he didn't respond, she continued down the hallway to the front door. She had just done the bravest thing she had ever done, bared her true feelings to the monster, the man, who had played a part in destroying her life. Her friends had no idea she was here, they couldn't understand. More importantly, they wouldn't understand.
He had two choices. He could go after her, go after her and show her the world that she deserves to see. Show her all the beauty it had to offer, all of it outshone by her. Or he could stand where he was, sipping on his scotch and let her walk away again, continue with his miserably, lonely existence.
The last sound she heard before reaching the door was the sound of glass shattering.
Her hand was less than an inch away from the door handle, less than an inch away from starting her life alone, when she found herself spun around and pinned against the door. He held her firm against the cool wood by her shoulders, studying her face intently. A part of her wants to fight back, to push him away. It would of course be fruitless, he would always be stronger, always be able to overpower her. And it scared her a little. As did the part of her that wanted to kiss him. To run her fingers through his hair, down the back of his neck and across his shoulders until she gripped his arms and could pull him closer. Why did he have this effect on her? Even after all these years. Did she really want the company of a man who could easily kill her?
"Don't ever walk away from me again, Love." His eyes burned into hers, they were so close their noses practically touched.
She could smell the alcohol on his breath, tinged with blood. It was intoxicating. There was that feeling again, wanting to touch him, kiss him. Was this him accepting her request to be shown the world? Or was this the end?
He loosened his grip on her, brushing away a stray curl from her face. He could see the fear in her eyes. It was only a look he had seen a couple of times before and it had haunted him. It had only been visible to him when she was truly scared for her life.
It took all she had in her to steady her nerves, to stop herself from shaking and look him square in the eye. "Then don't ever let me." She said it with all the confidence she could muster, which admittedly wasn't a lot.
She still wasn't sure if her short life, in comparison to his, was now over. And then felt him relax, completely and utterly relax. His fingers briefly traced circles on her forearms before cupping her face, his forehead coming to rest on her's. Instinct brought her hands to his forearms, gripping tightly, like she was scared to let go, scared to lose him. Both stood comfortably still for a few long seconds. It was the most peace either had felt in a while.
He let go first, dropping his hands and taking a step back. "If you ever, ever, decide you want to leave though, you just have to say. I will fight you on it, but if it what you truly want, Love, then I shall let you go."
She let her hands drop to her side; idly her fingers started playing with the hem of her dress. "Ok. Then no more games, Klaus. No more lying or deception. Just the truth." She reached behind her, grasping for the door handle, "I should go."
"Stay."
She was tempted. So tempted. Her body scream at her to stay but her mind told her to leave. "I'll be back in the morning." She replied with a shake of her head. "I promise."
"Tomorrow will be the start of our forever. Goodnight, Caroline."
