My sincere apologies about the wait! Hopefully the next chapter will not take my muse so long to get its act together. I apologize for any mistakes, as this chapter isn't really beta-read. I hope you enjoy!

Caroline [3:55 PM]: I'm so sorry, but something has come up. Can we reschedule?

Klaus stared at his phone with narrowed eyes as he considered Caroline's apologetic text. He'd discovered the her message after he'd washed up in preparation for their date. He'd spent a few hours that afternoon, attempting to capture her smile on canvas.

So far, his attempts at painting Caroline had been dismal. His preferred medium had always been landscapes, but lately, his sketchbooks had been filled with only Caroline. If he hadn't already acknowledged the complicated emotions where she was concerned, he'd have been frustrated by his inability to concentrate. Sleep had always been elusive, but the driving obsession to destroy Mikael was no longer the only goal that occupied his thoughts.

He'd been looking forward to tonight, had agreed to continue their low key outings for as long as was possible. Klaus didn't share well, and there was not an insignificant appeal to having Caroline Forbes all to himself in a dark booth. An evening spent over good food and wine, coaxing her into dropping her formidable shields, would be a pleasure.

When Caroline had come to him, had explained a small part of her last was a step Klaus hadn't been certain she'd take. That she'd immediately followed their conversation by asking him out had been a delightful bit of progress he'd have waited months for. For all that he refused to allow her to hide behind her shields he was determined that she would deal with him as Caroline, Klaus needed her to be sure.

Caroline was the first non-family member who knew of his double identity, the only woman who could match him in both areas of his life. But he also knew that between the lifestyles he led, his vigilante work was perhaps the less complicated of the two. His past was complicated and messy, as was hers. But Klaus was determined that neither of theirs past would interfere with what he thought they could build.

He'd enjoyed teasing her the past few days, dangling hints about their date over text and the occasional phone call. He enjoyed her quick wit, picturing the snap behind her eyes when she was riled. Caroline did not particularly enjoy surprises, and it was another tiny piece of the puzzle he was enjoying watching unfold.

He'd had every intention of making his teasing up to her. While Caroline was setting the pace of their relationship, that didn't mean he couldn't play what she allowed him to his advantage. And for all her blustering, the chemistry between them was electric. There was no denying he wanted her in his bed, but he desired all of her.

Tapping the edge of his screen, Klaus set about cancelling his dinner reservations. Once done, Klaus quickly changed into a slightly more casual outfit. Caroline had looked at him with badly veiled appreciation on those occasions she'd seen him in a suit, but it had been the heat in her eyes when she'd found him barefoot and rumpled in his home that he wished to remind her of tonight.

He supposed someone more gentlemanly would leave her be, but he wasn't certain that wouldn't be a mistake. While Klaus was certain she'd let him know if she'd stumbled upon a sliver of information regarding Mikael, he doubted that she'd think to ask for help about a mutant issue. And if that was the case, the sooner he nipped her uncertainty in the bud, the better.

Kol had her permission to start digging through what trials he could find on the web and the documents she'd stolen from the art warehouse. So far, they hadn't managed to dig up an overt link between Mikael and William Forbes, but if it existed, Kol would find it. It was just a matter of time before Mikael's empire started to crumble.

He was adjusting his watch when Rebekah strode unexpectedly into his room her mouth drawn tight. Klaus frowned in her direction, double checking his phone to confirm he hadn't missed a text announcing her arrival. His sister was the only other family member cleared to his apartment without warning other than Kol.

"And to what do I owe this visit?"

Rebekah dramatically threw herself onto one of the chairs near the fireplace, face set in a scowl. "I want wine, and food."

"You're welcome to both, but I'm afraid you'll have to enjoy them alone."

Klaus took one more quick glance at his appearance, before turning to face his surprised sister. Out of all his siblings, it had taken Rebekah the longest to forgive his supposed betrayal by moving in with his biological father as a teenager. Her childish anger had carried for years, and it hadn't been until he'd taken in Kol that she'd shown up at his apartment. Drunk and slurring, she'd railed at him even as he'd tucked her into his guest room. The next day she'd tried to slip out without him noticing, but Rebekah had the subtly of a drunken elephant, and he'd been prepared for such a move.

She'd broken two of his lamps throwing them at his head during the argument that had followed her interrupted escape attempt, but somehow they'd managed to lance the wounds between them, despite themselves. In the years that followed, they'd found a new normal, and Klaus had grown incredible fond, if occasionally exasperated by, the woman his sister had become.

"I checked your diary," Rebekah complained, sitting up. "You don't have any business engagements tonight. Particularly if you're dressed like that."

Klaus ignored the barb. "Should I list all my social activities for you?"

"What's the point of having a personal assistant if she isn't useful?" Rebekah fired back.

Klaus rolled his eyes and headed for the living area. "As you well know, my non-business engagements are no ones business. It allows me a certain amount of eccentricity."

She followed him out of his bedroom, her sound of derision loud. "Please tell me that you're not ignoring me for one of those bimbos you insist on dating?"

Klaus perused the bottles of red he kept on hand at his apartment, knowing that if he didn't pick one for her, Rebekah would open what she thought was the most expensive out of spite. "I won't, then. Perhaps you'd like to tell me why you're here?"

He glanced over after he'd removed the cork from a lovely table red, catching the faint splash of pink across her cheeks before Rebekah ducked. Brows arching, he set an empty glass and the bottle in front of her. "Rebekah?"

"A girl just can't just visit her brother?" She brazened, fingers flattening on the counter.

Klaus snorted. "If you're going to avoid the real reason you're here, I really do have places to be."

Her eyes narrowed as ire darkened her gaze. "I was stood up."

He blinked, and poured her a glass, ignoring that the wine needed another fifteen minutes to breathe properly. "Poor bloke."

Rebekah's spine stiffened in a way that looked painful. "Poor him?"

"Of course," Klaus said, unperturbed by her tone. "You're hardly the forgiving sort. I'd imagine the next time you see him, he'll have cause to regret his choices."

She opened her mouth and closed it, body language shifting to something close to sulking. "He had a family emergency."

Brow arching, he fought down an amused smile. "Did he? Are you sure?"

Quite certain that Rebekah was torn between stomping her foot and growling, he waited her out as she took a long drink from her glass. When she finally spoke, her words were bitten off, gaze daring him to say something. "It wasn't our first date. He knows better."

Realizing that Rebekah had just admitted to having someone in her life that had survived her harrowing first date criteria, and possible more, Klaus regretfully looked at his watch. As much fun as it would be to tease his baby sister, Caroline should be well on her way home for the day, even if a project or two had held her up. He'd discovered she was a stickler for mostly setting a good example for her staff, even if it meant logging in at home.

"Well," Klaus said, letting a hint of that regret color his voice. Rebekah glanced sharply at him, and he motioned to the wine. "I'm afraid I really do have plans, Bekah. Stay, drink my wine. Order whatever you want. My treat, of course."

Lips curling into a pout, she topped off her glass. "If I'd wanted to eat by myself, I could've just gone home."

"And miss the opportunity to pilfer my wine collection when I'm not around to supervise?" Klaus shook his head as he collected his shoes, wallet and keys. "I've been told that stolen booze simply tastes better."

"It's not stolen if you give permission."

Smiling at her irritable words, Klaus leaned over and kissed her cheek. "You know which bedroom is yours."

"And risk running into your morning-after trash?" Rebekah wrinkled her nose. "No thank you."

Rolling his eyes, Klaus decided not to respond to that particular comment. Fingers jiggling his keys, he considered his plan. The possibility that whatever had come up could involve her roommate, and the biting Katerina, was something he needed to consider. As was the fact that Caroline held them in absolute trust.

He made a mental note to pick up a few dishes that could cater to a number of food preferences. Possibly a dessert, for that sweet tooth Caroline pretended she didn't have. If he was going to invade her evening, a bribe might not be remiss.

"One of these days, someone is going to turn you into a pinata," Katerina said scathingly as she paced. "Then were will we be?"

Caroline considered taking another shot of the good whiskey as Enzo tied off the another stitch, vaguely wondering how many he'd set. She hadn't been counting. Katerina had tried to force her to drink what might have passed as lighter fluid in a past life, but Enzo had overruled her.

"If I'm going to spend my evening off putting in stitches, then I want her to survive the process, Kat. Sheath your claws."

Katerina had planted both hands on her hips and glared. "I'm getting real sick of you rocking this particular bingo card, Caroline."

She'd winced as Enzo started stitching, the tug of skin nauseating. "I'm sorry I scared you."

Katerina had whirled around and stomped through their living room while Enzo worked, muttering what sounded like a strange mix of Bulgarian and Russian. Caroline had taken the mental reprieve and carefully sipped whiskey, hoping to numb the fire crawling up her side. Enzo had worked fast, brows tucked tightly together.

Klaus hadn't texted her back.

She'd hoped to see a missed call from him, once Katherine had gotten her into her apartment. But her phone had lacked any reply, and if her fingers and nose hadn't been numb, she'd have worried about that. Closing her eyes, she promised herself she'd try to reach him later.

"Want to tell me what happened?"

"Dunno," Caroline said carefully. "Kat and I were in the parking lot. You remember Matt?"

Enzo made a low noise of agreement. Caroline opened slightly hazy eyes, and watched as he started cleaning up. His movements were careful and practiced, but the skin around his mouth was pulled tight.

"Matt Donovan? He was the friend of the quarterback you used to make eyes at when you didn't think anyone was looking."

Caroline rolled her eyes, and then winced, as the room shivered. "His name was Tyler. Tyler Lockwood."

"Whatever happened to him?"

She swallowed, as Katerina stomped back into the room. "He disappeared. Peru, five years ago."

Enzo glanced at her, the crease between his brows darkening. "Mutant?"

"I was never sure," Caroline said wearily. "His Uncle was the judge in my custody hearings. Mason was friends with Bill, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything."

Kat frowned. "But what reason would Matt have to attack you like that?"

"Matt Donovan did this?" Enzo gaze darted between them. "Is he still alive?"

"Did you somehow imagine that I'd have left behind something so glaring as a body to be found?" Katerina demanded, glaring.

Before Enzo could say anything else, a loud knock sounded on the front door. They froze, staring as it sounded again. Enzo glanced over at the kitchen table, and the bloody remains of his work and then glanced at Kat. Caroline swallowed as her friend slipped out of her heels and tiptoed to the front door, ignoring another series of knocks. When she turned back to Caroline, her eyes were a little wide as she mouthed a name.

Klaus Mikaelson.

Caroline swallowed hard as her phone took that moment to buzz. Wincing, she held up one finger and blinked to bring her text into focus

Klaus [7:15 PM]: I know you're home, sweetheart. Going to let me in?

Cursing, her fingers fumbled on the touch screen.

Caroline [7:15 PM]: I texted you to reschedule.

Klaus [7:16 PM]: I know. I brought food. And cake.

She glared at her phone, fingers tightening. At least she'd texted to reschedule before she'd been attacked. She was pretty sure that not being upfront about being knifed when cancelling a date was grounds to end whatever this was and she knew she didn't want that.

If this had been any other night, she'd have let him. Making a low noise of aggravation, she glanced up to find Enzo watching her with interest and Katerina staring at her in open suspicion. Caroline winced, because she hadn't really told either of them about Klaus, other than what Enzo had guessed. About the dating. Or the vigilante thing. The first, because it was too new. The other, because it wasn't her secret. Wincing at another polite, but substantial knock, she typed as quickly as she could manage. Another text came through before she finished, and she winced.

Klaus [7:19 PM]: Are you alright?

Caroline [7:19 PM]: You can't come in.

Klaus [7:19 PM]: Why is that?

Caroline [7:20 PM]: Kat and Enzo are here. There was an incident.

Caroline [7:20 PM]: I trust them, but you don't. I'll call you later? Maybe you can come over for breakfast?

She held her breath, expecting him to leave. Klaus was insanely private. And he was even more so regarding his secondary lifestyle. She doubted he'd risk letting them in on his secret just to check up on her.

Her phone beeped.

Klaus [7:24 PM]: I brought enough food for four. It's getting cold. Open the door, sweetheart.

"Shit," she breathed, as her gaze darted to Kat. The last of her buzz disappeared, and she swallowed hard. Kat tapped her bare foot, gaze darkening into something that promised violence, and Caroline licked suddenly dry lips.

"Let him in."

"Are you sure, Gorgeous?" Enzo said slowly, gaze pointedly dragging over the bloody bandages he hadn't dumped into a biohazard bag for disposal.

"I'm sure."

"Well," he said. "That does make it interesting. Kat?"

"You didn't spill your secrets to the first man you've banged since college, did you?" Katerina demanded as she moved to yank open the door. Caroline made a low noise of horror, and Klaus simply stood there with both brows raised in a mixture of amusement and calculation.

"Katerina."

Kat scowled, and after a moment she angled to let him. "Mikaelson. You're pretty, but I don't know why she'd have a use for you outside of sex."

Something dangerous curled his lips in an unfair use of dimples. "Ah, but that'd be between Caroline and I."

His gaze moved across the room and took her in, eyes turning diamond hard. His gaze lingered on the bloody remains of her shirt before shifting to her torso, the neat row of stitches that curved along her abdomen. Three long strides later, and Klaus set the bags on the coffee table and strode towards her. He ignored the interested way Enzo watched him, the open hostility from Kat. His thumb brushed a few inches below the cut, and his voice was a rumble of sound when he spoke.

"This is your idea of something coming up?"

Caroline caught Kat's head snapping up from where she was perusing the food Klaus had brought. She ignored her friend's narrowed expression, and shook her head. "No. I really did have something else come up. Kat and I were on our way when…"

She gestured towards her abdomen. His thumb stroked her skin again, mouth tightening in a way she was realizing meant double. "How many?"

Caroline saw the real question in his eyes, and gave a minute shake of her head. "I don't count. It's weird enough feeling Enzo close the wound. I draw the line at counting."

"Twenty-five," Enzo said as he finished bundling things into a bag marked biohazard. "Not the worst she's had, but I'll be delighted when this is no longer a concern."

"It was a graze," she said lowly.

Another glint behind Klaus' eyes, as his hand fell away from her skin. But he didn't push her on the number of assailants.

"I take it you didn't go to the police with this, since your roommate is stitching you?" Klaus asked in a tone that was part silk and mostly dangerous. She set her teeth in frustration as he easily tracked the faint line of goosebumps that ran across her skin as he spoke, intrigue momentarily flashing in his eyes.

"Interesting," Kat said from the living room, voice nearly pleasant. "That you think you should know the answer to that question."

"As entertaining as this conversation is," Enzo interrupted. "Gorgeous needs to eat, and personally, I'm starving. Kitty Kat, why don't you find us some plates and I'll finish cleaning the table."

Kat crossed her arms, tone belligerent. "Why should I find plates?"

"Because Care can't, and the boyfriend here brought the food."

Jaw set, she finally moved to do as Enzo asked, and Caroline took a slow breath. Klaus gave a good impression of ignoring the byplay around him, but the muscles at his jaw tensed every time Enzo called her Gorgeous. She reached up to encircle his wrist with her fingers, making sure she had his full attention, and she kept her voice low.

"I don't want to lie to them."

Klaus reached up with his free hand to stroke back a sweaty curl, eyes dark. "Then don't."

She licked her lips. Opened her mouth and shut it, as Kat returned. Klaus untangled his wrist, his thumb a brief caress against her pulse point. Enzo walked in and handed her one of his button up shirts, and she pulled it on gratefully.

"You might be a billionaire," Kat said. "But that doesn't mean you get free pass."

Klaus tilted his head in acknowledgement, but otherwise seemed unconcerned by her hostility. Instead, he went and collected the take out bags. Enzo caught her eye as Klaus turned his his back and she shrugged helplessly.

She wasn't entirely sure what was going on either. But she knew that she couldn't ask Klaus to trust them with his past. And that meant they had to deal with it now, before the speculation in their eyes turned to realizations. "I told him, Kat, because he sent me ballet tickets."

Forkes ended up scattered across the table as Katerina swore. Enzo rescued the plates from where they'd been precariously perched, and helped Klaus start to unpack food. "Cheer up, Kat. There was moping. And guilt. I felt like I was back in High School."

Caroline scowled, a faint blush heating her cheeks at Klaus sudden amusement. "It wasn't like that."

Katerina pointed one red nail at her, eyes narrowed. "You could have simply told him you'd had a rocky childhood, and that ballet brought up bad memories."

"No," she said simply.

Katerina dropped into her chair, muttering darkly under her breath. Enzo just looked amused, as he passed Caroline a container of miso soup and her sushi rolls. "Relax, Kat. Accidents happen all the time, and sometimes saving a limb comes down to the surgeon."

Caroline sighed at the threat Enzo hadn't bothered to hide.

"I'll keep that in mind," Klaus replied without much visible concern. "Now, what happened, Caroline?"

She took a slow sip of her broth, testing her stomach. "I was just telling these two, I don't know. I haven't seen Matt Donovan in years."

Klaus narrowed his gaze. "He's from Mystic Falls?"

"For a backwater town," Kat said irritably. "It sure does end up spitting out a number of crazies."

Caroline grimaced, but agreed. "As far as I know, it's not well known that I'm a mutant. Hell, the last time I chatted with Bonnie, Matt was running for Sheriff."

"I didn't know you two kept in touch?" Enzo said with some surprise.

"We don't, not really. I use to try to check in every few years, see how she'd been doing." Caroline shrugged, and then winced at the pull on her abdomen. "Her Grams died last year. I reached out then."

"So clearly something changed," Klaus said slowly. His gaze slid over, caught Caroline's eyes. "I have a few contacts that may be able to dig something up."

Kol. Caroline chewed on her lip, considered the offer. As much as she hated it, it would be best if she let someone else dig through whatever was going on in Mystic Falls. She'd burned several bridges after her mother's death, and there was no way she could ask around gracefully. Before she could give him an answer, Kat leaned forward, gaze hard.

"Why should we trust you?"

Klaus arched a brow. "You shouldn't. But Caroline does."

Caroline jumped in before Katerina could articulate whatever was burning behind her eyes. "Stop antagonizing him, Kat. And behave, Klaus."

Klaus looked at her, brow arched. "Do you not trust me?"

She glared at him, fully aware of what he was doing. "I do, but that doesn't mean you get to be an ass about it."

One long fingered hand settled on her thigh, and Caroline turned to look at him. There was something utterly satisfied in his expression, and her breath hitched as the heat of his touch warmed her leg. He ignored her insult. "Which is why you should come home with me."

She spluttered. "What? No!"

Unperturbed, Klaus held her gaze steadily. "No? You'll need a few days to let your wound heal. And this time, you were attacked as Caroline. Until we know why you were targeted, there is no shame in lying low."

Caroline narrowed her eyes. Klaus smiled at her grumpy face, and his fingers stroked her thigh. "I also have better security. If someone has a grudge to pick with you, perhaps involving your roommate and friends isn't the wisest course of action? A doorman is bribable, love."

"And if I were a conspiracy theorist," Enzo drawled. "I'd point out your familial connection to our illustrious Mayor."

Klaus turned and shook his head. "Mikael is a blight. One that needs to be removed."

Whatever Enzo read on Klaus' face, he nodded. "It might not be a bad idea, Gorgeous."

"Enzo!" Caroline gasped.

Even Kat looked thoughtful, watching Klaus with calculating eyes. Finally she plucked Enzo's last spicy tuna roll from his plate. "Unfortunately, Mikaelson isn't wrong."

"Whose friends are you?"

"Yours," Kat said once she'd finished the roll. "Which is why I'm telling you to spend a long weekend shacked up with your billionaire boyfriend."

Caroline picked up her miso, glaring at Kat's smug face. To her relief, Klaus didn't push for an answer, taking his cue from her. He concentrated on his own food, giving Caroline time to think while occasionally interrupting the conversation between Enzo and Kat with a dry rejoinder.

His hand never left her thigh.

CAirline was forced to admit she wasn't completely against his idea. The knife wound wasn't her only injury, but the bruises would fade. It had been a shock, to see Matt, followed by the bright flash of a knife. The sudden burning that she'd reacted to before she'd quite realized what it had meant. Kat's scream would join the cacophony of her already loud nightmares, and a few days to process and think wouldn't be a bad thing. As long as she could take her laptop and do some work remotely, she wouldn't fall behind. It was just…

Picking up a roll, she glanced at Klaus from underneath her lashes.

So far, they'd manage to keep things slow by staying quietly public. Caroline wasn't entirely sure her self control could handle three days of Klaus. In his space. The intimacy of early mornings and late evenings. Her past was a minefield, and she'd given Klaus a peak, and he hadn't gone running. She'd hoped to spend a little more time getting a feel for how he felt about her crazy. But perhaps this would be better. A crash course, in seeing if they could actually manage whatever this was between them.

"Fine," she said lowly, as she finished her dinner. "Three days."

Klaus turned to watch her, eyes narrowed. "Until Monday."

She hissed. "Its Tuesday."

His brows arched. "You'll a minimum of three days, if I remember your healing abilities correctly. And I'm not certain how long it will take for my contact to dig up additional information. Best we have a solid plan in place before you leave. Give me until Monday to find out what I can."

Caroline pointed her chopsticks at him. "If we figure out a plan earlier, I'm coming home."

Klaus' mouth curled upwards, dimples just creasing his cheeks. "If that is your wish. When shall I have the car brought around?"

"Kat needs to help me pack a bag," she grudgingly allowed. "But I'm eating cake first. The cake had better not have been a lie."

A hint of laughter, as he gathered reached over and settled a closed container in front of her. "As if I'd dare."