Hello everyone! My apologies for the delay, lots of real life stuff going on but at last we are back. I probably sound like a broken record but seriously, thank so much to everyone of you that reviewed, followed, and faved this story! Last chapter was the most reviews I've gotten and I can't tell you all how excited I get when I read them. Your support is invaluable to me so thank you! :)

Without further ado, here is the next part. No beta so please forgive any errors.

"Somebody's nervous. Is bad boy Klaus Mikaelson actually trying to impress someone tonight?"

Klaus didn't turn from where he was standing facing the mirror adjusting his bowtie again, and instead rolled his eyes at his sister-in-law's comment, refusing to take her baiting.

"What is this, the third time you've fixed something on your tux? Or is it the fifth?"

"Have you nothing better to do with your time than concern yourself with what I am doing with mine?" he retorted sarcastically.

"Yeah but I find this a lot more entertaining," she countered with a smirk that had the ability to make him lose his patience almost immediately.

Thankfully he was saved from giving in to the temptation of snapping at her when his brother Elijah joined them just then. Elijah looked between his wife and younger brother who was adjusting his bowtie with a prominent scowl on his face.

"Here allow me," Elijah said as he moved in front of Klaus and worked on adjusting the tie before he could start protesting.

"I can fix my own bloody tie Elijah," he grumbled but Elijah ignored him and continued like he had not spoken.

Obviously Klaus didn't mind too much since he let him continue. Everyone knew Elijah was the best at working with anything related to suits and tuxedos and if anyone could get it to look perfect, Elijah would be your best bet.

"So who's the gal that managed to strike your fancy? Or guy?" Katherine asked with a devious grin.

"Don't be ridiculous," Klaus scoffed as he took a step away from his brother and glanced at the tie in the mirror, not surprised that it now looked impeccable.

"Would that really be so bad brother?" Elijah asked with a hint of a smile.

"It would really be none of your business," he countered. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some matters to attend to."

"Gonna go fix some of that flyaway hair?" Katherine asked with a laugh as she and Elijah watched him walk off without another word to either of them.

"I never thought I'd live to see the day your brother would be so fidgety with his appearance he even lets you fix his tie for him," she commented with a smirk. "There's definitely someone."

"If there is, try not to scare her off?" he requested with a smile playing on his lips. "I'm sure she'll have enough to deal with between the rest of the family as it is, particularly Kol and Rebekah."

Almost as if summoned, as soon as he said that, they heard Rebekah's shouts from down the hall and saw one of her heels fly out the door as soon as Kol opened it, the flying shoe missing Klaus by what looked like only mere inches.

Katherine laughed while Elijah sighed, watching as his three younger siblings bickered, with now Klaus joining in.

"She definitely doesn't know what she's in for," Katherine said, clearly amused by it all.

"What's happening there?" Finn asked Elijah as he joined them just then, looking at his siblings who had seemed to team up against Kol now.

"The usual I'm sure," Elijah responded dryly.

Finn nodded his head in understanding. When weren't one of the Mikaelson's ready to draw blood from one another after all?

"Well someone might want to tell them to wrap it up," he said. "The guests have started arriving."

Finn clapped his shoulder and headed back downstairs to greet the guests that were arriving. Elijah released another small sigh and turned to look at his wife.

"Let us hope tonight won't end in drama or another bloodbath."

"It wouldn't be a Mikaelson event if it didn't."

"Wow Caroline you look great," Elena gushed when Caroline stepped out of the room in the gown Klaus had bought her.

"Thank you," she responded with a slightly embarrassed smile. "You look amazing too."

After debating with herself on whether she should accept it or not, and then Bonnie and Enzo, the latter whom had only laughed and referred to Klaus as a "smooth bastard", she finally gave in. But that didn't mean she wouldn't be having words with Klaus about it. Not that all of those words would be bad of course. She would be lying if she said she wasn't excited when she saw the dress in the box and even more when she put it on.

They say that the real key to making anything look good is the confidence you have in wearing it and well, let's just say that Caroline was feeling pretty damn confident in that dress. She had pinned her hair up in a loose bun with some curls softly framing her face. She had gone for a smokey-eye look that would unfortunately be vastly hidden beneath the Mardi Gras mask she would be wearing. After Elena had seen the dress earlier, she had asked to see the mask she would be wearing with it, only to be met by a confused silence from Caroline. Apparently it had slipped everyone's mind that masks were part of the theme so the three had gone out shopping for one, a task that had been surprisingly difficult and a little awkward since Caroline mostly definitely felt like a third wheel most of the time.

"Your brother's definitely going to be beating the guys away from you tonight," Elena joked just as Stefan came into the room and smiled as he looked at the two women.

"She won't be the only one I'm going to be beating guys away from tonight," he said with a smile as he leaned in to give her a quick kiss.

"Yeah, we're not doing the whole 'overprotective older brother' thing anymore," Caroline warned him.

"It's practically engrained into my DNA Care," Stefan laughed but she could also hear the hint of underlying seriousness in his voice.

"Nice try but pretty sure that 'macho caveman' is not engrained anywhere in your genetics," she retorted with a smirk. "If I can handle living on my own, I'm pretty sure I can handle guys as well Stef."

"She's right big brother," Elena teased, giving him another quick peck.

"Fine, I'll try to back off tonight but just do me a favor and stay away from Kol Mikaelson," Stefan warned.

She laughed and rolled her eyes but assured him that he didn't have to worry about that. She and Kol had never exactly been friends, mostly because of his constant meddling with helping Rebekah back in high school.

Besides, something told her that was not the Mikaelson he needed to worry about, for he was not the Mikaelson she was both anxious and nervous to see.

Sometime later, Caroline looked around with complete awe at the large mansion they had just pulled in front of.

There were beautiful bright lights set all along the entrance with men in fun and colorful masks and costumes dancing along the entrance, handing out some of the infamous Mardi Gras beads, while some walked up to the guests playing a lively jazz beat with their instruments.

Caroline giggled as one of them came up beside her playing a French horn. She started dancing next to him before one of his partners came and spun her around as Stefan and Elena both looked on amusedly.

"You weren't exaggerating when you said Rebekah goes all out," Caroline said to Stefan as she joined him again and looped her arm through his.

"Does that really come as a surprise?" Stefan asked with a raised eyebrow and small laugh. "How many different committees weren't you both a part of in high school?"

"Yeah but even those look like hosting prom at a barn compared to this," she retorted, taking in the rest of the set-up.

"Is the rivalry about to start again?" Stefan joked.

"Shut up," she smirked as the doors were opened for them and she felt her jaw drop when she saw the inside.

How did she come up with this?

"Told you it was a big deal," Stefan chuckled when he saw her awed expression. "You haven't seen anything yet," he added with a grin.

Klaus saw her almost the moment she walked in. Even with her mask on, he would recognize her anywhere.

He stood upstairs, talking to one of their family's associates when he finally saw Caroline walk in beside Stefan and Elena. He didn't even bother to pretend to still be listening to the woman, unable to take his eyes off Caroline with only one thought going through his mind.

"Klaus?" he heard his companion ask in confusion.

"Excuse me," he responded, barely even sparing the woman a glance, still following Caroline with his gaze.

He walked closer to the railing, almost as if he were gravitating toward her, still unable to look away and itching to capture her in that moment in one of his books. He had been in the presence of and enjoyed the company of many beautiful women but somehow, looking at Caroline right then, he swore he had never seen anything more beautiful.

He wanted to go to her, to see that radiating smile up close, to hear that laugh and be able to see the way her eyes lit up but for some reason, Stefan's presence stopped him. Instead he stood there and watched Marcel join them, before one of the several photographers came and snapped a picture of their little group.

He made a mental note to get a copy from Rebekah just as he felt a presence come up next to him. He turned his head slightly to see his sister who was not looking at him, but rather looking down in the direction he had just been looking moments ago.

"You can't be serious Nik," she said.

He rolled his eyes and didn't answer.

"You know Stefan will never approve right?" she asked after a moment, turning to look at him.

He clenched his jaw in frustration, both at her meddling in his affairs and at the entire situation. He clenched his jaw in an effort to keep from lashing out at her and yelling she was only stating the obvious. Did she not think he was aware of this? That it had not crossed his mind since the first night he saw her standing in his kitchen and every night since? Did she not think he wished he could stop looking at Caroline? That he could stop looking at the woman he knew he should not want?

"Quite frankly, it's none of your concern now is it? So stay out of it," he finally said in a low and stiff voice.

"Stay out of what?" came another chipper voice behind them that literally made Klaus groan out loud.

"It's none of your concern either," he snapped at his younger brother before turning back to his sister. "I mean it Rebekah. Leave it alone."

"What no lovely threats tonight brother?" Kol asked amusedly.

"Oh go back to staring at yourself," he retorted before walking away without another word.

"Who pissed in his champagne glass?" Kol laughed. "Ladies and gentlemen, looks like we're in for one hell of a night."

Meanwhile, in another part of the house, Marcel led them over to a photo booth set up in one of the next rooms with plenty of fun props for them to use. Stefan had been resistant but between Caroline and Elena, he wasn't left with much of a choice.

While they were waiting their turn for the booth Kol joined them and several minutes and a couple of arguments between her and Kol later-

"The last time I saw you, you helped your sister sabotage my Miss Mystic campaign!"

"It was only one event darling, let bygones be bygones. Besides, you weren't so innocent yourself back then either. Need I remind you what you and your little friend -Bonnie was it- did to my brand new car?"

"It was senior prank night, let bygones be bygones darling."

"I wasn't even a student!"

-they finally got their turn at the booth. They got some pictures of just the girls, others with just her and Stefan, and group shots that included just about every prop available to them and Kol photobombing mostly all of them.

Kol abandoned them shortly after this without so much as a second glance when he spotted a gorgeous brunette. As they were making their way out of the room, Caroline tried to subtly look around for a certain Mikaelson she had yet to see. Not that she had been keeping an eye out for him since she arrived or anything.

They were walking down the hall, laughing over some of pictures when they ran into Alaric, who was apparently a family friend of the Mikaelson's. Naturally, they all stopped to greet him but Marcel excused himself shortly after, going to greet another couple that had just arrived.

Caroline listened silently for a while, as the other three spoke about work related stuff, all three very much engrossed in the discussion, something about the latest developments in their current case. She ended up excusing herself eventually, telling Stefan she needed to make a quick trip to the bathroom.

Despite Stefan's directions, she still managed to get a little lost but she didn't mind. She got to see more of the house and set-up this way, making her wish she had remembered to take her phone so she could snap some pictures to send to Bonnie and Enzo, knowing it would make them even more excited for Mardi Gras.

She ended up making her way out to the outside where it seemed to be a little quieter and she stopped and leaned against the railing next to the steps that led to the lower part of the patio, admiring the way everything had been set-up and decorated, and making mental notes for the next event she planned.

"Good evening," she heard a familiar accented voice come from behind her just then and she cursed the way his voice alone could make her stomach do a somersault.

She turned around to look at him and she felt her mouth go dry when she saw how handsome he looked in his fitted black tux. She noticed he wasn't wearing a mask and part of her was pleased that she had an unobstructed view of his face, the stubble she really liked lining his jaw, the dimples out in full effect.

Her eyes roamed over those taunting lips of his but refusing to let them linger, she snapped her gaze up to meet his, unable to fight back a pleased, albeit slightly embarrassed, smile as she saw the look of almost awe on his face as he took her in completely. He was looking at her the way she had always dreamed someone would look at her but never expected to actually happen. Now here was Klaus Mikaelson, looking at her like she was all he could see and a part of her immediately wanted to reject any of this as real.

"Definitely worth the risk," he said in a low voice, when he finally met her gaze. "You look beautiful Caroline. More so than I could have imagined."

She laughed a little, thinking how he was being a little cheesy but she was still unable to fight back the slight blush that crept up to her cheeks not just because of his words, but also because of the way he was still looking at her that let her know he meant every one of them.

"Thank you," she replied with a slightly embarrassed smile. "You look great too. Though in my case I guess the credit really goes to the dress that somebody surprised me with."

"I assure you it's not the dress love," he replied with a grin. "It's all you."

She opened her mouth but wasn't really sure what to say so ended up focusing on the dress, something she wanted to discuss with him anyway.

"How'd you know?" she asked and she knew she didn't have to elaborate for him to know what she was talking about.

"Rebekah may have mentioned something," he smirked, laughing when he saw her incredulous expression. "I think you grew on her a bit, love," he teased.

"I don't even know what to say right now," she muttered, still reeling from the fact that Rebekah did something nice for her. True, she figured that Rebekah had to be involved, it was entirely different suspecting from actually knowing.

"Just say that I'm your favorite Mikaelson," he joked, chuckling when she rolled her eyes.

"Thank you," she said after a moment. "You know you really didn't have to get me a dress-"

"I know," he interrupted with a smile that displayed his dimples again. "I told you I never do things unless I want to."

"Yeah but, this dress is too much," she argued, remember the hefty price tag. "You have to let me pay you back the difference."

In a month or two when I can save up the money.

He looked almost offended and part of her was sure he was.

"Sweetheart the dress was a gift and typically one gives gifts without expecting anything in return," he said. "I just wanted to help make your night and your first big event in New Orleans as memorable as possible. A simple thank you would more than suffice though if you are feeling keen on repaying me in some way, I would never say no to a dance," he finished, a small smirk playing on his lips as he extended his hand out to her.

She shook her head with a small laugh as she placed her hand in his, meeting his gaze so hopefully he could see all the genuine gratitude for all he had done for her since she had arrived. "Thank you. You know, for everything."

He looked almost surprised for a brief moment before he quickly recovered and a soft smile played on his lips as he subtly nodded his head. She looped her arm with his and the two walked back inside and to the ballroom.

She didn't know why but as he spun her around to face him and felt his hand drop to her waist, she suddenly felt extremely nervous as if she had never done this before. Which was of course ridiculous because she had been Miss Mystic Falls and had been in charge of every dance committee since her junior year and been to every dance. Of course she had danced with a partner plenty of times!

But none of her partners had ever been Klaus.

She placed one hand on his shoulder while the other remained entwined with his. She involuntarily sucked in a breath when she felt him pull her in a little closer than she expected, his gaze fixed on her as the two started swaying to the music.

"You know, you're an excellent dancer," he commented after a while, trying to get her to at least look at him again.

Was she uncomfortable?

"Thank you," she smiled, raising her chin a little proudly. "I had training for the Miss Mystic Falls pageant."

"I know," he replied with a smirk, remembering all the stories he heard from Rebekah who competed against her that year.

She heard the amusement in his voice and looked up to see an equally amused smirk.

"Rebekah," was all he said to answer her unspoken question. "Sounds like Mystic Falls has never seen an event quite like that one ever again. I hear it was quite the showdown," he finished amusedly.

"Whatever you heard from your sister was probably her own biased version of how things really happened," she replied, remembering the bloodbath that almost ensued that year.

"She said you pulled the fire alarm in the middle of her interview with the judges," he said with barely concealed laughter.

"Did she also tell you that she and Kol locked up my date in a closet? I had to do the traditional Miss Mystic dance with Randall Gibbins, who was almost a foot shorter than me because he was the only one who knew the steps," she huffed. "Do you know how hard it was to do the spins?"

He couldn't help the laughter that escaped him, the image he had in his mind too amusing for him to hold it in.

"It is not funny," she said with a scowl.

"Oh come on love, you have to admit it's a little amusing," he countered, still chuckling,

She rolled her eyes but was unable to fight back a smile herself.

"I take it you got your revenge on my dear siblings?"

"You say revenge, I call it justice. That's why I pulled the alarm," she laughed. "And let's just say I eventually got even with Kol when he least expected it."

He laughed again as he saw the mischievous look in her eye, letting him know she was not one to be trifled with.

"So you better be on the lookout too Mikaelson," she added teasingly. "We're still not even for the whole pool thing."

He quirked an eyebrow, his smirk widening into a smile.

"I look forward to it sweetheart."

The song ended then and two almost reluctantly stepped back to join in the clapping. She looked over at him just as the next song started playing, a much more lively jazz beat than the last one.

"Might I be so bold as to request another dance with the lady?" he asked with that smirk back in place.

She smiled and took his hand again, laughing when he wasted no time in quickly spinning her before dipping her the way some of the other couples did. In fact, she laughed a lot, holding on to him tightly as they began to move even more quickly, dancing through the crowded room that seemed like nothing but a blur in the background now. She realized that dancing with him just felt so natural and easy, it was easy to forget that anyone else in the room existed.

By the time the fourth song finished, she was starting to feel a little hot and out of breath but was still laughing at something he had just whispered in her ear. He moved back just a little and looked over her shoulder just then, noticing Katherine across the room with Elijah, both glancing over at him and Caroline with obvious intrigue.

"Want to get a drink?" he asked, suddenly desperate to get away from his family's prying eyes.

"Sure," she answered eagerly, feeling like she could go for a drink and some fresh air.

As the two walked out of the ballroom, he pointedly ignored his brother and sister-in-law, despite still being able to feel their gazes on him.

"I think we have our mystery girl," Katherine said with a smirk as she turned to her husband. "Do you know who she is?"

"I don't believe I do," he responded wrapping his arm around her waist again and pulling her into him when he saw her move to go after them. "Let's give them their privacy."

"I just want to say hi," she said defensively, scowling when she saw his amused smile.

"Katherine Pierce-Mikaelson never wants to just say hi," he countered.

She rolled her eyes amusedly, her way of conceding he had a point.

"Now may I please have the pleasure of sharing this dance with my beautiful wife?" he asked with a hint of a smile.

"I suppose you may, but you won't be able to charm me to keep me by your side all night you know," she said playfully.

"I suppose we'll just have to wait and see now won't we?" he responded with a smile before leaning and capturing her lips with his, effectively cutting off any other reply.

Let the charming commence.

"What?" Caroline asked with an arched eyebrow when she saw Klaus' amused expression.

"You realize that wasn't water right love?" he asked, nodding to her now practically empty champagne flute.

"I was hot and thirsty," she replied with a slight shrug but he noticed a hint of color appear on her face from what he could see underneath her mask.

He was opening his mouth to respond with another witty response when he froze, a hard look crossing his eyes before he clenched his jaw in anger as he caught sight of the person standing a short distance from them.

"Klaus?" she asked in confusion. "What's wrong?"

"I'll be right back," he said tensely.

Without another word, he walked past her and stalked over to the man he held nothing but disdain for.

"What are you doing here?" he growled as he soon as he reached him.

"Are they having you work the security detail today, boy?" Mikael asked mockingly.

"No, but it doesn't mean I won't delight in throwing you out myself regardless," he replied snidely.

"Such tough talk, Niklaus," Mikael laughed making Klaus clench his jaw in anger. "This is coming from the bastard that once cried and pleaded for mercy before me. Or have you forgotten how you crawled on all fours like the animal you are, after failing to defend your mother? Do you remember that night boy? Say, where is your mother this evening? Perhaps she would like to reminisce with me on old times."

"Get out!" Klaus seethed angrily as he grabbed him by the lapels of his jacket and shoved him forcefully against the wall behind him.

"Niklaus!"

Klaus didn't even bother to turn as he got ready to punch that twisted smile off Mikael's face.

"Enough! You are making a scene," Finn said as he came up behind him and tried to separate the two.

"I don't care if it means putting this miserable bastard in his place," Klaus snapped, his nostrils flaring in anger when he heard Mikael laugh.

"You're one to talk about miserable bastards and being put in their place," Mikael mocked. "You have yet to learn yours."

Klaus made to lunge at him again when he felt somebody hold him back and turned to see Marcel standing behind him.

"Walk away, Niklaus," Finn told him sternly. "Let me handle this, just walk away," he finished looking around at the several guests that were watching them.

Klaus tore his arm out of Marcel's grip and glared at Mikael a moment longer before he heard rushed footsteps and turned just in time to see Rebekah joining them.

"What the bloody hell is going on?" she hissed angrily. "You're making a scene!"

"He can't help it, darling. He must get his infamous temper from the dog that bred him," Mikael laughed, enjoying the sight of Klaus trying to control his anger but failing miserably.

"Stop it both of you!" Rebekah said loudly, taking in the small crowd that was starting to gather around them. "Don't do this tonight. Please Nik."

At this, Klaus turned to look at his sister, a brief flicker of guilt flashing through his eyes as he looked at her before he turned away without another word, ignoring Mikael's taunts despite the rage he felt and ignoring the curious stares he was receiving.

Marcel tried to talk to him but he brushed him off and kept walking right out the door and in the direction of his car. It wasn't until he was outside that he heard the sound of heels quickly approaching behind him and turned his head to see Caroline rushing toward him.

Fuck. He had completely forgotten about her.

"Caroline," he started not sure what to say, hating that she had witnessed that.

She finally reached him and took off her mask. Had he not been so angry, he might've been able to properly appreciate just how beautiful she was and stunning she looked tonight.

"Are you ok?" she asked, studying him closely.

"I'm fine," he responded curtly before releasing a frustrated sigh and looking at her. "I wish you didn't see that," he confessed quietly.

She shrugged before meeting his gaze again.

"I once saw my dad punch out my uncle during Christmas dinner," she told him. "I've seen my fair share of family drama trust me."

He subtly nodded his head but didn't say anything.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked him quietly.

He shook his head sharply. Mikael was not something he felt like discussing right then. Or ever.

"I appreciate the concern, love but I think I'm just going to retire for the evening," he replied tensely.

She nodded her head in understanding.

"Is this one of the those times you would like to be alone or would you like some company?"

He was taken aback by her offer.

"Don't you want to stay and enjoy the party?"

"I'd rather spend some time with a friend that's having a bit of a crappy night right now," she replied with a small but gentle smile. "If you don't mind?"

He felt a bit of his anger ebb away and he felt his lips curl up just a little as he nodded his head once more.

"I would be honored to have your company tonight," he told her earnestly, surprising even himself.

He always wanted to be alone with his bottle of scotch or paints, sometimes both, after his encounters with Mikael. But all he could think about was how much he really wanted to spend time with her.

"I'm just going to let Stefan know," she said, turning to walk away when he gently tugged on her elbow to stop her.

"Thank you," he said in a low and quiet voice.

He could tell she was surprised by this but she quickly snapped out of it and gave him another smile that almost came off as shy.

"Yeah," she said a little breathlessly. "What are friends for right?"

He responded with a tiny smirk, remembering when he said the same words to her earlier that week.

"I'll meet you up in the front?" she asked and he nodded his head before he watched her walk back toward the house and he couldn't help but wonder how someone like him ended up with someone like Caroline in his life and more importantly, how did he keep her in it?

He tried not to linger on why it was even important to him that he did.

"Can I offer you a drink?" Klaus asked almost as soon they walked back into his apartment.

He made his way straight to his liquor supply and immediately pulled out a bottle of scotch, hearing her take off her heels as she walked in behind him.

He had thought about driving himself to a bar but didn't want to put Caroline in an uncomfortable position with those creeps that would no doubt try to make a move on her, and he certainly didn't feel like getting wasted and having her play designated driver. Then there was also the fact that he just wanted to be alone with her and enjoy her company. Just the two of them.

"Sure, what do you have?" she asked as she came up behind him and looked at his options she had to choose from. "Can I just say Bonnie and I would kill to have this supply at our apartment?"

He chuckled as he made to pull out a glass for each of them.

"Seriously, it's like you have your own bar at your home," she continued, eyes widening as she picked up an expensive bottle of tequila. "Do you get these from your bar or do you like get discounts on them?"

"I suppose you can say that," he replied with a small smirk as he took the bottle from her and poured her a shot and one for himself. "Cheers sweetheart."

"Crap that was strong," she exclaimed right after she threw the shot back. "But oh so good," she added with a laugh. "I may steal your bottle while I'm here just letting you know."

"Go for it, I have plenty more to go around."

"Seriously?" she asked. "You already have like half a bar here."

"Come with me," he responded with a hint of a smirk as he walked down the hall that led to his room but walked past it to another door, opening it and flicking on the lights.

She looked in curiously and saw that it resembled a small art studio with various canvases all around the floor leaning against the wall or set up on easels.

So this is where he kept his paintings.

She noticed a desk with what looked like stacks of business papers and a laptop on one end, as well as a few other small tables set up along the walls, some containing nothing but sketch paper spread out and others with various paint brushes and paints, but there was also some that held some other items. She immediately noticed a samurai sword that was obviously only meant for display, before her gaze dropped onto an antique vinyl record player next to a small shelf containing nothing but expensive bottles of alcohol.

"Oh my God!" she exclaimed excitedly as she rushed over to it before she could stop herself. "My grandpa used to have one of these! Does it work?"

"It very well should considering how difficult it was to get it."

"You've never played anything on it?" she asked in surprise.

When he simply shook his head, her eyes widened in even more surprise.

"Why not?" she asked with a light laugh. "What was the point of getting it then?"

He smirked and slightly shrugged.

"It seemed like a good idea at the time," he responded simply. "You'll actually find I own a lot of things I simply don't need or ever intend on using. Most of those are Kol's doing though."

She looked at him with an arched eyebrow and he smirked, walking deeper into the room and opening up a closet door and motioning for her to follow him. She wondered what he wanted to show her in there when her eyes landed on a two-foot tall alien standing in the corner, holding up a carrying tray.

"What the hell is that?"

"My alien butler," he responded with a tight smile. "Courtesy of Kol's drunk home shopping with one of my credit cards."

She threw her head back in laughter and he couldn't stop himself from chuckling too.

"Seems like a wise investment," she joked as she walked closer to inspect the weird looking alien.

"Oh you should see some of his other wiser investments."

She turned to look at him with obvious intrigue, making him chuckle as he moved to show her another one of Kol's ridiculous purchases. This somehow turned into him taking her around the apartment showing her all the other useless stuff he and Kol had bought, several of them during drunken home shopping sprees it appeared, and by the time they ended up back in the living room, her sides were beginning to hurt from laughing so much.

But it didn't end there. Somehow her wondering when Stefan would be back -he had said he and Elena would head back as soon as they could- led to her telling Klaus about Stefan's 'Kriss Kross' phase when he was in eighth grade.

After making him promise he wouldn't make fun of Stefan, she told him the some more about this little phase, making him roar with laughter and demanding to see pictures in the future. She also told him how in an attempt to hang out with him and his friends, she learned the entire "Jump" song and dance moves. This naturally led him to demand she show him.

Maybe it was the booze in her system, she didn't feel drunk but they did have another shot and she was now having another drink he mixed for her, but she agreed. She looked up the music video on his smart TV and without really thinking about it, she started performing the song and dance she still knew by heart, memories of doing this countless times as a kid and again with Bonnie on girl's night in. She did all the moves minus the whole jumping part because hello! She wasn't about to do that in her dress she had still not changed out of for some reason.

He was both extremely amused and impressed when he saw her easily keeping up with the artist in the video and flawlessly performing the moves. At some point she tried to get him to join her and tugged on his arm to try and get him up from the couch, but he pulled her down to him instead both laughing as she settled in next to him.

The two talked and laughed for well over an hour, both easily losing track of the time as they shared story after story and he ended up realizing at some point that he had forgotten what he had even been upset about and he couldn't help but smile at the thought. How did she do it?

"What's that look for?" she asked with a light laugh when she noticed the way he was looking at her.

"Just you," he responded with a small grin.

She quirked an eyebrow and looked at him in confusion, waiting for him to elaborate.

"You took my mind off what happened earlier," he confessed. "Thank you."

"You've done the same for me," she said with a small smile. "I'm glad I could return the favor."

She turned her whole body so she was fully facing him and had to resist the urge to reach out and caress the side of his face when he was this close.

"You know I'm also here if you ever want to talk about it right?" she asked. "It wasn't something I was always good at, you can totally ask Bonnie when you meet her, well officially meet her I guess, but I've been told I'm a pretty good listener now."

He chuckled and shook his head slightly.

"Thank you, sweetheart," he responded quietly, and she knew that was all she was going to get from him at the moment.

He sighed and shifted his body so he could better face her too.

"Did you at least enjoy yourself tonight before Mikael and I ruined everything?"

"I don't think you ruined anything but I did enjoy myself and I don't know about you, but I'm enjoying myself right now too," she said earnestly.

"I told you already love, I enjoy spending time with you," he said with a hint of a grin. "I enjoy you."

She laughed lightly and looked away briefly.

"You enjoy 'on vacation Caroline' but you haven't seen the crazy, neurotic, control freak side of me yet," she replied teasingly. "Bet you won't enjoy me too much then."

"Are you sure I haven't seen that side of you yet?" he asked with mocked seriousness, chuckling when she tossed the throw pillow at him but he easily caught it. "I may prefer some sides more so than others but ultimately, all of these sides make up you so how could I reject that? I want to see every side of you love, you don't have to try to pretend. Not with me."

She wasn't sure how it even happened, but suddenly he felt a lot closer and she could feel her heart pick up its pace because she already knew what was going to happen next.

Her gaze flickered down to his lips and she felt him lean in closer, and then watched as his gaze flickered down to her lips before snapping up to meet her eyes again. She felt her breath quicken when she saw his eyes almost dark with desire.

There was a part of her that was screaming at her to put a stop to it, to move away, but another part, a much bigger part, didn't want to stop it. She wanted this. If she were being perfectly honest, she wanted this since that first day she spent with him. And so without giving it another thought, she leaned in and captured his lips with her own.

The kiss started off slow and tentative, but it quickly became hungry and passionate as the two gave in to that obvious attraction that had been there since that first night he saw her in his kitchen. He shifted his body so he could pull her in closer, tangling one hand in her hair at the same time he parted her lips with his tongue.

She gasped in pleasure, tightening her fingers in his curls at the feel of his tongue against hers, at his taste and the way his calloused hand felt against her skin while his lips worked expertly against hers, working her to a heated frenzy where all she could think was more!

Of course he was a damn good kisser!

Caroline had kissed her fair share of guys in the past but none of those kisses compared to this one. It was like he was claiming her mouth as his and she was all too eager to repay the favor, pulling him closer and shifting her body so she was practically straddling him.

Somehow through her lusty haze, she managed to process the sound of the door being unlocked, making her immediately pull back and practically jump off the couch just as the door knob was turned and the door was opened.

She didn't even dare look at Klaus as she saw Elena walk in first with Stefan right behind her. Only one thought went through her head.

Oh crap. What did she just do?

Thanks for reading everyone! I know I had something to add but I can't think of it right now so, guess I'm out of luck there. Anyway, if you guys have the time, can you please share your thoughts with me? :)

S/N: Yes I totally got Stefan's "Kriss Kross" phase from Friend with Benefits and my husband's own obsession with the song. ;)