/|\ Tourist /|\
Spoilers for 3x15 - All My Children
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If Caroline was still human, their travels would have exhausted her.
They walk everywhere, hand in hand, but never really relax. Klaus lets her pull him down alleys, into old cathedrals, and down city streets just to explore and soak up the culture. At night, when even the lights in the cities seem to go dark, they curl up in bed, one of his hands stroking her curly hair as she rests on his chest, her own fingers tapping against the muscles as she explores.
In Africa, he watches her giggle as an elephant's trunk taps at her face. Caroline reaches out and up to touch it, her smile matching the intensity of the sun to him. The trunk wraps delicately around her cool arm as she continues to stroke its gray skin.
"I always thought their skin would be smoother, but it's almost... rough," She calls over to him, turning her head to look back.
He is almost blinded by her shining hair.
"Are you going to stay back there the whole time?"
Klaus sighs. "The elephants can sense the wolf in me, love. They would become wary and start to stampede because of it. Better to not risk it."
"Then how come they can't sense me being a vampire?" She is sincere about her inquiry, but he could see she is distracted. A baby elephant, barely reaching up to her chest is nudging at her legs, ears flapping in excitement. Caroline seemed to glow as she crouched to the ground, rubbing the calf's cheeks. It amuses him by how she coos at it like it is a kitten or a puppy.
"You, sweetheart, still have the scent of a human. To them, I am a wolf."
"I think you look more like a lion," Caroline deadpans, turning around to rake her eyes across his features with a tiny smirk. One hand rests on her hip, head tilted.
He closes his sketchbook filled with pictures of her with a snap, tucking the graphite pencil behind his ear as he stands up. "Speaking of, why don't we go see the pride now?"
She looks confused. "Won't they be anxious about you, like the elephants were?"
Klaus shakes his head, stepping over fallen branches and rocks as they walk across the nature reservation, fingers occasionally brushing. "I'm a predator, too. They'll respect me, as long as I keep my distance from their young. Trust me, we'll be fine."
He sees a sly expression form on her face, and then she's against his chest, kissing his neck as she places her face under his. Klaus' chin rests on the crown of her head.
"If you're the predator, then what am I?" She mutters into his shirt. Klaus almost shivers despite the heat.
"Then you are my prey," He senses the mood and growls, the noise radiating in his throat as his hands begin tugging at her clothes impatiently.
Suddenly, she jumps back, running away from him and laughing, her hands stretching out to the sides as if she was a child pretending to be a plane. Her blonde hair flies behind her, like a kite in the breeze, riding the wind.
"The mighty wolf predator has to catch me first!" Caroline yells back towards him gleefully, jumping over some dried out logs.
She begins howling like a wolf, her head arching back, facing the cloudless sky, spinning in circles.
He isn't sure how to react, but stares after her in awe. He's never had this kind of fun, never chased after something without the intent to kill and feed. His family didn't even play that much when they were younger. An image of his father plagues his mind, ruining whatever family moment he had ever experienced, before the sound of her piercing howl echoes again. He forgets about that man, and all he can see is her. An elephant is behind him, ears twitching and trunk swishing, and Klaus swears he sees amusement in its aged, but intelligent brown eyes.
"Catch me!" She's farther away now, almost a small dot on the horizon, running towards the lowering sun that she represents in his head – yellow and warm and bright and everything he needs to survive. "C'mon, I dare you!"
Another smile appears on his face at her familiar words, echoes of his bold declaration, and feels a sense of déjà vu. She sounds off with another howl, overly exaggerated as her feet dig into the earth, a trail of dust leading after her.
He chases after her in a heartbeat, his sketchbook left behind, but not forgotten, in the sand.
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After the heat of Africa, the dryness of the sand, the unanimous decision was to go somewhere cold. They're in Canada, dead in the middle of winter, and skating on one of the Great Lakes near Michigan, specifically Lake Huron.
Klaus watches as she pokes her tongue out in between her teeth and squeals as she fights to stop her ice skates from sliding. Her hands are out to steady her as she wobbles.
Then she's gliding into him, his own skates sliding backwards as his arms enclose her small frame, as if he were trying to absorb her bright light and essence completely. In turn, her arms pull him closer as well, smiling into the scratchy fabric of this thick over coat.
"Sorry," She murmurs lightly. The scent reminds her of home, and she breathes it in.
"Don't be."
He grabs her hand, pulling her along the ice; he's had more then one thousand years to practice ice skating, and he's fairly certain that he's perfected the art.
Caroline is grinning as snow and wind nips at her face, but despite the beautiful snow covered surroundings and pine trees, her smile is just for him. When his eyes light up and he smiles back – almost all teeth – Caroline revels in the fact that the smile with that kind of emotion is directed at her.
They rent a cabin in the woods by the lake shore, and wake up to almost eight feet of snow, blocking the doors.
Caroline is sitting up in bed, grumbling to herself, "Now what are we going to do?"
Klaus makes no response, and Caroline prods him underneath the covers with her foot. He automatically jumps up, his hair sticking up, and he looks almost wild.
"What, what is it!"
She crosses her arms and faux pouts. "We got snowed in."
He slumps back down, resting again on his back, a pillow tucked under his head as he blinks blearily at her. "That's it?"
"I'm bored."
It's silent as he continues to gaze at her, looking incredulous as his eyes search hers. She watches as his face morphs, becoming mischievous and just slightly devious. He rolls over quickly, trapping her under his weight, both of his hands place next to her head as he presses her into the mattress with the pleasant force of his body. His lips caresses the skin on her neck, slowly working his way down to her shoulder, where his blunt teeth gently nip without breaking skin. His tongue soothes the red marks.
"I can think of a few ways to occupy your time, love." Klaus breathes on her neck. His eyes flick up to her face, where she is looking up at the ceiling, hands fisting in his curly hair.
His idea efficiently occupies her time for many hours.
When they're done, she's watching re-runs of a sitcom, a pillow propped up against the now broken headboard, laughing quietly. Klaus rolls away from his previous position (resting on her chest, listening to the heart beat that wasn't there), looking at the blue light of the television.
"What are you watching?" He inquires quietly, mimicking her position of leaning on the headboard. His arm reaches around her shoulders and pulls her closer.
She snuggles into him automatically and responds, "How I Met Your Mother."
"Never seen it. What's it about?" He shrugs, more interested in sniffing her hair than a silly human television show.
Caroline freezes from under his grasp. "You've never seen How I Met Your Mother?" She gasps; He doesn't respond, and she sits up hastily. "Ever?"
He pulls her back down to him, holding her close. He didn't want her far away. "I've stopped watching sitcoms after I Love Lucy."
She goes on to explain the plot in detail ("Really?" Klaus scoffs. "An entire show dedicated to a long-winded story about some man finding his wife?" "It's more than that!" Caroline protests. "It's comedic genius!"). He quickly grows bored and stands up, pulling on clothes.
Cabin fever plagues them both, and despite the snow they both barrel out the door of their temporary residence, laughing as Klaus pulls them along. They're up at the top of a tall pine tree, resting on the same branch and looking out at the frozen lake that seemed to stretch on for miles and miles. She kicks her feet idly, the coolness of the branch matching her own skin.
We're awfully fond of climbing things, Caroline grins merrily at the thought.
They admire the view, listening to the birds sing in peace.
/|\
Their relationship hits a small bump when they return back to Mystic Falls for a few days. Caroline had pictures, knick-knacks, and souvenirs for what seemed like the entire town. On the last day, they're resting on a large leather couch in his home next to the fire – she, curled up with a book, and Klaus, using the guise of sketching, but mostly he watches her instead.
Rebekah struts into their bubble of privacy, a blur of shopping bags and expensive French perfume that makes Caroline gag and compare her to a desperate middle schooler, and makes as many loud noises as possible. Klaus looks up and says a quiet greeting, while Caroline ignores her existence completely.
"Oh good," The Original coos falsely, twirling blonde strands of hair around her lithe finger. "Your little blonde pet is here, Niklaus. I have the best story to tell her, concerning that waiter human of hers."
Rebekah leans forward, resiting the urge to smirk. She didn't hide it very well.
Caroline stiffens, but continues to glare at the same sentence she has been reading since Rebekah walked into the room.
"You see," She begins, looking nonchalant. "He is such a tasty little thing. Mitch – no, wait, Matt – is sadly on vervain, so he still pines after you, but I've been invited into his house and could easily switch his supply of vervain to something else so I can compel him..." Her head tilts, eyes flashing.
"Careful, Rebekah," Caroline growls darkly. "The color green doesn't look good on you."
The girl in question sneers in response, but turns to her brother. "Did I ever tell you what she did with Tyler, and what I did with your hybrid after she had left?"
The book Caroline was reading snaps and rips at the spine, her back and shoulders rigid.
"Rebekah, that's enough." Klaus interjects coolly, his face becoming blank, but eyes flashing with anger.
"Niklaus, I think your slave has the right to know what I did with her boyfriend when she was kidnapped and then tortured by the orders of Mrs. Lockwood," Rebekah sighs.
(Klaus makes the mental note to mercilessly kill Mrs. Lockwood when he has the free time.)
Rebekah continues, basking in the feeling of power, before another voice cuts her off from the beginning of her planned monologue.
"Rebekah, dear sister, I do believe your presence isn't needed here."
Elijah leans against the threshold wood, back straight and seemingly casual. However, the truth is that he exudes power and persuasion. Regardless, it works, and Rebekah grabs her designer shopping bags with a pout.
"Oh, 'Lijah, you ruin all the sense of fun this family has. You're quite a bore." She whines, flouncing out of the room, platinum blonde hair bouncing with volume.
Caroline discards the book to the coffee table, but smiles at Elijah with thanks. He straightens, looking impeccable in a suit, and half bows back. On any modern boy the gesture would've looked silly, but the Original seemed to pull it off with elegance and class.
"If you two will excuse me," Elijah drawls, backing out of the room. "Kol and I must discuss his... nasty habit of leaving his leftovers in his bed. Excuse me."
The room is quiet besides the crackling of the fire.
"Look, you -"
"I -"
They stutter at the same time, and they both let out awkward laughs and look away. He stares at her, imploring for her to continue. She meets his gaze and searches his eyes. He doesn't look hurt or angry, merely seeking confirmation.
"Klaus, when I was human, I was as insecure as possible. Bordering on neurotic. I mean, I'm still crazy and neurotic Caroline, but – I.. I've gotten a hold of myself now. But Matt was probably my first real boyfriend, and he helped me grow. And mature." She looks up at him, and sees a flash of her own face from the paper of his precious sketchbook. She'll mention that later.
He's still looking at her, so she continues. "When I became a vampire, I was going through my transition alone. When Matt found out, he was repulsed and rejected me. Everyone in this god forsaken town had been changed for hundreds of years, and they couldn't really teach me what it's like with what I've come to call being a vampire as a gift. But Tyler, he was also going through what I was, even if it was another species. We were both new, left out, scared, outcasts, and we forged a bond."
Caroline sees his jaw clench, and her hand reaches out to cup the bulging muscle. Her thumb strokes his cheek, and she sees his posture relax slightly.
"You, however," She continued, smiling at him. "You are my eternity. I'm not a scared little silly girl anymore, and my potential shines with you. Even if I hated you at first. Hated you for everything you had done against my friends. I was loyal to them, even if I didn't know you at the time. You were the faceless stereotypical bad guy who I had never imagined would be as deep and have so many layers as you." Her other hand cups Klaus' other cheek, and he leans forward, his forehead hits hers gently as she continues. Both of their eyes close.
"I'd never thought you would come out of all that's happened, or that I would ever feel as strongly towards someone as I feel to you" Caroline murmurs. "But I'm so glad you showed up."
Everything had already been said. She didn't mind that the other supernatural beings in the mansion could probably hear every single word of her private speech, but cherished the moment of closeness and vulnerability.
"I'm glad I showed up, too." Klaus responds, his voice scratchy.
They both sit on the couch for a long time, neither willing to stir and bring back reality.
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As always, you guys' enthusiasm and reviews with this story keeps me writing! Sadly, we have 3 weeks with no new episodes. I don't know if I'm ending the story at this point, but I consider this chapter suitable as an ending. I'll continue if you guys want me too. Send in destination ideas, if you want too! Writing Elijah and Rebekah was deliciously fun. I wasn't sure how to write Kol, he's only had several lines on the show and I didn't want to paint him to be OOC, but I threw in a honorable mention.
The Great Lakes requested by the lovely ~Twicked (ID /2566438)
More Original Family interactions thought up by the awesome ~jau0062 (ID /1792994)
Please leave a review!