Hey guys! OMG thank you so so so much for all the reviews after the last chapter! I looked at my email and my jaw was legit on the ground. I'm so glad that I managed to pull one over you guys ;) Sorry for the wait, but it's Klaroline AU week, so I wanted to wait for the proper day to post!

So, all will be revealed this chapter! There are some confessions, revelations, and a tiny bit of smutty goodness near the bottom.

Enjoy!

The room was so quiet that Caroline swore could hear the laughter from the break room where the retirement party was being held. Klaus was looking at her, his eyes troubled as he watched her reaction.

Or, lack of reaction.

She swallowed thickly, trying to wrap her brain around the words that had tumbled out of his lips.

"Y-You what?" she asked, inwardly slapping herself for the way her voice trembled.

Klaus' face hardened into a cool mask, his eyes cool like steel.

"You heard me," he muttered, looking away.

He was closing himself off, like he always did when things seemed to get intense.

He went to get up, but Caroline pulled him back down. There had to be more to the story. Klaus was a lot of things, but there is no way he murdered his own father in cold blood.

"I need you to explain," she ordered, tightening her grip on his arm. "Please."

Klaus looked back at her, and then away again. Fixating his gaze on the wall, he exhaled, shoulders slumping dejectedly.

"It was an accident," he confessed.

She nodded, seemingly relieved.

"I thought as much," she contributed, snapping her mouth shut at his look.

"I was in Mikael's office one night. Elijah has asked me to fetch him something, and Ansel stormed in. He was angry about something," Klaus continued, screwing his face in contemplation.

Squeezing his arm encouragingly, Caroline waited for him to continue.

"The next thing I know, he's pulling a page out of Mikael's book, calling me weak and a disappointment. He was glad that I never came out as his son, that I'm not a true warrior like the Erikson men," Klaus scowled, the anger prominent on his face.

"Where did that come from?"

Caroline shook her head, unable to comprehend what kind of person would hate their own flesh and blood so much. Mikael's vendetta seemed like nothing compared to the kind of contempt Ansel had for Klaus.

Klaus shrugged. "I didn't understand then, and I still don't. I told him that the only person who wasn't brave enough was him because he wasn't man enough to own up to the fact that I was his son."

"That must have made him angrier," Caroline mused, Klaus nodding in agreement.

He took in a long breath, hesitating before continuing.

"He was extremely volatile after that, yelling and throwing Mikael's files all over the room. The next thing I knew, he was coming after me," Klaus continued in a hushed voice.

Caroline sucked in a low breath, the shaky sound making Klaus flinch.

"He attacked me. Shoved me into the wall," he confessed. "Yelling all the same that I was weak, and that he could never accept me."

"I don't understand what you did. You were just born," Caroline shook her head.

"Sweetheart, I've spent over 20 years trying to understand what I've done to deserve that," Klaus chuckled sardonically. "I was born and already two men hated me. Seems my mother had quite the type."

She rubbed his arm soothingly. Her heart broke for him, trying to imagine what it was like being him growing up. Unable to feel the unconditional love and support that a father should give their children, no matter what the circumstances.

"When he attacked me, I could smell the alcohol on his breath. He was drunk," he said simply.

"I shoved him off me, and he fell backwards and hit the back of his head on Mikael's desk," Klaus swallowed.

Caroline bit the inside of her cheek, refraining from gasping. His eyes were dark, hazy as he revisited the horrifying tale.

"T-There was so much blood, I didn't know what to do," Klaus stammered, his fingers twisting nervously together.

"What happened next?"

Caroline found herself surprised with how steady her voice sounded. Klaus ducked his head, running his hand down his face. He looked tired, a lot older than his young age.

"Mikael walked in."

Caroline did gasp at that.

"I thought he was out of town."

Klaus shook his head. "No, that's what he paid the reporters and the workers to say that day."

She shook her head, closing her eyes in disbelief. There was a dark side of journalism that she seemed to have missed.

Thank God, because she didn't think she'd have to stomach for it.

"I waited for him to taunt me, that he would go straight to the police and tell them how much of a murderer I was. That he would be glad to be rid of me."

"Did he?"

Klaus shook his head. "No. He didn't do anything. He just stood next to me, looked at Ansel dead on the ground, turned to me and said 'Pity that a heart attack did him in', and that was it."

"That's all he said?"

"Yes," he answered, pressing his lips together in a thin line.

"I thought he hated you," Caroline said, unable to mask her confusion.

"He does," Klaus answered. "But he hated Ansel more."

"Then why protect you?" she asked, shaking her head. "I don't get it."

Klaus sighed, his face a rare mask of utter confusion. "Perhaps he thought I was doing him a favor, getting rid of Ansel."

"Did he say that?" she asked, lacing their fingers together.

He faltered, glancing down at their intertwined hands before drawing in a breath.

"To this day, I still don't really understand. He says it's something to do with my mother and the press."

"What do they have to do with what happened?"

"Ansel's death would lead to an investigation, which leads to my real ties with him," Klaus sighed. "The press would have a field day with Mikaelson Corporation. Mikael said it was eas-"

"Easier to cover it up," Caroline finished, looking at him quietly.

"I assume Jenna must have figured it out," Klaus muttered. "Clearly I don't give her enough credit."

"Or she was one of the journalists who was paid off," Caroline supplied.

Klaus groaned, throwing his head back. "No wonder she wants to expose me. The money must have run out."

He walked across the room, away from her.

Caroline narrowed her brow, the idea of covered up deaths thoroughly creeping her out. "That is so morbid that people can be bought off to hide a death."

"Happens more than you think, apparently. Everybody has secrets to hide," he reminded her.

She nodded hesitantly, thinking about Tyler and his actions whilst they were engaged. Clearly, it wasn't any nearly as intense as what Klaus and his fathers went through, but she understood it.

Klaus was studying her, a dark, apprehensive look on his face.

"You must be terrified of me," he stated.

Caroline's eyes snapped to his, wetting her lips with her tongue as she looked at him. He ducked his head ashamedly, running a hand through his hair.

"What makes you think that?" she asked, knowing exactly what he was thinking.

"I'm a murderer."

She sucked in a low breath, the words hitting her harder than she expected.

"It was an accident," she reminded him.

His shoulders bobbed as he shrugged. "Still."

She got up, walking over to him hesitantly. Raising her hand to put it on his shoulder, Klaus recoiled and stepped away.

"It doesn't change anything for me," she confessed.

He stopped suddenly and turned around. "What?"

She stepped closer. "Knowing this doesn't change anything for me about you."

"But I'm a-,"

"It doesn't matter," Caroline said firmly. "You were defending yourself and it was an unfortunate accident."

"That killed someone," Klaus stressed.

"Who was probably going to try to kill you," she continued. "Klaus, it doesn't matter to me. Okay?"

His eyes had grown soft, the vulnerability in them gnawing at her. She felt for him, the secret having been haunting him for years. Caroline couldn't even imagine the kind of stress he must have been under, having to keep something like that private.

And, she found that she wasn't scared of him. Klaus wasn't the person he was painting himself out to be. He'd been handed a lousy hand of cards in life, with his family. But, he didn't make excuses for the way he acted, for the way things happened to him.

He took it in stride, and became someone she admired deeply because of his determination and persistence in everything he did.

"I care about you," she murmured. "It was an accident. You need to stop blaming yourself."

Klaus shook his head. "If only I wasn't born-"

"Then my life would be a hell lot more boring," she interrupted, smiling at the way the corner of his lips quirked up at that.

He smiled back at her, allowing her to wrap an arm around his waist as she pulled him into a hug. Inhaling his scent, she snuggled her head into the crook of his neck as he held her. She'd never admit this to anyone, but she loved this side of Klaus. The tiny hint of vulnerability that he only seems to display with her. It twisted her heart and sent her reeling in a way she never thought was possible.

Klaus released her, stepping backwards as he moved away from her.

"Thank you," he said quietly, casting his gaze down at the ground.

She shrugged, bumping her hip with his. "That's what friends are for."

His face fell before smoothing into his usual confident smirk. "That you are."

She grinned at him, his face mirroring her expression.

"Dinner?" she asked. "I'll buy."

He sighed playfully. "I guess you owe me since last time didn't work so well."

Her mouth dropped open in surprise.

"Hey! It's not my fault Jenna has a pathological vendetta against your family."

He just smirked. "Italian?"

Her answering smile was blinding.

"Deal."

Even since Klaus' confession, something had changed between them. They were friendly of course, but it was a lot more affectionate than it had been in the past. She found herself opening up her apartment to him for dinner most days of the week, either him bringing it or her ordering it when he showed up.

Rarely a day went by when they didn't see each other, or share a meal. When they were apart, they were either texting or emailing. He was quickly becoming one of her best friends, his secret having bonded them in a way she didn't think was possible.

"We're just friends," Caroline stressed, rinsing her plate off.

Katherine was standing in her kitchen during a girls night, raising her eyebrow unconvinced.

"You spend more time with Klaus than you did with Tyler when you two were together," the brunette needled, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

"This is so no true," she stressed.

"Oh please," Katherine rolled her eyes. "Why is this the first girls night we've had in like three weeks?"

"Well, you're so busy with Elijah," Caroline pointed out, drying her dish.

Katherine rolled her eyes. "And you're so busy with Klaus."

"I am not," Caroline dismissed, opening her cabinet to put away her plate.

"How many times have you and Klaus had dinner this week?" her friend asked, dropping into a kitchen chair.

Caroline wrinkled her forehead, looking up to the ceiling as she tried to recall.

"Like...four times?"

Katherine smirked at her. "I rest my case. The only reason you aren't with him tonight is because it's a girl's night."

"Not true," she defended. "I had plans."

"With?"

"My TV," Caroline looked at her triumphantly. "Pride and Prejudice movie night."

"Ah yes, a movie in which you are totally Elizabeth and he is Mr. Darcy," Katherine said, bored. "It was all for you," she continued in a terrible British accent, throwing Klaus' words from their ill-fated lunch date all that time ago back at her.

"I am n-"

"Oh, please. You totally love him," Katherine cut in, her tone conveying that she was only half-kidding.

Caroline stopped short, the validity of Katherine's point hitting her.

"Oh my God."

Katherine smiled at her sympathetically.

"I-"

Caroline sucked in a low breath, rubbing her forehead as she let it out. Her heart began to pound, thinking about Klaus and all the different things he made her feel.

"Do you feel this burning in your chest every time you see him? Like you're just so happy that he's finally back in your sight?"

Caroline hesitantly nodded, thinking of the way her heart lifts every morning when she sees his curly blonde head bent over his desk.

"Do you miss him right after he leaves? Thrilling yourself with every little bit of knowledge that he seems to know about you?" Katherine continues, ticking the points off her fingers.

She didn't answer, looking up at the brunette helplessly. The woman just smiled back at her, a rare genuine grin.

"Congrats Care, you're in love."

Normally Caroline would have dismissed Katherine's claims with a roll of the eyes, chalking it up to her interactive imagination.

But she was completely right.

Everything was starting to make sense to her.

When she broke up with Tyler, she wasn't heartbroken over him, her pride was wounded. Tyler's lies hurt, but nothing hurt as bad as it would feel if Klaus up and walked out of her life. The way Klaus looked at her sent her reeling, and her heart seemed to start and stop with every bit of emotion on his face. His confession about Ansel would have sent any person running, but she stood by him through it. She'd been denying it all in the true face of friendship, but there was always something more to "just friends."

Especially with him.

They could never be just friends.

Her anger at his mother, father, and Ansel for the way he grew up stemmed from something other than sympathy. She hated Jenna for all the dirty work that she tried to put her through, that she had hurt Klaus. She felt...protective of him.

There was always something more to what she felt for him.

She never could pinpoint the exact moment where things changed for them. Maybe it was the way his face fell when he found out she was engaged, or the first time they danced at Donovan's.

Or maybe it wasn't just one moment.

It was everything.

"Oh. My. God."

Caroline dropped her plate with a clang, making her best friend jump.

"Are you okay?" Katherine asked, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"I think I love him," she murmured, shaking her head.

Katherine chuckled, pulling her best friend into her arms. "Congratulations, you're officially the last person to know."

Caroline let out a watery laugh, gripping Katherine closer to her. She felt like a load was lifted off her shoulders, settling into the pit of her stomach.

How the hell was she supposed to act around him now?

She checked the clock on her computer, jiggling her leg nervously. Klaus was due back from lunch any minute. He went to lunch with Elijah, citing his brother wanting to talk to him about something. Caroline had just smiled and said that it was okay, inwardly jumping with joy that she'd get some time to get her nerves back in order.

She felt like Cher from Clueless when she had her epiphany about loving Josh.

She didn't know how to act around Klaus now that she knew how she felt about him. It was like she was rediscovering everything she liked about him and seeing it different, bright light.

That morning Klaus walked in later than usual, mouthing a "sorry" while she was on a phone interview and went to sit at his desk. Normally, she'd scoff and glare at him but all she could do was think about how adorable his dimples were when he smiled shyly, and how sexy his black henley looked, hugging his lean form.

Then when he said he couldn't make lunch, she would usually be fine with that, but now she spent the last half hour missing him and wishing that he would hurry back, even if she felt incredibly awkward around him.

She felt silly.

Like a foolish schoolgirl.

But she wasn't. She was in love.

Stupidly, crazily in love.

Of course it would be with the one guy on earth who failed to commit to a relationship. He just didn't do serious.

But he still trusted you and told you everything about his past, the tiny voice of sense in her brain reminded her.

He seemed to trust her more than most people, right up there with his friends and family.

Caroline groaned, throwing her head down on her desk.

"Everything all right?"

The smooth lilt of his accent washed over her and Caroline snapped her head up. Her cheeks reddened and she smiled nervously at Klaus.

"Yeah, just something with this article I'm working on," she stammered, gesturing at her blank piece of paper on her desk.

His forehead wrinkled. "Need anything?"

Other than ravishing me every day for the foreseeable future?

"Nope," she snapped, hastily closing her notebook. "Probably just need a break."

His eyes lightened up at that. "Speaking of breaks," he pulled out a takeout cup of coffee from behind his back. "I have a surprise for you."

Caroline let out an excited noise, reaching for the cup in his hand.

"You are amazing," she sighed, sniffing at the hazelnut scent that wafted out of the cup.

"I know," he smirked cheekily at her, dropping in Katherine's usual chair across from her desk.

She rolled her eyes, secretly thrilling herself at his gesture. Sipping at her coffee, she moaned quietly at the taste. Licking her lips, her heart jumped at the sight of Klaus' lustful look that has recently become synonymous with most looks directed at her.

"Peace offering for dumping me for lunch?" she asked, wiggling the cup at her.

He smirked. "Wouldn't want you poisoning my dinner tonight."

She gasped, mock-offended. "How dare you insinuate something like that coming from me?"

He chuckled, taking a drink of his own takeout cup that he seemingly produced out of thin air.

"Tea?" she nodded towards the cup.

"As usual," he sighed, closing his eyes and lolling his head back in bliss at the taste.

She inspected the way his Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, fantasizing about climbing over the desk and licking her way up his neck. Averting her eyes when he moved his head, Caroline gulped down her coffee while staring at her computer screen.

"Is it my turn or yours?" he asked, referring to dinner that night.

She twisted her lips into a pout, raising her eyebrows as she tried to remember. "I think it's yours."

"Didn't I buy Thursday night?" he reminded her.

"And I was supposed to be Friday, your turn would have been Saturday, and mine Sunday. Today is Monday, thus your turn," she grinned.

"But we haven't had dinner since Thursday," he complained playfully, a twinkle in his eye shining with amusement.

She shrugged, grinning. "Can't mess with the schedule."

Klaus went to protest, his amused tone faltering as Alaric, the co-editor of the Herald Sun, and Klaus' old boss, came bursting into the office.

Caroline nearly jumped out of her seat, Klaus rising out of his as they turned to face the older man.

"Alaric, mate, have you ever heard of knocking?" Klaus growled half-heartedly, looking more annoyed than mad.

The man rolled his eyes, ignoring Klaus as he looked straight at Caroline.

"Something happened."

"Is everything okay?" she asked, side-eying Klaus out the corner of her eye.

He looked just as confused as she felt.

"Jenna was fired," Alaric stated. "Or she left, or something."

"Oh my God," Caroline gasped, exchanging what was sure to be the same shocked look on her face with Klaus. "What the hell happened?"

Alaric sighed, obviously bored with the details. "We got a call from corporate this morning-"

"How can we afford corporate when we can't even manage two individual newspapers?" Caroline asked, frowning.

He just glared at her. "Anyways, Jenna has been let go. Not many details were given, just that things weren't working out and she will no longer co-editor."

"Oh my God, I bet she loved that," Caroline muttered under her breath, exchanging grimaces with Klaus.

Alaric shrugged. "Actually this morning she was going to quit, having taken a position across the country at a newspaper in California."

"Seriously?" she groaned, sitting down in her office chair with a huff. "That bitch somehow gets everything."

Alaric looked down at her amusedly, Klaus covering a laugh with a slight coughing fit.

"I was just tell you two, that we are now on the lookout for the next co-editor," their boss continued, looking meaningfully at both of them.

Caroline looked at Klaus hesitantly before turning back to him. "Who are they considering?"

He shrugged. "Preferably someone who knows the paper well, a good writer, leader, someone who can take charge," he ticked off his fingers. "I hope you both apply."

Klaus eyes shot open, his jaw slackening as he looked at the older man. "Really?"

"Seriously?" Caroline asked, shaking her head. "I'm just a writer."

"With amazing leadership and initiative," Alaric said, turning to look at Klaus. "Both of you are."

She looked over at him, her heart thudding painfully at the idea of being pitted against him for the job. He was frowning, his forehead creased as he appeared deep in thought. Caroline's biggest dream was to be in charge of her own newspaper, let alone one in such a big city like Chicago. But, the idea of going against Klaus didn't settle right with her.

But, it was her dream.

Caroline Forbes would be damned if she didn't follow it.

"The application should be out soon, " Alaric continued. "Please, think it about it."

With that, the older man strode out of her office, shutting her door with a snap.

Caroline was rooted into her seat, glaring at the floor as her mind spun with his news. Klaus didn't make any attempts to move or talk for a moment, his steady breathing the only thing being heard.

"What do you think happened to Jenna?" she whispered quietly.

Klaus sighed, shrugging. "I assume Mikael took care of it. It's his nature to cut off his endless supply of women when one gets too needy."

Caroline made a face, wrinkling her nose in disgust. "So she gets a new paper because she screwed an old guy?"

Klaus hummed, looking as displeased as she felt.

"You should apply."

Caroline snapped her head up, blinking at Klaus' nearly frantic expression.

"For sleeping with Mikael? Are you crazy?"

Klaus looked nearly offended. "Are you mad? I'm talking about the editor position."

"Oh," Caroline whispered, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment.

She was quiet for a moment, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth.

"Why?"

"This is everything you've been waiting for," Klaus answered, striding over to the other side of her desk.

Her mouth dropped open. "Me? What about you?"

Klaus had already began shaking his head before she finished talking.

"I don't want it."

"You don't?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

"No. It's not my dream," he knelt down to where they were eye-level, taking her hand with his rough, calloused fingers.

She watched him interlock their fingers, his thumb skimming over the smooth flesh of her hand. The warmth spread throughout her body, sending a shiver down her spine.

"But it's yours," he finished, looking at her earnestly.

"You should take it."

Caroline blinked, finding her throat tight with emotion and unable to form words. Klaus' cerulean orbs watched her, his gaze never wavering from hers.

"You really think I can do it?" she managed to stammer out.

A devastating grin bloomed across his face, making her heart jump into her throat.

"I know you can," he assured her, pressing a kiss to her knuckles.

She sucked in a low breath, his soft lips pressing against her hand sent shockwaves through her body. He looked up at her, the heated gaze absolutely boring into her. She found herself unable to breathe, think, or act for a moment, lost in his eyes. When she finally snapped out of it, she did the one thing that she'd been waiting to do for days, weeks.

She kissed him.

Pressing her lips firmly against him, she reveled in the sound of the way he moaned into her mouth. He matched her stroke for stroke, parting her lips with a thrust of his tongue. Humming contentedly into his mouth, Caroline laced her fingers through the curls at the nape of his neck. Sliding out of her chair, she pressed herself flush against his body.

He gripped her hips tightly, breaking the kiss as his lips trailed down her neck. She hissed as he nipped at a particularly sensitive spot, him soothing the sting with a lick of his tongue. Warmth spread all over her body, the heat settling between the apex of her thighs. Rubbing herself enticingly up against him, she felt her nipples harden through her shirt as they made contact with his firm chest.

He fell back on his bottom, Caroline following him as she straddled his waist. His hand slid under her skirt, brushing the tops of her thighs with his knuckles. She ground herself on the bulge in his pants, sure that her panties were absolutely soaked. His nimble fingers slid higher, tracing the edge of her panties.

She wasn't expecting this to happen, but she was not complaining one bit.

"Touch me," Caroline whispered, sucking his bottom lip between hers.

He dipped a finger under her panties, teasingly sliding it against her dripping folds. She moaned into his mouth, Klaus' lips curling into a smirk as he continued to stroke her. Inserting a finger, he pulled back to watch her reaction, his eyes lustfully raking down her body. Riding his fingers, Caroline let out a string of curses as he hooked them inside. His thumb brushed against her clit and she let out a strangled gasp. Klaus's lips curved into a smirk, and he nipped at her neck, continuing to tease her clit endlessly. She came quickly, muffling her release by biting his shoulder.

Klaus removed his hand, purposely sucking her arousal off them as she shook against him. The visual of him licking his fingers, groaning softly at the taste, made her start aching for him once again. His eyes were dark with arousal, the look of pure want making her shiver. She shoved him on his back, giggling when he let out a shout of surprise. Yanking at his belt buckle, she nearly tore it off. Klaus helped her with his pants, wiggling out of them quickly. She took of her own underwear, using her other hand to grip his length firmly in her hand.

He hissed at the contact, muttering a curse under his breath and she continued to stroke him teasingly in her hand. Her thumb rubbed over the tip, and Klaus let out a guttural groan. Smirking victoriously at him, she straddled his waist once more as she positioned him at her entrance.

Looking down at him, she was struck by the sheer look of adoration in her eyes. There was arousal and desire there, but there was something else. Like she was the most captivating thing he'd ever seen before.

Her cheeks stained pink, and she smiled shyly. Easing herself down, they both sucked in a low breath as he filled her. He felt so good inside her, so complete, so right.

He gripped her hips, helping her set a painfully slow rhythm. She rocked her hips, meeting his as she rode his length. Klaus muffled a moan, his fingernails digging into her skin, causing a delicious sting. She leaned forward, pressing her hands on his chest as she supported herself. She traced the smooth planes of his torso, raking her nails down his skin as he pressed their lips together to muffle her moan.

The thought of anybody, let alone Katherine or Alaric barging in their office, was terrifying but thrilling at the same time. It made the situation ten times more enticing. His hips met hers, his thrusts beginning to speed up. She whimpered under her breath, his cock hitting her in all the right places. Klaus felt her tighten around him, a sign of her impending release. His hand flitted up her torso, tweaking a nipple through her shirt. She muffled a moan by biting her lip, but was unable to disguise another as his other hand pressed against her clit.

She came crashing over the edge, her body trembling as she shook against him. He sat up, muffling her cry with his lips, spilling his own release into her. She collapsed against his chest, panting to catch her breath. He stroked her hair, pressing a kiss to her sweaty temple.

She rolled off him, wincing at the loss of contact.

Caroline looked at the ceiling for a minute, noting the heat of Klaus' gaze on her. She looked over, the grin on his face contagious.

"I can't believe we did that," she chuckled, reaching for her underwear.

Klaus did up his pants, straightening his shirt before standing up.

"If I knew Jenna quitting would have brought this on, I would have tried to get her fired a long time ago," he quirked, smirking at her.

She rolled her eyes, slapping his chest playfully as he helped her up.

"Well, you didn't let me finish-"

"I don't recall that being the case," he interrupted, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"-the discussion about the job," she continued, blushing furiously at his words.

His eyes shone with mirth, a beaming smile spread across his face. She scoffed playfully, deciding to drop the subject for the time being.

"Never mind," she muttered, pressing her lips together in a pout.

He didn't hesitate to swoop down and place a chaste kiss on her lips, surprising her a little. She kissed him back, wrapping her hand around his wrist. They grinned at each other for a moment, Caroline sure that the same dopey expression on his face was mirrored in hers.

"Do you, um, want to come over for dinner tonight?" she asked, tucking a curl behind her ear.

He narrowed his eyes in confusion. "I thought I was."

"You were- as my friend," she began, thrilling at the way his eyes dramatically widened. "But now I want you to come over as m-my date."

"Like a real date?" he asked, the corners of his lips quirking up.

She nodded shyly, peeking up at him through her lashes. He beamed at her, his dimpled smile speeding up her heart rate.

"Yeah."

"It's a date," he answered, lifting her hand up and brushing a kiss across it.

She grinned at him, feeling happier than she had in years.

Caroline hummed, swiping a bit of lipstick on her lips. She didn't intend on wearing it for too long, but she wanted to knock Klaus off his feet. Tonight, she was finally going to tell Klaus how she felt about it. Based on the way he had acted earlier, she was 99.9% sure that he felt the same way, but she still wanted to hyperventilate at the same time.

Caroline was terrified to tell Klaus. Even if she does love him, what if he just likes her? What if he wants to be friends with benefits?

Or worse, what if he was just playing her the whole time?

Shaking her head, Caroline cursed herself for even doubting him.

Klaus wasn't like that, not with her.

Letting out an anxious breath, she shook her hands to get all the nerves out of them. The Italian place where Klaus and her had the disastrous dinner date was due to deliver their food in about an hour, Caroline hoping that they'd never get to the eating part.

It was super expensive and she'd rather dine on his abs.

Hearing a knock at her door, Caroline jumped. She peered at her clock, surprised to find that Klaus was early by a whole half hour.

She stood up, taking a deep, calming breath, and strode to her front door. Her heart was thumping loudly, and she briefly wondered if Klaus could hear it through the door. Turning the door knob, Caroline prayed that her face didn't look as terrified at she felt.

However, what she saw standing at her door made the smile fall completely off her face.

"Tyler?"

Whoops. Sorry, the cliffhangers just write themselves. Soooo thoughts? What did we think about what really happened between Klaus and Ansel? About how Mikael handled it? Do we like how blase Mikael seems to be? It's kind of OOC, but I think it's a nice welcome change from the usual blackmail and drama. And Jenna is gone! What does Tyler want? Please review!

If you have time, please check out my new story, Drive Me Crazy. It'll only have about 3 parts to it, but I hope you'll check it out and drop me a review :)

Until Next Time

Kaitlyn

Only 3 chapters left to go! *sniff*