Fallen
Chapter Eight
A.N. So, you all are incredible. I've loved hearing your responses, and I'm so happy you all enjoyed sloth fangirl Declan. He's very much modeled after me, as I also love sloths, but he takes his dedication to a whole new level. And hopefully the official Klaroline date will match up to their first unofficial one.
On another note, Rescue Me won the Klaroline Award for Best AU/AH fiction, so thank you so much to everyone who voted for it!
Thank you to my wonderful beta team, and for all of you for being patient in how long it's taken me to update.
Read and enjoy, all! See you at the bottom!
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"And everything is all set then?"
Elijah leaned against the doorframe that led to his brother's bedroom, watching as Klaus fiddled with his tie, his cell phone pressed between his ear and his shoulder.
Klaus smiled, taking the phone in his hand with a chuckle. "Thanks for this, mate. I owe you one." He ended the call with a quick goodbye, tossing the phone onto the bed behind him before facing the mirror again, a sigh escaping his lips as he finally caught sight of the man loitering in the doorway. "How long have you been standing there gawking at me?"
Elijah shrugged. "Long enough to know you've straightened your tie for the third time. You may actually be what I'd call 'flustered,' brother."
Klaus rolled his eyes, watching his brother step further into the room. Elijah was donned in his typical suited attire, his hands in the pockets of his pressed trousers. He had tossed his suit jacket to the side when he'd arrived earlier, and his white button up stretched across his broad chest and shoulders. Elijah was always about appearances-he'd lost track of the lectures he and his siblings had received over the years about making good first impressions and being dressed for them.
"Your tone isn't appreciated, Elijah."
"Perhaps not, but mine and Katherine's presence certainly is. We are, after all, playing the doting aunt and uncle so you're free to frolic throughout the city with Miss Forbes at your side."
"I've never frolicked a day in my life," Klaus muttered, turning and reaching for the suit jacket that lay folded at the foot of his bed. Elijah beat him to it though, and he sighed as his brother straightened it out for him, holding it open. He turned his back, slipping his arms into the sleeves.
"Perhaps you should start," Elijah replied, a thoughtful smirk on his face. "I don't remember the last time I saw you like this, Niklaus. So...light. Easy-going." He met his brother's eyes in the mirror. "It's a sight to behold, brother. A welcome one at that."
Klaus turned to him with a chuckle, rolling his eyes as his hands reached up to tug at his tie again. "You've gotten sentimental in your old age, brother," he teased. "What will the criminals of the city think?" He smiled when Elijah merely rolled his eyes, and he fiddled with the sleeves of his jacket. "Where is Katherine?"
"Downstairs with Declan," Elijah answered, turning on his heel and falling into step next to Klaus as he made his way towards the door. ""He's enthralled in the wonderful world of Disney classics. And though my wife may deny the fact, she's quite enthralled as well."
Klaus chuckled. "Well, they always say there's a princess inside of every woman, just clamoring to get out."
"Katherine may be better suited in the role of evil queen, but she would be remarkable being so."
It never failed to amuse Klaus that Elijah knew very well how Katherine was perceived amongst other people—namely his siblings. While they'd come to accept the former Miss Pierce as their own, they were still very aware of her brash, snarky and sometimes borderline bitchy personality.
It often baffled them at just how their brother had come to fall for a woman who seemed his complete opposite. He'd told them time and time again that there was a side to Katherine that few got the chance to see. A soft, genteel side that boasted her loyalty and devotion, and a kindness that was often hidden from the world.
Klaus turned to him, straightening the collar of his jacket, smirking at Elijah's nod of approval. "Well, I guess that's it, then," he murmured to himself, moving towards the door of the bedroom. Elijah fell into step next to him as they made their way around the banister and down the stairs, the faint sounds of animated cartoon voices drifting towards them from the main living room.
"Don't let him fast talk you into letting him have a go at the ice cream in the freezer. Jane Anne paid dearly for that mistake, and I highly doubt she'll be offering her babysitting services again."
Elijah chuckled as they hit the landing. "I think I'll be able to resist him, Niklaus."
Klaus glanced at him from the corner of his eye. "That's what they all say. But one look with those puppy dog eyes and the lower lip quiver, and you're wrapped around his finger. Just be cautious."
"I wonder when child rearing starting requiring a battle plan," Elijah mused.
"Right around the time Klaus had one," Katherine remarked from her place on the couch, a copy of Vogue magazine open on her lap, though her eyes were riveted on the television as scenes from Tangled flashed across the scene. Her long dark curls were cascading over her shoulders in waves, and her slim form was clothed in an off the shoulder halter top and black leather pants, a pair of dangerously tall stiletto heels on her feet. She looked more like she was going out clubbing than spending an evening inside with a young child. She peered over at them, arching a perfectly shaped eyebrow. "Did you really expect any child of his not to be crafty and diabolical?"
Klaus rolled his eyes before looking towards his child in question. Declan was sprawled across the middle of the living room floor, a circle of crayons and coloring books surrounding him on all sides. His tiny feet were kicking behind him as he laughed at the man wrestling against a white horse, his small face lit up with a smile.
"Don't worry, brother," Elijah said as he crossed the room and took a seat next to his wife on the couch, resting his hand on her knee and turning a furrowed brow towards the television. "Everything will be well managed and handled on our end. Go out and enjoy yourself."
"But lose the tie," Katherine chipped in, pursing her lips and shrugging her shoulders when he looked at her, ignoring her husband's horrified expression next to her. "You look too…stuffy. Loosen up a bit. Let that classic Mikaelson charm run free tonight." She smirked. "She'll be yours forever."
Klaus shook his head at Katherine's words, leaning down and ruffling Declan's hair as he quietly told him goodbye and reminded him to mind his aunt and uncle. He straightened to his full height, offering his brother and sister-in-law a farewell nod, and made his way towards the door, his fingers quickly unknotting the tie at his throat and tossing it onto the coat hook on his way out.
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"Kol. Just...give me a hint!"
Kol leaned back into the couch cushions, his calf resting against his knee, his fingers tapping against his leg, a smug, amused smirk on his face. He shrugged half heartedly as Caroline glowered at him, her hands on her hips, and sighed. "I'm sorry, darling, but my brother has sworn me to secrecy."
Bonnie snorted from her place at the kitchen table, a yellow highlighter in her hand as her eyes stayed fixed on the textbook open in front of her. "When has that ever stopped you?"
He lifted his index finger in response, waving it in the air as he tsked. "True. But I am able to decipher between the times where there really is no importance in the keeping the secret, and wanting to delight in the surprise and reaction that is sure to come. This situation is the latter. So, no. My lips are sealed."
Caroline groaned, tossing her hands up in the air and stomping her foot in frustration. "How am I supposed to know what to wear if I have no idea what we're even doing?"
"What you're wearing will suffice," Kol mused, his eyes looking her over. She was wearing a deep blue cocktail dress that fell just above her knees. The skirt was flowy and layered, swaying around her legs with every movement she made. The top of the dress wrapped around her bust snugly, the strapless neckline leaving her shoulders bare, a blue and white beaded belt cinched tightly around her waist. A pair of strappy silver heels adorned her feet, and her hair was pulled back into a low ponytail at the base of her neck, a few tendrils framing her face. "You look ravishing, if I do say so."
Huffing, she glared at him, turning on her heels and striding towards the bathroom, the door shutting behind her loudly.
"She's a bit of a control freak, isn't she?" Kol observed, grinning over at Bonnie who was shaking her head at him. A sudden knocking at the door sounded, and he jumped to his feet, bounding over to the door before Bonnie could even rise to her feet. He wagged his eyebrows at her as he glanced over his shoulder, eliciting a sigh from the brunette, and schooled his features into a stern, disapproving expression as he pulled the door open to reveal his older brother. "Well, well...you must be the sorry riffraff here to court our dear Caroline."
"Why are you here?" came Klaus' exasperated response, causing a giggle to escape Bonnie's lips. She would never stop finding the Mikaelson family dynamic amusing.
"Someone has to have Caroline's best interests at heart, dear brother," Kol replied, sweeping his arm behind him and stepping to the side to allow Klaus entrance to the apartment. "I can't just allow her to go off gallivanting with you and compromise her honor in the seedy underworld of our fair city. Honestly, Nik, where's your sense of decency?"
"Probably where you left your maturity," Klaus muttered, smiling over at Bonnie when he heard her laugh. "Bonnie."
"Klaus," she greeted, setting the highlighter to the side and crossing her arms over her book. "Looking sharp." She smiled when Klaus seemed to look embarrassed at her compliment. "Caroline will be out in a minute. Kol drove her to lock herself in the bathroom."
"I did no such thing!"
"You did," Bonnie said with a raised brow. Kol huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "She'll be right out though."
As if on cue, the door to the bathroom clicked open, and all three heads turned as the sound of heels clicking against the floor made its way towards them.
Klaus' lips turned up into a smile as his eyes drifted across Caroline's form, the breath halting in his chest. How she could still leave him breathless every time he saw her was remarkable to him. The dark blue of the dress that hugged her body made her eyes much more vibrant, the blues and greens dancing as they raised to his gaze. Her hair was pulled off of her face, accentuating the curve of her neck.
She was beautiful.
Her face was lit up in a smile as she made her way towards them, her hands tangling in the fabric of her skirt as she walked. The familiar faint blush that he'd grown accustomed to gracing her cheeks was ever present, and he found his own smile widening. Did he affect her the same way she seemed to affect him?
"Caroline," he greeted softly, enjoying the small sighing laugh that slipped passed her lips.
"Hi," she replied, swiping at a strand of hair that fell into her eyes. She lowered her hand as she smiled at him, lacing her fingers together in front of her as she shifted on her feet. Her eyes drifted to the two other occupants of the room, both of whom were watching the two of them with knowing smiles, and she laughed. "You know, all this staring is making me self conscious."
Klaus followed her gaze, sighing when he saw his brother gawking, and turned back to her, reaching out and grasping her elbow gently, motioning towards the door with a nod of his head. "Shall we go?" He smiled when she nodded, and stepped towards him as they both headed for the door. She smiled and sent Bonnie a quick wave, and he rested his hand at the small of her back as he led her out.
"Now have her back at a decent hour," Kol said as they crossed into the hallway. "People talk, you know, and we don't want to give off the wrong impression."
"Shut up, Kol," Caroline called over her shoulder, smiling over at Klaus when he laughed. They heard the door shut from behind them as they started for the stairs, and she raised her eyebrows as a hand gripped the railing. "So...where are we going?"
Klaus smiled.
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En Amour Cafe was situated in the heart of the Quarter, surrounded by bookstores and antique shops. Caroline stepped out of the car, taking Klaus' extended hand as he held the door open for her, watching the crowds of people that passed by the small restaurant, their eyes peering into the windows despite the Closed for Renovations sign that hung across the front door.
She fell into step next to Klaus as they walked up the pathway, her brow furrowing when a shadow passed across the window, the sound of a lock sliding undone before the door was pulled open, a dark figure appearing in the doorway.
"You owe me big, my friend," the man said as he stepped onto the sidewalk, a bright smile splitting across his dark skinned face. "I'm putting off my reopening another day for you. Though now that I see the young lady for myself, I am just fine justifying it."
"Caroline, meet Marcel Gerard, an old friend of mine and owner of the fine establishment we're standing in front of," Klaus said with a smile, taking the other man's hand and pulling him into a one armed hug. "Marcel, Caroline Forbes."
Marcel grinned at her, stepping forward and taking one of her hands in his own, bringing it up to his lips and placing a chaste kiss on her knuckles. "Caroline...it is a pleasure. I have to say, when Klaus called me up the other day and told me he was bringing around a lady friend, I thought Hell had frozen over." He winked at her, letting her hand fall back to side. "I'm glad to see you are a real flesh and blood beauty, and not just some hallucination brought on by years of overworking and too much scotch."
"Didn't we agree that there would be no harassment coming from you?" Klaus asked with a sigh.
Marcel pointed at him. "You agreed to those terms. I made no such promise. If I have an opportunity to bust your chops, Mikaelson, I've gotta take it. They are few and far between, after all." He looked at Caroline again, smiling. "Klaus is always one step ahead, you know?"
Caroline nodded, glancing at the man in question from the corner of her eye. "Yeah, I've noticed," she said quietly, dropping her head and smiling when he grinned at her in response.
Marcel laughed, shaking his head as he clasped Klaus on the shoulder. "Alright, man. The place is yours. Just make sure you lock up," he said, placing a ring of keys in his hand. "And clean the place up a bit. And quiver in fear, while you stand around wondering what favor I'm going to cash in for this."
Klaus nodded, rolling his eyes, and Marcel laughed again, stepping away from them and heading towards a black town car that was parked up the street. "Caroline, it was a delight meeting you. Make sure you keep this one on his toes." She smiled, and he waved at them from over his shoulder. "Have a good night, love birds!"
Caroline watched him go, shaking her head with a laugh as she turned back to Klaus. "He's a character, huh?"
Klaus nodded, chuckling as he pulled the door open, the quiet bell above it ringing lightly with the movement. He turned back to her, lifting his brows with a smile as he held the door open for her, waving for her to precede him inside. "Shall we?"
Her eyes took in the dim lighting of the restaurant as she walked in. There was an almost gothic romantic feel to the place. Dark reds and blacks adorned the walls-paintings and pictures, each portraying a tragically beautiful scene. She wondered if many of these had been purchased from Klaus' gallery, remembering the hauntingly beautiful frames she'd seen adorning the walls of Sire Studios the day she'd stormed into it in a rage.
There were small square tables scattered around the floor, each placed at different angles, covered with white tablecloths and two red roses sitting in the center. Pendant lights hung above every table, dangling from the ceiling, the shades in a deep burgundy color that she imagined set a romantic, dim hue during dining hours.
"So you rented out an entire restaurant just for the two of us?" Caroline asked, looking at Klaus as he closed and latched the front door. He smiled at her, tossing the keys lightly into the air before catching them again, stowing them away in the inner pocket of his jacket. "And I thought I was an overachiever."
"Well, go big or go home," he laughed, slipping his arms out of his jacket sleeves and folding it over his forearm. "It occurred to me, that in your few short months here in New Orleans, that you may not have yet had the chance to taste the cuisine that this city is famous for. So I thought that tonight would be a good night to remedy that."
Caroline arched an eyebrow at him. "You finagled an entire restaurant just so you could cook for me?"
He grinned, walking towards her and resting his hand against the small of her back again, leading her further into the restaurant and towards the large metal door that led into the kitchen. "Well, you'll be helping a bit, love. Everyone should know how to make proper jambalaya, after all. Just follow my lead."
His words were innocent, but the way his voice lowered as he said them and the way his lips brushed against the shell of her ear sent shivers down her spine. She could feel her heart hammering against her ribcage at the heavy weight of his hand against her spine as he steered her through the doors, her eyes widening when they saw the massive kitchen in all its glory.
"Wow," she said quietly, watching Klaus make his way to the center island where an entire spread was neatly laid out. Bowls of onions, celery, and pepper; garlic cloves next to tomatoes, with small containers of shrimp and chicken. An open bottle of wine was sitting in the center of the island, two wine glasses on either side, and for some reason the sight brought a wide smile to her face. She shook her head, laughing as she brought her hands to her lips. "Wow, Klaus, this is just...perfect." Tilting her head, she smiled at him. "Thank you."
Klaus smiled, tossing his suit jacket across a chair and quickly pouring the red wine into glasses, holding one out to her. She took it with a smile, and he shrugged, rolling his shirt sleeves up to his elbows as he rounded the island. "Thank me when it's over," he said, chuckling. "I've only ever made this once before, so if we wake up with food poisoning tomorrow, there will be no hard feelings if you never want to see me again."
Caroline laughed, setting her glass on the table and sliding onto the stool next to him, pulling the bowl of peppers towards her and reaching for one of the knives that were lined up in front of her. She shrugged, dipping her fingers into the bowl as a small smile tugged at her lips. "Something tells me it'll be worth it…"
She could feel his eyes on her, could practically hear the widening of his smile, but she kept her eyes focused on the task in front of her, ignoring the thrill that went through her when he moved closer, his arm brushing hers as he reached for his own glass of wine.
Oh, boy, I'm in trouble.
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"You know, I was quite the chef when I was younger," Caroline noted as she popped a slice of celery into her mouth. Klaus looked over at her from his place at the stove, his hand shifting the saucepan over the burner steadily, the delicious smell of seasoned chicken and shrimp filling the room. She rolled her eyes, shrugging. "Well, when I say chef I mean a kid sitting on the kitchen floor with a pot of water and just tossing in scraps of anything and everything. It was totally gross, but in my mind, it was an award worthy dish that had the critics raving."
Klaus chuckled. "Well, I'm sure your parents raved about it regardless."
She shrugged, growing quiet at his words, a sad smile crossing her face. "No, I...didn't really have a lot of parental guidance at all." Feeling his eyes on her, she glanced up, crossing her arms on the table and smiling. "They weren't really around a lot. I had a best friend though...more of a brother really. The things we would get ourselves into…" Laughing, she shook her head. "Anyway, we didn't really need parents. We had each other and that was just...enough, you know?"
"I know," he said, nodding. She seemed so lost in thought just then. Her eyes held a faraway look to them, as if she was back in that moment again, a young blonde child in pigtails sitting next to some faceless little boy, being there for each other when no one else was.
She shook her head suddenly, laughing, and looked back up at him. "So...where did you learn to make jambalaya anyway?"
He shrugged. "My mother's best friend was a woman named Ayanna. They'd met on one of her earlier trips to New Orleans, and a bond was cemented that would span decades. She was rumored to be a voodoo priestess here in the Quarter." He smirked when he heard her laugh. "Who knows if the rumors are actually true. She depended quite a lot on herbs and such. She spent quite a few evenings at our home when our parents would go out, and she was always in the kitchen. She liked to keep her hands busy, and more often than not, one of us found our way to her at some point or another. She always said if you live in the Quarter, it's a necessity to learn to make one of its classic dishes."
He reached over and turned down the heat of the stove top, snatching up the salt and pepper shakers and seasoning the steaming mixture with finesse. He moved the pan to an empty burner, stirring it thoroughly with a spoon before scooping up a bit of, turning towards Caroline with a smile. He watched her grin and slide off her stool, crossing to his side and resting her hands against the counter. He tried not to concentrate on the way her lips parted as he brought the spoon to her mouth, or the way her eyes closed when she closed them around it. She murmured quietly, and he was baffled at how such a simple sound could be so arousing to him.
The zesty spices overwhelmed her senses, the flavor delicious and unlike anything she'd ever tasted before. She opened her eyes when she felt him start to pull the spoon away, and her breath caught in her throat at the flash of lust she saw in his eyes. His lips were parted as he stared down at her, and she barely felt the faint burn of jambalaya as a drop dripped off the spoon and landed on her chin.
She lifted her hand to wipe it away at the same moment Klaus' hand reach out and cupped her chin. She froze, her eyes fixed on his, and all she could hear was her quickened breathing and her heartbeat roaring in her ears.
He moved closer to her, his thumb caressing her chin gently before tracing the curve of her cheek, brushing a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. His breath was ghosting against her face as he leaned closer to her, his fingers sliding down to massage the skin at the base of her neck.
She didn't know who moved first. She lifted herself onto her tip toes at the same moment he leaned down, and then their lips were meeting, chaste kisses that still managed to steal her breath. She sighed against him, the small movement causing her lips to part, and his tongue slipped inside, gently caressing her own.
Her arms slid up his chest and across his shoulders, circling around his neck and pulling herself closer. His arms wrapped around her waist, his chest pressing against her own, and his body was firm and taut and comforting against her own.
He stepped forward, and she felt the counter digging into the small of her back, a small moan escaping her as his body came flush against her. His arms were trapping her in, his hands braced against the counter on either side of her, and he stepped in between her legs, his hardness pressing against her stomach, and heat flooded her entire being.
Klaus tore his mouth from hers, his lips attacking the curve of her jaw before moving to the side of her neck, his lips and teeth bathing her in adoration as her breath crashed sporadically against his ear. Her hands clung to him, her head tilting back to allow him better access, and she heard his quiet growl of approval.
He was intoxicating. Her head was fuzzy with just the thought of him-the feel of his lips and his caress, his body pressing to hers, the perfect way he seemed to fit against her. She was drowning in him.
Her eyes snapped open at her thoughts, and she sighed as she shook her head, untangling her arms from him and sliding them down to his chest, gently but firmly pushing him away. "I'm sorry," she said, covering her face with her hands when she felt him pull away. She shook her head, slumping against the counter behind her. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
She heard him sigh and felt his hand stroke her hair away from her face. "It's fine," he said quietly, and she shook her head again,
"No, it's not," she laughed sadly, dropping her hands to her sides and meeting his gaze. "It's not, Klaus, I'm...kissing you and then I pull away and it's just...God, you must think I'm such a tease."
He laughed, the complete look of guilt and regret on her face more adorable than he thought it could be. She was in such misery, thinking that he could possibly be angry at her. Shaking his head, and he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her towards him, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. He rested his forehead against hers, staring down into her eyes. "Caroline," he said quietly but firmly, feeling her fingers curl into his shirt against his chest. "I've spent weeks trying to get you to give me this chance. I'll spend weeks trying to make it last." He kissed her again, feeling her sigh against him. "There's no rush, love...I think you'll find I'm very patient for the things I want."
Caroline smiled, laughing quietly, and her hand slid up to rest against the side of his neck. She nodded against him, pressing her lips to his once more. "Thank you," she whispered.
He nodded, pulling away from her but leaving a hand to rest against her hip. He smiled at her, tilting his head towards the stills teaming concoction that sat on the stove. "Let's eat. It only stays warm for so long."
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The Styrofoam takeout container was still warm in her hands as she and Klaus climbed the stairs to her apartment.
After her near emotional breakdown against the kitchen counter and Klaus' amazing reassurance-her skin still tingled from the intensity she'd caught in his eyes as he told her he would wait for as long as she needed-they'd moved back out into the dining area of the restaurant, taking a seat at a secluded table in the corner.
They'd laughed and talked for hours it seemed, Klaus once more regaling her with tales of his childhood antics with his siblings. He'd told her about growing up in England, and how different it was from New Orleans. She'd stared at him in wonder as he described the museums and culture that Europe had to offer.
She'd told him a little bit about her own childhood. About cheerleading and the various committees she headed in high school. She found herself wondering if he noticed that she shied away from too much detail. She told as much as she felt she could risk telling, though Matt's name did slip out once or twice. She'd sat still for a moment, waiting for whatever emotion she feared to cross Klaus' face, but he'd only nodded and took another sip of wine, and she felt herself relax.
He wasn't after her. He didn't know.
He was waiting for her.
Caroline sighed as they came to a stop outside her door, the crack under the door dark and lifeless, leading her to believe that Kol and Bonnie were either out or already in bed.
She turned to him, smiling, the weight of his suit jacket over her shoulders keeping her warm and comforted. He was smiling down at her, his blue eyes shining in the dim light of the hallway. "Well, um...thanks. For tonight. I had a great time, Klaus."
He nodded, rocking back on his heels slightly. "I'm glad...though the next date may be a bit hard to top."
Caroline laughed. "Oh, I have no doubt you'll manage to outdo yourself."
Her silent agreement to a second date had a rush of triumph coursing through him, and he laughed quietly, nodding his head. He saw her move to slide the jacket off her shoulders and he shook his head, reaching out and resting his hand against the collar of the jacket, his fingers stroking a pattern on the smooth skin of her neck. "Keep it...I'll get it later."
She nodded, unconsciously turning into this caress, and her eyes ticked up to his, her tongue darting out to lick her lips as she cleared her throat. She shrugged, motioning towards the closed door behind her. "Do you want to...come in?"
Klaus laughed, grinning, and she saw the humor in his eyes. "You know, Caroline. I'll get whiplash if you keep sending me mixed signals like this." There was no disdain in his voice, just laughter, and she found herself joining in.
She shrugged again, stepping closer to him. "I just…don't want the night to be over yet. And it's late, you know? I just…" She trailed off, looking up at him from beneath her lashes. "I just don't want you to go yet."
He felt his heart swell at her confession, his gaze softening as he stared down into her face, and he nodded, leaning down and pressing a gentle kiss to her lips again. They pulled apart, and he watched her turn around, fumbling with the key to the door, before unlocking it and pushing it open.
He knew nothing would happen as he followed her into the apartment. He knew she wasn't ready for that step yet, and when he thought about, he wasn't sure he was either. While there was a part of him that wanted nothing more than to press her into the mattress of her bed and lose himself in her, there was another part of him that just wanted to be with her. To just be near her, and listen to her breathing, her heartbeat, listen to her talk. He just wanted to be surrounded by her.
She led him to her bedroom, and while she changed into her pajamas, he slipped out of his dress shirt and undid his belt, stowing his shoes under her bed. She came back into the room wearing pink and purple striped sleep pants with a matching tank top, her face devoid of make up, and he thought she'd never been more beautiful than she was in that moment.
She'd curled up against him under the blankets, her cheek pressed against his chest, her fingers tracing patterns against his undershirt. Their voices were hushed and gentle as they spoke about nothing in particular, just enjoying the sound and feel of each other.
A short time later, he felt her breathing deepen, her chest rising and falling with even, steady breaths, and he knew she was fast asleep. He glanced down at her, gently resting his hand on top of hers, his fingers entwining with hers.
He knew in that moment-the weight of Caroline resting against him, the feel and scent of her all around him-that he wouldn't risk losing her. He couldn't risk losing her.
He'd take whatever she offered him, and be happy with just that.
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Is anyone else dead from the sheer fluff overload? Or is everyone just miffed that there was no smut-be patient, lovelies...it will happen quicker than you think.
This chapter was so fun to write, so I really hope you all enjoyed it too. We got a bit of a glimpse into just how strong Klaus and Caroline's connection is. We see a bit more in the next couple chapters, as well as a few glimpses into Caroline's shrouded past.
Do review and sound off, let me know all your thoughts and feelings.
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