I own nothing but the plot...
I want to thank all my betas and the people who make this story look good...thank you!
"Will you stop standing so stiff?" Katherine asked as she took a sip of her drink.
"I am a little out of my element here," Caroline said and Katherine rolled her eyes.
"You are just out of practice," Katherine said.
"I don't even remember how to flirt," Caroline said and Katherine smiled.
"Just treat every guy here the way you have been treating your baby daddy and you'll be fine," Katherine told her.
"What?" Caroline said confused.
"Well the longing stares, the teasing, the undressing one another with your eyes, just act like you have been acting with Klaus and you will give off major flirting vibes," Katherine said.
"Klaus and I have not been flirting," Caroline objected.
"Yeah and my name isn't Katherine Miranda Gilbert," Katherine said.
"What is it that your grandmother calls you?" Caroline asked, "The one from Bulgaria?"
"Katerina," Katherine answered.
"Oh yes the one that rambles on about your special Petrova blood," Caroline said and Katherine took another drink.
"That's the one," Katherine said, "Grandmother is insisting Elena, Jeremy, baby Amara, and I go there this summer. She is just dying to meet Elena's husband. Which means she will be on my case about how I don't have a husband. Looks like we might meet up in Europe."
"How old is Amara now, anyway?" Caroline asked thinking of the youngest of the Gilbert clan.
"18, but she will forever be the baby," Katherine informed her and then smiled, "Ooo...incoming." Caroline turned around to see a guy walking up to her.
"Hi," He said, "Can I buy you a drink?"
"Wow, you are straight to the point," Caroline said with what she hoped was a flirty smile.
"I know what I want, and right now I would like nothing more then to get you a drink," He said, "I'm Jesse."
"Caroline."
K&C
"So you don't care that Caroline is out at a bar, looking as ravishing as she did, in hopes of attracting a man?" Kol asked. Ella was sitting on Klaus' lap her eyes glued the the Disney movie playing on the television. Bonnie and Kol had decided to stick around so the four of them were sitting in the living room watching Beauty and the Beast – or three of them were, Kol's goal for the night was tormenting his brother to confess his feelings for the blond beauty.
"No," Klaus said trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice, "Caroline is not mine, she can do what she likes."
"It doesn't bother you one bit," Kol said.
"No," Klaus said again but his hands were in fists.
"It doesn't bother you that Caroline might go home with some bloke and shag his brains out," Kol said and Klaus covered Ella's ears.
"Kol, not in front of the child," Klaus scolded but Kol only rolled his eyes.
"She is watching a Disney princess movie, the rest is white noise," Kol told him, "Ella, I'll get you a pony if you turn around." Nothing. Ella just kept staring at the screen, her lips mouthing the words.
"But still, and Caroline can s-h-a-g whoever she bloody well wants," Klaus said through clenched teeth. Kol also noticed his brother's foot tapping, making Ella shake somewhat. Klaus was on edge, that much was clear. Bonnie just watched amused.
"This affects you too, you know," Kol went on.
"I don't see how," Klaus said wishing his brother would drop the subject. Kol was trying to make Klaus out to be jealous and he was not jealous. Not at all.
"Well any bloke Caroline brings round will be around Ella, and since you are Ella's dad you have to decide if he is good enough to be around your daughter," Kol said.
"So you are saying any boyfriend Caroline has will have to have my approval," Klaus said liking his brother's thinking for once.
"Yes," Kol said at the same time Bonnie said,
"No."
"I am just saying..." Kol started.
"It works both ways then," Bonnie cut in, "Any girl you bring home will have to have Caroline's approval."
"I don't bring girls home," Klaus objected, "Well I did once...and you lot know how that turned out."
"You should talk, you obviously want the girl I brought home," Kol pointed out.
"I won't deny that Caroline is attractive...quite attractive...but that doesn't mean I want her," Klaus said stubbornly.
"You know Nik your eye twitches when you lie, and you are lying your arse off now," Kol said Klaus glared.
"Well maybe I'll just have to steal Bonnie from you then," Klaus said winking at Bonnie who laughed at Kol's frown.
"Oh sod off," Kol said with a pout not liking the fact that the tormenting had turned back on him.
K&C
Katherine stood at the bar watching Caroline dance with Jesse. He was cute, and Caroline needed someone to get her mind off Klaus. She knew Caroline, and she knew the blond was already falling for Klaus. Klaus. He was still a mystery. Katherine prided herself on being good at reading people, but even she had no idea what was going on in that head of his. Katherine did know this, Klaus was going to be there for Ella. And who knows, maybe Caroline will end up having an epic love story with Klaus. He would get over his issues and accept love, and Caroline would get the white picket fence family she always wanted. Katherine's phone started to ring. It was Jeremy. She made her way over to the balcony to try and get some quiet so she could hear.
"Hey Jer," Katherine said into the phone, "How's medical school?"
"Killer," Jeremy said, "I have no free time."
"How is Anna taking that?" Katherine asked.
"Fine," Jeremy replied, "She and Amara are getting along pretty well. I didn't know how it would work with all of us living in an apartment near campus, but it is going good."
"So Amara is doing better?" Katherine said.
"Yeah," Jeremy said, "Now that she is back living with me. It was hard on her when I left for school and she was alone with a newly wedded couple. I came back and visited her every weekend, but I think things are looking up. She even has a boyfriend."
Katherine was glad to hear it. She did worry about her youngest sister. Out of all of them Amara took their parent's death the hardest. She had been only 9 when they died and had always been a quiet child. They had felt bad leaving her with Aunt Jenna and their new Uncle Ric, but Amara told them she would be fine. Katherine and Elena needed to go visit them soon, it was just hard to get back there. Thankfully Amara had Jeremy to look out for her.
"She does?" Katherine said shocked. Amara is a baby. Babies don't have boyfriends.
"He is kind of a dick, but Amara is happier then I have ever seen her so I just going with it," Jeremy told her.
"I am going to have to come home and inspect this new boyfriend," Katherine said, "Make sure he is good enough for her."
"No one is good enough for her," Jeremy countered, "But he'll do."
"How are your art classes going?" Katherine said changing topics, "You know Elena and I will support you if you want to pursue art instead of medicine."
"I know," Jeremy said, "But art probably won't get me anywhere."
"That's not true," Katherine protested. "I know I a guy who is a pretty successful artisit."
"Yeah, who?" Jeremy asked.
"A guy named Niklaus Mikaelson," Katherine said and was met with silence. "Jeremy?"
"N...Niklaus Mikaelson, you know him?" Jeremy stammered.
"Uh...yeah," Katherine said, "I am close to signing him as a client."
"We are studying him right now!" Jeremy said in a loud voice that almost made Katherine jump, "I would give my left arm to talk to him. His paintings are amazing. When you look at them you can almost feel what he is feeling. The way the light and dark contrast..."
"Got it," Katherine said not wanting to hear someone else talk about how great Klaus was. She was hearing enough of that from Caroline. Speaking of Caroline, Katherine needed to go find her. "I got to go Jeremy. Love you, give Amara a hug for me."
"I will," Jeremy said and they hung up. Katherine put her phone back in her pocket and went to find Caroline.
K&C
"Anything else you can tell me about yourself?" Jesse asked Caroline when they took a break from dancing and sat at the bar. Caroline bit her lip. Should she bring up Ella? This was only meant to be a night of fun, but if Jesse wanted to know her he needed to know about Ella.
"I have a daughter," Caroline said, "She's 4." Jesse's eyes showed surprise for a second before going back to normal.
"Um...cool," Jesse said not quite knowing what to say.
"Here..." Caroline said getting out of her phone and showing him a picture. The only problem was the first picture that popped up was one of Ella...and Klaus.
"She's pretty," Jesse said and then asked, "Who is he?"
"Her father," Caroline answered.
"Oh," Jesse said with a frown, "I was really hoping that was your brother or something. I don't have the dimples going for me like he does." Caroline laughed.
"Don't worry, he is commitment phobic," Caroline said, "We are just friends who raise our daughter together."
"He's loss," Jesse said, "He must be out of his mind if he let you go."
K&C
Klaus kept looking at the time. What if she had gone home with some bloke? Caroline had asked Klaus to watch Ella for the night, and apparently she meant all night. Kol said Klaus had to approve anyone Caroline brought home because of Ella, but how could he approve any boyfriend of Caroline's? No man was good enough for her. In fact the thought of Caroline being with a random bloke made him want to punch something. Or someone. Caroline would just have to be alone then. Yep. That works. Caroline doesn't date anyone because no man is worthy of her, and Klaus counted himself in that too. So they would just be two lonely people raising Ella.
"Daddy?" A small musical voice said. Klaus looked down and saw Ella standing there with her teddy bear in her hands.
"Sweetheart, what are you doing up?" Klaus said kneeling so he was eye level with her.
"When is Mommy coming home?" Ella asked.
"She'll be home soon my love," Klaus answered, "Do you want to sleep in her bed and wait for her?" Ella nodded and Klaus picked her up and carried her into Caroline's room. He set her on the bed and pulled the covers over her.
"Kolie too," Ella said and Klaus put the blanket around the bear as well. He was half amused/half jealous that Ella had named her teddy bear after Kol. He kissed her forehead and then started to leave. "Daddy? Stay with me." Klaus had wanted to wait up for Caroline, but who could resist that cute voice?
"Alright," Klaus said laying down on the bed next to her. Ella turned over so she was curled to his side. Klaus remembered sleeping like this when he was younger. Rebekah would come into his room claiming she had bad dreams, but really he knew she was just upset that their parents were fighting. Before Rebekah was born Klaus had been the one to go into Elijah's room when he was scared from all the fighting. Henrick...Henrick used to come into his room too.
"Daddy?" Ella said breaking him out of his thoughts, "You okay?"
"I'm fine," Klaus assured her, "Go to sleep now. Your mother will be cross with me if she finds out you were up this late."
An hour later Caroline and Katherine wobbled into Caroline's apartment after being dropped off by the cab. Caroline had given Jesse her number and they had plans to go out sometime in the future. Not bad for her first night out in years. Jesse seemed like a nice guy. All Caroline wanted to do now though was sleep it off.
Katherine immediately fell onto the couch and passed out. Caroline wanted to fall into bed too, but she needed to check on Ella. When she opened the door to her daughter's room Ella was no where to be found. Her heart started to race and suddenly she was stone cold sober. Then Caroline noticed that her bedroom door was open a crack. Sure enough there was Ella fast asleep on Caroline's bed snuggled up close to Klaus. Caroline smiled. Still in a bit of a drunken daze she went into the linen closet and got out a blanket. Walking back into her room she put the blanket over Klaus, he stirred but did not wake up. Caroline went into the bathroom and quickly changed into her pajamas. Once she was finished she finally got under the covers next to Ella and was soon asleep too.
K&C
"Yes...yes...I know that but I have some...I know we have a deal you incompetent twit, but things are different...what...are you threatening me?" Klaus said into the phone as he paced around his hotel room. He had been on the phone all morning. After waking up in Caroline's bed he quickly said his goodbyes and said he had work to do. It had been years since Klaus had slept with a woman, even if their daughter was sleeping in between them. Although he was happy at the fact that Caroline didn't go off and sleep with some random bloke.
Back to the phone call, Klaus was supposed to be at an art opening the day after tomorrow for some publicity. Due to the discovery of a long lost daughter it had slipped his mind. Now the gallery was threatening to pull all the work he has displayed there if he doesn't come. Damn he wished he had someone to fight these battles for him. "Fine...fine...I'll be on the next flight out." Klaus hung up the phone. He took a deep breath and opened his contact list on his phone. He scrolled down to the name of someone who had put their number in without his knowledge. Taking a deep breath he pressed call. It rang for a couple moments before someone said,
"Who's this?"
"Fine, you win," Klaus said, "You're hired."
"Fantastic," Katherine Gilbert said, "We are going to have so much fun working together, and I take 20% of all earnings."
"10," Klaus counted.
"17," Katherine said.
"7," Klaus said in no mood.
"15," Katherine said moving down.
"Fine," Klaus said, "Now for your first assignment..."
K&C
"You're leaving?" Caroline said and Klaus nodded.
"I gave my word, and although Katherine nearly make the owner crap his trousers, they aren't budging," Klaus said and ran his hand over his face. "I knew it was going to happen eventually. I mean my..."
"Life is there," Caroline finished.
"It hurts to leave her," Klaus admitted, "I don't want to, but my studio, my home, all my contacts, my work. It's all in England and Europe."
"I know," Caroline said.
"Will she hate me?" Klaus asked.
"No, she could never," Caroline replied, "Never. Summer is only a few months away and you can visit us again...you know when you can." Klaus nodded again looking down at the ground.
"How am I supposed to say goodbye?" Klaus asked in a soft voice.
"Don't," Caroline told him, "Just tell Ella you will see her soon."
K&C
Caroline drove Klaus to the airport. Klaus wanted to wait till the last possible moment to say goodbye to Ella. Instead of sitting next to Caroline in the passengers seat Klaus was in the back with Ella. Caroline watched them through the mirror as they talked. Klaus caught her eye and smiled. Once they parked Klaus had his bag in one hand and was holding Ella's hand with the other. They walked into the airport, but they have to separate at security.
"I'll see you soon, okay Sweetheart?" Klaus said and Ella nodded, but kept her eyes on the ground. "Come on, love. Let me see that pretty smile before I leave." Klaus said leaning down and putting a finger under her chin making her look at him. "Do I need to tickle you to make you smile, hmm?" Ella shook her head, and a small smile crept up her face. "I think I do." Klaus grabbed her and started tickling her ribs. Ella screeched with laughter.
"I'll smile!" Ella said and Klaus put her down. A bright grin was still on her face.
"There it is," Klaus said poking her nose, "I will call you tonight."
"K," Ella said and Klaus kissed her forehead. He looked at Caroline.
"You aren't going to tickle me too are you?" Caroline asked trying to lighten the mood.
"Only if you want me to," Klaus said with a wink. He leaned close to her ear, "Don't miss me too much, love."
"I will miss you for Ella's sake," Caroline countered.
"I'll see you soon," Klaus said.
"I'll see you soon," Caroline said and Klaus put his bag over his shoulder and walked away from the baggage claim and further into the airport. Soon he was out of sight.
"Mommy?" Ella said and Caroline saw that her daughter's chin was quivering.
"You will get to talk to him soon, and he will visit us again when he can," Caroline said crouching down so she was eye-level, "And remember you get to spend the summer with him."
"Summer long way away," Ella said looking at the ground again, "Why can't Daddy stay here?"
"Daddy is an artist," Caroline said taking Ella's hand and walking out of the airport towards their car, "It keeps him busy. He travels."
"Can we go with him?" Ella asked, "If Daddy so busy, we go with him!"
"You will get to, this summer, but for now you need to be patient," Caroline said squeezing her hand, "Can you do that for Mommy?"
"I suppose," Ella mumbled, "I just miss him."
"I know baby," Caroline said picking Ella up and kissing her cheek, "I know."
…...
What did you think? It was sad, but I think he had to leave for them all to put their relationships into perspective and what the long distance thing really means. I wrote this before the last episode aired so I guess Jesse died? Well he isn't dead in my story and he and Caroline might start a little something and Klaus probably won't like that.
We have a lot of Kat back-story, but it will tie into Caroline and Ella somehow. I put Amara in as the little sister because I saw something on tumblr about Katherine being the oldest, Elena being the annoying middle sister, and Amara the young innocent one. I couldn't help but add her!
Thank you again for reading and reviewing. I am going to change the rating to M, which I am nervous about, but writers need to take a chance sometime!
Also thank you to the Klaroline Magazine for featuring this story in the hurry up and update article. If you readers haven't going to the Klaroline Magazine website, do so! It's awesome!