Rave On 5
Tell me what you think. I cried, but that's not a new thing when I write.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters.
Klaus kept her moving from the hotel to the cab and then the airport, not giving her time to think and she was ok with that. Going through Customs was a breeze and before she knew it, she was climbing the stairs to the plane. His private plane was sleek and well appointed with several large brown leather chairs. The bar was stocked, she noticed, unsurprised. Klaus didn't let go of her hand for more than a minute until they boarded and then he led her to a chair. He also didn't stop talking. It was annoying, but it also drowned out the thoughts that were trying to creep in. Focusing on the sound of his voice and the way his lips moved kept them away.
Pulling her iPod free once she settled her things around her, magazines, nail polish, books, water, etc, she reclined her chair and put her earbuds in as the plane hurtled down the runway. She peeked under her lashes and Klaus was scowling at her rude behavior since he was still yammering. She smirked and closed her eyes. Didn't he know this was part of their game? She was pushing and he was pulling. Usually it was the other way around.
Before she knew it, she was asleep.
The plane landed a few hours later in Peru to refuel. She took the opportunity to get some fresh air before they were off again. She read a book he brought on the plane with him. She heard him on phone speaking with someone. Elijah, maybe?
"Do you want to spend the night here or keep going?" he asked her when they landed again hours later in Cancun, Mexico.
The whole point in turning her humanity off was to avoid facing the inevitable, so she took the opportunity he presented. She was also sick of flying all day.
"Let's stay."
He nodded and went off to speak with the crew, giving them instructions. She pulled all the things she'd spread out together. He'd done the same himself across the aisle from her, occasionally watching her. She would stick her tongue out at him when he stared too long and he'd go back to his tablet with a roll of his eyes.
Taking her bag in one hand and her hand in the other, his own small bag over his shoulder, he led her out into the humid air. After dealing with the paperwork, a driver brought them to an upscale hotel. Klaus arranged for one room, the penthouse, of course. She hadn't spoken more than ten words to him all day.
Shutting the bathroom door behind her, she put her hands on the beautiful marble vanity and took some deep breaths. "Three more months. That's all. Three more months," she said to herself in the mirror, feeling calm and emotionless once again. With her composure regained, she took a long-needed shower.
In just a towel, Caroline sauntered out of the bathroom to find clean clothes. Wanting Klaus just as off balance as she kept feeling, she stared at him where he turned to look at her from his spot near the windows. Dropping the towel, his eyes never left hers, but there was a glint of disappointment in them she didn't like.
"In three months, this won't be happening," she said tartly, reaching down into her luggage.
"I know," he said softly, turning his back on her to give her privacy.
Once she was dressed in shorts and a tank top, she sat on the bed, brushing her hair out.
"Why are you doing this, Klaus? Why are you letting me do this to you?"
She wasn't sure he would answer and something squeezed in her chest at the look on his face before she pushed it down where everything else had gone for almost year. She knew he had feelings for her, but this was Klaus Mikaelson and he was taking on a lot more than she would have ever thought.
He smiled quickly and then it left his face. "We can talk about it in three months."
It was probably for the best, she thought.
Walking to his bag, she pawed through his things until she found clothes for him and pressed them into his chest.
"Alright, I get the hint," he said with a smirk, escaping into the bathroom where he got into the shower. Afterwards when he was just wearing jeans, he opened the bathroom door, curls going wild.
Taking his toiletry bag back in with him, he left the bathroom door open and coughed loudly to get her attention. When he began to shave she rolled her eyes, going back to the telenovela on the television.
When they were both ready, he took her hand and they went out to dinner. A seafood restaurant was their choice.
As usual, Klaus spoke and her eyes wandered around, especially on the water. It was a constant, the water. Occasionally, she reached for his fingers or brushed his leg with her foot, keeping him off balance. She wanted them to be a little off balance together. He was the unpredictable one usually, but now she felt like the one about to explode.
After her seventh tequila, not a whole lot for a vampire, she stopped and he quirked a brow at her. He apparently expected her to drink excessively every day. She wouldn't deny she did that a lot early on.
"If I drink too much, I don't sleep well. If I don't sleep well…" She stopped suddenly. She was sharing too much with Klaus.
Standing up, she left the table and bummed a cigarette from a guy standing out front. Smoking was gross to her, but she had to change how things were going. Klaus' eyes followed her when she returned to the table, but he didn't say anything. His silence started to unnerve her until he finally stood up and paid the bill.
Reaching for his hand unconsciously, she started to pull her hand back when she realized what she was doing. He quickly interlocked their fingers and held on tightly.
It was late and dark. 24 hours before, they were just going to dance. Now, Klaus took her towards the sand. They each held their shoes in their free hand when they hit the beach and walked.
He stopped and sat, so she did the same, watching the waves come in.
"No handsome lifeguard to drink from," he said quietly with a smile in his voice. The moonlight highlighted his curls.
"So you thought he was handsome too? I'm glad it wasn't just my memory." She grinned at him.
"I'm prettier," he said with a wink and flash of his dimples. She laughed.
There was something she wanted to know, just to plan it out and prepare, but she was afraid to ask. Maybe this stretch of quiet beach was the place to find out.
"Klaus?"
He turned his head.
"What's going to happen?"
She could tell he knew what she was talking about.
"All the reasons why someone turned it off come flooding back as if it was brand new. They'll feel overwhelmed and to cope, they'll focus on one emotion, usually anger or revenge. It gives them purpose. Everything they've been doing without their emotions, their memories, will feel completely different as well. It can tear people down, but you?"
She watched him closely, wanting to know what it would be like for her.
"You aren't like anyone else. You're still strong, beautiful, and full of light. That's why this is hard for you. Your highs will be high and your lows will be low, more than usual. You will get through this and I'll be there. I don't have faith in a lot of things, but I have faith in you."
She nodded. Focusing on one emotion made sense. Anger sounded good, but who could she be angry with? Cancer? Her mom? Herself for turning it off? Letting her mom down? What she did to Stefan?
Putting her fingers to her temples, she rubbed her head and thought about nothing, letting all the thoughts about her feelings go.
"What's your plan?" Klaus asked.
"I'll tell you in three months," she reminded him, pushing up to her feet and brushing off the sand. The discussion was over.
Back in the room, after each of them got ready for bed in the bathroom, she slipped out of her shorts, sliding into bed in her tank and panties, yawning loudly. Klaus stripped down to his boxers and climbed in the other side.
"Our first time in a bed together, Klaus," she said as she climbed on top of him, running her fingers along his very smooth cheeks. His body was warm and he smelled really good. "I'm still hungry."
She knew he drank from some human earlier and she needed something from him.
His head moved to the side and before she went up to his neck, she put her hands on his face and kissed him. He tasted like toothpaste and Klaus. Her body wriggled on his. Catching his hands that moved to her waist, she brought them to her ass, groaning into his mouth. That's when she moved up to his neck, diving in and drinking from him. Her wriggling didn't stop and he was huge and hard against her belly. His blood filled her mouth. Life. That's what it tasted like. Life. Taking her fill, she lapped up the last on his skin, relishing every drop.
Flopping to the side, feeling aroused and tired in equal measure, she reached back and tugged him until he was spooning her. She hadn't felt the warmth of another body next to hers in bed in too long. She wiggled her ass and he groaned. Now she could sleep and hopefully not dream.
After one of the best nights of sleep she'd had in months, Caroline woke up, accidentally elbowing Klaus in the process. They were quiet as they got dressed and had a quick breakfast. Before they left the hotel room, he pulled her close and she leaned into him.
"Drink," he said quietly and she took advantage. She knew things were changing and she couldn't pass it up.
Back on the plane, it was the same routine as the day before, although since she got on the plane first, she took his seat. Smirking at him as she reclined in style, he huffed, but got into one of the others. Irritating him gave her momentary, empty joy. Wandering around the cabin of the plane a little later, she explored. The pilots were nice guys. They let her take the controls for a while. The back of the plane had a bedroom. She wasn't tired, but she laid on the bed, reading another book she picked up before she went to join Klaus again.
"How much longer?"
He looked at his phone which he'd switched over to New Orleans local time. "Two hours."
"I'm bored," she whined.
He gave her a panicked look that made her smile. "Do you want to use my tablet?"
She shook her head.
He looked around. "Do you want to play cards?"
"No, grandpa," she snarked and then she climbed up on his lap, leaning in to whisper in his ear. "Can't you think of anything you'd like to do with me for the next two hours?"
Playing with his necklaces, she pressed licking kisses to his neck and around his mouth.
"Caroline," he growled.
"Klaus."
Her fingers caught in his hair, pulling him closer to her.
His fingers gently took hold of her wrists and brought their hands between their bodies.
"Why don't I tell you about New Orleans?"
She made a noise signaling how uninterested she was in that. "More talking?"
Klaus began to tell her about New Orleans. Eventually, she laid her head on his chest. She used his voice like white noise and fell asleep on him, bored.
He woke up her when it was time to land. She returned to her seat with a yawn and looked out the window. The sun had just set. What she could see outside was green and lush.
Rolling to a smooth stop, they got off the plane, again went through Customs, and she was home. Sort of. Right country, wrong city.
Klaus' car was in the parking area. Their bags went into the back of the SUV and he drove them to his home. He pointed out a couple of things, but she was focused on what was passing them by, the businesses, homes, and people she could see outside her window. She hadn't been in the U.S. for a very long time. It was comforting to see familiar signs, national chains, etc.
When they walked into his house, Klaus dropped their bags inside the door. It was quiet. He pointed out where the kitchen and living room were on the first floor. Her fingers brushed along the leather of the sofa and picked up a knick knack off his coffee table. It was probably priceless, she shrugged, putting it back down. He led her upstairs.
"Did you kick everyone out for me?" she asked with a smirk, seeing signs of more than Klaus living there, as he opened the door where she would be staying at least for the night.
When he flicked on the light, they stepped in and there they were on the bed.
A tutu and one of her family photo albums, somehow in New Orleans.
The squeak left her before she could keep it inside. Klaus made a noise too. "These weren't supposed to be in here," he said, his voice brisk and low.
The tears filled her eyes. More and more things seemed to be setting her off and she was getting closer to the edge. She felt as if a strong wind was pushing her towards an abyss and she was holding on by her fingertips. It hurt and this might be the safest place for her. Klaus promised to catch her if she fell.
Her voice warbled when she spoke.
"Klaus," she sniffed. "I think I'm ready to turn it on."
She was. Everything was starting to hurt. No more delays. Feeling grief and pain was part of living sometimes.
"Are you sure, sweetheart?" he asked warily. "Your choice. I brought these things here for when you might want them."
She believed him, that he hadn't planted them on the bed to spring them on her. He could have compelled her at any point and hadn't. Klaus was sneaky, but he'd been playing fair with her. "Yes."
She vaguely felt him lead her to the bed where she sat up on it before everything came crashing in. Concentrating, she let go. She let in all the thoughts and feelings that had been trying to come forward over the last year. All the sorrow, pain, depression, hurt, humor, joy, and beauty flooded her mind. It was too much.
Pulling her knees up to her chin, she put her hands over her head and screamed. It was all she could do in the madness but bear it.
What started it all came through the strongest, the grief over her mother's death. The screams of mania turned into screams of pain. The sobs wracked her body as she grieved for her mom nine months too late. It was overwhelming, but she felt it all.
Her mom her gone. She would never see her again. She would never have those years of watching her age beautifully and gracefully. Her mother was too young to leave her. There were milestones still to be reached together. She needed her mother. She needed her mother to hug her and hold her tight. She needed to do the same to her mom, to love her mom as much as she was loved in return. She didn't have enough time. How could she live lifetimes when she only had 20 years with her mom? It wasn't fair.
She felt Klaus' hand awkwardly touch her shoulder.
For what seemed like hours, until her body was exhausted and she had nothing left to give, she cried, she sobbed, and she bawled.
With a deep breath, wiping her eyes, she looked up. Klaus looked like a deer in headlights, but he hadn't left. He was sitting next to her, legs splayed out in front of him. Awkwardly, his arms opened and he tipped his head the side.
"You can still drink from me. You'll feel better."
His soothing and giving words had her eyes impossibly filling again. She jumped into his arms, but rather than drinking from him, she hugged him tight and cried into his neck.
His arms came around her and slid up and down her back, offering comfort.
"How long did I sleep?" she asked later, disturbing the quiet they fell into, accidentally falling asleep on him once again.
"About an hour."
He hadn't moved from where he held her in the lit room. He must have been uncomfortable.
Embarrassed, she lifted herself out of his embrace and sat beside him.
"Do you have any blood bags?" She wasn't going to drink from the vein for a while, she decided, unfortunately denying herself Klaus' delicious blood. It was time to start acting like herself again, or at least try.
"Coming right up," he vowed and went to get some he'd arranged to have for their arrival. He brought a B+ bag and her luggage. She smiled and he moved the tutu and album from the bed to the side chair.
"I'm next door," he said as he watched her drink. It was the middle of the night and she did need her rest, despite all the times she'd napped that day. In addition to the emotional devastation, her body physically ached.
"Can you stay? Just for tonight?" she asked, not sure if she was being fair to either one of them, but needing him. The past nine months smothered her and she needed an anchor in the middle of the storm.
"Always, sweetheart." He smiled genuinely and went to his own room to change. She did the same, using the ensuite bathroom.
When she came out, he was already in bed, under the covers, his shoulders bare. She flicked off the light. At first, she kept her distance from him, but thoughts of her mom and her disappointment in herself kept circling in her head. Starting to cry, she tried to be quiet, but of course he heard and wrapped her in her arms where she cried as if she hadn't yet.
Nestled in his warm arms, she eventually slept as he spooned her, but woke up still drained. Escaping Klaus by taking a shower, he had another blood bag and breakfast waiting for her when she came out.
He encouraged her to join him in the living room when she was finished eating. She found him and when she sat on the couch, he handed her the album.
"Show me."
She did, telling stories of her family as the notorious villain smiled next to her, asking her questions about her family, her story, her history. Her eyes often filled with tears, but there was pride, laughter, and love there as well. She was an adorable kid. What could she say? Klaus graciously agreed.
"She loved me so much," Caroline said, thinking of the love her mom had for her, as she ran a finger down a picture of them together. It dominated everything in her mind, the loss.
"I know."
"No one will ever unconditionally love me like that again."
"Debatable," he said under his breath and she laughed, clapping her hand over her mouth in surprise that she could laugh.
His eyes were kind as they looked at her. "You're feeling every emotion, mostly grief, Caroline, but you can laugh and smile too. It's allowed."
Klaus didn't know her mother and they didn't have anything in common except their affection for her and their blonde hair, but she knew her mom would say the same thing.
Caroline went up to her room, needing some time alone. She put in her iPod and tried to not let the feelings overwhelm her. It was easier said than done.
She picked a fight with Klaus in the afternoon when he came to check in on her. She was angry and let it out on him. He stood there, unflinching, which was more aggravating, until she felt bad for what she was doing. She tearfully apologized.
"I can take it, Caroline," he said gently and that had her crying again. Her empathy was going into overdrive.
They watched a movie, a comedy that had her laughing until she cried and then it turned into crying for real. He held her until she composed herself, but she slept alone that night.
The next day, he delivered some new athletic clothes to her she changed into. He drove her to the best yoga studio in town, already having enrolled her in the most advanced class.
The reprieve, concentrating on her breathing, clearing her mind even as intrusive thoughts tried to distract her, and feeling her body work hard, was a blessing. She felt better than she had when he came to pick her up.
"Thanks, Klaus," she said as she buckled up.
"I told you it would come in handy," he smirked and she rolled her eyes. That had a real grin emerging from him in response.
Her emotions were all over the place, at extremes that would change at the drop of a hat. A commercial could have her crying for hours. A stupid video could have her laughing until her stomach hurt. Rage came over her quickly when things didn't go just right. Other times she just sat in silence, thinking, guilt and remorse bearing down on her.
They settled into a pattern for the rest of the week. He showed her around New Orleans for a few hours each day. She went to yoga every day as well. They ate together and he only rarely left her at home alone, conducting his business from his phone. He didn't try to make her laugh or try to force her into a good mood, but he was occasionally amusing and sassy and it was nice. He was solid, steady, and what she needed. She knew he didn't know what to do, but she didn't either. She just knew she was surviving.
One week turned into two. Her grieving was far from over and she still had to deal with a lot of the things she'd done in the past nine months, but she was confident she would. It was time. She was ready to leave her refuge.
Coming downstairs with her packed bag, he looked up from where he'd been on the phone, hanging up on whoever he was speaking with without a goodbye.
"It's time for me to go home, Klaus," she said, trying to put a little confidence in her voice, working on making good decisions. She'd been dreading this, saying goodbye. He'd seen her at the lowest of lows and hadn't wavered. She walked closer and took his hand in hers, eyes completely sincere and open as she looked at this beautiful man. "I need to go back, try to fix some mistakes I made, and see what my new normal is."
She licked her lips, having more to say to him.
"I don't know who you are or who has taken over your body, Klaus," he smiled, "but thank you. I've relied on you a lot these past few weeks. You've seen a lot you shouldn't have. You've let me take over your life while I try to get mine back together." She wanted to tell him she knew why he did it, but it wasn't time. "I appreciate it more than you can ever know. Thank you, Klaus."
She leaned up, intending to kiss him on the cheek. However, either he moved or she moved. It didn't matter. Their lips met. Her arms wrapped around his neck and his went behind her back, pulling her closer. The kiss turned passionate, their chemistry igniting.
They'd kept things platonic, but they weren't platonic friends. They could never be platonic friends. There was so much more under the surface.
When the kiss ended, she put her fingers up to her mouth, blushing. His smile was sheepish and he rubbed the back of his neck.
"I do know, Caroline. Thank you for letting me be here."
She saw the look in his eye that he did know how much it meant to her.
There was a lot more to be said, but not that day.
She coughed, needing to leave. Her cab was waiting outside. "Your city is pretty great, Klaus," she mentioned as she went to pick up her bag, but he reached for it first.
He reached for her hand and it was natural to take his. They walked outside hand in hand, his thumb brushing over hers.
He put the bag in the back seat and kept her hand. "I'll wait another century if I have to. Nothing has changed. I'll be here."
She smiled, a real smile, knowing more than before it was absolutely true. It was something she could think about when everything else was swirling around her. Klaus. "Stop having people follow me, but why don't we make it three months and we can meet again? Maybe it's our newest thing."
He beamed and she ducked into the cab. "Goodbye, Klaus."
"Goodbye, sweetheart."
This wasn't the end to the story, just the beginning.
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Three months later, Klaus took a trip to Whitmore College. He saw her sitting on the stairs in front of her dorm. The sunshine lit up her hair. Her nose was buried in a book. It was similar to how he found her in Buenos Aires, but also completely different. She was completely different. She was a marvel.
"Hello, Caroline," he said as he approached her.
She looked up with a smile, putting her book down, smoothing her hands along her thighs in a short purple dress as she stood. "I'm ready," she said, picking up her bag and slipping the book inside.
He tipped his head, hands behind his back, unsure what she was talking about. He hadn't seen or spoken with her in three months.
Her smile didn't waver and she took pity on him, putting out her hand so he would take it.
"Klaus, it's exactly three months to the day I left New Orleans. I knew you'd come today. I've been waiting for you."
He looked down at her, shocked and touched, and she rolled her eyes with a grin.
They would take things slow. She still had healing to do and so did he with his own issues. It was worth pursuing though, the magic between them.
"Let's go dancing."