Chapter 12 has arrived! This one isn't full of smut or anything like that it's about their history and the mystery person behind the door! :D I hope you guys enjoy it, the storyling is almost complete in my head haha, so please R&R! :) Tomorrow there will be more!

Chapter 12

A woman about seventy years old answered the door. She was wearing jeans and a flannel tee shirt, old, but also slim and about the same height as Caroline. She reminded her of someone who belonged on a farm, with her boots and tan skin.

"My god…" She stood there for a moment, looking at the man in front of her. "Niklaus!" She looked almost as if she was going to tear up, and she immediately held out her arms to lure Klaus into a hug. Klaus' smile came back to his face and he walked up to her, embracing her tight. This was new. Caroline had been very intimate with Klaus at this point and she knew that he had another side that he had been suppressing, but a hug? Who was this woman to bring that out in him? Caroline was pleasantly surprised, very surprised.

"Hello, Margaret," Klaus said as he hugged her, and when he pulled away, she looked at him with the biggest grin that Caroline could possibly imagine, and she looked over at Caroline.

"And who is this beautiful young lady?" Margaret asked as she stepped out of the doorway and gave Caroline an almost equally large hug. Caroline was shocked by this woman's forwardness, but she was no one to deny a hug, and she responded quickly as Klaus kept replied,

"This is Caroline, she's a very special girl," he said, giving Caroline a wink before they pulled away from the hug. Margaret looked over at Klaus with that same big grin but also almost with disbelief. She leaned against the door with her legs and arms crossed, looking regal and elegant.

"Well I'll be, Niklaus, final-" she was interrupted by a deep, bellowing voice from inside the house that made Caroline jump.

"Who's at the door, Maggie?" a man asked through an accent only a little bit thicker than Margaret's, and she turned away inside the house to respond,

"You'll never guess who's here Artie! It's Nik!" The way that Maggie talked made it clear to Caroline that she had missed Klaus, and everyone was obviously very happy to be seeing each other once again. Caroline couldn't help but still be confused, she didn't know who this one exception to Klaus' kill 'em all, kill 'em all, then kill 'em all again motto was.

"WHAT?" Caroline could hear the sound of someone groaning as they got up, and the squeak of presumably the couch that the man had been sitting on as he stood, "I'm on my way!" Maggie rolled her eyes and looked back at Klaus,

"I swear sometimes I wonder if he's still getting older," she chuckled and Caroline began to think that maybe they were vampires, someone that Klaus had turned along the way or compelled or something. "Come on, before he kills himself," Maggie grabbed Klaus' hand without any hesitation and started to guide him inside with Caroline right by his side. Klaus walked through the hall without a twitch, following Maggie and reaching back to hold Caroline's hand. She, on the other hand, was stunned. All along the walls of the hall were pictures of this woman and her husband hiking, parachuting, visiting places all over the world, some looking like they were taken right as photography was invented and chances are they were. Then she saw one that caught her eye. There was an entire section full of Klaus. He was standing with them at the Eiffel Tower, with than undeniable smirk of his, an arm around each of their shoulders. He was dressed in an old suit, looking absolutely wonderful, with his hair just a little bit longer and a sense of serenity that she could sense even through the picture. She moved along slowly, seeing more and more pictures of Klaus with this couple throughout the years. He looked like a different man. No hateful father, no siblings to think about, no doppelganger clouding his mind; no worries, he was just Klaus. The one that she thought she was starting to get to know. She pulled herself away and caught back up with Klaus and Maggie when she heard that voice from the living room.

"Nik, my boy! It's good to see you," the man, Artie, was up and hugging Klaus in one swift move, obviously more able than he or Maggie thought. Caroline turned the corner to see them, and she smiled at seeing Klaus' face over Artie's shoulder. They caught eyes for a moment before Artie pat Klaus hard on the back and started to talk again. "60 years and not a word? Shameful, Nik!"

"You know why I had to stay away, Arthur," Klaus responded seriously, but while they both kept a small, sincere smile. Artie nodded and turned to Caroline.

"Well looky here at this lovely gal," he took her hand and spun her around, "Woooey! She's just gorgeous, although maybe my judgment is a little off since you've never brought anyone here ever!" He gave Klaus a guilty look and Klaus looked like he was a little embarrassed, but then he just shrugged and Artie rolled his eyes, turning back to Caroline. "What's your name, little miss?"

"I'm Caroline," she answered with a friendly smile.

"Caroline, that reminds me of this wonderful young woman I used to know, MMHPHH she was so nice!-"

"Oh good lord," Maggie was standing close watching them, "not this again, Artie, they don't want to hear about your crazy little rendezvous," she said, as if he was just like that all the time. She wasn't jealous or irritated, she was practically laughing. Artie walked over to her and grabbed her into a waltz position,

"Well of course, my little lady, none have been as crazy as you!" He joked and started to tango with her, making her laugh while Klaus and Caroline stood with a smile, watching this perfectly happy couple.

Later on, after eating some delicious apple pie and asking Caroline a million questions, everyone was lounging at the table, when Maggie sparked up conversation.

"So!" she said, crossing her hands student-style on the table and leaning in toward Klaus and Caroline, "How long did it take you to get used to Nik's stubborn ass?" She was smiling, but Klaus put his fork down and looked at her like she was the most embarrassing person in the world.

"Oh why, thanks, that's just exactly what she wants to hear, Margaret," Maggie didn't seem to mind one bit, she didn't even look at Klaus the whole time. Caroline laughed and figured that she was quickly getting used to this,

"Oh I still am," she responded, eliciting a laugh from Maggie and Artie, and Klaus looked at her shaking his head softly, but letting out a smirk. "You have a magnificent house by the way, it's so cute." Artie finished a bite of food and looked up at Caroline,

"That's all thanks to that guy right there," he said, pointing at Klaus. Klaus didn't seem to notice much, he just looked smiled as he continued to eat. "Don't be shy, kid! Applause! Applause!" Artie got up simultaneously with Maggie and they started clapping, prompting Klaus to look up and shake his head before standing and bowing, like they had done that a dozen times before. They sat back down and Maggie chimed in,

"Yeah, he built this for us back in… when was it, Nik? Seventies?" she said and Klaus looked up, trying to remember.

"Eighty-one, if I remember correctly," He said, putting his fork down and sitting back in his chair.

"Ohh yeah, that's it. It was for us to have our own little spot in our favorite woods. They were going to start movin' people in here, but Klaus helped us out and stopped them, and then he built us our own little home sweet home. We always wanted a place like this," she reached across the table and put her hand in Artie's.

"Oh so Klaus you were here instead of out dancing disco? I would've imagined that for you," she said with a chuckle.

"Oh no, sweetie, eighteen eighty-one, but believe me," she said leaning across the table to whisper to Caroline, "he was," they laughed while Klaus had that same embarrassed look, but this time he defended himself.

"One day, Maggie that was one day. And it never happened again, so we'll just be letting that one go, agreed?" Maggie ignored him again and laughed.

They sat there for a moment just enjoying each others' company before Artie put his napkin on the table and spoke,

"Well I think it's time for us to go to bed, assuming you won't take off right away Nik?" He said as he got up and grabbed his dished, setting them on the counter behind him.

"That's a deal," Klaus said, not moving but always keeping that underlying smile around them.

"Good," Artie replied, and he walked back over to the table and picked Maggie up like they were newlyweds, dragging them off to the hallway. Maggie was laughing and mumbling something to him while at the same time trying to reach her head back to say goodnight. Klaus and Caroline watched as they disappeared into the dark of the hallway and they heard a door close. Caroline looked over to see Klaus was now looking at her, smiling like she was an angel. He broke his fix on her and got up to put away his dishes. Caroline followed, and he took the dishes from her, cleaning them away while she leaned against the wall and watched him develop this new side that she just loved to see more and more of. When he was done he dried his hands and looked back at her, and after a moment of silence stares he stood in front of her quickly and kissed her. It was quick and yet full of happiness, and then he moved away, holding her hand and starting to walk back.

"Ready to go?" he asked, slowly pulling her toward the back door.

"I thought you said we wouldn't leave right away?" she asked, hoping that he wasn't just playing them, but knowing that he seemed to care about them too much to do that.

"We're not. There's a guest house where I stay when I'm here across the back garden," he replied. Caroline didn't think much of it then, but after he led her outside so nonchalantly she stopped in her tracks looking at what was in front of her. It was the same garden from her dream. She knew at this point that Klaus couldn't manipulate her dreams even if he wanted to, she did her homework right when that started. But now she didn't know how in the world this could've happened. She'd never been there before, so she felt almost frightened. Klaus turned back when her hand stopped and he was slightly yanked back. "What is it?" he asked, already concerned. Caroline pondered mentioning anything, wondering if it would be worth it before she could find out herself.

"…nothing. It's just really a beautiful garden." She made up an excuse and then remembered that Klaus had built the house and it dawned on her. "Wait, did you do this, too?" she turned to him, already forgetting about the dream and getting caught up instead in what it would mean if he did.

"Uhh, yeah," he looked shy, "I mean with the help of a few. I designed it, Margaret always wanted a place like this because it reminds her of a fairytale." They had continued to walk just as Caroline remembered it, through the rock-covered paths and onto the white, vine-covered gazebo, where they stopped. She could swear that she saw a firefly dance around her but when she turned it had vanished. The only thing that was missing from her dream was the candles…and Tyler. He quickly left her mind, though, as Klaus led her off the back of the gazebo into the forest. Caroline remembered her dream, and this time she wanted it to come true. Klaus kept his gentlemanly composure though, and they walked hand in hand through the forest.

"So why here?" Caroline asked, continuing to walk but trying to keep conversation flowing to keep her mind off of the dream that she had.

"Pardon me?" Klaus didn't quite understand, and he seemed like he was just a bit distracted anyhow.

"The cottages, why did you build them here?" This time he got it.

"Well, this is where I used to go as a boy. It was just far enough from where my family lived, back where Mystic Falls is now, so that I could have time to myself. Then after everyone had abandoned our town and my family was spread out all over the world I came back. No one would expect be here, and I was extremely weak, so I needed to settle down for a while. When I got here, around…eighteen seventy or so, I found Margaret and Arthur. They were living in the town nearby, and Arthur accidentally shot me while he was hunting one day. After that, they took care of me. They knew about vampires and helped me get through my worst days. I stayed with them for eleven years and we traveled all over the world. When I had to leave, I built them that cottage and the one nearby is where I would stay when I came to visit. Of course it wasn't all that frequent because of my father trying to hunt me down, but I tried to visit. Then when my father found out about them, he had a witch put a spell on them." Now Klaus had stopped walking. His head was down and he took a breath before continuing, Caroline was listening and looking at his eyes the whole time. "They can't grow old. It's like they're vampires but instead of the bloodlust and curse of the sun, they aren't allowed past 10 miles from here, and they're required to stay in touch with the witches, help them whenever needed, or else they will be compelled to kill each other." It didn't take Caroline very long to see why Klaus was so fragile. His father, the man who was supposed to love him unconditionally, rejected him and abandoned him, and then spent the rest of his life hunting him. It was horrible, and all she wanted to do was help Klaus.

"Klaus, I'm so sorry." She caressed his face in her hands and moved close to him, not even noticing the cold and dark forest around them.

"Yes well it's rather harsh, but we've gotten through it. That's why I've stayed away since then. But anyway, enough sad talk for now, darling. We're almost there." He said, still obviously troubled, but Caroline didn't want to push him any further. She knew he knew that she was there for him, and she hoped that he knew it wasn't his fault. He did, right?

They walked up to the cottage and Caroline was in awe. It was exactly what she wanted if she were to live in a place like that. The cottage was lit directly by the strong moonlight and surrounded by bright green, full trees. There was a mist around the house, which might be mysterious if it weren't full of gorgeous blue and white flower beds and butterflies flying through it, to her it just seemed elegant. The house was made of stones with a wooden fence surrounding it. There was a chimney that had smoke coming from it, and there were candles strewn around the entrance, most likely the doing of Maggie when she had slipped out earlier from dinner and spent an hour "planning Klaus' next visit." If Caroline could imagine a fairytale, this would be hers.

"Klaus this is…" Caroline was speechless.

"Almost as wonderful as you are," he said, never breaking his stare at her while she looked at the house. He couldn't take his eyes off of her, she was so beautiful. Her curled blonde hair was naturally soft and perfectly wavy, and her bright blue eyes contrasted with her pink lips. He had never wanted anything as much as he wanted Caroline. Not just sexually either, he wanted to protect her, take her everywhere, show her everything and make her happy however possible. He would do whatever it took so that she was happy, even if that meant letting her go. But she didn't need to worry about that now, because in that moment, all he wanted to do was take her inside and spend the night loving every part of her. And that's exactly what he did.

Good? Let me know what you think and thanks for reading! :D