"…Or Frenchmen Street, listening to jazz."

New Orleans never slept. No matter what day of the week it was, there was always a party happening somewhere.

Cami stood watching a live jazz band perform. Her body swayed to the beat, but she didn't break out and dance like some bystanders. As the band started a new song she knew, she closed her eyes and hummed the words.

"You have a lovely voice."

Cami jumped. She turned and saw a man leaning lazily against a light post. He was clad in a black leather jacket, a dark gray shirt, and dark rinse jeans.

"You know if you want, you can go up there and sing your heart out. I'm sure they won't mind passing you a microphone." The stranger spoke with a British accent.

Cami smiled. "Thanks, but I'll pass."

"You sure? It's good to see someone being caught up in the music." The stranger stepped away from the light post and stood by Cami. "Or are you not into jazz that much?"

"I like it enough, not nearly as much as my uncle. He is a jazz fanatic." Cami smiled. Her uncle Kieran had a room in his house with pictures of famous jazz artists plastered to the walls. He had records everywhere, the ticket stubs of concerts he went too. Jazz was one of the few things her uncle had that was just for him.

"My brother loves jazz as well." He said, sounding bitter at the mention of his brother.

Cami didn't want to pry but couldn't help herself. "Bad blood between you two?"

The stranger gave her a humorless grin. "We just had a particularly nasty spat."

"Want to talk about it?"

The man looked at Cami with his deep blue eyes, measuring her up. "You're serious?"

"Sure, why not? There's no way I'll be able to get back into the music. I'll be too afraid you'll stick a mic in front of me if I sing again."

The stranger smiled. Cami wanted to help him. He clearly needed to get something off his chest and if she could be someone to hear his side then she would be. Not to mention it could be practice for her since she was striving to be a psychologist.

"Can we walk and talk?" He asked.

"Sure, as long as we stay on this street." Cami replied. She was compassionate, but she wasn't stupid. They wouldn't be heading down any dark alleyways.

"What, you think I'd take advantage of you?" he seemed offended.

"I know you won't, because we're staying on this street." she smirked. "Even if we didn't I have a black belt in karate so you wouldn't be able to take advantage if you tried." Cami hoped she sounded convincing. The last part was a lie but it didn't hurt for him to think she wouldn't be some helpless victim.

The stranger smiled, like he was enjoying her sass. "Shall I lead the way?"

"Be my guest. My name's Cami by the way." she said, following him.

"Short for Camille I presume?" He turned back to glance at her. "I'm Klaus."

They started walking down Frenchmen Street. A little off to the side so that they could walk at a leisurely pace and be able to hear each other over the noise.

After walking in silence for a few minutes, Cami spoke. "So, Klaus, are you and your brother are close?"

"We are, he's loyal and self-sacrificing to a fault. He's been the model older brother, he's stood by my side, only surpassed by my sister in that regard. I'm afraid that this time…I may have pushed him away forever."

"So you think this is the breaking point for you too?"

"Possibly, we've been here before numerous times yet he remains. This time feels different."

"You don't want to lose him. Have you tried apologizing?" Klaus looked over and gave her a dubious look. "Hey, every little thing helps. Besides, I get the feeling that the words 'I'm sorry' are foreign to your vocabulary."

"And what gives you that impression?"

"The way you carry yourself. So self-assured and confident, you're probably used to getting your way often. You come off as a bit of a bad boy but there's more to you than that. The way you talk about your siblings, they mean everything to you. I don't know if they know that, if this is a cycle you have with your brother then I assume you push them away although you want them to stay close."

A slow grin passed over Klaus' face as if he was coming to a realization. "Are you an alienist?"

"A newer term is therapist and I'm in school to become one."

"Ah, so that's why you agreed to walk with me, you want to practice your head shrinking abilities."

"It's more than that, I do care about you."

Klaus raised his blond eyebrows. "Care? Camille, I don't know what to say, this is all so sudden."

Cami blushed and laughed uneasily. "Okay, maybe I could have phrased that better. You know what I mean."

"I do. You're the compassionate type. Always wanting to help a poor, lost tortured soul. You seek to understand their troubled psyche to try to save them."

Cami's face went slack at his analysis of her. He had her pegged, which wasn't something she was used to. Cami looked up at Klaus in a new light, seeing how his dark eyes gleamed with intelligence.

"Don't look so surprised, love. I'm a clever bad boy."

"I see." Cami said guardedly and made a note to not underestimate him.

"I suppose that's two strikes against me. Clever and a bad boy, did I just further hurt my chances?"

Was he flirting with her? They had been walking a respectful distance from each other, not far away but close enough to be comfortable.

"Chances of what?"

Klaus' eyes glimmered wickedly. "That's entirely up to you."

Cami felt her face flush and she couldn't think of any words to say. She found herself lost in Klaus' eyes.

Suddenly Cami's body lurched forward as she tripped on a curb. Klaus' arms shot out and steadied her. Oh my God how embarrassing.

Even after Klaus let go Cami's heart was racing. "I'm supposed to be psychoanalyzing not flirting." she said.

"No reason why we can't do both." Klaus clasped his hands behind his back.

They came to a stop at a street corner, waiting for the crosswalk signal to change. Cami pressed the button to change the signal. For a second she wondered if he made up his sob story about his siblings but pushed it away. She had seen the sadness in his eyes.

Cami chided him. "You're deflecting from talking about your brother."

"Maybe," he mused then he lowered his voice. "Or maybe I genuinely want a chance with you."

Cami willed her heart beat to slow down. "Maybe you should focus on repairing your relationship with your brother before trying to get involved with anyone."

Klaus sighed. "You have a one track mind."

"I do, it helps me stay focused on what's really going on."

"And what is really going on?" Klaus raised his eyebrows, teasing her.

Cami ignored him and held back a smile. She was enjoying his company and his teasing but he didn't have to know it. Luckily the signal changed and they were able to cross the street.

"You know, I myself have always had a talent for multitasking."

"I see that." Cami said breathily. She rubbed her arms, it was starting to get chilly.

"You're cold." Klaus stated, and began to take off his leather jacket.

"Oh, no you don't have to…" Cami started but it was too late. The jacket was off, and Klaus was holding it out to her. Cami smiled but shook her head, declining his offer.

"Refusing my jacket love? My feelings are hurt."

"If I take that you'll be cold."

"I don't get cold." Klaus stated matter-of-factly.

Cami narrowed her eyes. "Then why do you wear a jacket?"

Klaus paused, like he wasn't expecting such a practical question. "Fashion." He finally answered, and held out his jacket again.

"I'd hate to forget I had it on and walk off with it." She said.

"I wouldn't mind, it'd just give me an excuse to come find you." He said simply.

Cami rolled her eyes but this time when she looked at him there was no flirty gaze in his eyes. He was serious. Klaus was a mystery and he kept surprising her.

"Chivalrous, clever, and a bad boy." Cami commented taking his jacket and putting it on.

"Is that another strike against me? That's not fair. Chivalry is always a good thing."

"Is your brother chivalrous?" Cami asked.

"Annoyingly so, always a man of his word." Klaus' voice didn't contain any irritation.

Cami looked at Klaus and he remained silent. His smile had disappeared and he eyed the shops they passed by.

"Personally I can tell you from an older sister's point of view, we never give up on the younger siblings." She said.

Klaus looked at her. "You have a younger sister?"

"Brother, actually." Cami smiled at the thought of Sean.

"What's the age difference?" Klaus asked.

They turned a corner and found themselves walking through a small park. Hanging lights decorated the trees and pathways. The park wasn't as crowded as the street but a few pedestrians milled around. Others sat on benches and enjoyed the crisp night air. Some couples held hands and Klaus suddenly wondered how Cami's hands would feel in his.

"Two minutes." Cami replied.

"You're a twin?" Klaus raised his eyebrows. "I bet you never let him forget it."

"Never." Cami agreed laughing. "He can make me mad as hell sometimes but even then I still worry about him. If he ever needs anything I'll be there for him, without any hesitation."

"Because it's your responsibility as the eldest child," Klaus cut in, "you feel obligated."

"No, I do it because I love him." Cami stopped walking and looked Klaus in the eye. "Your brother loves you too, why else would he show you so much loyalty?"

"Guilt!" Klaus exclaimed. "He feels guilty because—"

"Because what?" Cami searched his eyes for an answer.

Klaus clamped his jaw shut. His outburst surprised him. He admitted he was enjoying talking to Camille but bringing up his childhood and his father, that wasn't an option.

Cami knew there was more to the story than he was telling but she let it go. She looked up at the sky, and realized they had come to a stop under a tree. Cami stepped closer to Klaus so he wouldn't look away.

"Loyalty only goes so far. Love goes farther. I don't know the whole story but your brother loves you and you love him. I can tell by the way you talk about him. Whatever you've done, go apologize for it. I mean a genuine, heartfelt apology. Be vulnerable, it can't hurt."

Klaus gave Cami an appraising look. She hadn't raised her voice but her words resonated in his mind. Why was she so caring and willing to help him? They had just met not half an hour ago. Cami was a marvel.

She spoke again. "Klaus think, if you don't make things right with your brother you'll keep carrying this burden around. I'd hate for you to continue to feel like this. Be there for your brother, make it right with him."

Klaus looked at her. Cami's green eyes were open with understanding. That was something he hadn't felt in decades. Of course if she knew what he really was he doubted she'd look on him so affectionately.

"I'm afraid this is where our stroll ends." He finally said, unclenching his jaw.

Cami opened her mouth to speak but then shut it. She didn't want to push him and it was clear Klaus was done talking. Cami felt a twinge of sadness. She enjoyed Klaus' company, it took her out of her normal routine. Cami knew she had been reluctant to walk with him but since then he'd made her laugh and took her off guard. Cami was disappointed that she couldn't help him. She confessed she didn't want their conversation to end.

As Cami handed him his jacket Klaus ignored the sadness in her eyes and pushed down his own similar feelings. Klaus had never meant to spend this much time talking to Camille, but it was so easy being around her. He knew she believed she hadn't helped him, when in reality she had finally given him something he'd never had: someone to listen and hear his side.

He didn't want to leave her, she certainly was a welcome respite, but she had gotten too close. This stranger somehow knew exactly what to say to get to him and it was scary.

Klaus didn't want to leave her on a sad note. He boldly stepped forward and kissed her cheek.

"Thank you…for the talk." He murmured before walking off. Klaus didn't even look back to see her reaction.

Cami's mouth was open with shock. Klaus was near the park's exit by the time she regained her composure. Before she could think twice Cami boldly called out to him. "Hey!"

Klaus froze in his tracks.

"You know, I could always use more head shrinking practice. And what if you need someone to talk to again?" Cami waited eagerly for his reply. She couldn't remember the last time she put herself out there like this, but there was something about him, she felt connected.

Cami admitted she wanted to see Klaus again. Even though he was a stranger, he made her feel comfortable and relaxed, although he also had a tendency to make her roll her eyes ever so often. Cami wanted to get to know him, hopefully he felt the same way about her. Who knew, maybe with time she could say the right thing to help him with his brother.

Klaus turned around and looked at Cami. He could hear her heart beating excitedly, waiting for his reply. Klaus smiled and his accented voice rang out across the park. "Then I'll come find you."