Chapter 19

[A year later]

She awoke to a noise, a rustling in the downstairs living room.

Caroline slowly sat upright in the bed, smiling down at Klaus lying in the space next to her. She stroked his face gently with her fingertips as he rolled onto his side. Her feet touched the floor one by one as she grabbed her housecoat and wrapped it around her body.

Her footsteps echoed in the darkness and she began to make her way out of the bedroom and into the corridor. She felt around, finding her way to the stairs without falling over.

Why was it every time you tried to sneak around, any noise sounded like it was made by a giant? She rolled her eyes, trying to stop the squeaking beneath her face.

The last thing she wanted to do was wake Klaus over a pathetic noise.

She clambered onto the stairs as she began to make her way down.

"Hello?" she questioned the dark. She frowned, since when did she have the nerve to investigate. The chances were it was probably a burglar; she cocked her head at her thoughts. How was she so calm?

She reached for the light and switched it on, gasping as she saw that familiar face. The one she doubted she'd ever see again "Tyler?" he was hunched over behind the sofa – in what seemed like an attempt to find something - when he heard her voice, his head turned to face her as he smiled

"Caroline, I was trying not to wake you" she rubbed her eyes as he straightened his posture and made his way weakly over to her. He acted like nothing happened. Dumbfounded was the only word that could explain how she felt

"But your dead...I mean... I thought you were dead" he walked over taking her hands in his, still was a lightened smile on his face. She looked down at her hands. She could feel the warmth of his fingertips as they left a trail over her palms. He was definitely real

"Dead?" he cocked his head to the side before almost laughing. He was acting like she was crazy. And she knew for a fact, crazy was something she was not.

She was sure that he was dead, hell, she spent a year living with him dead...He was dead, he had to be

"I think you've been dreaming cus as you can see I'm clearly very much alive" she pulled her hand out of his, frowning into his eyes. Typical Tyler and his arrogant, I'm-right-your-wrong attitude

"It's been a year Tyler and you telling me you've been alive this whole time? What the hell are you doing here?" His eyes looked down at his feet before looking back at her

"I just wanted to get my things..."

"You selfish bastard!" she gawped at him

"What?"

"How dare you? Were you not planning on seeing me and I don't know, telling me that you're alive?"

"Caroline –"he tried taking her hand again, before she whipped it away

"No, don't touch me!" his face hardened as he glared at her before smirking. He wasn't used to taking no for an answer

"Considering you thought I was dead, it didn't take you long to move on, did it?" there was a look in his eye that Caroline didn't like. He was different, almost evil

"I don't know what you mean" he laughed, as she tensed up. Looking down at him under cautious lashes

"Don't act coy with me Caroline, I'd know my brother's car anywhere" she gasped, forgetting about Klaus "He's in your bed isn't he?" her quietness was enough to confirm his suspicious "You're cheating on me with him?" he laughed "Well you can have him, never liked him anyway. First he intrudes my life and then he steals my girlfriend" she couldn't help herself, how could he be so selfish.

After all Klaus did for him, she did what anyone who do, she slapped him across the face

"Why don't you call him down here, eh? Tell him to come and face me or is he too much of a coward"

"He is a much better man than you'll ever be, Tyler" his face slowly moved upwards from facing the floor to facing her

"Bitch" he yelled as he catapulted himself at her, knocking over a lampshade with his leg. She fell backwards as she screamed

"Caroline" she could feel her shoulders being shaken "Caroline" she was bolt upright looking down at Klaus who had his arms wrapped around her. Her eyes flickered open to see his eyes filled with concern.

Her chest was palpitating as she snuggled into his chest. She took deep breaths before looking up into his sapphire eyes.

"It was just a dream" she sighed

"Do you want to talk about it?" she shook her head. Not ever, she thought to herself, she never wanted to tell Klaus about the dream.

Yes, they're relationship was about honesty but if she told him that Tyler hated him, she couldn't imagine what that would do to him. She couldn't do that to him.

He kissed the top of her forehead "It's alright, love. I'm here for you, as I have been and as I always will be"

She suddenly felt safe in his arms, safer than she had ever been with anyone. But she couldn't knock the thoughts out of her head. What did that dream mean? That Tyler was angry with her? That he hated her guts?

Maybe it was his ghost that visited her, trying to tell her something. She shuddered at the thought; she couldn't help fight the feeling of terror. Something wasn't right.

"Get some sleep, sweetheart. It's a big day tomorrow" she smiled, as he slowly pulled her down into his arms, it was probably nothing.

He off'ed the lights, as she laid her head on his chest. His warm body was around her as she slowly drifted off to sleep.

He was right, tomorrow was a big day.

[Clinking of Wine Glasses]

"Happy Anniversary, love" he kissed her cheek, as he smiled at his house full of people. They all gathered today to commemorate their anniversary and spending a year together in Paris.

Every pair of eyes were on Klaus and Caroline as they stood at the head of the room

"I'd like to thank you all for coming, Caroline and I have had a " he paused "adventurous year" they all laughed in unison "but throughout all that, I think we have found each other and that's all that matters" he took her hand now as he lifted his champagne glass in the air "To each other"

"To each other" they chorused after him, raising their glasses before taking a sip of the sweet tasting champagne

"Food will be joining us shortly but for now, let's all enjoy the party" the live music started playing again as the applause died down. They crowd walked around, grabbing drinks as they chattered amongst themselves. With a few daring ones, taking to the dance floor

"Caroline!" a brunette lady approached them, embracing Caroline in a massive hug. Klaus touched Caroline's shoulder before taking her empty champagne glass and taking it away with him "Congratulations on your promotion" she smiled taking Caroline's hands

"Thank you April, I really didn't think I would get it"

"Of course you would, you're the top marketing advisor there" Within a year, Caroline managed to get a job in marketing. She bridged the gap between America and Paris, with her clear connection in America it was the perfect role for her.

She settled in well and made a bunch of new friends in her job, as Klaus said 'people will truly enjoy her'. She was truly loving Paris, the opportunities were so much better than in LA.

April smiled again, before kissing Caroline on the cheek and departing.

She stood staring at all the people that had come to celebrate their anniversary; she couldn't believe how time flew so quickly. It felt like only yesterday that she first arrived in Paris and met Klaus.

Speaking of Klaus, she smiled as she spun around, feeling his hand intertwined with hers.

"Hi there" she fluttered her eyelashes before his pulled at her hands, bringing her body closer to his. They were chest to chest before their foreheads finally met "We made it through a year" she giggled as his lips lightly touched hers

"Indeed we have" he slowly pushed her back against the wall behind him.

It was like the world was gone and it was just him and her.

His eyes looked down at her, his eyes almost penetrating her soul.

She couldn't help but melt under his glare, who cared about being embarrassed, he was her God and she wouldn't be shy showing how much he meant to her

"Guess what, love?" he smiled, interrupting her intimate thoughts

"What?"

"I love you" he paused, taking her hand and kissing it "and we're going to make it through next year and the year after that and the year after that" he chuckled "because now I have you my love, I will never let you go" finally her life was coming together.

It took what seemed like a tragedy and turned it into the most amazing moments in her life presently and to come.

It was true what they say, fate always has a way of finding you and the truth was, Caroline was glad it did.

They walked hand in hand as she giggled into his arm, greeting and dancing to the music. They stood in front of the stairs swaying along to music. Klaus twirled her as her smile faded.

She looked over his shoulder, staring into the distance behind her.

She could feel her blood pumping, her heart jumping.

It was the lampshade

It was knocked over.

The End

I want to thank you guys for coming on this amazing journey with me, your words have been so inspiring. I don't think you even realise! Yes, you probably all hate me now, for this - lets say - interesting ending but I thought it make things more exciting, get your little brains all pumping away! It's an open ending, up to your own interruptation ;) Maybe give you a chance to come up with your own endings? I'd be more than happy to hear about your thoughts! As always, I will hopefully have another Klaroline fanfic on the way, but you will just have to bare with me! :) Love you guys loads! and thank you once again!

© Ms Zola, Nov 2012