DISCLAIMER. not mine.

CHAPTER. three.

SETTING: 1 year in the future.

T-H-E-V-A-M-P-I-R-E-D-I-A-R-I-E-S

"Need some help, love?" came an all-too-familiar voice.

Caroline's eyes widened slightly but she didn't dare turn around. She was surrounded by four vampires and she couldn't afford to lose her focus. "Come to join the party?" one of them taunted to the man behind Caroline. "You can have her when we're done."

He flashed over and tore the vampire's heart out. "I don't share," Caroline heard him say, and despite everything going on at the moment she felt the urge to roll her eyes.

Caroline threw one of the attacking vampires away from her, and he hit a tree before falling to the ground. She whirled to find Klaus standing behind her, his back facing her, as the other two vampires approached. "I'm not yours," Caroline reminded Klaus.

He looked at her over his shoulder and grinned wolfishly. "Do you really think now's the time for a lovers' quarrel?"

Without taking his eyes off Caroline, he reached a hand out and ripped out the heart of the vampire who thought he could sneak up on him. "We are not - " Caroline started indignantly, before being interrupted by a scream of rage from the remaining vampire.

Growling, Caroline leapt over and headed him off by grabbing him by the throat and then snapping his neck. Then she turned to face her surprise savior. "Klaus, what are you doing here?"

Klaus held up a finger. "Just a minute, love."

Caroline's eyes narrowed. "Stop calling me that."

But then she heard the same thing he had. The vampire Caroline had thrown against a tree had come to and was now charging towards them. Klaus lunged and ripped out his heart mid-movement.

He gave Caroline a disapproving look. "Always kill your enemies," he instructed.

Before she could respond, Klaus went over to the vampire who was lying on the ground with a broken neck. He bent over and ripped out the last vampire's heart as well.

"Klaus," Caroline started to say, but his head whipped up and he pinned her with his stare.

"Did you really think I'd leave any of them alive? They attacked you," he said, walking towards her.

His eyes were slightly yellow as he spoke and Caroline realized that despite his casual tone and the ease with which he'd dispatched her assailants, Klaus was actually very, very angry. Caroline let out a breath, unsure of what to say.

Then, with a slight frown, she realized Klaus had never answered her question. "What are you doing here?" she repeated.

Klaus came to a stop in front of her and reached down to take hold of her hand. "I heard you were in trouble, and as a gentleman felt I must come to your aid."

He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it. Caroline hadn't been expecting that and she froze for a second before coming to her senses and snatching her hand away. "Well...thanks," she said unwillingly. "I really think I had it in control though."

There were hints of disappointment and worry in his eyes, which Caroline determinedly ignored. "Are you hurt?" he asked.

Caroline didn't understand why he always played the caring card with her. "No," she replied. "I'm fine."

She took a step back, putting distance between them. "I should be going. Are you - are you back in town?"

Klaus shook his head, looking rueful at Caroline's dismissal. "No."

He didn't explain any further, and Caroline didn't ask. Caroline shifted her weight awkwardly. "Try to stay out of trouble, Caroline," Klaus said.

Caroline took a breath, hesitated, then said with more sincerity, "Klaus. Thank you."

Klaus' eyes locked with hers and Caroline forgot to tear her gaze away. They stared at each other for a moment, neither one saying a word and the air thick between them, until Klaus smiled and broke the silence. "Of course."

Caroline turned and started walking away. "Caroline!" Klaus called after her.

Caroline stopped and turned, eyeing Klaus suspiciously. "That's three times now."

"What?" Caroline asked, confused.

He smirked. "Three times I've saved your life," he clarified.

The earlier tension disappeared and Caroline let out an irritated huff at his reminder. She turned back around and flounced off.

The smirk didn't leave Klaus' face as he watched her walk away.

fin.