A/N: Chapter two! Not super pleased with this because I don't think its super in character, at least for Klaus... oh well. Enjoy and R&R if you don't mind :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Diaries

Lessons of Love, Chapter 2: Klaus to Caroline, Part 1

"To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved." George MacDonald

He watched from outside her window, shielded by the long shadows that signaled the coming of night. She was standing with her back to him, brushing her hair in the mirror, not like she could spot him from his perch anyway. She was wearing a dark green long sleeved shirt with a simple pair of jeans. Her phone rang and she picked it up. Klaus easily picked up her conversation, guessing she was talking to the doppelganger or the witch.

Klaus figured it was now or never. He tapped on the window, giving her the courtesy of declining his request for entrance into her room. She nearly dropped the phone and Klaus chuckled silently to himself as the baby blonde vampire crept to the window, still talking. She saw him and looked at him with disbelief.

"Yeah, um, Elena, can you hang on a minute?" she asked, covering the speaker of her cell phone as she opened the window. "What are you doing here?" she whispered harshly.

"May I come in?"

As much as he wanted to force his way in, Klaus had to remind himself that she had to come to him. He waited for what felt like a century as he watched Caroline contemplate her options. She finally huffed, nodded, ad rolled her eyes as she put her index finger to her lips as she held the phone to her ear again and walked back to her dresser.

"Sorry, 'Lena. What? Oh, yeah. Um, I already told Bonnie I would go to her place tonight. Sorry," there was a pause and Klaus could feel the awkwardness radiate through the cell phone. "Well maybe I cou- Oh, okay, if you're sure? 'Kay, I'll see you tomorrow then. Bye."

Caroline hung up and placed her cell phone on her dresser before turning to Klaus.

"Is there something rotten in Denmark, love?" he asked with an arched eyebrow.

"Yeah, no thanks to you, of course. But my issues with my friends are none of your business," she stated firmly, ready to leave the subject. She looked at him critically. "Why are you here? To kill me? If so, then by all means please make it fast." There was no anger in her voice, but she was stern. She popped her hip and crossed her arms over her chest.

"If I was here to kill you, I would have already done that. I get quite tired of reiterating that little detail."

"Well then, what do you want?" There was no anger in her voice, but she was stern. She popped her hip and crossed her arms over her chest.

For once, Klaus was at a loss for words. He had a whole bit that he was going to tell her but as soon as he climbed through Caroline's window he forgot it. "Well, um," he started awkwardly, running a hand through his hair. "I just wanted to tell you that I accept your apology," he said with a nervous smile.

Caroline laughed in disbelief, dropping her arms to her side. "Really? It's been nearly a month since I apologized and you are just now telling me this?"

Klaus looked defeated. "I-I figured it was better late than never. Besides, I had to do some self-searching, if you know what I mean." He cursed to himself. Never before in his entire existence had Klaus felt this nervous and it was, of all things, because of a girl. "I just figured I would let you know," he finished quietly, looking down at his feet, leaving off the 'how I feel' part.

"Well, I guess I'm glad that you forgive me. I have to go now. I'll… see you around," Caroline said awkwardly.

Klaus looked, once again, looked defeated and lifted his eyes to watch her. She was nearly to the door when he spoke again.

"Caroline. Wait…please." To his delight, she stopped. Then she turned around. But, unfortunately, Klaus still couldn't make the words come out.

Caroline looked at him, waiting expectantly. But nothing came. "Yes?" she asked, hoping it would prompt him. She waited a few more seconds until he muttered a question.

"Do you trust me?"

"Excuse me?"

"Do you trust me? Can you trust me?"

Caroline walked back into her room and sat on the bed. "Um," she said, thinking about it.

"You can answer it honestly. I like your honesty, sweetheart."

"Then, no. I don't trust you and I can't trust you. You've done too much harm here, Klaus. You've hurt too many of the people I care about."

"But I've also saved some. I saved Damon and I saved you."

Caroline sat quietly, thinking about her response carefully. "Yes, but, two good deeds aren't enough to redeem you from a lifetime of wickedness!"

"Then what can?"

"I don't know! Stop being evil?"

"All I wanted was to keep my family safe. I don't see that as 'being evil'." Caroline looked up at him and she had bite back her short response. She could see his profile and she had never seen someone so dangerous look so dejected. Her heart went out to him even though she knew it shouldn't. He was her enemy and you were not supposed to feel bad for your enemies.

"Well, you've done some pretty awful things. But if you forgave me I guess I can make you a deal," she said. "If you can start being this Klaus, the one who is in touch with his humanity, I can maybe start to trust you. I don't want to get your hopes up so as soon as you turn around and do something atrocious, it's over. But as long as you're on good behavior then I think I can work on some trust. Deal?" she asked, standing up and stretching her hand towards the Original.

He looked at her with surprise but took her hand. "Deal," he said with a slight smile.

Caroline smiled and nodded at him before she turned to leave. There were a thousand different thoughts running through her head, like, 'I can't believe I made a deal with the devil' and 'What will Elena think?' and 'Damon is going to kill me.' But not once did she think about what would happen if Klaus kept his end of the bargain.

And as Klaus watched her leave, with a wry smile on his face, he knew that was exactly what he intended to do.