Hello! I'm going to keep this note short and sweet. I promised myself I wouldn't update this story again until it was entirely finished. My reasons are: I suck at updating regularly, school is kicking my ass, and the character plots for this story are constantly changing in my mind so it's hard to put them down to paper when I'm not 100% sure if I like the idea.

But oh my goodness I can't hold to my promise when I keep getting PMs asking me to update. And the reviews…you guys are so wonderful. Thank you for loving this story so much. Every day I'm notified that it's been favorited and followed and I smile every time.

I know this story now has expectations since it's been frozen for so long. I still haven't finished it and I can't promise epicness. But I can promise I will never abandon it or any of my other stories for that matter. Thank you for remaining a fan and for not giving up on me.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything pertaining to TVD or the OGs.

Klaus was still replaying their eventful shower long after he scooped her up and carried her to his bed. The sound of her voice purring his name in his ear or her groans that were muffled from the stream of water were still echoing in his mind and he swore he would never grow tired of hearing her sound like that. He could still feel her legs wrapped tightly around him and how her nails sunk into his shoulder blades as he lost himself in her, as he took everything she could give him until he fell over the edge.

Still, even their recent lovemaking wasn't enough to distract him from what he feared most. He hated it. Despised it more. Wanting her in his life came with a consequence - the fear of losing her - and no matter how tightly he held onto her deep down he knew it wasn't enough.

He'd spent a great deal of time thinking about Caroline the first time he left for New Orleans. Their first kiss she granted him made him ache for her in a way he had never experienced. It wasn't a sexual need but for a long time he couldn't deduce what it was he was experiencing. It was only when he returned to Mystic Falls and found out that she was human again did he at last understand why he was drawn to her. It was simple really. Caroline was his indeed his humanity. Just something about her made his life full and worth living for.

Whether she did it purposely or not, she had the innate ability to steady him. Granted he was the finest scheme artist, apart from when he was plotting, his life was without a doubt unrelentingly eventful and not in the most enjoyable sense. However, now she was an anchor to a life that he promised. True he had seen all the beauty the world had to offer but not without ever having to look over his shoulder or having to constantly plan ahead. Not only was Caroline being promised to see the world but that promise was for himself as well.

The one thing that was playing against them was their difference in age. Compared to him she was so incredibly young and every day they were together he was reminded of that sole fact. Caroline was in a sense wise but that characteristic could only be applied to her human age. Her vampire age that mirrored that of a toddler's was something that was at the forefront of his mind. She hardly knew anything of the supernatural world because even with all the drama she endured in Mystic Falls, it was still only a taste of the chaos a supernatural creature could invoke.

The war he was currently engaged in, at least for now, was a sort of political and almost psychological warfare. It was about the art of deceit. Poker playing in its most physical form because he still didn't know the cards Marcel could play. He let out a tired breath when he realized how consuming his thoughts had become.

Turning to his side, his eyes landed on his girl. He watched Caroline sleep quite often, he mused. She always looked peaceful and at ease when she slumbered and he knew it was because she felt safe with him. He took pride in that fact. His experiences that spanned over one thousand years proved to him that finding peace is impossible for any kind of person unless they had absolutely nothing to worry about. It was exactly what he wanted for her – not just to make her feel safe but to make sure that she actually was.

He knew, however, that maintaining her safety was about to get increasingly difficult since she enrolled in college and now, in just a couple of hours, they were going to go to Marcel's club which he knew was filled with all his followers. Part of him reveled in the fact that tonight everyone would know that she was his but another part of him didn't like the idea of exposing her in such a way.

:

"You really do look good in a suit, Elijah, I'll give you that, but this is a good look for you too," Valentina complimented as she stood by his doorway.

The Original fiddled with the shirt button on his wrist before he glanced at her through the mirror he was facing. "Despite what many believe, I do not a wear a suit for every occasion."

"I see that," she responded as her heels clicked into his room. "To be honest I didn't think you would be coming out with us tonight."

He moved his attention to his other wrist button. "I'm not surprised. In all the years you've known my family, especially my brother Kol, you never took the time to get to know me."

"Well maybe you intimidated me," she smiled, taking a seat on the edge of his bed.

"I found that hard to believe. You had the attention of both of my brothers. Kol was in love with you but you did spend a great deal of your time with Niklaus. And it's safe to say that he is the most feared."

"Your brother,…Klaus, he forced me to spend time with him. I was a game to him."

"I know."

:

Caroline stirred in her sleep when she felt tender kisses being laid onto her stomach. "Wake up, sweetheart." She refused to open her eyes but couldn't fall back asleep because Klaus was now slowly dancing his fingertips along the side of her naked body and his lips were now brushing across her collarbone. "Caroline." She could hear the smile in his voice which in turn made her own lips curve. "I know you're awake, Caroline," he whispered in her ear.

"So?" she answered groggily.

"Open your eyes, love."

Caroline slowly peeled her eyes opened and was met by his deeper blues. The scent of bodywash and sex still lingered between them and the memory made her feel like blushing. His hand came up and framed her cheek, brushing his thumb across her skin like she was the most tender thing in the world.

"Some day, if you let me, I'm going to paint you like this," he told her.

She raised her eyebrows and pursed her lips to keep from giggling. "Like what, naked?"

He chuckled deeply. "Your body is extravagant Caroline. To be honest I would enjoy painting you in any form but like this," he pressed his hand firmly to her side and slid it down until he caught her knee, "Like this it means you're mine. That you would allow me to capture your beauty whilst you're so exposed to me," he bent her knee up and gently bit it with blunt teeth, making her insides clench, "Do you know what you do to me?"

She gulped, suddenly her mouth went dry and she shook her head at him. "No. But I know what you do to me."

"What do I do to you, Caroline?" he asked huskily, but unable to keep the vulnerability from seeping into voice.

Lazily she flipped them and was now straddling him. Their eyes locked as his hands settled on her hips and placed her palms on his sculpted stomach. The room was silent except for their breathing and they continued to gaze at each other.

There was no lust in her eyes, nor in his. It was just a moment they were sharing, one of complete comfort and ease, and their nakedness only contributed to their absolute trust in one another.

After a while Caroline began to trace the muscles of his stomach, his chest, his arms, and it wasn't foreplay. She wasn't trying to entice him or be sensual. In fact her touches, he observed, were quite innocent, as if she was just taking the time to appreciate all that he was.

Klaus didn't dare move his hands but instead kept them lightly resting on her thighs. He was memorized at the moment and all he could do was try to keep his breathing steady.

After a while she finally looked into his eyes again and broke the silence. "You make me feel…euphoric."

"Euphoric." He said it like he was tasting the word.

"Yeah." She smiled and leaned down, putting her hands into the pillow above him. "Dreamy," she kissed his lips, "like I could fly, "she kissed him again but with more pressure, "turned-on," she smirked when he raised his eyebrows and smiled, "and mad and crazy," she playfully bit out and then she kissed him hard and deep because he parted his lips for her and then he groaned when her tongue dipped eagerly into his mouth. The kiss only lasted a few seconds because she pulled away and slid just a little down his body. She kissed his chest, nuzzled her nose into his skin and then laid down, her cheek now pressed against him with her eyes closed. "Joyful," she ended with a contented smile on her face.

"Euphoric," he said again but this time with a wide grin on his face. Yes, he thought, she, too, made him feel euphoric.

:

Klaus sat on her bed, already clad again in black denim and leather, while a lingerie-wearing Caroline moved about her room. She had taken her time doing her hair and makeup and he, in return, had been waiting patiently. He took the liberty to watch her while he idly sketched in his pad.

His current drawing was long forgotten though when he looked up and he saw what she had chosen to wear. It was different than what he expected. Truthfully he expected to wear – well he wasn't quite sure what he'd been expecting but it was certainly not the outfit she was in now. Her black low-cut halter top just added to the sex appeal that was already screaming from her tight red leather pants to her black pumps.

"You look different," he stated. His eyes continued to roam over her body taking in her new look.

Caroline looked up at him and frowned. "You don't like it?"

"Is there nothing in your closet I gave you to your liking?" he asked as he stood up and walked over to her.

"No it's not that. You don't like it, do you?" she asked again.

He ran a finger down her bare arm. "Sweetheart, I love it," he told her truthfully, "but I'd love you in anything."

She turned and faced the floor-length mirror that was in the corner. She fluffed her hair and glanced at him before returning her eyes to the mirror. "It's just for this occasion. I'm not a biker chick."

He barked laughter and then kissed her hair. "I know that, Caroline."

"Good. Because I know you and almost all the vampires around here wear black and leather every day but that's just not me. I like colors," she declared firmly.

"I know you do, which is why your closet closely resembles a rainbow," he teased. He smiled at her giggle and they both made their way downstairs where Elijah, Valentina, and Sophie were waiting.

"Wow Elijah, I didn't know you owned anything other than a suite." Caroline joked as she took in the elder Original.

"Have you ever been to a club, Ms. Forbes?" Elijah smiled already knowing the answer because of her age.

Caroline pursed her lips. "No. Closest I've been to clubbing was hanging out at a bonfire." Klaus squeezed her hand, finally able to take Elijah's jabs at his girl.

"Well this isn't just any club. My sister, Jane-Anne, whenever she had a chance to talk to me about Marcel, she said that the club was a trap for humans and a trick for any new supernatural visitors."

"A trick," Klaus urged.

"Marcel somehow has the power of compulsion," the witch stated.

"Only an Original has that power to compel other vampires," Valentina said and then glanced at Klaus, "and witches don't have that kind of mind control. So want to think about what you just said?" she finished sarcastically.

Sophie glared at Valentina. "Listen, I only know what my sister told me. You think I'd wander into that club unprepared? I don't want to risk being the next pregnant witch by Marcel but the only reason why I agreed to go is because the honorable Original," she pointed at the elder Mikaelson, "has pledged to protect me."

"Oh hush," Klaus rolled his eyes and waved his hand in the air. "You can trust Elijah to keep his promise."

"Expression," Caroline whispered from where she stood in the corner of the foyer.

"What?" they each asked confused, save for Klaus who was smiling at her. He already came to the same conclusion be he delighted in witnessing Caroline's mind churn.

She blinked a few times and shook her head. "Of course! Marcel has to be practicing Expression."

Sophie looked perplexed so Elijah supplied, "Expression is a manifestation of a witch's will. It is apparently limitless in its power."

"I know what it is." She crossed her arms. "What I don't understand is that in order to tap into Expression, there has to be a sacrifice of twelve humans. Marcel has been a vampire for centuries. I'm sure he's killed more than twelve normal human beings."

"Well maybe it had to be twelve of something more powerful because he's half vampire. Maybe," Caroline chimed, "he killed twelve witches."

"And maybe the lochness monster is real," Valentina supplied with a laugh.

"Oh I'm sorry, I missed the part where you were trying to help," Caroline shot back. Ugh, what a bitch. And a few hours ago I felt sorry for her!

"Ladies, please," Elijah spoke calmly.

"Actually what Caroline is saying makes sense." Sophie nodded. "Our ancestors passed on stories to us, one of them being about a coven being completely wiped out by a vampire. Normally when a witch dies they cross over to the other side and we can tap into their power or at least feel their presence when we do magic. But this coven that was killed, we've never been able to communicate with them. It's almost as if their magic was stolen."

"And I bet that coven was a group of twelve witches." Caroline smiled triumphantly.

"I don't know. I have to check in our grimoires but I wouldn't doubt it," Sophie replied.

"I already have," Klaus finally spoke. "The Rieu Coven had only twelve members at the time of their demise." He smirked at Caroline but rubbed his thumb against her palm tenderly. "Well done, love."

Caroline beamed at his appraisal.

:

The drive was quiet and Klaus noticed the serious look his beloved was now wearing. "What is it, Caroline?" he openly asked because Elijah and the others had decided to take a separate car.

She lifted her hand revealing the onyx heart ring on her finger and she fiddled with it. "We need to get a story straight so we won't tell Marcel different things."

He sighed and nodded. He had planned on talking about this with her. He pushed the button that prompted the privacy glass between the driver and them to shut. Their fake engagement wasn't something they had discussed in a while because he was aware how it made her feel. Still, he knew she was right. The longer they lived in New Orleans, the more people heard of their engagement and they needed to play the part.

He reached into his pocket and presented a small velvet box to her. He looked at her seriously. "Open it."

Caroline held his gaze for a moment before she took the box from his hand. Opening it she gasped. "Klaus," she whispered. She shook her head but still hadn't looked at him. "It's too much."

He frowned. "No." He took the ring out of the box and took her hand in his. "It's fitting for a queen."

Indeed the ring was. Her former one was a simple onyx heart shaped ring, something that wasn't normally to her taste but it had grown on her. The new ring was overwhelming in size. It dazzled her. The large cushion cut diamond sat on a crown that seemed to blossom from the rest of the small diamonds that covered half of the white gold band. It shimmered with the slightest movement, prompting any woman to become jealous at the slightest glance.

"You deserve the best, Caroline."

She let out a long breath and looked at him. He was watching her with wide eyes. He looked nervous.

"How long have we been engaged?" she started.

"Nearly a year."

She frowned at how far from the truth it was. A year ago she was with Tyler. "How did you propose?"

"Privately."

"Why did we decide to stay and make plans for the wedding to happen here?"

Klaus rested his hand against his mouth as he looked out the window. The topic was harder to discuss than he anticipated because he wanted it all to be true. "Because you fell in love with New Orleans' culture and the overall look."

"I don't think I'd want to get married here," she said to herself, not realizing she spoke out loud. She used to think of her wedding all the time but becoming a vampire, Klaus entering her life, and just the overall darkness that New Orleans presented all attributed to why she gave up on her wedding dreams.

"When this is all over we can get married anywhere you choose."

She looked over and found his eyes piercing into hers, a wanting in them that stripped her to her very core. "Klaus…"

He took her hand in his. "I know that Tyler was your first love, Caroline, but I fully intend on being your last. I've lived long enough to know when something, when someone, is meant to be mine." He cradled her hand in both of his and kissed her fingers. "You'll be happy with me, Caroline. I promise."

She only nodded and he could tell she was still frightened by the idea of marrying him. He knew he was asking a lot from her. He knew his reputation.

Warning bells seemed to be going off in her head but as soon she looked into his eyes all her worries were pushed aside. He always seemed to calm her even when deep down they were both crazy for wanting to be with each other. Not knowing how else to respond she slid over to him and kissed him slowly. Her hands curled at the nape of his neck, fingers buried into his hair as he kissed her back. He groaned as he continued to taste her, wrapping his arm around her pulling her roughly onto his lap.

"You'll be happy with me," he rasped through his kisses. "Do you believe me, Caroline? Can you see yourself becoming truly mine until eternity's end?"

Caroline could hardly breathe as Klaus nipped at her neck a little desperately. He shoved his fingers in the mass of her hair and covered her mouth again with his.

He felt her hands come up and push against his chest. He parted from her lips and her head rolled forward, leaning on his shoulder as she tried to gather her wits.

Kissing her hair he cradled her into his side. "You haven't fed."

"No," Caroline admitted quietly. "I mean yes, I had a bloodbag before we left." After a beat she added, "And I had a bit of vervain just in case."

Klaus nodded against her in approval. He stroked her hair and kissed her temple. "You really should feed from the vein once in a while, sweetheart. It'll make you stronger."

Caroline sighed against his chest and held up her hand to look at her ring again. "It really is beautiful," she said, ignoring his last comment.

"It's beautiful because you're wearing it, love."

**I hope this chapter was somewhat satisfying. Marcel's club is coming up next.

Reviews are always appreciated and thanks again for not giving up on me. :]