A/n: Here you go, not as fastas I wanted, but at least I didn't make y'all wait forever. Thanks to all of you who added me on your alert list and reviewed! Special thanks to LaLaALa521 for my first review on this fic! Here we go...

Back Again

Chapter Two: An Interesting Meeting

Caroline's breathing quickened as she followed Klaus into his beautifully, renovated mansion. Besides that fact that she was meekly following a sexy-killer original, the fact that everywhere she looked, she saw an intimidating display of wealth and power made her even more uncomfortable. When she caught a faint smile on the corner of his mouth, she realized that he could hear her erratic breathing and took a couple deep breaths in an attempted to slow it down. She would have blushed if she could. Damn vampire! She thought to herself. I've been back for just one day, and I'm already getting myself back into these screwed up situations! In an attempt to break the slightly awkward silence that was becoming more awkward by the second, she decided to be polite and ask him, "What have you been up to lately, Klaus?"

"Oh, this and that." Was his cryptic reply.

"Such as…"

"Well, as you can see, I still live here. Rebekah lives here with me, and the two of us have started up a bit of a business together. I have also taken over as head of the Founders Council, as I believe that I am the best qualified person around for the position, so I've kept myself busy". Klaus delivered his short speech in a lazy manor, apparently deciding to grace her with a real answer that time.

"That's… interesting," Caroline answered, for lack of a better adjective. "It must be nice to have your sister stay with you, even after everything that has happened. What is the nature of the business you two started up?"

"Oh, that doesn't really concern you." Back to being cryptic.

"I see." Was her short response. If he wasn't going to make any effort at small talk, then there was no point for her to. The faster they got this over with, the faster she could leave. When the two reached the living room, Klaus gestured for Caroline to sit on one of the leather couches, and poured Caroline a drink from a decanter filled with red liquid that was sitting on an ornate side table among a large collection of other bottles. Blood. She could smell it from across the room, and it made the dry feeling in her throat flare up again, making it feel as if it were burning.

"Here you go, my dear," Klaus said, handing her a glass, and holding up his own. "We might was well have a toast to your return, shall we?"

Caroline clinked her glass with his, and muttered "Cheers" in response, yet she was already starting to wonder if her return was really something toastable. She had been back in town for one night, was already in the presence of an original vampire, and had yet to see her friends. Being around Klaus was making her feel uncomfortable. Not only had they had many mishaps in the past, but he the way he fit in with his rich surroundings, and the way his clothes fit his muscular body was starting to get to her. As an extremely attractive blonde, she had plenty of men come up to her when she went out with her friends, yet she hadn't really gone on any dates or anything. It was just too weird to date someone with the knowledge that she'd stay young forever and these men would continue to age, the thought made it too depressing to think about getting close with any of them. It was disconcerting to be around a man again who was in the same boat as her, immortal.

When she took a sip she tasted a hint of something else mixed in with the blood.

"Whiskey, nice touch," she said aloud. Finally pulling herself out of her thoughts and glancing up to make eye contact with the man sitting on the couch across from her, Caroline noticed that he was already staring at her with a curious expression on his chiseled face. She would have called it calculated interest if she didn't know any better.

Klaus caught her eye, and quickly looked away, "Thanks Caroline, it a personal favorite of mine; However, Rebekah prefers the brandy." He responded, and the look on his face was replaced with one of disinterest. Not knowing what to say next and tired of the polite and stilted conversation, Caroline set her now-empty glass on the table, and prepared to stand up to leave.

"Thanks for the-" she began, when her attempted goodbye was interrupted by the slam of the front door, clicking sound of stiletto heels on marble, and the call of,

"Brother, where are you? I just left my meeting with the Mayor, and we have something to discuss" from across the foyer.

"I'm in the living room, Rebekah, and we have a guest," Klaus responded, as he stood up. Rebekah entered the room, wearing one of her typical killer outfits, with an upset and startled expression on her normally calm and collected face.

"Oh, it's you." Rebekah commented when her eyes settled on Caroline where she sat, not knowing if she should take this interruption as her chance to leave, or if the news that Rebekah was something worth sticking around the Mikaelson house a bit longer to hear. "I was wondering if you would ever come back."

Caroline was a little surprised that she had ever even crossed Rebekah's mind once she had left town, but decided to settle with a simple, "It's nice to see you again too", rather than comment on it.

Apparently deciding that he was tired of being left out of the conversation, Klaus broke back in, and brought it back to the subject at hand, he asked Rebekah, "So, what was it that you needed to discuss?"

"It's Damon, Alaric, and their little field trip," she answered, her tone becoming chillingly serious. "It seems as if their research subject didn't like what they were doing, and has followed them home… To Mystic Falls"

Caroline turned to Klaus, hoping that he'd give her a hint as to what they were talking about. It was so annoying to be left out of the loop. Wow, I must have missed a lot while I was gone, she thought. When her eyes fell on Klaus' face though, she was not calmed or reassured. She was scared, because the look on his face was one of worry.

A/N: I know I've been a bit slow to get into the action, but with the next chapter, things are really going to pick up. As always, reviews are welcome and appreciated!