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Keeping Up Appearances

Chapter 6: Home for the Holidays

December 24 2014 6:03pm Chicago, Illinois

"Okay this is going to be fine; there is nothing to worry about because we have our stories straight and…" Caroline babbled as Klaus and Stefan listened on in interest.

"It will be fine as soon as you stop rambling and give the game away Forbes." Stefan said rolling his eyes.

"Don't you have a home to go to Stefan?" She shot back.

"Hey my family and I have been coming here for Christmas Eve for ever, something you seem to have conveniently forgotten."

"Yeah why do we invite you again?"

"Children break it up." Klaus interrupted listening to their exchange.

When he'd heard about Stefan Klaus wasn't so sure what to make of his and Caroline's friendship. After experiencing it first hand for the past hour he was pretty sure it was completely platonic, they were almost like siblings. Something which made Klaus feel better, although he wasn't sure why it upset him in the first place.

"It would probably help if someone rang the doorbell; my hands are kind of full." Klaus said his voice muffled through the pine needles. "You know a little assistance wouldn't go astray."

"We talked about this Klaus; you need to give her the tree so she knows it came from you. Talk about a great first impression."

"I seem to recall being in that dark, cold forest too." Caroline muttered under her breath.

"Well if you want to hold it sweetheart be my guest."

"Enough." Stefan said silencing them both and ringing the doorbell. They waited for what seemed like an eternity to Klaus although it probably had something to do with both the tense situation and the weight of the massive Christmas tree.

"Caroline!" Her grandmother cried opening the door, her face lighting up excitedly. From what he could tell through the pine needles, she looked like a sweet little old lady. Klaus had no idea what Caroline was talking about.

"Merry Christmas." She pulled Caroline in for a big hug. "It's so good to see you darling."

"You've got to watch that one." Stefan murmured to him before joining in. "Nanna!"

"Stefan Salvatore, well aren't you a sight for sore eyes." She said peering at him curiously. "I still can't believe you chose San Francisco over us."

"You know if I had a choice I'd be back in Chicago nanna." He smiled.

"We have a lot of catching up to do it's been so long. I want to hear all about your love life." Nanna said.

"Excellent. "He muttered under his breath knowing her hearing wasn't as good as it had been. "I can't wait Nanna."

"My what a big tree you have there." She said glancing upwards as it dwarfed her, obviously not noticing Klaus. "We already have a tree though dear." Klaus shook his head wondering what he'd gotten himself into.

"Ah nanna, this is Klaus." Caroline said ignoring her last comment.

"What is Klaus?" She asked looking at her granddaughter inquisitively. "Don't tell me you named the tree?"

"No this is Klaus." Stefan said pulling the tree away from him realising his plan hadn't really worked all that well.

"Mrs Forbes." Klaus greeted her, a hint of anxiety in his voice. He'd never done the whole meet the family thing and even though it was fake he still felt nervous.

"Who's Mrs Forbes?" She asked looking at him for the first time. "Is my daughter here?" Klaus realised he'd forgotten to ask what her surname was in the flurry of activity. They weren't off to the best start.

"He means you nanna." Caroline mumbled. "This is my boyfriend Klaus."

"Your boyfriend?" She asked looking him up and down curiously.

"Her boyfriend." Klaus reiterated thinking maybe her hearing was that bad. "It's nice to meet you." He was careful not to use her name given he had no idea what it actually was.

"So can we maybe come inside nanna? It's freezing out here." Caroline said pushing inside Stefan and the giant tree close behind.

"So what kind of a name is Klaus?" Her nanna asked looking at him seriously, standing in the doorway so he couldn't get past.

"It's short for Niklaus." He stuttered not expecting the question.

"Is that your full name?" She asked staring him down menacingly.

"It's uh Niklaus Mikaelson."

"So that posh accent is…?"

"British."

"Date of birth?"

"Um, it's March 17, 1985."

"A Pisces hey?" She asked looking him up and down curiously. "Caroline is a Libra."

"Really?" He asked not quite sure what that meant, Klaus had never believed much in astrology.

"Yes really, it's actually a good pairing." She said. "What do you do?"

"I'm uh in the art industry." He stammered. She looked like such a sweet old lady but this woman was full-on to say the least.

"Don't tell me you paint a few spots on canvas and call it art?" She asked raising one of her grey eyebrows. He had to stop himself from laughing, like grandmother like granddaughter.

"Something like that." He said not brave enough to fight back with her feisty grandmother.

"So I take it you have a visa then to live in the States?"

"Yes."

"Good don't want you using my granddaughter for a green card, you know I've seen movies about that."

"No ma'am." He said deciding he needed to stop the interrogation. "So what's your name then?" She baulked a little surprised by him turning the tables on her questioning.

"Uh it's Audrey, Audrey James."

"So Audrey, how old are you?" He noticed her shock expression thinking that was either going to work in his favour or fall really flat, he was hoping it would be the first.

"I'm sixty-five."

"Sixty-five really?" He asked raising his eyebrows at her.

"Give or take ten years." She said a sly smile returning to her face. "I'm a Scorpio."

"So let me guess Scorpios are direct, opinionated, intimidating…"

"Don't forget extremely loyal." She added. "Especially when it comes to my family, so you hurt Caroline then you'll have me to deal with, understand?"

"Perfectly." He smiled. "Now is there any chance I can come inside before I get frostbite?"

"How about some eggnog?" She smiled standing aside so he could come inside. "I might have spiked it with some rum."

"Doesn't it usually have brandy in it anyway?" He asked curiously.

"Yeah, I thought we needed to spice some things up a bit." She said knowingly. "Plus there's only so much of Caroline's mother I can take at this time of year." She laughed heartily putting Klaus at ease. He was beginning to really like her nanna and for some reason was really looking forward to Christmas.

"Are you okay?" Caroline asked coming over to him, her face deadly serious. "You were out there for a while."

"Yes except for the frostbite." He joked. "Your grandma is great by the way." Her face softened.

"You think?"

"I think." He smiled. "It's okay Caroline, just calm down. Everything is going to be okay."

"You haven't met my mother yet." She muttered as the woman herself entered the room. Klaus took in her blonde hair and blue eyes, not missing the resemblance.

"Merry Christmas mum." Caroline said pulling her mum into an embrace.

"Mmmmm yes Merry Christmas to you too dear." She said patting her on the back quickly. "So did you bring the tree?"

"Uh yes we did." She said pulling back and looking at her mother. "Actually it was Klaus who found you such a good one." She looked over at the tree then him, her eyes boring holes into him.

"That's great honey, but who is Klaus?" She asked sizing him up and Klaus suddenly felt scared.

"I'm um Klaus." He said reaching forward to shake her hand. "It's nice to meet you Mrs Forbes."

"And you are?"

"My boyfriend mum, I told you about him remember?" She said softly.

"I thought his name was Sam or Stuart or something." She said peering at him closely.

"No it's Klaus." She said her voice wobbling slightly as she looked between the two.

"Mrs F you don't look a day over thirty-five." Stefan stepped in obviously trying to ease the tension.

"I've haven't missed that apparent humour Stefan." She drawled enveloping him in a hug. "Although it is good to see you."

Klaus looked on enviously wishing he had the same rapport with Caroline's mother, although given it was all an act he was surprised he cared so much.

Ever since their almost kiss in the woods Klaus had been unnerved. He couldn't deny their chemistry and he was worried that if he stayed around too long there would be consequences. Consequences he wasn't prepared to entertain.

Klaus had to remember they had a clear task, Christmas Eve dinner at the Forbes residence followed by his work dinner the next day. Then they went their separate ways so anything else wasn't important. He just had to keep reminding himself of that.

"So um do you want us to put up the new tree Mrs Forbes?" Klaus asked.

"Oh yes that would be good." She replied turning to look at Caroline. "The guests will be arriving in an hour, so if you can set that up it would be great. Feel free to put your things upstairs."

"Upstairs?" Caroline asked her voice squeaking slightly.

"Yes, don't tell me you forgot where your bedroom is Caroline?"

"Uh yes I know that." She stuttered. "I just thought you'd want us to stay in separate rooms."

"I think you two are adult enough to share a room." Klaus looked up his eyes locking with hers.

"Ah yes of course." She stumbled. Klaus was prepared to act like a couple he just wasn't sure he was ready to share a bed because he didn't think he could trust himself to behave with Caroline so close.

"Well the guests will be here in about an hour so we need to hustle." Her mother said racing off towards the kitchen without a backwards glance. Klaus was a little concerned about her lack of parental concern. Not that he was complaining about escaping the interrogation.

"I'll um show you my room." She murmured leading him up the stairs. He had to look away as her cute backside wiggled mounting the stairs. She really was going to be his undoing; Klaus closed his eyes trying to calm his arousal. This was an arrangement, nothing more, and the sooner he realised that the better.

They walked into the second room on the left, Klaus took in the light blue walls and white furniture. Photos of Caroline and her friends littered the walls, he recognised Stefan and the brunette he figured was Katherine.

"So this is your room."

"It is." She replied looking around. "It brings back so many memories."

"I'll bet it does." He said fingering a photo of her in a crown. "You were in pageants?"

"I was, feels like a lifetime ago now." She grinned looking at another photo from Junior High with her and Katherine making funny faces at the camera.

"I assume that's the Katherine." He smiled.

"The one and only." She sighed and Klaus could tell he missed her.

"I, um, hope you don't mind me sharing with you." He gulped thinking about the long night ahead.

"Oh course not." She said distractedly. "I mean we've spent pretty much the last twenty-four hours together, so I'm sure we can manage it."

"Yeah sure I mean it's just an arrangement."

"Exactly." She agreed quietly. "We can do this, unless you snore of course, because if that's the case I might have to kill you in your sleep."

"No, as long as you don't talk in your sleep because I may have to do the same beforehand." He promised. "So your mum, she seems kind of…"

"Distracted?"

"Yeah, I guess I was expecting some kind of interrogation."

"I was too." She admitted. "We probably shouldn't complain, I mean it's obvious she has other things on her mind."

"Other things I'm extremely glad for." He said gratefully. "So how are you doing?"

"Me?" She asked obviously confused looking at him. "I'm okay."

"I was just curious because you don't seem okay." He shared wondering if he was being too honest given they didn't actually know each other that well.

"Well I'm okay." She shot back. "Let's just get through this next day and everything should be fine."

"As you wish." He said his cell phone starting to ring. He looked at the screen rolling his eyes thinking about the forthcoming phone call. Given it was Christmas Klaus thought it was probably best to answer.

"I'm just going to wash up before dinner." Caroline said leaving so he could have his privacy as Klaus connected the call.

"How are you brother?"

"I was better before Rebekah lied to me about your being at Christmas Eve dinner."

"Hey I had nothing to do with sister dear's plot to get you to dinner." He argued. "Anyway Kol will be there too."

"Something to look forward to then." He muttered. "I'm already on my way so I suppose I should make an appearance."

"Well that's very Christmassy of you Elijah and here I thought you were Scrooge." He teased. "I'm surprised you're not chained to your desk right now."

"I'm not that bad."

"Yes you are that bad." He scoffed. "I love my job but not enough to make it my entire life."

"Really? So besides your job, what else exactly do you have going on in your life Niklaus?" Klaus shook his head wondering how the conversation had led them here.

"I have plenty, at least I go out and have fun every once in a while."

"Yes what's the name of your current distraction? It was a blonde by the name of Camille I seem to recall."

"She was like last month." He drawled surprised his brother's memory was that good. She had been a fun bed mate for about five minutes but was completely boring outside the bedroom and as soon as he could break things off he did.

"Oh so who's in the running for Miss December then?" For some reason Caroline flashed through his mind. Given this was all an act he had no idea why the feisty blonde was plaguing his every thought.

"Ah no one."

"Well I've heard differently."

"Oh really?"

"Yes Rebekah mentioned you were in Chicago with some woman."

"Wow you can barely be in the same room together on a holiday but yet you've managed to have a conversation about my love life."

"Well it's probably one of the more interesting topics Niklaus, you know how Rebekah can go on about most things."

"Look not that it's any of your business but I'm in Chicago for work." He spluttered. "What's with the interrogation?"

"Working at Christmas, interesting, seems like you and I aren't that different at all Niklaus." He drawled. "I hope that you are at least going to have a break tonight." Klaus immediately felt bad. His relationship with his siblings wasn't that bad and he did love them in his own way but they had a tendency to rub each other the wrong way.

"I am actually." He smiled thinking about Caroline yet again. "I hope dinner with Rebekah isn't too bad."

"I'm not holding my breath." He muttered. "Merry Christmas Niklaus."

"Merry Christmas big brother." He disconnected feeling a slight twinge, not familiar with the feeling. Was he actually feeling sad about not being with his family? Surely not. He shook his head realising Caroline and her family were doing strange things to him.

He took one glance in the mirror and checked his appearance then walked out of the room to go and decorate a Christmas Tree. Something he never thought he'd be doing twenty-four hours earlier.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"So what do you want me to do?" Klaus asked curiously looking at Stefan.

"Well this is what we call a Christmas tree and see these baubles over here they are decorations." He smiled sarcastically.

"Anyone ever told you what a comedian you are?" He groaned picking up a silver bauble and placing it on a branch. He had to admit his tree looked pretty impressive, not that he was biased or anything.

"All the time." He joked. "Sorry I think nanna's eggnog is taking effect."

"I'm not surprised given there's rum and brandy in it."

"That would explain it." He giggled. "I needed something to take the edge off given Nanna's grilling about my love life before."

"Yeah that's got to suck."

"Well given I thought I'd be lying on a beach in Cabo right now it does kind of suck."

"You're probably better off without her mate." He said thinking girls were more trouble than they were worth.

"Yep I guess another one bites the dust." He replied taking another sip. "This is really good eggnog Nanna." Stefan clinked glasses with her. Klaus thought he should stay away from the eggnog given the job he had to do tonight.

"Ah Klaus?" A voice called out and he was surprised to see Caroline's mum gesturing to him from the kitchen door. "Can you help me with something please?" Klaus felt his stomach drop, surely this was the interrogation he was waiting for.

"Sure Mrs Forbes." He said giving Stefan a scared look before walking into the kitchen. As he opened the door the delicious smells wafted around him. One thing he was looking forward to was the food unlike the grilling before it.

"So Klaus." She started regarding him curiously. "You're going out with my daughter." She said more like a statement than a question.

"I am." He gulped wondering where this was headed.

"I must say I was surprised she brought you home for Christmas after everything that happened with her last boyfriend." He nodded unsure of what to say. "Do you know about that?"

"I do, Caroline has been very honest and upfront with me about that." He said thinking that much was true.

"So you know how hurt and upset she was then?'

"Yes of course." He said sincerely. "No one deserves to have that happen to them especially such a kind and caring person like Caroline Mrs Forbes."

"You seem to care a lot about my daughter." She noted looking at him closely. "You haven't known each other very long though."

"About five months." He said practicing their story. "What's that saying? Life is not about the number of breaths you take, it's the moments that take your breath away."

"That's a pretty saying." She said. "I hope that you mean it Klaus."

"I do Mrs Forbes."

"Good because I love my daughter very much and the worst thing that can happen as a parent is seeing your daughter absolutely miserable." She said sadly. "The worst part is that I have to have him here for dinner tonight which is only going to open old wounds I suspect."

"I know you are worried and to be honest I'm pretty sure Caroline would have been a few months ago but things have changed for the better." He promised. "She is moving on with her life and I hope that somehow I've had something to do with that."

Klaus felt slightly guilty saying she'd moved on when he wasn't sure she had. All he wanted to do was reassure her mother who seemed very worried about her daughter.

"I know but that boy hurt her so much and I will not see her go through that again." She seemed to be holding back tears and Klaus could sense the protective mother vibe and see the love shining in her eyes.

Suddenly Klaus felt really bad for deceiving her with the whole scenario but it was too late in their plan to back out now. He just hoped she would understand. He smiled at her sweetly.

"I have no intention of hurting your daughter. We may not have known each other that long but she is very special to me Mrs Forbes."

"Please Klaus call me Liz." She smiled holding his gaze before turning her attention to a pot boiling on the stove. "Oh not the green beans!" She ran over to rescue the beans while Klaus watched on thinking how quickly she liked to change the subject.

He took the opportunity to sneak out of the kitchen hoping that meant the interrogation was over, for now at least.

"There you are." Caroline exclaimed. "I've been stuck here with the two drunks." She said gesturing towards Stefan and her nanna.

"Oh leave him alone he's just been dumped." Klaus said defending Stefan, who he'd actually come to like in a short space of time.

"So what's her excuse?" She asked dryly pointing to her nanna.

"Not too sure but you have to admit she's pretty entertaining." He laughed. "If anything is going to ease the tension tonight surely it's your drunk nanna."

"Let's hope. I uh hope my mum wasn't too annoying."

"No." He smiled thinking back to their conversation. "She loves you a lot and is just looking out for you."

"You wouldn't know it seeing as the Christmas demon seems to have possessed her and she's barely said two words to me since I arrived."

"Well that's not the impression I just got." He said. "Look the reason she's acting crazier than usual is that she's worried for you."

"What do you mean worried for me?"

"I mean she's worried about what effect Tyler coming will have on you so I think she's over compensating with all the details for tonight."

"I suppose that makes sense." She conceded. "I probably should go in there and reassure her that I'm not going to break into a million pieces at dinner."

"Yeah that's a good idea." He smiled. "You have a really great family Caroline, it's obvious they care, you're very lucky."

"I know. Although I must say I'm a little disappointed they didn't give you a harder time." She teased poking him in the chest playfully.

"Well they were obviously swayed by my natural charm and personality." He said his smile growing wider.

"I'm sure that was it." She groaned rolling her eyes, about to walk into the kitchen. "Uh Klaus I just want to say thank you for doing this, you don't know how much it means to me." Klaus looked downward scared he might lose himself in her blue eyes if he wasn't too careful. She seemed to have some kind of spell over him he was discovering.

"I think I do." He murmured. "And just so you know I'm more than happy to help." Klaus didn't have to lie because he knew it was true. For some reason he felt happier than he had in a long time.

"Now I better get back to this tree decorating before nanna and Stefan sabotage it." Klaus smiled thinking how secretly excited he was about a Christmas tree.