Thanks to my regulars, I'm happy you like the story so far. Please keep the reviews coming because I love your feedback.

Work has gotten very crazy for me in the past week and will no doubt just get busier but I'll try and update as often as I can.

Keeping Up Appearances

Chapter 17: Auld Lang Syne

31 December 2014 10:17pm: New York City, New York

"Katherine you can't leave me here by myself." Caroline hissed trying to stop her from leaving the party.

"Oh yes I can. I have to deal with him at work because I have no choice but not during my spare time." She huffed sending him her best dirty look.

"If you haven't noticed this place is pretty big and there's a lot of people here, can't you just stay on the other side of the room?"

"An ocean wouldn't be wide enough Caroline."

"Do you think you're maybe being a little, I don't know, dramatic." She rolled her eyes; Katherine was a drama queen so this little display was hardly a surprise.

She was still shocked that the guy tormenting her at work had turned out to be Klaus' brother. She'd been surprised Katherine hadn't put two and two together and worked that out by now but she claimed all the stress at work had blindsided her to the fact.

It wasn't like Katherine to let anyone get to her although looking at what a fine specimen Elijah was Caroline wasn't surprised. Looks certainly ran in the Mikaeslon family.

She watched as Klaus chatted away animatedly with his brothers trying not stare he looked that handsome in his blue shirt, it certainly brought out his eyes. When she'd laid eyes on him again earlier Caroline was surprised at how much she'd missed him, even though they'd only been apart about five days.

As he watched her approach Caroline was struggling to control the urges pulsing through her body. Bonnie and Katherine had both commented on his assets making it difficult for her to control her composure.

"You don't know what I have to put up with from him." She groaned. "He is so arrogant; he constantly belittles me and treats me like I know nothing."

"Well he is related to Klaus so the arrogance thing makes sense."

"Exactly."

"I have to say he's more gorgeous than I imagined." Caroline looked over watching him chatting with his brothers. The man could wear a suit that much was obvious.

"Caroline you are not helping, and would you quit being so obvious?" She said turning her away from them and giving her a stern look.

"You've made it quite clear you don't like the guy, I'm not sure it's me that's being obvious Kat."

"I was completely fine with him."

"Oh you couldn't hide your disdain." She spluttered. "As soon as you saw him you raced over here in a fit and have been bitching to me ever since."

"I did not race."

"Yes you did, I think if he wasn't sure of your feelings towards him he certainly knows now." She teased. "Is he really that bad?"

"Yes he's really that bad. He's representing my client's wife Lucinda Chase. She's nothing but a money hungry, ladder climbing socialite who's trying to milk him for everything and she's never worked a day in her life."

"And your client is completely innocent right?" Elijah emerged obviously overhearing their conversation. She jumped frightened by the interruption. "You forgot the part about his extra marital affair."

"They were separated at the time."

"That's debatable Miss Pierce and you know it." He said dismissively.

"Well go ahead and try to prove that, I dare you Mr Mikaelson." He smirked in her direction making Katherine bristle even more. Caroline had to give it to him; he certainly knew how to annoy her.

"More than happy to prove it, there's nothing I love more than a challenge." They were looking at each other their eyes locked. Caroline swore she could cut the sexual tension with a knife.

"So um Elijah is it? I'm Caroline." She interrupted trying to ease the tension and sending him her best smile.

"The famous Caroline." He said finally looking at her and smiling. "I've heard all about you."

"All good I hope?"

"Of course, although I'm not sure what you could possibly see in my brother." He laughed.

"I never said I saw anything."

"Now you I am going to like."

"So this is what happens when I'm not around to defend myself?" Klaus baulked.

"Yep." Caroline smiled. "Go away so we can keep talking about you."

"That's the exact reason I'm staying,"

"I swear if you hadn't come over Elijah was this close to revealing your most embarrassing childhood memory, I'm sure of it."

"He better not, that's all I'm going to say." Klaus warned his sibling. "I have a few stories of my own about Elijah."

"How about we leave the childhood stories exactly where they should stay." Elijah said awkwardly realising he didn't want Klaus sharing anything.

"Oh come on, this is suddenly getting very interesting." Katherine remarked looking between the two. "I love a good story."

"Well you're not going to hear anything Miss Pierce." Suddenly there was silence as things became awkward again.

"So how do you think Kol is doing?" Klaus asked quickly changing the subject. They all looked over watching him and Bonnie inspecting some of Jen's artwork.

"Well unless he's got a really good eye for art it's not looking good for him." Katherine deduced.

"That seems quite superficial." Elijah said eyeing her seriously.

"It's not superficial at all." She muttered. "Common interests are important."

"Oh you mean like work?" He asked cocking his left eyebrow.

"No that's like a conflict of interest more than anything." She shot back. Caroline didn't know what to say at this point given how frosty the atmosphere had become and she wasn't talking about the temperature.

She looked at Klaus who smiled back. He seemed to be enjoying the situation for some strange reason.

"Well they seem to be talking about something." Klaus observed watching them chatting animatedly. "If there's something Kol is good at it's a lot of conversation."

"I'd hardly call his pathetic attempts to chat people up good conversation Klaus." Lexi said approaching the group.

"You're just jealous because he's not chatting you up as usual." Klaus replied.

"Oh p-uhl-lease." She groaned. "I think there's more than enough prospective mates here to keep me company."

"Now that sounds promising." Katherine smiled. "Maybe we should mingle Lexi."

"You don't have to ask me twice." She grinned and they walked off together. Caroline noticed Elijah watching Katherine intently.

"There doesn't seem to be any potential mates here." He muttered his eyes still firmly trained on the brunette.

"Well I'm not sure you're the best judge of that Elijah." Klaus teased.

"I'm going to get a drink." He mumbled walking off. Caroline noticed it was the exact same direction as Katherine. For two people that supposedly hated each other there was a hell of a spark between them.

"So what a coincidence hey?" Klaus said reading her thoughts.

"You're telling me, and here I thought New York was big."

"Obviously not. So uh how's the schmoozing going?"

"Oh come on I don't need to schmooze." He argued.

"Ah everyone needs to schmooze Klaus." She replied.

"Fair enough." He conceded. "It seems to be going okay, although I have to say I'm missing my partner in crime. She's been too busy with her friends." She smiled at his affectionate reference to her.

"I've been busy trying to keep your brother and my best friend from having an all-out brawl in front of your CEO and his wife."

"Always looking out for me aren't you love?"

"Isn't that my job?" She smirked.

"Yes it is." He grinned. Caroline was trying her hardest not to succumb to his charms but she was finding it increasingly difficult, especially when he looked at her that way.

Ever since he'd called her three days earlier she'd struggled to think about anything else but him. When they parted ways she's resigned herself to the fact that they'd never see each other again and Caroline had to admit it was playing with her emotions.

She liked him, that much she knew, but how to go about finding out his feelings was going to be tough. He didn't give much away and she hoped it wasn't just an act and that he reciprocated her growing feelings.

"How are the lovebirds?" Jen cooed putting her arms around their shoulders. "Getting ready for that midnight kiss?" Caroline looked down thinking if that was the case, twelve am couldn't come soon enough.

"You know us too well." Klaus laughed awkwardly.

"I'm actually going to steal Caroline away if that's okay?" She asked. "Ben was looking for you anyway, wants to introduce you to someone and probably talk about boring work."

"Well I'll leave you to it." Klaus smiled warmly. "But you're all mine at midnight." He winked at her cheekily and walked away, Caroline immediately felt her insides turn to mush. She really needed to calm down.

"You've got yourself a good man there Caroline." She grinned.

"Yes I do." Caroline murmured wishing she did actually have him. "So the party seems to be going well?"

"It does, I'm glad because it was all such short notice."

"Well I think you'd have a career in party planning if you weren't already a photographer."

"It's just a hobby I like to have on the side." She said modestly. "So Bonnie is fantastic."

"Well yes she is, but I'm biased."

"We're going to catch up after our trip so she can show me some of her work." Caroline smiled thinking how great this arrangement had turned out for Bonnie, Katherine she wasn't too sure about.

"That's great Jen, this is like a dream come true for her."

"Well I wouldn't go that far." She replied. "So about the real reason I wanted to talk to you…." Caroline thought that sounded ominous.

"Ben said he asked you guys to come to Vail with us."

"Yes he did." She said awkwardly knowing where this was going.

"I know Klaus said he was busy but I really wanted to try and persuade you to come along, even just for a few days." She pleaded.

"Surely you guys just want to have some family time." She said stalling for an answer.

"We'll have a whole month together, usually about half way through the kids are at each other's throats and Ben starts mysteriously disappearing to his study and doing work when he should be on holidays."

"Sounds like Klaus." Caroline said for added effect not really knowing if it was true. It seemed like something he'd do anyway.

"Plus it's nice to have another woman around to gossip and go shopping with." She smiled. Caroline was torn she knew she wanted to go if it meant more time with Klaus. She also really liked the Taylors and knew it would be fun.

Her sensible side was telling her to make up an excuse because she had no idea what Klaus wanted to do and she didn't feel right lying to the Taylors. She was completely torn until Jen continued.

"Actually if you must know Ben really wants Klaus there so he can get to know him better out of the workplace if you know what I mean." She said and Caroline knew that was code for him sizing Klaus up to be his possible replacement. Right then and there she knew what to do.

"Of course we'll come; I mean who could turn down shopping, skiing and gossip?"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"So why don't you like this one exactly?" Bonnie asked Kol as they looked at the picture mounted on the wall.

"There's a certain sadness about it I guess." He said squinting his eyes at the picture trying to understand its meaning.

"But everybody loves a clown." Bonnie said looking at him then back at the artwork depicting a graffiti clown with blue hair and a particularly contemplative expression.

"Not a clown that seems to be in such a melancholic state. Banksy's art work is usually political not sad."

"You know who Banksy is?" She asked a shocked expression crossing her face.

"Yes I know who Banksy is Bonnie. You know the famous British street artist." He replied deadpan. "This is one of a series of clowns that popped up around Brooklyn last year."

"Well I have to say I never expected you to know that."

"Why? You don't even know me." He said smiling at her knowingly.

"You just seemed…."

"What? Handsome, intelligent, not to mention completely charming?"

"You forgot modest in that little spiel." She shot back sarcastically.

"Didn't your mother ever tell you not to judge a book by its cover?" Her face fell briefly, the mention of someone she never really knew still difficult even after all these years.

"No actually." She said sadly then quickly covered something she'd learned to do quite well. "I'm sorry about that."

"That's okay." He smiled broadly. "So why exactly do you think this art is not depressing?"

"Trust me there's much sadder things in life." She said her expression unreadable. "At the end of the day this is just a clown in a bad mood."

"Well I'd be in a bad mood too if I had to wear those clothes and paint my face then entertain all those noisy children." She laughed at his observation.

"Yeah you make a good point."

"I make many of those, and if you got to know me better you'd hear a lot more Bonnie Bennett."

"Well let's not get too ahead of ourselves." She murmured uncomfortably. This was the closest she'd gotten to a real conversation with a guy and it felt so foreign to her. "How about a drink?" She asked as he nodded and gestured to the waiter. "So what exactly do you do with yourself Kol?"

"I'm a stockbroker, and no it isn't as boring as it sounds."

"Was I that obvious?"

"Yes you have this way of scrunching up your nose when you don't like the sound of something."

"I'm not that transparent." She spluttered.

"Now you're blushing so I know I'm right."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"So you seem to be doing all the right things with Jen Taylor." Lexi said coming up to Caroline as the host went off to talk to more of her guests.

"Well I'm trying." She smiled.

"I'm impressed that you're willing to do this for a complete stranger."

"Well he not only made my two timing ex-boyfriend jealous he also managed to break up him and my cousin."

"Klaus always was an overachiever." She joked. "Anyway you seem to be doing just as well by the looks of things."

"I'm glad to see I could do something for both of you I suppose."

"Yes that's very kind of you to help a complete stranger and his assistant." She laughed.

"How long have you worked for Klaus?"

"A few years now." She smiled. "He spilled coffee on me in Starbucks in London and I think we've been arguing ever since."

"Has he always been so…"

"Frustrating, annoying, arrogant?"

"Yes all of the above and so much more." Lexi laughed. "He really is a great guy and just between you and me I've never seen him like this with anyone."

"What does that mean exactly?"

"It means that he usually has a short attention span, well until you."

"Well I'd hardly call a week a long time Lexi."

"Trust me for Klaus it is."

"Well it's all part of the act so it makes sense he's interested." She replied self-consciously. "Although I think I um sort of agreed to a stay around a little longer."

"What does that mean exactly?"

"It means that I may have just agreed to go skiing with the Taylors."

"Oh really?" She grinned. "You're really going the extra mile for him. I'm sure he'll appreciate it."

"Yeah, well I have a feeling this job is within his grasp and I'm happy to help you both." She said dismissively. "As long as it doesn't involve bringing Elijah and Katherine together in the same room again though."

Caroline looked over at them at opposite sides of the room sneaking brief glances at each other when they thought the other wasn't looking.

"Talk about fireworks." Lexi whistled. "You know I think they could solve this problem by doing one thing."

"What?"

"They just need to sleep together and get it out of their system once and for all." Caroline almost choked on her canapé.

"Yeah well I dare you to tell them that."

"I like my life thank you very much." She teased. "Well at least those two seem to be getting along." Lexi gestured towards Bonnie and Kol.

"I have to say I'm surprised." Caroline observed watching her friend's face light up at something Kol said. Bonnie was usually so guarded, especially with guys, and this seemed out of character.

"Kol has some charm it's just buried really deep down." Lexi joked.

"So how about you? Any potential guys here tonight?"

"I don't know I sort of lost interest between the Kalijah feud and the Kennett connection."

"Excuse me?"

"Sorry I have this thing for giving couples nicknames, it makes things that much easier. Just for your information you guys would be Klaroline."

"Well as weird as that is I'd hardly be classing us as a couple."

"You know what they say if it walks like a duck and it talks like a duck…"

"It's a duck." Klaus finished interrupting their conversation. "What is a duck exactly?"

"Nothing, just Lexi's warped sense of humour." Caroline covered rolling her eyes.

"Speaking of funny why don't you tell Klaus about your holiday plans." Lexi grinned mischievously before walking off and leaving them alone.

"What holiday plans?" He asked curiously. It seemed like such a good idea at the time, I mean she was helping him but Caroline knew there was more to it. She just hoped Klaus would buy her story that it was solely about helping him get the job. She looked up noticing he was watching her intently, his blue eyes gazing into hers suddenly she felt dry mouthed and nervous.

"Well Jen asked if we would join them in Vail." She murmured.

"Oh honestly I don't expect you to do that for me." He mumbled. "You've already done so much."

"Well Jen mentioned they wanted to get to know you outside of work which I think is a clear sign they're considering you for the promotion. I couldn't really say no." His face softened.

"You didn't have to Caroline."

"I know I didn't but I'm just that nice Mikaelson, and don't you forget it."

"That really means a lot to me." He said softly his eyes searching hers. She could feel herself blushing his stare was that intense.

"Yeah well I expect something in return." She smiled trying to lighten the situation.

"Oh really and what would that be?"

"I'm still deciding but it will definitely include chocolate of some sort."

"Just chocolate?" He asked cocking his left eyebrow. "You know I have many talents that I'd be willing to share love."

"I'll bet." She snorted.

"Hey I was talking about my skiing skills, I'm not sure where your mind went."

"I'm a perfectly capable skier." She spluttered feeling her blush intensify.

"I guess we'll see about that." He smirked.

"So is there any reason you're hanging around?"

"Well last time I checked we were supposedly a loving couple sweetheart and we have a date at midnight which is fast approaching."

"You wish." She shot back thinking how good a kiss would be right now. "How is your brother doing?"

"Which one?" He asked looking around the room. "Kol seems to be having a great time with Bonnie."

"And Elijah?"

"He and Katherine look like they'd rather be anywhere else right now."

"Between you and me I think things are going to be very interesting when they face each other in court."

"Who needs television shows when you've got your very own court drama?"

"Yeah now that I would pay to see." They suddenly got quiet again the usual awkwardness taking over, she just wished things could be effortless between them.

"10, 9, 8…." They both looked at each other realising the countdown had begun loud and clear.

"7…" Klaus lowered his head his eyes never leaving hers, she inhaled deeply anticipating his touch.

"6…" He placed his hand on her cheek rubbing his thumb in circles over her delicate skin. She closed her eyes the feeling too amazing to stop herself.

"5…" She felt his hand travel across her face, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. Even with her eyes shut she could tell he was studying her still. Caroline was almost too afraid to open them again worrying about the feelings it would stir up.

"4…" Caroline finally dared to open her eyes, his eyes watching her intently as she'd predicted. He snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her flush against him.

"3..." Caroline knew she was a goner but she didn't really care right now. She looped her arms around his neck and rubbed herself against him, hearing him groan, glad she had that effect on him.

"2…" He leaned in nuzzling into her neck his aftershave making her dizzy. It felt like they were the only two people in the room as was the case whenever she was near him.

"1…" They looked at each one more time as cheering began to erupt around the room, not that either of them noticed.

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!" Klaus leaned in the rest of the way hungrily attacking her lips. Caroline moaned against his mouth as the memories of his soft lips and delicious taste came flooding back in every amazing sensation that rippled through her body. Caroline pulled him closer his tongue making her dizzy as it massaged her mouth in long and slow strokes. She could definitely get used to this and so much more.

"Someone needs to get a room." Katherine sing-songed nearby making them break apart guiltily.

"I think that deserves an Oscar for best performance." Lexi added nudging Katherine playfully. "By all means keep going don't let us interrupt."

"Too late for that." Klaus growled at his assistant.

"I think we got the desired response anyway." Caroline murmured as Jen sent them a smile from across the room mouthing Happy New Year as the opening strains of Auld Lang Syne sounded out and everyone began to sing.

"Okay is it just me or is this weird?" Elijah asked over the music.

"Not as weird as that." Katherine said gesturing across the room.

"Fast work little brother." Klaus laughed watching him and Bonnie kissing like there was no tomorrow.

"I feel violated." Lexi groaned.

"Oh I think it's sweet…well kind of." Caroline said surprised by the outcome. Bonnie liked to party and didn't like to be tied down that much she knew but Kol certainly wasn't who she expected.

"Can this night get any stranger?" Elijah said rolling his eyes.