Aww thanks guys; glad you are still reading even over the holidays. Please keep your comments coming. I'm impressed I got this one out so quickly but some of these chapters just write themselves!
I have to say a very BIG THANKS to the lovely nfinneman who did amazing cover art for this story. It is on her tumblr if you want to see her fine work. I can definitely recommend it!
Hope you are planning on having an amazing New Years Eve.
Anyway onto 2015...
Keeping Up Appearances:
Chapter 18: Sweet Caroline
January 16 2015 New York City, New York: 1:03pm
"So let me get this straight, you're really going to Vail together tomorrow? As a couple?"
"Well that's what usually happens when you are pretending to be in a relationship Elijah."
"You realise how sad that sounds right?"
"Well at least I have sort of a someone, unlike you." He said in frustration. They were in Central Park and Elijah had agreed to play basketball, hoping to improve his fortunes after their last match.
"Again with the sadness." He replied dead pan. "I was hoping you would come to your senses by now Niklaus." He said dribbling the ball. "I mean what how long has it been?"
"24 days, not that I'm counting or anything."
"You haven't seen each other since New Year's Day so I'd hardly say it's been that long Niklaus."
"Well we've both been busy; anyway we've texted and emailed in that time, you know to organise the trip." He spluttered. Klaus clenched his teeth thinking his brother had a point, not that he'd admit that to him or anything. Things between them had been so good and then suddenly it all stopped, something that had frustrated him considerably. He thought back to their last amazing hours together.
January 1 2015 New York City, New York: 1:57am
"Bye mate, thanks for a great night." Klaus said sincerely shaking his hand.
"Thanks for coming, see you two soon. We'll have to make those arrangements for Vail." Klaus smiled thinking just how much he was looking forward to that.
"Yes we will. Thanks again." Caroline smiled as Klaus steered her towards the lift his hand firmly on the small of her back.
"Wow what a night." Caroline exhaled leaning against the back of the lift wall away from his grasp, something that was making him feel slightly empty.
"You're telling me." He yawned tiredly.
"First it turns out your brother and my friend are work enemies and then your other brother and my friend start making out only to disappear shortly after midnight. Talk about fast work."
"Kol doesn't muck around, sorry about him making moves on your friend." Caroline let out a big laugh surprising him.
"I should be saying sorry about Bonnie. Trust me this isn't an uncommon occurrence for her either if you must know. She's sort of a free spirit and doesn't like to be tied down."
"Well Kol too. At least that means they're both on the same page."
"I'll certainly be teasing her about it later." She grinned. "I have a feeling Katherine will still be angry tomorrow."
"Elijah too, they couldn't wait to get away from each other." He said remembering how shortly after Bonnie and Kol's disappearance they had bolted for the door, Katherine with Lexi in tow to go somewhere else for another drink.
"Well all I can say is work is going to be interesting when they meet up again."
"Let's just hope there's no bloodshed, they came close a few times tonight, if you hadn't so responsibly kept them apart."
"Well like I said before it was all part of the job." She smiled and they held each other's gaze for longer than necessary. Here came that damn awkwardness again.
The lift beeped indicating they'd reached the ground floor thankfully and they walked outside the cold air hitting them with force. Caroline shivered and Klaus sub- consciously put his arm around her only to notice the confusion cloud her face before removing it quickly.
"Sorry you get so used to the acting thing it's hard to tell when it stops and real life begins." He winced thinking how horrible the term real life sounded.
"Uh yeah of course." She murmured her face falling slightly. "I guess I should get going."
"Yeah, well at least let me walk you." He said hoping to spend even a little bit more time with her.
"Okay, thanks."
"So skiing in Vail…"
"Yes skiing." She replied. "It should be um interesting."
"Yes interesting." There was that horrible silence again. "Ah you know the night's still young, did you maybe want to go to one of my favourite place in New York, you know if you have no other plans of course?"
"Well if you must know I've got a hot date at 3am." She teased. "Why not, I mean we're already out and it is New Years."
"You won't be disappointed." He promised.
"Well if we are going to your favourite place, how about one of mine as well."
"Okay you've got yourself a deal."
After twenty minutes accompanied by their usual banter they arrived at her favourite place. One he was not completely shocked by.
"Why am I not surprised your favourite place includes food?"
"Hey Joe's is a New York institution and one of the most famous late-night pizza places in the city. I can recommend the meat lover."
"Well I am hungry I suppose."
"You bet your arse you're hungry Mikaelson, as much as people think canapés are trendy they are so not filling."
"Well for you." He said making her whack him.
"Tell me what you really think."
"Oh I will." He smiled. "Your love of food is kind of endearing, most girls can't even finish a simple salad."
"I'll take that as a compliment." She drawled. "Now get ready for the best pizza your British tastebuds have ever tried."
Forty minutes later with their stomachs full they set off for his favourite place, one he was hoping she'd like as much as he did.
"This is your favourite place?" She asked incredulously as they walked down a dark alley. "Should I be worried that you're going to rob me for my Manolos?"
"No just that Prada dress you're wearing."
"I'm impressed someone knows their fashion."
"I'd love to take credit but Lexi actually told me that earlier while she was fawning all over it. I usually stop listening when she's going on about fashion." He replied. "Anyway I don't really want the dress, I just want to see you out of it love."
"Charming." She coughed nervously.
"Don't tell me you haven't imagined what's underneath my clothes before; it's okay to admit you find me immensely attractive."
"Someone has a high opinion of themselves."
"Well I think it's warranted given that blush on your face love, it may be dark but I can still see it clearly."
"Are we there yet?" She groaned obviously trying to change the subject.
"We're almost there." The alleyway eventually ended at a small garden with a few lamps casting light on the surrounding walls which were covered in colourful street art.
"Wow. I never knew this place even existed and I've lived here for a while." She murmured taking it all in. "Who did all of this?"
"A few different people, a lot of them are homeless actually. The City runs a program which provides resources for them to be able to express their talents."
"What a great idea. They are a pretty talented bunch, do you know any of them personally?" She asked running her hand along one of the painted walls.
"Yeah some of them. It's such a great outlet for them and gives them the opportunity to get their work noticed. I was so impressed I actually showed some of my friends in the industry and that has generated some added interest in their work which is good."
"That's a wonderful thing to do."
"Not really." He said humbly. "It's great art so they deserve it, especially with everything else they have to go through on a daily basis. It gives them something to hope for I guess."
"Yeah I can imagine." She murmured looking around. "So you must come here often?"
"Yeah I come here a lot just to think, it clears my head."
"I can see why, it certainly has a peaceful feeling about it. I'm really glad you brought me here." She said sincerely their eyes locking again.
"Well I'm glad you like it." He replied when he could finally find his voice. Caroline Forbes had that affect on him. Klaus had never taken any other girl there and the enormity of that was not lost on him. "Even if it's 4:15am."
"I'm rarely out this late so you're just lucky I agreed mister."
"Now whose got a high opinion of themselves?"
"Well just look at me." She joked.
"Yeah look at you." He murmured trying not to ravage her right then and there, something he'd been struggling with all night.
Unfortunately there was no ravaging and that pesky silence descended upon them again; they stayed there for a while before he dropped her at her front door. Everything in him wanted to kiss her but he knew that wouldn't be right seeing as they were alone and not in acting mode.
The only saving grace he thought as he walked the twelve blocks to his house was they would have time together in Vail and maybe something more could develop.
"Hello Niklaus?" Elijah said waving his hand in front of his face. "As much as I want to win it kind of makes it less triumphant when my opponent is in another world."
"I'm here." He growled grabbing the ball and running for the hoop before missing an easy two pointer. "Anyway I thought you liked Caroline."
"I do like her, in fact I think she's entirely too clever for you brother."
"Tell me what you really think." He muttered intercepting Elijah's shot and grabbing the ball aiming it at the hoop.
"I think you could do a lot worse." He said as he watched the ball sail inside.
"So why is this sad then?"
"Because the sooner you realise she's the best thing to happen to you and actually have a real adult relationship the better brother."
"This is all just an act Elijah, after this trip to Vail we go back to our normal lives." He said dismissively.
"Okay but why don't you seem that excited about the prospect?"
"I'm fine." He shot back. "I think you need to stop transferring your issues onto me."
"I realise this is your not so subtle way of changing the subject but what issues do you supposedly think I have?"
"Okay for someone who apparently isn't fazed by Katherine Pierce you sure can't stop bitching about her." Klaus noticed watching his brother intently. Ever since New Year's she was all he'd spoken about.
"I can't help it; she just makes me so mad Niklaus." He growled.
"Tell me something I don't know."
"The sooner this case is over the better."
"It's not like you to let anyone get to you this much Elijah."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, I've seen you come up against many adversaries in court but none of them have ever had this effect on you."
"She doesn't have any effect on me whatsoever except for being annoying."
"You could have fooled me brother." He said. "Although given how beautiful Katherine is it's hardly surprising she's gotten to you I guess."
"She's okay I suppose." He spluttered his face colouring telling Klaus exactly what he needed to know.
"So when is this highly anticipated court date?"
"Monday. Hopefully it's the last time I ever have to see Miss Katherine Pierce again."
"I just wish I was here to see it." Klaus smiled thinking how he'd be in Vail already with Caroline. "Let's hope you can both play nicely."
"Elijah play nicely? Fat chance." Kol chuckled approaching the court his hands in his pockets to ward off the cold.
"I did say midday right?"
"You did but since when did I ever care about time?" He teased.
"True but this is the fourth time this month you've been late Kol." Klaus observed.
"Yeah, what's going on little brother?" Elijah asked cocking his left eyebrow curiously.
"I've just been busy."
"Busy with what or who should I ask?"
"Yeah Kol what's her name?"
"Uh Bonnie, I thought you both would have known that."
"Bonnie still?" Elijah asked incredulously.
"Yes that's what I said."
"Why is that such a surprise?" Kol baulked.
"Because your conquests don't usually last much more than one night, what's it been now two whole weeks?"
"Yeah isn't she sick of you by now?"
"Funny Elijah." He drawled. "Not that it's any of your business but we are just two consenting adults in a mutually beneficial arrangement."
"Don't tell me you're doing a Klaroline?" Elijah asked.
"A what now?" Klaus asked tearing his eyes away from Kol and back to Elijah.
"Obviously Lexi hasn't told you about her cute little nickname for you and Caroline yet."
"I'm surprised she hasn't given how much that one can talk." Kol said shaking his head.
"Okay ignoring my assistant's strange habits, back to you and Bonnie. What exactly is this mutually beneficial arrangement?"
"Unlike yours Nik this is more of the physical type, you know no strings attached fun." He smirked.
"Too much information for me." Elijah groaned. "When exactly are you going to grow up?"
"Don't blame me because you're not getting any." He shot back sticking out his tongue for extra affect.
"Mature little brother."
"You'd be in a much better mood if you were having intimate relations, you know with a real life size woman Elijah."
"Wow because that's all you need in life." He muttered.
"How about that cute brunette, you know Bonnie's friend. I was sensing some major chemistry there on New Year's Eve."
"Okay let's not go there." Klaus warned trying to stop Elijah from getting worked up all over again about Katherine. "So let me get this straight you and Bonnie are just having sex."
"Great sex."
"Okay again too much information." Elijah groaned.
"Someone's jealous."
"Good try brother, how about I call Rebekah and tell her about this little arrangement. I'm sure she'd be very interested."
"You wouldn't dare."
"Oh I would."
"Children, stop!" Klaus intervened. "Please let's just leave Rebekah out of this; we all know that's just asking for trouble and one big lecture." They all nodded thinking about their interfering sister.
"Thank god she's away for work." Kol said thankfully.
"So this thing with Bonnie is just…"
"Fun and easy, why can't you both get your heads around this? Elijah I can understand but Klaus this was normal to you, well until Caroline."
"What do you mean by that exactly?" He spluttered.
"It means that ever since you met Sweet Caroline, you've been distracted."
"I am not distracted."
"I'd never admit this but in this case Kol is actually right." Elijah conceded.
"No he's not this is nothing but…."
"An arrangement." They replied in unison.
"We've heard this a few times and every time we don't believe you." Elijah said.
"Yeah what's so wrong with admitting you like each other?"
"Oh that's rich coming from the mature guy with the purely sexual arrangement."
"Hey at least Bonnie and I know what we have." He baulked. "You and Caroline are just in denial."
"Wow where did this new found wisdom come from little brother?" Elijah baulked.
"Hey I can be very wise when I want to be." He argued. "Although Bonnie may have enlightened me about a few things."
"What did she say?" Klaus gasped thinking that there may have been advantages to his brother having relations with her friend.
"She thinks Caroline likes you."
"How does she know?"
"I didn't really go into that much detail with her as we were kind of busy."
"Something we don't want you to go into detail about either." Elijah muttered.
"Anyway." He said shooting Elijah a dirty look before continuing. "I assume given they're friends she would know."
"Yeah well I'm not going to believe something someone told you in the throes of passion." Klaus said awkwardly trying to erase the mental image of his little brother.
The truth was he was excited about this revelation but didn't want to get his hopes up in case his Kol was wrong. He also didn't want to show that he cared and give himself away, even if it was just his brothers.
"But you certainly seemed interested for someone who supposedly isn't interested." Elijah commented.
"Oh enough, I thought I was beating you." He growled dribbling the ball away from them.
"Yep the famous Niklaus Mikaelson diversionary tactic." Kol laughed. "Now who's ready to get schooled in basketball?"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"So Kol and Caroline's friend hey?"
"Wow you're all the way over in Los Angeles and already know?" Klaus said shaking his head as he placed the warmest clothes he could find into his suitcase which was perched on the bed.
"Elijah has become quite the gossip lately." Rebekah commented. "I think it was his way of being able to vent about his work nemesis again. She's really done a job on him. I would love to meet her, she seems like my kind of girl."
"You have no idea Katherine is all he talks about, it's like he's obsessed. Lexi thinks they need to do it already and get rid of the sexual tension."
"We're talking about our brother Elijah right?" She asked sarcastically. "Does he even have sex? Actually on second thought don't answer that, I don't need to be imagining that."
"You and me both." He chuckled.
"So what's this Bonnie like?"
"I didn't really get to know her she was too busy making out with Kol."
"And to think I was upset to have missed the New Year's Party." She drawled. "And this is just…"
"Sex, yes apparently. You know how Kol is so this is hardly surprising."
"Yes but usually it only lasts one night with a girl and he's onto the next one. I've never known his attention span to be quite this long. Sounds like someone else I know brother." She said knowingly.
"I wondered how long it would take to get back to my love life."
"Well what happened to this arrangement being over on New Years Niklaus?" She asked. "Now I definitely need to meet her after Vail."
"It will be…"
"Over by then. Seriously can you hear yourself? I've never heard anyone in this much denial."
"You sound just like Kol and Elijah; do you guys get together and discuss my love life?"
"Yes actually we do, I think your little arrangement has actually brought us all closer together."
"Gee glad my love life could reunite the family." He scowled.
"So what's the plan for this ski trip?"
"I think Caroline and I are past planning, we're practically experts by now."
"I didn't mean the act, I meant when are you going to tell her you like her Niklaus?"
"I'm not and no amount of meddling by you and our brothers is going to change that." He shot back. "So how's LA?"
"It's LA." She growled her allegiance to the east coast obvious. "I'm looking forward to getting back next week."
"So what exactly are you doing over there?"
"I'll humour you and pretend you care even though you're just doing that diversionary thing."
"What diversionary thing?" He scoffed knowing exactly what she was saying.
"That one." She groaned. "I'm organising a week long work retreat, including all events and activities."
"Sounds involved."
"Exactly how I like it." She said officiously. "We're actually going to some wineries in Napa Valley over the weekend."
"I wouldn't mind a work retreat like that." He whistled thinking how impressive it sounded. "Do they actually do any work?"
"Some." She said dismissively. "Anyway I'd be more than happy to plan something similar for Christies, all you need to do is ask and pay me a lot of money when you become CEO."
"I think you're getting ahead of yourself Rebekah and even though we have a profitable company there's no way I could justify splashing out on that sort of expense."
"You sound like a CEO already and if this trip to Vail works out like you planned you're on your way to that promotion." She said and he could tell she was raising her eyebrows. "Oh and if you don't introduce me to Caroline, you realise I'll just introduce myself right?"
"You wouldn't dare?"
"I don't think you want to be daring me to do anything, you know how much I love a challenge Niklaus."
"Yeah you're probably right." He said worriedly. "Anyway enjoy your fancy retreat, I'll be thinking of you wine tasting in front of open fires while I'm freezing in the snow."
"Oh I'm sure you could get Caroline to keep you warm." She giggled disconnecting the phone before he could reply.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Klaus paced near the check-in counter at JFK consulting his watch for what seemed like the tenth time. He was suddenly nervous not only about seeing Caroline again and all the feelings returning but the fact she was late. Maybe she'd changed her mind and wasn't coming anymore. He didn't care about keeping up their act, he just really wanted to see her beautiful blue eyes again.
"Sorry!" She cried breaking him out of his trance. He looked up and as usual she didn't disappoint in her black skinny jeans and thick red wool sweater, her hair pulled back in a messy bun. She couldn't have looked more beautiful if she tried.
"I was ready to leave without you." He teased.
"Doesn't that defeat the purpose of this little arrangement?"
"Hey the Taylors like me already."
"They just like me better." She laughed nudging him playfully.
"So what happened?"
"Katherine happened."
"I'm sorry?"
"She was ranting about your brother yet again, I'm lucky I got out of there alive." She groaned.
"Now that sounds oddly familiar. I've had Elijah do the same, I can't wait until this court date is over and then maybe they'll move on."
"Unlikely." She snorted. "I've never seen her so worked up over anyone; your brother has really done a number on my Kitty Kat."
"I think it's the other way around. From what you've told me she's usually pretty feisty, Elijah is never this agitated."
"Really?"
"Yes really, he is the epitome of calm, nothing ever rattles him."
"Well Katherine Pierce does have that affect I suppose."
"I have to say I'm looking forward to this trip even if it's just to get away from Kalijah." Klaus joked making Caroline look at him curiously.
"Let me guess Lexi right?"
"She's original I'll give her that." He laughed. "We may also get away from hearing all about Kennett's sex life."
"Don't get me started." She moaned. "I honestly didn't think it would last this long knowing Bonnie."
"Me too knowing Kol." He said shaking his head. "I guess it's just one of life's little mysteries. Now we better get checked-in otherwise we won't get to Colorado at this point." They walked over to the check-in counter to begin the process, Caroline rifling through her bag for the appropriate documents.
"This is like déjà vu." Klaus smiled thinking back to their first encounter at Indianapolis Airport.
"Oh you mean the time where you jumped in line and rudely interrupted me?"
"That's not how it happened and you know it." He scoffed.
"Ah yes I do." She shot back. "Then you proceeded to flirt with the girl at the counter so she'd ignore me and help you instead."
"No I only interrupted you because you were taking too long, trust me everyone in that line was thankful I stepped in when I did."
"Oh please."
"They were thankful, not to mention to the girl on the counter who you were giving an earful."
"I was not giving her an earful I was asking pertinent questions, like when my flight would take-off." She argued. "Something you also asked if you recall."
"I have to admit I kind of zoned out while you were yapping." He laughed and she whacked him.
"I do not yap."
"Ah yes you do Caroline, you start talking really fast and your voice becomes higher pitched than normal, it's difficult to maintain interest when that happens."
"Oh because you know me so well." She spluttered.
"Actually I think I kind of do love." He grinned making her blush. Klaus loved that he had that effect on her.
"Ah hem." The guy at the counter coughed interrupting their moment. "As much as I love this cute re-enactment of your first meeting there are actually people waiting." They both looked behind them noticing the queue that had formed.
"Talk about déjà vu." She murmured hurriedly producing her booking confirmation.