Aww thanks you guys. You all keep me writing in case you hadn't noticed. Can I just say that I've had so many amazing and insightful reviews lately, I'd like to thank you all individually but it might take me a while and I know you probably want to just get on and read the next chapter!

Everything does seem dire at the moment but I have a few things in store. To answer your question Venus88 I anticipate about 50 chapters for this story, so still a while to go yet.

Keeping Up Appearances

Chapter 39: Hey Jealousy

May 24 2015 10:09pm New York City, New York

"We'd just like to thank you all for coming tonight," Stefan began. "It means a lot for Matt, Klaus and I to have so many people here to celebrate with us. It's been a busy couple of months but we're so glad Gallery has finally come to life.

"We'd of course like to thank everyone who helped make this a reality including all our suppliers, our contractors, our fantastic staff and the support from our friends and family," he said. Caroline could see his eyes flick over towards Rebekah knowing this was the big moment.

She was happy for him and really hoped he got the outcome he wanted so badly. He'd been like a kid in a candy story in Tiffany's and she couldn't help but find his excitement contagious, until of course she remembered what disarray her personal life was in at the moment.

She was doing everything she could to move on and avoiding him didn't seem to be helping soothe the pain of her loss. She thought by coming to the bar opening she could finally put those pesky feelings to rest but their conversation upstairs had done little to allay her worries.

He loved to talk in grand gestures and big promises but Caroline wasn't sure what was real and what he was saying just to make her feel better. He had this promotion so why would she assume that he could make it up to her this time? Caroline knew she couldn't go back there; her pride certainly wouldn't let her.

When she'd been offered the job in London, Caroline had felt this amazing sense of relief. She could see a future in London, away from Klaus and his empty promises. Her mum said she was running away and maybe a part of her was but could you blame her?

As much as she didn't want to admit it, it wasn't just Klaus that was the problem. The connection all of her closest friends had with the Mikaelsons was putting a strain on her. She didn't begrudge Bonnie and Kol a baby, or Rebekah and Stefan an engagement or Elijah and Katherine happiness, or Lexi and Matt some fun, not to mention the bar, but it was all too close for comfort.

Caroline knew that as long as she was in New York City she'd continually be tied to Klaus through all those connections. She didn't think her emotions could take it. That's why the job in London made so much sense. Caroline needed time to heal and London was her opportunity.

"I'd also like to thank my beautiful girlfriend for all her help with the publicity for this place, she volunteered her own time and talents and for that I'm very grateful," he paused and Caroline inhaled suddenly nervous for him. "If you don't mind the indulgence folks, I'd like to ask this amazing woman something."

Everyone looked at each other their eyes wide wondering if what they were witnessing was about to happen. Rebekah looked on in shock as Stefan kneeled down holding out the impressive white gold, cushion cut solitaire in his outstretched hand.

"Will you marry me Rebekah Mikaelson and make me the happiest guy in the world?" Caroline couldn't help but look to Klaus to see his reaction. His crimson lips curved into the most gorgeous smile and she couldn't help but get butterflies. She shook her head determined not to think about him in that way.

He said he'd fight, something that stirred up feelings inside her but Caroline knew he had to stop talking and start acting to believe he'd changed.

"Oh my god," she cried excitedly. Caroline couldn't help thinking that Rebekah must have loved being the centre of attention. "Yes I'll marry you." Stefan stood up and placed the ring delicately on her finger before they kissed sweetly.

"Ew this is far too much PDA for my liking," Bonnie groaned from behind her.

"Oh come on Bon, this is romance at its finest."

"I'm surprised you still believe in romance; you know after everything."

"Yeah well I'm an eternal optimist, and one bad experience is not going to get me down, I won't let it," she murmured looking over at Klaus whose eyes were firmly trained on her. She looked away quickly, scared to get caught in his penetrating gaze.

"Has he spoken to you?"

"Yeah he said all the same things but you know what I'm sick of hearing it," she muttered. "I told him he needed to respect my space."

"Tell me about it," she agreed "Kol doesn't understand that concept either, it must run in the Mikaelson family."

"He just cares about you and the baby Bon you can't begrudge him that."

"No he cares about the baby," she reiterated. "Which isn't a bad thing I guess."

"You guess? Wouldn't you prefer that he's willing to do that given some guys would just run in the other direction?"

"I have to admit I was surprised he took responsibility for this."

"You underestimated him. Maybe you need to cut him some slack Bonnie, I mean he's doing all he can and you have to admire him for that."

"I suppose I should be grateful given how I treated him all those months ago."

"Well I wasn't going to say it, but it's true Bon. You have this amazing talent of pushing people away, but there comes a time when you've just got to stop."

"I'm not sure I can do that."

"Maybe next time you think about doing it just think about the well-being of your unborn baby." She nodded in understanding and Caroline thought she might have gotten through to her friend, even if it was just a little bit.

"Drink ladies?" Kol asked producing a wine and soda for Caroline and Bonnie respectively, almost like he knew they were discussing him.

"Why thank you Kol," Caroline smiled looking at Bonnie and nudging her discreetly.

"Yeah thanks Kol," she murmured gazing into his eyes a little longer than necessary.

"So knowing Rebekah this is going to be one crazy wedding. I think when they came up with the term Bridezilla, they were describing her." Kol said shaking his head. "I don't think Stefan knows what he's getting himself into."

"Yeah because the poor guy will be related to you," Bonnie quipped noticing a shadow cross his face and realising she'd probably gone too far. "Um about this ultrasound on Tuesday, do you want to go together or meet me there?"

"How about I pick you up?" He suggested smiling slightly. "I know how averse you are to exercise these days."

"That would be good, thanks," she admitted quietly. Caroline smiled triumphantly hoping that things had finally taken a turn for the best with them.

"I'm just going to check nanna is staying out of trouble."

"I caught her attempting to dance on the bar earlier," Kol grinned. "Your grandma is one crazy cat Caroline."

"That's an interesting way to describe her," Caroline groaned going madly in search of her before she caused too much commotion, she was like an unstoppable cyclone when she wanted to be.

"Caroline!" She looked over at Jen feeling in two minds. One because she was happy to see her after such a long absence but she was also dreading what she was supposed to say. She had no idea whether Klaus had admitted the truth or she was supposed to be playing his girlfriend still. One thing Caroline knew was she wasn't going to pretend anymore.

"Jen, how are you?"

"I'm fine, but I'm more worried about you."

"What do you have to be worried about?"

"I heard about you and Klaus," she began. "I love you both and it was just so sad to hear about your break-up."

"You heard about it?"

"Yes, in fact Klaus told Ben about it months ago, the day after his birthday I recall."

"He told Ben about it?" She confirmed unable to help herself.

The fact he'd told them was news in itself but what was more surprising was it was before he even got the promotion. Wouldn't it have been better for him to continue the ruse until he got the job? Caroline was curious why he would jeapordise his chances like that given all the effort they went to in keeping up the act.

"Yes he was quite upset about it," she shared. "He said he was responsible for what happened between you two, I'm so sorry."

"Well sometimes things aren't meant to be," she admitted.

"I honestly had no idea, I mean I certainly didn't see it coming." she confided. "You both seemed so happy and in love."

"Well sometimes looks can be deceiving," she muttered realising just how true that statement was in their case.

"Yes well I would be lying if I said it wasn't a shame, whatever happened." She said placing her arm comfortingly over Caroline's. "I'm sorry I haven't been in touch since then. After Ben formally resigned we decided to take the kids away to Europe."

"Oh that's okay, I know how busy you are," she smiled. "I've just been in London for Fashion Week."

"I heard the showings were stunning this season."

"They were gorgeous," she mused. "We'll have to make sure we go to some of the shows during New York Fashion Week."

"Now that sounds like a plan," she agreed. "I'm glad we're going to catch up, I couldn't imagine not seeing you anymore."

"Of course we are, I haven't seen the kids in ages either."

"I'll give you a call next week and we'll organise something okay?" Caroline nodded before she walked over to where Ben was standing. Caroline inhaled deeply wondering when this act was going to end. She'd had just about enough for the night, not to mention the last three months.

"Stefan and Rebekah who would have thought hey?" Lexi asked joining her at the bar.

"Yeah, although it doesn't seem a stretch," she said. "They look very happy together."

"Yes they do," she cooed looking over at the loved up couple. "I think she deserves a bit of happiness, Rebekah has always been been such a workaholic."

"It must run in the family," she uttered unable to help herself.

"I'm sorry we haven't had a chance to talk since everything went down with Klaus," she sighed. "I hope you've been okay."

"I'm fine."

"Let me guess, I'm not the first person to ask you that?"

"No, and you probably won't be the last," she chuckled despite everything. "Sometimes things just don't work out, no matter how hard you want them to."

"Well trust me I know firsthand what a jackass Klaus can be, I do have to deal with him on a daily basis."

"Lucky you," she drawled before adding. "I'm okay really, just a little tired and more than ready to call it a night."

"Fair enough," she conceded. "Look I don't want to annoy you about this any more like everyone else but…"

"But?"

"But while he is an idiot, he can also be a very loving idiot when he wants to be."

"I admire your loyalty Lexi, but I think we're more than past that point," she said shrugging her shoulders defeatedly.

"I understand," she agreed. "When it comes to work he's on auto pilot mode but when it comes to anything else he has absolutely no clue."

"Isn't that the truth? Look it's been a few months now so there's really nothing left to say."

"I know but I would feel terrible if I didn't tell you that even though he's a massive workaholic, I could see some drastic changes in him while you were dating."

"What kind of changes?"

"He actually cut down a fair amount of his workload so he could see you, I know it doesn't seem like that but he did."

"I hate to think what he was like before then."

"The worst," she reiterated. "I think that's why Tatia started using him because he didn't really notice, well until it was too late."

"And how is the lovely Tatia?"

"She flew away on her broomstick and hopefully that's the last we'll ever see of her again," she teased. "I know having her around was tough on you as well."

"Not as tough as you'd imagine, if anything her presence just made me realise what lengths he'd go to for a promotion."

"Extreme ones," she groaned. "Although now he has the job Klaus hasn't really been the same."

"In what way?"

"He's quiet and introverted, and doesn't insult me nearly as much as he used to, which is a worry in itself."

"Probably just busy working hard," she muttered.

"I haven't told anyone this but sometimes I walk in there and he's just staring off into the distance, like he's in a trance thinking about something or someone."

"Tired?"

"Maybe but he just doesn't have the same enthusiasm for things anymore," she said shrugging her shoulders. "It's like he's lost and doesn't know how to find himself again."

"I know what you're doing Lexi, and while I appreciate you trying to help Klaus, I can't talk about this anymore," she mumbled sadly. "He had his chances but now it's over."

"Well a girl can try," she smiled sheepishly.

"On the subject of men though, I hope my cousin is treating you right. If not I'll have to have a stern word."

"You sound just like Klaus," she giggled. "He's been the perfect gentleman Caroline; manners must run in the family."

"I'll tell you he wasn't always that way," she grinned thinking back to their childhood. "He was actually a bit of a rebel growing up, even got himself an earring."

"Ew really?" She groaned. "Nineties fashion was pretty unforgiving I guess. But please tell me you have a picture somewhere?"

"You might be in luck, I'll ask mum while she's in town," she laughed happy to be discussing something so relaxing and fun for a change.

The angst of the past few months was certainly weighing heavily on her. Funnily enough in London she'd actually been able to clear her head. Caroline put it down to the fact there wasn't someone there, who was somehow connected to Klaus, asking her if she was okay every ten seconds.

"Lexi, gorgeous," a rich British accent cut into her thoughts making Caroline turn around curiously.

"Enzo!" she smiled giggling and giving him a kiss on the cheek. "I'm glad you could make it."

She looked at him inhaling sharply at those sexy brown eyes she knew all too well, what the hell was he doing here of all places and how did he know Lexi?

"This is an old friend of mine, Enzo, who's visiting from London and this is…"

"Caroline," he murmured drinking in every inch of her appearance.

"You two know each other?" Lexi squeaked.

"Well uh yes we met in London last week," she stuttered. Enzo continued to stare and Caroline knew he didn't need x-ray vision right now because he'd seen what was underneath. He looked like he wanted to devour her right there and then. Why did she get all the bad luck? How did her one-night stand end up in New York and in this bar tonight of all places?

"Oh really?" Lexi asked. "What a small world."

"Yes…of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world I had to walk into yours," he paraphrased from a famous movie, taking her by surprise and enveloping her in his arms. Caroline reciprocated albeit awkwardly.

"Enzo was at London Fashion Week, which is where we met" she said rushing to explain herself. "You know photographing the models, because that's what he does for a living."

"Yes I'm aware of that," Lexi said staring between them as Caroline rambled clumsily.

"Well we certainly did meet that's for sure," he drawled licking his lips excitedly. "I had no idea you'd be here tonight love."

"Wow okay," Lexi added completely shocked by what was happening right in front of her eyes. Caroline felt like the walls were caving in on her. She stupidly thought that when you had a one-night stand it would stay that way.

"Um how do you two know each other?" Caroline spluttered looking between Enzo and Lexi helplessly hoping to detract the attention from her and their tryst.

"We used to date believe it or not," she offered. "That was a very long time ago though."

"Until your stuffy boss put the kibosh on me," Enzo laughed. "How is he these days, still uptight?"

Caroline felt ill at the mere mention of Klaus. She couldn't believe he knew Enzo, could her night get any worse right now? All she was hoping was that he would be too busy with his other guests to come over.

"Did I hear the words stuffy boss?" Caroline groaned inwardly and closed her eyes momentarily hoping that if she couldn't see it, it wasn't really happening.

"Niklaus we meet again," Enzo greeted him cheerfully. By the scowl on his face Caroline could tell Enzo's use of his full name wasn't by accident.

"Yes how unfortunate," he drawled. "So it's been a while."

"It has," he agreed smirking in his direction. "I'm in town on an assignment and Lexi was kind enough to invite me to your little bar. I must say it's not bad at all.

"Well thanks I guess," he replied through gritted teeth. "So are you still terrorizing poor, unsuspecting girls?"

At this point all Caroline wanted to do was shrivel into the corner and pretend she was invisible. Lexi was watching on a knowing look in her big brown eyes. Klaus didn't have any control over her but the last thing she wanted him to know was what transpired with Enzo.

"Klaus that's not very nice of you, now come on Enzo let's go and get you a drink." Lexi interrupted attempting to save her, Caroline was grateful for any help at that moment.

"You certainly have great taste in blondes Klaus," he chuckled putting his arms around them both. "We were just saying what a small world it is."

"How's that?" He asked his gaze firmly on Caroline now, she felt her face flush wondering how in the hell she was going to get out of this.

"Well Caroline and I only met last week in London," he grinned smugly.

"Yes at fashion week, you know fashion photographer and writer not really that small," Lexi intercepted. "Now how about that drink?"

"Actually I don't mind if I do," he smiled. "Caroline love, how about a drink on me? I do owe you for last week." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and she noticed Klaus's face register in shock.

"Maybe later Enzo," she mumbled finally tearing her gaze away from Klaus.

"Later sounds good," he winked cheekily at her and sauntered off, Lexi in tow.

Klaus closed his eyes momentarily while Caroline cast her gaze downward. She had every right to sleep with whomever she wanted so why did she suddenly feel guilty? She figured this was her punishment for having a stupid one-night stand in the first place.

"So you and Enzo…"

"Met at London Fashion Week."

"Yeah you said that," he murmured.

"So good talk," she replied shaking her head and eyeing off the door longingly. "I'm going to head off now."

"So he seemed to know you quite well."

"Yeah well like I said we met at Fashion Week," she reiterated. "What's with the third degree?"

"I can tell when you're withholding something, one of the things I learned when we were together," he commented knowingly. "So you and Enzo hey?"

"You know what, yes, we were together," she spluttered. How dare he act so smug and morally superior? "What's wrong with that?"

"What's right with that? I mean Enzo? Could you find anyone more smug and arrogant?"

"Well at least he had time for me," she shrugged her shoulders.

"Oh suddenly this is all making sense," he groaned. "Was this some weird type of revenge? You wanted me to find out so you could rub it in my face didn't you?"

"Oh please," she hissed trying not to draw attention to their argument. "Don't flatter yourself. This is a coincidence pure and simple, but you know what? I'm glad this happened."

"I'll bet you are."

"Yes I am because yet again it proves that my decision was the right one," she shot back. "Not an hour ago you were begging for another chance and now you're acting like this?"

"Well excuse me if I just found out you had a fling with Enzo of all people," he scoffed. "I guess I thought that we meant more to you but I was obviously wrong."

"Don't tell me what we had," she scowled. "At least I was willing to fight for what we had, you couldn't even make time for me."

"I was an idiot. I told you that and if I could change things I would, but at least I never stopped loving you," he replied quietly.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Yes, I know this was of my fault but right now I couldn't even look at another woman if I tried," his voice quivered slightly and she knew he was telling the truth. Even with everything he'd done Caroline didn't think she could feel as bad as she did right now.

Sleeping with Enzo was stupid, after it happened she convinced herself it was a type of therapy to soothe the heartache he'd caused. But standing here now, and in front of a clearly upset Klaus, she felt terrible. Yes he treated her badly and she was still upset but in her mind what she'd done wasn't much better at this point.

"Who said I stopped loving you?"

"I guess I just assumed," he whispered and she could see that his eyes were watery with unshed tears. "You know what I'm even more sorry about? More than losing you?"

"What?" She murmured unable to stop herself.

"Finding out that you've moved on without me." Before she could reply he'd walked away towards the kitchen. Caroline felt the tears begin to gather in her eyes. How could he think she'd moved on already? The one thing Caroline knew for sure was that as much as she wanted to hate him she was more in love with him than ever.

"Caroline, is everything okay?" Rebekah asked peering at her curiously. She was really going to scream if someone else asked her that tonight. It wasn't her fault though and she did just get engaged so it was probably best not to bite her head off.

"Yes it's great," she said pasting on a fake smile.

"I'm sorry my brother is an ass," she said bluntly. "You can't always help your relations."

"Tell me about it," she laughed watching nanna attempting some dirty dance moves while Liz looked on in horror. "I guess congratulations are in order."

"Thank you," she grinned. "I heard you helped pick out this beautiful ring. I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for your advice. I love Stefan but jewelry isn't really his thing."

"Exactly why when he suggested it I agreed to tag along," she laughed. "I'm really so happy for you both."

"It's so exciting," she beamed. "You have no idea how great it is for an event planner to be able to plan their own wedding."

"I'll bet."

"In fact I wanted to ask you if you'd be one of my bridesmaids?" She asked throwing Caroline completely off guard. She'd been engaged for all of an hour and she was already in full-on planning mode.

"Wow you're certainly organised."

"Well that's my job," she chuckled. "So how about it? I know we haven't known each other long but I know how close you and Stefan are and it would be great if you could take part in our big day." Sheesh, when she put it that way Caroline really couldn't say no.

"Of course I will Rebekah," she agreed inwardly groaning. Klaus would never be out of her life at this rate, she had to do something to minimize his impact as much as possible. It was the only way she'd get over him that much was for sure.

A/N: Urgh I'm completely angst-ed out! Are you surprised? Just a quick note to let you know that even with everything happening I'm planning on a few fun chapters ahead...Time heals all wounds, well apparently...