So some of you were worried about reading the last chapter which I understand given all the angst! You all seemed a little happier after that last one though. Klaus can be an ass but he does love her. Thanks again for the thoughtful reviews. This was supposed to be one chapter but it's going to stretch out to two now.

I also have to give howeverlongs a shout out for the fantastic fan fiction cover for this on tumblr. You should check out her fine artwork if you haven't yet.

Keeping Up Appearances

Chapter 42: Waking Up in Vegas

23 August 2015 6:37am Chicago, Illinois

The light streamed in through a crack in the blinds waking him from his deep slumber. Klaus reluctantly peeled his eyes open not expecting the excruciating pain that ripped through his head.

He rolled over trying to block out the invading sunlight by placing the pillow over his head unexpectedly feeling smooth skin rubbing up against his. He froze in fright wondering who was lying next to him and more importantly why? Klaus felt his mouth go dry. After all the alcohol he'd consumed the previous night he couldn't remember much and hurriedly wracked his brain to work out who was his possible bedmate.

There was the brunette with the screechy voice at the Pink Monkey, but he knew he left her as soon as possible. He felt his heart soar remembering Caroline's surprise return and their amazing kiss, but the last thing he could recall was her running away. So if it wasn't Caroline who the hell was in his bed?

He inhaled deeply and turned over anticipating the worst, then his eyes fell on familiar golden waves fanned out across the neighbouring pillow. Even amongst his alcohol induced pain he managed a grin thinking how good it was to have her in his bed again, even if he couldn't remember how she got there.

Klaus heard her stir and turned over so she wouldn't catch him staring at her smooth porcelain skin and angelic features. He felt the bed move and figured she was probably doing exactly what he'd done a few moments ago.

She screamed in what sounded like shock making him jump slightly. He was so glad the sight of him next to her caused that reaction. He turned over to face her noting her startled eyes and surprised expression. "Oh come on Caroline I'm not that bad."

"Not that bad," she groaned attempting to sit up without much luck, she was obviously just as hung over as him. "At least if you were some random I could sneak out of here and never have to see you again."

"Thanks for the compliment love."

"Well sorry but I'm in a state of shock, how the hell did you end up in my bed?"

"We're in my bed sweetheart," he grinned gesturing around the sparse Peninsula hotel room.

"Don't you sweetheart me," she argued pointing her finger at him accusingly. "Why are we here like this?"

"Well I think it's fairly self explanatory," he said gesturing to the bed in amusement.

"I didn't mean that," she growled. "How did we get here?"

"That's a very good question."

"And?"

"And I have no idea how to answer it," he replied.

"Well thanks so much for the help," she shot back rubbing the sleep out of her eyes and attempting to sit up again this time with luck. The sheet that was over her began to fall and Klaus couldn't help but watch it gleefully as it slipped dangerously low. She grabbed it in time and held it closely to her chest. "Don't tell me you're enjoying this?"

"Having you in my bed?" He asked. "Of course I'm enjoying myself, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't Caroline."

"You planned this?"

"Can't say I did, although I couldn't be happier with my drunken judgment right now."

"So how did we get here?"

"The last thing I recall was you running away after…"

"Yes I know what happened," she snapped quickly before he could finish his sentence. "Now that you mention it though I can't remember anything after that either."

"Well how about we put it down to luck and go with it?"

"I can't believe you are taking advantage of this situation after everything we've been through," she groaned jumping out of bed, the white sheet wrapped firmly around her body now. Even though she was covered he could still make out her stunning figure underneath.

"I tend to act like an ass when I'm nervous," he admitted sheepishly.

"Well ass is usually your default setting, but honestly Klaus Mikaelson is nervous?"

"What can I say you have that effect on me," he replied shrugging his shoulders. Why did he have to act like such an idiot in front of her constantly? "Sorry, I promise I'll behave."

"It's a little late for that," she muttered picking up items of discarded clothing as she went then slamming the bathroom door shut behind her. Klaus closed his eyes momentarily wondering how he managed to constantly put his foot in it.

He climbed out of bed and went over to the mirror noting his bedraggled appearance. Klaus moaned in pain thinking he was far too old for big nights like this.

"Oh my god, what is this?" She squealed emerging from the bathroom fully dressed in her high necked black dress and playing with something on her finger. He studied it from afar noticing a plastic ring you'd find in a gum ball machine.

"Wow drunk me certainly has cheap taste. The least I could do was get you a real diamond." he quipped. She inhaled sharply obviously coming to the same conclusion as him.

"This is not funny! Tell me we didn't get married?"

"Well this isn't Vegas Caroline so I don't think it's possible, but it looks like we're engaged at the very least."

"We are not engaged," she groaned combing her hands through her waves obviously in the initial stages of denial. "What would have possessed me to say yes anyway?"

"Gee thanks," he growled growing tired of her bad attitude. She was just as much to blame as him for this. Although Klaus realised the thought of marrying her made him extremely happy unlike her obviously.

He really wished he could remember how they got here and most of all been sober enough to enjoy the sex, which Klaus knew from experience would be phenomenal. The one thing he could recall was how ecstatic he felt when they crossed paths earlier in the night. His joy far outweighed his anger towards the boys for playing matchmaker. Their kiss was magical and when she responded it gave him a glimmer of hope that maybe things weren't over.

Maybe it was the push he needed to start living and fight for Caroline like he should have done in the first place. Klaus never should have let her leave the country but maybe this was a way to make amends. If she continued acting out against him though he wasn't sure how his patience would fare.

"I plan on blaming this entire episode on the alcohol," she said. "I need to get out of here, my flight leaves in six hours. God knows where my mother thinks I am right now."

"You're a grown woman," Klaus shot back choosing to ignore her earlier comment which he had to admit hurt.

"And my mother is the sheriff, enough said. She's probably lodged a missing persons report already."

"So that's it?"

"Yes that has to be it. I can safely say the drunk engagement or whatever this is, is well and truly called off," she replied suddenly holding her hand up to her neck and looking around the room distractedly.

"What are you looking for?" He asked curiously.

"Uh nothing," she murmured her eyes darting around the room.

"I may be hung over right now but it certainly doesn't seem like nothing," he observed.

"I've uh lost my ring."

"Oh you mean my expensive engagement ring? It's is on your finger Caroline."

"I'm not talking about this one," she said taking if off and holding it up for his benefit. "I had another one on last night but it must have fallen off somewhere."

"Well I'm sure you could just raid the wardrobe department at Vogue for a replacement."

"This item is irreplaceable," she murmured quietly. "It's kind of a family heirloom. I have to find it before I leave Chicago, even if it involves retracing my steps from last night."

"It could be anywhere."

"Exactly why I need to start looking for it now," she said rushing towards the door. "I'll never forgive myself if I don't find it."

"Hold on, wait for me," he said grabbing his jeans that had been roughly discarded on the arm chair sitting in the corner. of the room.

"I'm going on my own, I think we've spent more than enough time together already."

"Yes, now if only I could remember it," he admitted sadly. "Look two sets of eyes are better than one, and you never know something may come back to me." She looked at him dubiously obviously weighing up her options.

"Fine," she agreed cautiously. "But no talking or joking or calling me anything resembling love or sweetheart."

"Well that's going to makes things difficult," he muttered placing one leg in his jeans. "You know this might also be a good opportunity to find out what exactly happened last night."

"I think I'd prefer to leave last night right where it belongs," she murmured. "In the past."

"Surely you don't want to leave the country possibly married to yours truly?"

"I thought you said that wasn't possible?"

"Well you never know," he grinned determined to win her over, not to mention get her out of this grouchy mood which was wearing on his last nerve.

"Well what are you waiting for?"

"What?"

"Get changed, come on we don't have all day," she ordered opening the door without a backwards glance in his direction.

"Wow I forgot just how bossy you were love," he growled putting on his shoes. "Where are we going anyway?"

"Well the Pink Monkey would be a good start."

"How about we just ask our friends, wouldn't that be easier in the first instance?" He asked buttoning up his shirt.

"I would prefer to keep this to ourselves. As much as I love our friends you tell one and then everyone knows our business. Plus, I'm still annoyed about their little matchmaking scheme."

Klaus was a little taken aback, upset that she wanted to keep their night a secret, like she was ashamed of him or something. He reluctantly finished dressing and they walked down the hallway towards the lifts not expecting to see a certain person at the door of one of the neighbouring hotel rooms.

"Bonnie Bennett!" Caroline shrieked unable to help herself. Klaus wondered what happened to being discreet. It was only when she looked over in surprise he noticed his brother's curious face peeking out from behind her.

"Caroline, Klaus. What are you doing here?"

"Never mind us, what are you doing here?"

"I'm just," she stuttered feebly unable to finish.

"Trying to leave but obviously not successfully," Kol joked from his hotel room door half naked in only a pair of grey boxer shorts.

"Well it's hardly my fault these two decided to walk down the hall right at this exact moment," she argued looking back at him.

"Urgh some clothes wouldn't go astray Kol," Klaus grimaced shielding his eyes. "That's entirely too much nudity for this hour."

"It's 7am on a Sunday morning what do you expect Niklaus?" He replied before looking at them with renewed interest. "Don't tell me you two finally kissed and made up?"

"No we didn't make-up," Caroline replied shortly knowing she couldn't deny the kissing part even if she didn't remember it. "What happened here?"

"Well I think it's fairly obvious love," Klaus joked.

"What did I tell you about using that word?"

"Don't mind Oscar the Grouch here, she's a little hung over this morning," he teased nudging her slightly.

"Trust me it's not the hang over," she shot back crossing her arms over her chest. "Does someone want to explain this?" She asked looking between them in curious anticipation.

"Well it all started when you two ran into each other."

"You make it sound so random. Is that how this all happened?" Caroline asked sarcastically.

"Hey we were against this little plan from the outset," Kol explained. "I said numerous times that this was never going to work but I have to say seeing you together now is a surprise given we left you at the Pink Monkey in an intense fight."

"A fight?"

"Yes," Bonnie answered. "We tried to intervene and I was going to take you back to your mum's place but you were so mad at everyone you wouldn't come."

"So you left us there? What happened then?"

"Well Kalijah were being too cuddly for our liking, so too Stebekah and Malex," he reeled off using their couple nicknames.

"Malex?"

"Matt and Lexi's names don't fit together quite as well," Kol rambled before continuing. "Anyway so Bonnie and I decided to grab something to eat."

"And?" They asked in unison impatiently as Kol and Bonnie began recounting their story.

6.5 hours earlier….

"I feel bad just leaving them there like that," Bonnie shared as they walked out into the cool night air.

"Yeah well I think given our opposition to this little plan the others should be trying to fix things between Klaus and Caroline, not us." He groaned. "Anyway you're six months pregnant and need your rest." She smiled liking that he cared so much about her well-being not that she'd admit it.

"You know what I really need?"

"That seems like a loaded question," he joked.

"Well yes I am horny but that's hardly surprising given the strong hormones pulsing through my body," she said. "Are you blushing?"

"No," he spluttered. "I just didn't expect you to share that much personal information with me."

"Well I figure I might as well be honest given we're about to have a baby together," she laughed.

"So how exactly do you deal with the hormone overload?"

"Well not by having sex unfortunately," she muttered.

"Are you even allowed to have sex?"

"I'm pregnant Kol not dying," she replied. "Anyway we seem to have gone off topic."

"I have no problem with this line of conversation at all, in fact feel free to continue telling me how you cope with the sexual urges."

"Maybe another time, but what I need now is some pie and ketchup."

"Ew, what is it with you slathering everything in ketchup?"

"I have no idea but our little girl sure craves it," she smiled. "Mmmm, how about apple?"

"Pie?"

"No I meant as a name for the baby," he gave her a look which clearly said she was crazy. "Hey it worked for Gwyneth Paltrow didn't it?"

"I think the jury is still out on whether that was a good decision or not," he commented. "Girl and the goat." He said pointing at the red illuminated sign from the nearby diner. What was it with all the animal references tonight?

"They better have pie," she said feeling her stomach grumble.

"And ketchup," he teased opening the door for her and gesturing inside. They took a seat in one of the vinyl booths noticing the big bottle of ketchup waiting for her in the middle of the table as the waitress appeared with menus.

"What can I get you?" She asked not bothering to make any eye contact, her pen poised on the notepad.

"I would like apple pie and vanilla ice cream," she grinned making a reference to their earlier discussion and continued to peruse the menu. "Cheeseburger, fries and a hot chocolate."

"Are you finished love?"

"Hey I'm pregnant don't judge me," she accused.

"Yeah who are you to judge?" The waitress piped up throwing him a dirty look for his effort.

"Sorry," he baulked. "I'll just have a coffee."

"That's it?"

"I'll have a bite of your pie," he smiled.

"I plan on eating the whole thing so you better get your own," Bonnie promised.

"Okay one slice of pie," he clarified before the waitress walked away. "I hope you're going to teach our daughter to share."

"I can share."

"I beg to differ," he shot back. "So how about Ireland?"

"What about Ireland?"

"As a name," he suggested.

"No daughter of mine is going to be named after a country, even if it is a nice place."

"You're no fun," he quipped.

"On the contrary I'm plenty of fun," she argued. "Fruit is fun."

"Maybe fun to eat not fun to name your child after," he said. "Surely you had numerous names thought up when you were younger?" She faltered slightly thinking that was the last thing on her mind during her childhood.

"No not really."

"Oh come on Rebekah had her names picked out by the time she was eleven," he joked. "I hope Stefan is okay with not having any input into what his kids are called." She smiled slightly but couldn't get his comment out of her head.

Suddenly the fear that had been building inside her the past six months came bubbling to the surface. She had no parental influence so what made her think she'd be a good mother? She couldn't even come up with a name so how was she going to do things like stop her crying and change her nappies?

"Are you okay?" He asked looking at her curiously.

"I'm fine."

"Why don't I believe you?"

"I'm just thinking about names," she lied.

"What's really going on Bonnie?"

"Do you think I'll make an okay mother?" She asked hurriedly. "I mean I have no idea what I'm doing Kol."

"And you think I do?"

"Great what chance does this kid have?" She bent down and rested her head on the table, her dark locks falling around her.

"We're both new to this," he murmured pulling her head up slowly and staring earnestly into her eyes. "What are you scared of Bonnie?"

"My parents died when I was young," she murmured sadly. "I spent most of my childhood moving from one bad foster home to the next. What do I know about being a good parent?" Kol's expression changed and he reached out sub consciously covering her hands with his.

"Oh Bon, I'm so sorry. I had no idea," he whispered.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, I never told you," she admitted. "It's just too hard to talk about sometimes. It wasn't the best childhood."

"Which is exactly why you'll make a wonderful mother." She shook her head disagreeing with his point.

"Doubtful, I mean I had no role models whatsoever," she shared. "I can't even think of a name for this child let alone anything else."

"Neither can I, look you need to stop giving yourself a hard time," he implored. "I think you'll make a great mother."

"You're biased," she snorted.

"Maybe but the one thing I do know is that your experiences have made you the kind of person you are today; strong, independent and fiercely loyal to the people you love. This little girl is going to be more loved because of what you went through." Bonnie felt tears spring to her eyes at his beautiful words. Who knew Kol Mikaelson had it in him?

"You think so?"

"I know so," he answered. "But I promise you that whatever we do, we'll do it together okay?" She nodded as he reached over and wiped away the tears that were now cascading down her cheeks.

"Thank you," she smiled her vision blurred with tears. "I know I don't deserve it after the way I treated you all those months ago."

"Well it certainly wasn't ideal," he mumbled shyly.

"I find it hard to let people in," she admitted her gaze downward. "I spent most of my childhood just wanting to be loved but it never happened." Kol leaned across and softly lifted her chin with his finger so she couldn't avoid his stare. "I pushed you away because it was all too real and I had no idea how to handle it."

"Thank you for explaining that, I know it wasn't easy," he smiled. "Bonnie, I…."

"Don't say it…"

"I'm sorry but you're stuck with me."

"Because we're having a baby together?"

"Yes we are but that has nothing to do with how I feel," he promised. "I loved you before you got pregnant, if anything our little girl is just an added bonus." She smiled broadly feeling like the protective shield covering her heart had finally lifted.

"I love you too Kol Mikaelson and I'm excited about our future together, even if it's a little scary."

"Me too Bonnie Bennett," he grinned. "Now how about a kiss for this father-to-be?" She grabbed his shirt collar and pulled him towards her greedily. Within second his lips were on hers and she was relishing in the feelings that came flooding back with every stroke.

"Let's get out of here," she suggested wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.

"What about your three course meal?"

"I told you I was horny," she laughed. "How about we get it to go."

"No complaints here love," he joked.

"Okay okay," Klaus interrupted. "I'd rather not hear about my little brother's sex life in great detail."

"I wasn't going to tell you," Kol replied poking out his tongue.

"Unbelievable, I can't believe you're going to be a father."

"I think he'll make a pretty good one too," Bonnie murmured placing a chaste kiss on his nose. "Now that we shared it's only fair you two do the same."

"We don't really know," Caroline mumbled.

"You don't know?"

"That's what she just said genius," Klaus rolled his eyes impatiently. "But if you left before us I'm assuming you're not going to be much help."

"Well I'm going to take a stab in the dark and suggest that you two had a bit of fun," Kol deduced. "You know given where you've come from."

"We know that Kol but we need to track down my ring before I leave town, it's too important to me."

"What ring?" Bonnie asked curiously.

"You know the silver one I was wearing, it belonged to my nanna," she rambled. This was the first time Klaus had heard about any ring but they hadn't been together for months after all. "Anyway we're going to retrace our steps and see if we can find it."

"So you don't have any clues?" Bonnie asked.

"No," Caroline answered before Klaus could make an impromptu engagement announcement. "We're just going to head to the Pink Monkey and go from there."

"Do you need some help?" Kol asked making Klaus peer at him. "Yes I promise I'll put on some more clothes Niklaus."

"No I think we'll be okay," Caroline added. She obviously knew their engagement wouldn't be a secret much longer if they came along for the ride. "But thanks."

"Anyway it looks like you've got your hands full," Klaus smiled thinking how happy he was for his little brother.

"I was just about to leave anyway. I don't want to but Rebekah is probably livid that half the bachelorette party is MIA on her big weekend." She said. "I don't think she'll look upon this reconciliation too kindly either given she likes being the centre of attention."

"That doesn't sound like our sister at all," Klaus joked making Kol laugh.

"Oh no, I didn't even think about that," Caroline groaned. "First the engagement party and now this, do you think she'll fire me as bridesmaid?"

"No such luck," Bonnie teased.

"If she says anything just mention her little matchmaking scheme. Anyway we better get going," Caroline said looking at Klaus before pausing to give Bonnie a brief hug. "I'm so happy this all turned out for you both."

Klaus couldn't help but think it was unfair that everyone else got their happily ever after expect them. Especially given this all started because of them in the first place. He decided today was his chance to work on making that happen. She couldn't keep up this grumpy demeanor all day surely? They said their goodbyes and walked towards the elevators.

"How long do you think that will take to get around?"

"Five minutes tops," Klaus estimated. "Come on let's go and find you this ring love."