Thanks all! I have to say there was one of my dedicated reviewers (you'll know who you are don't want to give it away) that guessed what I was planning. That's definitely worthy of a gold star or possibly a super quick update surely?

This is a chapter focusing entirely on our favourite couple seeing as everyone else has finally got their act together.

Someone asked how many chapters? I always have to reassess because it changes constantly but we're looking at around 52-53 now. After all I have a few other stories to complete too…

Keeping Up Appearances

Chapter 43: Gravity

23 August 2015 8:01am Chicago, Illinois

"I can't believe this place isn't even open yet," Caroline grumbled knocking on the heavy wooden door. "Is anyone there?"

"Well it's probably only been closed a few hours."

"Thanks for the observation," she growled. "I'm just short on time that's all."

"Like you keep saying. How about some caffeine while we wait?" She gave him a dubious look. "Oh come on it's just coffee Caroline, it's not a date and I'm not asking you to marry me. Oh wait I already did that." She gave him another look choosing not to vocalise exactly what she was thinking. "What too soon?"

"Yes too soon," she groaned. "Coffee would be a much needed distraction though from the fact that I'm on a lost jewelry finding mission with my ex boyfriend of all people."

"It's kind of like a scavenger hunt," he smiled ignoring her comment and pointing across the street to a small cafe. "I was always good at them when I was younger."

"I'll bet," she muttered. "I'm sensing a pattern here."

"Pattern?"

"You're apparently really good at everything," she joked. "Art, snowmen, scavenger hunts…"

"I seem to recall you liking my sketch," he argued. "And I seem to remember nanna and our friends preferring my snowman prowess over yours."

"Glad to see you haven't lost any of that ego in the past few months."

"You're just upset you haven't been able to spend any time with me or my ego of late, you must be experiencing withdrawals."

"You wish Mikaelson," she shot back trying not to smile. Why did he have to be so annoyingly cute? Especially when she was trying to flush him out of her system, she was most definitely having withdrawals, not that she'd admit it to him of course.

"What can I get you folks?"

"Two extra strong coffees," Klaus ordered. "Oh and some fries."

"Fries?"

"Hey don't judge, I need some greasy food to combat this hangover," he said. "You'll be wishing you ordered your own once they get here trust me."

"I will not," she argued back. "I could think of nothing worse right now."

"I seem to recall you ordering up big in Thorntown, what was it again cheeseburger, onion rings, hot chocolate and pie?" He smiled deviously when he said the last word. She blushed slightly remembering him offering to have a bite of her pie.

"Fries and two strong coffees, is that all?" The waitress asked impatiently watching them fight back and forth.

"Yes thank you," Caroline replied politely watching her walk towards the kitchen. "You memorised my food order from eight months ago?"

"You may not realise it Caroline but I remember everything," he murmured shrugging his shoulders. She looked away at that moment unable to meet his gaze, it was just too difficult.

Caroline felt her stomach flutter realising that maybe this little outing wasn't a very good idea given her remnant feelings for the idiot on the other side of the table. Yes she loved him but Caroline had never been so confused in her life.

It would be all too easy to fall back into his arms like nothing happened but she couldn't ignore the fact that he'd taken her for granted and the hurt she experienced was still raw. If he'd done it once before what made her think he wouldn't do it again?

She was angry at her friends for interfering in something that wasn't their business, even if they did think they had the best of intentions. The final straw was waking up and finding him in bed with her. She was so angry, not so much with him but with herself. She had no intention of ever being vulnerable to him again and look what she had to go and do? Sex was one thing but an engagement on top of it all?

Caroline knew she'd been somewhat mean to him this morning. She was just so angry with her behavior that the easiest thing to do was to take it out on him. She was actually surprised he hadn't fought back more, maybe he'd changed in the past few months?

"Is that someone over there?" She asked squinting her eyes across the street as a lone male let himself into the Pink Monkey's front door. He reluctantly looked across and nodded by way of response. "Okay, let's go."

"What about my caffeine?" He whined childishly.

"Get it to go, this is too important," she chided jumping up from her seat and stalking towards the door. She was a woman on a mission and nothing was going to get in her way.

"Yes ma'am," he muttered from behind but she was already out the door to reply.

Xxxxxxxxx

"We don't open until midday," the young guy said answering the door after Caroline's incessant knocking.

"I'm sorry but I've lost something very important and wanted to know if you've found it," she pleaded using her best puppy dog eyes.

"Okay I suppose you can come in," he replied begrudgingly. It was only at this point that a familiarity crossed his features and he grinned knowingly. "Hey I remember you two."

"I'm glad someone remembers," Klaus joked as they walked towards the bar. "What were we doing exactly?"

"You can't remember?"

"Well generally when someone asks that they don't remember," he shot back sarcastically.

"Well it's pretty hard to forget two people getting engaged," he smiled. "That reminds me, I didn't give you this last night." He slid over a coupon denoting a 10% discount on drinks. "For the happy couple."

"I'm so confused," Caroline murmured. "How did we get to that point?"

"I was too believe me, I mean one minute you were fighting because some guy tried to hit on you…"

"That's why we fought," Klaus murmured.

"Why doesn't the jealousy part surprise me," she quipped.

"Then the next minute you couldn't keep your hands off each other. After you eventually came up for air you were both at the bar asking for champagne because you were celebrating your engagement."

"How embarrassing," Caroline muttered. "I'm sorry you had to put up with that."

"If anything it was thoroughly entertaining," he laughed. "Now you said you lost something?"

"A ring," Klaus answered.

"Uh yes a ring," she said slowly.

"Oh are you talking about engagement ring? You didn't have one yet. You both mentioned going to buy it after you left here."

"That we did," Klaus laughed thinking about his cheap effort. "Did we happen to mention where we'd get the ring from?"

"No idea man, sorry."

"I'm talking about a ring I was already wearing, it means a great deal to me," Caroline interrupted more concerned about her lost property than their fake engagement right now.

"I think I'm going to need a little more description than that."

"It's silver," she began.

"And? Were there any stones?"

"Uh no stones, it's just two intertwined bands," she described slowly.

"I'll have a look but I don't recall anything like that turning up last night," he said rifling through his box of belongings.

"Do you have a men's room?"

"Yes."

"Maybe I should have rephrased that question," Klaus replied shaking his head. "Can you maybe point me in the right direction mate?"

"Oh that's right you don't remember," he teased. "It's at the back first door on the right."

When Klaus was safely out of earshot Caroline leaned forward and touched the barman's arm to get his attention as he waded through the box. "It's not a ring, it's a necklace."

"But you just said it was a ring?"

"I know what I just said but I had my reasons," she said gesturing towards the bathroom with her eyes. "It was actually a gift from Klaus so I couldn't uh elaborate as you'd understand."

"Oh someone's going to be in trouble. What does it look like?"

"It's white gold and pendant style with some words inscribed on it." She rambled hoping to get this conversation out of the way before he returned.

"What does it say?"

"Je t'aime."

"I'm sorry?" He asked like she'd sneezed on him or something.

"It means I love you in French," she explained sadly thinking just how much it meant to her. She'd never told anyone but ever since they broke up Caroline had continued to wear it hidden under her clothes. For some reason she couldn't stop and every time she tried it would immediately find its way back there.

She couldn't tell anyone because they'd think she was some sort of crazy person but she wanted it right next to her heart, even after everything that happened. As always she'd worn it under her dress the night before and when she realised it was missing an overwhelming sense of dread came over her. It meant so much to her and the thought that it was lost almost killed her.

That's when she knew she had to do everything in her power to find it. Having Klaus along wasn't ideal but he did say he might remember something and she needed all the help she could get right now. She just had to be discreet about how she asked about it.

"Woah I'm no romantic but that's pretty thoughtful. Someone's definitely going to be in trouble," he reiterated. At this point in time Caroline was just as worried about losing it as him finding out she still wore it.

"Look what I found in the toilet," Klaus replied trying hard not to smile and producing a picture making Caroline gasp in shock. "Who knew you had it in you love?"

The photo was of her gyrating against the pole amongst a bunch of other dancers, making a very convincing depiction of an exotic dancer.

"Oh my god," she groaned. "I thought people only wrote graffiti on bathroom walls these days but obviously it's gone that one step further."

"You should be flattered your photo took such pride of place."

"Oh yeah a bunch of guys ogling me in the toilet."

"Actually on second thought I agree with you," he muttered. "I better keep this." Caroline couldn't miss the jealous tone in his voice.

"I'll take that," she groaned plucking it from his hand. "The last thing I recall was being really bad at pole dancing and falling onto just about every part of my body; I definitely have the bruises to prove it."

"Were they just from the pole dancing?" Caroline just shook her head choosing to ignore that particular comment from Klaus.

"Yeah you were a big hit up there for an amateur," the bartender offered.

"Maybe you should consider a change of profession Caroline?" Klaus asked sending her his cheekiest grin.

"I'll stick to my day job thank you very much," she shot back unimpressed with his annoying not to mention unwelcome suggestions.

"I must say you are a very interesting couple, has anyone ever told you that?"

"All the time," Klaus replied as Caroline answered.

"We're not a couple."

"Yet you both got engaged last night?"

"It's complicated," they both answered in unison. He sent her his cutest smile and Caroline had to look away so he couldn't see her blushing.

"Any luck?" Caroline asked hoping to change the subject.

"No there's nothing here," he replied. "If anything shows up though I'll let you know, just jot down your number." Caroline felt terrible, but she was determined not to let it deter her just yet.

"Thanks anyway," she smiled sadly. As they walked outside she wracked her brain trying to work out how to find their next destination given they had no idea where the ring came from, until something came to her.

"Check your jean pockets."

"Excuse me?"

"Well if it worked in the Hangover movie it might work now," she said. "I mean they did find Doug on the roof of Caesar's Palace in the end."

"I hate to break it to you love but that was a just a movie," he explained slowly for her benefit.

"Just shut up and do it," she ordered growing tired of his smartarse come backs. He shrugged his shoulders then rifled through his pockets pulling out an assortment of receipts. "Ah ha I knew it!"

"Okay looks like I have a cab receipt from the Pink Monkey to Brookfield," he read. "What's in Brookfield exactly?"

"I think I may actually know," she inhaled sharply. "There's a place that Stefan and I used to go to a lot because he was a big child, even back then."

"The Galloping Ghost?"

"How did you know?" She asked curiously.

"It says it on this receipt for assorted items," he laughed passing it to her. "What exactly is a Galloping Ghost?"

"It's a 24 hour arcade, Stefan has a thing for old school video games like Space Invaders so he used to make me go there all the time," she reminisced. "I have a feeling that's where we found our ring."

"Well let's get going then," he grinned flagging down a passing cab. "I wouldn't mind a game of Pacman if they've got it. I used to be…"

"Really good at it?" She asked pre-empting his response. "Why am I not surprised. Klaus we're here on a mission here not to mess around," she said pointing her finger at him accusingly.

"Oh come on, live a little," he shot back.

"I think we did plenty of that last night don't you?" She growled jumping in the backseat of the cab.

"Although we can't even remember it. Seriously Caroline when did you turn into such a wet blanket?"

"The moment you decided to show up again and throw my life into disarray as only you can do Klaus."

"Um where do you want to go?" The cab driver asked interrupting their increasingly heated argument.

"The Gloomy Ghost," Klaus replied distractedly.

"It's the Galloping Ghost in Brookfield thanks," she shot back rolling her eyes.

"You always have to be right don't you?"

"No," she spluttered. "But I usually am."

"Now who's got an over inflated ego?" He growled. "I'm sorry we can't all be as perfect as Caroline Forbes."

"I'm not perfect but your behaviour leaves a lot to be desired buddy. Anyway you're only here in the first place because you were tricked into it by our interfering friends."

"Well last time I checked you ran off to London and didn't want me to contact you."

"I didn't run off," she scoffed choosing not to address his turn of events.

"Yes you did, and the only thing I regret is that I stupidly respected your wishes and let you go," he implored. "If anything I'm glad we ran into each other again whatever way it happened."

"So we could have a wild night getting drunk then engaged?"

"You got engaged?" The cab driver piped up looking at them in the rearview mirror dubiously. "Sorry I couldn't help but overhear."

"I'm blaming it on the copious amounts of alcohol I consumed sir," Caroline answered sheepishly.

"But you went to the trouble of getting engaged," he repeated.

"And we even got a ring as well," Klaus added.

"It was plastic."

"Hey it's the thought that counts," he groaned. "I never knew you were so materialistic love."

"I'm not," she murmured. "It's just the person who was proposing that was a problem."

"Ouch. If you don't mind me asking what did he do that was so wrong?" The cab driver asked. Caroline was realising that his services didn't just include driving but relationship counselling as well. "And you can leave out the part about running away to London and telling him to leave you alone, I already got that."

"He put work above our relationship," she said sadly. Reliving the reasons for their break-up wasn't what she felt like doing right now, especially with a nosy cab driver and with an enormous hang over.

"Did you do that?"

"Yes I did," he admitted. "But all I've done is regret it ever since."

"But you just let her go to London?"

"That's what she wanted," Klaus argued his frustration obvious.

"You wouldn't believe the number of clueless males I get in my cab," he chided. "She didn't really want you to leave her alone, she wanted you to fight. Trust me I've been married 45 years and you learn that women don't mean what they say."

"Well I wouldn't go that far," Caroline piped up.

"Trust me dear you do, just ask my wife. You should have been more honest but this knucklehead should have known to read between the lines instead of sulking."

"Who are you calling a knucklehead?"

"I think it's rather fitting actually," Caroline quipped.

"Okay yes I might have sulked but I truly believed she'd moved on and didn't love me anymore."

"Why would you think that?" She asked unable to help herself.

"Enzo."

"Who's Enzo?" The cab driver asked.

"The guy she slept with," Klaus growled.

"Here we go again, I had every right to be with someone else. We weren't together then if you remember?"

"Yes, but Enzo," he growled. "Of all people you had to choose him to move on with. I've spent the past few months unable to get the vision of you two together out of my head Caroline."

"I know we've just met," the cab driver began. That was an understatement Caroline thought about the complete stranger who was analysing their break-up. "But I'm pretty sure she's not over you. Klaus, do you mind if I call you that?"

"Uh I guess not."

"You got engaged last night."

"Apparently but we were drunk," Caroline cried trying to convince a complete stranger that he was wrong.

"Yes but the truth has a way of coming out when you're inebriated Caroline," he offered wisely. "If you ask me you both need to put yourself out of misery and by the sounds of it your long suffering friends too." The cab descended into silence as Klaus and Caroline stared at each other thinking about what he'd said.

She knew she loved him but marriage? She'd never considered it until now and Caroline was starting to realise that maybe that was why she was so irritable and upset. Her first reaction was shock understandably but deep down she knew the concept of marriage with Klaus wasn't altogether a foreign concept.

"Here we are," the cab driver said pulling up outside the Galloping Ghost.

"Thanks mate," Klaus said looking over at Caroline briefly and she could tell he didn't just mean for the ride. "Here's a little extra."

"That's very generous of you Klaus," he smiled looking at the abundance of green notes in his hand. "Oh and congratulations on your engagement."

"You realise he does that so naïve people like you will tip him extra?" Caroline said once he'd pulled away from the curb.

"I may be naïve but he made some good points, even that part about me being a knucklehead," he chuckled.

"Oh p-uh-lease," she scoffed. She had no intention of letting him know that she agreed though. "Yeah knucklehead was right but let's just get back to the job at hand."

xxxxxxx

"Ah if it isn't the happy couple back again," a bubbly blonde girl said as they approached the front counter. "You know we offer very competitive wedding packages."

"As enticing as that sounds," Caroline said trying not to sound sarcastic. "We lost something last night and were wondering if you'd come across it."

"What was it?"

"It was a ring," Klaus answered automatically. Caroline inhaled deeply thinking how she was going to have to explain the discrepancy yet again.

"You bought a ring from that machine over there last night. Don't tell me you've already lost it?"

"No we haven't, but I'm sure it wouldn't cost too much to replace," she murmured. "Klaus why don't you go and play Pacman?"

"Oh now I'm allowed to play video games," he scoffed. "Although I won't ask again. I'll be over there if you need me your highness."

"So a ring, what does it look like?"

"It's not a ring," she explained hurriedly and continued before the girl could clarify. "It's a pendant necklace actually, white gold with the words je t'aime engraved on it."

"Oh I love you," she cooed. "I studied a bit of French in high school, I assume that gorgeous piece of eye candy gave it to you?"

"Ah yes that gorgeous..." she rambled before correcting herself. "Yes he gave it to me and I really just want it back."

"I can understand. Just give me a minute and I'll have a look." Caroline nodded getting stressed with every moment. If she didn't find the necklace Caroline wasn't quite sure what to do. Maybe this was the universe's way of telling her to move on already, but she knew she wasn't ready for that yet.

She reluctantly walked over to where Klaus was animatedly playing Pacman, she had to admit he looked very cute concentrating while doing it.

"I'm heading towards top score," he laughed gleefully.

"Congratulations," she offered realising just how uptight she'd been. Yes they had history but she was well and truly sick of keeping up the act that she was angry with him.

Yes she was upset but a majority of the anger had dissipated if she was being honest with herself. Her mother of all people told her that holding onto anger was pointless and she was starting to believe that. That didn't mean she was going to welcome him in her arms anytime soon. Pretending to impress the Taylors had nothing on this.

He continued to play loud bursts of sound emanating from the machine as he killed each ghost one by one. "Gotcha!" Until a wailing sound came out meaning he'd bombed out.

"Top score hey?"

"I just got here," he scoffed. "Give me some time love."

"So what do you have to do in this game exactly?"

"I thought you came here all the time?"

"Yeah for Stefan," she replied. "I didn't play video games; it was more like moral support."

"The aim of the game is eat all the pac-dots in the maze and kill the ghosts," he replied. "Easy."

"Yeah easy for you," she muttered.

"Here let me show you," he offered standing behind her as she took control of the controls uncertainly. Caroline wasn't sure how she was going to go with him standing so close to her. She could feel his breath on her neck and was struggling to overcome the dizziness he caused.

She shook her head and tried to concentrate moving pacman around his course and trying to avoid the multi coloured ghosts. If she happened to go off course Klaus would cover his hand with hers and navigate her to safety.

Their close proximity meant that there were instances where his body would rub up against hers and she was trying to ignore the heat spreading through her body. All she wanted to do was turn around and give into her feelings.

"I had a look," a cheerful voice interrupted their moment as she succumbed to a ghost. "And I couldn't find anything."

Caroline moved away attempting to distance herself from him and the feelings he was stirring deeply inside her body. Why did he have to be so damn irresistible?

"Really nothing?" She asked desperately.

"I'm sure we'll find it," he offered trying to offer her comfort. She couldn't help but feel slightly buoyed but his support given he had no idea what they were searching for. "Did we happen to mention where we were going next?"

"No I'm sorry you didn't say," she offered. "But best of luck with the wedding though."

"Yeah thanks," Klaus answered pulling her towards the entrance. "We'll find the ring don't worry Caroline."

"How can I not worry?" She asked her earlier optimism fading fast.

"Okay we need to think out of the box," he murmured thoughtfully. "Check your phone."

"My phone?"

"Yes probably something we should have checked earlier now I think about it," he advised. They both searched their photos and messages desperate for a lead in their mission.

"Bingo," Caroline said showing him a photo of them posing in front of a familiar 7-Eleven. "From memory this is only a five-minute walk from here."

"How do you know?"

"Stefan and I used to spend a lot of time there," she explained.

"Well what are we waiting for?" He asked as they set off down the street. "Why do you think we went to a 7-Eleven?"

"Are you telling me you've never had a big night that didn't end at a 7-Eleven?"

"Good point," he conceded. "Usually it's Cheetos and Starburst for me."

"I'm more of a twinkies and pretzels girl," she shared. "That would go down so well right now."

"Well if you'd just had some of my fries you wouldn't be craving other food," he teased. "Well here we are."

They walked into the 7-eleven and Caroline felt nervous thinking this could probably be her last chance of finding her necklace. The guy at the counter sent them a big knowing smile and they approached ready to reel off the usual explanation.

"If it isn't my favourite engaged couple," he beamed. "What are you doing here?"

"We're looking for something," Caroline began while Klaus walked off to peruse the shelves no doubt for some cheetos. "Did you happen to find a necklace here last night?"

"I haven't but I'll ask my colleague who's around here somewhere," he offered. She felt sick realising that this might be the end of the road. She walked around noticing Klaus had found a random male friend as they chatted away animatedly.

All of a sudden it hit her. No matter what happened right now she wouldn't see him again. Yes at Rebekah's wedding but then she'd be back in London and they'd be estranged from each other again. Maybe she was the one who created the gap between them but now it didn't seem as favourable as when she left the states all those months ago.

She looked around trying to place the guy she spoke to about her necklace but he was nowhere to be seen.

"Is this what you're looking for love?" Klaus interrupted her thoughts holding out his hand and producing the necklace she was so desperate to find. She looked at him wordlessly wondering how he'd come across her necklace. "James thought you might like this."

"Thank you," she sighed unable to elaborate, she'd tried so hard not to disclose why she was on this journey.

"Why didn't you tell me this was what you were looking for all along?"

"Are you really surprised?"

"I am actually," he confessed. "After everything that happened I didn't think you'd kept it let alone were still wearing it." She was trying to avoid his gaze because she knew she'd just start crying. "I'd be lying if it didn't give me a small glimmer of hope though."

"I really don't know what I'm thinking right now Klaus," she admitted. "But you have no idea how relieved I am to have it back." She grabbed it greedily and held it to her chest gratefully feeling so relieved. "I uh have to catch a flight soon; I should really be going."

"So you're just going to leave like that?" He asked in shock. "What about the next stop on our mission?"

"I thought I told you," James explained interrupting the conversation. "You said something about going back to celebrate at your hotel after this."

"I guess I was just trying to prolong it," Klaus offered feebly. "Please don't go just yet?"

"I'm sorry I can't stay, but I'll uh see at the wedding." she said sadly before leaving the 7-Eleven. It felt harsh but Caroline was way too upset and confused to explain herself or her feelings right now.