Caroline stared up into Alaric-well Klaus'- eyes. She had forgotten how to breath. He was here. An inch away from her. After 500 years, here he was right in front of her.

"How did..when did…how long?" Caroline was struggling getting a complete sentence out. What do you say to someone you haven't seen in so many years? "Hey how are ya?" just didn't work.

Klaus couldn't help but chuckle. She was speechless. He still had her trapped against the wall. For a moment he got lost in her beautiful blue eyes, but then was reminded why he was here. Not for her. For Elena.

"Well, I had a little help from a witch of mine. But, it seems you and your lot have done away with him," Klaus said. He didn't really care because, well, he always had a back-up. You learn to do that over 1000 years.

Caroline just looked at Klaus. Though he was in Alaric's body, she knew it was him. How did she not notice it before? That ordeal in the hallway, the way he looked at her, the way he walked, right down to his attire. How could she not see it.

She was getting ready to respond, but was interrupted by someone walking in.

"Hey Caroline, me and Stefan are going to…." Damon stopped talking as soon as he saw Alaric and Caroline. He looked from Alaric to Caroline, and said, "am I interrupting something?"

Before Klaus could speak, Caroline pushed him away from her and said, "no nothing, nothing at all," she all but squeaked out.

"Ooookay. We should get Alaric out of here. It's for his own safety, and seeing as we can't get Katherine out of here, we should make sure all this time we wasted was in vane," Damon said.

Then Klaus spoke up, "No. I should stay here. The guy who took us both hostage threatened to kill everyone in town if I didn't do what he said." Klaus looked over at Caroline hoping she got the message.

Luckily for all of them, she did.

"Yeah, we wouldn't want to risk any harm to anyone else. In the meantime, let's do something about the body and get out of here." Caroline needed to get out of that apartment. She could hardly think straight and since Klaus was already here, Katherine was useless to her.

Damon nodded in agreement and walked out of the kitchen. He and Stefan had to get rid of this witch and he needed a strong drink. Very strong.

After Damon left Klaus looked at Caroline saying, "Bravo. I didn't know you took up theatre after we parted ways."

Caroline glared at Klaus. Part of her was angry at him for coming here, and the other part was a little bit happy? After all, she has known this man for 1000 years. She grew up with him and went through so much with him. But none of it mattered. He was here for one purpose and one purpose only: Elena. Always the doppelganger.

"How much longer do you plan on being in Alaric's body?" Caroline needed information. They had to come up with a plan faster than she anticipated.

"Oh, as soon as my body gets here. Trust me, darling, I can only take so much of this. But that's not the answer you were hoping for was it?" Klaus said with a smirk. He was in Alaric's body, but his signature smirk was always noticeable as his own. No matter whose body he was in.

Caroline just stared at him. He knew her well enough to find out when she was plotting something.

"I don't see why you're in such a hurry to get this man back. He is so dreary. His taste in clothes is awful, he has hardly nothing in his apartment, and he's a schoolteacher. A history one at that. Tell me Caroline, why does he matter so much?" Klaus wanted to know why this low-life teacher was so close and so special to Caroline.

"He's my friend. And no one deserves to have their free-will taken away. Whether it be by compulsion, or taking over their body," Caroline replied.

"Oh. I see. Friends. Well, you'll get your friend back soon enough," Klaus said the word like it was vile.

Caroline couldn't help but notice how Klaus was acting during their conversation. He must be..

"Are you jealous?" Caroline asked. She couldn't believe it.

Klaus gaped at Caroline. Jealous? Of this man?

"Not in the least, darling. Just finding out what's got you so hooked on him being back the way he was."

"Alaric and I are friends. We work together. We teach in the same school. We see each other every day. Other than that. Nothing."

3…2…1…

"And why am I even explaining myself to you? If I wanted to have a relationship with someone it'd be none of your business. Who do you think you are? You think you can just show up at five centuries and then tell me who I can and cannot associate myself with? You.."

Before Caroline knew it she was an inch away from Klaus again. Her little rant made her walk closer to him. She had completely forgotten what she was going to say, or even what she was yelling at him about.

"I anticipated a little 'rant' from you, darling. But no worry. I won't let it go to my head." Klaus smirked.

Caroline backed away from him. How does one man do so many things to her? She really needed to leave.

"Keep up your little charade. But if you harm anyone in this town, or any one of my students, I'll make sure your body never makes it here."

"I wouldn't be so swift to make threats here, sweetheart. You see, if my body doesn't arrive here and you have a hand in it, I'll make sure that you never see your friend Alaric, again. And if you tell anyone I'm in possession of this body, let's just say you're friends and any loved ones you have in this town are in danger. That whole "I'll kill everyone in town" threat I made earlier? Was a promise. And I don't break my promises do I?" His voice took on a threatening tone.

"No. You only break the promises that matter," Caroline said.

Klaus knew what she meant by that. And it hurt him to see the pain in her eyes. The pain he had caused.

She would've said more if Elijah hadn't walked in.

"Caroline, are you ready to go?"

"Yes. Go ahead and wait for me outside. I'll be there in a moment."

Elijah went and joined the Salvatore brothers outside.

"I see you're in cahoots with my brother. Is he as noble and honorable as he was the last time I saw him?"

Caroline didn't even bother to respond. She started to walk out of the kitchen when Klaus grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to him.

Klaus stared at her. He had no idea what possessed him to do that. He felt a need to touch her. To be close to her. He saw in her eyes how speechless she was. He had caught her totally off-guard.

Their faces were inches apart. She should be pushing him, slapping him and screaming at him for touching her. But she felt completely limp in his arms.

He smiled and said, "See you tomorrow, Caroline."

She broke herself free from him and ran out of the apartment.

After separating from the Salvatore's, Elijah and Caroline went to her house. He walked her to the door like the perfect gentleman that he was.

He noticed Caroline looked distraught. He was concerned for her.

"Is everything alright, Caroline?"

"Yeah, Elijah, everything's fine. Except for the fact that we couldn't save Katherine and now we have another Vampire here." She didn't mean to be so sarcastic. She knew Elijah meant well.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. It's just.."

"I completely understand Caroline. We've all had a long day. We all need some rest."

Caroline smiled at Elijah. He always understood her. Even when she was being rude to him, he would find some way to justify it.

"Would you like to stay here? Unless you have some place to go.."

"No, thank you, but I don't want to impose."

"Nonsense. You're staying here with me. End of discussion," Caroline said as she dragged Elijah inside the house.

After she helped make up a bed for him on the couch, she had a blood bag and a long shower. Her mind was going a million miles an hour and she was exhausted. Seeing Klaus for the first time in so long just brought all of these emotions out. And it drained her.

After her shower she bid Elijah goodnight and crawled into bed. She couldn't get what happened with Klaus out of her mind. She would have to see him tomorrow and pretend that he was Alaric. She couldn't tell anyone about it, though it was the only way to stop him.

She laid there for what seemed like hours. Contemplating what she should do. She thought back to the moment she shared with Klaus before she left. His arms, though they were Alaric's, were strong and held her the way she needed to be held. She had been deprived of that for so long she had almost forgotten what it felt like, until tonight. For some reason, she felt cold and empty when she pulled away from him. Why did something that was so wrong feel so…right?

She couldn't figure it out. Everything that happened just made her remember the past. And it made her weep. Weep for what used to be, and what would never happen.

Elijah heard Caroline crying that night. He wanted to comfort her. To tell her everything was alright. He didn't know what was wrong with her, but he intended to find out. Caroline was too precious to him. And when she was broken, he was broken. Her emotions were his emotions. And her pain was his pain. That's what family was. And she was all the family he had left.

Oh, God! I got teared up just WRITING this!

Hope you all enjoy this Klaroline chapter. Also the bit of Carolijah too.

I hope I portrayed Klaus well. We see how he can be threatening one moment then affectionate in the next.

Also Caroline and Klaus' little argument was a joy to write. I love Klaus' attitude too.

And Caroline wouldn't be Caroline unless she freaked out for some reason. ;)

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