So, as promised here is the next chapter.=)

You will get to know a totally different side of Klaus, but I tried to keep him in character.

I hope you like it!

She didn't know who the man next to her in the driver seat was, but right now she couldn't care less.

She wanted to get out of here, just leave, gain distance from herself. What she needed was a holiday, a few days outside of time. Caroline didn't know anymore who she was. She felt lost and small, like she was floating on air without any course or direction. Who was she?

And the worst was that she didn't even know anymore who she had been!

The screams in her head were still there. Sometimes louder sometimes more subdued, but she couldn't fully turn them off. It was the worst at night when she was lying in silence in her bed, tiered from everything she had gone through she just wanted to rest, but she couldn't. The voices became louder and wouldn't let her get any of it. They yelled at her, accused her.

Murderer.

Vicious Vampire!

They threatened her. We will haunt you forever! An eternity of persecution without a quiet second!

Every time she let the voices get to her she felt the tear drops trickle down her face. She couldn't help it. If she could she would run away from herself. Maybe hide in a dark corner and never move again. She swallowed feeling the hot tear drops emerge again.

Caroline closed her eyes in order to concentrate on her breathing instead. The panic always came with the tears, but she learned to control at least that part of her emotions.

Klaus drove slowly and quietly.

Out of the corners of his eyes he saw Caroline close her eyes while the tears left wet tracks on her cheeks. She trembled ever so lightly that no one would have noticed.

As he looked at her, he asked himself for the millionth time why he had suddenly suggested taking her away to his summer house. Elijah had asked him the same question with a knowing grin.

That damn bastard was smarter than him, again. He knew where this was heading while Klaus asked himself what this would be all about. He just knew that it was about Caroline.

He had been stupid to suggest this trip!

Why the hell did he care? He never cared about anyone other than his family.

Nothing else mattered.

But then he remembered that Caroline had been there for him before, as he had thought that Silas had stabbed him.

He would just pay her back and concentrate on getting her out of his system…he had almost laughed at himself, for that plan had been on his mind for quite a while now but he hadn't been able to act on it so far.

The road made turn after turn as they drove deeper and deeper into the forest and higher up the mountain. It was cloudy, but not cold at all. The treetops were dense as they stood close together. It almost looked like a picture out of a fairy tale. The air was crystal clear and refreshing.

The engine's sounds were quiet and smooth, purring like a cat. They didn't encounter anyone else and since the road had merged into only one way covered with pebbles they surely wouldn't encounter anyone.

Caroline opened her eyes again for the panicky feeling had subdued and now she concentrated on the road and tried to quieten the voices in her head. She didn't notice the side looks Klaus shot at her.

After another turn the trees lightened and they drove up a driveway. A rather short one, but the house it led to was more than impressive.

It looked like one built in the Victorian era. It was big and white with a patio in front of it that seemed to surround the whole building. There was something magical about it, about the way the light danced around it. It almost seemed as if the white would refract the sunrays that came through the clouds now and separated its colours into little rainbows.

Klaus killed the engine. "Well, here we are."

He opened his door and Caroline got out simultaneously gaping at the house. It looked very well looked after with even some flowerbeds around it.

Klaus smiled as he saw her admiring it. "Do you like it?"

Caroline looked at him and nodded: "It's beautiful." She whispered.

He had noticed that she hardly spoke at normal volume these days. He frowned, but just walked to the back of the car grabbing their bags.

She wanted to carry hers herself, but he just motioned for her to go inside.

The hall was big, with lengthy golden rimmed mirrors at both walls right and left. She walked through the small door at the end of it and entered the living room area. She held her breath as she saw that there were huge panorama windows in front of her. The view was magnificent!

There was a meadow behind the house that was slightly running down the mountain. In the far distance over the tree tops she saw the silhouettes of the other mountains.

As she had taken it all in she looked to her right to discover a large couch and a huge TV on the wall.

As to her left was the kitchen area as far as she could see. It was separated through half a wall while the other half was a wooden sliding door.

Klaus had watched her silently and felt quite amused actually.

"Come on I'll show you your room."

They walked back into the hall and through another door on the right that led into a library first out of which a spiral staircase led the way upstairs. They stood on a landing that was furnished with a nice little sitting area in one corner and a door on the opposite site.

To their right was a corridor that led to the seven sleeping rooms with attached bathrooms.

There was a window at the end of the corridor which faced the dense forest.

"Your room is the last one on the right side." He entered it and placed her bag on the big bed. It was a bright room, coloured in yellow and orange tones. On one wall was a big picture of what looked like a burning sun, with silver rays in it surrounded by a red and orange glow.

It looked wild and raging, but conveyed warmth.

She hadn't noticed that she had been staring at it.

"It's one of my brightest works. I can't even remember why I painted that, but admittedly my other works are rather dark, but this turned out as something totally different."

She looked at him with hollow eyes which surprisingly made him shudder. This was the warmest and brightest room in the house and he had given it to her for a reason.

"My room is just opposite of this one. Well, make yourself at home and come downstairs whenever you like." She nodded at him, muttering a low thank you.

Klaus retreated to his own room and his thoughts wandered randomly from here to there.

He didn't know what to think or what to focus on.

Caroline looked pale and had dark shadows under her eyes. He suspected that she hadn't fed much lately. He sighed.

Caroline had put her things into the drawer that stood under the painting. Why was she here?

Was there any purpose of this? Probably not…It was null and void.

The pain was pulsing inside of her, but somehow, at the same time, she felt numb. She stared into the big mirror in the bathroom. Who was that?

She stretched out her hand to touch the glass, but retreated before she could do so. Red rimmed absent eyes. There was something missing the strange woman that looked back at her, but she didn't know what it was. She just knew that she was a stranger to herself without any aim, road or purpose. The familiar burning returned to her eyes and she closed them so she wouldn't have to look at the stranger anymore.

He heard her footsteps on the floor, although it was a very faint sound. Caroline seemed to sneak around. Just then he noticed that it wasn't only her voice, but her steps too, just like her every move. She was being extra quiet.

He was lying outside on a sun lounger on the patio enjoying the last bit of sunshine for the day with his eyes closed he listened to the wind.

When Caroline stepped onto the patio he peeked at her and couldn't help but notice that she had been crying again. Caroline sat quietly down on the other lounger next to him. She pulled her legs up and put her arms around them.

Klaus closed his eyes again and turned his face back into the sun, his hands lay behind his head and he had shrugged out of his pair of jeans and into a more comfortable pair of trousers.

Caroline kept starring into the distance.

Klaus couldn't resist to peek at her again, because she made no sound and he actually had to make sure that she was still there. He sat up straight and faced her frowning. She glanced at him but went back to stare into nothing.

"You are awfully quiet lately."

Caroline shrugged. "Am I?" She tried to raise her voice above a whisper, but it broke and she bit her lip avoiding his stare.

Klaus blinked and suspected that she was hiding something. "Caroline, are you okay?"

She didn't respond at first, but he waited. Klaus had never considered himself a patient person, but somehow, right now, he suddenly didn't mind.

"The quieter I am the quieter they are." Klaus looked at her questioningly and the tear drops welled up in her eyes again. "I can still hear them." She sobbed. "They scream at me! They accuse me! They…will haunt me…forever." She drew a deep breath past the lump in her throat and gasped.

"Caroline." Klaus bent forward and took her hand in his. She was ice-cold as if the light had taken the warmth with it. He locked eyes with her. "You mustn't listen to them!"

"I…can't." She closed her eyes. "They are so loud!" She whispered.

"Caroline, look at me. You mustn't listen to them! I told you it was not going to be easy, but they will stop." She whimpered once and then nodded, brushing the tears away.

"How often did you turn it off?"

His eyes hardened and he turned away from her, retreating to his own lounger again while his eyes focused on an invisible spot in the distance.

"Never." He answered before he turned to look at her again. Caroline's eyes were wide open but she didn't make a sound. Never?

"But…I thought…"

Klaus scoffed.

"You did all these things…and…you…"

"I really don't want to talk about this now!" He stood up and walked inside while Caroline just stared after him. She remembered Elijah's words…and suddenly she felt sorry for him.

Murderer!

Feeling sorry for the big bad wolf but not for us, do you Caroline?

She whined covering her ears even though she knew it wouldn't help anything. "Go away!"

Never!

Klaus was in his studio looking at his paintings. He gritted his teeth as he splashed black colour at a canvas. It was already mostly black but not yet enough. He concentrated on the strokes and took a step backwards after every second or so to be able to look at the work from afar so as to see if it would really work out the way he had planned it. He struggled to breathe even.

He dipped the brush into the paint again.

Then after a while he noticed the noises of clinkering pots in the kitchen.

Klaus stepped into the kitchen where Caroline was rummaging through the cupboards.

"Hey. Are you hungry? I thought, maybe we could cook something…" She was insecure almost shy considering the way she looked at him.

"All right then. What do you want to do?"

She puckered her lips. "Hm, I don't know…maybe…SpagBol?"

Klaus sniggered. "All right then, but we do it the way the Italians do it which means we require fresh tomatoes, two carrots, an onion, celery, minced meat, basil…"

"Wait wait what? You can actually cook?" Two big wide eyes stared at him almost aghast.

Klaus laughed while he washed his hands. Caroline looked at him baffled. She hadn't thought he could cook…it was something so…mundane… "Surprised?" He grinned and wiped his hands on a towel. "Sweetheart, when you have this much time at your hands you are always looking for a distraction." He fetched a pan and a pot out of the lower cupboards and started to gather the vegetables.

"You mean something you do in your free time when you are not busy taking over the world?"

He laughed heartily and it almost scared Caroline. She had never heard his throaty laugh this clear.

"If you want to put it that way. The meat is in the fridge." He pointed behind her and Caroline turned around to get it. "There are also blood bags in there."

She hesitated in front of the open fridge door. Klaus frowned. "You need to feed, love. You look already awful!"

Her lip started to tremble again and she hated it! She hated to be weak, but she couldn't help it. It was like she was still in shock and the voices grew louder. When Klaus noticed that she was frozen on the spot he frowned and asked: " Caroline, what is the matter?"

She didn't want to tell him, but she had to talk about this to someone. It was as if the words simply tumbled out of her mouth as soon as she opened it. "I…they are angry. They…won't let me…" She covered her face with her hands. All this guilt, it hurt so much!

Klaus clenched his jaw. In two long strides he was in front of the fridge and took a blood bag out of it. He poured the contents into a glass and held it out to Caroline.

"Drink or I will make you!" His voice was dark and threatening. Intimidated Caroline took the glass with a shaky hand. He crossed his arms and watched her with screwed eyes.

Caroline looked at the blood as if she was afraid to drink it. Just like a human would do.

There was this anxiety inside of Klaus again, this strange feeling that tugged at his guts.

Murderer! Spilled all our blood for nothing! Doesn't feel sorry! Ruthless! Vicious! Should have died in that hospital! Dead! A parasite! Man-eater!

The voices screamed all at once and it was a shrill buzzing sound that drowned everything out. She wanted to drop the glass and run away but Klaus meant his words. He would force the blood down her throat and she didn't want that either. She hated to be compelled and he knew that.

"Drink!" He snarled again.

Caroline squeezed her eyes shut and downed the glass quickly in one gulp.

Her head felt like it was about to explode. The glass broke into a thousand of tiny pieces that scattered all over the floor. She dropped onto her knees and covered her ears screaming loudly.

Pain shot through her body and her ear drums hurt.

Klaus knelt down in front of her putting both of his hands over hers. "Caroline!" He said calmly but she didn't seem to hear him. She screamed again and sobbed. "Caroline!" He said louder and pulled her hands off her ears, then he cupped her cheeks and made her look into his face. "Focus! They can't hurt you! You are okay! Remember how to breathe, come on…focus on my voice. Breathe in and out. Yes, that's right. Sweetheart, they are not real! It's your conscience that's playing you, because you have never been a bad person and you haven't been a vampire for long yet. Humans are still closer connected to your mind than vampires, that's why you still feel with them. But they can't hurt you, so don't let them get to you! Okay?"

Caroline nodded and felt the tears slip beneath her shirt. She still trembled at the stinging pain, but it was not constantly there anymore. She drew deep breaths through her mouth while Klaus pulled her up. "I am sorry." She whispered but Klaus shook his head.

It hadn't been much blood that she had had, but he noticed that it had already worked on her skin. It looked smoother again and not so leathery. He felt pleased about it and there was a strange urge to reach out and touch her cheek again.

He cleared his throat and went quickly back to the pots while Caroline started to sweep the shards up.

A while later, while Klaus was frying the meat and Caroline cut the vegetables she asked silently:

"Where did you learn how to cook?"

There was a second when he was actually surprised that she asked, but then he smiled. "I have been doing something everywhere I think. In France, Italy, Spain, China…"

"Ew…they eat practically everything, don't they?"

He chuckled. "Yes, they do." He was quiet, pushing the meat around in the pan.

"I think I would just eat the rice…"

"But they have a very exquisite cuisine, sometimes a bit too exotic admittedly, but it is really good never the less."

She frowned. "So you have tried everything, haven't you?" She gagged.

Klaus smiled and glanced at her. And he imagined answering: "Of course I did. Why shouldn't I? It's not like anything of it could kill me!" But out of his mouth tumbled different words and he didn't know if he should be afraid of this slip: "Well, admittedly, there are lots of things I didn't dare to try…"

Her mouth dropped. "You didn't dare? Well, that's a new one." But instead of making fun of it she just asked another question about him: "So what country do you think has the worst cuisine?"

He looked at her and thought about it. "That would be America I think." She waited for his explanation. "You see, they have no real variety. It is too greasy and I am not very fond of that."

She considered his answer and nodded. "Then what is your favourite cuisine?"

"That would be the Mediterranean one. And of course a well made Spaghetti Bolognese. Would you like some garlic in it?" There was a twinkle in his eyes that Caroline had never seen before. Or did she just not notice it before? She pulled a frightened face: "Garlic? Count Dracula would be shocked!"

He chuckled and ground a bit of parmesan cheese. "If you would lay the table…"

She did so and wondered about the direction this evening had already taken. This was so…normal!

And it felt like they had already done this a thousand times! So easy going and so…familiar.

Caroline had watched him discreetly the whole time and she had noticed his relaxed features and posture. It seemed like big bad Klaus had transformed into someone else and she couldn't help to wonder if he was actually always like this.

Klaus opened a bottle of red wine and secretly dropped a few drops of blood into Caroline's glass. It was probably not the proper way, but she needed blood! And if this was the way to get it into her system without much trouble he would take the risk.

The food was ridiculously delicious!

Caroline went as far as to state that it was the most delicious thing she had ever tasted.

Klaus laughed again this hearty free laughter that she had never heard before. She winced as he did it again. It didn't fit him…or did it? He was in a very playful mood. "The chef would like to thank you for the compliments." He bowed and Caroline actually snorted half a laugh. It was the first attempted laughter after everything that had happened and Klaus squinted at her. He would make it his challenge. For whatever reason he wanted to hear her laugh again, make her laugh and smile. She used to be a glistening light, but now she was just a dim match. A faint memory of who she once had been.

"So what you like to do tonight?" He asked while he put the plates into the dishwasher.
HE WAS PUTTING THE PLATES INTO THE FRICKING DISHWASHER!?
Another one of these mundane scenes and she would have to scream. She just shrugged, not really knowing what to do.

"How about a movie?"

She smiled a bit. "If it's something light and funny…"

"I am sure we will find something." Klaus opened a cupboard next to the TV that was filled to the top with DVDs and Caroline was flabbergasted once again before she scolded herself: I should have known it!

She wasn't really paying attention to the movie but concentrated on the closeness of his body next to hers. She had wrapped a blanket around her and snuggled into the soft couch with Klaus merely a few inches next to her. She could feel the body heat radiating around him. How comforting it would be to just snuggled up against him, or bury her face in his chest and never face the world again. She quickly shook her head what an absurd idea that was! But then again he had been so different tonight, so easy going, chatty and just actually quite a bit…lovely…caring.

Caring…why did he care? She swallowed. "Klaus. Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

Then she whispered: "Why do you care about me? How did you know, how to get me back?" Klaus swallowed and twitched. He suddenly felt nervous and he didn't know why exactly, but he did not let it show. He cleared his throat.

"You might not believe I know you, but I do, Caroline. I needed to trigger your emotions, hit your most vulnerable spot."

Caroline swallowed as she remembered everything. The tear drops threatened to spill again and she sniffed. He knew her most vulnerable spot? "You did." She mouthed whipping her sleeve over her eyes.

"Obviously." He smirked, but he didn't feel like it. Something inside him was very uneasy and clenched. He opened his mouth to say something but the words were stuck in his throat. Caroline couldn't see the screen anymore for the tears blurred her sight. She bit her lip to stop it from trembling and she tried to fight down the noises that wanted to escape her throat, but she failed.

All of a sudden he cupped her cheek and made her look into his eyes again. "I never wanted to hurt you! I am sorry." He couldn't tell when he had last apologized, honestly apologized to someone. It felt like his tongue formed the word for the first time. He swallowed and repeated: "I truly never wanted to hurt you and I never will again. I swear, Caroline!"

She sobbed another time and as she looked at him there suddenly was a flicker of light in her eyes. Klaus could not look away and for a second he thought it was just his imagination. He missed this light and he hoped it would fully return.

She didn't say anything which made him suddenly awkwardly nervous.

His hand caressed her cheek. "Love?"

"I guess we're even." Her voice cracked. "For all the tricks I have played on you." Another tear escaped her eyes, but this time Klaus caught the teardrop.

He smiled slightly. "Just don't turn it off again, it doesn't suit you."

She answered with a crooked smile between teardrops.

His face was unreadable but his eyes flickered from her eyes down to her lips and back again. He stroked his thumb over her cheekbone very slowly and suddenly another shiver ran through her body. She focused on his lips just like he did on hers.

Automatically they seemed to part slightly. Klaus couldn't look away. He felt her sweet breath on his face, her proximity was almost unbearable.

This was the perfect moment. The moment he would use to get her out of his system for once and for all! He slowly closed the distance and Caroline closed her eyes and released him from her glance. That did it. He focused on her expecting face. Ready to kiss him, to let him in and let him comfort her, full of trust…

He cleared his throat and withdrew quickly, getting up and turning off the TV. "It has been a long day I think we should get some sleep.

Caroline blinked confused and tried to return out of her daze.

In the middle of the night Klaus stood in front of his window and watched the meadow beneath his window. The moon was half full. Two weeks left before the pack would turn…

They needed a plan and they needed it quickly.

His thoughts wandered from the pack over to other things until they were on Caroline.

Tonight he had realised that she trusted him. She would have never come along if she felt otherwise especially in the given situation, but then again maybe she had had no other choice. But Caroline was headstrong, despite her constitution she wouldn't betray herself, would she?

He sighed. She had confined her fears to him and unintentionally he had done the same, given her a piece of himself tonight. Something only his family was aware of existed.

When was the last time someone had trusted him?

He winced as the memory hit him…the last time someone had trusted him that someone died…

He clenched his jaw in order to pull himself together. It would not happen again! Never!

He had to proof it to her that he was worth it! He needed to proof it to himself!

But there was a little voice inside of him that innocently asked: But are you worth it, Niklaus? How do you know? No one ever thought you were…

He shook his head and chased the thoughts away.

And that was when he heard it!

Screams.

Out of a reflex and before he even knew it he was out of his door and in her room.

Caroline's hands pulled her hair violently while she paced screaming at an invisible enemy.

You know you don't deserve it!

"Get out of my head!"

But it's just becoming so much fun!

"Go away!"

Are you afraid Caroline? Good! You should be! You don't deserve anything! You will suffer for our deaths!

"Shut up!" She wailed desperate.

No, never! Second choice basket case! Murderer! You are weak! No control! Look at yourself, you are mad, screaming at something that isn't even there!

"NO!" She sobbed and broke down.

"Caroline!" Klaus was at her side in less than a second.

"Just leave me!" She mumbled and her voice was strangled by all her tear drops. "Leave me alone. Leave me alone…" She repeated.

Something inside him suddenly broke as he saw her struggling like this and there was a second where he asked himself if she would make it? If she would be strong enough?

He quickly blocked the thoughts from his mind. No way, not this time!

"Caroline, love." He caressed her hair at first and then he wrapped his arms around her pulling her close. He closed his eyes and breathed as he suddenly felt goose bumps racing down his spine. His whole body tingled as if every nerve was fully aware of her proximity.

Caroline looked up at him with eyes wide open. Her face was white as a sheet.

She focused just then as if she hadn't noticed him before.

"Klaus." She croaked and suddenly her arms were around him and pulling him close. The tingling heightened and his breathing stuck in his throat.

Caroline buried her face in his naked chest, holding him tight as if she would fall apart if she let go.

"I am here, love. I am here…" he whispered and brought his lips down to her hair.

They hovered there until Caroline's sobs died down.

Klaus caressed her back in a soothing rhythm. This episode felt so surreal to him that he asked himself if it was really happening or if he was just dreaming?

She calmed down and the voices became a mere background noise. His scent was intoxicating, not leaving any space for her other senses to work.

"Come on, sweetheart." He gently scooped her up and put her down onto her bed.

He looked into her frightened face. "How do you feel?"

She shrugged while Klaus pulled the covers over her. "Do you think you will be able to get some rest tonight? How intense are they?" he asked seriously.

"Merely a background noise now, but…Klaus…" She hesitated not really daring to ask. Could she ask something like that? Would it be unfair?

"What? Don't be afraid, no matter what it is. I won't bite." He tried to enlighten the tension a bit but Caroline was too shaken to merely grin. "I…can…can you stay? Please?"

He looked deadpanned at her quivering lip and tried to focus. She wanted him to stay with her?

He could almost hear her dead heart hammer wildly inside her chest. Could feel the fear emanating from every pore of her body.

"Of course." He answered and pulled a strand of hair out off her face. She sighed closing her eyes briefly before she made room for him so he could join her under the covers.

He put his arm around her and Caroline buried herself in the crook of his neck.

He had been with many women but somehow this felt more intimate than ever and there wasn't even anything happening between them. He had never felt this insecure before as to what it meant.

Her breathing became slow and calm and it soothed his agitated nerves.

She did fall asleep in his arms, but Klaus was fairly sure that he wouldn't get a wink of sleep. That's when he made a decision.

He would help her through this and then leave town forever.

Thanks for reading!