Hey Guys,

here comes the latest update. I know this chapter is not as long as the ones before but I think the next one is going to be longer again.;)

Have a good time!

A bit later that night Caroline went looking for Klaus and she found him in his studio working on his paintings. She stood in front of the door and hesitated before she knocked silently at the wooden door. Caroline waited nervously for him to answer. It took some time, but then she heard his velvet voice.

"Come in."

She hadn't been in here before, which made her even more curious about the interiour of Klaus' precious studio. The room was big and had another panorama window that let in enough light for him to be able to catch it with his paintbrush. Everywhere she looked there were paintings of all different sizes. And all of them were magnificent!
Oh yes, they were.
Caroline could do nothing but admire them. Since Klaus had had lots of time on his hands the extension of his collection shouldn't surprise her as much as it did.

It made him smile a tiny bit as he noticed her curious looks.

"What do you think?" He watched her walking around the room.

"You have an undeniable talent there. They are beautiful. I really admire your works." She nodded and he smiled back at her. Klaus knew that his paintings were nothing more than perfect but somehow Caroline's opinion had made him very nervous. Her approval send a wave of relief through his body and he felt how his muscles relaxed quite a bit. How could one simple opinion of a young girl without much knowledge of art be this important to him?

Then suddenly Caroline held her head. He frowned and put the paintbrush into a water glass before he stepped in front of her. Searching for her eyes he reached out to cup her face but withdrew it again. "What is it?"

"I have finished the blood." She explained and Klaus smiled at her. Now he put a finger under her chin and lifted it. "It will become better."

"I know." She whispered and there was so much trust in her voice that it almost hurt.

She smiled coyly and wandered over to the painting he was working on currently.

He stepped next to her.

"And?"

"Well, it's…dark…very dark…"

He chuckled lightly. Caroline wondered if Elijah had meant this one but she couldn't believe it. She had almost forgotten about the painting, but she remembered now.

"Is this the only one you are working on at the moment?"

He hesitated. "No, there's another unfinished one back in Mystic Falls."

She nodded. That must be the one then. "Will you show me, when we get back?"

He looked at her, into her eyes, and all he could think about was his plan to leave town. He had to get away from her or he would lose control again. Earlier he had already opened up to her too much. He had grown to like her very much and he couldn't allow himself to hurt another person dear to him, not even speaking about hurting himself and moreover he couldn't allow his weakness to engulf him whole.

No, he wouldn't show her, because he had thought of her while he had painted it. "Maybe when it's finished…"

She nodded and Klaus couldn't help but feel that she had seen right through him then. She knew that he wouldn't show her. Not yet anyway.

It had been a huge step for him to tell her about his past, she knew that. She didn't think anyone besides his family knew. The strange thing was that the more she got to know him the more she understood why he was who he was. He lashed out when someone came too close, because no one had ever truly stayed by his side besides his family, but he couldn't even trust them because he didn't think he deserved it after he had done so many horrible things. He really thought that he wasn't worth of being saved and Caroline remembered the moment back in Mystic Falls when she had been dying and had told him that he was worth of being saved. It had saved her life.

She hadn't been sure if she had truly meant her words back then, but she knew that she meant them now.

He chuckled. "You know I can practically see you wreck your brains about something."

She smiled at him and waved a hand. "It's nothing really. I am gonna leave you to your paintings now." She turned towards the door, but Klaus just put every brush he had used into the water and decided: "Enough for tonight."
He walked through the door behind her. "So, do you want to go and scare some 'innocent' campers?" He joked.

"No!"She slapped his shoulder. "The poor things." But there was a flicker of light in her eyes again.

Klaus chuckled while they made their way downstairs.

"You're missing out on so much fun here, you know that right?"

How could his mood change so drastically in no time at all? Caroline wondered.

Downstairs as they crossed the living room Caroline stopped as it hit her.
He was denying his past and she was certain that it wouldn't help him heal. He denied himself closeness and everything good. Yes, he had hurt her and she had played him a lot of times, but he was still here helping her through this and she felt like she wanted to do something for him as well...

"Klaus…" Her voice was very low. She had stopped in her tracks and so did he.

Klaus didn't turn around but instead closed his eyes briefly. He hadn't missed the cautious tone in her voice and had actually expected a comment from her on his past, but he didn't know if he wanted to hear it. He would have loved to just drop the issue again.

"I…Is there anything I can do?"

He did just want to lock it up again in the darkest corner of his mind. Why the hell had he told her?

Klaus regretted it already and it made him spun around on his heel. The feeling of lashing out filled his body until he exploded. "Sympathy? Caroline, really? You should know better than that!" He started to leave when she went on: "I know the last thing you want is sympathy and I know that you think you don't deserve it!"

"You know nothing!" He snarled. Who was she to bring the topic up again?

"I know that you believe you can't keep anyone."

In a blink of an eye he was in front of her face looking as dark and threatening at her as ever. His features were made of stone and his eyes showed rage and it seemed as if the grey in them was a raging storm inside of him. He towered over the young vampire menacingly while the hot rage seized his whole body, but Caroline…

Well, Caroline didn't budge. Not an inch!

He could kill her within a mere second and Caroline was scared as hell but she stood her ground, just like she always did in front of him. She didn't show any fear although Klaus could sense it surrouding her whole figure. And for a split second he felt terrible for scaring her.

"Elijah told you, right? That bloody pest of a brother!"

"You are very lucky to have him!"

"Oh, am I?"

"Yes, you are! I am happy for you to have him to turn to!"

"Me? Turn to him?" He laughed humourlessly and took a few steps backwards. "I think you forgot who I am!" But there suddenly was a tinge of anxiety and maybe even a tiny thrill in the air.

"Oh, no I am just about to discover who you are!" While Klaus was screaming Caroline's voice was calm and reasonable.

He stepped closer again and there was an angry line across his forehead. "Are you? And what, pray tell, have you discovered so far?"

"Not only do you not try to understand people, you are also wallowing in self-loathing for over a thousand years now!"

His eyes narrowed and the tinge of fear slowly formed into panic, but Caroline bravely went on: "You loathe yourself for losing control back then and you are scared it could happen again."

He laughed. "Love, you are making a fool out of yourself!" But Caroline did hear the faint edge in his voice.

"That's why you don't let anyone close, because you are scared of the pain, of the loss that comes when you lose them!" Her voice became stronger.

"Caroline!" He warned her, she could hear that, but she didn't think about backing down now.

"You know how cruel you have been and you don't think you're worth being forgiven, because your parents have never forgiven you and you can't forgive yourself. Well, guess what, you just don't see that your siblings are still with you, even though you daggered them, and you are just too scared to show any emotions because the most powerful creature in the world could lose his reputation!"

"Caroline stop!" His hands balled into fist and his tensed muscles slowly started to tremble.

"Then again I think you don't want to be saved, because it is easier to just suffer instead of fighting for a better future. You can never undo what you have done, you said that yourself, but then for how long do you want to pretend that you can by self-loathing!?"

"Stop! Stop! Stop! Now!" He screamed at the top of his lungs which made the windows shudder. A chair flew across the room and crashed into a wall where it burst into pieces.

Caroline's eyes suddenly betrayed her and her bravery started to crumble as she witnessed his outburst. Her muscles started to tremble in fear even though she tried to suppress it. She knew that she couldn't take any words back now because she was right. Unconsciously he had just proofed it to her by freaking out.
Anyways she hoped that Klaus did care for her enough not to hurt her because who knew what he would do in the end. He had daggered his family never the less.

He was standing in the middle of the room. His arms pressed to his sides, his hands balled into fists. The debris of the chair and a part of the wall lay scattered all over the floor. His tensed posture trembled while he tried to control his rage.

"Anyone…" Caroline whispered and stepped carefully closer. "…capable of love is capable of being saved."

She stepped in front of him and reached out to touch his cheek, but she hesitated as he avoided her eyes. They were moist with angry tears of rage.

Caroline swallowed her own anxiety because right now there was something more important than her own insecurities. You need to help him, she told herself.

Then she carefully grazed his skin with her hand and a jolt of warmth suddenly emerged from the touched spot and spread through both of their bodies.

Klaus jerked his head up and looked at her.

Caroline's eyes were wary and a small knot of fear was still tight in her stomach. She had to be brave and believe that she could trust him despite everything. He wouldn't harm her. Would he?

Klaus had imagined his hands snapping her neck. He had almost felt her skin between his finger and her bones breaking under the pressure. He had seen himself effortlessly breaking her spine to make her shut up.
But something inside of him had made him grab the chair instead and he had smashed it into the wall with all his might. It had shattered into thousand pieces and in front of his eyes he had seen Caroline scatter.

One thousand ants crawled over his body making his hairs stand at edge.

However, he finally closed his eyes and leaned into her touch. He let himself give in and he thought he would fall, but strangely he didn't. Even through his closed eyelids he imagined to see her aura pulsing with light.

They made no sound.

She caressed his cheek ever so lightly and Caroline's breathing became irregular.

When Klaus noticed the change in her breathing he quickly turned around and walked into the kitchen. He supported his hands on the edge of the kitchen isle facing the wall. He couldn't look at her. Not like this!

He blinked until the hot burning left his eyes and the sobs died down in his throat.

He had lost it once again!

Caroline leaned against the door frame and watched his back unable to decide if she should say something or let him come to her.

Funnily she wished Elijah was with her to give her some piece of advice.

The silence became heavier and heavier until Caroline couldn't bear it anymore.

Suddenly she felt so horrible and she, herself, wanted to cry again. You would have thought that she'd run dry by now but the tears kept coming and flowing at any time and because of any tiny emotional imbalance.

"Please, say something!" She whispered in a broken voice which made him turn around looking totally flabbergasted. There was wonder in his eyes as he watched the emotions he felt, the tears he felt, flow out of her body instead.

"Caroline, why are you crying right now?" When I am the one who feels like it?

She shook her head piquing his curiosity that drew Klaus closer to her.

Very slowly he came to stand in front of her to put a finger under her chin. He raised her head until he could read her eyes. "I didn't mean to scare you." He guessed, but Caroline denied his assumption.

"You didn't." He raised his eyebrows at her. "I shouldn't have said anything, I didn't mean to upset you, I just wanted to…I just thought…You need to forgive yourself eventually."

Pain flickered briefly through his eyes. "Why?"

"Because no one can live like this forever and I don't think anyone…you…," She corrected herself, "…deserve it."

There was so much honesty in her eyes that he felt his knees grow weak.

Klaus just looked at her scrutinizing her lovely features. The loveliest he had ever seen. The ones that made Laelia and Tatia look very faint in his memory. His eyes wandered from her eyes towards her lips.

The red seemed to pulse and her sweet breath was warm on his face. He licked his lips and watched hers part ever so slightly. All he wanted to do was to close his eyes and give in.

Give in to this urge that suddenly roared inside of him.

But he couldn't…something inside of him held him back.

-What, you want to kiss her, don't you?

-This isn't right and you know that! You are taking advantage!

-I am not, she is way stronger than I am!

-Maybe, but she is younger and more inexperienced than you are so be responsible for once!

-Mate, it is the only way to get her out of your system!

-But does she deserve this?

Caroline watched his raspberry coloured lips come closer. She felt his breath on her face and wanted to lean into him. She wanted to feel his protective arms around her.
As she was about to closer her eyes Klaus shook his head and pulled away. "I should probably clear the mess up."

What!?

Caroline grabbed his wrist and Klaus stared down at it and back at her face. He frowned.

There was a determined streak around her eyes and mouth, but she seemed to debate within herself for another second before she stepped up to him, grabbed his face and pressed her lips to his.

Klaus petrified on the spot.

An electric shock ran through his body and it tingled in every single nerve end inside of him.

Her hands warmed his face and held him prisoner until she withdrew a little to look him in the eyes.

He was surprised and suddenly totally confused at the familiarity that he felt.

He looked into her eyes as well and held his breath. Caroline noticed his eyes widen and she frowned.

Klaus put a hand against her cheek and stared intently into her eyes and what he saw there made him almost choke. Light!

Her inner light shone out right through her eyes.

He had never seen anything quite as beautiful.

It wasn't as strong as it once had been, but it wasn't just a flicker this time.

His hand wandered around her neck and he pulled her towards him burying her mouth beneath his.

Their lips touched and both of them drew a sharp breath as the thrilling feeling of belonging embraced them.

He licked over her bottom lip and demanded entrance which she granted him. His tongue gently embraced hers while his hand wandered to the lower part of her back and pressed her against his hard lean body. The kiss was very sweet and gently at first. As if both of them were afraid to scare the other off, but then an ever so sweet moan escaped Caroline's throat and Klaus pulled her even closer. She felt his body react to hers and the kiss deepened.

Suddenly everything grew hot and she forgot where she was. All she knew was that she never wanted to stop.

Klaus couldn't get her closer and pushed her back against the wall pressing her into him. His body was on fire. He grew hot and his member stirred making his pants seem very tight. His breathing deepened as his lips felt scorched by hers.

Her wet tongue stroked his in a beautiful dance and the air sizzled around them.

His brain couldn't grab a clear thought besides her name. Caroline.
There was her scent in his nose, the moans escaping her throat along with the movements of her searching hands all over his body. Her proximity was clouding his mind.

He wanted to disappear in this dream and never ever wake up again.

However Klaus withdrew and savoured her taste on his tongue with closed eyes. A sudden calmness filled his body and lingered, surrounding him like a bubble. Her arms were around his neck where her fingers played with his hair.

Deep down inside her eyes he saw a burning glow.

His hand was on her soft cheek again and there was something like incredibility in his eyes. He couldn't believe that he had her here in his arms. Although Klaus knew that he couldn't keep her, he wanted to savour this dream a bit more and keep it as a very precious memory.

He took her hand. "Come on."

Caroline let him lead her over to the couch where they settled down.

Klaus put his arm around her shoulder and she came to rest her back against his strong chest. He rested his cheek against her hair while his other arm came round her waist, pulling her close.

Caroline felt warm and secure inside his strong grip.

For the first time in days there was body heat radiating from her own body again.

She closed her eyes and turned her head so she could take in his scent.

It made her yearn for more. She wanted to taste him again and the thought made her lips burn.

She turned herself around in his grasp and felt his chest rise against hers.

Caroline pressed another kiss against his lips and took everything in. Klaus returned the kiss very slowly.

Her hands wandered from his neck down his sides and came to rest over his stomach. While she held his mouth prisoner her fingers travelled ever so lightly under his shirt.

As her fingertips brushed his naked skin she felt him tense under her. So she let them travel slowly upwards, but before she reached his chest he suddenly stopped her.

"Sweetheart." He breathed deeply. "You should stop this right now."

Caroline shook her head. "Why?" She felt a slight pang of rejection.

He bit his lip and Caroline saw that he was struggling. "It…wouldn't be right…"

She frowned. Had he just said that? How could he so infinitely believe himself to be a lost case?

"But…"

"No, love, no. I couldn't forgive myself."

"You have been after me for so long…" She tried to understand him, but she couldn't. Now that she was practically throwing herself at him he didn't want her. Second choice, Caroline?

He sighed and shoved her aside, sitting up. "I know." He almost grinned cruelly. "But…" He stood up and walked over to the window. Looking at her reflection in the window pane he admitted: "I can't explain it."

Caroline pulled her legs up under her body. There was sadness and rejection hanging like a big dark cloud over her head. As Klaus turned around his face dropped, because right and wrong, longing and fairness, threatened to tear his guts apart.

"Please, my sweet love, it…" He knelt down in front of her. "I am not rejecting you! I just can't…" He gnawed his teeth. He wanted to. Oh my god, how he wanted to give her what she needed!

But she deserved even more! And he certainly felt not like himself at the moment.
Tonight it had felt as if Caroline had seen right through him and he didn't know what to make of it. It made him question who he was. She had turned his emotions upside down since she had told him to his face that she had seen behind his mask in merely a few weeks.

Suddenly it was all about her.

Hadn't the plan been to get her out of his system?

Niklaus, how blind are you? If you let her touch you, you will never get her out of your system again! Get a grip and get out of there as long as you still can! She saw right through you! She knows that you are not as bad as everyone thinks!

Everything inside him suddenly screamed to be careful, but the sadness inside her eyes cracked his defence and made his walls tumble down. "Love…"

She swallowed and shook her head. "Don't worry, I think you are right. This is not the right time. I am sorry."

Always so incredibly strong, aren't you my dear?

"But…"She hesitated.

"What, sweetheart?"

"Can…can you please just hold me anyway?"

He smiled slightly and nodded.

Caroline snuggled into his side and Klaus put his arms protectively around her. Although his mind kept repeating that this was wrong, wrong, wrong.

Either act on it or get the hell out of there!

But her body writhed around his so perfectly that he simply couldn't let go. She fit into his side as if that spot had been made for her.

Thank you for reading!

i hope everything made sense to you and that you liked this little bit of fluffiness!=)