Hey there!

Since we have almost reached the end of this story today's chapter turned out to be quite long;)

I hope you enjoy it, even though there isn't too much action in this one. I am planning on doing another story, since I still have some scenes I would really love to upload, but I am not sure yet if it is going to be a sequel of this one or not, however I tend towards the first.^^

But that's for later, for now, have fun reading this chapter! Thanks to everyone who reads and reviews!=)

She sighed lovingly while she stretched and snuggled deeper into the cushions like she always did. The scent that tickled her nostrils was the one thing she wouldn't want to miss anymore.

Klaus was lying on his side shielding her body with his. He watched her while playing with strands of her hair. He had watched her sleep half the night and he locked the memories up inside of his mind as a very precious treasure.

She blinked as she tried to wake up and Klaus smiled at the sight.

He felt satisfied in more than one way. This satisfaction ran deep making him forget the outside world with all its threats that would be waiting for them. If given the choice he would lock himself up with Caroline till the end of time.

Caroline had definitely worked him up last night and touched him in places he hadn't known existed. The world had a new colour. Everything was brighter and he wondered if it had actually always been like this, if it was an effect of the mating or if it was just Caroline's light that illuminated the place. No doubt the world would be a darker place without her, his world. She had pleasured and satisfied him in a way he hadn't experienced before. And he had had his share of pleasure over the last decades.

"Have you been staring at me the whole night?" She mumbled sleepily, burying her head in his chest.

"I might have." He purred and kissed her temple.

"You are creepy." Her mumbling was muffled by his chest. Warm shivers ran through his body when her breath tickled him there.

Klaus chuckled and Caroline smiled at the sound that she slowly became used to.

"Don't you ever sleep?"

"Hardly." He answered and let his fingers trail through her soft golden curls, along her ear shell and down her cheek drawing a lovely sigh from her.

Kol and Elijah were gathered in the kitchen having breakfast that consisted of blood for Kol and a freshly brewed cup of tea for Elijah.

Caroline entered the kitchen and smiled brightly. "Good morning."

Her hair was still damp from the shower and she was wearing jeans and a top, probably from Rebekah, along with a shirt of Klaus. Kol gaped at her and Elijah tried to hide his huge amusement.

"Good morning, Miss Forbes. I dare say you look very well this morning which makes me assume that you had a pleasant night?" His tone was neutral not lewd, but Caroline blushed the slightest bit. Had anyone heard them?

They did have super hearing senses after all…Oh god! How embarrassing! Why didn't you think of that!? She gulped: "I have slept very well, thank you Elijah."

Kol laughed out loud but Elijah scowled at him immediately and Kol's laughter died down to chuckles, it never the less made Caroline's face flush red. She lowered her head and tried to hide her face.

When Kol had calmed down he frowned at her. "Did you die your hair?"

Now it was Caroline's turn to frown. She pulled at a strand of hair and looked at it. She had noticed the change this morning as well when she had looked into the mirror, but had put it off as a strange effect of light. "No, I didn't. I thought it was merely a reflection or something. It's strange, isn't it?" Her hair had become a tad brighter, not much, but it was visible to anyone who knew her.

Elijah smirked but kept staring at the newspaper he held in his hand, with the other he raised his teacup to his mouth and took a sip.

Kol stepped closer to Caroline and his face came closer. "Kol…" Caroline leaned backwards and away from him and his prying eyes. "There is something strange about you…"He pondered aloud. "Somehow… Elijah?" But Elijah didn't respond and kept scanning through the Financial Times.

Kol kept scrutinizing her face, but Caroline pushed him away for he was just a tad too close to her.

"Bugger off, Kol!" She pushed him away and wanted to retrieve a mug from that cupboard he was standing in front of. "Come on, move!" She nudged him to get that mug.

Kol pointed at her: "Is she allowed doing that!?"

"Yes, she is." Klaus answered who just entered the kitchen. His hair was wet as well and he was wearing a black shirt and a pair of jeans that made him look even leaner and taller. "And now stop bugging her." Elijah watched him out of the corners of his eyes while he walked over to the fridge to retrieve a blood bag. He handed it over to Caroline with an adorable smile.

"Thanks." It was B positive and she wondered how he knew but he just winked at her before he got himself a cup of tea.

Kol watched the scene with utter confusion and disgust. His mouth had dropped open and he was totally lost. What the hell!?

"What is going on here? Nik?" Klaus stood next to Elijah and looked over at Kol raising his eyebrows. Kol's eyes wandered from his brother back to Caroline. "What is the matter with you two? And you…you look…blimey, do you look younger?" He flashed in front of his brother and came as close as he had been to Caroline before. "Bloody hell, it's all over you too. What is that?"

Klaus shrugged, but Kol's glance wandered over to Elijah who suppressed his grin. "Elijah!" He said accusingly.

Finally Elijah looked at him. "Little brother, I gather you have never encountered two vampire mates, have you?"

His eyes grew wide and he looked shell shocked at his brother: "You!?" He pointed at his brother and Klaus rolled his eyes. He shot Elijah an angry look who shrugged amused and walked over to sit down at the table with his tea and his paper. Kol couldn't believe it but he started to smirk.

"So someone does have a tight grip on you!"

"Watch your tongue or I will rip it out myself." Klaus snarled.

"Does that mean she's coming with us?"

Caroline frowned. "Where to?"

"Thanks Kol!" Klaus growled and Kol raised his hands in defeat.

Caroline looked at him demanding an answer. "I wanted to talk to you about in a quiet moment. We intend to return to New Orleans soon and I want you to come with us."

She knitted her eyebrows together. "When?"

Klaus shrugged. "In a few months maybe." Caroline nodded thoughtful.

"Well, I have never been to New Orleans before."

"You will like it!" Klaus said and gave her an intense look.

Kol watched Caroline who shone even brighter than ever. "Do you even remotely know what you got yourself into?" Caroline smiled at him: "Yes, I think I do. Anyway, if you survived this long I will manage." Klaus chuckled delighted and walked over to her putting his arms around her from behind and pulling her into his chest.

Kol shook his head: "Don't say I didn't warn you!"

Rebekah entered the kitchen with a bright smile on her face and she stopped a split second at the sight of her brother and the girl in his arms. "Oh, now isn't that a cute sight." Klaus grunted and rolled his eyes. Caroline almost pouted when he released her from his hold.

Rebekah sighed and started making some coffee. "Bekah?" Kol asked as if he didn't understand the world anymore.

"Oh come on Kol it was plain obvious! I reckon Elijah had known it since the weekend."

Everyone stared at Elijah. "Please, let me out of this!"

Caroline smiled. Elijah always knew what everyone was feeling before they realized it themselves. It was like a gift of empathy. Klaus kissed her temple and the butterflies went berserk in her stomach with his hands on her. Kol made a gagging sound. "You are disgusting!" He walked past his sister and wanted to leave the kitchen when he stopped. "You too?"

"I what?" He glanced at Caroline and Klaus before he groaned and left the kitchen.

Everyone stared at her now and she raised her eyebrows. "What?"

Caroline giggled and smiled at her. "I can smell his aftershave over here."

Rebekah's eyes widened and she swallowed hard.

"Whose?" Klaus looked from Caroline to his sister and even Elijah looked a tad confused for a second before it dawned on him. He smiled shaking his head before he stuck his nose back into the paper.

Klaus frowned and Rebekah quickly went back to her coffee.

His lip twitched as he tried to get the faint scent. "You and Stefan!?"

Everyone stared at Klaus at his outburst. He looked very much surprised and Caroline and Rebekah started laughing as their eyes met enjoying the joke between them.

"You didn't notice, did you?" Caroline asked and laughed. Klaus frowned at her.

Rebekah laughed. "Oh this is brilliant!" she sat down next to Elijah who smirked: "Be nice he had more serious things on his mind."

Rebekah huffed amused and beamed at her brothers. Klaus looked pretty annoyed as Caroline turned around. "He did." She mumbled and winked which made Klaus wanting to grin but he suppressed it, never the less Caroline saw it in his eyes.

She kissed him and he couldn't do anything but to return the kiss.

All the time Rebekah watched them curiously. She had never seen her brother this happy and it made her happy as well. He had always been bitter and she believed that he deserved his own share of happiness, like everyone did. She licked her lip and smiled at the notion that she was about to discover a totally new side of her brother, a side she had never seen before.

Caroline beamed at her two best friends who were waiting for her in a café close to the town centre. Klaus had dropped her off at the police station so she could see her mum, who had looked at her with a worried look. Liz wasn't all too happy with her daughter. She needed time to get used to the new changes, but Caroline wondered if she ever would. The worst thing was that she could even understand her. Liz had always known Klaus as the raging hybrid who had no scruples when it came to things he wanted. It had been no secret that he had pursued Caroline and now that she suddenly wanted to be with him, it was only natural that her protective mother instinct kicked in and made her suspicious.

Caroline was even more eager now to meet up with her two best friends and she just hoped that they would be a bit more tolerant than her mother.

Elena and Bonnie watched her approaching and they gave each other a stern look, something was obviously different about Caroline today.

"Hey." They greeted each other.

"Caroline, how are you?"

"I am fine!" She smiled and sat down at a small coffee table.

"You do look great." Bonnie nodded and Elena licked her lips smirking. She was eager to talk about the one topic the whole Mystic Falls' supernatural community was gossiping about, but she bit her tongue and held her horses, after all she didn't want to barge right in. They would talk about it eventually…the big bad hybrid and his lamb, who would have guessed!

"You guys are coming to the dance tonight, right?"

Both of them nodded. "Sure!"

"So, who are you going with?" Caroline smiled and Elena grinned, because firstly she was sure that Caroline didn't know the news yet and secondly because they were approaching the topic she was dying to talk about!

Bonnie shrugged: "I am going with Matt, since Jeremy isn't back yet." Jeremy had needed a break and decided to visit an old friend who had moved to South Carolina ages ago. "And we don't even have to talk about Elena!" Elena squinted angrily at Bonnie who pulled a face. Since Caroline had been so busy with everything the witch had been the only receiving end of Elena's gushing about Damon Salvatore who wasn't her best friend and would anyway never be anywhere near her definition of friend.

Caroline looked confused and didn't seem to get it. "What?" Then the penny dropped and her jaw dropped. "You and Damon? Officially? When did that happen?"

Elena laughed. "Actually a while ago." And Caroline pulled a face. "I haven't been paying much attention lately, have I?" Her friend shook her head. "I am sorry!"

Elena shrugged. "It's okay. Sometimes we all get too caught up with ourselves. And you were kind of indisposed." Elena's eyes gleamed.

Then Caroline fidgeted. "Then, you already know about…Stefan?"

The girls raised their eyebrows. "What about him?"

"Him and Rebekah."

"Wow." Bonnie said.

But Elena just drew a deep breath and answered. "It was obviously going to happen." And inwardly she put a closure to the Stefan chapter. She was happy with Damon now. He challenged her and changed her, made her aware of his view point of things which was open-minded and actually not as black and white.

"Speaking about ex…" Bonnie started carefully. "Any word from Tyler?"

"I saw him yesterday." Caroline mumbled looking at the floor.

"What!? When?" Elena asked. So Caroline told her friends about the encounter between her Tyler and Klaus.
"I think he hates me." She added with a tad of sadness in her voice. Bonnie rubbed her arm. "I don't think so."

Elena shook her head. "He's hurt." But Caroline just scoffed.

"Aren't those all excuses? 'He's not mad, he's just hurt!' 'He does like you but can't show it.' 'He will come around eventually.' What if he really does hate me? I mean he hates Klaus and wanted nothing more than to have revenge and now I am with him and…"

"Ty, was always a bit vengeful. His emotions heightened and here we go. The thing is, as you pointed out he hates Klaus more than he hates you."

Caroline nodded. "Probably. I don't even know why I am still whining about it. We broke up weeks ago and this was just the assurance that it was the right decision."

"It is. He is better off with Hayley anyway…running with the wolves and stuff you know." Elena joked for Caroline's sake. Caroline snickered slightly, already feeling a bit better.

"You just need a bit longer to round something off. That's just who you are." Bonnie agreed.

Caroline looked at her and then there was this one voice inside her mind that said: It's what makes you so special. You never lose hope. It's what keeps your light burning. You believe everyone can be saved.

It covered Caroline in a warm daze and she felt so safe, securely wrapped into the sound of his voice. It made her feel so appreciated that she thought that Klaus wouldn't even forsake her for this streak of character or for any other. The butterflies were back and she wished she could touch him right now.

Bonnie pulled her out of the dream. "Anyway, other question: Did you already choose a college?" Elena rolled her eyes at the question, because she really didn't want to talk about college right now! But Bonnie seemed to evade the 'Klaus-subject' as long as possible.

"Well, I guess Whitmore would be a good choice." Bonnie said and Elena agreed, but when they looked at Caroline she bit her lip and there was some kind of spark in her eyes. Her friends watched her with questioning eyes. "I am not that sure where I will be…" She drew out looking from on to the other.

Elena cocked her eyebrows while a smile spread on her lips. She looked at frowning Bonnie and said one word: "Klaus!"

Bonnie rolled her eyes and groaned. She wasn't sure how she liked Caroline and him together. Elena seemed to be easier with the topic, well, since she was with Damon it probably shouldn't surprise her as much.

"It is just that serious, isn't it?" Bonnie asked carefully.

"Didn't we already know that?" Elena asked. Finally the discussion was heading into a direction she liked! "More importantly: How do you feel about him, Caroline?"

Caroline blushed a little. "I think I fell pretty hard."

"Because of the jewellery?" Bonnie asked wryly.

"Bonnie!" Elena said.

"I am sorry, I just can't see any good in him and if I may remind you, before Damon you thought so yourself!" It was true Elena figured that a person was not only defined by their bad tasks, but by all the other little things, even if they were not visible for everyone, or maybe especially because not everyone could see them. Stefan was always labelled as the good guy, as if everyone was just forgetting about his ripper days, but the ripper was part of his life and yet how evil did it make him when everybody still loved him?

Elena demanded to see Caroline's hand. "Your new daylight ring? Oh my god! Pretty fancy isn't it?"

Caroline withdrew her hand and admired it herself with the exact same look in her eyes Rebekah had accused her of before. Elena cocked her eyebrows at Bonnie who was still scowling.

Then suddenly Elena's smirk turned lewd and she licked her lips. "Any juicy details you would like to share?"

Bonnie's jaw dropped while she stared at Elena. "Damon really does you no good! Since when are you so…"

"…flippant?" Caroline finished Bonnie's sentence and grinned. Bonnie raised her eyebrows at Caroline who just shrugged.

"One thousand years must have been good for something!" Elena went on but Bonnie scoffed. It was obvious that she didn't want to hear anything about Klaus, not to mention his love life. It was her luck that Caroline was not willing to share anything. She replayed the shared moments from last night in her mind, constantly under the watchful eyes of her friends. She blushed and bit her lip. Elena smiled and started singing: "Oh Caarooliine!"

Luckily out of the corners of her eyes Caroline saw Rebekah walking along on the opposite of the street.

"Oh, look there's Rebekah!" She called her name, knowing that the original would hear her.

Rebekah turned her head and she hesitated before she crossed the street to meet them.

Caroline smiled brightly at her. The two of them had become pretty close and Rebekah even dared to call her friend by now even though there were moments of doubt, for she had never had good friends. And now that Elena and Bonnie were with her she wasn't sure what to make of it. She didn't know what the girls thought about her. On the outside the young original was as confident as always.

Caroline turned around and pulled a chair from an empty table over. "Join us!" She said and Rebekah sat hesitantly down, hit by surprise when Elena addressed her: "Caroline was just telling us about her…"

"…preparations for the ball!" Caroline quickly interrupted. She really didn't want to talk about her love life with Rebekah's brother and even thought there was hardly any privacy between the originals, thanks to their remarkable hearing, she didn't expect Rebekah to be too eager to talk about it.

"Right!" Elena said. "So, are you going with Klaus?" She asked with an innocent tone but there was a glimmer in her eyes. Rebekah actually started to smile, but she was very surprised when Bonnie said: "Your brother is insane!"

The original raised her eyebrows, but before she could even wonder about the fact if it was an insult Elena said: "Positive! Who would want to spend eternity with Caroline?"

"Hey!" Caroline complained but her friend was grinning and now Rebekah understood the banter, at least between Elena and Caroline. She couldn't tell if Bonnie didn't actually mean what she had said.

"He's desperate for attention." Rebekah shrugged and was a bit astonished when Elena laughed. It was new that the girls, well Caroline and Elena, included her, but it pleased her more than she had ever thought it would. Never the less she reminded herself to be guarded about Bonnie.

"Come on!" Caroline said. "It's not like we swore to stay together for eternity!"

Elena laughed again and Rebekah rolled her eyes smiling.

"Oh, come on! You mated!" Everyone frowned at Elena who shrugged. "Damon told me about it."

"Yes, but, how do you…" Caroline tried a feeble attempt but was interrupted by Rebekah. "It is all over you! Everyone can see it!"

"How does it look like?"

"Your energy is different." Bonnie explained matter-of-factly. "You have always had a strong energy but it is as if you have an attachment to it. Like a string or something."

"You look more confident. The light around you is brighter, warmer." Elena added "And there is…I don't know, as if you were in a bubble or something, like you weren't to be touched."

"Private property." Rebekah said and everyone snickered.

"And do not forget the ring!" Elena pointed out.

"It is just a daylight ring!" Caroline said.

"An extremely expensive daylight ring." Rebekah interjected.

Elena kept grinning. "Let's sum this up: we have a ring, and eternal commitment…sounds like…"

"…supernatural marriage!" Rebekah finished the sentence and enjoyed the banter.

Caroline huffed. "Whoa, that's…that is…" But she didn't know what to say. Rebekah and Elena burst out laughing while Bonnie shook her head.

"Do not let him hear that!" Caroline said sternly and pointed her finger at them.

Rebekah cocked her eyebrows. "Rebekah!" The original chuckled at Caroline's warning undertone.

Bonnie had her arms crossed. "I am happy that you are happy Caroline, but I do not like him!" Rebekah figured that the witch was either brave or stupid for giving her opinion so freely in her presence.

Caroline smiled with a tad of sadness at her friend and put her hand onto her arm. "I know he didn't give you much to like him, but don't hate me for loving him."

Bonnie shook her head and sighed. "I have known you too long for that!"

Caroline and Rebekah entered the mansion together but as soon as they were inside Caroline headed straight for the direction of the study where she hoped to find the one person she missed almost sorely. Was it creepy that she already missed him like crazy after two hours?

"There you are!" She smiled and threw her bag onto the couch while she dropped down herself next to him. He grinned and leaned over to her. Kissing her lovingly and making her bend her back.

"Hi." He whispered against her lips and kissed her again, smiling. "I missed you!" Caroline moaned into their kiss. "You have been gone far too long." He rasped between kisses and let his hand travel under her shirt stroking her naked skin. Caroline revelled in the feeling of his proximity and she crossed her legs behind his back to keep him close. A low growl escaped his lips and Caroline smiled, shivering at the same time.

Klaus caressed her skin with skilled fingers, only touching her breasts ever so lightly. Caroline's blood pulsed in the same rhythm as her core and she arched her back. Klaus kept kissing her deeply while he felt his own arousal settle in his stomach. His skin tingled and his stomach tightened in anticipation. Caroline felt hot and wetness was pooling out between her legs. Klaus smirked against her lips when he brought his hand down to her centre covering it and squeezing once above her jeans making Caroline jerk.

She felt his chest rumbling with chuckles while he straightened up pulling Caroline with him. He smiled at her and there were so many feelings in his eyes that it almost took her breath away. The sight was still new to her, but she loved to see him like this. The knowledge that this look was only directed at her made her knees go weak. His knuckles caressed her cheek and Caroline turned her head to place a kiss onto his hand.

"You are so mean." She panted breathlessly. Klaus grinned and pulled a strand of hair behind her ear. He cleared his throat.

"So, I assumed…hoped." He corrected himself with an impish grin. "That you would be my date for the ball tonight."

Caroline smirked leaning back while her fingers stayed interlaced behind his neck. "And pray, Lord Niklaus, what made you think that?" She moved her hips and feeling his arousal against her thigh made her almost lose her head.

"Well…" He leaned back himself and stretched his arms over the back of the sofa. "I could dig out a dress of royal calibre out of my creepy closet of ancient necessities."

Caroline chuckled then she nudged him. "Don't mock me I really had a major crises on my hands!"

"Oh, I know!" Klaus grinned.

"Will you show me?"

"What?"

"Your creepy closet!"

The original laughed. "What if it is a family secret?"

"Then tell me: How do I become family?"

Klaus heart swelled and went out to her. You already are my beautfiul, beautiful girl!

She was the only one who would ask that. Klaus swallowed, but was quickly back to his cockiness. He licked his lips and put his hands onto her hips, then pushed her closer to the bulge in his pants. "Why don't we go upstairs and I show you."

Caroline pushed her core even closer to him drawing a hiss from his chest, both of their eyes clouding over with deep dark lust.

An hour later Rebekah had managed to abduct Caroline to show her the family closet herself. There was quite a collection and Caroline thought about her inability to throw stuff away, so how would her closet look like in a thousand years?

She shook her head and actually didn't want to know! Oh dear, how many closets would I need?

Time was limited and there was only so much left to get ready for the dance.

Somehow Caroline wondered who she would be after a thousand years, all the time watching Rebekah.

"Have you ever missed it?" Caroline suddenly asked.

Rebekah was just applying some rouge to her cheeks and she looked at Caroline in the mirror.

"A sister. Growing up with those brothers of yours can't have been easy."

Rebekah turned around to face her. "It wasn't and admittedly, yes there were times, but I do love my family, no matter what. Family above all and no one could have protected me better."

Caroline nodded. She didn't doubt her words for one second.

There was a knock at the door. "Ladies are you ready?" A dark voice with a British accent called.

Rebekah hurried to the door to open it. She posed in front of her brother. "And what do you think?"

He smiled at her but his eyes fell almost immediately onto the girl behind her and he more or less forgot that his sister was still present. There was so much tenderness in his eyes that she couldn't even be angry with him.

Rebekah smirked and hummed the wedding march while she passed him.

Klaus frowned at her.

"Rebekah!" Caroline shrieked.

They heard her laughter disappearing downstairs.

"What was that about?" Klaus asked.

Caroline quickly put it off. "Rebekah is being stupid!"

"Not more than you are…sister!" She replied from downstairs.

Klaus raised one eyebrow at her, but there was a small smile tugging at his lips while Caroline wrinkled her nose under his stare. Then her face split into a huge grin and Klaus chuckled closing the distance between them. She wrapped her arms around him and looked up into his face.

Klaus lowered his head to her ear and whispered. "You do look ravishing!"

Caroline sighed. "I have never thought the big bad hybrid to give so many compliments in only one day."

His cheek rested against hers. "Careful or he might bite you instead."

"Who says that I would mind?" She whispered in a rough voice.

"Careful what you wish for, sweetheart." His tongue darted out to outline her ear shell before he gently bit into it with his blunt teeth. Caroline gasped when a small wave of pleasure travelled through her veins. Unconsciously she moved her body closer which made Klaus chuckle. "The way you react to me is most entertaining, but I am afraid we have to go or Rebekah will behead us both."

Caroline sighed closing her eyes while she tried to get a grip over her tingling nerves.

"There will be time later tonight and then you might better be aware of the big bad hybrid to bite you in places you didn't know aroused you as much as it will, begging him at some point to let you go over the edge." Klaus teased knowing that it would put pictures into her mind that made her having a hard time not ruining his suit and her dress right now by ripping the cloth apart.

Clinging to Klaus' arm they entered the brightly lit hall together and Caroline's eyes glistened when she looked around to find anything looking simply magnificent. There were candles on each table along with lovely flower arrangements that consisted of the things fitting to the autumn season.

The people were chatting and laughing with an easy atmosphere surrounding them. For this moment it was everything Caroline had wished for and she simply absorbed the feelings of satisfaction.

"I take it that you approve of the décor so far." Klaus chuckled lightly while he kept watching her with amused eyes.

Caroline nodded. "It's like I imagined."

"I am glad."

"Perfect." She whispered and Klaus kissed her cheek.

"You are." Caroline rolled her eyes but she beamed at him and the butterflies in her stomach ran amok.

The mayor made a speech and so did Rebekah for welcoming everyone and she even thanked Caroline openly for her help.

A little later that evening Caroline walked onto the patio outside because earlier she had seen Elijah disappearing there and she wanted to talk to him. She looked around, but instead of Elijah she ran into Matt.

He smiled at her. "Hey Care."

"Hi Matt. Are you enjoying yourself?"

"Oh yeah. It's great! You look great by the way."

She smiled and thanked him before Matt jumped right in:

"So, you and Klaus, huh? Are you sure about this? He is not a particularly good person you know!"

Caroline stood next to him at the balustrade shaking her head. "No, he is not good I know, but he is right for me! I know none of you can see it, but believe me he pushes me to the edge. He dares me and lets me develop into everything I want to be and can be!"

Matt smiled. "I just wanted to make sure you are okay." There was a pause and with a sigh he added: "And your mum sent me." A chuckle tugged at his lips. Caroline rolled her eyes at first but then she smiled. "I know my mum is worried and I can't even blame her."

Klaus hadn't wanted to eavesdrop but he couldn't resist, knowing that his control freak manner would probably get him into trouble eventually. "But I am going down this road no matter what everyone thinks."

"I know you'll be fine." Matt put his hand onto her arm and Caroline covered it with her own.

"Thanks Matt."

"But this doesn't imply that I will like him all of a sudden."

Caroline nodded and joked: "I don't think he would want that anyway." She wrinkled her nose. "I doubt you'd want to give up a reputation of being the most powerful original hybrid if you had one."

"Certainly not!" Matt said feigning to be shocked.

Elijah strolled through the garden but he heard voices on the patio, a special voice to be exact and so he decided to walk back towards the patio. Caroline had her back to him talking to her friend Matt. His eyes lingered on the hand on Caroline's hand and the friendly gesture made him once more aware of the strong bonds of friendship Caroline shared with her friends. She had known most of them for half of her life and together they had gone through a lot, building a deep running trust and understanding between them. Elijah admired and maybe even envied that about Caroline.

The human saw the original approaching behind Caroline and Elijah heard how Matt excused himself telling her that he should better get back to his date. Caroline turned around and smiled at Elijah who slowly came closer her.

Caroline smiled at him. "Did you hear everything?"

"Not if it made you feel uncomfortable."

She grinned. "Elijah!" He returned her smile and stood in front of her. Since Caroline never felt uncomfortable around Elijah she wasn't angry at all that he had heard. He had become a part of her family over the last events, an older brother and maybe even something close to a father figure. Elijah always had an open ear for her no matter what it was about. If she ever needed a neutral opinion on anything he would be her first choice. She wondered if they could have built this relationship if Klaus had stayed in the first place. As for Elijah, he liked the idea of Caroline being a second sister to him.

Caroline looked at the garden. "No one understands it, but you know what: I figured that it doesn't matter. I know who he is when he is around his family and I wouldn't want to change him. Well, except for that part where he wants to take over world domination, we definitely have to talk about that again." She teased with a sparkle in her eyes and Elijah smiled. If she knew how brave she was in finding out who Niklaus Mikaelson was? And in falling for him in the unconditional way that she did?

Elijah kept smiling knowingly at her and Caroline frowned slightly however the sparkle never left her eyes. "You already did change him." Elijah told her quietly.

What? "But I…"

"Don't worry, Niklaus will always be a threat to everyone else as you aptly pointed out: who would want to give up a reputation of being the most powerful and cruel creature in the universe?" He chuckled when Caroline shook her head amused. "His family however might be about to discover a more private side of him, and will be reminded of the vulnerable and not so invincible brother he once was, and still is for that matter."

She sighed and his praise made her happier than she had thought. Did she really have such a great effect? She somehow doubted it, but she remembered what Elijah had told her some days ago.

You bring out his human side. You bring out what was always deeply buried inside of him, but had always existed never the less.

Caroline pondered about that because if so then she hadn't changed him, but rather shifted his focus. Elijah watched Caroline's thinking process which she saw out of the corner of her eye and she started wondering if he could actually read minds. He was a bit creepy in that aspect, her older brother. She almost laughed out loud at that train of thought.

"Thank you Caroline!" Elijah whispered and she didn't miss the tone of true gratitude.

"This is so weird!" She shook her head.

Elijah chuckled. "Welcome to the family."

She smiled at him and the sentence made this feeling of truly belonging return which made her incredibly happy.

Suddenly she turned around to him and hugged him tightly. "Thanks Elijah!" He returned the embrace and rubbed her back. "You're very welcome, little sister." Caroline breathed contented. She had never really thought about what family meant. There had always just been her mum and her, just the two of them who took care of each other and occasionally her dad when he had decided to come over on a holiday. Something stung when she remembered him. She had loved him once but she wasn't sure what she felt for him since he had tortured her, which she had forgiven him before his death but somehow she didn't think they'd be in much contact if he had survived.

Her friends had always been the closest to her. Elena, Bonnie and Matt, who she considered family, but at the end of the day everyone of them had gone home and Caroline would sit alone in front of the TV while her mum was working late. Now that she had become part of the original family she discovered that there was yet another concept of family.

They fought against each other, but when a threat loomed over anyone of them or their loved ones, they would all stand together as one, without any questions, unconditional and definite, no matter to which length they had to go. Since she spent so much time at their house, that she was already practically living there she got to know them in totally different ways, than she had ever suspected existed. There was a different understanding between her and them than between her and her friends which she couldn't really explain.

Suddenly Klaus cleared his throat behind them: "I hope I am not interrupting anything." The tone of his voice implied without a doubt that he was definitely the least bit comfortable with Elijah and Caroline sharing such a deep emotional moment in each other's arms. Even though Elijah had proved his loyalty to him on many occasions during the centuries he would never doubt his brother's capabilities of seducing a woman.

The two turned around and looked at Klaus who crossed his hands behind his back. Elijah smiled: "You are not interrupting in the least, brother."

Caroline chuckled while she stepped up to Klaus who had a neutral expression on his face even though the sight of Caroline always made him want to beam for the whole world to see that she had chosen him. "Are you jealous?"

Klaus huffed and rolled his eyes to the ceiling. "Oh please, there will never be need for me to be jealous of anyone. My skills at seducing a woman are far too perfect for anyone to be called my equal." He said smugly. Elijah chuckled and gathered an angry look from Klaus while Caroline put her arms around his neck smilingly.

"Niklaus." She cooed with an irresistible voice while she nestled herself up against the hybrid. Klaus' arms came protectively around her and threw an intense look at Elijah, before Klaus buried his face in her hair inhaling her scent. The older original retired silently giving them a moment of privacy. Caroline's lips where at his ear and, as she spoke, her breath sent shivers down his spine that settled right between his legs. "It is so hot when you are jealous." Klaus growled and Caroline pressed her body against his. "But there will never be need for that."

Klaus tried to keep control over his aroused senses by smugly saying. "Indeed, if I haven't yet managed to spoil you for every other man I will make that my first priority tonight." There was a possessiveness in his voice that would have scared Caroline had it not come from Klaus' lips. From him it sounded rather hot and especially when his hands stroked lightly over her back down to her ass while his lips assaulted her neck. She started to shiver with arousal and even pride. Her stomach tightened.

"I guess the patio is occupée." A voice suddenly sneered behind them interrupting their sweet make out session. Klaus groaned annoyed and looked at his youngest brother who leaned smugly in the door frame with a bottle of champagne in his hand. Caroline blushed when Damon appeared behind him.

"Ugh, Blondie seriously? On the patio? Gross!"

Klaus pursed his lips angrily and was about to give a heated remark, but Caroline squeezed his hand and shook her head mouthing: "Don't!" She pulled him along with her back inside to get distance between him and Kol. There was still too much tension between those two and Caroline didn't want Klaus to dagger Kol tonight, especially since Damon would be a likely catalyser for that event to happen.

Bu Klaus stopped next to Kol: "Better watch out!" He threw a similar gaze at Damon who just pulled a face so Caroline quickly pulled at Klaus hand again.

Klaus stalked over to Elijah but Caroline wanted to join her friends for a moment.

"Everything turned out brilliantly! Rebekah did a fantastic job!" Elena exclaimed as she stepped up to Caroline, Bonnie and Matt. Everyone frowned art her and Mat asked: "Which doppelganger is this, because I am not sure if either of them would ever praise Rebekah."

Elena slapped his shoulder: "Don't be mean!"

"I thought you hate Rebekah! And the whole original family by the way! Well, Elijah maybe not so much."

Elena rolled her eyes. "Well, maybe Rebekah is not as bad as I thought and maybe everyone has dark sides…" She relented.

Her friends raised their eyebrows at her and Elena held up her palms. "What? Oh, come on since when am I the one you are staring at?"

"Since you made a 180 degree turnaround because of Damon." Caroline pointed out.

The doppelganger rolled her eyes again and muttered: "I need a drink!"

Stefan who just approached the group had picked up her last sentence. "Why? What happened?"

"Saved by the bell." She mumbled and disappeared within the crowed.

Caroline chuckled.

"You don't want to know." Matt told Stefan and shook his head.

"Where is Rebekah?" Caroline asked.

"With the band, she said there was some song she wanted to hear tonight."

"Is that a bad or a good thing?" Bonnie asked, but Matt interjected: "It's her party, so let her have her way just for tonight."

"I didn't mean to insult her, Matt." Bonnie replied, but her tone had been a bit snappy.

The band played the intro of the new song and Caroline suddenly raised her head and paused.

"But…that's…"

She turned around and met his eyes immediately.

Klaus stared back at her from the other side of the room where he was talking to Elijah. His face mirrored the surprise in Caroline's eyes.

She looked at the stage and Klaus followed her eyes.

Rebekah who was standing next to the stage caught her brother's eye. When Klaus looked at her she raised her glass to him and winked and when Klaus didn't react immediately she tilted her head towards Caroline.

The ghost of a smile crossed his eyes before he moved.

Caroline smiled at him as she watched him come closer.

He gallantly held out his hand. "May I have this dance?"

She beamed and nodded placing her hand into his.

The others watched them move towards the dance floor with either surprised or satisfied glances.

Klaus drew her closer and Caroline relaxed in his arms. "I reckon you remember this song?" He asked and she nodded. "It was the first time we danced together."

Give a little time to me, or burn this out, We'll play hide and seek to

Turn this around, And all I want is the taste that your lips allow, My, my,

My, my, oh give me love, my, my, my, my, oh give me love, My, my, my, my,

Oh give me love, my, my, my, my, oh give me love, My, my, my, my, oh give

Me love

They got lost in each other's eyes.

"My sister had quite a romantic moment I guess."

"Yes, very thoughtful of her." Caroline chuckled, but it died down rather quickly when she remembered that night. "I hated you back then."

"Do you still?" He needed to hear it.

"No." And he would never get used to it. "Quite the opposite."

"Argh, look at Lucifer and Mother Teresa." Damon snorted.

"Let them be!" Elena said. "They look happy."

"Never thought he'd had that in him."

"Maybe Caroline was right after all."

"Yes, I guess everyone has a weak spot after all." Damon answered and smirked.

"Don't let him hear that." Elena warned pointing a finger at his cocky expression.

"I know, because he would never admit it and kill me instead."

"Yes, but however, you would never harm Caroline." Elena grinned and Damon raised his eyebrows. "You just like her as much as everyone else."

"Wouldn't be too sure about that…" Damon looked at Caroline. "Annoying little Miss Sunshine."

But Elena just grinned, because she knew better.

"Do you wanna dance?" Damon suddenly asked and Elena nodded with a smile.

"That was a very nice gesture of you." Elijah said when Rebekah joined him.

She shrugged. "Do you think he will finally admit it?"

"What?"

"That he loves her."

"No!" Elijah answered and smiled.

The whole evening had been an immense success and everyone was pleased. It wasn't easy to have an event like this in Mystic Falls without any interruptions, but then again it maybe was when an original family was part of the organisation committee.

Caroline had taken a long shower after returning to the mansion. When she stepped out of the shower she looked around Klaus' room but he wasn't there, however the door to the balcony was ajar. So she found Klaus there with his arms crossed over his chest squinting into the darkness. The moonlight let his features appear into a mysterious light and Caroline marvelled for a second at how handsome he looked.

"So pensive?" She asked and smiled, but Klaus didn't respond. "What's wrong?" When she came to stand next to him. "Klaus!?"

No answer. Caroline became nervous and her throat tightened so she put a hand onto his arm.

"Niklaus, talk to me! Now! What is going on?"

His eyes dropped to the floor and he kept staring over the balustrade into the garden.

"I have always made sure that I was the one not to fail. No one dared to fail me. I was on top of everything. The most powerful creature in the world!"

"You still are!"

He shook his head. "You are my weakness now."

Dread crept under her skin and she stopped breathing. "This is not one of these crappy we-can't-be-together-talks is it?" Her voice was small and her cheeks became hot with fear. They were finally here, together! He wouldn't throw that away because of his hunger for power, would he?

Would he?

She couldn't bring herself to breathe until he turned towards her, looking into her eyes sternly.

"No, I am too selfish to give up on you. I will lock you away before anything happens."

The knot inside of Caroline's stomach loosened again and she breathed relieved, but she attempted to override her uneasiness with a half hearted joke so Klaus wouldn't notice.

"Lovely prospects!" Caroline murmured.

Klaus cleared his throat. "I am going to be honest with you. I have no idea what I am doing and sometimes I wonder if it wasn't a mistake to rush things."

The knot inside her tightened again infinitesimally. "How can this be a mistake? Did I do or say anything to make you doubt me?" He shook his head. "Has this anything to do with what Tyler said?"

Klaus scoffed. "I should have never let him hurt you! He said some true words never the less. But no, I am concerned for your sake, Caroline. I don't know if I can do this. I don't know if I can be who you want me to be! You are the first person I don't want to fail, besides Elijah anyway."

"Niklaus, look at me! You cannot fail me! And I don't want to change you to be anyone but yourself. I am not going to change you!"

"You will run scared."

"I didn't run yet and I am not going to and somehow I will make you believe me!" Something else nagged at her conscience. "You will rather tire of me!"

He cupped her cheek and his thumb stroked her soft skin. "No, my love, I couldn't."

"So, we both have trust issues." She said and smiled lightly.

"That we do, my sweet Caroline."

"My big bad hybrid!"

"That I am!" Klaus smiled and tilted her head so he had better access to her mouth.

So, I guess all of you recognized Ed Sheeran's song Give Me Love;)

I hope you liked the chapter!

Have a nice weekend!