Hi everyone, thank you very very much for the reviews and the story alert, it means a lot to me that you like the story...

I apologize for the late update but I depend on my beta to do it so please don't hold it against me. I owe her a big thanks for her help with grammar. I hope you'll enjoy the story anyway.

I don't own anything in TVD.

Caroline couldn't think anymore. What was happening? She was in the arms of the man who had just violently abused her, and she felt perfectly safe. She carefully examined his face, and she saw something she had never seen in him before. Vulnerability. Sadness. Remorse. Humanity.

They stayed like this for what seemed like forever. Caroline had stopped crying a while ago and had kept her head against Klaus' chest. His arms were still tightly wrapped around her, and truth to be told, she felt oddly comfortable. After she had calmed down, Klaus had started to whisper in her ear. He talked about his father, he talked about his mother, and he talked about his siblings. Then he talked about what it was like for him, being turned. He talked about being a vampire, and all the killings. He talked about the urges, he talked about the cravings. Then, he moved on to the possibilities. He described the cities, the music, and the art. He talked about the literature that he had encountered. Then, he talked about her, about her boldness, her beauty, he talked about her vulnerability, and about her golden heart. He told her that she was a ray of sun for everyone she was close to. And then he stopped talking and then… he waited.

He had never felt so vulnerable and so human. What he had just done, was the most difficult thing he ever had to do, opening up to someone; talking about his weaknesses to someone. Klaus didn't often talk about the way he felt to anyone. But she was worth the pain. She was worth all the pain in the world.

Caroline was not confused anymore. Klaus had been explaining himself for hours, and she knew somehow that he had never said any of those things to anyone else before. She was seeing a side of him than nobody else had seen. She was still not really sure why he had chosen her, but she was sure of something. He wasn't playing any games with her. He had showed her that he was still able to feel, and that he still had some part of his humanity. Actually, it was the most amazing thing that he could have showed her. It was the most beautiful gift that he could have given to her.

Long after he had stopped talking, Caroline slowly lifted her head toward him.

"Thank you" she whispered in his ear, and then, she put her head back against his chest.

She was feeling totally drained, and soured- but not from the physical pain. Her wounds had healed since a while ago. She was exhausted from the intensity of the last hours. She couldn't remember ever having experienced something quite as intense as what had happened to her today. She slowly drifted to sleep, still tightly curled in Klaus' arms.

She woke up the morning after in her own bed. A piece of paper was on the pillow next to her.

Sweetheart, I couldn't apologize more for yesterday. I didn't mean to hurt you. I've been alone far too long, and I sometimes don't know how to act around people anymore. I hope you can forgive me.

Caroline was not mad. Actually, she hadn't felt that peaceful in a very long time. She knew that what had happened the day before was unique, and that things between the two of them would never be the same. And the thought made her happy.

She came back to the mansion that day after school. She didn't bother to knock, inviting herself into the living room. He was there, sitting on the couch. She would never forget the relieved expression on his face when he saw her.

"Hi" Caroline said softly.

"Hi" he replied, even more softly. He was desperate to move closer, but he was so afraid to scare her that he did his best to stay as still as he could.

Caroline seemed to understand what was on his mind because she sat next to him, never breaking eye contact.

"You told me a lot yesterday, so I thought that maybe it was my turn" she said a little hesitantly.

Klaus smiled. Not his usual half-mocking smirk, but a genuine smile that reached his eyes and dipped into his dimples.

"I'd love that." he answered, with the same relief coloring his voice.

Caroline nodded, and she started to quietly talk about her day.

It became a routine for both of them. Every day after school, Caroline went to the mansion and told Klaus about her day. Once, she brought the gramophone and the discs he had given her, and they listened to the music together. Another time, she brought the pictures he had given her, and he described each place in detail. Finally, when she brought his drawing, he began giving her informal art lessons.

Progressively, they reached more important subjects. Caroline explained her confusion, her doubts, her regrets at having a lot of human choices taken away from her. He always listened carefully. He tried his best to help her, and to show her that even if some human things were now forbidden for her, she had other possibilities to balance out the losses she had suffered.

These moments became precious for both of them. Caroline struggled less with her vampire issues, and she felt more peaceful and happy than she had in years. She had no idea where she was going, but she didn't want to think about it. She was living day by day, and it was all she needed right now.

Klaus knew exactly where he was going. He was going to fall right in love with her. The feeling was so new, that it was overwhelming and confusing. At the same time, it felt so right that it didn't bother him. Anyway, he knew there was absolutely nothing he could do about it. Caroline was the most beautiful thing that had ever happened in his life. Her joy, her kindness, her gentle, loving heart, they mesmerized him a little more every day. He couldn't believe that such an amazing woman could enjoy his company.

With every moment he was spending with her, he had to struggle to not take her in his arms, not to kiss her. It was becoming more and more difficult, and he didn't know how long he could hold it back. Every word, every smile, every laugh, made his need for her more intense. The worst part was that Caroline actually didn't seem to mind his touch. She was so friendly and so affectionate, that physical contact came naturally for her when she was comfortable with someone. And, day after day, she was becoming more and more comfortable with Klaus. After their intense heart-to-heart, she knew that he would never hurt her again. She couldn't really explain why she felt that way; she just sensed it and she knew she could rely on her instincts.

Every time she touched his arms or brushed his hands with hers, he felt the electricity crackle against his skin and he had to fight the urge to take her in his arms. She was unwittingly making the things more and more difficult for him. He remembered the time they had talked until three in the morning. Caroline had slowly drifted in and out of sleep during their conversation. Eventually, she had nuzzled into his chest and fallen asleep for good. He couldn't help but wrap his arms around her and hold her tight. He had spent the entire night just watching her and gently stroking her hair. He couldn't get enough of her beautiful face, so utterly angelic as she slept.

He remembered this other time where she had tried on a dress he'd given her for the Founder's Ball. She couldn't zip the dress alone, and she had come back to the living room to ask for help. And there she had stood, in front of him, the dress wide open from her neck to her lower back, and revealing the softest skin in the world. Her hair was pushed over one shoulder to allow him access, and the view had truly tortured him. He had come closer to her, and the way she smelled had driven him crazy. His hands were uncharacteristically shaky as he fastened the garment. It was the first time he had actually started to fantasize about her. Instead of pulling the zipper up, he had imagined doing the exact opposite, pushing the dress around her shoulders, down her body. He had pictured kissing her neck passionately, leaving heated trails as he inhaled her perfume, and becoming drunk from her scent. He had imagined sliding his hands along her frame, making her shiver under his touch. He would bury his hands in her hair, making her moan. He had snapped out of his fantasy when he had noticed he was getting rather aroused. He had quickly stepped back from her, and it had taken a long time before he could regain his composure.

Nothing quite compared to the acute agony that was swimming at the Falls. The sight of her in bikini was breathtaking, and he had spent the whole afternoon trying to think about anything but her long, bare legs and flat stomach, glistening with water droplets. He had failed pitifully, and had to stay in the cold water the whole time to prevent him from ravishing her body. Things had gotten worse when she had started to feel cold and had scooted closer to him to warm up. Holding in his arms, this gorgeous girl who was covered by nothing but a few tiny scraps of cloth was just pure torture. He had to gather each second of his thousand years of self control to not simply flip her body beneath his, and kiss her until she couldn't breathe anymore, make love to her until she couldn't walk.

Every day was harder than the day before. Every day he had to struggle a little more than the last. Every day he had to fight the urge to make her realize that the way he was feeling about her was so much more than friendship.

And one day, as was inevitable, he lost it. She was right in front of him, she had the most beautiful smile on her face and he couldn't help himself. Moving to her with superhuman speed, Klaus cupped her face in his hands and he kissed her. Caught out off guard, Caroline closed her eyes and instinctively put her hands over his, caressing his fingers. Their mouths stayed connected for a long time, but Klaus didn't dare to deepen the kiss. He slowly released her and looked intensely into her eyes. He saw confusion, and shock, and fear. And then she stepped back, and she was gone. The day after, she didn't' show up at the mansion.

Thank you very much for reading. Please let a little review to tell me what you think. I love reading your feedback and review really make my day :-)