My spoon army maybe required for more! I tried to upload this chapter yesterday and Fanfic went all weird on me, so let's really hope it works now, I want to say thank you to everyone that PM'ed me to see whats going on and asking about the story, thank you so much, it meant a lot :D
The response to the last chapter...wow...you guys...ICE CREAM FOR ALL! (I have now been offered a spoon with ice cream and chocolate...I ACCEPT! We shall all share and watch some Klaroine goodness, which better be happening in season 4, otherwise my spoon army will have to be used for more then getting rid of writers block) ;)
I'm so glad I have Steffyyy back to normal now, phewww, him as a bit of a meanie (AKA ultra dick) makes me sad, I love him and Caroline's friendship so I've tried to include it in here, hope you guys like and don't worry Damon is in next chapter ;) (Watched Lost earlier...awww little Damon! I don't see him as Boone anymore :L He shall always be Damon)
*Sniffs* We're fast approaching the end now my dear revieweres, you are all so supportive and wonderful and make me write so soooooo much faster, please keep reviewing it means a lot :D And with much debate on Niklaus VS Klaus who will our lovely Caroline choose? Decisions, decisions :P
Caroline staid up all night, watching him, making sure he was safe, protected from himself. She was shaken up, her body kept trembling as she remembered his lifeless body in front of her, how the blood had continuously seeped from his wound and buried itself in the floor, creating a scarlet stain.
Niklaus had fallen asleep on her couch, and she sat in the armchair opposite holding her hands together and squeezing tightly, she couldn't force Klaus from her mind, the sadistic bastard refused to leave her thoughts.
But where was he? She had technically rescued him and she didn't even get a thanks? She puffed out her cheeks and drew in a long breath, what was the point with him? He was a murderer, the embodiment of evil, she understood in the Grill several days ago what she felt, she realised she wanted art, literature, beauty, she wanted him, yet within only moments of leaving him alone he had torn into someone's neck and drained the life force out of them, someone, that looked exactly like her.
She shivered and pulled her dressing gown further around her, Niklaus turned round on the sofa so his back was facing her, his head buried in the pillow contently and Caroline let herself relax a little.
Her head hit the back of the chair and she closed her eyes, pressing her lips together when she remembered the fire burning in Klaus's kiss and the sweetness in Niklaus's. But what did it all matter? She held back tears when she looked at Niklaus again, but a few escaped when she whispered, "You have to go soon."
But will he still be here? Inside Klaus? Or has he been dead for eternity, since the night he was turned?
She had to know, it was like a force inside of her, determined to discover the truth, she couldn't just leave Niklaus now, what if he suddenly awoke and saw another sharp object, easy to pierce human flesh? It wasn't worth the risk, and she wasn't about to baby proof her house.
The sun rose within the next few hours and Niklaus opened his eyes sleepily, his gaze landing on Caroline who stood above him with more cups filled with that wretched thing she called coffee, he didn't have the heart to tell her it sickened him.
He stood up and kissed her gently on the lips, "You have to get ready soon," She smiled against his mouth, "Stefan's on his way."
He froze against her for a moment but pushed his thoughts aside, violent emotions would only cause him to become Klaus, someone he desperately despised so he smirked warmly at Caroline and grabbed her waist holding her tighter against him, she giggled at his forwardness and he raised his eyebrows.
"Stefan won't appreciate the show?" He laughed capturing her lips once more.
She responded hastily, pulling at his t-shirt, pressing her body closer against his, he only just heard her whisper, "We don't have much time."
He withdrew from her, shaking his head, "I'm sure your Stefan friend won't be round for hours, he must have some sort of common courtesy, it is far too early."
Caroline looked down at her feet sadly, "That's not what I meant."
He held her tightly, sadness washing over him but before he could respond she kissed him again and he felt his control slipping as her kisses tempted him into desiring her more.
She sucked on his lower lip, eliciting a soft growl from him as her hands snaked into his hair.
They stumbled backwards until she was pressed against the wall, his hands held her hips firmly, allowing her no escape. Her mouth opened delicately and his tongue connected with hers, their breaths became more ragged and quick. He desperately needed air, but his need for Caroline consumed him.
Suddenly he felt a movement from below, and gasped as Caroline began to grind in to him, subtly at first, his eyes opened and he looked down expecting her to stop, expecting it to be an involuntary movement which she would become embarrassed about.
He moaned as she picked up the pace and his eyes roamed to her face, she was smiling wickedly, lights glimmered behind her eyes and he grabbed her ass quickly and pushed his rock hard erection against her despite their clothing, and, she moaned loudly.
He swiftly captured her lips in another long kiss as her hands un-knotted themselves from his hair and trailed down tantalising slowly and Niklaus tried to ignored the feeling of pure lust inside of him and continued to bite her lower lip as she made little gasps that made the beast inside of him want to claim her.
Her hands finally rested on the zipper of his jeans and he immediately stopped her, his hands moved from her hips and held hers as he slowed his breathing.
"Is this truly what you want?" He whispered not wanting to look at her; not wanting to be rejected.
She stilled, he gazed at her and saw how heavily she was panting. But the second those words left his lips she stopped and he could see her reconsidering, he could see reasoning enter her thoughts.
And that's when the doorbell rang.
Niklaus stepped back from Caroline who rushed past him not meeting his eyes, she approached the front door and an easy smile spread across her face at the sight of Stefan.
He stepped across the threshold and held his hand out to Niklaus who shook it politely.
"I believe we got off on the wrong foot," Stefan smiled kindly; "I wasn't quite myself the past few months."
"Believe me," Niklaus grinned, "I know that feeling."
Stefan patted him on the back and Caroline raised her eyebrows at them, "Bromance forming I see."
Niklaus and Stefan looked at each other puzzled, "Don't worry," Stefan reassured, "I don't understand her most of the time either," They both laughed good naturedly and Caroline huffed.
"I'll have you know my pronunciation is perfect," She said impersonating a royal.
"It's weird," Stefan confirmed.
Caroline looked down her nose at them and left the room, she heard the two of them laugh behind her. She walked up the stairs and shut her bedroom door quietly, moving to her bed she lay on her back staring at the ceiling and tried to process her thoughts, Klaus…Niklaus... she screamed into her pillow out of frustration, Niklaus's kiss just moments before had been so much like Klaus's that she was becoming more confused then ever.
She heard footsteps approach her door and a soft decrease of her bed as someone sat beside her, she removed her head from her pillow to find Stefan gazing down at her fondly.
"You don't need to pretend with me," He said and she smiled gratefully at him, "But are you pretending with yourself?"
"Are you a philosopher or something?"
He ignored her flippant comment and grabbed her hand, squeezing lightly, "I know that I haven't been there for you lately Care, who knew you would have gotten in so much trouble with no parental supervision?"
She laughed quietly, "No Stefan supervision you mean."
"Have you been sticking to the bunny diet?" He asked in mock seriousness and she lightly punched his arm.
They staid silent after that both lost in their own internal monologue until Stefan finally sighed and looked at her, "He can't stay here forever you know, he has to go back and become that mon-" Caroline glared at him and he snapped his mouth shut.
"What do you think of Niklaus?" She enquired watching Stefan's face shift into a more pleasant one.
"He reminds me of the 1920's," He said honestly, "The easy friendship I had with Klaus, but this time I don't need to be a ripper, I don't have to run around killing everybody just to please him."
Caroline nodded, "So you like him?"
"He's acceptable, I was thinking maybe of helping him understand about vampires, get him into writing to pass the time."
Caroline scoffed, "He's not writing a journal, no, get him an easel, he's going to turn into Klaus not you Stefan, he'll want a paintbrush not a pen."
"Klaus paints?" Stefan asked shocked and when Caroline nodded he frowned, "I would never have thought it of that…man."
"Everyone's full of surprises," She mused grabbing her jacket and putting it on, she headed towards her bedroom door but Stefan stopped her, earnestly looking into her eyes.
"Stop. Think. This thing you think you feel, its not real, it can't be real Caroline, listen to me, don't see Klaus, I saw your expression with the human downstairs, I recognised it, its what I feel for Elena so believe me Caroline, you do not want to waste your time with him. Because when he finally goes back he'll be dead to us, Niklaus is not Klaus. Not even remotely."
Caroline's hand fell from her grasp on the door handle and she looked at Stefan numbly, "You really believe that?"
"I know it."
"Look after Niklaus," She said weakly and brushed past him, leaving her house before Niklaus could even look up from the sofa.
The door banged behind her and she hugged her jacket tighter around her body for comfort, she walked for hours, entering the town and circling around it at least three times not focused on anything until a flash of wispy blonde hair caught her attention.
She saw the girl at the corner of her eye and grabbed her quickly, muffling her cries with her hand clamped over her mouth as she pulled her on to a deserted street corner, she could see her face now, she recognised it.
She gasped and hoped that her prediction was right, she placed her hands on either side of the girls face and whispered, "You remember. Tell me about the night you were attacked."
The girl's eyes went glassy and she replied in monotone, "He let me go. Told me to forget and run along."
Caroline quickly compelled the poor girl to forget again and turned round, a small smile forming on her face, that girl, he had released her, the one he had attacked at the grill to spite her, he'd let her go, he'd let her live.
Klaus had finally managed to pull himself out of Niklaus's surroundings, he hated that feeling, he hated knowing what Niklaus enjoyed; what company he kept that he himself was forever barred from, Caroline had walked out without looking back and his old friend the ripper was even softening towards the pathetic human.
"Fuck them," He hissed to no one in particular and threw the nearest object, a massive bottle of scotch, into the wall, it crashed around him and the liquid poured down the surface, like rain.
"Fuck them?" A teasing voice came from behind him and he whipped round, completely startled to find Caroline leaning against the doorway coolly, her eyebrows rose playfully, "I knew you had a thing for Stefan."
"Don't be ridiculous love," Klaus said easing back into his old self; he came towards her, "What are you doing here? I've killed people for a lot less then merely breaking and entering."
"You left your door open," She shrugged.
"No I didn't, you did yesterday when you took him away with you."
Caroline tried not to smile at his obvious jealous tone, "And you haven't closed it since then?"
"I haven't been able to," He admitted not quite managing to look her in the eyes; he staggered back when she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"What do you mean?" She squeezed his shoulder tighter trying to get a response.
"You won't like it," He said resigned as she moved past him to sit on his sofa, he soon joined her, "Sometimes, during what I believe to be Niklaus's heightened emotion periods I get transported to where he is, so I myself can witness what makes him happy."
Caroline laughed, he was being absurd, "That's not possible, I think I may have seen you…unless," She faltered and looked at the floor, "He's not happy with me?"
"He is," Klaus said immediately then snapped his mouth shut at her joyful expression, damn he'd just given her more of an incentive to pick Niklaus, oh well it's apparent she wont ever choose him he may as well just tell her, "I'm invisible to everyone else during it."
"Wait a minute," She whispered turning her head so she can look him in the eyes, "You haven't seen any of our," She coughed, "Activity?"
Klaus smirked and Caroline's mouth dropped open, she picked up the pillow closest to her and whacked him round the head with it, only causing him to laugh.
"You're a complete pervert!" She yelled hitting him again, he playfully tried to shield himself and she grabbed another pillow, one hit in the gut, the other on his cheek.
He laughed, "You basically dry humped me earlier you know."
Her face almost reddened as she remember her and Niklaus earlier that day and she aimed the pillow again but before she hit him round the face he grabbed the pillow out of her hand and pinned her to sofa, his body hovered over hers and she gasped at the contact and easy playful expression on Klaus's face, it suited him, he never smiled, this was weird.
"I like it when you do that," She said quietly tracing his lips with her finger.
Stefan watched Niklaus paint with interest, the amount of sentimentality that went into his artistic creation was outstanding, Stefan had no idea that a man like Klaus deemed such a talent as useful, he always imagined that Klaus would rather drink the Mona Lisa then admire her.
"I'm guessing this is another painting for Caroline?" He asked from the sofa, sipping his tea, his eyes fixed on the drawing.
"Another?" Niklaus asked puzzled, setting down his paintbrush and standing away from the painting to see it better.
"Klaus I believe has given her one or two in the past."
Niklaus smiled, "I'm sure that won me no favours."
"No," Stefan chuckled, "I don't think it did really. Now let's see how you've portrayed our fair vampire Caroline," He rose from his seat, the cup still in his hand but it dropped from his grasp when his gaze landed upon on the painting.
Hours ago he had asked Niklaus to draw Caroline as a vampire; he believed it would be a way for Niklaus to come to terms with their reality, but looking upon the painting now he could find no traces of supernatural abilities on the blonde woman.
She stood with a red flower in her hair, a glistening golden ring on her finger, her body contained by a beautiful white gown and a veil covering half of her face, she was gazing adoringly into the eyes of what appeared to be Niklaus but Stefan could not be so certain since it was a side profile of the man.
"Niklaus," He whispered, "You haven't drawn what she truly is."
Niklaus closed his eyes to keep the tears at bay, "I know. I can't."