The Proposal
First in a series of movie inspired Klaroline one-shots, because everything is Klaroline. AU/AH
This one is based off of The Proposal, minor plot changes. The setting is switched to London instead of New York, and they travel to Todmorden instead of Alaska. I made up laws. I'm sorry.
Caroline Forbes. Many words had been used to describe the blond in her lifetime. Young, beautiful, vivacious, a force to be reckoned with. Star of her class. Destined to succeed.
The editors that worked under her prefered to call her the American bitch.
One did not rise to the executive editor in chief of Bloomsbury Publishing by being nice, though. She was a hard worker, and she took her job seriously. This was a prestigious firm, and she would do everything in her power to uphold the good name of it. Okay, she was a neurotic control freak, but was it really that bad to want things done right?
And where the hell was her assistant with her coffee?
She knew that Klaus Mikaelson didn't like her very much; she heard some of the comments he said about her when he thought she couldn't hear. She also knew that he was damn good at his job. He brought her the best authors, and didn't waste her time with people who were not ready to be published yet.
Still, she wished he could be on time at least once. And she needed her coffee. Caroline may have been in England for four years now, but some things never changed. She needed coffee in the morning to get anything done, and without fail Klaus was ten minutes late.
She breathed a sigh of relief when her office door opened to reveal him… in a shirt that looked a little small for him. "Sorry Miss Forbes, got held up in traffic." She took the cup he offered her, noticing the black ink on the side.
"So some girl gave me her number Mr. Mikaelson?" She took a sip before he could answer, figuring out from the smell of coffee on him, the too small shirt, and the presence of the phone number that this cup had not been intended for her. "And you also drink a french-vanilla flavored coffee with hazelnut creamer and three bags of sugar? Or do you just order two of the same thing in case something like this happens?"
"Um, no actually, I like—" He was cut off by the buzz of her intercom.
"Miss Forbes, Mr. Gilbert will see you in his office now."
"Thank you Elena." She turned back to Klaus, lifting the pile of transcripts off her desk. "I need you to go through these, call the people and tell them whether they got a yes or no." She smoothed her skirt down, wanting to look respectable. Caroline was expecting a promotion, and she wanted it really badly; she had to show everyone back home who had ever doubted her that she could do this. She knocked, opening the door. "Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Jordan, you wanted to see me?"
"Yes Ms. Forbes, please close the door and sit down." She did as Mr. Gilbert instructed, waiting for him tocontinue. "We got a call from the American Embassy today Caroline. It seems you never filed to renew your passport. They sent you letters informing you of this, and you never responded?"
Truth was, Caroline had spent a lot of nights here at the office. There was work to be done, and she couldn't just leave. She hardly ever went home, let alone had a chance to check her mail. But how could she forget that her passport was due to expire? "Well you see, I've been caught up because—-"
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but Mrs. Rowling is on the phone to speak with you Ms. Forbes."
Then she had an idea. A terrible, wonderful idea. "It's fine! In fact, I was just about to tell Mr. Gilbert and Mr. Jordan why I haven't had a chance to check my mail." She hoped he would go along with it, crossing her fingers behind her back. "Klaus and I have been seeing each other. In secret. We knew it was wrong, but it just seemed soright, you know? And I've been spending the nights at his place. Isn't that right?"
"Uh, yeah, yes it is." Oh she could kiss him!
"Anyway, Klaus proposed the other night, and I said yes. I'll just go and explain to them, and they'll extend my passport."
"Oh, that's wonderful Caroline! Congratulations to you both! Why don't you two take the rest of the day off and get that taken care of?"
She scurried out of the office, Klaus hot on her heals. "Elena, tell Joanne I'll get back to her later, a crisis just turned up." She dashed into the elevator, her 'fiance' still behind her, and they rode down in awkward silence with the other people. She rushed to the street trying to take deep breaths. "Oh god, what have I done? What have I done? Shit! I've never lied in my life! What the hell is wrong with me?"
"Love. Would you like to tell me exactly what that was about, because I don't recall having any sort of relationship with you outside of the work place."
"My passport is going to expire, and I forgot to file for a renewal, and they're going to deport me, and I can't go back home."
"So you thought saying we were engaged would be a good idea?"
"It was the first thing that came to mind!"
"Do you have any idea how much trouble we could get in for this? I can't marry you! I have a life Ms. Forbes, and I will not let you ruin my personal as well as my professional life!"
She had never heard him speak like this before; he was usually the docile office worker. She had to admit his domineering attitude was a little bit of a turn on. But now was not the time to think about her bodies needs. "And you'll have your life Klaus. I'm not asking for forever. You do this, you let me stay here so I can keep my job, we can divorce in a year, shock everyone when we stay cordial to each other. I'll read your manuscript Klaus! Please. Please do this for me."
Whether it was her begging or the face that had always served for getting her her way before, something shifted in his expression. "Fine. But I'm calling you Caroline. I want a raise, and I want a good word put in when you get promoted. I want you to actually give my manuscript a chance and not just read it because of this deal. And you have to propose to me."
This was so not how she thought her first proposal, her first marriage would go. Couldn't he at least be the one to propose? "Isn't it traditional for the man to propose? I thought surely with all your high and mighty English gentleman morals you could at least propose to me."
"Who's the one who has to get married here love? Oh that's right, you. You can do the proposing."
"Fine you want me to propose to you? Klaus," she grabbed his hand in her's, "Klaus Mikaelson, assistant editor, will you marry me?"
"Hmm, no, you know, I'm pretty sure you're supposed to get down on one knee."
"Seriously?" She should have known that he would be difficult about this. Caroline lowered herself down, trying to deal with both her skirt and her heals. She grabbed his hand again, looking up into his amused face.
"This isn't normally where I would have a woman on her knees in front of me, but I'll take what I can get."
He's just trying to rile you up Caroline. He's the one with the power here, and he's taking advantage of that, pay no attention and do not respond to his perverted comments. "Klaus Mikaelson, honey, sweety, baby, will you please marry me?"
"No."
"No?"
"A little less sarcasm might be nice."
"Klaus, will you please do me the honor of being my emergency husband?"
"That's better. Alright, I will be your emergency husband."
They caught a cab over to the embassy, unspeaking. "Oh my god, a ring!" She shouted, startling the driver, but Klaus caught her hand in his.
"Relax love." He reached into his shirt, pulling out a necklace with a small ring on it. "It was my great-grandmother's, it should suffice." He handed her the ring. It was beautiful, she would admit.
"This will be fine, thank you." They both watched as she slipped the band over her left finger, finding it to be a perfect fit.
The line was long, and to her displeasure, they had to sign a sheet and wait for their names to be called. She tried to still her fast beating heart knowing that she couldn't let on how truly nervous she was.
"Ms. Forbes, Mr. Mikaelson?" They approached the man who had called them, and Caroline nearly jumped out of her skin when Klaus grabbed her hand in his own. "Hi, welcome to the embassy. Alaric Saltzman." They shook his hand and he led them down the hall to a room. "So, we're going to ask you two some questions, you wouldn't believe the number of people who try to get married just so they don't get deported."
"Wow, people actually do that?" She was glad when Klaus spoke up; he seemed perfectly at ease.
"Yeah, crazy right?" He paused, grabbing a clipboard before sitting down across from them. "So, full names?"
"Caroline Anastasia Forbes"
"Niklaus Mikaelson."
"No middle name?"
"No."
"Alright then, birthdates?"
"Caroline's is November 4, 1987."
"Thank you, Caroline you know his?"
Thank god she did, thank god she actually took the time to get her assistant a present. It helped that his was the day after hers. "November 5, 1986."
"Alright you two, if you're faking this, Caroline you face deportation. Klaus, you could face imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. And your story? Well, I've heard it before. Tomorrow, we'll need you to come back, go into different rooms and answer questions about each other."
"Well Mr. Saltzman, we'd like to really, we understand the importance and all, but we have a leave town tonight. My family reunion starts tomorrow, and I want them to meet my bride to be."
Oh, how had she been reduced to this? She was on her way to Klaus' family reunion, the same leave she had denied him two weeks earlier. At least he had got them more time to learn about each other so they didn't become criminals.
"Here we are love, Todmorden, the town of my childhood. And my childhood home."
She almost laughed. Home? It looked like a miniature castle. "Wow."
"That is what most people say when they see the Mikaelson estate. It's my father's pride," he explained as he drove up the winding driveway. "He built it here after the old family home was torn down. An exact replica, with a few additions to make it more modern."
Caroline tried to still her nerves as they walked to the door. It wasn't every day you met your fiance's family after all.
The door swung open, a petite blond girl flying out and into Klaus' arms. "Niklaus! We thought you would never get here! Oh how I've missed you."
"Rebekah!" He held the girl tight a moment more before pulling away, and clasping Caroline's hand in his. "This is Caroline, my fiance."
"Fiance?" At his nod, Rebekah smiled. "It's so good to meet you! We thought he would be alone forever."
"Bekah!"
"It's true Nik, and you know it. Come on inside you two, let's introduce you to the rest of our clan."
Caroline met all the siblings she hadn't known he had, and their families. There was Rebekah, Kol, Elijah, Finn, and Henrik. Rebekah was married to Galen Vaughn, and they had a son James. Kol was dating Bonnie Bennett, and they had one daughter Abigail, with another child on the way. Elijah was married to Katherine, and they had triplets, Jenny, Eric, and Christine. Finn was married to Sage, and they had one son Jareth. Henrik, Klaus' youngest brother, wasn't anyone, but Klaus reassured him with a ruffle of his hair that he would find someone someday. She couldn't help but smile as she was introduced to them; Klaus was a completely different person than who she saw at the office, and they accepted her into their folds effortlessly.
"Come on, everyone else is out back, we just wanted to see you before everyone else did."
"And mother and father?"
"You know how they get when they're hosting a party Nik."
"I haven't seen them in three years Bekah, you'd think they could at least come and say hello."
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault they are the way they are Bekah. Come on love," he directed at her, and she was shaken out of her confusion when he tugged her along with his siblings to the backyard. "Father!" Klaus called when he spotted the man Caroline took to be his father from all the signs she was getting.
"Niklaus." The man excused himself from the people he was talking to to stride over to his son; Caroline noticed the siblings had dispersed into the crowd and wondered if she should do the same.
"Father, I would like you to meet Caroline Forbes, my fiance. Caroline, this is my father, Mikael."
Mikael ignored the hand Caroline held out to him, rounding on his son, and she let her hand fall awkwardly.
"Fiance? This is your boss? The woman you've spent the last four years hating? And you're going to marry her? Have you gone absolutely mad?"
"I got to know her father. She's not that bad." He stepped away, pulling Caroline with him, grabbing a champagne flute off the table, hitting it with a knife he picked up. Once he had everyone's attention, including a very curious Caroline he spoke. "Hello everyone. I know it's been a long time since I've been home. I'd like to introduce you all to my fiance, Ms. Caroline Forbes." He downed the flute, gaze searching the crowd, and pulled Caroline behind him once more.
"Nik!" The woman embraced him, before turning to Caroline. "She's quite the beauty, son. Esther Mikaelson, Nik's mother." She held out a hand, and Caroline shook it.
"Well, you always taught me to only settle for the best mother."
They mingled in and out of the crowd, and Caroline blushed more in that night than she ever had in her life. He complimented her to everyone telling stories of 'his beautiful fireball' and that he was 'so proud of all the hard work she did'. She found herself wishing his words were true.
"Klaus!" The couple both turned to the slim brunette who was approaching them.
"Tatia." He seemed infinitely less enthusiastic about seeing the girl than the girl was to see him. Caroline pushed her small feelings of jealousy away. This wasn't about love, it was an arrangement, nothing more. "Allow me to introduce my fiance, Caroline."
"Ah yes, I remember when I held the title. I should never have let you go. I hope you two enjoy each other."
She walked away, and Caroline noticed the clenching of his fists, the flaring of his nostrils, before grabbing his hand in hers instinctively.
"Sorry about that sweetheart. She broke out engagement when I moved to London. Don't let her fool you though, she was also sleeping with Elijah and god knows who else on the side."
Caroline gasped; she would never dream of being unfaithful, not even in a relationship like the one she was currently in. "I'm so sorry."
"My father probably invited her. She's Katherine's cousin, and our two families share a textile business. He didn't like it when we ended things."
"So that's why he didn't like me?"
"He doesn't really like things he can't control. And he doesn't appreciate strong women, especially in places of leadership higher than men."
She gritted her teeth, she had heard that one a million times before. "And you?"
"I think if a woman is equipped for a job, why shouldn't she do it? You're very good at what you do Caroline. If anyone deserves to be chief executive, it's you."
After the party was over, Esther showed them to their room. "You'll have to share, but it's not like you two haven't slept together already anyway, right?"
After much blushing and stammering, they made it into the room, Klaus grabbing blankets off the bed. "What are you doing?"
"I thought I would take the floor love."
She scoffed. "I'm not going to make you sleep on the floor. I may make you work long hours, but I am not cruel enough to force another human being to sleep on a wood floor. Besides, this bed is freaking huge."
When she woke up, something hard was pushing into her back, she ignored it, burrowing deeper into the warmth coming from behind her. Then she felt the arms wrapped around her torso and realized what exactly was pressing against her. With a shriek, she pushed away from him, watching as his eyes blinked open in confusion, before embarrassment flooded them. "Caroline, I'm sorry."
"I don't understand—-"
"A beautiful woman was pressed against me. Do you need me to explain the biology of this situation?"
"No." She squeaked in mortification.
"Good, I'm going to go take a shower then."
That night, after spending the day with Esther and Rebekah, going wedding shopping, she decided to ask Klaus about the tension between him and his father.
"I don't want to talk about it Caroline." He said, turning over in the bed so his back faced hers.
"You know, when I was four, my dad left. I didn't understand at the time, and I thought I had done something wrong. He left my mom for another man, and I lived in an old southern town. They sort of took their prejudice against him out on me. I was bullied, and I had to learn to close myself in so people would leave me alone." She paused before hurrying on. "If you want someone to talk to, I'll be here for you."
She laid there, waiting for him to open up to her, wanting him to. Caroline gave up, thinking he had fallen asleep, but his voice broke the quiet. "Mikael isn't really my father. My mother had an affair. The only reason he hasn't disowned me is because he doesn't want it known that mother cheated."
Caroline reached out a hand, and grabbed his in her own.
"Rise and shine sleepyheads!"
"Mother, what are you doing in here?" Klaus groaned out.
"Rebekah and I were thinking, why don't the two of you get married today? We can have everything arranged, and then your whole family can be there Nik. It would be too difficult for all of us to travel to London, especially with Bonnie ready to give birth."
"Mother, I don't think—-"
"Oh Nik, please do this for me?"
"It's fine Nik." Caroline piped up, not even realizing her use of the nickname his family had bestowed on him. "We can get married here."
"Alright then."
The day passed in a blur of finding a dress, and flowers, getting someone to make a cake, calling Mr. Saltzman and letting him know of the change in plans. Before she knew it, Vaughn, as he had asked to be called, was leading her down the aisle.
Klaus looked so handsome in his tux, all broad shoulder and stubble, and pure man. The smile on his face almost convinced her that he wanted this, that he wanted her. And then she looked around the room, spotting Mr. Saltzman in the crowd, and then Klaus' smiling family, all his friends. And she couldn't do this. She couldn't ruin his life. "Mr. Saltzman, I, um, this is my fault really, but there's been a mistake." She ripped the ring off of her finger handing it to Klaus, before running out of the church, and catching the first cab back to London.
"You'll be deported back to America. You have twenty-four hours to collect your things."
She returned to the office where everything had started to clear out her office to the jeering looks of her former employees. She ignored them as she set to packing, but a commotion outside caught her attention. A casually dressed Klaus appeared in her vision, and she blinked back the tears seeing him again brought.
"What are you doing here?"
"Henrik helped me realize a few things."
"You're angry."
"You ran."
"I couldn't ruin your life Nik."
"Maybe I want you to ruin my life Caroline. Because I realized something up there when you left me alone and wife-less. I fell for you, hard and fast, and I'm not going to let you go. Not ever."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm in love with you Caroline Forbes."
"No, Nik, please don't. We can't—- I'm leaving the country, and I'll be out of your life."
"I don't want you out of my life Caroline." He stepped closer, cupping her face in his hand. "I want you in my life, every day until the day I die. I want to fall asleep with you in my arms, and wake up with you there, I want to marry you, I want to love you and know all there is to know about you. I want to have kids with you Caroline. I want you."
Her tears were flowing freely now. "I'm scared."
"I am to Caroline, but tell me you don't love me and I'll go, I'll leave you alone."
"I can't say that. I love you Nik, and I want all those things to."
His lips crashed down on hers as their arms wound around each other, tongues and teeth and passion mixing together to the cheers of the other office staff.
"Marry me?" He asked pulling away, and she laughed.
"Yes, yes I'll marry you." Their lips met again, and Caroline sent up a silent thanks that for once in her life she had forgotten to fill out a stupid form.
Fin.