13. Coming clean

Caroline woke up with a buzzing in her head. My God he was really turning her into an alcoholic. She hadn't had so many hangover "mornings' afters" since, well never. She skipped the college experiences and took online courses since acting was always number one in her life, and Tyler was never much of a drinker, he was too afraid some paparazzi would caught him in the act and his impeccable reputation of number one action star would go down the drain. One concern Klaus probably never in his life had. Klaus … Her husband … So he did remember. Because she always wondered, since he acted like nothing happened that night on the boat. So she obviously always wondered if he even knew it was her that he had sex with. And last night she finally got her answer. And it was painful and hurtful, to open that can of worms again, but in a way she was glad they finally cleared the air a bit. And in a way she even appreciated he didn't try to justify himself, but honestly admitted he was a self-centred jerk that cared for no one but himself. The thing that was bothering her was, she couldn't quite figure out if he was the same person back then and now. If someone asked her that question two weeks ago she would have said yes, without thinking about it twice, but now … She saw the way he acted towards Rebekah, the overprotective older brother act was not just an act this time, he was really trying to be a good brother. Maybe there was more to Niklaus Mikaelson than meets the eye, maybe there was something deep down worth digging, she just wasn't sure if she was brave enough to borrow the shovel.

She took a shower, got dressed and headed downstairs. She had an appointment, a very important one, one of those that you don't miss even if you're shooting in the middle of nowhere while Tarantino is yelling at you to show more emotion. A message arrived last night while she was terrorising the Mystic Grill having a karaoke showdown with Rebekah. It was a message from Lexi saying pretty much she'd drag her out of the house on her knees if she didn't show up at their favourite brunch spot at eleven sharp. And of course added it was high time she stopped making a fool out of her friends and explained this extraterrestrial situation to them. Otherwise they'll just assume she's been abducted and brainwashed and call the FBI, since one of Lexi's ex boyfriends was now an FBI agent that was actually a possibility. And since Caroline didn't have on her agenda today to alarm the whole Federal Bureau she had no choice but to say yes. Although she had no clue what she'd say to them when she saw them.

She walked into the kitchen, just wanting to get an orange or an apple to make her last till the infamous brunch, but like always in this house, his house, she got more than she bargained for.

"My God, this is a place where people come to eat, in case no one ever told you. Could you put a shirt on or something?" since there was Klaus, standing only in his shorts, while sweat was running down his lean, muscled torso, and Caroline had to look away. Had, had had to, but so didn't want to. Damn, it should be illegal for anyone to look that good without a t-shirt. I mean, Tyler had a great body, since he spent five hours a day in a gym making sure it was great, but this was a body of a man that was born as a perfect specimen put on Earth to torture women. Women that hadn't had sex as long as her. Damn, why did she have to think about sex? It would only make her blush, and him read every dirty thought of hers, having him as her lead actor in all of them.

"It's not like you've never seen me naked sweetheart."

"Doesn't mean I want to, ever again." Caroline was lying but her lie was more than transparent.

" Just keep telling yourself that. Maybe you'll eventually start believing it. "

" Hey, does your bedroom have a super maxi size door? Because I don't know how your ego manages to pass it."

" My ego is just the right size, just like everything else on me." Klaus winked at her.

" You are beyond annoying. I just came here to have some light breakfast but even a simple task like that has to be torture with you."

" It doesn't have to be love. You're making it torture for yourself. Looking at this, wanting a piece of it … Denying it … Must make you toss and turn at night."

" Go the hell Klaus." she was ready to storm off, when he grabbed her by the hand and she could smell his scent, he was all sweaty from his morning work-out but it still smelt good. It almost made her throw herself at him and ask him to take her on the kitchen counter, so they could both be hot and sweaty. Oh God, she did need Bonnie and Lexi, because she was truly losing her mind. This was Klaus, the guy that took her virginity and acted like she was a piece of meat there for his taking, and now she was actually thinking of asking him to take her again. And again and again …

"Leave me alone." she yelled at him a bit louder than she planned to, letting her frustrations vent.

"Relax sweetheart. I think we started this day on the wrong foot. Why are you so edgy? Those margaritas from yesterday still kicking in? Come, sit down. And I'll make you breakfast."

"I have a brunch date in two hours. I don't want breakfast. And knowing you, you'd probably slip me something in it."

" Why would I do that? So I could get you so high and oblivious to marry you? Oh wait … To late … We already did that. Sit down and at least let me make you my special hangover drink. It really helps, take it from a pro."

In the end Caroline gave up and sat on the stool in the kitchen while Klaus was mixing God knows what into something she'd supposed to drink, yuck.

"So, where is Rebekah? Did she come home last night? I haven't heard from Matt today …" Caroline was trying to talk about something else and avoid the topic of them.

"It's not like a keep a tab on her. I'm her brother, not her father. Her love life is not my concern."

" Oh, really? So you're telling me you don't know exactly when she got home, if she got home, and with whom she got home?"

" No"

" Liar. Oh come on, just come clean and tell me you care about her, every aspect of her life, even her love life."

" Caroline, sweet naïve Caroline. You know I'm a no good son of a bitch that doesn't care for no one but his amazing self."

" You do care about her. More than you would ever admit, even to her. You love her, probably so much you'd be willing to put her life before yours, just to see her happy. To see her in love, to see her loved. "

" That's it. As your husband I'm forbidding you to drink. Apparently the liquor is making more damage to your brain than it ever did to mine. You're hallucinating."

But Caroline wouldn't fall for his bluff, not this time; she saw what he was trying to do. Turn this into another pissing contest between them, anything to mask his real feelings, to mask any feelings whatsoever. Maybe they weren't that different after all. Maybe they were both trying to put a shield around them, to prevent anyone from getting in, from getting closer, from hurting them. Because that was what people did, they hurt you, they scared you, and they made you feel, the bad things, but also the good. And Caroline was afraid if you block the one you'd block the other one as well. A few weeks ago she was a hundred percent sure it was worth it, she never wanted to feel like she felt when Tyler left her, but no … She started to see that the world without genuine feelings was not a world she was willing to live in. And she also started to see not all was totally black or white. Did she still believe Klaus was all wrong for her? Yes. But did she still believe he was a ruthless bastard incapable of love? Oh God, she didn't know what to believe anymore.

" You're hallucinating my dear wife." he repeated one more time.

"You know, not everyone is worth saving." he said and she could have sworn she even so a glimpse of sadness in his eyes.

" Anyone capable of love is capable of being saved."

He said nothing, they were just staring at each other, in each other's eyes, and you could feel the electricity between them although they weren't even touching. It was like they were caught in a spell of some kind, pulling them closer to each other, no matter how strongly they were fighting it.

"Here's your hangover medicine love. I have to go. Important meeting, already running late." he gave her something that looked like, well there is not a pretty way to put it, vomit, and stormed out of the room. He was as afraid as she was. He was more than fine to get physical with her, to take her body, he was fine with teasing her and making her hate him, but he was afraid of everything else that could follow. And so was she, so much, but the other part of her was curious… About them, the non existent them, that could become, existent. Oh God, she needed Lexi and Bonnie more than ever. No more lies, no more pretending, no more coping with all of this alone, it was time to come clean to her friends.

So the three of them were sitting, having their brunch, and for the first time in years Caroline was spilling, and spilling it all. How she actually felt about her divorce and Tyler, what actually happened between her and Klaus all those years ago, and what was actually happening now.

"Waiter, we'll need another round of drinks. And keep them coming." Lexi yelled so that the whole restaurant, and probably two more blocks around the restaurant could hear her.

" Lexi, are you nuts? This is brunch. Who gets drunk over brunch?"

" We are." Bonnie took a sip of her Manhattan and backed Lexi on this one.

" I'll need a few more rounds to digest all of this."

" I thought we were best friends. I told you everything about my life. Even about my miscarriage two years ago. And you kept all of this to yourself?" Bonnie kept on sipping her Manhattan, waiting for another one to come. And another one, and another one …

" Bonnie, please. Please don't be like that. Me keeping things to myself has nothing to do with you, you know I trust you more than life itself, right? You're like my sisters. I'm … I'm just not the type of person who likes to share her feelings. I always thought it would make me look weak."

"There is nothing wrong with being weak sometimes. It's human." Lexi added

" Yes, I know that. I do. But easier said than done for someone who has spent their life pretending to be perfect, the perfect daughter, the perfect little child star, the perfect Hollywood princess, the perfect wife to her famous husband, the perfect part of the two piece set. It's hard for me to admit that I'm not … perfect …"

" Oh please. We never thought that you were perfect, I knew deep down that you were a neurotic little bitch." Lexi was pulling out her humour to try to ease the tension between them. Bonnie was still silent. Sitting there, saying nothing. Caroline hated that so much. She never wanted to hurt her best friend.

"Bonnie, I know I made a mistake and handled all of this poorly, and there is no excuse for that. But I'm here now, coming clean, and asking for your help, advice and guidance. I'm really screwed and I need you to tell me what to do."

" You should have sex with Klaus." Bonnie said like it was "pass the bread" and Lexi almost chocked on her croissant.

" What? Omg … Wait … what? Did she just use the S word?" Lexi was stunned beyond belief.

"Ok, I get it Bonnie. You're mad at me, so you're telling me the exact opposite of what you think I should do."

"No, I really think you should sleep with him. I mean, I do have the urge to find him and rip that miserable heart of his for doing what he did to a poor innocent seventeen year old girl. And don't even get me start on this ridiculous stupid fake marriage of yours. You're all bunch of brainless idiots and I apparently can't leave you alone for a second without making a mess out of things. "Bonnie signed and Caroline was happy that the Bonnie she knew and loved has returned.

" But … It's more than obvious you already have him in your system. And right now I can't think of another way of getting him out except doing what you so obviously want to do."

" Yeeees, just please do him already. It's been tooo long Care. You need to get laid." Lexi was vivid as always.

"Maybe it would be safer to hire a male prostitute if I need to get laid so desperately."

" But why would you do that when you have a perfectly good, and I mean peeerfect, husband at home waiting for you to give in to him. Hey, just because the marriage is fake, doesn't mean it will all be fake. I bet the orgasm will be quite real."

" Lexi …" Caroline and Bonnie rolled their eyes, but couldn't help but giggle.

" Don't you Lexi me. I want all the details once you do it, you hear me? I bet he'll be much better than Tyler, that man was just too serious about all of it, everything was a movie scene to him."

" Please, can we just leave him out of it? And pleeease, I haven't decided that I was actually going to sleep with him."

"Of course you didn't sweetie, and I'm Jennifer freaking Lopez. I wish … Just stop fooling yourself hun. You have a gorgeous man that wants to sleep with you, and you're still thinking about it? I say go for it …"

"It's not that simple Lexi. Bonnie tell her it's not that simple." She turned towards Bonnie for support.

"I think Caroline is afraid of repeating her past. Am I right?"

" Well … I don't know … I do just want to have good, casual sex, I mean, I am only human after all, but … I don't want to be just another one of his sex toys. Just another unimportant and easily forgettable notch on his already over-size belt."

" So don't be … Make sure he knows exactly who he's with this time, have no mercy. Don't for a second think of him; think only of yourself, and your wants and needs. He owes you that, after his bad performance the first time around. This time, don't let him get away with anything. I think all of this is poetic in a way. Like you owe it to the seventeen year old Caroline Forbes, to get one hell of a ride on that rollercoaster of death."

" Even if I get burned?"

" Life doesn't always come with a safety net. But that's what makes it really exciting. You know I love you to death but I think you've lived on the safe side for too long sister. So don't look at this marriage as a horrible thing that will ruin your life, look at it as an opportunity. An opportunity to be someone else for six months. Try your new skin, who knows, maybe it will fit."

" I do have to actually agree with Lexi on this one. Although I still don't like your new husband, fake or no fake, or trust him. But maybe it wouldn't be bad for you to try to live by your rules for once, do the things you like. Although I'm still mad at you a bit …" Bonnie gave her "don't pull that shit on me ever again" look.

" … you know I think you're one of the sweetest and nicest people in the world. Too too good sometimes, putting everyone else first, and yourself last? That's not healthy, nor good. You matter, your needs matter, so start acting accordingly.

"Wow, this really was a breathtaking brunch. I didn't know you felt that way."

" Well, since you came clean, we decided to do the same. So, I guess I'm sorry too … I'm sorry I never told you I always kind of thought Tyler was not good enough for you. I mean ok, he was really good to you, before this Hayley and divorce thing, but it always seemed to me like he wasn't committed all the way to your relationship and marriage. But I hoped till the very end I was wrong, you were so happy and I wanted you to keep being happy. If he was making you happy I was determined to keep my wiseass mouth shut. We didn't want to be one of those friends that would hate a friend's husband for no good reason. But that's over now, a new era of complete honesty has began. And I'll have no problem telling you my two cents about Klaus …"

" Thank you Bonnie. For being honest with me. And hey, you can bash and trash my new husband all you want, I'll probably even join you, we can have a proper bash and trash party. It's not like I'm in love with this one or something. Love is a bitch."

" No, it's not. It's the greatest feeling in the world. You just have to find the right person. And you will … I'm one hundred percent sure of that. If anyone deserves to be loved than it's you Caroline Forbes."

" Yeah, yeah, yeah, love, bla,bla, bla. For now she just needs some hot angry sweaty sex. So let's finish these Manhattan's my ladies and go do some serious damage to the stores here. I'm getting stir crazy, and besides … We need to find something absolutely fabulous for this one over here, something that would make, I'm going to quote my idol Samantha Jones: " make a guy come in his pants when he sees her."

" Oh no, she started quoting Samantha, it's time for us to leave. Come friends, let's shop till we drop. I really did need this girl time. Thank you."

" For what Care?"

" For nothing, and absolutely everything. For being my friends, for being there for me. I just wish Katherine was here, so we could have our perfect four together again."

" She'll be back. When you least expect it, as always. But till then … Shopping it is …"

When Caroline got back home it was already night. They really did shop till they dropped. Caroline barely felt her feet anymore, and was in dire need of a good back rub. The thought of a massage made her think of him. Her dear husband, in the room next door. So close, yet so far … Only a few steps needed to cross the distance between them, and it was up to her, whether or not she wanted to, make those steps. She didn't have a clue what she wanted, well, actually she did, she just didn't know if it would be a good idea or the stupidest one ever. But maybe … She just needed to think less and act more. Yes, that is what she needed to do. And right now, before she lost her courage and regained her common sense. So she changed into a white t-shirt and jeans, let her hair down and let her inhibitions down as well. She knocked on his bedroom door. Something she never, in a million years, thought she'd be doing.

But there was no answer. He wasn't home? Typical for him, the night when she finally decided to do, well she wasn't still sure what exactly, but he was out somewhere, probably getting it on with on of his whores, ups, she meant lady friends. Not that she was jealous or anything, he was just getting what she denied to give him. Simple as that. It was always as simple as that to him. Well, this was definitely a sign. A sign they should keep their relationship strictly professional, and that this here was a baaad, baaad call. But … If he wasn't at home … Maybe she could snoop around a bit, get to know the man behind the mask. She slowly entered his bedroom, luckily it wasn't locked, although if he knew what kind of a snoop she had become he'd start locking all the doors in his house. She looked around a bit, king size bed with black satin sheets? So cliché even for him … Although it did look cosy, and big … She was just about to try it on a bit, when she heard a voice coming from somewhere outside.

" Please don't start going through my stuff. I'm waay too drunk to deal with a dead body tonight." she heard the clink of ice cubs coming from his balcony. And she had two choices, go back from where she came from, or join him outside. Well, she needed a bit of fresh air anyways.

" I wasn't snooping around. I was hoping to find you in your bed, sleeping. And end your misery, with a pillow. But since you're here, standing on the edge, looking down, I'm hoping you'll do the job for me."

"Oh come on Forbes. Admit it that you'd miss me dearly."

" Of course I would Mikaelson. I'd even shed a few fake tears on your funeral. Fake marriage, fake tears, it would be very poetic. The media would love it. But since you don't strike me as a suicidal type, what are you doing here?"

" Having a cigarette … I desperately needed a smoke."

" And where is that infamous cigarette of yours? Omg, you liar, you don't smoke anymore."

" Please, what makes you say that?" he said and returned to his whiskey.

" Because, I hear you talk and talk about cigarettes but I haven't actually seen you lit one, not even one."

" Sure you did. I just finished one. "

" No, no you didn't. And I haven't tasted tobacco on you when I had to endure one of your pathetic kisses. You used to taste like a freaking ashtray when we had our kissing scenes on set. But now … You really did stop smoking." Caroline was shocked, she really didn't know anything about this man anymore.

" Okay, fine, you got me Mrs. Marple. I stopped, but only because my drinking got so out of hand I couldn't deal with more than one addiction at the time. I know my gorgeous looks can be deceiving, but I'm not getting any younger."

" So, when did you quit?"

" I don't know. Five years ago?"

" Five years ago?" Caroline was getting more and more furious.

" And you couldn't just say it like all normal people? You had to make a show out of it, a real spectacle. Nothing is ever even remotely real to you, is it? You know what, I'm going to bed. I just realized I'm very, very tired. From all of this."

" Why did you come here tonight Caroline?"

" I don't know."

" And who's making a show out of it now Carebear? And I thought you loooved honesty."

" Don't you dare to talk to me about honesty. You wouldn't know what honesty was even if it bit you in that pompous ass of yours. You want to talk honesty, fine, let's talk honesty. I'll tell you why am here, if you tell me what are you up to these days. All the phone calls, going to meetings …"

" Jealous much?"

"Goodnight Klaus." she was about to leave, and leave for good any ideas of anything remotely real and honest happening between them.

" It's about a tree house."

" Are you kidding me? Grow up already."

" No, it actually is about a tree house. Lance Chase's "Tree House". The novel that hit all the bestseller lists two years ago? I bought filming rights to it."

" What? Is this one of your drunken fantasises?"

"Sometimes I think it is. Since it's becoming almost impossible to start filming. And the clock is ticking. I'm looking for investors, a production company… I have a few more weeks left before it's all gone. A part of me wishes it would be because it's just too much work for a no good lazy ass like me."

" But …"

" Quid pro quo sweetheart. I'm done talking about it tonight. But I'm dying to hear why did you show up in my room?"

" I don't know, ok? Maybe I just wanted to see you? Talk to you?"

" Is that all?"

"God, you really do have a one-tracked mind, don't you? It's not all about sex."

" Maybe, but this thing between us, right now, is …"

" Ok, fine. Quit pro quo, right? I'm not going to say that I'm not curious, but … I need more time, to adjust to the idea of this."

" Allow me to speed things along then."

Before she could even breathe in and out he crushed his mouth to hers. Oh yes, this kiss was very real, no photographers watching, no scenes being filmed. It was just the two of them, Klaus and Caroline, mortal enemies and possible lovers. She almost began to pull away when she realized there wasn't a need for that. She finally knew what she wanted. This was Klaus, a liar and a faker, and she knew how little his kisses meant, and they felt good. It was all that was supposed to matter.

He slid his tongue into her mouth in a sensual exploration. He was a great kisser, she could never deny that. She slipped her arms around his shoulder and deepened the kiss. Klaus wanted to use her. Fine. She'd use him as well. Just for a moment. Just because it felt that good.

He splayed a hand across her back, bringing their hips together. He was hard and she was enjoying this power she had over him. It wasn't the same like all those years ago. He wasn't the only one in charge anymore. She had the power now. The power to say no, or to say yes, and play this out by her rules, but she wasn't just a ragged doll anymore, she was in control of herself and her actions. Actions being led by pure physical pleasure, no stupid emotions getting in the way this time.

" I want you so damn much." he purred into her ear.

A dark, erotic, almost forbidden thrill swept her away.

"So take me then." She couldn't believe she was saying this, in her most sultry voice. They just stared at each other, both breathing heavily, both knowing what was to follow. He reached for her, but suddenly … They were both hit by a flash of blue- white light.

Klaus's head shot up: " Fuck!"

It took her a few moments to get back to reality and to realize the light came from a strobe. And before she could say anything she had to face the ridiculous action scene happening right before her very eyes. Klaus swung his legs over the balcony railing and dropped to the roof of the veranda below.

" Stop. What the hell do you think you're doing?! You're going to break your neck." She cried out, but there was no stopping him.

He ignored her and lowered himself over the edge of the veranda roof, hanging by his fingers, before dropping to the ground. And here she naively thought her first husband was the action star. The last thing Caroline saw was him climbing the high stone wall that divided his property from the one next door. From all the stupid things … She rushed from the house after him. She hurried along the path to the wall, happy she wasn't wearing heels, she found some footholds in the stones and began pulling herself up. She had no idea what she was thinking, and why she was in this game but yes, the idea of their intimate moment being exposed like that made her sick to her stomach as well, and … Somebody has to be there when Klaus tries to kill the photographer, if nothing else, to help him. Finally she somehow managed to climb high enough to try to see what was happening in the neighbour's backyard. Suddenly the security lights came on, and then it all happened in a flash. She saw Klaus chasing a man holding a camera; the man jumped over a row of shrubs and disappeared around the cabana. Klaus was just about to follow him when a woman stormed out of the house holding a gun. It was Meredith Fell, ready to shoot.

Woah, a long chapter it is. Hope you guys are going to like this one ;). A lot of it has been revealed here, and more will be in the next chapter about Klaus's project ... They almost did it, but damn something had to get in the way :p. But don't be mad, the M ratings will be justified very shortly :D. The best is yet to come :p ... SO PLEASE REVIEW AND MAKE ME VERY HAPPY, your beautiful and sweet reviews and love for this story always make my day :))))

P.S. What did you thing about last night's episode? I loved Caroline and Klaus so much, they have amazing scenes together, and he really cares for her (maybe even loves her), as much as he can being a man that has gone through quite a lot in his life. I just wish she'd finally give him a chance ... But no matter what, Klaus will always be my favorite character, the only one I'd never ever stop loving and Klaroline my OTP 3

Poor Jeremy, and just when I was starting to feel Beremy in this season again, I hope they bring him back somehow (although I doubt it), first Kol, and now Jeremy, they just have to kill all my favorite characters :(. Klaroline and Rebekah is te only thing still making me watch the show.