Klaus stood before Caroline, admiring how beautiful she looked in her sleep. Her small chest slowly moved up and down while her head was slightly tilted. He smiled and stroked her fair face. To this, Caroline woke up immediately and was startled. Klaus was taken aback at her sudden movement and chuckled.

"What?" she snapped, a little embarrassed.

"I just wanted to let you know that we're about to arrive," Klaus grinned.

"Oh. Okay. Thanks." Caroline looked outside the window. "Wow," she gasped.

Klaus shook his leg, hesitating to sit next to her after their little spat earlier. As Caroline's faced almost seemed plastered to the window, he couldn't help but take the seat. "I told you, you'd love Italy."

Caroline couldn't stop staring at the beautiful, ancient buildings of Venice that grew larger as the jet got closer to land. She turned quickly in her seat and grasped Klaus's hands tightly. "What are we going to do first?" she asked. Klaus wasn't used to this child-like Caroline, but he found it exciting and was happy he got to see this side of her. Moreover, he was elated that he was the reason behind her excitement.

"Ah, well, we have to get settled into our hotel first, love, but how about we grab a bite before we have some fun?" Klaus smiled his dimpled smile and held her hands gently in his. He wasn't used to the feeling of Caroline's soft skin, and he felt as if he never would be. He loved its smooth, soft surface.

"Okay. Wait, bite as in...?" She knitted her eyebrows. Surely, Klaus knew she only drank from blood bags and not humans.

"Restaurant food, love. I knew you don't drink from the vein, so I came prepared." He gave a small smirk.

"What do you mean?"

Klaus stood up and took out a small suitcase from the suitcase compartment and opened it. It had at least 50 blood bags.

"Wow, Klaus, thank you. I didn't know you knew. Can I have one right now?"

"Of course! In fact," he dug through the suitcase until he pulled out a particularly smaller bag. "I got you a few of these." He handed the bag to her.

Caroline read the label. "O negative? I've never had O negative before." She looked up at him. "You spoil me, you know that?" She smiled and took off the cap from the bag and gave it a whiff. Her mouth watered and veins dried as they did when she was thirsty.

"Well you deserve the best. It's from a donor I know in England." Klaus watched her intently. Her vampiric eyes and fangs came into view as she took her first sip of O negative. He couldn't help but gaze at her drink. She was beautiful to him despite her inner monster's appearance. As she drank halfway through the bag, he had a quick fantasy of draining an Italian woman with his Caroline.

Caroline gasped. "That was amazing!" Her eyes turned back to their usual steel-blue color and she licked the remains of blood from her shell-pink lips. Klaus smiled and disposed of the bag.

"Buckle up, we're landing in a minute." They fastened their seatbelts and were quiet until the plane successfully landed. In what seemed like no time, Klaus and Caroline were now in their cab on their way to their hotel.

Once again, Caroline was fascinated by the buildings and culture of the streets of Venice. She gasped and gazed at practically everything. Klaus watched her. He studied the way her eyes lit up when she was excited, how the corners of her lips lifted when she concentrated on something, how she held her breath when she saw something beautiful. Perfection.

A few minutes later, they arrived at their hotel and were settled in the penthouse suite in no time. This must be costing him a fortune, Caroline thought. She felt bad as she admired the luxury surrounding her, but all emotions except awe were abandoned once she saw the view from her bedroom. The whole city seemed like a painting from the balcony she stood on. The fresh air and the sound of the beach dominated her sense. Mystic Falls was nothing compared to this.

"I see you've taken in the view," Klaus said from the doorway.

"This is unbelievable," she whispered. Klaus was now standing next to her, glancing at the view as if he'd seen it a thousand times.

"So is this." He laid his hand on hers again and waited for her reaction. Caroline looked down at their hands and slowly looked up at him. She smiled softly and pulled away.

"So where will we be eating?" she asked, trying to change the subject, but Klaus wouldn't allow it.

"Caroline, you must now this is a miracle to me," he said somewhat frustrated.

"What is?"

"The fact that you agreed to come with me. All I've ever wanted, from the moment I knew who you were, was to show you the world, to show you what you've been missing. After all those times you've denied me, I thought about giving up, but I couldn't possibly give up on you." Klaus wasn't used to opening up, so it was a bit difficult for him to look her in the eyes. After a small moment of silence, he grew the courage to look at her.

She had been gazing at him. Why can't you be this open and sweet all the time? she thought. "Klaus, I appreciate this. I appreciate how you've given me the chance of getting away from all the craziness in Mystic Falls, I really do."

Klaus smiled and turned to the city. "Caroline, I want you to know something, something I haven't told anyone."

"And what would that be?"

"I'm not really sure how to say this,"

Oh my.

"I've never really said this to anyone."

If he says what I think he'll say, it means he has feelings, therefore, humanity?

Klaus pursed his lips hesitatingly then swallowed hard. "Caroline, I've never fancied someone so much in my entire life, and I need you to tell me how you really feel about me."

"Why?"

"Well, a long time ago, I would have answered that by saying 'so I wouldn't be wasting my time', but now, I need to know because I've already lost my brother and sister's... love. I just want to be sure I haven't lost yours."

"And how are you sure you've ever had mine?"

Klaus turned slowly to her. He could feel his cheeks burning. "Because you wouldn't be here if you didn't." Caroline gulped. He had a point. "Now please, honestly tell me how you feel."

She gulped again and felt uncomfortable. She had never really opened up to Klaus for fear he'd use her feelings against her, but he, of all people, was capable of love. After a few minutes of silence, Caroline said, "I'd be lying if I said I didn't fancy you."

Those words were like music to his ears. Klaus felt his werewolf heart give a pang he had never felt before. He turned to face Caroline. She stared back at him and gave a smile he'd never seen before. It was indescribable. It was almost as if he felt acceptance from her. He felt himself getting closer to her face, eyelids closing, lips pursing...

"Klaus."

As Caroline realized what he was about to do, her mind snapped immediately to him. Tyler. She missed him so much, but that was what she was here for, right? She doubted Klaus would ever give him his freedom so she felt like she had to get over him now or never. Still, that was the problem: Klaus would never give Tyler his freedom.

"Caroline, for once, don't think of him." Klaus still moved closer. Now, their lips were only inches apart.

"I love him."

It was as if Caroline had gotten him and thrown him off the balcony. Klaus stopped in his tracks and realized that it would always be Tyler. If she were any other person, Klaus would have just ripped her heart out and thrown it carelessly down to the people of Venice, but he loved her and he knew it. Instead, he straightened up, swallowed the strange lump in his throat and said, "Let's go grab that bite."

I'm really liking were I'm going with this story. I hope you guys do, too ;)