Little oneshot that's been playing on my mind:
Klaus is a baby vampire whilst Caroline is the Original Hybrid. Klaus has been bitten by a werewolf but will Caroline save him especially after he betrayed her?
Hope you enjoy :D
Caroline stepped out of the car, she blinked twice as she looked at the Mikaelson building staring at it in mild disgust. It had been a long while since she'd been back to this one pony town. She'd hoped she'd never have to be dragged back but there was something inevitable about the situation…
Caroline smirked as she leaned her head back with closed eyes letting herself become immersed in the rich tone of the jazz singer. "You gonna answer that anytime soon?" She heard Marcel ask, opening her eyes she saw her phone light up.
'Doppleganger'
"Nope." She murmured before declining the call and looking back towards the singer who owned the crowd.
A few minutes later, Damon entered the bar heading immediately towards the blond. "Sister." Caroline rolled her eyes at him before narrowing them as he spoke. "You want to explain why I'm getting calls from Mystic Falls, asking for your help?"
"I have no clue, though you could just…I don't know…ignore it." He pressed his lips together before dismissing Marcel and taking his place.
"It seems your little toy-boy is in trouble." Caroline blinked suppressing the urge to ask what happened.
"Not my problem." She simply replied nonchalantly whilst Damon smirked observing her.
"Good." He said resolutely, "We don't need any of their problems weighing us down." He spread his arm across the back of the seat lounging back as he absorbed the dark vibes of the dimly lit bar.
Caroline sipped her drink slowly as she looked off into the distance. There was no way she was going back to that small town which brought misery upon her.
The blond licked her dry lips as she leaned against the car observing the building in front of her. Taking in a deep breath she walked up the gravelly path foregoing the door and instead jumping up towards the window which was partially open, she stilled on the balcony underneath it and listened in to the room where she heard stuttered breaths and voices.
"I'm trying to find a way to slow it down, Nik." Rebekah whispered as she gripped his hand tightly. "She'll be here, I know it." She reassured him but he gave her a pitying smile.
"No she won't." He whispered struggling to voice his words as the venom coursed through his veins.
Caroline leaned her head back resting it against the wall as she heard his rough accented voice. It had been months since she'd heard or seen him. She waited as Rebekah pressed a damp towel along his forehead wiping away the sweat.
"She will." The blond replied adamantly whilst his eyes slid closed before reopening slowly. "Look, me, Kol and Elijah are not letting you go this easily. She'll be here, even if I have to drag her by her hair." Rebekah said with emotion welling up.
Caroline raised her brow impressed at the girl's threat. Though she'd probably deny it if she knew Caroline was standing right outside the window.
"Just stay with me." He whimpered causing Caroline's heart to crack. The blond Original scolded herself, he was not allowed to affect her this way. She had vowed it to herself making sure her heart had hardened months ago whilst promising herself to forget all about him. But it was easier said than done.
"Oh come on, get to know me." Caroline urged him as he walked away from her, she was hunter and he was prey but they both knew that this was nothing but a mere distraction.
Klaus smirked thinking she'd fallen for the plan, he turned with an unimpressed look as she smiled slyly at him. She walked closer before sliding onto the bench and patting the empty seat beside her. "Come on, I dare you."
"I'm too smart to be seduced by you, love." Caroline smiled brightly.
"Well…" she shrugged, "…that's why I like you."
Klaus smiled looking down at his feet before taking in a deep breath and sitting beside her. "So what do you want to talk about?" He asked, suppressing the nerves.
Licking her dry lips, the blond leaned back in her seat, "l want to talk about you." Klaus chuckled nervously finding his eyes drawn back to hers as the cold air bit at both of them. "Your hopes, your dreams," Caroline tilted her head, "everything you want in life…" she whispered softly luring him into the conversation.
Klaus gulped, her eyes were so blue. How could such a monster look like an angel? Just stick to the plan and everything'll be fine…
Caroline swallowed hard as she recalled their first proper conversation, he was all dimples and nerves rolled up into one and yet he had quickly began to unravel her.
"I see you got my invitation." Caroline said softly causing Klaus to turn, his eyes widened in awe as he saw her in a pale blue dress which accentuated her beauty.
"Yes, well it was either this," he glanced around the vast elegant ballroom, "or cold pizza at home." Caroline giggled lightly at his words which made Klaus chuckle nervously. "Quick question." Tilting her head Caroline listened, "Are you going to kill me?"
Caroline lifted her brow, she was surprised at his blunt question. "We've had decent conversations, I've invited you to my family ball and you ask me that?" The amusement left Caroline's eyes, "Do you really think that low of me?" She asked her voice hinting at vulnerability.
Klaus hesitated but answered nonetheless. "Yes."
Caroline took in a breath at his blunt answer.
Their attention was drawn up to Stefan who gave an elegant speech before inviting everyone to take a partner for a dance.
"Would you care to dance?" Caroline asked gently, Klaus hesitated for a few seconds as he glanced towards Elena which Caroline noticed before she took Elijah's hand and agreed to dance with him.
"Of course." He took her hand and led her across the room to start. "I'm sorry about your father." Caroline said softly.
"Don't." Klaus ground out, Caroline nodded seeing it was a sore subject for him.
"You're a good dancer." She said rerouting the conversation, she felt Klaus straighten.
"Well I've had training." He remembered the evenings he spent with Rebekah who always cajoled him into being her practising partner for the Miss Mystic pageant.
Caroline grinned, "I know." Klaus watched her suppressing a giggle but couldn't stop a chuckle himself.
"How?" He asked.
"I have my ways." Klaus' smile faltered remembering that this was the Original Hybrid he was speaking to. Of course she had her ways.
Caroline felt the amusement clearly diminish as Klaus avoided her eyes.
Klaus tightened his hold on Rebekah's hand as he pulled laborious breaths into his lungs. "I promise you're going to be fine." She whispered. Kol quickly came through the door and connected eyes with Rebekah as he shook his head, the blond swallowed before releasing his hand. "I'll be right back Nik."
"Well?" Rebekah asked impatiently as they moved away from Klaus' room, she saw Kol's hesitation and slapped his arm forcing him to answer her.
"Ow." He whimpered.
"Where is she?" Rebekah hissed.
"We have no idea. She isn't picking up and neither are Damon or Stefan."
"Dammit. Has Bonnie tried a locator spell?"
"Of course she had, they're in New Orleans. There's no way Caroline would be able to get here before…" Kol's voice trailed off, he had no choice but to be clear with Rebekah. It was their brother dying but they couldn't give him false hope. It was simply too cruel.
"Kol, we can't lose him." Rebekah's eyes filled with tears before she narrowed her eyes at the brunette that came up the stairs with tears in her own eyes. "What do you want?" The blond hissed, Elena winced at her tone but couldn't blame her.
"I wanted to see if he was alright-"
"Alright?! Of course he's not bloody alright. He's dying or is that too much for your little head to accept."
"Bekah'-" Kol tried to stop a fight erupting which would waste the precious time they still had with Klaus.
"No! I'm sick and tired of everyone thinking that it's alright with her to-"
"To what, Rebekah?" Elijah interrupted as he followed Elena and stood beside her. The sight sickened the blond and she couldn't help but recall the few words she and Caroline had once shared…
"Stop playing with him." Rebekah hissed as she stormed through the Salvatore mansion doors finding Caroline looking out towards the garden. She turned towards the woman, her face was free of emotion. "You don't get to come into our town and then pretend to care for him. He's already dating Elena, do you understand that?! He's taken so back off." Rebekah exclaimed coming to stop as she panted with anger.
Caroline looked at her, her mind drew resemblances between the Mikaelson sister and herself.
"Stop lying to yourself Rebekah." Caroline simply said as she ambled towards the wooden table and poured two glasses of bourbon.
Rebekah narrowed her eyes, "What are you talking about?" Caroline sighed.
"Do you really believe that he's happy with her?"
"Yes." The blond vampire immediately replied, Caroline nodded.
"And what about Elena? Do you think that she'll give him the life he deserves?" Rebekah hesitated but answered after a beat.
"Yeah." Caroline scoffed and shook her head in disbelief.
"Wow, you really live up to your hair colour, don't you?" Caroline offered the glass of bourbon to Rebekah who stared at it in confusion. "Go on," seeing her not move Caroline sighed, "Really? Look I haven't poisoned it, trust me it's not my style."
Rebekah reached out and took the glass, "As I was saying…you really need to take a closer look at Elena." Rebekah glared at the blond who raised her hands in surrender, "I'm not saying kill her, jeez, calm down. I'm saying watch her."
"Why?" Caroline took a sip and shrugged.
"You'll find that everything isn't what it seems."
"Look, just stop with the riddles and tell me what you know." Rebekah said without patience.
"I'm just saying, you've heard the story of Tatia," she spit the name out with hatred
"Yeah, your brothers fought over her-"
"And nearly ripped my family apart, yes." Composing herself she continued, "It's no wonder that Elena is descended from her, they both share a common trait, don't you think?"
Rebekah narrowed her eyes reading in between the words. "Wait…you think Elena's cheating on Nik?" She breathed out in disbelief.
"I don't think, I know." Caroline drained her glass and placed it back down. "And it's not just someone, you might want to look closer to home."
Rebekah blinked in disbelief before she gulped her drink back. If Caroline was right then that would mean…no… The vampire clenched her jaw, Kol was chasing after Bonnie so that would mean…Elijah.
"You've got to be kidding me?" Rebekah murmured connecting the dots. She slammed the glass down on the table before turning on her heel and storming towards the door.
"Rebekah." The blond stilled looking over her shoulder, "Klaus deserves so much better." Rebekah scoffed.
"And you think that's you?" Caroline gave her a sad smile.
"No." She whispered in full honesty.
Rebekah looked at her slightly shocked at her words before pushing back the feeling and striding towards the door back into the car and driving towards the house where she entered to see everyone awaiting her arrival. Her eyes connected with Klaus, Elena and Elijah's.
"She fell for it…"
It had all been an elaborate set up to weaken Caroline's defences.
Caroline stayed leaning against the wall, she heard Rebekah yell at Elena and couldn't help but swallow. She still scolded herself for allowing her feelings to get in the way and allow herself to fall into their trap.
"Hello, love." Klaus said as he slid into the seat beside her.
"Klaus." She saw the defeated look as he ordered a bottle of bourbon for himself. "What are you doing here?" Of course Caroline knew what had happened, he'd f course found out about his ex's betrayal and found himself at the Grill drowning his sorrows.
"What does it look like?" He gestured towards the bottle he was served and immediately grabbed a glass filling it to the brim with the murky liquid before downing it straight back.
"Well it looks like you're trying to get yourself drunk and going about it the wrong way." Klaus tilted his head questioning her. She leaned closer keeping her voice low.
"You're a vampire, remember. That bottle isn't going to do anything for you. You'll probably need 6 more of those to at least feel a little hazy."
Klaus chuckled at her words before ordering 8 more bottles. "It's on me. Just don't do anything stupid. I don't wanna' have to be responsible for you when you're drunk on your ass." She said slyly before downing her own drink and standing.
"Wait." Klaus immediately said, "How 'bout you join me?" Caroline wanted to, but there was no way she was going to be a rebound.
"Maybe next time." She said as she turned away only to be stopped by his accented voice.
"Elena was cheating on me with Elijah." He spat out. Caroline raised her brow, "Please, just one drink." He urged her pouring her a glass and nudging it towards her.
Caroline saw the puppy look overcome him and sighed as she relented and sat back on her chair. "Fine."
They spent the next few hours draining the bottles, though it didn't effect Caroline at all but quite the opposite could be said for Klaus. It seemed that he was a vampire lightweight. After a few more hours talking about everything and anything Caroline finally decided Klaus had had enough.
"Come on, Mikaelson, time to go." She murmured, his relents weakened as the liquor went straight to his head and tired him out. Seeing his eyes begin to close she smiled softly as he began blubbering nonsense, she supported his weight with his arm over her shoulders and her own around his waist. She knew she could simply lift him and flash him back to his house but for the sake of appearing human in the bar she kept up her acting.
Once they left Caroline immediately flashed them to the Mikaelson mansion where she gently placed Klaus into his bed tucking the blanket over him after she had removed his jacket.
"Caroli…" He drawled out still in his drunken state, he opened his eyes reaching out for her. The blond squeezed his hand.
"Go to sleep, Klaus."
"I don't want to…" He said softly, "I'm not tired…" he yawned lightly drawing a giggle from the hybrid.
"I can see that…" He groaned lightly as he forced his eyes open, Caroline smoothed back the curls that had matted his forehead.
"Sleep…" she murmured smiling as she immediately heard light snores from him.
"Klaus?" Caroline sighed hearing Elena's voice as she entered the room. Caroline's chest tightened at her mere presence, she had the urge to walk away from the situation but couldn't will herself to move.
"Hmm?" Klaus groaned out as his eyes found the brunette, "What are you doing here?" he coughed out feeling his head begin to pound. "Where's Elijah?"
Elena swallowed guiltily, "Elijah's talking to your sister."
"Why are you here?" He repeated.
"I came to see how you were." She whispered rubbing her hands together as she moved closer towards him.
"Well how do I look then?" Klaus sneered out, outside Caroline couldn't help but wonder why he sounded so angry. "Do I look peachy? Because that's how I feel." He choked out sarcastically.
"I'm sorry," Elena whispered making Caroline wonder what she was apologising for.
"That I found out or that you played me?" Caroline furrowed her brow listening to his words, it sounded awfully like a breakup that hadn't ended on a good note. Caroline dismissed the idea, she had been wrong about the whole Elijah/ Elena affair…
Caroline and Klaus had grown incredibly close after his 'breakup' with Elena. They talked for hours on end on the phone or face to face when they met. Caroline helped him realise that life as a vampire was much more than he believed it to be, she showed him memories of places she had visited and promised that she would one day show him in reality.
Klaus on the other hand taught her that simple, human conventions could still bring about joy and amusement. Like the time he had taken her to an art class where she truly messed up a simple fruit bowl drawing whilst he had simply replicated it to perfection. Or the time he'd taken her to see Mission Impossible 3 throughout which the pair squabbled over the actual height of the Burj Kalifah seeing as Caroline had actually been there whilst Klaus had done a very detailed report on the building. They had both rolled their eyes when Tom Cruise stated the tower as being taller than it actually was. They both agreed to disagree whilst agreeing that Cruise was a total numpty especially after making it seem that running through a sandstorm wouldn't at least scar your face.
"Sweetheart." He groaned as Caroline accidently nudged him making the red paint land on the horse's sketched muzzle.
"Sorry." She said sweetly biting her lip, she rested her chin over his shoulder as she looked at the canvas in front of him. "When did you learn to paint?" She asked softly.
"My mother taught me when I was little…"
"So you've been doing this since you were…"
"7." Caroline's eyes widened.
"You're…amazing. One day you'll find yourself being the most wanted artist in the world."
"I doubt it." He murmured.
"You have an eternity, Klaus, you will one day." She whispered softly. He swallowed as she filled him with confidence. "One day you'll have people lining round corners wanting to catch a glimpse of the famous Niklaus Mikaelson." He shivered hearing her say his name. "Paint me like one of your French girls, Klaus." She said in a flawless British accent impersonating a fan.
Klaus blinked, his hand fell away from the canvas as he heard her words, turning his head he caught her eyes and couldn't help but be in awe of her sunshine laugh. "Ok." He whispered causing Caroline to still.
"What?" She asked confused.
"Let me paint you." Caroline blinked rapidly, she was centuries old of course she'd had paintings done of her but they were by mere admirers who meant nothing to her. But Klaus. He was much more than a simpleton. "Please."
"How?" She asked.
"Full body." He said keeping his eyes locked on hers, "With a sheet of course but full body nonetheless."
"When?"
"Now?" Caroline nodded slowly, Klaus set his palette and brush aside as he removed the canvas and placed a new one on top. Caroline swallowed the nerves. "Are you sure, sweetheart, I don't want you to feel like-"
"It's fine, just if you start drooling I'm totally going to hit you." She covered her nerves with the teasing threat which Klaus grinned at but didn't respond to.
Caroline turned looking around the room, "So where do you wanna' do this?" He took her hand and led her towards the bed which he gestured to. "I thought you'd buy me a drink first."
"If I remember correctly I bought you 8 whole bottles of bourbon." Caroline rolled her eyes trying to stifle a giggle but failed. "Just here, I'll get a sheet for you, you just…"
"Undress?"
"Yeah." He gave her a hesitant smile as he entered the closet and grabbed a white sheet opening it up as Caroline took a shaky breath and undid her shirt. Thank God she'd decided to wear her pink and black ensemble. Her shirt slipped from her arms landing on the ground, her back was to Klaus who blinked rapidly before averting his eyes and setting the sheet on the bed whilst he headed back to the canvas readying some pencils
Caroline undid her jeans and slipped them off letting them rest on the floor beside her shirt before she glanced at Klaus who was staring intently at the blank canvas, his eyes drew up to her and she gave him a small smile as she reached for the sheet allowing him to see her toned body wrapped up in nothing but her hot pink bra and panties which were lined with black silk around the edges.
She pressed the sheet to her front and laid sat on the bed unsure of how he wanted her placed. Seeing her confusion, he headed towards her taking her hands and gesturing for her to crawl onto the bed which she did whilst he stood in front of her.
"Turn around." He spoked sending shivers down Caroline's back, she followed his instructions turning to face him on her knees. "Closer." He took her hand moving her closer towards him, she was near the edge of the bed when she stopped shuffling forth. Her nose came to just beneath his, as if he was hovering over her. He softly ran his fingers up her bare arm and gently eased her down to sit on her knees. "Spread you knees." Caroline swallowed as she followed his instructions. His eyes went to the pink and black bra straps, she followed his gaze as he reached up lightly tracing the fabric. "Take it off." Seeing her reach behind her whilst holding onto the sheet as it covered her chest, he slowly eased the straps from her shoulders. He heard the snap of the hook and let the fabric fall from his light touch as Caroline eased it off her arms and laid it beside her whilst keeping the sheet covering her breasts.
Licking his dry lips, Klaus slowly ran his fingers through her soft hair as she watched him carefully, he gently fluffed it up causing the soft waves to lose their structure and instead frame her face with careless ease. His finger ran down her cheek, Caroline heard him swallow hard.
"There." He whispered, his eyes looked her over once from bottom to top before he tilted his head and took the hand that held the sheet and gently loosened its grip. Caroline kept her eyes on him as she wondered what he was doing, she soon found out as he placed the hand that held the sheet from the top of her cleavage to instead rest in the middle holding the sheet up between her breasts. "Sit back." She sat on the heels of her feet, Klaus took her free hand and placed it palm down on the bed between the gap of her knees. The position caused her back to arch down slightly making her hair fall forward a little letting small curls to frame her face.
"Perfect." He murmured taking one last look before moving back to his canvas and sitting down. Taking a deep breath he picked up a pencil and looked at Caroline as if she was his prey, how ironic it seemed seeing as she was the one who could kill him with a simple snap of her teeth, he pressed the pencil lightly to the blank canvas and all that filled the room was the light scrapes of pencil against paper…
It was magically, days together turned into weeks which turned into a month. Everything was going perfect…too perfect yet Caroline allowed her happiness overshadow her cautious upbringing. She missed the clues and the hints that she should have picked up. She should have figured it out weeks before but had failed and allowed herself to become immersed in Klaus' presence.
She fell for him. Hard.
Something she had vowed to never allow, something she had believed to be a mere weakness…
"She'll be here, you know." Elena said adamantly as she moved closer to sit beside him.
"Of course she won't, not after everything that happened." He whimpered out feeling the burn sizzle up to the surface of his skin.
"It needed to be done, you know that-"
"No." He spluttered out, "What I know is that she was honest, something which you clearly couldn't be."
Caroline listened closely, Elena looked away.
"I'm sorry-"
"You let me believe you, you let me hurt her." Elena looked at him with narrowed eyes.
"She tried to kill all of us. Surely that's good enough reason to want her dead!" Elena exclaimed. "We had to get rid of her, and we did."
"And look what's happening now." He whispered closing his eyes tightly and baring his teeth through the pain. "Get out." He murmured.
"I'm sorry, Nik-"
"Don't call me that!" He hissed out groaning as a sharp pain shot through his body. Caroline could tell he was hours into the wolf venom spreading and only had at most an hour left. "Caroline was right all along, wasn't she?" He murmured, "The time she saw you, it wasn't an act you put up for her…it was real."
Elena felt the guilt she had been harbouring for months continued to eat at her, "Answer me!" He exclaimed before he launched into a coughing fit.
"Yes." She answered as tears fell from her eyes, she reached out to hold his hand but he pulled them away immediately.
"Get out." Klaus groaned, he regretted every single moment that he went along with the plan. He regretted ever believing Elena. He regretted trusting her and Elijah when there were clues all around him of what was going on.
The venom continued to take effect, he clutched the pendant that graced his neck tightly between his fingers…
Klaus swallowed tightly as he grazed his fingers along the necklace that Caroline had given to him for his birthday, they'd met up this morning and she'd been the first one out of all his friends to wish him a great birthday. But announced that she'd been out of town for a few hours on business so that he should have his time with his friends without her interruption which would have probably caused an uproar.
He'd expected a small celebration of course but with the plan coming to its finally few days everyone was busy making sure all the components were put together and ready to be executed when the time came.
You see, it had all been one big distraction with Klaus playing centre role. They needed Caroline Salvatore, the Original Hybrid, out of the way especially as she had been wanting to use Elena's blood to make hybrids. They had located a white oak tree in the south of France which had been harvested by a local merchant so Bonnie and Kol had travelled down to collect a branch from it.
Since it was a baby white oak tree, they had to use magically enhancements to increase its growth which had taken a few weeks. Elijah had come up with a simple plan involving Klaus becoming close to Caroline making her guard fall and once the white oak was ready to be used they would ambush her and use it taking Caroline Salvatore down.
Klaus had agreed, his so-called love for Elena blinding him as he carelessly agreed to the plan.
But he found himself having doubts especially as time went by and he got to know the feisty blond.
So on his birthday, when she had gifted him the necklace that was carved with a few words in an ancient language that Caroline had refused to translate until later that night when they would meet once again, he began questioning himself.
He had felt an instant connection to the necklace and asked Caroline why that was. She had stunned him with her answer.
"It's not just a necklace, Klaus. Remember how you told me Mikael isn't your real father and you found out your mother had an affair with a werewolf?"
"How could I forget?" He murmured under his breath as he looked at the chain in his hand.
"Well…I found your father's pack," Klaus' narrowed eyes shot up, "your biological father," she gestured towards the chain in his hand, "that necklace belonged to him." Licking her lips she continued, "You were born to be a wolf, Klaus, but were turned before you could be one. It's why you feel so close to wolves," he tilted his head, "yeah, I noticed."
Caroline bit her lip, "Why give me this?" Klaus asked.
"I've spent centuries feeling incomplete until I broke the curse." She explained softly. "That need, the want to be part of a pack but knowing that they would never accept you for what you are, it's something you've been feeling, right?" He nodded unconsciously, "You don't have a way to get rid of that feeling, so," she shrugged, "I located your pack and asked a witch to take their essence putting it in that necklace. That way you can carry that missing part of yourself everywhere you go and never have to feel like you don't belong."
Klaus was speechless, Caroline took the silence in the wrong way, "If you don't like it, I can take it back and undo it all-" Her words halted as she felt his arms wrap around her pulling her towards his warm body.
"Thank you." He whispered against the shell of her ear as he tightened his arms around her, slowly but surely, she wrapped her arms around his neck breathing in his musky scent. "No one, not even my own family, has ever given me something like this, Caroline." He pulled back slightly. "Thank you." He pressed his lips against her cheek lightly causing a pink blush to rise up on her pale skin.
"But…did you meet him?" Caroline knew who he meant and the way she looked at him told him all he needed to know.
"He died, Klaus. A long time ago." He looked down, she softly lifted his face, "I'm so sorry." He nodded before feeling her body press against him again bringing comfort to him. "Maybe you could go see his pack. I don't know if they'd accept you but-"
"This," he held the necklace up, "this is more than I could have ever asked of you, sweetheart." He felt his chest tighten knowing of what was about to come in a few days. "I will always treasure this."
Caroline smiled feeling proud that she was able to bring him such closure, "Hey, there's a whole world waiting out there for you to treasure. I'll take you to Rome, the Trevi fountain is to die for and you can continue to treasure every moment."
Klaus hugged her tightly again so that she wouldn't be able to see his face, his smile had faltered at the mention of her taking him to Rome. What if she was no longer here? What if in a few days she was nothing but a memory. A woman he had once met and played a part in killing.
"By the way, I'm going to be gone for a few hours, business and all that. Nothing you have to worry your pretty little head about." She said pulling away from him whilst Klaus tried to compose himself. "I'll be back later, ok?"
"Ok."
"I'm sure your sister has some big surprise party planned." She backed up a few steps when Klaus stopped her.
"Could you…" he looked at the pendant and Caroline tilted her head with a nod before pinching the necklace and bringing it up round his neck where she tied end of the thin rope like thread together, she brushed her finger over the pendant.
"There." She bit her lip, "Perfect."
"Thank you, love…"
"Hey Nik." Rebekah entered the room again, she found him holding tightly onto the necklace adorning his throat. Of course she'd heard of its history from her brother. Once everything had been said and done Klaus had broken down and confessed all to his sister confiding only to her.
She moved closer to the bed and kneeled beside her dying brother, "Where are you, Caroline?" She whispered into the air hoping the blond had listened to the million messages the blond had left and was on her way to save Klaus.
But looking at his pale, sweaty face, Rebekah began losing hope that even if she was coming, she wouldn't arrive in time.
Caroline looked at her phone, there were messages upon messages which had been left from every member of the Mystic Falls gang. She sifted through the text messages and deleted each and every single one.
They had no right to call her back and plead for help. Had they accomplished what they wanted, Klaus would have been left with no hope of surviving and it would have been their own faults for being stupid enough to kill the only being on the entire planet that would be able to save their friend.
As Klaus lay dying, both their minds took them back to the last day they had seen each other…
Caroline rubbed her temples as she drowned a glass of bourbon whilst rearranging her shirts and shoes in colour order. She hummed to herself trying to calm herself down and keep the recurring thought pushed out of her mind. She couldn't contemplate it, she wasn't allowed to by her own rules.
It wasn't possible yet she knew it to be true.
"Caroline, sweetheart?" He'd called her name a few times before he came up the stairs and found the blond tucked away in her walk-in closet with shirts sitting next to jeans and shoes placed next to her makeup shelf where he knew they most certainly didn't belong. "Love, are you alright?" He asked cautiously taking in the scene.
"Yep, perfectly fine." She replied without turning around.
He had known the blond for at least 5 months and in all the time they were together he had learned that she was a total control freak which she hid well under her tough exterior but when worst came to worst she would be rearranging her clothes or accessories.
"Sweetheart, you're stress sorting, you want to tell me what this is all about?" Caroline stood slowly and turned towards him. "Well?"
"Nothing, nothing's wrong." She said walking past him towards her dressing table where she got various make up products out from the drawer before moving across the room towards another chest of drawers.
"Caroline." He drawled out as he placed the products back into the draws and straightened the items on top of the dresser knowing it had to be done perfectly especially when she was in this state.
Caroline turned to look at him and watched as he carefully moved each object to come in line with the other. "I need to tell you something." She spoke, she saw him nod. "I think…" she could feel the tightness in her chest at what she was about to confess, "...no…I know…"
Klaus tensed slightly at her words, had she found out about the plan?
"Klaus, I-I…" Closing her eyes she ripped the band aid off, "I love you."
Klaus stilled as did Caroline. Both inhaled sharply at her words. For the first time in years she was scared. Fully terrified of the repercussions of her words but that didn't stop the next few being said.
"I'm in love with you."
Caroline waited for him to react, but he remained frozen on the spot with his back to her. Silence had settled on them as Caroline's eyes filled with water and tremors ran down her body.
The silence was broken as Klaus' phone rang and he slowly picked it up answering: "Rebekah?"
Caroline stared at him with wide eyes, she'd just confessed her love and he was on the phone talking to his sister, she missed whatever Rebekah had said.
"I'll be right there." Klaus replied hoarsely, his throat feeling dry whilst his mind spun out of control.
The vampire glanced at Caroline whilst she continued to await his words, "I need to go." He whispered, the next thing she knew, Klaus had flashed out of the mansion to wherever he was going.
Caroline gasped as the sharp stab of rejection pierced her heart…
"You can't die on me know, Nik. Don't you dare…"Rebekah whispered," She'll be here, I know she will…" The blond continued to hope as Klaus and Caroline remained stuck in their memories…
"'It's done." Bonnie said with an air of finality as she held the white oak stake up for everyone to see. "We'll do it tonight." The dark skinned witch said wrapping the stake in a cloth and holding it tightly.
"The sooner the better." Elena agreed. "But how do we get her here?"
"Nik calls her, tells her he has a surprise. Bon-bon zaps her with witchy juju, we tackle her and Elena has the honour of putting the stake through her chest." Kol said immediately without hesitation. Everyone turned towards him in disbelief causing him to shrug, "I had 3 hours to kill, might as well figure out how the finale is going to turn out."
Klaus felt his chest and throat tighten, he'd flashed out of the mansion to come straight here to find out that everything was finally ready and that the plan was going to come to its end.
But what he hadn't counted on was Caroline confessing her feelings.
That was definitely something unexpected.
But was it unreciprocated? That was a whole other question. One which caused Klaus to falter and doubt the plan.
"Well, Nik, come on. Make the call…" he heard Elena urge.
Elena. That was another thing he had to come to terms with. The more time he spent with Caroline the more he doubted that Elena was the one for him. Sure they'd been friends for a while before becoming closer but when he was with Caroline it was as if he was drawn towards her.
When he spent time with her it was like discovering a whole new world, a new lease to life. With Elena it was one town. One simple life.
A life he no longer seemed to want.
"Niklaus." Klaus looked at his older brother who raised his brow gesturing to the phone Klaus held in his hand. "This is what we've been working towards for an entire month, let's get this over and done with."
Klaus blinked rapidly feeling his head spin. "Nik, come on. Once she's gone, we can finally move on." Little did he know that she wasn't talking about them.
"Are you having doubts?" Bonnie asked in a judgemental tone, Klaus came out of his stupor and shook his head. He called Caroline and hoped she wouldn't pick up.
"Klaus?" His voice stilled in his throat, no sound came out for a few seconds before Kol threw a cushion at him urging him to complete the penultimate step.
"Caroline." He choked on his next words as he felt everyone looking at him. "I need to see you. Can you come to the boarding house please?"
"When?" He slammed his eyes shut, why of all times did she have to listen to him now?
"20 minutes." He replied seeing Kol sign it with his hands.
"I'll see you then." Klaus hung up feeling dread fill him.
"At a boy, brother." Kol clapped his shoulder before ordering everyone into their places leaving Klaus to wonder what the hell he was doing.
"Hey," he looked to Elena who curled her fingers round his, they felt so cold compared to Caroline's touch. "It's nearly over." She gave him a reassuring smile which he accepted with a tense nod.
"I love you, Nik." Rebekah whimpered as she gripped his hand. "You promised always and forever, you can't leave me now."
"Hi." Caroline said softly as Klaus opened the door, he wanted to slam it shut in her face, to tell her to run from here and eventually tell him the truth but his family and friends were relying on him. They said it was the right thing to do? Wasn't it?
"Caroline." He allowed her to come in and shut the door.
"If this is about what I said this morning-"He cut her off immediately not wanting the others to find out.
"No, it's not that." He led her further into the main room where he stared into the fireplace drawing courage from the burning embers but it vanished as he felt the weight of the pendant around his neck. "I-I…"
Caroline looked at him unexpectedly, "Klaus? What's wrong?" She asked gently. He turned slowly, the burning fire reflected in his tears, the blond Original walked towards him. "Klaus." She moved closer worried. "Please tell me what's wrong."
He couldn't find the words to even begin to explain how sorry he was.
"You can trust me, whatever's wrong, you can tell me." She urged cautiously as she wrapped her fingers lightly around his wrist. He looked down at the touch and pulled his fingers away from his wrist to instead entwine with his own fingers.
His throat started closing up as he watched the care and love emanate from her eyes.
She was supposed to be a monster, she was supposed to kill everything and everyone in her way and yet…
…yet she stood before him trying to help and understand him whilst he was the one betraying her…
"Klaus," a tear escaped his eye, she reached up wiping it away immediately, "Talk to me, is someone trying to hurt you?"
'Yes, they're trying to take you away' Klaus blinked as the words entered his head.
"You're scaring me, Nik." He inhaled sharply hearing her say his name, "Tell me what's wrong."
Klaus closed his eyes tightly, he reopened it to find Caroline watching him carefully. She lifted her hand placing it against his cheek where she scratched lightly at his stubble.
"I'll do anything, just tell me what's wrong."
A beat of silence passed and it was too late.
"Ah." Caroline moaned out as she felt needles piecing her head, her grip on Klaus' hand fell away as the piercing increased and she stumbled back clutching her head. "Ahh," she exclaimed as her vision become blurry, she looked up at Klaus to see him standing where he was with tears running down his cheeks.
"I'm sorry." He choked out as he watched her scream again and fall to her knees, tear drops fell from her eyes as they pain became too much. "I'm so, so sorry…"
Bonnie entered the room chanting in Latin as Caroline fell to her side, her eyes widened whilst her back arched from the floor as Bonnie's magic caused Caroline's body to weaken.
The blond turned to look at Klaus who remained frozen on the spot with no power of movement, he watched Caroline roll into a foetal position as Bonnie came closer unleashing her full power on the hybrid.
The scene slowed as Kol, Elijah and Rebekah flashed in grabbing Caroline and straightening her limbs so that Elena, who had walked in with the white oak stake tightly gripped in her hand, could have a clear shot at the blonde's heart.
"Elena, do it." Bonnie yelled. The brunette came to kneel beside Caroline facing Klaus so that Caroline's body was in full view.
She lifted the stake into the air over the blonde's chest, Caroline's head had rolled to face Klaus who saw her eyes open and look at him with orbs filled with anger and betrayal before the ocean blue of her eyes diminished into a pair of yellow eyes staring right at him.
"Now!" Bonnie screamed out as the room began vibrating and blood seeped from Bonnie's nose.
"Bonnie?!" Kol yelled seeing her eyes close and her body weaken. Kol's distraction was all Caroline needed, she gripped Kol's arm tightly and using all the strength she had left flipped him over towards Rebekah who fell back as Kol's body hit her.
Caroline pulled her wrist from Elijah's grip and grabbed the white oak stake which hovered over her, she pushed Elena back as she flashed to stand up.
She looked up and locked eyes with Klaus, part of him was relieved that she wasn't dead whilst the other part was scared of what she would do now. He watched the pure vulnerability show on her face as tears gathered in her eyes, she tilted her head and squinted wanting to ask him why he wouldn't help her? Why he had set this up?
It barely took her a moment to realise that this was all part of whatever plan they had concocted.
"Caroline…" he breathed out but immediately stopped speaking as he saw her eyes glisten with werewolf gold before they settled back to their blue. He watched the vulnerable look quickly disappear and be replaced by blankness.
Her eyes went down to the people lying on the floor all hurt in various ways, "No." Bonnie hissed as she opened her eyes and focused on Caroline who immediately flashed out of the boarding house leaving Klaus to stand in front of the burning fire looking down at his friends and siblings wondering what he was supposed to do now.
"I'll be right back," Rebekah murmured as she pulled away, "I promise." She whispered over her shoulder as she left the room closing the door behind her.
Taking a deep breath, Caroline pulled the window up and stepped through into the room, her eyes immediately fell on the sandy-blonde haired man on the bed. She slowly walked towards him, she took in his sight. Months since she'd seen him yet he hadn't changed in any way. Well, except for the wolf bite gracing his left arm.
"What did you get yourself into?" Caroline whispered, she looked around the room finding herself drawn towards a few sketchbooks littered across his desk. Her fingers danced across the top of the books, she flicked one open that she hadn't seen before. Her fingers landed on a sketch of Rebekah, she flicked over and found herself looking at Kol with a giant smirk on it. The next one showed Kol and Bonnie together the latter giving the former an unimpressed look. She flicked through again and saw a detailed drawing of the pendant she had gifted him, looking over her shoulder she noticed it was the only necklace that adorned his neck now.
She looked back to the pages in front of her and inhaled sharply as she found sketches upon sketches of herself, many of memories they had shared, a few from before they had officially met at the bench outside of the grill whilst some had never happened and Klaus had simply imagined them in the situation.
"Caroline…" she heard Klaus murmur, turning she found his eyes barely open but in her direction. "Sweetheart…you're not here." He whispered to himself as he smiled with mirth. "You're not here…"
Caroline moved towards him and gently sat beside him, "And what makes you think that?" He smiled in his delirious state.
"I hurt you…you'd never come for me…bec-because I betrayed you…" he stuttered out whilst gasping for air, Caroline laid her hand on his bare chest and brushed her thumb over his heart in a soothing manner.
"I'm right here."
"No you're not…this is the ha-hallucinations again…" Caroline tilted her head.
"Again?"
"You always come for me, to save me, but you always leave when you remember…" his words started slurring together as he began losing consciousness.
"Remember what?"
"How I hurt you." Caroline didn't know how to respond but didn't have to as Klaus continued, "I was so lost and confused…I didn't want them to hurt you." Caroline felt her heart tighten as he spoke, she looked at him carefully trying to find any hint of a lie.
"Why didn't you stop them?"
"It was too late…I didn't know how to…they were my friends and family. I had to protect them."
Caroline closed her eyes fighting back the tears, "but I wanted to protect you too…I wanted to keep you safe. I just didn't know how to with-without hurting them…" He took a sharp breath as his body arched from the bed, Caroline immediately moved round and pulled his head and upper torso into her arms. "I'm sor-sorry…don't leave me…"
"Shh," she shushed him softly as she bit into her wrist and pressed it against his lips where he latched onto after a moment's hesitation. "Everything'll be alright…" She pressed her cheek into his hair as she allowed him to continue to drink from her. "Everything's going to be alright." She brushed her free hand across his matted curls pushing them back and finding the colour rise back into his cheeks as he continued to drink.
Klaus slammed his door shut before leaning his head against the cold wood, his chest ached as the image of Caroline's face was etched into his brain. He ground his teeth together hating himself for not warning her or finding a way to stop what had happened.
He couldn't help himself from wondering where she was, he felt his throat tighten again as he turned round with closed eyes leaning his back against the door.
"I should kill." His eyes snapped open to find Caroline staring out of his window into the night sky, the lamp on the bedside table dimly lit the room but he didn't have the strength to turn on the main light in fear of being able to see the anger she held towards him. "I should rip you from piece to piece." Her words were unusually soft compared to what she said.
Klaus swallowed the lump in his throat as he edged towards her. "You had this planned from the beginning, didn't you?" She turned to face him, he could see the emotionless eyes staring back at her, "The breakup between you and Elena wasn't real, right?" She chuckled darkly, "Though points for acting. You kept it consistent for weeks, I'm impressed." She moved closer smirking, "So tell me, did you fake caring for me and then talk about it in your little group meetings or was it a wait till the end to celebrate kinda' thing? Hmm?"
"It wasn't like that."
"And he speaks, and here I was beginning to think someone had already done me a favour and ripped out your vocal chords." She spoke with dark giddiness. "So tell me, how was it really?"
"I-I…I wanted to tell you."
"Before or after they killed me? 'Cos I think after may have been too late, right?"
"I'm sorry." She stared at him blankly before flashing towards him and pinning him against the door.
"Sorry?" She chuckled, "Well, that must make everything better, you're sorry after all, aren't you?" She tossed him to the floor where he scrambled up and sat up against the bed.
"Caroline, you've got to believe me, I didn't want you gone. I wanted to stop them, I wanted to warn you." The blond slowly walked towards him and crouched down in front of him.
"Then why didn't you?" She asked feeling the emotion begin to get at her again and come out in her voice.
"Because they're my family. I couldn't turn my back on them-"
'But you could on me." She finished for him, she placed her hand on his shoulder, "I should make you suffer for the way you played me." She looked at him with pure hurt and pain in her eyes, nothing to cover it up, no where to hide it. "I should kill every single one of them and make you watch as I rip out their hearts, I should make you beg for mercy," her voice became filled with emotion as her eyes began to water.
"Nik! Hurry up, will you, we've got to get out of town!" They both heard Rebekah shout through the door. Caroline looked towards the door which she heard Rebekah pace behind. She turned back to Klaus whose eyes widened.
"Don't…" he simply said gripping her free hand, a look of hurt crossed her face as she tilted her head looking straight into his eyes.
She lifted her fingers cupping his cheek, "Do you still think that low of me?" She asked in disbelief, tears ran down her cheeks as she choked on the words.
"No, sweetheart-"
"Klaus!" They both heard Elena shout out for him as she came running up the stairs.
"Goodbye Klaus." Caroline whispered gently rubbing her thumb along his stubble.
"Caro-" before he could even say her name the door slammed open to reveal Elena whilst Caroline had flashed out of the room leaving Klaus sitting on the floor with nothing but longing in his heart for the blond who had done what they had planned.
She was gone.
As Klaus felt his body begin mending and the bite heal, he knew of only one person who could bring him this much relief, he gripped her hand entwining his fingers with hers making sure he had a strong hold on her as to not allow her to leave his side.
"Shh." She whispered against his hair, the sound easing Klaus' breathing as he had his fill and Caroline pulled her wrist away letting it knit back together and gently placed it across his chest.
A few moments passed before reality set in for both of them and Caroline shifter his head out of her lap and laid him back onto the bed, she moved to get up but was pulled back to sit by Klaus' entwined fingers.
"I thought you wouldn't come." He whispered hoarsely still regaining his strength.
"I had a bit of free time." She shrugged trying to pull her hand away from him but he wouldn't relent.
"Thank you." He said with utmost sincerity earning a nod from the hybrid. "Caroline…"
"Hmm?" She stared at his cornflower blue eyes finding herself lost in his gaze before his words sparked her back to life.
"I love you." Caroline blinked rapidly. She had tried her hardest to shut the part of her which cared for him out but found cracks in her resolve until there was no way for her to deny it. "I'm in love with you, Caroline."
"Really?" He nodded squeezing her hand tightly, "And what about Elena?" He chuckled,
"You were right all along, she and Elijah had been together since the beginning."
"I'm sorry."
"I'm not." He opened his eyes and looked at her carefully, "I realised I didn't want her, I want you."
Caroline shook her head and chuckled in disbelief. "I'm not a rebound, especially to a doppleganger." He tried to pull himself up but his body refused to move.
"I know you're not." His eyes felt heavy with sleep but he forced himself to continue to talk, "When I was with you, you made my entire world brighter. She was nothing compared to you. The closer we got, the more I wanted. With her we only had the friendship and nothing more. That turned to hell anyway once I realised what had been going on between her and Elijah."
Caroline looked down but felt Klaus lift it up, "I want you, I love you."
"You hurt me. You made me believe you cared only to want to kill me in the end-"
"I didn't-"
"You went along with the plan regardless of how you felt for me."
"Caroline-"
"But I understand why you chose them. But you can't expect to tell me you love me and for me to fall right back into your arms and forget about everything that happened."
"I don't expect that, love. I'll wait for you, however long it takes. All I want is you." His voice trailed off as the need for sleep overcame him.
"Go to sleep, Klaus."
"Nik, call me Nik…" his voice was heavy with exhaustion, "Please don't leave me…please be here when I wake up…"
"Shh."
"Promise me, promise you'll be here when I wake up…" She brushed her fingers across his curls as she soothingly whispered:
"Sleep, Nik…" He mumbled her name once more before completely dozing off, Caroline slowly pulled her fingers free from his hold before leaning up and gently pressing her lips against his forehead. She stood up and slowly moved towards the window, looking over her shoulder once more to memorise the features of his face and the way his dimples showed as he snored lightly.
After a few minutes, Rebekah entered the room with another damp cloth to wipe away the sweat on his face, she rushed over to him wanting to wake him up immediately to wait for the cure when she stilled seeing the freshly healed arm as if there had been no bite on it in the first place.
"How…?" She looked around the room trying to find a sign of Caroline but there was none, she moved towards Klaus' desk where she saw his sketch book opened to a page with Caroline's smiling face as she was twirled by an anonymous hand.
Rebekah smiled to herself, Caroline hadn't given up on her brother just as he hadn't on her.
A few months later…
"Happy birthday, Nik." Klaus closed his eyes in relief as he heard her voice, he stood in front of the Trevi fountain having just thrown a coin into the water making a wish which had just come true.
"Hello, love." She smirked at him dressed in a white babydoll dress that made her legs look like they stretched for miles. She bit her lip as she walked towards him slowly and held out what looked like a sketch book.
He looked at it in confusion before taking it from her hands allowing his fingers to brush against hers, "What it is?" He asked.
"Open it and you'll find out." Following her instructions he inhaled sharply as he saw picture upon picture of himself, memories of their time together, moments that were engraved in both of their minds, he stared at the in awe. The detailing was to perfection and the light pencil strokes were so precise. "I learned how to draw." She shrugged as he looked at her in disbelief, "What? I had a bit of spare time."
He chuckled flicking through the pages until he landed on a sketch of a man, himself, facing away from the sketcher, clothes were tossed all around him whilst he focused on something on the dresser in front of him. He instantly remembered the moment.
"I love you." She repeated the words she had spoken then. I'm in love with you Nik Mikaelson.
Looking up at her he held out his hand towards her which she slowly took to be pulled closer to him. "I love you, too." He whispered back before pressing his lips against hers, they explored each other's touch and broke apart panting for breath. "I'm in love with you, Caroline Salvatore."
So was it alright?
I'm so sleep deprived and I spent the entire day writing this instead of preparing for a maths test. Pffht, who cares about maths anyway when you've got Klaroline to write about? :D