Hey guys! I know! I'm the worst! I swear I haven't abandoned this story.

I received a wonderful question from one of you beautiful readers, and I wanted to address it in case there are more of you out there that are a little confused/curious.

Question: "Klaus does remember that he has been turned into a vampire and placed under the hybrid curse right? I am just wondering why he reacts so angry; it is because he can't control his urges and strength isn't it? because I think he was quite the opposite when he was human."

My Answer: "In this story, Klaus only remembers up until the moment he was stabbed by his father in the spell Ester did to make them vampires (remember the scene in S3E8 where Klaus and Rebekah wake up and they don't know how they are alive. Klaus doesn't remember waking up). Seeing as the Mikaelson siblings didn't know about the spell until it was already cast, Klaus doesn't remember it. He was also ignorant to his werewolf heritage until he made his first kill as a vampire, so he doesn't remember that either. I mean, he knows he's a Hybrid because Elijah told him since the memory loss, but he doesn't remember himself as anything supernatural.

That being said, to him, he woke up one day (well night) and wasn't human anymore. Not only does he have vampiric hunger and senses to deal with but also all the aggression that comes with the werewolf side of him. As an older vampire, he wouldn't require as much blood, but he doesn't remember all the years it took him to gain control of his vampiric hunger, abilities, and face, and his werewolf aggression. I thought that writing him as angry was logical, especially when you remember that he had enough anger to kill his mother in a passion back in the day even when his werewolf side had been suppressed. And, writing him as not understanding his anger was me looking back at Tyler's character. Before Tyler was triggered, he was confused about his reactions to things. I figured Klaus would be an even worse version of that."

Hope that helps with any confusion regarding Klaus' behavior. I know that compared to other "past Klaus" stories, he seems OOC, but I always had a hard time accepting human Klaus as a balanced kitten and thought of him as basically himself, just a vulnerable and naive version. ;P Last weeks episode of The Originals shed some light, but it's TOO LATE for that to affect this story.

Without further ado, Chapter 4!

"Do you want to share with the class why you felt it was necessary to do this at 7:30 in the morning?" Katherine grumbled into her coffee as she dragged her feet along Decatur Street. "The Quarter is empty. The most famous, touristy neighborhood in one of the top 5 cities in the United States is empty. Doesn't that tell you something?" Reaching up, she pressed her aviator shades closer to her face in attempt to block out as much light as possible.

"My apologies, Katherine, for disrupting your beauty sleep, but perhaps had you not imbibed all of the Hurricanes at Pat O'Brien's last night, you wouldn't struggle so," the Original piped over his shoulder with an amused smirk.

The morning was cool but still damp with the cities humidity and faintly smelled of the fresh, earthy water that blew in from the Mississippi on a barely-there breeze. Horses were being geared up just down the street, their shod feet stamping lightly against the Quarter's roads. The sounds made Katherine ache for her designer heels, alas she gave up trying to rock heels when her feet blistered and eventually began to cramp in the night. She hated being human. There was nothing redeeming about it.

"What are we even doing?" She whined.

"We are going to visit a witch."

The brunette's glossed mouth turned into a sneer, "No! Really?" She clipped sarcastically sipping from the disposable coffee cup she held causing the man to sigh in slight exasperation.

"Do you have something to say, Katerina?"

"Yes. I do actually. We have been to see damn-near every witch in the Quarter. They aren't talking! So why the hell are we waking up before the birds to go see another one that is just going to be as useless as the rest!" Throwing her hand out to the side, she animatedly continued, "No one knows about what happened to Klaus! And no one knows where Sophie or her little witchy posse is! I think it's safe to say the witches are a dead end." She opened her mouth to say more, but Elijah disappeared around a street corner ahead of her. Speeding up slightly she rounded the intersection and practically chest-bumped into the vampire. Lucky for her, he had steadied her hand that held the hot coffee beside them so as to avoid a burned Doppelganger and stained shirt. "Walk much?" she seethed.

"We're here," Elijah replied, his rich brown eyes twitching to an old purple door at the top of 5 compact stairs. A crescent moon was painted instead of an address in worn, white paint on the wood beneath the knocker.

Katherine observed the door unimpressed. "Where?"

"Midsummer's Eve. An exclusive potions house," he answered reaching into his vest pocket. From within, he extricated what appeared to be a scrap of paper. "Invitation only." The smallest smirk hinted at the side of his mouth as his expensive leather shoes padded up the cobbled stairs. The Original rubbed the soft paper between his fingers before lifting it to the door and pressing it to the moon than had been brushed there.

Curious, Katherine moved closer.

In a split second, green flames licked up the scrap. The paper caught fire quickly, like the fuse of a firework and burnt out into the air. The two stood silent for a moment in anticipation. When nothing happened, the brunette couldn't help but snark, "That was underwhelming."

The tension her words created in his jaw was obvious. "Patience."

As if his words were heard, the door clicked open. Rickety on its hinges, it stopped only slightly ajar. Not missing a beat, Elijah stepped forward and into the run down building. "Coming?" He could be heard asking from the darkness behind the door.

Sighing through her nose, the Doppelganger stepped up and through the door.

To say the inside of Midsummer's Eve was unexpected would be an understatement. A potion house should be dusty, cluttered, and full to the brim with occult deco, but this surprisingly spacious shop was none of those things. From glossy floorboards to crisply painted white beamed ceilings, Midsummer's Eve was clean, charming, and delicate. A hint of rose color painted the plastered walls that sported an array of elegant floral china plates. Tables were placed about the room decadently draped in the thinnest sage green linen flourished with bitty, pink tea rose nosegays with smooth, dark leaves ornamenting the center vases. The simplistic wicker chairs looked positively inviting with the lush, patterned cushions that sat atop them.

Katherine admired one of the small, low hanging antique chandeliers; her fingers chimed across the multi-faceted crystals, the movement spraying an array of small rainbow sparks about the room. A hidden, indulgent smile lit the side of her face. The place didn't seem like a potion house. It seemed like an establishment that would provide a traditional English tea service.

"Hello," came a young, tinkling voice. Their attention quickly swung in the direction of a petite young woman. Her skin was a lovely porcelain shade. Light green eyes peeked out under thick mousy brown lashes and the heart shape of her face was prettily outlined by large, bouncy doll curls. An air of innocence was completed with coral ballet flats and a mint green, belted A-line dress. "Welcome to Midsummer's Eve. I'm June."

Katherine rolled her eyes at the girl's ridiculously vanilla fashion sense and practically gagged at the enchanted smile that painted Elijah's lips. "June." He greeted holding out his hand to her. "My name is Elijah Mikaelson and this is Ms. Katherine Pierce."

June took his hand lightly, "I know who you are, Mr. Mikaelson. Please, sit," she kindly offered gesturing to one of the rounded tables.

"Thank you."

The pomp and manners seemed fake and pretentious to the human as she rolled her eyes and sat beside her companion.

"I'll be with you shortly," June's voice chimed as she elegantly swept off into the back of the shop. An antique cuckoo clock was the only sound that could be heard as the tick tick filled the room.

The Doppelganger leaned away from the table into her chair, and sighed loudly.

"Try to reign in your hostility, Katerina. June seems a pleasant woman."

"Try to reign in your attraction, Elijah. A delicate flower with innocence behind her eyes? Sounds like your cup of tea."

The corner of the Original's mouth lifted lightly as he mused at the possibility of Katherine being jealous. He wanted to mock her; "Take off your sunglasses," he articulated instead. "Don't be a heathen." Elijah didn't bother to look over as she dropped her glasses onto the table dramatically.

"Sorry for the wait," June's high voice spouted. "I think you'll find it's worth it." The young witch swayed around the tables until she came to theirs. In her hands, she held a wooden tray laden with a basic tea service for three; the cups already brimming with steaming fluid. Small, pale hands handled the bone-china saucers and cups onto the table in front of the Original, the Doppelganger, and the seat meant for herself.

Katherine snorted amused, "Do you really expect us to drink this? For all I know it's going to make me sprout rabbit ears?"

Elijah merely chastised her mildly with his eyes for he too was curious as to the witch's intentions.

June smiled lifting her own cup to her lips and taking an elegant sip. "Drink it. Don't drink it. But I'm sure you'll find that brew to be very restorative after what must have been a lively evening."

The meaning behind her words was not lost on Katherine. Obviously it was some sort of hang-over cure. A brief glance at Elijah wasn't useful; he was just as suspicious as she was. Sighing, she brought the cup to her lips and took a drink. Immediately the room seemed a little less bright, the clock a little less loud. Lifting an eyebrow, she conceded, "Fair enough."

June's smile widened, and she sipped again. "How may I help you Mr. Mikaelson? I've heard you are inquiring about an incident involving your brother, Klaus."

"Yes," the Original affirmed. "A spell. We have been able to establish a connection with Sophie Devereaux. Unfortunately, her location is alluding us."

"You wish to know if I am privy to her whereabouts?"

"Indeed."

Katherine watched the conversation as she drank at her tea. She had to admit, she felt amazing. This witch was talented. Taking the last sip from her cup, she placed the fine china back onto its saucer. When she looked back up, June was watching her. Clearing her throat, she mumbled, "Thanks."

"Of course," June replied kindly. "Tell me, Ms. Pierce, do you like pie?"

Katherine's brow drew together, and she awkwardly breathed out a laugh. What a random question to ask in the midst of her conversation with Elijah. "I guess. It's a little low-brow, but if the mood strikes, I suppose I like pie." Her eyes flicked over to the Original who seemed equally confused.

"Good," was all June said before looking back to the Original. "I can't say I know where Sophie is."

Elijah smirked. "Miss . . . ?"

"Just 'June'."

"June," he started again. "I would be very grateful to anyone who helped us in our endeavor. That person would be greatly rewarded by myself and my family."

"How is your tea, Mr. Mikaelson?"

Katherine blinked hard. This woman and her abrupt tangents . . . She was all over the place.

"Madame," he continued politely attempting to keep her on point, "we don't wish to create problems between your coven and yourself, but I assure you that I will personally—"

"—too bitter?" She interrupted.

The Original sat back in his chair with a suppressed sigh. His eyes flicked down to the still steaming beverage. He wasn't a fool; she wanted him to drink it for a reason. "Am I to have the rabbit ears then?" He jested trying to keep the suspicion from his voice.

June only giggled and shook her head, her curls bouncing girlishly about her face.

The two stared at each other for several moments, before the Original conceded that perhaps a show of trust was warranted for her to actually answer a question usefully. The teacup was pleasantly hot as it pressed against his lips, the tea itself minty and sweet. It was smooth against his palate, relaxing him into the chair.

"It's lovely. Thank you," he politely said. After the tea settled, he took a moment to evaluate his faculties. Nothing seemed to be different. "May I ask what—"

"Mint."

"Mint?"

"Mint," she confirmed looking as if he were crazy for suggesting it was something other than a simple tea.

Elijah shook his head briefly and cleared his throat. "Back to our business—"

"—There is very little more to tell you."

The Doppelganger rolled her eyes to the ceiling irritated by the witch's use of the word "more". As if she'd actually given them anything useful yet.

"Although," June continued, "I will say that I have heard tell that Sophie is in contact with a powerful witch. Impressively so. The identity of this witch, though, is a mystery to me."

Elijah leaned forward slightly on the table, resting his forearms on the delicate tablecloth. "We estimated as much. This is why it is imperative for us to find her."

"I do not have any more information to give you. I'm afraid there is nothing further to say."

June stood. The Original was not prepared for the conversation to be over, but ever the gentleman, he stood with her. "June, we need only a hint, a clue as to her whereabouts. We do not ask you to betray your coven."

The witch's lip lifted in a secret smile before she raised her hand in his direction. When his warm, calloused fingers wrapped snugly around hers, her eyes flicked up to his, peering up through her mousy lashes. "The devil is in the details, I fear. I wish I could help you with your problem, Mr. Mikaelson, but I have offered up as many hints and clues as I can."

The Original frowned perplexed by her words.

"It was wonderful to meet you both. Please, come back when you ever desire one of my lovely teas." June's eyes bore into Katherine's intensely for the briefest of moments.

Katherine opened her mouth to spit something snarky, but before the words could leave her lips, June was gone having swiftly fluttered back into the depths of the shop.

They both turned when the front door clicked open and once again swung slightly open.

"I think we were just invited to leave," Elijah stated with a slight edge to his voice.

The hallway that he sped through was unfamiliar, but it didn't matter. Hearing her hurried steps a few halls down, he knew where she was. Her panted breaths were exhaled with hushed whimpers.

An unexpected panic welled up in his chest when he heard the sudden halt of her steps. Had she been caught? He was almost there.

One more turn, and there she was. Standing ahead, weak from god knows what torture, she peered desperately to a door down the corridor. He couldn't let her go back there. Not her. Not Caroline.

Rushing up behind the shuddering blonde, he secured her to him. Fingers swiftly came up to block any noise from escaping her chapped lips, gently as to not aggravate the still healing burns that marred her cheeks. Her warmth against him was comforting; she was safe now.

"Klaus! Breakfast! Rise and shine!"

The Hybrid's eyes shot open at the abrupt sound of Caroline shouting from downstairs. Looking around, he realized that he had fallen asleep at the drawing table in his studio again. Paper littered the floor all around him. Reaching up, he pulled his last attempt off from where it had stuck against his forehead and cheek. Klaus yawned and stood up with a stretch. There was a crick in his neck that had him wishing he had made it to bed the night before. Oh well, he would quickly recover.

It had been nearly two weeks since his memories were taken. Every day was a constant struggle to check himself. He could only thank the stars that as an older vampire, an Original, his hunger wasn't as insatiable as Caroline described a newly turned vampire's to be. The worst was his anger. The smallest things had his temper flaring and while he appreciated that his blonde housemate wasn't easily intimidated by his aggression, it drove him crazy how she blatantly challenged him every time his emotions ran rampant. The way her shoulders would square, eyes would light up, and voice would lower was infuriating. Even her walk would change: her normal peppy sway became slow, fluid, and direct. She wasn't threatening, but she certainly was maddening. Sometimes Klaus considered picking her up off her high horse and locking her away in one of the many basement rooms below the house just to get her to shut that pretty mouth of hers, but he could never bring himself to do it. Over the last week or so, the evidence had become overwhelming. He was inherently attracted to the blonde. Exasperating as she may be, he was swayed by her playfulness in unguarded moments and hidden intelligence. She was a woman of contradictions, and he couldn't deny the allure of her perplexity.

They had fallen into a sort of rhythm over the past week. He often would wake early and make his way to the library where he would sit and read, a newly discovered pleasure as books were never a commodity available to him before. Caroline would pop in when she woke bringing with her a cup of coffee, a vast amount of bed head, and a sleepy smile. They would spend about twenty minutes in companionable silence before she would practically prance out of the room to shower.

She spent most mornings out as it seemed Klaus became more stir-crazy in the evenings and while the vampire was meant to stay with him, she had a parade to plan. It drove the Hybrid crazy that she would call every other hour to check in. Klaus knew he was being managed but was not oblivious to the instability within himself. Outwardly, he grumbled and glared when she acted like a babysitter, but silently he knew the wisdom of having a grounding companion. He couldn't deny the fear the loss of control would trigger within him.

Finding activities to occupy him during the day was becoming taxing, but by the late afternoon, Caroline almost always found the Hybrid elbow-deep in paint or charcoal as the studio had been transformed into an oasis, shrine, panic room, and refuge for the Original.

A compelled house-keeper, courtesy of Elijah, would prepare an evening meal for them to share. Caroline was normally buzzing with a thousand ranted frustrations stemming from her dealings with incompetent florists to volunteers that refused to read the charts she provided. The blonde was gifted in her ability to speak for sure, but it did not grate on the Hybrid. Klaus imagined that his usual self had plenty to say as well having lived a millennium, alas he was often left feeling that his day to day retellings were dull and mundane, so he mostly just listened.

He did have a favorite part of the day. After a few great shouting bouts between them those first nights, maintaining a calm attitude during the evenings became necessary and eventually habitual. Caroline and Klaus would retire to the theatre room with a bottle of wine or scotch, cookies and/or a bowl of Klaus' least favorite edible, popcorn. There, she would expose him to films from the past several decades. Films she described as quintessential and timeless. Some triggered long conversations about important moments in history, others spawned detailed talks about Klaus' life in Mystic Falls "before". Whatever the topic, it often lasted well into the night until Caroline would yawn her goodnights and meander back to her room, and Klaus would adjourn to his studio to sketch his impressions onto paper, sometimes until very late; just as he did the night before.

The Original was surprised that the talks became so enjoyable for him. He wasn't an unsociable man, but it never occurred to him that he might find camaraderie in the spirited Caroline. Back home he was close with his brothers and the other young men in the village, but the only woman he ever connected with was Rebekah. Sure, there had been women he pursued, but that was usually shallow and fleeting, a chase to entertain, indulge, or find comfort. With the young vampire it was different. He never anticipated having such a friendship with a woman. It was exciting and refreshing.

His bare feet padded down the spiral stairwell. Klaus had to admit as he bounced toward the kitchen that being a Hybrid had its advantages. Normally, operating on only a few hours of sleep would have him dragging, but he felt fine. The ache in his neck was already gone.

The dream did have him vexed though. It had been so vivid. The detail of the setting alone had him baffled. He hardly ever used to dream like that, but lately they seemed to be happening more and more. Never though had his dreams featured Caroline. It was a curious thing that tickled suspiciously in the back of his mind. He hadn't mentioned the dreams to his brother or his housemate, but almost all of them were located in unfamiliar locations or centered around people he could recognize but couldn't for the life of him remember why he knew their faces or their names.

Rounding the corner, he followed the noises of Caroline clattering around in the kitchen.

"Good morning, Love," he chirped as he swung through the door effectively surprising her into nearly dropping the orange juice. The blonde glared before regaining her grip on the carafe and setting it on the breakfast bar. Unfortunately, her chastisement was pretty much lost on him. Walking through the small room, his eyes danced over her, taking in the clothes she wore. This century had been slightly jarring in the beginning. The amount of skin that was acceptable for women to show had significantly increased. He didn't mind, but there was a traditional part of him that couldn't help but notice just how short Caroline's summer dress was or how little the short sleeved, half cardigan actually concealed of the tops of her breasts. It left very little to his imagination, though his imagination spun a beautiful web of impure reverie anyway. Not wanting to be caught in his lude leer, his eyes flicked up just as she turned in his direction.

"Well?" She asked with raised eyebrows humored that Klaus hadn't been paying attention.

"'Well?' What?"

"I asked how you liked your eggs."

"My eggs?" He responded slowly, confused what her question was. They normally didn't share a morning meal, instead opting for blood bags, so he was lost as to what was special about eggs.

"Yeah. How do you like to eat your eggs?" she laughed.

Lifting his arm, The Hybrid rubbed at the back of his head. "Cooked," he timidly replied while laughing awkwardly knowing it wasn't the answer she was looking for.

Smiling at his response, she nodded, "Right." She bit her lip slightly as she decided to just make his eggs the same as hers. "You just wake up? You weren't in the library this morning?" Judging by his attire of just sleep pants and a charcoal smudged shirt, Caroline guessed he had slept in his studio.

"Yeah. I must have stayed up later than I thought. Distracted, I suppose."

"Anything in particular?" She asked pressing down on the toaster button.

"Not really," he responded half-heartedly quirking his head at the silver device she had put bread into.

Caroline noticed his perplexed expression and giggled. "It's a toaster. It heats slices of bread and such until they're crispy."

"Uhuh," he mumbled slowly. "Back home we would just put it near the fire."

Chuckling lightly, she cracked some eggs into the pan sizzling on the stovetop. "Same concept I guess."

Klaus noticed some mixed berries on the breakfast bar and started picking at them enthusiastically. "Nowhere to be this morning, Love?"

"Actually yes, but not for a bit. I have a short meeting with the mayor in a little over an hour, and then I'll be needed for prep at 11:30, but I was craving an actual breakfast." Normally, Caroline would have ignored the urge to sleep in a bit and eat a fatty breakfast; she wasn't exactly one for self-indulgent behavior, so a piece of fruit and a blood bag normally did her just fine. The tea kettle whistled brightly beside her, and moving to lift it off the burner she couldn't help but blush a little at the reason she had indulged that particular morning.

Klaus.

When Klaus was, well, Klaus, there was always a shame behind her attraction and a covert atmosphere fogging their friendship. Klaus was her dirty little secret. But now, it was so easy to see innocence. It was too easy to forgive the mistakes he couldn't remember.

She struggled to explain it to herself, but even though he was still the same man, still stubborn and hostile, manipulative and closed off, he lacked an acceptance now that his true self cultivated. Not the acceptance that breeds confidence, though he always had that in spades, but the acceptance of his own flaws that bred resignation. It was as if the amnesiac version of the Hybrid still had . . . hope. He still had hope that one day, he would be happy and content; one day he would get everything he could dare to yearn for. The thought made Caroline hopeful as well. And sad. It snuck up on her, but one day she woke up and found that she was rooting for the Original Hybrid; she woke up and suddenly, she truly wanted Klaus to be happy too.

With a shake of her head, Caroline laughed at herself. As if breakfast would fulfill that lofty goal.

Flipping the eggs on the stove, she addressed the Original, "Do you have any plans?"

Klaus puffed out a short laugh and sarcastically replied, "I'd thought I'd take in the sights today . . . maybe kill a few people."

"You're hilarious."

"One tries," he joked with a smirk peering up at her from under blonde lashes.

Turning to slide eggs onto two plates, she shook her head with a smile. She liked that he joked so openly these days. The toast quickly joined the eggs, and she brought the plates over to the breakfast bar. With a short, "Oh!" she swung back over to the stove to snag a plate of bacon that had been waiting there. Sitting next to him on a matching stool she popped her hand over to grab a few berries. She had picked them up from the Mystic Falls Farmer's Market and they were perfectly ripe. Humming in approval, she then slid her hand over to grab the jar of Nutella. It wasn't until she was putting down her Nutella-spread toast and sucking a chocolate-y mess off of her finger that she realized Klaus hadn't moved. Turning her head, she looked at the Hybrid.

His eyes were glued to her as if he had been watching her with increasing interest.

She gulped. "Did you," Caroline stumbled over her words with a quick clearing of her throat, "did you want some?"

Blue eyes searched hers briefly before flicking down to her lips for a moment. Taking a breath, he responded with a gesture toward the plastic jar, "What is it?"

The blonde chirped, "Only the most delicious thing there is!" Uncapping the jar, she held it out to him. "It's chocolate and hazelnut. So good," she practically purred.

He was hesitant. So far, he hadn't been overly impressed with the foods she had introduced him to, but the excitement in her eyes had him dipping his finger into the brown goo. She had exposed him to chocolate a few night before, and it was good, but he didn't derive quite the enjoyment from it that she did. The first time he saw her take a bite of chocolate he had, embarrassingly enough, nearly blushed at the way her eyes rolled back and a satisfied sigh fell out of her.

"What do you think?" She asked leaning on her elbow towards him after he had taken a taste. A rogue curl fell from her pin; not paying it any mind, she tucked it behind her ear.

Unable to speak yet with his mouth full of the sticky spread, he merely smirked at her girlish behavior. Swallowing, he answered, "It's sweet . . . nutty."

A bright smile sparkled across her face, "Good, right?" She took him dipping his finger back into the jar as an affirmative answer; She didn't expect him to lift his hand and poke her nose, leaving a peak of Nutella behind.

"Even better now," he joked beaming with exposed dimples and licking the remaining Nutella off his forefinger.

With wide eyes she laughed out a scoff and wiped at her nose. Picking up a berry, she playfully spat, "I can't believe you did that!" Caroline threw the soft raspberry and to her glee it hit square in the middle of Klaus' head leaving behind a smear of red juice.

The Hybrid closed his eyes on impact. Smirking, he nodded and wiped the sticky juice off of his brow. "I guess I deserved that." Picking up the red berry from where it fell in his lap, he popped it in his mouth with a flourish.

"Totally did," the blonde giggled; a cheerful, bubbly giggle. Laughing with him felt good. It felt right.

Caroline leaned forward to snatch up the carafe of orange juice, the motion causing that stubborn curl to fall forward into her face again. She barely noticed when, out of habit, she tucked it back. After pouring her juice, she busied herself cutting up her eggs with the side of her fork. She spoke remembering something suddenly, "Oh! I might be home a little later than usual tonight." She looked over questioningly.

Klaus peered back with an arched brow. Part of him wanted to roll his eyes; he was a grown man for crying out loud. But, there was another large part that panicked slightly. Would he struggle without their routine? "Will you miss dinner?"

The blonde cringed lightly, "Would that be okay? –I mean! I can try to get around it and get back on time—"

"—No, Love. Don't be daft. I'll be fine," He assured her stoically biting loudly into his buttered toast.

She nodded slightly, "I'll be back for our movie." Realizing what he had said, she smiled with false-offence, "Did you just call me daft?"

The Hybrid chuckled. "Not too worry. You're beautiful, no one will care."

Laughing off his joke, the blonde turned to her breakfast trying to cover the blood rushing to her cheeks.

They sat silently for a few minutes as they ate their breakfast. Caroline couldn't help but notice the eagerness in which Klaus shovel down the berries. It was amusing to watch him devour berry after berry. Klaus never struck her as a berry lover.

"What is that smile for?" His deep accented voice purred from next to her.

She hadn't even realized she had been doing it. "I'm going to have to buy more berries." Noticing a frown beginning to frown on his forehead, she quickly continued, "No, it's fine. I just never expected Big Bad to have such a think for little ol' blueberries." Caroline's smile widened and Klaus' grew to match.

"Big Bad?" He inquired teasingly pushing his finished breakfast out from in front of him and leaning back on the stool.

"Heh, yeah," she began awkwardly, "It's in a fairy tale or two. The big bad wolf. In one he hunts three pigs, but they each try to hide in their homes. The first house was straw. The wolf blew it down and ate the pig. The second house was sticks. The wolf blew it down and ate that pig. The third house was made of bricks. The wolf couldn't blow it down. He repeatedly tries to trick the pig into leaving the house, but, in the end, the pig outsmarts him, and the wolf ends up getting boiled. Well, in some versions anyway. There are of course more child friendly versions where the pigs don't get eaten but run away to the brick house where they are all safe. I think in those versions, the wolf just runs away for some reason. I don't really remember. There is also another story of a big bad wolf that wants to eat a young girl that is on her way to her grandmother's house. He eats her grandmother and then impersonates her to get close to the girl. Again, some versions the girl dies, some versions the wolf does. Generally, though, in fairy tales the wolves are the bad guys." Pushing her own plate away with a nostalgic smile not realizing what she had implied to her companion in the midst of her rambling, she dipped a raspberry into the Nutella and turned toward him as she popped the red berry in her mouth, that damned curl falling once more onto the side of her face.

Klaus' expression was a pregnant mixture of curiousity, amusement, offense, confusion, and slight hurt. "That's what I am to you?" he asked softly.

His question caught her of guard causing her to gulp down her last bite of food. She wasn't quite sure how to respond to that as she peered into his intensely blue eyes. Licking her lips, she breathed, "You were."

The Hybrid's eyes broke away from hers, and he busied himself with wiping his hands with the daffodil napkin Caroline had set out. He voice was low but sure, "What a monster I must be." He meant to stand then, but when the warmth of her hand curled around his forearm, he stilled in his seat.

"No," was all she said.

Flicking his eyes up to meet hers, he could see in her wide blue orbs and partially bit lip that she was distressed. To comfort her, his expression softened and one side of his mouth lifted. "It's all right, Caroline. I understand—"

"—I don't think that anymore. I mean, you were a Grade A D-Bag, but—"

Klaus' eyebrow raised humored at her odd choice of words.

"—that wasn't you. I mean, it was you," she began to babble awkwardly as her eyes searched the room, "but it wasn't . . ." Her eyes shifted back over to his. "You."

Her words spread like warm honey in his chest. He understood her perfectly.

Caroline looked down to the counter and silently chastised herself for being so ineloquent and insensitive as to tell him the fairy tale reference. She must sound like an idiot to him. Taking a breath, she pulled her hand away and prepared herself to gather the dishes, but before she could reach for them, she felt the side of a calloused finger brush up under her chin, lifting it lightly. When her eyes met his, she smiled slightly embarrassed.

The winsome blush that bloomed in her cheeks was captivating. "Thank you," his voice uttered lowly, "For seeing something else." Reaching up, he swept the golden tendril of hair that had fallen over her cheekbone back over her ear.

The vampire felt like her heart was going to beat out of her chest and she felt she needed double the amount of oxygen as her breath picked up.

He noticed. With a sweet smile, he trailed his fingertips down her jaw line before letting his hand drop down into his lap. "You're blushing, Love."

Oh God! A wide, yet playfully mortified smile splattered across her face and her eyes slammed shut in utter bashfulness. She shook her head slightly before composing herself enough to peer back at him. Sighing, she defended herself, "Well, We've . . . you don't usually touch me like that."

Klaus sprouted a cheshire grin rakishly enjoying her embarrassment. Reaching forward the fingers of his right hand curled with the fingers on her left. He held her eyes and watched her reaction. "And do I ever touch you like this?"

Lifting a sculpted brow, Caroline smirked at his blatantly flirtatious behavior. Her gaze locked on their interlaced hands and she began to weave and unweave her fingers with his, mingling together back and forth in a soft caress. "We've never touched like this," she stated softly. Her gaze locked with his again, melting at the look hidden behind his eyes. Somehow, without their consent, their bodies had moved; a movement neither of them registered until it had already been done. Both had leaned forward, leaving no more than half a dozen inches between them.

Licking his lips, he spoke just above a whisper, "Did we want to?"

A sly smile curled on her lips. "I have no doubt that you wanted to," she jested trying to ease the intensity of the moment.

Klaus did not take the bait. "And what of you?" He asked using their interweaved hands to bring her in even closer. "Did you ever want this?"

He afforded her no explanation of what "this" was, but she didn't need it. Caroline's skin felt warm, and she swore she could feel his breath tickling around her collarbone. The air seemed thicker all of a sudden as she sensed the magnetic pull between the Hybrid and herself. She swore she intended to pull away, but when Klaus' eyes flicked down on her lips and then lazily began to close as he leaned in, her eyes also shut in anticipation. Was she really about to kiss Klaus?

She had no time to contemplate this.

Ring

It was the vampire's phone. Both of their eyes popped open, and the blonde righted herself in her seat.

Looking down the Hybrid growled lightly at the sight of his brother's name flashing across the screen of Caroline's cell.

"I should get that," she said standing. With a sweep of her thumb, she had answered the call and moved around the breakfast bar. "Elijah," she greeted brightly . . . oblivious to the unabashed chagrin dimming the Hybrid's eyes.

Not much happened, but set-up was needed. I originally wasn't going to do a time jump, but the subject material would have been pretty dry and awkward . . . So, I hope you don't hate having missed the development of their playful friendship/bashful attraction.

Please review! It may not seem like it, but you guys are my cheerleaders! I tell my husband all the time that I have to write (even when I don't have time) because my readers want more, so PLEASE review.

ALSO! This chapter was originally 12,000 words! What! To keep the length more aligned with the other chapters, I separated it into two chapters. Which means: Chapter 5 will be posted in a couple days! Yay! It's done, just needs final edits.