Because so many of you requested it, here is part two of If I Loved You (aka KC musical theatre peeps). Enjoy!
If I Loved You-Part 2
Caroline had always been relatively fearless when it came to dating. Aside from winning the Miss Mystic Falls pageant back in high school, her outgoing and rather flirtatious personality ensured that she would never lack a date should the occasion require it.
Every man who had come across the talented, beautiful Caroline Forbes considered her a catch—and she knew it. And frankly, she agreed with them.
But aside from the two serious relationships she had had throughout high school and in college, she had never really jumped full-force into the dating scene. Oh, she had had a string of dates with some nice and not-so-nice guys, most of whose idea of a date entailed a night at the bar spent trying to get into her pants, drunk or otherwise. She had never had a problem with shutting them down, but after a few years of hoping that one of them would turn out to be the one and being disappointed at every turn, she had shied away from dating almost entirely. Elena had always badgered her about putting herself out there, but she was usually so engrossed with working the evenings at Originals and taking daytime classes for her Master's degree in acting that she found little time or interest in having a romantic life.
That is, until Klaus Mikaelson showed up outside her apartment a few nights ago and practically forced her into going out with him.
And now here she was, frantically throwing random articles of clothing on her bed and wondering what the hell she was going to wear.
"Caroline? What is going on in here?"
Caroline looked over her shoulder at Elena, who was biting her lip in a useless attempt to hide a smile.
"It is so not funny, Elena Gilbert! How is Klaus Mikaelson ruining my life so amusing to you?"
Elena laughed. "Oh, it's very simple, actually. It's because you like him." Pleased at Caroline's stunned silence, she grinned. "I know you, Caroline. Whenever you like someone or want to give a good impression, you get so flustered that steam pours out of your ears and your cheeks turn red."
Caroline's hand instantly went to her face, feeling her warm skin. "I do not like him!" she protested, ignoring that damned thrill that jolted through her body every time she thought of her rival-turned-costar. Despite her words, though, she knew deep down that her friend was right. As frustrating as it was, Klaus had grown on her, and she couldn't deny that she was rather excited for their date.
Not that he or Elena needed to know that.
She threw Elena a frosty glare. "I'm only doing this because it was part of a deal, and that's it. Now, make yourself useful and help me pick out a good outfit."
"Not that you're trying to impress him, or anything," Elena commented casually with a straight face.
Caroline elected to ignore her, instead standing up to root through her closet again, Elena joining her enthusiastically.
"Oooh, Care, look at this one!"
Elena straightened up, holding a sleeveless black cocktail dress.
Caroline studied it appraisingly. She had almost forgotten she owned it, as she had only worn it once or twice. The form-fitting skirt was modest, falling to just above her knees. Lace covered the skin of her chest above the sweetheart neckline that showed off just the right amount of cleavage, but it was backless, dipping down daringly all the way to her lower back—the perfect blend of classy and sexy.
She almost smiled. Klaus Mikaelson would have to pick his jaw up off of the floor after he saw her in this.
Excellent.
Wordlessly, she took the dress from Elena.
Her roommate just smirked. "You're welcome," she sang, ducking out of the way as Caroline threw a poorly-aimed pillow at her. "I'll be out with Stefan tonight, but don't think for a second that we won't talk about your date tomorrow morning!" she added, closing the door behind her.
Caroline rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but feel grateful for Elena's friendship. They had always been there for each other ever since they were small, helping each other with everything from homework to boy drama. Not much had changed as they grew older, and they had become even closer as adults. It was good to know that she had a good friend in her corner.
She glanced at the clock, and nearly lost her mind. Klaus would be there in twenty minutes, and she was hardly presentable. God forbid he show up early before she was even dressed—and knowing him, it was a definite possibility.
Working quickly, she miraculously managed to throw her dress on and tame her curly tresses into a cascade of ringlets falling down her back. She was just finishing up the final touches of her make-up when the doorbell buzzed.
She could make out Elena's polite voice as she answered the door, and her date's answering rumble, which set off a flock of butterflies in her stomach. Steeling herself, she slipped on her nude heels and grabbed her clutch before opening the door.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Abandoning his usual attire of Henleys and dark-wash jeans, Klaus had opted to wear a dark grey shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, showing off his muscular forearms. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the necklaces peeking out from where he had left the shirt unbuttoned.
She quickly glanced up at his face, finding those piercing blue eyes fixed on hers.
A blush crept up her cheeks at his dimpled smirk.
"Hello, Caroline," he said, never taking his gaze off of her.
"Klaus," she acknowledged him, coming up beside Elena and glancing at her friend, who was once more fighting a smile. Resisting the urge to punch her, she looked back at Klaus, pasting on her patented mega-watt smile, silently wishing it had enough power to electrocute him. "Ready to go?"
He smirked at her. "Indeed," he replied, offering her his arm. Reluctantly, Caroline took it as they turned towards the door.
"Have fun, you two!" Elena yelled after them, and Caroline caught one last triumphant grin from her friend before Elena shut the door in her face.
She was so going to kill Elena.
"Come along, sweetheart," Klaus urged her, leading her down the hallway, that stupid grin still on his face. "I have big plans for us this evening."
Caroline couldn't stop the groan that escaped her lips.
It was going to be a long night.
"So where exactly are we going?"
Klaus just smiled, but didn't say anything.
"Fine. Be cryptic. It's not winning you any points."
Silence.
She gave up, childishly crossing her arms over her chest and glaring out the passenger window.
Soon enough, Klaus parked the car and jogged around to open her door for her before she had the chance to beat him to it.
Ignoring his hand, she slipped out, and almost laughed out loud at what she saw.
"Oh my gosh. You so did not bring me to a karaoke bar."
"What's the matter, love? Afraid of a little public singing?"
She scoffed. "Of course not. In fact, I bet I could beat you in a sing-off any day. It's just that I've never been to a karaoke bar before."
Klaus seemed surprised. "Really? Not once?"
"Nope. I always wanted to go, but none of my friends are really into it, so I guess I just never got around to doing it." She sent him a half-smile. "Pretty lame for a musical actress, huh?"
"Not at all." Klaus took her arm, gently leading her towards the entrance. "But an actress can always expand her horizons…in more ways than one," he grinned deviously, his lips hovering near her ear.
"You're absolutely disgusting."
"Yet for some reason, you're here with me."
"Yeah, because you blackmailed me into it, genius."
"Ah yes. So I did. But you had the chance to cancel on me after I returned your phone, and you didn't. Why is that, Caroline?"
"Because, unlike you, I actually keep my word."
"Speaking of your word, I'd like to take you up on that challenge."
"What?"
"A sing-off, remember? We'll ask the bartender to judge based on the applause volume. If you win, I'll leave you alone. I'll not ask you out again, and I'll stop following you around at work."
"And if you win?"
He gave her an obvious onceover. "If I win…you'll allow me to take you out on another date."
"Another date? That's it?"
"And you'll allow me to kiss you goodnight."
She narrowed her eyes at him. The audacity of this man. He really was the definition of persistent. She debated for a moment, weighing her options. On the whole, it wasn't a terrible deal for her either way. And what was one more date compared to the possibility of a Klaus-free life?
"No kissing, just the date."
"Sorry, love. Those are my conditions—take it or leave it."
She pursed her lips, glaring at him. But try as she might, he refused to back down, returning her glare with an innocent expression.
Asshole.
"Ugh, ok, ok, you win!" She finally exclaimed, throwing her hands out helplessly.
He considered her intently, triumphant eyes shining at her. "Fantastic. Shake on it?"
Warily, she grasped his hand, that one simple touch sending a wave of heat through her. She gritted her teeth in an effort to regain control—the man was sinfully attractive, she couldn't help it, for goodness's sake—and dropped his hand quickly, pushing past him and striding towards the entrance.
They managed to snag a corner booth, with a clear view of the stage. The bar was decidedly classier than any she'd ever been to before—crowded, but still clean and filled with the hearty chatter of people letting loose after a long week at work.
After ordering their drinks—bourbon and vodka cranberry, Klaus teasing her about her taste in alcohol—Caroline felt herself relax slightly. The waitress had left them the songbook with all the available songs to choose from, and they took turns rifling through the pages and taking a moment to write down possible choices on their napkins. They had arrived a little bit before the karaoke was due to start, so there was no rush to sign up quite yet. Unconsciously, she started bobbing her head to the music, humming along to the pop tune blaring out from the speakers and looking out over the crowd, lost in her own little world, until she felt an arm wrap around her shoulders.
She glowered at Klaus as she attempted in vain to shrug him off.
"Can you give me a little room, please?"
"I'm sorry, what? I can't hear you over the noise!" Klaus said rather loudly, leaning closer to her, but she was not fooled.
She arched a disapproving brow at him, but he refused to budge, a contented smirk gracing those full, kissable lips, a sharp contrast to the intensity of his gaze.
Those deep blue eyes with their thoughtful yet serious expression unnerved her.
"Will you stop looking at me like that?"
"Like what, love?" he asked innocently, his hand on her arm drawing her ever closer to his side.
"Like…like…" She suddenly couldn't find the words.
"Like you're the most beautiful woman I've had the pleasure of meeting?" He finished for her. "I couldn't agree more."
She blushed profusely, angling her body away from him. "You're just saying that," she muttered, not sure if she was more flattered or annoyed by his compliment.
"I never 'just say' anything, Caroline." Her name rolling off of his tongue in his velvety smooth voice sent a shiver down her spine, but she resolutely avoided his stare.
"Believe me, you look quite ravishing in that dress."
The tension that had existed from the moment he had rang the doorbell at her apartment increased tenfold, if it were possible. She glanced over at him, caught in his heated look, and completely unprepared for the smoldering lust she saw reflected there, which she had a feeling was mirrored in her own expression.
Mercifully, a waitress arrived with their drinks, and she was spared any reply, instead shrugging off his arm and taking a good swig of her cocktail, hoping for the soothing effects of the alcohol to kick in sooner rather than later.
She barely comprehended Klaus asking the girl for the karaoke slips to fill out as she all but drained her glass.
"Thirsty, are we?"
"No, just preparing."
"Ah, storing up some liquid courage."
"Something like that." She watched him take a refined sip of his bourbon. "So, are you ever going to tell me why you're in the show this time around? Isn't that like, nepotism, or something?"
Klaus chuckled, polishing off some more of his drink. "It's quite simple, really. I wanted to be in the show, and, contrary to popular belief, I auditioned for Elijah just like everyone else. It was ultimately his decision to cast me."
"But, you're a producer."
"So I automatically have no theatrical talent?"
"No, it's just that I don't think I had ever heard you sing before. You sounded great," she added sincerely, thinking back on their first rehearsal together.
He smiled at her. "Thank you."
"So you must have trained somewhere, then. Did you major in theatre or something?"
"Not quite. I attended NYU for art, actually, but I did minor in acting."
She stared at him. So that made Klaus a singer, actor, and artist. Was there anything he couldn't do?
She had half a mind to ask him, but just then a voice announced the start of the karaoke entertainment, instructing patrons to fill out their slips and return them to their hostess.
Furtively, she scrawled out her song number on the slip along with her name, folding up the piece of paper so that Klaus wouldn't see. If all went well, he wouldn't know what hit him when she got on stage. The thought made her bite back a smile. Caroline Forbes didn't lose.
"So tell me more about yourself, Caroline."
She looked up to see Klaus regarding her with acute curiosity, like she was some sort of puzzle he needed to figure out.
"Well, what do you want to know?"
"Your hopes, your dreams…everything you want in life?"
She laughed at that, taking a sip of her drink. "Oh, is that all? Phew, and I thought it was going to be something cliché, like 'most embarrassing childhood moment' or something."
"Well now that you mention it..." he raised his eyebrows playfully.
She jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow, shaking her head. Exhaling, she caught sight of him, waiting patiently for her to speak, an earnestness in his gaze that she had never seen there before.
"I want what most people want, I suppose," she stated finally, musing. "To travel, see the world, marry Prince Charming and live happily ever after with 2.5 kids…oh, and star on Broadway, of course." She gave a little laugh. "That last one is completely unattainable, though."
Klaus leaned forward, looking her straight in the eye. "You want to know what I think?"
Caroline nodded.
"I think there's a whole world out there waiting for you, Caroline—great cities, and art, and music." Gently, he reached out to caress her cheek, making her heart stop beating. "Genuine beauty. Believe me, I've seen it. And you can have all of it, if you set your mind to it. Even Broadway."
Startled by his honesty, Caroline didn't move for several seconds, until a sudden burst of applause from around them shook her from her trance. "Well…thank you," she said awkwardly, twirling a curl anxiously around her finger, unable to find a proper response.
"You're quite welcome, sweetheart," he replied smoothly, taking advantage of her rather bewildered state to slip his arm around her shoulders once more.
And this time, she found she didn't have the strength to push him away.
Time passed quickly, and Caroline's turn came round faster than expected. She walked onto the stage, grinning at the audience's cheers as she began to sing. Her sultry voice echoed through the bar as she swayed gently to the music, pouring her whole soul into the performance.
This is a man's world, this is a man's world
But it wouldn't be nothing without a women or a girl.
You see, man made the car to take us over the road.
Man made the train to carry the heavy load.
Man made the electric light to take us out of the dark.
Man made the boat full of water, like Noah made the ark.
Man thinks about a little baby girl and baby boy
Man make them happy 'cause man makes them little toys.
This is a man's world. But it would be nothing, nothing
Not one little thing, without a women or a girl.
He's lost in the wilderness
He's lost in bitterness.
This is a man's, man's, man's world.
But it would be nothing, nothing without a women.
She tried to avoid looking at her date, but something drew her eyes to him. A tremor ran through her body at the sight of him, leaning casually back against the booth, all burnished gold curls and leather necklaces, his dark blue eyes burning through all of her defenses.
The last note rang from her voice, and though she could hear it, the noise around her of whistles and clapping barely registered. All she could think of was him.
It really was a man's world, after all.
Coming out of her singing zone, she bowed to the audience, smiling and waving at them as she returned to the booth, accepting the barrage of compliments thrown her way from patrons with her usual grace. But when she finally made it back to her seat, fully prepared to gloat over her victory, the booth was empty.
Spinning around, her jaw nearly dropped as she caught sight of Klaus already on stage, and holding a guitar.
Seriously? He plays guitar now? That's definitely one more check mark in the attractiveness column—shut up, Forbes!
Scooting into her seat, she could hear Klaus addressing the crowd in his usual British lilt, inciting a myriad of giggles from many of the female audience members. She scowled at them. Nope, I am so not jealous. They can have him, for all I care.
But her righteous thoughts did nothing to alleviate the anger simmering just beneath the surface.
"I'd like to dedicate this song to a friend of mine, someone whom I hold very dear to me," Klaus's voice rang out, eyes flashing up to meet hers for an instant before lowering again, his remark garnering a chorus of approval and cheering.
Her attention was immediately drawn to his deft fingers as the first notes of the tune vibrated through the air, the entire bar gradually falling silent as Klaus sang, softly, yet with undeniable fervor.
If I get murdered in the city,
Don't go revenging in my name.
One person dead from such is plenty,
No need to go get locked away
When I leave your arms,
The things I think of.
No need to get over alarmed
I'm coming home.
I wonder which brother is better,
Which one our parents loved the most
I sure did get in lots of trouble
They seemed to let the other go.
A tear fell from my father's eye
I wondered what my dad would say
He said, "I love you and I'm proud of you both,
In so many different ways."
If I get murdered in the city,
Go read the letter in my desk.
Don't bother with all my belongings,
But pay attention to the list.
Make sure my sister knows I love her.
Make sure my mother knows the same.
Always remember there was nothing worth sharing
Like the love that let us share our name.
Always remember there was nothing worth sharing
Like the love that let us share our name.
A split-second of shocked silence—and then, the crowd went wild. People stood up from their seats, stamping and yelling praises that shook the ceiling. It went on for a few solid minutes, Klaus merely grinning from his spot on stage, basking in the limelight. Eventually the crowd quieted enough for him to make his way back to his seat.
But Caroline wasn't there.
Frantically, he looked over the crowd, searching, until finally he spotted a mass of blonde curls halfway out the exit door.
Not so fast, sweetheart.
He threaded through the tables, picking up speed until he was almost running, dodging bodies and waiters with trays until he barreled through the exit. Craning his neck this way and that, he saw her, walking quickly away from the bar and into the darkness.
"Caroline!" He called out, jogging, nearly running into a moving car which promptly honked its horn at him. But he barely noticed, as she had ducked around to look at him, her pace increasing.
He, however, was faster, catching hold of her arm and pulling her roughly around to face him.
"Don't be angry, love," he soothed, when she fixed him with a narrowed glare.
"Come to collect, have you?" she bit out sarcastically, tugging her arm free and scowling.
By God, she was exquisite when she was furious.
"Nonsense. I still have to drive you home, unless you'd like to stay a bit longer."
He could sense her suspicion as she hesitated, then shook her head. "I'd like to leave, if you don't mind."
He gestured towards the parking lot with his hand. "After you, sweetheart."
She brushed past him, arms folded, head held high with defiance. A small part of him wished for her to stay, to spend more time with her…but no matter. After all, he just won himself one more chance to win her over.
They drove back in silence, each occupied with their own thoughts, mostly about each other, truth be told. Caroline's foot tapped nervously against the floor as they drew closer and closer to her apartment complex.
She couldn't believe her bad luck.
Or her good luck, if his kiss was as good as his body—
She mentally smacked herself to stop with that train of thought. Oh no, she was not even going to go there. Bad idea.
All too soon, the engine shut off, and Klaus once more came to open her door, this time making sure he grasped her hand to help her out of the vehicle, pulling her gently to her feet and shutting the door behind her. He led her all the way to the door of her apartment, their rhythmic tread the only noise to be heard.
They stood there, holding hands, for a minute or a day—Caroline didn't know—until Klaus stepped toward her, lowering his head until their noses brushed and their breaths mingled in the cool air, their bodies so incredibly close.
And then, his lips touched hers.
She had never tasted something so divine as his raspberry lips.
She trembled as they caressing her own, sucking softly on her bottom lip, eliciting a pleasured whimper from her. Unconsciously, she parted her lips, just as his tongue began to trace them.
Klaus growled, and the fire simmering through her body blazed as he grasped her hips, bringing her even closer, before roaming his hands up her arms and neck and burying them into her hair.
Lost in the heady feeling of his body pressed against her, she slid her hands up his chest, before tangling in his necklaces and giving them a small tug.
She could feel him smile against her lips, before he suddenly broke the kiss, pulling back slowly to look at her.
"This is merely a taste of what I can offer you, Caroline," he breathed, tracing a lone finger down her cheek before he parted from her entirely. "All I ask for in return is a chance."
Before she could say a word, he kissed her once more, murmuring a goodnight against the corner of her mouth, and he was gone, her awestruck gaze following him until he was no longer in sight.
Her fingers touched her lips, stained with his kisses.
Klaus Mikaelson would be the death of her, she'd always known that.
But where once he would have killed her with stinging words and pain, now—
Now it would be by the fire and tender devotion of his lips.
And the cheesiness continues! There may or may not be a part three to this... ;) Hope you liked it and holler at me in the reviews! I love hearing your thoughts!