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Collision Course: Chapter 14
June 26: Paris, France
Klaus opened his eyes slowly attempting to adjust to the light streaming through an opening between the curtains. He looked around the room realising something was definitely wrong with this picture. Instead of a gorgeous blonde next to him there was nothing but empty space.
Klaus groaned realising how close they had come last night and how it was all ripped away by his sister and Stefan. How did Rebekah always manage to wreck everything, he couldn't help but think it was somehow on purpose. If there was one thing Rebekah was good at it was sabotage. Klaus realised he needed to have a word with his little sister.
He thought back to the night before and the events that had unfolded after he and Caroline caught them in the act.
June 25: Paris, France
"What the hell is going on here?" Caroline asked.
"It's not what it looks like Caroline." Stefan said attempting to explain himself.
"Well Stefan I hate to tell you this but it is exactly what it looks like." Klaus said glaring at his sister.
"You always were such a wet blanket Niklaus." Rebekah pouted.
"Hey don't get me started on you little sister you have no idea how completely disturbing this whole thing is for me."
"Well I guess it is what it looks like but we're just having some fun." Stefan said feebly.
"Fun Stefan? With Rebekah?" Caroline asked in disbelief unable to stop herself.
"Yes Caroline fun, that's probably too much of a foreign concept for someone as uptight as you." She snarled.
"Rebekah." Klaus scolded.
"Hey she started it!" Rebekah cried.
"I don't understand. How did this all come about, I'm so confused." Caroline said screwing up her nose.
"And they call me blonde." Rebekah muttered.
"Well we hooked up at Klaus's birthday party in New York and it's been going on since then." Stefan replied.
"So what are you two like an item or something?" Klaus asked.
"No!" They both chimed in absolute horror.
"So what exactly is this then?" Caroline asked the confusion clouding her face. "I mean this weird affair has been going on for over two weeks and we're only just finding out about it now?"
"It's just a bit of fun Caroline. You should try it sometime, it might actually loosen you up." Rebekah scoffed.
"I don't need loosening up thank you very much and quite frankly you're the last person I'd take advice from."
"Well maybe that's where you're going wrong." She said rolling her eyes. "Caroline we are just two consenting adults having a good time together, aren't we Stefan?"
"But you two? It just doesn't make sense." She sighed.
"What and you two make perfect sense? You couldn't be any more different if you tried." Rebekah cried.
"Yes Rebekah but this isn't real." She said gesturing towards Klaus, too agitated to notice his face had fallen from her comment.
"And we're the ones being judged right now, unbelievable." Rebekah murmured. "Look as much as I love being told off like a naughty child I have places to be." She stood up quickly. "Stefan are you coming?"
"Look Care I'm sorry you had to find out like this." Stefan said sincerely. "Maybe we can catch all up and have a proper talk about everything." Caroline nodded slightly still in disbelief.
Stefan and Rebekah walked off leaving two very shocked people in their wake.
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June 26: Paris France
"I cannot believe it, I mean can you?" Caroline burst into his room pacing at the end of the bed like a caged animal.
"Caroline it's too early in the morning for this." Klaus growled putting the pillow over his head still grouchy from the lack of sex. This is exactly how she'd been the night before and why he was so frustrated.
"Yeah but surely you think it's weird." She said sitting on the bed beside him and peeling the pillow off his face.
"Yes but I'm sure I would think anyone with my sister would be weird."
"So what should we do?"
"Why should we do anything Caroline, it's really none of our business if they choose to have freaky sex with benefits." Klaus shuddered at the thought.
"Yeah but it's Stefan, I wouldn't be doing my friend duty if I didn't do something." She cried.
"As much as I hate to agree with my sister, Rebekah had a point, they are both consenting adults and are free to do whatever they like, even if it is gross."
"Yeah I suppose." She muttered dejectedly.
"You just need to calm down and take your mind off it all."
"And how exactly do I do that Klaus, that image is like burned into my brain." She huffed.
"Well I could think of a few things." He said wiggling his eyebrows suggestively and patting the pillow next to him.
"As much as I would like to I don't think I'd be in the best mood right now."
"Fair enough." He replied thinking it was anything but. "Maybe we should get away for a few days?"
"Well that doesn't sound like a bad idea." She said smiling for the first time. "What did you have in mind?"
"Leave it up to me." He replied mysteriously.
"Well that sounds ominous. Oh no I forgot we have your sister's fashion show tomorrow." She said. "I hardly think that's going to distract me from all of this."
"Look we have to go imagine how annoyed Bonnie and Elena will get if we don't?" She nodded in acknowledgment. "How about we go first thing on Friday morning after the show?"
"Okay but it better be good, I need something pretty amazing to wash away the image of those two going at it." She shivered involuntarily.
"Yeah thanks for that Caroline." He muttered reliving the experience all over again. "Now I should get ready, I said I'd go meet Stefan."
"Why do you get to meet him?" She cried.
"Because he texted me Caroline."
"Well I didn't get any text, maybe I should come with you?" She suggested.
"No Caroline I don't think that's a good idea you're far too worked up, plus Stefan asked me not to bring you because you scare the hell out of him apparently."
"What a coward!" She shouted. "Fine but you can tell him from me that I'll be just as angry then so he has something to look forward to."
"You are far too stressed Caroline maybe you should head to the hotel spa for a massage. I'd offer to do it myself but things might get out of hand." Caroline blushed a deep shade of crimson at his inference.
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"How on earth did this happen man?" Klaus asked Stefan sternly. They were seated at the Brittany Hotel Whiskey Bar on the rue Saint-Lazare indulging in their finest liquor.
"Seriously I have no idea. I mean your sister drives me absolutely crazy, you know how we were at that dinner in Vegas."
"Yeah so what happened between then and now?" Klaus asked confused.
"I can't really explain it, your sister has this way of pushing my buttons and rather than get angry it just kind of turns me on."
"Okay that's just way too much information!" Klaus cried. "This is my little sister Stefan."
"Yeah probably not the conversation to have with her brother I admit but it's the only way I can describe it man."
"Okay so it's kind of a love/hate thing?" Klaus asked trying to make sense of everything.
"I suppose that's the only way to describe it." He said taking a sip of his drink. "I have no idea what's happening, it's all such unfamiliar territory for me."
"By the sound of this it's like a mutual benefits arrangement so I know my sister is just as complicit as you." He said. "However Stefan if you hurt my sister you realise I'm going to have to kill you."
"Noted Klaus, this is all sounding so familiar." Stefan said referring to their earlier conversations about Caroline. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you but considering I have no idea what this actually is it's pretty hard to describe to anyone else."
"I hear you man. Truthfully I'm pretty happy to not hear any of the gory details." He laughed.
"Yeah fair enough I suppose." Stefan chuckled. "So Caroline's pretty mad at me still I take it?"
"Nah it's all an act man." He said. "I think if anything she's more worried about you. She seems to think Rebekah has trapped you in her web and is this close to eating you."
"Well I am an adult Klaus; I can look after myself even from deadly arachnids like your sister."
"Yes well you know how protective Caroline is of her friends; I think this is her way of trying to look out for you."
"I know and it doesn't help the fact that she doesn't like Rebekah much either."
"Yeah it doesn't but she'll come around, she's just in a bit of shock still."
"I have to say I've never seen Caroline so surprised in my life."
"Look speaking as a person that witnessed your little PDA first-hand I have to tell you it wasn't pretty." Klaus laughed.
"Yeah yeah." Stefan muttered. "Anyway how about you two, what's going on there?"
"Nice subject change there Stefan." He quipped. "Everything is fine, I mean we haven't tried to kill each other yet so that's something."
"Oh come on Klaus, you know what I mean." Stefan cried. "It's so obvious how you two feel about each other."
"I don't know." He mumbled. Klaus couldn't believe it when Caroline made the first move the night before. He had been waiting so long and the long-awaited kiss certainly didn't disappoint, it was only their discovery shortly after that did.
Ever since arriving in Europe Klaus had been riding a rollercoaster of emotions and his newly acquired blonde wife was to blame. He had never felt so strongly about someone in his life and truthfully it was beginning to scare him.
After what happened with his parents Klaus became so bitter about love and marriage choosing to jump from woman to woman just having fun without any consequences. That was until Caroline Forbes boarded that plane to Vegas and came crashing into his life with a bang.
He'd been asking himself why he chose to stay married to her and live this life that he never wanted. Although after two months he was starting to see the benefits of having someone around that you cared about. He had even entertained the idea of possibly making this a permanent thing until something Caroline said the night before brought him crashing back to reality.
When Caroline told Rebekah their relationship wasn't real it hurt, a lot. Klaus felt like someone had punched him in the stomach. He knew Caroline cared for him as a friend; she'd certainly proven that over the last few months. He also knew she was attracted to him sexually and if they hadn't been interrupted the previous night they certainly would have had sex.
However that comment made Klaus slow down and realise it was probably best to keep their arrangement fun and light. This is how he'd lived his life up until then and managed to avoid getting hurt so it made perfect sense. He was only glad he'd realised that before he'd really made a fool of himself.
"You don't know?" Stefan reiterated.
"No Stefan, we are friends, we get along really well but I don't want to jeopardise that. Surely you can understand?"
"I suppose I can see that but when you've got chemistry like you two it's pretty hard to ignore."
"We do and maybe we'll explore that at some stage but for now what we have is really working for us, not to mention extremely good for our publicity." He laughed.
"Yeah that's definitely true." Stefan agreed finishing his drink and signalling for another, his earlier tension slowly dissipating.
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June 27: Paris, France
"I know I shouldn't have sent in a boy to do a woman's work." Caroline said shaking her head at Klaus.
"Oh yeah because that would have gone down so well." Klaus muttered. "You're not his mother Caroline, at the end of the day Stefan and Rebekah are old enough to look after themselves."
"Fine but that doesn't mean I'm okay with their creepy little sex bond."
"Yes it's very weird, I'll admit, but Caroline he's your friend at the end of the day isn't that what matters the most?"
"Since when did you become so wise?" She asked curiously.
"I've always been this wise you've just chosen to ignore it up until now." He smirked.
"Oh really?" She smiled. "So what are we doing tomorrow?"
"I've planned an excursion to somewhere I think you'll like." He said a sly grin on his face.
"Oh come on you can't leave me hanging like that!" She cried crossing her hands across her chest defiantly.
"Well I'm sorry but that's all you're going to get. Now let's just hurry up and get this fashion show out of the way."
"I couldn't agree with you more." She mumbled sitting back in her front row seat. The fashion parade was being held at the Carrousel Du Louvre and they were waiting for Rebekah's show to start.
"Hi Klaus, Caroline." Stefan said approaching them sheepishly.
"Stefan I'm glad you could make it." Klaus said smiling. Caroline looked at him briefly as if to say you invited him?
"Well Rebekah had organised me a ticket anyway but I'd much prefer to sit with you guys." He said taking the seat next to his friend. The tension was so thick it was making Klaus wince in discomfort.
"So Caroline still mad at me I take it?" Stefan asked getting straight to the point as usual.
"Sort of." She mumbled. "I just can't believe you never told me."
"I know it wasn't the best way for you to find out and I'm sorry it happened like that."
"Yeah it was like something out of a horror movie." She said attempting a joke.
"That's just lovely Caroline." He said shaking his head. "You know as much as I love you for looking out for me I'm a big boy and can actually look after myself."
"Mmmm that's debatable Stef." She chuckled. "Although given you are both my friend and manager and I have to deal with you on a daily basis I think I can find it deep down in my heart to forgive you."
"That's so thoughtful of you Care." He replied sarcastically earning a whack from his friend in the process. "No you don't know how much that means to me." He said putting his arm around her and pulling her into his embrace.
"Just don't think I forgive your choice though Stefan, I mean seriously?"
"Caroline, I thought we were all playing nice." Klaus chided.
"Fine, I'll keep my comments to myself until I can say I told you so." Caroline said poking her tongue out at them both.
"Really mature Caroline." Klaus said.
"Ah there's the Caroline I know and love." Stefan laughed kissing her on the top of the head.
"You guys are just weird." Klaus said thinking back to Rebekah's comment when he'd phoned her before the fashion show.
"Let me guess you're calling to reprimand me because I upset your precious Caroline?" Rebekah said connecting the call.
"No Rebekah believe it or not I can actually think for myself." He replied through gritted teeth. "I just wanted to check everything is okay."
"Oh Nik don't tell me you actually care?" She said in disbelief.
"Yes even though you make it incredibly difficult for me sister."
"Oh how touching." She scoffed. "Look you don't have to worry; I'm not going to make a big scene or anything."
"Good I just wanted to check everyone was on the same page."
"Niklaus in case you forgot your little wife was the one going off her head, not me." She cried. "Anyone would think she has a thing for Stefan." Klaus felt his stomach drop the thought never occurring to him before. "Oh what did I hit a nerve?"
"No of course not Rebekah."
"Ah I see what's happening here; big brother has a crush on sweet Caroline." She said in realisation.
"Don't be silly Rebekah, we're just friends."
"Yeah sure Nik I mean could you sound any less convincing?" He could tell she was rolling her eyes. "You know it's not a crime to actually like someone, let alone admit it."
"Well you can talk Rebekah, I mean you and Stefan seem to be getting along very nicely if the other night is anything to go by."
"Well that obvious change in subject only confirms that you do like her." She said confidently. "In relation to Stefan we are just having some fun, I already told you that."
"Well he's certainly a strange choice, even just for a bit of fun."
"What is that supposed to mean?" She asked her interest peaked.
"I don't know Rebekah he certainly isn't as rich or famous as your usual victims. I'm just curious why you chose Stefan of all people."
"He was there and I was lonely, and if you must know he's very talented in the bedroom." She said suggestively knowing it would get to her brother.
"Yuck!" He groaned the image too much to bear. "Nicely played little sister but you haven't heard the end of this." He replied hanging up the phone. One thing about Rebekah was she was always such a formidable opponent. Maybe they were more alike than he thought.
The lights dimmed and the loud base reverberated from the surrounding speakers as the music started up. Klaus looked briefly at Caroline who was leaning contently on Stefan's shoulder. Surely there wasn't anything going on there?
Klaus looked away and turned towards the catwalk. Rebekah Mikaelson took centre stage her long flowing golden locks cascading down her back, her backless cobalt dress making her blue eyes sparkle beneath her bright make-up. She stalked down the catwalk with purpose her usual unimpressed scowl plastered over her face. As painful as Rebekah could be she certainly was good at her job.
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June 28: Normandy, France
"So where are we going Klaus?" Caroline whined dramatically.
"I didn't tell you the last ten times you asked, I'm not about to start now." He replied impatiently.
"You're no fun." She pouted.
"On the contrary Caroline I'm lots of fun." He said raising his eyebrows. Caroline sat back in the seat and looked out at the passing countryside. It really was beautiful in this part of the world. Klaus had hired a car and was driving them the two hours to Bayeaux in Normandy. He had been researching online and found the perfect weekend retreat, one that would completely blow Caroline away. They had been waiting so long for this moment and he didn't want to take a chance they would have any interruptions, which always seemed to be the case.
"So you and Stefan hey?" He asked trying to sound casual.
"Me and Stefan what?"
"Well I don't know have you ever thought about him you know in that way." He fumbled. Caroline laughed unable to control herself.
"Ew! Are you serious? He's like the annoying brother I never had." She laughed. "Whatever gave you that idea?"
"I don't know I just noticed how close you guys were and how upset you got about the Rebekah thing."
"Oh please, I got upset because it's Rebekah. I know she's your sister Klaus but come on could those two be any more different?"
"Well yeah you've certainly got a point but being different doesn't mean a couple can't be good together." He said thinking immediately about them.
"No I suppose not but they're hardly what you'd call a couple Klaus." She said. "Anyway I don't think you can base an entire relationship on sex there has to be other things because otherwise it will just fizzle out eventually."
Klaus listened to Caroline realising she could have been talking about them the parallels were so similar. Did she think they had nothing in common but a sexual attraction? He didn't know why he was letting it get to him considering he'd decided to keep things light and easy with her. He shook his head annoyed that yet again Caroline Forbes had managed to get into it again.
"Wow!" She cried looking out the windscreen. Klaus smiled realising he'd definitely made the right choice. Sprawled out before them was Château de Colombières, a 14th Century Castle surrounded by a large moat with a foreboding drawbridge and towers topped with turrets.
"Do you like it?" He asked smiling at her excited expression.
"Like it? I love it! I can't believe you brought me here." She said obviously touched by his kind gesture.
"Well I know how much you love seeing castles so I thought this way you could at least feel like a Princess and stay in one."
"Forget Princess, tonight I'm going to be the Queen of the Castle." She laughed as they approached the entry. Klaus was quite the history buff so he was pretty excited to be visiting the castle himself.
Klaus had been looking at various castles online and was immediately taken by the Norman castle, built as a fortress in the 11th century shortly before the Norman invasion of England. Rebuilt in the 14th Century the Chateau was liberated from the Germans during World War 11 and became the American press and radio communication centre. It was now privately owned and Klaus had organised to have the chateau all to themselves, something which was a lot easier to do when you were famous he realised.
They got out of the car and looked up at the massive building in front of them; Klaus looked over at Caroline a big smile plastered on her face, her creamy cheeks rosy with excitement. He was hoping this was going to be his chance to finally get closer to Caroline.
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"I can't believe you managed to get us this whole castle for the weekend." She said still in shock.
"Well honestly I don't think it would have happened if we weren't Caroline Forbes and Klaus Mikaleson, if you know what I mean." He laughed.
They had settled into the large estate in separate bedrooms much to Klaus's chagrin but he was hoping those arrangements would change as the weekend progressed. Caroline has secured the opulent Louis XVI Suite for herself and Klaus was staying in the Watchman Suite at least for now. The rooms were all beautiful, filled with antique furnishings and fresh flowers with views of the castle's moat and extensive grounds.
"How about a picnic?" He asked and she nodded excitedly. The day was absolutely beautiful, the sun shining throughout the trees. Klaus and Caroline took their basket full of delicious French treats which the kitchen had prepared on Klaus's request out into the picturesque gardens.
They sat by the chateau overlooking the large moat which surrounded it. Their lunch consisted of fresh brie, assorted meats as well as crusty baguettes, champagne and a smorgasbord of desserts purely for Caroline's benefit including; tarte tatin, profiteroles and crème caramel.
"Wow you did this all for me?" She asked her eyes widening at the feast in front of them.
"Who says I can't be romantic?"
"Well I take back everything bad I ever said about you." She laughed. "Except for the part about you taking too long to get ready."
"I do not." He scoffed.
"I've never known anyone to take so long doing their hair not to mention owning so much hair product." She laughed messing up his blonde curls playfully.
"Caroline." He whined trying to neaten it back down.
"See I told you." She replied eating a piece of cheese.
"Oh really, well how would you like it if I messed up your hair princess." He cried leaning over and teasing up her blonde waves so her hair was everywhere.
"Oh you think you're so funny." She said peeking at him through her hair which now resembled a bird's nest.
"Well yeah I am." Caroline took her opportunity and smashed a profiterole onto his head making sure to rub the cream filling throughout his hair.
"You realise you're just wasting your precious dessert?" He said trying to pull out bits of cream and pastry from his hair.
"Yeah I know but it's so worth it just to see your face right now." She laughed unable to stop herself. Klaus grabbed some crème caramel and smeared it over her face watching it ooze down her cheek.
"I see what you mean it is worth it." He laughed looking at the annoyed look on Caroline's face. She grabbed some tart and pulled on his waistband dropping it down his pants. The look on his face was priceless as the dessert slowly made its way downward.
"Right this means war." He cried rubbing some gooey cheese into her hair and grabbing hold of her tightly as she tried to squirm out of his grip.
"Klaus." She whined. "Let me go."
"Not until you stop throwing food at me." He said grinning at her with cheese caked into her hair and caramel smeared on her face.
"Fine I give in." She yelled as he finally loosened his grip.
"You should know better than to take on Klaus Mikaelson in a food fight." He scoffed trying to remove some of the dessert delicately from his pants.
"Yeah I should shouldn't I?" She said dumping the rest of the champagne over his head for good measure. Klaus spluttered as the golden liquid ran down his face.
"I should have known not to go soft on you." He said wringing out his shirt which was now soaked in champagne. "You realise that was your lunch, don't come crying to me when you're hungry later."
"Well it's still slightly edible." She said looking at the mess and salvaging a piece of ham and bread. Klaus leaned forward instinctively placing his finger on her cheek to wipe away the sticky remnants of the caramel. He paused midway holding her gaze realising how beautiful she looked even with food all over her face and in her hair.
Caroline lifted up her hand and ran it along his arm affectionately. Her touch felt like sharp bursts of electricity pulsing though his whole body. Klaus moved closer his lips grazing hers softly at first. Caroline moaned the feeling of his lips on hers almost too much to bear. She leaned in closer to him desperate for more of his touch as Klaus deepened the kiss.
He placed his hand on the back of her head and pulled her in closer, if that was even possible. Their kisses became more intense and urgent, their sexual tension spilling over into a frenzied show of emotion.
The noise of a lawnmower starting up nearby made them jump apart in fright each trying to catch their breath. A gardener walked past them his face slightly red obviously embarrassed at catching them in the act.
Klaus looked at Caroline noticing for the first time the look of pure lust reflected in her blue eyes and he knew he had to have her. If he could have taken her there he would but the poor gardener had probably seen too much as it was.
"I think we need to get you washed up you're all dirty." He said huskily rubbing her cheek.
"Yeah if anyone needs a shower it's you." She whispered her voice thick with desire. She stood up quickly and Klaus followed right behind her.
Klaus and Caroline barely made it back into the castle stopping multiple times unable to resist each other for more than five seconds. They stumbled up the long staircase grateful that besides the staff in the kitchen they were all alone.
Klaus pulled Caroline into the ensuite unzipping her white sundress and letting it fall into a pool around her ankles on the floor. He admired the stunning blonde before him her white lacy lingerie sending him into a complete spin.
Caroline moved forward undoing his pants careful not to spill the food from their earlier food fight, her eyes widening at his generous assets now straining in his Calvin Klein's boxer briefs. Klaus thought he might explode he was so excited.
The rest of their clothes flew off at a rapid rate both of them desperate to fulfil their urgent desires. Klaus inhaled sharply after removing Caroline's bra, he had been with so many different women but there were no words to describe how beautiful she was at that exact moment.
He leant down feathering kisses slowly along her collar bone then moving downwards lightly caressing the swell of her breasts then finally onto her taut nipples sucking at them softly causing her to moan in delight. Klaus realised he would never tire of that sound.
They staggered towards the shower their hands excitedly exploring each other's bodies for the first time, something they had wanted to do for so long. Once the water was running and the steam was floating throughout the bathroom they emerged themselves into the hot water desperate to give in to their desires once and for all.