Thank you everyone! I hoped you enjoyed the last chapter and my description of Disneyland was okay. I've only had the chance to go there twice in my life so I didn't remember too much. And yes to answer your question Bright645 I had to do a bit of research to jog my memory last chapter! It's just made me want to go back there again.
I write about places I've been so all of the ones they travel to during this story I have visited at some point in my life. Makes it easier that way.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank my new friend and committed reviewer mycutehamlet for all her local knowledge. I would also like to thank Dorina, my newest reader, for the lovely review
I hoped to post this chapter in time for the real Labor Day for you guys but unfortunately time got away from me and it's about a week late. Hopefully you'll enjoy it anyway, this is part one of the Labor Day weekend…
Collision Course: Chapter 24
August 28: Anaheim, California
Klaus heard the melodic sound of her laugh before he saw her. He turned slightly to his left and watched as she walked towards him, a massive cloud of pink cotton candy in her hand. Her face lit up and her blues eyes dancing animatedly as she laughed at something Bonnie said. Klaus was in deep trouble and he knew it. Although she had only left ten minutes earlier to buy some food he realised that he already missed her. After their tumultuous week he had barely spent a few hours with her and now being able to spend an entire day together had made him greedy for more.
The feeling of her arms wrapped tightly around him during their ride through the Haunted Mansion had felt incredible. It brought him back to the memories of their time together in Paris and Italy when they weren't apart for more than a few minutes.
"Where are we going to go now?" Elena asked looking around. They all put forward a variety of suggestions and hardly surprising to Klaus, Rebekah managed to get her way. They headed to Fantasyland and found themselves at Snow White's grotto.
Klaus looked around feeling extremely out of place, not only was he a male he was also over the age of ten. The girls fawned over the white statues of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs sitting atop the rocks overlooking the water while Klaus rolled his eyes wondering what all the fuss was about. Klaus looked around spying a wishing well and walked over curiously. He looked inside seeing coins of every size and colour scattered throughout the water. He didn't really believe in making wishes they were just a waste of time.
"Don't even think about it mister that money is for charity." Caroline teased walked up beside him still munching on her cotton candy.
"Way to ruin my fun Caroline." He whined jokingly. "I was just curious that's all."
"What are you thinking of making a wish?" She asked admiring the pattern the coins had made on the floor of the well.
"No that's not really my thing."
"What making wishes?" She asked incredulously. "Surely you've thrown money into a wishing well before?"
"Never actually, I didn't really see the point. I mean it's not like your wishes come true or anything."
"Sounds like someone is slightly bitter."
"Well you would be too if you blew out the candles on your fourth birthday cake and your wish didn't come true."
"Let me guess you wished for a pet dinosaur and never got one?" She teased.
"Close I actually wished I could fly." She broke out into giggles unable to stop herself.
"Yeah I can see how that must have been a rough blow for you."
"Trust me it was pretty hard to handle when I was four." He said. "I was so determined to fly; I even tried to jump off the roof the next day to see if it had worked."
"You didn't!" She cried.
"I did and managed to get a broken leg for my trouble." He said shaking his head at the memory.
"Wow now I can understand why you're so scarred by the experience." She joked. "Although I think it's about time you got over it and made a wish."
"Okay fine but if I fall off the roof tomorrow I'm blaming you." He said nudging her playfully.
"Fair enough, although this time you might want to try and wish for something that is actually possible." Klaus realised he knew exactly what he wanted. She was standing right in front of him but he wasn't sure if it was too much to hope for.
"Well I know what I want I'm just not sure if it's possible." He murmured looking deeply into her eyes trying to gauge exactly what she was thinking. Her eyes widened obviously realising his meaning.
"Well you never know until you try." She said her voice slightly husky. That was enough for him and within an instant he pulled a coin from his pocket and threw it into the well, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Did you want to make a wish?" He asked softly handing her a quarter. He felt his body tingle all over as she took it from him grazing his palm in the process. His eyes remained on her as he heard the coin break the surface of the water. "That was quick."
"Well I already knew what I wanted." She said her face colouring slightly, she held her cotton candy closer to her face no doubt trying to hide her deepening blush.
"I guess we'll just have to wait and see then." He said smiling at her noticing she had a smudge of cotton candy on her cheek.
He reached up instinctively and placed his hand on her cheek brushing his thumb slowly over the spot; only Caroline Forbes could still look that beautiful with pink sticky stuff on her face. His eyes searched hers hoping for a sign that he still had a chance.
Klaus could feel his heart racing wanting nothing more than to lean down and gently place his lips on hers. He was desperate to feel her touch again. He wiped the cotton candy from her cheek and lowered his hand realising she was holding her breath, almost like she was unsure of what he was going to do next.
Klaus realised if he did kiss Caroline he'd never want to stop because it wouldn't be enough for him, it never was. Caroline was his drug of choice and he had no idea how to cure himself of his addiction. He coughed nervously attempting to break the sexual tension.
"We couldn't have you walking around like that love."
"Yeah thanks it would be just my luck to end up in Variety Magazine with that on my face." She chuckled nervously. "So um where to next?"
"Well I did happen to hear about this big castle around the place, apparently it's fit for a Princess."
"What you'd go to Sleeping Beauty's castle, I thought it wasn't manly enough for you?" She asked referring to his earlier comment to Rebekah.
"Well you see there's this girl I know who absolutely loves castles and I would really hate to disappoint her." He said watching her face light up.
"Well she's very flattered you're willing to risk your manly reputation for her."
"I'd do anything for her." He whispered in her ear as they walked towards the rest of the group."Now unfortunately I can't tell you any facts about this particular castle but I'm sure you'll survive without my historical commentary this one time."
"Niklaus!" He heard a loud male voice not sure where it was coming from. "Niklaus!"
August 31: Somewhere over the Pacific Ocean
"Niklaus!" He could feel someone shaking him and opened one eye ready to kill whoever was interrupting his favourite memory from their trip to Disneyland.
"Elijah." He growled. "What could possibly be that important you had to wake me?"
"Well the captain just put on the fasten seatbelt sign and considering we're about to crash I thought you'd like to know." He said his face deathly serious.
"What?" He cried scrambling up in his seat and clasping the seatbelt firmly around his waist.
"Just joking." He teased.
"Seriously I much preferred it when you had no sense of humour." He muttered. "So what's the emergency then?"
"I wanted to talk to you about Caroline." Klaus shook his head dreading yet another lecture from his brother.
"Elijah I'm not in the mood for another pep talk." He scowled.
"Niklaus this has gone on long enough, you two need to sort this out."
"Look Elijah I understand you're just looking out for me but I've done everything possible. It's really up to Caroline now."
"Why, what happened?" He asked curiously. Being in England Elijah had been largely left out of their little plan and was only catching up on everything now.
"Well after Disneyland I put everything on the line and she said she was scared of getting hurt again."
"I guess I can understand that after your little incident last week." He said disapprovingly.
"Caroline said she needed time and Elijah I really need to give her that. The last thing I want to do is scare her off completely."
"Well you know what you need to do now then." He said and Klaus shook his head. "You need to be Caroline's friend and earn back her trust."
"How do you propose I do that Elijah?" He asked. "I wouldn't know how to be her friend."
"It's not that difficult Niklaus; take her out, show her a good time just make sure you keep your hands off."
"When it comes to Caroline I don't have much willpower. I could think of nothing worse than being alone with her and not being able to touch her."
"I think you are going to have to start getting used to some cold showers brother."
"Okay what have you done with the real Elijah?" Klaus asked curiously. "You're starting to freak me out with all of these jokes."
"There's nothing wrong; I'm getting into holiday mode that's all. It's been a while since I actually had one of those."
The Mikaelson brothers were on their way to Hawaii to celebrate Labor Day with some of their friends. Caroline, Elena, Katherine and Damon had headed over the previous day but Klaus had a meeting he couldn't miss so was going over today with Elijah who had decided to make the trip at the last minute.
"Yeah exactly my point, why are taking a holiday all of a sudden? It's not like you at all."
"Can't a man have a holiday without the third degree?" He baulked.
"No not when it's you." Klaus shot back. "I asked you about coming along earlier and you said no but then you get a call from Katherine and suddenly you're sitting on a plane annoying me." Elijah's face slightly reddened at the mention of the brunette.
"I don't know what you're talking about Niklaus." He said obviously flustered. "Besides aren't siblings supposed to annoy each other?"
"Don't try and change the subject Elijah." He said. "As much as she scares me at times I think you two would actually make a good couple."
"I think you're getting slightly ahead of yourself." He murmured.
"I don't think so and as much as I like to give you a hard time I think she'd be pretty lucky to have someone like you." Elijah dropped his gaze obviously embarrassed by the compliment.
"Same goes for Caroline brother, you just need to hang in there."
August 31: Oahu, Hawaii
"Now this is the life, I could certainly get used to this." Damon murmured lying on his sun lounger beside the pool. The group had hired a private villa on the North Shore called O Kekai. The property had five large bedrooms, three dining areas, an infinity pool and a small stretch of private beach.
"Yeah I vote we live here forever." Katherine said from underneath her over-sized sunhat.
Klaus and Elijah had arrived a few hours earlier and settled themselves by the pool with the rest of the group soaking up the warm afternoon sun.
"If only everyone had been able to make it." Caroline said thinking about the rest of their group.
"Maybe not everyone." Elijah said and Klaus understood his meaning straight away.
"I second that." Klaus said lazily. "There's only so much of Rebekah's screeching I can take. It's a shame poor Stefan has to put up with her." He chuckled.
"I can't believe they're in Chicago and she's meeting his family already." Elena said.
"What about Bonnie and Jeremy in Mystic Falls?" Katherine said. "I only hope our folks are going easy on her."
"Well they should be giving her the grilling she deserves; he is their baby boy after all." Damon cried obviously remembering his difficult first encounter with the Gilberts.
"I hardly think they'll do that Damon." Katherine replied dryly. "You took away one of dad's little girls so he was a lot tougher on you for obvious reasons."
"I take pity on whoever dates you Katherine after what Damon had to go through." Elena chuckled. They were all silent obviously thinking about the possibilities with a certain Mikaleson.
"So um what's on for tonight?" Caroline asked breaking the silence.
"Well Matt should be here soon." Katherine said. "He was waiting at the airport for Lexi's flight to arrive from London."
"So it's getting serious then?" Klaus asked interested. "I can't believe Matt Donovan has a girlfriend."
"Well she certainly made an impression after he spilled that drink on her." Elijah said relieving the memory from the bachelor party.
"I still can't get over her calling the star quarterback clumsy." Damon laughed.
"Are you serious? I didn't know about that one, I like this girl already." Katherine joked.
"So they'll have the room nearest to the pool and Elijah can go into the room next to them." Elena instructed taking charge as always.
"Um so where am I supposed to sleep Elena?" Klaus asked curiously. "As comfortable as this sun lounger is I don't fancy sleeping on it for the next three nights."
"Well considering there's only five bedrooms you can take your pick between sleeping with Elijah or Caroline."
"I thought I was going to move into your room tonight Katherine?" Caroline asked quietly obviously uncomfortable with the proposed sleeping arrangements.
"As much as I love you Care I don't love your sleep talking. If I'm going to get any beauty sleep whatsoever I can't have you in my room."
"Yeah it's actually pretty cute." Klaus said aloud unable to stop himself as all the memories from their time together flooded back. Damon raised his eyebrows at his friend.
"Well on that note I'm not having Niklaus sharing with me either." Elijah said.
"Why what's wrong with me?" Klaus cried deeply offended.
"Well unless you've changed since we were younger you have an annoying habit of thrashing around in the bed especially when you're dreaming." He said. "I recall getting quite a few bruises from you kicking me."
"Yeah he still does that a little but the secret is that you…" Caroline said but paused when she realised exactly what she was saying. She blushed slightly as they all looked at her curiously.
"Oh don't stop love I'm interested in hearing about how you placate me in bed." Klaus said a cheeky grin on his face. Caroline looked away obviously quite embarrassed by the situation.
"So it's settled considering Klaus and Caroline know just how to handle each other they can share." Katherine said matter-of-factly a smile playing on her lips.
Klaus certainly wasn't going to object, Caroline hadn't been in his bed for a few months and he was desperate to have her near him, even if he couldn't technically do anything. Elijah was right, he needed to show her that she could trust him and controlling himself in bed was a good way of proving that to her, he just hoped all his body parts were going to cooperate fully.
"Well now the party can really start." Matt hollered as he walked outside to the pool area with Lexi in tow.
"Always one to make an entrance." Katherine said shaking her head.
"Yeah well I've got to make my presence known." He argued. "Elena, Katherine, and Caroline this is Lexi; you already know Elijah, Damon and Klaus." Matt said pointing them each out individually.
"Hey Lexi, you deserve an award for putting up with this one." Caroline joked poking her tongue out at Matt.
"Well it hasn't been too bad so far since I'm still based in Dublin, working at the local hospital, but once I return to the States it could all change." She teased nudging him in the side.
"Yeah well consider this your prior warning." Katherine said knowingly.
"I have to agree with the others given he's one of my clients and I have to put up with him on a daily basis." Elena chimed in to the conversation.
"Hey, I thought you girls were my oldest friends but you're completely selling me out." He cried thumping his chest pretending to be hurt. "You know there are other publicists Elena."
"You wouldn't be able to cope without me Donovan and you know it." She laughed.
"It's alright ladies consider me well-warned, if I'm being honest the footballer thing sort of threw me off at first."
"Surprisingly Lexi didn't know much about football when we met." Matt scoffed. "I recall having to explain quite a lot including all the rules."
"Yeah I know." She said rolling her eyes. "You guys score runs there's no need to explain it all again." Matt looked at her in utter disbelief.
"Um I think you mean touchdowns Lexi." Damon said.
"Yeah I know I was just kidding."
"Well now that we've got that straight let's have some fun." Matt said as Lexi pushed him into the pool causing such a big splash the water overflowed onto the terrace.
"Now that's what I call fun." Lexi cried. They all laughed as Matt resurfaced a look of shock on his face, maybe he'd finally met his match.
September 1: Oahu Hawaii
"So what's happening with you and Caroline?" Matt asked looking over at Klaus as he steered their golf buggy. The boys were playing an early round at the nearby Koolau Golf Club.
"Nothing, I mean we're just friends."
"But you don't just want to be friends do you?"
"Well no but that's not up to me." Klaus said shrugging his shoulders.
"Look I've known Caroline for years and she's a very cautious person by nature." He said. "She thinks with her head and doesn't jump into things easily."
"Tell me about it."
"She can be quite guarded with her feelings but once she takes that leap there's no looking back."
"Are you talking about Tyler?" He asked his stomach in knots at the mention of her ex-boyfriend.
"No not that loser, I'm talking about you Klaus; I'd never seen her like that with anyone until you swooped in and married her in a drunken fit." He chuckled. "She may be taking things slow now but trust me you've already won her heart."
"So if that's true what are you suggesting I do?"
"Just hang in there mate."
"You sound just like Elijah." He laughed thinking about their conversation on the plane.
"Who sounds like me?" His brother asked as he and Damon drove up beside them in another golf buggy.
"Matt surprisingly, have you guys been plotting about me behind my back?" He joked not knowing how true his words were. They were both silent for a moment until Damon interrupted.
"Yeah because we have nothing better to do, now are we here to play golf or what?" He said attempting to hit his ball of the tee. "I don't know why people find this fun."
"Well if you were actually good and possessed some patience Damon it might help." Elijah said wisely.
"Patience is definitely not Damon's strong suit." Klaus teased. "Remember how frustrated you were with Elena?"
"Oh yeah and he'd moan about it to anyone that would listen." Matt laughed.
"You're all so hilarious. Anyway it doesn't matter because I got the girl." He beamed thinking about his girlfriend. "Speaking of Gilbert women, how are things going with Katherine Elijah?" Elijah blushed as he often did when she was mentioned.
"Oh look now you've gone and embarrassed him." Klaus joked.
"Yeah what is going on Elijah?" Matt asked. "I mean you need to get your act together, Katherine Gilbert is one of the most sought after women in this country and for some unknown reason she only seems to like you."
"What makes you say that?" He asked curiously a slight smile on his lips.
"Oh come on it isn't half obvious Elijah." Damon said. "From what Elena tells me she hasn't been with anyone since your outburst at Klaus's birthday party." Elijah looked on in shock.
"You must have been pretty memorable that night because for Katherine Gilbert that is completely unheard of man." Matt said knowingly.
"Well I certainly wasn't expecting that. I just don't really understand what she sees in me." He stuttered.
"Granted you don't seem to be her usual type but I think that's why she likes you Elijah." Klaus said.
"I think you need to get moving otherwise you might lose her for good." Matt said and Elijah nodded obviously trying to work out his next move.
"Well someone's been hit by the love bug judging by all this romantic advice." Damon joked.
"I know all it takes is the right girl."
"You two seem very cosy considering she doesn't even live in the States yet." Klaus commented.
"I don't know it was just one of those things. I thought after I got back from Dublin I'd go back to my normal life but I couldn't stop thinking about her."
"Yeah tell me about it." Klaus murmured thinking about the beautiful blonde who filled his every waking thought not to mention all his dreams.
Sleeping next to Caroline the previous night had been excruciating, not only had he struggled to keep his hands to himself he hadn't slept at all. Klaus was wondering how he was going to get through the next two nights sleeping with her in such close proximity.
If only he could forget she was so near but as he lay in the dark looking up at the ceiling he knew that was impossible. Klaus could feel the heat emanating from her amazing body while her intoxicating scent of strawberries and jasmine filled his nostrils making him dizzy with longing.
He heard small noises coming from Caroline as she dreamed wanting nothing but to caress her soft skin and calm her down. He gave up sleeping after a few hours and spent the rest of the night just watching her noticing the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. Klaus knew without a doubt that he wanted to do this forever.
"So what are you going to do about it buddy?" Damon asked curiously.
"I'm going to spend some time with her and show her what she's missing."
"I think you might be onto something brother." Elijah said obviously thinking about someone else.
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"Elijah seriously where are we going?" Katherine asked as he led her from the car his hands over her eyes.
"All will be revealed shortly." He said mysteriously.
"You know patience isn't really one of my better traits." She joked trying to see through his hands.
When Elijah had come to her that afternoon and asked her out she had been so excited. He was usually so shy and reserved and if she was being honest Katherine had given up hope of anything happening between them.
After spending more time with him in the United Kingdom Katherine had seen a whole new side to Elijah and she really liked what she saw. He was so different to anyone she'd ever met. After their disastrous first meeting Katherine had felt so upset, she thought it was just because of his rude behaviour but as time passed she knew it was something more. Katherine Gilbert actually liked a guy and it scared the hell out of her.
Katherine knew she could be difficult and had a reputation for playing the field but if anything it was just a defence mechanism she used to stop herself from getting hurt. She met so many people in the industry and had become accustomed to their typical superficial personalities but Elijah was so refreshing. All he needed to do was gaze at her with those big brown eyes and her insides turned into a big pile of mush.
She had finally decided to take the plunge and ask him to Hawaii after Caroline informed her he'd declined Klaus's offer. She had been so nervous but when he said yes it had given her hope.
"Yes I'm very aware of that but trust me it will all be worth it." He laughed. "Okay stop and turn around." He instructed and she did as she was told. Elijah pulled his hands off her eyes. She blinked a few times to get used to the sun.
"I thought you might like to do something special." He said smiling at the surprise on her face. Katherine reached up and stroked the beautiful chestnut horse in front of her. "This is Coco."
"I can't believe you did this for me." She squealed as Coco nuzzled her nose into Katherine's neck affectionately.
"Well I knew you loved horses and were quite the rider so I thought you'd enjoy a ride along the beach." He said quietly his gaze downward and his cheeks slightly flushed.
"I can't believe you remembered that." She said thinking about her fleeting comment in Scotland.
"I remember everything." Elijah said his voice slightly husky as he gazed at her with his chocolate brown eyes. Katherine inhaled sharply realising this was his way of showing how he felt. She grinned at him her whole body tingling with happiness not to mention the desire that was building inside.
"What are we waiting for then?" Katherine laughed as she mounted her horse noticing Elijah looking like quite the professional. "Let me guess you're an equestrian champion too." She joked thinking about his many talents. They started to trot slowly, Katherine loving the feeling of being on a horse again.
"No I'm not actually, but I do dabble in a bit of polo." He said expertly pulling on the reins and speeding up to a canter.
"I think someone's being slightly modest." She laughed catching up to him.
"Well maybe I do more than dabble." He said thinking about his multiple national polo titles. "Come on let's see what you can do Miss Gilbert." Never one to turn down a challenge Katherine pulled on her reins feeling her horse speed into a gallop the wind blowing through her hair.
Elijah laughed coming up beside her a smile plastered on his face. Katherine realised it couldn't get much better than this.
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"Come on lazy bones we're going out." Klaus said approaching her lying stationary by the pool. His eyes roamed over Caroline, her black and white polka dot bikini accentuating her amazing curves and toned physique. He felt himself stir and looked up at her face trying to distract himself from his impure thoughts.
"But it's so nice in the sun." She moaned obviously in a slight daze from the heat.
"Yeah but there's somewhere I want to take you, please?" He begged sending a big smile her way for extra affect. She sat up and removed her straw hat regarding him closely.
"I'm almost too scared to ask."
"Come on I promise you won't regret it." He pleaded.
"Fine but I'm going to have to change." She said lazily looking down at her bikini.
"Trust me you don't need anything else on where you're going." He said and she gave him a curious look.
"Why am I suddenly a little worried?"
"Caroline we're in Hawaii most activities require a bathing suit and not much else which you are already wearing. If you're that worried just put that dress over the top." He said indicating the garment by her side. She rolled her eyes and stood up pulling the dress over her shoulders and slipping into her flip-flops.
"Happy?" She asked her hands on her hips. Very Klaus thought. Caroline's simple white sundress was contrasting against her lightly tanned skin; her messy blonde waves cascaded over her shoulders and framed her face, a cute smattering of freckles already appearing across the bridge of her nose. Klaus had come to the conclusion that it was impossible for Caroline to ever look bad.
He took her hand instinctively feeling the electricity shooting up his arm; by the look on her face she felt it too. He let go worried he might be coming on too strong and smiled reassuringly ushering her towards the beach. They walked towards the edge of their private stretch of beach where he'd set up a number of coloured buckets of different sizes and shapes as well as some spades and shovels. She looked at him curiously.
"Okay what's going on?" She asked.
"Well I thought today we'd build a castle since you love them so much."
"Really?" She asked kneeling on the golden sand.
"Well I figured this way you could design your own castle from the sand up." He said shrugging his shoulders self-consciously still unsure of what she thought.
"So it's my castle?" She smiled at him warmly obviously touched by his sweet gesture.
"Yes Princess Caroline it's all yours, I am just here to lend a helping hand and do all the required heavy lifting." He said saluting her jokingly.
"Well I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy this." She cried her excitement obvious as she ran her hands through the sand. "Now fill up those two buckets with water and I'm going to need some very pretty seashells for decoratation." She instructed.
"Yes ma'am." He laughed picking up the buckets dutifully and running towards the waves. He looked back briefly noticing her beaming smile and realised maybe he'd done something right for once.
To be continued…..