Wow that was a great response (and so quick), thanks very much. My aim is to reach more reviews than Never the Bride and it looks like I've just about made it : ) New Orleans is the only place I haven't been so I had to do some research (and now I really want to go) so let's hope it turned out okay.

Collision Course: Chapter 28

October 29: New York City

"Mr Mikaleson?" Klaus turned around at the sound of his name, flashing a brief smile in the older man's direction. "My name is Thomas and I'll be assisting you this evening."

"Thank you Thomas but please call me Klaus. It's the least I can do after you offered to do this; you don't know how much I appreciate it."

"It's our pleasure." He smiled broadly. "Well if you'll just follow me we can begin." He said gesturing up the hallway. Klaus felt the nerves suddenly flutter in his stomach not quite sure why he was so anxious.

"Sorry I'm just waiting on a couple of people before we start." Klaus said consulting his watch, knowing them they'd be too busy fighting to actually notice the time.

"If you could actually drive Katherine we might have been here on time." Elena grumbled as the twins finally arrived.

"Well considering you wouldn't stop telling me what to do Elena are you surprised?" Katherine muttered as they approached Klaus.

"Thanks for making an appearance this century ladies." He drawled sarcastically. "Now we can begin, thanks Thomas." The four of them walked down the dimly lit hallway stopping while Thomas unlocked the door at the end.

"Okay this is the difficult part." Thomas said as the lights above them flickered on illuminating the room. Klaus looked around completely taken aback by all the sparkling jewels housed in the numerous cabinets scattered around the room. He breathed in deeply knowing Thomas was right he had a hard task ahead of him.

Klaus looked around Tiffany & Co in awe. Although he'd shopped at Tiffany's before he'd never been there after-hours. Given the media interest Bonnie had organised a private shopping trip so he could buy Caroline a real engagement ring not the prop she currently wore in case the media questioned the validity of their marriage.

Klaus wanted to buy Caroline a new ring to signify their new start. Caroline didn't get to have her dream wedding and he was determined to make it happen. If there was something Klaus knew it was how long girls spent planning their special day. He only had to think back to Rebekah walking around the backyard draped in their mother's lace tablecloth holding a bunch of daisies and promising to love their family cat for eternity.

He was fairly certain Caroline's ideal wedding didn't consist of Sin City, copious amounts of alcohol and Elvis. Klaus was going to give Caroline everything she deserved, starting with a romantic proposal; he just needed to find the perfect engagement ring first. He knew it wasn't going to be easy and had called in some experts, although he was beginning to regret asking the twins given their penchant for bickering.

"Wow so this is what this place looks like after dark?" Elena said in amazement as she looked around.

"Now this is my kind of shopping." Katherine said walking around admiring the different pieces of jewellery. "Oh how cute do you have this in my size?" She asked Thomas pointing into one of the cabinets.

"Katherine for once this isn't actually about you." Klaus muttered wondering why he brought the twins along again, he must have been desperate.

"Yeah Katherine not everything revolves around you." Elena mimicked nudging her twin in the side.

"Well what do you expect when you let a girl loose in Tiffany's." She shot back. "Oh Elena this would look amazing on you." Elena walked over and started to swoon over the gorgeous diamond bracelet.

"Okay right that's it, you two out." He cried as they looked up in astonishment.

"Klaus." They yelled in unison making him do a double take. "We'll be good we promise." Elena added dutifully.

"Yeah we'll only look for ourselves after we help find you a ring for Caroline." Katherine said.

"How considerate of you Katherine." He replied rolling his eyes. "Now concentrate we need to find the most amazing ring in this place."

"That might be difficult considering they're all stunning." Elena said earning a frustrated look from Klaus. "But we're on it aren't we Katherine?" She nodded as the girls walked around the various displays. Klaus was completely overwhelmed; he had never in a million years thought he'd be hunting around Tiffany & Co for an engagement ring, maybe Niklaus Mikaleson had finally grown up.

"Klaus come and see this one." Katherine squealed gesturing at a white gold diamond ring over in one of the far cabinets. He walked over and Thomas pulled the ring from its security case and presented it to Klaus as it shimmered in the light. He breathed in sharply realising he could actually imagine it on Caroline's finger.

"A beautiful choice Miss." Thomas smiled warmly at Katherine. "Now this one is a 3.22 carat cushion cut platinum ring."

"Elena can you try it on?" Klaus asked as she nodded excitedly.

"What about me? I picked it after all." Katherine objected not wanting to be left out as usual.

"You know I really don't mind who tries it." He muttered trying to hold onto his last shred of patience.

"Actually you can do it." Elena said quickly. "I've heard it's bad luck to put a ring on that finger before you're engaged." Katherine retracted her hand almost like she'd been stung.

"Well I don't want to do it either then." Thomas looked at Klaus a slight smile playing on his lips.

"How about you put it on your right hand." He said looking at Elena. "Here's another pretty one you might like to try Miss Gilbert." Katherine nodded eagerly. Klaus realised Thomas must earn his salary having to deal with neurotic women like this all day. As the ring was placed on Elena's finger he knew it was the one. He closed his eyes briefly imagining his proposal a smile breaking out on his face.

"I think that smile says it all." Katherine grinned looking at Elena. Klaus felt relieved like he was that much closer to re-marrying the woman of his dreams. He nodded at Thomas confirming his choice.

"So now we've seen the ring are you going to tell us when this proposal is going to happen?" Elena asked curiously.

"It's going to be on your six month anniversary right, November 4?" Katherine asked.

"I'll only tell you if you both promise to keep it a secret." He looked at them sternly. "I was going to but I can't wait so I'm proposing in New Orleans."

"You're going to propose on Halloween?" Elena asked. "You do realise Caroline doesn't like Halloween right?"

"Yeah only because she's scared of pretty much everything." Katherine added.

"That's exactly why I'm doing it so she'll have some good memories of the day for a change." He said. "Plus there's no way she'll be expecting it."

"Well she certainly won't forget that in a hurry." Elena said.

"I just think the timing couldn't be better after everything she's gone through the past week with the concert and then ending up in hospital."

"Yeah I think you're right she's certainly been distracted the past few days." Katherine said.

"So I wasn't imagining it then?" Klaus asked surprised she'd noticed it as well. "I thought when I got back things would go back to what they were but she's been so quiet lately not to mention tired."

"Well she's been so busy working and the doctor said she had low blood sugar so the combination of the two can't be good." Elena reasoned.

"Yeah she'll be fine Klaus, especially if there's a proposal coming her way." Katherine winked at him knowingly. "So how are you going to do it then?"

"I think I've told you both enough, I have to keep some things secret." He laughed taking the blue bag from Thomas's outstretched arm. "Now I can tick ring off my to-do list."

"Aren't you glad you brought us along?" Katherine asked raising her eyebrows.

"Well after we got over the initial fighting yes I was glad." He joked earning a whack from Katherine. "No thank you I mean who better to help pick out Caroline's ring than her best friends."

"Yeah that was quite a bright idea on your part." Elena laughed. "I think you've actually earned some IQ points since we first met Klaus."

"Well thanks Elena." He uttered sarcastically. "It's definitely a move up since your initial reaction to me in that hotel room, I think I still have a mark from when you hit me."

"Oh the memories." She giggled. "I admit I thought you were a complete idiot at first but now you only do stupid things every now and again."

"Plus you do have this way of slowly growing on people Klaus kind of like mould." Katherine joked.

"You girls are full of compliments aren't you, just like really annoying sisters."

"Be careful what you wish for." Katherine replied a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. Klaus sighed wondering what possessed him to introduce her to Elijah not to mention Elena to Damon.

"You do realise you're both indebted to me now seeing as I'm the reason you have boyfriends?"

"Yeah good try Mikaleson." Katherine said shaking her head. "Oh Elena have a look at this don't you think it would look gorgeous on me?" Klaus just rolled his eyes thinking it was going to be a long night.

October 30: New York City

"You know Caroline you could at least pretend to be interested." Klaus said leading her by the hand around the never-ending aisles of costumes.

"I'm sorry but you know how I feel about Halloween." She snapped a frown crossing across her beautiful features. "Sorry I just get a little worked up this time of year."

Klaus looked at Caroline thinking just how worked up she seemed, in fact this had been going on for the past few days. Surely her fear of Halloween wasn't enough to put her in this much of a bad mood.

Her strange behaviour had started after she'd been hospitalised. Although he'd been worried Caroline told him the doctor had diagnosed low blood sugar and recommended plenty of rest. As much as they all tried to convince her she'd gone ahead with her concert on Sunday not wanting to cancel on her fans.

Since then he'd played nurse making her rest and not allowing her to lift a finger around the house. Klaus wasn't sure if maybe he'd suffocated her but he couldn't help it, when it concerned Caroline his over protectiveness just took over. He hoped a few days away from everything would help clear her mind and that his proposal would have the desired effect.

"Come on cheer up grumpy pants just think of New Orleans and Matt's party."

"Yeah great, you know Matt's main aim every Halloween is to scare me to death." She scowled.

"Well don't worry about that right now just pick a costume, I mean there's more than enough to choose from." He said gesturing around the shop.

"Yeah that's the problem." She moaned sounding defeated already. "I would have no idea where to start."

"What did you dress as last year?"

"A mermaid." Klaus felt himself stir at the thought of his wife half-dressed writhing around the dance floor at one of the many celebrity parties. He really wished he'd been at that party. Ever since her stint in hospital Caroline had been so tired they hadn't engaged in his favourite activity much to his frustration. Given she'd been unwell he totally understood but it didn't stop his intense sexual cravings. He felt a whack on the chest breaking him out of his trance.

"Maybe you should save your sexual fantasies for another time lover boy." She said rolling her eyes at him.

"Well just say the word baby and I'm all yours." He said huskily pulling her in for a quick kiss. He felt slightly hurt feeling her pull away.

"Klaus we're in the middle of a shop." She said looking around self-consciously. "I mean there are innocent children in here."

"Oh come on just let them watch, I mean they need to grow up sometime." He joked carelessly refusing to let her out of his grasp.

"That's real mature Klaus." She muttered.

"Hey who needs a child when you have me? I mean my childish nature is what made you fall in love with me right?" He joked noticing her face fall slightly. "Are you okay love?" He asked quietly moving a piece of stray hair out of her eyes.

"Mmmm yeah I'm fine." She murmured. "Just really hungry."

"Oh now I understand." He replied the realisation sweeping over him. "Although you did just eat a stack of pancakes with maple syrup and a side of bacon, all mixed together I might add." He said a grimace on his face.

"Are you saying I'm a pig?" She accused squinting her blue eyes in his direction.

"Not at all love. I know you love your food I just didn't think bacon and pancakes were meant to be consumed together but you showed me." He laughed. "Look I'm willing to stop for something after we finish here though if it'll make you feel better." Caroline's face softened and she leaned up placing a lingering kiss on his cheek.

"Well now that you mention it I could go for some peanut butter and ice cream." Klaus just shook his head thinking that was disgusting but wasn't brave enough to tell her that.

"Great but we can't leave here without what we came for." He said steering her towards the front of the shop.

"I really don't want anything too um fitted or skimpy Klaus." She moaned placing her hand on her stomach. Klaus noticed her gesture thinking weight gain was the last thing she needed to worry about given she usually ate big amounts and never had a problem.

"Well I actually had an idea that I think you'll love." He said smiling mysteriously at her.

October 31: New Orleans, Louisiana

"Hey are you okay?" Klaus asked earnestly looking over at Caroline. They were travelling to the Roosevelt hotel, their home for the next few nights.

Matt had organised a private party at one of the oldest places on Bourbon Street, Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, which was apparently the most haunted bar in the French Quarter. He had invited a number of well-known celebrities. New Orleans was already the place to be during Halloween because of their annual street parade through the French Quarter, this party was only going to add to the festive atmosphere.

"Yeah I'm fine seriously." She said breaking out of her trance and squeezing his hand affectionately. Klaus looked at her curiously still not entirely convinced. Caroline's rollercoaster of emotions was in full swing, yesterday she'd been grumpy and today she was back to being quiet and distracted. He really hoped this trip was going to have the desired effect.

"You know it's okay love you can admit Halloween frightens you I won't laugh." He joked happy to notice a genuine smile cross her features.

"Yeah you've got me." She replied rolling her eyes.

"Well don't worry; I'll be there right by your side in case anything remotely scary happens." He said puffing out his chest. She laughed and Klaus realised how long it had been since he'd heard that sweet melodic sound.

"How brave and manly of you to rush to my rescue." She teased. "Maybe you should be dressing up as Superman instead; I think some tights would look pretty sexy."

"Well I'd hardly call my outfit overly manly anyway."

"Hey you suggested it; I had nothing to do with it." She said holding her hands up feigning innocence. Klaus had decided to organise some costumes that would complement his surprise proposal and Caroline was happily surprised with his idea. It certainly wasn't his first choice but he wanted to make this night memorable.

"Yes and you'll be the most beautiful woman in the room." He said nuzzling into her neck.

"I think you're slightly biased." She said raking her fingers through his curls. "So I assume you were a big Halloween fan growing up?"

"In England we don't really celebrate like you do." He murmured. "I only really noticed how much of a big deal it was when I came to America."

"Where Halloween is just an excuse for girls to dress up in their sexiest and most skimpy outfits." She joked.

"Yes that and those annoying trick-or-treating kids." He said feeling Caroline pull away from him slightly.

"Oh come on Klaus they're just little kids having some fun." She mumbled.

"Yeah well I think some of them need to be taught proper manners." Klaus looked over at Caroline who had an unreadable expression on her face. Her mood seemed to have changed completely; he spoke again trying to lift the mood.

"I think it's going to be a big night if Kol has anything to do with it, apparently this place does amazing cocktails."

"Yeah um I don't think I'll be drinking very much, you know doctor's orders and all." She replied quietly.

"Of course to be honest it doesn't bother me as long as I have you with me." He said brushing her hair down attempting to ease the tension that seemed to have appeared from nowhere.

"Yeah me too." She murmured giving him a weak smile.

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"Well look who we have here." Damon laughed as Klaus approached. "I can see Caroline has you well and truly whipped." Klaus shook his head taking in his friend's appearance.

"I'm the one that's whipped?" He asked in disbelief. "At least I'm not the tin man." Elijah and Klaus laughed at him dressed head to toe in silver.

"Yeah whatever." He mumbled. "I told Elena I wanted something manly, you know like Elijah, and this is what I got." He said gesturing to the oldest Mikaelson dressed as a strapping Mark Antony.

"Yeah I have to admit dress-up is not my thing but Katherine certainly had the right idea." Elijah said looking down at his gladiatorial outfit. "You look dashing Niklaus, don't listen to Damon he's just jealous."

Klaus looked down at his outfit thinking he didn't look too bad after all for Prince Charming. Yes it was hardly manly but he knew how much Caroline wanted to be a Princess and was determined to make her dream come true. He only wished he could see what she looked like but the girls had all insisted on getting ready together, no men allowed. The boys were relaxing over a couple of drinks at the Roosevelt's famous roof top pool bar, soaking in the atmosphere as the sun set lazily over the Big Easy.

"I still can't believe I'm actually wearing this." He said shaking his head.

"When you love someone all common sense goes out the window trust me." Damon said gesturing to his outfit.

"Yeah I know what you mean this time last year I was dressed as a fireman, completely wasted and making out with one of the Kardashians, I'm still not sure which one it was to this day." Klaus laughed.

"Hopefully not Khloe." Elijah said obviously without thinking earning some curious looks from them. "Hey ever since Vegas I've realised the best way to keep up with your antics is to watch ET, I may have also picked up some other information along the way." He stuttered attempting to explain himself.

"I was doing shots with Ian Somerhalder at a party in the Hollywood Hills; I think that would have to be one of the worst hangovers of my life." Damon said shuddering for effect.

"I was working last Halloween believe it or not." Elijah added taking a sip of his drink.

"Yeah that's not hard to believe at all Elijah." Damon muttered.

"And look where we are now." He replied looking around the roof top bar as the sun was slowly slipping from view in a bright streak of orange.

"Yeah you're dating one of the most famous actresses in the world." Damon said.

"And you're dating her bossy twin sister." Klaus laughed.

"And our little Niklaus is about to propose so he can get married for the second time." Elijah teased.

"Yeah I think you definitely take the title for the most growth in a year." Damon Laughed. "Even if it did start with a drunken wedding in Las Vegas."

"So are you all prepared for the big proposal?" Elijah asked looking at Klaus.

"I suppose, well as much as anyone can be prepared." He said his nerves beginning to flutter again. "I don't know why I'm so nervous I mean we are already married."

"Probably because you don't remember proposing the first time." Damon joked. "Don't worry man it's not like she's going to say no."

"I hope not but she's been so distracted and moody lately." He mumbled suddenly feeling extremely self-conscious.

"You said it yourself Niklaus she's been working hard not to mention being admitted to hospital, Caroline probably just needs to relax and what better way than spending Halloween in New Orleans." Elijah said.

"Not to mention being proposed to on top of all that." Damon smiled. "So is the plan all set?"

"Yeah I sneaked out this afternoon and set everything up." He said feeling slightly apprehensive, hoping everything would run smoothly.

"So is there anything we can do?" Elijah asked.

"Not that I can think of although you might need to keep an eye on Kol." He said and Elijah nodded knowingly.

"Is there something I'm missing?" Damon asked.

"Kol couldn't keep a secret if his life depended on it, combine that with alcohol and nothing is a surprise anymore." Elijah said. "It's okay we're on it."

"Just what I felt like doing tonight babysitting Kol." He joked. "Ah here are the rest of the boys now." They looked up as Stefan, Jeremy, Matt and Kol came out of the lift obviously laughing at each other's outfits.

"Looking good fellas." Klaus laughed taking in each of their costumes. "Tell me the girls are on their way."

"Not anytime soon, I mean we're talking Rebekah Mikaleson here." Kol said rolling his eyes. "Ouch Stefan."

"Well that's my girlfriend you're talking about. You just wait until you find someone then I won't hold back."

"You might be waiting a while Stefan." Elijah laughed shaking his head at his brother. True to form Kol hadn't held back tonight, dressed in head to toe red with a pitchfork and his usual mischievous smile he was epitome of Satan. Stefan on the other hand was channelling his inner mobster dressed in a vintage 1920s pinstripe suit and hat.

"Now that is a cool costume." Damon muttered enviously.

"Yeah I was scared about what Rebekah was going to pick but she certainly came through and what better characters to portray than Bonnie and Clyde."

"You're looking very hairy this evening Jeremy." Klaus said unable to hold in his laughter as he shot him a dirty look.

"Yeah typical women. I mean Bonnie gets to look pretty while I have to look like this." He scoffed from behind his wolf mask. "Not to mention it's itching me in all the wrong places."

"I hear you man." Damon agreed. "It's almost like they don't want you to look better and outshine them."

"Well of course that's what it's all about." Elijah laughed obviously thinking he'd lucked out in the costume department.

"I have to say this is going to be an amazing night I can just tell." Matt said smiling at Klaus in particular.

"Says the guy who's wearing a leopard print loincloth." Kol laughed tugging on it for extra affect.

"Hey it was Lexi's idea to go as Tarzan and Jane." He said. "I'm not complaining either because I think her costume is going to be pretty hot."

"If only they'd get their pretty little butts down here so we could get going." Stefan said looking at his watch.

"Well speak of the devil." Matt said watching them all giggling as they approach. "Wow, I think we're probably the luckiest bastards in the world at this very moment."

Klaus felt the breath hitch in his throat; they did all look amazing but he couldn't keep his eyes off his wife. Dressed as classic Cinderella in her long pale blue gown that only accentuated her big eyes with her blonde waves gathered in a bun she looked every bit the princess. If he could have gotten down on one knee then and there he would. He felt around in his pocket breathing a sigh of relief that the ring was still safely tucked inside. She looked down blushing slightly his intense gaze obviously affecting her.

"Boys." Katherine said sidling over to Elijah who was having trouble forming words. If anyone could pull off Cleopatra it was Katherine Gilbert. Her glossy dark hair fell straight down her back and her fitted gold costume was slit dangerously high leaving very little to the imagination.

Speaking of leaving little to the imagination Lexi's daring leopard print dress hugged every curve, if you could call it that, it looked more like jagged scraps of fabric that had been sewn together barely covering her body.

"Honey maybe you should go up and put a jacket on." Matt said regretting his decision to let his girlfriend out wearing so little.

"Wow you're really getting into the role of Tarzan aren't you sweetie." She said rolling her brown eyes.

"Well aren't you all going to tell me how beautiful I look?" Rebekah demanded as she primped and preened in front of them.

"Here we go again." Kol muttered.

"Yes honey you look stunning." Stefan said pulling her closer and pressing a chaste kiss to her temple. Rebekah's 1920's flapper style dress complete with pearls really suited her.

"Well Elena you certainly make up for your boyfriend here." Matt joked. Elena was doing Dorothy proud with her cute blue gingham dress, messy pigtails and bright ruby red shoes.

"Oh don't be mean Matthew I think Damon looks cute." She said throwing her arms around her tin man.

"Well I'm glad someone does." Rebekah muttered.

"Unfortunately the same can't be said for your date Bonnie." Klaus joked earning a whack from his publicist. "I have to say though I'm loving you in red it certainly matches your temper." Bonnie was the perfect red riding hood to her less than impressed boyfriend, the big bad wolf.

"Says the guy dressed as Prince Charming that's certainly one word I would have never used to describe you Niklaus." Bonnie joked her use of his full name not lost on Klaus.

"How about we get this party started?" Matt said to cheers from the rest of the group as they walked towards the elevator bound for Bourbon Street.

"May I escort you to the ball Princess?" Klaus said holding his hand out to Caroline. She smiled as he kissed the top of her hand and pulled her closer so their arms were linked. He inhaled deeply thinking about their night ahead.

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"Okay why does it feel like we're on an end of season football trip?" Katherine asked looking around the room which was filled with a lot of burly looking footballers. Matt had invited plenty of celebrities although the majority seemed to be buff sportsmen.

"Because we are Katherine." Bonnie said rolling her eyes. "I swear I can just feel all the testosterone in this room."

"Hey I'm happy to have all these big strong men around especially given it's Halloween." Caroline joked. Klaus looked at her noticing she seemed to have relaxed somewhat which he was happy about.

"I thought I was supposed to be protecting you?" Klaus asked slinging his arm around her shoulders and pretending to be offended.

"No offense Klaus but I'd choose the entire Philadelphia Eagles back line any day." Elena said sipping her cocktail.

"Well now you've completely bruised my ego ladies I'm going to find some other men to be manly with." He teased squeezing Caroline's shoulder and walking off to find Matt and check his plan was all set.

Lafitte's Blacksmith Bar was exactly that when it was built in 1761. The place hadn't changed much since then apparently with its exposed brick walls and open fireplace. There were no lights only various candles scattered around the room which certainly added to the scary Halloween vibe. Klaus walked through a doorway feeling bits of spider web tickle his face. He was so busy wiping it off he ran into Matt in the process.

"You've got to watch those webs Klaus." He laughed. "I've been trying to get Caroline into one of those traps all night but she's not falling for it."

"Hey leave my wife alone, you know how much Halloween scares her."

"Exactly why I need to do it man it's like our annual tradition." He joked. "So everything's sorted on this end, are you all set?"

"I sure hope so." He replied his hands shaking slightly.

To Be Continued….