N/A: Actually updated before I thought I would, so I'm happy! Hope you guys enjoy it, it's one of my favourites chapters so far

Guilty Pleasures

Caroline walked around the living room, running her fingers through her blond, wavy hair. She saw the blankets still over the couch and frowned. Niklaus was sleeping there for over a week and she was starting to feel guilty.
"Klaus?" she entered the kitchen, where he was devouring his breakfast with his monstrous appetite. Just like him, Kol also seemed to be always hungry. The work of thousand years as a vampire. "I'm going to work." She let him know.

Klaus only gestured with his head, still chewing and trying to reach the milkmaid. Caroline rolled her eyes, already getting used to that routine. They barely talked when alone. "I'm gonna work" "Back" "The shower is yours" "We need more groceries". However, she wasn't bothered by that, actually it was better than the temperamental Klaus who yelled to much and made threats. Nevertheless, she was lonely. Tried to stay all of her time at work, but that was impossible. The bad part was come back home and find Niklaus sitting at his couch/bed, sketching something in a notebook, without saying a thing. Or even worst, not find him. Come back home and find it empty, to say hello to the morbid silence was the best trigger her frenetic thoughts asked for. Her recurring doubts.

She would sit at his couch and stare the dead television. Would ask herself if she should turn it on and finally would, just to fill the silence. Then the TV's sound would disappear under her question: Would be a good mother? What would they do? What if they went back to Mystic Falls and she was still pregnant? Would the child die? What if they were stuck there? Would she end up becoming shallow, old Caroline? Could she handle the continuing lying to her friends? Until when the "temporary amnesia" excuse would work? Who was she in that world? A wedding planner? And what else? Was she to shallow to even be more?

She wouldn't realize he was back home until he sat by her side, some food between his fingers and an exhausted face. "Hi."
"Hello". "There's more in the kitchen?" "Yeah, but leave me a bite."

And the days passed by.

Elena was busy being mother and wife, maybe even working. Damon was a father, husband and doctor. Stefan… Stefan was trapped in Rebekah's madness, who, in her account, had the happy life she always wished for. Bonnie and Matt lived in the nearby town, not far, but still too distant to permit Caroline met them on the streets. Tyler… There was no Tyler. For everyone, he was missing. Kol was struggling to understand his own life, let alone deal with Barbie's problems. Jeremy worked, was an adult and they had never been that close, anyway.

In the end, there was only Niklaus. Who wouldn't talk with her.

"Klaus…" the words stuck in her tongue. Nik raised his eyes over the milkmaid, surprised by a conversation. He arched an eyebrow. "I… Klaus… We should undo the boxes in the guest's room." She stuttered. The man shuddered and kept chewing.

"Sure… Rebekah called."

"And?" her heart raced. A talk! For the first time in the week!

"She asked us to come for picnic tomorrow. Everybody will be there." He started to break the bread "I agreed…" he didn't ask if she had the same opinion, but the doubt was clear in his voice.

"Ah, of course, fine…" she wanted to keep the subject going, but didn't know how "I… I'm gonna be late."

"Yes, your work. Go ahead, I'll clean the kitchen, Love." And he smiled over his bread pieced, like he knew a secret she didn't. Caroline sighed, waving before walking to her car. She turned up the music and sang along, done with silence.

Klaus stared the canvas, grimacing and taking a deep breath. He gritted his teeth. Jeremy had been clear, the client asked for a pretty, sensual lady, but who should be innocent enough to be hang in the dinner room.
And the girl he painted was everything, minus innocent and pretty… or sensual. Sad, livid, hurt perhaps. But not a girl who could be exposed in such an ordinary room.

He analyzed her light hairs, stained in the absolute shadow of the painting. Her sea eyes were wet, full of dread… and the bit of dress he had drawn was dirty and torn.
With a sigh he put down the canvas and grabbed a clean one. Held his paintbrush and smeared in the yellowish tint, diluted at its maximum. He started to draw her contours once again, this time trying to make it less sullen.

A sigh. Now she looked like a fairy, jumping around a garden. He didn't even know how to draw a fairy! He erased the trees with a cloth damp in oil medium and put her feet on the ground. Now she was statue, frozen in such an obnoxious position. He gently draw her head to the left, as if she was confused. Better. Fragile hands holding the dress. Much better. The background… He drew a crystal chandelier, lights flashing over the room. A staircase almost disappearing in its surroundings. Some people talking, maybe about her… And brilliant kisses resting in her hairs, making gold glow in her nonexistent face.

A knock on the door. Klaus put down the brush, taking one last glance to the eyes that he had started… dark as night.

"Come on in." said, still looking the painting, crossing his arms and chewing the inside of his cheek.

"Jeremy and Kol went out for lunch." Jules said. "And I wanted to know if you want to join me."
Niklaus smiled, turning to look at her. She was breathtaking, but not as beautiful as he first thought her to be.

"Sure, just let me wash my hands."
Jules agreed with a smile, while Nik entered the tiny bathroom of his office/atelier.

"She's beautiful." Commented, eyeing the painting and hearing the water ran.

"I'm not happy with her. Jeremy said she'll be hang in a dinner room, but she… She's no muse to such thing."

"Well… I don't even know who would hang an unknown girl in a dinner room." Jules rolled her eyes "But if someone does that, she seems appropriate. It's not striking, but she won't disappear either. She's pretty."

"Where we will go?" he asked, crossing the room. Jules still eyed the girl.

"What?"

"Where we'll have lunch?"

"Ah, right…" she blushed "It's an Italian restaurant, just across the block." Grabbed her purse. Niklaus held the door for her, closing it behind them. Maybe have a friendly conversation was all he needed.

Jules was talking. And talking a bit more, a bit too much. Her full lips were smiling at him, curls moving as she agreed with some silly comment of his, gracious hands holding the silverware. A ravioli was taken to her mouth and a "You don't mind, right boss?" to the white wine glass.

She was talking about the other company she had worked for. Her finger brushed his when she went to grab the cheese. A smile. White teeth flashing in his eyes. "And then I gave up and quit…" Jules frowned, a memory. "We're talking too much about me. What about you, boss?" He had to answer. Something… Anything. It had been a long while since Klaus had had a normal conversation, specially because Mystic gang was far from normal.

"There's not much to talk about me…" lie. "Your life seems much more interesting." Lie! Lie!
Jules smiled knowingly and rolled her eyes. "Please, I'm not deaf. London, Italy? France? You've mentioned all those places. It's much more interesting than me: Born in New York and living in dead Mystic Falls."

"London is gray, Italy is messy and France is superfluous. You didn't lose much." He smiled.

She grinned "You just used all clichés I know, in a single sentence." Her green eyes went soft. "It's ok if you don't want to talk about the past… We can talk about the present." Her cheeks flushed, thin fingers tracing the palm of his hand.

Klaus dry swallowed and was dumbstruck. She was openly flirting with him. He couldn't remember the last girl that was that close of him and wished to go further. Caroline never wanted him, she was Just the blonde distraction. He had compelled a few companions over the centuries. Some had even fallen for him, which was pretty ridiculous when they had gotten to see the monster. They never survived anyway. He couldn't remember the last girl who liked him, that had undone him with a simple smile.

Tatia, her name was Tatia. And she's dead. You drank her blood.

He moved his hand from her touch, sitting straight at his chair "Jules…"

"No." his secretary cut him off, pointing the wine glass. "You're engaged and my boss and I… I'm so sorry, I think I overdid it with the wine. I'm gonna blame you for not joining me and we can go back to the office."

"I'm really sorry, Jules. You're beautiful, but I cannot do that." I can't do this again, not again. Tatia is dead, Niklaus, and whose blame is that? Who brought mother's attention over her? Who played with her daughter? And ignored Rebekah's complains, while pressed chaste kisses in her mouth and promised would marry her? Who? You. You ruined the only woman who loved you, the only one you loved.

"I get it." She smiled. "Caroline is beautiful and lucky to have you. She doesn't deserve it and I… God, I'll never be the other girl. It's not my cliché, I'm just the gorgeous secretary who spend too much time with her boss, whose only fault it's to have British accent. Can we just blame the wine?"

Niklaus didn't want to smile, but he did it anyway and asked for the bill.

They went back to Original's Art in silence. She was still too embarrassed and he was drawing in his thoughts. It wasn't Caroline he was thinking about when denied Jules affection, it was Tatia. The blonde didn't even cross his mind. Would he do such thing against her? Because, willing or not, Forbes was his only company. He had no wish to betray her forcefully conquered trust. Caroline may not have any feeling toward Klaus, but she trusted him.

He smiled, opening his atelier door and grabbing the brush. Now, with a full stomach and his head crazy with thought, he knew exactly how to paint his muse. The dark, clouded eyes, enchantress smile… And the blue dress.

Friday night came and went in a blink of an eye. Caroline and Klaus still shared the silence, thought that day the house's atmosphere was lighter. Klaus had recognized a bit of genuine trust in her, during his embarrassing lunch. Caroline, in the other hand, was simply happy to go out and talk with someone.

The last talk she had with her friends, was over the phone. Rebekah had yelled and started to talk nonstop, Katherine gave a speech about condoms and Caroline being to "thirsty", but she was cut off by an embarrassed Elijah who rapidly congratulated them and hand up. Elena told she had guessed (uh, Damon and his huge mouth) and Bonnie just congratulated them, along with Matt.

Then: Silence.

Katherine had called that morning, telling them where the picnic would be. Elena was bringing dessert, so they had to take the clustery. Niklaus tried not to smile as he watched his fiancée search the house for a basket. Her cheeks were blushed and her fingers frenetic as she made a ribbon bond, making the basket more or less presentable.

This side of her he knew. Controlling, neurotic and tidy. Klaus knew the Caroline that liked organize events, who wanted to be sure everything was perfect and made it all with grace a maniac smile. He knew this version of her and liked it.

They drove quietly. Niklaus had rehearsed how to tell her his hilarious lunch, but gave up before opening his mouth. She had a smile plastered in her face and he would hate to erase that. When they got there, the blonde was pushed apart by Elena –Or Katherine, who cared? – to help organize something and Klaus found himself sitting alone at the picnic table, watching his younger sister.

He smiled to Rebekah's loud laugh. Stefan had his arms wrapped around her waist and he was trying to throw her in the lake. Her face was flushed and her hair was messier than Klaus had ever seen… and she was happy.
It had been a while since he saw his sister happy… Mystic Falls was a cursed town, almost as much as his family. Happiness was just a vague concept there.

Stefan put her on the ground, laughing too, and kissed her. His arms tightening around her body, pulling her closer. Niklaus felt grateful that she had pick a man who was gentle… What he had never been. Klaus loved his sister, she was the only one who stood by his side didn't matter the circumstances. Truly, her awful taste in man and constant need to be loved, annoyed him. However, he would never regret something more than what he put Rebekah through. She deserved a better brother, deserved Elijah… even Kol.

"Out sister is happy." Kol murmured, sitting by his side. "I can't believe I'm hearing her laugh. I'd forgotten it." Klaus tried not to flinch as he realized he too had. He tried not to taste the guilt in his tongue.

"She picked a Salvatore." The younger man rolled his eyes. Kol would forever resent the Salvatores… Klaus asked himself why.

"At least she picked the better one." Nik mumble to himself. He liked to see Stefan treating Rebekah like a queen. She had earned it.

"Well, at least. I'd kill Damon before he touched her anyway. Damon Salvatore, year's biggest jerk." Mikaelson growled. "I must by a new bat, to when this one break her heart."

Klaus laughed, imagining Kol running after Stefan with his so talked about bat "You're a sadist, little brother…"

"I'm just stating the obvious, Nik. I'm used to see men break Bekah's heart and I'll enjoy breaking this one's legs instead. Of course she could be less… loving."

"I'll kill him myself, Kol."

"Oh, I'm glad you care about our family now, Nik. You know, after you stabbed us so many times…" he left the words hang on the air, happy to see his older brother shrink in guilt. The best thing about being a human was that Nik couldn't just stop caring, he would have to deal with the remorse all the time. He would let them be happy now.

Klaus didn't answer, but he didn't stand up either. Part of him wanted to resent Kol for opening old wound always he could. Nevertheless, shame was choking him. He wanted to enjoy those glorious minutes to see Rebekah's happiness. Watch as Kol saw her, watch the mix of worry and diversion in his eyes, it all covered up in incredulity.

She let Stefan, smiling from some joke and they walked toward the Mikaelson's brothers.

"What?" Rebekah said, seeing the look in her sibling eyes. She sat by their side, taking a thermos bottle and serving herself juice.
"Nothing" they said at the same time. She rolled her blue eyes, resting her face on Stefan's shoulder and offering him her cup.

"Here, Kol." Elena pushed Miranda, who was a baby still, in the man's arms "Hold her for a sec, I'm gonna help Damon and Jeremy."
She walked away as Caroline sat silently by Klaus' side and glanced at Kol. The younger man had a surprised and fearful look plastered in his face.

"Can someone grab her?" He asked, his breaking like a teenager's. Rebekah laughed and Klaus smiled, happily watching while his brother – murderous vampire – held a baby in panic. He knew it wouldn't be any different if the kid was pushed in his arms, but laughed anyway.

Miranda blinked at him those blue, crystalline eyes, grimacing in discomfort. "She's gonna cry?! Can someone grab her?!" Kol rocked the baby. His handsome face turning into a panic frown. The little girls eyes filled up with tears and she opened her mouth to start yelling. Kol groaned and rocket the child again. The kid was two years old, but she was so scared by his sudden reaction that she wouldn't say a thing.

It was fucking horrendous to have something as fragile as her in his claws. He knew he was going to break her, the baby was going to be hurt and Elena would scream like a harpy. "Move your hand." Caroline sighed, rolling her eyes. "Hold her right, not with both hands in her arms."

Kol raised his eyes, scared, but did what was asked. Miranda still looked about to cry, but she wasn't yelling yet, what was progress.
"And rock her right." Rebekah completed.

"Yeah, unless you want her to puke on you." Agreed Stefan.

"How right?! Why don't you hold her?!" exclaimed Kol, rocking the little girl.

"Rock her slower, not faster" Caroline huffed "You're completely useless." And she took the baby from his arms "You gonna break her."

Kol sighed, relieved. "I'm not completely useless! It's not my fault I never held that."

"That? That is a baby, man." Jeremy's voice made him turn around. Gilbert seemed annoyed. "And you have serious issues with children since you came back from California." Completed, helping Damon bring a second table closer. Elena hadn't heard Kol's commentary – thanks God – and she walked over them, holding two table cloths.

Kol growled. He had serious issues with humans, not children. During his millennium on Earth, he just learned one thing: Humans = Food. It was a simply equation and he followed it blindly.
He never talked with a human for more than ten minutes. The last human he spent the night with, was compelled to not feel fear or pain. Eve, he could still remember her name, was chatty little thing while she cut her wrists over his glass.

Therefore, hold such a fragile thing like Miranda and try not break it was out of his league. Even without being a vampire, he could still feel it's pulsation, almost smell the blood… it turned his stomach.

Caroline handed Miranda to her mother's arms, smiling as the little girl grabbed her hair as a kitten.

The conversation developed from there. Rebekah and Caroline made fun of Kol, what made Damon ask what they were talking about. When the Salvatore started to pick on Kol too, joking about how his baby girl could scare him shitless, Jeremy pushed the talk to Matt, asking what he was doing.
From careers subject, they fell on Elena's dilemma to write or not newspaper chronicles. She had retired when Miranda was born. From this, they fell in an argument over the matter "Katherine's career influences Elijah?". Finally they ended up on the most ordinary subject, Care's birthday.

"So?"

"So what?"

"What you gonna do in your birthday?" questioned Katherine, rolling her eyes. Caroline bit her lower lip, thinking. Birthdays were magic… but not for her. Forgotten between absents parents and two busy best friends that thought her party spirit was "silly", she had only had three birthday's party over her short life. And that was the truth: No one threw parties for Caroline Forbes, but she would party for anyone. The only birthday her friends insisted to commemorate, was her eighteen one… And nothing worked out. She was dead, she had been bitten by Tyler and ended up being saved by Klaus.

Honestly, it would be better for everyone to just ignore it. "Umm… nothing. Gonna stay at home."

"You gonna stay home? C'mon, you have to throw a better party than last year!" Rebekah complained.

"Uhm…"

"Do you remember, Katherine?" questioned the blonde, eyeing her sister-in-law "It was hilarious, I had the time of my life!"

"Yes, but… I really just want to stay home." Caroline threw Klaus a desperate look. He smiled, holding her hand under the table and saying too loud "I don't think you get it, ladies. Caroline prefer to spend this year birthday with me, doing whatever she wants, instead of drinking at a party." He smiled "Isn't it, love?"

Care turned a deep shade of red and agreed. "What I want? Anything?" murmured, leaning closer to him and maintaining the theatre. Her heart raced.

"Ugh, I don't have to hear this!" complained Rebekah.

The subject dropped. No one wanted details – except for Damon and Kol with their immature jokes, Kol's marked by skeptical sarcasm – and Care was grateful, since there was none to give.

The conversation turned to Stefan, who was talking about a patient of his, but while he kept trying to explain to Elena and Katherine what the guy said, he was still trying to not break medical silence.

Niklaus was bored, watching as his friends ate and had fun, talk changing fast and subject oh-so-ordinary. He let his eyes wander.
Katherine was wearing a tank top that offered a big cleaved – as if she ever worn something different – and her curls were pinned up. She was wearing her wedding ring - pretty, solely piece. Elijah picked, for sure – and a lapis-lazuli wristband. Funnily, they all worn their day walk accessories there, even if there was no real need. Maybe all of them had an emotional bond with the jewelry.

He turned his focus to the good twin.

"Elena, where is your necklace?" questioned suddenly, after a five whole minutes staring her chest and trying to understand what was missing.
"I lost it. Last Tuesday, when I was fixing Kol's party details…" she sighed, upset. "I really like it."

"You do realize the necklace was mine, right?" Rebekah picked.

"Bekah…" Stefan sighed, holding her hand so she wouldn't start an unecessary argument. Elena and Rebekah didn't have an easy relationship, but normally they wouldn't be yelling or fighting. It was a civil relationship, since they both had Salvatore boyfriends (or husband in Elena case).

"Well, it was given to me as a gift. So it's mine."

"No. My mother gave it to me and when Stefan met me in London, I gave him. Later, after meeting you, he gifted it."

"Still, you gave it away. So…"

"ENOUGH!" Stefan exclaimed, pissed off. It was a recurrent fight and he was done with it. "Bekah, you gave me the necklace, I gave it to Elena. It's hers and now not even this, since she lost it." He gritted his teeth "Now, let's change matter."

The picnic was finally over a couple of hours later. They packed their stuff, said their goodbyes to Katherine and Elijah who were going back to Atlanta and left.

Caroline watched while Niklaus grabbed the pillow and ran his fingers through his humid hair, tiredness heavy in his face. She smiled when he looked at her.
"What is it, Love?" questioned, yawning.

"You can sleep in the bed, Klaus, you know? I'm sure you won't attack me or something like that." She felt her cheeks burn in embarrassment. Klaus arched an eyebrow and she started talking "I mean, the first night I made you sleep in the couch and everything, but I was still too nervous… Now, I know you won't hurt me and I kinda trust you, not that I have an option, so you can sleep in the bed… If you want to."

He laughed. "Caroline, Love, stop talking." Instructed. "I do appreciate your invitation, but I think I'll stick to the couch. I don't like it very much, but… Spend the night with someone is something to personal for me, Caroline." Answered, shrugging. He saw a glimpse of disappointment in her eyes, but shook the thought off. He was tired and making up stuff.

Without anymore words, he left the room, leaving her behind sitting at the bed with a comprehensive look in her face.

Niklaus lied in the couch he already hated. His back was aching and he wanted to sleep on the bed more than anything. But he wouldn't make a pregnant lady sleep at the couch and he couldn't share a bed with Caroline. It was more than personal… It meant trust her to watch his sleep. Now human, with guilt walking in his bloodstream, the nightmares had came back. He had no wish to let her see him while he groaned in his sleep and woke up in cold sweat. No wish to wake up and see her apologetic stare.
He also couldn't wake up and see her face close to his.

He had laid with load of people over the last thousand years. But never slept with any of them. It was one thing to pass out after sex, knowing the next day he would kill his partner or compel them to forget. It was another thing to lay down, vulnerable as puppy, by the side of a woman he shared a house with. He wasn't ready.

She woke up with the sunlight in her face. Or the first time in the week there was no nightmare haunting her, no weird sensation… She was simply happy. Caroline yawned, stretching her arms and stood up; after brushing her teeth and washing her face, silently walked down the stairs. Klaus was still asleep. She could hear his low snoring and, if she two more steps she would see the top of his hair between the blankets.

Sighed and entered the extra bedroom. The boxes in that room had been bugging her since they appeared there. She sat in the wood floor , crossing her legs and opening a box marked as "Caroline's Stuff". There was a little china doll, which she remembered, wrapped in bubble wrap. Caroline smiled and started digging the boxes after memories.

They were forgotten and so old she almost thought of herself as an ordinary human. She found old pictures and smiled to her light, straight hair, the missing teeth given to the Fairy Tooth. Her younger self was grabbing a pink bike and Care remembered it. Christmas, eight years old.

She stopped when opened the second box.

"You shouldn't be doing that." Klaus voice startled her, making she turn around and let the thing in her hands drop.

"What?"

"That… Digging their stuff, looking those things." He rolled his eyes, his face still all crunched up by the pillow. "You'll create an emotional bond and when we go back… You're gonna suffer."

Caroline huffed. "We're not going back. I don't know if you realized, but we're stuck here. We don't know how to come back, if we can and even if we do, I also don't know if I can. So, I'll dig our stuff as much as I can. Now come over here, I want to show you something." Asked, making a gesture for him to come closer.

Niklaus sat by her side, clearly with something bitter stuck in his mouth, and gave a bored look to what she held. His eyes widened. "So it is truth… They knew about the child." Murmured, incredulous.
She smiled, holding a pair of white tiny shoes and still eyeing them with surprise.

"I told you." She let the shoes drop in his hand and kept exploring the boxes. "The extra room makes much more sense now."

Klaus stood up, carefully putting the baby shoes by her leg. "I'm gonna get something to eat, do you want anything?" He realized she was still in her pajamas, just like him.
"Anything, I'm not really hungry. Don't take too long, I wanna see all those boxes today."

Mikaelson agreed and walked away. The blonde smiles for her new found things. There were more baby clothes and children picture of them. She opened the third box and smiled for a picture of her, the other Caroline, and Nik, the other Klaus, holding hands. They were happy… They seemed happy just for being together.

It's not possible to find happiness ignoring everything around you. Ignoring all past damages or Mystic Falls curse. However, those two were happy.
She grabbed a little metal box, red and gold, and opened it. Baseball and Ice Show's tickets. Disneyland pictures that broke Caroline's heart. It was her childhood dream… Just like her teenager's dream was to go to Paris, Disney was her little girl's dream. And she never went any of those places. A pang of envy hit her as she saw a picture of human Caroline and Nik hugging before Sleeping Beauty's Castle.

Any attempt to suppress her jealousy turned vain when she saw them before the Eiffel Tower. That girl was living her dreams!

Caroline rolled her eyes, pushing the feeling aside and grabbed a paper packet. Frowned, puzzled.

"I found cookies" he sat by her side, pushing a teacup filled with coffee milk toward her. "What's that?" asked, grabbing the packet.

"I don't know." She unwrapped it and the content fell on her lap "Letter…" murmured, surprised, eyeing them with an raised eyebrow. She grabbed one and smile when realized it was Klaus' handwriting.

"And they are yours…" she searched for an address, but couldn't find it. Opened one. "You were sitting with Stefan, talking with Elena and trying not let the sadness take over you, as you watched their love…" Caroline frowned. "I think they're for me."

"Read it." He asked, taking one of the fallen letters.

"And I thought you were absolutely beautiful. Your beauty wasn't just physical… but it left me breathless. You're full of light, goodness. Kipping that kind smile in your face, still so false, so you wouldn't hurt them. Beautiful, Caroline." A smile. "I hope someday you'll Love over your shoulder and not see me as an enemy, Love. I hope you grow up to be the woman I can already see in your juvenile façade. Wish you could see me not as a threat, but as partner."

She let the letter fall and grabbed another one. "I think this one is after they started dating…" commented, superficially reading it. "I'm sorry. Forgive me for being such a failure in our relationship, forgive that I'm not everything you wish and need. However, truth is I want you to forgive that I'm not deserve of you. I've been wooing you for a long time, trying to make you mine. And now you're and I have no idea of what to do. Forgive me for being immature, decide to fight in the middle of the night. Forgive-me not telling you you're beautiful, everyday. Forgive that I was the ruin of one of your dearest friends, Stefan, a long time ago. Forgive-me for not being deserving of you. Nevertheless, I'm selfish. I know you deserve better, but I'm not letting you go. You're the Love of my life, Caroline."

She blinked confused. Klaus had raised an eyebrow and forgot the teacup. "He was really in love with her" he sighed.

"Yes, I guess he was" she realized they were speaking in the past tense. As if Human Nik and Human Caroline had died in a recent tragedy. Caroline shook her head and opened another letter "I've been stepping around to write this letter all week. I didn't. I proposed, but never wrote it. I'm ashamed, it was supposed to be part of the proposal, but if anything, I'll write it now: Caroline, by your side, in the last four years, I grew in myself. Went from a resented, mean man to a one who's happy with what he's got and what he hasn't. You taught me how to enjoy the little things, because you only live once. And now I see everything under a different light; Your light. Then let me enjoy the little things: Under this light I see how your nose wrinkles when you want to say something, but can't. How you have an adorable mania and sometimes blink with only one eye. How you spend hours and hours dressing up and sometimes it can seem insecurity; however I know you actually enjoy dressing up. And you turn around, a million dollars smile and I know you want a compliment, even if Caroline Forbes already knows she's gorgeous. And of course I compliment, because you're beauty. You're genuine beauty. By your side I leanerd to Love your shocked stutter and your anxious babbling." Caroline stopped breathing, who even was this man? "I learned to love how you forgave Damon for everything he did and to love how you did this for Elena. You're selfless and enjoy everything about you. Caroline, you wake me up in the middle of the night to tell me you remembered, remembered that actor's name. And you ask me to draw you like 'one of my French girls'. I learned to enjoy Titanic, and that, Caroline, only a love fool does."

The blonde laughed under her breath and dropped the letter, trying to hide the amount of uncalled tears in her eyes. Klaus caught a letter and read "I'm ecstatic. Screaming in delight. I don't know if that's the tenth or millionth letter I write you and neither do I care. Because it worked. After a year courting you, a year stalking you and being a little creepy, I'll give you that… After all this, we're finally together. I didn't think I would have to take a bullet for you, but you always enjoyed drama. I might have been shot, but this scar I'll love to rest of my years. You kissed me… because you wanted it. Not in the hurry, not when you thought I was dying… I remember your pale face, watching me from the hospital chair. I love you spent the night watching over me as angel. I don't know if it's right, Caroline, but that was the first time I played the hero. And I wanted it… Almost as bad I wanted your lips on mine. The monitor half scaring us to death and your bubbly laugh in my chest. Love is foolish and messy, Caroline… and so am I." Niklaus bit his tongue to not smile and commented "He clearly is foolish"

"He's no fool… He's a man happy with the woman he loves" Caroline bit back "Not everyone can be loved back and he knows it"

"He's a fool. He has the mankind worst weakness: Love. To be in love make us vulnerable…"

"And human! To be in love make you more human than you could ever wish to be… And being human, makes you someone good, Klaus. The human you is a good man."

"Caroline!" he raised his hands, annoyed "You know all those giant flaws you saw in me before? Well, they're still here! They might not be all of my personality, as ti was when I was a vampire, but they didn't vanish! I'm furious, selfish! I don't have any idea why you think I'm someone good just because I'm human. I'm still very much the same person, with he same flaws and the same lack of virtues!"

"And now you feel! You have your emotions and you can feel happiness and kindness and… Love!"

"I've always had my emotions! Contrary to you, pity Mystic Falls' vampires, I never turned it off! I just gave up on them! I've always felt! But after a thousand years of betrayal and pain and suffering, the little moments of joy lose their colours!"

It was like being punched in her stomach. All the anger vanished away. The blonde sighed, not stepping back and letting her head drop. "You have the chance to restart, Klaus… Right here in your hands. To be human again, to have a new life… This time without you crazy father and your maniacal mother. Don't screw it up, Klaus. Please, to screw your last shot at being happy"

She stood up, letting all the letters behind and walked out of the room. Niklaus took a deep breath, feeling his heart pound against his chest and the blood making his head spin. What did she mean by that? He never screwed up his happiness! People did that for him! Traitors!

Then he thought about Rebekah, Kol… Thought about Elijah, his big brother. And Finn, who dismayed what he was so much, who had been so hurt after Sage's transformation he became a suicidal. Ah, Finn, such a romantic…

He thought about all his sibling and remembered all the times screamed at Bekah, her beautiful face torn in anguish. The feeling of daggering Kol… his baby brother who he was supposed to protect, just like Henrik… Maybe he had screwed up his happiness, in the end.

After a few minutes trying to understand what Caroline said, he caught one of the letters and read it in silence. He looked up this Nik… Enjoyed his blind passion and his courage to express it. His courage to give those words eternal life. Nik was a brave man.

Klaus let the letter drop and packed them up, putting it nearby all the objects Forbes pulled from the boxes. Opened a big box and smiled: Nik was definitely a brave man.

"I didn't tell my mother" Caroline murmured, while they had a quiet lunch. Niklaus shrugged.

"Why not?"

"Because she… She won't be happy." The blonde shook her head "She won't be the least happy"

"Well, Kol wasn't too, but you told him, love" pointed Mikaelson, stealing a curly fry from her plate and smiling. Caroline seemed to shrink in herself, forking a fry in annoyance.
"It's different. Kol is your brother. She is my mother."

"Are you afraid of her?"

"A bit…" a sigh "A lot"

"Let's go there today." Klaus decided "We'll tell her quickly as taking off a bandage. You cannot hide it forever, Caroline"

"No" Her eyes were big and scared. Caroline had spend so many months, shed so many tears to make her mother see the strong, vampire woman she became. Now it was all for nothing. "She'll be mad… disappointed"

"And? When parents aren't disappointed? My mother was mad at me over a millennium…And she was dead during it. I think you can handle your very human, screaming mother."

She huffed under her breath, but agreed "You'll go with me, right? I can't do this alone…"

"Of course. However I doubt I'll be of much help" he smiled "Let's hope she likes me"

Liz Forbes had grown old. Time hadn't take her beauty away, but also hardened her face. The face of a woman who could and would break a man's arm. Klaus tried to not shrink under her heavy temple and shot her a bright smile. He prayed his to be mother-in-law liked Nik and entered the house.

"So? What happened?" she crossed her arms, eyebrows frowned.

Caroline stared the floor, the rug that never changed since her childhood "I… You promise to not be mad?" her voice was loud and childish. Klaus pitied her, remembering way to clearly how he felt in Mikael's presence. Caroline, though, loved her mother and was loved in return. They just had a fucked up relationship.

"What did you do this time? Nothing can be much worse than hearing you're gonna marry him…" the Sheriff shot him a dirty glance to Klaus. Right, so she didn't like Nik.

"I… I am pregnant" the words fell from her mouth. Caroline put a hand over her face, surprised and horrified. Liz blinked a few times, shocked and pale.

"Pregnant? Caroline… You're twenty four!" exclaimed "Twenty four, Caroline! Isn't it enough you decided to marry him, after everything that happened, after the dragged Stefan to hell… No! It isn't, is it? You're so irresponsible!"

Niklaus wasn't surprised. It was exactly what he was waiting for. "I'm so disappointed with you, Caroline! Just like your father! Just like! What was you hoping I said? That would congratulate you for finally blowing up your life? And your career? YOU'RE TWENTY FOUR YEARS OLD, CAROLINE!"

"No…" Caroline eyes were full of unshed tears "I wasn't hoping anything"

Liz furious face dropped "Caroline…"

"No! It's not different, is it? You're always disappointed with me! You always wished Elena or Bonnie was your daughter! Anyone but me! Irresponsible, childish, dumb Caroline! Marrying too soon, repeating your mistakes! Pregnant too soon now too! It's no surprise you're disappointed with me, mom! That's all you do!"

Liz opened and closed her mouth in shock "Care…"

"It's asking too much, right? I'm terrified, mom!" and now she was crying, hands moving as she sobbed seventeen years of pain "I'm scared! And all I'm asking you it's your support! But, of course, is asking too much! You have no idea how to play present mom! All you know is how to run away and hide under your work! Maybe if you go now, when you leave I'll be vanished, taking this baby with me!"

"Caroline, do not put words in my mouth…"

"But that's what you do! We both know it!" She fell sit in the couch, hiding her face in hands and crying "Is it asking too much for you to just be my mother?" sobbed. Liz dropped in her knees and hugged her daughter's shaking shoulders.

"No, baby, it's not… Shh… Everything will be ok, baby…" shushed, her voice hard with the tears she kept swallowing and hugging Caroline.

Klaus stood still, completely shocked. It had been a while he hadn't seen motherly love. It was basically a myth in his mind. Something he heard about, but never experienced. Elizabeth was clinging to her daughter as if Caroline would break. Feeling guilty, worried and wanting to comfort her in all ways. Niklaus never saw that. The last affection demonstration his mother shed was kissing her children forehead before sleep, and when Mikael placed his hands on the low of her back, she made sure to overlook him.

"I'm so afraid, mom…" Caroline whimpered.

"You gonna be ok… I'll help you…" Liz whispered back, kissing her child's blond curls. Then she joked, still with a crying voice "But you do know you still have to tell your father, right?"