A/N: A tumblr prompt asked me for Koroline so of course it also ended up including Klaroline because I genuinely can't help myself.

Dear So-and-So, I'm sorry I came to your party

and seduced you

and left you bruised and ruined, you poor sad thing.

I sink the boat of love, but that comes later. And yes, I swallow

glass, but that comes later.

Rebekah Mikaelson did know how to throw a good party, Caroline thought grudgingly. The Mikaelson brownstone mansion had been transformed into a glittering venue.

After quickly downing several glasses of champagne, Caroline discreetly made her way to the first floor balcony. She braced her hands against the gilded railing and shivered slightly at the cool, night wind, cursing herself for her stupid decisions. The thought had barely left her mind, when she felt warmth surround her from behind. He enveloped her with his arms while his mouth grazed her neck.

"You taste so sweet," he said, pushing her hair aside and gently biting her neck.

"Kol," she said, hoping to reprimand but her voice came out too low and breathless.

She made to turn around but he quickly pushed against her till she was leaning against the railings.

"Couldn't find a shorter dress?" he asked.

"It's not that short," Caroline said, self-consciously tugging the dress down.

"Precisely," he whispered in her ear while his hands found their way under her dress, his fingers curling around her panties and pulling it down her legs.

"Spread your legs," he commanded, and she would have refused just to punish him for that tone but she was already wet and she wanted him bad.

He guided himself into her and placed an eerily gentle kiss on the nape of her neck. His one hand firmly held her waist while his other palmed her breast through the thin silk of her blouse.

"Say it."

Caroline looked at the tiny glimmering lights down in the street below her.

"Fuck me," she said.

"We should go join the party. People will notice we are missing," she said, trying to adjust her hair from the untameable mess it had become.

"I didn't even get to see you without your clothes off," he said, leaning down and kissing her.

"Yeah well, you'll just have to use your imagination."

"I don't need to do that. You are etched in my memory," he smirked at her, clearly remembering their clandestine rendezvous in the storage unit after they both cut their Chem class.

Caroline lowered her eyes and tried to think of a witty comeback (and not give in to him again) when he suddenly picked her up and pushed her against the side wall. She wrapped her legs around him, and she could feel his hard length against her. She threw back her head and bit her lip to stop from gasping out loud as he pulled down her blouse and pinched her nipples through her lacy bra before closing his mouth around one.

"Kol, I was looking for-"

Caroline pushed Kol away in horror and tried to cover herself up, looking anywhere but at the new arrival whose voice she recognized well enough.

Kol, however, harbored no such reservations and confidently smiled at his brother apparently not noticing (or ignoring) the furious look on the latter's face.

"Is it midnight already?" he wondered out loud, glancing down at his wrist watch. "Oh wow, just crossed 12. Happy Birthday, Nik," he said, putting an arm around her waist and pulling her closer against him.

Caroline finally couldn't stand it any longer and meekly turned her head up and looked at Klaus. He was looking at them with the anger she had expected but she felt her heart drop as she noticed he also looked hurt.

"Can I talk to my brother, Caroline? Alone," Klaus said.

"There is no need for that-"

"No, it's okay, Kol. I should go find my friends," she told him, a fake smile plastered on her face, as she left hastily.

Caroline spotted Stefan and Damon and made a beeline towards them,

"Hey, where are the others?"

"Dancing," Damon said, gazing out at the floor where Elena and Bonnie were spinning around with some of their other classmates.

"Great," she said, but it came out more gloomy and way less chirpy than she had intended. Her mood was ruined. She felt a hot stab of guilt eat away at her. Except why was she guilty in the first place? It wasn't like she was doing something wrong. Right? She was friends with benefits with Kol (except for the friends part) and she and Klaus were nothing. Hadn't she neglected his advances enough for him to get the idea she wasn't interested? So, why would he care what (or who) she was doing? Yes. She shouldn't feel guilty. She wouldn't. Maybe some more alcohol would help….

"Care, are you sure it's wise to drink that much?" Stefan said, his brows furrowed as he watched he knock back yet another shot of tequila.

"Yes, very wise. It's a party, isn't it, Stefan?"

"Speaking of," came a voice from behind her, "have any of you seen the birthday boy?"

Caroline turned to find a very stressed looking Rebekah.

"I mean, the least he could have done is made a short appearance. It's not like I have spent months planning this. For him. And it's not like he lives here. In this house," she said, her voice rising dangerously.

"I am pretty sure I saw him head upstairs earlier. Don't worry. I am sure he got caught up with something and he'll be here in no time. Come, dance with me," Stefan told her gently, leading her towards the dance floor where they were playing soft music.

Caroline was glad Stefan had expertly distracted Rebekah before she exploded. Elena, Bonnie and Matt joined them just as he left and they worked their way through some more alcohol till she was feeling positively light-headed. She wasn't drunk enough though, she realised when she saw Kol making her way towards their group and her anxiety sky-rocketed. Ugh, so much for secrecy. What is he thinking?

"Caroline, how completely unexpected to see you here!" he said with a grin and a (totally fake) surprised face.

She tried to play along with him while simultaneously glaring at him to leave.

Clearly he didn't receive that telepathic message since he continued, "Actually, do you guys mind if I borrow her for a moment? I could use some help on our math assignment for tomorrow. Unfortunately, for Caroline, we are partners, and I don't want her perfect GPA to fuck up because of me."

"We wouldn't want that, would we?" said Damon, turning and giving Caroline a pointed look.

"I didn't know you guys were in the same class," said Elena, looking confused. Yeah, because they weren't. She had math with Elena.

"Oh, it's this extra credit thing we are doing. Caroline, darling?"

"Yes, I should…go with him," she said, before she snatched his am and dragged him to the other end of the room.

"What is wrong with you? Are you trying to sabotage my whole life?"

"Relax," he said, happily smiling at her and looking not at all like someone who just ruined her life. "They are too stupid to figure anything out. Here, come with me."

He pulled her into the elevator and just when she was about to ask him where they were going he was gently trailing his lips over her collarbone while his hand went under her dress, his fingers moving enticingly along her inner thigh. The question died down on her lips, and her mind went fuzzy with lust as his fingers on their upward path edged closer to her damp panties.

The elevator beeped loudly and Kol gave her a wicked smile before heading out. She released the breath she didn't even realize she was holding and groaned in frustration blindly following him into a bedroom. She jumped on him just as he closed the door and pushed him on the king-sized bed-

"Wait," she said, suddenly registering where they were and coming to her senses.

"Wait," she repeated, standing up quickly. Her head was spinning and she realized how drunk she was. "Is this your bedroom?"

"Yeah," he said in an off-handed manner, and reached up to grab her arm, pulling her back onto the bed. She was surprised, to say the least. She didn't know what she had been expecting. Kol Mikaelson's bedroom. She had certainly never given it any thought. But she might have pictured trashy pin-up star posters on the walls. Not this decidedly tidy room with plaid bedspread. She didn't know why but suddenly she wasn't so enthused about this. She hadn't planned on ending up in Kol freakin' Mikaelson's bedroom. It felt too reckless. And not to mention it was Klaus' birthday….she kept picturing his face with that hurt look in his eyes and guilt gnawed at her once again.

"I should leave," she said, moving away from him. "This isn't right."

"What?" he said, looking confused. "You'd rather we fuck on the terrace or something?"

"No, I just..it feels wrong. Your brother's birthday party is going on outside and I am in your bedroom."

"So this is about dearest Nik," he chuckled sardonically. "I thought you didn't care for him."

I don't, she wanted to say, but the words felt hollow.

"I knew he was always in love with you but I thought you weren't interested. And we had an arrangement. So, forgive me, if I don't understand where this is-"

"What!? Klaus isn't in love with me. And I really am not interested in him but this just seems –"

"Yeah, suddenly this seems a lot less fun. I am bored. You should leave. Vicky Donovan was looking pretty foxy in that red dress. Maybe she is still around. I'll go find her instead."

Caroline gave him a curt nod and turned on her heels. She had never harbored any delusions about their relationship but it still stung to realize how utterly replaceable he found her.

She had just reached the door when he came behind her and pulled her closer.

"What is wrong with me?" he whispered into her hair. "I am sorry," he mumbled so low she could barely hear it. Maybe he never said it. Maybe her mind made it up.

"Will you stay? Will you stay the night?"

"Please," he persisted when she gave no answer. "Come on, just this once, be reckless, stop thinking about others," he said walking over and leaning against the door, his arms crossed and a wicked grin on his face, "I am not letting you get away so easily, darling."

She looked up into his blazing eyes and found herself nodding. It had to be better than the empty house that would greet her. Maybe they were going to start doing the friends part of their arrangement now.

She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him for a kiss. She had been overthinking this. This was fun, this was good, and she hated to admit it but she needed this.

She woke up confused to find an arm around her waist. Oh yeah, she thought taking in her surroundings. She was naked. In Kol's bed. And she had a terrible hangover. She felt dizzy, her head was throbbing, and mouth felt dry. Water. She needed water.

Caroline carefully slipped out of the bed and tried looking for her dress before giving up and slipping on the first thing she laid eyes on. She probably shouldn't have been wandering about if they wanted to keep this a secret but who would be awake and in the kitchen at 4 in the morning?

She had just pulled out some bottled water from the refrigerator when she heard some voices and suddenly the lights were switched on. She gasped, the bottle almost slipping from her hands, as she turned around to view the newcomers. Niklaus Mikaelson stood leaning against the table his bloodshot eyes staring at her with….anger? Next to him was a blonde woman she had never seen before but when Klaus pulled out some cash and clamped them in the girls hands, Caroline's eyes widened with realization.

He moved towards her, drunk enough that his walk was uneven, and for a second she thought he was coming right at her but then he turned and pulled out a couple more bottles for the refrigerator.

"You can show yourself out," he said to the girl, passing her one of the bottles.

After she took her leave, Caroline stood rooted to the spot, too consumed by mix emotions and a heavy head to process everything that was happening. Klaus spared her a need to think up some small talk by apparently getting straight to the point.

"You broke my heart today."

Caroline sighed not even looking at him. He always did this. He came and made these bold, grand proclamations to her so bluntly as if he truly meant them. She didn't believe him though, she couldn't believe him.

She scoffed and looked up at him, ready to dismiss his dramatics with cutting words but the sincerity in his eyes made her stumble.

"I hope it was worth it," he said, taking in her attire. His eyes lingered over her body, the thin white men's shirt she wore doing little to hide her curves or her endless legs.

"Klaus." She pleaded with her eyes.

"Fine, onto more mannered subjects then," he said, finally tearing his eyes away from her body. He had never been able to refuse her anything. "I got your present."

"You opened your presents already?" she asked, relieved that he had changed the topic.

"Just yours, love."

Back to uncomfortable territory, Caroline fidgeted nervously and wondered if it would be too rude if she just made a run for it.

As if sensing her thoughts, Klaus suddenly moved closer and Caroline stepped away till her back hit the table.

"It was a thoughtful gift. Too bad I already own the exact same edition of the book."

"Well, I tried. It's the thought that count," she mumbled under her breath before once again glancing at the door.

He crossed over to where she was standing and placed his hands on the table effectively capturing her and preventing his escape.

"Thoughts are wonderful, love, but I would like something a little more…tangible from you."

He reached out and tucked a golden strand of her hair behind her ear.

"I want a kiss," he whispered, his breath ghosting over her skin. He had that look on his face, the one he always seemed to reserve for her, intent and reverent, as if was memorizing every last freckle on her face.

Her eyes dropped to his lips and before she could talk herself out of it, she stood on her toes and pressed her lips to his. She moaned softly when he kisses her back. She was dizzy and drunk but his touch engulfed her completely and made everything sharper, heightened, more intense. His hand moved and gripped the curve of her waist, pressing so hard that she thought she'd break. She pulled away breathless and rested her forehead against his. He brushed the back of his hand across her cheek and his touch was so tender, it startled her back to reality.

"Happy birthday," she whispered, her lips just a breath away from his. She looked at him one last time before turning on her heels and going back to bed.

A.N- Review?