Caroline Forbes was happy, dauntless and sagacious as she finally finished handling all the necessary affairs for the night's Masquerade Ball. She changed into her Zac Posen strapless navy blue tea-length dress and twirled around, critically studying herself in the mirror from all sides.

"Mmm, are you sure that's a good idea?" she frowned, either at the mirror or at the conversation she was having on the phone.

"Not really. But she didn't leave me much of an option. I only found out she was moving in when I came home to find my entire apartment re-organized," Stefan said. "And I must admit that it'll be nice to not have to live alone."

"Yeah," Caroline agreed slumping back on her bed, "I forgot that it's been a while since you moved out of the Salvatore House. I always assumed you'd go back sooner."

"I don't think I am ever going back."

"Well, I guess not as long as your ex-girlfriend and your brother keep engaging in hot, loud sex in the room next to yours."

"Thanks for painting such a graphic picture, Caroline."

She giggled. "At least you have Rebekah to keep you distracted."

"What about you? Who are you bringing as a date/distraction from Tyler tonight?"

"No one," she sighed grumpily though she could detect amusement on Stefan's part. Truthfully, she hadn't needed anyone to distract her from Tyler. She had forgotten about him well enough on her own. "I don't need to fall in love with someone new just to get over someone old, Stefan."

"That's mature of you."

"You sound surprised."

"That you aren't going to head over to a formal dance you planned without a date? Yeah. I actually had to listen to Rebekah going on about who could be your potential suitors since-"

"Wait, don't tell her I don't have a date. If she thinks just because she has you on her arms now, she can win this thing, she is mistaken. I don't need a man to rule the school, Stefan!"

"What are you even talking about?"

"You are so clueless. Why do you think she is so hell-bent on you attending the masquerade ball tonight?"

"I thought it would have something to do with her enjoying my company but I guess bigger things are at play here."

"Yes, you have always been too kind and sweet to really understand the nitty-gritty of our politics. Don't worry. I'll handle things," she said ending the call and quickly sending out texts.

To: Bonnie, Katherine, Elena

SOS. I NEED A DATE FOR THE MASQUERADE.

Bonnie:

I thought you didn't want to date.

Elena:

I don't know. Didn't you say you were going to be single for a while?

Katherine:

Contact attached.

Caroline opened the attachment a smile playing at her lips.

Caroline linked her arm through Jesse's as she entered the ballroom. It was a fabulous turnout, if she said so herself. She couldn't recognize any of her friends thanks to all the flashy masks so she took out her iPhone from her Ferragamo clutch and was just about to text them when she received a message.

Kol: Where are you? There's an empty staircase on the first floor.

Caroline quickly checked to make sure Jesse hadn't seen the text. He wasn't even looking her way. Great.

Caroline: Stop texting me! I have a date.

Kol: I thought I was your date

Caroline: Whatever gave you that idea?

Kol: What are you wearing? I'll come find you.

Caroline: There's a black bow at my ankle. That'll be your only clue.

Kol: Normally I would jump at the chance to stare at girl's legs but everyone wearing those long dresses kind of defeats the purpose.

Caroline: Too bad.

She kept her phone on silent and slipped it back inside.

"So Jesse, tell me more about you?"

Wow. He could certainly talk a lot, Caroline thought, pretending to look interested in the conversation about..what was it about again? She groaned internally cursing her own distracted mind. Thank God he was so hot. It almost made up for the fact that there seemed to be absolutely no chemistry between them.

When the bartender interrupted her with a Whiskey Sour courtesy of the gentleman over there she was happy for the distraction. That is, before she noticed the grotesque bloody mask the "gentleman" was wearing. She scowled and excusing herself to Jesse marched right over to him.

"What do you think you are doing? Take that off."

"Isn't this a costume party? I am supposed to be The Red Death."

"Klaus." Obviously. It had to be him. Just her luck.

"Caroline."

"It's not a costume party. It's a masquerade ball. It's a tasteful event so please save your Poe dedication for Halloween."

"As you wish, my lady," he said, taking off his mask and smiling at her. "I take it that's your favourite drink?"

"It's creepy that you know that. It's creepier still that you could recognize me beneath this feathery mask," she said in a light tone, though she tugged self-consciously at it.

"I can see beneath all of your masks, love."

She blushed slightly but scoffed it off. Still, she was keenly aware of their close proximity. The way he looked at her- the affection in his gaze- deeply unsettled her. It brought to mind their encounter on his birthday. They seemed to have made an unspoken agreement to maintain silence on that kiss (or he had been too drunk to remember. She didn't want to analyse what it meant that she hated the idea that he had forgotten it. Wouldn't that be a good thing?)

"Who is that?"

She was startled by his sudden question and tore her eyes away from him in alarm. He chuckled softly, before pointing towards Jesse.

"Oh, that's Jesse. He is President of the Finance Club at Columbia University. His father is-"

"Love, I simply meant who is he to you?"

"Oh. Um, he is my date. For this ball. We are not dating exactly," she said, before adding, "Don't tell your sister that."

"I wouldn't dream of it. So would he mind if I asked his date for a dance?"

"Klaus." She gave him a stern look.

"Caroline," he whispered working those puppy dog eyes on her.

She sighed. "Fine. Just one dance."

He looked pleased as he extended his arm in front of her, palm upwards. She slipped her hand into his and they took over the floor. This wasn't the first time she was slow-dancing with him. Formal dances were a dime a dozen and they both ran in the same circle. And he did always seem to seek her out. But this was the first time they were dancing together with no Tyler glowering from the side.

His thoughts seemed to be moving in the same direction.

"So if you aren't dating Jesse and you are not already back with Tyler, who is the going to be the next love of your life?"

She didn't appreciate his condescending tone and gritted her teeth before replying, "Who says I need a boyfriend?"

"If memory serves me right, this is the first time since fifth grade that you are single."

So what if she didn't do casual like some of her classmates. Why was everyone suddenly giving her grief for being a serial monogamist?

"Well, don't go thinking you have a chance now," she snapped cruelly. Just then he lifted his arms and spun her away, and she was glad for the moment's separation but before she could revolve back with the rhythm he sharply pulled her back against him. His fingers dug into her hips as he looked down at her with darkened eyes.

"You are a tease," he said his breath ghosting the back of her ears.

She fidgeted trying to get away from him but his hold was tight and she could tell from his cold expression he was angry with her.

"I am sorry, okay. Just let go of me," she said trying not to let her panic slip into her voice.

But he must have noticed because suddenly he wasn't holding her anymore and he looked guilty. "I didn't mean to scare you," he said in an apologetic tone.

Before she could reply, Jesse was beside them claiming her for the next dance. She had forgotten about him to be honest, but she politely accepted without looking back at Klaus.

"I figured I should step in and save you from Niklaus Mikaelson. I hope he wasn't troubling you," he inquired.

"No, we were just- wait, you know Klaus?"

"Who doesn't? His notorious ways often seem to grab headlines. And sometimes suspiciously don't," he added, giving her a meaningful look.

"I am sure those are just rumours," she said feeling an uncomfortable pit in her stomach.

"That he killed a man last summer? No, there's more to that than just rumours. My uncle was involved with the court proceedings."

"But the charges were dropped," she said feeling defensive. Yes, Klaus had a lot of issues, but she refused to believe he was capable of murder. The very idea was laughable.

"Come on, the Mikaelson's bought the family off. It's not that unusual. You must know all about this though? Your mother must have mentioned something."

As if she and mother had ever engaged in an entire conversation since her father had left.

"You look pale. I am sorry I shouldn't have mentioned such a ghastly subject on this lovely evening. I just saw you dancing with him and was confused. You are famous, too, you know? Probably in the exact opposite way he is. Daughter of the NYPD Commissioner and ex-girlfriend to the Mayor's son. The Golden Girl," he said.

Suddenly feeling extremely overwhelmed, she looked around for a diversion and thankfully spotted one. Rebekah stood in a corner, her mask in her hands.

"Oh look, I'll introduce you to my friend," she chimed in fake cheery voice, already pushing past the crowd and making her way towards Rebekah.

She made a perfunctory introduction of the two, before sending Jesse away to get them some drinks. Rebekah looked almost as distracted and upset as she felt which was saying something. So much for their petty competition over this silly dance. She could see Klaus at a distance dancing with a pretty redhead and was wondering who the girl was when Rebekah broke through her thoughts.

"Does he still love her?"

What? She tore her eyes away from Klaus and followed Rebekah's gaze and noticed Stefan and Elena dancing together.

Caroline looked away from the pair before replying, "No. She's with Damon now. You know that."

"Why does he need to dance with her then?"

She sighed deeply before replying, "Okay, so here is some deep advice from one insecure bitch to another: Don't mess this up. And this is the last time I am helping you." She walked over to Elena and entwined an arm around her hand, pulling her away from Stefan. She saw Rebekah throw her a grateful look as she made her way towards Stefan.

"Bonnie and I tried calling you," Elena said as they both settled at the bar.

"I am such an idiot," Caroline said as she realized she had put her clutch down at some point and now she couldn't remember where. "I need to go look for my purse, phone and everything."

"Can we at least have a drink first? I don't really want to third-wheel on Bonnie and my brother."

Caroline had clearly lost her better judgement along with her clutch. "Fine. Alcohol sounds really good right now."

After way more than one drink, Caroline could barely stand upright but she felt lighter and happier and that's all that mattered.

"God, Elena! If you want to leave, just leave."

Elena shot her a guilty look sliding her phone away. "I am sorry. Just a little distracted. Aaron was asking me about this bio paper we have due tomorrow and-"

Caroline narrowed her eyes dramatically and snatched Elena's phone away. She hummed scrolling through the messages- of course Elena didn't have a password in place, typical- and giggled at a particularly graphic one.

"What are you studying in bio? Anatomy 101?"

Elena shrieked and grabbed her phone back. "I am sorry. I know you don't approve of Damon so I had to make something up."

"Look, if Damon's missing you so much you should just go. I won't mind," she said truthfully.

"You are being surprisingly nice."

"Hey!"

Okay, so it was uncharacteristically sweet of her to support Elena in ditching her party to go meet Damon Salvatore AKA calling him Satan would be an insult to Satan. But everything had changed so much this year that she wasn't even sure she had any idea of what was right or wrong anymore. Damon wasn't so bad these days either. And if Stefan seemed happy with Rebekah it was all for the best.

After Elena took off, she was making her way around looking for her clutch when she felt a hand slip around her waist and pull her into-

"The ladies room, seriously!?"

Kol Mikaelson simply shrugged before pushing her against the door and kissing her. She put her arms around his neck and reciprocated for a while before coming to her senses.

"Wait," she said, breaking away reluctantly, "I came with a date."

"So where is he now?" he said, taking a step back.

"I don't know." She couldn't even remember when she last saw him.

"How drunk are you?"

"I needed to forget this day, okay? More like this week though. Or this year. I wish I could just delete it," she rambled on, gracefully falling back onto a nearby couch.

Kol laughed at that, shaking his head in amusement before patting his pockets so she could hear the crinkle of rolling papers.

Kol lit the joint, took a hit and passed it on to her.

"So wanna go out and dance a little?"

"I'd rather not."

"You didn't have any problem dancing with my brother," he said, before he could stop himself.

"Well, he found me. You couldn't. Even though I gave you a clue." She stuck her leg upwards and pointed her ankle towards him- the bow shiny on her Louboutins.

"You like games, don't you?"

"Love them."

"I don't like the way he looks at you."

"Are you jealous?"

"No, I am bored. And I don't like to share my entertainment." He shrugged like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Whatever you say, it sounds like jealousy to me," she teased, a lilting tone affecting her voice.

"Do I have a reason to be jealous?"

"Mmm, no, I can only handle one project at a time."

"Project? Ouch," he said though she knew he couldn't care less.

"Oh yeah, because every girl dreams of the day she'll be called entertainment."

"You do keep me well entertained though," he said, bending over and pressing a kiss to her pulse point, his hands on her thigh.

"Clearly not enough. I had to go through hell trying to set you up with that French exchange student last week. And you never did tell me how the date went?"

Caroline pried his hands off her body (Really, she wasn't gonna fuck him in the Ladies Room. She hadn't fallen that low) and passed him the joint.

"Who are you even talking about?" he asked, looking confused.

Caroline glared daggers at him. "Nolwenn?! I convinced her that her boyfriend of three years was cheating on her back at home just so she could go out with you. You told me she could possibly be your The One. What's wrong with you!?"

"No, what's wrong with you? Poor Nolwenn. Really Caroline? That was vicious even for you."

"I hate you- you heathen- no, get off me-"

Five minutes later their fight was done and Kol was the proud bearer of several claw marks on his face. Caroline smirked triumphantly.

But her face fell when she heard aggressive knocking on the door. She could recognize the muffled voice barking at them to open up.

"Kol, please hide inside."

"Nope", he said, leaning back and undertaking a relaxed posture. He stubbed out the joint on the arm of the couch, a darkened circle now adorning the ivory leather.

"It's Hayley."

"Who?"

"Tyler's new girlfriend." God, how clueless could he get!?

"Ah, and you don't want the guy you used to sleep with to know about the guy you are currently sleeping with. Fair enough, but she'll go away after a few more futile attempts at pulling the knob off the door. No need to worry your brain over it, darling."

"Um, wow. This isn't about Tyler. I mean, Tyler and I never even- ugh, never mind, it's none of your business."

But the curious way in which Kol was looking at her now made it obvious he wasn't gonna let it slide easily. Babblemouth, much?

"Wait, so if the jock prince didn't pop your cherry, who did? Because I didn't think you were a virgin when we did it."

"I wasn't," she said, quickly. "But can we not talk about this please? It makes me uncomfortable."

Kol looked at her for a while with an unreadable expression on his face before nodding and not pressing any further. She was grateful.

"Okay, so I have spent enough time cooped up in here. I need to make an announcement regarding the money we raised for charity."

"Caroline, that's a bad idea. You are wasted. I think I should drop you home."

"What? No. The press would be here by now. I am the chair of the committee. Not to mention, I single-handedly convinced Kate Spade to provide for the gift-bags. I can't just leave."

"Shhh, you are doing that neurotic thing again. What's the big deal with this press thing? Why do you even care? Everyone present already knows you organized the ball."
"Not my mother! The only way she'll acknowledge my accomplishments are if they come on a crisp paper along with her morning tea." She stood up.

"I doubt she reads the society page."

Caroline buried her head in hands and laughed (or maybe weeped). Because you know what? It's true. Her mother doesn't read that section. And usually there would be nothing funny about it but she let Kol pick her up bridal style, the laughter still on her lips (and a few stray tears on her cheeks) and carry her to his limo.

She huffed when he unceremoniously threw her inside on the wide plush seats. Who actually owns a limo? "How flashy can you get, Kol? Someone could start thinking the Mikaelson's are new money."

"You haven't even experienced Roxy yet," he said, his fingers slowly trailing along her bare shoulders.

"Please don't tell me that you-"

"Yes, I did."

"Oh dear," she said before promptly falling asleep.

Caroline woke up on the softest bed, sunlight creating a luxurious warmth on her skin feeling not sunshine-y and cozy but grouchy and hungry. Something was pressing sharply against her ribs and her body felt sore. And her head was poundi-

Where in the freakin' hell was she?

Caroline got up fast and stared at the completely unfamiliar room before swinging her legs off the bed and onto the floor. She made her way to the door of the room and yanked it open only to be greeted by a scene which would probably not be escaping her mind anytime soon.

"Oh God."

She clamped a hand over her stupid mouth realizing she had exclaimed out loud and now both Klaus and the naked girl under him had turned their heads towards her.

"Oh God," she said again as Klaus got up off that girl and stood facing her. This time her hands moved upwards to clamp her eyes shut. Not that it mattered, she had seen everything that there was to see. And it was a lot….

"Caroline, what are you doing here?"

She peeked from between her fingers and saw him walking towards her looking surprised. Her traitorous eyes were already trailing downward admiring him before his question registered and she squeaked and entered the room she had just existed. She banged the door shut behind her and leaned against it.

Concentrate. She could totally figure out what the fuck was going on.

"Have I been kidnapped into a sex den!?"

"Caroline, don't be ridiculous. Open the door."

"No."

"You are in Kol's room. I think it's safe to assume what happened last night."

Realization dawned on her and she opened the door angrily. "Nothing happened last night. His stupid limo lulled me to sleep. And then he must have dropped me off to…whatever sex cave thingy this is. I am so gonna kill him."

She noticed thankfully (or not) that Klaus had worn his trousers, but the redhead was still hovering about them without a care in the world that some stranger had just walked in on her having sex.

"Can you please put some clothes on?" she asked the girl while giving her a (fake) smile.

The girl simply turned to look at Klaus expecting him to say something but he simply ignored her till she walked away and started tugging on her dress.

"I'll call you," she stated pointedly before leaving.

Caroline sighed loudly and slumped on the nearest piece of furniture. "I am dying, Klaus."

"What happened? Do you want me to take you to the doctor?" He asked looming over looking concerned.

"It's this stupid dress. It has a boned corset and it's squeezing me to death!" It was hurting so much she was about to cry. Usually she didn't even sleep with a bra on and now she had spent god knows how many hours locked tight inside this steel cage.

Klaus' lips twitched in amusement but he continued, "And is that something that happens? Dying due to being squeezed by a corset?"

Caroline rolled her eyes at him and went on, "Well, that's how the evil queen was going to kill Snow White so-"

"STOP LAUGHING!"

Klaus raised a finger to his lips trying to drown his laughter away and keep a straight face.

"Please check your male privilege before cackling at my misfortune." She was shaking with anger now, or pain, probably pain, her nerves were starting to feel tingly and-

"Do you want me to help you take it off?" he asked with an almost too innocent expression.

"Actually that would be very helpful," she said giving him a tight smile and enjoying the way the hilarity left his eyes and he looked - tense, was it? Well, served him right. Clearly he had expected her to say no. And she would have if she weren't almost dying.

She turned around and stood before him expectantly.

Klaus gulped at the unlikely turn of events. He had just been playing around with her…

He took a deep breath and got to work, his fingers deftly unlacing the back of her dress. The further he unraveled the back the worse he felt about laughing at her. Her pale milky skin had long scarlet indents left behind from the corset. He delicately traced the marks that crisscrossed across her back and heard her intake of breath.

"I am sorry, love. This looks painful."

She lifted a hand to hold the dress in place and turned to face him.

"It's okay. I just need to call someone to bring me a change of clothes. I can't go home like this."

"Yes, someone could get the wrong idea," he muttered though he was sufficiently distracted by the sight of the front of her bodice hanging loosely off her chest to even register what she was saying. He imagined running his hands up her body and cupping her breasts, his lips trailing kisses between every painful groove on her back.

"Klaus? I asked if I could borrow your phone. I lost my last night."

"Sure," he said trying to clear the growing fog of lust in his brain and handing her his phone which was lying about nearby.

"Thanks, also can I borrow this for a while?"

Klaus shut his eyes and nodded painfully. Was someone up there testing his restraint today?

He turned around to give her some privacy while she slipped off her dress (he could hear it when it fell on the floor and pooled around her legs and the sound would probably be haunting his dreams for a while) and changed into his shirt. The one he had haphazardly strewn on the floor before engaging in his morning sex with the model.

He heard her talk to Stefan in a soft enough voice that he couldn't tell what she was saying before she handed him back the phone with a smile.

"Thank you," she said giving him back his phone. It felt odd to be back in this position with him again- half dressed and hungover and she had to stop her mind from delving back into the memory of the kiss. God, it was just a kiss. One he took from her, and she couldn't stop thinking about it.

"When will Stefan be here?" he asked her looking around the room, anywhere but at her.

"He said it would take him at most an hour. I think I woke him up actually."

"Yeah, it's pretty early. I'll make you some breakfast, you should rest," he said already walking away towards the kitchen.

"Oh I'll help you," she said trailing behind him because hello, it was only polite. He looked uncomfortable at that but nodded in consent before leading the way. She probably shouldn't have offered since his face made it obvious he was trying to get away from her (and she couldn't help but feel a pang of hurt at that). Well, too late now.

Author's Note- I had to cut the chapter off before I finished it as planned but next chapter expect: Klaroline awkwardly having the morning after (not spending the night with each other), Kol makes mischief (mostly because he can), some Katholine friendship and the actual plot comes into play.

Thanks for reading! (I know this update took way too long but I was working on some one-shots and then it slipped my mind completely...)