Helloooo! So sorry it took me so long to update. I needed this chapter to be perfect! And because of my beautiful betas, livingdeadblondegirl, a-little-blonde-distraction, klarolineepiclove, and the beautiful sweetklausoline...i think we've achieved it, or close to it. LOL.

Well, I hope you guys like this chapter. It's a fun one.

Enjoy!

"I had a bed installed because I was spending so many late nights here," he tells her and turns on his side to face her.

He smiles at the familiar afterglow that she's emanating; a brilliant smile and a sort of dreamy glaze over her eyes. She is lying on her stomach and propped up on her elbows, a few tendrils of her blonde hair are scrunched in her hand and the rest are cascading down her bare back. A single white sheet is draped across her backside and with the white boots finally discarded, her tiny bare feet are dangling and swaying back and forth behind her.

"Are you sure it wasn't because of all the crazy one night stands you were bringing back here?" she nudges him and gives him a sly wink before sinking into the large white pillow in front of her.

He lets out a chuckle and rolls his eyes playfully. "Oh yes, the shop is quite the chick magnet. Once I brought them here they were putty in my hands."

The two share another laugh and Caroline props herself back up again, this time bringing the sheet to her chest and sitting on the edge of the bed; exposing her bare back to Klaus. He runs his fingers down her spine and she smiles back at him over her shoulder.

"Your office is pretty neat," she tells him and stands to her feet taking the sheet with her. "You've got a lot of really great artwork."

"Were you snooping, Caroline?" he asks her in a playful tone.

"Maybe a little," she says with a shrug. "I was in here for a while before you finally turned up."

She moves over to the desk, her hands skimming over the paperwork until finally halting. She grabs a sketchbook that is familiar to Klaus and a small smile perks up at the corner of his mouth.

"This one is very interesting," she looks back over at him, "Do you mind?" she asks him and gestures at the book.

He shakes his head and laughs, "You've already seen them."

"Well, I know, I just wanted to make sure it was okay with you. They're your drawings, right?" She looks down at the book in her hand and up at him shyly. Feeling a little unsure of herself in that moment. It is, afterall, his private room, and she isn't sure how open he is about his artwork.

"Caroline, I would be honored if you looked at my drawings," he tells her.

She turns around and leans back against the desk excited to take another look. She flips through the first couple of pages until finding the one that stood out to her earlier. "This one," she flips it around to show him.

"Can't really see," he offers and squints his eyes to make out the picture she's attempting to show.

Caroline glances around on the floor until she spots his shirt, his glasses tangled up inside of it. She picks them up and holds them to the light to be sure they aren't ruined or scratched and then quickly brings them to Klaus. He reaches for them but she places them on his face herself. "They okay?" she asks after getting them situated and running her fingers through a curl atop his head.

"They're just fine," he nods and adjusts them a smidge, blushing at her simple gesture.

Caroline sits down beside him and he cradles in close, wrapping an arm around her waist, to look at the sketchbook she still has in her hand. She flips back to the page and holds it to the light. "This one, Klaus, who's this?"

Klaus looks at the character on the page, the one that has been his blood, sweat and tears for the past two years. The character that has haunted his imagination and has been shifted and recreated so many times that he's lost count. The only thing that is certain is what he is and what his name is.

"That...is Nik," he tells her and grabs the sketchbook from her hand to take a deeper look. Not a bad drawing. Not one of his best, but you can clearly see who he is. Black pants, with a gray Henley, an array of necklaces and a dark black jacket. His eyes are yellow and he's flashing a pair of deadly fangs that are stained slightly pink.

"And who is Nik?" She curls her feet up onto the bed and looks down at the drawing. "Is he a monster?"

"What do you think?" he asks her honestly and purses his lips and looks up at her. "Does he look like a monster?"

She grabs the book and furrows her brow, taking a deeper look at the sketch. "Well..." she begins. "I suppose when you first look at him you see a monster..." she looks down at Klaus for approval.

"Go on," he nods, asking her to continue.

"Well...there's something in his eyes. I mean, I know they're yellow, but he looks...sad...lonely. He looks really sad and lonely."

Klaus watches her examine his drawing. The way her eyebrows are knitted together and she bites her bottom lip. She brings her hand up and traces it over the drawing before peering down at him again.

"Is he sad and lonely?"

"Yeah," he tells her bluntly. "He's got a lot of family and trust issues."

"What is he?"

"Hmm, how about I let you read a little bit of who he is and you tell me what you think." He picks her up by the waist and she giggles when he tosses her to his other side. He steps out of bed and walks to the desk and opens the top drawer. He pulls out another book, and flips through a few pages. "Here," he offers her the book. "Start at the top."

"Is this a comic book, Klaus?"

"Yeah." He runs his hands through his hair and Caroline takes a moment to admire her new lover. His boxers sit low on his hips and she can see the muscles in his long torso flex as he raises his hand above his head. He is turning out to be the best thing that's ever happened to her. He's handsome and sexy as hell and now she's discovered something else about him. He's an artist and an amazing one at that.

She brings her attention back to the page and begins to read.

\-[0]-[0]-/

He roams the edge of the woods stalking the shadows. His senses are on overload as the full moon shines ominously upon him, its energy spurring him forward toward his next kill. He waits patiently for his victim and a wicked grin forms on his face when, at last, he sees him .

"No more running, Ray," he growls and propels himself forward at inhuman speed. He has been hiding for too long and Nik has finally caught up with him.

He can hear the blood rushing through his victim's veins long before he reaches him. He pushes the man into a dark alley, grasping his throat and holding him above his head.

"Well, well, well, fancy meeting you here, Mate," he taunts.

"Nik-" the man gurgles and holds onto Nik's hands trying to release the pressure around his neck.

"Ah, so you remember me."

Ray watches as his captor's blue eyes begin to fade and a threatening gold takes over.

"You're...different," he gasps. "You're...you're eyes they're- not right," he yelps still struggling for breath.

"So you noticed." He slams the man against the wall and watches him crumble to the ground.

Ray cowers against the bricks and rubs his neck. "What are you?"

"You know what I am...or what I've become," he sneers.

"A...a vampire?" he shudders.

Nik stalks closer to Ray, causing him to creep further back, trying to get as far away as he can. He looks up and down the darkened alley, hoping to find an escape, but there is none to be found. There is no escape.

Nik crouches down in front of him, and tilts his head. "Oh but I am something far worse," he says calmly, causing Ray to gulp at the sickening venom behind his words. Nik leans in closer, and hears Ray's heart begin to quicken. "You see...I've got a little bit of vampire, a little bit of wolf..."

Ray's eyes widen in fear, as he realizes what Nik has accomplished. "You broke it," he whispers. "You're...you're a-"

"A hybrid, right," he finishes. "A different kind of monster." Nik descends upon Ray, lifting him to his feet and sinking his fangs deep into his throat. There is no time to scream as Nik sucks the life from his miserable body before dropping his lifeless form to the ground. He revels in the coppery taste of his blood, its power coursing down his throat and strengthening him to his core. He brings a thumb to the corner of his mouth and wipes the remaining drops of Ray's blood from his lips.

"Nice seeing you again, Ray," he chuckles.

\-[0]-[0]-/

"Ewwww," Caroline says and Klaus laughs at her twisted grimace. "Why's it gotta be so graphic?"

"Well...it is a graphic novel," he says sarcastically.

Caroline scoffs at his play on words.

"So, what do you think?"

"Well...aside from all the blood and stuff, I like it." She tucks her feet underneath herself and sits Indian style beside him, continuing to flip through the pages. "So he's half vampire and half werewolf, is that right?"

"Yep."

"And he's broken some curse?"

"That's right."

"Hm."

"Hm, what?" he asks her as she lingers over the last drawing and its words.

"Well, it just seems a little...dark," she finally decides on. "I mean, obviously Nik has a reason for killing this man..."

"In a way, yes. Ray works for his father."

Klaus continues to explain the story he's been toying with for so long now. He sticks with the basic premise of revenge. The revenge Nik has against his father, and the childhood scars that he left him with. As he explains the plot to Caroline, he watches her face turn from intrigue, to confusion, and then to contemplation. He can tell that she's feeling the exact same way that all of the publishers have been feeling.

"You're not the first person to tell me it's too dark." He settles in beside her and grabs the book from her hand. "Which is why I haven't worked on it for a while."

"Oh but you should," she assures him. "The artwork is so amazing and the plot is pretty cool too." She leans up against him to look at the pictures a bit more. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," he says and flips to the next page.

"All that stuff about Nik having a horrible childhood and his father..." she trails off, not sure how to phrase her question. "Is it...is it based off of your life...I mean...did your father..."

Her question is cut-off with an uproar of laughter. "No...no..." Klaus shakes his head and waves his hand in front of him. "My father is a history professor at Cambridge."

"Oh." Caroline looks down at her hands and shakes her head.

"I'm afraid the worst thing that has happened to our family is a divorce." He places a hand over Caroline's and continues to look at his sketchbook. "Father stayed in England and Mother brought us here."

Caroline grips Klaus' hand and nuzzles back into him. "What brought your mother to the US?"

"She is a professor as well, and was offered a job at Yale. She and my littlest brother, Henrik, live in Connecticut."

"Do you see them often?"

"We see them on holidays and birthdays, the usual."

"And what about your dad? Do you see him?"

"Occasionally, when he's tired of dreary England, he'll come visit. Or we'll go to him. We don't worry too much about him, since he's got our older brother, Finn, living nearby."

"Holy cow, how many brothers and sisters do you have?" Caroline sits up, astonished at this new information.

Klaus places the sketchbook down on his lap and adjusts his glasses back on the bridge of his nose. "Just the six of us."

"Just the six of you? I have six family members altogether, and that includes, my mom and dad, an estranged uncle, one living grandparent on both sides, and a cousin that I never see." She giggles and shakes her head. "I can't even imagine having one sibling, let alone five. That's nuts."

"It was nuts," he laughs.

Caroline tilts the sketchbook back up and turns the next page. "So, what are you going to do about all this darkness?"

"I'm not sure, all I know is that it's missing something." It's his turn to furrow his brow and contemplate his work. He runs a finger between his lips and ponders what he already knows, and what he could possibly do to improve it. He spent a number of sleepless nights in this exact pose. If he were his character Nik in the flesh he'd be brooding over a fireplace, staring into the flames and searching for answers.

"Well," Caroline's voice breaks his concentration. She grabs the book and places it on the floor and straddles him at the same time. "Whatever it's missing, I'm sure you'll figure it out."

Her actions work as a much needed distraction as the white sheet drifts away and pools at her waist revealing a perfect pair of breasts before him. He slides his hands up her slim torso and across her nipples before he palms her in his hands. Her fingers link around his wrists and she moans softly, rolling her head back to show her appreciation as he massages.

Before long, he's forgotten about Nik and his quest of revenge, and the two of them easily fall back into a familiar rhythm.

\-[0]-[0]-/

"Listen here, Bonnie. We stayed late just so we could meet you here and help you get ready!" Caroline scolds her.

"I know, but-"

"No, buts! You are marching your sorry ass into that store and showing off what you got!" Kat demands and points a finger next door.

Bonnie's been hiding out in the lingerie shop for the better part of an hour while Kat and Caroline finish up her makeup. Nothing like smoky eyes and pink lip gloss to round out the entire look. They were a little afraid of what Bonnie would show up in after they spent so much time helping her wardrobe yesterday. They were pleasantly surprised to see her show up in the last outfit they had her try on, only instead of a short skirt, she's wearing a pair of black skinny jeans, and a pair of red peep toe pumps. Her stomach is still peeking out under her Avengers t-shirt and she's got her suspenders on too.

Caroline steps back after finishing the final touches of her eye makeup. "Wow, Bon, you really look amazing."

Kat grabs Bonnie by the hand and drags her over to the dressing room mirror. Bonnie is once again completely surprised by the feminine girl in the mirror. She smiles widely and turns to the girls, a small shimmer of tears pooling in her eyes. "Thank you!"

"No crying, bitch, you'll smudge our masterpiece," Kat warns her and takes a tissue from her purse and dabs at her cheeks.

Bonnie laughs and lifts her chin up high. She feels fantastic. She feels like she could take on the world. For once in her life she feels as fabulous as Rebekah. Who knew all it would take is a pair of false lashes and sexy shoes?

"I'm ready," she tells them.

Katherine offers Bonnie her arm and she takes it.

"Excellent! Let's go show you off."

\-[0]-[0]-/

In the four years, three months and two weeks that the Mikaelson family has owned this shop, never have they encountered the likes of Caroline Forbes and Katherine Petrova. Sure, they've viewed girls like them from afar or gazed at them on their comic book pages, but to have flesh and blood, hotties move in next door and actually converse with them...well...that just didn't happen. But, not only has it happened, the Mikaelson boys have come to procure the pair of them for their very own. Well, at least two of the Mikaelson boys...

Poor Kol has been left without a sexy temptress for himself.

But why? He's a good looking guy, he's funny and he has a certain 'je ne sais quoi', it's not his fault if the ladies can't handle him. But if Elijah can get Katherine, then it just proves to him even more that the geekier you are the hotter your girlfriend is most definitely going to be. So he'll continue to wait. He'll continue to hold out for a Katee Sackhoff, or a Summer Glau, or a Jennifer Lawrence.

Yes, Jennifer Lawrence.

Katniss can start a revolution in my pants any day!

Kol continues to organize the comics in front of him, lost in his own thoughts. So they chose Elijah and Klaus, that doesn't mean there isn't someone for him too. That doesn't mean that he is meant to live a nominal existence with just his hand to keep him company. No. She's out there somewhere. He knows it.

"Kol?" His sister's voice cuts through his train of thought.

"What, Bekah?"

"You want to have dinner with Bonnie and I tonight?"

"Perfect," he scoffs and rolls his eyes. "That's exactly what I want to do, have another night out with my sister and the wiccan."

Rebekah folds her arms and glares at him. "What's your problem?"

"Nothing." He shakes his head and continues to straighten the comics in front of him. "You know what my problem is, Bekah?" He turns to his sister.

"That you're a sad little boy who doesn't see a good thing when he has it right in front of his face?"

"What? No," he responds; the meaning behind her words going right over his head. "Is it too much to ask that I find a girl? Am I that bad of a guy that I'm not entitled to a sexy little muffin of my own?"

Honestly, Bekah thinks. What in the world does Bonnie see in him?

Don't get her wrong, she loves her brother. Kol is impossibly witty and quite smart, but when it comes to women he's as daft as a brush. What happens when he finally sees the new and improved Bonnie and he finally realizes how stupid he's been? She'll just fall into his arms and the horny sex-crazed boy will have his "sexy little muffin". But...will he appreciate her? If he can't appreciate how amazing she is now...

Her thoughts trail off at the sound of the doorbell. She sees Bonnie walk in, looking as beautiful as always but with only superficial improvements. What's underneath is still the same. Sweet, special Bonnie, that deserves someone just as sweet and unique to love her any way she comes. Bekah wishes in that moment that Bonnie could see that there is more out there than Kol. But, on the other hand, maybe Kol will surprise her. He's always treated her like a sister, but maybe this is just what he needs to realize he's always cared more for her...that, perhaps, he's always loved her. Just as she has always loved...

She nudges Kol beside her and when he looks her way she juts her chin out toward the door.

"What?" he asks and does a double take when he sees the vision standing there. Kol's eyes widen in disbelief and his heartbeat quickens. If this were a cartoon then Kol would be the guy that turns into a wolf at the sight of a pretty girl. His eyes would jump out of their sockets, his heart would begin to beat outside his chest and he would howl at the moon. "Is that..." he starts to say and swallows the lump in his throat.

"Bonnie," Rebekah tells him.

\-[0]-[0]-/

"Oh God, I don't think I can do this," Bonnie whispers to the girls behind her.

"Yes, you can," Kat says and pushes her forward toward Kol.

"You are a strong, beautiful woman, Bonnie. Go and get what you want!"

Bonnie tries her hardest to suppress the butterflies fluttering and growing in her stomach. Nobody realizes how big this moment really is. Nobody understands what she's about to do. She's about to step outside her comfort zone. The nice comfortable bubble that she's been living in her entire life.

But her new look has given her a new confidence and she knows what she needs to do. She strides quickly toward the other side of the room; keeping eye contact with Rebekah, who is nodding her head and encouraging her forward.

She can see Kol - his mouth dropped open and his eyes bugging out of his head. She smiles and shakes her head, never dreaming that she could get this sort of reaction out of him. For once, she's the sexy girl that he's always drooled over. For once she's the object of his affection. And she knows, without a shadow of a doubt, that she can have him if she wants him.

She takes her final step, and ignoring the dumbstruck, sex-crazed boy beside her, she reaches for the one person that has cared for her from the beginning. The one person that has made her feel special and beautiful before the eyeliner and lip gloss. She runs her fingers through the long blonde locks of her best friend and with no further pause she grips the back of her friend's neck and crashes their lips together.

*RUNS AWAY AND HIDES FROM THE ONSLAUGHT OF DISAPPOINTED KENNETT FANS!*

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