Hi everyone! An update has arrived. I hope you enjoy it. Thank you to my Miranda, my Becky and my Alex for reading and laughing and continuing to encourage me to write. Love you girls!

Thanks to Kate for hitting me over the head with Kol's bat of inspiration! love you girl!

Confession...I've never played D&D in my life, so I had to use a little help from the nerd herd on the Big Bang Theory! Hope you guys don't mind.

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"When the girls are away, the boys will play."

"Anything can happen!"es

"It's gonna get crazy!"

It's probably fair to say that most women wonder what boys really get up to after they leave the room? Is it really all about playing poker, smoking cigars and talking about women that they could never have? Well...the last one's pretty spot on with this group of guys, but the poker and smoking cigars is easily replaced with a Costco size box of Red Vines, Dominos Cheesy Stuffed Pizza, a case of Red Bull and a night of unadulterated fun in the fantasmic land of Dungeons and Dragons.

"I brought my brand new seven piece set of polyhedral dice."

There aren't many smells that make Elijah genuinely happy, aside from one of his freshly pressed and laundered suits and most recently Katherine's citrus shampoo, but as he opens the small plastic container, he inhales deeply. "Hello, new dice smell!" he says cheekily and sets them on the table.

"I've got my Helm of Lordly Might, my Boots of Speed, and in case I need a little pick me up, my Wand of Disillusion." Jeremy reaches in his pocket and pulls out a tightly rolled joint and mimics Elijah by running it under his nose and inhaling. "Hello beautiful! I believe we're in for an enchanting evening together."

Kol joins the circle with a slice of pizza in one hand and a small figure in the other. After the little display between Bekah and Bonnie, he wasn't feeling up for much of anything, but when Elijah suggested D&D his spirits perked right up and he was all in. He straddles the chair in front of him and holds up the small figure. "I have my blood thirsty, savage warrior that's gonna kick some ass and lay waste to all who stands in his way."

Klaus isn't ashamed to say that this is the absolute purest form of geekdom that he indulges in. Because nothing says "Let your geek flag fly," like Dungeons and Dragons. It's a time where you can tell reality to suck it and for hours you are transported to another world.

He loves the game, it's true, but not enough to add on another layer of geekiness for Caroline to see. He knows that she likes that he's a bit of a nerd, but some geeky hobbies a man just has to keep to himself.

The chatter in the room continues, as the four of them discuss strategy and get into character. Klaus is ready to start and interrupts one of Elijah's rants about proper wardrobe attire during D&D. "Come on Elijah, are you Dungeon Master or what? Let's get this started!"

"Alright then." In a rare moment Elijah removes his suit jacket, loosens his tie and rolls up his sleeves. He grabs the book in front of him, turns the page and his usual stoic and level voice lowers as he begins to speak in an ominous tone.

"Through my words you will experience the land of Elfen Hart, you'll lay siege to the mighty mountains that border the goblin wastelands, you'll wander the sewers that run like a spiderweb through the city of Jandor. Are you ready to encounter every monster from your nightmares? Every vision of beauty from your fantasies? If so, say Aye..."

"Aye!"

"Aye!"

"I'm about to get completely blazed for this," Jeremy pulls out a lighter when he notices the others are waiting for his response. He gives them a sheepish grin, lights the tip of his joint and with lungs full and his throat pinched shut he squeaks... "Aye!"

\-[0]-[0]-/

In another far off land where water magically becomes tequila and the battles happen on the dance floor and at the pool tables, the girls continue their night of drunken mystique.

"Who wants to play pool?" Kat stands up and looks down at the other three. "I'm feeling like that fourth shot is giving me a false sense of confidence."

"I'll play!" Bonnie offers and shimmies out of the booth to follow Kat to the tables. "I love pool."

The two wander off leaving Bekah and Caroline to finish off the tequila shots in front of them.

"Ugh, whose idea was it to switch to tequila?" Bekah asks and shoots one down and then squeezes a lime wedge into her mouth. "Like we're not drunk enough!"

"Yeah, I have a feeling this night isn't going to have a pretty ending. Might as well get used to the idea of sleeping in my bathroom tonight." Caroline raises the shot glass in acknowledgment of the porcelain throne that awaits her.

She takes a moment and looks around the room. The bar reminds her of her high school days. She grew up in the small town right next door to this one, where they too had a restaurant where everyone knew everyone and the bartender was kind to the not quite old enough crowd. She spent many nights with Kat and the gang in that place, being wild and unruly. There wasn't a weekend that went by without one of them making out with someone they shouldn't, getting into a fight, or if they were really lucky...both.

Past relationships come quickly to mind, and one in particular with the All-American Matt Donovan. Quarterback by day and busboy by night. Every girl in school wanted to date him, and every guy wanted to be him. So there was no one more surprised than Caroline, when he asked her to Prom their senior year.

They dated briefly after that and through the summer. It was fun, and bittersweet when it ended, just like every high school romance should be. They both went off in separate directions in the fall. Matt got a full ride to Virginia Tech to play football where he played for four years and got a degree in business. When the time came, he opted out on the draft and was recruited to New York where he was signed on with a popular modeling agency.

He had already made a name for himself in college and so it was an easy transition from star athlete to supermodel. Two out of three magazines that you pick up off the rack will most likely feature a full page ad of Matt, showing men that if you wear this particular article of clothing, or spritz this cologne daily, you'll look like me and get a girl like this.

They tried dating again after college, but the publicity of their relationship and his hectic schedule made it too difficult on both of them, and they inevitably split. They would always remain friends and she smiles everytime she sees his picture on the cover of a magazine.

It's funny how when you reminisce about people in your past you tend to imagine they're there. For instance, the guy across the way looks just like Matt - blonde hair, blue eyes and even the same small scar above his lip. The scar that he got in eighth grade from Stefan Salvatore's knuckles, after telling him that his hair was stupid. Ironically the two are best friends now, and Matt has even set Stefan up with a few hair modeling gigs.

Her reverie is interrupted when a tray of drinks come crashing down in front of her. She looks up to see Anna gazing toward the door with an absentee expression on her face. In fact, the entire bar is looking at the same spot.

"Oh my God," she hears Rebekah say. "Is that..."

Her question is cut off by a familiar squeal and a tussle of brown curls come flying by. "Mattyyyyy!"

Kat pushes through the crowd and jumps into the arms of the one and only Matthew Donovan.

\-[0]-[0]-/

After a few hours of Dungeon Master hell from Elijah, the boys have finally come to the end of their quest. Jeremy took one too many hits, physically speaking and metaphorically speaking. His Druid was ambushed and he took a blow to his head, leaving him in a coma and otherwise unable to complete his quest. He didn't seem to mind and wandered off to answer a phone call and order another pizza.

Shortly after Jeremy took his leave, Klaus mistakenly turns right instead of left, where he comes across an enchantress. He is so overwhelmed by her beauty that the task at hand is forgotten and he is too captivated to continue on.

So much for escaping reality, since he's pretty sure this exact scenario has taken place in his real life too.

He can barely hear the triumphant screams coming from his warrior brother. The defender and champion, once again.

"Defender of the keep and ruler of the night. I have smited you all and risen above the gates of Asgoth and conquered the terrible tyrant king. Bow to me peasants! Bow!"

"I will not bow to a man who thinks smited is a word," Elijah gracefully says and stands up to head to the bathroom for a much needed break.

Klaus' thoughts drift to Caroline and he's not even remotely sorry for it. He imagines her wearing an enchanting outfit of her own, with a wand and crown. Her breast heaving out of the sheer fabric of her gown and suddenly having Caroline play Dungeons and Dragons with him isn't such a horrible idea afterall.

He picks up his phone to text her, but second guesses himself and puts it back down. No need to bother her while she's with her friends. He has to constantly remind himself that she's not going anywhere, that she likes him and they're together. He just can't help but sense that one day something better is going to come along and she'll forget all about him.

\-[0]-[0]-/

"Kat," Matt hugs the girl tightly and then looks her up and down, "Lookin' good."

"Well, you know," she feigns embarrassment and flippantly tosses her hair behind her shoulder. "What are you doing here? How come you didn't tell us you were in town?"

"I just stopped by to see Mom and Vicki for the weekend and when I checked in with Jer to see what he was up to he told me where you and Caroline ran off to for the night."

"I'm surprised he was lucid enough to remember," Kat says.

"Oh he was definitely stoned out of his mind. He kept asking me to call him Lord of Asgoth."

"Ah, D&D. He never plays sober."

"I still have no idea how your brother got so many girls in high school," he says in all seriousness.

"Good looks and extremely high self esteem," Kat tells him. "Come on, come sit with us!"

"Who's the looker?" Bonnie asks Bekah and Caroline and nods at Matt.

"That," Rebekah starts, "Is Matthew Donovan, the Supermodel."

Rebekah continues to stare as Kat grabs Matt's hand and drags him toward their table. Matthew Donovan is beautiful in magazines, but who isn't with all that airbrushing and photoshopping, but she never imagined he would be just as beautiful, if not more, in person and close up. She takes a deep breath accompanied by another shot of tequila.

Caroline stands up as he approaches and gives him a big hug. "Matthew Donovan, I was just thinking about you."

"Hope it was all good."

Caroline blushes when he flashes her that winning smile that's made too many knees weak and hearts skip a beat. He has always been a charmer.

"Of course it was all good."

Their reunion is interrupted when they hear someone's throat clear and they glance down at the table. Rebekah catches Matt's eyes and the neatly pressed and extremely confident Rebekah Mikaelson hiccups and extends her hand. "Rebek-hiccup-ah Mikaelson." The tequila must be in full effect because she clearly has no idea how drunk she is.

"Sorry," Caroline apologizes. "So rude. Matt this is Rebekah and our friend Bonnie. Bonnie, Bekah this is Matt Donovan.

"It's a pleasure," he says and grabs hold of Rebekah's hand. He looks a little closer, admiring her pretty blue eyes and pouty mouth. "I hope you don't mind me saying but you are beautiful," he flirts. "And it's not just your jacket from this season's Dolce and Gabbana collection."

Rebekah looks at her jacket and back up at Matt through hooded eyes.

Can it be? She thinks to herself. Is it possible that she just met a fashionable man that is sexy as hell and straight to boot? He is straight right?

"Are you straight?" she blurts out in her drunken state.

Kat and Caroline burst into laughter, the idea of Matthew Donovan being gay was too funny for words.

"I hope so," Kat continues to chuckle. "I'd hate to think that Caroline would've been the catalyst of women losing such a gorgeous hunk of a man to the other team."

Rebekah looked between Caroline and Matt when she finally realized what Kat meant. "So you two used to be together?"

"They were Prom King and Queen," Kat says and rolls her eyes, disgusted by how sickly perfect it all was. "Head cheerleader, captain of the football team. Gag!"

Matt nudges Caroline with his elbow and laughs. "We were a cute couple though."

Caroline smiles shyly and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah, I suppose we were."

"I wouldn't let Klaus know about him," Rebekah remarks, emphasizing her brother's name to make a very clear point.

Back off, Caroline! You got a man! Learn to share!

"And who's Klaus?" Matt asks.

"Oh he's-"

Wait. What is he? Is he her boyfriend? They haven't really had a chance to define the relationship.

"He's her boyfriend," Kat clears it up for her.

"Well..." Caroline begins, not wanting to put labels on something that hasn't yet been established. "He's definitely someone...special." She looks up at him and smiles genuinely. She can't help but get a little giddy when she thinks about Klaus.

"He's totally her boyfriend," Rebekah sides with Kat. "You spend every waking moment together. If you're not at the store then you're next door at the comic book shop with him." Rebekah scoots to the edge of the booth and stands up to face Matt properly. She gives him a winning smile and bats her eyelashes. Supermodel or not, she is so taking him home tonight. "Should we get you a drink?" she asks and offers him her hand.

Matt looks her up and down to take in the full package. The girl certainly knows how to dress, and her legs go on for miles. "Sure," he says coolly and gives Kat and Caroline one final glance before being briskly marched away to the bar.

"Wow," Kat laughs and grabs a shot of tequila from the table. "Remind me to never get in the way of Rebekah and her conquests."

"She definitely made sure he knew I had a boy- uh- someone special in my life," she says with slight irritation.

"What do you care?" Kat shrugs. "You do have 'someone special' in your life", she says using obnoxious air quotes.

"Oh, I know, and he's just," she sighs and bites her bottom lip, "he's just amazing."

"So what's the problem?" Kat teases. "You don't like Rebekah playing with your toys? Even if you're done playing with them?" She turns her head to Matt and then back at Caroline for an explanation.

"What? No! I don't care who Matt goes out with...I mean, it's been years! Why would I care?"

"Because he's your first love."

"He is not my first love."

"Oh yeah, then who is?" Kat puts her hands on her hips and tilts her head in a challenge.

"It's-" Caroline starts to answer but quickly draws a blank. She thinks for a moment until finally giving in. "Okay, fine...yeah, he's my first love."

Bonnie has been sitting quietly listening but decides to reassure Caroline instead of letting Kat dig the knife in even deeper. "It's okay that you still have feelings for him, Care," she tells her. "It's natural."

"But I don't have feelings for him, I love Klaus," she blurts.

The two girls drop their jaws simultaneously at her new proclamation.

"You LOVE him?!" Kat shouts across the bar.

"Did I say love? I mean, I care about him, I don't think I- I'm pretty sure that I'm not in lo- I mean I am really happy with him but I don't lo-"

She feels their eyes boring into her and she can do nothing about it. They've cornered her and she's just confessed something she isn't even sure she meant. Her cheeks get flushed and she pours herself another shot of tequila.

"Klaus and Caroline sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First comes loooooove, then comes marriage..."

"Oh real mature," Caroline says cutting Kat off, and swatting at her arm before downing the shot. "Can we just try and keep my drunken confession of love on the down low? No need letting Klaus hear about it through gossip."

"So you do love him?" Bonnie asks her.

"Yeah," she finally admits. "I suppose I do. I've just never had things go so well with someone. I just don't want to rush it by assuming he's on the same page as me, ya know?" She tells them honestly.

Bonnie places a reassuring hand on Caroline's shoulder. "Trust me, Caroline. He's on the same page."

Aww, she loves him! Things are just so perfect!

Or are they?

Muahahahaha.

Thanks for hanging in there with me guys. Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Let me know what you think in the little box below! And don't forget to follow me at jomosfamilyjewels on Tumblr. It's sort of a multi-fandom blog right now because of the summer, but Klaroline will always be its center.

Cheers!