Thank you lovely! Prompt: "We're both royalty & our parents are pushing us into marriage & even though we're low key into each other we don't want to give them the satisfaction." AU

Thanks for the prompt livingdeadblondequeen and sorry for the delay. Hope you like the way this one turned out : )

Royal Pains

Present Day

"I'm not going skinny dipping," she drawled, leaning forward in the row boat and peeking over the side into the water.

"Are you chicken, Princess?"

"You realise accusing me of being poultry isn't going to make me strip down and join you in the lake," she drawled.

"Come on, Caroline. Live a little."

"I live plenty, Klaus, and I don't need to jump naked into the water to prove that."

"But it will be fun," he whined, childishly. "Plus it's not like I haven't seen it before."

Caroline shivered involuntarily as his eyes raked over her curves appreciatively. They'd spent plenty of time behind closed doors intimately exploring every inch of bare skin. The thought of his lips still arousing her.

"That's besides the point," she hissed, looking around self consciously. "I don't really want to see my bare butt splashed across the front pages of OK Magazine."

"I happen to like your bare butt, love," he murmured, those crimson lips she loved to caress curved into a knowing smirk. "Anyway, you're royalty for heaven's sake, the media wouldn't dare breach the confidentiality agreement you have in place."

"Tell that to Prince Harry."

"Yes, well he was unlucky. I'd much prefer to see your assets in the newspaper than his though," he smiled, pulling her towards him and raking his hands slowly through her golden waves. "Anyway, we've been seeing each other for almost six months now and the media still has no idea."

"So too our interfering parents," she groaned, thinking about their continuous and shameless attempts to match make them.

"Don't remind me," he agreed. "If I have to hear one more lecture about how wonderful you are."

"Hey, I am wonderful," she replied, hitting him in the chest forcefully.

"I never said you weren't, love," Klaus grinned, those dimples only accentuated when he smiled. "Anyway, I thought you wanted to keep this quiet."

"I do," she shot back, determined not to prove her self-righteous parents right. After all, they were both just having fun, that's all this was. "I have to admit we are pretty good at this secret rendezvous business."

"It probably has something to do with how hot it is sneaking around with you," he growled, closing the distance between them and attacking her lips hungrily.

She melted into his embrace, allowing the sensations his tongue was causing to take over. Caroline knew she'd never grow tired of that feeling, although six months ago was a very different story.

6 months earlier

"Caroline, the least you could do is talk to the Prince after his polo match."

"And why would I want to do that?" She asked, looking towards him as he rode the majestic chestnut horse on the field.

"Because it's polite," her mother, Liz, hissed. "And please, wipe that unattractive scowl off your face. It is unbecoming for a Princess."

"Oh, we couldn't have that now could we?" She growled. "I mean what would everyone think?"

This really was the story of Caroline's life. Yes, she happened to be a Princess, and yes there were certain expectations bestowed upon her, but why did they have to include him?

Prince Niklaus, the middle son of King Mikael was handsome, yes. She might have found herself hypnotised a few times by his soulful blue eyes, sinful lips and adorable dimples, not that she'd ever admit that to anyone because from all reports he was also arrogant, rude and his womanising ways were well-known throughout their social circles. For some reason, though, her parents deemed him perfect husband material though, go figure.

"Well, if you are going to be a petulant child, I'm going to talk to Queen Esther," Liz whispered, plastering on the fake smile she knew how to do so well, and making her way over to his mother. Caroline had no interest in being part of that weird discussion.

"Let me guess, another lecture?" Her cousin, Princess Katherine, asked.

"How did you know?"

"It was that tell tale scowl painted on your face."

"You sound just like my mother," she groaned. "Why can't she just let me chose my own husband? I mean last time I checked we were in the 21st century."

"Honey, if she let you choose your husband you'd end up with your poor personal trainer, just like Princess Stephanie of Monaco."

"I would not," she shot back, thinking it probably wasn't altogether unrealistic.

"Well, try telling your mother that. Anyway, it's not like she's trying to set you up with an ugly loser, you could do a lot worse than Prince Niklaus."

"You were the one who told me he was a womaniser."

"Yes but maybe you'll be the one to change him," she suggested. "And if not he's far too sexy not to take for a test drive, at least."

"I'm sure my mother would love that," she whispered. "So what's with the sudden change of opinion?"

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, come on Kat. This has a guy written all over it."

"Okay, fine," she admitted. "His brother is gorgeous, I just thought maybe if you two were friendly, I could maybe get to know him."

"Kol?"

"Hell no, he's definitely cute, but acts like a child," she hissed. "I meant his older brother, Elijah."

"Really?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"He just seems a little serious for your liking."

"Yes, but have you seen that ass," she joked, pointing to him as he came to a stop on his horse.

The match had finished, thank god. She decided to make a quick getaway before her mother decided to orchestrate an awkward first meeting between them.

"I'm glad to see you're not shallow at all, Kat," she teased, nudging her playfully. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to get a much needed drink."

Caroline made her way towards the bar, taking a deep breath. She didn't really feel like making fake conversation, all she wanted was to be alone for a while without her nosy parents and supposed friends. The countryside really was beautiful this time of year and she found herself walking towards the stables.

Caroline had always loved horses and the thought of spending some alone time with one was a lot more appealing than schmoozing with high society. Most people envied her life but all Caroline wanted to do was let loose and have fun, not having to worry about what people thought.

She approached a grey mare in one of the first stalls, rubbing her hands over his ears and down to his nose. He looked at her intensely probably expecting a snack, which unfortunately she didn't have.

"I'm sorry," she murmured.

"Why, what did you do?" A beautiful voice asked, she cursed inwardly, embarrassed at having been caught out talking to a horse. She looked up reluctantly, meeting the stormy blue eyes of Prince Niklaus, of all people.

"I, uh, didn't have any food for her," she stammered, wondering why the nerves had suddenly overcome her.

"Here," he offered, fishing around in his pocket and producing a few sugar cubes. She took them, telling herself it was only for the horse and not him.

"Thank you," she muttered. Laying them flat on her palm and letting the horse gobble it up hungrily. She gave her another pat, reveling in the serenity, not missing the intense expression that was trained on her face.

"I didn't expect you to be here," he offered.

"Why's that?" She asked, against her better judgment.

"Most of the girls are more interested in the social aspects of polo than hanging around in smelly stables."

"I'm not most girls," she shrugged her shoulders.

"But you're a Princess."

"Didn't anyone tell you not to judge a book by its cover?" She baulked, wondering where he got the nerve to speak to her like that.

"By all means, love," he agreed. "I'd be ecstatic if you were different than the cookie cutter girls around here."

"Well, from the sounds of it you've made plenty of time for those cookie cutter girls."

"Oh really? I'd love to know where you got your information from."

"Everyone talks about it," she uttered, feeling a hot flush cover her cheeks. She hoped it wasn't as obvious as it felt.

"Wow, that's some really good sources you've got there," he joked. "I've heard you're high strung and prissy."

"I'm not prissy," she argued, her eyes flashing with anger.

"I rest my case," he murmured, titling his head to the right. Why did he have to look so gorgeous doing that?

"Okay, maybe I slightly misjudged you," she grumbled. "I just didn't want to marry you, so it was easier to think you were a womaniser."

"Wow, tell me what you really think," he chuckled. "I think you and I will get along just fine. Drink?"

He held out a hip flask and she grabbed it gratefully, thinking alcohol was exactly what she needed right now. She took a swig, ignoring the burning sensation that slipped down her throat.

"Oh and by the way, it's okay, love, I don't want to marry you either."

"Sounds like the start of a beautiful friendship then," she teased, taking another sip. Maybe he wasn't so bad after all.

Present Day:

"Okay fine, let's skinny dip," she decided calling his bluff, pulling away from his embrace and beginning to remove her top.

"I was joking," he stammered, obviously not expecting her to change her mind.

"Well it's too late for that now," she laughed. "Don't tell me someone's chicken now?"

"You're accusing the wrong guy," he smiled, pulling his top over his head. The boat had begun to rock and as more clothes were removed, it only became more unstable.

"Klaus, watch out!" Caroline cried, moments before they both fell overboard.

She felt the cool water envelop her and made her way back to the surface, her breath ragged. When she finally opened her eyes, she found Klaus grinning at her madly.

"Are you okay, love?"

"Yeah, I'm more than okay," she replied, looping her arms around his neck. "At least I'm still partially dressed."

"What a shame," he joked, pulling her closer. "You know, I've been thinking."

"Oh really, that sounds dangerous," she inferred, cocking her left eyebrow.

"As much as I want to disappoint our parents, I'm not sure I can sneak around anymore," he admitted.

"Why not?" She faltered, hoping that she didn't sound as upset as she felt.

"I love you, Caroline."

"You love me?" She squeaked, not expecting his admission.

"I have for a while and I don't want to hide away anymore. I want everyone to know that you're my girl and I love you," he murmured pulling her closer so their noses were touching.

"You love me?" She asked again, in disbelief.

"That's what I said, twice, and if you don't reciprocate soon I'm going to get a real complex, love"

"I love you too," she beamed, happy that he'd returned the feelings she'd been harboring for months but was too afraid to share.

"And when I said I wouldn't marry you six months ago, I may have been a little hasty," he conceded, sheepishly.

"That's okay, I might have done the same thing," she grinned, pulling him in for another kiss. Caroline never expected things would turn out this way but she was pleased that she got her happily ever after.