Thank you suchaglamorouslie for your donation to Klaroline Gives Back. You've given me an opportunity to write an alternative meeting fic between our favourite supernatural couple, so thank you! I hope this fits within some of your criteria, including some shameless fluff. This takes place just after Caroline has turned into a vampire but Katherine wasn't responsible.

You're My First, My Last, My Everything

New Orleans, Louisiana

12 January 2022

"My first, my last, my everything
And the answer to all my dreams
You're my sun, my moon, my guiding star
My kind of wonderful, that's what you are."

"He's forgotten our anniversary," Caroline said, glaring at her husband across the compound as he chatted easily with his brothers. "He may be the most powerful creature in the world but his memory leaves a lot to be desired."

"That really doesn't sound like Klaus, Care," Bonnie offered. "Kol maybe, but definitely not Klaus. Anyway the day's not over; it's still technically your anniversary."

"Only for another six hours and fourteen minutes," she said, consulting her watch.

"Not that anyone's counting," Katherine joked. "Klaus knows, more than anyone else, how anal you are about anniversaries."

"Gee, thanks, Pierce," she groaned. "I'm not that bad."

"Well, you certainly have a flair for the dramatic," Rebekah interrupted, seating herself at the table next to Bonnie. She was late as usual, not that any of them were surprised.

"Like you can talk," Katherine shot back. Even though they were related and had been for some time they couldn't help but trade barbs still to this day.

"It's easy for you Katherine, I mean you have Elijah," Caroline murmured, looking at her brother in law earnestly. "He's like husband of the year, every year."

"He has his moments trust me," she promised.

"No one has more moments than Kol," Bonnie drawled, knowingly.

"Except maybe Enzo," Rebekah chimed in and Caroline couldn't help but agree. Maybe she was overreacting; it was just unusual that he hadn't mentioned it yet. Usually there'd be spectacular wake-up sex followed by breakfast in bed and a day full of activities, but so far nothing. Is that what she got for ten years of being his loving companion? Well, most of the time anyway.

xxxx

"Why does Caroline keep glaring at you, Niklaus," Elijah hissed, obviously trying to keep their conversation private. "What have you done now?"

"I haven't done anything," he scoffed.

"Well if looks could kill a white oak stake would be headed your way," Kol joked. "She doesn't have one of them, right?"

"Don't be stupid, Kol. Do you think I'd be crazy enough to let my wife have one of those in her possession?"

"Yeah given how often you seem to piss her off, it's probably safer that way," Enzo chuckled.

"Like you and Rebekah can talk," Klaus grumbled, wondering just how he put up with his demanding sister 24/7. "Anyway her apparent anger towards me is unfounded. It's not my fault she's impatient."

"So, why provoke the beast?" Elijah asked.

"Because it's fun," he grinned, thinking about all of their fiery arguments over the years and the ensuing make-up session that always followed. It all began ten years ago when they first met and hadn't really changed since. Not that he'd have it any other way of course.

Ten Years Earlier

Klaus would never forget the first time he laid eyes on the beautiful blonde. His sources in town had alerted him to her presence during the day and his curiosity had gotten the better of him.

Apparently she'd been openly feeding and Klaus knew their witch enemies wouldn't take too kindly to such blatantly obvious behavior. He figured she was either a newly turned Vampire that couldn't contain her urges, she'd flipped her humanity switch or she was just stupid because New Orleans was his town and no one upset that balance.

He sought her out at Rousseau's Bar, on the premise of sending her on her way. If she made any trouble he'd just kill her, which was his usual MO. What Klaus wasn't expecting was the gorgeous creature dancing on top of the bar, a half empty bottle of whiskey in her hand. Her skimpy, blue singlet rose up slightly, revealing her creamy skin and he could make out a few stray beads of sweat running southwards. Klaus licked his lips thinking maybe he could have some fun before killing her.

"What do you think you're doing?" He roared, making the room descend into a terrified silence.

"It's called dancing," she shot back, rolling her eyes for extra effect. "You should try it some time, it really loosens you up."

"Hilarious," he drawled. "I'd like you to get off my bar."

"Well, I don't really care what you'd like." That flippant response was enough to tell him she hadn't been a vampire very long.

"Are you testing my authority, baby vampire?"

"Well, by authority I assume you mean head of the fun police?" She chuckled. How dare she speak to him like this in front of his people?

"Oh, I'll show you just how fun I can be," he seethed, vamping towards the bar and pulling her off so she fell to the floor in a heap, her black mini skirt riding up dangerously high. He stood over her body in an effort to intimidate her but he couldn't stop thinking just how he'd love to have her long, milky legs wrapped around his waist right now. Knowing what was about to happen next the other patrons scurried away. Nobody messed with Klaus Mikaelson and lived.

"Ouch," she murmured standing up slowly, pushing past him and rubbing her head. "Well, it's nice to see chivalry is well and truly dead."

"I know a lot about chivalry, love," he said. "You're just not worthy of it. I am the King of this town and don't appreciate you trying to make me look a fool in front of my people."

"Well, I have no idea who you are and, quite frankly, I don't care to know."

"You don't know who I am?"

"I know this is crushing to that overinflated ego of yours, but yes, I have no idea who you are."

"I'm Klaus Mikaelson."

"Oh, the Original Hybrid," she said, seating herself at the bar and snaffling another bottle of whiskey to replace the one he'd broken in his rage.

"Just help yourself to my alcohol then," he muttered.

"Well it's the least you could do after that crash tackle, Mikaelson."

"So, you've heard of me then?" He asked curiously, helping himself to a drink, his desire to kill her on hold for the moment.

"Only what I've been told from the people around here. Now I understand the anger issues. Have you ever thought about therapy for that?" Despite her obvious insult, Klaus let out a laugh, surprising her in the process.

"Oh, so you can smile," she replied. "Between you and me it's a much better look on you."

"Well, I don't really care what you think."

"Touche," she conceded referring to her earlier insult and clinking her bottle with his glass.

"So, what exactly are you doing here then, Miss…"

"If that's your pathetic way of trying to get my name then you need to work on your pick up skills."

"On the contrary love, I'm not trying to pick you up. I have much more sinister plans for you."

"How predictable," she growled. "What are you going to do, kill me?"

"Pretty much, I mean you have violated all of my rules like openly feeding, dancing on top of my bar and draining my whiskey stash. Not to mention your mouthy outburst, just before."

"What can I say, when someone challenges me I react," she replied, swirling the liquid around in the bottle. "According to my mother I have authority issues."

"You don't say, love."

"Don't call me love."

"Well, when you won't tell me your name, it's a little difficult."

"It's Caroline, Caroline Forbes."

"Caroline," he repeated, loving the way her name sounded rolling off his tongue. "I'm assuming Neil Diamond didn't write the song Sweet Caroline after you?"

"Well, that would be impossible given I wasn't even born then, you know we aren't all a bajillion years-old like some."

"It's a thousand, you're starting to give me a complex," he teased. "I'm assuming you're new to this whole being a vampire thing."

"What makes you say that?" She asked, raising her left eyebrow at him.

"You know the blood binging, the heightened senses, general moodiness..."

"I am not moody," she argued. "And I was really hungry. You know, this really wasn't how I imagined it would be."

"I'll admit it takes a while to get used to life as a Vampire, but once you do it's more than worth it, Caroline."

"How do you figure that? I feel like a freak."

"You're not a freak, you're stronger than you think, you're ageless and in time you will be fearless, I promise. Unfortunately though I can't let you stay in town and explore your vampirism, love."

"Why not? Are you still upset about that little incident earlier?"

"You're too much of a risk."

"So that's it, you're just going to run me out of town? And to think I was starting to like this place."

"I'm sure you have a home to go back to and friends and family who are worried about you right now."

"I'm sick of people's pity and don't even get me started on how betrayed my parents feel by my newfound status. I can't stand being around them, that's why I left town. I needed some time and space to deal with all of this."

"Yes, because you seem to be handling it so well," he smirked. "Maybe it's better you transition somewhere familiar, it's a foreign enough concept as it without adding that to the mix."

"That's exactly what I don't want," she murmured. "You're not going to let me stay though, are you?"

"I can't," he admitted, wondering why he felt so sad all of a sudden. He'd just met this girl, after all. "It's for your safety more than anything, Caroline."

"Yeah, yeah," she grumbled, standing up slowly and making her way to the door. Klaus watched her go in the reflection of the mirror, her shoulders hunched over as she walked. Klaus wasn't an empathetic person, his past certainly proved that but he couldn't ignore the overwhelming feeling of dread at her departure. What if something happened to her? He could never forgive himself. Although at the same time he did have an evil and villainous reputation to protect and people would consider him showing her mercy as weak. He was conflicted to say the least but knew if he didn't say something he'd always wonder.

Before she could leave, Klaus vamped towards the exit, placing himself snugly between her and the door. She was so close, her kissable pink lips within inches of his. He gazed into her blue eyes trying to remember what he wanted to say.

"Forget something?" She asked, a smile tugging at her lips.

"I may have acted a little hastily."

"Klaus Mikaelson is admitting he was wrong?"

"I never said that," he growled, relishing in the way her skin felt against his own, desperate to pull her closer and run his hands through her golden waves. "I thought I should let you stay a little while longer, you know show you the ropes. It's the least I could do."

"Well, if you insist," she agreed. "As long as it doesn't involve you telling me what to do, I really hate it when you do that."

"I'm beginning to notice that," he drawled. "I'll see what I can do, but I'm not promising anything."

"Well that makes two of us," she replied. "So, what's first?"

Klaus knew what he wanted to do of course, but wasn't quite sure it was really appropriate if he was going to be assisting her transition. Before he could answer, those lips he'd been craving found their way to his mouth. It was probably the sweetest thing he'd ever felt.

Klaus relaxed into the kiss pulling her flush against his body, his tongue delving into her hot mouth which tasted like a delicious mixture of whiskey and lime. She moaned against his lips only spurring him on further. Klaus really had no idea who Caroline Forbes was but he certainly enjoyed kissing her.

They eventually broke apart, albeit reluctantly, Klaus studying her face carefully. He certainly hadn't imagined his night turning out like this, not that he was upset. "How about a tour of my town? But only if you refrain from dancing on any more bars."

"You're no fun," she pouted. "But I think I can manage that, for tonight anyway."

One night turned into multiple and Caroline stayed with Klaus in New Orleans, her friends even venturing into town and finding their own loves and settling down. Life really had a funny way of working out.

xxxxxx

"I told you, you didn't need to come with me, love," Klaus explained, as they walked through the French Quarter. Night had fallen and by Caroline's watch it was now 2 hours and 27 minutes left of their anniversary.

"Well, I thought we should spend some time together today, at least," she replied, through gritted teeth. "What's going on at the bar anyway?"

"There was a big brawl earlier; apparently the place is a mess. I wanted to see it for myself and punish whoever is responsible."

"How romantic," she muttered.

"What did you say, love?" He asked, Caroline just rolled her eyes knowing just how exceptional his hearing was. The French Quarter was as busy as ever tonight but as they approached the bar she noticed it was plunged into darkness. They must have closed it because of the incident.

"I don't understand why Elijah couldn't have come instead and ripped out a few hearts," she mumbled.

"Well, we all know how possesive Katherine is of his time," he laughed thinking about his sister-in-law. "I think Kol's nickname of 'whipping boy' is fairly accurate."

"Like Kol can talk," Caroline said, thinking Bonnie ran a tight ship, Rebekah too. They were all whipped, except for her husband who couldn't even remember an anniversary.

Klaus let them in, Caroline patting her foot impatiently wondering how her day turned out like this. Klaus always was focused on his town but he always made an effort to include her in his life too.

She wasn't quite sure what to think as they entered the room, and instead of bodies, blood and furniture strewn about the place, there were candles and rose petals scattered about. She looked around the room and back at her husband, his crimson lips curved into an all knowing smile. Before he could react, she'd pinned him to the door and began to hit him on the chest.

"Ouch, Caroline!"

"Yeah because I'm sure that really hurts an Original hybrid," she groaned. "How could you do this to me?"

"Last time I checked this was romantic."

"You made me wait all day! I have been so angry at you," she reiterated, not letting up on the hitting. "I thought you'd forgotten our anniversary."

"I would never forget our anniversary," he murmured, holding her hand to his chest. "I wanted everything to be just like it was ten years ago when we first met, including the exact time." He reached out and traced his finger across her watch face which was showing 9:36pm.

"You wanted to recreate our first meeting?"

"Maybe not the part where you berated me in front of the rest of the town and then I proceeded to crash tackle you, but the rest of it was pretty good from memory."

"I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions, I have this thing with anniversaries where I'm really…"

"Anal?"

"Thanks, Katherine," she muttered. "I just want everyone one of ours to be special and something we'll always remember, even if we have ten or a ten thousand anniversaries."

"I know, love," he grinned, pulling her closer and capturing her lips with his. It felt just as special as it did all those years ago leaning up against the same door and Klaus knew he'd never grow tired of the feelings she stirred inside him. "Happy Anniversary, Caroline, I didn't think it was possible but I love you more every day, even when you're grumpy."

"Happy Anniversary, husband," she murmured, nuzzling her nose affectionately against his. "And to many, many more."

"Now, how about a dance on the bar?"

"Well, only if you can keep up, Mister Fun Police," she joked, pulling him towards it, excited for the night ahead and for the rest of their lives together.