C16

A/N: Hi! First of all sorry for disappearing. I am the biggest idiot, I know. Long story short, I went into some serious depression after New Year, when my scans weren't as good as the previous ones and I totally isolated myself and I was scared. I am scared, of dying. So I kind of hibernated. Susan and , thankfully pulled me out of those horrible days. So this update is because of them.
So to apologize for my disappearance, I am announcing that I am posting TWO new KLAROLINE stories. DARK because that's all I can write. Along with ONESHOTS! Yaaay! And in the one shots I will try other couples like Kalijah, Delena, Stelena, Kennett, Stebekah etc. But for those couples you'll have to wait because Klaroline comes naturally. Others I have to "focus" on.

"How have you been Damon?" Caroline asked looking at him with a small smile as they sat on a bench in the gardens. The moonlight highlighting the features of their faces.

Damon nodded. "I have missed you every day" he told her sadly. "I'm sorry Caroline I couldn't protect you" he apologized and grabbed her hand. She looked at him closer and saw his eyes were filled with tears.

"Why did you send Tyler?" she whispered looking at him. "I didn't expect you to hurt Henrik. He's just a child" she stated with disgust that Damon would think of hurting an innocent child to win.

Damon shook his head. "I didn't send him to attack anyone. His sole purpose was to leave a message. Not to hurt anyone" he informed her clenching his fists, knowing that he was the one to have caused Caroline such pain. Even though it was unknowingly but the result of his actions.

"Damon. We have to stop playing this game. It's over. Klaus won. You have to leave and move forward with your life" She pleaded with him squeezing his hand tighter.

Damon looked at her with an angry expression on his face and ripped his hands away from hers. He came all the way to his enemies' home for her and she had already lost hope. "There is still hope Caroline. We can fight them. We weren't prepared back then but we are now. We've been gathering allies" he told her in a persuasive tone. His voice sounded so despairing that it made Caroline nearly dismiss her decision and run away with him. Nearly.

Caroline stood up and backed away from him. "Damon I- I can't. There will be too many bereavements. Too many consequences" she debated with him shaking her head. She was not willing to let any more people get hurt because of her desires and her well-being. She could still feel the cries of pain and anguish of her people back when they were attacked, the screams of the maids, the tears of those women who had been widowed because of her incompetence to be a princess and to handle the situation wisely. She could still feel Richard's blood on her face when the arrow had been embedded in his chest.

No. She was not about to let that happen again.

Damon sighed. "There's nothing I can do to change your mind?" he asked in a defeated voice. Caroline shook her head. "I just need to be sure you're safe before I move on" he said, pleadingly and looked away.

Caroline smiled at his overprotective behavior. "I'll be safe" she told him even though she didn't even fully believe it herself. "Klaus cannot hurt me" she informed him confidently.

Damon went over and hugged her. "I don't trust him" he whispered inhaling her scent which made his aims even more focused and made him even more determined.

She hugged him back tightly. "Neither do I" she chuckled with him.

Klaus watched the couple through the darkened hallway and clutched the pieces of glass in his hand so tight that they cut his palm. But that didn't stop him from grasping it tighter. Blood trickled down his fist from his palm. He angrily stormed out of there to his bed chambers, waiting for his girl to arrive as he ordered the guards to go fetch her for him. He could not understand what was happening to him. He was always feeling possessive towards her.

All he wanted to do was be in her company all day. It was like he was in love- he stopped himself from thinking that. He could not love her. Love was a weakness. And he was not weak. No he did not love her. She was merely an itch. A craving that needed to be satisfied. And satisfy himself he would. On the night of his wedding and the night after that and the nights would never stop.

His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the door open. "Klaus?" Caroline's soft melodic voice filled his ears. But he sat still waiting for her to come to him.

Caroline bit her lip as she walked into his room. As she took each step forward the more the frown deepened on her face. She observed his room intently as she made her way to Klaus, who was sitting on the window sill.

The first thing that came to her mind after seeing the room was that it was dark. Yes. Most definitely dark. Gloomy burgundy draperies, dark wood furniture and cold gray tiles and a shadowy rug in the middle of the room. But her eyes were fixated on the fireplace where he sat on the tall chair that looked almost like his own personal throne.

She walked up to him, a little annoyed that he was ignoring her and making her walk all the way up to him when he was the one who wanted to talk to her. "Klaus!" she said a little louder hoping to get his attention.

Klaus smiled at her impatience before exhaling patiently. "Caroline" he greeted still not turning to look at her or even help her sit.

Caroline crossed her arms over her chest in annoyance over his attitude. "Why- she stopped when she saw the blood trickling down his closed fist. Her eyes widened as she stepped closer to look for any injury.

She kneeled down on her knees and was about to touch his hand when she stilled immediately. What was she doing? Why was she even helping him?

"Go on love. I don't mind" Klaus said, amused, watching her hesitate.

Caroline opened and closed her mouth unsure of what to say. "I shouldn't have. I'm going to go" she stammered out and quickly tried to stand up to leave but doubled over in pain and clutched her stomach. She yelped but instantly covered her mouth with her free hand.

Klaus stood up immediately and went to help her. He wrapped one of his arms around her waist and tried to help her up and she shook her head. "It hurts. Give me a moment" she choked out, inhaling and exhaling to calm herself.

Klaus nodded in understanding before he sat down behind her and pulled her against his chest. He stroked her hair with his free hand, hoping to calm her as he rested in chin on top of her head. "Shh. It's okay Caroline. You're safe" he cooed softly. He was shocked to see that she was softly sobbing. But her tears were not of pain. They were of fright. He could see it on her face and in her expression that she was afraid. He had not realized that she would be so terrified after the attack. He instantly felt bad for being so incredibly rude to her when she had saved his brother.

She was the one suffering in all of this. Why was he being so impolite to her then?

Caroline immediately felt her cheeks heat up at her clumsiness and wiped the tears on her cheeks embarrassedly. "I'm sorry" she mumbled quietly before trying to scramble away from him but he halted her efforts by grabbing both her hands.

"Stay" he whispered softly.

She instantly stilled her movements and realized that she liked being in his embrace. His touch actually calmed her down. But she could still not believe she had cried in front of him. Just earlier she was angry at him and now. She wasn't sure anymore. Her emotions were simply confusing her. At one moment, she hated him. For all he had done. For all he was doing. But then he was tender and passionate with her in their shared moments.

"Are you alright?" he asked after a few moments. His voice as soft as silk, making her heart skip a beat.

She nodded feebly. "I'm sorry. I don't know what got into me. I- she stammered hoping to come up with a logical conclusion for breaking down in front of him. She was afraid. Very much so. From the moment Tyler had struck her, she was afraid. Not particularly of Tyler but of death. She had come too close to dying for the second time. And that made her realize that she did not want to die yet. She wanted to live. She wanted to explore. There was still so much in the world that she had not seen.

Klaus quickly shook his head and turned her slightly so that he could look at her. "Look at me love" he ordered her. His voice still soft as if he would go any louder, she would break like a porcelain doll. "You have no reason to apologize. You saved Henrik's life when you could have just stood by and saved yourself" he told her and winced at the idea of Henrik getting injured but it didn't mean he was glad that Caroline was injured instead.

"Is that your way of expressing your gratitude?" Caroline asked teasingly hoping her face wasn't completely crimson by now.

Klaus chuckled at that. "Something along the lines love" he retorted.

They both stayed silent for minutes or hours, no one could tell, sitting by the fireplace with Klaus' arms wrapped around Caroline protectively. "Why do the people in your kingdom fear you and your family?" Caroline asked breaking the silence.

Klaus glowered at that. "It's not my kingdom Caroline. It is ours" he emphasized on the word hoping she would stop thinking of Forbes kingdom as her home. "To answer your question, they fear us because they know their place and they know what we are capable off" he told her, with no hint of remorse or grief in his tone.

She frowned at that. "Do you like it that people fear you?" she asked a little confused. Why would anyone want people to fear them?

Klaus thought about the question for a moment before answering. "In some regards, yes" he answered honestly. "But not completely" he added mysteriously.

"Rebekah is the same age as mine" she stated. "Why does she not have suitors lining up after her? She is one of the prettiest princesses I know" she asked.

Klaus cleared his throat at that. "Rebekah has yet to take some time to herself and understand the legislation of a stable kingdom. I don't think she is capable of running an empire just yet" he answered coolly.

"But your opinion shouldn't matter. It's her decision. Is it not?" she asked, hoping she wasn't intruding or being rude.

Klaus chuckled lightly at that. "Love, if Rebekah is given the chance to choose, she would choose the first commoner who shows her the slightest bit of affection" he remarked chuckling.

"What if she does truly love a commoner? What's so wrong if she does choose a common man than a prince or a king?" Caroline asked bravely.

"Love is for the weak. It's a weakness and there are no weaknesses for anyone here" he told her seriously. Half convincing her, half convincing himself.

Caroline shook her head in disagreement. "I think love makes a person stronger. It strengthens everything together and love gives you support and hope that you'll never truly be alone and even when you have nothing. No material wealth you'll always have the most precious thing with you" she told him animatedly and Klaus watched as her eyes lit up when she talked of love. For some reason when he thought that they would talk, the conversation would always be obstinate but talking to her without any prying eyes, he felt at ease and watched as she talked more like herself than Damon or her father or her mother.

Caroline stopped blabbering when she noticed his intense stare on her. She blushed instantly at the scrutiny of his gaze. "Have you ever…?" she trailed unsure to say it.

"Have I ever what, love?" he asked wryly.

Caroline rolled her eyes and blushed even more. "You know…" she said flailing her arms as if it were obvious.

"No love I don't know" he teased enjoying the pink color on her cheeks.

"Have you ever loved someone?" she asked quietly.

Klaus chuckled at that and shook his head. "Not in that manner" he answered making Caroline frown.

"Are you ever going to give me a straight answer?" she asked a little annoyed that he was keeping important information of his life to himself when she was opening up to him. In his bedchambers. In the middle of the night. In front of the fireplace. In his arms!

He raised an eyebrow at that. "This is as close as you get to my life before we are bound together as one" he told her. His tone light, playful yet full of promise. "Now I believe it is my turn to ask the questions" he suggested lightly.

"Alright. Ask away" she answered smoothly.

"Have you ever courted anyone, or been interested in someone other than Damon?" he asked seriously. He needed to know. It was his right after all.

Caroline flushed at the intense question and bit her lip. "I- Yes" she stammered out, and sighed defeated, knowing there was no use in lying.

"Who was it?" He asked in a low, angry voice.

"It was when I was sixteen. Damon's friend, Enzo came to visit him and I was staying at the Salvatore court that time. My parents insisted that I get to know Damon better. I couldn't understand then but I know now" she chuckled nervously. When he did not laugh or even smile, she sighed before continuing the story. "He was older, charming and sweet. He showed interest in me and I was young and stupid and I did not understand my responsibilities back then. So we courted secretly and briefly for a few weeks. Damon found out eventually. He was suspicious from the beginning but I think he was mainly jealous because he wouldn't get his time of the day." She said and smiled warmly at the memory.

"How did Damon come to find out?" Klaus probed making her go scarlet. "Go on love. Tell me" he ushered her slightly.

"We- He- No. I… I shared my first kiss with him" she whispered and she couldn't believe her voice had grown so small. She tensed when he felt Klaus' arms tighten around her and she heard him inhaling heavily.

"I assume you've been kissed by Damon then?" He asked curtly trying to keep his anger and frustration at bay. She just looked down at her knotted finger and bit her lip, guiltily.

"Well this is certainly surprising. You were rather reluctant to let me touch you that day" he hissed in jealousy and anger. How dare she stop him when she had kissed two men already? Two men!

Caroline cleared her throat. "I think I should leave" she mumbled out quietly and stood up much to his dismay out of his embrace.

Klaus followed her example and stood up but just as she was about to leave he grabbed her arms softly. He felt her tense under his grip. He sighed and closed his eyes. She was afraid of him. Maybe that is why she was asking if he was fond of the fact that people were frightened of him. The thought of him scaring her, shook him to his core and tugged at his heart painfully. His grip on her softened.

"Please. I need to know" he whispered softly but his voice sounded desperate. Like a man in search for water to quench his thirst.

Caroline turned to him. "It's not… It's not what you think. This isn't about you" she told him exasperated.

"It's not about me? Then who is it about love? Tell me" He urged her.

Caroline's eyes blazed with an unreadable expression. "It's me. I've never been allowed to look at anyone else the way you want me to look at you!" she yelled at him. "It's always been Damon. He's been the constant in my life. I've been taught and told since my childhood that everything could change but Damon would always be the constant thing in my life" she stated, in a much lower voice.

Klaus remained silent, hoping she'd talk more.

"I told you about Enzo. He and I, we genuinely liked each other. He was caring and liked me for who I was, not just my parent's kingdom" she told him with a small smile as if cherishing the memory but to him it sounded like criticism of his ways. He had never met Enzo personally but one thing he knew was that he certainly hated the man. "The only reason we had to part our ways was because I was always supposed to be with Damon. I was sent to the Salvatore court for the summers so I could spend time with Damon and get to know him better. My parents did not approve of anyone else. They did not trust anyone else" she expressed in a wistful tone nevertheless instantaneously covered it with a slight smile.

"But I suppose that doesn't matter anymore. As you said Damon is no longer my concern" she bit out, despondently. And to him it signaled like she was ready to let go of her friend/ former fiancé for his peace of mind which made him beam.

He gently lifted her chin so that her eyes gazed into his own. "You don't have to leave Damon or anyone else for me love. I genuinely want you to be happy and I know that we have not gotten off to a progressive start but I intend to make you see that there is more to me than the eye meets" he promised with a small smirk.

Caroline smiled at that.

"Thank you" she whispered with a smile on her face.

Klaus nodded. "Thank you for sharing your past with me, love" he acknowledged. His voice laced with genuine elation.

She bit her lip and quickly stepped forward, tiptoed on her feet and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Good night Klaus" she whispered, shyly before scurrying out of the door. Now he had also gotten a kiss from her. Hopefully that settled his jealousy.

Klaus stood there frozen as he felt her lips come in contact with his stubbled cheek. He was sure he caught a hint of a blush on her cheeks as she ran out his room. His hand automatically flew to his cheeks and he grinned like a mad man. He no longer cared for any plan or anything. The one thing he knew was that he needed Caroline to love him. Just as he was in love with her. And now he was not afraid to admit that he was, in fact, truly and madly in love with Caroline Forbes.

"Damon our plan is not going as we thought. I mean sure she's opening up to you but she's changed. She's closer to the Mikaelsons. She has started accepting them as her family!" Bonnie hissed.

"She's trying to adapt. It's basic survival judgy. She's not accepting him though" Damon hissed.

"You'll keep ignoring it but I know I'm right. You didn't see the way she looks at him. Like he's not the murderer but a different person" she replied angrily.

Damon scoffed but Bonnie continued. "She used to loathe him. She despised him and now she looks at him like he's her husband already. You have got to hurry up!" Bonnie urged him.

"Fine!" he answered exasperatedly. "But if we hurry she will be embarrassed and hurt in front of everyone. You'll be responsible if we're not able to help her back to herself then" he warned.

"She will get hurt but she'll have us to help her through it. She'll forget it all eventually" Bonnie said. And then the voices turned into a hushed whispers. Caroline's eyes watered and placed a hand over her mouth to stop the uncontrolled sob exploding from her throat. She immediately ran down the hall to her room as tears streamed down her face.

Her friends were plotting behind her back. Again. And she was going to have to pay the price. Had they not learned enough already? Why couldn't they give up when she had particularly told them!?

She opened the door to her room and ignored the puzzled looks on the sentinels' faces as they saw her disheveled appearance. She dragged her feet towards her bed and lay down in it carefully hugging herself as tears flowed freely down her cheeks. She didn't know how long she cried or sobbed before Rebekah came barging in.

"Car- she stopped midsentence when she saw the Forbes' blonde crying miserably alone. Rebekah immediately went to her and grabbed her hand softly. "Hey. Are you alright?" she asked gently stroking the other blonde's hair with her free hand.

Caroline sunk further into the bed as she sobbed more harshly. Rebekah's arrival was just a cruel reminder that this girl whom she had met only days ago was more sincere and caring than her own friends. "No" she whispered shaking her head.

"Is my dolt brother responsible for these tears?" Rebekah asked a little frustrated as she wiped her future sister's tears from her face gently.

Caroline shook her head and frowned. "Why would you think that Klaus would be responsible for making me upset?" Caroline asked suspiciously. He was kind and gentle with her and sometimes even very open. Obviously that didn't mean that she trusted him completely but it was a start.

Rebekah averted her gaze.

Caroline sat up straight and took Rebekah's hands into her own. "Please I know you're hiding something from me. Tell me. Please" she pleaded desperately.

She didn't want to tell Caroline because she didn't want to expose her brother and his ill intentions but the look of confusion on the blonde's face made Rebekah's heart melt. She leaned closer towards Caroline's ear and told her everything from the beginning.

Caroline's eyes flickered to sadness for a minute before she steeled herself and composed her features into a fake mask of self-control. She, in return, told Rebekah what she heard right before running off to her bed chambers.

"I saw Katherine coming out of Damon's room earlier. She … a..." Rebekah stuttered unsure of how to say it. "She looked disheveled" she told her blushing.

Caroline closed her eyes briefly and inhaled. So, Klaus was trying to manipulate her feelings with the help of his family excluding Rebekah and Damon was trying to do the same by using Katherine somehow. "Isn't it odd that Katherine is helping both sides?" Rebekah asked innocently.

"From what I understand, Katherine is a very clever woman. She needs a backup plan in case Elijah lets her go and in this case, she needs Damon to get to her backup" Caroline deduced, in deep thought.

They both stayed silent for a moment before Rebekah spoke up again. "I don't know what you're going to do but whatever it is, I am willing to help you, sister" she said shyly.

Caroline beamed brightly at that. "Well, everyone is playing their own game and picked their own team. How about we start ours?" Caroline asked grinning mischievously. "Sister" she added in the end with a wink.

Rebekah hugged the blonde. Finally after so long, she felt included somewhere. Her brothers thought of her as the useless doll and she never really had any friends because she wasn't allowed to leave the castle without any one of her brothers. And wherever she went with them, girls never really paid any attention to her. But Caroline was different. She was sure that Klaus and Caroline would get married but she knew the moment she had seen Caroline that they would be great friends.

"Why do Elena and Katherine look alike?" Rebekah asked curiously. This had been maddening her ever since she had seen the two.

Caroline was surprised by the question but laughed. "I don't know. But they is this legend that every five hundred years or so, two girls who looks exactly alike are born. I'm not sure what they're called. Doppelgangers, I think" Caroline told her and started tapping her head. "Yes. That's what they're called" she added smiling.

"So they're related?" the other blonde asked absorbing the new information.

Caroline shook her head. "They don't necessarily need to be related. But I don't think that Katherine and Elena are related at all" she stated. "We know Katherine's family. And Elena was orphaned at a very young age so Bonnie's parents adopted her as their own" she told her.

"Interesting" Rebekah mused, letting the topic go for now. She would have to do some research herself. "Now you should rest. You've had a long day" she said and tucked Caroline in.

"Why are you awake so late Rebekah?" Caroline asked narrowing her eyes at the blonde. She had her reasons. But Rebekah should have been asleep by now. It was reasonably late right now.

Rebekah looked down and then back at Caroline sheepishly. "My room is next to Kol's" she informed Caroline. The Forbes' blonde looked at her confused. "He's…. erm… busy" Rebekah said making a face of disgust. "I couldn't sleep with all the noise" she added shuddering.

Caroline made an appalled face at Kol's antics before patting the spot next to her on the bed. "You can share with me. Come on" she offered with a smile.

Rebekah walked to the other side of the bed and hopped in with a bright smile. "Thank you Caroline" she said sincerely turning on her back. This was the first time she ever felt like she truly had a friend and it excited her to no limits.

"Goodnight Bekah"

"Goodnight Caroline" she mumbled before drifting off to sleep.