Chapter three - And so we meet again
helfabulousgirl asked some questions, here are the replies: Elena is a doppelganger, I picture this taking place about 5 years after season 4 BUT season 2 happened as the show until the intro of Klaus and the originals mid season 2 and then it skips ahead to approx. 7 years later. So Caroline was turned at the start of Season 2 as in the show but Klaus never happened. Hope that clears it up :)
Disclaimer: I don't own TVD or any of it's characters
Of course, Tuesday dragged. For both of them. Klaus sat at home, his body feeling better than it had in a long time. He really didn't need an appointment with Caroline but that wasn't stopping him going in the next day anyway. His mind wandered all day, while he was working on a drawing of the view from his window to Caroline, from his lunch back to Caroline. The blonde angel floated in this thoughts constantly. When he went to bed that night, his anticipation for the next day kept him tossing and turning for hours.
Caroline carried on with her working day, keeping herself busy. But it was just work and when she opened the door to each client and appointment, she felt a twinge as if it would be Klaus she would see and then the dissapointment when it wasn't. "Which is completely ridiculous" she thought. "I''ve only met him once and he was a bit of an ass. A gorgeous ass though."
When Wednesday morning swang round, Caroline jumped out of bed at 6am and went for her regular run. She normally ran with music, taking in the scenery as she did. Autumn was her favourite season and she loved to run over the crunchy Fall leaves, scattering piles as she did. But today she noticed none of what was around her, she kept looking at her watch instead so she wouldn't be late.
Getting dressed was harder than usual today too. No dress seemed to go with the pairs of shoes she owned, no top and skirt went well together and she ended up with a huge discarded pile on her bed before going back to the simple black and white dotted shift dress she had tried on second. Just short enough to make her legs appear extra long but long enough to be acceptable for a work dress, she turned a few times in the mirror, looking at it from all angles. Not that she was making an effort for anything or anyone.
She started her appointments at 8am for the people wanting a session before work and when she got there, she found herself watching the clock. And it ticked by incredibly slowly.
As she got to 9.50am and she was almost finished with Mrs. Reed, she felt the anticipation building. Normally quite interested in what the older lady had to say about her garden and her dog, Muffin, today she could barely process what was being said.
"...and then of course Muffin dug a hole and buried it in the garden. It was quite the debacle dear."
Tuning back in, Caroline realised she was expected to make some kind of response. Not having paid much attention, she opted for a neutral "Mmmmm" sound which seemed to keep her client satisfied.
"Well Mrs Reed, I won't need to see you again for another month. Same day and time 4 weeks from now unless anything changes?"
"Oh yes dear, bless, you are a wonder."
Guiding her to the door and closing it behind her, Caroline looked at the clock again. 9.57am. Only a few minutes now and she would see him again. Maybe when he talked to her with his cocky attitude again it would put her off once and for all. Somehow she doubted that though.
9.58am crept slowly round to 9.59am and she felt even more edgy as the seconds hand ticked on by. "This is ridiculous, I feel like a teenager waiting for my date to arrive" she thought with a grimace.
Punctually at 10am, there was a knock on the door. Caroline had to stop herself from flying over to answer it. Instead she leaned against her desk for a moment, taking a slow breath in and out before walking purposefully over and turning the doorknob.
When Klaus walked in, Caroline felt her heart instantly flutter. "Sheesh, I thought that only happened in movies" she thought, thinking that Klaus in the flesh was even better than she had remembered.
Klaus had a similar flutter but it wasn't just his heart that was responding. Caroline was wearing a black and white dress that made her legs look extraordinary and he couldn't help but trace them all the way to her face, where she blinked up at him with large eyes. He was glad the top he was wearing hung down longer than his usual tops or it could've gotten very awkward really quickly.
Coming to his senses he greeted her. "Hello love, I'm looking forward to you working some magic again."
"Happy to be of service" she replied then blushed and did an internal telling off as Klaus cocked his eybrow at her with a smirk. "Stop flirting Caroline!"
"You mentioned you are now having some neck problems?"
"Yes love, I've had a bit of a bung neck."
"Well, let me check where I adjusted your back the other day and then take a look at where the new pain is and we'll go from there."
"Right, you are sweetheart. Where do you want me?"
"Don't tempt me or I'll say right here, right now" Caroline thought before saying stiffly "If you sit on the table facing that wall please. And of course, shirt stays on" she finished with a smile.
"Oh, how dissapointing" Klaus replied with a grin before settling where she had shown him.
Running her hand down his spine, she found the spot she had adjusted and felt around. "Well, that's looking good. It's wanting to go back to the position it is used to but it is still in quite good shape. How does it feel?"
"That's been feeling pretty good, it's more my neck, especially when I wake up."
"I'll give your back a slight adjustment and then look at your neck. I can do this here but I need you to lie down for it, on your back."
When he rolled back, Caroline noticed how tall he was. His feet coming almost off the end of the bench. She also noticed that when he was stretched out like this, his jeans pulled tight around his legs. "Stop looking Care" she told herself, failing miserably at doing what she was telling herself.
As she felt down his spine, concentrating on anything out of the ordinary, she felt his eyes following her movements and the blush threatening her cheeks were only barely kept at bay. It felt very intense, like he was trying to look inside her and not just the package on the outside. She didn't like the feeling of being scrutinised but she couldn't help but be flattered by his attention.
I quick adjustment of his spine led to a very slight scracking sound and she was pleased that it had been so easy. "That's a good sign, your back is already beginning to heal. Now, I need to feel around your neck to ascertain the trouble spot. Just to warn you though, it's even louder than your back when I do adjust it. Since the neck is so much closer to your ears."
"Do what you need to do love, I trust you."
This part always amused Caroline. She had seen vampires and people die instantly with just a twist of the neck. Of course, vampires came back but people didn't. So she was extra careful when she adjusted the necks of her clients. And with Klaus, she was using the lightest touch she could.
She placed her fingers at the base of his neck, tilting his jaw down to the right position, fingers tingling as she brushed against his stubble. She wanted to halt in her exploration, place her palm against his face, to properly feel his warmth mixed with the roughness of his skin. But she shook her head, clearing away the feelings clouding her judgement.
Deciding it was better to just get it done quickly, she gave a kick pull causing the joints to make a series of cracking noises. His eyes snapped open with a start and then with a quick smile, he closed them again.
"Can you open your eyes again please?"
"Why's that love?"
"Because I want to look into them" "Looking at your eyes helps to assess your pain. You reflect more in your eyes than you realise."
His eyes came open and she took a breath and held it as he gazed up at her. She felt like she could fall into his eyes and as they slowly closed and opened again, she was drawn to his lashes.
As she leaned over him, the ends of her hair brushed lightly against his skin bringing with them a tingle and the scent of vanilla. As she concentrated on finding the parts of him that she needed to work on, her dress slipped sideways revealing the black lace strap of her bra against the creamy skin of her shoulder.
"Screw it" Klaus thought and closing the narrow distance between them, he placed his lips against hers and felt them full, supple and smooth under his. Caroline was startled when his lips met hers but feeling them move against hers, her body responded to his touch and her lips began to move on their own.
Overcome by the feelings coursing under her skin at his touch, Caroline let herself get lost in the moment. She reached down to place her hands behind his neck and felt him smile into their kiss as he reached a hand to her throat, running it gently down her delicate skin.
Moments swept by intensity growing and as Caroline felt her fangs threatening to descend she pulled back to get herself under control. Running her fingers through her hair and brushing a hand across her face, she looked at him with wide eyes, meeting his own ones filled with amused desire.
"Well, that is a relief" he said.
Caroline was still fairly dumbstruck about what had just happened but managed to stutter out "ahh, relief? What?"
"It's a relief to see you didn't object" he replied with a smile, sitting up so they were the same level again.
"Object, yes I do. Klaus, we can't, its unethical for me to be involved with a client."
Reaching up to lightly smooth the hair around her face, he replied "Hmmm unethical. Well, I could always go and find another chiropractor, then it wouldn't be a conflict for you. What about that Joel bloke you work with?"
"No no, I'd rather finish what we started here" she quickly answered, not able to consider letting Klaus go.
He raised an eyebrow at her and she hurried on. "Professionally I mean. We just have to have boundaries Mr Mikaelson. Maybe after you're better we could look at what happens next but not now, we just can't" she finished, stepping back from him.
Klaus pouted, unhappy about not getting his way. "A minute ago it was Klaus and now we are back to Mr Mikaelson. Did a kiss change that?"
Turning away so he couldn't see her face, she spoke quietly. "Is that what it was? Just a kiss?"
"Caroline." He cradled her name with his tongue and that made a shiever run down her spine. "Caroline love, please turn around."
Reluctant to deal with what was happening but never one to shy away from a problem, she slowly turned around, arms crossed across her chest and he moved to stand in front of her, causing her breath to come quickly.
"This could work. Just give it a go, that couldn't hurt could it?" he asked placing his hand on hers. She looked down at them, craving his touch but torn. Her relationships had never been the most stable, before or after she was turned. She'd been a drama queen in her High School years, dating the wrong guys. Tyler had been her love for a long time, she'd helped him when he first became a werewolf. As supernatural beings they had bonded. But it still hadn't ended well. She couldn't see this one being any better with Klaus being human and Caroline a vampire.
"I can't see how it could work Klaus, I'm sorry." She couldn't meet his eyes, didn't want to see what was in them. She was afraid she would give in if she did.
"Don't you think together we could come up with a solution? After I have finished my sessions with you, then we could give it a go?" She glanced up at the tone of his voice. He was looking appealingly at her and she knew she was lost. She was undeniably attracted to Klaus and it seemed the only way they could be together now was if he changed to another chiropractor. Otherwise they might have to wait months until his healing was completed.
And then it came to her, there was an answer and she wasted no time in acting on it. "There is one solution" she replied. Taking her wrist, she bit into it and quickly pressed the bleeding wound to his lips.
Oooohhh what is she doing to him?! Thank you for the reviews so far, love hearing from you. I'll aim to update at least once a week amongst the crazy busy life we lead here.
BTW, the dress I pictured Caroline wearing is in a link in my profile
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