25 Days of Klaroline + Growing Up

This is dedicated to the talented and sweet - delightfullysunny - you truly are a constant ray of sunshine that always makes my day with your lovely comments.

This drabble is honestly just silly fun (I needed an outlet after 12 from 15 days of drabbles).

Where is the Love?

Mickey Mouse Club alumni Caroline Forbes and Klaus Mikaelson began their careers together and have gone on to become two of the most famous people in show business. Only problem is they can't really stand each other and no one besides them knows why.

Nashville, Tennessee

"No, no, no," Caroline insisted, pacing back and forth in front of the window. Even the twinkling lights of the city couldn't distract her from her manager's suggestion. "I won't do it; you'll have to tell them it's not going to be possible."

"Caroline," he protested.

"Don't Caroline me, Enzo. I've made up my mind."

"It's the fifteenth anniversary of the Mickey Mouse Club, the organisers of the Grammy's thought it would be a good idea for you and Klaus to present an award together."

"Don't even use that idiot's name in my presence," she scowled. "Or better yet why not refer to him as 'womanizer', just like the song I penned in his honour. Who knew a drunken, angry rant would lead to a triple platinum, selling single."

"And maybe lessen your insane hatred in the process?"

"Why would I want to lessen my angry muse when it produces hit singles?"

"Maybe if you finally told me how this all began, I might be able to understand some of your apprehension about doing this."

"So, the fact he's an ass isn't enough? Anyway, I never said I'd do it, I politely declined."

"Yeah, real polite," he snorted, earning a dirty look from her client. "I'm this close to sicking Katherine on you, Forbes." Katherine Pierce was her publicist and unrelenting at the best of times.

"Why can't Elena, Matt or Stefan do it instead?" She suggested. "If they're desperate I'm sure Hayley could even make an appearance, long enough to get off that stripper pole of hers. Although they might need to suggest some extra clothing, don't want to scare the poor kiddies watching, after all."

"Putting aside that lovely commentary Care, none of them are as famous as you and Klaus. It wouldn't hold as much weight if any of them did the Grammy's and quite frankly they wouldn't even be considered based on that fact." Caroline thought this was definitely one of the drawbacks of fame. Growing up in the spotlight was incredibly difficult but once it was in your system there was no way of getting rid of it.

Shortly after appearing on the Mickey Mouse Club she'd been catapulted into the professional singing world, signed to a country music label at the age of sixteen. Now, after twelve years and six successful albums she was a household name, especially in her hometown of Nashville. She hadn't had to worry about Klaus Mikaelson personally, only when his smug but unfortunately gorgeous face would pop up on the television or US Weekly linking him with his latest fling. She shouldn't have been surprised.

"Oh please for the love of god Caroline, this is important. You're a professional, I'm sure whatever happened you can both put it aside for five minutes." Caroline remained silent, still unwilling to share. "How about I guess what happened? He said you were fat?"

"That's your first guess?" She baulked. "What part of womanizer didn't you understand?"

"You didn't let me finish," he drawled. "So, he cheated on you but when? You haven't seen the guy in ten years, right?"

"Actually it's more like fifteen," she murmured.

"When you wrapped the Mickey Mouse Club? Well, I guess that puts to rest the rumours whether or not the Mickey Mouse Club was incestuous."

"You don't know how much."

"So, you were childhood crushes and he made out with someone else? Oh my poor misguided, Caroline," he gave an exasperated sigh. "Have you not seen those Lifetime unauthorised documentaries? I caught the Beverly Hills 90210 the other night and everyone was macking on each other. I wouldn't have been surprised if there was a group orgy at some point but given the rating I can understand its omission."

"I'm still trying to get over the fact that you watch those documentaries."

"Like you haven't," he said defensively. "The cat fights were the best, tell me you got into some punch-ups at Mickey Mouse HQ?"

"Oh, so now you're making fun of me?" She scoffed.

"Yeah, a little," he chuckled. "You were only kids, Caroline."

"I was a sensitive, young girl and Kaus was my first love and someone I was besotted with for six seasons," she admitted. "And then I had to catch him making out with Hayley backstage. I mean I was waiting for him."

"What? Do you mean for sex?"

"No, for a kiss."

"Oh, wow this just gets better and better, gorgeous."

"We were twelve, some things are sacred," she argued.

"So, let me get this straight, you wrote a song about Klaus Mikaelson being a womaniser and didn't consider it slightly slanderous?"

"It's not like I named him or anything."

"Thank god for that," he mumbled. "That's settled, you'll be doing the show, I'm going to let Katherine and the organisers know you're available."

"But..."

"Maybe you two can go backstage afterwards and make out? It might give you some sort of closure, darling." Enzo was gone before Caroline could object further. That served her right for telling a self righteous and insensitive bastard about it.

59th Annual Grammy Awards - Rehearsals

The Staples Centre - Los Angeles

"Would you please stop pacing like that," Rebekah warned, regarding him wearily.

"Would you please stop telling me what to do?"

"You've been grouchy ever since I told you about this," she hissed. "I know it must be difficult having to see your little girlfriend again after all these years but I'm sure you'll manage, princess."

"She wasn't my girlfriend."

"Oh whatever. I used to see you gaping at her when I'd come to set and watch you tape the show and don't get me started on those photos you thought were well hidden. You were practically a stalker."

"I was not," he growled. "And what in the hell were you doing snooping in my drawers?"

"I'm a little sister, Niklaus. You know it kind of goes with the territory."

"Where the hell is she?" He asked, looking around impatiently. Klaus would never admit it aloud but he was nervous about seeing her again, they hadn't exactly left things very well. One day they'd been innocently flirting and the next she looked like she wanted to kill him and knowing her strength Klaus considered it was entirely possible.

After the show ended Klaus had followed the predictable route, going onto singing but finding a subsequent career in acting, a number of box office hits under his belt. His life had turned out exactly the way he hoped except for the absence of a significant other, he'd had many flings but nothing that really counted. Seeing his former co-star splashed all over the magazines with her latest boyfriend didn't help matters.

"Sorry we're late, this one has serious road rage issues." A dark haired guy commented coming into view, a very familiar blonde behind him. She looked even more beautiful dressed casually in jeans and a white t-shirt, if that was possible, even if her blue eyes were blazing angrily in his direction.

"Sounds about right," Klaus muttered, probably against his better judgment.

"It's not my fault people in Los Angeles can't drive," she muttered. "Wow Rebekah, I'm surprised you haven't killed him yet."

"The urge comes and goes," she replied, earning an intense glare from her brother. "Good to see you after all these years. Who's the brunette? Some groupie you picked up in peak hour traffic during one of those road rage episodes?"

"Excuse you," Enzo growled, unable to help himself. "I'm Caroline's manager, blondie."

"Well whoever you are, these two were due stage left for rehearsal ten minutes ago." Klaus, who'd been glaring at Caroline for a good minute, took that as his cue to walk in that direction. The floral scent following was a pretty good indicator that she was behind him, very reluctantly though he figured.

"You'll be next, just wait here," one of the stagehands instructed. They stood there for a while in uncomfortable silence, the only thing to occupy them were the two presenters practicing before them.

"Who the hell are they?" Klaus asked to no one in particular.

"Some Vampire TV Show," she replied, monotonously. "They're everywhere these days. I give them a few seasons max."

"Some would have said that about our show."

"It's Mickey Mouse," she scoffed. "Mickey and Disney never go out of fashion."

"Just like those ears that always looked so damn cute on you," Klaus murmured, not sure what had happened for him to share that piece of information. He decided to blame it on their close proximity after all these years.

"Not as cute as Hayley, obviously," she bit back, surprising him considerably. He looked across noting how tightly her arms were crossed over her chest, her blue eyes trained on the stage.

"No one could ever wear those ears like you, love."

"Don't you love me buddy," she accused, finally averting her eyes in his direction. "I saw you two together." Klaus looked around at the numerous pairs of prying eyes watching their interaction with interest. He took a chance pulling Caroline into the nearest room and closing the door shut. She was obviously surprised initially, but it didn't take long for her to start pummelling his chest incessantly.

"Hey!" He objected, grabbing hold of those weapons and making her stop, not realising just how close they were now. If Klaus leaned in a little further he could kiss those pink lips he'd wanted to touch ever since he was ten. "What's with all the agro?"

"You really have to ask me that?"

"Yes I do."

"You know what, I'm over it," she sulked, pulling her hands free and moving away from him.

"Yes because it seems like it," Klaus observed. "I don't understand all the hostility given you were the one making out with Stefan Salvatore of all people. I mean seriously. Could you get anyone more in love with himself? If you'd chosen Matt it would have hurt considerably less, Caroline."

"That's only because I saw you doing it first."

"First?"

"You and Hayley."

"Hey, she came onto me. In fact, it was bloody hard to get her off me considering her lips were like vacuumed against mine. I still have nightmares about the whole experience."

"You're just saying that."

"She pounced, I was pinned to the bloody wall," he shared. "If you saw this unfolding the least you could have done was rescue me from the jaws of hell."

"Well, you'll have to excuse me if I was a little too shocked by what I'd witnessed, Mikaelson."

"So that's why you hated me all this time?" He asked, softly. Her gaze dropped and Klaus knew he was right. He grabbed her chin, pulling it upwards with his finger so their eyes met. "I don't know about you but all I've ever wanted was to kiss you, Caroline Forbes. The fact I haven't to this day still frustrates the hell out of me, especially for such a stupid reason." She looked into his eyes her gaze unwavering now.

"She was a bad kisser, right?"

"The worst, love," he grinned, capturing her mouth with his, feeling like it the most natural thing in the world as he massaged those supple lips. They lost themselves not noticing the door opening and the subsequent flash of cameras inside the room.

"Excuse me, coming through," a familiar voice demanded causing them to spring apart. Klaus looked over as Rebekah and Caroline's Manager shoved the paparazzi on entry and shut the door behind them.

"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?"

"Last time I checked you wanted us to play nice, Enzo," Caroline smirked, rubbing away any smudged lipstick.

"I'm pretty sure the media are going to see it exactly the same way." Rebekah muttered. Klaus looked towards Caroline pretty sure her satisfied smirk perfectly matched his.