Viva Las Vegas

"I don't want a birthday party," she insisted. "In fact I don't want anything, no streamers or balloons, no singing or cake."

"You did not just say that?" Klaus reeled back in shock. "You live for cake, love. You choose your next year's birthday cake the day after the previous one has ended."

"Well, not this year," she growled. "It will be just another uneventful day. There is no way in hell I'm going to celebrate getting….old," she whispered the last word.

"Well, if you're old what exactly am I, sweetheart? Ancient?" Klaus was seven years older and heading towards the big 4-0.

"You know what I mean," she scowled. Just trust me when I say this birthday needs to disappear into the ether where it belongs."

"And what about next year?"

"As far as I'm concerned my birthday doesn't exist post 29," she added determinedly, walking from the room and signalling the end of the conversation.

Klaus knew she was sensitive about entering her thirties but not enough to turn down a celebration of herself. He regarded his phone, scrolling through his contacts, pressing on Katherine's name. If anyone knew how to celebrate in style, it was her best friend.

2 weeks later….Hard Rock Hotel

"So, of all nights your band just happens to be playing on my birthday and in Las Vegas of all places?" Caroline baulked as the limo pulled up outside the famed Hard Rock Hotel just off the strip.

"What birthday?"

"Very funny," she said nudging him playfully. "Tell me the truth, you've planned a party, right?"

"No because you wanted to ignore it remember, you know the ether and all of those dramatics you spouted a few weeks ago."

"Of course I remember, I was the one who asked for it," she muttered, sending her husband an unimpressed glare before stepping out of the car and towards reception.

His cell rang and Klaus consulted the screen noting her name. "Bonnie, tell me you have the double German chocolate…"

"Cake," she finished. "I know what Caroline is like without cake, chocolate and sugar and it isn't pretty." Klaus had to agree with her assessment of his wife.

"So, does that mean Lexi…"

"Has the decorations sorted."

"And Anna…"

"Has organised the catering. We all know how much she loves eating, so it isn't going to disappoint."

"That just leaves Katherine with the.."

"Entertainment," Bonnie pre-empted his response yet again. Klaus had to give it to her for organisation.

"I told her no half naked men jumping out of cakes," Klaus argued. "Just some tasteful…"

"Background music followed by a DJ," Bonnie groaned. "Seriously, you might have been complete opposites in the beginning but you have become Caroline. All bossy and controlling about social situations."

"Hey," he scoffed. "I'm not that bad. I just want my girl's night to be perfect. Plus, we all know just how unrealistically high her party standards are."

"Isn't that the truth," Bonnie drawled. "So, is she onto us yet?"

"Not yet, in fact she seems offended that nothing's been organised. Trust Caroline to be upset about something she supposedly never wanted."

Klaus noticed Caroline loitering unimpressed and disconnected the call not wanting to raise any further suspicions.

5 hours later - The Joint at the Hard Rock

Klaus had left the stage to a chorus of cheers, his bandmates closely behind. Now the show was over he was excited about the surprise. Caroline had been relatively quiet during the rehearsal and sat backstage during the show which was unusual.

"She's so pissed," Enzo and Matt laughed as they made their way backstage.

"You'd know given that's Rebekah's default setting, mate," Kol chuckled.

"Well, not for much longer. Seriously, would you guys shut up, she'll hear you idiots!"

"It's okay Niklaus," his brother and manager Elijah chimed in, walking in step with them. "She's gone."

"She left before the encore?" He baulked. "Unbelievable."

"No, Katherine offered to take her for a drink before she spied your party plans in the dressing room. Talk about amateurish."

"Usually it's Caroline doing the surprising not me," he hissed. "Let's just get this underway before she finds out and ruins the surprise."

They changed quickly before joining the girls at Centre Bar in the casino. Although she was surrounded by her best friends, Caroline seemed down.

"Ladies," he grinned, placing a kiss on Caroline's nose. "Enjoy the show?"

"I'm not here to stroke that uncontrollable ego, Mikaelson, that's what your little groupies are for," Anna shot back.

"Well, on that lovely note," Klaus trailed off, looking to his wife questioningly. "How about we go upstairs?"

"Ohhh someone's going to get lucky," Lexi teased. "And I mean you, Mikaelson."

"Suddenly those groupies are looking like a really good idea," he muttered.

"Let's go," Caroline huffed, sending her friends a quick smile before making her way to the elevator.

She looked beautiful walking ahead of him, her creamy legs going for days in that fitted, black miniskirt. For someone who was worried about turning thirty, Caroline had nothing to worry about.

They entered the lift, Klaus pulling her into his arms greedily and away from the buttons on purpose, pressing the floor they actually needed. "Have I told you how much I love you lately?"

"Well, maybe not today," she murmured.

"Well, I love sweetheart and am going to love you every year no matter your age," he grinned. "I'm not afraid to say that I want to grow old and grey with you, Caroline."

"Sorry I've been a princess," she apologised, resting her forehead against his. "It's just been a bit of an adjustment."

"No need to apologise, love." Klaus leant down capturing his lips with hers. She melted into him not noticing the elevator had reached its destination.

"I intend on making it up to you, I promise," she purred, placing a chaste kiss on his cheek before stepping out of the elevator. "Hang on, this isn't our floor."

"No, it's the penthouse," he offered.

"But why…." before she could continue, the lights came on and the room erupted into a chorus of surprise and cheers. She was shocked at first but the happy smile etched across her face was exactly what Klaus had hoped for when he decided to organise this party.

"Someone's sneaky," she accused, pulling him in for a quick kiss.

"I did have some help in the form of your opinionated friends, but you love it, right?"

"How about we discuss this later, in bed," she cooed, running her hand along his crotch discreetly before joining the party.

Klaus was pretty certain he'd done well but all he wanted was to take her to bed for the next three days without all these people around. Suddenly a surprise party didn't seem like the best idea.