Chapter Three: Our crazy families

Caroline felt her body ease into a plush leather seat. Her neck was stiff, her head felt heavy and her ears so filled with pressure, it almost hurt. Her cheek felt wet and there was a slight breeze blowing on her face which made her cold. She blinked a few times to gather her bearings before doing a full peripheral scan of her surroundings.

The first thing Caroline seemed to deduce was the cause to the dampness on her cheek - Disgusted - she'd find that it had been because she was laying face first in a pile of her own drool.

Gross

Trying to lift herself into an upward position to try and make sense of her current whereabouts, Caroline came face to face with a child. Peering over the edge of his seat – the little boy seemed quite fascinated with her appearance that Caroline nearly felt embarrassed – knowing he had seen her with drool on her chin. "Bobby get back into your seat and buckle up." his mother scolded and he flashed her a toothy grin before disappearing from her view. Not long after, had she made out a little whisper from the boy telling his mother about a weird girl that drools and snores in her sleep.

Turbulence jarred her from her daze and she was overcome with the feeling of discomfort that came with unfamiliar surroundings. She blinked her eyes a couple of times in an effort to rid her of the cobwebs in her mind. As her head returned her to the realities of her surroundings, she blinked her eyes some more trying to sharpen her vision. After another long look, Caroline waited for what she saw to click everything into place.

Nothing clicked.

From between the bar and passing out she couldn't exactly deduce how she ended up here. How the heck did she make it to the plane?

Oh god.

Well its safe to say she knows exactly why she felt all droopy-like and weird. Caroline remembers the pity on the woman's face when she gave her some unknown drug – oh if her mother saw her now...

"Welcome back to the land of the living."

Caroline nearly jumped out of her seat when she felt someone shake from laughter from right next to her.

"Klaus?" Caroline whirled in shock more than anything, trying to decipher why he was sitting next to her and why the leggy brunette from the bar hadn't been with him. She remembered how that girl had practically wrapped herself around his every entire anatomy.

"You look like you could use a drink." He mused and Caroline watched as he pulled on lock of hair that had been stuck to the side of her earlier – drool-coated face. The fact that Caroline probably looked like hell at that point, did not bother her in the slightest, it was just Klaus after all. A woman in a uniform quite similar to the one from the bathroom incident earlier, wheeled a trolley next to them. Caroline craved a soda or something sweet to wash out the horrid taste of sleeping with her mouth open.

Klaus took a scotch, neat. "Thank you love," he said, flashing the woman a dimpled smirk making her blush. Caroline could not understand how his cheesy moves actually worked on these poor women. If her eyes could roll any further, they'd be at the back of her head. She continued to watch - with an annoyed expression as Klaus ogled the flight attendants ass while she wheeled away further down the aisle. He handed Caroline a bottle of water

"Seriously.. Can you be any more of a man-whore.." She muttered lowly

"Man-whore?" He laughed "Say what you will sweetheart but I totally do it for you."

"In your dreams Klaus."

"No sweetheart, in yours. You've been moaning my name in your sleep ever since you passed out in the bar." He smirked. Caroline refused to dignify his remark with a comment and decided to focus on the one thing she couldn't quite wrap her head around.

"How did I get here?"

"I put you here."

Oh.

"Ah ah ah!" Klaus swotted her hand away when she tried to grab his glass instead of her bottled water. "You need to flush out whatever drug it is that you took earlier sweetheart."

Staring at him with a scowl, she downed the bottled water in a matter of three large gulps.

"Never pegged you for the ecstasy type of girl Caroline." Klaus said

"That's because I'm not." She retorted "Can we just cool it with the snarky comments? I just found out I had been a home-wrecker for a span of months and its bad enough that I'm stuck on a plane with you for the next couple of hours. I totally wanted the window seat by the way."

And suddenly Klaus was brought back to the initial reason they'd been on a plane to Chicago. Caroline's mother's wedding at his parents house.

His parents

His dad.

Klaus had been completely engrossed in his thoughts and the conversation he had earlier with Mikael that he failed to hear Caroline calling him

"Klaus!"

He finally turned to look at her – his facial expression rather blank.

"I said your name three times." Caroline scoffed

"Look Caroline I'm sorry I had to carry you onto the plane, sorry that you didn't get a window seat and I'm sorry you're stuck next to me on this plane for the next few hours. I wanted to fly without my best friend's kid-sister slobbering all over me for three hours so I guess we don't always get what we want."

"Wow... Okay. Someone's grumpy."

"Really! I wonder why that could be..." Klaus continued his little rant and Caroline couldn't help but sit back in awe as to how suddenly his mood had changed. It's like he was bipolar or something

""-and maybe it's because I had to carry you all the way to the gate terminal and onto the plane or-"

"Klaus..."

"maybe it's because after I lost two woman from my roster and was so close to getting another when..."

"Klaus.."

"Maybe it's because I just found out that my father is dying of cancer."

That certainly made Caroline pause. "What?" she gasped staring at him – afraid of having heard him wrong.

Klaus sighed running a hand through his hair "They called while you were passed out. Its terminal Caroline... Stage 4." He replied "He's got six months."

Caroline sat straight up and stared at Klaus in sheer disbelief. She felt like such a bitch for going off at him earlier. Had she known... "Oh, Klaus." She placed her hand on his arm in hopes to comfort him, something she was sure he needed now. She watched him blink rapidly and knew he battled at keeping his tears at bay.

Caroline found herself at a loss of what to do. Klaus was surely crying... In his own unique, Klaus-like way but this was so out of her level of expertise not to mention her comfort-zone. As taken aback as she was, she couldn't help but think back to the only time she had ever seen Klaus cry. It was silly and totally irrelevant but it was literally the first thing that jumped into her mind. Her brother Stefan, along with Klaus and his brothers were in the backyard playing what was initially a friendly-game of hockey. Things surely took a turn for the worst when Klaus took a nasty knock to the chest and fell down onto the ground breathlessly. She was sure she saw him shed a few tears from her bedroom window upstairs. That was ages ago and it certainly did not help her current situation in the slightest.

"Klaus..." She watched as he dashed the tears away angrily, refusing to look at her. "Do the others know?"

He shook his head. Elijah would have told Klaus, had he known. "I think my parents wanted to tell everyone together. Seems your mother's wedding was the perfect way to get us all together."

Caroline nodded in understanding. That was probably for the best. In that way, Klaus and his siblings would be able to deal with the grief and shock together, rather than alone in different country's. Caroline knew how much the Mikaelson siblings idolized their father, this would surely destroy them. Her mind went to Rebekah - Klaus' younger sister and her best friend. Although no one would ever admit, Bekah was Mikael's favorite. Caroline's heart bled when she thought about what Rebekah's reaction would be when they told her

"Look Klaus, If you need anything... anything at all, okay? I'm here." And she sincerely meant it.

Klaus finally turned to look at her – only now – Caroline wish he hadn't. The melancholic expression that took over his face made her want to cry along with him. She felt so utterly helpless and here she was thinking that Tyler being married was the biggest problem in the world. Klaus' situation made hers' seem like a tap on the wrist.

"Actually," Klaus looked down to his hands knotted in each other before clearing his throat " There is one small thing..."

"Caroline's flight has been delayed."

"By how long?"

"She didn't say although I don't think they mind. It'd be good for her and the mystery man to have some alone time before she brings him here." Lexi chuckles as she watches Stefan sigh, running a hand through his light brown hair. "With you as her brother, I almost feel sorry for the guy."

"I am no that bad." He retorted

"Hmm." She pecked him on his lips. The little frown line that formed on his forehead whenever he was annoyed was so adorable, she could not resist.

"What do you know about Care's mystery man?" He suddenly asked "I know she probably told you some things she just forgot to mention to me. I know how you girls are with your woman bro-code and what have you."

"Caroline didn't tell me anything."Lexi said rolling her eyes at her husbands paranoia "Although she must really be serious about this guy since she's bringing him to Liz's wedding. So you better be on your best behavior mister." His wife waved a warning finger at him, much like when she scolded their son for being naughty.

"I didn't even know she had a boyfriend and now she's bringing this guy home, and what's with all the secrecy though?" Stefan questioned "If you ask me this guy definitely has something to hide."

Lexi had found herself wondering on numerous occasions exactly why Caroline was being so secretive about her guy. It was very unlike her but she decided not to dwell too much on that given her less than great luck in that department. "I think you've been spending way too much time with Klaus. You're almost as paranoid as him." She said, incredulous at his ability to act like a petulant child.

"Exactly."

"And what is that suppose to mean?" Lexi eyed him suspiciously; the cunning smirk on his face already gave away that he was up to something and if Klaus was involved, it usually meant bad news.

"Oh nothing..." he feigned innocence but Lexi knew better. As sweet, kind and open as her husband was, he was also cunning, sneaky and diabolical when the occasion presented itself. She blamed it merely on Klaus' influence.

"Stefan Salvatore, what did you do?"

Surely if he had somehow conjured up a plan that involved Klaus, Caroline's mystery man didn't stand a chance.

"I may have convinced Klaus to get on the same flight as Caroline and her mystery dude. And if anything, he'll sure as hell make the flight as comfortable for them as possible." Stefan retorted, barely even able to keep the sarcasm out of his tone. He thought about the interrogation Klaus was dishing out on Caroline's guy probably at that very minute and he only but hoped that his best-friend didn't hold back.

"You know Caroline's going to kill you right,"

Despite the three-year difference between himself and Caroline, they had always taken pleasure in irritating each other to a constant. What could he possibly say? He was her older brother and like most older brothers, Stefan took the utmost delight in tormenting her. He idly remembered a few childhood memories in the backseat of their car becoming a war-zone over what radio channels' they wanted to listen to and windows being rolled far too down.

"She's going to thank me when she realizes that her so called mystery man is not good enough for her." And moat probably was not. Stefan highly suspected the reason for Caroline not letting out a peep about her new beau, is because she knew Stefan would not approve so technically, he was simply just saving her the trouble of flying all the over to Chicago for him to simply tell her what she already knew - he does not approve.

"Seriously Stefan will anyone ever be good enough for your little sister?" Lexi deadpanned

Caroline was annoying as hell, loud, clumsy, and way too soft-hearted for Stefan's liking. But she was remarkable, kind and beautiful and she had been raised in a good home with people who love her. If there was a man who could lay the world at her feet, he would be good enough for his sister - but until then...

"Highly doubt it."

"You what?!"

Caroline's outburst had been so loud she even scared herself in addition to it reaching the delicate ears of people sitting in first class. Irritated, sleep deprived passengers turned around to scowl at her and if looks could kill... Klaus had in turn, smiled apologetically at the offended passengers taking it upon himself to beg their pardon for Caroline's loud exclamation. She stared at him in shock - how could he just sit there all nonchalant like almost as if nothing had happened just now.

"Why would you tell your parents that we're engaged?!" Caroline hissed through clenched teeth. His care-free attitude towards the entire situation only fueled her fury all the more. Her mind went into overdrive. She idly wondered if perhaps there was something she said, or maybe even agreed to doing whilst under the influence. Surely Klaus had to know that she was not in a proper state of mind. How dare he take advantage of her when she was in a weakened fragile state.

"I didn't–" Caroline covered her face with both hands unable to hide the mortification she felt. "–I didn't say or do anything to make you think that I'd want to get engaged to you did I?"

"What? No. Caroline listen–"

"Because you have to know that I was high on some unknown god-forsaken pill that I hope to never see, touch or ingest in the near future."

"Caroline would you just listen for a second." He groaned shaking his head. Her need to ramble on had been a tendency of hers' often presenting itself in times when she was really anxious or nervous. At least that was one thing he remembered from their childhood that hadn't changed. "You said some pretty weird shit yes, but that's not why I said we were engaged."

Caroline wondered why on earth he just assumed that she would willingly go along with this. Out of all the women he could possibly have asked... he had a roster for god's sake! "Well then what on earth could possibly posses you to claim me as your fiance?" she stared at him incredulously

Klaus sighed "You had to hear how broken he sounded when he said that he regretted not having met the woman I'd be married to." Caroline swallowed, her heart already going out to Mikael. "I just wish you could hear how happy it made him when I told him it was you."

Caroline just stared at him. Her mind had been racing with everything and nothing all at once. At one point she could sympathize with Klaus and understand his reasons - dumb, although admirable at the same time. Mikael was a good man, had always been a great mentor not just to her but to her brother as well. Caroline practically grew up in their home, always having sleepovers with Rebekah and hockey matches with the boys in the backyard... He was like a second dad to her if not more. She didn't know if she could possibly live with lying to a terminally ill man but then again, could she deny him his dying wish of seeing his son happily married?

"You know what, just forget it. I should never have put you in this position. It was a stupid idea. I'm sorry. Let's just forget it okay? It was stupid." Klaus said interrupting her train of thought

She nodded slowly, lulling over his request. Aside from the fact that his choice in bride was not exactly thrilling, there was nothing wrong with his demand. He was only trying to make his dying father happy, what was so wrong about that? "No." Caroline added "It wasn't stupid. Not under the circumstances. You just took me by surprise and I overreacted."

Dwelling over the impending consequences to keep up this charade that Caroline knew would surely come, she couldn't help but think about the pro's. She still had to come up with an excuse as to why her very much anticipated mystery man was a no-show and perhaps if Klaus... no no no. That was a terrible idea.. even though it would possibly save her the embarrassment, it would surely open up a whole new can of worms that she had no desire of dealing with. The real question was could she really lie to Mikael though it didn't seem worth the effort of saving her own skin.

"I can't do it Klaus. Even to make your dad happy... It's dishonest and I respect him too much."

"Look Caroline, just try to look at it from a different perspective. The time I have left with him are going to be the best his ever had because seeing me with you makes him happy. But if you really don't want to, I completely understand. I'll just clear everything up as soon as we land." He sighed resignedly

Way to make her feel good Klaus

The more Caroline had time to think about it, the more weary she became. Klaus had been in their lives for as long as she can remember. It was safe to say that their families were a close-knit bunch. Stefan would surely kill Klaus, then her... Her brother knew a bit, if not most of Klaus' Casanova ways. And don't even get her started on Rebekah...

"It was a stupid idea, I don't know why I said that we were engaged I just- it was stupid."

"No Klaus it wasn't stupid. Given the circumstances I guess I would've done the same if I were in your situation. I just don't think I can lie to Mikael or Esther or even Rebekah." Caroline sighed "I'm sorry."

"I understand. I will clear everything up with my parents the minute we land."

Caroline nodded.

The Commercial AER plane landed at Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Caroline and Klaus were among the first few passengers off the terminal. For the purpose of her rather disheveled appearance on the plane with remnants of drool along her cheek and her clothes that reeked of Tyler's cologne, Caroline made a fast attempt to change into a fresh pair of clothing and re-did her make-up flawlessly just before they landed. Putting make-up on in a crammed space with limited supplies had been a rather unlikely skill she developed over the few months she'd been with Tyler. Out of the entire time she dated that asshole - Caroline felt a minuscule ounce of satisfaction that something good indeed had come out of it.

Klaus held onto her elbow lightly, guiding her and making sure her path was clear through the terminal.

She was exhausted – despite the immense amount of opportunity she had to sleep on the plane. After the shocking revelation Klaus made earlier well, it was safe to say that she could not get in a wink of sleep for the remainder of the flight. Caroline was also emotionally drained and was being consumed by guilt with the idea of Mikael having cancer and having no less than six months to live. The added tension of discovering her boyfriend of a year had been cheating on her and that Klaus' parents were now under the impression that she was his fiance, neither one sat well with her. It was safe to say that Caroline was spent, and ready to crawl into a hole and disappear.

As they neared the doors of the airport terminal, Caroline turned expectantly toward Klaus. "Your parents are the only people you've told right?" Over the years, Klaus and Caroline had developed a sort of monosyllabic jargon that passed as banal conversation, yet they were in essence, communicating quite clearly to one another. It resulted from years of practice, and from knowing each other all of their lives

"Yes. I swear." He responded way too casually for Caroline's liking. Did this whole ordeal not freak him the least bit out as much as it did her? Eh- his man-whore lifestyle probably gave him the confidence to pull this off, she mused.

Nodding tentatively in response, Caroline lulled over the sense of relief in not having to right away explain to her family why she was engaged to Klaus and happened to forget to mention it to them. At least it was only his parents, she thought wryly. The idea of the freak-like frenzy her family would be in if they thought Caroline was engaged made her grimace - and engaged to Klaus no less. Stefan would freak for sure. Caroline began to laugh at the thought.

"What's so funny?" Klaus eyed her suspiciously making Caroline laugh even more louder. The melodic tone made him smile, it always had.

"Can you imagine if we had to explain this to both of our families?" She spoke in between giggles

Klaus rubbed the back of his neck and smiled uneasily. "Stefan would bloody kill me."

"Never mind you! What would Bekah do to me?" Caroline grimaced as she imagined her blonde bestie yanking her hair and clawing her eyes out while looking fabulous at the same.

"She'd be thrilled if you ask me!" Klaus chuckled throwing an arm around her shoulders "You two have always been like sisters ever since you were little."

"Don't be so sure-"

"Surprise!"

Neither Klaus nor Caroline could have predicted that when they landed in Chicago at three in the afternoon that this would be the site that would meet them. Klaus dropped his bag while Caroline stared – her mouth completely floored with the spectacle that had taken root before her. She thought that perhaps it was her nervous mind playing tricks on her so she turned to Klaus, only to find him staring slack-jawed at the ensemble – so it was horribly real then.

Their at the end of the terminal stood both their families – nearly blocking off their entire doorway – smiling and clapping. Before Caroline or Klaus could even blink, they were both bombarded with hugs, wet kisses and offers of congratulations.

Klaus finally snapped out of his daze when his mother squeezed him in a tight hug. "Mother" He whispered harshly, "what did I tell you?"

Out of the corner of his peripheral view he could see Caroline as white as a ghost when her mother – Liz hugged her, exclaiming her joy at the proposal "This was the best wedding gift you could ever give me!"

"You look so thin - well, thinner." Liz exclaimed pinching Caroline's cheeks

"Mom-"

He noticed Caroline's eyes scanning the rest of the crowd and he knew she was on the look-out for Stefan – It appeared he had not been a part of the welcoming committee and Klaus had to admit that even he had been grateful.

"Do not give me that look Niklaus, I promise I didn't breathe a word." Esther shrugged indifferently but could not refrain from her eyes glancing over to his father – Mikael, who was smiling unapologetic. "Your father on the other hand..."

Klaus opened his mouth to respond, but Mikael raised his hand, silencing him. "Come on Niklaus," he said and gestured between Klaus and Caroline "did you really think I was going to keep this a secret? My boy is finally getting married, and to one of the finest women I know. How was I possibly suppose to keep that a secret hmm?"

Klaus saw Caroline shift awkwardly as Esther pulled her into a hug, kissing both of her cheeks. As soon as he found her eyes – he regretted looking in the first place – because judging from the look she gave him, she pleaded with him to do something, anything for that matter. He could not however, be of any assistance and stared back at her helplessly.

Klaus could not get over how happy Mikael looked. How could he possibly bring himself to correct the situation now? – Surely Mikael would be very disheartened not to mention that he had a weak heart and Klaus would not want him to get worked up. With Mikael so happy – his mother and Liz too, there was no way he saw out of this... at least not right now.

Caroline felt utterly lost and almost on the verge of coming clean right there and now when she saw Bill, her mothers' fiance – soon to be husband walk up beside her. "No wonder you wouldn't tell us anything about your mystery man." He exclaimed and Klaus smiled at that.

Caroline's lack of detail on that Tyler douche bag had definitely worked in their favor. He was kind of glad that it came off so believable and that no one questioned their fidelity. Klaus almost chuckled at how gulible everyone was and caught himself thinking – would it really make this much people happy if he married Caroline, his best friend's kid-sister from next door, the same girl that had blonde pigtails and dorky glasses

The impending thought that they were home-free slowly began creeping up Klaus' thoughts when he saw Caroline. Judging from her lack of enthusiasm, rigid posture and flushed complexion, he suspected that she was more annoyed than anything with their current situation.

"Caroline, honey where's your ring, why don't you have one?"

Liz's perceptive observation had cut through his thoughts and Caroline whirled her head to Klaus'. He could see that she no longer tried to keep her inner thoughts at bay and she looked livid. "Klaus, I need to talk to you. Right now." She exclaimed, linking her arm through his and tugging him away from the crowd.

Klaus looked down at her and almost sighed at the storm he saw brewing in her green eyes. "Ouch – okay." He turned back to their families but they had all be so absorbed in congratulating each other and chatting unconcerned among themselves they barely even notice the coupling sneaking away.

"You do realize that this is the woman's bath– Hi how are you-" Klaus stuttered as a woman made her way out of one of the bathroom stalls and eyed him suspiciously. Caroline turned on her heel and glared at him never-minded by the fact that they were in the ladies bathroom getting questioning glares from a few retreating females.

"I've never been in the girls bathroom without having sex in it, this is actually the first time I-"

"What the Hell are you doing? Father Kieran is out there!" Caroline shrieked while pointing an accusatory finger at him. Klaus had already been getting dirty looks from being in here and now Caroline's shouting was sure enough to draw even more unwanted attention.

Klaus smiled anxiously as another woman passed with nothing more than a raised brow

Father Kieran was a pastor and very close friend of the family; both families that is. He married Elijah and his first/now ex-wife, Stefan and Lexi and would also be doing Liz and Bill's upcoming nuptials. Him being present and a part of the welcoming committee definitely drew the wrong sort of ideas from Caroline. She never agreed to fake marry Klaus! "How are we suppose to tell our families we're not engaged now huh? My mom just asked me where my engagement ring was Klaus! You know how OCD she is, she'll figure it out."

"What do you want me to do?!" Klaus ran his hand through his hair, which by now he was sure stood in all places after the day's eventfulness

"I don't know! – I'm not marrying you!"

"Whoa whoa whoa! Who said anything about marriage? We're flying back to New York in less than a week." Klaus retorted.

"What, so you just want me to play fiance for a few days?" She asked - incredulous

Klaus fell silent at her statement.

"Is that too much too ask?"

Caroline gasped at his audacity and punched him straight against his hard chest.

"Ow - okay okay, maybe it is just a little bit too much to ask." He wondered why he chose Caroline in the first place. She was right - there were plenty of women that would jump at the opportunity to play Klaus' fake fiance for a weekend. But then he remembered how happy Mikael sounded after hearing that Caroline was his fiance. "But I'm not asking for my family or for me love, I'm asking for my father. Think about all the good that'll come from making a dying man happy."

Being in his life ever since he can remember, Caroline was the most logical option. His family already loved her and unlike a total stranger - Caroline wouldn't be cross-questioned by his siblings about how they met and a backstory on their love life. With Caroline it was easier, everyone could naturally assume that they had fallen in love - their story was plausible, he just didn't expect the reactions from everyone - especially Mikael.

"Caroline. My father is so happy... I don't think I've ever seen him this happy before. "

"You really want to do this?" She stared at him incredulously

Klaus merely nodded in response. "If not to save ourselves the embarrassment from our families, do it for my father. He was so happy just knowing that we were engaged. Think of how happy he will be seeing us together? Please Caroline - for my dad." Klaus knew he was not being fair playing on her emotions by pulling the sympathy card, he couldn't help it though. The reality of it all was that Mikael was dying and had little time left - this was basically his father's dying wish - how could he not try and concede it?

Caroline could feel her resolve crumbling, the puppy dog eyes and pouted lips was not a good look on Klaus - but it worked. "Arrgh - Fine."

"Thank you love." He smiled genuinely at her and she rolled her eyes

Caroline cringed thinking about all the people that were most likely waiting for the both of them right outside the bathrooms. "Don't thank me yet, let's first see if we can pull off this whole charade in front of our fam-" "wha-what are you doing?" she frowned seeing Klaus take her hand in his before he intertwined their fingers.

"Got to make it believable right?" He smirked and led her out of the women's bathroom

This is going to be one long week...

Never underestimate the power of a reviewer...

xx