Notes: Here's the next chapter. So glad people are enjoying them! I appreciate the reviews/follows/favs! Tis is another biggish jump, and the next one will be similar in size. Followed by a couple of little ones (and maybe some smut in the not too distant future...)
Caroline: Age 24, Klaus: Age 31 (August)
He's looking for an escape route. Aunt Dahlia's got him in her line of sight, having already claimed dances from both Finn and Elijah. Klaus was certain that she'd spent the duration of each pestering them about when they'd be settling down (Elijah), and having children (Finn, and Elijah). She was remarkably pro-sprog production, for a woman who'd never married, or had any of her own.
But Elijah and Finn, unlike Klaus, were at least on a path that Dahlia would approve of. Finn and Sage had married in May, and Klaus knew for a fact that Elijah had begun ring shopping (though he'd bet it would take some time, Katherine Pierce's tastes seemingly both exacting and extravagant).
Klaus was decidedly single, at the moment. Hadn't even brought a date, to his mother's wedding, not thinking it necessary, since it was a small affair of close family and friends. A misstep, he now thinks, wishing he'd asked a female friend to accompany him, like he had to Finn and Sage's larger, more lavish, nuptials.
He's cursing the large open backyard, and the lovely weather that had made the tent Esther had rented, just in case rain threatened, unnecessary. He's got no place to hide, and no way to make a graceful retreat.
Klaus has never been so happy to see his mother as he is the moment she steps into his line of sight, taking his arm and leading him towards the dance floor. "This is a reprieve, Niklaus. Not a pardon," she tells him, in an undertone, a fond smile on her face.
"Perhaps she'll move on to Kol, and lose all hope," Klaus replies, as they begin to dance.
His mother laughs, "A good attempt at optimism, but I know you don't believe that."
He doesn't, not even a little bit. Aunt Dahlia was remarkably dogged, when she had a course in mind.
"She's stubborn, my sister," Esther continues, leaning up to peer over Klaus' shoulder. "More than I. Possibly even more than you."
He spins them, eyes tracking the room. Sure enough, Aunt Dahlia's watching them, like a hawk, from the sidelines. Klaus sighs, focusing back on his mother, content to delay the inevitable, "Are you all packed for your trip? Or, if you'd like, I can arrange a getaway? If you've decided this whole thing was too hasty, after all."
It's not the first time he's hinted something similar, and he's sure most of his siblings, save Finn, have done the same. Esther had quickly, and firmly shut them all down, pointing out that, as a person who'd been married for twenty years, she was more equipped then any of them to decide if she was ready to take the plunge again.
And Klaus is mostly joking, about her making a run for it, the way she glows convincing him of her happiness. Gregory Mitchell had proposed in March, though they'd kept it quiet, until after Finn's wedding. Esther had arranged things rapidly, citing that she'd already had a massive church wedding, and had no desire to have another. They'd had no attendants, and Esther wore pale blue, She had walked herself down the aisle, misty eyed and beaming.
Esther doesn't bother to chastise him, for his offer, merely answering his question, "We are. Finn's going to drive us to the airport early tomorrow. It's been more than a decade, since I've been to Italy, and Greg's never set foot in Europe. I'm sure it will be lovely."
They planned to spend almost a month, touring the country, and maybe making a few jaunts to neighboring ones, before returning to Mystic Falls, at the start of the school year. "I hope you have a good time," Klaus tells her sincerely.
She smiles, and murmurs her thanks, and her eyes drift to the side, when a laugh rings out, over the soft music. It's a laugh Klaus recognizes, so he doesn't follow his mother's gaze. He watches, as Esther's smile grows. When she looks back at him her expression has turned knowing, almost shrewd. "Caroline looks beautiful, doesn't she?"
Klaus blinks for a moment, surprised by the abrupt change of subject. Because it doesn't seem like a casual comment. "She does," he agrees finally.
"And I quite like her boyfriend," Esther continues. "He's very handsome, and seems kind. That's important. But young women don't often realize it until it's too late."
"I don't know him very well," Klaus says. And it's true. Caroline and Jesse have been together for more than a year, and Klaus has only had the most casual of conversations with the younger man, finds himself making excuses to avoid him, on the odd occasion where they're in the same room.
"I was worried about her for a while, you know. She gave so much of herself, to that boy she was mad about in high school. I think she was afraid to try again, to risk her heart like that."
Klaus makes a noncommittal noise, to show that he's listening, curious about where this is going. And why exactly, his mother thought her musings on Caroline relevant to him personally.
"But she's a resilient girl. Strong, and determined. I think she'll be fine, when it ends."
"When it ends?" Klaus repeats, his eyebrows creeping up in surprise at how sure she sounds, like it was a foregone conclusion. "How can you be so certain?"
"Call it mother's intuition. And I've more than a little insider information, as you can imagine. Liz only has the one child to brag about, you know."
"Maybe he's got a ring picked out, will pop the question at graduation?"
She pins him with a look, a glitter of triumph in it, and Klaus senses he's made a misstep, shown a weakness that she was fishing for, in the little bite of bitterness his question had been laced with.
"I doubt it. They still live separately, do they not? And I think their ambitions are very different. And our Caroline's not one to not follow through on a plan. And far too smart to hold herself back for a boy, however pretty he might be."
Klaus locks his jaw, refuses to ask for more information. His mother pats his cheek gently, shaking her head in mock-disappointment, before dropping her hand back to his shoulder. "So stubborn, Niklaus. Do you really think I don't know you, my darling? That I've not noticed the way you look at her? That I'm completely unaware of your brother's less than subtle needling? You lot think you're so secretive, but I'm your mother, and I've known each of you since you were born. I think you all forget that sometimes."
He opens his mouth to answer, his mind fairly racing, at his mother's statements, but Esther shifts unexpectedly, throwing them both off balance, and they collide with another pair on the floor. Klaus rights them quickly, turns to apologize, but the words stick, when he sees Caroline.
Because she does look beautiful, in a long lilac gown, wisps of hair escaping her up do and curling about her temples.
She grins at him, faintly teasing, "Causing collisions? That's bad leading, Klaus."
"I'm afraid it was my fault," Esther says, before Klaus can say anything, her expression deceptively innocent. "These shoes aren't quite as comfortable as I'd hoped."
Caroline's smile turns mischievous, as she lifts her dress slightly, pointing her bare toes, "I was in the same boat."
"I convinced her to go rogue," Jesse says, "Hope you don't mind, Mrs. Mitchell."
"Not at all," his mother assures Jesse, her face brightening at the use of her new name. "I might just follow Caroline's example. Actually, Caroline, dear. Could I trouble you to take pity on Niklaus and dance with him, for a bit? His Aunt Dahlia's on a mission, and I'd hate for the evening to be spoiled, by the two of them having a disagreement."
Caroline grimaces, in sympathy, before turning to Jesse, "Do you mind? Trust me, Aunt Dahlia's a little intense," she tips her head in Dahlia's direction. "Totally cornered me outside the bathroom earlier, to ask why I was wasting my time with an advanced degree when my youth was wasting away."
Jesse looks over, to where she'd indicated, "In the black dress? I can see that." He presses a kiss to Caroline's cheek, and backs away, "Take your time, babe. I'll find Enzo or Kol, have a drink."
Jesse melts into the crowd, just as his mother glances around, "You know, I can't remember the last time I saw Kol. I do hope he's behaving himself. I should go check. You two have fun."
She favors them both with a smile, and soon he and Caroline are alone, save for the couples swaying around them. Caroline steps into him, "Don't step on my feet," she warns playfully, as he rests a hand on her waist.
"It really wasn't my fault," Klaus protests, as they begin to sway. "And you've danced with me plenty, love. Have I ever stepped on your feet?"
"No, not yet. But maybe you're out of practice? It's been a couple of years since I've danced with you."
Caroline had skipped Finn's wedding, having been in the middle of an intense spring course, and still juggling her job. She'd not missed much, in Klaus' opinion, the whole event being on the stuffy side.
In fact, the last time they'd danced together had been less than formal, at Marcel's club, and the opposite of innocent. He remembers it vividly, the way she'd moved against him, teased him until he'd felt like he couldn't take it anymore. Caroline's cheeks look slightly pinker, then they had a moment ago, and Klaus wonders if she's caught up in the memory too.
She averts her eyes, tongue peeking out the wet her lips in a gesture Klaus would call nervous. "Well," she finally says brightly, "it's a good thing your mom wasn't going looking for Bekah. I saw her and Enzo arguing like a half an hour ago, and then slipping into the house. Pretty sure they're naked, by now."
And that was definitely not a subject change Klaus was interested in, even if he understands why she's making it. "Not something I needed to know, sweetheart."
Caroline rolls her eyes, "Rebekah's twenty-five, Klaus. It's about time she got some in her childhood bed, in my opinion. Totally more comfy then that spot in the woods she used to go to when we were in high school."
"Caroline," Klaus admonishes, with a groan. "Knowing those things, in an abstract way, and speaking of them are two entirely different things. Would you like to chat about your mother's sex life?"
Her face twists, mild revulsion evident, "Alright fine, I guess you win. At least you've never walked in on Enzo and Bekah going at it. On your kitchen counter."
Klaus twirls her, in an effort to get her to just stop talking, making Caroline laugh. She's a little breathless, when he spins her back, steadying herself with a hand on his chest, "Fine, message received. Why are we avoiding Aunt Dahlia, by the way?"
It's only a slightly more comfortable topic, but Klaus will take it. "She's working her way down, by age, it seems. Inquiring about when we'll be reproducing. Has already cornered both Finn and Elijah."
"Ah," Caroline murmurs, nodding in understanding. "Well, considering Sage didn't actually drink a drop of champagne, during any of the toasts, I think Auntie D will be happy, in the near future. And Finn's six years older than you, so you've totally got some grace time, before you go knocking up a lady."
Klaus laughs, "Would you like to go tell Aunt Dahlia that? Please, just let me grab my phone so I can film it."
"Pass. She's always scared me a little."
"She's always scared all of us," Klaus agrees.
"Right? Like, if ever there was a woman who'd build a candy house in the woods and lure children to it, it's that one."
"Perhaps in a past life."
Caroline nods in agreement, and falls quiet. Klaus notes that another song has started, but he's not going to protest spending a few more minutes with Caroline. He's not seen her much at all, this year. Rebekah's flown to Chicago, a few times, and Kol and Enzo have both come to New York. But Caroline's course load was ambitious, so she'd not accompanied them at all.
They still email, and she'd sent him a birthday gift. But it's not the same, as speaking to her in person. He misses her reactions, the expressions that she makes when she's happy or excited or even annoyed.
Her thoughts seem to be running on similar lines, yet again, because she slows, until they're moving just out of sync, with the music, but no one seems to notice. "How have you been, Klaus? Anything new and exciting?"
He's a bit chagrined, to realize that the answer is no. That nothing significant has changed for him recently. His job remains as it's always been, something he likes well enough, even if he's not overly passionate about it.
Maybe he should do something about that, one of these days.
Caroline's watching him patiently, and Klaus smiles at her, "Same old, same old, love," he tells her, striving to seem dismissive.
"Are you seeing anyone?" Caroline ventures, a flicker he can't place stealing over her features. "Bekah said you brought a date, to Finn's wedding. Could she not make it this weekend?"
Klaus shakes his head, "No one serious. She was just a friend, the woman I brought. You've met her, actually. Gia? She works for Marcel, remember?"
"Oh," Caroline says, looking mildly confused. "Rebekah didn't mention that it was her."
Klaus has long since suspected that the silly dream Rebekah had once confessed to him, hasn't exactly died. She's dropped little hints, tiny innuendos, not as sly as she thinks she is, to Klaus about Caroline. An attempt to insinuate that he was seeing someone, when she knew very well he wasn't, to Caroline, sounds like something Rebekah would do, to incite a little jealousy, and further her plans.
He's allowed it, because Rebekah's much subtler then she could be, and it doesn't really hurt anything. And while Klaus wouldn't say he's waiting for Caroline (he does date, regularly at that), he hasn't forgotten the wager they'd made, years ago. She owes him a proper date, and he still intends to collect, when the timing is right.
"I can't imagine why," Klaus lies. "Gia's become invaluable, to Marcel, and a good friend. They're opening another club next year, and she's going to take over running the first."
"That's amazing," Caroline says. "People are always jealous, when I tell them I've been to the first one. One of the girls I work with waited in line all night, last time she was in New York, and never got in."
"I think the concept is a little different, for the new place. More seating, the setting more intimate, that sort of thing. More of a lounge, with actual food, not just bar snacks. He's wooing some top rated chef, to do a menu."
Caroline looks impressed, "Awesome. I'm totally going to need you to use your pull to get me in."
"Anytime. Though Marcel quite likes you, you know. You could probably walk in all by your lonesome, with no troubles."
"I might just have to try it, someday. There's a position I'm eying, could get me a job in New York. Not like tomorrow, or anything. But in a couple years."
Klaus refuses to allow the small jolt of excitement he'd felt to show, "Of course you are. All part of your detailed five year plan, love?"
"Yep," Caroline confirms, with a haughty nod. "It's not as strict, as it had been when I was sixteen. But I'd probably die without a general direction."
"And Jesse?" Klaus asks, aiming for casual. "How does he feel about relocating?"
"To New York? Not super enthused. He's not interested in Chicago long term. But…" she trails off, one shoulder lifting in a shrug, "who knows what'll happen? I think he sees himself living close to his parents, and they're in Atlanta."
Perhaps that's what his mother had meant, when she'd talked about Caroline's relationship, as if it had an inevitable end.
Caroline's still speaking, sounding completely fine, with the idea that somethings were out of her control, "Maybe he'll change his mind. Or maybe I'll get another opportunity, too big to pass up, and never make it there."
Klaus raises an eyebrow, "That's more flexibility, than I'd expect from a neurotic control freak, love."
"I like to think I'm not the girl who had a meltdown over every curveball life threw at her, Klaus."
"You're definitely not," Klaus tells her. "And your meltdowns were always brief, as I recall. Just a quick spell before you jumped in to fix things."
"That's not quite how I remember it, but I'll take it," Caroline says, with a self-deprecating laugh. "And I love Jesse, but I'm not going to give up my dreams for him. And I wouldn't ask him to give up his."
Klaus knows that, but he's pleased to hear her say it, so firmly. Is able to ignore, the little stab of something like hurt, at how casually she announces her feelings.
The man in question is approaching, Klaus notes, out of the corner of his eye. He shifts back, widening the gap between his body and Caroline's not having realized that they were dancing a smidge too closely together, for two old friends.
If Jesse had noticed, or objected, he doesn't say. He rests his hand on Caroline's back, offering Klaus an easy nod, "You're mom's looking for you," he says to Caroline. "I think she wants to head home."
Caroline flashes Klaus a smile, her hands slipping from his shoulders, "I'll go say bye, then. Thanks for the dance, Klaus."
"Thank you, love. For your assistance."
"You might be in the clear," Jesse offers. "I saw your Aunt going into the house. Said she was looking for Rebekah."
Caroline freezes, a look of panic on her face, "Oh, shit," she squeaks, picking up her long skirt, and speed walking across the dance floor, without another word to either of them.
Jesse looks mystified, watching her go, "Was it something I said?"
Klaus claps him on the back, gestures for him to follow Klaus to the bar, "No, mate. Caroline's just going to attempt to stop a disaster. Nothing to worry about."
Klaus feels bad, for a moment, as that seems to worry Jesse more, "Are you sure?" he asks. "Should we help?"
Klaus is fairly certain that more people will equal a bigger scene, and that it's best to avoid that. "No, trust me, it'll only make things worse. Did you ever find Kol?"
"Yeah, but he was busy with Caroline's friend Bonnie, so I let them be. Couldn't find Enzo, but I talked with Mr. Mitchell for a while. Poor guy's freaked out about flying."
Klaus orders a glass of bourbon, Jesse a beer. "Have you traveled, then?" he asks curiously. He doesn't recall Jesse and Caroline ever going anywhere together, though he knows Caroline likes to travel. She and Rebekah and Enzo had popped up to Montreal in the spring. It was possible Jesse had gone with them, and Klaus just hadn't realized it.
"Honestly? I'm kind of a homebody. I'm terrible at languages. And I get sick on planes. Not pleasant."
"I can imagine," Klaus murmurs.
He's at a bit of a loss, after that, because he realizes that the things he knows about Caroline's boyfriend are minimal, and he's not a big fan of small talk in general.
But Jesse's an affable bloke, and apparently more informed about Klaus than Klaus is about him, and asks Klaus a question about the gallery he works at.
They chat politely enough, until Caroline emerges, a red faced Rebekah and slightly disheveled Enzo in tow. Aunt Dahlia is, luckily, nowhere to be found, so Klaus assumes Caroline has succeeded, in cutting her off or misdirecting her, in some way, as she'd obviously intended.
Not that Klaus had doubted her, of course.
Next time: Enzo relocates…