Post 3x13.

You ain't nothin but a hound dog

Cryin all the time.

You ain't nothin but a hound dog

Cryin all the time.

Well, you aint never caught a rabbit

And you ain't no friend of mine.

Caroline took a deep, calming breath as she gracefully stepped out of her car and wandered across the senior parking lot at the high school. She was prepared for this day for the most part despite all the other drama going on in her life, most recently the death of her father. She was still trying to understand his decision, but the more she thought about it the more she was hurting herself. Throwing herself back into the "old" Caroline, she had invested her time in town events. Today she has had numerous volunteers, a journalist from the local paper, and even found local businesses to sponsor the program. As she drew closer, Caroline observed the large amount of dogs occupying different students' attention. As per yearly tradition, on the first day of spring, the Mystic Falls Animal Shelter was having an adoption event. Caroline, along with other volunteers were to give these unwanted canines baths as well as try to get them adopted into local families to save them from having to be put down. Caroline, clipboard in hand and dressed in a more casual outfit than usual swiftly approached Elena and Damon who together were attempting to wash a rather large brown Labrador.

Elena was giggling happily and cuddling the soapy creature while Damon looked on amused, but not willing to lend a hand lest the animal soaked his designer clothes. Caroline marched over and gave him her patented bitch glare at his lax support.

"The dog's not going to wash itself, Damon," she said snidely, snapping her fingers at him, enjoying his look of discomfort on his face at the prospect of touching the wet animal.

"I wrote a check. My work is done." Caroline huffed indignantly, before moving around the lot, checking on the other students as well as talking to potential adopters and the journalist from the paper. The event was going well as the afternoon wore on, until one of the students requested help getting one of the dogs out of his crate so he could be washed. Caroline sighed indignantly, and followed the timid freshman girl who was clearly uneasy about the large mixed breed. Caroline kneeled down and tried whistling to coax the clearly frightened dog out of his cage. The large male barked fiercely at Caroline, clearly unwilling to leave its home for a bath. Sensing a challenge and not ready to back down to the dog of all things, Caroline grabbed some treats off of a nearly table and slowly lowered herself again to the dogs height. She held out her hand and tried whistling again, cooing at the beast. Unexpectedly, the large male growled loudly and lunged from its cage straight at her. Before she could move away or defend herself, Caroline was pushed behind a large male figure that snarled furiously at the dog. Clearly recognizing the hybrid as the alpha male, the dog lowered itself to the ground whimpering, submitting.

"Hello Caroline," Klaus purred, turning to face her, clearly pleased with himself at playing the hero again. Annoyed by his interference, Caroline pushed past him securing a leash to the dog, and dragged him towards the portable bath set up on a nearby table.

"Thanks," she muttered lowly, filling the bath with water and adding some dog bath wash. Klaus strolled over to her, "I thought you might need some help with your little fundraiser," he said casually as he circled her. She didn't answer with gratitude as it was the truth, but she didn't want to admit it to him. As the bath was filled, Caroline moved to grab the grumpy beast that was still cowering on the ground, but Klaus beat her to him. Effortlessly he scooped up the creature and placed him in the bath and grabbed a sponge and began to wash him. Caroline shook her head in defeat, she would pick and choose her battles, and today she didn't have in her to fight him today. It was becoming a habit of hers since her birthday. Klaus kept popping up out of nowhere, at school to pick up Rebekah, at the Grill, even her house. He insisted that he was just "checking up" on her. Her desire to be strong and independent was clashing with her overpowering need to lean on someone and he was making it as difficult as possible for her to push him away. He had already left her flowers, notes, even chocolate clearly in an effort to cheer her up.

Together they cleaned the dog, not exchanging words, only furtive glances as they moved around each other in sync like they had been at the ball. Once finished Klaus helped her dry the dog off and clean up the mess they had made. She didn't push him away, but instead tried to be more neutral in case there were eyes and ears on them, most specifically Damon's.

"This is a great thing you're doing," he said as they moved to the volunteer's tent to grab a quick bite to eat before going back to work. Caroline smiled brightly, and looked around noticing that Elena and Damon were watching them from a few tables away. She looked away from them, feeling their disapproval and anger. She understood why they hated Klaus, but Caroline was growing tired of the constant fighting between her friends and the Originals. All she wanted now a days was peace, but voicing such an opinion would be tantamount to treason in her friend's eyes.

"Thanks. I've always had a soft spot for dogs and I would hate for any of them to be put down," she admitted as they grabbed different lunch foods from the open buffet table. Silently, they moved to a table that was in an isolated area.

"Have you ever had one?" He asked, stealing a chip off of her plate. She swatted his hand, but he just smirked. She sipped her soda, before answering.

"I always wanted one, but I just never got one for Christmas, no matter how many times I begged Santa," she said wistfully. He laughed and she found herself loving the way it sounded like a little boy, like a human. She was about to ask him the same when an unwelcome presence caused a shadow over her.

"Well isn't this cozy," came a sneering voice from behind her. She saw the anger on Klaus's face and with a heavy sigh; she turned her body to face Damon, who had his arms crossed, Elena hiding in a cowardly manner behind him. She wanted to roll her eyes at her best friend. Klaus was clearly not causing problems, but Damon had to poke the sleeping bear.

"What do you want, Damon?"

"World peace, the Yankees to win the World Series, Klaus's death to name a few," he said casually an arrogant grin on his face. She could here Klaus growl lowly behind her. He was more animalistic today than she had ever seen him.

"Can you stop being such an asshole?" Caroline shot back angrily. Having both Damon and Klaus together was a recipe for disaster and no doubt a brawl and she didn't need that to happen at her event. Not today.

"Sure, the day you stop being a traitorous bitch." Before Caroline could move, Klaus slammed Damon against their table in a strong chokehold.

"That wasn't very nice, mate. I'd suggest you apologize to the lady." Damon gave out a wheezed apology before Klaus tossed him forcefully into the parking lot. Elena ran after him, before giving both Klaus and Caroline a heated glare like they were the ones how started the confrontation.

"Run along home, now," Klaus taunted as the two of them quickly left.

Caroline exhaled, and grabbed her paper plate. She had lost her appetite after that little display. She dumped her food, and moved away from the tent, conscious that Klaus was following behind her. She ignored him, even though she wasn't mad at him, per se. She just wanted one day where everyone wasn't trying to kill each other. She had just lost her dad a few days ago and she couldn't take any more death. She checked in on the other volunteers, and with the shelter owners who were organizing the numerous adoptions trying to kill time.

When Caroline had finally packed up the last of her belongings after making sure everything was cleaned up and taken care of for the day, she realized Klaus was no longer behind her, or in the general vicinity for that matter. She shook her head and moved back to her car, exhausted from the day's events. When she got home, she collapsed on her bed. Her phone was loaded with messages from Elena, which she was promptly ignoring. She wasn't mad at Klaus for defending her, but she hated that Damon was still able to get a rise out of her after everything that happened between them.

A loud but gentle knock on her front door pulled her from her headache inducing thoughts. She rose tiredly from her bed and cautiously moved towards the door, afraid of who would be standing there. A white note was all that lay on her porch along with a vase of pale pink peonies. She picked it both up and moved into her kitchen, wanting a blood bag from the fridge. She placed the vase on the table and once she had her drink, she sat down at the breakfast bar and opened the letter. It was clear it was from Klaus by the waxed seal on the back. She steeled herself, and opened it.

Caroline,

I'm sorry for the upsetting scene I caused today, but I could not control my fury at Damon's blatant disregard towards you. As an act of penance, I made sure that none of the dogs that that were left un-adopted today would be killed. Being unwanted should not permit death as punishment. I hope you can forgive me for my actions.

-Klaus

Caroline felt her heart contract at his words. Why was it that she was the only one to see his humanity? She almost understood his unwritten words about being unwanted. Their conversation at the ball was evident enough of his need for companionship. She moved quickly back to her room, and after a quick change into a bright sundress she grabbed her car keys and purse. Hopping into her car, she sped off towards the Mikaelson mansion. Within a few minutes she approached the looming mansion, and she was starting to get nervous. The place was just as intimidating as it was the night of the ball. Gathering what little courage she had, she exited the car and moved towards the grand entrance. She was about to knock on the large door when she heard a commanding whistle coming from the back of the property. Cautiously, she moved around the building to see Klaus throwing a large stick, clearly with hybrid strength into the woods. Darting after it was a large grey Irish Wolf Hound who seemed pleased with the game they were playing. When she was a few yards away, she finally decided to make her presence known to him.

"I got your note," she called, and he turned sharply around. Both smiling, she moved closer to him, trying to ignore the fluttering she felt in her stomach. No one had ever done anything so nice for her and respected her wishes in such a way.

"Thank you."

He nodded, almost seeming embarrassed, and soon the large dog came bounding up to them holding his treasure tightly in his mouth.

"Caroline, I would like you to meet my dog Monkey," he said proudly gesturing to the scraggly dog.

"Monkey?" She asked, laughing petting the gentle giant who was nearly as tall as she was. She was expecting something more intimidating for the animal that Klaus would own.

"I saw the poor fellow looking so lonely today and couldn't leave him," Klaus admitted scratching the dog's head tenderly. Looking up at his new master the dog woofed happily, almost agreeing with his statement. Caroline felt her heart swell slightly at the sight of Klaus being so affectionate to his new pet.

"I'm glad he wasn't the only one to find a home today," she said, petting the dog as well. Grabbing the stick from his mouth, Caroline took a step back and launched it into the air as hard as she could. Like a shot, the dog was gone again chasing his prize. Together she and Klaus alternately played fetch with Monkey until the sun started to dip in the sky and night started to fall. All together, Klaus and Monkey walked Caroline back to her car. Caroline laughed in amusement when Monkey managed to squeeze himself past her to get inside her car with her, clearly hating having to part for the day. Klaus, clearly embarrassed at his dog's manner struggled in vain to get the creature out of her passenger seat.

"I guess he clearly loves you more than me," Klaus sighed with defeat after a few minutes of not being able to convince the dog to come out and back into his house.

"Or he's just more stubborn than you," Caroline said leaning against the hood of her car taking in his futile efforts with unbridled enjoyment.

"What are we going to do then, love?" He asked, slowly moving towards her to lean on the hood as well.

"Joint custody?" She mused playfully trying to maintain a somewhat serious expression on her face.

"Already? You have to break my heart with a divorce and steal my child in the same day, love?" He shot back, grinning boyishly at their light banter.

Before she could stop herself Caroline moved herself off of the hood and bumped her hip with his as she passed him to get to the door of her car. Being the eternal gentleman, he helped her and once she started the engine, she rolled down the window.

"I'll bring back our dog tomorrow Mr. Mikaelson. You clearly have the better backyard to play in."

As she pulled the car out of the long driveway, she waved to Klaus who gave a jaunty little salute back. If she had looked closer she would have seen him repeating a word to himself, a beaming smile the size of his dog playing across his full lips.

"Tomorrow."

I want an Irish Wolf Hound and Klaus. :) Read and Review my lovelies, xoxo