Sorry for the delay I have moved back to college and have finally settled in. I'm not sure just how many more chapters I will do based on my workload/motivation. Please bear with me, TVD is killing me with all this spin-off drama and no Klaroline yet. So this is the third and final installment of what I call the "Monkey series". Just a reminder this is AU post 3x11 with none of that bad crap that follows.

My heart stops when you look at me

Just one touch, now baby I believe

This is real, so take a chance

And don't ever look back, don't ever look back

Caroline was literally two seconds away from strangling Elena to death in full view of the rest of the senior class. They were sitting at their usual lunch table outside, enjoying the last of the warm spring air that had finally arrived in Mystic Falls on this slow moving Tuesday. Caroline had been trying constantly to make amends with Elena since the "incident" at the animal shelter benefit, but even with Bonnie playing mediator it still wasn't going well as she refused to give up her friendship with Klaus to please Elena. It was getting harder every time to control herself when Elena would gripe about the struggle in her feelings between Stefan being post ripper phase again and Damon kissing her. Elena's rant had been going on for almost fifteen minutes when Caroline finally snapped.

"Oh my god, Elena will you just shut up!" Caroline screeched loudly. "Not everything is about you! God, I'm so sick of hearing about your Salvatore problems every single day, non-stop. Pick one and stop bitching about the other!"

Elena balked at her in anger, and glared at her from across the small round table. Caroline was done in trying to make amends with someone who clearly disregarded her feelings as "wrong and disgusting" when she was cavorting with two brothers.

"And you're so much better?" She hollered back, not backing down to her. "Hanging out with Klaus and the rest of the Originals for the past few months. Glad to know you've picked them over your real friends."

"Real friends?" She asked in disbelief with a truly humorless laugh. "I have been trying to make peace with you for days, but I won't give up my friendship with Klaus for your happiness. Being your friend has cost me and everyone around you enough lately and I'm done."

Without another word, Caroline rose hastily from her seat and took off towards the parking lot at a near inhuman speed. She pulled out her phone from her purse, dialing a now very familiar number. It was one that texted her every morning and every night just to say "hello" or "good morning." It was the one thing that kept her going these days through all the drama and the hurt.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" His voice held a worried tone and she smiled slightly at his caring. He would know that something was wrong if she was calling him in the middle of the day.

"Can I come over?" She asked hurriedly, trying to hold back her angry tears, she wouldn't cry about this anymore. She reached her car and whipped the door open nearly pulling it off, and deposited her bad on the passenger seat.

"Of, course." His door was always open to her, no matter the day or time. She was even given a key to the mansion due to their shared "custody" of Monkey. She grinned brightly, instantly feeling better. He never denied her any request, whether it was big, small, silly or serious. He always treated her with respect and understanding, which was a far cry from the treatment her "true" friends were giving her these days. It was never about her, always Elena with their friends. Klaus always put her first, making her feel important, special, and cared for. They had gotten to know each other more through their daily walks with Monkey and their trips to the park every weekend.

"I'll be there in a couple minutes."

"Alright."

She peeled out of the parking lot and hitting the accelerator hard enough that she was nearly across town within a couple minutes. She pulled into the familiar long driveway of the Mikaelson estate and instantly felt more at ease being close to him. She grabbed her bag and only took two steps away from her car before a large grey blur pounced on her, throwing her to the ground swiftly before she could've held her ground. Instead of getting mad about her hair or clothes getting ruined like she would any other day, she laughed heartily instead. Her giant hound nuzzled into her as she rain her fingers through his scraggy fur.

"Hello, Monkey," she said lovingly, petting his large head in short, gentle strokes. The dog nuzzled her neck in pure happiness at her attentions to him.

A sharp, commanding whistle startled both of them and Monkey leapt off of her and moved swiftly towards Klaus who was walking towards her from the front door. When he reached her he held out a hand to pull her up and she happily took it. As soon as she was vertical again she curled herself into his solid form and he wrapped his arms around her tightly in response.

"Tell me," he commanded softly as loosened his hold on her waist only to steer her inside the mansion. Caroline took a single deep breath, trying to gain control over her overflowing emotions.

"I think Elena and I are no longer friends. We got into a huge fight earlier, and I told her off for being so judgmental when she's the one constantly switching Salvatore's. I just could deal with drama anymore," she said as he led her up the stairs and into his room. With another deep breath she collapsed onto his large four-poster bed, only to have Monkey jump up and join her as he had followed them inside. Instead of scolding him, Klaus allowed their pet to settle on his bed comfortably, maintaining a close distance to Caroline. Klaus sat on the edge of the bed, watching her as she pet Monkey's head again as he had decided to rest it on her stomach.

"And I think I'm okay with that," Caroline continued as if she hadn't taken a long pause. "She's changed so much this year and I honestly can't stand the person she is now." Caroline glanced over to Klaus who was looking at her with an expression of guilt. He knew that he was the reason that Elena could not make peace with Caroline. He would have never expected Caroline to choose her friendship with him over a childhood friend.

"Don't for a second think that this is your fault," she admonished as if she could read his mind, but with the amount of time they had been spending around each other, it wasn't a long shot. "You have been there for me when no one else was, and that means so much more to me than you will ever know."

He smiled softly, and moved closer towards her on the bed so that he was laying next to her with Monkey stretched out on her other side. She shifted on her side to face him, taking in his calm demeanor and soothing presence. She sighed softly and snuggled deeper into his pillows; stealthily breathing in his masculine sent that clung to the soft cotton fabric. Her eyes fluttered close, and she felt him shift even closer to her. When she opened her eyes a few minutes later, she was that his face was inches from hers on the large pillow, observing her with quiet admiration.

With shy fingers, she hesitantly reached towards him, and started to trace his angular cheekbones, her fingers bristling over his soft layer of scruff. His eyes locked onto hers as she continued her pathway reaching further to stroke the small blond curls at the base of his neck. He made a contented noise in the back of his throat, comparable to a wolf's growl. Her fingers stopped, afraid that she had crossed some unspoken boundary, but he whispered almost painfully, "Don't stop, please." She continued onward more bravely, taking in every tangible feeling of his body beneath her fingertips.

When her fingertips left his neck in favor for his face, she felt a shiver run through her whole body. She bypassed his cheekbones and instead sought out his lips. Since day one, Caroline had always wondered what his lips felt like. They were ascetically pleasing she already knew, full and a color of raspberry that she was sure would taste just as sweet. When her thumb grazed his lower lip she could feel him shiver beneath her and it pleased her to know that she held this much power over him. She pushed herself even closer and he did the same, the moment seeming to suspend time when a cold nose on her lower back startled her, she moved those last few millimeters to collide her lips with his. It was like fireworks, magic, and fate all colliding at once in sheer bliss. When they finally pulled away, both breathing heavily, she chuckled at his look of amazement and settled her head on his chest, softly stroking the fabric of his faded grey Henley shirt.

"I take back our divorce," she said in a muffled voice.

He chuckled and placed a soft kiss on her temple, stroking her blond hair and running it through his fingers in a calming repetitive motion.

"After a kiss like that, you should know that I won't ever let you go again," he murmured into her hair. She smiled serenely, "I'm not going anywhere without you." Monkey yipped in agreement and they laughed together, a harmonious mixture of sound filled with pure joy and happiness at last.

A new chapter! Yeah! Read and review, my lovelies! I need some inspiration! xoxo