Matt Donovan arrived roughly ten minutes early on Friday morning. Caroline had notified Klaus of the appointment, so she expected that he would answer the door. She remained in her room, determined to finish getting ready and gathering her items.
Klaus heard the car approaching well before Matt pulled into sight. He left the kitchen, where he'd been cleaning up after their breakfast. By the time the unsuspecting human raised his hand to knock, Klaus was already turning the knob.
"Oh! Hello!" the realtor reacted with surprise. "That was some good timing, Mr. – er, Michaelson, was it?"
"Yes," Klaus smirked, only mildly annoyed to hear his surname mispronounced. "And my lawyer informed me that you are...Mr. Donnelly?"
Matt frowned and cleared his throat, offering his own tight smile. "Donovan, actually. Matt Donovan. And, speaking of, after hearing from Caroline about your return, I contacted your representative. As I told Caroline earlier this week, if I thought it was probable that you'd return to Rebecca Bay, I wouldn't have brought her to this house."
There was a pause, as both men sized each other up. Klaus stuck out his hand and let loose a broad smile.
"No hard feelings, though? I certainly didn't mean to inconvenience anyone," he gave a sheepish look. "And we sorted out a comfortable arrangement, if I do say so myself. I should hate anyone to think ill of me for wanting to reside in my own home."
Matt took the outstretched hand and slowly shook it. "Of course not. I'm sure we'll-"
The hand tightened around Matt's and Klaus pulled him closer to place the vampire's free hand on the human's shoulder. Their eyes locked and that was all that was needed to begin the compulsion.
"You will tell Caroline that there is nothing currently available for rent that meets her minimum standards. If she is insistent, you'll only take her to properties that you know she'll reject. If she approaches you about finding a new home, again, you'll come up with excuses for why there's nothing suitable on the market. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Matt answered, with a drawn-out tone that sounded little like his normal, non-coerced voice. His eyes remained at a blank stare, for a moment, then, as their hands and bodies separated, the mental fog began to clear and Caroline opened her bedroom door and practically pranced out of the room.
Both men stared appreciatively at the long-legged blonde, wearing black fleece leggings under a short, fitted black skirt. Her cream-colored boots clung to her calves, while a similarly-colored sweater hung loosely over the top half of her body. One bared shoulder showed that she wore a black tank top underneath. Her hair was mostly down, but some of the strands around her face were pinned back in a casual fashion. No curls, but the straightened hair flapped around her shoulders like fringe. A large maroon purse was her only accessory, and it brought out the color in her cheeks and on her lips.
"Caroline," greeted Matt, the first one to speak. "Hello! Wow…you look like you're going to a photo shoot."
She rewarded his compliment with a beaming smile. Klaus' eye twitched, and his lips tightened ever so slightly.
"Thanks, Matt. Should we get going?" The realtor silently agreed, heading toward the door and opening it. Caroline stopped, before going through, and turned to face Klaus. "We'll be back in about-" she paused and looked briefly at Matt, "two to three hours or so? I can't imagine it'll take longer than that, right?"
"At least that," Matt shrugged, "and we'll most likely have to take a break for lunch, if you don't mind. My treat?"
That made her blush. She hadn't thought the appointment would include a lunch date, but she didn't know how to decline. He was right. If it was going to take hours, he needed to stop and eat. She didn't look at Klaus. Something told her that he wouldn't exactly be cheering her on.
"Uh, sure!"
Klaus set up a canvas on the empty easel, looking bored with their conversation. Caroline started to speak, but with the blond vampire's back facing her, she figured he was satisfied with her farewell. She stepped through the doorway, heading to Matt's truck. Klaus looked over his shoulder in time to see Matt give him a curt nod.
Time for a vampire usually passed extraordinarily quickly, with humans seemingly living entire lifespans in the blink of an eye, compared to the prospect of forever. But Klaus paced in front of the living room's large window, watching the road leading to his home like a hawk. He'd tried to paint, but every sound, every cloud that momentarily covered the sun…any small change in the atmosphere around him made him instantly tense.
Nearly four hours later, the realtor's truck made its way back up to Rebecca Cliff. Speedily, the vampire put all of the painting materials away in his room, hiding away there. He desperately wanted to go meet Caroline at the car, again, but he reined in that desire. He couldn't however deny himself the use of his heightened senses to listen to the conversation taking place outside the front door.
"Well, I'm not going to lie, Matt. That was totally disappointing." Caroline's voice rang out as clearly as if she were in the living room. "I'm still baffled. Nothing? Really?! Like, two months ago, there were so many options that you kept trying to steer me clear of this place."
"That's the housing market," the apologetic man proclaimed. "We're entering a busy season."
"We're almost into winter. You're trying to tell me that winter in a New England beach town is a prime time for people to move into the area?"
Klaus smiled at her cheek.
"I'm sorry. I'll keep looking, I promise. We might have to revisit what you're looking for, if you want to be out of this house sooner."
"Yeah," Caroline muttered. "Not like I'm expecting the Taj Mahal, here."
"I'll let you know if anything turns up," Matt called out, either unphased by her last comment or unaware of it.
The doorknob turned.
"Thanks, Matt," she forced out with a cordial tone.
Weeks later, Caroline was sitting on her laptop in the living room. The fire was roaring and she was stretched out along the new couch that Klaus had purchased in town. It was a neutral beige that disappeared amongst richer fabrics and patterns in the room. She'd frowned, when it was delivered. But the luxurious predecessor that had been Rebekah's choice was unsalvageable. The new piece was, however, an upgrade in the level of comfort.
In one of the chairs nearby, Klaus was reading quietly, occasionally glancing at the young lady.
Caroline seemed annoyed, and she was typing with uncertainty, with pauses and repetitive hits on the backspace key.
"Something wrong, love?"
She stopped, then. Her eyes locked with his, although her head still faced the screen.
"It's just my…friend and her husband." The hesitation wasn't lost on Klaus, but he didn't press for more information. "She wants me to come visit for Christmas. And I don't know how to say no." She sighed. "I'm pretty sure I shouldn't say no."
Klaus closed the book and set it on the table. He leaned forward to narrow the space that separated them.
"You don't have to go, of course," he said with an air of nonchalance. "You're always welcome here." The words were spoken quietly, as if he was afraid of scaring her away.
Caroline's gaze softened, and she fully looked up at the vampire and away from the laptop.
"I know, and I'm so thankful, but…" she took a breath. She bit her lip and waited for Klaus to interject something. But it was clear that he expected her to go on. "But, well...geez, I should've said something before now," she shook her head. Her eyes closed tightly, and her lips pursed together, before both opened. She gaped like a fish, staring at her outstretched legs on the couch. "I was married!"
She flinched and glanced at Klaus…who still looked completely unbothered. Her heart stopped racing, then, and she gave him a sad smile.
"I met him in college."
The blond gentleman looked mildly curious at the admission, but he waited patiently for her to divulge more.
"Stefan – that was his name – he was sweet. He actually liked Elena, at first – the friend I mentioned earlier. Funnily enough, she ended up with his older brother. So, we were childhood friends that went to the same university and married brothers. Sounds ridiculous, I know."
"It's rare, now," Klaus agreed, lightly nodding. "But it happened often, in the past, when social circles were more confined."
Caroline nodded, too. "Yeah. Jane Austen, right?"
He smirked at that but didn't answer.
"Anyway," she continued, "he – Stefan – died last year. Car accident."
"I'm sorry for your loss," Klaus stated with sincerity. Caroline nodded, her eyes not meeting his. "So, this friend that wants you to visit for the holiday, that's Elena? And she's married to your brother-in-law?"
"Yes. I don't really want to go. I lived with them for a year, after Stefan's death. Between living in their house, in my hometown, with my mom as the local sheriff… yeah, I had to get out of there." Klaus remained silent, and Caroline mulled the pros and cons in a rapid debate within her mind. "I should go. It's Christmas. I should go see my mom while I'm there, too. She's been leaving me a ton of messages about it, too. And Elena and Damon want to share news with me that, for whatever reason, they can't share in-person. Or won't." She bit her lip again. "I should go."
Klaus leaned back in the chair.
"Perhaps you should."
Autumn had cycled through fully, leaving the deciduous plants barren. Matt had nothing for Caroline to see, but she had long-since abandoned her search for a new home in Rebecca Bay. She'd grown accustomed to her days with Klaus. The conversation was easy, and he always had something interesting to share. He'd taught her the basics of sketching and she'd had him try yoga. And, watching his eyes concentrated on the paper as he stroked the page with his pencil, seeing his strong jaw clench in determination to bring his art to life, she couldn't deny that there was attraction between them. She'd noticed, too, how his eyes lingered on her long limbs and lithe figure clothed in spandex and smoothly stretching into catlike poses.
His eyes hadn't darkened, again. No veins bleeding black lines up from his cheekbones. No fangs to put human canines to shame. He didn't move, from what she had seen, abnormally fast. He hadn't lifted some enormous or heavy thing to showcase his supernatural strength.
It was almost too easy for her to forget that she lived with a vampire.
Except for the stories.
He shared about the different countries he'd seen. The civilizations that had been born under his watch. The accomplishments and inventions he'd witnessed. The beauty of nations and the cultures that fascinated him.
And she struggled with how, simultaneously, she felt so seen and so small, in the eternity of his existence.
It was decided that Klaus would be the one to drive her to the airport. The car issue had been brought up on several occasions, with Klaus being insistent that she needed her own vehicle, but nothing had come of their conversations. There was no hurry, as she often received rides from Bonnie and, on the rare occasion, from Klaus himself. He'd also issued a long-standing invitation to use his car. She hadn't taken him up on the offer, though, being too nervous about bringing it back with even the tiniest scratch.
Caroline had booked flights a few days before and after Christmas day, not wishing to overstay her welcome and knowing that her first visit back needed to be a short one. Dropping her off at the airport, Klaus hopped out of the parked car to retrieve her suitcase. When both girl and bag were safely on the sidewalk, he placed his hands in his pockets and smiled.
"You have my number, if you want to return early," he reminded her. "If, however, you choose to stay longer, I only ask that you come home before the New Year."
"Desperate for a date?" Caroline teased, holding in a chuckle.
Klaus smirked back at her sass, and his head momentarily dropped. She'd expected him to tease her in retaliation. The pause wasn't uncomfortably long, but it made Caroline feel a little sorry for him, anyway.
"I'll be back soon," she quietly promised.
He looked up in time to see her lean in to hug him. Although surprised, he quickly reciprocated, happy to have an affectionate memory to revisit in the future. It was brief…friendly. In the next moment, she had pulled away and it took every bit of his willpower to overcome the competing urges he felt for a human he'd grown far too attached to. But he did. His jaw clenched, as he struggled to hold back any visible signs of his bloodlust. Caroline, oblivious to his inner turmoil, gave him a smile and a wave.
Both parties turned away from each other, on paths toward very different Christmas holidays.
The flight was mercifully smooth and on time. Although she had her laptop, phone, and a book with her, she spent most of the hour wondering what Klaus would do without her there. Did he celebrate Christmas? Would he feed on some poor individual that was in town to visit their family? Why did he want her to return for New Year's Eve? So much of their time together was spent in peaceful silence. There were conversations, but it wasn't until she was away from him that she realized there was still so much more she wanted to know.
Damon picked her up from the airport, looking smart in his black turtleneck and leather jacket. He didn't exit his Mercedes, and, when his eyes met Caroline's, she saw the typical annoyed expression that was leveled at everyone…except his wife. The trunk opened and she did her best to sling her large suitcase in without much fuss. After that, she gracefully slid into the passenger seat.
"Thanks, Damon," she immediately used as both a greeting and show of gratitude.
"No prob, Blondie," he replied, and Caroline cringed at the nickname he'd given her back in their college days. "So….welcome back to The Old Dominion."
"No one actually calls it that," she muttered, more to herself than to him.
"Aw," he mockingly shot back. "Where's your state pride?"
"I left it behind, in Delaware. Why didn't Elena come?"
"It's a long drive. I told her to stay home."
"It's 45 minutes!"
"And you're welcome, Blondie," he dismissed her refute and narrowed his eyes.
Caroline took this as a cue to stop, before escalating their banter into a full-fledged argument. She looked down at her phone, instead. While she was on the plane, she'd received well-wishes from Bonnie and a request from Klaus to text when she'd arrived safely.
*Thanks, Bon! Have a Merry Christmas and safe travels to London!*
*Hi! Safe in VA. Already missing DE. … … … …
She debated whether to wish him a Merry Christmas. Or a happy holiday. Or a happy Wednesday. Or tell him that she missed him. Or missed home - his home. The beach?
"Taking you a while to send that text, hmmm? Who is it for?"
"A friend," Caroline quickly responded, sounding a little more forceful than she'd intended.
"A boyfriend?" he challenged, sneering.
"A friend that's none of your business, Damon!"
"Ooo…testy. Looks like I hit a nerve," he said with a chuckle.
*Hi! Safe in VA. Already missing DE.*
The text was sent and Caroline opened a different app. A simple, mildly-interesting, innocuous puzzle game that would pass the time without arousing more interest from her chauffer. And the rest of the drive was peacefully silent.
"CARE!" Elena yelled, as if she was 100 yards away, instead of the steps of her home.
Caroline shut the car door behind her and watched her friend bound down the short distance between them and into her arms.
"Oh, I've missed you SO MUCH!" the brunette gushed. "I'm glad you came home for Christmas. I don't know…I don't know what I…would've done, if you hadn't…if you hadn't…"
The blonde pulled away and was surprised to see tears in the young woman's eyes.
Damon walked by, then, holding Caroline's suitcase in one hand and reaching for his wife with the other.
"Come on," he gently coaxed, with a tone reserved specifically for the person he loved most in the world. "Let's go inside."
Perplexed, and slightly terrified, Caroline followed the handsome couple into their home. Damon placed the suitcase down, only just past the threshold, and led Elena to sit on one of the leather couches in the living room. The same couches where Caroline had delivered her news of moving.
I'm starting to hate this room…she thought grimly, already worried about whatever they had refused to tell her from afar.
They sat for a minute or two, although time seemed to drag out longer, as Elena composed herself and Damon comforted her.
"Did – did something happen?" Caroline broached the silence, carefully navigating the tension in the room. "I mean, it can't be terribly serious, like someone died, right? You said we needed to talk, like, months ago."
"There was-," Damon started and then halted, mulling over the words. He clenched his teeth and then his brows lifted. "You know what? We have bad news and good news."
"Okay…."
"The bad news begins, well, technically it begins about a year ago," he began. "Apparently my dear father was involved in some shady business dealings. Fraud, embezzlement, insider trading, tax evasion… the works."
Caroline's jaw dropped, but she didn't interrupt.
"Long story short, the FBI got involved, Dad fled the country, and our company is now bankrupt. Worse, really, because now we're involved in a stupid amount of litigation that will probably drag out for years." He stopped and assessed the blonde's reaction. "Honestly, I'm surprised you didn't get ahold of us, once the press started releasing information about it. Don't you watch the stocks at all?"
"Um…no?"
He chuckled. "Well, don't bother now, Blondie. It's worthless. Worse than that, all assets are being combed through by various organizations. The trust that was set up in your name is most likely seized or frozen, by now, or it will be soon."
That made her gasp.
"I caught wind of it in time to make some last-minute legal changes and move some of our money to an offshore account, but we're not unaffected by this news, either. Dad left Mom in the lurch and didn't so much as give us an idea of where he was headed. We had to hear the news from the feds. Fortunately, it's helped to keep our names relatively unsoured by the whole mess. I was ready to exit the company, anyway, and I have something else in the works: a new business that I'm waiting to start up, as soon as I can be sure that the heat is off of me."
He'd finished the bad news, apparently, as he settled back into the couch and placed an arm around his wife. There was another silence that hung in the room, as Caroline tried to come to terms with what she'd heard.
So, Damon and Elena will be fine, of course, but I now have nothing? Is that what I've been told? My stock, Stefan's stock, is worthless, and the money I was given is no longer mine?
"Wh-what's the good news?" she mumbled out. What could possibly follow this bomb that will make me feel better?
Elena leaned forward, now, while Damon's serious face showed an inkling of amusement.
"I'm pregnant!" Elena happily announced. Caroline's brows lifted, as she glanced down toward her sister-in-law's torso. It was odd for the lithe brunette to be in loose-fitting garments, but Caroline finally noticed the oversized sweater for what it was: a means to hide the baby bump. "I mean," Elena adopted a more morose temperament, "it was horrible, when we got the news about the charges, and we worried about you, of course. I just found out recently about the baby, and it was perfect timing."
She placed her hand on her husband's knee and gave him an adoring look.
"We're growing our family." Elena looked back to her friend, leaving her hand where it was. "I would love to have your help, in raising our son or daughter. Think about how blessed our baby will be, to have their aunt here! I mean," she looked down sadly, "especially because they won't ever meet their uncle."
Caroline's eyes must have narrowed, because Elena started to nervously ramble.
"It'll be great! You can move back here. We left your room just as you left it! When Damon starts his company, you can work there, too. So, it'll be okay! You'll be fine. Everything will be fine. We'll take care of you for as long as you need. You won't have to worry about anything!"
Damon forced a smile, but, as usual, it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Care?" Elena redirected her friend's attention back to her.
"I…" Caroline began, "I think…I need more time to process all of this." She faked her own smile, and Elena's countenance instantly relaxed. "I'm so happy for you two, about the pregnancy. Congratulations, guys," she said while looking back and forth between the two parents-to-be. "It's just a lot, all at once. I'm going to go the room, for a bit, is that okay? I'll be out in time for dinner."
She stood without awaiting permission or for any kind of answer. Elena nodded and Damon remained as blasé as ever, his eyes watching Caroline pass them both and exit the room. Back in the bedroom that she had occupied for over a year, she bristled at the suggestion that she move back.
NEVER. She fell onto the perfectly-made bed, creating a Caroline-sized crease in the comforter. But I'm broke. I'm broke? No, I'm not out of options. I have my bachelor's! I can find a job. I can stay in Rebecca Bay…without a car…with a vampire whose home I am, for the moment, allowed to live in, rent-free…in a sleepy little beach town with limited job opportunities… She sighed and felt a tear run down her cheek. In Virginia, I have family and friends to live with. Who do I have in Delaware? Bonnie? She's trying to plan a wedding and start her life. I can't mess that up! Klaus? He's a vampire. I'm already impeding on his space. I'm already a pathetically helpless human, to him. "Hey, Klaus! Can I borrow the car for work, again? Are you sure that it's okay for me to live here for another month, while I save up money?" Geez….
Her laptop was in her carry-on bag, out in the living room. She wanted to go back out for it but didn't want to risk running into either Elena or Damon. Instead, Caroline pulled her phone out of her jacket pocket. There was one message waiting for her.
*DE misses you, too. Glad to hear you're safe. Merry Christmas, Caroline.*
She smiled at Klaus' response. Klaus, please help! I don't know what to do!
There was, of course, a practical solution: stay in Mystic Falls, either living with her in-laws or her mother. Both living options were depressing, but she'd deal. Then find a job, save some money, move out as soon as she could, build a new life…but not in Rebecca Bay. She was still young. She could move back to a beach town, eventually. Or maybe she'd meet someone and have her own children. It wasn't hopeless. But she found herself contemplating what, exactly, she would be leaving behind. And she fell asleep while doing so.
For the first time, she wasn't outside the speakeasy. No password was required to make it past the thick door that shielded the shady alley from the celebration that awaited inside. Caroline barely glanced down to see what color she wore. She saw some black lace over pale pink and felt some sort of jewelry weighing down her neck and gloved wrists. Across the room, Rebekah waited patiently at the same booth where she'd always appeared.
Caroline wove through the crowd, occasionally offered a gentleman's hand to join them on the dance floor. But she didn't feel like dancing. When she finally arrived at the booth, she plopped down next to her companion and began to cry, without so much as a greeting.
"Sugar, what's got you down?"
Rebekah had on a deep purple dress, laden with fringe, and had multiple necklaces artfully arranged over her decolletage. She didn't wear gloves, and, although she seemed concerned for her sobbing friend, she still held the champagne in her hand as if she didn't have a care in the world.
"I don't know what to do!" Caroline burst out. "I don't want to stay in Mystic Falls! I want to go…I want to go home!"
"Of course you do," Rebekah smiled gently. "I'm sorry you're having such a rough time of it. That's why I brought you straight in. Usually, I like to give you the option of either coming in to see me or walking down the street to your own dream."
Caroline wiped the tears from her eyes, not caring what it did to the black gloves on her hands.
"Wh-what?" she asked the composed blonde flapper.
"Never you mind, darling. Let's go back to you, shall we? What has you in a tizzy?"
"I'm…" Caroline stopped and sighed. "I'm out of time, really. I've wasted a year and a half of my life. I thought I'd have a few more years to sort things out, before things became dire. But, now that I have nothing, I need to move back to Virginia-"
"Don't be silly!" Rebekah symbolically waved Caroline's words away then took a healthy swig of her drink. "Klaus will help you. He already has. You only need to ask, Caroline. Here."
A second champagne flute was now on the table, filled and ready for a toast. Caroline shakily grabbed the stem and studied the bubbles.
"To your future, hon," Rebekah announced, holding up her glass. The rest of the room fell silent, although the revelers around them noticed no difference in their surroundings. "May Fate bring you the possibilities and adventures your heart longs for."
They drank simultaneously, but when Caroline brought down her glass, Rebekah was nowhere in sight. She frantically searched around the silent room, still as lively and rambunctious as it was despite the soundlessness, but her eyes landed on another familiar figure sitting at the bar.
Klaus was dressed in a tuxedo, the tails of which trailed over the back of the stool he sat upon. The white vest and bow tie crisply contrasted the black suit and top hat, and he held his own champagne glass in a white-gloved hand. He stared straight at her, smiling warmly and calmly.
The dancers on the floor stopped and faced the bandstand. Above the stage, a large clock was nearing midnight.
"10!"…the faintest stirring of sound could be heard.
"9!"…the sound grew louder.
"8!"…louder still…
"7!"…the combined voices could be heard as a choir.
"6!"…ever louder…
"5!"…swelling with each shout.
"4!"
Caroline looked back to Klaus, who raised the glass in the air toward her.
"3!"
She smiled back.
"2!"
She raised her own glass, wondering if she should stand to join him. Why didn't he come over to sit with her?
"1!"
A pop sounded, like the de-corking of another bottle of champagne. It made Caroline jump.
"Happy-"
Caroline sat up in the bed with a start. She was groggy, and it took her a moment to take in everything around her and remember why she was back in familiar surroundings. Then the memories of her most-recent conversation came back to her. She groaned and scooted off the bed, heading toward the bathroom to splash some cold water on her face.
The rest of her visit to Mystic Falls was a strain, as expected. She stayed with her mother Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, relieved to be away from Elena's probing and planning of Caroline's life. There were questions from her mom, too, now that Caroline had been included in the Salvatore drama. Apparently, Damon had specifically requested that Sheriff Liz Forbes not loop Caroline in, until her in-laws could explain the situation properly from their point of view. Now, she had to contend with her mother's wish for her to move back into her childhood home. With both requests, she carefully tread the line of being grateful and noncommittal. Damon offered to have a professional mover send all of her belongings from Delaware down to Virginia. Caroline's mother offered to fly back with Caroline to Rebecca Bay to help her pack, then pay for the two of them to return to Mystic Falls.
It was exasperating, but she was able to convince her mother, Elena, and Damon that she needed to return, alone, to Rebecca Bay. Once there, she would contemplate her next steps. Everyone, including herself, was dissatisfied with her vague answers and open-ended plans. She packed her suitcase a day early, desperately wishing to be on her way back to Delaware. Damon drove her to the airport, with a pregnant Elena staying behind in the comfort of her home.
She'd barely set a foot outside baggage claim and onto the sidewalk, when Klaus' black Audi zipped into view and parked alongside her. He swiftly exited his vehicle and greeted Caroline, grabbing her suitcase.
"Welcome home, love."
"Thanks," she said with a blush. She waited for him to put her suitcase in the trunk and then he opened the passenger door. She'd become accustomed to the subtle acts of chivalry and his strong desire to be allowed to do so without interruption.
"How was your visit?" he asked, once he was also seated and pulling away from the curb.
More difficult than foreseen, surprisingly. "Not great. I'm glad to be back, though."
"Are you hungry? Should we stop on the way to the house?"
Caroline sighed. "Yeah, I guess we should. I'll buy some groceries tomorrow."
"No need," Klaus shook his head, but his eyes never strayed from the road. "I restocked the kitchen. I have some instant meals, too. Frozen and boxed goods that I would never personally eat, but I figured it was worth a shot."
She burst out laughing, at that.
The next couple of days were uneventful, although Caroline was more reclusive than usual. Bonnie was still out of town and Klaus spent more time out of the home. He'd let on that he was prepping for a New Year's celebration, although it would only be the two roommates in attendance. Caroline paced in her room, checked her bank account frequently, and worried about what her future held. She couldn't stay in Rebecca Bay for much longer, without a plan.
For New Year's Eve, she awoke and felt excited for whatever the night would bring. It was a holiday, she reasoned. It meant setting aside her anxiety about what the future held…if only for one night. She left her flannel pajamas on, to emerge from her bedroom and beeline straight for the coffee she'd heard percolating earlier. In the kitchen, Klaus was wearing the most casual outfit Caroline had ever witnessed. Heather gray sweatpants, a dark blue t-shirt, and white socks. Every piece attractively clung to his physique, so much so that she found herself blushing. He turned to face her, and she saw that he held a plate in one hand that had a neat pile of scrambled eggs in its center.
"Good morning, love," he greeted. "Hungry?"
Wow…it's been a long time, since…her thoughts floated away from her, before she inwardly shook herself to regain her composure.
"Good morning!" she lightly returned and reached for the plate that was held out to her. "Thanks!" And she darted for one of the empty chairs at the kitchen table.
There's no way I hid any of that, was there? Quickening heartbeat, red cheeks, my eyes checking him out…stupid increased vampire senses…
"I haven't spoken much about tonight," Klaus said, sounding oddly business-like. "But I have something for you to wear, if you don't mind indulging me. It's a bit of a theme, you see." Caroline looked over at him with astonishment. He was staring back at her, his serious expression at odds with his casual posture. "You've returned from Virginia rather sullen," he pointed out. "I'd like for the conclusion of your holiday season to be pleasant. And I have the perfect way to ring in the New Year."
His countenance softened then, with a twinkling of mischief in his eyes that made Caroline beam a smile back at him.
"Sounds like a good time," she smirked and wagged her eyebrows. Joking, but also implying her acceptance to go along with whatever he had planned for the evening. "Do you need me to, like, go? Somewhere…out of the house?"
"Closer to nightfall, yes. Our evening will begin with dinner. If you could take your time getting ready, I think that should be enough for me."
Caroline smiled broadly, biting back the laughter that came with her mind conjuring visuals of Klaus using his vampire speed to clean and decorate the home.
Throughout the day, Klaus was nowhere to be seen. Occasionally, Caroline heard the bumps and stirrings of movement from upstairs, where he'd closed himself in his room. She made a simple sandwich for lunch, watched a favorite rom-com movie, played with the language app on her phone, relaxed with some yoga, and took a walk along the cliff. She longed to walk on the beach, but the wind was whipping through the air, creating an unbearably icy chill. She savored the day, subconsciously realizing that it might be one of her last at the charming home.
Caroline was exhausted, when she returned to the house. Emotionally and physically drained. Although it wasn't like her, she flopped down on the bed and glanced at the portrait of Rebekah. She didn't remember much of her dreams, but she knew that there was a reoccurring one of meeting up with Rebekah in a speakeasy.
Not that odd, considering she's one of the last things I see, before bed.
She closed her eyes and fell into a dreamless sleep. Just a little nap.
She awoke to a gentle knock at the door. Sitting up, her eyes were first drawn to the window and to the fact that twilight had descended on the east coast. After swinging her legs around to stand, she walked the few steps and reached for the handle.
Klaus was on the other side, of course. Freshly showered, with his wavy hair styled with pomade to look sculpted on top of his head. He had on a white button-down shirt and black slacks. The fit, Caroline could tell, was old-fashioned, but still timeless. Held out, in his arms, was a large cream-colored box. She grabbed what was offered with a bewildered face. It was heavier than she expected, and at least a couple of items shifted inside.
"I hope you like it," he quietly murmured. "I'll explain more at dinner. Do you think you can be ready in an hour?"
Caroline glanced over her shoulder at the clock on her nightstand, noting that he meant 7:30. Nodding, she turned away and went to set the box on the bed, tearing her eyes away from Klaus, who leaned toward her to close the door to her room.
She carefully removed the top from the package and saw folded white tissue paper. Underneath, the first thing she saw was the top of a dress. Her mouth agape, she slowly lifted the dress by the shoulder straps up and out of the box. It was a pale seafoam green, with silver and clear crystal beaded embellishments all over. Obviously, it was a flapper dress, with its dropped waist, knee-length, and overall style. But it wasn't from the 1920s. The silk material of the base of the dress was in perfect condition, as was the chiffon overlay that cut a deep v-line in both the front and the back. At the waist, both the silk and chiffon layered in scalloped ruffles to its hemline. In the box, there were nude stockings that matched Caroline's skin tone, a long pearl necklace, a matching bracelet, elbow-length white gloves, and silver t-strap heels.
Still holding the dress, Caroline's eyes met Rebekah's in her portrait. The light from the room gave the painted blue orbs an unexpected warmth.
Is this weird, that he gave me a dress to wear that's from the last years he spent with his sister? Granted, the dress she was holding looked nothing like Rebekah's lavender gown that Klaus had painted her in. The neckline was different, as was the beading, and the chiffon overlay certainly added a lot to the design. She shrugged and began to ready herself for the evening.
About an hour later, Caroline was twirling in front of the vanity, leaning in occasionally to make sure there were no obvious stray hairs sticking out of her pinned curls. Her makeup was definitely not subtle. She'd followed a tutorial for a look that would match the era of her dress, and it was honestly more makeup than she'd worn in quite a while. The smoky eyes, touch of blush, and red lips completed the look. With one more smile to check her teeth for lipstick, she strutted out of the room and into the common area.
Outside, it was a clear night full of stars, and, inside, Klaus had dimmed the lighting and lit several candles to add to the ambience. Little tea lights were dotted around the room, with a fire going in the fireplace. The couch and chairs had been moved back a bit and the coffee table was missing completely. A decorative table in the back corner of the room, one that Caroline usually overlooked because of its inconvenient location, had a large gramophone perched upon it. As she stepped further into the room, she saw Klaus with his back to her, staring into the roaring fire and obviously fighting the urge to turn immediately to face her.
"Hello," she greeted. A little shy, due to the nervousness of what was to come. He slowly turned with his eyes sweeping the floor, before meeting her own. The breath she didn't realize she was holding let out when his eyes met hers.
Now in the full tuxedo, he was straight out of a movie that Caroline would've watched daily. His entire face lit up at the appraisal of her own attire.
"Good evening, Caroline."
The dinner was an event unto itself, with crab cakes and Oysters Rockefeller for hors d' oeuvres, a light salad, and an entrée of three courses. Klaus removed their dishes and set them in the sink, while Caroline leaned back in her chair and sighed.
"That was delicious!" she gushed. She grabbed her half-empty glass of ice water and sipped slowly. "What was that lobster dish called, again?"
"Lobster Newberg," he called out, running the dishes under the faucet. "You're not too full, I hope?"
"Oh, I'm full," she sighed, again. Then, she perked up, sitting up in her seat. "Why? What's for dessert?"
They sat and continued their conversation, while Caroline leisurely enjoyed her single-serving upside-down pineapple cake.
"I can't believe this was, like, the popular cake, back in the day," she shook her head, and took another bite.
Klaus grinned, equally amused by the fact. "I don't think they really came into fashion in this little pocket of the world until later in the '20s, but I wanted to serve something more impressive than a scoop of Neapolitan ice cream."
Caroline shrugged and swallowed. "Would you like a bite?"
"No, thank you," the vampire replied. "I never cared for it. Nor did Rebekah, the one time it was offered to her."
This was the first time he'd mentioned his sister in a while, and Caroline wanted to seize the opportunity to learn more about the duo.
"Would Rebekah have loved the rest of the meal?"
Klaus frowned. "I'd rather not ruin your appetite. But I'll hint that, as a vampire, she was mostly a purist. Especially in those last decades. The only other thing she regularly indulged in was champagne."
Caroline felt a chill go up her spine, when she thought of the flapper from the portrait drinking champagne in some illicit club. A strange sense of déjà vu passed through her, like a ghostly memory.
Finishing the mini cake, Caroline was encouraged to lounge by the fire and wait for Klaus to join her. She stood in the very same spot he'd occupied earlier, staring into the flames as if they held answers to help her understand why she felt uneasy. Klaus entered as silently as a cat, and the only thing that announced his presence was the Gramophone beginning to play a lively instrumental jazz piece. Caroline listened to the first few bars, trying to ascertain if she'd heard it before, but it was unfamiliar and ultimately pushed to the back of her senses.
When she turned to face him, he was already headed back to the kitchen. She wondered, for perhaps the hundredth time since he'd revealed his supernatural identity, if moving at the speed of a human was vexing for a creature that could have been back at her side in the blink of an eye. Klaus, however, didn't look as though he was bothered, as he casually grabbed the bottle of wine and two champagne glasses. He smiled when he strode toward her and found she was already watching him.
"Did you know," he smirked, "that the monk who invented champagne, Dom Pérignon, was a master of his craft? He was a bit obsessive, really, but no one could dispute the fact that his methods yielded results that were anything less than ground-breaking."
Caroline scoffed. "You spent time around monks?"
"I did," Klaus contested, feigning hurt. He placed the coupe glasses on the small table between the chairs and then easily opened the bottle of champagne with a flick from his fingers. It shot up and hit the ceiling, bouncing and rolling off into a dark corner of the room. "Not my favorite era, but it was certainly interesting."
"I don't think I've ever seen those kinds of glasses outside of a movie," the young woman pointed to the table, where the vampire was currently pouring the bubbly liquid into each vessel. "We mostly use flutes, now."
He sighed and handed her a glass.
"Yes, I rather dislike the modern stemware. Your flutes trap the bubbles at the cost of the flavor. Champagne is meant to be experienced with all of your senses. The wider brim allows us to take in the fragrance, while tasting."
She smiled, starting to bring the glass to her lips, but she stopped when she heard him clear his throat.
"A toast," he announced, lifting his own drink to the level of her shoulder. "May Fate bring you the possibilities and adventures your heart longs for."
Caroline's eye twitched, as she robotically brought her glass to kiss his. The crystal stemware let out a musical ting that slowly faded into the crackling of the fire. Klaus took a sip and then immediately crossed behind Caroline to head toward the gramophone. She was still on a kind of autopilot, struck by some strange coincidence that she couldn't actually identify.
"This old world was just as sad a place for me as could be, I was lonely and blue.
This old world then changed to paradise for me suddenly, Why? Because I met you…"
The music snapped her out of the odd musings, and Caroline tilted her head at the unfamiliar ditty. Klaus returned to her side.
"Rebecca Bay hosted fabulous parties in the 1920s," he suddenly began to share. "Being a founding member, having a sister that was quite the socialite, I was usually pulled into some event or another. The only one I truly looked forward to was our New Year's Eve galas. They were lavish, decadent, and utterly fantastic." He stared at the fire, clearly seeing those days in his mind's eye, while Caroline tried her best to imagine. "People would travel to our sleepy little town from states away, bringing with them their finest frocks and attire. Despite the laws of the time, we had spirits flowing all through the night." He smirked and finally looked over to his companion. "I suppose it helped that I could compel the local law enforcement to patrol the outskirts of town for the night," he winked. Caroline giggled and brought her glass to her lips to take another sip. His eyes darted down to her lips and then he hastily drank from his own vessel.
He turned back to the fire and the light reflected in his eyes, even as his countenance grew somber.
"Rebekah was more in her element, than I had ever seen her. It was as if time had finally caught up to my sister. My elegant and boisterous sister." He finished the glass and took the empty one from Caroline's hand. She assumed that he would refill them, but he set them on an end table that had been moved against the wall. "The best way to ring in a new year is by dancing."
Klaus offered a hand to Caroline and she placed her own in his.
"And I love this song," he continued.
"There's dew upon the ground and not a soul in sight.
I'm walkin' by the river 'cause I'm meeting someone there tonight!"
They swayed to the soulful beat, Klaus gently cradling Caroline's dainty form.
"You would have loved the 1920's, Caroline," he whispered fervently. "Girls were reckless, sexy, fun…and literally used to dance until they dropped."
"It sounds pretty wild," the blonde agreed. "We…um, I helped organize our annual Decade Dance in high school. One of our themes was the 1920's. It was my favorite. I wore a bright red dress, covered in fringe, long white gloves, the longest strand of fake pearls that I could find. I think I spent an hour on my hair, alone."
"I wish I could have seen that," Klaus chuckled. "A Decade Dance? What a notion." He smoothly guided Caroline into a turn, before bringing her back to his frame. "Still, I'm glad to hear that the Roaring Twenties are still commemorated in some fashion. I don't personally believe there's been a better decade, since, for dancing."
"My heart is riding high, my blues have taken flight,
I'm walkin' by the river 'cause I'm meeting someone there tonight!"
The final chords played, and the song ended. Klaus gave a curt nod and dropped the hand that was on the small of her back. Her hand remained in his, and he led her to sit on the couch as the next song started. He went through the steps of refilling the champagne glasses, as she listened.
"You go to my head and you linger like a haunted refrain…
And I find you spinning 'round in my brain…
Like the bubbles in a glass of champagne…"
Klaus stood over her, with the glass outstretched. After Caroline took it, he sat beside her.
"What time is it?" she asked.
"It's only roughly a quarter to ten," he answered. "Plenty of time, before the ball drops."
"Did you even have the Times Square ball, back then?"
"Oh, yes. It was less…grandiose, when Rebekah and I saw it in 1909, but it was quite the display back then."
The conversation flowed, while the duo drank through the rest of the bottle. At one point, a song with a livelier tempo enticed the revelers to have a dance off with their best renditions of the Charleston.
Another bottle of champagne, and Klaus and Caroline were back on the sofa. She leaned into him, careful to keep her glass level, and rested her feet.
"Oh, I needed this," she sighed. "I have no idea what next year will bring. Probably some new disaster, but this…this is a night that I will remember forever!"
Klaus' supernatural features were fully apparent, being surrounded by her scent. He was grateful that she faced the fire, as he struggled with calming his bloodlust. Her shampoo, the body wash, whatever lotion she'd used…those artificial perfumes were mostly danced away. Now, there was a hint of her sweat, mixed with other bodily aromas…and blood. Throbbing, pumping blood… I don't need much…
He swallowed and forced himself to calm down. What is she concerned about, now? A new disaster?
"Are you ready to share with me what happened down in Virginia?" he gently prodded. He felt the darkened veins receding, and he slowly exhaled. "What has you so shaken up, love?"
"It's…um," Caroline stopped and took another drink. I shouldn't…I don't want him pitying me. "My late husband, Stefan, he was the son of a big business mogul." Why can't I stop myself? Too much champagne… "My – well, Damon, his brother, just told me that their dad fled the country after committing about a half-dozen white-collar crimes. My money is basically mostly confiscated. I have about a couple thousand dollars, between my savings and checking. I've been checking my accounts daily, but I guess my personal bank accounts aren't part of the litigation." She drank more of the liquid courage. A rogue tear rolled down her cheek, but it evaporated before it could mark her gown. "I don't know what to do. Everyone wants me to just move back to Mystic Falls-"
"Not everyone," Klaus whispered, interrupting her. "You can stay here as long as you like, love. I wouldn't want-"
"But I have no money! I need to earn a living! What the hell can I do with my fashion merchandising degree in Rebecca Bay? A full-time retail position won't cut it. Maybe I could become a realtor…get a job with Matt-"
"NO, rather…that's unnecessary. I have enough-"
Unfazed by his interjection, Caroline barreled through with her verbalized thoughts and worries. The awkward tête-à-tête continued, until a high-pitched ding pulled them back to the present.
"I set a timer, so that we would know when there was ten minutes until midnight," Klaus explained, starting to get up.
Caroline took the hint and scooted away from him. He stood and once more moved the champagne glasses out of their way.
"This is our last dance, Caroline," he said, walking to the gramophone and removing the needle. An instrumental number had been playing. A big band piece that had added more noise to the room than they had realized, back when they had been desperately trying to speak their opinions over one another. Now only the crackling fire provided sound.
Klaus sighed, placing the record back into its protective sleeve, then he retrieved a new one.
"I haven't looked forward to a New Year's celebration in almost one hundred years," he admitted. Caroline remained silent, still seated. "I wanted you to experience a bit of the magic that Rebecca Bay once held. And I wanted to experience it with you."
A second record was in place. He looked toward the kitchen, holding the needle above the spinning disc, waiting for something. Caroline held her breath.
The silence hung in the air for seconds or minutes. When Klaus placed the needle and the music began to play, Caroline let out the breath in relief. She looked up and his hand waited in midair. A final dance. She stood to meet him.
"Why do I do just as you say?
Why must I just give you your way?
Why do I sigh, why don't I try to forget…
It must have been that something lovers call fate,
Kept me saying I have to wait.
I saw them all, just could fall, 'til we met…
It had to be you…"
They swayed slowly. Caroline's head was spinning. Klaus seemed to be aware of her inebriated state. He held her more firmly than he had before, providing necessary support.
"I dreamt this, once, I think," she whispered, her eyes closed and her head leaned against his broad chest. She hummed slightly out of sync with the record.
"Yes," he murmured back. "And so did I." He looked down at her and smiled. "I suppose that makes this our song, doesn't it?"
"Mm-hmm."
"For nobody else gave me a thrill
With all your faults, I love you still!
It had to be you,
Wonderful you,
It had to be you!"
The record stopped, halting the music. Klaus picked her up, and her arms immediately went to encircle his neck. He crossed the room, walked up the stairwell, through his bedroom, and brought her to the balcony. Caroline stood in awe, admiring the twinkling white lights that Klaus must've added for the holiday. The string of LEDs wound around the railing of the balcony, adding ambience without detracting from the natural beauty of the night. The wind was whipping through the cliff, but before her body could shiver, a blanket was being placed over her shoulders. She smiled gratefully at Klaus.
"Happy New Year, love."
The first explosion of fireworks pulled her attention, and she gaped at how the colors lit up the darkness and reflected into the waters below. When she looked over to see Klaus' reaction, he was still watching her. Enamored. Adoring. She couldn't remember if Stefan had ever looked at her with such intensity.
It's the New Year…dancing, fireworks, champagne…only one tradition left…
The blanket dropped, as she placed her arms around his neck once again. He deftly removed his tuxedo jacket and placed it around her body, then held it against her with his own arms. When she pulled him down to her, he only hesitated for a moment before their lips met.
It was champagne, lipstick, a scented gloss, a hint of pineapple…and blood. He felt his fangs descend and the need to bite down on her sweet flesh. He could hear her pulse, pushing blood through her aroused body. He had to stop. He had to-
He broke the kiss and looked into her eyes. For a second, she looked confused, disappointed…but only for a second.
"Sleep," he ordered.
And she did.