Gasps sounded as people made their way past the gates into the World's Fair. It truly was a marvel to behold. So many exhibits pulled people's attentions in this way or that for hundreds of acres. Futuristic buildings towered around the area while just as many futuristic cars were displayed at the different pavilions. She'd even heard there were homes built to show how they'd live sometime in the future. It was incredible, even the sheer number of people who came was amazing to see. Caroline suspected people from all across the United States were attending. Whether a person was young or old or poor or wealthy, they all marveled at what the future would hold for them. Worries were left at the door of the ever-growing financial depression and left in its place was hope.

Caroline looked to where Katherine stood with her children as Elijah and Klaus examined a fancy car. Elijah looked immaculate as usual, but she couldn't help but admire Klaus as his attention was elsewhere. His slacks were nicely pressed as they were all those years ago, but his button-down shirt was casual. Gone were his three-piece suits, but she liked this better, she thought. His carefree smile at his brother made her heart flutter and she scolded herself.

Since Katherine's birthday party and their dance, Caroline had taken to accepting Katherine's offers to go to the zoo or to the park for a picnic, all places Klaus was invited to as well. She wanted to rail her friend, but thought better of it. If Klaus was going to be in his brother's life, she didn't want to get in the way of that and she'd have to get used to his presence. She couldn't have Katherine make special accommodations for her and her feelings. She'd just have to do what Katherine had suggested before, move on.

"You finally made it," Katherine announced, gaining the men's attention.

"Sorry, I had to help Alaric put away a big shipment of supplies." She smiled at the group, her eyes staying on Klaus longer than necessary. "What have I missed?"

Katherine sighed in exasperation as a little girl pulled on her skirt. "The men have been dragging us around to every car here." Her attention went to the child for a moment. "I said no candy, Alice."

Caroline smiled. "Well, now that I'm here maybe we can look at things that are worthwhile. Come on, children!" She herded the children away from the car they were desperately trying to get their sticky fingers on.

"Can we go on the Sky Ride?" one of the children exclaimed, leading them all to start begging.

Sometime later the group made their way to the futuristic homes. Caroline couldn't help but admire what the future would hold. It was exciting to think about the future, or at least the world's future. Whenever she looked to her future, it was messy.

"It looks like it belongs in California," Klaus spoke, coming beside her to look at the bright pink monstrosity of a home.

"The future owner could always paint it," she supplied.

"The architecture alone is an eyesore. There's no personality," he complained.

She eyed him with a hint of a smile. "Unlike replicas of Windsor castle?" she asked, referring to what his old home had been based on. "Maybe they have an indoor pool."

He chuckled. "I was a head of my time."

"In many ways," she answered and continued to walk slowly down the road next to him.

"So far, we've seen this…odd house, a house that looks like a spaceship and one that looks like a prison. If this is what the future holds, I'm not sure I'd like to see it."

"I'm sure when the time comes, you'll get used to modern architecture."

He sighed. "That's the terrible thing, isn't it. Everything has straight lines, it's dreadful. I'm not sure I'd like to get used to it."

"Not everything can be as glamorous as the 20's."

"But the art deco and gothic revival, Love, at least they were something to be seen."

Her heart skipped at the name, but she cleared her throat while internally yelling at herself. "I would live in any one of these houses." She stopped to look out into the distance. "I couldn't imagine a better view," she said, looking out into the clear lake.

"You always did enjoy the water," he mentioned.

Her hand tingled as they stood closely side by side, her heart crying out for him to take her hand in his warm one, while her head scolded her. She thought she felt his fingers gently brush hers, but perhaps it was wishful thinking. It was so easy to forget that they weren't together. But looking at the homes just reminded her of the future she had wanted. A future that had once included him. Did it not anymore? She stole a glance at him as he watched the lake and her heart clenched while her head rebelled once again. She was at such odds with herself and it was driving her crazy.

"We should catch up to the rest of the group," she whispered and he gazed into her eyes for a moment before nodding.

The group left the fair in the early evening and Klaus knew they'd only been able to see a fraction of the displays. It had been a sight to see for sure and it had left him hopeful of the future. Some of the designs he'd scoffed at, not liking the stiff lines and lack of attention to detail. It had made him ponder starting to sketch again. He'd probably be rubbish at it, but he was sure it would all come back to him. He promised himself that he'd save up for a book or make one himself. He remembered sitting for hours back at his home in London, watching the rain and sketching the trees, his siblings, really anything he eyed. In that moment he watched Caroline as she carried a sleeping Hazel in from the car. Oh, how he'd love to draw her one day. The curve of her hips, her almond shaped eyes, the curling of her lips when she smiled. She was perfection.

He could barely hold himself back from outright staring at her as they settled themselves across the kitchen table for dinner at Elijah's, plans flipping through his mind. Yes, he'd start drawing again.

"Are you seeing that woman? Camille, was it?" Elijah asked and Klaus glared when he heard Caroline's spoon clang to her plate with a muttered apology.

"Who?" Klaus asked, trying to play dumb.

"The blonde woman I saw you speaking to the other day. She seemed nice." Elijah insisted.

Klaus cleared his throat. "I just work with her," he corrected quickly.

Katherine broke in. "A woman working as a custodian? How odd."

Klaus wanted to throw something. "She's a secretary in the building."

"I thought I heard you asked her to coffee," Katherine goaded innocently and Klaus wondered what the married pair were up to.

"No, she asked me."

"How very progressive of her," Caroline supplied quietly, not daring to look at him.

"I said no," he mentioned strongly, hoping Caroline would look up from her plate.

She moved the peas around as she cast her eyes down. "You should, I'm sure it would be nice to get out."

"Why would I do that, Sweetheart?" he asked and she finally glanced up, their eyes locking.

"Because I'm sure you could use a friend."

"I have all the friends I need," he rebutted.

"Maybe-" she began, but he cut her off.

"Why would I ever take on a woman I have no interest in? To while away the time?"

He could tell he'd piqued her temper. "It's better than being lonely."

"Who says I'm lonely?"

She huffed in frustration. "I'm just saying you could give her a chance."

He chuckled. "I have no interest in getting to know her, not when I'm still in love with you." There, he'd said it, he thought. It had been a long time coming, but it suddenly felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room.

Caroline was stunned, her mouth floundering like a fish. "Klaus…"

"At least I admit it."

She glared. "Admit that you love me so casually? You think this was the appropriate time?"

Elijah tried to cut in, but Katherine stopped him with a swat of her hand.

"When should I have said it? Should I have asked you to stroll along the beach? Would you have come?"

She scoffed. "No time would have been good to tell me that."

"Why?"

"Because it's a different time. I'm not that young, wide-eyed small-town girl anymore who will fall at your feet."

"I never thought you were, but I would have at least thought you'd notice how I've changed."

"It took you going to prison for you to change," she answered angrily.

"I could have toiled away doing time and plotting, but I didn't. Instead, I live in a hovel and clean up after rich politicians all day. I'm not scheming to try and re-open a club. I'm trying to get my life in order."

"And you think that includes me."

"Of course it includes you. When I was away all I could do was think about you. In fact, I tried not thinking of you. I knew those thoughts would only bring me misery, so I kept my head down and waited until my time was up. And the only plan I had when I got out was to make something of myself by doing something honest. I was foolish to not do it sooner."

She stood abruptly, almost knocking her chair to the ground, finally pulling her eyes from him. "Thank you for dinner, but I have to go," she directed toward Katherine and Elijah.

Klaus sat, staring at her half-finished plate as he heard the door slam behind her. A smack on his shoulder had him glancing up. "Go after her, you dummy!" Katherine ordered and this time he didn't hesitate.

"Caroline!" he called to her retreating figure as soon as his feet hit the pavement.

"Leave me alone," she bit back.

"You know I can't do that, Love."

She turned, giving him ample time to catch up to her. "Stop calling me that. I'm not your love or sweetheart or anything else you may want to call me. We're basically strangers."

"You know that's not true. We know each other quite well."

She scoffed and kept walking in the direction of her home. "Maybe we did at one time for all of two weeks."

"Besides Elijah, you're the only person I've ever let in. In those two weeks, you learned more about me than most people do in a year or hell, a lifetime."

"I feel so special," she mumbled.

"You know what, fine. Give up. Walk away. I'm actually surprised you never went back to that one pony town of yours."

She finally turned around. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means, you hold yourself back from being happy."

Her face grew red in her anger. "I hold myself back? I stayed in Chicago, a strange city. I worked until I could afford school while also working with Alaric. I became a doctor when no one wanted me to! I didn't hold myself back, I pushed myself and now I'm happy!"

"Really? You're so happy? How long have you been seeing that man, what's his name? John? Without any real commitment. Sounds to me you're happier with your work, which is quite an accomplishment and admirable I might add, but I notice you don't mention any personal relationships. Talk about someone being lonely."

She glared. "You know his name is James." He waved a hand in the air, as if his name was of no consequence. "And for your information, we've been seeing each other for almost a year."

"A year and no ring?" He knew he was goading her.

She let out an aggravated grunt. "Why am I still talking to you?!" she yelled and started walking again.

"I knew you for less than two weeks and wanted to marry you. What's this man's excuse?"

That stopped her in her tracks. "Please, that's a ridiculous claim."

"It's the truth."

She scoffed and kept walking, her door finally in sight. "That wasn't love, it was lust."

"Call it what you want, but we both know there was more to it than simple lust for one another." Just as she turned the key in the lock, he asked the million-dollar question. "If I had asked you, what would you have said?"

She froze, trying to keep her breathing even. "You never did, so why does it matter?"

He came up behind her, bringing her back to his chest. "For my sanity, I need to know," he whispered, bending so he could finally inhale the sweet flowery perfume on her neck. Oh, how he longed to run his lips there.

"You know what my answer would have been," she answered in a whisper of her own. "But we'd be in the same situation we're in now and I'd be just as angry."

"So, nothing has actually changed between us then."

She stood silent for a moment before finally walking inside and shutting the door behind her, leaving him in the chilled night.

"Thank you, Katherine and Elijah," he whispered with a small smile before turning back to the way he'd come, an extra skip in his step.