Hey, guys! I know it's been a long time since I updated "Eternal Flame" (the last time being July 30, 2017), but real life has been hectic. Plus, inspiration hasn't come easy. So, I think I can attempt an update now. No spoilers.
(Like the rain) I have fallen for you, and I know just why, you
(Like the rain) Always calling for you, I'm fallin' for you now
Just like the rain
Caroline wandered into Klaus' art room, looking at the paintings within. She couldn't believe just how much talent he had and she admired that about him. Then again, how could she not admire it? After all, he had told her it was one of his passions. As she continued to look around the room, she came across a book on the table she hadn't seen the last time she had been in here. Curiously, she picked it up and flipped through the pages. The sketches on each page astounded her and she wondered just how long it had taken to draw each one. They were pretty old, evident from the dates on the bottom.
When she saw a sketch from the late fifteenth century, she tilted her head in curiosity. The woman in the picture looked a lot like her. But that couldn't be, could it? She didn't even exist in 1492. If she did, she'd be as old as Klaus and his family. Hell, she'd be as old as Katherine. It was true vampires were immortal and time meant nothing to them, but she couldn't help but be mystified.
Deciding to ask Klaus about it, she grabbed the book and went to find him. Her search led her to the garden outside the mansion, where she saw him sitting under one of the trees. She approached him, hoping he'd sense her.
"Ah, Caroline, love, I was wondering when you'd join me out here."
His accented voice brought her to reality. Shit, it took all the strength she had not to melt at the sound of it. Was there nothing the Original hybrid couldn't do?
"Klaus, we need to talk," she said. "I was in your art room earlier and I found something I didn't see the last time I was there." She presented the book to him. "This sketch book. It's older than the one you currently have and as I was flipping through it, I saw a picture of a woman who looked like me. It was as if I was looking into a mirror or something."
Klaus didn't reply, but took the book from her and turned to the page in question. Sure enough, there was the picture of the woman. Caroline wasn't lying, the woman did look like her. He was hoping she wouldn't find it, but she was a curious little vampire and her curiosity would eventually lead her to discovering it.
"There is a reason she looks like you," he said. "Caroline, this isn't an easy thing to tell you, but you are a doppelganger."
"Like Elena?"
Klaus nodded. "Yes, like Elena. The woman in the picture was a princess I met in Italy named Rosella. Like you, she was an extraordinary beauty. Men would come from all over to gaze at her. I was captivated by her from the moment I saw her."
Caroline blinked. She was descended from this Princess Rosella? "Did you love her?"
"You mean did I fall for her the way I fell for you?"
"Yes," said Caroline. "Don't worry, I won't be jealous or anything, I'm just curious." Though, I'm not sure I'll like the answer he gives me. Maybe he still loves Rosella and that's why he was drawn to me.
"We did have a few romantic encounters, yes," said Klaus. "At the time, I pledged my everlasting love to her." He looked at the sketch. "I even immortalized her in the sketch you found in my old book."
Caroline nodded. "What happened to her?"
"I woke one morning and found her gone," said Klaus. "I searched everywhere and couldn't find her. The only thing I did find was the note she left on the bedside table. She told me she was leaving to wed a prince in a neighboring kingdom. Apparently, her father had arranged the whole thing and she couldn't disobey him."
Caroline said nothing and noticed Klaus getting misty-eyed as he spoke of Rosella's departure. She couldn't believe she'd do such a thing to him. Then again, arranged marriages were common back then and as he said, Rosella couldn't disobey her father. Still, I find it hard to believe I'm the Forbes doppelganger, like Elena is the Petrova doppelganger.
"I'm sorry, Klaus. I shouldn't have made you tell me about her."
"No, love, this isn't your fault. You wanted to know."
"I still feel guilty, though," said Caroline. "The memories you had of her still haunt you and by asking you to tell me about her, I feel like I opened an old wound." She sighed. "Shit, why couldn't I have kept my mouth shut?"
Klaus pulled her close to him and ran his fingers through her hair. This obviously upset her and he hated to see her beating herself up over something like this. He pulled back slightly, meeting her blue eyes with his greenish blue ones.
"Caroline, I'm going to tell you something and I want you to listen to me very carefully, all right?"
"Okay."
"You mean everything to me," he said. "Yes, I was in love with Rosella in the past, but that doesn't mean I don't love you. And before you say anything, I can assure you that the fact you look like her wasn't what drew me to you when we met. You want to know what drew me to you?"
"What drew you to me?" Caroline wasn't sure where he was going with this but decided not to question it.
"The thing that drew me to you was your fire and inner strength," said Klaus. "It sounds corny, I know, but I was drawn to the fire within you. You challenged me every step of the way, and I found that to be a very endearing quality."
Caroline was speechless. She knew he was attracted to something about her, but she never guessed it was her inner strength. Then again, Caroline did have the tendency to be a bit too strong-willed for her own good. She smiled and leaned in, kissing him tenderly. Klaus smiled against her lips and returned her kiss, moaning softly as it deepened.
Note: I'm going to end here before anything gets repeated. Don't ask where this idea came from, it was something I was playing around with in my head. I hope to make a full fic out of it. For now, enjoy the "back door pilot" I made for it. Hope you liked the long overdue update. I'll try to update "Stolen Moments" soon as well. I just have to think of a good one shot for it.
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