Present Day

Klaus sat on the riverbank with his silver flask of vodka and blood in his hands, sipping it slowly. He missed Caroline's nicknames, new ones almost everyday. New Orleans was a constant though. Klaus smiled and sniffed his jacket, a dark brown leather one. Caroline had been the last person to wear it, so it smelled just like her. He stood up and shoved his hands into his pockets, suddenly hearing a crinkle and pulling out a crumpled paper. He lidded his flask and smoothed out the page. Another letter, longer this time. He bit his lip and looked up at the sky before beginning to read.

To Klaus,

I can picture you finding this letter. I know you only wear this jacket when you are torn-up and annoyed, so I picture you standing by The Sunday River, with your flask and staring out at the night sky. You probably just drank dry a poor, unsuspecting bear and then ate the remains, Wolf. You might've just realised that parenting is hard, especially single parents. But remember Klaus, you aren't alone. You have your brothers, and my best friends, like Bonnie, Elena, Enzo or the Salvatore's. Or maybe, you found out how sad Rebekah is that she doesn't have a baby, and you gave her Christopher and made a speech about how you lost your One True Love. You always were dramatic, don't deny it, everyone else knows. And don't tell her, but I have a special surprise for Rebekah to come. And what else I have, is a problem. I hope you haven't filled out the name papers, because I remember the nights of the Incident, now. I would like to change Christopher's name to Christopher Elijah Damon Mikaelson. Oh but thinking of Rebekah makes me think of her wedding. That was amazing. And Stefan. Oh god, I'm so happy for him, he deserves it. I'm going to miss everyone so much, I can't believe I'm going to miss seeing you be a father. But thinking of their wedding makes me think of ours. And the proposal. Not the one after I got bit, the real one. I'm so sorry I forgot it, the bite must've messed me up so bad. You're such a romantic, Softie. That guy, that big, warm, fluffy teddy bear, is my favourite guy in the whole world. And also the version of you that works out in the gym shirtless. Holy Hell, that guy is fine, I mean those abs are just delicious. Dammit I'm so shallow. Anyways, Klaus, just know that I remember and replay it in my mind every day over here.

With more love than you could cope with,

Caroline Mikaelson xxx

Klaus's eyes watered. She knew him too well. The only things that she got wrong was that it was 6 o'clock, so he stared into the sunset, and that it wasn't a bear he had just killed. Then he smiled. He could hardly believe she remembered the original proposal. When Caroline and Klaus got back together after Klaus left for a while, he took her on holiday to England, and very late at night, he took her to Big Ben, the clock tower, and carried her like a damsel in distress to the clock face. They sat on the ledge for a while, swinging their legs and looking out at the bright skyline of London. Suddenly Klaus fell, and Caroline immediately screamed. She jumped down and frantically looked for him. He was gone.

"Klaus, Klaus, no, no, no," she gasped.

She vamped around, until she caught a glimpse of an amber light beneath the bridge. She darted towards it and froze. Klaus was standing in the middle atop a pink and white blanket in a new suit. His hands were in his pockets and he looked at the floor sheepishly. The rest of the grey concrete was covered in thousands of rose petals and vanilla-scented candles. She stepped over with shaking legs. Klaus took her hand and brought it to his lips, then placed himself on his knees. Caroline quirked an eyebrow but tears stung her eyes.

"I am aware that the tradition is to get down on only one knee. But I would much rather kneel to you. The queen, the goddess before me doesn't deserve one knee. You only deserve both. You only deserve true and utter devotion. I will worship you today, tomorrow and forever, no matter what answer you give to me. But I swear that I'll always love you, and I will do anything you ask me to do. You tell me a man looked at you funny, he'll be dead the second you say it. And I'll speak to you as much as you like, I know you love this accent. So, Caroline Elizabeth Forbes, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"

Caroline's head bobbed shakily, tears spilling over onto her soft cheeks.

"Yes. Yes, I'll marry you, you handsome jerk!"

Klaus closed the distance between them with a single step and leaned his face in, so close that their noses almost touched. His breath smelled like mint, and hers like strawberries. Caroline hooked her arms around him so that the crook of her elbows held the back of his neck.

"You really scared me there, New Orleans," she whispered, choking on the words due to the large lump in her throat from crying. She looked up at him and smiled through the sobs. He smirked.

"You know I can't die, right? But it's sweet that you care about me. Although, you should know that I would never leave you alone, unless its me nobly sacrificing myself to save you," Klaus leaned even closer, and now their foreheads were touching.

"How noble," Caroline rolled her eyes.

"No, Caroline. In all seriousness, I would kill myself for you in a heartbeat, love. If there was a choice between me dying or you, that is the only time your choice doesn't matter. It will always be me who dies for you, my love."