Archive of Our Own

One

July 1764

One  thing  Niklaus  Mikaelson, most commonly called Klaus or “Nik” by a select few, was certain of was that he absolutely loathed living in the colonies or as the people hear called it “The United Colonies” The year was the summer of 1764 and it was miserably hot and he and the rest of his family had been living in the loathsome country, colonies, or whatever you wanted to call it for about six months. The only bright side was that it was better than the winter when they first docked on shore the snow coated the grounds so high it was almost as tall as he was  in his eighth year. Most of his first days at their new home were spent sitting next to the fire trying to keep warm all the while working on his drawing skills trying to ignore the incessant questions coming from his younger twin siblings Kol and Rebekah and even then he still found himself shivering. 

Why did we move here? 

Are we going back to England? 

Where’s father? 

Why won’t Elijah play with us?  

The answers to these questions was that they moved to this miserable hunk of land  because their father Mikael Mikaelson was asked by the king himself to move here to become the captain over his set of troops here and to have somebody he trusted here to look over the country and it’s pesky citizens who were rumored to be getting restless with the Crown’s laws and whispering promises of a rebellion as if it were a good thing. Their father never being the one to pass up an opportunity to acquire even more power immediately accepted the request and immediately made him, their mother, Kol, Rebekah, and their second eldest brother Elijah journey across the sea to build a new life in America while Finn the eldest stayed behind in England to handle the businesses his father owned. The answer to the first question also answered the third; their father was somehow even more busy here then he was back in London, always leaving off to meetings before the sun even rose and back long after it set. Not that Klaus was complaining; afterall the less his father was here means the less opportunities Klaus had to disappoint his father and be on the receiving end of his unending rage. Though Kol and Rebekah only being in their seventh year didn’t understand that and actually had reason to miss their father as for some reason all of his siblings never seem to earn their father’s ire as much as Klaus always had. As to the Elijah question the reason why their normally attentive older brother was not playing with them as he once had back in England was because now that with Finn back in England their father had a new apprentice role to be filled that Elijah gladly did as having  just celebrated his sixteenth birthday. 

The only question Klaus could never answer was when were they going back home to London because in truth he wasn’t sure if and when they were going back home. Klaus honestly hoped it was soon because he missed London; he missed his perfect view of the Thames and how it served as the perfect inspiration for his first drawings, he missed his favorite maid Clara who knew how to make his favorite tea perfectly, he missed his friends from his Boys School, heck he even missed his bore of an older brother Finn and his brat of a wife Sage. Everything they now have here in the colonies was better back in England. Well almost everything was better in England, Klaus amended to himself. The one good thing about living in the colonies was that their new house was enormous compared to their flat in the middle of London and it was also for the most part completely isolated with their closest neighbor living somewhere to the west of them. This was so completely different from their home back in London where it seemed like every time he stepped out of the door one of his neighbors would run into him; now the only time he saw somebody other than somebody in his family or one of his tutors was when his father or mother, mostly his father would host lavish dinner parties for visitors either from back in London or important figures upstate. A knock on the door jolts Klaus from the drawing he was currently working on; a view of the apple tree orchard right outside of the window. Another new thing to the young boy who rarely saw anything other than tall buildings back in London and even Klaus had to admit while it was no Thames with it’s ever shifting shades of blue and green during this time of year , the vast section of trees is quite pretty. When the knock sounds off again Klaus mutters a quiet curse word, rushing to open up the door hoping that it wasn’t his father and thankfully it isn’t. Instead it is his new governess; Cosette a woman who immigrated from France to the colonies several years ago.  

The reason why Klaus hopes it’s not his father is because his father has never approved of his passion for drawing and painting and on numerous occasions has said ‘Drawing isn’t suitable for a young man of your status. If your so obsessed with frivolous things like painting why don’t I send you to finishing school so you can learn how to become a proper young woman’ 

Cosette immediately takes in his semi-apprehensive state as she gives him a questioning raise of her eyebrow before addressing him her slight French accent coating her words like a light sprinkling of honey “Good morning Klaus I believe it is time for us to journey into town so the local tailor can make some last minute adjustments to your suit for tonight’s dinner.” 

Speaking of dinner’s…… Tonight both his mother and his father were hosting dinner for Phillip Schuyler and his wife Catherine, some of the richest and most important people in the colony of New York who were also bringing along their three daughters Angelica, Eliza, and Peggy. Klaus’s mother thought it would be a good idea to have all of her children get special outfits for the occasion while all of his sibling’s outfits were done, Klaus’s was not, more than likely due to the fact that everytime he went to the tailor so he could do his work it seemed like he grew a few inches everytime time; either making his jacket too long or his parents tonight. Hopefully this time the tailor would due to his job right lest Klaus spent the entire night in discomfort, putting on his most charming smile Klaus turns to one of his favorite governesses and says “Why that sounds absolutely delightful, let me just fetch my day coat and then we can be off.” 

Twenty minutes and a hot carriage ride later he and Cosette were walking through the gravely streets of the most busy part of Boston shops of all kinds of different items fine journals and drawing papers from Italy, paints from France, tea from England but of course, but one of Klaus’s favorite shops was more of a stand really that sold a delightfully refreshing treat called sorbetto or ‘water ice’. Apparently the man who sold it lived in Italy most of his life and like most people in the colonies came here for hopes of a better life and with that he brought over one of the most delightful treats; a tart ice like concoction served in tiny little cups that come in fruity flavors of lime, lemon, and raspberry. Almost everytime Klaus journeyed into town when the summer heat began he would always try and get a lemon sorbetto. It has always entranced Klaus since he was a young boy, well younger how ice chests like that worked, how even when it seemed like everyone lived in a potential state of heat exhaustion ice chest were still able to keep everything cool and more importantly allow Klaus to have one of his favorite treats whenever he so desired. It was like magic in a way like the ones in the fables his mother would always try and read him before bed, the way Giovani would reach into the depths of his cart and always pull out a perfectly shaped cup of ice, except it was better because it was real magic not ones created by fairy god mothers or curses…. 

“Mister Klaus?” 

Klaus snaps out of his trance and realizes that he had been standing there for a while just staring at the sorbetto cart, he sheepishly turns to look at Cosette before asking “Sorry I was just looking at the sorbetto cart and was wondering if I could have one?” 

Cosette pauses for a moment, thinking about it before addressing Klaus “That sounds like a splendid idea but only after we are done at Mr. Bennet’s; we don’t want to miss your appointment do we?” 

Klaus mutters something along the lines of ‘Okay fine’ before walking into the tailor’s shop where Mr. Bennet awaits. As always the kind soft spoken tailor  tries to make a conversion with Klaus but like always Klaus just wants to get the appointment over with as soon as possible. After about forty minutes Klaus’s dark black evening coat with gold etching and brand new trousers are done and they for the most part fit besides the coat being a bit to tight in the underarms, as soon as he and Cosette, garment box tucked under her arm, step out of the little tailor shop, he immediately makes a beeline for Giovani’s sorbetto cart where a young girl is in front of them with either her mother or governess finishing up her own order. From behind she looks a lot like Rebekah, pretty blonde hair but unlike Rebekah everything about this girl seems…. simple, on most days even when there wasn’t a ball or a dinner Rebekah always had her hair styled in curls and braids and wore the finest dresses, but this girl at least from behind her hair falls down her back besides two strands clipped to the back of her head and the blue dress she is wearing looks anything but extravagant, probably a commoner or at least as much of a commoner a colonist could be Klaus thinks detestitly, impatiently tapping his foot waiting for his turn. 

Finally after what seemed like hours to Niklaus but in actuality was only three minutes it was Klaus’s turn as he walks up to the front of the cart, wincing silently as the young girl turns around and waves her hand wildiy in the air “Thank you Mr. Gio!”  Her strong yankee accent cutting through the more pleasant ones he had mostly been surrounded by all day, earning a glare from her governess as they sit down on a nearby bench, the happy old man gives an equally fervorous wave back “You are welcome Ms. Caroline.” before he turns his attention back to Klaus, his weathered face stretching up in a warm smile “Ah young Master Klaus what can I get for you on this fine summer day?” 

“A lemon sorbetto please.” 

A sympathetic smile crosses his face and says “I am so sorry but I believe I just sold my last lemon one to young Ms. Caroline over there.” he says nodding over towards where the young girl from earlier sat, idly chatting with the woman beside her. “I can get you something else though, how about raspberry? It is my personal favorite.” he says, winking. 

Although Klaus knows Giovanni is trying to be kind he can’t help but feel irritated that the girl had gotten the lemon one before him and he always gets lemon. Not even trying to hide his disappointment Klaus says “I’ll pass” before turning away on his foot and stopping forward, not even caring about the dirt he kicks up behind him. Cosette follows quickly behind him or well as fast as one can wearing a dress and carrying a long heavy box. When she finally caught up to him she grabs him by the shoulder and spins him around to face her “Klaus whatever was that for?” 

Klaus huffs out a reply “I was upset that I didn’t get the lemon sorbetto! I always get the lemon sorbetto.” 

“Klaus you need to understand you can’t always get what you want and when you don’t you don’t get to snap at people. How do you think Mr. Giovanni felt about you getting cross with him?” 

“Not good.” Klaus admits feeling a flash of guilt at the hurt and confused look on the kind old man’s face as he stomped away. 

“I would imagine. Next we see him, you need to apologize, okay?” 

“Okay.” Klaus mutters, earning him a slight, thankful hand squeeze from his governess. 

“Now come on, let's go sit down as we wait for our carriage to circle back around.” 

Klaus just gives a slight nod of his head as answer as he lets Cosette lead him to the only available bench, the bench closest to that little girl, Caroline. Klaus immediately wants to protest but Cosette’s words from earlier ringing in his mind keeps him silent, not wanting to earn the ire of her who would more importantly inform his father of his actions and make him angry, which was always the last thing Klaus wanted to do. It becomes even harder for Klaus to keep his temper in check when he sees Caroline hasn’t even taken a bit of her lemon sorbetto yet and it is starting to slowly melt but the thought of angering his father if he heard he had an outburst in a public place Klaus bites his tongue. When the pair sit down Klaus can immediately feel Caroline’s stare on him and he is about to go over and say something when suddenly he sees her get up from the bench and walk over his way. Klaus is about to literally start praying that she isn’t coming to talk to him when she stops in front of him and Cosette and introduces herself, a bright smile on her face. 

“Hello there I’m Caroline.” 

Cosette speaks up first “Why hello Ms. Caroline it is a pleasure to meet you. I’m Cosette and this is Klaus.” she says nodding towards him, obviously sensing he does not want to speak to her “What brings you over here? Is everything okay?” 

“Everything is fine, I just saw you and you looked upset and I wanted to make sure you were okay.” 

It takes Klaus a minute to realize that she is talking to him and he tries to think of a reply that will get her to go away, “I’m fine. I’m just upset, the sorbetto cart ran out my favorite flavor before I could get any.” 

A true frown flickers across Caroline’s face “Well that’s disappointing. What is your favorite flavor? Perhaps you can try another, I think they are all delicious!” 

Irritated with the young girl, Klaus can’t help himself as he replies “Well I personally don’t like any other flavors besides lemon so I guess I am out of luck.” 

The girl’s eyes widened with excitement “My favorite flavor is lemon too! And if you are really upset about it you can have mine.” she says, oblivious to him referencing her having the last lemon, nodding to the sorbetto still clutched in her palm that is quickly melting in the Boston heat. 

As much as Klaus wants a lemon sorbetto right now he immediately knows his answer is going to be no because #1 Klaus always hated accepting charity from people who could be considered lesser than him in terms of money and status and based on Caroline’s looks it seemed as if she was both #2 Even if Caroline was more fortunate did she really think he would be that desperate to take a sorbetto that she had already eaten off of. 

As if reading his mind Caroline quickly rushes to say “Oh and don’t worry I haven’t even had a nibble off of it.” 

The revelation makes Klaus want it a bit more but there is still the fact that Caroline is of lesser status then he is, but maybe just once won’t hurt, he thinks to himself reaching out to grab the delish looking icy treat. 

Though before he can, Cosette says “You don’t have to do that.” 

“Oh no it’s fine really. Mr. Gio, the man who runs the cart is the grandfather of my good friend Stefan Salvatore so every time I make the journey to their house I get as much sorbetto I want! So if you want it’s yours.” 

Klaus looks to Cosette for confirmation she gives a hesitant nod and turns to Caroline “That is very kind of you.” A small blush blooms across her face as she hands over her melting sorbetto that was now leaning on one side and he quickly grabs it and immediately takes a deep. A sigh of contentment immediately escapes his lips as the tart and tasty lemon flavored sorbetto slides down his throat, an immediate relief to the heat of the sun that is beating down on them; at this sigh Cosette gave him a pointed look “Now what do we say Niklaus?”

Klaus knows this is the point where he should say thank you, it would be the polite thing to do after all, but for some reason Klaus does not want to, there is something to nice about Caroline that just rubs him the wrong way, she gave him her lemon sorbetto when he was so obviously being short with her. In his experiences Klaus has never had anybody being nice to him that wasn’t paid to be there or wanted something in return. That’s why Caroline probably was being so nice to him, and heard about the new people who came from overseas and had vast wealth that she wanted to weasel her way into. This leads Klaus to look at her and his eyes drift down to the hem of her dress which is slightly caked with dirt and dust so he puts on his best dimpled smile and says “Your dress is dirty.”

Klaus expected her to freak out like Rebekah does anytime she gets a spot of dirt on her dress or get mad at him for his snide comment but instead she just looks down at her dress and lets out a small laugh, “Well would you look at that. Oh well it's just a bit of dirt, after all it’s just a dress.'' She looks over and sees the woman who was with her and sees her stand up as a carriage pulls to a stop and waves her hand over, she quickly turns back to face them “Well I best be off now, thanks for letting me know about my dress Klaus. Goodbye.” she gives a slight curtsey before scampering off and stepping into her carriage.

As soon as the carriage squeeks away Cosette turns and gives him a sharp look, Klaus immediately opens up his mouth to defend himself but she interrupts him before he can ever get a word out “Not. a. Word. We will discuss this when we get home.” The rest of Klaus’s time spent waiting for his carriage is spent in tense silence as he finishes off his lemon sorbetto though he finds it does not taste as good anymore. The carriage ride home is even worse because Klaus is forced to look into Cosette’s eyes the disappointment and frustration with him transparent; when their carriage finally falls to a stop they step out and she looks at him and says “Go sit down in the main sitting room, I’ll go talk to your father.” 

Trying to quell the fear rising in his stomach Klaus gives a slight nod of his head before shuffling into the sitting room, a tortuous ten minutes later his father enters the room. 

In an all too calm voice Mikael says “Niklaus, come here for a minute please.” 

Klaus shakily makes his way over to his father before standing up straight as stick, staring straight ahead, his father starts to walk around him “Now tell me Niklaus is it true that when a young girl offered you her sorbetto or whatever those things are called and instead of thanking her you insulted her?” 

Unable to find his voice Klaus just nods his head, but like most things Mikael finds this most unsatisfactory so he snidely remarks “What now do I have mute as well as an idiot for a son now as well? When I ask you a question the least you could do is answer me.” 

Drawing a deep breath Klaus answers “Yes.” still trying his best to avoid eye contact with his father. 

Mikael finally comes to a stop behind Klaus and puts a hand down on his shoulder, “Well son thank you for being honest and telling me the truth.” The words barely left his father’s mouth when his large hand came down and slapped Klaus across the neck. The force of it sent Klaus tumbling forward onto the hardwood floors; his elbow catching himself, sending another huge jolt of pain up through his body before flipping himself over onto his back to face his father who is doing what he does best, lecturing him “Now listen here NIklaus I for one do not care how you treat people who are not important to us behind closed doors but in public you must behave politely to everybody no matter what because your actions affect everybody and we need to uphold our family’s reputation” 

“Affect everybody and we need to uphold our family’s reputation.” Klaus says matching his father’s words exactly, pulling himself off the ground. 

A wry smile crosses Mikael’s face “Yes, exactly. If you were seen being that disrespectful we could lose the little status as British people we have managed to gain.” 

This is the moment when one of their maids, Alice, came in a curious look on her face “Is everything okay in here Mr. Mikaelson? I heard a large crashing sound” 

‘Why yes everything is fine, Niklaus in his clumsiness just knocked something over. Speaking of Niklaus, would you please draw a bath for him? I think it would be better for him to have a bath now instead of after tonight’s dinner.” 

“Of course. I should have it ready in half an hour, Mr. Klaus.” Alice gives a small curtsey before trailing out of the room. 

Klaus, eager to get away from his father immediately tries to trail after Alice but his father once again puts his hand on his shoulder and turns him around to meet him. 

“Niklaus I need to be on your best behavior tonight, if you behave like you did earlier today and mess this up you will be even more of a disappointment then you already are.” With that his father just turns on his foot and walks away , his coat swishing behind him. 

When Klaus’s father finally is gone Klaus lets out a long breath, rubbing the back of his neck where there is a bruise definity forming , all the while thinking, Well at least this night can not get any worse 

               --- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Hours later, Klaus stood straight as he could, head held high, or at least high as he could hold it with the pain that was still shooting through his neck after the conversation he had with his father, dressed in his new suit; whose collar conveniently covered the welt on his neck. The sun was just beginning to crest the horizon in the distance, casting a mellow orange and starburst pink glow across the grounds as the first carriages started to roll in. Of course the first family to arrive was the rich and prestigious Schuyler family made up of Phillip, his wife Catherine and their three daughters: Angelica, Peggy, and Eliza. As per his mother’s orders he gives them all a bow before saying “It’s a pleasure to have you all here. I hope you enjoy the fine foods our cooks have prepared for tonight.” They each give a response in return before one of the maids offers to lead them inside and take their coats; a similar process continues for an hour or so, every ten or so minutes a family steps out, Klaus greets them and then they head inside. The only family that stands out are the Salvatore’s, the name now familiar after the conversation they had with Caroline; the family is made up of Giuseppe Salvatore, his wife Lily who appears to be pregnant, along with their two sons Stefan who appears to be around Kol’s age and Damon who appears a year or two his senior. Klaus immediately dislikes Damon with his mossy black hair and watery blue eyes who somehow walks around if he is better than anyone else here and would rather be anywhere else but here; his dislike of Damon is even furthered when he gives his customary bow Damon just scoffs and rolls his eyes before briskly brushing past him. 

    Klaus is barely able to compose himself before the next and thankfully last carriage arrives. As per usual one of the footman hop off the carriage and move to open up the door; the first person to step out is a middle aged man with greying blonde hair and bright blue eyes, the man nods a quick hello to them before turning backwards to reach out his hand so a tiny little gloved hand can grasp it before hopping off the carriage. The little control Klaus was able to gain almost goes right out the window when it turns out the hand belongs to Caroline the girl from town earlier today, but she looks completely different. Her hair instead of falling down her back is now  braided elegentalyly atop of her head, her simple blue dress has been replaced by an extravagant pink dress with a million ruffles and of cream and blush pink lace piled on top of eachother like frosting, and her dainty little hands are covered by snow white lace gloves, the only thing that remains recognizable about her are her eyes, eyes of deepest blue that are highlighted by the shards of emerald green. This thought quickly snaps out of the trance that Klaus was in, why the bloody hell was he practically complimenting and noting the tiniest details of the little brat who so obviously thought she was better than him? This is the point where Klaus realizes that his parents are having a full on conversation with the man whereas the whole night after the Shuylers arrived the most they would do is thank them for coming. 

    His father is the first one to speak, “Mr. Forbes, I am so glad you and your lovely daughter can come and join us tonight.” 

    The name instantly strikes a chord with Klaus; the Forbes are their neighbors to the east who, if the talk of the town is correct, is one of the richest families in Boston, and that’s including them. In the past Klaus’s parents have invited them to every party they had but each time they politely declined. Why? Klaus had no idea or at the he didn’t until Mr. Forbes first started to speak

A warm smile spreads across Mr. Forbes’ face and he reaches out to shake his father’s hand, “Oh no the pleasure is all mine. I’m only sorry we couldn’t come over when you invited us in the past. Though I would rather be safe than sorry and risk catching a sickness coming here in the winter rather than wait until the warmer months came and the safety from illnesses with it.”

    “Well it’s always good to be cautious.” Klaus’s mother said kindly before turning to Caroline and asking “Who might you be little one?” 

“I’m Caroline, Mrs. Mikaelson and it’s a pleasure to meet your aquintship,” she finishes off her charming sentence with a curtsey. 

“Why aren’t you just the cutest little thing! And so polite too; I think you could even teach my husband a thing or two about proper manners.” his mother replies with an air of lightness that Klaus rarely hears. 

Another tiny blush spreads across Caroline’s cheeks as she gives another little curtsey, hands tucked behind her back, “You are too kind.” 

Normally this would be the point where the lady of the house would introduce herself but Klaus quickly realizes that the only two people who have stepped out of the carriage are Caroline and her father; this immediately perplexes Klaus because the few times somebody shows up without their partner a reason is given but one hasn’t yet, so without thinking Klaus immediately asks Caroline “Where’s your mother?” 

Out of the corner of his eyes Klaus can see his parent’s faces screw up in anger at what was most likely a very rude question and his mother actually starts to admonish him “Niklaus you can’t just ask somebody a question like that without even knowing them, apologize. Now.” 

For the second time that day Klaus has been admonished for treating Caroline Forbes in such a way that for some reason was deemed unacceptable and as much as he doesn’t want to apologize Klaus knows that if he does not do what his mother says his father will find a way to punish him later so he opens his mouth and tries to form an apology that will hopefully sound somewhat decent but before he can Caroline speaks up

“Oh no it is quite alright miss, I don’t mind him asking. My mother passed away two winters ago from consumption and it has been me and my father ever since.”

A mixture of shock and sympathy flicker across his mother’s face, “Oh I am so sorry my dear, that must have been awful for you and your father. I heard she passed away but I had no idea how.” she quickly turns her attention to Mr. Forbes “That must have been so awful for you to lose your wife.” 

A pained but good natured smile moves its way onto Mr. Forbes’s face “I feel more sorry for my little Caroline here to be left alone with me dawdling away in my office with only her governess for company and no brothers or sisters  to spend her time with.”  

Klaus can immediately tell an idea has sprung to his mother’s mind before she even started to speak, “Well then why don’t you have Caroline come here? We have such a huge place with only our little family here and I personally know our little Rebekah would love to have another young girl her age here. My poor daughter has had to spend most of her life being terrorized by her older brothers.” 

Rebekah’s face immediately lights up at the prospect of Caroline’s company; to have another girl her age to hang out with, to talk about music, horses, to play with, and most likely to have a person her age to boss around. If the look on Caroline’s face is anything to go by she is more than excited at the idea of coming over to their house and Klaus feels the exact opposite about it. For some reason Klaus Mikaelson can not bring himself to like Caroline Forbes. Whether it was because of the way she continues to be nice to him despite his behavior, her imness wealth, or perhaps maybe even the fact that her father looks at her with such love and devotion that Klaus cannot even dream of his parents’ showing him he does not know, so Klaus hopes that Caroline’s father will say no and they are immediately answered….. 

“Well I don’t know I don’t want to trouble you at all and then there’s the fact that while the most dangerous season of sicknesses has passed there is still a chance that Caroline could catch something and I don’t think my heart could take it.” 

Klaus barely has time to relax before his mother starts to assure the old man “If sickness is what you are worried about you can relax. We have always been a perfectly healthy family; I believe the closest we have ever come to sickness was when our little Kol here was sea sick the whole entire journey here to the colonies. The poor thing had to spend his whole time on the edge of the deck lest he ruin his clothes.” 

Kol blushes as red as a tomato and speaks for almost the first time that night exclaims  “Mother!” in an embarrassed tone. 

Caroline though is quick to say “No need to be embarrassed. I sometimes even get sick while just riding in my carriage. I assure you you were much more composed than I ever could be on any sort of ship.” 

An honest to god smile forms across Kol’s boyish face; not his impish one when he just got away with something or the boosting and prenish one when their father praises him in front of his siblings. Kol only shows this smile a select few times like when Klaus gives his younger brother a drawing or when their mother playfully dances with him at the end of their dinner parties. The way most of his family has already seemed to warm up to Caroline so quickly makes Klaus even more peeved at the young girl. Caroline’s father still seems hesitant to let his young daughter come over. 

“Well still I don’t know, I would hate to be a bother to you and your family on such short notice…” 

Once again his mother rushes to speak, probably to try once and again to assure Caroline’s father, but his father interrupts her and for the first time in a long time Klaus feels the urge to hug his father. “Sweetheart if the man doesn’t want to let his daughter come over we should respect that.” 

“Oh relax dear I just wanted to make sure that the man knows it wouldn’t be a bother at all to have his daughter come over at all. As a matter of fact we would love to have Caroline come over.” 

This is the point where Rebekah starts to speak up, putting on her best puppy dog eyes before turning over to look at Mikael “Dad can Caroline please come over.” 

Klaus’s father, ever the soft father figure for everyone besides him, hard face melts into a soft, kind hearted one, “Well dear I suppose it would be alright for young Caroline to come over but first it has to be okay with her father.” 

Even though it looks like Mr. Forbes is about to say something but it is at this moment both Caroline and Rebekah turn to Mr. Forbes and say exactly the same thing, looking like twins with their fair blonde hair and blue eyes “Pleaasee.” They say stretching out the please extra long as if it would heighten the chances of their wish being granted before looking at each other and bursting into a fit of giggles because apparently saying the exact same thing at the same time is hilarious. 

Klaus watches with baited breath as Caroline’s father debates what to do before it finally seems he decides on what his answer will be, “Oh alright. If it really is no bother Caroline can come over say from after breakfast to right before supper? I can provide the carriage and reimburse you for the expenses for her lunch if you so desire.” 

Klaus’s mother seems appalled at the very idea of Mr. Forbes paying them back “Oh nonsense! Having Caroline over her for the day sounds wonderful and don’t you worry about paying for lunch. We have enough food here to feed an army.” 

Caroline’s father sounds hesitant to accept Klaus’s mother terms because despite having just met her it seems as though Mr. Forbes has gotten the secret memo that when his mother says to do something you will do it. “I suppose that will be okay. I guess that it is settled then I will have Caroline’s governess fetch her over here soon after breakfast and I will have the carriage come back over for her in time for supper.” 

Mikael claps his hands together and says “Well that sounds wonderful, now shall you say we go inside and get this dinner started?” The smile on Klaus’s father’s voice about Caroline contrast the unhappy tone in his voice, but and once again Klaus finds himself agreeing with his father. 

“That sounds wonderful.” Mr. Forbes says, lowering himself into a short bow. 

Though before they can start to move inside Rebkah quickly pipes up “Can I walk Caroline to her seat mother? Perhaps we can talk about what to do tomorrow.” 

The word yes has barely left his mother’s lips before Rebekah has all but yanked Carolne’s arm from her father’s grasp and has looped it with her own but before they have even taken more than two steps Caroline has pulled away from his sister’s grasp, running back to her father to give his leg a hug and says “Thanks again daddy for letting me come over tomorrow.” 

Bill Forbes once again watches Caroline with such unadulterated love it makes him feel sick, “Oh no need to thank me my dear, you know that I will do anything to make my darling girl happy. Now go on, a new friend awaits.”

 As Klaus watches Caroline, Rebekah, and even Kol arms looped together chattering and laughing as if they have known each other for years and not five minutes through the long narrow hauls of his home to the dining room for the hundredth time that day the same thought runs through Klaus Mikaelson’s head “I do not like Caroline Forbes. Not. a. Bit.”  The dinner party passes much like the past ones have; Mikael boasts about whatever meat is being served, tonight’s is pig and about how he killed the massive beast himself (always not true, his father on the morning of the party always sends a maid or a butler to go to the town’s butcher to buy the biggest, freshest, and most important expensive meat available), he significantly praises the guest of honor (Phillip Shuyler), then his mother starts to talk about how wonderful and talented her kids are, even him: Finn’s courage for staying behind in London, Elijah’s wonderful piano skills and ever growing penchant for business, his skill in fencing, Kol’s in history, and Rebekah’s beautiful dancing and violin talent. Throughout the whole dinner Klaus can not help but sneak peeks at Caroline who seems to be happily chattering away with Kol and Rebekah which Klaus supposes is one good thing about Caroline Fobres, she keeps his siblings from bothering him. 

Later on that night Klaus’s least favorite part of the dinner party has arrived or at least relatively speaking; he hates all of it but he hates this part the most, the entertainment bit. The “entertainment” bit comes after dessert has been served when the adults go do whatever they do and Klaus along with his twin siblings are left with whatever kids came to the party and are forced to try and entertain them. On most occasions a maid or Cosette is there to help but Cosette has gone home for the night and the maid it appears swiped to many of the fizzy gold drinks and is now passed out under the stairwell. This means Klaus being the oldest Mikaelson in the room has the duty of making sure everyone stays entertained but after about fifteen minutes he gives up. Angelica, the oldest of the Schuyler sisters, never seems to be satisfied with every game they start within the first minute, Eliza always seems to be helpless when it comes to the rules, and Peggy needs to be reassured that they won’t get in trouble for playing a game. Then with the Salvatore’s; Stefan seems to be fine with anything while Damon at the suggestion immediately says ‘I’m not a child and I do not want to play your stupid games pretty boy’. With his siblings they always start to disagree about the rules, but as much as Klaus hates to admit it Caroline actually was the most helpful, immediately agreeing to everything, trying to calm Peggy down, help Eliza understand the rules, and try and quell Rebekah and Kol’s bickering. 

Though it is all for night because after less then fifteen minutes of this Klaus decides he has had enough and let’s the rest of the kids do their own thing while he returns to his drawing of the apple orchard from earlier that day. At first everything seems to be going well; Caroline and the rest of the girls are off in the corner playing some game with a string, Kol and Stefan are playing marbles, and Damon…. Klaus quickly realizes that the older Salvatore brother is nowhere to be found and Klaus is about to ask why when he suddenly gets his answer. 

A malicious voice rings out from behind him “Well well well look what we have here.” Then before Klaus can even begin to process what is happening a hand swipes in front of his face and steals his drawing from his lap. Klaus immediately hops up from the chair and turns around to see Damon Salvatore studying his drawing before he starts incredulously speaking, “Is this- is this a drawing? Oh man that is just too good! I thought drawing was just for girls and I mean even then this isn’t good at all. I bet even my dog can draw better than this. Know wonder why your mom had to make up that whole ‘master at languages’ or whatever dumb shit she said. I bet you don’t even speak English and I don’t mean your guys’ snotty little British English, I mean the English I am speaking right now.” 

Klaus can feel his blood start to boil not only has Damon Salvatore insulted his drawing skills but he also diminished his other talents because even though he only celebrated his ninth birthday a few moons ago Klaus was already partially fluent in French as well as being fairly skilled in Latin and in Spanish. It is taking every ounce of strength Klaus has not to rip Damon’s smug little head off; the only thing that is stopping him is the fact that if Klaus does attack Damon then his father is sure to hear about it and punish him accordingly for treating such a ‘distinguished’ guest with these appalling behaviors. It seems like Rebekah and Kol are feeling the same way Klaus is; they look like they want to stomp over there and murder Damon Savatore themselves, Klaus gives a silent nod ‘no’ to his twin siblings becasue he doesn’t want them getting in trouble. In the silence that follows Damon’s statement Klaus looks around and sees that everybody including Damon’s little brother Stefan all have disgusted looks on their faces, except Caroline’s whose one is a mask of calmness. She is probably enjoying this Klaus thinks bitterly to himself before Damon once again speaks up “What are you a mute as well as a dumbass? Are you going to answer me?” 

It is these words that are all to similar from his father’s that afternoon start to reverberate throughout Klaus’s mind and he can finally feel himself snap and he is about to make good on that by taking Damon Salvatore’s head and shoving it up so far up his- Klaus’s thought is interrupted before he can even finish it, much less actually execute it by Caroline Forbes standing up and marching right up to him and Damon before turning her attention back to Damon who stands about a head above of her and says “Give it back Damon and apologize. Now. ” 

“Or what Caroline? You're going to go cry to your daddy that I took a mediocre drawing from Mr. Little British Brat right here? I don’t think he will even care, if anything Caroline he will probably be thanking me for this because we all know that British people-” Klaus will never hear the end of Damon’s sentence because Caroline despite being all of seven years old and no more than three and a quarter feet tall reels back her tiny gloved hand and mange to punch Damon Salvatore in the face, somehow by the will of god sending him stumbling backwards and onto the floor sending his drawings up into the air and scattering them across the floor. In the moment that follows the silence that descends upon the room is so vast you can hear a pin drop; Caroline once again is the first one to move. While Damon is still on the floor clutching his face in hands all the while moaning in pain Caroline quickly scurries to the floor and picks up every single one of his drawings that flutters across the room. This movement seems to have stopped whatever trance Damon was in because next thing Klaus knows as soon as Caroline tucks his last drawing into the stack Damon shoots up like a bullet, his left eye swollen and red, “Why you little brat. When I get my hands on you I’m going to-” just as Damon looks as if he is about to strangle Caroline the door swings open and there stands Elijah looking as concerned as ever. 

“Is everything alright in here children? I heard a thud and I wanted to make sure everyone is alright.” 

At the sight of his oldest brother everybody in the room immediately stands straight up, Damon wipes the murderous look from his face, and Caroline tucks her hands behind her back hiding Klaus’s drawings. Klaus watches apprehensively as Elijah surveys the room looking for something out of order and he of course finds it in Damon’s eye. 

“My goodness Damon whatever happened to your eye?” 

Klaus can here Caroline beside him take a deep breath in and he too can feel himself growing nervous about what Damon is going to say, he tries to tell himself it’s because if Damon tells the truth about what happened then his father will be furious and Klaus will receive an unwelcome punishment for it, but deep down Klaus knows it’s a lie for some reason he is actually worried about Caroline Forbes if she were to get in trouble for this. For a moment nobody speaks until Damon after weighing on what to say speaks up “We were playing a game and I accidentally tripped and hit my eye on the way.” 

“That sounds awful. Why don’t I walk you down to our kitchens and we can see about getting you a compress for your eye and maybe some extra dessert.” 

Damon shoots one last venomous look at Caroline before speaking his voice to sweet to be real, “Thank you, that sounds wonderful. Brother,” he gives a quick bow to Stefan before stepping out in front of Elijah and walking away. 

Before closing the door and following after Damon, Elijah turns to Klaus and shoots him a smile that he knows is supposed to look sympathetic, “Next time please be more careful Niklaus in whatever games you decide to play.. Good night children,” then he shuts the door and walks away. 

As soon as Elijah’s footsteps fade away completely every child in the room swarms Caroline like bees to honey telling her a million things at a time. ‘Where did you learn to do that?’, ‘That was so cool!’, ‘Can you teach me how to do that?’ Though despite all the praise she is getting from her companions she still seems quite nervous and has apologized to Stefan a million times for punching his brother, but Stefan doesn’t even seem to care just shrugs and says ‘He had it coming’ Soon the topic of why Damon lied came up and as much as Klaus hated to admit it he was interested in this to. Why lie and miss the opportunity to have two people you so clearly disliked punished? Klaus knows if he were Damon in the situation he wouldn’t hesitate to get the perpetrators in trouble, so why didn’t he? It is eventually decided amongst the kids that Damon was too embarrassed that he mad been punched by a person two years his younger, who was a girl no less! Klaus finds this answer acceptable enough because knows he would thoroughly be embarrassed if he were punched by a girl so the matter is quickly dropped just as quickly as it was brought up. Not only did punching Damon bruise his eye it also broke whatever barrier stood between the kids, eliminating all awkwardness and allowing them to play together for the rest of the night. 

At one point Caroline shyiliy approaches him after returning him his drawings earlier and asks “Could I perhaps take a look at your drawings? From what I saw they are very nice and no I didn’t purposely look at them at all.” 

Klaus’s immediate reaction is to answer Caroline’s question with a no; on one hand he never lets anybody catch a peek at his drawing besides his siblings on occasion. Though on the second hand it seems to harsh even to Klaus to say ‘no’ to the girl who earlier that night punched a boy for him to get back the same drawings. When the silence from Klaus continues Caroline pipes up, a surprising smirk on her face, “It can be your way of thanking me twice.” 

“What? When the bloody hell have you saved me twice?” 

“Today. First when I gave you my sorbetto and once just now where I punched Damon to get your drawings back.” 

“First of all I never asked you to do that. Then second of all it seems like you didn’t like Damon at all so I’m sure it would’ve been only a matter of time before you punched him.” 

“Touchè.” Caroline replies once again with a smile, “But still it would be the nice thing to do.” 

Klaus knows it would be the nice thing to do, to show Caroline his drawings, but it’s not just that Klaus still feels extremely uncomfortable showing his drawings to pretty much everyone. Caroline as much as he hates to admit it has indeed been very kind to him today, risked things, made things better, just for him so instead of saying flat out ‘no’ Klaus comes up with a different solution, and says ‘Ask me tomorrow and I might say yes.’ Full on hoping that by tomorrow Caroline will have forgotten about his drawings and will have moved on to some other thing. 

Thankfully this seems good enough for Caroline who says ‘Ok, I will ask tomorrow’ before she runs off to get back in whatever game the kids are playing now. Later that night as Caroline’s carriage pads away Klaus can’t help but think Caroline Forbes isn’t so bad after all. As it turns out Klaus’s despising turned medidcore opinion of Caroline does not last long at all because the next day right after he and his siblings have finished breakfast and are gathered in the upstairs drawing room when she comes bounding up the stairs where Rebekah soon followed by Kol rush up to hug her. After all greetings are made she walks up to him where Klaus is finishing up the last details on his sketch from last night before he paints it and as it turns out Caroline has not forgotten about what he said last night and says ‘Well it’s tomorrow, may I please see your drawing?” Once again Klaus doesn’t want her to see it but he feels wrong about saying no to her, besides saying no would probably draw questions as to why which Klaus does not answer, so he gives her the same answer that he did last night, ‘Ask me tomorrow and I might say yes.’ If Caroline seems deterred about his repeat answer she does not show it she just flashes him a toothy smile and says ‘Well then I’ll just ask tomorrow’ before scampering off to play with Kol and Rebekah. Like clockwork the next day Caroline comes over and asks if she can see his drawing and Klaus answers maybe tomorrow and Caroline runs off. This pattern continues on everyday for a year, day in day out, it seems like Caroline practically lives at Klaus’s house now only going home for supper and sometimes even later just to retire for the night. 

Finally, a year to the day when Klaus Mikaleson first met Caroline Forbes he sits in the upstairs drawing room by himself to wait for Caroline to come and for him to give his usual answer. After a year of knowing the girl Klaus is actually ready to admit he likes Caroline’s company, she has the calmness, understanding, and poise to leave him alone when he asks (something Kol and Rebekah lack) and enough energy to keep the house exciting. Klaus outside of the window sees Caroline’s carriage pull up and sees her step out before heading inside and Klaus prepares himself for the sound of Caroline’s feet coming up the stairs so he waits, and waits, and waits, and waits for her to come but she never does. An hour after Caroline first arrived Klaus takes a peak out the window and sees that Caroline is romping around as usual with Rebekah and Kol and Klaus starts to wonder why she didn’t come up and see him. 

Perhaps she forgot. 

Or maybe she thinks that I am sick and she shouldn’t come up to see me. Maybe I should walk down there just in case. 

These thoughts and a million more are just some of the reasons why that Caroline has not come to seem him that Klaus has come up with until it suddenly occurs to him that Caroline has finally gotten tired of him more or less saying no all the time and decided to concentrate her efforts elsewhere. Good, now I can have some downtime without the little brat trying to annoy me Klaus tries to tell himself before focusing back in on his drawing, one of a golden sun rising over  a wheat field when all of a sudden he hears a distant scream and a cry and looks out the window to see that Caroline had fallen over something and scraped her knee. At the sound of her cries a butler immediately comes rushing out and inspects her, says some words to her before gently picking her up and carrying her inside. Klaus immediately feels a wave of sympathy for her because he knows how much it hurts to do that to yourself and he immediately starts thinking of ways to make Caroline feel better when he suddenly thinks of one. As quick as a bullet Klaus makes his way to his room and pulls out the hidden box where he keeps all of his drawings and leafs through them until he finds the one he wanted; the one of the apple orchard the day he first met Caroline. It is one of his nicer ones if Klaus does say so himself; the line work is above average and the drawing is made even more realistic by the paints that Klaus used, able to highlight all of the complex colors in one place. Before he gives it to Carolne, Klaus grabs his quill and scribbeles a quick message with the words á mon chevalier scribbled in the corner 

Caroline- thank you for saving my life that day twice,- Nik

Klaus has no dea what possessed him after a year to thank Caroline for punching Damon and giving him her sorbetto; what perplexes Klaus even more is as to why he signed the drawing with his personal name that only those he truly loves and truly loves him back. Though even if Klaus felt the need to change it it is to late if he wants to sneak the drawing to Caroline in time, so he carefully rolls it up and ties it up with a ribbon before tiptoeing downstairs and slips it into Caroline’s bag.

The smile Caroline gives him the next day is brighter than the sun.

____________________________________________________________________________

Two

November 1766

    “Niklaus.” 

    “Niklaus!’ 

    “NIKLAUS!”

    “What?” Klaus asks suddenly confused as to what’s happening, looking towards his history teacher Mr. Donovan and away from the window were he has been looking out of it the past hour, searching for the now familiar flash of golden hair. 

    Mr. Donovan gives a sigh that clearly shows off that he is disappointed in him , “I was just asking you to tell me what the Battle of Culloden was and when it took place.” 

    Klaus immediately knew what the Battle of Culloden was even if his teacher hadn’t been droning on about it for forever in a day, his father himself fought in the war or well battle and never passed up the chance to boast about his greatness or the fact England’s win over the ‘filthy band of Scottish rebels’ that showed nobody, nobody could ever beat the mighty motherland of England. 

    “The Battle of Culloden took place on April 16, 1746. The battle was the culmination of the Jacobite uprising of 1745 that resulted in the deaths of around one thousand two hundred and fifty Scottish rebels and only fifty British soldiers effectively ending the old Scottish way of life.”

    Mr. Donovan pursed his lips, surprised and annoyed that he thought he had the chance to reprimand Klaus on his daydreaming, for a second he just stares at Klaus if he is expecting him to admit that he somehow magically gave the correct answer when he so clearly been daydreaming for more than half of it. 

    “Well you are correct it seems. Now it’s time to move on to the French and Indian War that only ended….” Mr. Donovan trails off, obviously waiting for him to answer.

    “Three years ago after it started in 1754.” Klaus grumbles out disponditly, already knowing all there is to know about the French and Indian War because once again even though his father never fought in it, it was Klaus’s job to know everytime England squashed the inferior countries underneath her might boot is one of Mikael’s favorite sayings. 

    “Very good now let’s talk about what started the French and Indian War.”

    Great anther boring lesson with an even more boring teacher…. Klaus thinks to himself, propping his hand under his chin in an effort to keep himself awake. Though that seems not to work at all because Klaus not even five minutes into the lesson before he finds himself drifting off; or at least that was until Klaus hears the faint sound of gravel being crushed and looks out the window to see Caroline’s carriage pull up. Klaus can’t help but look at the carriage where as usual a footman rushes to open up the carriage door and open up a door and offer a hand to Caroline where as usual as soon as the door swings open jumps out of the carriage completely ignoring the footmen’s hand, kicking a cloud of dirt up and around her dress. Then Caroline scampers up the front steps, nods a quick hello to the doormen before stepping inside. 

    Addressing Mr. Donovan Klaus says “Excuse me Mr. Donovan may I please be excused so I can spend the afternoon with Caroline?” 

Ever since Klaus gave Caroline his drawing all the way back that  June of 1765 it seems like a magic bridge had been built in between them; now he as well was a top member of Caroline, Kol, and Rebekah’s little friendship club. They spent the rest of the summer together playing games like tag, hide and seek, scotch-hopper, jump-rope, who could run the fastest, catching fireflies while waiting for Caroline to go home, and they even created there own games. Caroline has quickly become one of Klaus’s favorite people, a stark change considering how he felt about her when they first met. Their strong friendship is shown in many ways; the way Caroline would call him Nik, the way he let her (he was the one to sign the drawing with that name after all), he would sometimes show her peeks of his drawings, even gave her one or two since always with the words, á mon chevalier lightly scribbled in the corner, and most importantly Klaus would tell Caroline things he never told anyone and she to him. Not to discredit Kol and Rebekah but despite being antagonistic to her at first, Klaus feels as if Caroline likes to spend time the most. When his birthday rolled around in the first part of October Caroline gave him the most wonderful drawing papers from Italy and fine paints from France that he knows must have cost a fortune and when he ardently thanked her and even gave her a hug a bright blush bloomed across her cheeks and she seemed nervous for the rest of the night. Where as when Kol and Rebekah’s birthday rolled around she just each gave them a box of Belgian chocolates and when they thanked her Caroline seemed completely fine. If that isn’t a sign of their unending friendship Klaus doesn’t know what is. 

So, Klaus waits with baited breath for Mr. Donovan to answer and he is met with a resounding, “No.” 

A bit taken aback considering Mr. Donovan more or less works for his father and by association him, Klaus was expecting for his history teacher to say yes even if it was a bit begrudgingly. 

“I was hired to make sure you would get your needed education in the history of the world and that is what I am going to do.” Klaus immediately opens his mouth to complain but Mr. Donovan silences him, “No buts. You will do as I say, now tell me what was the action that stared the French and Indian War.” 

Trying to quell down his irattation at this insufferable man, Klaus begins to answer when he hears the quick steps bounding up the stairs when the door swings open and Caroline excitedly exclaims “Nik! There you are, I was waiting for you to come down and when you were taking forever and I was told that you were up here so I thought I would come up and see what was taking so long.” 

At the sight of his best friend, despite being around two years her senior, Klaus immediately stands up from his chair, “Caroline, while I am glad you could come I am most sorry to inform you that I am currently engaged in the most exciting history lesson with Mr. Donovan over here so I can not play with you until the lesson is over.” 

Hearing the very obvious sarcastic tone in his voice Caroline raises an eyebrow at him before facing Mr. Donovan placing a very innocent and sweet looking smile on her face, “Mr. Donovan can you please let Klaus leave your class early? His father, Lord Mikaelson promised me that he would help me with my art skills, I sadly can not draw much more than a very sad looking flower at the moment. I fear I may never be able to be a proper lady without the right drawing skills.” 

    Knowing Caroline Forbes for almost three years now Klaus can tell when she is lying and she is most definitely lying through her teeth right now; well for the most part Klaus has seen her drawings and her flowers are very sad looking, don’t even get him started on her birds. It takes Klaus a minute to realize that Caroline is trying to lie so Mr. Donovan will let Klaus go early and by the look on his face it appears to be…. working, the man’s usual hard and boring features have softened into a more kind one; something that Klaus realizes is quite normal when people are around Caroline Forbes, even the most grumpy and withered townspeople’s face softens when they encounter Caroline Forbes and her sunshine smile. 

    “Well I don’t know Ms, Caroline I’m sure Lord Mikaelson would have told me if Niklaus had prior engagements today. Perhaps he was supposed to help you tomorrow?” 

    Well almost. 

    Klaus expects this to be the end of it, for Caroline to give up and say that she will wait till his lesson is done to play with him, to leave him debating weather or not it would be more painful to toss himself out the window or let Mr. Donovan finish his history lesson. Though Caroline apparently has other plans; she quickly schools her bright and cheerful face into one of faux sadness, confusion, and apologeticness and Klaus despite the situation let’s out a small snort. When Klaus first meet Caroline Forbes he immediately thought that she was a cheerful, honest, and sickenly perfect girl but then she punched Damon Salvatore in the face and soon after that Klaus discovered that Caroline is just as devilish, mischievous, and cunning as he is , so he watches to see what Caroline has up her very poofy sleeve. 

    “I don’t know. I could have sworn Lord Mikaelson said Nik was supposed to help me with my drawing skills today. Perhaps maybe I should go fetch him but then I wouldn’t want him to get mad at you for keeping Nik from helping me. Maybe I should just go home and manage all by myself until father comes back.” 

    Klaus can immediately see Mr. Donovan’s face screw up as if he was thinking very hard as to what he should say next, which he should; if Caroline was telling the truth then Mr. Donovan would risk his father getting mad at him for forgetting if he was asked about it, even if Caroline was telling the truth and he wouldn’t let him hang out with Caroline his father would get mad. On the other hand if he let’s Klaus out even though Caroline is lying his father will get mad or asks] his father if Caroline is telling the truth and it is discovered that she isn’t and Mr. Donovan bothered him for nothing his father will be mad. No matter what his father will be mad; unless if Mr. Donovan lets them go know questions asked and they aren’t discovered to be lying, and like most people Mr. Donovan knows his father is the last person you want to get mad. Seemingly Mr. Donovan comes to the same conclusion so he takes a deep, nervous breath and says 

    “Well I suppose senese you seem to be well ahead of where we are right now I suppose you and Caroline can spend the day together. Though this means that I will have to either come over earlier or stay later next time I come. Okay?” 

    The words ‘Okay’ and ‘Thank You Sir’ have barely left Klaus and Caroline’s lips before they are running away, quick as bullets to the downstairs level. 

    Slightly out of breath Klaus is the first one to speak, “Thank you Caroline for getting me out of that most boring lesson.” 

    Caroline bumps him with her shoulder, smiling breathlessly, “No problem Nik, I’m your friend and that’s what friends do; help out their other friends when they are in trouble. Speaking of, should we go fetch Kol and Rebekah? I have a feeling they are going to love what I have planned for today.” 

“They are off in town getting some new books that are required for their lessons.” 

    “Well that sucks but I guess we shall see them later, besides that means more sprites for us!” a silly smile creeps onto Caroline’s face. 

    “Sprites? What are sprites?” Klaus asks a bit perplexed. 

    “Get permission from somebody so we can go to the river and I will tell you.” 

    Which Klaus promptly does, promising the maid that they will be extra careful and then they are off, feet trekking across the grass Klaus turns to his friend and asks “So what are sprites?” 

    “Sprites are like water fairies, they live in the water and only come out if you are extremely quiet and have a pure heart. At least that is what my mom said, she also said that they live in the river right next to us, hence why we are going there.” 

    “You remember your mother? I thought you lost her while you were still young.” 

“I did, but I do remember bits and pieces of her. Like how her nose was curled up a bit at the end, how she always smelled like fresh lilac, and she had the most amazing laugh. It wasn’t the laugh of a lady of her status; it was loud and booming and almost sounded a bit like a pig anyway. Even then to this day it is still the most beautiful laugh I have ever heard.” 

    A sad smile comes to Caroline’s lips and Klaus suddenly feels the strongest urge to replace it with a smile, “I’m sorry Caroline, though I do have one thing to say.” 

    “Hmm?” 

    “I finally know where you got your laugh from, that thing is the most loud, unlady like, and obnoxious laugh I’ve ever heard.” he lightheartley teases her. 

    Klaus’s plan to get Caroline to smile works and a large amused, if slightly annoyed smile works its way to Caroline’s face “Hey that’s not fair! If you want to talk about annoying laughs let’s talk about yours! I mean even my horses are less annoying when they winny then when you are when you laugh.” 

    “You shouldn’t have said that.” Klaus shoots back, teasingly threatening his friend. 

    “Why?” 

    “Because I’ll…”

    “You’ll what?”

    “I’ll chase you.” Klaus says, suddenly closing the few feet in between him and Caroline.” 

“Nik, no!” Caroline responds in a fit of giggles before running away from him, which soon turns into a game of two person tag until they reach the bank of the river. Laughing their buts off the pair collapse in a fit of giggles. 

When they have finally catched their breaths, Caroline pulls off her shoes and her tiny little socks and neatly sets them off to the side before hiking up her skirts and stepping into river and turns back to look a him before asking “Come on Nik?! The sprites aren’t going to catch themselves are they?” 

Not seeing  a reason to say no Klaus shrugs his shoulders and tugs off his shoes and socks along with his coat and wades into the river after Caroline but the rocks are more slippery than he thought they were and Klaus can feel himself start to pitch forward but just as he is about to fall a hand wraps around his upper forearm and steadies him, and Klaus turns around to see Caroline standing there gripping onto his arm, a strained look of concentration on her tiny face. How somebody as small as Caroline was able to save him from falling Klaus does not know, so Klaus just rights himself and pulls his arm away from Caroline’s. 

“Careful there, wouldn’t want my best friend to go falling though now would we?”

Klaus smiles back “No I don’t think that would be very good so I guess I should thank you for saving me.” 

“Again.” Caroline says cheekily. 

“ Again .” Klaus agrees lightly laughing before moving to knock their shoulders together “I guess you really are mon chevalier .” he finishes using the name he has called her ever since he gave her that drawing close to three years ago now. 

An annoyed sigh comes to Caroline’s lips, “I hate it when you call me that, I have no idea what it means and you refuse to tell me.” 

“I said I would tell you when you are older”

“Older, I know Nik.” Caroline says repeating his words or well word having heard it a million times in the span of two years “Well I am older Nik! As a matter of fact I am now as old as you were when we first met.”

“I will tell you when you are older…” Caroline lets out an annoyed huff and to make her even more annoyed Klaus says, “ mon chevalier.”

“Nik!” 

Laughing at her fuming form Klaus, more gently says “I promise I will tell you when you are older, Caroline . As a matter of fact ask me tomorrow and I might say yes.” 

This draws a tiny laugh from Caroline, clearly remembering the night that they first met, “Alright I’ll ask you tomorrow then.” 

Like last time he said that Klaus hopes that she will forget about it tomorrow, not because he doesn’t want to tell her out of annoyance or dislike but because it is a bit embarrassing for a boy to call a girl mon chevalier so Klaus wants to keep it a secret a bit longer, just a bit. 

“So what do we do now?” Klaus asks of his friend, breaking the comfortable silence that had cloaked them. 

“We wait.”

____________________________________________________________________________

Three 

April 1769

“Sh! Nik you have got to be more quiet, do you want to get caught?” 

“No.” 

“That’s what I thought. Now come on.” Caroline whispers, waving her hand forward. trying to keep her giggles quiet; Klaus was even having a worse time than she was, hence why Caroline felt the need to sush him.

The pair were currently sneaking around in some of the lowest levels of the Mikaelson’s mansion trying not to get caught as they were on a brand new mission; to steal some pastries. Mikael had just hired a new baker for their home all the way from Paris, France and today was the baker’s first day here and if the delicious variety of smells  drifting throughout the house were anything to go by the baker was cooking up a storm for yet another dinner party that his father was hosting tonight. A dinner that Klaus, Caroline, and subsequently the rest of the Mikaelson children were not invited to. They were told it was because it would be a boring ball and that there would be nobody of their age for them to socialize with. Klaus suspected that now that they were no longer cute little children their presence was no longer needed to try and sway the hearts of whatever business or political figure his father was trying to wage a deal with or more interestingly that the guests were all of the British officers and his father needed to be alone with them to discuss a matter of something that interested Niklaus Mikaelson a great deal; a revolution. 

If there were whispers of a revolution years, there were practically shouts now. Nowadays it seemed like it wasn’t a question if a revolution but when. One might except him to be completely against being from England and all; if you asked him when he first set foot on the soil of the Colonies if he would support a revolution against England his answer would have immediately been no and then he would yell at you for even daring to ask him such a blasphemous question. Now years later after Klaus has had the chance to mature and not see the world around him through his father’s eyes but his own Klaus realizes that the colonies as annoying as their inhabitants might be sometimes they deserved their independence or at the very least a bloody seat in the English parliament. Every once in a while Klaus would here about secret meeting about ways they could anger the British officers in town, his father being one of them and a small part of him yearned to join them but even if he was old enough Klaus would never go to them out of fear of losing his father’s money and earning his ire more than he already did. The one thing Mikael hated more than anything was the idea that the colonists thought they deserve or even could separate themselves from the rule of England. 

Though if there was one bad thing about the rising tensions in between the Colonies and England is that the hate and glares they got from a handfull of townsfolk when they first touched the soil was that the glares had become more frequent and somehow had become even more disgusted. It was honestly a miracle how their family home had not been attacked and ransacked yet like many other houses of British officials and even more perplexing was how his father had also not been the victim of any attacks. One of Klaus’s clearest memories of living the colonies was seeing a British officer that had been by his house a few times and seemed nice enough being covered in hot tar before being doused with feathers in retaliation for the Townshend Act which forced the colonists to pay taxes to Great Britain for more or less just living there, which Klaus just found absolutely preposterous. 

Caroline finally speaks up, interrupting Klaus from his stupor “Nik, I think we’re clear to go. Come on.”

The two friends silently tiptoe into the kitchen where Caroline is sure she just saw the chef, Adonis, slip away. Sure enough when the two quickly shut the door behind them the kitchen is entirely empty besides the different types of pastries that are piled to heavens on top of the large oak table, there are so many colorful desserts on there, some familiar and some foreign. Colorful disk like sandwiches in varying colors of palest lilac to the most vibrant green were stacked on top of eachother, a beautiful vanilla bean cake stood just waiting ot be cut, delightfully golden cream puffs surround each other in a circle, fried doughy squares covered in powdered sugar, several trays of chocolates are spattered throughout the table, another cake this one chocolate is on the corner. 

Klaus immediately looks over to see Caroline’s eyes alight with excitement and pure joy, “Look at all of this Nik! I don’t even know where to begin!”

“How about over there.” Klaus says, pointing towards a tray of chocolates.

“That sounds delightful!” Caroline exclaims happily. 

“Well then after you m’lady.” Klaus smiles, offering a arm to Caroline. 

Curtsying Caroline follows his lead and links arms with Klaus, “Why thank you m’lord.” she says giggling as the pair make their way to the desert table. 

    Klaus and Caroline quickly and quietly grab a lose small sack that is laying around the kitchen and shove as many deserts in the bag as they can all the while still taking bites out of things; a cream puff here, the mysterious fried pastry there, and an occasional swap of frosting. Just as they get the last dessert in there, some still toppling out of the bag that is when Adonis makes his return, brow scrunching up in confusion at the scene in front of  him; pastries littering the floor, huge gaps of desert missing, and at the center of it all his bosses’s son and his best friend looking quite guilty. 

    Multiple emotions flash across Adonis’s face before he finally speaks up, very obviously angry “Why you little weasels…” 

    Multiple things happen simentosuly the baker slips on a stray pastry that landed on the floor, he lets out a string of curses, knocking Klaus out of his stupor where he quickly grabs Caroline’s hand, once again feeling that tingling sensation. 

“Come on Caroline, let’s go!” Klaus says pulling Caroline with him out the back door and onto the grounds. 

Caroline knocked out of whatever trance she was in quickly lets go of his hand to run easier, which proves to still be pretty hard because she has to hold onto the skirts of her dress while simultaneously gripping the bag of pastries which was to full of deserts, in the haste to leave the pair didn’t hae time to completely close the bad sending them flying behind them. The two eventually reach the top of a small hill looking down to see the baker has recovered and is out on the grounds looking for them as well, squinting against the afternoon sun when he finally spots the two and begins to make his way towards them. 

“What do we do now?” Klaus asks a bit scared if he is being honest, if he is caught he is sure to earn a whalloping of a beating from his father. 

Biting her lip as if she is unsure of herself Caroline speaks up “We should seperate.” 

“What?” 

“If we separate it will be harder for him to catch us.” before Klaus can protest she is shoving the bag of sweets into his arm, “Here I can run faster without this.” 

The sound of grass being kicked up alerts them that the baker is near, “Is that okay?” Caroline asks him. 

“Of course.” Klaus says truthfully, wanting to do his best to make sure Caroline does not get caught. 

“Thank you. Nik.’ Caroline nervously glances off to her left before rising up her tip toes to give him a quick kiss on the cheek but before Klaus even has a chance to respond Caroline is running off but not before turning back around to shout “Good luck!” before running off. 

Klaus looks down the hill one more time seeing that the baker has almost reached him so he takes off and he runs. Knowing the grounds well gives Klaus an advantage as it turns out because the baker is behind him for all of a minute cursing him, calling him a weasel, so basically what his father does when he is in the best of moods around his son, and Klaus is quickly able to find a tiny little alcove on the side of his house to duck into. Though Klaus soon discovers that Caroline, despite her head start, is not so lucky as he sees her stop right in front of his little alcove, completely oblivious to the fact that he is right behind her. Upon seeing Caroline, Klaus immediately notices how tired she looks, she is panting and looks ten times hotter and out of breath than he does which is fair considering the dress she is in, like most dresses these days are more akin to prisons then clothing and she looks even worse when she hears Adonis close by, 

“Come on out you little twaps. If you want to steal my food you have got to be ready to pay the price for it,” his French accent making the words sound jittery, as if he was unused to speaking English. 

Caroline’s eyes widen in fear as she rapidly looks around for somewhere to hide, then as if on instinct Klaus reaches his hand out of the alcove just enough to grab Caroline’s and yank her into the tiny little space with him. At the surprise movement and the action of being dragged into a dark and unfamiliar space Caroline tries to let out a small scream, the key word being tries as Klaus immediately clamps a hand over Caroline’s mouth, her eyes widen with surprise as he presses a finger against his lips with his free hand and nods his head towards the opening where the shadow of Adonis fast approaching, Caroline seems to get the message because her body relaxes even with Klaus’s hand covering her mouth still afraid that she might make a sound or at least that is what Klaus tells himself. Suddenly Klaus realizes that this is as close to Caroline as he has been a long time, close enough to where he can see the jagged shades of emerald in her eyes cutting through the crisp blue, a color so magnificent that Klaus thinks he could never find a paint that would capture their beauty the way that they deserved. 

The pair just stand there for a minute staring into each other’s eyes as they wait for the quote on quote danger to pass when finally or perhaps somewhat regretfully in Klaus’s mind it does, 

“You know what you little merdes you won go run off with the deserts that I slaved over for hours just so you could get your grubby little hands on them. See if I care!” Then the poor chef from France is stomping off muttering all the while about donkeys, kids these days, and why in the world did he say yes to this job and Klaus can’t help but feel a tinge of pity for this man as Klaus moves his hand from Caroline’s mouth following her outside of the alcove, not at all missing the candy red blush that has spread across Caroline’s cheeks. 

It seems as though Caroline feels the same way about the baker as a look of regret and apprehensiveness, “Maybe we went a bit to far. Do we still have some deserts left?”

Looking down into the little sack Klaus does see that it is still filled with deserts, perhaps a bit less then what they started with but still enough to make a difference, he nods his head in reply, “We do.” 

A look of determination flits across Caroline’s face, “Good, come on.” she says walking in front of him, grabbing his hand and dragging him along without looking back . 

“Where are we going?” 

“To give the deserts back of course.” 

“What? Why? I thought the whole point of this thing was to swipe some deserts because my father isn’t letting us come to this dinner party.” Klaus says, unable to keep the nervousness out of his voice because if they return the desserts that means his father could find out and Klaus could get punished. 

“Because it’s the right thing to do.” 

Klaus’s immediate reaction is to say no, not because he thought it was the right thing to do but because he did not want to risk letting Mikael know and the having to explain off yet another scar or bruise to his family. The only person who knows about the way his father treats him is Caroline and even then it is only a vague idea because Klaus knows if she knew the full truth of his father’s rath she would be sure to do something stupid like take the sword hanging above one of the many fireplaces in his house and threaten to stab Mikael with it. As much as Klaus would like to see that he knows his father would do something to punish Caroline and seeing his friend get hurt is one of things that scares Klaus most in the world which leads him into his next actions 

“Alright fine but on one condition.”

“Of course.” 

“If he asks whose idea it was, who to blame any of that you let me take the blame okay?” 

“Why would I do that? I mean I’m the one that came up with this idea. If anybody should get in trouble for it should be me!”

“Caroline,” he admonishes in a tone he knows she hates, “Please. Let me handle this.” 

The please is what gets Caroline’s attention, Klaus rarely uses the word please unless he is addressing a maid or butler in the house, talking to somebody in town, or when his father or mother has visitors, must ubattain the Mikaelson family expectations even in a country that hates them after all. Klaus rarely uses the word please with his friends and family, usually demands what he wants wether to play a different game or something else of the sort. A thing that causes him and Caroline to but heads because they can’t get along all the time now can they? They actually argue quite a lot actually, Cosette when they still were old enough for a governess would say that they fought like  ‘two cats who just got dunked in water’ Like now where they continue to argue about who should accept the blame for their desert caper but finally after what seemed like hours Caroline agreed to let him take the blame and the punishment that came with it if it should come to that. 

Returning the treats actually goes much easier than Klaus expects it to; Adonis is obviously mad when he sees them but some of that quickly dissipates when they see they have returned with at least some of the treats. He even becomes less mad when they both apologize and when they tell him why they snuck some of the deserts and is able to laugh at it saying something like ‘I guess I wasn’t much better then you kids when I was your age’ Adonis in the end just makes them apologize in exchange for not telling Klaus’s father and a promise to ask next time if they wanted deserts that badly to ask him. What surprises Klaus the most by the end of the conversation is how Adonis gives them each a cream puff. 

“For the road.” he says with a wink. 

Caroline thanks him before delicately wrapping it in her handkerchief and placing it within the folds of her dress and Klaus decides to eat his right then and there. At this point Klaus is ready to go on his merry way feeling like he and Caroline have risked too much already with this whole desert-knap scheme and doesn’t want to risk getting in trouble any further, but apparently Caroline has different ideas because she asks Adonis a question 

“Excuse me you do speak French?” 

“Obviously dear.” the chef says lightheartedly. 

“Good then because this idiot here,” she says jabbing her thumb out at him to which he responds to with an indignant “Hey!”, Caroline just rolls her eyes in response before continuing on, “For years he has been calling me mon chevalier and he refuses to tell me what it means and he always says I will tell you when you are older well now I am older than he was when he first called me that and he continues to refuse me. Is there anyway you can tell me what it means? It would be most appreciated.” 

Klaus for the hundredth time that day feels a rush of nerves hit him, this is it , he thinks, this is the moment where I am embarrassed forever by the fact that I call my best friend who is a girl his freaking mon chevalier . 

Though for some reason fate continues to smile down upon Klaus Mikaelson because a sly looking smile spreads across the surprisingly kind baker’s face, “I do indeed know what that means but I think I agree with your friend here that you both need to be a bit older until you find out what mon chevalier means but rest assured mon chevalier is not a bad name at all.”

“Really?”

“Oui mademoiselle, as a matter of fact that is the best name your friend could call you.”

“Is that true Nik?” 

Knowing that the only way to get Caroline to drop this, at least for the day, Klaus swallows thickly in an attempt to hide the blush that wants to jump onto his cheeks, “Yes.” 

A look of surprise flashes across Caroline’s face. Is she really that surprised that the name I have been calling her practically since we have met?

Apparently yes if the embarrassed blush spreading across her cheeks is anything to go by before she manages to speak “Alright I guess I can wait a little longer to find out.” 

A warm smile spreads across Adonis face as he says “Good now run along you two before I change my mind about telling anybody what you did. Though if you ask me those officers could afford to lose a few pounds so I think you were doing everyone a favor. Now run a long children.” 

“Thank you sir.” Caroline says smiling curtsying down before turning her attention upon him, “Now come on Nik, we don’t want to disrupt this poor baker’s day anymore now, do we?” 

“We do not. Farewell sir I look forward to seeing you around.” Klaus says offering a slight bow to the portly man. 

Adonis offers them both a kind farewell before the two friends go on their merry way. 

When they finally appear to be by themselves the two of them immediately start laughing, “I can’t believe we pulled that off even though we got caught and we did not get in trouble! How amazing is that?!” Caroline explains happily, doing her own little victory dance. 

“It was pretty amazing.” Klaus agrees smiling to himself as well. 

“Perhaps we should try and steal a bottle of champagne next.” Caroline says teasingly. 

Fondly rolling his eyes, Klaus opens his mouth to offer some retort to his positively crazy best friend but whatever sound is coming out is immediately drowned out by yelling coming from the near by garden, his parents voices. Klaus realizes after hearing the voices for a second time. 

The playfulness gone from Caroline’s face she quietly says “Perhaps we should take our leave now and go back inside…” 

For once in his life Klaus wants to get closer to his father, his parents like all married couples fight but never like this never when they are both yelling and screaming at each other, his mother had always been one with a level head and his father was one with a… less level head and that’s why they worked together; or at least that is what he has heard other people say. So to see or well hear his parents fighting like this it peaks Klaus interests more than it does his fear at the thought of his father catching him snooping. 

“I think I am going to go see what they are fighting about. I do think you should go back to the house; I think the excitement we had today is enough for you.” 

Caroline lets out an annoyed huff, “If you think I’m going to let you go snooping around by yourself you truly are crazy. Now come on this is your mission so you get to lead the way.” 

Klaus immediately wants to send Caroline back to the house but he doesn’t because #1 It’s Caroline and Caroline will do what Caroline wants to do, not what someone else wants her to do, and #2 Klaus doesn’t want to waste time arguing with Caroline when he should be trying to find a way to lurk about unnoticed close enough to hear his parents, so he gives a little jerk of his head signaling her to follow him. Klaus eventually finds a wall of ivy big enough to hide the both of them if they stand right next to each other and muffle whatever small sounds they make. When they get settled Klaus makes sure to concentrate so he can hear the conversation, he hears his father first, 

“Honestly Esther why do we have to keep that putrid little boy around? It’s bad enough that Niklaus is a bastard born out of your adultery but even worse is the fact that he continues being a disappointment at every turn? He skips lessons, is awful at drawing, I don’t even think he could even lace up his shoelaces correctly without help!” 

“Shush MIkael keep your voice down do you want someone to here you?” 

Klaus can feel Caroline stifle a gasp beside him as the words his father or not his father spited out tumble around inside his head like heavy blocks. At first Klaus feels confusion; maybe they were talking about a different kind of bastard? Or maybe his father was just making up lies to find a reason to excuse his actions towards his second youngest son? Maybe perhaps Mikeal got confused and was talking about Kol? If Klaus was being honest Kol seems more related to a pack of wolves than he did the Mikaelsons. Could it be that Mikael was just confused? Even though Klaus asks these questions to himself he immediately knows the answer to all of them is no, that somehow Mikael Mikaelson is not his real father and Klaus MIkaelson is indeed a bastard. Then whatever slim hopes he had is quickly crushed by what his mother says next, 

“How many times do I have to apologize to you Mikael? I had one moment of weakness while you were away out of a whole lifetime of standing by your side; you pulled away from me after what happened with, what happened with Henrik,” Klaus can hear a break in his mother’s voice when she mentions Henrik, the name sparking a memory in Klaus, Henrik was supposed to be his older brother but he was born dead, his loss was signaled by the day every year where his mother and even his father are quiet, wishing for the son they never got to know, “You blamed me because of it almost just as much as I blamed myself. I didn’t know what else to do and when A-” 

“Do not speak his name!” Klaus’s father roared. 

“Fine when he came along, he was kind to me when almost no one else was and I gave in to him and have regretted it every day since. When will you ever learn to forgive me?” 

Klaus somehow feels like he has been punched in the gut and has his head filled with water at the same exact time at the revelation that not only is he a bastard but his own mother it seems like she regrets it even though he was born because of it. Klaus has the vague sensation of Caroline urgently whispering to him, asking him if he was okay but he was to focused on the life-shattering conversion his parents were having behind him, 

“I have forgiven you, I have along time ago; this is not what it’s about. It’s about the fact that Niklaus is the most disappointment of a child I have ever seen. And I should be allowed to try and teach him to be better however well I may please after all despite him being a filthy half-breed he is in the eyes of the town my son.” 

“I know Mikael but you have got to be more careful in how you treat him. Like it or not the world sees him as your son and you can’t continue on treating him more poorly than you do to your own flesh and blood. Don’t you think I have noticed how you treat Niklaus harsher than his siblings?” 

“Only because the little welp deserves it; unless you want me to direct my attention to someone else in this family…” 

“No.”

“That’s what I thought.” Miakel says briskly, “Now come on let’s go back inside so we can play happy couple for the dinner tonight, at least we don’t have to risk Niklaus disappointing us then.” 

As Klaus watches his parents walk away, back towards the house like the happy couple they are or were as if nothing has happened Klaus feels a rush of emotions; anger at his father for continuing to treat him the way that he does, anger at both of his parents for keeping his parentage a secret from him, disappoint and sadness at the fact that his mother at the very least slightly noticed the way his father treats him and hasn’t done anything to stop him, anger at his father for threatening his mother, anger at his mother for allowing his father to threaten her, but overall Klaus just feels empty at least only for a minute. When he hears the far off sound of a door being shut Klaus is snapped back to reality and he looks at Caroline who is staring at him with wide eyes and she says his name, more like a question than if she were addressing him. 

“Nik?” 

Klaus had no idea why but something about the way she said his name, her concerned eyes a sign that what he just heard was in no way a dream and he is hit with two similar and all two familiar emotions; fear and panic. 

What is he going to do if the truth is revealed? His whole entire reputation will be ruined. 

What if this is not the only lie that is masquerading itself in Klaus’s life? 

Are his siblings even his real siblings? 

Is Caroline even his friend? 

No , Caroline must be his friend, Klaus thinks to himself as he somehow ends up on the ground.

Wait how did I end up on the ground? Klaus thinks to himself clenching and unclenching his hands in the dying grass as he searches for Caroline who seems to have suddenly left his side. 

The answer comes but a second later as Klaus sees Caroline reposition herself front of him, trying to squat over the grass, trying to avoid getting her dress dirty, and looks earnestly into his eyes, reaching out to take one of his hands and enveloping it through hers 

“Nik? Nik, look at me are you all right?” 

Alls Klaus can do is shake his head. 

A chuckle escapes her lips, “I suppose not. Sorry for the silly question. Can you get up?” 

“Can’t breath.” he manages to choke out, feeling a tightness in his chest that feels like it is squeezing all the air out of his lungs. 

“Okay just take a deep breath, in and out slowly like this.” Caroline says calmly showing him what she wants him to do, and Klaus follows her example until he can feel his heart rate return to normal and this must be obvious because Caroline gives him a small smile and says “See? I knew that would help.” 

Though Klaus has a feeling that it was less the breathing exercise than Caroline’s calming presence. 

“Can you get up now?” she asks kindly. 

“Yes.” Klaus says feeling some movement come back to his legs, where previously he felt nothing. 

“Good because we are going somewhere.” 

“Where?” Klaus asks standing up shakily, not letting go of Caroline’s hand, fearing all though he is feeling better Caroline’s hand in his is the only thing keeping him anchored to this earth. 

“Somewhere to help you out.” is the only answer she gives until they begin to walk. 

The somewhere ends up being a long hike away, or at least Klaus thinks it is, his mind is still racing, part of it here with Caroline and her reassuring hand squeezes every few steps, the other back at the garden where it was revealed that his whole entire life has been a lie. As they journey to he mysterious place Caroline keeps quiet which Klaus is very thankful for because he needs time to think about what all of this means to him. Should he be happy that he is not related to somebody as awful as his father? Can Klaus even call Mikael his father, he was barely deserving of that title before when Mikael would and still does punish him for the smallest of things, what about now when Klaus knows he does not share even a drop of blood with Mikael? Klaus does not know and still may not know for a while which is why he is thankful for Caroline’s understanding silence. Soon enough after minutes or maybe hours Klaus does not know they reach the place Caroline was talking about; hidden behind a wall of rock and a curtain of ivy there is a hill that looks like it rises above the entire city of Boston, at the peak of this hill lies a large willow tree, it’s long cloud like leaves provide a cover for an old stone bench that overlooks the large harbors of Boston. The only sound Klaus can here is the soft babbling of the tiny pond on the hill and the occasional faint sound of the far off waves crashing against the withered docks of the harbor.

The two of them eventually sit down of the bench and they sit in silence for a few minutes before they start talking. The conversation starts out slowly with Caroline telling Klaus that her mother used to take her to this place when she was still alive and when she died Caroline was to young to remember where it was, until she stumbled upon just a year ago, completely by mistake. Once again Klaus feels special that Caroline is showing him another piece of her mother that she barely got to know and rarely ever talks about. Klaus and Caroline can only talk about how nice Rebekah’s harp skills are getting or how it would be a miracle for a girl to find Kol suitable husband material for so long until they have to talks about what they just heard. Caroline being Caroline profusely makes sure he is okay and him being him says he is when in reality he is not. It takes less than a minute for Caroline to know he was lying and another twenty to get him to admit that he is not. The two of them went back and forth for what seemed like hours until Caroline was able to convince Klaus while it may not be great that he had been lied too the fact that Mikael is not his father is actually a good thing because Mikael sucks; she can’t erase the pain of his mother dismissing the abuse Mikael showed and continues to show him, which she did ask about 

“I only a know a bit about what Mikael does to you but is there any way you can tell me more?” 

“When I’m ready.” 

“When you are ready then.” Caroline says offering him a hesitant smile at him, squeezing the hand that has not left hers since she led them here, “Are you sure you don’t want to come live with me and father? We have plenty of room and I know father would love to have you, you are like the son he never had.”

“I’m sure, besides even if father would allow it I’m sure that would mean he would take his aggression out on Kol or Rebekah and I would rather die than let that happen. I only have four years until I can go off to university and I will never have to live with him again.” 

A look of understanding and helplessness settles onto Caroline’s face, until she speaks up softly, “You know what it doesn’t even surprise me that Mikael isn’t your father, want to know why?” 

“Why?” 

“You are far to kind to even have a drop of that cruel man’s blood running in your body, that man only does stuff for him; every act of kindness, courage, or what not is made so it will benefit him. You do kind stuff just to be kind.” 

The earnestness in Caroline’s voice makes Klaus feel better but despite how awful Mikael is Klaus can’t help but feel slighted, so he still feels bitter as to why he remarks “Well if that is the case the rest of my siblings must be brutes.” 

“No Nik it’s not that; all of your siblings are some of the most kindest people I have ever met, even Kol.” Caroline says lightly, trying to make him laugh, and it works despite himself he lets out a short chuckle, “It’s just that you’re different Nik, you always have been. In the best possible way.” 

Caroline’s last words send off a flutter in Klaus’s chest that he can not identify but talking about his siblings brings a thought to the forefront of his mind, “You can’t tell them.” 

A bit confused Caroline asks “Tell who?” 

“Tell my siblings, Caroline you can’t.” 

“I wasn’t going to, but may I ask why?” 

“What if they decide that I am a no good bastard and leave me? My siblings and you, are the only people that I truly care about in life and I can’t bear to lose any of you.” 

“I wasn’t going to tell them and still won’t, but Nik they are your siblings and they love you, who your father is won’t change that. If you are worried about me leaving you, don’t, I promise Nik I will always be there for you, always.” 

“Really?” 

“Of course. Always and forever. But Nik, remember anybody would be lucky to know you, every single part of you.” 

“Thank you.” Klaus says earnestly her kind words easing the turmoil inside of him and he finally squeezing Caroline’s hand back. 

“It’s getting late, should we go back?” Caroline asks, the sun has just started to set. 

“No, I think we should stay here for a bit.” Klaus says, not wanting to go back just yet. 

“Okay, but just for a bit.” Caroline says softly, leaning her head down to rest on his shoulder, their hands still interlocked once again sending off another mysterious flutter through Klaus’s chest. 

Klaus doesn’t say anything, just rests his head on top of Caroline’s looking out to the distance with her, at the waves crashing against the docks, the large ships, with people milling about, not even knowing that they were being watched by a young girl and a young boy who unknowingly just started off a unforeseeable chain of events. Klaus is not sure how long they sit there but it’s long enough for Caroline to fall asleep, her even breaths ghosting the corner of his cheek. In all honesty Klaus would have been fine going down when Caroline asked but he wanted to spend just a bit more time with Caroline, he looks down at their interlocked hands. 

Just a bit.

____________________________________________________________________________

Four 

January 1770

    “Slow down Nik!” Caroline yells out from some place behind him, her breathing labored. 

    “Now why would I do that?” Klaus answers back, before turning around the nearest corner. 

    “Because I’m your friend!” she yells back. 

    “It’s because I am your friend that I am not going easy on you; I’m preparing you for the real world!” 

    Klaus and Caroline are currently chasing each other around his house playing a make shift race game. The reason for their inside games is a thick layer of snow still coats the grounds outside because in Boston snow seems to coat the ground like a thick, crystal like blanket until mid February and even then dirty, slushy snow seems to still be sprinkled through out the town. So inside racing it was; the system the two friends came up with was you had to run around the house four times and around the house are eight sticks each tied with a ribbon, four for each of them that they had to collect, deep pink for Klaus and sunshine yellow for Caroline. As of now both Klaus and Caroline had found all of their sticks and they just had to cross the threshold of the main foyer of the house to win, and by the looks of it the win was within Klaus’s grasp. At least that was until Caroline came barreling around the corner catching up with him until they are neck and neck. 

    “How did you do that?” 

    “Shortcut.” she smirks at him playfully, “Remind how I know the shortcuts better in your own house than you do?”

    “Shut up.” Klaus grumbles before ducking under a outstretched arm of a statue. 

Laughing Caroline says, “Okay sorry. Though I do have an idea, loser has to make the other a cup of hot chocolate?” 

Smiling Klaus says, “You’re on.” before picking up his pace. 

Soon enough Caroline is in front of Klaus but only by a small margin giving Klaus hope that he could still beat her and he soon sees his chance; one of Caroline’s boot laces have come untied and she is slightly stumbling over them, usually Klaus would stop to help her, but not today, so he picked up his pace and got ahead of Caroline. Klaus quickly tries his very best to get ahead of Caroline and succeeds, he quickly approaches the main foyer and grins. 

Caroline yells out behind him, “Not fair!” 

“Life’s not fare sweetheart!” he manages to get out just as he crosses into the foyer. 

“Wait Nik look out!”

Klaus hears what Caroline is saying but it’s too late when he notices the small puddle of water, melted snow that he tracked in and his foot catches on it and he starts sliding across the slick marbled floors of the foyer and he is unable to stop himself as he crashes into a pristine statue. When Klaus hits the floor he barely has time to duck away when the statue comes barreling down onto the ground, narrowly missing him as it explodes into a million fine pieces.

Catching his breath Klaus rolls onto his back staring up at the ceiling and before he even  has time to react Caroline skids beside him, eyes frantic 

“Nik? Nik? Are you okay?” 

Sitting up with a grunt he grits out, “Me? I’m fine. The statue however? Not so much.” looking out at the shattered statue that if memory served was of some sort greek god or goddess, one of the most expensive and prized statues Mikael owns, well owned, which meant- 

“NIKLAUS!” 

Caroline and Klaus look at each other with identical looks of fear on their faces; knowing Mikael will be furious about his broken statue. Ever since that day almost a year ago when his true parentage was revealed any desire he had to impress Mikael, which was little to begin with was gone. Last year's revelation left Klaus with a freeing since of not caring about what Mikael thought of him and realizing what Caroline said was true; he should be proud that Mikael is not his father, Klaus was still counting down the days until he could leave behind Boston, Mikael, and any other bad thing with it when he goes to King’s College. Mikael and nobody else in his family know the secret behind his parentage besides Caroline who has kept his secret faithfully; despite Caroline’s reasurencess that his family would not abandon him if he told them Klaus can not bring himself to accept that, so the secret stayed. Occasionally Caroline would ask him if he ever planned to officially leave the Mikaelson family and announce that Mikael was not his father and Klaus’s immediate answer was no. Announcing his illegitimate background would ruin any credibility he has and give Mikael the final push to cut him off from the family fortune (something he has been threatening  doing as of late), leaving Klaus with no way to make it in the world on his own, so to the world he has been and always will be the third born son of Mikael Mikaelson. 

At the sounds of his father’s angered footsteps pounding closer Klaus immediately pulls Caroline up off the ground, “Caroline you need to get out of here, now .”  he says, desperate to get his friend to leave and not risk the chance of incurring Mikael’s rath. 

“No I’m staying. Remember? I promised that I would never leave you, always and forever.” 

While Klaus feels touched by her sentiment that is overwhelmed by the fear of seeing Caroline get hurt by Mikael, you might think that Mikael wouldn’t dare to hurt a guest; a few years ago that would have been true but in years past as tensions mount between the Americans and the British his father’s temper has become shorter, not caring much about public appearance. Not willing to risk his best friend, his only friend, his….. something, get hurt so Klaus prepares to get Caroline out of there as soon as possible, even if he has to throw her out the front door to do it. 

“Caroline-” 

“Whatever the bloody hell happened here?” Mikael’s voice rings out the anger as obvious as the sun hanging in the sky, as hot as it to, squashing any of Klaus’s hopes to get Caroline out of there. 

“Niklaus what did you do?” 

Klaus takes a deep breath and prepares to answer his father and for the ensuing punishment, a punishment that Klaus does not want Caroline to see lest she feels more sorry than she probably already does but before he can beautiful, stupid, courages, but so, so stupid Caroline answers for him

“It was me sir, Klaus and I were playing this silly game and I seemed to have run over a rather unfortunately placed puddle and slipped. Most unfortunately the statue seemed to be placed right where I fell. I offer my deepest apologies and I am sure I can talk my father into paying some of the damages even if I have to work as his personal maid for the rest of my life.” 

Klaus hears his father draw a sharp breath in, making his heart beat even faster with nervousness if it were even possible at this point. 

He prepares for his father to strike, to do something really but he does nothing but turn to him and address him, “Niklaus is this true?” 

Klaus even though he sees the look on Caroline’s face to tell him to lie, he cannot. 

How could she ever think that he would let his father punish something for he did? Klaus can never imagine himself doing that, betraying his best friend, the girl who has been his best friend for years, the girl who he wants to be with for the rest of his life to his brute of a father, so he immediately speaks up to debunk Carolne’s brave but stupid, very stupid lie 

    “No father, it was me. I was the one who broke it.” 

    “Nik!” he immediately hears Caroline protest. 

    “Is this true Niklaus?” 

    “Yes.” Klaus says, relieved that Caroline will not have suffer his father’s seemingly unending rage. 

    “Well Niklaus it seems like you're not a complete disappoint; keeping a friend safe is most noble indeed, however misguided it is for someone like Caroline.” 

    “What?” Klaus asks, immediately confused. 

    “Niklaus I find it hard to believe that you would be uncouth enough to play a game of such improper nature inside our family home. You may be my least competent offspring but you aren’t without your manners. Miss Caroline on the other hand I can completely believe was capable of orchestrating a game and causing destruction; after all what can one but expect of a colonist?.” his father lets out a long exhale, folding his hands together walking back towards Caroline before stopping in front of her, “Now Caroline I must commend you for your honesty, not so many would openly admit to destroying something so valuable, but when your honest about unruly acts such as this you must be ready to accept the punishment.”

    Klaus barely has time to react before his father brings down a hard hand on Caroline’s cheek, the sound echoing throughout the foyer, the only reaction Caroline has is that she lets out a small squeak of surprise clapping her hand to her cheek that is stinging red. Klaus feels anger like he has never felt before and he is prepared to hurt his father by any means necessary and perhaps Caroline notices this because she quickly steps in front of him,

    ‘It’s okay Nik.” she says softly, craning her neck backwards towards him before facing the man he loathes to call father, “I truly am sorry for actions Mikael and I promise I shall never be so uncouth in your house again.” 

    “Good.” his father grins in a sickly way, before latching his hand around her wrist “Now let’s go back to your father’s house; I have a feeling he would be more than interested in knowing about your less than lady like activities.” 

    Caroline barely has time to squeak out a goodbye before his father is all but dragging her out the door and Klaus immediately has the strong urge to follow them but knowing that is the last thing Caroline wants him to do, to get himself into even more trouble with his father so he stays put, barely resisting the urge to chase after her like a mad man. Klaus’s father finally comes back right as the afternoon glow of the sun cools into the early hours of the evening and when he does Klaus expects to get yelled at, to get hit, or anything of that sort but instead none of that happens; in fact his father is in such a jolly mood that he is actually nice to Klaus. For the next couple of days Caroline is absent from his life and by inclusion Kol and Rebekah’s, who were getting new clothes fitted in town when the statue incident happened . When they asked why their best friend was not at the house Klaus manages to tell the half truth; how Caroline covered for him when he broke the statue and how her father was probably punishing her for it, Klaus leaves out the part about the slap though, sure that Caroline wouldn’t want her other two best friends knowing about it and have them risk doing something to ‘avenge her’ and get in trouble. 

    To be honest Klaus multiple times a day thought about confronting his father ot telling somebody about the deplorable way he treated Caroline, but Klaus knows he will have his ears boxed in by Caroline whenever she returns for getting punished for her saving him from a whole different kind of punishment; so he painfully keeps mum. Speaking of his father, his weirdly joyful mood has carried on for seven painful days where Caroline Forbes is out of his life completely; he is nicer to the maids and butlers, spends more time with the children he likes, and even continues to be nice to Klaus. One time even giving him the last desert one night. Klaus honestly starts to think his father had some sort of brain aneurysm or has been replaced by his nice twin brother; honestly either seem more possible than his father just becoming nicer, after over fifteen years of maltreatment. Though Klaus soon finds out the awful, awful reason behind his father’s niceties but a day later. 

    Klaus, Kol, and Rebekah are enjoying their breakfast or at least as much as they can be thinking of how today is another day spent without their best friend or at leats that is how Klaus feels. Ever since Caroline left that fateful afternoon almost every waking moment is spent thinking about his friend; how her laugh sounded like sunshine besides being loud and frankly obnoxious, the way her hair would seem to glow when the rays of the sun would bounce on it, her eyes and the way that they sparkled even more than the waters on the harbor on a summer day, how her nose would always crinkle up when she was lying…. In short Klaus Mikaelson thought about Caroline Forbes every single day and the way whenever she touched his hand, kissed his cheek, or even just looked at him a certain way how it would send a flutter throughout his chest, like butterflies banging against a a drum, a feeling that he has still yet to figure out what meant and apparently never will, at least for a while… 

    When the last bits of toast are eaten, the little jars of marmalade emptied, drink cups dry both his father and mother tell him and siblings to clean up and join them in the courtyard to say goodbye and as Klaus’s mother walks away he can’t help but notice with a pit in his stomach, and the rare sympathetic look on her face. The look on her face is not without reason as it turns out because the carriage that pulls up is loaded with a dozen pieces of luggage and when it crunches to a stop the first man that steps out is Mr. Forbes, his face it seems growing even more wrinkled over the years and in marked with a strange sense of sorrow and impending doom as he reaches his hand out and a gloved hand, now bigger but still delicate as it was all those years ago places her hand on top of the out stretched one and out steps Caroline Forbes letting out a kind if not sorrowful 

    “Thank you father.” 

    A shocked silence descends upon the Mikaelson siblings, all confused as to what could be going on, all of them try to look Caroline in the eyes (her eyes can give whatever she is feeling, hence why she is so bad at poker) but she ignores them, opting to stare at the ground instead. Caroline avoiding their gaze can only mean one thing, that something bad is going to happen or more accurately happening, his father with an all to saharine grin on his face speaks first, 

    “Mr. Forbes and young Ms. Forbes we are so honored that you stopped by to say farewell before little Caroline here goes on her journey East.” 

Kol immediately questions this  “What do you mean ‘a journey East’ this bloody hunk of land is about as far east as you can go unless you want to live in the water like a crazy person.” 

    This is when Caroline looks up, tears rimming the corners of her eyes “I am going to go to a finishing school in England if you can belive it. Father believes that since I do not have a lady of the house to bring me up in life and teach me the proper ways of being a good house wife. Your father, Lord Mikaelson was gracious enough to use his connections to fetch me a spot at Lillybrook School for Girls.” Despite the sorrow her voice the sarcastic cut was clear as day when she talked about Mikael. 

    Klaus feels like he has been punched in the gut, Caroline his best friend is leaving him, after she promised that she would always be there for him, always and forever. With this Klaus feels a surge of anger and betrayal at his best friend for lying to him; she’s probably thankful for this Klaus thinks bitterly, now she can blab about her poor bastard friend over seas to her new posh friends  

    “How long will you be gone for? It won’t be long will it?” Rebekah asks, tears bright in her eyes. 

    Klaus watches as Caroline winces acting if as the answer is physically hurting her as she tries to answer, “I’ll be gon-gone fo-” not lasting long before so many tears are streaming down her face she can’t even speak and with these tears bring out a whole new wave of guilt within Klaus. How could he even think Caroine was happy about this? That she would tell his secret, their secret to a bunch of strangers when this was clearly breaking her? Klaus continues to watch as Caroline’s father gives her a comforting squeeze on her shoulder from behind, his face one a mix of sorrow and regret as Caroline wipes the tears from her eyes before trying to regain her composure, “I’ll be gone for five years.” 

    The words are like knives to his stomach. 

For a second Kol, Rebekah, and Klaus are silent  before all of them start speaking at once speaking things along the lines of, ‘Are you kidding me?” ‘Are you crazy?’ and him, a heartbroken, ‘Why?’ Mr. Forbes suggests that they give the four of them a chance to say goodbye and Mikael begrudgingly agrees walking off with Caroline’s father, probably to discuss what’s going to happen with Caroline. When they are a little ways out of sight the bambaradge of questions start again, ‘Why are you letting this happen?’, ‘Why did your father agree to this?’, ‘Why did our  father do this?’ Caroline tells them the stroy about how the day when the statue broke and Mikael brought her home he somehow managed to convive her father that being in England would be best for her; allow her to be surrounded by people who could teach her how to act like a proper lady, make advantageous connections for the future, and be away at least from the physical part of the fast approaching war. ‘For your only daughter’s safety’ Mikael said and it unfortunately worked and Mr. Forbes was sending Caroline away for five years, a full term at Lillybrook. However reluctantly. Kol immediately says he will go get father to change his mind, even if he has to duel him and Rebekah says she is not to old to throw  a tantrum….

Caroline immediately stops them by grabbing each of their hands and squeezing them, tearfully looking at their grief stricken faces, “Oh my darling friends, I do not deserve your kindness. Unfortunately I don’t think either plan will work; everything is all payed for and it’s what your father, both of our fathers’ want so I must listen, however regretfully.” she says hiccuping at the end, “If I could stay please know that I could and I want to but-” 

“You can’t” Klaus finishes bitterly finally finding his voice but he can’t help but notice it sounds scratchier than normal. 

“I can’t.” Caroline affirms, choking up; once again on the verge of tears. 

“So what do we do?” Klaus asks gruffly. 

“Why say goodbye of course.” Mikale says appearing out of nowhere with a guilty looking Mr. Forbes in tow, the positively joyous look on his face not at all matching the sorrow in his tone. 

“Is it true father? Do I have to say goodbye now?” Caroline asks of her father. 

“I’m afraid so my dear if we want to get to our ship on time.” 

“Of course.” Caroline says shakily before turning to Rebekah, her face crumpling “Becca-” 

The words have barely left Caroline’s face before Rebekah pulls her into a bone crushing hug, “I’m going to miss you Caroline, so much. Promise me you will write?” 

“Everyday.” Caroline says fiercely, “Promise me you won’t ever forget me?” 

Rebekah let’s out a wet chuckle, “Impossible. I would have an easier time getting Kol to behave civilly.” 

“Hey!” 

At the sound of Kol’s offended voice Caroline let’s out a laugh before pulling herself out of Rebekah’s grasp and turning to her other best friend, “Kol care to give your friend a hug goodbye?” 

Kol ever the one against displays of public affection and saying goodbye to friends just lets out an awkward huff before asking, “I feel like a handshake is enough, isn’t?” 

“Kol you won’t be seeing me for five years.” 

“Well when you put it like that.” Kol mumbles reaching out to hug Caroline, the conversation they have is a quiet and hushed one ending with Caroline letting out her signature loud laugh and blush on her cheeks, sending a wave of irritation through Klaus before Caroline standing up on her tiptoes places a chaste kiss to Kol’s cheek, “Never change Kol,” she finishes fondly. 

Now it’s finally Klaus’s turn to say goodbye and one look on Caroline’s grief stricken face erases all guilt, anger, betrayal, irritation, all of it gone; replaced with the need to comfort his best friend. Without a word passing in between them Klaus opens his arms wide and Caroline crashes into him, they hold on to each other as if they were the only pieces of a torn shipwreck in a wild, untamed sea and in a way they are. 

Klaus is the first one to speak, in a whispered and all too rushed conversation “I’m sorry Caroline.” 

“Don’t you dare apologize Nik.” 

“But-”

“But nothing Nik. I made my choice last week and you know what I would make it again.” 

For a few seconds the two friends just listen to the sounds of their breathing, completely unaware of the eyes that are trained on them. 

“Promise me you’ll wait for me Nik?” 

“I promise.” Klaus affirms, what he is promising to wait for her for he does not know and he is sure Caroline doesn’t either but that doesn’t matter. Now now. “However long it takes.” he throws in for good measure leading Caroline to squeeze him extra tightly before pulling away from him, sniffling. 

“It’s time to go Caroline.” her father says softly, she gives him a small nod before rushing to give each of them one more hug and Klaus feels like his is a split second longer before she offer them her last words. 

“I promise you all I will return as sure as the sun hangs in the sky. I promise.” 

Then all too soon he and his two siblings are watching as Caroline’s carriage crunches away. Klaus is not sure how long he, Kol, and Rebekah stand there arms linked watching the empty spot where Caroline stood but it’s a while but somehow not long enough. Long after her carriage is gone and even after Kol and Rebekah have gone inside Klaus speaks; to the heavens, to whatever god may or may not be up there, maybe just to the air itself he does not know but he says the words all the same 

“I will wait for you Caroline Forbes.” 

“However long it takes.”  

____________________________________________________________________________

Five 

March 1775 

    “How much longer do you think it will take for her to get here?”

    “It’s a bloody ship coming from England Becca; not a carriage from the other side of town.” Kol snarks back, answering Rebekah. 

    “Well technically her ship is docking on the other side of town where the carriage will pick her up to bring her here.” 

    “Technically though she is arriving in New York by ship and that takes a while.”

    “Technically Kol you are an idiot.” 

    “Technically Rebekah you’re a-” 

“Will you two idiots stop bickering?” Klaus snaps at his ever squabbling twin siblings, “The point is she wrote her ship should be docking on the twenty-third of March and we know it takes about twenty minutes to arrive her from port by carriage. I’m sure know matter what Caroline is trying to get here most ardently.”

All of a sudden the irritated bickering between Kol and Rebekah before eerily similar looks of mirth pass over their faces. 

Kol ends up being the one to speak up first, “Somebody is nervous.” a strong teasing lite to his voice. 

Klaus can’t help blanche, “Nervous about what?” 

“Why nervous about seeing my soon to be sister-in-law of course.” Rebekah says like it is the most obvious thing in the world.

“I have no idea what you mean.” Klaus mutters, but the blush blooming across his cheeks saying otherwise. 

Kol still annoying as ever, slings an arm over his shoulder and pulling him close, “What Bexy Becks means is that Caroline and I are soon to engage in a courtship. Wonderful news isn’t it?” 

“What?!” Klaus all but yells, feeling shocked, betrayal, and most importantly anger; how dare his brother not tell him about his impending marriage, especially when it is to the woman he……, the woman he…., the woman he…… holds in great admiration. 

“Oh stop it Kol! Will you look at our brother’s face? You’re about to give him a heart attack with your jests!” Rebekah pipes up irratley, snapping at her twin brother. 

“Relax Becca it was just a joke.” Kol says lightly, removing his arm from his brother’s shoulder. 

“Can somebody please tell me what the bloody hell is going on?” Klaus asks, irritated about being in a situation where he has no clue what is going on. 

“Our ignorant cad of a brother is joking, he is not going to court Caroline, not only because she would rather die and the only lady Kol could even try to court is the neighbor's dog Missy. Kol may be the most uncouth of us all but even he wouldn’t dare to court the girl his brother has been in love with for years.” 

“Hey! I don’t love Caroline. I was just irritated at the prospect that my best friend and my brother failed to tell me that they were going to be engaged in a courtship.”

For once Kol and Rebekah seem to agree on something and Rebekah let’s out a snort that sounds quite like a horse guffawing, “I sure would bloody well hope you are considering you have been writing her those sappy love letters for ages.” 

“What love letters?” Klaus asks, trying to disguise his surprise. 

“You know the ones that are like Dearest, Caroline with a comma after dearest, your beauty is like the setting of a newborn sun on the horizon it outshines everything. Your eyes remind me of the algae on the lake, blue but green, green but blue, and perfect so so perfect and did I mention green and blue?” Kol says, mocking him. 

“No no no Kol you are doing it all wrong,” Rebekah says with a saccharine smile on her face, “It’s more like I love you Caroline. I want to be the only man you see for the rest of your life and I want to be the mother of your children.” 

“Those are actually more Caroline’s letter the whole ‘Oh I love Nik so much. Nik is so perfect. I want to be the mother of all of his children and have half British-American children with him before we die in front of the fire, old and wrinkled holding hands in a symbol of our ever lasting love.” Kol says, making his voice sound more feminine. 

“Wait did Caroline say that in her letters?” Klaus says, unable to keep the curiosity, burguing on excitement from his face. 

“Well kind of. It’s more like ‘Oh what’s Nik doing?’ ‘Nik gave me a drawing and it so perfect’ ‘Nik is funny’ ‘Tell Nik this and this and this’ ‘Nik, Nik, Nik’ You are all she talks about in every letter; it’s annoying and quite frankly insulting. I mean we are her best friends to afterall.”

At Kol’s insulted reply Klaus can’t help but let his shoulders sag and he lets out a quite little, “Oh.” a bit disappointed at the fact that Caroline hasn’t been saying anything about wanting to marry him and how she loves him. It shouldn’t bother him because he wants just to remain friends with Caroline; which to be frank is a lie but it does make Klaus feel a bit better about himself. 

“Well that’s good. I have no interest in courting Caroline anyway.” 

“Dear lord you are such a bad liar.” Rebekah mumbles. 

“Agreed, dear sister. Case in point the love letters you have been sending her for years.”

“How many times do I have to tell the two of you that they are not bloody love letters.” Klaus snaps, once again losing his temper with his two younger siblings. 

“Whatever you say dear brother.” 

Klaus has the sudden urge to rip his brother’s head off, but he resists for the reason that as much as he hates to admit it, there is some truth to what Kol is saying. Right before Caroline left Klaus had this understandable feeling about her whenever she held his hand, gave him a hug, and even just smiled at him Klaus felt a flutter in his chest, but for a while Klaus had no idea what it meant. It wasn’t until she was sixteen and his eighteenth birthday was almost upon him when Caroline wrote to him of her first real dance with a fellow from the boy’s school that was a part of the same system of Caroline’s and by her letter the two hit it off almost immediately and were still friends to this day (much to his chagrin); it was when Caroline described that so called “perfect” night to him, with that Enzo character,  that Klaus felt a strong surge of jealousy towards a man he had never even met. Klaus would have given anything to be the one to put his hand on the small of Caroline’s back, feel her sharp in take of breath, be able to stare into her deep azure eyes while counting the flecks of green, to be able to feel her breath tickle his cheek, notice the slight curve of her peach colored lips, leaning in and…, and it was at this point that Klaus realized he was staring off into space and he shook off the furious blush on his cheeks before he fruitfully tried to get back to his letter.

As the painful years apart passed for the pair  their letters had taken on a more…. romantic tone (at least on Klaus’s part); talks about how much they missed each other, sentences about how as soon as they reunited they would never leave each other again, stanzas (once again on Klaus’s part) over Caroline’s never ending beauty, but does that mean Klaus Mikaelson is in love with Caroline Forbes? No, most definitely not. Does he have a fondness for her that he does not hold for other people? Yes. Does that mean Klaus plans to court her? No. Once again he replayed the words of the last letter he exchanged with Caroline, telling them she will finally be coming home and since Caroline’s father who also made the move to New York City was out of town on business that Caroline would stay with them for the time being. Something that both equally frightened and delighted Klaus to an extent; to have Caroline staying with them for months, but a changed Caroline who he only knew through the letters they have exchanged. It is sure to be an adventure to say the very least. 

Perhaps maybe that is why it feels like his heart is about to explode out of his chest as Klaus finally hears the slow sound of gravel being crushed by the wheels of a nearby carriage. The siblings all share similar looks of excitement and apprehension as a beautifully ornate carriage rolls to a stop; a dignified looking footman hops off the back of the carriage and strides over to the door and swings it open, the figure hidden by the shadows. 

“Presenting Lady Caroline Elizabeth Forbes.” 

Then in a weird since of deja vu an elegantly gloved hand, reaches out and  gently places it in the hand of the footman before a rustling of skirts can be heard and Caroline steps out and Klaus swears his heart stops. The woman that stands before him is almost unrecognizable; Caroline’s long blonde hair that used to (at least on non formal equations) hang loosely around her shoulders is curled and piled on top of her head with a few stray curls framing her face, a face that has now lost the slight remaining traces of baby fat, her long, elegant body dressed in an exquisite dress of laces and silk, her straight backed posture indicating a corset. It seems by all accounts Caroline Forbes has grown into a woman Klaus notes to himself as his eyes travel up and down her body, but it seems as if two things have remained the same; her beauty and her eyes which are still as blue as Klaus remembers. When Caroline’s gaze settles on Klaus he can feel his heart constrict even further as her eyes light up with excitement. Klaus tries to make himself move put he seems to have lost all brain and body function as he stares at Caroline; after what seemed like hours but what was probably only a few seconds Caroline sweeps into an elegant curtsey, 

“Nik.” she says, a small smile playing on her lips. 

That little quirk of her perfectly shaped lips somehow manages to snap Klaus out of his trance and he is able to regain his motor function; following in Caroline’s suit Klaus bows before rising back up to meet Caroline and taking her soft, gloved hand in his before placing his lips onto it in a long lingering kiss, his voice a low murmur, “It’s a pleasure to see you again after so long.” 

Caroline immediately blushes a bit red and Klaus can’t help but smirk at her reaction. Then for a minute it seems like Caroline is the one stopped in her place, Kol even lets out a small scoff that shakes Caroline back into attention. 

Rolling her eyes fondly Caroline prepares to move into a curtsy, “Kol-” except before she can she lets out a startled squeak as Kol yanks her into a bear hug, “It’s good to see you Caroline, I’ve missed you.”

“Oh and how I have missed you Kol” Caroline says, returning the hug with equal fervor. 

After what Klaus deems too long Caroline unwraps herself from Kol before facing Rebekah, “Now come on Becca did you really forget me or did Kol actually somehow become a gentleman while I was away?” 

A light laugh, full of happy tears passes from Rebekah’s lips before she opens up her arms and envelopes her best friend into a hug, “Kol is in still no way a gentleman but the forgetting you part is still up for debate.” 

At Kol’s more than annoyed sigh Caroline let’s a small laugh and Klaus immediately notes that another thing has changed about his best friend. Her old laugh as Klaus so joyfully pointed out always sounded like a loud, booming, more of snort of a pig then a laugh, and as strong and unrelenting as the waves breaking against the shore; now it is light, airy, and sounds like the dancing of bells across a soft sweep of the wind. While it sounds much for dignified for a lady of Caroline’s status Klaus can’t help but feel a pang at the loss of the old one. 

A small cough interrupts the reunion and all four friends immediately snap their heads back to look at the coachmen who at the very least looks light embarrassed at interrupting them. 

“Excuse me my lords and ladies but I was wondering where I should deposit Miss. Caroline’s bags?” 

“Oh yes of course it should be the first room on your left after you ascend the northwest staircase.” Rebekah says before continuing on to talk to Caroline. “Oh Caroline just wait till you see your room! I picked it out myself, it looks over the nearby meadow and you can always see people milling about. It is almost as if you are never alone.” 

Caroline’s new laugh returns, “That sounds absolutely lovely Rebekah. Perhaps maybe you can give me a tour of the rest of the house sometimes?” 

“How about now?” 

Before Caroline can even respond Rebekah has grabbed her by the arm and leading her down the long, rocky pathway to their New York estate all the while talking about French designs, carpet, and what not, with as much ease as if they missed yesterday’s afternoon tea and not the past five years. Not knowing what else to do Klaus and Kol follow suit. 

When the quartet reaches the front gate Rebekah goes on ahead and Caroline hangs back for a minute admiring the house.

“Is everything okay Caroline?” Klaus asks, coming to a stop behind her. 

“Oh no everything is fine,” Caroline says, smiling softly and once again Klaus can feel his heart beating a mile a minute when Caroline ever so slightly leans into him. “And oh Nik?” 

“Hmm?” 

“In case I didn’t say it before it’s really good to be back here with you.” then she stands on her tiptoes because that is another thing that hasn’t changed about her is how she is still more or less a head shorter than everybody (including Rebekah), her head couldn’t come mutch past his chin and she places a soft kiss on his cheeks. 

Once again Klaus does not have time to react before Caroline is walking away following Rebekah but not before she turns her head back to him, a confident and mischievous look in her eyes and gives him a small wave before stepping inside of the house. 

Klaus is not sure how long he stands there, it could be seconds, minutes, or even years but in his defense he is still memorizing the feel of Carolin’s petal soft lips brushing against his stubbled cheek, her smile, the ways her eyes sparkled in the sunlight, ….. 

“Kkmph” Klaus hears Kol scoff behind him. 

“What is it Kol?” Klaus asks, irately.

“I just wanted to make sure that you know, you didn’t contract some sort of weird new statue diseases because you have been staring out into space for a disconcerting amount of time.”

Blushing Klaus manges to get some coherent words out, “No no no I was just waiting for a bee to pass so I didn’t get stung.” 

Kol doesn’t appear to belive him, “Tsk tsk tsk lying to your own brother. You see why I think Caroline is my soon to be sister-in-law?” 

The word no already wants to barge pasts Klaus’s lips when he hears her laugh, her real boisterous one, from somewhere inside the house and an all too familiar feeling flutters in his chest. 

“Maybe.” he admits, nonchalantly. 

Kol just raises his eyebrow before walking into the house as Caroline laughs again and Klaus’s feet move of their own volition, carrying him towards her. When Klaus finds her, a blinding smile crosses her face and that word pops into his head again. 

Maybe. 

Maybe.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Only two months had since passed since Caroline had arrived at the Mikaelson’s New York estate; even so a lot has happened. The colonies, now dubbed America had started a war against the motherland after a band of British soldiers opened fired against the settlements, towns , Concord and Lexington with the shot heard around the world. The shot that started the revolution. Despite the fact that he and his siblings are from England themselves they have not been ousted from society. Which is probably due to the fact that with their father back off in Massachusetts of all places fighting off the so called rebels Klaus, Rebekah, Kol, and even the usual rule biding Elijah showed his subtle support for the band of rebels the only way they knew how….. money. With none of them being particularly skilled in the written word unlike his brilliant friend and fellow rebel Alexander Hamilton, the Mikaelson siblings helped the revolution the only way they knew how by lining the pockets of the people fighting for their future. Which also had its perks like keeping their actions a secret from their father who would be furious to know his children were supporting the rebels. 

What would usually happen was once or twice a week Klaus sometimes accompanied by one of his brothers would journey in the dark of night to the nearby tavern and share a pint or two of stout with Hamilton and such friends as John Laurens, Hercules Mulligan, and the Marquis de Lafayette before leaving a small rucksack of money behind, enough to make a contribution but small enough to the point where Mikael wouldn’t notice his funds disappearing. Sometimes Klaus would even stay into the early mornings and discuss what little military stargties he thought the British might use in different terrains, stuff he learned from Mikael over the years. Once or twice Klaus was even offered a position as on official member of the Continental Army but he refused not wanting to risk angering Mikael. Caroline on the other hand was an outspoken member of the revolution or at least as much as one can be without being able to fight; she regularly left bags upon bags of money for members of the army, would attend meetings encouraging freedom, and would spend most of her afternoons with Elizabeth Schuyler from oh so many moons ago patching up and sewing soldiers uniforms. When the war first started Klaus immediately got a letter ordering to take Caroline back home to her father’s estate because he did not want an American in the home of the British officer; at first he was hesitant to oblige, especially since Caroline’s father was still away because after he was due to come home the war had started and Caroline readily assured him she would be fine if he stayed behind to fight for their newborn country. 

Eventually though Klaus yielded and Caroline moved into her father’s New York house and was constantly surrounded by a bustles of maids and servants, so Klaus readily made the hour journey to her house everyday. Just to you know check in on her, that’s all. That’s why he was currently riding over to the Forbes’s on his favorite horse, Hercules, the summer sun was unrelenting as it pushed down on him as Klaus was counting down the minutes until he reached the shady oasis of Caroline’s house. When he does he quickly signals one of the stable hands out and about to tie Hercules up before he makes his way to the front door and quickly raps on it. 

“Just a minute!” he hears Caroline’s voice call out from somewhere inside the house followed by the quick, clacking of shoes before the door swings open and she comes face to face with him. 

“Nik! What a pleasure it is to see you!” Caroline exclaims, amusement evident in her voice as she slightly curtseys; the fact that he is here everyday is no longer a surprise to Caroline but she still greets him with the formality of a lady every time, 

“The pleasure is all mine.” Klaus smirks, leaning down into a bow and placing a kiss on her hand, a now customary greeting in between the two. 

Klaus gets a a small thrill when a blush blooms across Caroline’s face as she brushes a few strand hairs away from her face, causing Klaus to only now notice her state of disarray; her hair is loosely pulled behind her head into a bun, she is wearing a simple dress and apron that is covered in different colored stains of red, purple, and blue, and is covered with random splotches of flour and sugar. 

If already knowing what he is going to ask Caroline answers Klaus’s question, “Oh all the berries in our orchard finally started to bloom today and since I had nothing else to do I figured I would help out the cooks in making them into preserves, jams, and such.” a dinging of a bell rings out from behind her, “And I believe that means the bread has just finished cooking. Would you perhaps like to come in for some jam and bread with some coffee? We are sadly out of tea as these awful British people have ruined the whole thing for us.” Caroline asks, while simultaneously teasing him. 

Klaus lets out a small chuckle before of course answering yes and Caroline links her arm with his and leads him into a drawing room where they take a seat by the window and a tray of fresh bread, even fresher jams, and some hot coffee. After thanking the maid the two dig in and Klaus first eats a slice of bread without any jam and his nose immediately wrinkles. 

“Whatever the bloody hell is wrong with this bread?” Klaus asks, not at all realizing how rude he sounds. 

“It’s because of the rationing, father knows that sooner or later it will be harder to get access to things such as sugar or salt so we decided to get a head start on provisioning certain goods , hence why we made extra jam this year, it makes the bread that much sweeter.” she says with a smile, eating a piece of jam covered bread 

“I suppose that makes since,” Klaus says, spreading some blueberry jam on his piece of bread before dunking it into the coffee. “Since father is fighting for the British we don’t have to worry about that. 

“Yeah.” she pauses, almost hesitant, “Nik I hope you don’t mind me asking but why do you still live in your father’s house and under his name? I mean,” she lowers her voice, “We both know that Mikael isn’t your real father and despite this fact you are letting him dictate your actions like not proudly supporting the revolution.” 

Klaus can not help but feel irritated at the way Caroline criticizing him and he opens his mouth to tell her so but Caroline beats him to it, “And no I am not criticizing you. I just want to know why, to make sure whatever you are doing is the best choice for you.” 

“It’s the same reason as it was years ago if I walk away or reveal my true heritage I lose everything I lose my credibility, my status, my money, everything .”

“You won’t lose me. You won’t lose Kol, Becca, or even Elijah. You’ll still have us. Isn’t that enough?”

“Yes but-” 

“But what Nik? Remember Nik when I said ‘Always and Forever’ I meant it? I promise I will be here for you always and forever. I just want to make sure you’re happy and that you know how special you truly are.” 

The sudden emotion in Caroline’s voice makes Klaus’s heart do a flip and he opens his mouth to respond but realizes he has no idea how to reply to that so he just clears his throat and says, “I know I said this a few years ago but I still need more time.” 

“Of course.” Caroline smiles, reaching to grasp his hand, “Take as long as you need.” 

“Thanks Caroline.” 

“Don’t mention it Nik.” 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As long as it needed turned out to only be a week; Klaus was making his nightly visit to the nearest tavern, working on his third pint of stout talking with Hamilton about certain strategies the British might use when they have the high ground when the door swings open revealing none other than Mikael Mikaelson himself. At the sight of his so called father Klaus immediately felt the petrifying feel of fear curling around his stomach; while his friends have never met the infamous British officer they immediately know who he is and wear matching expressions of apprehension on their faces. Klaus watches his father waiting for him to yell, scream, and even shooting at him is not off the table but instead a smile creeps up on his face, one that can even be described as ‘polite’ by those who know him as he nods at him and his group of friends. 

“Gentleman,” Hamilton and everybody else look like they are about to make a run for it, but Mikael stops them, “Relax boys just because we are on opposite sides of this war does not mean we can not be civil to each other. I did not come hear to fight, I came here to grab a quick drink before I retire home for the evening before I set off in less than a week’s time. Though I did not know my son, Niklaus would be here. It’s good to see you son, perhaps maybe you would like to bid adieu to your friends and accompany me home, I’m sure your mother would love to see you.” the threat in Mikael’s voice is palpable. 

Seeing no other choice but to obey Mikael’s order Klaus offers a quick goodbye to his friends who all give him pitying looks before he leaves with Mikael; the silence on the walk home is deafening with Klaus waiting for his father to do or say anything but the silence continues. This is at least until they finally step inside the large house, the rest of their family having a cup of tea in a nearby room when the yelling starts. Mikael yells at him for betraying his country, how he always knew he was going to be disappointment, and most importantly how he should've kicked him out the second he was born, a bastard unwanted even by his own mother, the revelation draws a shocked gasp from his siblings and an ashamed look from Esther. Rebekah shakily asks if this is true and when Klaus nods yes the look of disappointment and fear in her eyes is too much for him; despite what Caroline would tell him that his siblings would never treat him the same way again and even though Klaus expected this it still hurt, so he shook his head ignoring his father’s promises to cut him out of his will and walks away heading to the only place he can think of…… Caroline’s. 

Caroline as expected welcomes him with open arms and the next day immediately writes to her father asking him if it’s okay if Klaus stayed with her, and of course when the reply comes the answer is yes. The gossip about his true parentage and his falling out with his father spreads like wildfire unsuprignsyly, but surprisingly, at least for Klaus the people of New York didn’t shun them out (well some did but Caroline said they were ignorant idiots who had their head so far up their *ahem* behind that he shouldn’t be worrying about them, and the tone in her voice was so threating Klaus listened) and some even it appeared to like him more now that he wasn’t related to a British officer, at least that they know of. For weeks things were fine, Klaus had some of the best days of his life hanging around with Caroline; walking around the yard, drinking tea, hunting for water sprites (to this day they still have not had any luck), private dinners with just the two of them, and just telling stories about things that have happened over the years that they have missed out on. Despite the war raging out around them Klaus has never felt more at peace, here with Caroline, but finally after a month of saying with her not only was the rumor mill swirling Klaus was feeling like he was starting to overstay his welcome. 

Naturally he tried to leave but Caroline and her father were having none of it and after arguing with Caroline for quite a bit it was eventually decided that the Forbes’s would help pay for a one bedroom apartment in the center of town and that Klaus keeping Caroline company while Mr. Forbes was away was payment enough. Towards the end of July Klaus was finally settled in his own apartment; Rebekah, Kol, and Elijah continued  trying to get their brother, well half-brother, but Klaus was not ready to face them. Not yet. Though somebody did visit him every single day, Caroline, everyday right after lunch and just in time for tea or now coffee she would ride up to his building with her horse and would spend the afternoon with him doing whatever he wanted. As the summer heat started to melt into the crisp chill of fall Klaus finally had settled into living on his own in his own place and just as he finished carrying a small bucket of water up to wash his morning (something that he was still getting used to and despised, for years he never had any sort of chores to do and now he had to do everything) when a knock clanged against the old, wooden door. Frowning, knowing it’s not Caroline because it’s to early he opens the door to find a young statlley boy of no more than twelve years dressed in an elegant suit. 

“Are you Lord Nikalus?” the boy asks with a dignified air. 

“Yes?” Klaus says, even though it comes out as more of a question than anything else, confused as to why a young boy who was very obviously rich or employed by somebody who was rich was at his door. 

The boy bows to him all the while speaking, “It is a pleasure to meet your Lord Niklaus, I’m Johnathan and it was requested to me by boss, Lord Ansel Hanover that I delivered this letter to you most urgently.” Johnthan finishes, handing what looks like a fine, heavy expensive envelope to him with an even finer ribbon and blood red stamp pressed onto it, with a sigil of a wolf. 

Klaus hesitantly accepts the letter from the boy who gives him another bow before he leaves, what does Ansel Hanover want with him? Klaus thinks to himself. For the almost five years he has been in New York Klaus has not once met of him, heard of him though, Ansel Hanover is an old man around his parent’s age and has apparently never married and has not sired any children, even bastards with a fortune even more expensive than his parents. Curiosity blooming Klaus makes his way to his desk and sits down before carefully cracking open the seal and begins to read, 

    Dear Niklaus, 

            I am sure you are perplexed as to why I am writing to you considering we have never met face to face but I’ve been wanting to write a letter like this for years. You see as I’m sure you can tell by my name I am of German descent, grew up there actually but many years ago almost twenty-two years ago  to be exact I decided to move my burgoing trade company to the bustling companies to the colonies or now America. On my way I decided to spend close to a year in England to get everything sorted and visit some relatives; it is on this journey that I met your mother, Esther. Despite the fact that she was married and I was due to leave in less than a year to America I fell for her and she for me at least for a while anyway. When it was time for me to leave I didn’t want to leave, I wanted to stay for your mother but she refused to leave her husband, so onto the colonies I went. Over the years I thought about her less and less until your family moved here to New York  and suddenly she was at the forefront of mind once again, especially when I heard she had a son, you, who was seventeen years old at the time, about how long ago I last saw your mother. Naturally I couldn’t help but dare to think, to hope you were my son but I had no proof so I tried to move past it. I had mostly put it at the back of my mind until as of late when the news reached me that the Mikaelson’s family third son was an illegitimate child born out of his mother’s affair; once again I felt a spark of hope that I could have the son I always dreamed of, so I asked one of my maids who go into town for me to see if she could find you and if she could describe you to me. By all accounts you look like what I did when I was your age and I just felt something, I felt like I finally had the son I always dreamed of. It is my deepest regret that I did not stay behind in London because perhaps I could’ve gotten to raise my son, if I can even dare to call you that. It is also my deepest desire to meet you, to make up for lost time, my family has a saying ‘it’s never too late’ and I so hope that applies todat. If this is what you desire I have enclosed extra materials for you to write a letter back to me and we can arrange a meeting for tea. Feel welcome to bring a guest

                                In good health, 

                                        Lord Ansel Hanover 

    For a minute Klaus has no idea how to react, the only time he had dared to think of his real father had been the day when he first heard the life-changing news. Ever since Klaus had pushed the thoughts of his real father from his mind; because wether his father knew that he existed and didn’t care and left or he didn’t know and it would be impossible for Klaus to find him, so Klaus just gave up and didn’t think he would ever find his father. Until now that is, while Ansel is right there really is no real proof, Klaus can’t help but believe him; he apparently looks like his father and his name does start with an A, the only clue Klaus had into his father was. Klaus’s immediate reaction was to say no, what if the niceties in the letter only lasted a little while and his real father turned out to be as cruel as Mikael? Then Klaus would be stuck with another abusive father as soon as he lost the first one, but what if he wasn’t and Klaus would gain the father he always dreamed of? A proud one, a one who didn’t shun him, a one who loved him. There would be no telling what would happen, Klaus decided, I’m happy now and would like to keep it that way, and he picks up a quill and begins to draft a polite, but too the point letter refusing the request. Though just as about the quill is about to touch the fine paper, words from the past shoot into his mind,  Anybody would be luck to know you Nik , and just like that Klaus is unsure of what to do. Ansel in the letter seemed to be truly invested in getting to know his son and seemed truly sorry that he never got to raise him, and Klaus despite as much as he tells himself he doesn't he still wants a father, he wants a father like Mr. Forbes who would do anything for his little girl, so before he can change his mind he writes a letter, with only one word. Okay

    The response comes not two days later and an afternoon tea is set up for next Saturday. Of course the first (and only) person he tells is Caroline who of course is ecstatic and so happy for him; then before he could even ask her to come, she asks first. Then the two are riding across from each other in the exquisite carriage and when the carriage pulls up to a stop in front of the massive Hanover estate, Klaus moves but finds himself frozen, once gain thinking of the worst case scenario and as if she realizes this Caroline comforts him with a soft smile, a hand squeeze, and a promise of always and forever. 

    In response he puts on his best teasing smile and says “Thank you mon chevalier .” still knowing how to this very day it irritates her because he still refuses to tell her what it means, Caroline rolls her eyes and scoffs, 

    “If you don’t tell me what that means soon I’m going to kill you.” 

    “But then how would you be here for me ‘Always and Forever’ unless you want to be the Juliet to my Romeo or break your promise, you can’t.” 

    “I hate you.” 

    “No you don’t.” 

    “Whatever.” 

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Hours later Klaus and Caroline have gone there separate ways to prepare for the ball that night that was being hosted by Catherine Schuyler to boost morale and as he finished tying off his shoes he replayed the events from his meeting with his true father. It went as well to be excepted; it of course was awkward when they first met, but Ansel seemed overjoyed to meet his son and Klaus tried his best to reciprocate. Overall Ansel seemed perfectly nice, generous, and even more than willing to met his son again. Caroline was of course as charming as ever and Ansel gave him a knowing smile as the pair walked out the door with a promise to return next Saturday. Checking his reflection in the mirror, Klaus straightened out his suit, one of the few things his father had let him take when he left and walked out of the apartment where a carriage provided by the Schuylers, who after the news about his parentage was revealed were surprisingly generous helping out a bastard considering how much Catherine seemed to care about reputation. Like most Schuyler balls the ballroom is exquisitely decorated with chandeliers and the room is bathed in warm light as the exquisite smell of food and drink drift all around. Immediately after greeting the Schuylers his eyes immediately go searching for Caroline, Klaus can’t help but feel a bit nervous about seeing Caroline tonight. This is the first ball that they have both attended since her return and the thought excites and terrifies Klaus at the same time; this is his chance to know what it is like to dance with Caroline Forbes. And who knows where one dance might lead…… 

Wherever his thoughts were going to lead him was interrupted by a trilling giggle and a poking in the bag and turned around to see a familiar face that was not Caroline’s. It was Aurora Smith, the daughter of a wealthy merchant who had a mane of chestnut hair that Klaus has had several…. daliances with over the years. 

“Why hello Klaus, it’s been awhile hasn’t it?” she says coyly, trailing a finger down his arm and instead feeling the old shiver he feels a twinge of annoyance. 

Sightly stepping back he tries to manage a smile, “It has been, Miss. Aurora. While it is a pleasure to see you again I must take leave.” Klaus says, thinking he sounds polite enough and makes his move to walk away and continue on in his search for Caroline. 

“Oh come on Klaus, just one dance and maybe if your nice enough we could spend some…. private time together in the garden I hear it’s very secluded.” Aurora says softly, contrast to the vice like grip she has on his arms as her eyes peak up from under her lashes, her low cut dress (too low for such a formal ball but Aurora Smith has always been known for being one of the…. looser ladies of New York)

Trying to retract her hand from his arm Klaus does his best to keep an even tone, “I’m sorry Aurora I already have prior engagements tonight,” (A total lie) “And I would hope not to miss them,.” 

Looking around feigning innocence, Aurora continues on trying to entice him, “Well I don’t see anybody, do you?” and Klaus much to his dismay does not see anyone that he knew that was available that he could pass off as the ‘engagement’ to Aurora tonight. Apparently his silence is answer enough for Aurora who gains a smile, looking as happy as the cat who ate all the cream, “While that is just splendid because I have plans to dance with you all night, Mr. Mikaelson.” she smile flirtatiously, leaning in to whisper the last part into his ear before all but dragging him to the dance floor just as the next one is about to start. 

Just as about Aurora is about to succeed a polite voice rings out from behind the pair, “Well that’s too bad. My dance card here says I have been promised a dance with Lord Niklaus here right at this very moment.” 

Klaus turns around and his brain immediately short circuits, there is Caroline standing there in her full ball regalia; never been one for wigs her hair is intricately braided and curled atop her head with the never disappearing strand curl kissing the edge of her cheek, the light makeup on her face serves to highlight her natural beauty, though the stand out is the dress she is wearing. It is made up of blood reds and burgundies, bunched up purple fabric under the skirt, a smattering of purple gems along the hemline, and everything is trimmed in lace; the skirts, the wrists,  her decolletage……

Even Klaus can feel himself staring at Caroline as he continues to speak and Klaus almost imagines he sees a spark of jealousy in her eyes as she faces him and Aurora, “You don’t mind do you Aurora? Afterall it was Lady Catherine Schuyler herself in her ever so matchmaking ways that wrote Mr. Niklaus’s name down and I would hate to disappoint our ever so generous host, wouldn’t you?” 

The sly smile on Caroline’s face and Aurora's clearly irritated one are so different Klaus wants to laugh, Aurora is clearly trying to keep a straight face as she says “I suppose a dance or two would be fine.” 

The words have barely left her lips before Caroline is dragging him to the dance floor and as they prepare for the string quartet to start the song for the next time, “You’re welcome.” Caroline says simply. 

“For what?”

“For saving you from Miss. Brunette over there. Your name wasn’t even on my dance card, it was some fellow named Tyler Lockwood so I had to hunt down the person that had your name on there first and convince her to trade away her card for mine.” 

Klaus can’t help but feel a bit warm at the fact that not only did Caroline seem jealous of Aurora she went through that much trouble just to dance with him! Or at the very least keeping Aurora from dancing with him. 

“I suppose I owe you a thank you for saving me  then Caroline.” Klaus smirks placing a hand on the side of her waits and using the other to hold her hand as the up beat sound of the next song starts, one of the first moves requiries Klaus to pull her close to him, close enough to the point he is able to lean in and whisper in her ear, “So thank you.”

The way she shivers at his low voice and the way Caroline’s breath tickles his cheek as she exhales a sharp breath is just as exquisite as Klaus imagined. 

The night ends up being one of the best nights of Klaus’s life; he completely avoids Aurora nd gets to dance with Caroline several times in several different ways: up beat, jovial, slow….. Then as the night finally draws to a close Klaus leads her out the main doors and to the line of carriages she gives yet another kiss on the cheek and says 

“Thank you for being the best dance partner I have ever had.” 

Klaus can’t help but preen at the compliment and to perhaps even increasing the leation he says “Even better than Enzo?” 

Laughing she replies, “Yes, even better than Enzo. He is quite the toe stepper.” 

“I’m glad.” Klaus says warmly, glad that maybe Enzo was not as much of a threat to his friendship with Caroline as he first deemed. “I know you are quite close to his parents. How did that happen if you met Enzo at a social event?” 

“ I actually met Enzo a second time at an outing. As long as we had an older Lady to go with us once a month we could visit certain places around the city, one of which being a bookstore. The people who were shopping at this store were one Mr. Darcy and Miss. Elizabeth, who despite being married to the man is fiercely independent and I immediately recognized Enzo as the toe-stepper and I went to go to talk to him, then by association his parents. As I am sure you know I became good friends with Enzo after that, he actually reminds me of Kol in a way. I have been friends with them ever since and I still write to the three of them often, especially now that they are living in France temporarily to avoid the politics of the war.” 

“How nice.” Klaus manages, despite being a bit irritated that Carolien still talks with the poor bloke. 

It seems as if though Klaus can add telepathy to Caroline’s talents because next she rolls her eyes and says “Relax, Enzo and I are just friends. Besides I exchanged letters with you and your family while I was away and I think it’s only fair that I do the same thing now for them.” 

“I didn’t care really, I just didn’t want you to be caught sending letters to Europe and risk being branded a traitor or a spy.” 

What he just said soundes so stupid that Klaus wanted to kick himself but to his suprise Caroline let’s out her ‘new’ laugh which he still hasn’t gotten used to and shakes her head, “Oh Nik please never change.” 

Even if Klaus wanted to respond to that he can’t because Caroine’s carriage rolls up, “Well I guess this is where we say goodbye till tomorrow Nik.” she says, smiling warmly at him. 

“Till tomorrow.” Klaus affirms helping her into the carriage before watching drive off. Unlike last time Klaus saw a carriage drive off with Caroline in it he does not feel sadness, dispair, or guilt, he feels something much better. 

Hope. 

____________________________________________________________________________

Six 

October 1776

    The crunch of the leaves beneath feet is the only sound in between Klaus and Caroline as they quietly stroll around the lake; it’s the nice kind of silence where Klaus can focus on the little things, the way the crook of her elbow felt nestled alongside his, how Caroline’s smiles every time a crimson colored leaf flutters in front of them, the far off laughs of children as they sailed their toy boats across the pond, and the way Caroline would laugh lightly at the sight of it….. Well to sum it up the silence allows Klaus to focus on just the pure, tranquil feeling of having Caroline all to himself, a consistent and pleasant occurrence as of late. Ever since Caroline had come back to America now over a year ago Klaus’s life despite the raging war has been on the up and up in a way; even though it was awful at the time his ‘father’ disniehting him actually paid off. Klaus can now be an official member of the the revolution without having about being caught (he even got paid a small allotment per month), he could now spend twice the amount of time as he did with Caroline, had repaired his relationship with his siblings, and has a burgeoning relationship with his real father, Ansel. Speaking of Ansel, Klaus can’t help but think of how much he has learned about his past through his father. Apparently he and Klaus were related to some far off royal line, has a whole pack of distant relatives scattered throughout Germany and France, got his artistic talent from his great-grandfather, and did look a great indeed like Ansel when he was in his younger years. 

Then of course there was the money, as Klaus had already known before he met his father, Ansel was the sole inheritor of his father’s estate right as he started his journey to America and being his only son Klaus was told that he would naturally to be the sole inheritor when his father passed away. This was  something that made Klaus feel both relived at the fact that he didn’t have to worry about how to make a living anymore but sad that it would come at the expense of his father’s life. Another thing that relived Klaus was how well Ansel got along with Caroline; despite how the first meeting went Klaus couldn’t help but worry that was a one time occurrence and that his real father and the woman he….. has a deep appreciation for, but all the worrying was for nought because Ansel and Caroline adore each other dearly, she actually almost always comes with him for his weekly meetings with him. As a matter of fact Klaus is convinced that in a way Ansel is disappointed that Caroline’s father is still alive because otherwise he would adopt her himself. 

Caroline and Ansel’s relationship was a stark contrast to the one that Caroline had with Mikael who always tolerated her at the best of times and well at the worst of times he thought of Mikael slapping Caroline still made him clench his fist and want to go punch the arrogant bastard in the face. Speaking of his old father Klaus thought of a letter that was still sitting on his desk, staring him in the face every time he so much as walked into his apartment; a letter that arrived not but two days ago inviting him to an afternoon tea at the now practically abandoned Mikaelson estate. The other development that happened within the past year was that now Elijah, Rebekah, and Kol were now to ‘cast out’ from the official Mikaelson family; when after Caroline’s constant urging he let his siblings back into his life and not only did he explain what he knew about his true heritage and he also told them of the abuse he had suffered under Mikael for years. At first all of his siblings felt hurt that he never told them about what happened with Mikael but eventually they understood at least partly the reasoning behind his actions; after that his siblings either ‘left’ or were ‘kicked out’ of the family one by one. Elijah got disinherited when he decided to marry one of  the more… lecherous woman in town: Katherine Pierce Gilbert, the twin sister of Elena Gilbert who grew up in Boston with them and was Caroline’s age. 

Then there was Rebekah who bravely told Mikael she would rather be a sister of a bastard than the daughter of a tyrant and Kol, well Kol didn’t even really care what Mikael thought of him because shortly after Klaus talked with them he went to Salem to chase a girl, Davina, that he had fallen for. Now Kol is  in Salem and Elijah establishing a household with Katherine whose sizeable dowry made up for what he lost with Mikael. That left Rebekah who while she may have quote on quote left the Mikaelson family she was still one at heart and refused to accept Caroline’s generosity to let her stay there and instead elected to be a governess for a nearby family that included room and board; this suited his little sister surprisingly well, Klaus always thought that Rebekah would wrinkle her nose at any kind of manual labor, but Rebekah actually loved her job, loved being around children. Though Klaus expects much to his dismay it could have more to do with the family’s eldest son Samuel who is back with his father after getting injured at the Battle of Monmouth. 

“Well I believe this is me.” Caroline says simply, as the pair finish walking around the lake and come to a stop in front of the local tailor’s building. 

“So it would seem.” Klaus replies, a hint of regret in his voice. 

“Relax Nik. This is just so the tailor can finish up my dress for the costume ball this Friday for the All Saints’ ball.” 

Right, one of the Schuyler’s neighbors was hosting a ball in the evening to celebrate All Saints’ Day after the mornings activities, mainly church. One of the requirements was that to attend you most wear a dress or a suit that represents some animal or other mythological creature. Klaus with Caroline and his father’s help had already come up with something to wear that both suited the requirements and suited his less than meager funds. This was a suit loosely inspired by a wolf; it had a long, trailing brown coat and the rest of the suit was colored in earthy tones, a silly looking hat adorned with cloth wolf ears, and a small necklace bearing the sigil of his father. Caroline on the other hand has remained tight lipped about the whole affair and when asked only offers a coy smile and a ‘You’ll See’ 

“I know I just don’t like saying goodbye out of habit.” Klaus is able to admit sheepishly. 

 “Nik, it will only be for a day. Perhaps you would like to go on another walk tomorrow?” 

At Caroline’s inquiry Klaus suddenly finds himself becoming nervous as Caroline stares at him expectantly; her bright, blue eyes shining in the afternoon sunlight, “I am sorry to say that I have previous engagements for tomorrow. Though thankfully I am completely free on Monday so two days from now. Would you perhaps like to have some coffee and biscuits at my place around noon?” 

When she raises one of her eyebrows at him Klaus immediately regrets asking the question, having coffee at his place by herself when they have already been rumored to be engaged in a courtship with each other would only fuel the rumors. As the silence seems to stretch on for years Klaus thinks at this might he might as well have actually stared to court her either way he starts to ramble, “You know you don’t have to come if you don’t want to. I mean-” 

“Nik, it’s okay.” Caroline says smiling unlooping her arm from his to give his hand a squeeze, “This Tuesday sounds perfect.” then she gives him her usual goodbye, a peck on the cheek before turning to move into the tailor shop and giving me a bright smile, her eyes gleaming with excitement and Klaus can’t help but smile back. 

As Klaus makes his way back to his apartment he can’t help but think what it would be like to court Caroline Forbes; the moments where she smiled at him like that or squeezed his hand extra tightly, he couldn’t help but think or well hope that Caroline liked him in that way. Well at least enough to engage in a courtship with him; most people don’t have the luxury of falling in love with their partner. Most of the time people just had to hope for the best and either develop a love for eachother or at the very least a mutual fondness for each other so they can still have a brood of children to carry on the family name. At least that is the way it was for the high-ranking people of society; people like Caroline, people that Klaus used to be apart of. Something that bothered some, but couldn’t matter less to Caroline, a fact that made Klaus adore her even more. The rest of the way back to his apartment Klaus thinks of conceivable ways he could engage in a potential courtship with Caroline; it would involve finding a more stable job after the war, perhaps he could finish up his studies at King’s College and become a lawyer. 

Ansel still continued to offer his services in terms of money to Klaus he kept on refusing, it was one thing to have a part of the MIkaelson fortune that he thought he had been born into, but a completely other thing to drop in after twenty hours and start taking money. If there is one thing that Klaus hated was taking handouts so he decided he would not use his real father’s vast fortune until it became his…. naturally. That left only one reasonable course of action to provide himself money, a job; not only so he could have a nice life but so his wife could have one to, a wife who could possibly, hopefully have golden hair and fair eyes of ocean and emerald. Klaus supposes a lawyer would be the best course of action; if you are good you can make fair money and it would suit his stubbornness or at least that is what Caroline has told him in the past. Though before Klaus can continue to plan or more accurately hope for the courage to one day execute it he walks into his apartment only to find Mikael, sitting at his small table with a sinister smile on his face…….. 

“Hello son.  Why don’t you say you fix us some coffee or maybe a couple of drinks and we can sit down and have a little chat?” 

         ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday had finally crept around and even though it felt like years to Klaus it was still to short of a time since his talk with Mikael and for the first time since he had first met Caroline Forbes Klaus found himself dreading seeing her. This was all because of the words of his father- no Mikael that were still swirling around in his mind like a cool, unforgiving storm. 

    After stiffly brewing a bitter tasting kettle of coffee for him and Mikael, knowing better than to say no to Mikael Klaus gathers his courage and sits down in front of the man who he had not seen in over a year. 

    “Mikael, to what do I owe the displeasure of your visit today?” 

    “Mikael? Is that what you call your father boy? I know we have had our grievances in the past…” Klaus does his best to hold in a snort, “But I thought we were closer than that.” the obviously faked sincerity in his voice makes Klaus almost laugh, almost as if he senses this Mikael pushes on, “I know I haven’t been the best father in the past, especially within this past year, but I want to make things right. Or at the very least try to depending on what we can do for each other, or namely you for me.” 

    This is when Klaus actually does laugh because of course the man who he had been raised to call father only wanted to ‘rebuild’ their relationship because he wanted something. That something turned out to be for him to become a unofficial ‘spy’ for England and use his close relationship with Alexander Hamilton, Washington’s most valued aide-de-camp and glean as much information as he could from the young colonel. Obviously Klaus told MIkael no and where exactly he could put his inquiry. Naturally, Mikael was not pleased and started yelling at him about it is his duty to his country, how he was crazy if he thought his new father could ever help him amount to anything (along with other vulgar things that made Klaus have to clench his fist as to not punch Mikael), but what angered Klaus the most was when Mikael strode over and picked up a drawing of Caroline that he had been working on and started to talk…..

    “So this is what the young Caroline looks like now, may I say she has grown into a fine young specimen.”

    “Don’t talk about Caroline like that. Ever.” Klaus grits out, the leering tone in Mikael’s voice quit obvious. Something that disgusts Klaus, not only because his father is  near three times Caroline’s senior, this is also the same person who has called her names like ‘filthy colonist’ for years but also hit her and sent her away for years. 

    Understanding dawns on Mikael’s face, “So that’s why you so callously rejected my offer. You’re afraid that Caroline will find out and you will lose the outspoken rebel women’s respect. I continue to wonder if the rumors how you plan to engage in a courtship together are true.” 

    Despite the situation Klaus was finding himself in he was slightly blushing at his father’s accusations and what upset even more was that both were true; how he feared if he did switch sides that he would lose the admiration in which Caroline looked upon him with and that a small part of him was toying with the idea of courting her. 

    The silence following his statement is apparently enough for Mikael, shaking his head as if he is ashamed, “Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Such a disappointment.” 

    Clenching my fists I unashamedly look my father in the eye and say “Caroline is anything but a disappointment.”

“I’m not talking about Caroline, I’m talking about you.” 

“Excuse me?” 

“Don’t get me wrong I find that girl even after years of fine schooling about as uncouth as they come. I mean openly expressing her opinions about the revolution before it had even started? Those kinds of actions are most unbecoming in lady; I was hoping that a couple of years at the Lilybrooke would help her learn to hold her tongue but apparently not. Though I am sensible enough to admit her more… admirable qualities. Only daughter of a high ranking member of society, has exquisite manners if she has the sense to use them, and exceeds in all the proper areas a lady of her status should: housemaking, music, sewing, dance, langues. Then there is you; the illegitimate child of an immigrant, has a terrible temper, has frequented with ladies on the skirts of society in the past, and whose only real talent is the most vague understanding of the arts. Do you really think that you deserve her?” 

Klaus immediately answers, “It doesn’t matter what I think it matters what Caroline thinks and she has never said any of that to me, has been my friend since the beginning.” 

“Exactly, a friend. Don’t you find it a bit perplexing that she only started showing more of a interest in you when you were outcasted from this family. Want to know what that is? That’s pity Niklaus, that’s why Caroline has ever showed a modicum of interest in you.”   

“No, no, Caroline wouldn't do that, she’s not like that…” Klaus trials off, losing his earlier fire, the insecurities that the man before him had instilled him years ago curling up like thorny vines, filling him with doubt. 

“Isn’t she? Despite what you might think Niklaus I have always wanted what’s best for you and the rest of your siblings. The Caroline you know has always been a kindhearted woman, hasn’t she? Taking the blame for something you did causing herself to be sent away for years.” he barely notices Mikael’s admission of knowing that Caroline was the one that lied, that faithful day. “Wouldn’t it makes sense for her to take out the same type of pity on her now disgraced friend? Then to make matters worse I believe she plans to go to this Friday’s ball with a fellow from England. Has she even told you about that? Just goes to show a fickle a woman can be when she pities someone.” he nods his head in an air of sympathy, “Just think of that and my offer. Would you?” 

Then before Klaus can even process what just happened Miakel walks by him, dropping the rough sketch of Caroline to the ground and walking out of the apartment. Shutting the door behind him without another word; sending shockwaves through the room, Klaus himself, and inevitably his future. 

Not knowing what else to do Klaus did exactly what his father asked of him. 

He thought. 

And thought. 

And thought. 

          ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When Monday had finally arrived Klaus had come to the inevitable, heartbreaking, and maddening conclusion that his father was right, that indeed any more than friendly actions from Caroline were out of a pity rather than any actual feelings. That is the reason why Klaus finds himself for once dreading the minutes til Caroline steps through the door. Klaus can’t help but hope that for some reason Caroline does not come today for coffee; wether it be because she forgot, a broken carriage wheel, or something else entirely. Though as with most things Klaus Mikaelson hoped for as of late it did not come true and near thirty minutes after noon a polite knock sounded off on his door, with a cool sense of dread and a hint of undeniable anger he made himself go open the door to reveal none other than Caroline. Even though he has no idea why Klaus tries to pretend everything is fine, despite the anger he feels at his so called friend and at the pity she feels for him. 

Caroline though sees right through his act and just as she has barely gotten through half of her cup of coffee and only one biscuit when she hesitantly asks, “Is everything okay with you Nik?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” he grumbles back. 

“You just seem upset. Did something happen the other day?” 

“Oh nothing just a lovely impromptu visit from my father.” 

“Ansel? Why would a visit from him upset you, unless-” she trails off, pailing, coming to the realization of what Klaus was getting at, “Mikael didn’t come here. Did he?” 

“Well bravo she finally gets it.” Klaus says, sarcastically his anger at her starting to shine through. 

“Excuse me for being surprised and a bit confused that the man who has not talked to you in over a year suddenly waltzes in like everything is normal.” Caroline snips back, a bit irritated, “What did he want?” 

“Oh nothing just telling me what I should have known all along.” Klaus gripes. 

All irritation from his previous comments wipes from Caroline’s face as it turns from one of irritation and confusion to immediately one of anger and concern, “Nik whatever it is Mikael said just know that it’s not true.” 

“So it’s not true that Enzo you’re always talking about is escorting you to the ball?” 

Clearly confused she asks “How do you know that?”

“So you don’t even deny what Mikael told me?” 

“Mikael told you? How does he even know- you know what it doesn’t matter. What matters is that yes, Enzo is journeying over from France. He has decided to make the move here from France and as his friend I thought it would be the right thing to do would be to accompany him into his first foray into American society. Especially since he is originally from England it would do well for him to have and you will have to excuse me for singing my own praises but a trusted, highly respected patriot of this burgeoning country.” 

Despite alrighty expecting this it still hurts to hear Caroline more or less say she is allowing Enzo to escort her to the ball so he won’t be ostracized as greatly. A man who more or less will be in the same boat he is, a  sure sign that Carolne pitties the both of the, this realization spurs Klaus on, “So it seems like you’ve found a new subject for your woeful pities. Replacing me so soon love?” 

“Pities? Who would I be replacing?” 

“Why me of course.” 

“You? Why on earth would I pity you?” 

“Isn’t that why you have been so affectionate as of late? Because you pity the poor bastard left without a penny, without a proper family, with nobody.” 

“Wherever in all the lands did you get that idea?” 

“Mikael.” 

“Mikael?” Caroline actually laughs, as if she finds it ridiculous, “Are you telling me that you actually believe any word that awful cow of man has ever said?” 

“Well he was obviously right about Enzo. When were you going to tell me, huh? When he started to court you.” Klaus snaps, his anger and jealousy shinning through. 

“Courting? What has gotten into you Nik? Enzo is a friend, just a friend that is being my escort for one night, one night. Why are you so upset about this?” Caroline says, her anger at him starting to return. 

“Because you didn’t tell me.” 

“Excuse me if I don’t have to tell you everything Nik.” 

“Not everything. Just when you are having men escort you to the ball last minute.” 

“What, so we can talk about how much Enzo liked my dress over tea and biscuits? Or wether or not he plans to court me or Bonnie from down the street?! You Nik have made it obvious that you do not hold me in the same regard as I hold you. I mean I lo-care about you very deeply. I now see  it’s obvious that those feelings aren’t reciprocated, so now if you’ll excuse me I think I’ll take my leave now.” Caroline says cooly, her anger showing through her as she doesn’t even take care in politely getting up from the table, instead she practically shoves it backwards  as she strides towards the door. Not knowing what else to do Klaus follows her preparing to restart their conversation but Caroline beats him to it as she steps out the door. 

“And you know what Nik I do pity you, not for being a bastard or for being penniless, but for even daring to think I only spend time with you because I pity you for those things. Those are the things that make you and I love spending time with you; Nik the British rebel, my best friend, the person who I cherish the most in the world.  Not Niklaus Mikaelson the rich son of a cruel British general the boy who hated me when we first met all those years ago. Now despite what you might think I would really like to dance with you on Friday but first do all of us a favor and unstick your head from your behind.” 

Then with that Caroline is turning on her heel, slamming the door behind her and not knowing what else to do; Caroline’s words a stark contrast to the inner turmoil inside of his mind Klaus picks up the nearest item, a vase of flowers and throws it against the wall and screams.

        ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Friday unfortunately arrives all to soon and once again Klaus Mikaelson is dreading seeing Caroline Forbes. Though this time it is not anger at her but rather anger at himself; for believing that Caroline is only friends with him out of a sense of pity and more so that he was the source of hurt and anger on her face. The way her face crumpled towards the end was a look that Klaus never wanted to be the cause of again, not ever. A problem that he was having more trouble with than he thought considering Caroline was refusing to speak to him, he made the twenty minute journey to her house every day twice a day and whenever he knocked there was no answer and the letters he left never saw a response. Klaus now figured his best chance to talk and apologize to Caroline, so that’s how he found himself looking at his reflection in the mirror, trying to tell himself he did not look ridiculous (which to be fair he kind of did); except he was able to convince himself that it did not matter because this was for Caroline. 

All to soon it was time for Klaus to make the journey to the ball on horseback as the hosts probably weren’t so keen on providing a carriage for somebody that they barely knew. Soon enough Klaus arrives at the illustrious Livingston estate and by the looks of it the party is in full swing, the last of the carriages are pulling away, the sun is just about to set casting a warm fall glow across the expansive grouds, and all the doors are wide open sending waves upbeat music through the courtyard. After tying his horses up with the other ones in the stable Klaus ascends the steps to go inside; he goes through the normal ball proceedings: greeting the hosts, being announced, catching up with other guests, etc. etc., repeatedly searching the room for Caroline, etc. etc. When the search for Caroline at first turns out to be fruitless Klaus quickly flags down one of the servers serving the drinks and grabs a flute of champagne that he finds out has a pleasant taste of spiced apples and cinnamon before heading over to where one Colonel Hamilton stands, glancing longingly at the dance floor. 

“Glass of champagne for your thoughts?” Klaus offers with a small smirk, handing off an extra glass of champagne  that he had snagged along the way to his friend. 

“Hmm?” Alexander says a bit confused, “Oh yes please.” realizing what he is getting at and quickly takes the champagne glass and takes a small sip. 

“So what’s going on my dear friend?” Klaus asks, eager to focus on something other than his own troubles. 

“Oh nothing, just the woes of the heart.” 

Scratch that , Klaus thinks to himself because as it turns out his friend is faced with the same problems as he is and then despite himself Klaus urges Hamilton to go on. 

“Pray tell.” 

“You know Elizabeth Schuyler?” 

“Yes she came to the estate in Boston several times in her younger years and I think Caroline has grown to be quite good friends with her.” 

“Have you ever noticed how beautiful she is?” 

“No.” he answers honestly, but after realizing how cruel that sounds he corrects himself, “What I meant to say is that yes while the young Ms. Schuyler is quite a beauty, my attentions seem to always be focused elsewhere.” 

A teasing smile creeps onto his friend’s face, “Yes Caroline Forbes. I will say Mikaelson you have picked quite a spitfire, from the few times I have had the pleasure of meeting her she has always seemed to amaze me.” 

Even though things are still rough in between them Klaus can’t help but smile at the mention of Caroline and her fiery personality. 

“Speaking of Caroline have you seen her?” 

“Yes actually. I was most surprised to find that she was here with one Lorenzo Darcy instead of you, quite a nice fellow I must admit. Easy on the eyes, only son of wealthy English couple, well schooled, polite mannered, and a good sense of humor. Surprisingly pleasant company for an Englishman, I personally find most completely unbearable.” 

Letting out a chuckle at his friend’s barb Klaus still can’t help but let his bitterness at Enzo shine through, “Are you sure you perhaps you wouldn’t want to start courting him rather than Miss. Elizabeth Schuyler?” 

Rolling his eyes Hamilton replies, “I just meant to say it would be nice to know the attributes of those who could possibly be considered….” he pauses, hesitantly searching for the right word, “competition. Not saying that I have heard any rumors of the sort but I feel it would be best to be prepared. After all underestimation is a close companion to loss. Though speaking of competition do you think a woman of high status would ever consider being a poor man's wife?” Hamilton finishes, pursing his lips and nodding in the direction of Elizabeth Schuyler once again who is now engaged in a lively conversation with a handsome looking party goer. 

Seeing how his friend is in need of reassurances Klaus decides to try his best, “Any woman would be lucky to have the tomcat of New York City,” this particular comment earns him a hard shove from Alexander, “So here is my advice; do not wait for it and do not throw away your shot.” 

“Perhaps your right but I fear before I can conceivably engage in a courtship I must wait till the war is done. If not then at the very least till the tide starts to turn and I can take a break. Maybe one day. Though since you so hastily declined the spot in Boston I believe your advice can be of use to you.” 

“Why?” 

“Because of that of course.” Hamilton nods towards one of the open doors, smiling into his champagne glass before walking away. 

Turning his direction to where his friend was looking Klaus swears he can feel his heart skip a beat; there, at one of the wide doors of the ballroom Klaus is able to catch his first glance of Caroline and beautiful does not even begin to describe her. As with most formal occasions Caroline’s hair is curled and piled atop her head but this time it appears to have blue and purple flowers woven into it; she wears a dress of layered blues, greens, and purples of all different shades and  instead of having sleeves there appears to be a sheer, gauzy blue shawl sewn to the back of her dress littered with gems and fine stitching. Then as Caroline moves her arms Klaus realizes that it almost imitates a pair of wings and it dawns upon him what she is supposed to be; a water sprite, from the stories of her youth, only showing up for those pure of heart. A part of Klaus wants to laugh at the irony of his situation; here he is, looking for Caroline all night and when he finally finds her it is in a form of a creature who at least according to her own mother only shows up to those pure of heart. This is all when based upon his last meeting with her his heart is as far away from pure as one can get. Though despite all of this with his own words of advice ringing in his mind Klaus prepares to go over to her and apologize, to ask her to dance….. 

Except right as he is about to march over there a man appears at her side out of the blue offering her a glass of champagne with a charming smile and a laugh. With a start Klaus realizes that this could only be the one and only Lorenzo “Enzo” Darcy and to only further his anger Klaus sees that indeed like Hamilton said is quite a handsome young man if the covetous and jealous looks he and Caroline are getting are anything to go by. Then to top it all off Klaus notices Enzo’s outfit; the deep red coat with orange and yellow accents portrays that of a phoenix, another Greek mythological creature, the polar opposite of Caroline’s costume but yet still somehow compliments it completely. Without really thinking Klaus moves to grab another flute of champagne and downs it faster than should be appropriate for that kind of drink, but the bitterness of the drink perfectly matches his inner turmoil. This turns out to be far from Klaus’s last drink of the night; he quickly drinks one every time he sees Caroline dance with Enzo, smile at Enzo, even bloody talk with the man….. It sees like every time Klaus prepares to make a move towards his friend Enzo beats him to it, and Klaus soon starts to think that this night could not possibly get any worse he hears a sound that he is not heard in over a year...a loud, pig like chortle that still to this day sounds charming to Klaus. 

Turning around Klaus sees that sure enough Caroline is laughing up a storm with Enzo and something about this is what fills him with hot, fuming jealousy. Klaus has not heard Caroline laugh like that since the day she had arrived back in America, ever since it had been replaced with that tinkling bell lush that while was far more lady liked paled in Klaus’s opinion to the laugh that filled up his childhood. Ever since he had never been able to make Caroline laugh like that and the way Enzo was so easily was to much for Klaus, the final nail in the coffin is the way Caroline leans her head down onto his shoulder, a pleasant blush on her cheeks as she and Enzo resume their dance. Having seen enough of this Klaus stumbles blindly out of the ballroom and into the courtyard, sparsely lit by a few flickering lamposts and prepares to make leave and go home to put an end to this miserable day. Though the alcohol running through his veins turns out to be a poor navigational assistant as it takes Klaus hours to find his way to the stables, though it could be a few minutes, seconds, or even days he isn’t really sure. The important thing is though that Klaus is able to make his way to his stables and he is surprised to find that he is not the only one there. 

Standing in front of one the horses bathed in moonlight looking like something straight out of the greatest greek myths is Caroline, gently petting it’s nose. 

“Caroline?” Klaus asks confused, not sure if she is a drunken mirage. 

Hiccuping in surprise Caroline whips around to face him, her face softening when she realizes who it is,  “Oh, Nik it’s you. I have not seen you all night. Are you okay?” 

Klaus thinks he says something close to yes as he walks, well stumbles towards Caroline, leaning on his own horse for support, “I sorry for the other day.” he is able to say, hoping she is able to get what he is saying. 

Apparently she does because she says “Nik it’s okay. I think we both could have handled that situation better, if you can forgive me I can very surely forgive you. But are you sure you’re okay? How much have you had to drink?” 

“Eleven-teen” he mumbles, unsure of the true number “Now if you’ll excuse me I must be going now.” and then Klaus tries to mount his own horse but ends up falling down into a pile of hay. 

As he brushes the hay off of his shoulders Caroline starts to speak again, “If you think I’m letting you go home like this you are insane. I’ll take you home in my carriage and you can stay in one of the guest rooms.” 

Before he can even disagree or well agree Caroline is retreating into the back of the barn and comes back a moment later with a small cup of water and what looks like a water soaked rag. 

“Here Nik drink this,” Caroline says softly, pushing the drink cup into his hands and he takes a small sip, “Can’t have you smelling like you just spent your life’s saving in a tavern can we?” he chuckles lightly, breath hitching as Caroline presses the wet rag to the corner of his forehead, presumably to a spot of dirt or a bruise gazing up at him through her lashes, “Do you trust me Nik?” 

“Always. Mon chevalier. ” he slurs out affectionately. 

“Good.” she says, for once ignoring the name. 

Caroline quickly plans out a quite simple but effective plan where she convinces the host that she is to tired to get home by herself and that he is helping her, giving the appearance of him supporting her where in actually Caroline is supporting him. A surprising feat considering Caroline’s small stature compared to his rather large one and much to Klaus’s delight it involves a lot of close touches and grazes, something he is sure he won’t remember tomorrow but plans to savor it while it lasts. Thankfully, the plan works and Caroline is able to get him home without raising any scandalous questions. When the pair arrive home Caroline tells him how the servants have already retired to their house on the grounds nearby, so the pair move down into the kitchens and Caroline is surprisingly able to prepare a roaring fire before pouring some warm milk and setting out a plate of biscuits. The two soon fall into easy conversation, earlier grievances forotten and second by second Klaus is becoming more and more aware of his surroundings: the soft but grainy feel of the table beneath his hands, the warmth of the fire, the way it dances across Caroline’s cheeks, the way her hand starts to ghost around his….. 

This is when Klaus starts to think thins will be alright perhaps better than alright but of course this when things start to go off the rails, way off the rails….. 

One minute Caroline is laughing at one of his jokes, but the next they are at each other's throats after Klaus makes a joking (if somewhat, okay really jealous) comment about being replaced by Enzo. 

“I have no idea what your problem is with him.” Caroline snaps at Klaus as she puts their dishes in the washing basin. 

“My bloody problem is that you laughed with him!” 

“Excuse me? Did I miss Thomas Jefferon putting ‘Caroline Forbes must only laugh with Klaus Mikaelson’ in the Declaration of Independence?” 

“That’s not what I meant!” 

“Well what did you mean then?” 

“It means you laughed with him, your true one, the one I haven’t heard since you came back from that awful boarding school that you left me for. Ever since it has been that fake ‘lady like’ one.” 

“Well pardon me if I share a nice good laugh with my friend who I have not seen in over a year who unlike some people has not gotten mad at me based on rash assumptions.” 

“That was only once and I’m your friend to you know. So tell me why haven’t you laughed like that with me?” 

“Why does the way I laugh even mater? And Nik- you're not just my friend Nik-you’re my, you’re my…...” Caroline trails off as if she is unsure of what she was going to say. 

“That’s what I thought.” Klaus says cooly, “Tell me Caroline did you even write to me because you missed to me or was it just because you pitied the poor friendless boy that you didn’t even hesitate to replace?” 

“Are we seriously going back to this again?” Caroline asks incredulously, before taking a deep breath, “You know what I am not even going to get into this again, just follow me.” and before he knows what’s happening Klaus is benign dragged all through the house and into what he assumes is Caroline’s room. 

Trying to not act phased by this development Klaus watches as Caroline quickly routes through a drawer before forcing a worn and wrinkled piece of paper into his hands and Klaus quickly realizes it is the drawing of the apple orchard he gave her all those years ago.

“See? I have kept this drawing for years and years. While in England I took this drawing out every single day, evrey single day and traced every single stupid curve and letter not even and still not knowing what mon chevalier meant because I missed you Nik, so much.” 

Despite how touched Klaus feels by this revelation, the anger and jealousy only fueled by the remaining alcohol in his veins pushes on, “So what? You kept a drawing that I gave to you before I even liked you and I’m supposed to feel better about you replacing me?” 

“How many times do I have to tell you Nik I do not pity you, I didn’t replace you, nobody can ever replace you-” 

“Enzo would say differently.” 

Caroline lets out a scream of frustration, “You know what Nik you can be so difficult to be around sometimes you know that?” 

“Well you aren’t always a peach to be around either. As of a matter of fact-” Klaus pauses because god knows why he wants to say something to make her really, truly angry.

“As of a matter of fact what Nik?” 

“Maybe you’re right that you don’t pity me.” 

“Finally the first sensible thing you have said all night!” 

“But I pity you.” 

“What?” Caroline asks, anger suddenly snapping into shock and fear. 

“I pity you because I have come to the sudden realization that I wish I never became friends with you, never met you, and certainly never given you this stupid drawing.” and then without even really thinking because let’s be honest if Klaus was thinking they would have never gotten this far in the first place and tosses the drawing into the crackling fire that one of the maids must have set up. 

As Klaus watches the drawing burn up it suddenly knocks him out of what ever alcohol induced trance was in and he realizes in horror what he has done and said, replaying the words over and over again in his mind, becoming more horrifying every single time. 

Klaus immediately turns to Caroline to apologize seeing the shock, horror, anger, and gut-wrenching sadness on her face, “Caroline-” though before he can get even past her name he feels a hand slap across his cheek and he doesn't even acknowledge the pain as he focuses on Caroline’s next words 

“Well if that is how you really feel I guess I’ll be on my way. Since it so late I will allow you the kindness of staying here tonight while I stay in an extra room in the servants quarters. Though you best be gone when I come to my home tomorrow morning or you will be sorry.” 

Then without sparing a second glance Caroline turns on her foot and moves to leave, but Klaus can’t, he can’t stand to see her leave and in one last desperate attempt to get her to stay. 

“Caroline , please. I’m so-” 

“Save it, Klaus.” the use of his name, a name that has only passed her lips in a teasing, mocking way is now covered  in so much venom and hate that it is enough to get Klaus to loosen his grip enough for Caroline to yank her arm away. “Now if you’ll excuse me I must promptly get to bed so I can hopefully forget tonight and if I’m lucky the past twelve years.” 

Then with that Caroline leaves striding out of the room and finally out of the house; he doesn't even try to follow her, still to shocked by her calling him Klaus. The only thing that knocks him out of his stupor is the snap of the fire and Klaus turns around to see the last of the drawing crumbling away. Even though he knows it’s fruitless Klaus rushes to try and save it, using a nearby poker to try and pull it out; he does but just as it disintegrates into dust. Not knowing what else to do Klaus watches, silent tears running down his cheeks as the dust slips away and descends into nothing. 

Just like my relationship with Caroline Klaus thinks to himself bitterly, Gone Forever . 

        ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The next day Klaus leaves early in the morning just like Caroline asked him too, it’s the least he could do he acknowledges. After that he spends two weeks not doing anything more than eating and drinking in sparse amounts Klaus in one last fruitless attempt goes to Caroline’s house to apologize, but as expected there is no answer. It is still disappointing though. Surprisingly when Rebekah somehow finds about she does not yell at him, scream at him, burn his apartment down, but instead tells him cooly ‘Fix it’ before leaving. Klaus wishes it were that simple but it isn’t, he knew by the look on Caroline’s face after he said those horrible, awful words that there is no fixing it at least for a while if not forever. Perhaps that is why he ends up accepting Alexander Hamilton’s offer to be a spy in Boston because with Rebekah working, Elijah married, Kol away in Salem, and Caroline (rightfully) despising him Klaus has nothing left for him in New York City. 

In the end as expected Rebekah and Elijah are the only ones to see him off; he knows Caroline knows about him leaving, Rebekah told her. Klaus knew that this would happen and knowing sooner or later she would probably feel guilty about it later on  so he leaves her with one last parting gift; a new drawing, this one of the only good memory from that awful night: Caroline bathed in moonlight, looking like an ethereal beauty while she is petting the horse with one word scratched on it…. 

No mon chevaliers, no signatures, just one word 

Sorry

 With that he is saying one last goodbye to Rebekah and Elijah, with promises to return safely and then he steps into the carriage and leaves. 

He leaves New York City.

He leaves Rebekah. 

He leaves Elijah. 

He leaves his real father. 

He leaves Caroline. 

____________________________________________________________________________

Seven

December 1780

    The cold biting wind hit Klaus in the face as soon as he stepped out of the carriage; a typical sign of winter in New York City, that and the snow flakes fluttering around in a cacophony of pure, untouched white. Eager to get away from the cold, Klaus quickly heads inside the humble but large home of the expanding family of Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Mikaelson. By this point Klaus has gotten used to staying with his brother the few times he has been to New York City; when he left for Boston a little over four years ago Klaus had no plans to return, after all the main reason for him staying in the city wanted nothing to do with him. As it turns out Klaus missed the city and his family more often than he thought, so once a year he would make the journey to the city and see his family and few friends. Except about a year and half ago where he made the journey to New York City twice, after Mikael died. Klaus was surprised to receive a letter from Elijah telling him that he had perished in some battle or another and despite his less than friendly relationship with the man he grew up calling father Klaus found it in himself to go to his funeral; if not for him then for his siblings. Now he after receiving orders from Hamilton that he was no longer needed in Boston Klaus decided to move back to New York to continue his service with the army.

Though it seemed as if his siblings were not as upset as he thought it would be with Rebekah saying ‘the father I knew died a long time ago’; Klaus supposes practically disowning them and abusing their brother for years was enough to disarm any truly sympathetic and sad feelings. Klaus himself expected to feel anger or satisfaction at Mikael’s passing but instead felt a sense of longingness for the relationship he could have had with his father if he wern’t such an awful person and a sense of finality of letting go of his past with his father and the hurt it held. The one person who seemed truly upset was his mother. Speaking of his mother much like Mikael, Klaus did not have a good relationship with his mother; she knew the truth about his heritage and kept it a secret for years and let Mikael cast him out when the news was made public. Then she ignored him for the following year and every year after that; only starting to try and build a relationship after Mikael died, something that Klaus adamantly refused. 

The only person who Klaus truly wanted to talk to, to spend time with, to walk with, to do anything with was Caroline. Caroline . Even after all of these years Klaus’s heart still ached at the thought of the woman who made his whole life worth living; ever since he had left that fateful autumn’s day four years ago, Klaus has not once heard, seen, or even wrote to Caroline Forbes. Klaus knew he deserved it because of those awful, terrible words he said to her, words that he wished more than anything that he could take back. Alas though as much Klaus wanted to he could not change the past so he was left to stew in his feelings of regret and thoughts of what could have been if he had never let his words fueled by anger, alcohol, and self-loathing hurt and tear Caroline down like that. Ever since the only knowledge he had of Caroline was through the letters from Rebekah and Elijah (Kol was still in Salem with the girl who he ended up eloping with); a potential new suitor here, a new accomplishment there, and a random tid bits as to how she was doing. There were a few times, well a lot over the years were Klaus picked up a piece of paper and tried to write to Caroline; to apologize, to beg her to welcome him back in her life, just to do something to let him know that she hasn’t completely forgotten him. 

Though every time he tried to write her the letter ended up crumpled in the trash, in no way was he a brilliant word smith like Alexander Hamilton, able to convey every single emotion he felt and could ever feel in just a few short words. Instead Klaus stuck to the one thing he was good at: his drawings, every single notepad he had was filled with sketches of Caroline; some just hastily drawn lines, others detailed drawings where he was able to perfectly capture her, and some were even full blown paintings of her. The one thing that connected them all were her eyes; every sketch, drawing, painting he made Caroline’s eyes the centerpiece. How could he not? Those orbs of blue and green haunted his nightmares and graced his dreams, but one fact remained: he could never get them completely right. Klaus doubts that even Leonardo da Vacini if he were still alive would be able to capture the waves of cerulean blue, the clouds of emerald green, the humor, the complete and utter brightness that laid in their depths. 

The thought that he might be able just to glance into those eyes one more time, just one, filled Klaus with unbridled hope and fear. A chance that was only possible because his good friend Alexander Hamilton was to be married to Elizabeth Schuyler, the third child and daughter of the well respected army general Phillip Schuyler. Klaus had been surprised but nonetheless  delighted to receive the invitation to his friend’s wedding, thinking of his friend’s admiration for the woman at that faithful ball four years ago. Though Hamilton and the young Schuyler daughter hadn’t actually formally met till almost three years later, the pair seemed to fall in love quickly and deeply. Klaus couldn’t help but think of the words he had said to the young rebel many moons ago and that maybe he should take his own advice and not hesitate to go after what he wants and not waste his chance because somewhere down in that city preparing to go to the wedding of one of her closest friends sat Caroline Forbes, the girl who he wants to spend the rest of his life with. 

The girl he wants to marry. 

The girl he loves. 

        ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Finally, the ebony colored darkness of the night has cloaked itself upon New York City and it is time for the feast and reception of the wedding to begin. The vows that were exchanged between the pair brought tears to many a patrons eyes. Considering it was one of closest friend’s (or only friend’s) wedding one might expect Klaus to be paying rapt attention but quite the opposite, he spent every second scanning the guests for the familiar mop of golden hair except he had no luck. Klaus was hoping that maybe she was wearing one of those ridiculous powdered wigs; either way he knew he would have to wait till now to find her and try to convince her to talk to him and well not give him the Damon Salvatore treatment and punch him in the eye. This was proving to be more difficult than Klaus anticipated with the ball room being filled to the brim with men and ladies of all ages and social status and he could not help but recognize a few familiar faces, none of them being Caroline; Aurora draped all over some guy named Lucien, the newlyweds Stefan and Elena gazing at each other adorningly, another friend of his Marcel and a woman he knew vaguely as Camille. 

The best man and maid of honor speeches were promptly given with the usual ‘To the groom! To the bride! Blah Blah Blah, May you always be satisfied! Blah Blah Blah.’ Then the dancing commenced and Klaus finally caught a glimpse of Caroline and he is sure that miracles are real because she somehow looks even more beautiful than she did four years ago in a dress of deep purple and an all too low neckline. For a moment Klaus is rooted to his spot, staring at the woman that he has not seen in four years not accounting his dreams, not being sure if she is an apparition or if my some miracle he is once again in the same room as Caroline Elizabeth Forbes. Either way Caroline does not appear to see him, a fact that Klaus is thankful for because his gusto from earlier is now gone and replaced with apprehension. Much like it wouldn’t surprise him if she punched him it would not surprise Klaus at all if Caroline simply ignored him and just left the reception all together, so that’s why he just stood there watching Caroline from afar as she happily congratulates the new couple. 

This is when Klaus hears a polite sounding if a bit amused voice ring out beside him, “You’re staring.” which is surprisingly British. 

Turning around he sees a middle aged woman that still holds a youthful, expressive, and good-natured glow about her as she continues to talk, “I hope that you don’t mind me coming up to talk to you, I just thought it would be nice to talk to a fellow British person, Klaus Mikaelson. Especially since the people here seem so judgemental to people like us know matter what side of the war we represent.”

“It’s really no problem-” though Klaus quickly trails off realizing this woman who he had never seen before in his life somehow knew his name, “Wait how do you know my name?” 

“Well afterall it is the business of all us witches to know the names of our next victims.” 

“What?!” 

Seeing the perplexed and almost alarmed look on his face the woman lets out a laugh before actually introducing herself, holding her hand out for him to shake, “I’m just joking. The name is Elizabeth, Elizabeth Darcy.” 

“Klaus Mikaelson.” he says stupidly, completely forgetting that somehow she knows his name, “Speaking of which since you are not a witch how do you know my name? If memory serves I don’t believe we have ever met before.” 

“We have not. I only recognized you through the way you were looking at Caroline over there. From what I’ve heard your feelings for the girl are quite obvious to everyone but the girl herself. That and I might have over heard your name mentioned when you were talking to the happy couple.” 

“Caroline? You know her? Wait are you the Darcys that she befriend including Enzo?” Klaus can’t help but ask, trying not to grimace at the thought of the infernal man. 

Laughing Elizabeth replies, “I sure would hope so, otherwise my husband and I came to a random young man’s wedding for no reason.” 

“Wedding?” 

“Yes.” Elizabeth says nodding towards the dance floor where Enzo is happily dancing with Bonnie Bennet, the daughter of the tailor all the way from Boston, all the while looking at her adorenly “I believe that Caroline actually introduced them to each other. I am actually quite surprised that it did not take a good whack on the head for my son to admit he liked the girl considering how long it took his father. That’s the whole reason I‘m here after all, my husband and I made the journey here for our son’s wedding just the other day, and since we were still here, Caroline being good friends with the bride herself got us some invitations. Though speaking of my son it might be best to make sure he does not see you; even though I do know not what you said to cause you to leave Caroline but apparently it was bad enough to make my son want to chase after you like a one man firing squad. I myself wasn’t too opposed to the idea a few years ago but my husband convinced me against it.” 

“Thanks.” Klaus says, gulping. 

“Don’t mention it. Though do you want my advice?” 

Klaus is sure know matter she would give it to him so he says, “Yes.” 

“It is quite obvious that you hold Caroline in a deep regard shall we say and from what I have seen she does you as well. I have no idea what happened in between the two of you all those years ago but I do know it hurt Caroline, she is like a second child I never had to me and to my husband as well. Which means I also know while your words hurt Caroline, what hurt her more was you leaving for years. So here is my advice: just ask her to dance, dancing after all is one of the best ways to encourage affection and Caroline is more than tolerable.” 

The twinkle in her expressive, dark eyes let Klaus there is some story to her last words but wanting to exit this conversation as soon as possible just says, “I’ll keep that in mind.” 

“You should, after all I give great advice. Now if you’ll excuse me it my turn to dance with my own barely tolerable partner.” Elizabeth finishes, smiling in the direction of a tall and handsome man who Klaus can only assume is her husband; who in turn raises a champagne glass in a silent toast, his whole face lighting up at the sight of his wife. 

With this Klaus is once again left alone to ponder the words of someone who is practically a stranger. If what Elizabeth said is true than leaving all those years ago was the second biggest mistake he ever made and if not he still ruined his relationship with Caroline. Either way you look at it he still was the sole cause of the destruction of his and Caroline’s relationship; something that Klaus wasn’t sure could be repaired with a simple dance know matter how much Klaus wished that was the case. Except somewhere deep inside Klaus knew that this was his last chance to even have a shot to repair their relationship, it had to be tonight; even if she laughed in his face, punched it, or just simply walked away, it had to be tonight and Klaus would regret it for the rest of his life if he didn’t even try. Gathering up his courage he cuts through the crowd and to right behind where Caroline is standing and clears his throat……  

Turning around, Caroline’s eyes widen almost comically in surprise, as if she doesn’t believe he’s here,“Nik?! What are you doing here?” 

The first thing Klaus realizes or well remembers is how beautiful Caroline is up close; the curve of her nose, her beautiful eyelashes curled to perfection, and her eyes; once again Klaus is dumbstruck by their beauty, the drawings that litter his apartment back in Boston feel even more incomprehensible now compared to the real things.

Klaus can tell Caroline is about to say something else but he quickly moves to interrupt her, “Look Caroline I know you have every right to cast me out, yell at me, practically do anything you want to me, but please don’t. Just give me one chance to talk, to apologize and that’s it. Afterwards I promise if you want to you can never hear or see from me again. Just please listen. Okay?” and for once Klaus does not care how pleading or desperate his words sound. 

For a minute Klaus just watches as Caroline chews on her cheek, a sure sign she is at the very least thinking about it until finally, mercifully she answers, “Okay.” 

“Thank you.” 

They silently walk into the next room which is much more closed off from the hustle and bustle of the ball room; perfect for their conversation. When they are finally alone Klaus begins to speak; about how much me messed up that night, how he would do anything to take back the words he said to her, how much of an awful person he was, and everything in between. Every once in a while a comment earns a scoff, a laugh, an eye roll, …… Until he finishes and looks at Caroline hopefully…….

“Well?”

Caroline moves to take a deep breath before answering, “I hated you for what you said and did after that? As a matter of fact I still hate you for that.” and for once  the sound of her laugh fills him with dispair instead of happiness, this is it, Klaus thinks to himself, our story is over for good and it is all my fault , almost missing her next words, “But do you know what I hate more is not having you in my life anymore. I miss having my best friend in my life to talk to, tell jokes with, make fun of Kol with,” she says giving him a sad smile which he returns, “I just missed you more than I should and I still miss you. Despite the fact that I want to strangle you right now, I don’t want you to leave at all. How crazy is that? I promise if I can’t forgive you I can at the very least move past it, on one condition.” 

“Anything.” 

“Never do or say anything like that again. And never leave me like that again, ever.” 

“I promise, Caroline I will never ever leave you again.” Klaus says sincerely looking deep into her eyes, hoping she hears how much he means every single word. 

“Good.” Caroline breaths out and for a minute the two just stand there, looking in each other’s eyes. Klaus takes every second to drink in the sight of her; the curls framing her face, the flickering light casting shadows all around her, her soft lips…. then as if as natural as if they were going to shake hands they started to slowly but surely move towards each other, Klaus felt his heart start to beat as wildy and as quickly metronome but just as they were about to finally kiss Caroline, she abruptly pulled away

“Would you like to dance?” 

Klaus for once can’t bring himself to care about the kiss he had just missed with Caroline because first of all Caroline was not the type of girl to kiss somebody as a unmarried woman when a wedding party was happening right outside the door. Second of all Klaus would be a fool  to think that he could win Caroline back and court her after not seeing her for four years with just a few kind words and well placed apologies, so he places his signature ‘devil’s’ smirk upon his face and starts to tease her, 

“I suppose one dance couldn’t hurt.” 

“If you say so.” 

Klaus quickly leads Caroline to the dance floor where one dance soon turns into two, then to three, and before he even knows they are dancing the night away, slowly getting to know who they have become over the years once again. As the night spindles on Klaus can feel the bridge in between them slowly start to become closer and closer; he learns how her house on occasion has served as an infirmary for wounded soldiers that she helped care for, she learns how the knowledge Klaus has gained acting as a spy has potential saved dozens maybe even hundreds of lives. Though the whole time Klaus has a feeling that Caroline is hiding something from him; everytime he looks at her to long she quickly pulls her gaze away, when the string quartet plays a slower song Caroline tries her best to find an excuse why they shouldn’t, and every once in a while he catches her abisnelty rubbing the fingers on her left hand, almost as if she was looking for something…… That certain thought passed his mind more times than Klaus would like to admit, but he tried to reassure himself saying Rebekah would have mentioned something or that Caroline wouldn’t have spent as much time with him tonight as she did if she had…. previous engagements. Either that or Caroline was still trying to distant herself from him after all these years. 

Klaus wasn’t sure which bothered him more; either that she was engaged, still hasn’t fully forgiven him, or perhaps most unfortunately a mixture of both. What bothered him the most was that either way it would be his fault in both situations. This revelation caused Klaus to quickly adapt a ‘don’t think about it’ rule; if he didn’t think about either possible cause it wouldn’t bother him. A little unhealthy he knows but as long it lets Klaus focus on the feel of having Caroline in his arms again, being able to gaze into her eyes, just even being able to hear her talk, Klaus did not care. Perhaps maybe that’s why when he can tell Caroline is getting stuffy being cooped up in a room of people for so long he invites her out for a small midnight stroll. 

The cold air making their breaths visible in the pale glow of the moon the pair, arms linked made their way along the illustrious Schuyler grounds, the remaining snow crunching underneath their shoes. 

“Do you remember when we first met?” Klaus can’t help but ask as they come to a stop. 

Laughing Caroline replies, “How could I not? To this day I still remember the annoying little boy who was being perfectly rude to a sweet little girl who was just trying to offer the said annoying boy her sorbetto.”

Klaus almost forgets that is when they first met and not when she punched Damon Salvatore in the face, “That’s right. Even though it’s years later I must apologize for my actions, I was truly annoying that night.” 

“Who says you still aren’t now?” 

“Touche.” 

Caroline quickly lets out a loud, pig sounding laugh, a laugh that could not be further from that of a lady; a laugh that makes Klaus’s heart warm and fill with glee. For a second Klaus lets himself pretend that he did not mess up as he did those four years ago and instead of being two friends reuniting after years, they are a young couple reminiscing about their own wedding as they watch two dear friends get married themselves, Klaus finally getting over himself and professing his undying love for Caroline. They could freely walk arm in arm without any rumors, they would journey back to the same house, sleep in the same bed….. Before Klaus can finish this daydream about a million things happen at once; he and Caroline hear close by yelling and a loud crash, a loose horse from the stables folllowed by two stablehands comes barreling towards them and Klaus finds himself frozen as the horse gets closer and closer in a matter of seconds that seem more like hours. The horse is practically upon him and Klaus closes his eyes, accepting his fate but before he even know what’s happening he is being pushed away and onto the ground . 

Klaus lands with a large groan, his head hitting the snow covered ground with a resounding thud; taking a minute to stand up and steady himself, Klaus croaks out “Caroline?”,, looking to the left seeing the horse circling back to the stable and the two stablehands before looking to the right and feeling his heart come to a dead stop in his chest, fear tearing through him like powerful,crashing waves…… 

There, laying down in the snow like a crumpled ball lays Caroline, crimson blood staining the pure white snow. 

There lies Caroline unmoving. 

There lies Caroline still. 

There lies Caroline completely, heart-wrenchingly, utterly, and terrifyingly silent. 

        ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For Klaus the next seconds, hours, days were all a blur; he could only focus on Caroline. The second he saw her lying unmoving on the ground he dashed to her side without really thinking and even though he knew it was futile tried shaking her awake and calling her name, but just like he thought Caroline stays unmoving, the only tell-tale sign of life is the slight pulse in her wrist he is able to feel through her gloves. Klaus knows how life-threating hitting your head could be, especially by horse. There were more times than Klaus cared to remember where somebody either fell off their horse or got hit by a stray one and never woke up again or woke up with serious life-lasting ailments. 

    He barely hears one of the stablehands appear behind him, “Sir? Is the lady okay? “ his voice frantic at the sight of Caroline. 

    If it were any another time Klaus would snap at the man and tear off his head for such an idiotic comment but he does not have the time, he quikcly steps up and picks Caroline up with him, her body light as a feather as he holds her to his chest, “No, she is not. Fetch me the fastest horse the stables can spare and god forbid have it be a calm one. Then go inside the ball and tell Lorenzo Darcy about the situation and have him fetch the nearest doctor and have him get a hold of the nearest doctor and have him come to 1305 Lilydale Road. If he knows if her father is not home have him write him immediately tell him about his daughter as well as anyone else who needs to know.” 

    “Ye-Yes sir.” the stablehand studders out but does not move. 

    “What are you waiting for a pat on the back?! Go!” 

    “Of course sir, sorry sir!” the man yells before running off in the direction of the stables, tripping over his own feet in the snow.

    When the man disappears Klaus brings himself to look down at Caroline’s face and tries not to let the tears spill from his eyes, “I am so sorry love, I promise I’ll make sure your safe Caroline. Always and Forever.”

    Less then five minutes later the stablehand comes back with a new horse and in a few short moments Klaus swings himself and Caroline onto the horse, propping her up against his back. With a quick thank you to the stablehand, Klaus pulls the reigns on the horse urging it into a run and then it’s off. Fifteen minutes later Klaus has the horse stop in front of the house that he had not seen in four years; with a rush Klaus hopped off the horse and once again picked up Caroline. The attendants of the house were quite shocked to see him, but more importantly an injured Caroline. Whatever grievances they may or may not have held against him were dropped when he explained the situation and he was quickly ushered inside. As Klaus was laying Caroline down on her bed he learned that he father was indeed out of state and was in South Carolina and wouldn’t be home for weeks after he received the letter, which to would take weeks to arrive. Thankfully, there was at least one doctor in New York City, Nathaniel Pendelton who arrived at the Forbes estate about another half an hour after Klaus; already knowing the situation the doctor gives a quick hello before starting an assessment on Caroline. The doctor checks her pulse, cleans up her head, feels around it, as well as other things Klaus has no idea the purpose of. 

    When he is done the doctor turns to him and asks, “I assume you would be the most apt to inform you of her condition considering her father is out of state?” 

“Yes.” 

“Alright then let’s go sit somewhere else.” 

Knowing the house like the back of his hand Klaus is easily able to lead the doctor to a sitting room and  even before they both sit down Klaus immediately asks, “Is Caroline okay?” 

Letting out a sigh the doctor starts to speak, “With head injuries it is hard to tell, we can’t exactly ask the patient how they feel while they are unconscious. Though by my estimates if she should wake up, she won’t have nothing to worry about other than a terrible headache.” 

“If she wakes up?” 

“Yes, with cases like this until the patient starts to wake up it is an if. Except Caroline seems to be on the good side of if I will say. Though know matter what I will be over once a day every two days to check on her condition, but if anything new arises write me immediately.” he quickly scribbles down the address, presumably his address and hands it to him, “That being said if she wakes up ask her some general questions about herself that she should know; name, her birthday, father’s name, first horse, and what was the last thing she remembers. We want to make sure her memory is up to par.” 

“Of course.” Klaus says trying to not let his fear show, remembering tales of how people after they hit their heads and woke up forgetting information they should know, whole entire memories, and sometimes themselves. 

“Good. Now I am afraid the only thing we can do is wait. Until she wakes up have her maids change out a warm compress for her head every couple of hours and make sure someone is always with her or nearby just in case.” 

“Of course, I believe that can easily be managed. Thank you for coming on such short notice.” Klaus says, standing up to shake the man’s hand. 

“I’m only sorry that I had to come at all, but I believe we can hope for the best.” the doctor says sympathetically, returning Klaus’s handshake. 

After seeing the doctor out Klaus makes his way back to Caroline’s room, planning on not leaving her side even before what the doctor ordered, shakily sitting down on a hastily pulled up chair by her bedside and he starts to speak, “Caroline I’m sorry, so so so incredibly sorry. For every single time I have been an awful person, an awful friend to you which to be frank is a lot.” despite the situation Klaus is able to laugh weakly at himself. “You never deserved any of it, I don’t deserve you even as a friend, much less a wife. Right from the start you have been unbelievably kind to me; giving your sorbetto to an ignorant annoying little boy and even after he continued to be rude to you, you punched a boy in the face for him. You have saved me in so many ways and not by just punching bullies, lying to protect me, or jumping in front of horses but by just being there. By saving me from boring lessons, dancing with me, or even just giving me a bloody cup of sorbetto you have always been there for me when I need it.” Klaus can start to feel tears start to drip down his cheeks as he continues to talk to Caroline, “And yet I have never saved you and I am sorry. There are countless of times where I should of but I didn’t because I am a coward. Leaving you those four years ago is the biggest regret of my life and if you will let me I will spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you. I swear I will keep my promise that I will never, ever will leave you again as long as you want me here. Though I am afraid I have to add one condition to that; you can’t leave me either, okay? At least like this, never like this. There is still something I have to tell you. Just once Like how I lo-” 

The words are just about to pass by his lips when Klaus stops himself, he can’t tell Caroline like this, it has to be while she is awake and she can hear him, even if she laughs in his face or yell or something else entirely. Though Klaus knows he does have to tell her, if tonight is any sign that he should Klaus does not know what else; he just knows that the thought of losing Caroline terrified him like nothing else ever has before, it still is terrifying him  but he knows he will regret it for the rest of his life if he does not do it soon, “Just wake up so I can tell you, okay?” 

“Please.” 

       ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Klaus gets his wish four excruciating days later when just as the sun is rising where he has fallen asleep in his chair for the umpteenth time when he hears the sound of Caroline stirring. With a start Klaus is wide awake, watching as Caroline starts mumbling and her eyes eventually flutter open, 

    Turning slowly to see him, Caroline eyes heavy and confused asks with a voice, raspy from unuse, “Nik? What’s going? Where am I?” 

    Not even caring what she or who else would think if they say him Klaus flings himself to Caroline and gives her a tight a hug, saying all sorts of things “Are you okay? Please tell me you’re okay. I thought I lost you.” 

“Nik, relax I feel fine.”

“I’m glad, but please never scare me like that again.” 

    “I mean it’s not like I planned to be trampled by a horse.” Caroline manages to say lightly. 

    Klaus laughs as he repostions himself onto his chair, awake not even a minute and Caroline is already trying to lighten the mood. 

    “Speaking of that, but why did you? Don’t get me wrong I’m not upset that you did will I guess I am upset that you purposely hurt yourself to save me but-” 

    “Nik, Nik, just stop right there. I saved you because you are my friend.” 

    “I still doubt that I deserve to be called that after what I did to you and leaving for so many years.” 

    “But you came back didn’t you and apologized? I think that’s what matters the most. Besides you aren’t planning on leaving again are you?” 

    “Somebody will have to kill me first.” 

“I sure hope that they don’t. It would be extremely tiring and upsetting to go to your funeral after I risked my life for you.” 

“I suppose that’s true.” Klaus says, not being able to help the relieved smile that blossoms across his face at the sight of Caroline’s smiling face. 

Before too long passes Klaus lets the doctor know Caroline is awake and he comes and checks Caroline out. It turns out that he was right and the only seemingly thing wrong with her  is that she has a killer headache which she receives some medicine to help with, but he does recommend she stay in bed for the rest of the day. Next is to write to her father and other people like the Darcys who have been over here several times in the past couple of days. After the doctor leaves Caroline actually feels well enough to sip some broth and the color has returned to her face. 

Klaus knows that sooner or later that he would have to tell Caroline what he almost said when she was lying unconscious and even though the thought still terrified he knew now was as good of a time as ever. After all this could very will be his last chance for all he knew, as what happend Caroline is proof that everyday is a gamble, Klaus knew it had to be now……

Taking a breath for reassurance and courage he looks to Caroline and starts to talk, all the while hoping his heart does not give out, “Caroline when you were unconscious and I wasn’t sure if you were ever going to wake up that was the most scared I have ever been in my life. I couldn’t even begin to imagine what life would be like without you in it and I know in a way that is what my life has been like that for the past four years, but then I at least knew that you were alive and well. I thought that was enough for me, but it’s not and I don’t think it ever will be. It’s because of what I realized those four years ago, something that I should have even realized long before that, is that I-” 

A frantic expression appears on Carolne’s face and she rushes to stop him, “Nik- please don’t. I’m-” 

Interrupting her Klaus continues on, “Please just let me finish, okay? I need to say this just once. I lo-” 

Though once again Klaus is quickly interrupted; except this time it’s not by Caroline or his inner thoughts, but by the door swinging open and a well dressed man stroming in. When his gaze softens when it lands upon Caroline Klaus starts to feel sick. 

“Oh Caroline! When I heard about the accident I was terrified, I rode almost four days straight to get to you. I’m sorry it took me so long.” the mysterious man says striding to Caroline’s side and kneeling down by her, caressing her face with a gloved hand. 

Reaching out to give his hand a comforting squeeze she says, “It’s okay my dear. You’re here now and that’s what matters.” 

The man chuckles softly before squeezing her hand back, “I suppose I am. Aren’t I? Are you okay?” 

“Right as rain.” she says with a weak smile.

“And thank god for that.” the man murmurs before pressing a kiss to her forehead. 

Even though Klaus has come to the profoundly obvious and sickiking realization he can’t help but ask with a shred of hope, “Caroline who is this?” 

In turn Caroline gives him a sad and sympathetic smile as the man who just seems to now be noticing his presence gives him a curious once over before she says,

“Klaus I would like you to meet Tyler Lockwood.” 

Klaus breaths in. 

“My fiancee.” 

Klaus breaths out. 

____________________________________________________________________________

One 

March 1781 

Klaus quickly knocked back another sip of the bitter whiskey, the sun glaring in his eye only adding to the pain he feels. Right behind him the woman he loved with all his soul was about to get married and spend the rest of her life with another man. It was impossible to think of it without it feeling like he was being stabbed in the heart repeatedly. The thought of another man getting to gaze upon her face everyday, being the one to make her smile, laugh, blush, and be the sole object of Caroline’s affections made Klaus want to punch a wall and simultaneously throttle the man who was going to replace him. Deep, deep down Klaus knew this was selfish of him to even be thinking like this; after all if he had any chance to be the one to marry her he blew it the day he told her that he wished they never met. Despite this Klaus couldn’t help but feel jealous in all of its destructive and soul-consuming entirety that Caroline Forbes was going to marry a man, to have children with a man that wasn’t him. It does not help matters that this man is Tyler Lockwood, who after he was sure he was not going to die from the revelation that Caroline could never be and probably was never his realized  that he was the governor’s only son. 

The little he heard about Tyler Lockwood before meeting him again was nothing good; apparently he was an impolite, cocky, and a practically rude person. Klaus’s opinion of him only soured more when he spent time with the infernal man, Rebekah said it was because he was just jealous that Caroline found someone before he could pull his head out of his behind in time because ‘Nik even if she were marrying bloody St. Peter himself you would find something wrong with him’ Not that Klaus was denying Rebekah’s accusations it was just there was something off about Tyler that he did not like; the times that Klaus had the displeasure of meeting him Tyler Lockwood treated everyone like they were all below him and was very possessive of Caroline. The man even seemed to have great displeasure when Caroline spent her time with the newly married Enzo and even more so with him. Klaus had a strong feeling that Tyler knew he wasn’t the only one to have feelings for Caroline, his eyes would always narrow whenever Caroline laughed at one of his jokes or squeezed his arm. Due to this it seemed Tyler liked to take every chance to show him that he was the one Caroline choose; he would always wrap his arm tighter around her when he saw him, freely presses kisses to her forehead, whispers things in her ear to make her blush…….

 All of it made Klaus see red and want to rip Tyler’s head clean off, but he didn’t, all for one simple reason: Caroline. For some reason unbeknownst to him Caroline loved the man or at least liked him enough to marry him and that was enough for Klaus; he hurt her enough and if never hurting her again meant letting her a bumbling idiot, so be it, even if it would end up hurting him thrice over. Even so Klaus had to admit while Tyler Lockwood was definitely a scourge upon the earth he treated Caroline as an angel that had fallen upon the earth which she deserved after the way he has treated her in the past and by the looks of it was happy with him. The first couple of weeks after he learned the soul crushing news Klaus desperately searched for any sign that Caroline wasn’t happy, but there were none; after all who wouldn’t be happy marrying the only son of New York’s governor who didn’t have a single ounce of a scandal following him? 

The closest thing to a sign that Caroline was unhappy with Tyler was on the cool February night where he was escorting her to a ball due to the fact that Tyler refused to take a break from his work for the revolution and Klaus offered to escort to whatever ball they were invited to that night and she softly asked him if there was any reason why she shouldn’t marry Tyler, uncertainty shining in her eyes. At that moment Klaus wanted nothing more than to say yes and confess his love for her, but he and said no, chalking her question up to the loneliness of having her fiancee abandon her  coupled with the glasses of wine she had sipped on that night and he said no. The hurt and disappointed look on Caroline’s face made Klaus confused, wasn’t that what she wanted to hear? Apparently not and Klaus tried his best not to let hope dwindle in his chest at the possibility that Caroline was having doubts about her wedding because of him, so far the only thing hoping  has done is make things worse. 

Which is exactly why Klaus  is standing outside the chapel doors on a cool spring’s day hoping that the alcohol would help him forget what is waiting right behind him. Caroline walking down the aisle with her father, the smile on Tyler’s face when he realized he got to have her forever, the exchanging of vows, and finally a kiss that would seal their union until their dying day. The only consolation is that despite being her husband Klaus would have parts of Caroline that he would never have; 1. Her laugh. The whole time Klaus has been with Tyler and Caroline he has never once heard her real laugh only the one that was the result of years at Lilybrooke. A laugh that Klaus sure Tyler would never be able to fully appreciate. 2. Having now prim and proper(ish) Caroline Forbes punch one Damon Salvatore in the face for him and 3. Her eyes. Klaus knows it’s silly to believe that something that everybody has the pleasure of looking at everyday is his, but it’s true. Know matter what anybody says Klaus believes he was the first one to realize the utter and exquisite, inner and outer, complete and total beauty of Caroline Forbes and her wide blue-green eyes. He was the only one who know about the mother who would take her to hunt for water sprites, how she always pulled a few curls loose from hairdos, and who on occasion would sneak out to taverns and was able to hold her stout better then most men. 

And that? That was enough for Klaus or at least it could be; the years he had been separated from Caroline showed him that having Carolie in his life in whatever way she choose was eons better than not having  Caroline life in his all. With one last sigh Klaus turns back to the chapel, know mater how much he tried to Klaus could not bring himself to actually watch the ceremony itself and he believed Caroline would be okay if he skipped out, saying that he was ‘sick’ or at least he hoped so. God forbid Caroline starts to hate him again after she just forgave him, but he will have to risk it or have his heart be literally torn to shreds as she watches Caroline Eliabeth Forbes become Mrs. Tyler Lockwood. Klaus prepares to leave when he hears what sounds like somebody trying to discreetly close and open a side door before he hears the sound of someone falling, followed by a long string of curses, most are directed at a dress. 

With a start Klaus strides over to wear he heard the person fall and what he sees somehow both shocks him and makes him want to laugh; the lady of the hour herself: Caroline Forbes. Caroline is currently laying down on the ground, mounds of different types of fabric pillowing out around her as she more or less is fighting her dress and by the looks of it she is losing, quite badly actually. 

Trying and failing to laugh, Klaus asks with an amused smile on her face, “Do you need a hand there love?”

At last noticing his presence Caroline scowls at him, “It’s not funny.” 

“No, you’re right it isn’t  funny.” he pauses, his smirk growing bolder, “It’s really funny.” 

Klaus is sure that if Caroline was standing upright she would be punching him right now just as she did to Damon seventeen years ago but since she is not so she settles for rolling her eyes before scoffing, “So are you going to help me or what?” 

“Yes, of course. Just give me a minute.” he says, reaching a hand out to Caroline which she quickly takes and pulls her up. Except he ends up doing it to forcefully and accidently pulls her so close that their noses are touching and Klaus could feel the rapid beating of her heart, against his. The two stay like that for a minute, pressed up against each other, their breath’s ticking the opposites face with Caroline gazing up at him under hooded lashes; it’s almost impossible not to kiss her right then and there, but he doesn’t knowing he can’t do this to her when she is literally about to get married right behind him. 

Painfully pulling away Klaus does his best to put a sincere smile on his face, not noticing Caroline’s disappointed sigh, “Correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t brides supposed to be inside when they are getting married? As much as I want to see Tyler Lockwood marry himself I believe that would be quite embarrassing for the crowd to watch and for the man himself.” 

Letting out an almost bitter sounding laugh, Caroline replies with a self-depreciating smirk, “Well that may be true for brides who are actually getting married, but for run away brides I believe it’s best to get away from the chapel as quickly as one can.” 

“Yes I suppose th-” Klaus trails off, what Caroline just said setting in, “What do you mean runaway bride?” 

“It means exactly what you think it means. I’m not getting married, I’m not telling my now ex-fiancee, so eargo I’m a runaway bride.” 

Trying to not let his brain short circuit, Klaus asks still somehow confused, “So you’re not getting married?” 

“I just said that didn’t I?” 

“Yes but why?” 

Caroline glances at a nearby bench, biting her lips as if she was thinking of something before saying, “Let’s just sit down and talk. I have to make it quick though; the whole purpose of me writing the letter telling Tyler that the wedding was off was so I would never have to see him again.” 

“After you then.” is all Klaus says in response. 

When the two sit down Caroline tells the story of how for a while she had a sneaking suspicion that Tyler had been seeing another woman for months, a woman named Hayley who was a cook for his troop whenever he was off on military business.. Caroline’s suspicions were confirmed where just this very morning she had discovered letters exchanged between the pair where Tyler talked about how he may have liked her but Hayley was who he truly loved and that the only reason why Tyler wad marrying her was to please his father both because of her “high” status and her wealth. Apparently Governor Lockwood had not been as frugal with his funds as a governor in a revolution should have been. When Caroline is done with her speech she just shrugs as if the whole ordeal of leaving her fiancee after he discovered he was cheating on her was no more bothersome than flicking a fly off her shoulder. 

Still Klaus can’t help but ask, “Are you okay?” 

“Nothing but a good cup of coffee and maybe a pint or two of some good stout won’t fix. The most bothersome thing about this whole day is my dress, it appears to be quite ruined.” Klaus looks at her dress and sees what Caroline said is true, the fine concoction of laces and sky blue silks is dirty and torn from it’s tussle in between Caroline and the ground.

“It’s just a dress, I think you’ll be okay.” 

Warmy laughing Caroline replies, “You are exactly right. It is just a dress, but I fear Rebekah  will throttle me for ruining such an exquisite piece of clothing.” 

“I think she will be more upset at you leaving your own wedding.” 

A small smile appears on her face, but with a twinge of sadness “No, actually I think she will be quite happy.” 

“Oh why is that? Is there another reason why you called your wedding with Tyler off?” Klaus asks, not being able to help the hope in his voice. Was it to much to think that perhaps Caroline had feelings for him and that is why she is here with him in the first instead of inside marrying that absolute baboon of a man? 

“Yes actually, there is. I met Tyler at a time where I was mourning somebody in a way at least who was the person I was closest to in the world. We didn’t get together at first, we were just friends and when he started to court me, I said yes but I didn’t really know why. What I felt for Tyler paled to what I actually felt for this guy.” 

Despite his better judgement Klaus feels hope start to swell in his chest. 

“Whom is this guy you speak about?” 

“Well I don’t like to name names, but I can describe him. First of all he has a charming accent. His morals are probably more askew then most and he is well-traveled so to speak. He is more talented than he realizes and is a great dancer. Though most importantly of all he is my bestest friend in the whole entire universe.” 

Then just like that a switch goes off in Klaus’s mind and the little hope he had starts to wither and die in his chest. Something about the way Caroline spoke those last words reminded Klaus of the way she spoke about Enzo, and then it dawned on him; she was talking about Enzo. After all many of those things can describe Caroline’s boarding school friend; Enzo like he had a British accent (obviously), seemed keen to make lewd jokes at times as well as not heistanting to threaten anybody who hurt those close to him (dodgy morals), Caroline always mentioned several times in the year she came back to America (her closest friend), and didn’t Caroline first become friends with Enzo at a ball? More dots soon start to connect in Klaus’s mind; didn’t Caroline lose Enzo in a way when he started to court Bonnie? Maybe that’s why she “mourned” him because she can’t have him after he married one of her best friends. Perhaps his idea that Caroline’s feelings for Enzo went deeper than friendship were true. A wave of bitterness spreads through Klaus as he returns to his previous mood before Caroline practically fell out of the church. 

The earnest look on Caroline’s face almost makes Klaus want to scream as she asks, “So do you think I have a chance with this guy?” 

So that’s why Caroline didn’t say the guy’s name; she was worried that he would judge her for falling in love with a married man, especially one that was married to her best friend. At this point Klaus was just done; with today, with Caroline, and just how much he messed up his life the night he yelled at her four years ago. Klaus started the day feeling miserable and angry but then he started to feel more relaxed and happy, hopeful even; now he was back to feeling miserable. It was like he was going up and down all day on some sort of contraption that took him soaring in the clouds one second and plummeting deep down the next. Klaus just wishes there was a name for that kind of contraption, but whatever it would be called it is tiring. Perhaps that is why he, finally fed up with losing Caroline at the last second snaps, ready to just leave 

“Well if being Enzo’s mistress is your cup of tea and all then I say go for it.” 

A beat of silence follows Klaus’s snide comment and he is surprised; in the past whenever he made a comment like this Caroline would roll her eyes and say to stop saying such things and that Enzo was only her friend and nothing more, that he did not have anything to worry about. At first Klaus thinks the beat of silence means that Caroline is in love with Enzo and doesn’t want to bother correcting or confirming his suspicions. With an angry shake of his head Klaus stands up to leave, but before he can even take one step he hears an angry voice sound out behind him 

“You idiot.” Then in a blink Caroline is in front of him shoving him back down onto the bench, immediately shushing him when he tries to protest, “You for once in your life Klaus Mikaelson are going to be quiet so I can talk to you. Got it?” 

She doesn’t even give him time to say anything before she starts to yell at him, “How could you say that? How many times do I have to tell you that I have never loved Enzo at least like that. What hurts even more is the fact that you think I would do that to Bonnie, one of my closest friends, especially after I just told you what Tyler was doing.” 

“So you do care that Tyler had an affair?” 

“No I don’t! Want to know why?” Caroline stomps towards him, jabbing in him in the chest, “It’s because of you. I didn’t feel upset at all because of Tyler, because I was only with him to get over you Nik.” Klaus sees tears start to collect in Caroline’s eyes, “I have been in love with you since I was seven years old. It broke me when you said you wished you never met me and it broke me even more when you left. I love you so much it hurts .” Even though there is no wind Caroline wraps her arms around herself as the tears start dripping down her cheeks, “Don’t you love me?” 

For a minute Klaus feels his entire heart, soul, mind, and body just stop. Honestly Klaus is not completely sure he’s not dreaming; Caroline had finally said the words that had been echoing in his mind for years and by the looks of it, it is 100% real. Yet he is still silent. Why? Klaus has no clue but apparently Caroline does because she lets out a sad laugh

“Well of course you don’t. Next time please answer, and now if you’ll excuse me I have to go home and try and forget the most horrible day of my life.” 

Then when Caroline is finally turning to walk away Klaus finally returns to his senses, running to catch up to her and eventually skidding to a stop in front of her he heavily breaths out, “Wait, please.” 

“Why should I?” Caroline snaps, waving her hands exasperatedly around, “So you can tell me we can still be friends?! No thank you.” 

Taking one last deep breath Klaus grabs both her hand in his and says the three words that have been born of close to two decades of friendship, trust, and of course love, “Wait because I love you too.” 

Caroline immediately blanches in surprise, “What? You- you love me?” 

“How could I not? You’re beautiful, funny, loyal, kind, throw good punches,” she laughs, “And you have everything and anything else in between that makes me fall in love with you more and more every single day, more with each passing year.” Klaus says earnestly, meaning every single word. 

“Why couldn’t you just tell me that years ago?” 

“I thought that you didn’t feel the same way and that your life would  be better without me.” 

“How could life be better without you? You make every single day worth living, you make me laugh like no one else can. You make me, me .” 

An unwilling blush spreads across Klaus’s cheeks as he asks the same questions in turn, “Why couldn't you just tell me?” 

“The same thing I guess. I always thought you have only seen me as your friend, nothing more.” 

“How could I see you just as a friend when you are the most beautiful, kind, and funny woman on the planet?” 

“I guess we are both idiots then.” Caroline chuckles slightly, “Just imagine how much trouble we could have saved if we had gotten over ourselves sooner.” 

Then without really thinking, because of course he had to mess things up right as things were going well Klaus said, “Yeah and you hadn’t gotten engaged to Tyler.” 

“I thought we established that was a grievous mistake on my part and that I only did it to get over you.” 

“That does not mean it didn’t hurt to see you marry another man. Did you ever think of that?” 

“How was I supposed to know that you loved me? And I honestly don’t think we should compare who hurt the other more considering what you’ve done.” Caroline says disbelviably.

With that last exchange Caroline and Klaus are back at eachothers throats, yelling at each other for their perceived grievances against the other. 

“How was I supposed to know that you loved me when for years in England all of Rebekah and Kol’s letters about how most of your time with all different types of woman; Geneive, Aurora, Camille, and more than I even care to name.” 

“You’re one to talk with the majority of letters I received you from waxing poetry about Enzo!” 

“Are you going to bring that up again?! This is like the fiftieth time you have done that today; for the last time I have never loved Enzo and I never will! For crying out loud I was the one who pushed them together.” 

“Well it would have been nice to known that you had cared about me like that instead of you always making me doubt it by talking and spending time with other men.” 

“I’m sorry that the letters that I wrote to you everyday weren’t proof enough. I’m sorry that me practically gave up five years of my life wasn’t proof enough for you. Maybe while I was in England I should have gone down to Austria and have Mozart himself help me conjure up a piano piece symbolizing my love for you. Actually why risk traveling to Austria at all when I could have just stayed in England itself and dig up William Shakespeare  and have him help me write a sonnet for you instead.” 

“That sounds perfect; if you did that I would have known that you cared. At least I-” 

“You at least what Nik? Threw one of my most prized possession into the fire? Were an utter and complete ass to me when we first met?  Said that you wished you never met me? Left me for for years years? Oh yeah that’s right you did all of those things. You act like you told me you loved me everyday where as in reality somedays you treated me as if I were an angel upon earth others you would treat me with such indifference.”  

Klaus for a minute has no idea what to say but before he even has the chance Caroline starts to speak again, her anger dissolving into a sad resolve “Five minutes ago I thought, this, us could actually work but now I am not so sure. I mean we just said that we loved each other and we got into a fight for almost no reason. These months since you’ve been back I have been more relaxed then I’ve been in years and I don’t want to risk losing you in case a marriage in between us does not work out.” she pauses  looking up towards the sky, the sun highlighting the tears on her cheeks, “I think I’m just going to leave. Goodbye Nik.” Caroline says softly, giving him  a parting kiss on the cheek before she starts to walk away.

The sight of Caroline snaps Klaus back to reality, wondering how he could go from miserable, to euphoric, to angry, and to sadness in a matter of seconds. Caroline’s words ringing in his head, how they should just be friends and that is the furthest thing that Klaus wants. Despite after just yelling each other for five minutes Klaus wants nothing else than to be with Caroline; she is the only one for him. The only reason why Klaus is so upset is because he could have had Caroline for years, but his own ignorance stopped him; always beliving that he didn’t deserve her, she was only friends with him out of pity, and how she could never love hm. Maybe he should have been paying more attention to Caroline over the years and how she did feel and could feel instead of himself and all the reason why Caroline couldn’t feel that way about him. Somehow Klaus knows if he lets Caroline walk away today there is no chance of them ever being together, only being friends and Klaus would regret for the rest of his days. 

So for once in his life with Caroline he takes a risk, an insane gamble, and what probably is the worst thing somebody could ever do after getting into a fight with the woman he loves after she just ran away from her wedding; he reaches out and grabs her wrist and spins her around to face him and before Caroline even has a chance to protest he kisses her. For a second Caroline tenses and he thinks she is going to slap him but she relaxes it into it, moving her arms from her side to wrap around his neck and in turn Klaus puts his hands around her waist. Klaus is not sure anymore what he imagined what it would be like to kiss Caroline Fobres but he knows however it was paled in comparison to the real thing; he doesn’t think he would be ever able to properly have her lips upon his, being able to taste the faint flavor of cherries and champagne, the lace of her gloves tickling the back of his neck. For all Klaus could have known they could have been standing there like that for seconds, minutes, days, heck even years but almost painfully he pulls away to rest his forehead against Caroline’s, both breathing heavily. 

Caroline is the first one to speak or at least tries to because this time Klaus is the one to interrupt her as he asks one simple but powerful question

“Will you marry me?” 

Klaus knows it’s the stupidest question he could ask when in the past fifteen minutes Caroline left her wedding to a different man, she confessed her love for him for the first time, he did the same, and then they fought again before he finally kissed her. Except at least for him Klaus knows it’s the right thing to do; he knows he and Caroline are far from perfect but now seems as good of a time as any. After seventeen years of friendship, fights, and separations the two finally said they loved each other and Klaus isn’t sure how long he could last in a courtship without messing it up, so that’s why he asked because even if Caroline said no or laughed in his face he at least tried. 

God though he hoped she said yes, stepping back to get a better look at Caroline’s face he asked , “Caroline?” Looking upon her face Klaus saw a million emotions of surprise, happiness, joy, elation, and perhaps a bit of anger, “Love can you say something?” 

And she does, but it’s the last thing Klaus wants to hear, “No.” 

Almost instantly Klaus feels his soul crumble at her ‘no’, but Klaus does not know why he is so surprised; she is probably still mad at him for everything he has done to her over the years. Quickly Klaus prepares himself to tell her that it’s alright, that he understands and how he hopes that they can still be whatever they are. 

Though a wicked gleam in Caroline’s eye forms paired with a smirk as she adds onto her original statement, “But, ask me tomorrow though and I might say yes.” 

With a start Klaus lets out a loud laugh because of course that is what Caroline said, never not the one to use his words against him, but Klaus knows that is better than a no and in a way he likes Caroline’s answer even better than a yes, “Alright then I promise I will ask you tomorrow.” Fully meaning every word. 

“Good.” Caroline smiles and turns back toward the church where yelling can be hard, “Well I think that means my note has been discovered and it is time for me to make my great escape. Care to make a distraction so I’m not caught?” 

“Gladly.” 

“Oh yeah and Klaus?” 

“Hmm?” 

Caroline quickly steps on her tip toes and presses a quick kiss to his lips, “Thanks for saving me.” 

Except before Klaus can ask saving her from what she is off. 

Like he said he would Klaus distracts people like Tyler from finding her and once it is discovered that Caroline won’t be found and coming back to get married, Tyler leaves in a huff. Klaus has a feeling that both Caroline’s father and Rebekah are more relieved than anything; with Caroline’s father saying he will let him know when he finds Caroline with a gleam in his eye suggesting he already had an idea as to what happened. Tomorrow Klaus keeps his promise and asks the newly ‘found’ Caroline to marry him, but just as he expected she tells him to ask her tomorrow. Klaus does and her answer is still ‘Ask me tomorrow and I might say ‘yes’. Caroline’s answer takes 364 days in all, one day shorter than it took for him to change his answer Caroline gleefully reminds him, but Klaus couldn’t care less because on the 364th day her answer is ‘yes’. 

____________________________________________________________________________

Epilogue

1781-1786

Klaus and Caroline get married on a warm summer’s day in front of all of their closest friends and family with Rebekah as Caroline’s maid of honor and with Kol of all people being his best man. Caroline’s father beams throughout the whole entire ceremony and congratulations them with tears in his eyes, both happy at his daughter finally finding someone to spend the rest of her life with and sad at losing his little girl to someone else. Though before Caroline’s father leaves he warns him that if he ever were to hurt her he would no hesitate to shoot him which makes Klaus choke on his champagne in surprise and a slap on the arm from his daughter, but Klaus knows Bill Forbes is just stretching the truth out of love for his daughter so he does not read to much into it. Kind of. More warm hugs and congradulations come from the Hamiltons, the Darcys, Elijah and his new family, Ansel, Kol, Rebeakh, and more people than Klaus can even name. That night seventeen years of friendship, devotion, and love in between Klaus Mikaelson and Caroline Forbes, ahem Mikaelson came to a culmination and it was more perfect than Klaus ever could have imagined, he wouldn’t have it happened any other way. 

Klaus was hesitant to keep his father’s name to begin with, much less let Caroline take it. He was much more apt to maybe finally adopt Ansel’s name or maybe even Caroline’s, but she was against both saying together we can make the Mikaelson name mean something good. So Mikaelson stayed. The next months were spent in a newlywed bliss after there honeymoon upstate the Mikaelson’s returned home, but when they returned instead of the custom of building a home of their own and having children Caroline and Klaus stayed with her father the first couple of months. It made more sense to the both of them to wait until the war was over and Klaus wouldn’t be leaving every other day to help the Continental Army to build a home of their own. They got their wish that October with General Cornwallis surrendering to George Washington after the siege and battle of Yorktown. The celebration lasted for weeks and when it ended with Klaus’s official resignation from the army it was finally time to start a life of their own, but it wasn’t as easy as they thought. The stubborn couple refused more help than what was considered normal from both of their parents; except real estate in New York was extremely expensive if one was looking for a home to raise a family in. 

A blessing eventually came from an unexpected place: Mikael’s will. The previously hidden document was found after the chaos of war was over and as it turns out the man cared for Klaus in his own very twisted way because the old Mikaelson estate in Boston was left to him. It was perfect for Caroline and Klaus, to go back to where the first notes of their story were written seventeen long years ago. Many tears were shed when it was finally time for Caroline and Klaus to leave but the tears didn’t last long as soon after the new couple settled in back at Boston they welcome their first child, a boy named Henrik after the brother that Klaus never really got to know. The house that used to be hold so much pain, anger, and betrayal soon becomes a house filled with love, laughter, and warmth. The whole of Caroline’s pregnancy Klaus was nervous that he would be a horrible father, that his son would hate him and he would repeat the same mistakes as Mikael had, but Caroline repeatedly assured him that he would be fine, that he would be a great father. Klaus didn’t believe Caroline until their son was born who had his hair and Caroline’s eyes and when he first gazed upon his son Klaus was filled with a love and affection he couldn’t even begin to describe. Klaus loved his son more than anything in the world and do anything, be anything for him and just like Caroline said his son loved him to; they even got along so well Caroline said it was like watching the same person. 

The love in their house only increased tenfold when in 1783 the two welcomed their second child, a son named Bill in honor of Caroline’s father. Every single day was more perfect than the last with Klaus thanking every single deity, god, or what not out there for Caroline and their perfect little family. By the time 1784 came around Klaus found himself the governor of Massachusetts, the tales of his service for the Continental Army and Caroline still practically the darling of the city ensuring an easy victory. Now here Klaus sat in 1786 the five year anniversary of him and Caroline’s wedding almost upon him working in his study at the present he was going to give to Caroline. 

The door swung open, distracting him from his work and in walked Caroline or well shuffled she was currently pregnant with their third child, “Oh Nik! There you are, I’ve been looking all over for you!” 

Quickly trying to hide the drawing behind him Klaus pulls out a chair for his very pregnant wife, “Why ever so my dear?” 

“To tell you that your daughter has been kicking up a storm in my stomach making it quite impossible to even enjoy a simple cup of tea.” 

“Yes well I-” Klaus trails off, an elated albeit confused grin on his face, “Did you just say daughter? How can you tell?” 

Caroline responds with a laugh, “I could tell what our sons were months before they were born. It makes since that I would be able to tell with our daughter, so it looks like in a few short months we will have a young Elizabeth Rebekah Mikaelson running around.” 

Leaning forward to kiss her Klaus murmurs “And I couldn’t be the happier for it.” 

“You’re telling me! Don’t get me wrong I love my three boys more than anything in the world but it will be nice to finally have a daughter to shake their head at the idiotic stuff the rest of our family gets up to along with me.” 

“Says the person who punched Damon Salvatore in the face.” 

“I was only doing it to protect you.” 

“If you say so.” 

Rolling her eyes in response, Caroline says “See what I mean? What are you working on anyway?” 

In an odd sense of de ja vu, Klaus sheepishly replies “A drawing.” 

“Oh?” Caroline asks with a raised eyebrow, “Can I see it?” 

Klaus’s immediate reaction is to say no as to not ruin the surprise, but the hopeful look in Caroline’s eyes is impossible to say no to, so he says “Okay, fine. You just can’t laugh because I’m still working on it.” 

When Caroline nods he pulls out the drawing and she immediately gasps, tears coming to her eyes. The drawing he is working on is a replica of the first one he gave to her but then destroyed; a sketch of the apple orchards in full bloom. Though this one has one difference; instead of being just a plain view of the orchards it has the addition of their entire family out on a picket blanket. One thing remains the same, the words: to mon chevalier stay scribbled in the top corner. 

“Oh Nik this is so beautiful. I love it, but I must ask what does mon chevalier mean? You’ve been calling me that name for years but you still haven’t told me. I think it’s time.”

Klaus lets out a long breath because deep down he knows it’s to admit what it means, “It means my- my knight in French.” When Caroline raises her eyebrow in question he explains, “It’s because how many times you’ve saved me throughout the years. To thank you for saving me in ways I didn’t even know were possible.” 

To his surprise Caroline’s only reaction to the name she has been asking him about for years is to cup his cheek with her hand, a warm smile on her face, “Oh my dear you’ve got it all wrong we saved each other.” 

In response Klaus cups Caroline’s cheeks in his hands, gazing into his beautiful wife’s eyes as he kisses her, softly whispering “I love you Caroline Elizabeth Mikaelson.” 

“Always and Forever.”