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A divorce is like an amputation: You survive it, but there's less of you.~ Margaret Atwood
Klaus maneuvered his way through the crowd, the scent of creole lingering in the air as he sipped on his morning coffee. The early sun beat down upon him and a cool breeze had him pulling his light coat tighter around him. The aftermath of Mardi Gras was always something that made Klaus shake his head. Memories consumed him of his own youth, recklessness that had him questioning his sanity when he was young.
Looking up, he could see the tall buildings made of dusty brick and covered in moss as he passed. He had always dreamed of living on Bourbon Street from the moment he moved to the city and yet the apartment he now called home had not been what he expected. Despite the location and fantastic view, the sounds of jazz and chaos could be heard throughout the night, there was an emptiness he knew would persist for some time. While he loved New Orleans and always would, he had to admit that he simply was not as young as he once was.
Klaus could not help but feel so much older than thirty-two.
As he turned the corner, heading down St. Anne’s street, he pondered on the purchase of the apartment. There were a few complications, which did not surprise him because he had almost thought it would bring her out of the woodwork. He had hoped anyway. However, that was not one of the things that held up the sale but just the typical hold ups that most new home owners faced. If anything the purchase became mundane and like everything else, he felt his heart sink into his chest when he realized just how far gone he was.
It did not take long for him to reach the iron gates that led to The Abattoir. One of the things he adored about his new apartment was the fact that it was in walking distance from the gallery. No need to worry about traffic or driving long distances. The life he had always wanted was falling into place now that the gallery had reached its six year anniversary and was slowly turning in a profit.
Pushing open the iron gates and headed towards the oak doors that lead inside the building, he noted that it was in shambles. They had a showing booked for a local artist and she was rather picky about her aesthetic, to the point that Klaus had trouble dealing with her at all, and he knew that the feeling was mutual. Thankfully, she adored his partner and insisted that all contact went through him, something Klaus was more than happy to agree to.
“One day, one day you are going to show up on time for a delivery and not leave me with this chaos.” Marcel cried, a clipboard in hand and his dark eyes narrowed. Klaus just rolled his eyes, knowing his friend well enough to know that he was not actually annoyed. In the years that they had worked together, and the ones prior where they were simply dreaming of owning their own gallery, Marcel had always been the one who enjoyed the manual labor.
“Please, I would have gotten in the way and you would have shooed me to the office.” Klaus reasoned and Marcel simply laughed, his famous grin spreading across his lips. Klaus held out the spare cup of coffee he bought for Marcel, knowing that his friend would most likely be grumpy after a long morning of unloading boxes. “Peace offering?”
“You’re lucky I like you.”
“Everyone likes me.”
“Not Davina.” Marcel laughed, tossing the clipboard onto the table, taking the coffee greedily. He gave a slight moan, closing his eyes at the taste. Marcel’s love of coffee always caused Klaus more joy than he would have liked to admit. When they had first met, Klaus learned that the best way to ensure his friend made it to one of his many jobs was to set the coffee maker to brew, the smell could make the man rise from the dead. “She is going to be here later and specifically asked if you would be around and what time she should avoid if you are.”
“Sounds like a day spent shut up in the office working on something else? Sounds wonderful.” If anything, that sounded like a more pleasant day than having to deal with another artist whose voice made Klaus’s hair stand on end. From the moment they were introduced, the pair did not click but Marcel felt sorry for the girl, and wanted to give her a chance. “And I’m sorry if I do not enjoy her art.”
“You called it primitive. Klaus, she is nineteen! She is a kid!” Marcel exclaimed, the expression that he had worn the moment the words slipped passed Klaus’s lips was back. It was a look of disbelief, embarrassment and the urge to smack him on the back of his head. “Not everyone was born to be da Vinci, okay. She has talent and it's good to build confidence.”
“She has potential for talent.” Klaus corrected, eyeing at some of the pieces that Davina had sent over and found that they were not up to his tastes. He knew good art when he saw it and while he agreed that Davina had skill, she just lacked the proper muse. A concept he could relate to, all too well. “I’m not saying to not give her a chance but she has to learn to take some criticism. That is all.”
“No one wants to hear criticism. Keep that shit to yourself. Okay?” Marcel told him and Klaus scowled but nodded. If it meant keeping the peace, he would keep his right opinions to himself. “We have a good three weeks before the showing and Davina is nervous so just, keep your cool. When her show is done and pieces are sold, you can rant about her all you want.”
“Fine. I’ll be on my best behavior.”
“Oh stop being offended.” Marcel rolled his eyes and Klaus snorted, raising his eyebrow as though the comment was ridiculous. “You are such a drama queen. You know what would help you mellow a bit-”
“Marcel-”
“Come on. It's been what? Three years?” Any part of his good mood slowly began to evaporate. His shoulders tensed and he shook his head, warning Marcel not to go down the path he was heading. Klaus was about to turn on his heels and head into his office in order to put distance between himself and this conversation that was about to happen. “Hey, man just listen. I get it takes time to get over everything but Caroline left. I know that technically you’re still married but come on, you can’t let yourself live your life this way. It is time to move on.”
“Like I’ve said before. I’m not ready.” And he wasn’t. Klaus replayed that final argument between himself and Caroline in their tiny studio apartment, wishing he had pleaded with her to keep her from walking out the door. There was an opened wound that refused to scab over when it came to Caroline, a topic Marcel knew better than to mention. Absentmindedly, he began twisting the ring on his finger, one that he had never taken off. “If the day comes that I find that I am, you’ll be the first person I tell, until then, I’m not ready to turn my back on my marriage just yet.”
“You haven’t spoken to her in years. She left and-”
“Nik!” In that moment, Klaus was unsure if he was thankful or irritated about the intrusion, either way he turned towards the sounds of clicking heels against the concrete floor to see his sister walking towards him. From the moment Rebekah walked back into his life, he found that his sister mirrored a hurricane in comparison to the young teenage girl she had been when Mikael exiled him from the family. “I had hoped to catch you before you got too busy. I need a favor.”
“Rebekah Mikaelson, as I live and breathe!” Marcel called and Rebekah focused her glare upon his friend. Marchel shot her a charming smile, one that Klaus knew worked on almost every woman he met, with the exception of his sister. She scowled at the sight of him and promptly ignored his existence.
“Do you have a minute?”
“Sure. What is it?” There was very little that Klaus found that he wouldn’t do for Rebekah. He was in a low place when on a random Tuesday, she knocked on his door with a pink duffle bag in hand, shoving it into his arms declaring that Mikael was a right bastard and she was happy to be shot of him. In truth, Klaus had very little choice but to welcome her with open arms and she was exactly what he needed at that point in his life.
“My friend, Sophie, is looking for a gift for her sister. She was hoping to get a portrait of her niece, Monique commissioned.” Klaus groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose and looked at Rebekah with exasperation. “I know. You hate doing portraits and if she asked you directly, I know you would shoot her down but please. She is really trying to make it a nice gift for her birthday.”
“Wait. Sophie Deveraux?” Marcel asked and Klaus gave a long, deep sigh when he noted Rebekah’s face went from pleading to cold. She turned, crossed her arms and focused her gaze on Marcel. Perhaps he should have intervened, pulled Rebekah away but his irritation with Marcel had not dissipated yet. Instead, he sipped his slowly cooling coffee as his eyes darted between them. “How is she?”
“Still waiting for you to call her after you slept with her and then snuck out the next morning.” Rebekah snapped, her foot beginning to tap against the floor, waiting for Marcel to appear bashful about the dalliance but if anything, Marcel rose to Rebekah’s bait and shook his head.
“No no no. That is not what happened. I took her to breakfast and she said she wasn’t looking for anything serious.” Rebkah huffed, rolling her eyes, clearly not believing a single word that he said. “And yes the last time we were together, I left before she woke up because she asked me to. If she is mourning what could have been, that's on her, not me.”
“Do you have any feeling in that thick skull of yours?” Rebekah huffed, turning away from him, her hair swaying around her shoulders as she did. “You need better friends. What do you say? Will you help her out?”
“How old is the kid? And when would she need it?”
“Fifteen and not for a few months yet. Jane-Ann’s birthday is in June.”
“Fine but please don’t make this known. I don’t paint anymore.” Rebekah smiled widely, launching herself into his arms and wrapping hers around his shoulders. Klaus gave a gentle laugh, holding his sister in his arms, thankful for her presence. He closed his eyes, embracing the feeling. No matter how exasperated she made him, he was thankful that he had at least some semblance of a family in her.
“And the muse will come back. One day, you’ll want to start painting again.”
“I hope so.” Klaus whispered in her ear, giving her a tight squeeze before pulling away. He noted that Marcel wandered back towards the boxes, taking inventory of Davina’s pieces. “Have Sophie call me. I can set something up after the showing. I can get some supplies but I make no promises on the quality, it's been awhile since I’ve painted anything.”
“Klaus that's not true-” He shot her a look, causing Rebekah to go silent. She offered him a small smile as an apology, knowing about the stack of unfinished sketches that littered the studio he had set up in his apartment. She looked down at her feet, pushing a blonde lock behind her ear and biting the bottom of her lip. “Sorry.”
“It's okay.” He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I’m going to help Marcel get some of the items together but do you want to come back for lunch?” Rebekah scowled at the thought and he could not help but roll his eyes. The lengths Rebekah went to avoid Marcel was something he found to be highly inconvenient, seeing that Marcel was his best friend. “Or we could meet somewhere. You pick. I’ll pay.”
“Oh, that is a dangerous bargain. I accept.” Rebekah laughed as she turned to leave, but Klaus noticed that she seemed to linger, biting the bottom of her lip. Klaus could see the wheels spinning behind her eyes. Klaus peered at her, waiting for her to cave. “Okay, one more thing. Have you seen Stefan around lately? Like, has he been around or-”
“Stefan? My attorney? The one who helped me purchase my apartment?”
“Yes. Him. I mean is he really just your attorney? You were very thankful for the work he did getting everything wrapped with the purchase and you even said you thought of him as a brother.” Klaus noted how Rebekah crossed her arms, tapping her fingers against her skin. While she had always been able to get away with her misdeeds as a child, Klaus always knew when Rebekah was the one behind something simply by how she would cross her arms and the movement of her fingers. “I’m just curious.”
“Curious. Right.” Klaus snorted, shaking his head. “I haven’t seen him in a few weeks. I haven’t had a need to call him.” Klaus noticed how Rebekah’s face fell, and he tilted his head, a smirk growing on his lips. “Why? Are you having a legal problem that you need help with? He specializes in real estate and family law. Are you looking to buy some property or do you have a kid that I don’t know about?”
“Don’t be an ass Nik.” She snapped, pursing her lips and Klaus could not help but laugh. His shoulders shook and Rebekah huffed, appearing offended by his cavalier manner on her inquiry. Being subtle was not something Rebekah was talented at. In the end, he knew that Rebekah had been through hell and she could do well with someone like Stefan. “If you don’t want me to call him just-”
“Niklaus Mikaelson?” A voice sounded from the doorway, a tall man wearing a uniform from the postal service looked around the room. Klaus stepped forward, raising his hand and the man approached him. “I have some certified mail for you. Just sign here please.” Klaus reached for the large envelope, signing his name on the tablet in the man’s hand. “Thank you, have a good day.”
Klaus held the manila envelope in his hand, his brow creasing at the heading on the label.
Katherine Pierce, attorney at law.
Dread filled him, staring down at the name he had not thought about in years. Taking in a long breath, Klaus ripped over the top in a rough manner, nearly tearing the documents that were inside. Pulling the papers out, he skimmed over the cover letter, one that was formal and direct, which Klaus knew was the exact opposite of Katherine’s personality. Reading the caption, Klaus nearly dropped the paperwork all together.
“Nik? What is it?” Rebekah’s worried voice reached him, and he turned to look at her. Concern was written on her face, her eyes on the paperwork in hand. She reached for it, peering down at documents, he could see that she was at a loss for words. Marcel approached, reading them over her shoulder and a dark look crossed his feathers. “What do you need? Whatever it is, just tell me.”
“I don’t know.” Klaus ran his fingers through his hair, trying to grasp what it was that he just read. With a bitter laugh, he shook himself. “I guess you’re in luck, I have to call Stefan after all.” Reaching for the paperwork again, peering at his name on the caption that was listed under hers. Caroline Mikaelson vs Niklaus Mikaelson. “After three years, she finally filed for divorce. So much for my muse coming back.”
Klaus had met Stefan Salvatore six months prior when he began searching for a home to buy. He knew that process would be messy, given that he was still technically married. At the time Stefan had urged him to seek out his estranged wife and file, but Klaus refused. He was not ready to sign those papers and part of him wondered if he ever would be. It took three days for him to get an appointment with his attorney and as he waited, Klaus stared at a blank canvas, willing the creativity to crawl from his fingertips.
Yet, nothing came.
Leaning back against the uncomfortable chair in the waiting room of the law office, he stared at the generic painting that hung on the wall. Some local artist that Klaus had met once or twice, work that was dull and lacked color. There were a thousand different things that he would have done to improve the painting but he knew that the moment he would try, his hand would freeze. All he had left was peering at a face, recreating every detail that was before him and yet, there was no life in the work. The skill was there but the talent seemed to have vanished.
“Mr. Mikaelson? Stefan will see you now.” The secretary called and Klaus stood to his feet, headed towards the open door. Behind the large oak desk, Stefan leaned against his leather chair, his hair combed perfectly and his white button down shirt missing his tie. He stood and held out his hand, one that Klaus gripped happily.
“Hey man, good to see you. Have a seat.” Stefan directed towards the chair across from him, Klaus following the direction, Stefan following his lead. “I read over the divorce paperwork and contacted attorney Peirce to enter my appearance. The paperwork is rather simple. Nothing really of note in it other than the request to dissolve the marriage.”
“Isn’t that enough?”
“Well, you have the apartment and the gallery, technically Mrs. Mikaelson would be entitled to a portion of it but it does not seem that she is asking for anything. Attorney Peirce all but said as much. Cut and dry. She wants to walk with nothing. Just a divorce.” Klaus did not say anything at first, allowing everything to settle in the pit of his stomach. “It's a good deal. Ms. Peirce stated that her client is in the city to-”
“What?” Klaus leaned forward, peering at Stefan as though he had misheard him. “Did you say that Caroline is in New Orleans?” Stefan slowly nodded, peering at Klaus with a dozen questions but waited for him to continue speaking. A thousand possibilities were playing before him but there was one strand that he clung to; something that he wasn’t willing to let go of just yet. “I want a meeting. Tell Katherine that I refuse to sign anything without having a sit-down meeting first. With all of us.”
“What are you doing Klaus?” Stefan asked, leaning forward and rested his elbows on his desk. “You’re not going to get a better deal than this. You and your wife have been separated for years. Whatever it is that you’re after, it is unlikely that you’ll get without a fight and I know attorney Pierce. She will tear your shreds given the opportunity.”
“Oh I know Katherine well.”
“Then what is this about?” Stefan paused, understanding forming on his face. He reached up and pressed his fingers to his temple as though he was massaging away a headache that was slowly forming. “You’re not going to agree are you? You’re going to fight this, aren’t you? Klaus, she could request the court for a divorce without your consent and that would screw you and it would be dragged out for months if not years. She is being kind here.”
“I don’t know what I want.” Klaus told him, the finality firm in his tone, the resolve settled and he stood. “Set the meeting up. Any time works for me. Just tell me the date and time, I will be there.” Klaus stood from his seat, and looked down at Stefan who just realized an easy case suddenly got far more complicated. “I transferred the amount of your retainer into your account and will be looking forward to hearing from you.”
Without another word, Klaus left the office clinging to a feeling that he had not felt in a very long time.
Hope.
The moment his feet touched the sidewalk of the French Quarter, Klaus began walking in the direction of his gallery. He pulled out his phone from his back pocket, scrolling until he found Rebekah’s name. The phone only rang once before she picked up. The impatience almost made him laugh, for he knew that his sister most likely was pacing back and forth, glaring at her phone and willing it to ring.
“Well? How did it go?” Rebekah asked, breathless and nervous. “What is she asking for? She isn’t coming after the gallery is she? Or your apartment? Because if she is, I’ve seen enough pictures of her to track her down and-”
“Caroline is in New Orleans.” Klaus cut her off, causing Rebekah to freeze in the middle of her tirade. “She wants nothing. Just out of the marriage. She doesn’t want the apartment or money or anything. She just wanted a divorce.” He stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and closed his eyes, taking in the city for a moment, letting the fear and pain of seeing Caroline seep into his bones. “I asked Stefan to set up a meeting. I’m not sure when but I told him that I would be available.”
“Klaus. Why do this to yourself? I looked up the divorce statute for Louisiana and if she is not requesting any property, there is no need for a hearing. You wouldn’t have to see her at all. Why?” Rebekah asked and Klaus began walking again down the street again, feeling almost lighter than he had a moment ago. “Are you thinking about trying to contest this?”
“I don’t know. I just need to know why. I need-”
“Closure. You need closure.” Rebekah told him but he did not respond, knowing that she was right. His heart still beat for Caroline and the last three years had been nothing but agony. In the back of his mind, he went over a thousand different reasons why she would have walked out, knowing that final argument wasn’t enough to end their two year marriage.
“When Alexander died, you mourned him in a way I could never understand. We were so young, teenagers but you loved him with a fierceness that I envied.” Rebekah sucked in a breath, and he knew that Alexander’s name was still a sore subject for her, a topic that was rarely discussed even after all these long years. “Before everything with Mikael went down and mom’s affair came out, him tossing me from the house, I remembered what it was like to hold you when you got the news.”
Klaus knew that the night was something Rebekah had relieved a thousand times through the years, comparing each failed relationship to the one she had with Alexander. A snowy night in Chicago filled with black ice and a tire hitting it just in the wrong way. Sixteen years old and his sister learned what it meant to love and lose, forever grieving over what could have been if he had lived.
“What does any of this have to do with your marriage, Klaus?”
“The night you showed up at my apartment, you found me delsoute and in a bad place.” Klaus told her, thinking back to the moment when he opened his apartment door to see his sister’s face, startled that he had not seen her in nearly ten years. “You returned the favor, and sat with me on my dirty kitchen floor but you said something. Do you remember what it was?”
“That we all know one epic love but sometimes that love doesn’t work out. No matter the heartbreak and grief and pain, that you should never regret any moment you had with them.” Klaus curled into a bitter smile, reaching his building and leaning against the iron gate. “Caroline is your Alexander. I get that, I do. More than you realize and if I had a second chance to be with Alex again, I would do it in a heartbeat.”
“I have to try, at least and if it fails then at least I know why.” There was a slight pain in his chest, an ache that was dull and sharp all at once. He was honest in his belief that Caroline was that one epic love that had morphed him into the man he was. No matter what happened at the end of those long three years, he could not regret Caroline for a moment. “I love you.”
“You too Nik. Call me when you know. I’ll be here.”
“I know.” Klaus hung up the phone and turned to head into his building. He ran up the old stairs that had seemed more decades than Klaus had been alive. The building held that charm that only New Orleans could provide, that same charm he fell in love with from the moment he left Chicago. It creaked and wined in the dead of night but it was more of a home than the cold townhouse he grew up in. The only thing that rivaled it was that small studio apartment he shared with Caroline during the entire length of their marriage.
“I wondered how long you would take.” Marcel’s voice sounded, pulling Klaus from his own thoughts. His friend was leaning against his door with a six pack of beer in his hand. “Figured you could use a pick me up.” He reached down and pulled a bottle out, handing it to him with a small, sad smile. “I know I’ve made my opinion on Caroline well known and it comes from a good place. I was there when she broke you.”
“I know Marcel. I never thought any different.”
“Well, whatever happens, I’m here for you man. I’ll back you with whatever it is you decide.” Klaus gave a bitter laugh and took the bottle from his hand, staring down at the label Marcel had once called pretentious. “I pulled out the fancy IPA shit for you. So why don’t we head inside and you can tell me all about the meeting with Stefan and if we need to put the gallery in my name only or if I’m going to have to accept Caroline back into the fold.”
“She doesn’t want anything apparently so no need to put it just in your name.” Klaus pulled his keys out of his pocket, feeling his phone vibrate as he did. Unlocking his door and allowing Marcel to walk in, he looked down at his phone, seeing Stefan’s name flash before him, a text message waiting for him.
Tomorrow. 11am. Attorney Pierce’s office.
Klaus found that sleep was impossible. He spent the night once again staring at a blank canvas, willing the muse to come and all but begged for the desire to create art again to consume him. It has been so long since he was able to paint anything with the passion he once had. Dozens of unfinished paintings and sketches were tossed to the wayside, never to be finished, all of them reflecting some version of Caroline. Portraits of what had once been the best thing in his life, turned sour and broken.
The bags under his eyes made him look exhausted. It was not how he wanted to appear the first time he saw Caroline again after three years but he had little choice. Sleep did not come and there was nothing he wanted more than to at least set eyes on his wife again. So he combed through his closet, searching for something more than a simple Henley and jeans, wanting to make an impression.
One would think that he was heading for a date instead of a meeting about a potential divorce.
In the back of his closet, a shirt caught his eye. Pulling it from the hanger, Klaus peered at the black suit jacket that Caroline had bought him for the opening night of the gallery. While he had other jackets that could be worn, there was something notable about it. On the breast pocket, there was a design he had been known to sketch absentmindedly when on the phone or lost in thoughts. Caroline had taken the time to learn the sketch well enough to embroider it onto the jacket, adding a personal touch to it.
Well, something came of use from my time as Miss Mystic Falls.
Klaus could almost hear her nervous laughter echoing as she gave it to him. He had not worn it since she left but holding it in his hand, Klaus knew that it was the perfect day to start. Pairing it with a nice pair of jeans, Klaus left his apartment, the walk to Katherine’s office was a bit longer than he had expected but it bought him the time to at least get his thoughts together.
“Klaus”! Stefan called, causing him to turn and look over his shoulder. His lawyer was slowly walking towards him, briefcase in hand and dressed as though he had just stepped out of court. “Good. I was hoping to be able to speak with you before we go in there.” There was a nervous tone to his voice and Klaus knew that whatever it was that Stefan was going to say, it was bound to be something he did not want to hear. “Look, my advice stands. This is a good deal. I think you should take it.”
“I’m not agreeing to anything until I speak with Caroline.” In the grand scheme of things, he did not believe that his request was unreasonable. “I’m not saying that I will contest it or anything, I just need to speak with her and know why she is coming out of the woodwork now. I know her and she wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t a reason.”
“You want a second chance. That is obvious Klaus.” Stefan stated and it was not a question. “Look, I’ve been doing this for years. Divorce is hard and it is rare that everyone gets what they want. Sometimes it is a happy ending or complete heartbreak but at the end of it, there is little you can do when one person wants out of a marriage.”
“I’m not saying that. I’m not saying that I will force her to come back to me or anything.” Klaus gave a bitter laugh and shook his head. “Like I could force Caroline to do something that she didn’t want to do. If this is what she wants and she tells me why and I can have, I don’t know, some form of closure, then I’ll sign. I just need to know why.”
“And this is why I’ll never get married.” Stefan muttered, shaking his head. Klaus heard Stefan’s phone buzz and watched as he pulled it out of his jacket pocket. He clicked it off and nodded towards the front door of the office building. “Alright, let's get this over with. Just do me a favor and remain cordial. It does no one any good to lash out at the other party.”
Klaus did not reply, replaying the final argument that caused Caroline to walk out the door over and over in his mind. He followed Stefan into the building, his hands fisted in his jeans as he peered around the lobby, eagerly searching for her. Stefan’s voice faded into the background, only moving when he realized he was standing alone in the lobby. Shaking himself, he moved at a brisk pace to catch up and step into the conference room, his breath catching in his throat when he saw her.
Caroline stood when he came through the door and Klaus could not help but think how well she looked. Her hair was shorter than it had been before, hanging just below her chin. She seemed thinner but still as beautiful as he remembered. She was in a black dress with a pencil skirt and elbow length sleeves. He had never seen that dress before and it reminded him of something she would have worn to a funeral. The color did not suit her, for Caroline he knew wore sundresses and sandals.
“Klaus.” Caroline’s voice was low, almost like a whisper. It reminded him of all the times they laid in bed, and the sweet nothings in the dead of night after they made love. Yet, there was no happiness written in her expression, only mourning. She raised arms, crossing them over herself as she studied him. He watched as her eyes lingered on the embroidery on his coat and for a moment, he thought he saw her eyes water. After a few blinks, the moment was gone. “You kept the shirt and you still wear your ring.”
“Of course I do.”
“Well there is no need for introductions, I think we should just get started.” Klaus’s gaze broke away from Caroline and focused on Katherine, who he was noticing for the first time. Her long brown hair was pulled back and she looked as terrifying as he remembered. Her dark eyes were narrowed, peering at Klaus with contempt and he was reminded of all the times she made him promise to never break Caroline’s heart. “Let us have a seat.”
“Come on.” Stefan gripped Klaus’s shoulder gently and the four of them sat down at the long conference table. Caroline took a seat across from Klaus, unable to meet his gaze again but he found that he could not look away from her. She reached up and pushed her hair behind her ear, something he knew she did when she was nervous.
“Now. I know you’ve read over my proposal for the divorce and I think our offer is generous. Mr. Mikaelson-” Klaus rolled his eyes at her use of Mr. Mikaelson as though he had not seen Katherine puke her guts out during a hangover in the past. Katherine noticed and narrowed her own eyes at him but Klaus did not miss how Caroline fought back an amused smile. “ Mr. Mikaleson will keep his assets as will my client. There is no need for alimony on either side and they both can walk away from this marriage with an equal start.”
“No.”
“Klaus, listen to her-”
“Not until I get an answer on why now.” Klaus cut Stefan off, looking directly at Caroline, waiting for her to speak. She met his gaze and he could see the thousand thoughts racing through her mind. The heartbreak was obvious and written plainly on her face, telling him that this wasn’t any easier for her than it was him. “You left and never came back. Why?”
“You know why Klaus. You were there.” Caroline stated, a bitter laugh in her voice and when she realized that he was not going to answer, she trailed on. “We could barely make ends meet. I felt suffocated and I was out of work for months. You were gone all the time, working on the gallery and everywhere I turned-” She stopped, shaking her head and leaning against the back of her chair. “It doesn’t matter now. Sign the papers Klaus.”
“Of course it matters!” Klaus cried, looking at her with wide eyes. “I begged you to stay! You’re the one who insisted on going to see your mom and then never came back. You just left and never came back. ” The rage and pain that he had been holding onto for the last three years was coming back to the surface. His fingers began tapping against the top of the table, anger consuming him. “And if money was the issue, must say you look like you’ve been living comfortably off daddy’s credit card.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.” Caroline snapped, hurt flashing across her face and Klaus felt a stab of guilt consume him. Tears pooled in her eyes and the apology was on his lips, wishing he could take the words back but found that silence was easier.
“If you’re not willing to sign, I am more than happy to take this to court-
“Katherine, I said no.” Caroline told her in a firm voice, causing Katherine’s lips to purse. It appeared that Klaus was not the only client who was giving their attorneys a headache. In the back of his mind, Klaus wondered what advice she would provide that Caroline would have rejected, most likely to take him for everything he had but no matter how angry she was with him, he knew Caroline was not cruel.
“I want to talk to my wife. Alone.” Klaus said, turning to look at Stefan, who appeared weary. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he stood from the table, waiting for Katherine to follow him. The latter did not move, but instead fixed Klaus with a glare that went far beyond professional standards. He was not surprised, nor was he surprised that Caroline ran to her best friend for help with the divorce.
Katherine did not move until Caroline gave her a small nod. She stood from her seat, refusing to look away from Klaus. He could only imagine the ways she was imagining to ruin him, for if anyone was capable of destroying a man it would be Katherine Pierce. Her loyalty to Caroline was the only redeeming quality he had found in her, a stalemate that they shared in common that seemed to crumble when Caroline left him.
“Come on Stefan. Let us wait outside. We can compare hair-care products.`` Katherine stated, turning away from the table, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor of the office. Neither spoke as both Katherine and Stefan left the room, the door shutting behind them with a tight snap. The air grew cold and it took Klaus a moment to peek up at Caroline, who was peering at her nails that he noted were cut short but seemed well maintained.
“I’m sorry-”
“Don’t apologize-”
“No. I need to. I know the relationship between you and your dad is complicated at best and that comment was uncalled for. So, I’m sorry.” Klaus offered and Caroline looked at him, remaining silent as though she did not know what to say. He knew her well enough to know that she was holding back tears, and he had always hated to see her cry, even now. “How are you? Really?”
“I’ve been better.” He could see that it was possibly the most honest thing she had said since they had sat down with one another. Klaus itched to reach across the table, to take her hand into his but curled them instead, fighting back the desire because he was not sure it would be welcome. “If you want an answer so badly on why I left, why did you never come after me? You knew where I was. You could have-”
“Caroline, I did. You know that.” She appeared startled, her expression turning from mournful to confused. Klaus leaned forward, resting his elbows against the table. “I spent the last hundred dollars in our account on a train ticket to Virginia. I told you I was coming but you never responded to the message. I just assumed you were still mad but then you had your father meet me at the train station.”
“What?”
“Don’t play dumb Caroline. You had him hand me your ring and tell me that it was over. The least you could have done was-” Caroline started laughing, cutting him off but Klaus could tell there was no amusement in the chuckle. Tears began to slowly fall down her cheeks and she shook her head. Her fingers went to her lips, touching them gently and an expression of hurt and anger consumed her.
“Bastard.” Caroline stood quickly and walked from the table, her hands balling into fists. Klaus was about to retort in outrage but Caroline shook her head. “Not you. My father. Always insisintng in having his own damn way, fuck what anyone else wanted.'' She turned to look out the window, peering down at the city. She reached out and touched the glass, her expression had gone cold in her reflection. “Doesn’t matter anyway. What's done is done. Sign the papers Klaus.”
“Not until-”
“I can’t do this now. Just sign the papers and we both can move on.” Before Klaus could argue, Caroline turned and headed towards the door. He called out after her but she did not stop. Part of him wanted to run after her, force her to talk to him but he knew that would not get him anywhere. As the door opened, he noted the surprised look on both Stefan and Katherines’ faces as Caroline stormed past them.
All Klaus could do was place his face in his hands, wishing that he could just understand what was going through his wife’s mind.
“Wait so she just up and left the room?” Rebekah asked that night, biting into a slice of pizza she had shown up with that night. “She wouldn’t say anything at all? Nothing?” Klaus shook his head, staring into his wine glass, trying to make sense of the day but found that he couldn’t. “Look, I know you’re looking for closure or a second chance or something but from the sound of it, Caroline is shutting you out.”
“Thank you Sherlock, I figured that much out.” Rebekah rolled her eyes and leaned back against the chair. She lifted her feet and rested them on his lap, his hand automatically going to her ankle and pushing them off his lap; resulting in her kicking him gently. “I know her. She isn’t this cold hearted bitch that you have built up in your head. I’m missing something.”
“Obviously.” Rebekah’s face wrinkled in disgust and she reached for her wine, taking a long drink of it. “I cannot believe I’m about to say this but maybe Marcel is right. Go out and have some fun. Meet some random girl and bring her home. I cannot believe I just said that.” She shuttered dramatically, causing him to roll his eyes at her. “But you need to move one from her and maybe-”
“Rebekah. Don’t. I meant it.”
“Alright. Fine. I’ll never suggest it again. Trust me, that was more painful for me than it was for you.” Rebekah shuttered again, making fake gagging noises into her wine. She reached across the counter and grabbed another slice of pizza. “God, I just had a flashback of Kol and his never ending parade of women in and out of his apartment.”
“Have you heard from them?” Klaus asked gently, and he noticed how Rebekah’s back tensed. Their family was not something they discussed often and while their silence still hurts, he would forever be grateful that his sister had become the rock he had needed in the worst time of his life. He knew that she was still in contact with both Kol and Elijah even though she had cut off their parents completely. “It's okay to tell me if you have.”
“Yeah. I spoke with Elijah the other day.” She took a long sip of her wine before turning to look at him. She reached out and took his hand into hers. “He asked about you, like always. I didn’t tell him anything but I know he still cares. He actually thanked me for letting him know that you were okay. If you wanted to call-”
“They need to be the one to reach out.” Klaus told her and Rebekah did not fight it, knowing that he was right. The history with their family was muddy and complicated. While deep down he knew that neither Elijah nor Kol felt as Mikael and Esther did about him, their never ending silence was hurtful, even if he knew the reason why. “I won’t make their lives more complicated by reappearing in them.”
“Elijah said that Mikael is thinking of retiring in a few years and the company will go to him. Maybe then, when neither of them are reliant on Mikael they can show up on your doorstep.”
“With a bright pink duffle bag that they shove into my arms.” Klaus gave her a small smile that had her laughing. “Well, I suppose Elijah is more likely to rent out an apartment and show up in a town car but Kol, most definitely would have a pink duffle bag. Whether it is his is another question.”
“Oh god. Probably!” Rebekah doubled over in laughter, holding her middle. She rested her head against his shoulder and he wrapped his arms around her. She let a large yawn and slowly closed her eyes. Klaus let out a small smirk at the sight. “I think I’m going to crash in your spare room. I’m getting tired.”
“Feel free. You know you’re always welcome.” With a quick kiss on the top of her head, Klaus watched as Rebekah slowly made her way into the spare room, leaving the pizza and wine glasses for Klaus to clean up. Hearing the shower turn on, Klaus cleaned up the kitchen before heading into his studio. He knew he would not see Rebekah for the rest of the night, for she always grew tired after having a glass or two of wine.
He reached down to pick up the empty sketchbook. Staring at it, willing the muse to come. Gripping the charcoal in his hand, he reached up and began to idly sketch the familiar face, the face that has haunted him for years. Taking a deep breath, he let his fingers work. It wasn’t perfect but he could see the tears in her eyes and the heartbreak that was written on her face.
It was mournful but it was the best he had done in a long while.
“Well, Joshua, I must say you have talent.” Klaus told the young artist he sat across from four days later. Peering at the photographs before him. He flipped through the album, noting how creative and graceful the shots were. In the past few years, Klaus had always found something wrong in the art that was presented but he knew that he was feeling more charitable towards the photographer in front of him. “I’m not an expert on photography but these shots are moving. I can see the story you’re trying to tell.”
“Really?” Joshua’s dark eyebrows perked up, peering down at the photobook in hand. “I have to admit. I was nervous. I’ve heard that you’re kind of a snob when it comes to art-” He paused, his eyes going wide and Klaus could see the panic written on his face, it almost made him want to laugh. “I mean, I’ve heard that you have impeccable taste and high standards.”
“Nice save.” Klaus shook his head, shutting the book. He reached for his coffee, peering around the busy shop and noting that the typical Saturday afternoon rush seemed to have passed. “While I cannot make any promises, I will show the portfolio to my partner. He is busy preparing for another showing but I’m sure he will enjoy these.” Unable to stop himself, Klaus smirked into the cup and peered directly into Joshua’s eyes. “For Marcel is not, what did you say? Oh yes. A snob.”
“Mr. Mikaelson, I’m so-”
“Don’t apologize. It's fine and I could honestly care less for your opinion.” Klaus told him and Joshua winced slightly, causing Klaus to roll his eyes. “You have talent. That is what I care about and I know Marcel will see that as well, but let me give you a bit of advice. You need to get a bit of a thicker skin. Don’t be afraid to call someone a snob when they are being one.”
“Even you?”
“Especially him.” Both Klaus and Joshua turned to see Caroline standing there with two coffee mugs in her hand. Klaus sucked a breath, his eyes taking her in. She was dressed down in comparison to the other day. She was in jeans, boots and a light sweater. Her make-up was minimal, more natural and Klaus had to admit she looked more like herself and less like Katherine dressed her. “I’m sorry to interrupt but I was hoping I could buy you a cup and maybe we could chat?”
“Joshua, I’ll make sure that Marcel takes a look at these. Thank you for coming.” It was a clear dismissal, one the young man understood and stood from his seat. He nodded towards Caroline and Klaus could see him point at her back and nod, giving Klaus a thumbs up as though he approved, Klaus could not help but roll his eyes at the sight.
Caroline sat down in the now vacant seat, setting the coffee in front of him. Despite still having a half full cup, he reached for the new cup and brought it to his lips, taking what he knew was a peace offering. Tasting the coffee, the bitterness mingled with slight sweetness and lack of cream made him smirk. After all this time, she still remembered his coffee order. If he could guess, there would be a sugary latte in hers and he was tempted to reach across to taste, an old habit he found himself wanting to fall back into.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt your work but I saw you in the window and figured that instead of having Katherine another meeting, now was as good of a time as any.” Klaus nodded, watching as she peered down into her coffee, staring at the foam that touched the rim. “I’m surprised that you still come here. Seeing that-”
“Its where we met.” Klaus finished for her and she nodded. “It's the only reason I come here because I’ll be honest, the coffee has gone down hill in the last few years but…” He trailed off, wondering how open he wanted to be. There was a part of him that wanted to keep his guard up, to hold her at arm's length while the more dominant part wanted to reach out and just hold her. “It reminded me of you, a connection of some sort.”
“Klaus.” The tears in her eyes were back and he watched as she fought them, pushing them back, taking a long sip of her coffee. He allowed her the moment of silence, to gather her thoughts and to find the words that she wanted to say next. “I know I owe you an apology, for the other day. I thought I was ready to face you but then I realized that there was so much neither of us knew.”
“What do you mean?”
“I didn’t tell my dad to meet you at the train station. I didn't tell him to give you my ring back.” Klaus’s brow creased in confusion, staring at her in bewilderment. “When I arrived to see my mom, he called. He found out that I was in Mystic Falls and wanted to have lunch. Despite everything telling me not to, I went. The entire lunch he was telling to leave you, as always, but I refused.”
“I can’t say I’m surprised. He always did hate me.” Klaus snorted, nothing coming as a surprise. From the moment Caroline brought Klaus home, showing up a little over a month after meeting him with a wedding ring on her finger, Bill Forbes hated him. For old southern money was too good for a starving artist. “He cut you off the moment he learned you married me.”
“Well, like I said. Bastard.” She reached up and ran her fingers through her hair. “Anyway, I had planned on catching a train back to New Orleans by the end of the week but I panicked.” She paused, biting the bottom of her lip, peering at him with nervous eyes. “I realized I lost my ring and I searched for it but it was gone.”
“ You lost it!”
“I know. Please, I have been beating myself up about that for the last three years.” Klaus looked at her with an unreadable expression on his face, shocked at the carelessness that was not typical for Caroline. “You always scolded me for taking it off when I showered or used the bathroom and when you told me that you came after me, that my dad gave you my ring. Well, the pieces fell into place. I probably took the ring off at lunch and went to the bathroom.” She looked down at her naked ring finger, moving it as though she expected a ring to be there. “It would have been easy for him to take it.”
“You’re telling me that Bill stole your ring and lied to me?” Klaus asked, the back of his mind wanting to doubt her story but he knew when Caroline was lying. She was not good at it and all he could see was honesty written on her face. He also knew Bill, and just how convening he could be, especially in his hatred towards him. “And you were going to come home?”
“Yeah, he did and probably deleted the text off my phone before I could see it. I was getting ready to come home, but then you mailed me my clothes and a few other things, I took that as where you stood. I was trying to build the courage to face you after leaving and losing my ring felt like an omen. Getting all my belongings in the mail just made me believe that you didn’t want me anymore.”
“I always wanted you Caroline. I still do.”
“Don’t say that.”
“Why now? Why file now? It's been three years.” The question that had been weighing in the back of his mind that he tried not to dwell on. His heart grew cold and fear consumed him, but he had to know. He looked at her blue eyes, noting the same sadness that he saw at Katherine’s office peering back at him. “Is there someone else? Have you-”
“No. Nothing like that. There hasn’t been-” Caroline rushed out, stopping herself and allowed a bitter laugh to escape. She shook her head, her blonde locks danced around her face. Klaus’s resolve broke and he reached across the table, to grip her hand. He thought she would pull away but she didn’t, instead she looked down at their linked hands with obvious longing. “No. I haven’t been with anyone else. You’ve been my last.”
“Mine too.” Klaus admitted, realizing that there was a real chance to make this right. Seeing her before him, her guard dropped and the honesty pouring out made him feel hope for the first time in a long while. “Is it Bill? Is he behind you filing for divorce?”
“No. Yes. Well, not really.” Klaus blinked, confused and she squeezed his hand. “He is dead.”
“What? Caroline I’m sorry-”
“Don’t apologize. I made peace with the loss a long time ago. Not that long after he died to be honest. We were never close, you know that but after that lunch, I hadn’t spoken to him since. It was maybe eight months after that. He got hit by a drunk driver.” Klaus’s eyes grew wide and his jaw slacked. The shock was obvious. He had never imagined that Bill Forbes was dead, if anything he believed such cruelty would live forever. “Big news around town you know. Raddled everyone. Bill Forbes, an upstanding member of society and that old family name, was gone in an instant.”
“What happened? The estate-” Klaus began but his phone began to buzz and he looked down to see Marcel’s name flashing on the screen. Groaning, he pinched the bridge of his nose and silently cursed. “We have a showing for an artist coming up and the gallery is busy. Marcel needs me back but I want to continue this conversation.”
“You have to work, Klaus. I get it and it's okay. You have to go.” Caroline gave his hand a squeeze before pulling it away. The loss of contact felt like a fresh stab to his chest. She stood, holding her coffee in her hand and looked down at him. “I want you to know that I am so proud of you. No matter what happened in the past, where I was emotionally and everything else doesn’t stop me from being so happy at how successful you’ve become. It's all I ever wanted for you.”
“Thank you.” Klaus breathed, as he put the portfolio into his bag before standing. He could not take his eyes off her, absentmindedly reaching out and placed his hand on the small of her back. Caroline did not move away from him, instead a small smile grew on her lips, allowing his hand to linger as they moved toward the door. When they stepped out into the breezy March air, he turned to stop her from walking down the street. “Have dinner with me. Tonight. Come to the apartment and I’ll cook something. We can finish talking then.”
“You always were a better cook than me.” She gave a small laugh and the sound made him smile. It was perhaps the widest he had smiled in a long while. Their eyes locked with one another, neither one wanting to look away. “Okay. I’ll see you tonight. How does seven sound?”
“Perfect. Do you need-”
“No. I know the address.” She peered bashfully, and looked down at her mug. “When I got the paperwork for it a few months back, when you needed me to sign off on the deed, I may have looked up the address on zillow.” Klaus could not help but laugh, tossing her a shy look as he waited for her judgment. “I like it. It's cute. That view, though. Stunning. Good for your art.”
“Yeah. It is.” Unable to help himself, Klaus leaned in and pressed a kiss to her cheek, allowing his lips to linger longer than he should have. He could feel her breath on the side of his cheek and he could hear the sharp intake. “I’ll see you tonight Sweetheart.”
As he walked down the street, Klaus could not help but feel the urge to sketch her holding a coffee mug and peering over her shoulder as she walked away. He didn’t even realize he left his coffee on the table back at the shop, his mind focusing on the burst of creativity that he had been missing.
Klaus had never felt more nervous than he had as he prepped for dinner that night. Marcel all but kicked him out of the gallery early, annoyed at his distracted mind. Davina scowled at him when he made a comment on one of her paintings, almost complimenting it but not really seeing it. They all knew that he was in the way, everyone was relieved when he left. Even if it was an artist he liked, Klaus knew that his heart was not in that showing as it had been for others.
It was focused on the dinner he was preparing.
Rebekah had picked up the ingredients, meeting him at the door and giving him a worried glance. She did not linger, knowing that he needed the time to gather his courage but the light hug she gave him and the whispered luck to provide, told him that no matter what happened, she would always be on his side.
With the chicken in the oven and the fresh noodles in their nest of flour, he prepped the salad, his eyes drifting towards the closed studio door where he knew his sketchbook waited. It had been so long since he felt the urge to draw anything, the impulse that once consumed him slowly coming back.
He could not help but laugh when there was a soft knock on his door fifteen minutes before he expected her. She was always early to everything and he found that he was not surprised to know that she would be early to see him. Setting down the knife onto the cutting board, Klaus moved to answer the door, revealing Caroline standing behind it. The sight made his heart stop. It was obvious that she made an effort in her appearance, her hair slightly curled and she wore her favorite yellow sundress, one he had seen a thousand times. Her smile was wide and happy, mixed with a nervousness that he knew fueled her bravery.
“Hey.” She greeted and Klaus stepped aside, allowing her to come in. He watched as she looked around, peering at the artwork that hung on the walls, the same paintings he had hung in the small studio they had shared. She reached out and touched the back of the couch, running her hands on the back of it as she peered out the window. “I really like this view.”
“It was the selling point to be honest.” Klaus added as he put his hands into his pockets and took a step towards her. She was still peering around the room, taking in each of the artwork and touching the knit knacks that he had placed on the bookshelves. He could see the almost mournful look on her face, the sight making his heart beat wildly as he tried to understand what the meaning of it could be.
“Who is she?” Caroline asked, seeing a photo of Rebekah hanging on the wall next to a few other photos, hers included. Klaus could not help but smirk, hearing the jealousy in her tone, and moved to stand behind her, waiting for her to put the pieces together. He knew that she had looked through all of his siblings' social media when they had been together, even if she never officially met them. “Wait. Is that who I think it is?”
“Rebekah. Yeah.” Caroline turned around, looking at him with wide eyes, the obvious question in her eyes. Klaus reached up and rubbed the back of his neck, wondering how he could even begin to explain his sister. “A few months after you….after everything went south, she showed up on my doorstep. She cut Mikael off and has been in New Orleans since. Elijah and Kol are still in Chicago but with the company I’m not surprised.”
“Oh my god that is….I am so happy for you.” Without thinking, Caroline launched herself into his arms, wrapping hers around his shoulders and pulled him close. The movement was shocking, sending a fresh thrill through him. Taking a deep breath, he smelled the familiar scent of her shampoo mixed with the perfume she still used. Memories of waking up to that smell on her pillow every morning made him never want to let go of her again. “I know how much it hurt you to be exiled from them and to know that she came to you, it makes me so happy.”
“She has been my rock. I think you would like her.” He pulled back slightly but did not let go of her. Their faces were inches away from the other, their eyes lingering on one another. Klaus could feel her warm breath on his lips and he leaned in, anticipating to feel what it would be like to kiss her after so long. Caroline tilted her head and leaned forward…
Beep. Beep.
They both jumped apart, putting a few feet between them. Their heartbeats raging and they shot shy looks towards one another. Klaus gave a slight cough, turning to look at his kitchen over his shoulder. With an awkward hand motion, he pointed towards the kitchen and Caroline nodded. Neither spoke as they made their way into the kitchen, Caroline sitting on the barstool, watching as Klaus pulled the chicken out of the oven.
“Are you making chicken alfredo?” Caroline asked, peering at the ingredients on the counter. Her eyes shined brightly and Klaus noted the excitement on her face. She peered into the empty pot that he would make the sauce with and for a moment, he remembered how she would lean over the counter, watching as he made dinner on that small gas stove when they had been together.
“Well, it is your favorite.” Klaus shrugged, holding her gaze and noting how the expression softened. Even after the years they had been apart, Klaus still felt that connection they had shared from the moment they had met. They could pass a night in comfortable silence but they always were in tune with the other and knowing that part of their relationship was still intact made his resolve to not give up on what they had all the stronger. “There is a wine fridge over there. I made sure there was a pinot grigio for you.”
“Thank you.” Caroline slid off the stool and walked towards the fridge, pulling the wine out. She snorted at the cheap bottle, the one she had been fond of and drank before. Opening the twist top, she poured the wine into the two glasses on the counter as Klaus began making the sauce. Handing him his glass, she moved to the salad and began finishing what he had started.
They worked in comfortable silence, sharing small touches and glances that radiated between them. Klaus could not help but to reach out and touch the small of her back as he passed or how her fingers lingered on his forearm. It was tempting for him to pull her into his arms, press a small kiss on the top of her head and spin her around like they were dancing.
But he didn’t.
When dinner was done, and they sat across from one another, Klaus watched as Caroline moaned as she bit into her pasta. The sound set a shock to his core, a fresh wave of desire that he had not felt in three years. He reached across the table and gripped her hand, enjoying the fact that she did not pull away. Noticing his gaze, Caroline laughed lightly, a fresh blush consumed her cheeks. It would have been easy to allow the moment to continue, to ignore the reason for her visit but they both knew that there was so much to discuss.
“So.” Klaus breached, watching how Caroline’s face fell slightly. She sat her glass down upon the table, and turned to look out the window; taking in the view of New Orleans as though it was going to be her last. “That conversation. I suppose we should pick it up again.”
“Yeah. We should.” Pulling her hand out of his grip, leaning back against her chair, she lifted her head to peer into his eyes. “I suppose, god I don’t even know where to start.” She bit her lower lip and ran her fingers through her hair, nervousness evident on her face. “It's been a really shitty three years and I wanted to call you every day.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because I thought you didn’t want me. When you sent me my clothes I just assumed that you were done.” Klaus let out a low breath, silently cursing Bill Forbes. His hatred for his father-in-law grew deeper. “If my dad was still alive, I would be calling him and cursing him out but honestly, I’m happier he is dead.”
“So, if I didn’t mail you your stuff, you would have come home?” Klaus asked but Caroline hesitated. He froze, wondering what it was that would make her pause, to contemplate the opposite of what he wanted. “Caroline?”
“I wanted to come home but then something happened.” Caroline looked at him and he saw her eyes growing wet. “Mom had been seeing a doctor. She didn’t tell me because she knew I was having a hard time being out of work and that I was lonely. She didn’t want to worry me but two days after I got your package, she received a call from her doctor. It wasn’t good news.”
“Liz? Is she-”
“She is okay. Now anyway. But she had cancer and for awhile it was rough.” Without thinking, Klaus reached for her hand again, holding it tightly and refusing to let go. While Bill had always hated him, Liz had treated him like a son. Hearing that she was sick was heartbreaking, especially the silent tears that fell down Caroline’s cheeks. “Months of chemo and procedures, took up all my energy. She couldn’t work and I got a job at the Mystic Falls Gazette just to make ends meet, which I hate by the way. Even though I wanted to come home, I felt like I couldn’t.”
“Because Liz needed you.” Klaus said and any resentment he felt at her abandonment vanished. Klaus knew how much Liz meant to her, the one parent she had that she could count on and if he was honest, he would have packed her bags for her so she could be by her mother's side. “I would have understood Caroline. If you told me-”
“You would have dropped everything Klaus, even if you were mad at me. You would have dropped everything and would have come to help. At the time, that thought was more painful. Seeing you help my mom only knowing that whatever we had was done, I couldn’t face that along with being terrified that I was going to lose my mom, I wasn’t strong enough to face that.”
“I know.” Klaus nodded, understanding her reasoning even though it was wrong. Without Bill’s interference, there was a chance that he wouldn’t have the gallery or the apartment because he would have left everything behind to be with Caroline, but he would have given it all up if it meant having those three years with Caroline, even if they would be painful. “What about Bill? He wouldn’t help you at all? I know they were on bad terms but-”
“Bad terms' is putting it mildly. They hated one another.” Caroline snorted and rolled her eyes. “Please, when she was diagnosed, the asshole all but laughed so even asking for help, whether it be with her care or financially, would have been a fool's errand.” She scowled and Klaus stomach turned, his opinion of the man stooping lower than he thought possible. “But, when he died mom did say that at least she outlived him.”
“Good for her.”
“Given that he left her with nothing in their divorce, that's what I said.” Caroline began rubbing her thumb over Klaus’s knuckles, looking down at their linked hands and parted her lips. “She always said that I was a fool for leaving you. Reminded me of that constantly. She still has a photo of you hanging in her living room. The one we took when I brought you home for the first time and had to break the news that I married a man I knew for a month.”
“We were so good together.” Klaus whispered, thinking back upon the whirlwind romance that changed his life. Their marriage was so fast but it lasted years and his love for her only deepened every day since. “I’ve missed you Caroline and hearing that you would have come home makes me want to give this a shot. To give us a shot. I want a second chance because I never stopped loving you.”
“I want that too.” She picked up his hand and pressed it to her lips, he could feel her tears on his skin as they landed on his knuckles. He reached across the table with his other and whipped the tears from her cheeks. “I don’t want a divorce but I need one.”
“What?”
“When mom got sick she had to stop working.” Kaus nodded, knowing that cancer was rough and most likely ripped through her but he knew Liz. Caroline got her strength from her mother and there was very little that would keep his mother-in-law down for long. “She lost her insurance and ate through her retirement quickly and if it was for anyone else, I wouldn’t be asking this of you.”
“I’m not understanding.”
“When dad died, we had the reading of the will. He left everything to the historical society. The estate went right into Carol Lockwood’s hands and she sold off everything. I had to watch as the house was auctioned off and watched as every heirloom and everything that had belonged to my family be ripped away from me simply because I wouldn’t leave you.”
“That bastard.” Klaus whispered, knowing that essentially seeing her childhood be torn to pieces when she was already going through the worst time of her life. “You said earlier that he died in a car accident?” Caroline nodded, confirming his question. “So he would have already had his will drawn up before then.”
“Oh yeah, he planned everything in advance but there is more.” It took everything he had in him not to groan, fearful of what else Bill could be capable of. “He didn’t leave me with nothing. There is a trust fund in my name and there is an ungodly amount of money in it, but there is a condition. I cannot access it until-”
“You divorce me.” Klaus said and his insides went cold. He gripped her hand tighter, refusing to let go because if he did, then the one thing he wanted more than anything would slip through his fingers. “Three years and you filed now because you want the trust fund to be released to you. You want the money.”
“I don’t want the money, Klaus. I let it sit for two years with no intention of ever touching it but then the bills began piling up. My job at the gazette can’t cover everything. Mom is drowning in medical debt and we are behind on the taxes on the house.” She closed her eyes for a moment only to open them again, a pleading look in her eyes. “The house will go up for sale in the next six months if I can’t come up with the money for the back taxes and you know how much mom loves that house.”
“It was the one thing she bought herself when she had enough money after her divorce.” Klaus could see just how proud Liz was of that house. It was small, two bedrooms and only one floor, the complete opposite of the massive plantation she had lived in when she was married. “You plan on using the money to save your mother’s house.”
“Yes.” Klaus nodded, the dread settling in him. “If we sign the papers and neither one of us contest it, the divorce will be processed in three months and I will have the money in my hands before the tax sale. I can pay off the taxes, prevent mom from going bankrupt and just make everything better.”
“Except our marriage.”
“Yeah, Except for our marriage.”
Klaus was silent, unsure of what he wanted to do. He reached for his glass, letting the bitter wine flow over his tongue without really tasting it. Caroline did not say anything else, allowing his mind to ponder on her reasoning. He couldn’t hate her. Caroline was selfless and if there was a way to help those she loved, she would do anything to make it possible, even if it meant sacrificing what she wanted in the process.
“I don’t have an answer right now. I need to think. It is a lot to think about” Caroline nodded, not even protesting his desire to wait. Her shoulders relaxed and he realized that they had been tense, waiting for his refusal only to be relieved that he didn’t turn her away. “But I want one thing. Just one.”
“What?”
“Tonight. Give me tonight.” Klaus pleaded, wanting one last chance to be with the love of his life before he contemplated letting her go. Knowing that this was not something she wanted for herself, that she would give anything she had to make it work if her hands had not been tied by the will of her father. “Give me one more night with the woman I love. I want one more memory of what it was like to have you in my arms, a moment to relish in what we once had.”
Caroline did not answer right away, peering at him through glassy eyes. He hated seeing her cry and in the last few days he had seen her cry more than he had during the time of their marriage, minus the few weeks when Caroline had felt slipped into the spirling depression that ripped them apart. He could see remnants of that woman who walked out the door but behind her blue eyes, the one he married was there as well, stronger and determined to make right what she could.
“Okay.” It was a soft whisper, a small nod accompanying it but Klaus could see the heartache behind her eyes. Much like she had done moments before, Klaus brought her fingers up to his lips and pressed a kiss to them before letting them go. He reached for his phone, scrolling through his playlist until he found the one song he equally sought out and avoided at all cost. When the opening guitar began to play, Caroline’s eyes grew wide. “Is this-”
“The song we danced to in that dingy bar after our courthouse wedding? Yeah. It is.” Klaus stood from his seat and held out his hand to her. She looked at it and there were a mixture of emotions playing on her face but he knew she was remembering that day, a day where they were both so equally happy and drunk on their feelings for one another. Without another thought, Caroline slipped her hand into his, much like she had done that day.
Klaus pulled her to her feet and placed his hand on her waist. They locked their fingers together and Caroline laid her head against his chest, and he knew she could the pounding of his heart. He pressed a kiss to her head, savoring the moment of holding her close. They swayed together and Klaus closed his eyes, pretending that for a moment they were back at that bar, not caring about those around them. Klaus knew his own heart and no matter what decision he came to, he knew that he would always love her.
That was something that was embedded onto his heart and could not be erased.
“I’ve missed you. So much.” Caroline whispered, lifted her head to look at him and peered into his eyes. She dropped his hand, moving to cup his cheek and dragging her thumb across his cheekbone. “Tonight, I just want to forget the past. Forget the last three years and just let you be my husband.” Klaus leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers but never taking his eyes off her. “Because I still love you.”
Klaus never felt himself break as hard as he did when he heard those words. The tears burned in his eyes as he leaned forward, pressing a scorching kiss to her lips. The saltiness of their tears mingled together as they kissed. Caroline wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pressing herself closer to him. Klaus held her close, falling deeply into the kiss and allowed himself to forget for a moment.
When they broke apart, Klaus simply held her close, refusing to let go of her and willed time to move slowly. He pressed a kiss to her shoulder and buried his face into her neck, the tears falling freely and he knew that she could feel them on her skin. She kissed the small space just behind his ear, offering the only source of comfort she could.
“I love you.” His voice was hoarse and raw, broken in the way it had been the night she walked out the door. He knew that there were cracks in the foundation of their marriage but he wanted nothing more to mend them, to fix what was broken because he knew that he would love her until the day he died.
“Then show me.” She whispered into his ear and Klaus pulled back, peering down at her. Much like him, she was openly crying and for a moment Klaus hated himself for being the one who caused those tears. She touched his cheek again and he turned his head slightly in order to kiss her palm. “We have tonight. Tonight it is just us and there is nothing separating us. So, I want to show you how much I still love you.”
Peering into her face, studying her expression and ensured that this was something she indeed wanted. When he found not an ounce of wavering, he pressed his lips to hers again, the kiss an echo of the burning he had held onto the last three years. He reached down and lifted her from the ground. Caroline jumped, wrapping her legs around his waist. Without breaking the kiss, Klaus carried her towards his bedroom.
He pressed her into the door, their lips still locked together. Caroline weaved her fingers through his hair, her nails digging into his scalp. He fumbled with the knob, nearly dropping her as he opened the door. His bed was not far and he laid her down upon it, her blonde hair spread across his dark blue comforter. He took in the sight before him in the dimmed lighting, committing it to memory, realizing that it was an image he would immortalize upon his canvas.
Caroline reached up and pushed a small curl that fell into his eyes behind his ear. The tips of her fingers tracing his forehead, trailing down his nose and then his dimples before ending up on his lips. He kissed the tips of her fingers before leaning forward and kissing her on the lips gently. The kiss was soft, longing and filled with wanting.
When he broke the kiss, he trailed a series of gentle ones down her jawline. His fingers pushed her cardigan off her shoulders, Caroline sitting up only enough in order for him to pull it off and toss it onto his bedroom floor. She laid back against his bed and Klaus kissed her again but only for a moment. He pressed a small kiss to the side of her mouth before moving to kiss the small spot on her neck.
“Klaus.” Caroline moaned, and he smirked, remembering just how much she enjoyed it when he nipped at her neck. He slowly made his way across her chest, kissing every inch of skin he could find. His tongue nipping into her cleavage created by her dress. His fingers gently moved up the side of her arm, reaching for the zipper on the side of it, dragging it down. He pushed the straps off her shoulder and pulled the dress down her body until it pooled around her waist.
Caroline laid before him in a simple strapless bra. She placed her hand on his chest, pushing him back slightly so she could sit up. She reached behind her and unsnapped it, allowing it to fall off her. Without thinking, he took her bra and tossed it aside, peering at her naked chest, a sight he once had completely memorized.
“You’re beautiful.” He whispered more to himself than to her, but he saw her smile as she laid back down. He gazed at her for a few moments longer before taking one of her nipples between his lips. Caroline moaned, hissing softly as he sucked at her. He peered upward, catching her eye as he pulled her nippled between his teeth. Once he was done, he pulled back with a soft pop and moved to the other breast, giving it the same exact treatment.
She sucked a breath, a soft moan building up in her throat as Klaus worshiped her. He poured every ounce of love he felt into her. His fingers were gentle as he stroked her skin and his lips kissed their way down her stomach. A soft laugh echoing from her lips as he graced over the one spot on her side that was ticklish. He smiled into her skin, embracing the sound and pressed a kiss to the spot.
Klaus pulled at her dress that rested around her waist. Caroline lifted her hips and allowed him to drag it down her legs. He pulled back, resting on his knees as touched the knee high brown leather boots she was wearing. He pulled them from her feet, baring them to the world and pressed a kiss to her ankle. He made his way back up, kissing every inch of her leg, sucking on the inside of her thigh.
Caroline spread her legs for him, making it easier but he avoided the part of her he knew she wanted him to touch the most. She let out a slight whimper when he began kissing the inside of her other thigh. His fingers touched her white lace panties, dipping inside just slightly. He looked up from between her legs, taking in the sight of her naked body before he placed a small kiss on her covered core.
“Please. I want you.” There was a husky desperation in her voice that Klaus could not help but obey. Hooking his fingers into the edges of her panties, he dragged them down her legs and tossed them over his shoulder. He did make her suffer long before he licked the length of her clit, causing her back to arch off the bed and for her to cry out. “Klaus!”
His teasing was gentle, small strokes to build her up as he savored the taste of her. His finger dipped inside her entrance, pumping slowly before adding a second finder. He stretched her, touching the edges of her walls while he nipped and sucked at her clit. He listened to the music of her moans that echoed throughout the room. He gripped at his head, guiding him in a way that told him what she wanted. Following her every command, he knew she was reaching her peak; her body freezing as she hit her release.
“Yes!” She screamed, her arms reaching up behind her to grab his headboard. Klaus continued to suck and nip at her as she came down. Pulling back, he kissed the inside of her thigh again before kissing his way back up her body. Impatient, Caroline pulled at his hair and guided him back to her lips. Her fingers pulled at his Henly. He broke the kiss, pulling it over his head before kissing her again. She placed her hands on his chest, pushing him back slightly. “Lay back.”
Following her command, Klaus rolled off her and laid down on his bed. Caroline moved to straddle him, placing her knees on either side of his hip. She peered down at him and he looked up at her, taking in her expression, the sight of happiness and contentment written upon it.
“I love you.” He could not help the words tumble from them, reaching up to cup the side of her face. He dragged her down to kiss him, her naked body pressing against his chest. Caroline took his hand and linked their fingers together before pinning them to his side. When their lips pulled again, Klaus could see a hint of mischief in her eyes.
“My turn.” Slowly, she mirrored his movements from earlier. She slowly trailed a series of kisses down his chest, her tongue tracing every one of his abs and the ‘v’ that trailed into his jeans. She pulled at his belt, undoing the buckle before roughly pulling his jeans off. She undressed him, tossing his shoes and socks to the floor along with his jeans. She did not tease him like he had done but pulled his boxers off in a quick motion.
Klaus’s penis stood erect and proud. Caroline pressed a kiss to the tip before she took him into her mouth. Groaning, Klaus laid back against the pillow, savoring the feeling of her warm mouth caressing him. He reached down, weaving his fingers through her curls, her head bobbing up and down. He could feel himself building quickly, for it had been some time since he had Caroline in his bed and he wanted it to last.
“Sweetheart, I’m not going to last.” Klaus pleaded with her, gently tugging at her hair, pulling her from his member. She let go of him with a gentle pop and Klaus took in her flushed lips and the blush that spread across her face. Without question, she climbed up his body, straddling him again. She reached down, gripping him in hand and aligned him up with her entrance. Slowly, Caroline lowered herself down upon him, taking him in as deeply as she could. “Christ.”
“I’ve missed this. I’ve missed you.” Before Klaus could respond, Caroline leaned down again and kissed him. Resting her forehead against his, she began to move her hips in a slow rotation. The sensation was delicate and intoxicating. His hands traced her sides, touching every inch of her he could. He met her thrusts, keeping with the pace and rhythm she set. She always liked control, to have that give and take that made the balance in their relationship that made it feel so right.
Caroline sat up, placing her hands on his chest, adding to the leverage that allowed her to ride him. Klaus moaned, feeling her surrounding him and the look in her eyes as she watched him. Her fingers were drawing small circles on his chest as she moved, her nails curling into his skin. He gripped her hip with one hand while his other moved to palm her breast.
“Caroline.” He moaned her name like a reverent prayer, a devotion that had been void in his life for far too long. Her hips began to increase in their pace, chasing that release he could see building on her face. He dragged his hand down her stomach, moving his fingers between her legs and played with her clit. She tossed her head back, her hips bucking as he increased the pace.
“Klaus! Shit.” The curse slipped between her lips as her release washed over her. The sweat glossing over her skin and her walls clenched around him. She ran her fingers through her hair, her chest heaving as she attempted to catch her breath. Her eyes were hazy, but they trailed his face, moving her hips enough to cause him to groan. He wasn’t done yet, not ready to let the moment end. “I love you. I love you.”
Those words nearly caused his resolve to snap. Klaus sat up, pulling her to his chest and kissing her fiercely. She wrapped her arms around him, pressing her breasts into his chest. Their lips fought for dominance, tangling together in a battle that neither backed down from. Caroline began moving her hips again, but her movements were rougher, harder. Almost as though she was urging him to find release.
Gripping her hips, Klaus flipped them gently and pushed Caroline into the bed, causing her to cry out at the sudden angle change. Klaus smothered her cries with a kiss, feeling her nip at his lip. He gripped her knee, hooking at his hip and began thrusting into her. He broke the kiss and hovered over her, watching the expression of pleasure that was consuming her. Her hand slipped between them, touching her clit roughly, sending her over the edge for a final time.
Klaus cried out, feeling his own release shatter him. He spilled himself inside her, refusing to look away from her. He wanted to remember this moment for the rest of his life. Holding himself above her, resting his forehead against hers; he knew that letting her go was going to be impossible and he did not know if he was capable of it.
“I love you.” Hours later, when night bled into early morning and they laid together in his bed, his sheet wrapped around their waists, he made one last request. “Stay.” His lips touched her shoulder blade, his lips trailing down her spine. “Stay with me. I will think about everything you said but I do not think I will be able to say goodbye to you.”
“I have to be in Virginia tomorrow. I have a meeting with the lawyers who are trying to take the house.” She reached out and pressed a kiss to his knuckles. Klaus buried his face in her hair, trying to fight back the desperate tears that were threatening to fall. “But tonight isn’t over. I promise I’ll be here in the morning.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
The sun rose and Klaus rolled over, blinking the sleep from his eyes. He reached out, searching for Caroline but found the side of her bed empty. It still smelled of her and he knew that the previous night had not been a dream, for it wouldn’t be the first time that such a dream haunted him. He sucked in a breath, wondering if she broke the promise she had made but the smell of coffee reached him and then he smiled.
Pulling himself from his bed and pulled on his jeans that had been discarded the night before. Running his fingers through his hair in hopes of untangling the mess that had occurred overnight. After a quick trip to the bathroom, Klaus ventured into his kitchen to see Caroline behind the counter, cleaning his kitchen in the frenzie that only she could achieve. He noticed that she was wearing the dress from the night before, her hair was wet and pulled into a messy bun.
He allowed himself a few moments to gaze at her, watching her in his kitchen and in his home. He allowed himself to pretend that just for a second that she was going to stay, that she had been there all along. Maybe he could make himself believe that she would be back but she had responsibilities elsewhere that he didn’t have the heart to pull her from. If it was anything else, he would have begged and pleaded, fallen to his knees and pressed his tear-stained face to her stomach but he couldn’t.
“Staring is creepy you know.” Caroline’s voice chimed, pulling him from his thoughts. Klaus tossed her a dimpled smile and pushed off the archway, making his way behind the counter and pulled her into his arms. She went willingly, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “You still sleep like the dead.”
“Only when I’m comfortable.” Klaus whispered and he could feel her smile into his chest. Noting that his kitchen was spotless and the mess from the night before had vanished, he felt guilty that she had cleaned up the mess they had neglected. Yet, he knew her and she was never idle. She needed a project and as she laid in his bed, he knew the mess would have driven her insane. So he refrained from commenting, enjoying the realization that so little of her had changed. “When is your flight?”
“Soon.” Dread filled him, the goodbye he did not want was looming far closer than he realized and he was not ready for it. Caroline drew small circles on his chest and he remembered how it had been the night she slammed the door behind her, leaving him standing in the middle of their apartment. He waited for her to come back and when she didn’t, a pain that he never felt before consumed him. “If you did not wake up soon, I was going to do it for you. I wanted to be able to say goodbye.”
“Yeah. Too say goodbye.” He pressed another kiss to the top of her head, holding her tightly. They stood there together, taking in the morning and the silence that spoke volumes. “Do you have time for breakfast?”
“Yeah. I do.”
Klaus cooked, knowing that she would burn whatever she attempted to make. They worked in silence but unlike the night before, there was a sadness that radiated between them, one that neither wanted to acknowledge. They held each other's hand as they ate, molding into the soft touches and glances. The small bubble they created, excluding the outside world, was slowly about to burst and the shards that were left behind would cut him deeply.
He walked her to the door, their fingers linked together and he watched as she lingered. Holding the sweater in her hand, stalling before she slipped it on her shoulders. She peered up at him, her blue eyes holding back tears and reached up to touch his cheek. Caroline pressed a small kiss to his lips, it wasn’t deepened or passionate but haunting. A goodbye that was far more painful than the last one. He almost preferred the anger and hurtful words in comparison.
“I love you.” She whispered as they broke apart and he never thought it possible for those words to ruin him as they did in that moment. Klaus almost broke, took back everything he had said and begged her to stay. If it was anyone else, he would not hesitate to be so selfish but not with her. With Caroline, he found that she was always the exception to every rule he has ever broken.
“Will you let me know when your plane lands?”
“Yeah. My number is still the same.”
“Good to know.”
“Will you think on-”
“I promise.” He leaned in and pressed another kiss to the top of her head, closing his eyes as he smelled his own shampoo in her hair. It was Caroline who broke first, turning from him and reaching for the door. Her hand slipped from his, a loss that he felt in the core of his soul. “Caroline.” She paused, hesitating for a moment before turning to look over her shoulder. “I love you too.”
Caroline did not speak but instead she simply nodded. She moved quickly, opening the door and shutting it behind her. Klaus knew it was because she did not want him to see her tears. Reaching out he touched the wood of his door before sinking into it. His back was against it as he slid down to the ground. He simply sat there, silent tears streaming down his cheeks. He could not say how long he sat there but the sun was a bit brighter as it streamed through his windows when he pulled himself from the floor.
He found his phone, peering down at the dozen or so text messages from Marcel and Rebekah. Knowing that neither of them expected to see him before the following day, he put the phone on the charger and ignored them. They were concerned, he knew but he wanted to be alone. The rest of the world, for once, could wait.
In the end, Klaus found himself in his studio, a melancholy urge consuming him to paint. He picked up a canvas, staring at its blankness. Yet, he did not find the void uninspiring. Instead he reached for a brush and dipped it into light brown paint, stroking the canvas. An image from the night before playing in his mind and for the first time in years, he felt inspired.
No matter how despotant the inspiration was, it was better than the emptiness that consumed him for so long.
“Well, I have to admit, your wife is backed into a corner.” Stefan stated days later, tossing the documents across his desk. Klaus reached for them, reading over the terms of Bill Forbes’s will. Scowling at the late man’s demands written in ink made him feel as though the final nail in the coffin that held his broken marriage was hammered down. “Attorney Pierce was rather forthcoming with the documents regarding the estate and back taxes. Apparently she is helping Mrs. Mikaelson with that as well.”
“Doesn’t surprise me. Katherine has family in Virginia so it is not surprising she would be practicing there as well.” Klaus muttered, still reading over everything before him. Noting the amount that was owed on the back taxes on Liz’s home made his stomach turn. The stress Caroline must have felt every time she peered at the late notices and the fear that would have consumed her at the thought of her mother being tossed from it. “What are my options?”
“Well, in my opinion, you only have two.” Stefan stated, leaning back into the chair and linking his fingers together. There was a solemn look on his face and Klaus knew that he was not going to like either option that was presented to him. “The first being you refuse to sign. You fight the dirove, drag her into court and in the process, she loses everything. Her mother’s home will be sold and depending on her financial situation, which I am assuming is not good, that could potentially lead to more problems down the line.”
“And there is no way I could help with the taxes, pay them down or-”
“Klaus, look at the figure. To do that you would have to pretty much liquidate the gallery, sell your apartment and even then it wouldn’t be enough.” Stefan reasoned and Klaus knew he was right. With the shake of his head, he tossed the will back onto his desk as though they burned him. “In my professional opinion, doing that would only ruin your life along with hers.”
“And the second option?”
“Sign the papers.” Stefan said simply. “If you sign, the divore will be processed within a few months and then once the decree is entered, the funds indicated in Mr. Forbes’s will will be released to Mrs. Mikaelson. What she does with it is up to her but it would be more than enough to pay off the taxes, with a heavy sum left over.”
Klaus stood from his chair, unable to look at the documents any longer and gazed out into the busy New Orleans street. He peered over the will and back notices for the last hour, not caring how much money Stefan’s time was costing him. He wanted to find some way to save his marriage, to find a way out for Caroline but in the end he knew what the answer was, the one thing he did not want.
Closing his eyes, he remembered the moment he first saw Caroline. Her bright and sunny face laughing in the sunlight at that coffee shop. She gave him a small wave when she caught his eye. Within a month they were at the courthouse, making vows that he wanted to uphold for the remainder of his life. Even now, as he contemplated ending those vows, knowing that it wouldn’t change what he felt for her, he could not regret a moment of his marriage to her.
Even in the darkest of moments when he looked into the saddened eyes of his wife or the moment she walked out the door, Klaus would forever be in love with Caroline.
“Get me a pen.” Klaus said in a hollow tone. If it was anyone else, he would refuse to sign, spitting on the last will and testament of Bill Forbes, refusing to allow a dead man to control his life. But then he remembered Liz’s soft eyes and welcoming arms. He remembered Caroline’s pleading words and understood that neither of them wanted this but in reality it was the only option. If it was anyone else, he would let the world burn down around him but not for Caroline. For Caroline he would show mercy, kindness and forgiveness. For Caroline he would be a better man. “I’ll sign.”
Turning around and grabbing the pen out of Stefan’s hands before he changed his mind, he looked down at the divorce complaint, flipping through the pages he already read at least a dozen times. He pressed the pen to the line above his name, glancing towards the signature already signed beside him.
Caroline Mikaelson.
As he signed, etching his signature in black and white he wondered if she would take back her maiden name, or did Forbes taste like ash on her tongue as it did his. He had a thousand questions and thoughts about what their future now held but peering down at their names side by side, he knew that their marriage was over.
He left the office shortly after that, half listening as Stefan explained that he would see it filed since Katherine was in Virginia. He only nodded and saw himself out. Walking through Bourbon Street, he found that he could not enjoy the sounds of jazz and the smells of spices could not bring him joy. His fingers itched to paint, a frenzy that had consumed him in the last few days and while the work he produced was beautiful, it was a painful eulogy of his marriage; a story of the last three years pouring out all at once.
Klaus reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, pulling up her number. He peered down at the minimal contact they had since she left after that night. A notice of her safe landing and a few check ins on both sides. It was muted communication, a teasing notion about what could have been but what was now over. He almost preferred the silence.
Almost.
He typed out a quick notice, telling her that he signed and waited. It almost made him smile how quickly she responded. He knew she must feel relieved, a calm reassurance that soon everything was going to be okay and that the weight of the world was lifted off her shoulders. But as he peered down at the two words in her text message, he wondered if she knew just how much his heart had completely shattered.
Thank you.
Unable to respond, he tucked his phone back into his pocket and began making his way through the crowd. Both the gallery and his life waited, remaining both equally touched and untouched by her reappearance. Much like the day he first met her, Klaus found that his very being was forever altered.
Time moved slowly then. He poured his soul into the gallery and into his art, the desire to relive every moment of his life with Caroline renewed, every moment from happiness to heartache. It was a tragic beauty that needed to be immortalized. It was a passion that consumed him and one he could no longer look away from.
The desire to paint and sketch filled him even as he was surrounded by someone else's art. Davina’s wide and terrified expression as she surrounded herself with critics and buyers, all wanting to speak with her. Marcel steadfast standing in her corner, a look of pride as he peered at his own prodigy. In the end, Klaus did what they wanted. Following their commands, knowing that his heart was not in this showing but did the best he could to make it memorable.
He stood among strangers, peering at art that did not resonate with him. He sipped at his champagne and smiled at the onlookers, noting a few familiar faces. His sister made an appearance, Stefan on her arm which made Klaus equally groan and roll his eyes. Yet he said nothing and moved through the crowd, equally mingling and avoiding everyone at once. At least until Marcel found him.
“Hey man, better turn out than I thought.” Marcel whispered, a wide smile on lips and happiness vibrating from him. It was a good look on him, this excitement and Klaus almost felt guilty that he had not been more involved. “Davina is shocked at the reception. She was convinced last night that it was going to be a failure.”
“She shouldn’t be worried. She has talent.” Klaus replied as he drank lightly from his glass. Marcel startled, peering at him with confusion and almost worry. Klaus looked back at him with a raised eyebrow and amusement. “What?”
“You not only said something nice about Davina but openly complimented her. Are you feeling alright?” Marcel asked, in a sincere tone. Klaus simply shrugged his shoulders. Perhaps he was feeling charitable. Her art was not his taste, it lacked the depth and emotion he liked his pieces to invoke but he was not blind to the potential of talent. In a few years, he knew that Davina’s skill along with her age would produce art that could bring even him to his knees.
“I’m fine.”
“Liar.” Marcel took a long sip of his glass but never pulled his eyes away from Klaus. Silently cursing, knowing that he was bound to be interrogated on a topic he did not want to discuss. Between both Rebekah and Marcel, Klaus rarely found himself alone, each of them wanting him to talk about what happened between him and Caroline but held him at arms length when he lashed out. He knew they meant well but he just wanted to stew a bit longer. “Have you heard from her?”
“Marcel-”
“Hey, I mean no harm, okay? It's just a question.” Marcel held up his free hand, as though he meant to surrender. “You’ve been functioning. I see it. You’ve been trying but there is a cloud that seems to be following you around. It has Rebekah speaking to me on friendly terms and seeing that your sister can hold a grudge far longer than you speaks volumes. Whether you’re ready to talk about it or not, you know I’m here for you.”
“Yeah. I know.” Klaus was grateful for both him and his sister. Without them he knew there was a chance he would still be holed up in his apartment, refusing to leave and wallowing in an old pain that was freshly renewed. “And I do appreciate it. Really. I do.” He looked down at his champagne, remembering how he would on occasion, splurge on a bottle for him and Caroline to share when things were going well. Suddenly it tasted like ash on his tongue. “But yeah, I’ve heard from her. A couple times.”
The conversation was stilted, vague and guarded. Each knew the reason behind it. The desire to be with the other was written in each word spoken but they knew that if they dived too deeply into conversation, they would break and call off the divorce. Everything that needed to be done would be ruined and they would grow to hate the other anyway. It was not just about them and that was the only reason he held back, that he didn’t beg and plead to call the whole thing off.
“Well, better than silence right?” Marcel asked and in truth, Klaus was unsure if he could agree with him. They both fell quiet, peering around them and he could see Davina discussing her art with some stranger, a nervous expression written on her face. Klaus wondered how her art would change and grow the moment she felt heartbreak. Nineteen and she was barely an adult. He was only twenty-six when he met Caroline, a young woman on the cusp of graduating and they both had dreams that consumed them. He wondered if they wore the same awestruck expression as Davina. Perhaps that is why he didn’t particularly like her. “I think she needs help. She appears uneasy.”
“Go. Help her and stop her from making a bad deal.” Klaus told him, knowing that the girl was in need of help. Most artists had been around the block long enough to not need their assistance but he needed to remind himself that Davina was young and Marcel had taken a special interest in her. Caroline’s voice sounded in the back of his mind, telling him to be kind.
Marcel moved towards Davina and Klaus watched as his friend worked his magic. While Marcel was not an artist, he knew talent and was charismatic enough to deal with the public. Klaus had always admired that about his best friend and maybe now that he found some form of his muse back, no matter how dispotent it was.
Shaking himself from the thoughts that plagued him, he moved through the crowd again and peered at the art surrounding him. He paused at a portrait. It was of a young man holding a violin. He had curly brown hair and dark eyes, a look of passion on his face as he held the violin under his chin. The detail was almost immaculate and for a moment, he could see the drive and love poured into this painting that he had been looking for when Marcel first showed him her work. Perhaps if this painting was the one he saw first, his opinion may have been different.
Peering down at the plaque that hung beside the canvas and read what Davina named her portrait.
Timothy.
“I never understood art. Is there supposed to be a deeper meaning to a hot guy playing the violin?” Klaus internally groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. He turned to look over his shoulder to see Katherine peering at him. She wore that all knowing and condescending expression on her face. She was in a tight black cocktail dress and her long brown hair was curled, hanging down around her waist. “I thought I would find you here.”
“Why are you here? You hate anything artistic.” Klaus told her and suddenly missed the peace he had without Katherine in his life. There were so many times he would come home to find both Caroline and Katherine wine drunk on their couch. Deep down he knew he did not hate Katherine, despite their lack of warm regards towards one another. “I thought you were in Virginia.”
“I was and will be again but I also have other clients here.” Katherine shrugged, lifting her champagne to her lips. She moved to stand beside him, peering at the portrait. “I found that I was free tonight and had a desire to drink cheap champagne and eat horrible horderves.” Klaus rolled his eyes, knowing better than to engage in the insult. If there was one thing he knew was that Katheriene would never admit she liked something if it came from someone she hated. But seeing that she continued drinking the champagne and held a small quiche in her hand, Klaus knew the food was not as offensive as she claimed. “And I wanted to talk to you.”
“About what?”
“Caroline.”
“Katherine. Don’t-”
“Oh shut up and listen.” Katherine snapped and Klaus silenced immediately. She shook her head, giving a deep sigh of irritation. Klaus immediately wondered what it would be like to go against her in court and suddenly pitied Stefan, knowing that he had in the past. “While I never understood what Caroline saw in you, I know for the most part you made her happy. Even when she was battling her depression and was out of work, you were her rock. Her walking out on you was possibly the stupidest thing she ever did.”
“How much did that hurt you to say that?” Klaus asked, trying to push down the pain her words evoked. He did not want to show Katherine an ounce of weakness, knowing that she would latch onto it and exploit it to her purpose. The only common ground they ever found was Caroline and once that had been removed, he was sure she was pointing out all of his flaws to Caroline.
“I might need medical attention.” Katherine retorted, a scowl on her lips. “And if you ever tell anyone I said something nice to you, I will end you.” Klaus laughed, nodding in agreement and knowing that Katherine was true to her word. “Anyway, the reason I came here to speak with you is because Caroline is far too stubborn and stuck in her own head to understand what I am about to say.”
“Go on.”
“Now. I can’t offer you advice because I’m not your attorney. I actively represent someone else in a case against you, therefore I shouldn’t even be speaking to you at all.” She turned on her heels so she was looking him directly in the eye. “And, if anyone ever found out that I was saying this to you, my law license could be in jeopardy so this conversation never happened.”
“ Okay. I understand.” Klaus replied in a cautious tone. Katherine dropped all her snark and bite, peering at him with possibly the most honest expression he had ever seen from her. Caroline had always told him that there was more to Katherine behind the hard exterior she created around herself. That deep down, beneath the stone and baggage was a good heart. Klaus had always taken Caroline at her word but he had never seen such a heart from Katherine, and he wondered if he was about to.
“I think it would be in your best interest for you to seek out your attorney and ask him to clarify the terms of Bill Forbes' will, which by the way you’re an idiot for ever trusting Bill Forbes.” Klaus winced, knowing she was right but tried not to think about what he knew was his biggest mistake. For years he asked himself, did he spend too much time with the gallery and not enough with her? Was he not there in a way she needed? In the end, whatever mistakes he made, nothing compared to taking his father in law’s word as truth.
“I know. Trust me, I know.”
“Anyway. As I was saying, it might be a good idea for you to ask hero hair, about the specific wording of the will, and if it specifies what comes after the terms are met.” Katherine gave him a piercing stare and for a moment, Klaus did not know exactly what it was that she was trying to tell him. “Seriously. Do I need to spell it out for you? Are you that dense?”
“What do you mean what happens after?” Klaus looked at her, pondering over the same question he asked himself since he signed the paperwork. What would his life hold once he was divorced? Where did he go from there? What would the relationship with Caroline look like? A few text messages throughout the year? A visit or two? What would he do when she eventually met another man? And then the obvious hit him. “Oh. Oh!”
“There it is.” Katherine smirked, appearing proud at her handy work. “Now. Once again, this conversation never happened. You and I never spoke and if you say otherwise I will clearly claim that you’ve lost your damn mind.” She took another sip of her champagne before thrusting the glass into Klaus’s hand, turning from him. “I’m sure I will have the misfortune of seeing you again.”
“Katherine, wait.” She paused, peering at him with an almost annoyed expression. “You hate me. You made that very clear from the moment you met me and even exclaimed so as we dragged you to the courthouse to witness our wedding. Why help me?”
“I’m not helping you. I care very little for your happiness and wellbeing.” Katherine corrected him, facing him again and crossing her arms over her chest. “I do however care about Caroline and for some reason, she loves you. Even now while she is in Virginia trying to sort out her mother’s affairs and wondering what happens once she has the money from the trust fund her father left behind, she never stopped loving you.”
“You care about her, I know that but why put your law license at risk?”
“My license is not at risk because this conversation did not happen.” She rolled her eyes and Klaus nodded. “I owe Caroline my life. Without her I wouldn’t be in the position I am now. I would be alone.” She turned to look around the gallery but he knew that she was not seeing the art or the people, but instead lost in her own thoughts. “I was nineteen, orphaned and starting college. My roommate was this bubbly blonde girl who probably shit rainbows and looked at me as though I had three heads the first time she met me. She pulled out her phone and showed me a picture of her childhood best friend who looked just like me.”
“I know-”
“Do you? Because without my chance meeting with Caroline, I wouldn’t have a sister. Or a brother or another set of parents.” Katherine insisted. “I would spend every holiday alone. I would be Katherine Pierce, the attorney who just buried herself in work to fill that void. Instead I have a sister who is my polar opposite, a brother who annoys me and parents who call to make sure I ate that day. Its like an annoying fucking hallmark movie. So, If committing a tiny bit of malpractice helps Caroline dig herself out of this mess, so be it.``
“Malpractice? I thought we weren’t having this conversation.” This brought a smile to her lips, sending an echoing laugh through the gallery. Neither spoke again but Klaus nodded his head in thanks, watching as she rolled her eyes and made her way through the crowd. He stood there, a smile spreading across his face and suddenly he felt an emotion that had evaded him for a very long time.
Happiness.
Downing his champagne, he tossed the plastic flute into a trash bin before searching for his sister. Weaving through a dozen or so people, passing both Davina and Marcel as they explained the piece to a potential buyer. For a moment, he had thought they had left but towards the entrance he spotted Rebekah and Stefan peering at some painting, a curious expression on both their faces.
“Nik!” Rebekah called, spotting him and smiling wide. Stefan’s eyes went wide, almost as though he was afraid of Klaus knowing he had attended the opening with Rebekah. “We were just commenting on this painting. It seems rather, bold but-”
“It's riveting I know.” Klaus told her, not bothering to even look at the painting they were discussing. He put a hand on Stefan’s shoulder, giving it a tight squeeze, ignoring the groan of dread that slipped past his lips. “I was hoping to borrow your date for a moment. I’ll bring him back in one piece. Promise.”
“Nik-”
“Don’t worry. He will be returned in a moment. I promise.” Klaus cut her off, quickly dragging Stefan away, ignoring his sister’s protests. He was sure he would hear about it later but he found that he did not care. All he could think about was Katherine’s words and what it could possibly mean for his future.
“This isn’t a date. She asked if I wanted to come and it seemed fun.” Stefan attempted to defend himself, assuming there was something that he needed to defend. Klaus ignored him and pulled towards his office, passing Marcel who was giving them a peculiar look. Knowing that there would be more to the conversation he had with his business partner later, Klaus could not let go of the feeling of hope that coursed through him.
“It's a date and I don’t care. Have fun. Rebekah is a handful and before you realize it she will have you reconsidering the fact that you don’t want to get married.” Klaus told him as he all but shoved him into his office, shutting the door behind him. “But that's not what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“You don’t want to talk to me about being on a not-date with your sister?”
“It's definitely a date and no. Like I said, I don’t care. Have fun, she will eat you alive.” Klaus shook his head, ignoring the confused look on Stefan’s face. “I want to ask you a legal question. In Bill Forbes' will, it says that Caroline and I must divorce in order for her to obtain her trust fund. We are in the process of that. What I want to know is what happens after.”
“After the divorce is finalized?” Stefan clarified and Klaus nodded. “Nothing. You are divorced, she gets her trust fund and the two of you move on with your lives.” Stefan peered at Klaus with a bemused expression, almost as though the answer to his question would be obvious. “What are you really asking?”
“Is there anything that states whether or not Caroline can get remarried?” Klaus asked, trying to remember the exact wording of the will but the finer details escaped him. He spent hours pouring over those documents in Stefan’s office but his memory was fuzzy. “Like does it state that she could never get remarried or if she had to stay divorced?”
“Are you asking if once you’re divorced, if you and Caroline could get remarried?” Stefan once again clarified, gazing at Klaus as though he had sprouted an extra head. “You are the most difficult client.” Pinching the bridge of his nose and letting out a long sigh. “I mean, without looking at the will, my opinion is that yes, you could technically get remarried once the terms are met. They wouldn’t be able to take the money back once it's in Mrs. Mikaelson’s possession. The requirement would become null and void. Both of you would be free to marry as you please. Whether it be with each other or someone else.”
“You are amazing.” Klaus grinned widely, reaching to squeeze Stefan’s shoulders before turning to race out the door. He passed Rebekah who was standing just outside the office, waiting for them to come out. Klaus nearly knocked her over, but he was on a mission; the same feeling that he had when he first realized he wanted to marry Caroline consumed him. He pulled Rebekah into a hug, pressing a kiss to the top of her head before breaking into a slow run through the gallery. “You can have your date back now.”
“I’m charging you for this!” Stefan called after him and Klaus just laughed, waving his hand behind him. He stepped out into the cool March air, taking in a deep breath and embracing the sharp feeling of the cold air entering his lungs. Closing his eyes, hope filled him and for the first time in a long while, he thought that there was a chance at a happy ending.
After quickly packing a bag, including the ring Caroline had thought she lost and buying the first flight into Virginia that he could find, Klaus was on his way to Mystic Falls. The flight was only two hours but it felt as though it took forever, mirroring the fourteen hour train ride he had taken three years previously. Only this time, he knew there wouldn’t be a man there to send him away, the only one who would hold such power would be Caroline herself.
Renting a car and driving from Richmond to Mystic Falls, he could not help but feel his heart beating widely in his chest. When he had asked Caroline to marry him, only after a month of knowing her, they had been in his bed, a sheet covering her naked body and the words slipped past his lips in a passion filled frenzy, a moment that he would forever hold close to his chest.
Passing the sign that read Welcome to Mystic Falls Klaus could feel his palms becoming sweaty. The morning sun streamed through the tall trees that surrounded him on all sides. There was a sort of peacefulness that fell upon the small town that Caroline had itched to flee from. He had always known that she was meant for more than being that small town girl her father wanted her to be. While the town held a beauty that Klaus could not deny, it would be a prison for his wife in many ways.
Seeing Caroline after all this time only confirmed what he had already known.
Driving through the square, passing by the sleepy townspeople as they began their day, he noted that it had rarely changed. The Grille was in the same place as was the post office and the grocery store. He had only been in the town a few times but it appeared to be exactly the same as it had been in his memory, forever unchanging.
Due to the streets being the same, it did not take long for him to find the small house located on the corner of second and third street. It was white with yellow shutters, a wrap-around porch and a small yard in the front. It was well maintained and the sight brought a smile to his lips because he could imagine Caroline on her knees, covered in dirt to ensure that her mother’s home was beautiful, giving Liz something to be proud of.
Mystic Falls would be suffocating for Caroline but for Liz it was home, something her daughter would want to ensure it remained so. Peering at the house, Klaus had never felt more sure about his decision to sign the divorce papers, as well as the decision that brought him all the way from Louisiana to Caroline.
Shaking his head, he gathered his barrings and walked up the few steps onto the porch. With a deep breath, he rapped his knuckles against the door. He could hear the sound of footsteps and Caroline’s voice calling to her mother, telling her to rest.
“Elena did you-” Caroline opened the door and stopped mid speech. Her eyes were wide and her jaw slacked. He took in her bemused expression as she peered at him. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, wearing a simple pair of jeans with a heavy cardigan wrapped around her to battle the cold winter hair. “Klaus.”
“Klaus!” Another voice sounded from inside the house and Caroline was nearly toppled over when her mother stood in the doorframe. The sight nearly startled him, for Liz appeared smaller than he remembered. She had lost weight in comparison to the woman he had known but she looked strong. Her hair was short, appearing as though it had just grown back and the sight could not help but make him smile widely. “Oh you’re such an idiot.”
“I’ve been told that quite a bit recently and I agree.”
“Both of you. Idiots. No one should have ever listened to my ex-husband. Nothing good comes from it.” Liz stood aside and opened the door wide for Klaus, still noting how quiet and shocked Caroline appeared. Klaus peered at her sheepishly but could not take her eyes off her. “Right. Well, why don’t I go and pick up breakfast. You still like waffles, Klaus?”
“Yeah. I do.” Liz smiled widely and before he could say anything else, Liz reached up and pulled him into a tight hug. Remembering that she had done the same when she first met him, Klaus could not help but fall into her embrace. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly but noticing just how frail her body felt against his. The feeling nearly brought tears to his eyes, knowing that even the pain it caused, divorce was the right cause of action if it meant helping Liz. “It is really good to see you. Let's make it a habit.”
“I hope so.” Klaus whispered back to her, letting her go and focused back on Caroline, seeing how misty her eyes appeared. Liz patted his forearm and reached for a bag that was laying on a small table near the front door. She said something but Klaus did not hear her, unable to look away from Caroline. It wasn’t until the sound of the door closing behind them did he realize that they were alone.
“Klaus, what are you doing here?”
“That porch swing I helped your mom hang a few years ago on the back porch, is it still up?” Klaus asked, pushing her question aside and Caroline nodded. He held out his hand and without thinking, Caroline reached for it, taking his hand without thinking. Silently, Klaus led her through the house, passing the spotless kitchen towards the backdoor. Stepping out into the morning chill, a small brown rug at the base of the door and a pair of small boots that he immediately knew belonged to Caroline rested beside it.
The porch swing hung vacant off to the side. It had been a warm summer's day when he hung it, listening to Liz and Caroline laughing inside the house as he did. It was one of the rare times they had enough money to come up and it was a trip that was well worth every penny. That night, after Liz said her goodnites, they sat on that swing, staring off into the woods that sat just behind the house, making plans for the future.
“Klaus.” Caroline whispered, peering at him with a thousand expressions on her face, not even looking out at the trees he knew she spent everyday gazing at. Instead of answering her, he lifted her hand and brought it to his lips. Savoring the moment, he closed his eyes and inhaled the scent of her lotion he assumed she still put on first thing in the morning. “Why did you come?”
“Because I thought it would bring an almost poetic end to things.” He shrugged and Caroline just peered at him in confusion. “Three years ago, I came all the way to Mystic Falls to win you back. To convince you to come home and in doing so, I made a mistake that pretty much destroyed our marriage.” He looked down at their linked hands, running his thumb over her knuckles. “I listened to your father.”
“Klaus. It wasn’t just you. Both of us said and did things that we regret. Everyday I wished that I didn’t leave or that I listened to my gut and came back.” Caroline confessed, and Klaus could hear the tremor in her voice. “But we can’t keep dwelling on what we did wrong. What is done is done and there is no changing it.”
“You’re right. We can’t go back but we can go forward.” Reaching into his pocket, feeling the small box that had been stashed away in his dresser, only to have it taken out when the ache Caroline left behind became too much. He handed the box to her, noting how her lips parted before opening it with shaky hands. “I believe that you thought you lost this.”
“My ring.” It was simple, one diamond with a silver band. It was not overly expensive or one that Caroline had grown to expect from the man she married when she was younger. However, from the moment he handed it to her, after months of not having a ring and after saving enough money for it, Caroline had fallen in love with it instantly. “Why are you giving this to me?”
“Because it is yours. I bought it for you and it is only right that you have it.” Taking the box from her hand, he pulled the ring out of the box and slipped it onto her finger. “I promise I will follow through with everything. I signed the paperwork because I love you but that doesn’t mean I’m willing to give this up. With I divorce I thought that it meant I would have to let you go but I’ve come to the realization that I don’t. We don’t have to give this up.”
“What are you asking?”
“Marry me.”
He thought that perhaps, he should get down on one knee, take her hand into his and look up into her shocked face but found that he could not move. Sitting on that porch swing, feeling their rings brush against one another as they had done in the past made him want to remain exactly where he was. Caroline was speechless, only giving a small laugh and running her free hand through her hair.
“We’re in the middle of a divorce!” She exclaimed, shaking her head but Klaus knew her well enough to know it wasn’t a rejection, just disbelief. “It hasn’t been fully processed and the decree hasn’t even come yet!”
“I know, and in a few weeks I’ll call you my ex-wife and I hope my fiance.” Lifting her hand to his lips again, pressing a kiss to her ring. “Bill’s will says we have to get divorced if you want your inheritance but it says nothing about staying divorced.” Klaus could not help but grin, dimples on full display as he saw the understanding cross Caroline’s face. “A chance at a happy ending. You and I.”
“A loophole.” This time her laugh was happy, her smile radiant as it had been the day they met. “I want a long engagement. Our last one was only seventy-two hours and if we are going to do this, I want to be able to plan a wedding. And I want Mom to be well enough to walk me down the aisle.”
“Done. Absolutely.”
“And we have so much to work out. A Lot of things to talk about before we get remarried.”
“Work on our foundation, my first priority.”
“And I have to get everything sorted here before anything else. The taxes, the house and Mom’s debt need to be taken care of. Of course nothing can happen until the decree comes in the mail. Once I have that- what are you staring at?” Caroline paused, taking in the soft expression he fixed her with and reaching out to touch his dimples. “What is it?”
“You’re making a list.” Klaus shrugged and leaned in to kiss her, unable to help himself. It was soft and gentle, their lips mingling as the morning pressed onward. “I’ve missed that. You ramble as you plan out the day. I want to see that every day for the rest of my life. So, please, don’t stop making your list, especially if they involve a life together.”
“You really are a romantic.” Caroline whispered, resting her forehead against his. “It ruins your reputation.” Klaus chucked, unable to deny the accusation nor would he want to. “I want to quit my job. I want to look Carol Lockwood in the face and tell her that I’m leaving. I want to, I don’t know, start a blog or write a book but I never want to work for another person ever again.”
“You would be brilliant at being your own boss.”
“But mostly, I want to pack my bags the moment everything here is figured out. I want to come home.” Klaus could feel his heart leap into his chest and he could not fight the desire to lean in and kiss her again. This time, it was more heated, passionate and filled with promises that they had thought were long broken. “If you’ll have me.”
“I wouldn’t want you anywhere else and it may not be that small studio apartment but I think we can make it feel like a home.” Caroline laughed, nodding exceedingly as tears streamed down her face. He cupped her face, touching her wet cheeks and peered into her eyes, unable to look away from them. “So what do you say? Lets get divorced and then, will you remarry me?”
“Yes. My answer is yes.” Klaus could not help the happiness that consumed him, pure unadulterated joy pulsed through him in a way he had forgotten was possible. He pulled her close, Caroline wrapping her arms around his shoulders and molded her body close to his. He lifted her gently, placing her on his lap. “I love you.”
“And I love you.” He kissed her again, allowing the morning to slip by slowly, reflecting what he knew deep in his bones would be the rest of their lives. Past mistakes and old wounds could heal, making room for new memories to be made. Neither were blind in thinking that it would be easy but they also knew that any difficulties they faced would be worth it. “And I never stopped. Not for a moment.”
Five years later
The alarm sounded, blaring into the room. Klaus could feel Caroline’s naked body stretching beside him, causing him to smile into the pillow. She rolled over, pressing a small kiss to the base of his neck. Quickly, he rolled over and pinned her to the bed, listening to her happy squeal sound louder than the alarm. He leaned down and kissed her, allowing his hands to trail over her body in hopes of picking up where they had left off the night before.
“No. No. No. We do not have time. We have to get dressed and ready.” Caroline protested as his lips began leaving small bites on her neck, causing her to moan. “We have a flight to catch and we promised to have breakfast with the family before we leave. You know how Elijah gets when plans change and Rebekah needs to pick up a few things here before we leave.”
“Rebekah has a key. We’re newlyweds. They will understand.”
“Roslyn won’t.” Caroline countered and Klaus paused, feeling his wife’s smirk on his skin. He silently cursed and rolled off Caroline, narrowing his eyes at her. “Unless you want to explain to our four year old daughter why mommy and daddy are not only leaving her for two weeks but could not have breakfast with her before we left.”
“You play dirty.” Rolling her eyes, Caroline reached over to turn the alarm off. Klaus leaned back onto the bed, watching as she crawled out of the bed and bent down, providing him with a teasing view; knowing full well that it wouldn’t be until they were in the hotel in Paris before he would be able to coax her back into bed. “Cruel women.”
“You love it.” Caroline tossed back, pulling on his whitebutton down that he wore to their wedding the day before. Seeing her mused hair and flushed face, Klaus could not help but think just how beautiful she was. She walked around the bed and leaned into a small kiss on his lips. “Go shower, I’ll make coffee and finish packing.”
“Yes, Sweetheart.” Klaus kissed her again, noting how she rolled her eyes at him. His hands began to wander up her legs, slipping under the shirt only for Caroline to gently slap them away. She pulled back, narrowing her eyes and shaking her head. She stood from the bed, giving him one last kiss before heading out of their bedroom.
“Shower. Go.” Leaning back against the pillows with a wide smile on his lips, he looked around the room. Caroline’s wedding dress was carefully laid on the chair in the corner where he had placed it after he peeled it off her. Clothes were scattered across the bedroom floor. Clutter and organized chaos filled every corner of their apartment, collecting memories of the last five years.
Klaus pulled himself from the bed, thinking on how everything had changed so rapidly and yet so slowly in that time. From his second proposal to their divorce and the unexpected birth of their daughter only months after their reconciliation, every moment was something to be cherished and nurtured. It had taken some time but they found themselves down the aisle again, linking their fingers together for better or for worse.
After his shower, he dressed quickly, realizing that the room was straightened up and their suitcases on the bed. Heading into the kitchen, expecting to find Caroline but found only an empty coffee cup beside the coffee maker. He poured himself a cup, weaving through the apartment, passing photos of their small little family and moments captured over the last five years, as he searched for her, finding her in his studio, peering at the canvas that was resting on his easel, completely frozen.
Cursing to himself, he stepped into the studio.
“Well, what do you think?” Klaus asked, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. He rested his head on her shoulder and felt as she leaned into his chest. He looked at the canvas, taking in the soft colors and blended strokes that he had painstakingly painted. “I meant to show you last night but we got distracted.”
“It's a portrait. Of us.” Caroline brought her fingers up to her lips, and while she could not tear her eyes away from the canvas, taking in the two of them, holding one another with a shared smile and secret expressions that only lovers could give, they were forever immortalized. “It's beautiful. And perfect. When did you do this?”
“I painted it at the gallery while you were working or during a slow day. I wanted it to be a surprise.” He gave her a lazy smile, pressing a soft kiss on her cheek before holding her close again. “I wanted to give you something that showed us. That told the story of our marriage.” Lifting her hand and pressing his lips to the ring she had not taken off since he put it back on her five years earlier. “Both this new one and the first one, because really they are one in the same to me.”
“It's a portrait of us. You painted a portrait of the two of us.” Caroline laughed happily, tearing her eyes from the canvas and gazing at him. Turning around in his arms, she pressed a kiss to his lips, deeping it until neither could breath. When she pulled back he could see her love for him reflecting back at him, knowing that the foundation they built and repaired was solid and unshakable.