#kcfic

Despite Caroline’s known reputation for being a people person, she was not in fact a people person. Sure, she organized galas and tried on dresses a bit more often than a normal girl, but its not necessarily because she wanted to do them. Having a family like hers meant fighting harder for their name on a list. Or for anything, really. But Caroline wouldn’t complain. Why should she? People like that never win. But sometimes Caroline didn’t know if there was anything to win.

But she had to ignore those thoughts, and stick her feet into those tiny, tiny heels. Like now, as she tried to listen to her friend Katherine’s rant about the lack of humble men at the party they were currently at.

   “Look at him, Caroline. Sure, he has a nice suit. But that’s it! And look at his face - mediocre at best. I wouldn’t even allow my maiden workers to date him. What a pig.” Katherine said, the cruel words slipping out of her mouth like nothing.

 “Katherine,” Caroline sighed, “I’m sure he’s a nice man. You haven’t even spoken to him. Or to any man at this ball for that matter.”

“I don’t need to speak to him to know how much of a prick he is. It’s all in the posture, Care. They way they walk - how they step into a room like they own the place. Please. My father earns more in a day then they do in a year.” There was a beautiful scowl on Katherine’s face as she said this. There was usually one on her face. Katherine Pierce - beautiful, intelligent, talented, rich - but cruel, mean, and selfish. “I guess I’ll go talk to that one, he looks familiar. I think he’s a Salvatore.” she pointed her finger at a handsome blonde across the room. “I’ll see you later, Caroline.”

And now she was stuck in this overpriced ball alone. It wasn’t odd for Katherine to run off with a man despite talking bad about them, but she had hoped one of these days Katherine would stay with her for the duration of the party. So she wouldn’t be forced to conversate with the rich socialites that hated her purely because she wasn’t born with a silver spoon attached to her.

Caroline picked up her wine glass and moved to talk to Hayley, someone who just shamed her for not being able to afford the finest dresses, and not for having a condemned father. But before she could make a step, she was interrupted.

“Hi, I’m Rebekah.” The accented stranger said, clad with the finest clothing. Unlike what most people would think, Caroline wasn’t that good at recognizing designer clothing. But even her fashion deficient mind could tell what the gorgeous newcomer was wearing was worth of royalty.

“Um, I’m Caroline,” she said, flustered. “I’m sorry but, have we met? I don’t think I’ve seen you around this social crowd.”

“Oh, sorry. I’m here with Marcellus Gerard. I wouldn’t have normally come to this type of gathering, its a bit below my tastes. Anyways, have you heard of him? He’s my fiance.”

Had Caroline heard of him? Oh yes. Marcellus Gerard was one of the most prestigious bachelors of the country. Well, according to this new information, he wasn’t a bachelor anymore. And here she was, talking to his fiance. Clearly a rich one, which could be told from the way she acted like this world class ball was nothing but a mere cheap gathering. She was also quite beautiful. Her eyes pierced in a way that made Caroline think if she was asked to get out of here with her, she wouldn’t say no.

“Yes, I’ve heard of him. He knows my best girl friend, Katherine Pierce.”

Rebekah’s eyebrows rose in amusement. “You’re friends with that monstrosity of a whore? No offense to you Caroline, but she’s screwed more of my friends than I can count.”

This comment left Caroline quite surprised. No woman looking to marry up would speak like that in such a public event. But perhaps she was not marrying up, but marrying down.

“I’d prefer you not talk about her like that. She may be a whore in your terms, but she is still my friend.” Caroline spit out, not even shocked at her own behavior. She was a classy lady at most times, but cross her friends and she’d make you regret it.

Rebekah didn’t take what she said as seriously as Caroline did, the corners of her lips rising as she replied. “I like you. Classy. Snarky. You’d make a great Queen. But back what I came over here to say,” she sat her own wine glass on the nearby table. “You see that cocky little blonde fellow over there?” Rebekah looked over to the right, her eyes urging Caroline to look.

And she was so glad she did. There stood possibly the most gorgeous man she had ever laid her eyes on. Beautiful blonde curled hair, dark eyes that could see into the darkest parts of your soul, and thick seductive lips. The suit he was wearing only added to his allure, fitting him in all the right places.

“What about him?” She said, her voice quiet as if he could hear her as far away as he was.

“That’s my brother, Klaus. He hasn’t stopped talking about you all might. ‘Look at her’ this, ‘What a beauty’ that - it’s exhausting. I was hoping you’d talk to him and get him to shut his mouth. I have to hear it enough already.” this

“He’s interested in me?” Caroline was shocked. It wasn’t because she thought she was ugly, she definitely was not. Caroline Forbes was one of the most beautiful girls in the city, and that’s speaking humbly. But in this world, beauty didn’t attract suitors. Money did. And since Caroline herself was the reason she could afford to get in this party, she didn’t exactly have a lot of men lining up at her door. “Are you sure? He does know I don’t come from old money, correct?”

Rebekah flicked her hair across her shoulder. “Oh, he’s interested. And sweetheart, of course he knows. I could tell from the quality of that dress that you picked it up from some boutique and didn’t have it tailored. Now go talk to him, I don’t have all night. Marcel is waiting for me.”

Rebekah spun around and left without allowing Caroline to say a word, not even looking back to see if she had followed her orders.

Caroline looked back at Klaus, wondering if she should talk to him. He was now sporting a smirk, common among egotistical men she had often met. But as she looked around for other options, she decided it was best to indulge in the part of her that thought about nothing else but men and romance.

A burst of temporary confidence burst through her as she walked up to him and tapped him on the shoulder. “Hi. I’m Caroline.” Her smile said a million words, possibly the brightest thing in that ballroom.

Klaus turned around to look at her, his eyes raking up and down her body. “Well hello there love. I’m Klaus, but I’m guessing you already know that from my wretch of a sister. Let me guess, she told you that I think you’re the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, and that I wish to marry you someday, however long it takes.”

Caroline’s smile faltered. ‘Uh, yeah. Sort of.”

“Well,” his face slowly turned into a rotten grin. “She was correct.”

Damn it. Caroline thought. He’s gorgeous, has the voice of an angel, and is annoyingly charming.

“She also told me that you were annoying, and that you couldn’t shut your mouth.”

“I couldn’t shut my mouth about you, of course.”

Caroline couldn’t hide her genuine grin from appearing. Not the fake one she was too used to showing, but her actual happy smile. She had barely been speaking to him for a minute, yet something about him made her happier than most men could ever dream of.

“Do you want to dance?”

And with that, Caroline dragged Klaus on to the ballroom dance floor, and they danced.

--

    They ended up dancing for hours, something Caroline had never done. Even Katherine showed surprise when they bumped into each other and she was still there. And the truth was, Caroline never wanted to leave. She was having the time of her life and she didn’t want the high to end. But as they say, good things always come to an end.

                 “I have to go, I need to check on my father.” Caroline whispered to Klaus, slightly love drunk from their torrid evening.

                 “Are you sure? You can’t stay a little longer?” Klaus whispered as well, the night having the same effect on him.

                 “I can’t. You don’t understand. My father … I need to check on him.”

                 “Very Well. I have … business I need to take care of later tonight anyways. Stay safe for me, love.”

             Caroline blushed at the term of endearment. It wasn’t a unique or particularly special pet name, but they way he said it when he looked at her made the butterflies in her stomach go wild.  

             “Will you be at the next party in this district? I heard Bonnie Bennett is hosting a gala for her engagement to Malachi Parker.” Caroline looked at him hopefully, wanting to at least see him again. Maybe next time she’ll wear a prettier dress.

              “For you, Caroline, I’ll go to the next thousand parties in the district. No matter how much my sister complains.”

               Caroline softly smiled. “I’ll see you, then.”

               “I’ll see you.”

The lights were turned on when Caroline arrived home. The lights were never turned on when she got home. Her father, as garbage as he was, always had a strict bedtime schedule for himself. The one good quality about him, her mother used to say before she ditched him and Caroline for a richer suitor and moved across the country.

             That fact made it all more worrisome when she saw unfamiliar horses outside the house.

Hurrying inside the house, she rose her voice to a rate where no self righteous man could ignore her.

       “What are you people doing inside my home?” She quickly found her father and stood in front of him, like that would make the intruders simply leave them alone.

       “We’ve got orders from His Majesty's secretary that we arrest him for not paying his debt.” The man who spoke was clearly the head of the nethanderals, his badges just the tiniest shiner than the rest.  

.   Caroline flipped her head to her father, rage filling her eyes.

            “Debt? Really Father? What for now? Betting on the horse races? Alcohol?”

“You were right by the first guess, m’am.” One of the men said, an impatient tone in his voice.

    She turned her anger filled gaze over to the man who interrupted her. “Was I talking to you?”

       The clear heat in her voice made him back down, his gaze falling to the floor.

  Caroline turned her head back to her father, and spoke to him in a whisper. “How could you do this? Do you know how hard I’ve been working to try to pull your reputation out of the gutter?” “Caroline, darling- you don’t understand how hard it's been for me. I’ve- ”

“How hard its been? For you? You did this! How about how hard its been for me? Suffering at the choices of my failure of a father!” She took a deep breath and tried to organize her thoughts. “You know what? Its okay. I’ll handle this.”

At that, she turned around and flashed her biggest smile at the soldiers. “Boys. I’m sure we can figure something out. It's a lovely evening, after all. Wouldn’t you rather spend your time out at a party instead of arresting a good man for an incident that can be easily solved.”

“I’m afraid not m’am.” A soldier said. :”We got orders from his Majesty himself.”

“You said his Majesty’s secretary. Not his Majesty himself.” This was a stretch, Caroline knew, but she had to try something. She couldn’t let her father be taken.

And why did his Majesty care so much about an old man’s gambling debts?

“That’s pretty much the same thing miss. Now like you said, we do have parties we’d rather be at so if you’d let us take him in we could be there sooner.” He stepped forward, signaling for the rest of the men grab him.

             “Take me instead.”

Caroline had no idea why she said that. It would probably be best if he was taken in. Less problems for her, less problems for everyone.

But he is her father, and she couldn’t bear the thought of him rotting in some jail cell. She would do anything for him. Even taking his place.

The soldiers looked at each other, exasperated looks on their faces.

“How about we take both of you, ask whoever's in charge to decide? This could take a while and I have a reception to attend.” The lead one asked, running his hand through his hair.

Satisfied, Caroline nodded her head and allowed the armed men to take both her and her father into custody.

--

The location they had taken them to was much nicer than Caroline expected. Heck, it was carpeted. And not cheap carpet either. Beautiful imported carpet. It was of royal caliber. And that was saying something, considering Caroline had never expected to find carpet of all things so beautiful that she described it as of royal caliber.

It was also heavily guarded, which was to be expected, considering it held criminals. But the guards were decorated. Heavily decorated, enough to where the shiny medals the soldiers who took her in wore were considered cheap.

When her and her father were led into a room that held the royal crest on its door, that’s when it hit her.

She was in the royal dungeon.

She chastised herself for not realizing it sooner, although the class of the area made it seem like an ordinary office instead of a dark dungeon that held the scariest criminals. And that posed another question - Why was her father in the royal dungeons when he was arrested for illegal horse betting, and not murder?

Her curiosity was soon replaced with fear as they were alone in that room.

Her father had not said a word yet, and she preferred it that way. She cared for him, yes - but he was the one who had gotten them in that situation in the first place. She wasn’t ready to forgive yet, not this soon.

Caroline opened her mouth to reprimand her father when the door started to open. She quickly closed her mouth but it opened again in shock when she saw who opened that door.

Klaus.

He moved swiftly to the other side of the table in front of them, a masked emotion on his face.

It was clear he didn’t expect Caroline.

But the look on his face as he glanced over to her father said the opposite.

Klaus was a beautiful man. Something Caroline definitely learned after spending the evening with him. And look of pure and utter hate that covered his face as he looked at Caroline’s dad wasn’t any different. Even in the ugliest mood, Klaus could look as heavenly as a God.

Which made Caroline’s mood very inappropriate for the situation they were in.

But she spoke anyways, hoping to ignore the dreamy good looks of the man in front of her and save her father.

“Take me instead.”

Klaus’s gaze returned to her, an annoyed look on his face. “Caroline, love - what the bloody hell are you thinking?”

“Don’t call my daughter that. How the hell do you even know her name yet? She hasn’t be registered!” Caroline’s dad had an almost brave look on his face. Caroline would be proud if he actually was brave.

“Father, it’s fine. We’re … acquaintances.” She said to him, unsure of how to tell her father ‘We danced all night at a ball and I’m pretty sure he’s the most beautiful man I’m highly sure I’ll ever see in my life.’ And to Klaus she said, “I’m protecting my father. What the bloody hell are you doing here?”

He smirked. “I forgot. You don’t know who I am.” He crossed his arms together and sat back in the chair. “Long Story short - I’m Prince Mikaelson. And your father owes me quite a lot of money.”

He was Prince Mikaelson.

The soon to be crowned prince.

Caroline didn’t know why she didn’t realize sooner. Sure, he had been kept out of the media his entire life in order to prepare for his future duties as king - but she should’ve seen the signs.

But she was too distracted by the piercing eyes of the man sitting in front of her. Damn him.

“Oh.” Her eyes widened. She was tempted to stop, to let her father be detained in the name of royalty. Then looked her father in the eyes. And she knew she couldn’t live knowing he was rotting in a cage. “Well still - take me instead. I’m sure I’m a fitting payment for the debts.”

“You shouldn’t have to be a payment for his debts.” Klaus looked over at her father, disgust in his eyes “What about you? Are you going to let your daughter do this? Waste the rest of her life to pay your debts?”

Like the useless pile of junk her dad was, he stayed quiet and looked down at the floor.

Klaus scoffed at the silence. “Fine. But since Caroline did nothing wrong, I offer up a different version of .. payment.”

At the silence of Caroline, he continued on.

“In order to become King, I must have a Queen. A Queen that looks good in the media. A woman of the people. It’s something that my father commands. But I’d also like that Queen to likable to me.” He paused, leaning forward on his elbows. “That’s you, Caroline.”

Caroline blinked in shock. “Wait, are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

“If what you’re thinking is that I’m offering you the role as my Queen, than yes.’

She didn’t know what to say. Klaus Mikaelson, future King of her entire country, was asking her to marry him and become his Queen.

“Can I think on it?” She took a deep breath, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear.

“Of course you can. But until then, your father will have to be in a holding cell until you make your decision.” Klaus stood up, walking towards the door.

Until Caroline’s father yelled out in protest.

“You can’t hold me in here,” he yelled out widely, fear present in his eyes. “Caroline - please. Take his offer. Please.”

The tension in the room was thick. There was Klaus, disgusted that a father could tell out his daughter like that. That he could try to take away Caroline’s decision and consent to do this. Then Caroline, who was internally conflicted. She could leave, walk away to make her decision. But her father might never forgive her. And she could say yes, her father free the role of a future Queen bearing weight on her shoulders. And Caroline’s dad Bill, who cared about nothing but his freedom.

Both the men in the room looked at Caroline, waiting for a decision. But the only thing Caroline could think about is when she was 9.

It was the perfect age for her. Caroline’s mom was alive, and her father hadn’t fallen off the deep end. It was pure bliss for her. Staying up with her mother reading her favorite childhood  books, and getting up early with her dad to study and learn. It was a time she hadn’t appreciated enough. A time she wish she had now.

Thinking of those times, of all the knowledge - she decided.