#sunshinegold

Unease coursed through her chest, and she cursed her pickiness in choosing dinner. She'd have liked to have gotten another few mouthfuls before hitting the road. Still, she trusted her gut and made for the backdoor so she could slip around to her car.

The alley was empty, as she started down it, but a quick glance away and her eyes landed on a shadow waiting for her when her eyes returned to the parking lot. Caroline came to an abrupt stop, blinking at the figure waiting for her.

Lean, but not overly tall. The streetlights glinted off wild curls and a collection of necklaces. “Klaus.”

Lips curling upwards, Klaus shifted his weight and moved so he was standing close enough to touch. Brow arching, his thumb came up and swiped across the corner of her mouth. “Hello, sweetheart, I hear you’re looking for me.”

Her pulse kicked up, as his tongue snaked across the pad of his thumb, licking away a smear of blood. “What are you doing here?”

Brow kicked up, Klaus’ lips curved upwards. “Looking for you. Although, I admit, I didn't expect to find you here. Or alone.”

She flinched, just a little, at the reminder that Klaus knew about the girls. Had encouraged her to make a choice for herself, and she had, even if it had blown up spectacularly. His eyes, that had always been far too perceptive, narrowed.

Shaking her head, Caroline took a deep breath. “Extenuating circumstances. But seriously, how did you find me? When they said you weren't in New Orleans, I figured you'd disappeared into Europe or something.”

His jaw tightened, as he read her face, but his tone remained light. “I've considered it. But I had a few things to wrap up, someone to keep an eye on.”

“I was sorry to hear about Hope,” Caroline murmured, glancing away from him for a moment. She'd never asked Stefan about his trip, had avoided all information about New Orleans, but the ripple from the slaughter that had occurred once the truth of Klaus’ daughter had been discovered impossible to ignore.

“Thank you, love,” Klaus replied easily, but when she glanced back at his eyes, they’d darkened with a tangle of emotions she couldn't read. “Those responsible have been dealt with, and in a manner to discourage such exploits in the future. But we digress. Why are you here, Caroline? I've been lead to believe you've enjoyed motherhood these past few years. That you and the ex-Hunter had a created quite the family unit.”

There was no derision in his tone, no hint of mockery. Just a calm steadiness she desperately needed. The monster who'd seen her love of vampirism and called her on it, offered her more respect for her choices than her ex-boyfriend.

“I can't protect them,” Caroline managed, voice roughening. “The girls… Alaric, they needed to disappear, and I made that impossible.”

Klaus’ gaze waver. “Because you're a vampire.”

“What Alaric wanted I couldn't give him,” she admitted lowly. “It might've been okay, if Jo’s coven hadn't wanted the girls back. If they'd realized I helped raise them, they'd never have stopped hunting the girls. And yes, because I'm a vampire. Ten years from now, how am I supposed to explain why I still look like I belong at their High School at the PTA meetings?”

Klaus was silently, and she took several quick, ragged breaths. Struggled to wrestle her emotions back under control. She jolted, when his hand shifted to cup her jaw, thumb running across her cheek. “What do you need?”

Her gaze shot to his and he arched a brow.

“When you were looking for me in New Orleans, what did you hope to gain?”

Teeth scraping across her lip, Caroline held his gaze. “I won't let the Gemini Coven have them.”

The idea of them fighting, of one being absorbed, gave her nightmares. Caroline would hunt each and every member down and slaughter them first. Maybe that wasn't fair, maybe it wasn't morally right, but the girls were hers.

“Give me three weeks, and they won't be a problem any longer.”

She stared at him, blinking after a long moment. “Just… just like that?”

Klaus shrugged, thumb continuing to brush along her cheek. “What's a little murder between friends? You'll learn over the years, there's a bit of a knack to destroying a line of witches. I'd offer you a chance to assist, since it appears they’ve done their best to hurt you, but I'm hoping you'll take me up on a different offer.”

Uncertain, she reached up and gripped his wrist. “What offer?”

“I'm sure it won't be long after word reaches your friends that the coven has been dealt with, that they'll attempt to reach out to you. While I believe we both know my opinion about particular individuals, if you choose to forgive them, that does remain your prerogative.”

The disdain in his voice had her biting down on a smile. “Yes, it does.”

“But perhaps you shouldn't make it quite so easy on them, hmm,?” Klaus suggested. “Pick a country, a state. I've many homes, let me give you a chance to plan your next step.”

Caroline blinked, opened her mouth to turn him down, hesitated. She had some money set aside and she had exactly one suitcase worth of items to her name. Klaus had asked for less than a month to destroy the Gemini Coven, and she trusted that he would. Maybe she could give herself a similar timeline to take him up on his hospitality. She felt rudderless, and a few weeks of just being might do her some good.

Klaus had been told she was looking for him, and he'd found her. That meant something, even if she wasn't willing to deal with what, exactly. He must have sensed her consideration, because he leaned in, lips curling.

“The Swiss Alps are beautiful this time of year.”

“Don't push it,” she said firmly, letting go of his arm. “I don't want to be a burden.”

Something dangerous crawled behind his gaze, and he shook his head. “You're not. There is no debt between us, Caroline. We’re friends, are we not? Allow me to be friendly, and offer you a break. Unless you have other plans?

She didn't, which he’d probably guessed. Ass. Huffing, she stepped away from him and scowled. “Fine.”

“Good,” Klaus said easily, unperturbed by her ire. “Shall we then? I'll escort you to the airport, you may inform the pilot of your choice of location and I’ll deal with your pesky witch problem.”

“You make it sound so easy,” Caroline muttered as she allowed him to steer you towards her car.

“You'll find, Caroline, that many things are far easier than your friends would ever have had you believe.”

She stopped and tilted her to look at him. Brows arched, curls rumpled in the moonlight, Caroline rose on tiptoe to kiss the scruff of his cheek. “Thank you.”

Eyes threaded with gold, he was perfectly still for a long moment before he nodded and ushered her forward. “You're welcome, Caroline. Helping you is no hardship. I believe I've made my intentions perfectly clear, in regards to you, and your happiness?”

Her breath caught in her throat, at the burning glance he dragged down her face before glancing at her car. She nodded mutely, and dimples creased his cheeks.