A/N : Hey I am back with another chapter. I hope you all like it. I am going to speed things up and am hoping to end this fic soon.

Thank you everyone who followed, faved and reviewed.


Regrets and Realizations


She turned with a laugh and it died when she saw the bewitching intensity in his eyes. Intensity which she was quickly becoming enamored with. He was looking at her as if he couldn't bear to take his eyes off of her. It stole her breath, tingled her heart.

People around them began cheering. She saw they were on the cam. Klaus smirked and nodded towards the cam.

Before she knew what she was doing she leaned forward. Klaus moved closer too, holding her face like his most prized possession. A small peck, then the kiss deepened just like their passion. A slow simmer at first turning into a wild fire. The press of their lips, soft and demanding.

He kissed her as if stealing a taste and then relishing it. As if he had discovered a new thirst, a new craving he wasn't aware was essential to his existence.
Klaus pulled her closer, her breath mingling with his, delicious and potent. Her soft form just within his reach and yet so far. He wanted her closer, skin to skin, breaths with breaths, with no barrier between them. He would've have forgotten everything and everyone but
an uproar from the surrounding had them return to reality.

They broke the kiss, but neither quite ready to let go yet, so they pulled apart gradually. She didn't want to meet his eyes so she began looking at the basketball court as if riveted but wasn't looking at anything particular. She was still much too aware of his proximity, his warmth, his scent and her own heartbeat.

Klaus saw her engrossed in the game and swallowed his disappointment. How easily she had cast him aside but then again it was only him, who wanted this, wanted her more than his next breath. She may feel something for him but she wasn't pleased about it nor did she want to feel it. She wanted Tyler and was getting married to him.

The fact that Tyler was supposed to be here and couldn't make it, was just a coincidence or perhaps fate's cruel joke. It didn't mean that she wanted to spend time with him, she was just making up for her rudeness earlier, Klaus thought over another wave of misery.

"Uhm. I'm sorry I shouldn't have kissed you." She remarked and then booed as the opposing team scored a point. She hoped he didn't notice how her hands were still shaking.

Misery was going to be his constant companion today, he thought. He was anything but sorry after their kiss and she was sorry, felt guilt. She booed and he smiled putting up a brave front.

"What? They didn't block it." Caroline remarked while trying to act normal around him but it was a hard feat.

"Nothing. I..."

"Don't say it. I know I have to tell Tyler that we kissed. He is going to be mad at me but we'll tell him it just happened and it meant nothing. Right?"

"Of course." He mumbled. The way he said it made Caroline want to burst into tears. His easy acquiscence was not something she wanted.

"I have to go to the restroom. I'll be back." Caroline announced and without even a slight glance at him she left.

She splashed water on her face and then closed her eyes. Gosh why did she always feel like she was riding on some turbulent emotional wave whenever she was around Klaus. One second she felt like laughing and the next crying. The things he stirred in her were sinful, tempting and so shockingly unique. And to add fuel to the fire Tyler hadn't shown up. His presence might have dulled some tension between her and Klaus. She reapplied the lipstick and decided she would not let Klaus get under her skin.

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"You kissed?" Tyler asked, his face impassive. Caroline tried to gauge his reaction but she couldn't figure out if he was angry or worse hurt.

"We did. It was..."

"I know." Tyler's calm reply as he grabbed a water bottle from the refrigerator surprised Caroline. "Klaus told me. I'm not mad Care. I know it was one of those cam kisses. Why would I be upset about it? I trust you." He kissed her cheek and just like that left.

"I trust you." Those three words troubled her, troubled her because they should have made her feel guilty but guilt was from any of the emotions that haunted her.

The front door closed letting her know he had left for his office.

For a few minutes she just sat there. Tyler knew it was one of those cam kisses but he didn't know how much she had wanted that kiss, Klaus's kiss, his lips and hands on her.

She had expected Tyler to act jealous or angry but to her astonishment he had acted quite civily. She had never liked men who acted irrationally possessive but somewhere in a corner of her heart Caroline had wanted Tyler to be a little possessive.

She sighed and ran a hand over her face. Last night she had decided she won't let Klaus affect her anymore and she was going to make sure that this was the case.

She got up and went to get dressed before leaving for work, all the while reminding herself of all the reasons why she had fallen in love with Tyler in the first place. Because lately those reasons were getting somewhat blurry.

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"So I know I have to decide who my maid of honor would be. I actually leave it upto you guys. Both of you get to decide who should be the maid of honor." Caroline said sitting beside Katherine in Bonnie's living room. Bonnie sat in front of them and handed them popcorn.

"Ughh. Nice so you decided to pull a Monica on us?" Kat replied rolling her eyes and taking some of the popcorn.

"A Monica?" Bonnie bit into the popcorn.

"You know what Monica did when she was getting married to Chandler in Friends." Kat answered.

"I am not pulling a Monica." Caroline took some for herself too.

"Wait does that make me Rachel?" Bonnie asked.

When Caroline and Katherine squinted she added, "You know single mom working at a famous fashion enterprise."

"So that would make me Phoebe. Come to think of it I am a Phoebe, cool, sexy and badass and Caroline is so Monica."

"Oh please..."

"Uhuh don't interrupt you are a Monica. Didn't you just rearrange the table mats when you came?" Kat asked.

"Yeah... but..."

"She also rearranged the foods and beverages in my refrigerator." Bonnie laughed.

"That's because it's more efficient and easy that way." Caroline was a little offended.

"Face it honey. You are a control freak with some OCD stuff in that gorgeous brain of yours. Buuuutt you're still getting married to Ty-douche-ler. Who by the way is nothing like the beloved and sexy Chandler." Kat interrupted.

"Wonderful. We are back to bashing my fiancè." Caroline said sarcastically.

"Oh you don't have to worry about that as long as I am alive." Kat blew a kiss to Caroline and Caroline threw popcorn at her.

"I've decided Bonnie can be the maid of the honor." Kat announced, "Not because I don't want to or it won't be an utmost honor because it most definitely would be but I have to be in London next few weeks for London fashion week and to sign a new model for our fall catalogue. So I think it won't be fair to our blushing bride here if I am not able to do a good job. I hope you understand
Care." She held Caroline's hand.

"I understand. Bon? You okay with this?"

"Of course I am so excited to be your maid of honor. And Angela can be your flower girl." Bonnie smiled.

"Aww my little bug would look soooo cute." Kat added.

Caroline smiled, Bonnie began playing the movie that they had decided to watch and Kat squeezed Caroline's hand for reassurance.

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Caroline huffed and hung up her phone.

"What?" Bonnie asked sitting in the front seat while Caroline reversed the car and started driving.

"Tyler can't come. Something about a golf club lunch with his father's political supporters."

"Well then more cake for us."

"Yeah." Caroline's voice came out a little agitated.

"Don't be upset. Tyler has a legit issue."

"He's been having legit issues since I asked Carol to stop interfering."

"You think Carol is doing this on purpose."

"Yeah. She is."

"Have you talked to Tyler about this?"

"What should I say that your mother is being a momzilla. You know how he gets when I mention his parents. They didn't approve of me for their son, especially Carol. Sometimes I wish..."

"Wish what?"

"That he would just... stand up for himself and for us. I know he can't do that since his father is a controlling ...prick and Tyler's practice is new but still..." she blew out an audible breath.

"I get it. But don't let Carol take away from our cake fun time." Bonnie made an excited face hoping to cheer up her friend.

Caroline looked at Bonnie and after a small pause both began laughing.

"So what do you guys think? Mint chocolate cake with caramel frosting." Bonnie gave Caroline and Klaus an enthusiastic look hoping that they would love this one.

They tasted the cake together and made a disgusted face behind the chef's back.
Klaus sighed," Who eats this?" And coughed.

Caroline mouthed I know. Bonnie made an aggravated sound, "You two are not helping. You haven't liked a single one from the five cakes I picked out." Just then her phone rang. Bonnie took it out. "It's the babysitter. I'll be back." Then she left.

"Thanks for coming." Caroline smiled at Klaus.

"Oh no, no thanks necessary. This is actually how I spend my Tuesdays."

"Yeah." Caroline laughingly asked.

"Yes. Tasting disgusting cakes for weddings is a part time hobby. It's very stimulating for my taste buds." Klaus stated in a jovial mood wanting to make her laugh. Her smile always lit up his heart. She laughed at his remark and he felt the spund resonating inside him, leaving him happy.

The creases around his eyes and mouth as he laughed were so attractive to her in that moment, Caroline thought.

Tyler had asked Klaus to fill in for him at the cake and wine tasting for their wedding. With anticipation and nervousness Caroline had waited for him to show up at the Bakers. She had expected to feel awkward around him after their kiss at the game, but to her surprise things had gone well without any awkwardness or any residual resentment. In Fact they had gotten along as if it were the most natural thing.

And now he stood here in front of her, laughing with her over yucky cakes.

They were still laughing when Bonnie returned.

"Guys. Okay I give up. I mean I failed my very first maid of honor task and I am not ashamed to admit it. This cake situation is upto you now. You will find me over there near the brownie section drooling over chocolate." Bonnie dramatically announced and left.

They looked at each other. "So this is upto us now?" Caroline asked.

"Apparently." he replied. Then they both proceeded to taste the cakes together.

Caroline picked one. "This is good but ...…"

"But something just doesn't say "a perfect wedding" about this?" Klaus asked over a spoonful. She was about to nod in agreement when she caught an evil twinkle in his eye and smacked his shoulder.

Klaus laughed lightly then getting serious he stated, "It's good but you are right it needs to be best. You deserve the best even in cake." The sincerity on his face was so heartwarming.

Caroline's heart lurched towards him but she joked it off, "Exactly. Nothing tells you a steady future and hundred years of married bliss like a great wedding cake." and then she walked over to another row of cakes.

Klaus saw her ask the bakery chef for another one, her hands and her face animated perhaps with the excitement of her upcoming marriage. He was entranced by her poise, her strength and her child like exuberance. She turned and gestured for him to come over, how could he refuse. Klaus walked to her and took the spoon she offered. His eyes met hers over the spoon she held, a sizzle zinged between them. The chemistry between them as potent as ever. A tempestuous pull of desire ensconced them. His eyes fixed on hers, he leaned closer and wiped a smidge of cream from her lower lip with his thumb. In a languorous move he licked his thumb. Caroline's tongue darted out and ran over her lip, partly because her throat was dry. And partly because she wanted to steal a taste of his touch over her lip where his thumb had stroked.

"So Is this the one?" someone asked them.

"Yes. The one." Caroline uttered a whisper which rose somewhere from the depth of her heart.

"Yes the one and only." Klaus answered, losing himself in her eyes.

Their voices were low, but held a note of conviction said in a daze of passion. They had murmured their hearts desire, unconsciously saying what they would never confess otherwise. A confession of an attraction becoming something much more meaningful for both of them.

"So it's to be three tiered?" a voice called out.

They jerked their heads towards the voice and asked in unison. "What?"

The chef asked, "The cake? Three tiers right?"

"Yes." Caroline smiled and then felt disappointed when she saw that Klaus had moved back.
She visibly recovered from the spell though her heartbeat was still a staccato.

Klaus put some distance between them. Everything about her screamed for him to own her, to hold her close and ease the ache throbbing in his soul. He now knew his attraction to her was more than a physical thing. It ran deeper, a fathomless gaping where his heart beat. It had taken ahold of his existence. Love…. his fanciful sister would say but he knew it was beyond that. Love and something so much more commanding that perhaps would be his ruin before all of this ended. His pocketed his clenched fists, instantly feeling a craving for his paints to find his release. Caroline stood a few feet apart, a little hurt by his sudden aloofness. She was trying to hide it, but couldn't at the moment. The vulnerability seeping in her enticing eyes was too evident, too breathtaking. He wanted to offer promises and pledges but he couldn't, not without being selfish. And try as he might he couldn't be selfish with her.

She placed an order, discussed the cost and settled the amount. It gave him sometime to regroup a bit.

She unzipped her purse, checked her messages and then walked to him.

"Where is Bonnie?" Klaus asked wanting to quell some tension.

They looked around and saw a pastry chef flirting with her. "Is that guy flirting with her?" Klaus questioned with a slight frown.

She smiled now, "Oh that's nothing. Men literally fall at her feet wherever we go. Chefs, doctors, lawyers, everyone."

"Yeah?"

"Yep." Caroline replied.

"And still I had to go and do the stupid thing and love a washed out jock from high school." Bonnie added walking in on their conversation.

"Love is stupid. It happens where it shouldn't." Klaus stated and Caroline felt a constriction inside her chest. She stole a glance at him, a storm of unknown sentiments brewing in his eyes. She busied herself with her phone, too choked up to say anything.

Bonnie was about to say something when they were interrupted by a blond woman.

"Hello. Miss Forbes. I am Liv. " she called out to the group and extended her hand for a shake. Bonnie and Klaus obliged while Caroline didn't take her extended hand.

"Liv?" Bonnie asked.

"Yes. Liv Forbes. I was hired by Mr Lockwood to see over the arrangements as the wedding planner." she stated.

"Oh shit." Bonnie murmured. Klaus threw her a questioning look.

"Which Mr Lockwood would that be?" Caroline's resentment apparent in her edgy tone.

"Ty. I mean Tyler. Caroli.."

"Miss Forbes. It's Miss Forbes to you. We are not friends, we are not even acquaintances so please don't call me by my first name. I do not mean to be rude but I refuse your services. I have my own planner so please leave." Caroline knew her voice had grown frosty and rude but she didn't care at the moment. Turning away she asked the chef where the restroom was, and then Caroline stormed out.

Liv ran a shaky hand through her blond curls, embarrassed and put down she looked at Bonnie but Bonnie gave her a cold shoulder too. With a sad smile at Klaus and Bonnie she left.

"She was Caroline's step sister." Bonnie stated. "That's all I can tell you the rest is for her to tell you if she wants to." Klaus nodded in understanding.

Just then Bonnie's phone rang again. She answered it.

"Okay. Okay. Don't worry I'll be there in ten minutes." she hung up the phone and hurried to the restrooms.

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Caroline entered the restroom and dumped her bag on the counter in front of the mirror. Fury resonating inside her. She thumped a hand on the marble counter.

How could Tyler do this to her. He knew how she felt about Bill Forbes and his other family, his only family in fact. How she hated Bill's hypocrisy and resented his wife Celia and his other daughter, Liv. The daughter who had everything, his time, his affection, his money and most of all his claim and name. His wife, Celia who had what Elizabeth, Caroline's mother, deserved. Her mother who still waited for a callous, greedy and selfish man to do right by her. Tears threatened when Caroline remembered the cruel treatment she and her mother had endured at the hands of Forbes senior and his wife, her so called grandparents.

With jerking hands she opened her bag and took out a napkin, harshly wiped away her face, wanting to rub away her emotions.

A knock sounded on the door. "Yes?" Caroline called out.

Bonnie entered, "Care are you okay?"

"Yeah I am fine. You look spooked."

"Angela fell and cut her leg. I … I .. have to go. I would stay.."

Caroline shook her head, "Oh no. Is she okay?" then nodded, "Of course I'll be fine. I'll come with you." she picked her bag.

"No. It's okay. Carla her baby sitter said Angela was okay but I have to see for myself. You go I know you scheduled for the visit to the venue. I'll call you."

"Sure." Caroline hugged her.

Caroline and Bonnie exited the restroom together. Bonnie rushed out after greeting Klaus.

"Are you okay?" Klaus saw the stricken expression on Caroline's face.

"Not really. Bonnie had to leave, her…"

"I know. You want to catch lunch." he desperately wanted to comfort her but wasn't sure if his compassion would be welcomed by her.

Caroline understood he was offering support, and right then and there she fell deeper in the vortex of her feelings for him. Embracing the pleasure that ricocheted within her even as torment crept she smiled. "Sure."

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So i hope you guys liked it!

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