Title: An Original Love
Beta Reader: Stacy

Note:
This is my first crack at a Vampire Diaries story. I just wanted to try it out and see if I could pull off the characters. Not sure if this is a one-shot or not.

Caroline walked up the stairs to the massive white house, forcing herself to be calm. She knew what she was doing was wrong. She didn't even know why she had accepted the invitation. After everything that had happened, everything he had done, he didn't deserve a "yes." But she had said it, against her better judgement. And behind Tyler's back. But he didn't need to know. He'd just get mad, anyway. And it was just one date. It wasn't a big deal.

She stopped between two towering white columns, regaining her composure. She glanced down at her short dark teal dress, having second thoughts. The low sweetheart neckline was maybe too much. She straightened up and flipped her blond waves. She could get through this. She was Caroline Forbes – popular, confident, head cheerleader, head of the dance committee. She could handle anything. It would be fine. A few hours with Klaus would be nothing. Piece of cake.

She pressed the doorbell and waited while the tune echoed through the house. The door opened and she was greeted with her least favorite Original.

"Oh it's you," Rebekah said with her usual pouty expression.

"Hello to you too," Caroline smiled, sweetly.

"Niklaus!" Rebekah called. "It's for you."

She disappeared from the door, leaving Caroline standing, uncertainly. She sighed and walked in, closing the door behind her.

"Please try to be nice, Rebekah," Klaus was saying as he walked down the long winding staircase. But his words were lost on his vanished sister. His concerned expression turned into a smile when he saw Caroline turning around.

"Hi," Caroline gave a small smile.

"I half expected you not to come."

"So did I." She shrugged, then said cheerfully, "But, here I am!"

"You look wonderful," he said, looking her up and down.

"Um, thanks," she looked down at herself, then back at him. He was wearing black slacks and a soft white button-down with a triangle of chest peeking out. "So do you."

He smiled and took her hand. "Come."

He led her down the white halls until they stopped at one of many doors. Klaus glanced at her with a secretive smile. She rolled her eyes yet couldn't help but feel the corners of her mouth turning up. He finally opened the door and let her walk through, proceeding to follow her. He gently closed the door behind them and watched her adoringly as she looked around in awe.

They were in the ballroom of the Original mansion. The floor was white marble with gold and grey weaved into it. The ivory walls were adorned with lavish tapestries and windows as tall as the room. A massive glass chandelier dripped from the ceiling. Klaus had set up a small table with two seats complete with candlelight and roses. Light music was playing from somewhere unseen. Caroline just shook her head at the grandioseness of it all. But that was Klaus.

"Wow," was all she could say.

"You like it?"

"It's...a lot," she said, with wide disconcerting eyes.

"It suits you, though."

She turned and shot him a cynical look, but he ignored it, smiling, dimples and all. She turned to look back at the table again but he was already there, pulling out a chair for her. She forced back a smile and just shook her head.

"Cute," she nodded, enjoying the sound of her heels clacking against the floor as she walked over.

Klaus began pouring a crimson liquid into the two wine glasses that had been put out. He held one out to her. She looked at it, hesitantly.

"It's from a bag," he explained.

She raised her cautious eyes to his, and took the glass. She sipped it carefully then set it back on the table. Klaus sat back in his chair holding his glass between both hands. He watched her, eyes lit with amusement. Caroline looked around again, awkwardly. Her gaze rested on him, once more. He sat up and put the glass down, smiling apologetically.

"I'm sorry, I'm just so taken by your beauty."

Caroline smiled, laughingly. "Are you always this cheesy?"

He smiled too. "Would you like to dance?"

"Why not?" she stood before him.

He took her hand and led her to the center of the room. He clasped one of her hands and put his other gently on her waist, setting off butterflies in her stomach.

"What made you change your mind about tonight, Caroline?" he asked as they began to sway.

"I don't know," she pursed her lips. "I guess it just seemed like the nice thing to do, since you saved my life."

"Is that all? You're just showing your gratitude?"

She peered at him. "Yes. I am very grateful that you saved my life."

"You're welcome," he grinned.

They were silent for a number of beats. Klaus seemed complacent that way but Caroline was nervous. She wasn't sure exactly what to say to the Original.

"I'm sorry about your brother," she finally blurted out.

He seemed almost surprised, then returned it with, "I'm sorry about your father."

She looked down at the marble flooring. "You didn't have anything to do with that."

"Just the same. You didn't kill Finn."

Cocking her head to the side, she stared up at him. Why was he suddenly making it so hard to hate him? It wasn't fair. He already had his gorgeous looks going for him. His evil doings and psychotic personality were the only things she had to grasp onto and now he was completely ruining it by being sweet and charming and... Ugh! Men.

"Why are you being so nice? You're supposed to be the bad guy."

"Maybe I tire of being the bad guy," he said, before smirking. "Or maybe I just fancy you."

"I'll take bull, for 800, Alex."

He smiled, genuinely. "You don't believe me."

"You're an original," her expression turned ironic. "You can't be trusted."

"On the contrary, I promise you every word I say is the truth."

"Oh, really?"

"To you, yes."

She shook her head. "I still think you're working some angle and this is just a distraction."

"If it were, it'd be terribly foolish of you to be here. We both know you're brighter than that."

"You don't know anything about me."

"I know more than you think."

She nodded, her eyes wide. "That's creepy."

"I prefer to think of it as romantic."

"Well, prefer away. It's still weird."

"Where would you be right now, if you weren't here?" he suddenly asked.

She raised an eyebrow at his abruptness but answered him anyway. "Probably with Tyler."

He smiled bitterly. "Of course..."

"Is that why you wanted me to come here?" she broke away from him, worriedly. "Are you planning to hurt Tyler?"

"Why can't you believe that I just enjoy the pleasure of your company?" he asked, taking her hands again.

"Because you're evil."

He laughed, candidly. "And yet here you are, dancing with me."

He spun her and pulled her closer against him when she faced him again. Caroline felt her heart skip a beat. Her face turned pink.

"That's a lovely color," he teased.

"Shut up."

"I do fancy you, you know." Caroline just stayed quiet as they danced. "Tyler Lockwood doesn't deserve you."

"And you do?"

"Maybe not. But you have to admit, I outrank him by far."

"And why is that?"

"I could give you the world. Can he?"

"I don't want the world," she said softly, shaking her head.

"Yes love, you do. You want all of the glory it has to offer. You want to see things you've never seen before. I can show you."

"I have to go," she pulled away from him and started for the door.

"Wait," he called. "Caroline."

She turned around sharply. "Look, Klaus. I love Tyler. And he loves me. And I don't care what you have to offer. I don't want it. So thank you for the evening and good night."

With that, she turned on her heel and stalked out. Klaus stood there in the middle of the room, alone, jaw clenched. His anger rose. As luck would have it, Rebekah appeared in the doorway.

"Well, that went well."