I am so sorry about taking so long to update. I was finishing up my semester in England and then moving back to the US, so I didn't have a lot of time to write in the last couple weeks. I am not abandoning you, I just was busy. Thanks everyone for the reviews!

| Desperate Measures |

Caroline barely opened her eyes to the glaring bright sun. "Shit," she muttered as she closed them again, not yet prepared for what she had encountered. Turning away from the window she was even more surprised when she hit a solid object.

Opening her eyes slightly she saw a man in her bed, handsome, sure, but she didn't quite remember how he came to be there. Rubbing her eyes she tried to adjust to the daylight and think over the events from the night before. She had met Bonnie for drinks, where they ran into the Mikaelsons. The dance with Klaus. Following him to the smoking section outside the club. Returning to the club and have a double shot of tequila and… nothing. After that point she had nothing.

The man next to her opened his eyes and looked around. This was the moment that Caroline hated, that anyone that had had a random drunken hookup hated. Do you pretend that you remember each others name or where you are? Do you silently put on your clothes and go? Either way it always ended up being weird.

"You're off Fairview and Jefferson," Caroline told him. "There's a bus that runs back to the main part of the city if you have a car there, or else I can drive you somewhere if you need."

"No, the bus is fine," the dark haired man answered as he put on his jeans and threw his shirt on over his head. "I'm Ryan, by the way."

"Caroline," she told him with a smile. He was cute, even in the harsh light of the morning. And he handled the entire situation better than most of the guys she had been with in this manner.

"Well it was nice sleeping with you, Caroline," Ryan told her as he flashed her a grin.

Caroline laughed as he walked out of her room, probably never to be seen again. He seemed like he wasn't that bad of a guy, overall. Too bad she hadn't met him after getting angry with Klaus and drinking too much tequila. He might have even stood a chance.

A few minutes later she heard a knock on her door as she was picking up her clothes that had been discarded from the night before. Elena walked in with a piece of toast and the famous screwdriver and put it on the dresser before starting her attack on Caroline. "Who was that? He was cute, but how did that happen? And how dare you let Bonnie spend the night with Kol!"

"Woah, woah, too fast," Caroline said as she walked over to the dresser and took a bite of the toast. "One thing at a time."

"Who was that?" Elena repeated.

Caroline laughed. "Ryan."

"What happened to lead to him being in your bed?"

Caroline didn't really want to tell Elena the whole story, but she knew that her friend was too persistent for her not to say anything. Caroline told Elena about running into Kol at the bar, and how Bonnie asked her to bring them over, not knowing that Klaus was there as well. She told Elena about the dancing and how Klaus had run off and how she had followed. How after their conversation outside the club Caroline had downed some drinks and danced with whatever guy she could get her hands on. The rest was blurry, but it obviously ended with Ryan.

"So you danced with Klaus?" Elena picked up on that point.

"Yes, and it was… interesting."

"Hot."

"Yeah, but then he just walked away!" Caroline sighed. She still didn't understand why he had said the things he did. "Some bullshit about not being good enough for me. Like I care, I just wanted to dance, maybe hook up!"

Elena shook her head. She could tell that her friend was completely oblivious to what was in front of her. Klaus obviously was taking Stefan's 'news' seriously and starting to look at the girl differently. "Did you ever think maybe he doesn't want just a hook up with you?"

"What?"

"Klaus. Did you ever consider he might want to date you?"

A look of shock and confusion took over Caroline's face. That was the furthest thing from the truth, at least in her mind. "No, the guy can barely stand me."

"Maybe he couldn't at first, but you have to admit the two of you have changed your opinions of each other. And he did buy you that photograph," Elena said pointing to the print that was hanging on her friend's wall.

Caroline looked over at the photograph, which she treasured. Maybe Elena wasn't completely far off but it still didn't explain his behavior the night before. If he was interested in her why did he run off like that?

"I just don't get it. If he wanted me why would he run off and smoke like I was so stressful I forced him to pick up smoking…"

Elena shook her head. "Really, Caroline, you are smarter than this. He's crazy about you."

"But he doesn't believe in love, he told me so himself."

"You don't either. Maybe it's time both of you changed your tune on that one."

Caroline rolled her eyes. She was not a romantic in any sense of the word, and she wasn't planning on changing that anytime soon. Even though Klaus was hot, and even though he bought her that photograph…. No she didn't believe in that.

"It goes against everything I stand for," Caroline said with a smile. "Drinking and meaningless sex is just a much better way to live."

Now Elena laughed. "You might think that's true, but sex with someone you actually care about, or even know its so much better than whatever you had with Ryan last night. Just think about giving Klaus a chance?"

Caroline didn't know if she believed her friend but decided that she would just let the subject go for now. "What was the next question in your attack from earlier?"

"Bonnie! Bonnie texted me this morning from Kol Mikaelson's bed!"

"Yeah," Caroline replied as she took a bite of her breakfast. If Bonnie wanted to try something new, she might as well try it with the best. "As long as she remembers to get tested for STDs I don't see how that's a problem."

"That is not something Bonnie does! How did she come to think that was a good idea? Caroline?"

"Don't look at me! She was the one that brought it up. She was talking about how she needed a change of pace and how she wanted to live a little," Caroline explained. "She even was the one that spotted Kol and demanded that I ask him and his friend to come join us. So I am not at all responsible for that."

Elena was skeptical. It didn't sound like her friend to do something that stupid, but maybe Caroline was telling the truth and Bonnie wanted a change. She hadn't really been with anyone since she broke up with Elena's little brother, Jeremy, months ago. "Fine, but you are a bad influence."

Bonnie woke up in a hotel room, but not like any hotel that she had ever been able to stay at. No, this place was immaculate, modern, and sleek. The bed was heavenly, with a large white duvet covering her. The black wood of the other furniture made for a bold contrast. She grabbed her phone and sent off a quick message to Elena before turning over and looking at Kol.

Kol was still asleep, and Bonnie wasn't completely sure how this one night stand thing worked. She knew she was supposed to leave, but did she leave a note? A text? Was he supposed to be awake? Bonnie contemplated these questions as she grabbed her dress and slid it back on, zipping it. Picking up her heels she quietly left the bedroom, closely the door gently behind her.

"Oh shit!" she exclaimed when she saw Klaus standing in his boxer-briefs in the kitchen of the hotel room.

"Good morning to you too," Klaus said sarcastically. He grabbed a mug from the cabinet and poured a cup of coffee. "What do you take in your coffee?"

"Just milk," Bonnie told him. Although she didn't have a lot of knowledge on the aspects of a hook up, she knew that this was not something she was supposed to be doing. Having coffee and bagels with the guy's brother was not a typical morning after. But she was hungry, and Klaus wasn't a stranger.

Bonnie walked over to him and put a bagel in the toaster. The fact that this place had a full kitchen, with top of the line equipment was too much for her. She grabbed the mug from Klaus and took a look sip, holding the mug with both hands.

"What happened to you and Caroline last night?" Bonnie asked as she waited for her bagel to finish toasting.

Klaus just shook his head. "Let me go put some pants on and then I can tell you what happened."

As he walked away and into his own bedroom, Bonnie remained in the kitchen, putting cream cheese on the bagel and taking a seat at the tall stool that sat against the counter. For as much as Caroline complained about the Mikaelsons Bonnie didn't really see that side of them. At least not yet.

Klaus walked back in and headed to the coffee maker to pour his own mug. He set it down on the counter in front of Bonnie and tried to think of how he was going to tell her what happened. "We danced a bit, it got a little heated, so I stepped outside for a smoke. She came after me and snapped at me, and we argued and then she walked away. When I came back in I saw her downing shots and looking for prey. It was pretty obvious she didn't want anything to do with me at that point."

Bonnie rolled her eyes. That was just typical for Caroline, get rejected so go overboard and grab whatever she could get her hands on. "What did you say to her?"

"What?" Klaus asked. "Oh I just said she could do better than me."

"She probably can, to tell you the truth," Bonnie said confidently as she bit into her bagel. "But that doesn't seem to be what she wants. What about you, what do you want?"

Klaus shook his head. "I hadn't considered it, really, until we were dancing and I was so close to kissing her. But I stopped. Because she deserves more than that. I'm not one for doing that, stopping myself. I am usually a little more like Kol, no offense."

"None taken, let's just say that was a first and probably a last for me," Bonnie said. "So you want her?"

"I don't know. I guess so. She's different than other women, but she drives me crazy too…"

"You're falling for her, whether you like it or not," Bonnie told him as she drank from her coffee. She stood up, having finished her bagel. "Whatever you do, don't play with her heart. She's had enough of that in her life. You're either in or you're out. No games, or I will come back here and make you pay. Deal?"

"Deal."

Caroline didn't want to go into the office on Monday. There was something about it that just gave her a feeling of dread. After the mishaps from Friday evening the last thing she wanted to do was have to look Klaus in the eyes. Or Kol for that matter but she put on a pencil skirt and a dark blue blouse and went in anyway.

Caroline went to the desk that she had claimed and saw no notices or emails with work to do, so she knew the right thing to do was to go to Elijah and ask, but that meant passing the office that Klaus and Stefan shared. There was a sense of dread that took over her at the idea of having to see his face after yelling at him in the alley.

She stood up from her desk and walked with her head held high past the office to Elijah's. The man was seated at the desk, Meredith, the secretary in front of him.

"Caroline," Elijah said with a smile. "I actually don't have any PR related business for you today, but I know that Stefan might need some help on an event planning session, if that interests you."

"What's the event?" Caroline asked, curious.

"I think you will have to talk to him about that, he's keeping it rather quiet."

Caroline was confused but nodded and walked out of the office. This was not what she was planning on doing today, spending the day in close contact with the one person that she was trying her best to avoid. Reaching the office of Klaus and Stefan she walked in and saw that it was empty.

Caroline took the free time to explore the office décor, which now included some photos of Stefan and Elena and new paintings, probably done by Klaus. She saw one of a stream, it was beautiful yet tragic, with dark colors making the painting emotionally painful to look at.

She was still staring at it when she heard footsteps behind her. Closing her eyes she hoped that it was Stefan, that she could avoid Klaus and his possible love for her for a little bit longer.

"What do you think of it?" asked a British voice.

"It's depressing," she stated. "Makes me think about the feeling of loneliness."

"I can't say that's what I was going for, but I guess I see it," Klaus told her. Caroline turned around and faced him, trying her best to crack a smile. He had told her she was too good for him, but for some reason that just made it harder not to think of him in that way.

"I was just waiting for Stefan," she told him, trying to explain herself for standing in the office staring at his artwork.

Klaus nodded, it made sense. He was actually a little concerned about seeing her this morning. He had thought about what he had said, and what Bonnie had said. He had trouble sleeping the previous night, trying to figure out what the best solution was. As much as he wanted to say that the job would be over soon, that they would change cities again, everyday that looked to be less and less true. Maybe they would consult other clients, but the company was making a home in this city. It wasn't LA, with its sunshine and beaches, but Klaus could pass on that for awhile. Elijah and Damon were finally getting along, and people were starting to make a life here. Even Kol liked it here, which was a rarity in itself.

"He's out searching for a venue for the party," Klaus said.

Caroline frowned. "Well, Elijah doesn't have anything for me so he told me to help with this party. What is it for anyway?"

"I can't tell you that love, it's a surprise."

"Don't call me that," Caroline snapped without thinking.

"Why shouldn't I?"

"Because you had your chance and you didn't take it. Either you think too highly of me or too lowly of yourself, Klaus. I thought you were different, but maybe your just another idiot."

Caroline turned and walked out of the office, leaving a awestruck and confused Klaus.

"So I had an idea," Tyler said as he walked into his boss's office.

Damon turned around in his chair and looked at Tyler. "About what?"

"Your brother and that nauseating girl," Tyler answered.

A grin took over Damon's face. Over time Damon had become more and more annoyed by even the sight of his brother and the girl that rejected him. He just wanted Stefan to leave her and to move on to someone else. There was something about Elena that was hypnotizing to him and he just wanted her out of their life for good. Damon didn't like having feelings for other people, and Elena was constantly on his mind. That would have to change.

"What do you have in mind?"

"Since the windows of Elena and Rebekah are next to each other, I was thinking that we just need to get Stefan to believe that Rebekah's window is Elena's."

"Interesting, go on."

"Then when I go home with Rebekah, Stefan will see 'Elena' having sex with someone else. Then he will leave her."

It seemed too easy, but Damon had to admit there was a nice finality to it. If Stefan believed that the girl he loved cheated on him, there was no way that he would want to take her back. "When can we do this?"

"You get a reason to take Stefan to Elena's and I will take care of the rest. Rebekah even agreed to it."

"Rebekah knows about this?" Damon asked.

"Yes, she isn't the biggest fan of her neighbors to say the least. They are always complaining about her to the landlord for her music or for her loud sex. Prudes, both of them."

Damon laughed, and Tyler joined in. It was just too easy but it would be perfect.

Caroline had spent the week wondering what the hell happened with Klaus, and if there was anything else there. His words kept playing over and over in her head, she was too good for him. She had no idea what he could possibly mean. And then Elena telling her that he was interested in her. It just wouldn't leave her alone. She was confused about what she felt for him. At first she hated him, he annoyed her so much at first, but then things had changed. Now he was something else completely. He was the man that bought her the photo, who reminded her that there was good with the bad in everyone. Maybe she just needed to give him a real chance.

Walking into the office after class on Thursday she was surprised to see a note on her desk written in a unfamiliar hand.

'Maybe I do think too lowly of myself. I don't see what you see.' – K

Caroline stood up and took the little yellow note with her to Klaus's office. He was seated at the desk, typing something on his computer. "What is this about?" she asked as she walked in.

"What?" Klaus asked. He looked up and saw the note in her hand. "Forget that, I was in a bad mood when I wrote it. Throw it away."

"No," Caroline said insistently. Now she was really curious. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Klaus shook his head. "More than you would think. People are complicated, Caroline. Even prats like me."

"I don't think you're a jerk," she admitted. "Annoying, yes, but not mean."

"Fine, I thought you were the same, at first."

"At first? And what do you think of me now?"

Klaus paused, thinking over the words that he would say. He wanted to tell her the truth that he was interested in her, but he didn't want to lead her on if she was really in love with him. Finally he just gave up. "I like you. You're smart, you're confident, and you are full of light."

"You obviously don't know me then. I am a neurotic unconfident pessimist."

"I don't see that. You do think to lowly of yourself. Maybe you need to see yourself the way that I see you. Go on a date with me."

"A what?" Caroline asked, shocked.

"You know, a dinner, maybe a show. Something along those lines."

Caroline was still in shock when she agreed. She didn't know how they got to that point or why she said yes, but for some reason she was excited.

Up next: The first date and Stefan learns that his girlfriend isn't who he thought she was.