*Flash back*

"Caroline" his little squeaky voice echoed through the dark tunnel. She could hear him but she couldn't see him. She was terrified. Going into the unknown was hardly part of her day to day route.

But here she was finding herself in the position where the only option was to move forward.

It started as a bit of fun – like everything does – a bit of adventure to fill the time between walking home from school. He decided to take a shortcut and like a little lap doll, she followed him.

Of course she would, they were inseparable. He was her friend, her best friend

"Caroline, come on!" what she wanted to do was to turn back, retreat but she was already half way there. It was too late for that.

"I can't move"

"Here take my hand" she could feel something wrap around her fingertips, stroking her thumb "I'm here for you. Don't worry, I won't let go. Just follow my voice".

She was hesitant, it was only natural after all she was only human. There was comfort in the warmth of his hand, like she was home and nothing could hurt her. And like a miracle she took the first step towards the unknown

"Caroline, relax we're nearly there" she could hear laughter in his voice "Look I can see the light" taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself but it was pitch black and cold; something she really wasn't a fan of.

He should have known she didn't like the dark.

He felt her fear and it was almost instinct to him to help her.

He didn't want her to be afraid, of course he didn't but he was teenage boy, he was irrational.

"Do you trust me?" he asked

"Why have we stopped?"

"Do you trust me?" he repeated the question, more demanding then the first time

"Of course I do"

"On the count of three, we're going to run. Okay?" she nodded, not sure whether he saw her or not and before long she was running. Adrenaline pumping through her veins, she never felt more alive and before she could enjoy the moment, they were at the other end of the tunnel

"We made it! Wasn't that great?" his arms were around her, her heart panting. She wasn't scared anymore, she felt invincible. She never thought, she'd love the gift of sight as much as she did now.

She could see her house only minutes away from them. She smiled as his cheeky grin smiled back

"I told you, you could trust me. I'll always look after you" he gave a childish nudge to her arm as he ran off "Last one to get to your house, is a rotten egg" he looked over his shoulder as he laughed.

A moment she knew, she would never forget. She took one look behind at the tunnel before she smiled, and ran after him.

[17 years later]

"I don't understand. How is that even possible?" her laugher filled the room as she sat curled up on the sofa. Between bites of popcorn she spoke again

"I mean seriously!? That's amazing" she laughed "Don't you think Nik?"

He was just as absorbed in the television as she was. Magicians always fascinated him and he got this DVD for his thirtieth and he had to show Caroline. Like he did with everything, Caroline was the first to know, every memory that he could remember had always involved her and he wasn't going to stop that now. They had been together, since as long as he could remember.

She was like a sister he never had.

"I can do that" he shrugged, as her gawping eyes glared at him, before a handful of popcorn brushed across his cheeks as he laughed "Watch and learn" he stood up, pushed out his shoulders and cleared his voice

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I bring to you the magnificent Klau-dini" he began applauding himself, nodding for Caroline to join in which she did reluctantly "It's a pleasure to be here, and for my first trick" he paused for affect "the disappearing coin" He pulled out a coin from his pocket in a magician like way as he showed it to her

"Madam, would you please check that this coin is indeed real?" he leaned forward giving Caroline the coin as she laughed trying to bend it

"It's legit, Oh mighty Klau-dini" he put a finger up as she tried to muffle her laughter

"It's MagnificentKlau-dini to you" Klaus showed her the coin from inside the palm of his hand before he closed it. Re-opening it to find the coin was no longer there. Caroline's mouth opened

"No Way..."

"I believe you have something behind your ear love"

"Really? You think I'm going to believe that it's actually – Oh my God" she gasped as he revealed the coin from behind her ear; her hands clasped her ear before she grabbed the coin from his fingertips

"And that ladies and gentlemen, concludes the act. Thank you, thank you very much" he bowed as Caroline applauded rapidly, for real this time

"Klaus that was amazing, you have to teach me that"

"Uh uh, a magician never shares his secrets" he plonked himself next to her as her face composed itself

"After all we've been through Niklaus Michaelson, you can't even teach little old me a silly coin trick!?"

"It appears so love"

"Oh don't make me hurt you"

"I'd like to seeyou try" he winked, before she launched herself upon him and almost rugby tackled him to the floor. Her arm was around his neck before he had time to beg for mercy.

She pulled his one arm behind his back as she smiled

"See, thisis what happens when I teach you stuff" Caroline laughed, her phone began to ring as she released him from her grasp

"Hello?" Klaus noticed how her face lightened up and he knew exactly who was on the other end

"Hey, I've missed you. Oh you're coming now? Okay, I'll be ready, give me two seconds" her face was glowing which made Klaus smile but if he was being honest he never really liked this guy.

Caroline had been dating him for a few months now and frankly, Klaus didn't really feel a connection to him. Yes, they got on – quite well in fact – but he always felt like he was hiding something, either that or he didn't like the fact that another guy may be replacing his alpha male position in Caroline's life.

Klaus knew her better than anyone, they grew up together which basically means, he had the right to know whether a guy was meant for her or not and this guy wasn't it.

Caroline was a beautiful girl, she had had other boyfriends over the time they had known each other, some more successful than others of course and Klaus had also had his fair share of girlfriends and normally he wouldn't have a problem with it but he just got under his skin.

Maybe due to the fact that this relationship had lasted a lot longer than all the others, but whatever it was, Klaus always had those thoughts – even though he felt guilty for thinking them – but he hoped that they would break up soon, after all the relationship couldn't keep going, there was no spark.

He'd seen the way they were when they were together; it was like watching two stick men cuddle.

"I've got to get ready" she winked "my boyfriend'scoming to take me to dinner" she would never grow tired of calling him that. She got up and started removing her clothes "Klaus do you mind, just cleaning all this up. I don't want him to think I live in a pigsty" he grinned as he picked up the plates

"But you kind of do love"

"Well, he's not to know that, is he?" as he looked up, she had changed from her old grey sweatpants to a ravishing white dress that emphasised her slender curves.

Once he saw her, he wouldn't want to break it off. Who in the right mind, would? Klaus started to lose hope, so today wasn't going to be the big break up but it will come, if it wasn't today, it would be tomorrow.

It was fine he thought, everything would be back to normal, soon enough

"What?" she stopped to stare at his face, peering up at her "Is there something on my face?" her hand touched her cheek, in an attempt to clean a non-existent stain.

Klaus shook his head, bringing himself back to the present. He had realised he had a tendency to starewhen he was having an inner debate with himself. He took another once over glance of her before he answered, searching for the right words to describe her

"No, you look, well perfect" Klaus smiled as he walked past her with the plates in hand. However much he hated his name, he felt rude not to say it now and again

"Stefan's a lucky guy"

I'm back with avengence! ;) another one of my Klaroline fanfics, at your mercy! :)