Selective Memory

"Because…I've caught myself wishing that I could forget all the horrible things you've done."

"But you can't, can you?"

"Why do I get the feeling we are at a practice run for Caroline's wedding?"

"Because we are."

"I hope everything goes ok tonight. No drama, murders. Caroline deserves that." Matt smiled. "And it would be nice to have a dance without a body count."

"You're right." Bonnie agreed. "I think that Caroline deserves that. Let's just make sure she gets her wish." She said with a strange smile.

"Bonnie?" Matt questioned as Bonnie closed her eyes and murmured something in latin. Matt got knocked back a few feet and the lights brightened considerably for a moment.

"Bonnie!?"

Bonnie opened her eyes. "That should do it." She said with a smile.

Caroline put the finishing touches on her hair and then turned to admire the dress hanging behind her on the door. Once again Klaus had come through. He made her night go from a disaster to perfect in a matter of moments, even with the belief that this was a silly exercise. She removed the dress from the hanger and thought about the smile that was on his face while he listened to her. He had such a nice smile when it was tinged with evil.

She sighed.

She didn't need to be thinking about Klaus. Not after everything he had done. She put the dress on and admired herself in the mirror. Perfect. It was going to be a perfect, even if she didn't have a date to accompany her. For just a moment she considered what it would be like if Klaus took her to prom. She remembered their dance the night of the Michaelson Ball. What would it be like to actually be 'his'?

She shook her head. No more thinking about Klaus.

But again the thoughts came, what would it be like to kiss him, to be the one person in a thousand years to make the ancient hybrid 'feel'. If only she could forget all the things he had done….

Suddenly, Caroline staggered. She felt a heat behind her eyes, then a blinding pain. She let out a moan and almost crumpled to the floor. As suddenly as it came the pain was gone. She stood up and took a few steadying breaths.

She looked in the mirror. Perfect. Except for the fact she had no date. She thought about Klaus and his smile when she asked him for the dress.

She thought for a moment. Should she? What could go wrong? All he could do is say 'no', right?

She picked up her phone and hit his number before she could talk herself out of it.

It rang several times and then went to voice mail. She disconnected looking disappointed. She looked in the mirror again. No tonight was going to be one of the most important of her young life. She wasn't going to give up that easily. She dialed again. Still she was surprised when after only two rings there was a voice on the other end.

"Please tell me you aren't calling for a tiara." She smiled at the warmth in his voice. Maybe he wouldn't say 'no'.

"I just wanted to thank you again for this dress. Its perfect and wonderful."

"I'm glad you like it. Although to be fair, Princess Grace has nothing on you, luv."

"I was wondering if I could ask you just one more favor."

He chuckled. "And we are back to the tiara."

"No, no tiara." She said laughing and then she felt her throat dry up.

"Caroline…" He prompted.

She took a deep breath. "I know you think this is silly and stupid. And I know that being a thousand years old, you have so many other things you could be doing. And that this would probably not even be on the list of the top one hundred, but it means a lot to me. And I know its last minute, so you may not even be free. And its fine if you say 'no'. I mean I hope you don't, but I was just wondering and hoping that maybe you'd say 'yes'…."

"Caroline…" He tried to interrupt her rambling.

"Look, I just wondered if there was any way, any chance you would like to go with me."

There was dead silence over the phone.

"As my date."

Again there was nothing. She felt foolish.

"It was a stupid idea. Just forget it. I shouldn't have bothered you."

"Is this some kind of trick?" His voice had lost its warmth and sounded cold.

"Trick? No why?"

"Trying to keep me busy so someone can sneak in and get the cure? Because I have to tell you, sweetheart. Elijah has the cure, not me."

"I don't know what you are talking about." She snapped. "Look just forget I asked." She said, disconnecting the phone feeling embarrassed and confused.

What was he talking about? Why would this be a trick? Why wouldn't she want him to go with her?

Klaus stood staring at the phone in his hand.

What kind of game was she playing? Certainly she wasn't being truthful. She wouldn't ask him to go to her prom with her, would she?

Except…Caroline was a terrible liar and she didn't sound guilty over the phone, just nervous, then…disappointed.

"We need to talk Nicklaus." Elijah entered his study.

Klaus glared at him. "I believe we've said all we need to say." He practically glared at his brother.

"Not quite." He held up the white oak stake.

Caroline danced with Stefan, of course discussing Elena. So far her perfect night was not living up to her expectations. Her fight with Elena as soon as she walked in the door definitely put a damper on it, but she knew she was still hurting from Klaus' rejection.

"I see you found a dress."

"Its from Klaus." She said. "Don't ask."

"You know you have Klaus wrapped around your little finger, right?"

"If I had Klaus wrapped around my finger, then I wouldn't be here alone right now."

"I'm sure where ever he is, Tyler wishes he could be here with you right now."

Caroline sighed. "I wasn't talking about Tyler."

Stefan pulled back and gave her a look.

"You aren't talking about Klaus, are you?"

"I don't want to talk about it. I asked him to come and he said 'no', ok?"

"Caroline…"

"I DON'T want to talk about it." She insisted. His look of surprise confused her. "Are you making any progress with the dress thief?" She asked attempting to change the subject.

Klaus stood alone again in his study.

It is such a hollow little life you lead, Nicklaus.

The words echoed in his head.

I just wondered if there was any chance you'd like to go with me….as my date.

He stared at the wall for a moment more then walked quickly from the room.

Caroline stood next to Damon. "This prom sucks! This is our last dance together, and its awful. This is not how I wanted to remember this night."

Damon handed her his flask.

"Thank you."

She took a deep drink.

"If anyone asks, I'll be at the after party." She said, knowing no one would ask. No one would even miss her.

She turned and walked away, heading outside.

"Leaving so soon, luv?"

She looked up in shock, there stood Klaus looking so very handsome in a tuxedo.

"What are you doing here?" She breathed.

"Forgive me for being tardy, it took forever to get my hair just right." He walked up to her and held out his hand. "Would you care to dance?"

The smile that lit up her face made everything worth it and he swore his heart almost started to beat again under that light in that smile.

"I'd love to."

He danced as well as she remembered. She looked up at him and just enjoyed the feeling of being in his arms with his eyes focused totally on her. This man, this hybrid, who had seen a millennia come and go seemed to be utterly captivated by her and if she was honest, she was utterly captivated by him as well. She found herself getting lost in his eyes, but at the same time she had the desire to be closer, to feel his arms tight around her, to feel his lips against hers, his skin…

Caroline blushed and looked down. Way to get ahead of herself.

When she glanced back up he was smirking at her, as if he could read her mind.

"I didn't think you were coming." She spoke to break the spell he seemed to have her in.

"I apologize, but I didn't really think you meant it when you asked me."

"Why wouldn't I?"

"After everything that has happened Caroline, its not like you've ever spent time willingly with me without an agenda." He said quietly.

"What are you talking about?" She was confused. She remembered the time they had spend together at the Ball and the Miss Mystic. She tried to think about them in depth, but it gave her a headache.

"Caroline?" He questioned, pulling back to look at her. He didn't see anything in her eyes but confusion. "What…" He began.

"Oh no." She said suddenly when she noticed something behind him.

"What is it?"

She nodded and turned so he could see what she was seeing. "A group huddle. That has to mean all hell is about to break loose. Someone is about to die, or some crisis has come up." She sighed. "I just wanted tonight to be perfect, it figures that now that it is something would have to go wrong. I better go see what's up."

She went to pull away but he held her fast.

"Why don't you let them deal with whatever catastrophe is about to occur?" He asked staring at her intently.

"But…"

He turned them so her back was to her friends and pulled her closer, so he could whisper in her ear. "Caroline," She shivered at the sound and feel of his voice, "There are two hundred plus year old vampires and a very, very powerful witch obviously on the case. Why don't you let them worry about it, just this once, and enjoy your perfect evening?"

She licked her suddenly dry lips.

"Although, I fail to understand what the human brings to the mix." He said curious and teasing at the same time.

She laughed. "I guess if they need me, they'll come get me."

"Hopefully not." His hand rested on her back and he pulled back to look in her eyes again. She tingled missing him pressed close. "How long have you been dreaming of this night?"

She smiled. "Since I was four."

He laughed. She found she loved his laugh. "Four?"

"Yes, ok?" She laughed with him. "I always thought about how magical it would be. The dress, the lights, the music, the…." She trailed off, blushing. "It was like a fairy tale to me."

His eyes seemed to look right through her. "I'm flattered you asked me to be your escort." He whispered.

She wasn't sure if he pulled her closer, of if she moved closer on her own, but she found herself pressed up against him, staring into his eyes. They were nose to nose, lips almost brushing. Everything else just faded away, the entire prom, her friends, whatever catastrophe was about to erupt. The only thing that existed was the two of them.

Bonnie, Stefan, Damon and Matt were talking about the Silas situation.

Bonnie almost stamped her foot in frustration. "This wasn't supposed to be able to happen tonight. I thought I took measures to keep it from happening."

"What do mean, Bonnie?" Stefan asked intently.

She shook her head. "Where is Caroline?"

Damon looked up and made a face. "It seems Barbie is making new friends, in the biblical sense."

They all turned to look and saw Caroline dancing with Klaus. The two of them looked completely engrossed in each other, unaware of anything going on around them.

"WHAT?" Bonnie asked.

"Um, should we be worried about that?"

"We have other things to worry about over Barbie's abysmal taste in men." Damon sighed.

Stefan didn't say a word, he looked at the confusion on Bonnie's face, at Caroline, who looked happier than he had ever seen her, and at Klaus, who had a look on his face that Stefan had never seen, he looked happy and at peace.

Rebekah and Elena stood a little farther away also discussing Silas, when something caught Rebekah's eye.

"Oh you have to be kidding me?" She stated.

"What?" Elena asked irritated about being interrupted, she turned and saw what Rebekah saw, Caroline and Klaus wrapped around each other on the dance floor. It looked like they were moments away from kissing.

"Well, I didn't expect to see that." Elena laughed. "Looks like for once Caroline gave in to all those feelings she was having."

"I don't believe this." Rebekah stated angrily. "He openly taunts me for having feelings then indulges in this fascination with that trollop. She is so shallow and spoiled and insuffereable." Rebekah ranted.

"You're right." Elena agreed. "It is creepy, its like he's dating another version of you."

Rebekah turned to her, outraged. She opened her mouth to yell, but then April cut her off.

"Ok the votes have been tallied."

April's voice pulled Caroline and Klaus out from the spell they had been under. Caroline looked around surprised at where she was. She noticed there wasn't any music playing and she wondered how long they had been dancing without any music. She blushed and stepped back a little. She looked up at Klaus and saw him smiling warmly at her. She smiled back at him. Once again she felt the world slipping away. She licked her lips, in thought, but since she was staring at him she didn't miss the way his eyes darkened at her action. His fingertips stroked her arm lightly.

"Maybe we should…" She began, not even certain what she was going to say next.

"…Matt Donavan and Bonnie Bennett…."

She looked up surprised at hearing her friends' names. Klaus gritted his teeth with frustration.

He wasn't sure what he was expecting tonight when he got here. Honestly, he expected another ploy on behalf of her friends. He thought he would come and foil whatever plot they were cooking up and it would only enforce his belief that love and emotions were a weakness, proving his brother wrong. His life wasn't hollow, he was alive. He survived at any cost.

Instead, instead he found himself completely wrapped up in the blonde in front of him. One thousand years and he had never felt anything like this. He never wanted someone as much as he wanted her. And right now he wanted nothing more than to take her far away from all of this. He wanted to take her away where it was just the two of them and he could surround himself with her light.

He watched the smile on Caroline's face as she pulled him back as her friends took to the dance floor with the tiara and crown. The human boy looked ridiculous with that shining crown on his head. Unwilling to let go of Caroline, as if she might disappear or this might all be a dream, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back against him. He didn't miss the little sigh of contentment.

"Wishing it was you out there, luv?" He whispered in her ear.

She shook her head. "No." She smiled. "They deserve this." She turned her head slightly so her lips were close to his. "And I have everything I need right here."

He inhaled sharply and a big smile cut across his features. She was falling for him so fast and hard. Why did it take her so long to take a chance on this beautiful man in front of her? Was she really that intimidated by his age and his power? Looking at him now, the way he stared at her, she felt as if she was the only being in the world. She knew she wanted to keep this feeling for a very long time.

She tilted her head ever so slightly and leaned back just a bit, pressing her lips softly to his. She could feel him stiffen slightly in shock. She pulled back a fraction, afraid maybe she shouldn't have taken the intiative.

"Caroline…" his voice whispered, and before she could even process it, she was turned around in his arms with his lips firmly against hers. She clung to his shoulders, feeling dizzy, his lips were intoxicating. He was so gentle, but she could feel the tension running through him and just knew he was holding himself back. The realization made an electric jolt run through her. She could almost taste his desire for her on her lips, but he held back out of consideration for her. She ran one hand up over his should and cupped his neck pulling him closer. She opened her mouth and felt as well as heard the growl from him as he matched her actions.

Klaus couldn't get enough of her. It was taking everything he had not to flash them out of this very public arena and have her all to himself, but at the same time, he couldn't stop kissing her, couldn't stop touching her, not even to get her alone. It was the sweetest torture he ever endured. He tasted her tongue, her lips. He could feel her fingers lightly pressed against his neck. He could feel the beads on her gown pressed up against him through his tuxedo shirt and against his hand that held firmly to her lower back. He needed to feel her, her skin against his, but nothing could make him let go of her, or this moment.

A sharp wind blew around them and lights suddenly started exploding around them, causing them to separate in shock. Caroline looked up at him almost dazed. Her pupils were dilated and her skin was flushed. She took a couple of deep breaths.

"And here comes the catastrophe." She said with resignation. They listened for a moment.

She could hear Elena shout in pain and Bonnie arguing with Matt.

"I have to go." She said and was gone before he could even protest. Klaus clenched his fist in frustration. He really wanted to kill every one of her friends at this moment.

Caroline headed for where she heard the voices when she saw Bonnie run out and Elena a few steps behind her. There was blood on Elena's lips and a death look on her face. She quickly changed directions and headed out after them.

Klaus started after Caroline, but then heard his sister arguing with the human about whether or not to save another human. He stopped and headed for them, this was going to prove most interesting.

Caroline had stopped and found Damon and Stefan, both looking the worse for wear. She knew she was interrupting something, but she needed their help now.

"I think Elena is going after Bonnie." She snapped. That was all it took to get both brothers to follow her.

The came upon them in the parking lot. Elena was choking and screaming in pain and Bonnie was standing over her.

"Bonnie, stop this!" Caroline yelled.

"Bonnie you're killing her." Stefan yelled.

"I know what I'm doing."

Elena lay on the ground crying and begging for help.

Then Bonnie stopped. She looked stunned and frightened.

"You ok?" Stefan asked. Caroline could only stare at her two best friends in shock. How could the night turn in to this?

Bonnie ranted to Stefan about how she wasn't ok and then turned her eyes to Caroline. "And you!" She snapped. "How could you let this happen?"

"Me?"

"You were supposed to have the 'perfect' night." Bonnie snapped. "Instead you are busy making out with Klaus while everything falls apart."

"What are you talking about?" Caroline insisted.

But Bonnie just walked away.

Stefan and Damon both held Elena. Caroline saw Stefan take out a syringe and push it into the back of her neck.

"Plan B." Stefan stated. They looked to Elena.

"We're going to take her back to the boarding house, keep her locked up, while we work on getting her to turn her humanity back on."

Caroline nodded dumbly.

"We'll need all the help we can get."

She sighed. Of course, another night ended focusing on Elena. She forced a smile. "Just let me go get changed and I'll head that way."

Stefan nodded at her. He gave her a look. "Are you ok, Caroline?"

"Sure why wouldn't I be, another dance ruined."

"I meant with Klaus."

She snorted. "He was the only good thing about tonight." She said bitterly. "Of course, now that I ditched him for all this, I'm sure he's decided I'm too much drama."

Stefan opened his mouth to say something, but Damon cut him off.

"And this night gets even weirder." Damon adjusted Elena. "Let's get Elena back, we can work on who snatched Barbie's brain when she gets to the house."

He headed off with Elena.

"Caroline, come over as soon as you get changed, ok?" He looked at her very worried.

"I said I would." She snapped. He gave her another strange look and headed off after his brother.

She sighed, wondering how things could go from wonderful to horrible so quick. Oh right, Mystic Falls.

She turned and headed slowly back to her house to get changed.

Rebekah stood there with tears in her eyes, knowing that she probably lost her one chance at becoming human.

"Dear sweet April Young…" She heard Nik's voice behind her. She turned quickly the tears brimming over.

She fought with him, inside wondering where the man she had seen earlier had gone. The one with the soft eyes and soft smile staring with such feeling at Caroline Forbes. How could he look at her with such disinterest.

"Are you going to tell Elijah?" She whispered.

"No, you are."

He heart broke as she listened to the venom in his words. How could he hate her so much as to deny her this?

"Thankfully I don't have to waste anymore breath on the subject." He stated walking away.

"What does that mean?" She demanded, but he didn't respond. She frantically pulled out her phone and dialed Elijah.

Klaus stood in front of Caroline's door. He searched the prom for her, but when he couldn't find her, he assumed she came home. He knocked lightly on the door and waited a few moments until she answered.

"I said I'd be over as soon as I changed." Her voice came as the door swung open. Her voice cut out abruptly as she stood there staring at him in shock. She had changed out of the dress and her hair was now pulled back in a sloppy bun. She had on a pair of jeans and a black tank top. He thought she looked just as beautiful as she had earlier.

"Well, I'm sorry I missed the changing, but if you are coming over…" He practically purred.

She blushed and looked down. "Um, no. I have to go over to Stefan's and work on project 'Save Elena'." She muttered. She looked back up at him. "I'm sorry I took off like that, there was a situation. There's always a situation."

He watched her for a moment and suddenly made up his mind. "I think we've both had enough drama for one night." He watched her face fall.

"I understand." She said sadly. She turned and went to go back in the house, not wanting to see when he decided that she was just a baby vampire.

"I think we need to get out of town for a few days." He continued.

"What?" She spun around.

"Its Friday night. I can have you back by Sunday evening, ready for school on Monday." He said with confidence.

"You want me to go away with you?" She asked stunned.

"Why not? I'm sure the Salvatore's can handle project 'Save Elena' for a few days. Why don't we take a break from Mystic Falls?" He knew Elijah and Rebekah were going to be after his blood for what he did, and while they were no threat to him now that he had the white oak stake, he didn't want to deal with them quite yet. "Just the two of us." He said stepping closer to Caroline. "No Elena, no Salvatore's, no Silas, no Bonnie, no drama." She licked her lips looking up at him. He could see the doubt warring with hope on her face.

"You don't have to save everyone all of the time Caroline. Occasionally, you are allowed to think about yourself."

Caroline found herself lost in his eyes. It sounded so wonderful. To be able spend time, without worrying constantly about everything.

"I'll need to leave my mom a note." She said. His face lit up and she knew she made the right decision.

"Excellent."