Living Arrangements

Preface

The color in her face drained.

Her throat constricted and the walls grew even narrower in the hallway that they stood in. Caroline couldn't wrap her mind around exactly what he was trying to say.

It came out as 'I'm sorry, but…'

'I don't mean to throw this on you…'

'We need to talk.'

He said he needed space. He needed time to think. Time to find himself and know what it was like to be 'free for once'.

What the fuck did that mean?

He told her he didn't know what it was like to be with anyone else, to experience anything different. He told her he didn't know what it was like to have a random hook-up or feel the warmth of a stranger's bed.

And in between all of his 'I need to find myself' talk, he threw in the good ol', 'but I love you so much'.

She believed him, Caroline really did. She knew what they had was explosive. It was like being on fire and enjoying it. Every time they made love it was nothing short of amazing.

He wasn't lying either. They never experienced anything beyond each other. They had every first together. He was her first boyfriend and first kiss. He took her virginity and stole her heart.

And for what?

For it to end up like this?

She should have seen this coming. She should have known it would have eventually led up to this.

He came home late; he locked the bathroom door and hid away in his office most nights. Caroline knew that something wasn't right, she knew that there was something bothering him, but she knew never to push him either.

If she pushed him, he lost it. Freaked out actually and it scared her to see him like that state. He was vulnerable and weak, unable to control his actions.

No he would never intentionally hurt her. His episodes were triggered by memories. It has happened before though, but Caroline remained with him through everything. She thought they had endured everything, but she knew she would never be prepared for this.

And who is?

Who is ready to be told by their significant other of almost six years that they need time apart? That they want to explore and find themselves?

Caroline sure wasn't.

She was almost absolutely sure that he was ready to propose. At the age of twenty-four, she felt that they were both nearly established enough to consider the topic of marriage and a real life together.

And now it seemed as if Klaus wanted to keep a ten-foot pole between them at all times.

Her heart shattered and she crumbled to the floor. With her back against the wall, he extended his hand offering to help her up, but she refused any sort of sympathy towards him.

She turned her head, dismissing his offer and her chest rumbled lowly before a loud cry escaped her lips. Eventually she lost it, she was howling.

Klaus crouched in front of her and grabbed the hands that were covering her perfect face and urged her to quiet down.

She wouldn't. She couldn't.

How could he be so calm about this? Caroline figured he must have been thinking long and hard about it to not get upset and break out into hysterics like she was.

And boy she was she ever.

She was breaching the point of a full on panic attack. Klaus being the man that he was didn't know how to react. Most men didn't know how to deal with the cries of a woman.

Caroline sympathized with him though because she rarely cried …ever. And here she was about to go into cardiac arrest.

She fought against his hands that were trying to calm her down. They didn't feel warm like they usually did.

They felt cold and distant.

They felt as though they didn't belong and that only upset Caroline more.

Eventually he grew persistent and slammed her hands against the back of the wall, yelling at her, screaming and Caroline couldn't bring herself to dry her tears.

"Caroline, stop crying." He pleaded with her. "I need you to calm down, sweetheart."

The term of endearment slipped from his lips and only pissed her off more than upset her.

She scowled at him removing her hands from his cold ones. She stood up and backed away from him, giving him one last look before slapping him across the face.

He didn't flinch, he didn't move. He knew it deserved it. He deserved every bad gesture and remark that came from Caroline. He hurt her deeply and he would never forgive himself for it.

He knew that this is what he needed to do. He didn't originally plan on breaking it off tonight, but Caroline was dropping hints more so than she ever had lately.

Then Klaus snapped.

He recalled their dinner no more than an hour ago. Caroline was talking about his brothers wedding they were attending this weekend. She was dropping subtle hints on what she would like and how she would do it if it were her wedding.

Klaus tried to keep his mind straight. He had told himself he would do it after the wedding, but he knew that he couldn't.

He slammed his fork against the mahogany table and his cold eyes looked up at her. He knew he startled her in mid conversation.

She raised an eyebrow and didn't look alarmed until she saw that the look on his face.

He laid it all out for her.

He told her the truth and how he felt. Told her that he needed space, but still loved her.

But should he expect her to still be around once he found himself?

No. That would be selfish of him, but he had hope.

He knew she was still in school and had no means of living. That thought had never crossed his mind before while he had been contemplating this.

He saw her walk into their bedroom and pull out a suitcase. She began to pull whatever she could out of her drawers.

She was reeking havoc on the bedroom, not caring what she broke or knocked over. He walked up behind her as she placed a few pair of socks in the suitcase. Her motions stilled.

"I don't want you to leave," He told her selfishly

"I need to leave, Klaus. I can't stay here." Her words broke. She was unable to speak clearly and she hated herself for not being strong.

He knew it was selfish of him to ask her to stay, but he wouldn't just throw her on the streets.

"I understand that, sweethe—" He stopped himself. He knew he couldn't speak like that to her anymore. It tore him apart. "I know it isn't the best proposition, but you graduate in less than two months. You already have that job at the firm when you're done. Please, just stay here until then."

It was selfish, pure selfishness.

But he knew she couldn't refuse because she truly had nowhere to go. She pulled out of his embrace in which they awkwardly were still in and turned around to face him.

She didn't say yes, but she didn't say no.

Instead she slowly walked out of the room and down the hallway. It wasn't until he heard the door of the guest room slamming that he knew that she would at least be staying for the night.

Living with your ex couldn't be that hard, could it?

AN: I will either be continuing this or 'Dog Tags' after I finish 'Marriage of Convenience'.

Let me know what you guys prefer! I love both ideas, but I would only like to focus on one once I'm done with MoC.