I think this is one of the fluffiest pieces of fanfiction that I have ever enjoyed. I know, it says a lot about the general tone of pieces I favor, ergo VERY DARK, but hey, you like what you like, I’m way too old to be ashamed about it.

The first four chapters of this are probably my absolute favorites. I cannot count the times I have re-read them. The delicious fear of Caroline, paired with Klauses menacing lust is breathtaking.

I love how this story centers on solely Klaus and Caroline. It particularly appeals to me, a passive viewer of TVD who couldn’t be bothered with all the Mystic Falls gang except for these two. Elena drama especially, ugh! Taking Caroline out of that hellhole was a glorious move. It gave her a much needed spotlight she always lacked in the show, allowing her to grow into this particularly wonderful version of herself. I like this Caroline immensely – she is sassy, but grounded, with a healthy amount of fear, prompting her to avoid confrontations that may result in her demise. She chooses her battles. That being said, although she is a first and foremost a survivor, she is also the girl that makes lemonade out of the lemons life handles her. She will survive, but she will find a way to do so with reasonable comfort and even happiness, if she can. When presented with the inevitability of what is Klaus and what he wants, she resigns herself to accepting the courtship, but she genuinely works it in such a way to make herself happy, rather than discourage Klaus by being constantly miserable. Smart choice, not many would do the same.

Caroline is nothing but resourceful, even Klaus himself admits it – her responses never cease to amaze him. When he expects hysterics, she displays composure, when he anticipates anger, she blasts him with cold regard, when he expects begging, she glares. This is how she manages to handle him in decisive situations – she takes his outbursts in stride and is able to discern and accept the underlying motivations, which would have been impossible otherwise, had Klauses’ actions be taken at face value. You manage to convey that well, even though to me personally her “falling in love” with him feels a little bit rushed. Caroline’s a woman now. She is more ready now to accept Klaus as is, as opposed to her TVD self and that makes perfect sense.

I love how Caroline perfectly understands Klauses need in her – he needs her to be strong for her. As for Caroline herself - being the overachiever she is, deep down she longs to have her perfect feathers ruffled, which Klaus delivers. I know it was Silas who said that on the show, but he did it while in Klauses body and I tend to believe that knowledge was derived from the latter. In the climax of the story, she comes to grips with what Klaus is and makes her choice anyway. It’s not very clear, but I hope she does not harbor any futile hopes to changing him – that won’t happen and even if it did, it would backfire in the end. The best of what she can do is pacify the monster and I believe it’s exactly what she intends to do.

The Klaus you write is absolutely different from all the others I have come across. He’s truly one of a kind. With those history touches and references, you manage to make him appear the being he truly is and should be – a monster always adaptable to the times, but remembering them. Unlike modern insecure boytoys, he’s not ashamed to admit his attraction to Caroline – to the contrary. One needs a good amount of swag to pull that off and that is exactly what Klaus has in DROVES. He makes it obvious he’s after her, corners her right into where he wants her, admits to his affections and somehow still retains the upper hand. Caroline does hold power over him, but she’s oblivious to that end for the good part of the story. Now that’s an admirable skill.

I absolutely adore the multiple layers of his affection towards Caroline – a part of him wants to instill respect through healthy amount of fear, the other wants to lock her in a tower with a studded collar on her neck, yet another part of him wants to put her on a pedestal of a goddess and queen, while sexing her into oblivion through depraved acts I cannot even attempt to cover. His inner monologues to that end are priceless, even though I am not a particular lover of smut.

Klaus also has a reasonably good understanding of himself. He’s aware of his dark nature and possessiveness of his love. He harbors no illusions to that end. In fact, the only time he even remotely considers doing something noble turns out to be his worst idea ever. He’s Hades and its okay. No, scratch that, it’s glorious.

When I have come across people who criticize Klaroline (yes, they do exist), their main argument is usually the lack of logic and reason behind Klaus, being the supernatural superbad of millennia years old, falling in love with a vapid neurotic teenage small town girl that is Caroline. And I salute you for finally putting an end to their babbling – one of my favorite clarity moments in this story is when at the museum, Caroline confronts Klaus over the reason of his “devotion” to her, to which he has no answer but the perfect - I only know that you are you and this is what I feel. There is no logic and reason behind emotion, that’s why it is an emotion. Klaus loves Caroline because nothing. He just does. Hallelujah!

This scene at the museum is quintessential to the story in many aspects – it is a turning point in Klaus and Caroline’s relationship, but it also serves as a very good insight into Klauses character. In ancient Greek mythology, a man and a hero was made up of the following components: name, family, lineage and his past. We and Caroline know the first three about Klaus, but finding out about his past is a unique journey that you took us on. In small, but poignant memories we see his character unfold.

Similar little flashbacks are peppered throughout the piece, when Klaus reflects on his nature and Caroline. I particularly enjoy the delicate balance between modern and old concepts of woman’s role in relationship that you portray through Klauses perception. Ideas to which Caroline is adhering are indeed comically short lived in comparison to the ideas that have been dominant before the age of suffragist movement. Klaus tries to understand them, even sees their appeal and value, but his instincts and urges are too deeply ingrained to be completely reined in. He will lapse, if circumstances call for it. Maybe not to the point of the collar, but to the point of never letting go, that’s for sure. He knows it, Caroline comes to know that as well. All seems to be good.

The writing is just superb. It’s compact and it’s modern. It has humor and wit. One or my particular favorites is Klauses line in chapter 3: “this isn’t nighttime telly and I’m not particularly interested in growing a mustache to twirl”. Cracks me up everytime. And trust me, that’s really a big compliment coming from me, as I tend to avoid stories with humor like a plague. PoV switches are well written and entertaining – I have noticed that many reviewers seem to complain about them, which I find particularly odd. I personally rather enjoy them, they’re the perk of the story. One can actually feel the change of gist depending on the narrator. The feel of Klaus is very different from Caroline and that’s awesome. I like the overall pacing of it and I even enjoyed the OCs in here, even though I NEVER actually do.

Overall, I believe this is the fluffiest happily ever after of Klaroine I have ever come to enjoy. My general MO is usually much darker stories or oneshots that are unresolved – something similar to your Moonlight and Clarity, which I have already reviewed. This one, although radically different in tone, is nevertheless a very big fun to read. I am absolutely not surprised by the amount of favorites and reviews this generated. So here is my due, added to the pile of praise.

I really hope you do come back into the fandom sometime. We need good authors like you.

Much love.

Have read this fic countless times and it gets better every time! Thank you for this beautiful story and unforgettable characters!

Loved this whole backforth. Powerful stuff!

I thought this conversation between them was intense and nicely done!

absolutely love this fic! definitely reread it *a few* times and it keeps getting better!

Ugh! This story was just utterly glorious! A true klaroline slow burn. It was perfection

thank you so much for writing this story. someone on tumblr recommended it and said it showcased a real relationship development between klaus and caroline and i couldn't agree more. it's well-paced and realistic, making it all the more believable. the smut was really intense and i frankly, i had to pause a few times to 'catch my breath'. loved it!

the best thing in info: no Hayley ever

You are such a talented writer! The way you manage to place the couple in situations we would not have normaly seen, while also maintaining characterization, is fanatsic. The chemistry between Klaus and Caroline is exquisitely displayed in the story, the push and pull of their relationship. Never stop writing.

I just discovered your story and I binge read it! I can't describe how much I adore the way you wrote Caroline and Klaus and their building relationship. It swept me off my feet and I just had to read the whole story as fast as possible, because I was so captivated and just couldn't stop! I felt like their interaction was so natural and realistic. You're writing is from another world, I really have to compliment you for that! Thank you so much for sharing this masterpiece (even if I discovered it a bit late), I'm sure I'll come back to re-read it!

Love love love ur story write some more klaroline and delena

This was simply amazing. I read it in a day and I couldn't read it fast enough. I'm going to have to settle down and re-read at some point. First, your writing style is amazing. I loved the different POVs and the switching of POVs flowed extremely well. I was never once confused about who was speaking or whose head we were in. Probably less than 5 chapters in, I began thinking, "I really hope she begins writing something original of her own." Honestly, that's just the highest compliment I can give. You're such an amazing writer and I want to read something original from you (although I won't complain if you want to write more Klaroline!). A few more chapters in, and I discovered you DID write your own original work - two books! - and I'm so happy you did! I'm gonna need the links to those.

Second: hands down, you remained TRUE to the characters of Klaus and Caroline. You didn't get fluffy (nothing wrong with that). You didn't water them down. They were real and very true to themselves. There was maybe 1-2 moments I wished Caroline had fought/resisted a little more, but overall, I thought it was great. You also didn't get dark - some write Klaus way too dark, but you had him down perfectly. I loved how you really dug down and got into Klaus' psyche and Caroline's.

Third: your OC's - loved them! It's so rare that I can bond and enjoy OC's. Sometimes they're just annoying or they're used as just plot devices, but you created Colby & Artie and had me rooting for them just as hard as I was for Klaus & Caroline! Even Kate, in the few moments we had with her, I felt her.

Fourth: the story! Just - what a great fabulous, fun story. Full of ups & downs. Hope and then dismay. Love. The fights. The concessions. The confessions. I truly enjoyed this story - thank you so much for writing it - and for completing it.

I’m five years late to this fic but I just wanted to comment and say how much I really do love Artie lmao

After being apart of the Klaroline fandom since the beginning, I am shocked that I am still discovering fanfics that I haven't read yet, and when I discovered this story, I was hooked like mad. Your writing in this story was so good, so in character. I loved the push and pull with Klaroline. It took me less than a day to zoom through this masterpiece and I was bummed when I was done. I could read this universe forever. Plus the smutty chapter...hot damn it was beyond hot. I need more of that! Perhaps a one shot of Caroline "in charge" for the first time? So good. LOVED LOVED this story!

Kinda have mixed feeling about this story but i liked it overall. I just think klaus was very creepyore than usual and i didnt like how caroline suddenly just told him i love u but either way good story. And i wonder if they ever got colby to remember?