Hi everyone! Here it is at last. Sorry this took so long, I was hoping I could finish it last week but it just didn't happen.

Anyway, thanks again to everyone who read/reviewed/favorited/alerted, hope you'll like this last part :)

I'm not sure how OOC Stefan is, I love his friendship with Caroline and she definitely needed a friend, so I decided to use him. Keep in mind that this story takes place after 4x09, none of what happened in the following episodes has happened here, so, yeah… maybe he's not that OOC.

Beware rating's up to M. I blame Jewel's 'leave the lights on', one of the sexiest songs I know :)

It's raining when she storms out of the mansion. She looks up at the sky and gives it a grateful smile before letting the tears run freely down her cheeks, knowing that the rain will wash them away. She just stands there for a while, trying to process everything that happened. The fact that she admitted to feeling something for him and that she let him kiss her is bad enough. The fact that she considered giving it a shot for a minute there is worse. But really, all this pales in comparison to the memories she just got back.

She slept with Klaus. Five fucking weeks ago. When she was still in a relationship with Tyler. And that's just one of the billion reasons why she shouldn't have done it.

She can't deal with this on her own. Not when the problem is herself. She's great at being objective and helpful where others are concerned, but when it comes to her own issues, she's a mess. She's well aware of her shortcomings in these matters. And really, there's only one person she can talk to about this. She's not even sure it's such a wise idea, but it's the only one she has.

She winces when she hears a shattering sound from inside the mansion, wondering what he just smashed, and decides that it's her cue to leave. She takes off with a specific destination in mind. When she gets there in about 40 seconds, she takes the time to send a mental thank you to her vampire abilities – working hard to ignore the fact that they've gotten even more impressive after the two months she just spent improving them thanks to him – and she knocks.

The door swings open almost immediately to reveal a very confused Stefan Salvatore. She doesn't give him a chance to speak.

"Are you alone?"

He nods and opens his mouth, presumably to ask her what the hell she's doing here so early, but then he gives her a once over, notices her red eyes and hunched shoulders, and his brow furrows in concern.

"What happened?"

"I had sex with Klaus."

He steps aside without a word and opens the door wider.

She expresses her gratefulness for the lack of judgment with a watery smile and walks past him, finding her way to their usual spot and collapsing in her usual seat. The familiarity is somewhat comforting, but she'll need more than that to get through this conversation. The thought has barely crossed her mind before a bottle magically appears in front of her. She nods her thanks to Stefan and doesn't bother with a glass, gulping down a few swallows while he sits across from her, watching her carefully. His first question is not the one she was expecting.

"When?"

"A little over a month ago. After I fought with Elena, Damon and Bonnie about him."

He frowns in confusion.

"Why tell me now?"

"I just found out."

He understands immediately.

"He made you forget." She just nods, and he asks the next inevitable question. "Why did he give you your memory back?"

"I… Er…" Ok, this calls for another sip of liquid courage. "I kissed him today. And I sort of admitted that…"

Her voice trails off and her gaze drops in shame before focusing back on him. He gives a knowing nod and finishes for her.

"That you care about him."

Hearing how quiet his voice is, she narrows her eyes at him and notices the lack of emotions on his face.

"You're not mad. Or surprised."

"It was bound to happen. I've seen the way he is with you. You resisted for longer than anyone else would have. Don't be too hard on yourself."

She can't believe what she's hearing! She came here to have some sense talked into her, not to have him help her justify her mistakes.

"Too hard?" she shrieks. "Stefan, he's a monster. He's turned our lives into a living hell. He's killed dozens of people."

"So have I."

She rolls her eyes at him. She should have expected this.

"It's different."

"How so?"

"You know."

"No, I don't."

"You can't be serious! He's the one who made you turn your humanity off. And that's just one of the unforgivable things I have to add to the looong list of unforgivable things he's done. He made you…"

"This time around, maybe. But I was the Ripper long before I met him."

"Argh! Why are we even talking about this? This isn't about your guilt! It's about mine!"

He actually gives her a half smile at that and she takes another sip of bourbon to keep herself from throwing the bottle at him.

"I'm trying to make you see that I'm not that different from him. And you're friends with me, aren't you? We've had this conversation before, Caroline. It's okay to feel something for him. I'm not saying it's okay that you acted on it, but you're allowed to make mistakes, just like every one of us."

"It's not…"

"You've been giving second chances for as long as I've known you, regardless of who deserves it or not. I'll be quite disappointed in you if you don't give yourself the same courtesy."

This brings the shadow of a smile to her lips. She does tend to forgive easily. She couldn't live in a world where people don't get second chances. She can't write someone off because of one mistake. It would have to be pretty bad for Caroline Forbes to decide that you're just not worth her time anymore.

"But I…" She swallows over the lump in her throat. Her cheeks are now dry, but fresh tears are trying to break out because of the confession she's about to make. "I enjoyed it. Stefan, I loved it. It was…"

"Please, I don't need the racy details."

Her chuckle is a little shaky, but it's more than she ever thought possible given the circumstances.

"I wasn't going to give any. It was… liberating. And I hate myself for even thinking it, because I'm supposed to hate him and the only thing I should be feeling is disgust and…"

"Caroline, he's a good-looking man who's been nothing but charming to you for over a year. He's saved you more than once. He's proven time and time again that he cares about you. How do you not see how easy it must have been for you to forget about his dark side? Why can't you forgive yourself?"

She can't help but snort. Hypocrite.

"That's rich, coming from the king of self-flagellation."

"Yeah, well, take it from someone who knows, self-flagellation isn't all it's cracked up to be. You don't want to join the club."

She gives him a small smile. His attempts to cheer her up are appreciated, but not exactly effective.

"Loves," she whispers suddenly as something he said registers in her mind. At his confused look, she explains, "Not cares. You said he cares about me. It's more than that. He loves me."

"Really?" She shoots him a look that makes him laugh. "Don't get me wrong, you're very lovable. But… Are we sure he's capable of love?"

She sighs as the accented voice echoes in her head, the tone sad and apologetic. Out of everything that happened that night and the morning after that, those few words are the most disturbing of all. She has no reason to believe he was lying, not when he was about to make her forget about it and sincerely thought that she would never remember.

"He told me. Right before he erased it. And I believe him."

"Hm."

She's not sure why, but his suddenly pensive look makes her uneasy. She doesn't like it, it's like he's thinking something over but is unwilling to let her know what. And she's had enough secrets and lies thrown at her to last her for a lifetime – or several. Still, she respects his opinion enough to let him mull over whatever idea has taken form in his mind. That is until he tilts his head to the side and starts observing her and she gets the unnerving feeling that whatever he's thinking has something to do with what she just revealed about Klaus' feelings for her.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"It's just…"

"What?"

"If he really is in love with you, maybe there's hope for him after all."

"Oh please! You're too smart to believe in the whole love-is-the-bad-guy's-redemption scenario. Especially when the bad guy is Klaus."

"I know better than anyone what love can do to a man, Caroline."

She instantly sobers up as the gravity of his tone brings back memories of everything he's been through for the past two years and she nods solemnly in acknowledgement.

"I know. But it's Klaus. It doesn't matter what he does or doesn't feel. He's…"

"Why did you tell me?" he asks seemingly out of nowhere, his voice more interested than nostalgic now.

"What?"

"If you really think it doesn't matter, why did you tell me? We were about to move on to another subject, but you went through the trouble of correcting me when I said he cares about you. It's proof that you think it's relevant, isn't it?"

"No, I was just…"

Huh. She was just what, exactly?

"I think deep down, you believe that it makes a difference."

She huffs in exasperation as he points out something she hasn't even admitted to herself.

"Damn it! I need a less perceptive best friend. Alright. Let's pretend for a second that I'm actually giving this insane idea some thought. What's next? Happily ever after?" she asks, sneering.

"I wouldn't go that far, at least not yet, but maybe you could start by talking it out."

"Are you seriously trying to push me in the devil's arms?"

"Yes, I believe I am," he answers with a self-satisfied smile.

She shakes her head at him, incredulous. On one hand, she can't believe that Stefan is giving her his blessing. On the other, it makes total sense. He used to be friends with Klaus, he knows this side of him that she got to witness over the last few months, he's more understanding than anyone she knows, and what if… What if he's right? What if Klaus' feelings for her can make a difference? She's not naïve enough to believe he's going to turn over a new leaf and become a good little puppy, and she wouldn't want that anyway. But maybe they can compromise. Ideally, she'd want him to give up on his hybrids quest. Since that's not going to happen, and since people are going to keep dying until he gets what he wants, why not make sure that he gets it as quickly as possible, with as little bloodshed as possible? Why not help him, and ask him for one thing in return, her friends' safety? Will he do that for her?

She takes a moment to consider this argument from her other friends' perspective. They're not going to like it. But she could explain it to them. Make them see that in spite of everything they've been led to believe, Klaus could keep his end of the bargain. Make them see that she can keep him from going too crazy.

Can she, though?

Is she overestimating the power she has over him? If his actions this morning are anything to go by, she knows she's not. But then, what are a few hours compared to a thousand year-old obsession? Can she really compete with that? Can she take a chance? It's scary how much she wants to. But what's even scarier is that she's leading herself to believe that it could work. And what's downright terrifying is that she knows that if she falls, she'll fall hard.

She can feel Stefan's stare on her face as he tries to read every emotion there, and she knows he's succeeding, because he knows her too well to miss anything and because she's not trying to hide from him. So she knows he won't be surprised by her question. She whispers, "Am I fooling myself?"

"I don't think so, Care."

She smiles softly at the familiar nickname and stands up, handing him the bottle.

"I have an Original to face."

He stands up as well, glad that she's finally made a decision, but clearly unsure what it is.

"So, what are you going to do? Wait, let me rephrase that. What do you want to do?"

She stares at him in shock as his phrasing reminds her of what Klaus said. Does she really tend to choose what she should do over what she wants to do so much that the two men in her life who know her better than anyone else both feel the need to point it out?

And did she really just count Klaus as someone who knows her better than anyone else?

It's true though, isn't it? Is there a single thing he doesn't know about her? A single flaw he's not aware of? A single fact that's escaped his notice? She remembers how she rolled her eyes at him when he told her that he wanted to talk about her, about her hopes and dreams. Back then, she thought it was just a line, and maybe back then it was. But he did end up getting to know her, and she him. They've come such a long way… Why let all this go to waste when she really, really wants to explore this thing between them?

A smile slowly spreads out on her lips as she answers.

"I want to go kick his ass for compelling me. Then maybe we can talk."

He senses her presence before he hears her, which is quite an impressive feat for a baby vampire. She's standing behind him, taking in the mess, and he knows exactly what he'll see when he turns around. Crossed arms, raised eyebrow, defiant stance, gently mocking smile. He turns to face her and gives a cold smirk at the exact picture his mind had painted.

"Redecorating?" she asks, her eyebrow rising slightly higher with her question, her gaze travelling from what used to be a cupboard up to his face.

"I thought I told you to get out."

She shrugs, unimpressed in spite of the fact that he could break her just as easily as he broke everything else in the room. Sure, she took him by surprise this morning, but they both know it was an anomaly. He's still stronger, faster, older, and way crueler than her. Not to mention the remains of his kitchen make for handy wooden weapons.

"You never said anything about not coming back."

She's clearly been spending too much time with him.

"What are you doing here, Caroline?"

"I'm…" Her posture shifts slightly and he can tell she's not as sure of herself as she wants him to believe. Yet her gaze doesn't waver and her voice is firm when she settles on a way to answer his question as accurately as possible. "Making a mistake."

He watches her warily, his eyes narrowing, the reminder of their night together even more confusing to him than her presence in his home just a few minutes after their fight. He thought she was gone for good. He would have understood her coming back to tear him to pieces because of the compulsion now that she's over the shock, but it seems this is not why she's here. Anger is not the only thing that's radiating off of her. It's there, yes, but it's in the backseat. He's curious as to what exactly is driving her. He does have his suspicions, but he doesn't like making assumptions when it comes to her. She has this uncanny ability to surprise him, as evidenced by the mere fact that she's here right now. And by the fact that when he opens his mouth to ask her what she means exactly, she holds up a hand to cut him off and states, "There are a few things I need to know."

He arches an eyebrow at her bossiness, equal parts amused and annoyed. At least he's not seething with rage anymore. There's something to be said for the therapeutic virtues of furniture-destruction.

"I'm listening."

"Are you gonna keep trying to make hybrids?"

"Yes."

"Are you gonna keep hurting my friends?"

"If they get in my way, yes."

If he expected her to be shocked at his honesty, he'd be disappointed. She just nods, deep in thoughts. He knows she wouldn't have believed him if he had told her that he was going to leave them alone, and he doesn't want to lie to her anyway. If this is going where he now thinks it's going, then lies are the last thing they need.

"What if I can negotiate a truce?"

He scoffs.

"A truce that would include me having access to Elena's blood once she's cured? That's not happening."

"It might if you promise to leave with her blood and never come back."

"They'll never trust me."

"They'll trust me."

"No, they won't. Sorry to burst your bubble, sweetheart, but if you decide to side with me, you lose them."

"You're not doing a very good job of convincing me to side with you."

He shrugs.

"I don't want to have to convince you. You need to know exactly what you'd be getting yourself into."

She lifts her eyebrows, her skepticism clear.

"You don't want to convince me? Then what has this past year been about?"

"Possibilities. Trying to make you see what could be. But the final choice is yours. It's always been yours," he adds, his voice softening.

He's always known that she was the one with the power in this, even back when she was little more than a challenge, before actual feelings got involved. Sure, he was the predator and she was the prey, but when the predator doesn't want to hurt the prey, the game has to be played by the prey's rules.

She's about to answer, but then he sees something cross her face, something akin to stupefaction. His brow furrows questioningly as she closes her mouth and shakes her head, as if she's trying to convince herself that the thought that just crossed her mind is absurd. Then she bites down on her lower lip, meets his gaze and asks, "What about Katherine?"

As always, the name makes his blood boil with rage, the wrath washing everything else away. Later, he'll blame it for the fact that he didn't immediately see where she was going with this. His voice is harsher than he intended when he replies.

"What about her?"

She pauses, wondering if her plan is viable, and after one last hesitation, she explains.

"If the cure is real, you can use it to turn her back into a human as well. Now that's someone I wouldn't mind letting you use as much as you want. And I'm sure none of the others would object."

His lips tighten as he thinks this over. He makes a mental note to ask her about her obvious hatred for the evasive doppelganger later as this is not the most important thing on his mind right now.

"Katerina has managed to escape me for over 500 years," he reminds her pensively, his brain going over the possibilities.

It seems Caroline is one step ahead of him, which is quite unsettling.

"Use Elena's blood just once, to create a few hybrids. Your own little Track-The-Petrova-Doppelganger army. With a few sired hybrids on each continent, the next time you get a tip about her location, you'll have someone close enough to go grab her. She won't be able to run forever. And anyway, you're always telling me we have all the time in the world. Patience," she tells him, a small smile playing at the corner of her lips as she realizes that he's taking her suggestion into consideration.

Letting his mind analyze the various possible outcomes in the background, he focuses the rest of his attention on her face, trying to decipher everything that's written there. There's smugness, something she's definitely entitled to after this idea. There's teasing, of course, her telling him to be patient is kind of humorous. But beneath the confident façade is something he wasn't expecting.

Hope.

Her eyes are shining with it, her smile wavering as she tries to keep it from turning into a plea, her body tense as she waits for him to either crush it or nurture it.

She's not saying a word, yet in spite of the restraint she's trying so hard to hold onto, her body language is suddenly so clear to him that he can practically hear her scream at him to just agree already. To let this last wall fall. To give her what she wants from him, her friend's safety, so that she can finally give in. To prove that he wants her enough that he'll take the risk of having to wait for a few centuries before he can make more hybrids.

Oh sweetheart. You have no idea, do you?

He gives an almost imperceptible nod and watches in fascination as she closes her eyes in relief and lets out a shaky breath. When she opens her eyes again to meet his, there's a new determination there.

"Okay," she whispers, the word barely audible. She clears her throat and tries again. "Okay. I'm willing to give this a shot. But…"

His mouth is on hers before she can finish her sentence. She giggles against his lips, bringing an answering smile to his own, but her amusement at his quick reaction soon turns to desperate need as he takes advantage of her laughter to invade her mouth. She brings her hands up to his face, keeping him in place and silently asking him to deepen the kiss. He complies, feeling her arms snake around his neck as he wraps his around her waist, bringing her flush against him. She uses his momentum to push him backwards and he feels his back hit the wall, her mouth never leaving his. Despite the sudden move, she keeps the kiss slow, and he's happy to note that she seems to be in no rush. Hard and fast can be hot as hell, he'll be the first to admit it, but that's not the kind of mood he's in right now. No, he feels like taking it slow. There's a gorgeous body right here that's just begging to be worshipped, and he's going to make sure that it gets what it deserves.

With this in mind, he slides his hands down to the back of her thighs and lifts her up, her legs instantly wrapping around him, and he flashes to his bedroom. Once there, he slows down to human speed and lays her on the bed, settling between her legs and keeping his weight off her. When she tries to pull him down to feel more of him, he resists, smiling when she groans in protest. He makes it up to her by kissing his way down her throat and lingering on the spot that he's learned drives her crazy. Her hips instantly jerk up, seeking friction, but he places a hand against her stomach to still her movements. Her eyes snap open. Sensing her glare, he whispers against her skin, "Patience, love."

"We've established that it's not my strong suit," she reminds him before pushing him off her only to flip them over so that she's now straddling him.

He lets her, his hands resting lightly on her thighs as she takes off her shirt and leans down to kiss him. She's more insistent now, but he fights against the urgent pace she's trying to set, his tongue teasing hers only to retreat every time she thinks he's giving in. She moans into the kiss, the sound equal parts frustrated, amused and aroused. After a few minutes of this game, she abruptly tears her lips away from his and frowns at him, her eyes searching his face.

"Is this… Is this about control?"

If he was as obsessed with control as she seems to think he is, they certainly wouldn't be in this position.

"No. It's about pleasure."

"I don't remember us taking it this slow last time. Yet it was pleasurable, to say the least."

He gives her a smug smile that makes her roll her eyes.

"Yes, it was. But this time I fully intend to ruin you for any other man."

Her gaze softens as she reads between the lines and sees straight to the unspoken doubt. Logically, he knows that now that she's here, he has nothing to prove to her. And even if he did, he wouldn't be able to do it with sex, not even mind-blowing sex. Still, it won't hurt to try, he thinks with a wicked smile.

"Well then, by all means…" she challenges, sitting up to give him better access to her upper body.

He chuckles and sits up as well, his fingers blindly travelling up her back to unclasp her bra. She carelessly throws it away before finding the hem of his shirt and lifting it over his head, the garment disappearing at the foot of the bed. Once they're both half naked, he finally allows their bodies the closeness they've been craving. The feeling of her breasts against his chest makes them both moan and he takes a minute to just enjoy it before bringing his lips to hers once again. Before he can kiss her however, she places a hand on his shoulder and stops him. Curious, he meets her gaze and notices that she's suddenly hesitant.

"What is it?"

"If we do this… No compulsion. Ever."

This last word makes something tighten in his chest, the unfamiliar feeling catching him off guard. She's not just talking about today. She's really, truly giving this a chance. Thinking long term. Seeking reassurance for the future. This means more to him than she can possibly know, but he's already made himself vulnerable enough around her. She knows enough – too much – about him and he sees no reason to open up more. So instead of giving this the importance it deserves, he places a quick kiss at the corner of her mouth and keeps his answer light.

"Now that's a lesson I've learned, don't worry."

"I mean it, Klaus. I can't go through this again. Even if you think that's what's best for me. You don't get to decide. I'll always find out eventually, especially if you can't help but wince every time you hear the word 'compulsion'," she teases.

He smirks slightly as she calls him out on his tell, but his voice is more serious than ever when he speaks.

"Caroline, I promise you I will never compel you again. I'll supply you with vervain for the rest of your life if that'll make you feel better."

"I want to trust you. But I'm gonna take you up on that offer. You're not the only Original around here. Well, you kind of are right now, but I'm guessing it won't always be this way."

"Probably not," he admits.

She gives him a small nod.

"Now, you said something about ruining me for any other man. I'm still waiting."

His smirk turns into a wolfish grin as he captures her bottom lip and tugs lightly, revelling in her moan of approval. He releases her only to shift his attention to her neck. He feels her body tense, in anticipation or fear, he's not sure, so he decides to reassure her.

"I'm not going to bite you, love."

"Why not?"

He takes note of the slight disappointment in her voice and smiles. Anticipation, then.

"Have you forgotten what a hybrid bite would do to you?" he asks against her skin, his tongue darting out every few words to taste her.

"You'd heal me."

"Of course I would. But it would still hurt."

"I can handle it."

Intrigued at her insistence, he interrupts his ministrations and pulls back to be able to look at her face.

"Why do you want me to bite you?"

"It's just… Um… When you let me bite you, it felt…" She trails off and shakes her head, at a loss for words, and gives a small embarrassed shrug. "I just want to make you feel like that."

He smiles, both at the admission and at the sentiment.

"Next time."

She returns his smile and nods while his lips and tongue find her neck once again and she gives a contented sigh as she finally allows herself to just enjoy the moment, letting her worries slip away. He senses the change immediately, the way her whole body relaxes in his arms, how her eyelids drop heavily in abandon, the shivers that run down her body as he lets his teeth graze the skin over her collarbone... She's surrendering. He hums in satisfaction, letting her know that he's noticed and appreciates this willingness to trust him. He kneels in front of her and pushes her back against the mattress. She kicks off her shoes before he helps her get rid of her jeans and underwear, his fingers just close enough that she can feel their tantalizing warmth against her legs, but not close enough to be qualified as touching. He takes a moment to enjoy the pictures she makes, sprawled out naked on his bed, waiting for him. Now that's a sight he will never grow tired of.

But he knows that while she's letting him set the pace for now, she's bound to grow impatient again if he just keeps staring at her, so he shakes himself out of his contemplation, makes quick work of his remaining clothes, and resumes his new life's mission, kissing every inch of her body.

He starts with her left leg, his lips barely brushing her ankle before he decides to move upwards, taking his time to find the spots that make her groan, those that make her bite her lip, those that make her shudder in pure bliss, and those that make her grip on the sheet tighten. When he reaches her inner thigh, she moans out his name, the sound caught somewhere between a plea and a threat. She knows he has every intention of making her wait, he hasn't paid nearly enough attention to her other leg yet, but he can see that she's hoping he'll have mercy on her. He smirks up at her before lowering his head again, hovering a few inches away from where she wants him, intentionally blowing cold air on her centre. Her hips lift up off the bed eagerly to meet his mouth and he indulges in one long lick before moving away. Her body falls back down on the mattress and she lets out a huff.

"I hate you."

Which might be a bit more believable if she wasn't so obviously enjoying every second of this torture.

"I know," he replies as his mouth travels down to her right ankle and resumes its previous activities.

Her breathless chuckle at his answer turns into a groan, and then into a moan, and then into a groan again when he trails his fingers up and down her inner thigh, the touch light and teasing, while his lips slowly make their way up to her knee. He feels her tense up unbearably when his hand gets closer to her core and he hears her inhale sharply, and he just knows that she's this close to begging. That's not what he wants though, not today anyway. They'll have plenty of time for that later, and he's sure she'll make him beg too. Right now, a power struggle is the furthest thing from his mind, so he relents before she has to resort to pleas. He repositions himself in front of her and hooks one of her legs around his shoulder. Her eyes snap open in surprise and she stares at him, trying to guess if he's just teasing her again, but he finally lowers his mouth down on her and she cries out in relief. Instead of trying to still her hips, he lets her move against him and he follows her lead, the motions of his tongue matching her erratic movements, knowing that she's close and unwilling to torment her any longer.

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees her hand moving frantically over the sheets, seeking something to anchor her to this moment, and he holds his own hand out. She instantly grabs it and squeezes it hard, her whole body seeming to clench along with their entwined fingers. All it takes is one last flick of his tongue and she's falling apart, her release taking over her body with so much force that he's pretty sure she breaks a couple of his fingers. But it's not like he cares because, really, how could he care about anything but the way her leg is keeping him firmly in place and the way she's holding his gaze as he helps her ride out her orgasm and the way his name is falling from her lips in an endless prayer?

When he feels it coming to an end, he quickly disentangles himself from her hold and slides up her body, and he thrusts into her just as the last wave of pleasure is making her shake in ecstasy. She gasps in shock, the new sensation coupled with her recent release so intense that it's almost unbearable. He stills, giving her some time to adjust, but her legs suddenly wrap around his middle, urging him on, and the hand that's not still trapped in his finds its way to the back of his neck to pull him down for a hungry kiss, and who is he to deny her what she wants?

Wrapping an arm around her, he flips them over so that she's now on top and he lies back down against the mattress, placing his hands on her waist. She stays still for a few seconds, clearly taken aback.

"Are you sure?" she asks breathlessly, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she leans down against him and starts moving slowly enough to make her point clear.

He knows exactly what she's asking. Does he really want to give her this much control after the way he just tortured her, knowing that she wants retribution? Knowing that after her orgasm, she can afford to be much more patient than he's probably giving her credit for? Seeing her playful smile, savouring the way her blonde curls tickle his chest as she tilts her head to the side to watch him, taking note of the stunning view he now has of her breasts, he decides that he'll just stay like this forever if that's what she has in mind.

"God yes," he answers, drawing a small laugh out of her.

The way the sound reverberates throughout both of their bodies makes his grip on her waist tighten and she sucks in a breath. Mistaking it for pain, he releases her, but she grabs his wrists and places his hands back where they were. He gives her a questioning look, but she just shakes her head at him, smiles, and keeps moving, her rhythm torturously slow. She lets her hands wander on his chest, tracing random patterns, her nails occasionally scraping his skin, and every single time he hisses and moves to stroke her breasts and instinctively tries to pick up their pace, and every single time she gives him a smug smile and slaps his hand away and denies him and bloody hell how did he live a thousand years without her?

He doesn't know if she's taken pity on him or if the pressure that's been building inside her again is finally too much, but eventually she takes one of his hands in hers and leads it to her breast. When he silently asks for confirmation, she nods, and he brushes his thumb against her nipple.

She throws her head back as a moan escapes from deep within her throat and there's just no way to control his reaction at her look of pure abandon. He sits up abruptly and wraps one arm around her back to guide her, using his other hand as leverage on the bed behind him so that he can slam into her as hard as he's been wanting to for what feels like hours.

Her fingers tangle in his hair and she forcefully pulls him down to her breast. He obliges, his mouth closing around her nipple and lavishing it with attention as strangled sounds fall from her lips. He catches a few coherent words, like "Yes" and "More" and "Klaus", and he wishes that he could growl her name in response because hearing her call his out like that is nearly his undoing, but his mouth is otherwise occupied. So instead he bites her, using what little sense he has left to remind himself not to draw blood, and her whole body seems to go into shock. Her arms hold him to her so hard that he's very glad he can't suffocate, and she buries her face in his neck, and the feeling of her muscles clenching around him sends him over the edge.

When he comes back to his senses, she's rubbing soothing circles against his back though her own limbs are still trembling in the aftermath of her orgasm. He finds his lips are now right next to her shoulder, so he peppers soft kisses there until she giggles and cups his face in her hands and gives him a quick kiss before pulling away. Their eyes lock, the air around them suddenly heavy with things unsaid. He swallows hard as he waits for her to say something. He knows that she's committed to giving them a chance, he doesn't doubt her word for a second, but the way she's looking at him as if she's trying to solve one of the great mysteries of the universe is making him nervous. Yes, nervous. He almost growls at the thought, but suddenly she's smiling at him and he can't remember what he was just thinking about.

"Well... Mission accomplished," she states.

He chuckles and lies down, bringing her down with him.

"Good," he replies as she cuddles against him, one hand resting on his chest while his arm stays wrapped around her back.

Her eyes start to flutter shut and he presses a soft kiss to her temple, knowing that if she's even half as exhausted as he is, she's going to fall asleep any second.

When has she ever done anything he's expected of her?

"So… You love me."

He groans, hardly believing that this is what she wants to talk about when really, what she should be worrying about is her friends' reaction when she approaches them with the news of their relationship and the deal she came up with.

"I shouldn't have said that."

"Why not? It's true, isn't it?"

He glowers at her for doubting it, but since her eyes are still closed and she's yawning, clearly unthreatened by anything he could do or say, it's not very effective. He's left with nothing to do but sigh and give her an answer.

"Yes."

"Good. That's good," she mutters sleepily.

"Is it?" he asks sceptically.

There's only silence for a few seconds and he thinks she's finally succumbed to sleep, but then she snuggles closer to him and whispers in his ear.

"Yeah. Makes falling for you less scary."

He raises an eyebrow. That's an admission he wasn't expecting so early.

"Oh. Well in that case. Yes, it's good."

"Good night, Klaus."

"It's early afternoon, Caroline."

"Shut up and go to sleep."

"Yes, love."

Fin

Damn, I hate writing smut almost as much as I love reading it. I don't know why I keep doing this to myself. Hope that was okay. And that the ending wasn't too much. Pleeeeease review :)

Also, I swore to myself I would NOT start another Klaroline fic until I've finished my GoT one, but a new idea's been bugging me since Thursday. I'm going to try to ignore it because I really don't have time for this, but given that I have absolutely no self control, keep an eye out for a new story – you never know ;)