#Calling a black woman crazy instead of having sympathy sounds very white to me and I will hold that grudge forever

[soulaanadelrey]

Someone asked if I have animosity toward white people because of my last relationship and the answer is no. I already didn't trust white people like that, but my ex put the cherry on top of my Hatred Sundae because he did what most white people do to black women who are going through mental episodes and psychotic breaks

[tinabean37]

Distant Harbor

This story idea came out of a dream I had. Yes, I dreamed of Pirate Henry, and it was fantastic! Please be aware that this is my first AU story, my first olden time period story, as well as my first OFC story instead of a reader insert. That being said, feedback would be amazing!! Tell me if you liked it, hated it, want more of it...I’ll take it all.

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If you want me to start a tag list for this story and want to be on it, let me know.

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Summery: As the daughter of a merchant sailor, you convince him to let you accompany him on his current voyage. But when a Pirate Ship is spotted on the horizon, you realize the sea is a dangerous place.

Characters: AU Pirate!Henry x OFC Lucy

Word Count: 2,366

Warnings: Violence, cannon fire, talk of blood, character death, captivity, unwanted touching and kissing, abuse, if you find anything else I need to add here please let me know.

**I do not know or own Henry Cavill(even though I would love to!) The original female character, Lucy, was made up by me.**

***Feedback welcome and encouraged :)***

~~~~~~~

The gentle rocking back and forth of the sailing vessel helped lull you into a restful sleep at night, and also woke you from the same slumber. The glow of the rising sun reflected off the ocean, and onto your face. It was the third day into your journey, and the motion and close quarters were already becoming bothersome. Your father was a merchant trader and had reluctantly agreed to let you accompany him on this voyage as you requested. You always dreamed of adventure and new horizons. All you had gotten so far was stir-crazy and discouraging looks from among the crew. 

They reasoned that it was unlucky to have a woman aboard a ship as she would anger the sea. But they also apparently felt that certain hygiene practices were unlucky, so you couldn’t put stock in much of what they said. Your father, however, kept a very close eye on you, and usually relegated you to your cabin, to not rile the crew. You were never one for following rules, however, so you decided to dress quickly, and head onto the deck to take in the fresh sea air. You leaned against the deck rail, hands gripping it tightly, eyes scanning the horizon. You squinted your eyes against the sun. Was that a spot of white you just saw? You turned to see if anyone else had seen something when you were joined at the rail by your father. 

“Lucy, you know you should not be out here unaccompanied.” His voice sounded tired, but you were unsure if it was due to the nature of his work here, or the number of times he has had to remind you of this fact.

“Father, I know you worry for me, but I am no longer a babe clinging to the nursemaid. I cannot be locked in that cabin the whole journey. I want to experience what you do. I want to experience anything at all.” You looked at him with a steely expression. He softened as he cupped your cheek. 

“I know, my dear daughter. But after we lost your dear mother, you are all I have left. You cannot fault me for being an attentive father.” You knew he was right. When sickness took your mother seven years past, it nearly broke him. He gave up sailing for almost a year, to keep you close. To keep you safe. But the banks were only sympathetic for so long before he knew he had to return to the sea. So having you on this voyage with him was, you felt, his way of allowing you freedom, while still keeping you close. You gave your father a kind smile and embraced him close. 

“I understand father, and I promise, I will heed your instructions from here out.”  Giving you a nod of acceptance, he turned his gaze to the sea. You both stood in calm silence for a few moments, until you saw your father tense and grip the railing. He shouted to the passing crewman. 

“Hawkins, get me the spyglass. I think I see sails!” Once the metal tube was placed in his hands, he focused out on the horizon. “Sail, ho! There’s a ship starboard side, 2 leagues out. She’s flying a black flag. Pierce, get to the helm. Keep it at a distance. Don’t let it catch up!” Your father’s authoritative commands both impressed and terrified you. 

“Black sails? Father, pirates?” Without answering, he grabbed your arm and led you quickly to your cabin. Once you were safely inside, he commanded you as well. 

“Lucy, you must listen to me, this is very important. You must stay in your cabin. We are going to try to outrun the vessel, but we are heavily laden. I cannot guarantee the safety of this ship. I need to know you are safe. Do you understand?” Too terrified to speak, you let out a whimper and frantic nod. Your father gave you a quick smile before running back on deck. Terrified for him and the crew, you knelt where you stood and began to pray. 

You were soon startled out of your prayer by the sounds of frantic shouting on deck. You ran to the porthole and saw that the pirate ship was much closer than you thought possible, and getting closer. The order from the deck was to man the cannons and prepare for crossfire. You were in disbelief. This was supposed to be a routine supply voyage. How quickly it had come to this. You hurriedly crossed the cabin to get away from the windows. You sat on your bed, pulled your knees to your chest, and wrapped your arms around them. And that is how you were when the first cannonball hit the ship. 

~~~~~

The barrage lasted what felt like forever. The loud blasts of the cannons soon became shouts and the clashing of steel when your ship was boarded. You sobbed as you drew even further into yourself. You couldn’t tell who was winning, but you were too scared to see for yourself. And you promised your father you would stay in the cabin. Your heart was pounding when the sounds of fighting outside seemed to stop. Was your father's crew victorious? Is your father safe? What will happen next?

You got your answer when someone began banging on the door from the outside. Your father had locked it, thank god, but if whoever it was could not unlock it, then it was not your father. Panicked and thinking quickly, you hid in your wardrobe. A few more loud bangs sounded against the door before it burst open. You held your breath, terrified whoever just entered would hear you. From your hiding spot, you couldn’t see anything, but you heard them ransacking the room. They must not know you were there but just looking to pillage. You couldn’t help shaking knowing that they would eventually look in the wardrobe and discover you there. Almost as if you willed it by thinking it, the door was wrenched open, and you let out a small scream of surprise. 

“Oi, what do we ‘ave ‘ere, then?” The pirate grabbed you by the arm and pulled you to stand in the cabin. “Yer a pretty lass, ain’t ye? Methinks me treasure been found ‘ere, ay?” You desperately tried to get out of his rough grip, as he began to grope and grab at you. 

“Let me go! You cannot do this!” You made your voice sound as commanding as possible, but the pirate just laughed. Your heart clenched as fear grew in you. 

“Ye think so, princess? There is plenty I can do, don’t ye fret.” His hands kept grabbing through layers of fabric, and you kept swatting them away. Once he got frustrated, he grabbed your chin in his dirty hand and kissed you roughly. Throwing your head back to escape the kiss, you slapped him roughly across the face. “Oh I like em feisty, I do.” He spat and tried to kiss you again. You struggled against his rough hold on your face and kept tossing your head back and to the side to avoid his foul mouth. Angered by your defiance, he roughly grabbed both arms and slammed your back hard into the cabin wall. Pain shot down your spine as it collided with the hard surface. You were unable to stop his mouth’s assault this time. When you felt his tongue attempt to break through you bit down as hard as you could. He let out a scream mixed with pain and anger. His hand was lightning quick as it struck you hard in the cheek. Tears blocked your vision as blood pooled on your split lip. “Don’t make me get a muzzle on ye, bitch!” Just then, another pirate stormed in, took in the scene in front of him, and his eyes clouded with anger. 

“Smythe, ye know the Captain’s rules. All prisoners need be brought to him. What do ye think yer doin’?”

“Just having a bit o’ fun. No ‘arm in that, is there?”

“Ye can have yer fun when ye finish yer job. Now get the girl to the Captain, and shove off!” You had been too scared to speak during their exchange. You only managed a whimper when the man called Smythe grabbed your arm painfully and began to drag you onto the deck. More strangled sounds came out as you saw the carnage on deck. Your father's crew, the men you had been sailing with, all dead. The bottom of your dress dragged in the blood on the deck as he pulled you towards the gangplank. However, your body stopped still when you saw one particular face you recognized amongst the havoc. The lifeless face of your father. 

“FATHER! NO!” You wailed. You pulled with all your strength and managed to wrench free of your captive’s grasp. You ran to him and knelt at his side. Your hands fluttered over him, helpless, as you wept for him. You laid your head on his bloodied chest and sobbed. Too soon, you felt the pirate yank you to your feet. “Please, no! I cannot leave him. Let me go! Please…” you begged to deaf ears. He continued to drag you to the waiting pirate ship, all the while you were fighting to return to your father’s body. He didn’t utter a word to you. You didn’t expect sympathy, but you expected something. The rest of the way, every lifeless face had the visage of your father. 

Now on board the pirate ship, you were led to the cabin directly under the helm, the captain’s cabin. The room was empty, but you were tossed in any way. The pirate roughly sat you on a wooden chair in the corner of the room, and without care, tightly tied your hands behind your back. You thought of trying to fight your bonds, but you couldn’t find the strength. You had nothing left. You were alone. And now, you belonged to the captain. 

~~~~~

You were unsure how long you waited in that cabin, tied to the chair alone. Your thoughts were only of your father, his crew, and your horrible fate. Would the captain kill you? Enslave you? Molest you? As terrified as you were, your fight was gone. You decided to accept your fate, whatever that may be. A short time later, you startled as the silence was broken. The doorknob turned, and the loud boot steps of the captain rang in the cabin. 

You were terrified to look up and face him, so your gaze stayed trained on the ground. A few steps later, the boots came into view, and then stopped in front of you. The silence filled the room again, almost as if he was waiting on you. Shaking, you slowly raised your head and took in the man standing in front of you. He was a giant of a man. Tall and broad. His dark curls rested wild on his forehead, almost hiding his striking blue eyes. His mouth was set in a hard line as if he was unsure what to do with you. You weren’t sure why he wasn’t saying anything. Doing anything. He was just staring at you. 

“Please, sir. Please don’t hurt me. My father was on that ship. He’s dead now. I don’t want him lying there alone. Please.” You begged between sobs. He sighed deeply before speaking. 

“I am Captain Henry Cavill. You are a prisoner aboard my ship, The Wretched Blue. While you are a prisoner here, you will be in my care. But do not think it will be a comfort. You will fetch a large amount of coin for me, so I will see to your captivity. Do you understand?” His tone was very direct and full of business. When he looked you in the eye, he did not show emotion. Trembling with sobs at your fate, you lowered your eyes from his gaze and let out a defeated sigh. Taking that as the only acceptance he needed, he turned towards the pirate that appeared there and started giving him orders that you were unable to hear. 

Before long, he had returned with a cot and bedding, seeing as there was only sleeping furniture for one in the cabin. It was apparent that he had also ordered the pirate to return to your ship, and your cabin, because the next item he brought in was your trunk. The lock and hinges were broken on it, so it was clear it had been riffled through. The last item was secreted to the captain before you could discern what it was. But you paid it no mind. You were thoroughly defeated and wanted nothing more than to surrender to the blackness at the edge of your vision. The captain gave his crewman a satisfied nod and granted him leave. You were once again left alone with the intimidating man. 

“I am your captor, but I am also a fair man. I will not be cruel, but there will be rules to follow. And punishments if those rules are not obeyed. Do you understand?” Your head nodded in shallow agreement. “Well then, as I stated, I am not a cruel man, so I will leave you to grieve. Do I have your word you will not try to escape? Or do I need to bind you?” Again without words, you shook your head to assure him you would not try anything. “Fine. The accommodations are small, but I offer you the bed as your own. Cross me, and your stay will not be nearly as comfortable.” He turned to walk away but stopped just short of the door. He came back to you, reached into his vest pocket, and pulled out the item that was handed to him along with your trunk. Silently, he handed it to you and breezed out of the room. You stared at the item in your hands and fresh sobs grew in your chest. It was the small portrait you had of your mother and father. This brought everything into perspective. You were now very alone. 

[naruwitch]

Code Geass: Paladins of Voltron Chapter 3: Rise of Voltron Part 3

Everyone within the lion held onto the walls and chair for dear life as they traveled at breakneck speeds through the wormhole. They were going so fast it felt like their skin was peeling off. Out of all of them, Rivalz strangely seemed to be the calmest. Fortunately, it didn't last long as the lion exited the wormhole seconds later, which closed behind them. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"Woah…" Rivalz muttered, "That was-"

Before Rivalz could complete his sentence, Shirley couldn't hold her lunch any longer. She vomited to the side of the control panel, making everyone cringe in disgust. Milly and Kallen even wrinkled their noses to block the smell as they were the closest to the poor girl.

"Sorry," she muttered in embarrassment before hurling again.

"I'm surprised you took this long, Shirley," Milly commented with sympathy, still wrinkling her nose.

"I don't recognize any of these constellations…" Suzaku observed, "...we must be a long, long way from Earth."

"The lion seems to want to go to this planet," Rivalz informed them as they approached a planet that looked very similar to Earth, "I think... I think it's going home."

With a burst of speed from the lion, it soared towards the lush planet full of forests, mountains, and oceans almost identical to Earth. Unfortunately, the group didn't have time to enjoy the scenery as they held on for dear life again as the lion descended. Lelouch and Milly were holding onto the back wall while the others were hanging onto Rivalz's pilot seat.

"Guys, personal space! Rai, your breath is killing me!" he complained.

"Uh, is it just me, or is anyone else having second thoughts about flying through a mysterious wormhole?" Shirley asked, "Why are we even listening to a robotic lion anyway?!"

"It got us away from that alien warship, didn't it?" Rivalz pointed out.

"I don't know if you noticed," Kallen hissed, "but we're in an alien warship!"

"What's up with you, Kallen? You don't normally act like this." Milly noticed with a raised eyebrow of suspicion.

Kallen growled, "Look, I'm frustrated with this situation and terrified because Rivalz is the one flying this thing!"

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Everyone, knock it off!" Lelouch exclaimed, "No one's happy to be in this situation, but we're here now!"

"Lelouch's right," Suzaku agreed, "if we're going to get through this, we need to do it together!"

"So, what do we do?" asked Rai.

"First, we need to know where we're going," Lelouch deduced, "Rivalz?"

"I… don't know," Rivalz admitted. He looked around at the others who were staring at him, "I'm sorry the lion's not talking to me anymore. Wait! Wait, wait, wait! Shhh! Listen. I think I hear something."

"I hear it too," Milly said.

"Yeah," Shirley said, "it sounds like a… high-pitched squeal…" Before anyone could ponder what it was, Rivalz's fart finally made itself present. Disgusted reactions emanated from the group as they all covered their mouths and noses to block out Rivalz's fart as the boy himself smirked in amusement.

"But seriously, there's a castle up ahead," Rivalz said. Everyone looked up as the mechanical lion approached a mountaintop overlooking a vast ocean. The mountain itself seemed to form around a large white metallic building consisting of seven spires, with cyan blue outlines and windows. The formation made it look like a mystical castle from the Middle Ages of Europe with a few touches of the Empire's futuristic Knightmare Frame tech. The group stared in awe as they descended further towards the structure. The sun shone off the castle, making it look like pure silver. It felt like they had stepped into a fairytale of old, and judging from everything that had happened to them so far, it wasn't too far fetched.

The lion slowly descended towards the castle as its eyes glowed a bright yellow, followed by the cyan blue lights of the castle lighting up as well. The lion landed at what appeared to be the entrance to the castle, and bent down with an open mouth, waiting for its passengers to exit.

"Everyone, keep your guard up," Lelouch warned them.

"Something wrong?" asked Milly.

"No, Lelouch is right," Suzaku agreed, "we were already attacked by aliens once already, we don't want that to happen again."

The group of seven cautiously exited the lion and looked around, taking in the landscape. Then suddenly, the lion jolted and stood back up.

"No, no! I knew it was going to eat us! No!" Shirley shrieked as she leaped behind Lelouch. Instead of eating them, though, the lion roared mightily at the door, loud enough to shake the ground. The door glowed cyan blue in its outlines and opened, kicking up dust as it did so. It wasn't long before the castle was free to be entered.

The group looked at the entrance in a mixture of shock and awe as Shirley peaked out from behind Lelouch.

"Oh, the door is open," she spoke robotically in realization before turning to face the lion, "I guess I was wrong about you."

Deciding not to waste time investigating, they cautiously entered the castle. It was pitch black save for a few faint outlines of cyan blue along the walls, floor, and ceiling. Despite this, it was still hard to see where they were going, so they kept bumping into each other.

"Hello?" Shirley tentatively called out after wandering around for a while. The group stopped and stared at her as if she was crazy. What if whoever was in here was dangerous? She could've just given their location away.

"You know," observed Rai as the group came to a stop at a stairwell, "from the size of the lion, I expected these steps to be bigger…"

Suddenly the room illuminated with a blue beam that shined down on the group, allowing for more of the castle's layout to be visible. The place they were in appeared to be a ballroom of sorts with the stairwell in front and glowing lanterns off to the side.

"Hold for identity scan," a computerized voice spoke as rays of blue light and mist rose up from the floor, rolling over their bodies in a scanning motion. It felt like they were being covered in a warm blanket as it ran over them.

"Why are we here?" Lelouch demanded as the scan finished its job, "What do you want with us?!"

The computer didn't answer. Instead, the same mist that surrounded the group during the identity scan rose up and filtered into the unlit lanterns that lined the walls, illuminating a path that led out of the ballroom.

"I guess we're going that way," Suzaku said before following Lelouch.

The farther the group walked down the halls of the castle, the more 'mist lights' seemed to turn on as if guiding them somewhere.

"Hello?" this time, Milly's voice echoed throughout the castle after a while of walking. As they went further into the castle, Milly, Shirley, and even Rai seemed to take turns calling out into the darkness, hoping for signs of life.

The group walked through hallway after hallway. Descended or ascended staircase after staircase until they finally reached what appeared to the center of the castle. The metallic doors leading inside slid open for them. It led to a large circular room with the center a few inches taller than the rest of the floor, and similar circles surrounding it. A central control panel stood at the head of it. Surrounding it were several pod-like objects, all with the same cyan blue outlines that matched the rest of the castle's decor.

"Where are we?" asked Rivalz, speaking for the first time since entering the castle.

"This is some kind of... control room!" Rai exclaimed in realization as the central control panel's buttons suddenly lit up. Gears shifted, and steam emerged from one side of the room, along with the sound of sliding doors opening. Two pod-like structures rose from the floor. The windows were partially transparent, allowing the group to at least see the outlines of two people inside of them. From what could be made out, it appeared to be a man and a woman.

"These-these two aren't dead, are they?!" Shirley asked, mildly freaked out.

Shirley soon got her answer as the pod suddenly glowed, and steam billowed from beneath it. The blue shell that surrounded the figure seemed to dissolve into sparkles of stardust, fully revealing the woman inside.

The woman wore a long blue and white dress, had dark-colored skin, sea-foam colored hair that descended in long waves down her back, pink crescent shapes around her eyes. Her most distinguishing feature was her pointy elf-like ears, with purple triangle-shaped earrings hanging from them. And to top it off, she had a golden circlet-style diadem around her forehead with a single blue gem in the center. She looked very similar to some elfish people found in some videogames on Earth.

The woman's eyes snapped open as she gasped, extending her hand as if to grab something that was in front of her, even though nothing was there.

"Father!" She cried as she stumbled out of the pod, and would've fallen if Rivalz hadn't rushed over to catch her.

The woman groaned, gripping Rivalz's arms to balance herself and looked up drowsily at the teenager that caught her.

Now that Rivalz had a good look at her face, he saw that the woman was quite beautiful. He blushed before flashing her one of his trademark smiles. "Well, hello there," trying to act charming.

"Who are you? Where am I?" the woman asked, speaking in a thick Britannian-like accent that would have made several of Lelouch's half-siblings jealous.

"I'm Rivalz, and you're right here in my arms," he answered smoothly.

The woman looked up at him curiously.

"Your… ears."

He raised an eyebrow and looking in the direction of the body part, "Yeah…?"

"They're hideous," she said bluntly, as she stood on her own two feet he took a small step away from him, still staring at his eyes in disgust, "What's wrong with them?"

"Nothing's wrong with them!" Rivalz exclaimed defensively, "They heard exactly what you said about them-whoa!"

Rivalz was caught by surprise as the woman suddenly gripped his ear, twisted him around, and forced him onto his knees, holding his right arm behind his back. For a slim looking woman, she was incredibly strong, and Rivalz had to fight back the tears because of how hard she was holding his ear.

"Who are you?!" the woman demanded, "Where is King Alfor?! What are you doing in my castle?!"

"A giant blue lion brought us here! That's all we know!" Rivalz cried out, struggling not to break down in tears. His suffering finally came to an end, though, as the woman let go and addressed the other student council members.

"How do you have the Blue Lion? What happened to its paladin?" she asked, "What are you all doing here? Unless… How long has it been?"

"Look, lady, we don't know what's going on or what the hell you're talking about!" Kallen exclaimed defensively.

"Can you tell us who you are?" asked Lelouch a little more cordially, "Maybe we can help you."

"...I am Princess Allura of planet Altea." she answered as she approached the central control panel, "I've got to find out where we are, and how long we've been asleep." Allura put her hands on both sides of the control panel, which lit up in bright cyan blue, and a translucent screen appeared in the center of it.

"Okay," Suzaku said, looking at the screen along with Rai, "that's how that works."

Suddenly, the second pod opened as well to reveal a tall, white-skinned man with orange hair and a bushy mustache. He also had pointed elf-like ears and blue markings at the corners of his eyes. He gasped as he saw Rivalz.

"Ah! Enemy combatants!" the man exclaimed as he jumped from his pod and attempted to jump kick Rivalz, who quickly shifted out of the way. The act resulted in him nearly falling to the floor. Still, the man managed to regain his balance by holding onto Allura's sleeping pod.

"Whoa, quiznack! You're lucky I have a case of the old sleep chamber knees." the man also spoke in a think Britannian accent just like Allura. "Otherwise, I'd grab your head like this, wrap you up like so - and one, two, three - sleeping time!" he said, demonstrating everything with hand gestures and snapped his fingers at the end.

"Oh yeah?" Rivalz smiled smugly, "Well before you did that, I'd," he jumped and kicked into the air in a mediocre karate move, "like that."

"Oh, really? Well, how could you do that when I've already come at you with this? Ha, ha, ha, hey!" the man retaliated with fake karate moves of his own. It didn't seem to intimidate Rivalz in the slightest.

"Rivalz," Lelouch groaned in annoyance and embarrassment at the display.

"It can not be," Allura suddenly gasped.

"What is it?" the man asked, suddenly alarmed.

"We've been asleep for ten thousand years!"

o~o

(Flashback)

Everything was in flames around them. It was their final battle against Zarkon, the leader of the Galra, and the Alteans had lost horribly. A purple battleship approached the castle as the face of their enemy appeared on the computer screen before them.

"Zarkon!" King Alfor growled.

"Your fleet has been destroyed Alfor, I will be there shortly to claim Voltron."

As the screen switched off, a massive purple laser shot at the castle, damaging it significantly. The Castle quickly lost power.

"Father," Allura spoke to the man before her, "we must form Voltron and fight before it's too late!"

"It's already too late," the king replied, "We must send the Lions away, we can't risk them falling into Zarkon's hands!"

"We can't give up hope!" Allura exclaimed desperately, hoping to change her father's mind.

"I am sorry, daughter," the king approached Allura, placing a hand on her cheek lovingly, "if all goes well, I shall see you again soon."

The last thing Allura remembered before blacking out was seeing her father's face and his voice telling her he loved her.

o~o

Allura grit her teeth, "Planet Altea and all the planets in our Solar System have been destroyed! Coran, Father, is gone, our entire civilization… Zarkon!"

"Zarkon?" everyone questioned semi-unison.

"He was the king of the Galra," Allura explained, "a vile creature, and an enemy to all free people!"

Before anyone else could comment on this, Rai suddenly gasped and then yelled, holding his head like he was in immense pain. His left eye also burned in agony for a moment. He could hear the muffled voices of his classmates exclaim in worry as he collapsed onto his knees. Images he'd long forgotten flashed through his mind, along with the terrifying face of a monster. And suddenly, Rai remembered.

"Rai!" Shirley asked urgently, kneeling down by the blonde, "Rai, are you okay?"

"Yeah…" Rai muttered, "I-I remembered something!"

This caught everyone's attention, especially Lelouch and Milly's, as they were the ones who initially found him in his amnesiac state.

"What did you remember?" asked Lelouch in curious urgency.

"That Zarkon guy… I was his prisoner!" he revealed as he gritted his teeth in hatred.

Everyone gasped at this. How was this possible? And if it was true, how did Rai escape and end up at Ashford of all places?

"Are you absolutely sure, Rai?" asked Milly.

"Positive." was the response.

"He's still alive?!" Allura exclaimed in shock before scowling in anger, "Impossible!"

"I can't explain it, but it's true! He's searching for a superweapon called Voltron!"

"He's searching for it because he knows it is the only thing that can defeat him," Allura explained, "and that's exactly why we must find it before he does."

o~o

Levitating purple crystals glowed in a way they hadn't in millennia. A hunched figure gasped as if she had been holding her breath for an extended time, and had just come up for air. The woman emerged from the chamber, her eyes a bright yellow and dark indigo skin. On her face were markings that looked like tears of blood descending from her eyes, and long white hair flowing down behind her hood.

"The Blue Lion has returned," she reported approaching the Galra who stood by a window of the ship, proudly gazing at his fleet, "and now I sense a resurgence of Altean energy."

"Alfor's daughter lives… How?" Zarkon asked, turning to the woman for answers.

"I know not… but it is time to reclaim what is rightfully ours."

"Yes, I shall wipe that foul race from the universe forever, and take back Voltron. Contact my commanders."

o~o

At another area of the universe, a few hours away from the planet Arus, where Allura's castle rested, another Galra ship was patrolling the area. The commander inside was just reattaching his mechanical arm when he was called for an audience with Zarkon.

"Commander Sendak, the Princess of Altea is alive and is hiding in your sector; we believe she alone knows the whereabouts of the remaining Lions. Your battle fleet is the closest to her location. Retrieve her and the Lions. With them all, the Galra Empire will be unstoppable." Zarkon ordered.

"I fight for the empire," Commander Sendak replied, on bended knee, "I conquer in the name of Galra. No foe has ever stood in my way, and none ever will. Vrepit sa! Set a course for Arus."

o~o

"Princess, you must eat," Coran said, "it's been ten thousand years!"

"I'm not hungry," she replied, shaking her head.

"Wait, ten thousand years?" questioned Rivalz, "That's like one thousand plus ten."

"That's times ten, Rivalz." Kallen corrected.

"Whatever!" he shrugged.

"I haven't eaten since breakfast and I starving," Shirley said, eying the weird green alien food hovering in front of them. It didn't look like the most appetizing thing in the world, looking more like mashed up veggies covered in boogers than anything else.

"Yeah, but you've thrown up at least five times," Milly pointed out in slight disgust.

"That's true," she nodded. Unable to hold back her appetite anymore, she tentatively picking off some of the goo and tried it. The taste wasn't terrible (it didn't taste amazing either though), but the texture was definitely something to get used to. Shirley nearly gagged as the substance seemed to slide down her throat like a slimy avocado.

As Shirley and Milly were sampling the Altean food, Lelouch, Rai, and Suzaku took a moment to truly admire the details of the palace. It was simply extraordinary and far more beautiful than anything the Britannians could put together. The technology was so advanced they might as well have stepped into a sci-fi movie. At the same time, though, they could definitely sense something supernatural about the castle, almost like it was alive.

"I can't believe your civilization made such advanced technology ten thousand years ago," Suzaku said in awe. "It must have been an incredible place."

"Yes, it was," Coran said sadly, "but now it is gone, and we're the last Alteans alive."

Allura's eyes flooded with tears as she hugged Coran, sobs racking her body. Lelouch clenched his fists, not out of anger towards Allura, but more to himself for choosing to leave Nunnally. The circumstances may have given him little to no choice, but he could have figured out something had he thought hard enough. He wouldn't be able to hold Nunnally the way Coran was holding Allura for a very long time now, if ever.

The two separated, though, when a squeaking sound came from the sleeping pod. She gasped in delight at seeing a small group of Altean mice, waving and smiling at her. "Looks like we're not the last after all."

This was short-lived, though, as the control panel suddenly started beeping in alarm. One of the screens glowed a bright red as a screen opened to reveal a purple Galra ship slowly approaching the planet.

"A Galra Battleship has set its tracker to us!" Coran gasped.

"How did they find us?" Allura asked, holding the mice in her hands.

"Did they follow us!?" asked Rai in alarm.

"No, they didn't," said another female voice coming from the control room entrance. Turning to the sound, and the group saw a green-haired woman with golden-yellow eyes wearing what appeared to be a loose straight jacket with its buckles undone.

Suzaku recognized her immediately, "Hey! You're that-"

"C.C.," Lelouch interrupted Suzaku, "what are you doing here? How did you get here?"

"I snuck onto that Lion when you weren't looking. And I must agree with Kallen on this one Rivalz, you're flying could use some work."

"Lelouch, who's this?" Milly asked suspiciously.

"This is C.C. We're... uh…"

"Accomplices," C.C. replied nonchalantly, "and as for why I'm here, I thought I made it clear to you, Lelouch. I don't let my contractors die, hence why I'm accompanying you."

"Contractor? Lelouch, what's she talking about," Shirley asked accusingly.

"We can discuss that later," C.C. answered before Lelouch could, "if I'm not mistaken, we have an alien ship about to attack this castle correct? How long before they arrive exactly?"

Suzaku gave both C.C. and Lelouch a look that clearly said, 'we WILL discuss this later,' along with similar looks from most of the others, Allura and Coran included.

Coran did answer C.C.'s question, though, "At their speed, let's see... carry the two... I-I'd say maybe a couple of days?"

"Good, let them come," Allura said with a determined look. She then turned and at the seven Britannians, Honorary, Half-Blooded, and Full-blooded. "By the time they get here, you seven will have reformed Voltron, and together, we will destroy Zarkon's empire."

"Princess," Lelouch said, getting right down to business, "if there are seven of these Lions, how are we going to find the rest?"

Allura didn't say anything as she put the mice back down. She led the group to the main bridge of the castle and walked towards the center of the room. A large crystal directly above her head shone down with a brilliant blue light around her. She closed her eyes in concentration.

"King Alfor connected the Lions to Allura's life force," Coran explained, "she alone is the key to the Lions' whereabouts."

Allura's eyes suddenly opened again, and the blue beam expanded around her. As a result, the light separated into multiple particles surrounding the room and engulfing everyone in it. The lights dimmed, allowing only the blue lights to be visible. That is when everyone realized that the particles were stars. They were standing in a 3-D model of the entire universe.

"These are… coordinates!" Rai suddenly realized, seeing all the stars and planets floating around them.

"Hey look," Suzaku said, seeing an image of the Blue and Black Lions side by side on one of the planets, "the Black Lion looks like in the same location as the Blue Lion."

"Look at your primitive synapses firing away in their little brain cage," Coran commented, seemingly quite impressed how smart this simple human indeed was. Suzaku seemed to catch on to what Coran was saying, however, and to put it simply, he wasn't that amused.

"Very observant," Allura said with a warm smile, "that's because the Black Lion is in the castle."

"To keep the Black Lion out of Zarkon's hands, King Alfor locked it in the castle," Coran explained, "it can only be freed if the other six Lions are present."

"As you've found, the Lions choose their pilots," Allura further explained, "it is a mystical bond, and can not be forced. The quintessence of the pilot is mirrored in their Lion. Together, they form something greater than science can explain."

The princess moved her hand swiftly, and the coordinates move in one direction as if on a computer screen. The image of the Black Lion floated in front of them, but slowly approached Lelouch, "The Black Lion is the decisive head of Voltron. It will take a pilot who is a born leader and in control at all times. Someone whose men will follow without hesitation. That is why Lelouch, you will pilot the Black Lion."

Allura waved her hand again, and this time the image of a green lion appeared, next to a planet that seemed to be covered in a lush green jungle. "The Green Lion has an inquisitive personality and needs a pilot of intellect and daring. Rai, you will pilot the Green Lion."

"The Blue Lion," Rivalz smirked cockily at the mention of his Lion, "is the most confident and friendliest of the Lions. Relying on optimism of the situation to keep the team together. As you already do, Rivalz, you will pilot the Blue Lion."

"Called it!" Rivalz smirked.

"The Orange Lion is caring and kind," Allura continued as the image of another Lion appeared by what looked more like a meteor than a planet. It hovered in front of Shirley, "Its pilot is the one who puts the needs of others above their own. Their heart must be mighty. As the leg of Voltron, you will lift the team up and hold them together."

"Me?!" Shirley squeaked in alarm, pointing to herself.

"The Yellow Lion is the most diligent of the Lions," a yellow lion appeared by a planet that seemed to shine like stars by Milly. "Knowing when goals must be accomplished and when keeping the others focused on their goal. Milly, the pilot of the Yellow Lion, will be you." Milly hummed in thought, as the Lion did seem to match her personality in the 'getting things done' department.

"The Purple Lion is the most honorable of the Lions," Allura said as she materialized the image of the Purple Lion, though it wasn't connected to any coordinates. "That is also why it is one of the more difficult ones to control. The one who pilots it must be someone who is not ashamed of their beliefs and is willing to stay true to them as well. Because of this, Suzaku, the Purple Lion will be piloted by you."

At the mention of beliefs and values, no one, except C.C., noticed how Lelouch seemed to glare subtly at Suzaku. It appeared he was still bitter about how Suzaku refused to join the Black Knights after they went through the trouble of rescuing him.

'This could become a problem,' C.C. thought to herself.

"The Red Lion is temperamental and the most difficult to master," just like with the Purple Lion, Allura allowed the Red Lion to materialize, but there weren't any coordinates with it. "It's faster and more agile than the others, but also more unstable. Its pilot needs to be someone who relies more on instincts than skill alone," the Red Lion hovered in front of Kallen, "Kallen, you will pilot the Red Lion."

"What?!" exclaimed Shirley in disbelief, along with most of the other student council members, "Kallen? Seriously?!" Though their doubt was understandable. Kallen had yet to reveal that 'Kallen Stadtfeld' was just a front and that she was really Kallen Kozuki, a terrorist, and elite knightmare pilot.

"Unfortunately, I can not locate the coordinates to the Red or Purple Lions yet. There must be something wrong with the castle. After ten thousand years, it might need some work."

"Don't worry, we'll find them soon," Coran said, "They don't call me 'the Coranic' for nothing… It's because it sounds like 'mechanic,' so uh… Coranic… Mechanic. It's not- it doesn't sound exactly like it, it's similar."

All seven of the Lions suddenly came to life, roared, and ran around their respective pilots and shooting off into the sky like shooting stars. Everyone shielded their eyes as the lights of the castle allowed Arus's natural light to enter the room. They watched in awe as the legendary hero, Voltron, stood before them with all the colors of their respective Lions, the head of the black Lion revealing his face, wielding a magnificent sword.

"Once all the Lions are united, you will form Voltron, the most powerful warrior ever known. The Defender of the Universe!"

The image of the warrior vanished into sparkles, leaving everyone watching in shock, wonder, and even a little fear. The robotic warrior was far more impressive than any knightmare frame model they've seen. However, it was still intimidating to know that the seven of them would be the ones piloting it. Even Suzaku was nervous. Sure, he was the pilot of one of the most advanced knightmare frames in the world right now. The Lancelot he could handle, but a giant robotic lion? Would it feel the same way or not?

"Awesome!" Rivalz exclaimed as a brief moment of silence.

"Wait. Okay, so we're going to be in there and flying lions," Shirley spoke, "got that part. How do I insert in the legs? Also, is this going to be a long trip? And if it is, should I use the toilet first? You guys have those, right?"

"We don't have much time," Lelouch said, taking command as he was to be the leader of Voltron, "Milly and I will go after the Yellow Lion. Rivalz, you take Shirley and get the Orange one," he glanced at C.C., "C.C., will you go with Rai and get the Green Lion?"

"If I must," the immortal shrugged nonchalantly.

"Suzaku, Kallen, you two stay here. When you find the Purple or Red Lions go get them." The two of them nodded in understanding.

"In the meantime, I'll get the Castle's defenses ready," Allura said, "they'll be sorely needed."

"I'll ready some pods, and load in the coordinates so you can reach the Green and Yellow Lions," Coran spoke as he proceeded to do just that.

Milly, Lelouch, Rai, and C.C. followed Coran to the pods that he prepared for their journeys. They had sleek silver vehicle outlines with neon blue around the edges that seemed to be a trademark of the castle. While they loaded in, Shirley and Rivalz returned to the Blue Lion.

After the two groups got settled in the pods, he handed Milly and Rai a device, "These are the coordinates for the Lions you'll be looking for. Once you land, they should lead you right to them."

Rai, being the most techno-savvy of the group, pressed a blue button on the device. It caused a screen to pop up that had the image of the planet where the Green Lion was located. Milly followed the action, seeing where the Yellow Lion was.

Shortly after, the three teams were launched into the atmosphere of Arus, two in pods, and the other in the Blue Lion. Lelouch and C.C. piloted the pods as Milly and Rai sat in the passenger seats. A computer screen soon appeared in front of them with Coran's face on it. The same happened for Shirley and Rivalz in the Blue Lion.

"We can only keep the wormholes that lead to the other Lions open for about two of your Earth hours," Coran explained to them, as the wormholes opened in front of them. They shimmered like the ocean in the evening. "So you'll have to be quick about your work. The good news is, according to my readings, all three planets are relatively peaceful. So if you do get stuck, they could be relaxing places to live out the rest of your lives."

"Wait, what?!/Say what?!/Come again?!" were the responses that followed. None of them realized that Coran was joking as they could quickly locate the Blue Lion, and the two pods also had tracking devices in them.

"Well, enjoy the trip!"

"Wait a minute!/Hold on!/I did not receive the memo for this!" the protests went silent as the pods and lion disappeared in the wormholes.

[misssophiachase]

Sympathy for the Devil

Second-in-Command to Lucifer, Klaus Mikaelson, and promising Archangel, Caroline Forbes, have a complicated past. What happens when they need to come together to broker a peace deal when so many unresolved feelings linger?

A gift for the lovely @ashleigh-jewitt-xx for the Klaroline Vacation Exchange

Present Day - December 23

Klaus carefully inspected his reflection in the large, hotel room mirror. He was attired in a formal suit, his wings tucked neatly beneath its folds but with one exception. Instead of his usual all black ensemble, he'd decided to tuck a familiar, white handkerchief in his jacket pocket. Risky yes, he didn't want to chance angering Lucifer given he was Second-in-Command but once he'd found out through his network of spies who was accompanying Heaven's Governing Council to this crisis meeting, it seemed the perfect choice. She did give it to him after all.

Klaus closed his eyes and her face appeared instantly. He'd committed those golden waves, creamy skin and expressive blue eyes to memory. Even her vanilla scent and melodic laugh still lingered after five years. He slowly opened his eyes again, attempting to calm the nerves she'd caused to swirl in his stomach. No one would believe that the all-great-and-powerful Niklaus Mikaelson had a weakness and he had every intention of keeping up the façade, especially given the importance of the upcoming talks.

Earth was middle ground and bustling New York City was chosen for the meeting, mainly because they could go about their business without arousing the suspicions of blissfully unaware and busy humans going about their days.

Klaus looked in the mirror one last time, her beautiful face appearing in the reflection. He held out his hand, running his fingers slowly along the cool glass and across her tempting pink lips, curved into a cheeky smile. Call him crazy but given the sparkle in her eyes, it was almost like she could feel him as much as he could her at that very moment.

5 1/2 years earlier

It was a bright, sunny day as Klaus made his way swiftly through the side streets, his eyes darting left to right as he appraised his next target. This was one of the most exclusive areas in Los Angeles and given the wealth per capita and his array of choices this was going to be difficult. He was weighing up between the red Ferrari and the navy Aston Martin, wondering which would return the best profit and possibly earn him the promotion he desired.

Nobody could steal a car like Klaus Mikaelson. His reputation was renowned throughout California and his services were highly sought. Unfortunately, no matter how high the price they offered, he was inextricably tied to the family business. Mikael Mikaelson had built up an impressive and thriving crime ring the past thirty years. Ranging from theft to robbery, drug dealing and arms trading. Being born into this crime syndicate meant that Klaus' future was already decided. He'd trained as a pick pocket from a young age, all his siblings had, and after a three year stint in prison for armed robbery he was now one of their premium car thieves, turning in the most annual profit in that division on record. But he wanted more and was eyeing up a move into the lucrative drug market.

He noticed a flurry of activity and lifted his sunglasses to make sure his eyes weren't deceiving him. It was a silver Lamborghini Veneno, one of the rarest cars in the world. A car worth a cool $6.2 million. If this didn't convince his father to promote him, nothing would.

He made his way across the road, his eyes following the couple as they stepped from the car and made their way into the nearby restaurant. Klaus resisted the urge to groan, what idiot would leave his rare Lamborghini unprotected when they offered a perfectly good valet service? The way Klaus saw it was that he deserved to have it stolen. He approached slowly, sizing up his options. Knowing the sound of the alarm would be immediate, Klaus had to act fast to disable it. Something he was good at thankfully. He admired the gunmetal sheen of the paint in the sunlight, excited for the ensuing joyride and delivering this prize to his father.

He checked around discreetly noticing the foot traffic had decreased significantly, no doubt due to the time of day. As he was about to strike, he heard a loud honk in the distance. Looking over, Klaus could make out a flash of blonde hair and a pair of toned, creamy legs housed under a floral mini-dress. Klaus couldn't look away, mainly because he had an almost urgent need to see her face. She turned her head, almost on command, an exaggerated eye roll doing nothing to ease his curiosity. She was absolutely breathtaking; it was the only word to describe her looks. Klaus figured she had idiots driving past and beeping most days.

Klaus was finding it difficult to tear his gaze from her. He wondered what her name was. He figured it was probably something stunning to match her natural elegance and what seemed like a cheeky disposition from her facial expression.

He shook his head, attempting to dislodge the distraction, he had a job to do. Before he could look away he heard another car horn in short, sharp bursts but this time it wasn't one of admiration but one of urgency. In her haste to cross the street, she was directly in the path of an incoming car. She froze to the spot, unable to move. Klaus didn't think, just sprinted towards her. He didn't know this mystery woman but there was no way he was going to let her die today.

It all happened in a split second. One minute he was racing towards her and the next she was in his arms as he shielded her from impact. Then he felt an excruciating amount of pain and the world went black.

Present Day

Meanwhile across town present day, Caroline shivered involuntarily, her hand grazing the mirror and the image she'd unwittingly conjured of his gorgeous face and deep set dimples. The ones he used to flash when he was teasing her mercilessly. Those crimson lips were still as deeply rich in colour as Caroline remembered and she briefly wondered if they were still as smooth to touch.

She pulled her hand away shakily in a desperate attempt to halt the memories from flooding back uncontrollably. The last thing she needed were her emotions to penetrate the act she was attempting to convey on this mission. It was something she'd refused to take up repeatedly but her parents, the current ruling hierarchy, had insisted upon it.

"I am not going to do this," Caroline insisted, her arms crossed over her chest defiantly. "And you can't make me."

"Well, that's certainly a mature take on the situation," Liz drawled. "If you're not going to do this for me, think of your father, think of the governing council, think of…"

"Oh let me guess, world peace."

"You took the words right out of my mouth darling, but just so you know bitter sarcasm is not your best look," she growled, by way of response. "Look, I understand it will be difficult after everything but you and…."

"Don't say his name," she interrupted.

Difficult was an understatement. Just the thought of being face-to-face with Klaus again was enough to evoke a gambit of emotions, starting with unresolved anger and ending with a frustrating desire to rip his clothes off and drag him to bed. She just hoped God couldn't read her mind when she was having such untoward and lustful thoughts. It was another reason to blame Klaus for messing with her emotions and her chastity.

"You're our best hope, Caroline," she pleaded, her hands running over her daughter's wings soothingly. Caroline had to fight the urge not to roll her eyes. No pressure at all. "The council has received word that Lucifer is mobilising his guard on earth and the last thing we need is a bloody feud with our innocents directly at risk. After all, it's our duty to protect them at all costs."

"Just when I thought you couldn't guilt trip me any more you've succeeded," she mumbled. This wasn't about her diplomatic skills, that much Caroline knew. It was them blatantly using her as a pawn to try to sway him given their brief but still painful past. At the same time, she wasn't one to sacrifice innocent lives; in fact she'd been working hard to protect them since before and after she arrived in Heaven over five years earlier.

She'd been confused. One minute she was crossing the street and the next she was making her way through a white haze and into her parent's waiting arms. As they both held her close, she could hear their repeated cries of it being too soon. Her time wasn't supposed to come yet, she had so many years to do good work on earth. Caroline had wracked her brain trying to remember what exactly had transpired. The last thing she recalled was a pair of strong arms encircling her waist and pulling her closer and then darkness.

Her mother and father had died two and five years earlier respectively and as much as she missed them, she'd moved on determined to make them proud. After earning her medical degree in Boston and moving cross-country to Los Angeles and to an intern position at the Cedars Sinai ER, Caroline finally felt at some kind of peace, until that fateful day.

The one thing she hadn't expected as she was cradled in their arms was for him to appear in the distance. He was handsome, that much was true. Dirty, blonde curls and dark, blue eyes regarding her curiously. It all came back to her at that very moment. It was him, the man that selflessly saved her life. Unfortunately, it seemed he'd managed to sacrifice his own at the same time and she wasn't quite sure why.

xxxx

"White really isn't your colour, Niklaus," Kol drawled, gesturing to the handkerchief poking out from his pocket as they walked along Fifth Avenue through the crowds unaware of just who they were.

"Since when did I ever ask you for fashion advice?" He baulked, his eyes trained firmly on the sidewalk. Kol had tagged along for the meeting. He said it was because he wanted to learn from his older brother but Klaus knew it was because he wanted to try picking up some poor, unsuspecting spirits on earth. Since he'd died a year earlier, Kol had been determined to return to his old life, not realising it would never be the same again.

"Since never but maybe you should," the brunette snorted. "If only to avoid Lucifer's wrath."

"I can wear whatever I damn well like," he growled, thinking about the one reason he'd chosen his outfit. The flash of white his attempt to silently prove he wasn't as evil as she probably thought after he left so suddenly. Klaus had been initially surprised they'd let her accompany the governing council on such an important mission but it was no doubt their attempt to try and weaken his resolve. Klaus had no intention of letting that happen, even if he had changed his outfit a few times. "You, on the other hand might want to stay away from velvet in future."

"What do you mean?" He baulked, looking downwards at his black jacket. "Ladies love the feel."

Klaus rolled his eyes, thinking that even in death his brother and his vanity hadn't changed. He'd been decidedly angry when Kol arrived in Hell. He was only twenty-five at the time and was another casualty of his father's criminal regime. Maybe Klaus had died of his own design but Kol had been fatally shot during a drug deal gone wrong. After all the years Klaus had been held back from that particular lifestyle, Mikael had allowed a young and immature Kol to pay for it with his life. It was something Klaus could never really forgive, even after all this time.

Luckily Rebekah and Elijah had managed to extricate themselves from this terrible life their father had thrust upon them. He'd looked in on them a few times in the past. Elijah was a successful hotelier in Switzerland with multiple properties under his command and a feisty, brunette, art curator called Katherine for a wife. Klaus had to laugh at just how well she kept him on his toes. Even with their colourful upbringing, Elijah had always been too stuffy for his own good. Rebekah was an up and coming fashion designer currently based in Hong Kong with an equally headstrong Englishman called Enzo who never pandered to her unlimited list of demands. The way Klaus saw it, it was a perfect match.

He never begrudged dying when he saw their happiness on display but Kol's premature fate had been particularly difficult to take. Maybe he was deemed evil by Hell standards but at the end of the day all Kol wanted was some wild fun and a pretty girl to keep him company.

Klaus inhaled sharply as they traversed East 54th street thinking back to her. After the darkness enveloped him all those years ago he was surprised to find himself in Heaven, of all places. Last time Klaus checked his reckless lifestyle didn't lend itself to such purity. Not only was he a criminal with an extensive rap sheet he also smoked incessantly, was a recreational drug user, drank in excess and bedded a new woman most nights of the week.

But yet here he was, staring into the eyes of Heaven's hierarchy as they comforted their apparent daughter. The same girl he'd protected without knowing just who she was. Turns out she was angelic royalty and being her unwitting saviour must have scored him an automatic free pass through the pearly gates. Go figure.

The look she'd sent his way though, those wide eyes staring at him unflinchingly was enough to cause his chest to constrict. He decided to blame that particular foreign sensation on impromptu death. She obviously knew what he'd done for her but Klaus never wanted her to feel gratitude. Call him greedy but, at that very moment, what he wanted was so much more than that.

xxxx

Caroline finalised her outfit, running her hands along the length of her fitted, white dress, even if it had taken multiple changes to come to a decision. Her blonde hair was fanned out across her back, a gold headband glinting amongst the blonde waves. She hated to admit it but Klaus still had the ability to make her doubt everything, including her appearance. They hadn't seen each other since he'd left Heaven years earlier. She wanted to despise him for abandoning her but Caroline was strong enough to know that she wasn't beholden to any man, let alone an evil coward that was so weak to disappear into the darkness of night without a goodbye then show up unexpectedly at Lucifer's right hand side. To say she felt betrayed was an understatement.

"Stunning," a voice offered behind her in the reflection. She smiled into the warm, brown eyes of Bonnie Bennett. Her saving grace since Klaus had left all those years ago. She'd been crying incessantly when the caring but opinionated girl had intervened. Caroline really couldn't have wished for a better fairy god sister all these years. To say she also looked stunning was an understatement. The colour white was invented for someone like Bonnie.

"Mmmm, I was actually going for professional, Bon."

"Stuff professional," she whistled. "That satanic fool is going to wish he stayed with you in Heaven all those years ago rather than succumb to the disgusting bowels of Hell."

"I doubt I've even crossed his mind, Bonnie. He's probably been too busy maniacally ruling Hell and wreaking havoc on poor, unsuspecting people to care," she scoffed.

"We both know that's not true," she said. "If you actually believed that you wouldn't be wearing that on such obvious display." Caroline's hand went to her chest immediately, feeling the familiar chain with the simple silver cross attached around her neck. He'd left it for her the night he disappeared and it had stayed hidden under her clothing all this time until she decided to bring it to his attention.

"Call it my form of diplomacy."

"You're playing with him."

"It's the least he deserves," she growled. "If this gets him to back away from our innocents then it's more than worth it."

"No one messes with Caroline Forbes and gets away with it."

"Exactly," she drawled, wondering why she'd ever had feelings for such a selfish ass.

Yes, it was true he'd saved her life but his cowardly actions since hadn't endeared him to her in any way. Besides leaving her without a goodbye, the one thing Caroline couldn't understand was what had lured him to Hell of all places. Someone destined for Hell would never have saved her life so selflessly, well that's what she kept telling herself anyway. She thought back to a particular conversation they shared, not long after their impromptu deaths.

"Here you are," she murmured, noticing his familiar curls in the distance. From what she'd heard, he'd barely sat down since his arrival pacing back and forth like a trapped animal instead. He turned slowly, the deep set frown immediately curving into a wry smile. "I've been looking everywhere for you."

"Oh really?"

"I just wanted to say thank you for..."

"There's no need. Really."

"But you tried to save my life and because of that you're..."

"Really, it was nothing," he cut her off distractedly. "I'd rather not revisit the past." Caroline was taken aback at first, not sure how to take his terse response. Did he really hate her that much?

"You're not much of a conversationalist then I take it?"

"What gave it away?"

"That warm and welcoming personality," she teased, attempting to lighten the obviously heavy mood. "Plus it seems almost a waste given that accent."

"Premature death has a tendency to do that, love," he quipped, finally coming to a halt. Caroline felt an unexpected tingle below and decided to blame that on death before regaining her composure.

"And it's all my fault," she murmured. The one thing she would never get over was causing someone else's death. She was a doctor after all, she was supposed to be saving lives and not assisting in taking them. "Really..."

"I chose to run out onto the road," he began, his blues eyes now staring solemnly into hers. "It's not your fault and I'd really prefer you didn't blame yourself for my choices. I'm a big boy."

"And I'm..."

"A big girl, yes I know," he joked. "The name's Caroline, right?" She gave him a curious look wondering how he knew given they'd just met. "Apparently you're like angelic royalty around these parts, people have been talking."

"They even gossip up here?" She baulked. "Now there's a title I've been striving for all my life. By the way, has anyone told you that you have a tendency to interrupt when someone's talking?"

"That particular and endearing trait I got from my little sister. She makes it her aim in life to intervene in all types of conversations, even when she's not party to it."

"Sounds like my best friend," she smiled knowingly. "Lexi has no filter and an overly inquisitive nature that can't be stifled."

"I think they'd get along really well then," he admitted, his gaze now focused at his feet. "If only they knew each other in real life, but I guess we'll probably never know."

"I'm sorry," she repeated. His selflessness had banished him to this world. Caroline didn't think she could feel as bad as she did now.

"I thought we discussed this already," he muttered gruffly. "And if you intend on apologising every few sentences, a whiskey is definitely in order."

"For me or you?"

"I don't know about you but given we just died, probably both."

"I won't argue with you on that logic," she agreed. "You seem entirely too composed given what's happened…"

"Klaus. Klaus Mikaelson."

"What?"

"My name is Klaus. It's okay, I know you were desperately wondering what it was all this time, sweetheart," he teased, flashing an unexpected pair of dimples in her direction and blindsiding her momentarily. Caroline was pretty sure the ongoing tingling feeling wasn't such a coincidence.

Not that Caroline would have admitted it but she'd been desperately wanting to know his name and hear his voice after he attempted to save her life. She wanted to think it was just for that reason but her foreign and unexpected feelings were betraying that theory. She wanted to speak but had forgotten exactly where the conversation had been heading before he offered his name.

"Between you and me." Klaus began, moving decidedly closer and fastening a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "I'm hardly composed. Although don't tell anyone I admitted that, I have a reputation to protect after all." If she could still breath, Caroline was fairly certain it would be short, if not almost non-existent given his dangerously close proximity.

"You realise we're in Heaven right? Being good and not having any sort of bad boy reputation is part of the deal."

"Oh god, suddenly not so composed," he muttered, moving away and making Caroline feel decidedly cold. "Where is that bloody whiskey when you need it?"

"Pretty sure using the G word in vain and alcoholic beverages aren't on the menu here," she offered, watching him begin pacing impatiently like when she'd initially found him. "You know that pesky temperance virtue and all that."

"How can you be so okay with this situation?" Before she could offer her opinion he continued his rambling. "Of course you are, Her Royal Princess of Heaven or whatever you're called."

"I'm pretty certain there's no royal titles here and, if so, I'm vetoing that particular suggestion," she replied sarcastically, watching the sheer panic in his face and a few unexpected unshed tears in his eyes as he continued to move back and forth. "Do you need this?" She asked feebly, offering the white handkerchief from her pocket and placing it in his hand. Even if it was old fashioned it belonged to her grandmother and was something she kept on her at all times for sentimental reasons.

"And what exactly am I going to do with that?"

"I just thought..."

"I'll have you know that Klaus Mikaelson doesn't cry."

"I'm not sure if I should be worried about your supposed lack of emotion or the fact you referred to yourself in the third person."

"Do you always make jokes in times of crises?"

"It's a nervous habit."

"Sounds like it." He looked at her briefly before continuing his pacing but not relinquishing her handkerchief.

Caroline felt an urgent need to help calm him and not with bad jokes. She needed a new approach. She walked into his path purposely, causing him to run directly into her body, his toned chest housed in a grey Henley rubbing against hers teasingly, their intense eye contact immediate. Caroline would be lying if that wasn't causing the earlier sensations to spread and decided to blame it on the spicy scent of his aftershave. He regarded her seriously, those crimson lips curving up curiously.

"Can I help you?"

"Well, for starters you can stop pacing like that, Mikaelson," she chided. "You're making me dizzy."

"So, how exactly can you be so composed, love?" He asked repeating her earlier question.

"It's called shock and don't call me that," she admitted, their bodies still intimately pressed up against each other. "I'm certain that it's going to wear off not long after yours and it might not be pretty when it does."

"Well, at least we can be not pretty together then." Caroline gave him a slight smile knowing that even though she'd felt alone in death at first maybe she had someone by her side that could relate to her current predicament.

"Well, I'm glad to hear such confidence Care because we're going to need it," Bonnie conceded, interrupting her trance. Caroline glanced at her in the reflection curiously as she moved further into the room, taking a seat on the bed gingerly. "I've received word that the Governing Council won't be attending the talks after all."

"I'm sorry, what?" She hissed, spinning around to face her friend in disbelief.

"It's just you and me," she offered, feebly.

"This is not happening." Caroline muttered, trying to regain her earlier composure that was now well and truly in tatters. She could feel her wings quivering beneath her dress it was that unsettling. "I can't do this alone, Bon. I mean I have no experience at all in these matters and Klaus knows that so I don't know why my parents would even..." she trailed off, finally coming to a standstill.

"Why what?"

"This is a test," she growled, the realisation well and truly sinking in. "This is their sick and twisted way of testing out my Archangel attributes."

"Well, they obviously have confidence in your abilities Care and think that you're worthy of the promotion which isn't necessarily a bad thing."

"Some heads-up of this little surprise task would have been nice," she mumbled, taking a seat next to her friend and placing her head on her shoulder. "If it was anyone else then maybe I'd be able to prove myself but it's him, Bonnie."

"The same guy that left you to join the dark side," she soothed, wrapping her arm around her friend's waist comfortingly. "If anything I'd say this was the perfect opportunity to prove yourself. I mean what could be better than a little payback?"

"Game on, Mikaelson," she agreed quietly, finally feeling her mojo start to return.

xxxx

"Humans are so unbelievably festive; this over abundance of bright colour looks like Christmas threw up all over the room." Kol mused as they made their way into one of the Plaza Hotel's smaller meeting spaces. "If only they knew what was actually going on here, suddenly they wouldn't want to celebrate all this yuletide cheer."

"Weren't you human not long ago?"

"And then I saw the other side," he snorted. "A few more female distractions in my life and I could die happy. Hang on, I've already conquered that particular feat, you know besides the happy part." Klaus could concur on that front but had no intention of sharing that particular tidbit with his younger brother.

"I specifically requested no decorations of any sort," Klaus mumbled more to himself than anything. He made a mental note to have a word with his personal assistant Josh but knew it would be fruitless because this whole arrangement screamed Caroline Forbes and her control freak tendencies.

In their brief months together she'd mused about her perfect wedding. It was something she'd apparently been planning since she was five years-old even without a potential groom. A Christmas Eve wedding to be exact, because that was her favourite time of the year, which included a reception at the Plaza hotel and plenty of decorations including white peonies in tall vases like the ones suspiciously on display. The fact he remembered such inane details would certainly put a question mark over his senior position in Hell not to mention his masculinity. But for some reason everything she said, no matter how uninterested he was in the actual content, Klaus would remember word for word.

Suddenly his guilt gave way to something decidedly more determined. She was attempting to play on his emotions with memories, no doubt due to the way they'd parted ways and her parent's agenda. Klaus may have harboured feelings for her but he always won and this time wasn't going to be any different.

"Game on, Forbes," he muttered under his breath.

"What a beautiful room," an angelic voice sighed behind him only a minute later.

Klaus would know that melodic tone anywhere. He steeled his nerves briefly knowing that he had a job to do and Caroline wasn't going to mess with his impeccable record. As he turned to face her, his strong resolve fell away immediately. She looked equal parts stubborn and beautiful in that fitted dress, her blonde locks cascading over her shoulders effortlessly. He felt his unwelcome arousal straining against his suit pants knowing that he was going to have to control his urges if only to get through these negotiations unscathed.

"I specifically requested something simple but elegant."

"You mean plain."

"No, I meant something like your chosen accessories." He blurted out without thinking, his eyes flickering to her creamy chest, the silver chain he'd given her sitting above her enticing cleavage. Klaus had been wearing it the day he died and every one after that and no matter how many times she'd asked why someone like him would be wearing a cross, of all symbols, but he'd repeatedly declined to answer.

Kol's gaze was now solely focused on the necklace. Klaus mentally kicked himself thinking that bringing that to his brother's attention wasn't in his best interests. Kol knew they'd met before but nothing else about their past in Heaven. He decided to blame the fact that his usually controlled emotions were out of whack.

"You're one to talk," she shot back looking at his jacket pocket defiantly but Klaus could sense the hesitation in her tone. Maybe Caroline was just as rattled as he was. If so, he had every intention of exploiting that fact. "I do recall discussing these details with your personal assistant but I suppose that would come down to some semblance of organisation on your part."

"Someone's obviously still a little too highly strung." Before Caroline could argue with his assessment her friend spoke.

"And obviously someone's interpersonal skills leave a lot to be desired," the inquisitive and attractive brunette to her left chimed into the conversation. "Although coming from the Second-in Command I suppose it's hardly surprising." Before Klaus could argue his brother interjected.

"Hello, beautiful." His attention now firmly focused on his brother's attacker. Trust Kol to change sides so quickly for a pretty face. Klaus made a mental note to not bring him along for any other important talks given his inability to focus on the matter at hand.

"I wasn't talking to you," she attempted to shut down his obvious attempts at flirting. Klaus knew that this would no doubt end in Kol's desperate tears. "Who's your yappy lap dog?"

"You certainly have ample amounts of attitude for an angel," Kol offered.

"Urgh, can we just get these talks over and done with? I have some serious shopping to do on Fifth."

"Apparently velvet is the new trend." She looked over his jacket critically before responding.

"Obviously Heaven is further ahead in the fashion stakes by the looks of it."

"Last time I checked darling, good dress sense isn't going to win any negotiations today," Kol barked stubbornly.

Their brown eyes were unwavering as they sized each other up. Maybe these talks were going to be more eventful than Klaus thought. His eyes flickered over to Caroline during the stand-off wondering just what she was thinking but her face wasn't betraying anything. He decided he needed to relieve the palpable tension before it got too out of hand.

"We should get started. Where is everyone?" Klaus asked curiously, noticing the Governing Council hadn't arrived yet.

"Yeah, and here I thought holier-than-thou saints were usually punctual. Isn't it one of those annoying virtues you all adhere to?"

"They won't be attending." Caroline responded, choosing to ignore his brother's throw away comment. To say Klaus was shocked by these developments was an understatement.

"So, it's just the two of you?" Klaus asked unable to keep the smirk from taking over his face, this was going to be easier than he thought.

"And what's wrong with that? Scared of a couple of girls, Mikaelson?" Caroline demanded, hands on hips. It took all his willpower not to react, she looked so sexy when she was being indignant.

"I think the answer to that would be a resounding no," Kol scoffed, offering his unwanted opinion yet again.

"That's enough, Kol."

"Oh, the whiny, immature one has a name," Bonnie cooed.

"Well, judging by those choice introductions, this should be extremely interesting," Klaus said, sending Caroline a sly glance. "Should we begin?"

xxxx

Fast forward seven long and difficult hours and Caroline hadn't expected just how difficult the negotiations would be and just how adamantly pigheaded Klaus was. Yes, she knew he was stubborn but when it came to getting what he wanted Klaus was unrelenting. She wondered if he knew what the word compromise meant but then he wouldn't be Second-in-Command to Lucifer if he did.

"If you were just going to shoot down all our suggestions then I wouldn't have bothered to make the journey."

"Your suggestions are completely absurd not to mention unworkable," Klaus argued back. He may of been a few metres across the table but it felt a lot closer given the way his familiar aftershave was infiltrating her nostrils. "We have every right to be on earth just like your kind." When he referenced 'your kind' Caroline felt a sharp stab in her chest. He was one of them once but obviously that didn't mean a lot to him anymore.

"But why so suddenly and in increasing numbers? Excuse me if your motives don't seem completely above board."

"We are only increasing our guard on Earth to keep watch over our people, those that would never be welcome in your world for obvious reasons." Again with the 'your' references. If she thought he might be wavering at all, those comments were confirmation he'd well and truly moved on "We didn't even need to raise this matter with you but yet we extended that courtesy."

"Oh, am I supposed to thank you for your honesty? Your kind don't even know the meaning of the word," she shot back thinking he deserved the same kind of language. "You told us because you wanted to pretend your motives were sincere when all Lucifer wants is to provoke a reaction to justify his ultimate plans."

"You've got some imagination there, Caroline.," he laughed, leaning forward and flashing those familiar dimples in her direction. If only her name didn't sound so good rolling off his tongue. Bastard. "Please keep going with this story, I'm intrigued about how it all ends."

"You already know how it ends," she growled, thinking about the obvious attempts to corrupt their innocents and recruit them into Hell instead. "But I have no intention of allowing that to happen."

"What are you going to do fight back? It's hardly the modus operandi in Heaven and I doubt your Governing Council would condone such retaliatory action."

"Good always prevails over evil," she offered simply.

"Oh that chestnut," Kol snorted lazily from the other end of the table, slumped low in his chair. He'd been relatively quiet for the past hour so Caroline was surprised by his sudden interjection. "I was wondering when you'd pull out that line."

"You've offered nothing at all constructive to this conversation," Bonnie accused sharply. "In fact, all you've done is demolish the sandwich and pastry platters then offer unhelpful and not to mention snarky remarks.

"What can I say? I'm coming down from my sugar high and really need a bloody drink. I'd be happy to take you out for one, it might even get rid of that stick up your ass, darling."

"Not even if we were the last two spirits left on Heaven, Earth and Hell combined."

"I love it when they play hard to get, just makes me that much more determined," Kol chuckled. Bonnie's responsive huff was enough to tell Caroline that these talks were hopeless. She needed a change of scenery to calm her frazzled nerves, preferably far, far away from Klaus Mikaelson.

"How about we call it a day, meet back here tomorrow first thing?"

"Giving up so soon, love?" Klaus grinned triumphantly, standing up from the table to meet her weary glance.

"Never, Mikaelson," Caroline promised. "I just need some air given the sheer volume of your inflated egos combined."

"Last time I checked you don't need any oxygen given your current spiritual situation."

"Well, I suppose congratulations are in order then," she growled. "Your pride and arrogance can cause even an angel to seek refuge from its suffocating effects."

"I'd say its been a pleasure but I'd be lying," Bonnie snapped in Kol's direction before following Caroline from the room dutifully. "Damn, he's kind of cute in an annoyingly sarcastic and childish way."

"It's all that banter likening itself to foreplay, trust me it will wear off." Caroline lied knowing that deep down she didn't believe a word. After seeing him again today she knew that Klaus still had that annoying ability to put her extremely off balance. Even after he'd revealed his criminal past all those years ago, Caroline still believed in his goodness but when it came to her chastity vow not so much.

"How can you be so positive after everything that happened?" He'd asked her a few months after their deaths. "Don't you feel cheated?" They'd found solace in each other and barely spent any time apart. Caroline blamed it on her need for some sort of closure from her time on Earth but looking back she knew it was her growing attraction to the man that saved her.

"I suppose it was meant to be."

"Oh come on, you can't believe all of that fate nonsense," he'd scoffed. "You were a doctor, doing so many good things in the world but yet here you are."

"Well, so are you."

"We've already discussed this," he murmured. "I was destined for this ending because of my chosen lifestyle, I just didn't expect to come up here and find you."

"You are a good man, Klaus Mikaelson," Caroline whispered, moving closer and running her hands through his curls slowly. He melted into her, relishing in her warm touch. They'd been decidedly guarded with each other up until now, Heaven frowned upon public displays of affection apparently. "Don't ever forget that."

"Then why do I want to kiss you so much?" His eyes met hers, the tension palpable.

"Why do you?"

"Because, believe it or not love, you make me want to be a better person..." Her mouth was on his before he could continue, so many months of pent up attraction realised. His crimson lips teased her daily and even if she was giving into temptation, Caroline didn't care. All that mattered was them and that very moment together.

"Caroline, hello?" Bonnie interrupted, waving her hand in front of her face as they walked through the hotel's stately foyer.

"I'm here."

"You could have fooled me," she teased. "He got to you, didn't he?"

"I don't want to talk about it," she said, dismissively. "In fact, I really just need some time alone."

"I'd argue with you but I heard there's a sale at Victoria Secret," she joked. "They don't call those models angels for anything." She could still hear Bonnie's affectionate laugh as they parted ways at the elevator. Caroline loved the fact that Bonnie respected her decisions even if they were probably ill informed.

She found herself wandering through Central Park. She'd grown up in New York City her first seven years and found the park a constant source of refuge, discovery and fun. Her favourite place was the ice skating rink at Christmas time. It was always so brightly lit and packed full of innocent children who didn't know much about the big, bad world thankfully. Kind of like she was at that early age.

Caroline pulled her jacket around her tightly, attempting to ward off the chill as she watched the kids excitedly skating around the rink, their cheeks flushed pink from the cold air. She was pretty certain she could just stand there all night.

"I think you should get out there, show 'em how it's done," he whispered in her ear, the vibrations from his voice reverberating southwards. Her right hand didn't hesitate, moving upwards to swat him away like the annoying insect he was.

"Shoo," she growled, making direct contact with his head. "Last time I checked I didn't invite you to join me and funnily enough it's not all about competition. Believe it or not kids just want to have a good time and not trip each other up in the meantime."

"Or hit them over the head either," he drawled sarcastically, referring to her assault. "Trust me, it's overrated."

"I suppose that's where you and I beg to differ."

"We did agree on things at some point from what I remember, love." Caroline had been staring ahead in the distance but couldn't help herself, turning to face him to share her views on that particular comment.

"But that was a very long time ago and don't call me that," Caroline chided, trying to ignore just what that particular endearment did to her concentration. "I have no interest in reminiscing when you decided to go AWOL and then turn up today wearing my grandmother's handkerchief of all things. Talk about insensitive."

"Says the girl wearing my necklace."

"You left that to me when you skulked away in the night, I never said you could steal my handkerchief," she muttered. "You know, when I said I needed space earlier I actually meant it, are you stalking me or something?"

"Don't flatter yourself, sweetheart. If you must know, I felt the need for a bit of ice skating."

"I'm sure your tough reputation in Hell would be buoyed by that particular revelation," she quipped. "It's okay if you can't keep away from me, I know I'm just that irresistible." Caroline wouldn't usually say something so overtly vain but this conceited ass brought it out in her, especially after his day of challenging the bounds of her sanity.

"Anyone would think you're channeling a little bit of pride Ms Forbes," he goaded. "What would the elders in Heaven think of you succumbing to one of the seven deadly sins?"

"I'd blame it on your toxic influence, Mikaelson," she replied gruffly. "Now go away."

"I can't do that."

"You are unbelievable," she growled, sub consciously moving closer so that she could poke him in the chest accusingly. Even rugged up in a sweater, coat and scarf he still looked extremely delicious. "Why are you even here and by that I mean the real reason?" She noticed a slight tugging at the corners of his mouth already dreading his frustrating response but then his face stilled and he closed his eyes briefly before responding.

"I wanted to see you alone and without the peanut gallery commenting," he conceded. "And since this is where your parents took you as a child, I figured it was my best bet."

"Is this your idea of playing with me? Remembering all the memories I confided in you and attempting to recreate them in some messed up way to wear me down in the negotiations?"

"Says the girl who set up our meeting amongst wedding city at the Plaza," he drawled. "Everything was eerily similar right down to the white peonies on the table. If anyone is trying to play games it's you judgy."

"How do you remember all of this anyway?" She questioned, unable to help herself.

"I remember everything, Caroline," he rasped, his blue eyes gazing into hers almost desperately. "Every memory, every laugh, every tear and every word." Caroline felt herself spiralling and had no intention of doing it in front of such an arrogant idiot that only cared about himself and his evil reputation.

"Well, good for you," she uttered, trying not to lose it completely. After all, that's exactly what he wanted. "But I have far better things to do with my night, so I'll see you in the morning."

"But..." Before he could continue she was pushing through the gathered crowds and making her way hastily towards the park's nearest exit. Let's see how he liked it when someone cut off his conversation mid-sentence.

xxxx

"Has anyone told you that you're such a tragic cliché?" A rich and hypnotic voice enquired in his ear, obviously trying to override the loud music pumping out into the crowded bar. Kol turned around curiously, inhaling her jasmine scent and looking into the chocolate brown orbs of Bonnie Bennett.

"I might be a cliché but you were the one who came to seek me out after apparently being so disgusted earlier," he replied, gleefully. This was turning out better than he'd expected. "How exactly did you track me down, Bennett?"

"Hell's Kitchen? Funnily enough it was blatantly obvious, Hell Boy," she responded dryly. "And despite your burgeoning and, might I add, unchecked ego the only reason I sought you out was to find Caroline."

"Why would I know where she is? We don't exactly run in the same circles thankfully."

"But she and your brother do, well you know in a weird roundabout way. She never came back to the hotel and I'm worried." One look at her earnest but slightly distracted expression confirmed that his suspicions were finally confirmed. Klaus had been brief on detail about their past when they'd travelled to New York but after he saw his mother's necklace on Caroline Forbes he was all but convinced she meant so much more to him than he'd admit. Call him shallow and self absorbed but Kol could spot a lie a mile away.

"And what exactly do you expect me to do?"

"Well, let's see," she growled. "Tell me where that heathen is so I can express my views in an entirely unfriendly and argumentative way for hurting my friend. Violence may ensue but that's only if I get really worked up."

"Between you and me, I think you shared more than enough of your views today," he offered.

"Well so did you but are you just going to ignore my request to make a point?" Kol was tempted to come back with another witty retort but for some reason her longing stare was causing more than a few foreign feelings and not just because she was beautiful but because she challenged him unlike anyone else had before.

"If I help you find them, you're going to have to do something for me first." Bonnie looked as if she was going to argue but bit her upper lip obviously knowing that she needed his assistance.

"Okay, but if this includes me shedding any clothing or sexual activity of any kind you're deluding yourself, Mikaelson."

"Believe it or not, it was much more G rated," he drawled. "I want to know everything about Niklaus and Caroline."

xxxx

The knocks came in sharp bursts at his hotel room door. Klaus didn't even bother to put on a t-shirt, walking groggily towards the incessant noise in nothing but tight, grey boxer shorts and his black wings stretching out freely from the restraints of his day in disguise. He figured it was his drunken and unruly brother come to ruin his attempt at sleep. After Caroline had runaway, Klaus had scoured the streets in search of her but to no avail. He'd returned to his room dejectedly, determined to get some rest before he had to face her again in the morning.

When he'd hastily gone to Central Park, Klaus had been on autopilot knowing that his feelings for Caroline couldn't be contained even under Lucifer's command in Hell. But the reaction he'd received was so bitter and resentful and Klaus wondered if she'd ever forgive him. He opened the door lazily expecting his brother to bound inside but it was Caroline standing there with a telling scowl on her face.

It had obviously rained in the interim because she was soaked, her blonde hair dripping down her back and onto her coat as her teeth chattered uncontrollably. It took all his willpower not to envelop her in his arms and wrap his wings around her to provide some much needed warmth. He briefly wondered how she knew how to find him at the Waldorf Astoria but figured it was probably one half of the bumbling duo of Josh or Kol, not that he cared in the slightest bit if it brought her to him.

"Why did you leave me?" She asked finally. Her voice was low and thick with emotion. "Why didn't you say goodbye?"

"I wanted to," he murmured.

"But you were a coward."

"I couldn't stay," he admitted. "You know I wasn't meant for Heaven, surely you could see that during our months together. I didn't belong there."

"But yet you supposedly belong in Hell? Yes, you were a criminal but one that selflessly saved my life Klaus and last time I checked someone with true evil at his core would never do something like that."

"Maybe you don't really know me," Klaus bit out, his emotions causing him to falter. "Maybe I can't be saved."

"Do you love me?" She asked moving inside and closing the door behind her, reaching up to his exposed wings and rubbing her hand along their length soothingly. Klaus shuddered at just what effect her touch was having on him. They'd only kissed previously but this was a whole other experience. He could feel his boxers tighten wondering just how long he could maintain his control as she stroked him so intimately.

"You know I do," he shivered.

"Because anybody capable of love is capable of being saved."

"Caroline..." he tried to object but she was wearing down the last remaining shreds of his willpower.

"I love you but you left," she murmured. "Why? I deserve an explanation at least." She pleaded, her eyes silently begging him for the truth. Klaus had wanted to protect her, he figured it was better that way but here she was completely vulnerable and he couldn't deny her anymore. Klaus moved away and sat on the bed to regain his composure from her touch, head in hands.

"Lucifer found out I'd been mistakenly sent to Heaven through his network of spies. He demanded Heaven release me or his revenge would be extreme."

"In what way?" She asked, sitting by his side.

"He threatened your parents, said that he would take their only child away to serve him in Hell."

"And they made you leave," she broke down, her body now wracked with sobs. "They sent you away to save me." Klaus snaked his arm around her waist in an attempt to comfort her as she cried, this was news he never wanted to share.

"Hell is the right place for me. I make my own choices, like the day I met you," Klaus reassured her, pulling Caroline closer so that she was now nestled in his arms, her head resting in the crook of his neck as her tears ran down her face and onto his bare skin. "Don't you know I would do anything for you, love?"

"I suppose I should by now," she mumbled into his skin. "But my parents..."

"Only wanted what was right for you, sweetheart. They wanted you to take over for them in Heaven and protect the innocent, it's your destiny."

"Except here we are both miserable without each other," she sighed, wiping the tears from her eyes. "I'm starting to believe that neither of us belong in our chosen worlds."

"I suppose nothing really is just black and white."

"I'd give anything to just be with you on a desert island, away from everyone and all of these unrealistic expectations. I know I can do good work in the world, I don't need to be an angel to prove that fact."

"So, what exactly are you telling me? You'd spear fish, climb trees for coconuts and build us a thatched hut for shelter?"

"Stop being facetious," she chided. "But you know if you're not man enough to do any of those things, I'm sure I can pick up the slack." He'd been holding her tightly in his arms to this point but his fingers found her sensitive area and started to tickle playfully. One thing he knew after all their time together were her weak spots.

"Klaus, stop!" She giggled, unable to control her movements as he continued his attack on her skin, his lips now joining in the assault. Beginning along the length of her neck and dipping his head lower to feather kisses over her collar bone and creamy chest, dangerously close to her cleavage and the necklace he knew so intimately.

Klaus made a mental note to tell her about the necklace later and why it meant so much to him. After his mother died it was the last piece Klaus had of Esther so he wore it close to his chest. Even if she didn't understand its meaning, he wanted Caroline to have the same kind of comfort during his absence all those years. Every fibre of his being wanted so much to make love to her then and there but knew it wasn't the right time when everything was so unsettled between them and their worlds.

"Why'd you stop?"

"Well, you did ask."

"We both know that was just a figure of speech," she joked, leaning forward and placing a chaste kiss on his lips. Klaus didn't think that such a simple gesture could feel so invigorating.

"This isn't the right time but just so you know you'll be begging me to stop when the time comes, love," he growled, nipping at her lips playfully and relishing in her heady taste of strawberries and vanilla.

"So, what exactly are we going to do about this mess?"

11 months later - somewhere on a deserted island

"When I suggested building a hut I didn't actually mean it, love."

"Oh what? Too afraid to admit how well a girl can do this?" Caroline asked cheekily, puffing out her chest proudly and momentarily forgetting that she was briefly dressed in a fitted, white bikini, a familiar necklace close to her heart as always.

"I'm sorry what did you say?" Klaus asked, his dazed expression telling Caroline that she'd distracted him yet again. It was a common occurrence, not that she was complaining especially after how long it had taken them to get to this point.

Turns out her parents might have withheld information but they'd made up for it in the best possible way, admitting they'd orchestrated Klaus and Caroline's reunion by excluding the council. Liz and Bill had explained how upset they'd been to see Caroline heartbroken and knowing they had contributed somewhat to that. Their other motives hadn't been quite so innocent, using Klaus and Caroline's rendezvous to broker a subsequent deal with Hell that would see Lucifer delay his attack in the short term.

By the time he realised Klaus' betrayal, he and Caroline were long gone and hiding in a secret location while Heaven had moved swiftly containing his threat and weakening his presence on earth. It wasn't the end but this round certainly was and Heaven was in a stronger position than ever to fight off any subsequent attacks on their innocents. Maybe Klaus had more good in him than he thought. Caroline and Klaus knew they couldn't live remotely forever and in hiding from Lucifer's revenge plot and had already started to make plans for their future. They were both extremely passionate and it wouldn't be them if they didn't want to help in the battle between good and evil. At least now they were on the same side and could do it together as a team.

Kol and Bonnie, who'd also defected from Hell and Heaven respectively given the ensuing turmoil, visited them often. They still fought incessantly but apparently it was the key to their incredibly intense sex life. Caroline knew better than to ask too many gory details but was happy her friends had found love just as she finally had with Klaus. Now, all she had to do was talk him into that Christmas wedding at the Plaza.

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