Sanctuaries: A Klaroline Fanfiction

22: The pope's present

The next morning, Caroline awoke to find Klaus gone.

In the very same instant, panic descended on her, with coldness spreading all through her body and a feeling of being completely forlorn taking hold of her heart and mind. Her breathing accelerated and her mind began to cloud, so she forced herself to remember what he had told her about controlling the most acute symptoms when she was alone. Take a very deep breath and hold it. Then exhale very, very slowly between your teeth, counting to twenty. Put your hand on your chest above your heart and apply some light pressure. Closing her eyes, she did what he had advised and actually felt her breathing settle a little and her stomach calm down. Inhaling again slowly, she gazed around the room and found a little slip of paper on her nightstand. You are so silly, Caroline!

There is something I need to acquire. I do hope to return before you wake. Should that not be the case, will you please not worry, my darling? Remember: Big Bad Hybrid. Almighty Original. Ruler of the Galaxy.

I love you. Deliriously.

Niklaus

She covered her eyes with her hands. How could she have overreacted like this? She couldn't just go ballistic every time he was not there. Shaking off the last remnants of the panic attack, she got up and took a quick shower. The moment she turned off the water, she heard the door. The pang of relief that shook her was almost embarrassing, and deciding not to say anything about it, she wrapped herself in a towel and stepped into the suite.

Klaus was just unloading two large plastic bags on the living room table. He turned around, a tender smile on his face, and flashed over to her, planting a series of soft kisses on her damp shoulder. When he looked up into her eyes, he frowned. Damn, he always sees everything! How is that even possible!

"Sorry, my love. I should have woken you when I left, but you were sleeping so peacefully, and I was certain I would be back in time. How bad was it?"

You're incredible sometimes, reading me like that. "It was nothing. I was just being stupid for a second. So, what'd you get there?"

"Uh-uh. We are still talking about you. Well?"

Caroline sighed. "It was over in no time. I woke up, you weren't there – reflex reaction. I just did what you told me to do, with the breathing and everything, and it worked perfectly fine. Overreaction, that's all." She saw that he wasn't convinced. "Niklaus, seriously, I'm okay! As you said, it will take me a while to come to terms with what happened, and once I do, it will not happen again. In the meantime, I'll just have to live with it."

Kissing her eyes, he mumbled, "I am so sorry. I will wake you next time, I give you my word."

She hugged him for an instant and nodded. "What's in the bags?"

"I have to spend some time inside the Vatican, and you will have to spend some time in a church without anyone bothering you. We might therefore want to adapt our attire to the surroundings. When in Rome…" he chuckled, handing her one of the bags. Curiously, Caroline pulled the garment from it.

It was a nun's habit.

With an incredulous gasp, she looked up at Klaus who was grinning rather smugly. "No one will disturb you at prayer, my love, and even less so wearing this."

"I can't wear this! I mean… I'm a vampire! Isn't this some sort of, I don't know, blasphemy?"

"It is just a garment. Fabric. Believe me, there have been many who habitually wore a robe like this and committed far greater heresy." He pointed at the habit. "Anyone asks, which I doubt, you are a Cistercian from Crozet in Virginia, which is one of only four Cistercian convents in the U.S. If anyone gets to be too curious, compel them. But whatever you do, stay in the Basilica and do not wander off on your own. I will come and find you there once I am done."