Sunlight by Light-and-Smoke

Chapter 7

"Give it a chance, love." Klaus encouraged as they sat on a train to Vienna. He had figured it to be the smartest way for her to see the world by taking the scenic route, and he certainly didn't mind being in a small cabin with her like this. Besides, train travel reminded him of a simpler time before airports and airplanes and air travel.

This train in particular was meant for him. It was in the style of the 1920's trains, as the Orient Express had been running from the 1880's, but the Roaring Twenties had been a time of great evolution in travel. It had all the class of the times, and he certainly loved to revel in those days, those happy jazz days with Rebekah and his newfound brother Stefan.

Of course, they didn't last, but then again, if they had, he may have never found Caroline, the angelic ray of sunshine. Or at least that was how she had been before. Now, she sat across from him just as she had been in the hotel that morning – quiet, stone faced, not even looking out the window. She had been in some inner conflict since they had left St Petersburg , ever since their conversation.

He didn't want to admit it, but he was beginning to wonder if he could bring her out of the turmoil of her head. He hadn't had to deal with this before. Bekah usually just raged like he would. Neither of them had been one to stew and not speak, or rather shout, their feelings. It unnerved him.

Klaus knew that it was Mystic Falls that haunted her mind, and he tried to change their situation with playfulness.

"Just try it. We'll pretend that you didn't try to kill me and my family, and I didn't try to do the same to you."

She looked up at him, caught between a glare and guilt.

He smirked, one corner of his mouth higher than the other.

"We'll just be two people getting to know each other on a train."

She didn't show any sign of agreeing, but Klaus sensed a shift in her demeanor that prompted him. If he was to act ridiculous, so be it. Just to put that sunshine smile on her face for a second.

"I'll start." He abruptly got up and left the compartment, shocking Caroline with his playfulness.

Klaus knocked on the door as he opened it.

"Hello. Is this compartment A?"

She looked searchingly at him before nodding, not wanting to give into his little game but wondering where he would lead it.

"Ah. I'm terribly sorry, I'm afraid I've been assigned to this compartment as well. Seems that they didn't have enough room. Mind if I sit down?"

Caroline shook her head, and Klaus sat on the plush seat opposite her again.

"I'm Niklaus, by the way." He held his hand out for her to shake, and Caroline looked incredulously at him.

He bit back a sigh. "What, do I need a new accent to please you? Shall I be American?" He said with the new inflections, and Caroline wrinkled her nose.

"Perhaps a bit of Australian?"

She made a face.

"Could I be Italiano?"

She forced the smile off her face as it tried to make her mouth climb.

"Español?"

"No." Caroline let a laugh escape her lips. "No. You're English. Always stay English."

Klaus caught her gaze. "Always." He responded with the barest hint of a smile. "Well, if my lady commands."

Caroline rolled her eyes at him, and he smiled, pleased to have his feisty, bright angel return to him.