Heart's Desire (Completed)

Chapter 1: A Phone Call

Caroline is sitting in her principal's chair staring outside the window at a little redhead girl.

Hope.

She heard she was coming today. She observes her face features and realizes she bears a small resemblance to Klaus. His slightly curly hair, high cheekbones, full lips, and those eyes...

She admonishes herself. She shouldn't be day dreaming about him. How come she still hasn't gotten over him after all those years?

She still remembers the sex they had in those woods... it was the best sex she has ever had.

"Caroline! Stop!" she screams at herself and stands up. She fixes the documents on her table and starts walking outside her office when the phone rings.

She freezes in place. Slowly turning, she knows whose voice she will hear on the other side of the line.

Finally, she decides to answer.

"You've reached Salvatore's school for the gifted. How may I help you?"

"Hello, love. I didn't know you were picking up phones yourself."

She can't help a smile across her lips. "Well if you're interested in being my secretary, you're free to do so."

He laughs. "I would've taken you up on that offer if I was allowed to be close to my daughter."

Caroline's expression changes. She can only imagine how painful it must be being away from your children.

"No sassy comments?" He continues surprised.

"I'm sorry," she says honestly.

"Sorry for my rough destiny or the fact you can't have me serve you?"

She rolls her eyes in amusement. "You never change, do you?"

"Are you saying you'd like me to change?"

She shakes her head as if he could see her. "Listen, Klaus. I've got things to do. So, if you just called to chit chat about nothing and answer my questions with new questions, then..."

"I'm sorry, love. You are right," he cuts her off. "I was calling to check in on my daughter and also to see how you were doing."

"I was just looking at your daughter through the window. They've just arrived. Alaric is outside with Haley. Hope is... lovely. I was about to go outside to meet her when you called. She seems to have already made friends."

"That is lovely news. Thank you, Caroline."

"You're welcome."

"And what about you? How have you been?"

"I'm...great. You know me."

"I do."

Tingles run up her spine as he says it.

"Well then..." he continues, "Please take care of my daughter, Caroline. And take care of yourself."

"Klaus..." she says before she can think. "If you...prefer to check on her via school than via Haley, for some reason, you can... you know... you can call anytime," she bites her lip immediately, closing her eyes.

She can sense his smile on the other side. "Does that mean you've missed me, love?"

"Ughr," she groans, "A person tries to be good to you and you immediately jump to conclusions that they're in love with you!"

"Are we not? Was that forest love scene just a dream of mine?"

She feels all her senses on fire. She has to hang up. "Goodbye, Klaus."

"I'll talk to you tomorrow, love."

She hangs up and suddenly feels more alive than before. Does this mean she will have Klaus back in her life?

Isn't that what she wanted all along?