Beauty And The Beast // Klaroline AU

Chapter 11

Caroline's POV

My eyes flutter open, and telling by the moon shining bright, it's still early in the morning. I yawn, my throat begging for some water.

I sit up and rub my eyes, checking my phone. It's only three in the morning. I step my feet onto the cold hardwood floor, shivering as I stand and head outside of the room. I attempt to see my surroundings in the dark, finally finding my place after knocking into the wall.

I tiptoe down the stairs, going into the kitchen to get a glass of water. I turn on the nearest light, still a bit unfamiliar with this house. Filling up my glass, I take a sip of the refreshing liquid, sighing in relief and setting it down.

I find myself yawning again, my body begging for some more sleep. I begin to head upstairs again, halting when I hear soft cries coming from the living room. I hesitate before heading in, unsure of who it is.

My eyes widen at the figure.

"Klaus?"

His eyes dart up as if shocked to see me. How did he not hear me?

His eyes are bloodshot, a bottle of liquor next to him on the coffee table. I sigh. He's drunk.

"Caroline...." he practically whimpers. My heart clenches, and as much as I want to turn my back on him and head upstairs, I can't just leave him. He's clearly hurt and in need of someone.

"Are you drunk?" I ask the obvious, already knowing the answer.

"A little," he sighs, seeming disappointed in himself. I take a seat next to him.

"You're crying."

"I'm fine," he lies, and poorly at that.

"Why are you crying?" I ignore him.

"Caroline, go back to bed, okay? I don't feel like talking about it," he grumbles, quite rudely.

I roll my eyes with a scoff, standing up.

"Fine then..." I begin to walk out.

"Wait, I'm sorry. Please, stay?" Klaus sighs, running a hand through his hair.

"Tell me what's wrong then," I take a seat on the couch yet again.

His eyes meet mine, broken. He looks away, wiping at his eyes.

"Klaus, hey. You can talk to me, okay?"

As much as I hate him, I have to be there for him. He needs someone.

"I constantly let people down. My siblings, friends, now you? I never meant to hurt you tonight and yet I did. I was an idiot," he confesses.

I shake my head, sighing for what seems like the hundredth time tonight.

"You didn't hurt me, Klaus. Look I overreacted, okay? You were meeting with an old friend and I was jealous. Yes I felt sad, but I'm okay. You didn't let me down," I press a hand to his shoulder, gently squeezing it. He looks at me, tears in his eyes.

"Don't blame this on you. It was my fault, I'm sorry. You don't deserve that. I shouldn't have left you," he takes in a shaky breath.

"You won't accept the fact I'm forgiving you, will you? Why are you so stubborn?"

"Caroline, I-"

"Don't say you're sorry again. I know, Klaus. It's okay. Look, how about we get you to bed, okay? You're clearly drunk and it's way too late to be up still," I offer, standing up.

He nods, standing up shakily. I take his hand for support so he doesn't fall to which he smiles at.

"Why are you helping me?"

"I don't know. Maybe it's because I'm giving you another chance, or because you're drunk and sad and I feel bad- that's not the point though. Come on, you need some sleep," I take his hand which is surprisingly comfortable in mine as I guide him up the large stairs.

I think I remember which room he said was his. It's around the end of the hallway, clearly marked with double doors. I open the doors, revealing a large, extremely fancy looking bedroom.

"Wow, this is gorgeous," I say, shocked.

"Thank you," he mutters, stumbling his way to the dresser.

Klaus throws off his shirt, the fabric flinging across the room and falling at the foot of his bed. He tosses a black T-shirt across his bare chest which my eyes seem to be locked on. He unzips his jeans which is when I look away, coming out of the trance that is Klaus Mikaelson.

When I hear the bed creak from Klaus's weight now on it, I decide it's a good time to look back. He doesn't waste time snuggling into the covers rather adorably.

I trot over to him, ready to turn off the light as if he were a young child waiting eagerly to be tucked in.

"Goodnight, Klaus," I whisper, but before I can turn off the light his hand grasps mine, not roughly but rather gently and sleepily.

"Stay. Please."

I take a moment to reflect on what he just asked me before finally settling with my answer.

"Okay."

I watch as he moves his body over to the other side of the bed to make room for me. I don't know what I'm doing, but I just go with it, climbing into bed next to him and turning off the light.

The only noise I hear is the gentle breathing of Klaus next to me which oddly calms myself.

"Are you okay?" I whisper, afraid to be any louder.

"Right now?"

"Mhm hm," I hum as a yes.

"No, but I will be in the morning when the alcohol wears off," he states.

Drunk Klaus sure is truthful.

I turn my body to the other side to face him instead of away, taking a second to simply breathe and collect my thoughts.

"You feel like it's your fault, everything your parents did to you- like it's because of you, don't you?"

He seems to be taken aback when he pauses to think of what to say next.

"Yes."

"It's not, Klaus. They did this to you and your siblings. You couldn't have done anything about it. Okay? It's not your fault."

I have no clue why I'm telling him this or trying to make him feel better about the monster he knows he is, but I can't help myself. He needs someone right now, and I'm the only one around.

When Klaus doesn't respond, I instead take the moment of silence to say something else.

"Goodnight, Klaus. I'll see you in the morning."