Above All Else

Chapter 28

Klaus hid his small smile behind the tumbler in his hand as he glanced at those who sat around the table with him in The Grill. Caroline and his sister were talking and laughing while Kol interjected cliché humorous comments in between. The closeness between them all could be felt in the air, something that had been absent from their family for far too long to take account of. That is until Caroline walked in with her sunny smiles and caring heart, her quick wit and her infectious laughter. Klaus did not think he could ever express to her just how much her genuine care for them meant to him or his siblings.

Kol with his need for a friend who would laugh with him but at the same time put him in his place. Klaus did not know whether to be thankful that this friend just happened to be the woman he loved or not. Then again, he surmised that no one would be capable of handling Kol quite like Caroline.

Rebekah with her ever growing need to be loved and accepted, she had never had a friend that either him or their brothers, or herself for that matter, had not killed for one reason or another. Most of those reasons fell on the fact that people who tried to gain acceptance into their family folds only wanted the power that came along with being a member for the Original family's inner circle. As a group they were not the forgiving sort but his sister was in another realm all together. The majority of those who she had at one time considered a friend were killed by her own hand once she discovered their duplicity.

As for himself, he thought as he watched her throw her head back in riotous laughter, her golden hair shining and billowing around her like a halo, he wanted someone to love, someone to love him just as deeply. Someone to connect to in ways that were still beyond his understanding. As much as he denied such a thing, lambasted anyone who showed the so-called weakness that he deemed love to be, deep inside him that is all he really wanted but never truly understood until the petulant baby vampire waltz into his life, into his home wearing his dress no less, and saw straight through him. Called him out on his misgivings and somehow touched his soul in a way that he never thought possible.

Klaus was snapped out of his thoughtful musings by his pest of a brother's mock whisper.

"You know brother; if you stare at her any harder I think you might just melt into a puddle of love-sick goo right here on the table."

Klaus's growl was cut off, surprisingly by Rebekah.

"Kol don't be such a prat."

"Thank you Bekah, who knew that you would be the more understanding of our siblings when it comes to my relationship with Caroline." Klaus offered her a smile as he tipped his glass her way.

"Of course Nik," Rebekah smiled tipping her glass back at him before taking a sip, "but if I might suggest, you may want to tone down the lovey-dovey eyes you are throwing dear Caroline's way. Others might think you have gone soft." She ended on a giggle at the hard gaze Klaus aimed at her.

Klaus swung his head to his left looking to Caroline in astonishment as she attempted to hide her giggle behind her hand.

Still giggling Caroline tried with everything she had to keep a straight face, "What? That was kind of funny. Besides," she added with a shrug and a teasing grin, "It's not like it isn't true. I've seen the way you have been eyeing me up."

Klaus scoffed, "Right. I find it down right hilarious that my emasculation amuses you Love." His voice carried a hard tone, though he did crack a smile when Caroline could no longer hide her laughter.

Kol set his drink to the table, slapping Klaus on the back, "You said it brother, not us." Seeing his brother's narrowed eyes swing towards him Kol leaned back in his chair picking his glass back up taking a sip casually, "It must be terrible for you Nik, not being able to threating me with daggers any longer."