822A/N – Hello! It has been a LONG LONG LONG time. Something made me re read this entire story the other day and when I reached the end, I was so mad that it wasn't finished. Not sure if I still have any readers so I am going to write this chapter and see what happens.
CHAPTER 45
The drive to New Orleans was long. Caroline fell asleep halfway there and didn't wake up until Klaus gently nudged her awake when they arrived.
"So, what are we going to do? Just walk around and ask if anyone knows her?" Caroline asked as she shut the passenger door.
"The witches here all know eachother. We just have to find one that will talk."
They walked the streets of New Orleans and Klaus asked several people if they knew where to find Dalia but they had no luck. It was getting late so they decided to try again in the morning.
"They are lying."
"How can you be so sure?" Caroline asked as they drove to a hotel just outside the city.
"There is no way there is a witch in New Orleans that the other witches are unaware of."
"Well, maybe there is a reason they are lying. Do we really want to uncover another problem right now?"
Klaus sighed and rubbed his hands up and down the steering wheel. "Sweetheart, this witch may be our best chance…"
"But if finding her hurts others in the process it isn't worth it."
A sharp pain went through Klaus. To hear her say their memories, their relationship, their feelings weren't worth doing anything and everything to get them back killed him. Klaus was silent as he pulled into an empty parking space.
Klaus took both his and Caroline's bags out of the trunk and they both headed inside.
"Two rooms." Klaus said to the man behind the counter as he pulled out his credit card.
"Good evening." He said with way too much cheer. He began to type on his computer. "I am so sorry, but we only have one room available."
Caroline laughed. Klaus turned to look at her and she just shook her head. "Sorry, it's just this sounds like how a trashy romance novel would begin." She laughed again and Klaus gave her a small smile.
The man behind the counter looked completely confused. "So…would you like the one room?"
Klaus looked over at Caroline who nodded her head. "Yes, that will be fine." He said.
Caroline and Klaus rode the elevator up to their room in silence. Caroline knew her comment of it not being worth it hurt him and she felt awful. Once they stepped out of the elevator Klaus began to walk in the direction of their room but Caroline stooped and gently grabbed his arm to stop him.
"You know I didn't mean that our memories together weren't worth it, right? I just meant that I didn't want to be the cause of even more problems." Klaus didn't respond. "I'm sorry." She said softly as she looked down at the floor.
"Let's get to our room, Love."
Once inside Klaus placed their bags on the one king size bed and went to sit in the chair by the window.
"I am going to take a shower, if that is okay." Caroline said.
"Of course, Love.
Caroline unzipped her bag and searched for the pajamas she had packed. She glanced up at Klaus who was looking out the window. He looked so hurt. She grabbed her entire bag and headed into the bathroom.
After her shower Caroline dumped her entire bag out but couldn't find her pajamas. She sighed then wrapped the towel around her body. After brushing her hair and moisturizing her face she went to see if she could borrow a shirt from Klaus. He was still sitting in the same chair with the same expression on his face. Caroline had an awful, sharp pain in her chest whenever she saw him upset. She tossed her bag back on the bed and walked over to Klaus. When he didn't move to acknowledge her she sat on his lap, placed her hands on his face and kissed him with everything she had. He responded almost immediately. Caroline pulled away slightly but rested her forehead against his.
"If for some reason you can't find a witch to fix my memories…" Caroline pulled away from him a little bit more so she could look him in they eyes. "…it won't be the end of us, you know that, right?"
"Sweetheart…" He voice cracked and it broke Caroline's heart even more.
"No. Stop. That part of me…the part that craves to be near you…" Caroline leaned her forehead back on his. "That part isn't going to let me walk away from you."
"But part of you will want to." He said, tears building in his eyes.
Caroline couldn't deny that her head has told her multiple times to stay away. She dragged her fingers across his cheek wiping away a tear that had fell from his eye. She placed her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Neither of them talked for a while, Caroline almost fell asleep.
"Do you have a shirt I can borrow? I seem to have forgotten my pajamas."
"Of course. Love." He said barely above a whisper.
Caroline stood up and Klaus went over to his bag. He pulled out a plain black t-shirt and handed it to her. She gave him a small smile. "Thank you."
Klaus took his bag into the bathroom. When Caroline heard the water turn on she quickly pulled off the towel and slid Klaus' shirt on. She pulled the blankets on the bed down and climbed into bed. Part of her was terrified. If Klaus was right and everyone was lying about not knowing where Dalia was, there was definitely a reason for it and she didn't want to know what it was. She didn't want to have to go back to worrying about who will survive and whose funeral she will be going to next. She sat there in bed lost in her own thoughts and didn't even notice Klaus come out of the bathroom.
"Sweetheart, are you alright?" He asked after a few minutes.
Caroline gave him a small smile. "Just thinking." She said softly.
Klaus took a seat back on the chair. "Thinking about what?"
Caroline looked at him for a moment. "You aren't planning on sleeping in that chair all night."
"This was the only available room, love. Would you rather I sleep in the car?"
"Stop, I already feel horrible enough. Just take half the bed, please."
Klaus looked over at her for a moment before speaking. "Why on earth would you feel horrible?
"Because." She said as she sat up. "It's because of me that you are here…possibly looking for a dangerous witch. My friends have been through enough, they don't need to have to deal with the repercussions from whatever this will bring."
Klaus sighed. "I don't know what else to do." He said sounding more defeated than Caroline had ever heard him sound.
Caroline got out of bed and once again sat on his lap. "I don't either. But I do know enough not to ignore the part of me that is continuously telling me that I belong next to you." She paused. I think we should forget this and just go back home. We can get to know eachother all over again…well, you can let me get to know you again.