Caroline couldn't sleep. At last, she was driven awake by the creaking of the bed. She opened her eyes to the ceiling. Painted with clouds and vines and cherubs. Groggy, she sat up, pressing the bedsheet to her chest as her other hand went over the other side. Wrinkled creases were the only sign that someone had been there.

Ugh! He did NOT just abandon her!

Getting up, Caroline wrapped the sheets around herself and stepped out of bed. She was about to call out for Klaus before she noticed the open bars to the balcony.

It was weirdly peaceful to watch the most dangerous creature on the planet standing still against the background of the city lights.

"Couldn't sleep?" He voiced.

Caroline rolled her eyes and went to stand beside him.

"Too... sore." She honestly said, expecting a quip from him.

Klaus laughed and kissed her head. He pulled her to stand in front of him as he hugged her from behind, silently watching the city lights.

"The city that never sleeps. " Caroline sad, drawing in a breath.

''Welcome to New Orleans, love." Klaus replied, burying a kiss in her tossed hair.

"Never would I have guessed that you guys were staking out in New Orleans!"

"We've got a history with this place. It's home."

"You lived in this old place?"

Klaus moved his head around to take in the place, as if he hadn't owned it for the better half of 50 years.

"This old place is just mine. My siblings and I, we resided in a grand house, little Italy. Currently overtaken by a false king, but I intend to get it back. For now, the mayor's kindly offered up his place."

Caroline smirked, thinking exactly how kindly the mayor might have been.

They shared a quiet minute watching the colorful city still in the dead of night. Klaus's laughter broke the silence and Caroline turned to him.

"What's so funny?"

"Not funny, just unbelievable. That you're here, with me, in my home town. Makes me want to fight harder for what I want."

"And what is it that you want?" Caroline asked, splaying her hands over his tiny chest hair.

"Right now," he kissed her forehead, "nothing. Except a portrait of you."

He stepped back and watched her like an artist gazing at his masterpiece.

Caroline caught on. "...Klaus..."

"Stay. Just like that!"

Caroline blushed. "Not now! I'm not decent!"

She noticed the sheet slipping off and attempted to fix it, but Klaus stopped her.

Klaus grabbed her face and brought his own eye level at her, shaking his head, refusing to listen.

"No. This, right here, right now. What we did is natural, and nature. Is. Beautiful."

"Klaus..." Caroline started but he shut her up with a kiss.

"Wait here, one second. Don't move!"

In that specific time frame, Klaus went and came back with his art supplies and Caroline gave in. "Fine, paint me like one of your French girls." She said as she posed herself comfortably.

Klaus took her up on it and painted her till dawn.

The first sun rays hit her and Caroline vamped back inside, frantically searching the bed.

"Looking for something, love?" Klaus asked as he whooshed into the bed, not helping her.

"My ring, Klaus."

"Oh you mean this ring?" Klaus held her daylight ring in his hand, swinging it on his little finger.

"I wonder what else is keeping me alive at the moment."

"Well to quote you to you..." Klaus teasingly moved closer to her, and she immediately realized which words of hers he was going to use against her. "This," he whispered in her mouth as his lips pried open hers, his hand tangling with hers as he slipped the ring on her finger, pulling her back onto the bed as her arms wrapped around his neck.

After sleeping in and then... sleeping in, Caroline again woke up in alone. She put on Klaus's shirt and went exploring the house as she helped herself to breakfast. After a quick shower and change, Caroline left to explore New Orleans again.