Chapter Text
I will personally deliver the paintings once I'm done Marcel" he clenched his teeth as he barked into the phone.
"Yes mate- all five. Yes- yes Marcel I know how much the De Martel's are bloody paying for it. But please tell them that my artistic creativity can't be stifled to a time line."
He huffed angrily once again.
"Fine. It'll be ready by tomorrow."
He groaned and rubbed his face and tried to steady his breathing and control the pulsating headache that was developing behind his head.
He sighed exasperatedly and picked up his brush only to slam it down once again, splattering red paint over his bare chest and the floor.
He muttered a string of cuss words and picked up the wet rag next to the easel, mopping up the paint before it dried on the floor of his living room.
Streaks of black and various shades of red covered the canvas in front of him.
"Still not right." He mused chewing the inside of his cheek.
Something was clearly missing from the painting in front of him and Klaus Mikaelson for the love of god couldn't fix it.
It wasn't because the man was not talented- no. His artistic vision transcended a single medium and he worked with everything from clay to ink to charcoal to oils and watercolors.
Hell, he even had a couple of sketches done with children's crayons.
He was the up and coming artist who's talents were discovered by Marcel Gerard, owner of one of New York's most famous galleries-The Quarter, after coming across a couple of works done by him at the art exhibit hosted by a local bar.
And right now Klaus Mikaelson felt that he was better suited to go back to his old job- teaching snotty toddlers how to draw stick figures. And that was saying something- cause he was terrible with them, lacking the necessary patience and temperament. Clearly the reason why he started and left the job as soon as it had begun.
So the question is why has he been staring at the same painting for the past two days when he has been commissioned with a pretty hefty sum to submit five paintings for the brand new penthouse apartment of New York's favourite philanthropist Tristan De Martel.
"This is bollocks." He muttered to himself and went to grab a drink of something stronger than the cheap wine he was sipping.
Klaus was at an artist block. He has been for the better part of a month- since his room mate slash best friend Stefan moved out, to be more precise. He clearly couldn't handle the so called abandonment and the lonely atmosphere of the apartment, even though he worked best in silence.
He poured himself a brimming glass full of bourbon and took a large gulp just as his phone began to ring.
He answered with a groan. "I am working on it Marcel- stop hounding me!"
"Trouble in paradise already, Mikaelson?" The voice of Stefan Salvatore appeared on the other side.
"What do you want? I'm busy" Klaus snapped.
"Now, is that a way to talk to your future brother in law?" Stefan mused.
Klaus pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Is there any particular reason as to why you're calling me Salvatore? "
"I knew you would forget." The other man sighed. "I told you my friend would be coming to view the apartment today. She's already on her way, man."
Klaus felt like banging his head against a wall. The last thing he needed was a visit from some bird from the one pony town that was Stefan's home.
He wasn't even sure if he was comfortable with the idea of sharing a home with a woman.
"Well tell her that I'm no longer looking for a roommate."
"Really Klaus? You sell two paintings and you think you're a millionaire?" He mocked. "And how exactly are you going to be able to afford the utilities and the maintenance now that I'm gone?"
"Well you should've thought about that before moving in with my sister" Klaus sneered
"Come on man. Don't be such a child about this. "
"I'll be whatever I-" he was interrupted mid sentence by the buzzer going off.
He squeezed his eyes shut in irritation for a moment and hung up on Stefan.
"Yes" he answered.
"Um... Niklaus Mikaelson?"
Klaus. It is Klaus. Is it really that difficult for people to call him that?
"Yes?"
"Uh... this is Caroline Forbes? Friend of Stefan's- uh... Stefan Salvatore?"
God. What a pest!
"Stefan doesn't live here any more." He bit out
"Yes, I know that." He could almost hear her eyes rolling. "I'm here to view the apartment "
He paused for a moment, contemplating. He was not ready to come out of his mood any time soon. Yet, there were certain values that were literally beaten into him since he was a child- and one of those were not to be an asshole and leave a woman all alone and out in the snow.
"Well what are you waiting for then? Come on up!" He pressed the button, granting her access.
Klaus looked around the room, briefly contemplating whether he should manage some tidying up of his paints in the thirty seconds it would take her to come up.
Deciding it was better idea for him to not welcome a stranger into his home half naked, he chose clothing himself over tidying up.
He picked up his T-shirt off the floor and slipped it on just as the door bell rang.
Ok game face on Mikaelson. You do need a roommate, despite what you told Stefan. As long as she turns out not to be a crazy psycho or a drug dealer; don't blow it.
He opened the door wearily.
"Hi Niklaus? - I'm Caroline. " the smiling blonde extended her hand warmly.
"Call me Klaus." He took her hand.
"And this is Charlotte." She nodded at the small child in the carrier, resting against her feet.
What?
"Wait - you have a child?"
Her eyes narrowed in response.
"What kind of a question is that?"
He blinked in confusion.
"The child is yours? It will be staying with you?"
"Well obviously my daughter will be staying with me. Do you have an issue with that?" Her earlier smiles and niceties clearly gone off the roof.
"I don't care where your child stays as long as it's not in my apartment."
Klaus crossed his arms in defiance.
"Seriously? Are you gonna deny me the apartment because I'm a mother?"
"No, love- I'm denying you this apartment bcause you have a child. And this is not a child friendly environment." He shook his head and gestures off handedly at the various containers of paint and the canvas thrown about.
"If you had an issue with me having a baby then why on earth didn't you say anything to Stefan?" She threw her hands up in exasperation.
The baby clearly starting to sense her mother's distress, started to fuss.
"Wait- Stefan knew you had a daughter?" He raised an eyebrow
"Well I would like to think so, considering he's her godfather." She picked up the squirming baby, now completely red in the face, from her carrier.
Klaus from his, albeit very little, experience with children, could sense a full blown fit coming from the tiny human snuggled against the blonde's chest.
The baby was four months- five months of age probably. And her tiny head full of golden curls were adorned by a huge pale pink flowery headband, matching her floral romper and pale pink jacket perfectly.
A tiny voice in the back of his head told him that his very own nephew - oh wait, was it a niece? He didn't know- was probably around the same age. Something clenched in his heart and he blinked the thought away.
He winced, looking at the now crying - no wait screaming child and her very visibly distressed mother.
The mother in question trying to soothe the child. Her attempts getting to be more futile as time passed.
He sighed as he heard stirrings behind his neighbour's door.
Great- just what he needed. His loony, bat shit crazy neighbour, Mr Griffith, going bat shit crazy at him.
He glanced at the blonde, still standing in the hall way, once again and he opened the door to the apartment all the way.
"Very well. Get inside then- we can't very well have this discussion with you at my doorstep, now can we?"
The blonde's eyes flashed with a bit of gratitude before it changed into masked indifference.
Muttering a thanks she entered the apartment with the carrier hanging loosely in the other hand and a diaper bag across her shoulder.
"Let me get that for you." He took the carrier gingerly and placed it on the floor next to the couch.
Caroline followed in behind him, nervous and chewing her bottom lip. "Wow, this place is really nice" she noted looking at the floor to ceiling length windows in the living room giving them a view of the New York skyline.
"And so well decorated." She complemented taking note of the dark minimal furnishings
He nodded at the comment, following her gaze as she studied his living room and the surroundings.
"Thank you, uh... my sister decorated it"
"Oh Bekah?" She asked with surprise in her tone.
He nodded. "You know Bekah- ah of course, you're Stefan's friend."
She smiled. "I've had a couple of drinks with her. She's amazing- She was actually my doctor when I delivered Charlie" She nodded at the baby in her arms.
He wasn't surprised. Dr Rebekah Mikaelson was getting to be a well known OB/GYN in New York. And he couldn't be more prouder, her being the only family he had anymore.
He hurriedly cleared the bits and pieces of paper from the couch and the coffee table and cleared room for her to take a seat.
"Well, she did a good job. I didn't know she had talents outside the hospital." Caroline continued the line of conversation, laughing slightly, her eyes sweeping across to the open kitchen and finally landing on his eyes.
And he found himself smiling back at her, unable to help himself.
"So... can I get you anything?" He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, glancing at the pretty blonde who was now walking around the apartment, soothing the baby while bouncing on the balls of her feet.
She shook her head.
"Listen- I'm sorry Stefan didn't give you a warning. And I understand why you might have issues regarding living with a mom and a baby." She bit the corner of her lip dejectedly.
She continued when he didn't respond. "You know how expensive this city can be. I just started a new job and obviously I can't afford a place of my own. Well not yet anyways" she had a look of determination on her face
"And it's not like I can stay with any random person. I mean I have to think about Charlie's safety too. And when Stefan mentioned that you're Bekah's brother and well, you're in need of a roommate, I thought I could maybe move in here. " she glanced at the floor, not meeting his eye.
Klaus sighed, not knowing what to say. He clearly didn't want a child living in his bachelor pad. But he also wasn't completely comfortable with the wounded expression the blonde was wearing.
"I promise she doesn't cry a lot, if that's what you're worried about. She sleeps through the night. And I'm a neat freak. So you don't have to worry about me messing up your apartment or anything. " she looked at him with a hopeful glance when he didn't interrupt her.
"And she clearly hasn't started crawling yet, so you don't have to worry too much about your stuff" she said gesturing to his mess.
Klaus sat down with a huff and looked up at the mother and child in front of him.
The child had quieted, her gaze turning from her mother up to the man in front of her with her big curious eyes. And he almost felt drawn to the little girl, her eyes seemingly drawing him in.
He blinked twice.
"Fine. You and the baby can move in" he sighed despondently.
The blonde squealed in delight, the baby in her arms mimicking her mother's excitement.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you." She rambled in gratitude. "I swear you won't regret it. We will be the best room mates you've ever gotten, trust me!"
He felt a jolt of electricity coursing through his body as she smiled brilliantly at him.
He smiled back at her and nodded slightly hoping that he didn't look as stupid as he felt.
"So when will you be moving in?" He asked after a moment.
"Is tomorrow too early?" She asked with a hopeful expression. "I honestly can't stay in my current apartment for any longer than necessary. It's an absolute dump."
He shrugged his shoulder nonchalantly and got up to show her the rooms.
"So there are three bedrooms, a kitchen and a bath. This room is mine and it's off limits, obviously. Don't even bother knocking unless you're dying or someone is trying to rob the apartment or if it's on fire."
She rolled her eyes.
"And this is my studio" he gestured to the closed door in the middle of the two rooms.
He scratched his head for a second looking at the child and back at the room. "I'm guessing I have to clear my things out to make room for this one."
Caroline winced slightly.
"Eh... it's ok if you can't. I mean I could put her in my room. Anything would be better than the dump we're currently in."
She opened the door to the room that was supposed to be hers and looked around. It was moderately sized for a room in the city with plenty of natural light coming from the windows.
The evening lights that streamed in making her hair appear more golden, the soft smile playing on her lips just as bright.
Klaus couldn't help but stare at her.
"The rent covers the utilities and maintenance. And we have to come to some kind of agreement on grocery shopping. Do you cook?" He asked
She shook her head with an embarrassed smile. "Does grilled cheese count?"
He shrugged. "Whatever child proofing you need to do will obviously have to come out of your expense. And I sincerely hope you're not a bathroom hog."
She laughed and nodded.
He looked around trying to remember what else he had to inform her.
"The liquor cabinet is out of bounds." She raised an eyebrow to that. "If you want a drink then you can buy it yourself. And you are not to touch any of my art supplies."
He paused for a moment, his head tilted, looking at the woman quizzically.
"That's about it, I think." He pondered. "Oh and the contract will be for three months. And if I can't stand you or your baby even after that period, you'll have to find another place to stay. "
She nodded once again.
"Any questions?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah. Um- if you don't mind me asking, are you seeing someone?"
She coughed uncomfortably at his look.
"I just meant- I asked purely for Charlie's safety. I have to know if there will be other people in the apartment "
"None that will stay for breakfast, love. You don't have to worry about that." His mouth quirked up.
She flushed.
"Are you seeing someone?" He asked pointedly, looking at the sleeping infant.
She scoffed. "Right. A single mom of a five month old child is at the top of the dating market."
"Her dad is not in the picture?" He asked softly, not sure whether he would be overstepping any boundaries.
She shook her head with a slight eye roll. "As if! He ran so fast when he found out about her I'm pretty sure he left a hole in the wall of my old place." she said, shrugging slightly. "He didn't want a kid, said it would only slow him down."
Klaus stared, shocked at her admission and the nonchalance she displayed at the abandonment.
He could only hope for a courage like that.
"That doesn't bother you?" The question came out of his mouth unfiltered.
"Nope" she smiled. "Charlie deserves all the love and everything more in the world. She has me and so many other people that can give her that. So why should I chase after someone who can't give her the very best? Just cause he's related to her by blood doesn't make him family."
Klaus could relate to that. More than she could realise.
"You're amazing" he blurted without thinking. When he realized what he said he clamped his mouth shut and shuffled uncomfortably on his feet.
"Thank you." Caroline smiled. "Hey so, do you want to grab a coffee from the cafe downstairs- to seal the deal? My treat?"
He didn't answer.
"Uh I meant- you know- we should get to know each other- it's ok if you don't want to." He backtracked.
"No I understand." He winced . "It's just that I have a few commissioned pieces that I have to submit by tomorrow. And I best get back to it"
The blonde nodded understandingly. "Oh that's fine- forget I asked."
"Rain check then?"
"Sure." She nodded enthusiastically. " I'm sure we will get many opportunities to get coffee together after this weekend."
He nodded and walked her to the door, gathering her things for her on the way.
She reached out, her hand grabbing onto his before he could close the door behind her.
"Thank you so much for what you're doing. You have no idea how much I appreciate your help." She said with sincerity in her voice.
"Just tell your daughter not to cry through the night and we won't have any troubles " He joked.
She laughed looking down indulgently at her sleeping baby.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Caroline." He smiled and a pang went through her at the way her name sounded coming out of his mouth.
"You too" she replied before letting go.
Klaus shut the door to his apartment.
He was exhausted but he had to go back to his painting. He stared at the canvas once more, inspiration suddenly striking him.
He chuckled to himself and shook his head as he mixed some lighter yellows and some pinks to add to the dark paint covering the canvas.
He was sure that his new roommates were going to shake up his life and surprisingly it didn't scare him like thought it would.