Chapter Text
All those times when I wanted to make you happy.
The one shot where they have lived together for 2 years.
Plus the one where Klaus would do anything to make Caroline happy.
Even if it meant getting a pet.
“Awww. They’re the cutest things in the world!” She exclaims, crouching down and tenderly stroking the poodles that had approached them in the park.
“I’d hardly call these creatures cute,” Klaus refutes, distancing himself from the petite sized dogs harassing them. His girlfriend chooses to ignore his remark as she continues to pet them, keenly engaging in conversation with their owner instead.
“They won’t bite you, you know?” The owner, a young woman around the age of Caroline, remarks, not offended by Klaus’s look of disgust evidently meant for the dogs.
”Oh, he just doesn’t like dogs, for reasons beyond my understanding,” Caroline jokes, jumping in on his behalf as she stands back up again.
”I take it you’re a dog person then?” The owner asks, putting both dogs back on the lead.
”Yeah, I am. I’ve always wanted to have a dog, but my family hated them, and so does Klaus over here,” the blonde answers, briefly glancing at his flabbergasted expression.
”You haven’t had one, ever?”
”Yeah, and I don’t think I’ll be having one any time soon,” Caroline sighs, the smile on her face still in tact.
”Well, you should consider it. They’re the best things in the world,” the brunette states, practically as if it’s a fact, which Klaus couldn’t disagree with more. Though when the owner eventually walked away, with a slight jump in her step as her dogs dragged her away, Klaus noted the look of longing and desire Caroline had in her eyes, his heart now conflicted.
”I’m sorry, love.” For not getting a dog because I hate them, is what he really wanted to say, but judging by her nod of acknowledgment, she knew exactly what he meant.
Turning around to face him, she composes herself before taking his hand in hers and whisking him away from the scene that, unbeknownst to her, would change his mind. Frankly, Klaus was torn with the life changing decision he didn’t particularly want to make, considering his past trauma from a vicious dog as a kid, which Caroline was unaware of. In all fairness, he was slightly embarrassed to recount the story to her, although if she knew, maybe she would be more sympathetic and understanding of his hatred towards dogs.
A week later…
Exiting the lift of their building, she heads towards their penthouse, exhausted from her long day at work. One could say that her exhaustion was definitely a contributing factor to her almost missing the squeals and barks coming from her apartment, but being as receptive as she was, even in a tired state, Caroline didn’t miss the sounds.
Almost immediately after opening the door, a young puppy, with a small red bow around its collar, dashed towards her, its tail wagging eagerly. Not even questioning it, she simply crouched down and played with the puppy, that in her eyes, was perfect.
“Hello, you,” she cooed, caressing its face tenderly as it relaxed ever so slightly, less frantic as it started to lick her hand.
”You are adorable!” She squeaked, carrying it gently only to place the calm puppy on her lap, who settled quite nicely.
“Who do you belong to?” Caroline asks it, though it was a rhetorical question. It was, presumably, one of Klaus’s business partner’s dogs, because after 3 years of being with him, and after the 2 years living with him, she was aware he loathed dogs, as the other day indicated as such. Although, it was undoubtedly odd that he allowed a dog in their apartment, because he never did so before. Ever. So this, in her eyes, was progress!
As she continued to play with the puppy, Klaus silently exited his office, and paused on the steps when he noticed her holding the dog tenderly, as if it was her own human baby. So in that moment, he could only stare at her with nothing but pure affection and admiration in his eyes. She was positively radiant, her eyes lit up and her smile so genuine. It was right then that Klaus knew that his decision was the best one, though he needed to be swayed, easily if done by his girlfriend, to like dogs again.
“So, what do you think, love?” He questions, a brow raised as his dimples made an appearance. His words caused her to tear her gaze from the animal in her arms, as she then looked up at him from her comfortable position on the marble floor.
”It’’s adorable!” She remarks, unable to stop stroking it, “But how come you allowed your friend’s dog to be here? You never did before…” she enquired, her brows knitted together as she pondered this aloud. Klaus, meanwhile, simply shakes his head, chuckling as a smile resurfaces on his face.
”What if I were to tell you that this puppy is our puppy?” Caroline practically freezes in place, her eyes dilating in shock after hearing his words. That was most definitely not what she was expecting to hear.
“Seriously?” He nods his head with no mirth in his eyes.
”I went to the dog shelter a few days ago, and admittedly, I liked this one. It stood out to me, and seemed like it could do with a loving owner.” His smile quickly faded as concern replaced his joyous expression, at the sigh of Caroline’s eyes tearing up. Little did he know it was out of disbelief and affection.
”You…you did this for me?” She manages to string together a sentence, resisting the urge to cry out of sheer happiness.
”Yes, I did. The way you looked at the puppies last week, with fondness and longing in your eyes…let’s just say that my own hatred of these animals interfered with what you most desired. It was my desire to make you happy that influenced my decision as well,” he admits quietly, clasping his hands behind his back out of apprehension, worried about her reaction.
In seconds, she leapt from where she was, wrapping her hands around his neck and she embraced him in a tight hug. Certainly not how Klaus expected her to react.
”Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she whispered on repeat, joyful tears freely spilling down her soft cheeks.
”You’re welcome sweetheart,” Klaus responds, before pressing a kiss to her hairline and then proceeding to look at the obedient little puppy who was waiting for their moment to end patiently. Pulling away from their embrace, an emotional Caroline did the same.
”Now what are we going to call you, puppy?”
”It’s a girl so maybe something after a flower? Daisy, Poppy? Ooo, or maybe something like Diamond, Gem, Ruby, Emerald?” Klaus can’t help but laugh at her various suggestions, highly amused.
”As much as I adore your name choices, perhaps a more unique name could be nice.” She turns to look at him, one hand on hip in a sassy manner.
”Oh really? I’d like to hear your suggestions then,” Caroline retorts. It takes Klaus a few good seconds to conjure up some ideas, considering how his original ones were quite old fashioned names, and there’s no chance his girlfriend would agree to any of them.
”Lizzie?” The suggestion is accompanied by a firm no.
”Charlotte?” This time she speaks up, expressing herself clearly.
”These are baby names, not puppy names,” she sighs.
”Fine. What about Bella?” Caroline considers the name, and experiments with it. His gaze never strays as he attempts to read her mind, for she takes her sweet time being decisive. Turning to the puppy awaiting by her feet, she reaches down to stroke their puppy.
”Hey Bella. You’re very sweet,” she tries, only to be reciprocated with eager affection from the dog, plus a firm reassuring squeeze on her shoulder.
“Bella then?” Klaus repeats and is met with a small nod in kind, giving him all the confirmation he needed. Before he knows it, the little puppy is leaping out of excitement around him, licking his feet, something which takes him aback completely. It makes Caroline smile childishly, to the point where she has to desperately refrain from laughing just by watching him leap around the avoid the puppy.
”Just because I bought Bella, it doesn’t mean that I would like to be in close proximity to her,” he remarks, a hint of annoyance laced in his voice. Knowing how defiant she was, it shouldn’t be surprising that Caroline would convince him to hold their Bella in his arms. In fact, their puppy was so quiet and gentle that, dare he say it, Klaus enjoyed holding her and caressing her. Tamer than a newborn baby, that’s for sure.
At some point that evening, they all sit on the sofa in the evening watching a film in their little bubble, their mini golden retriever sleeping comfortably on Caroline’s lap.
”I love you, you know that, right?” Caroline chimes while Klaus chuckles, placing his arm around her.
”I love you too, sweetheart.”
“And I really appreciate you buying Bella . Even if you-even if it’s not what you wanted…” she trails off, avoiding eye contact and feeling guilty for practically roping him into getting a dog. Instead, Klaus gently tilts her head towards him by cupping her face, forcing her to look into his searching eyes.
”I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t want to, love. It’s all worth it if I get to see you happy.” Her cheeks flush slightly, as she tries to fight the creeping blush on her face.
”Thank you Klaus.” She proceeds to close the distance between the two of them, her plush lips meeting his tender ones in an intoxicatingly amazing kiss, all while Bella glaces up at her two parents, baffled by what they’re doing in their little family bubble.
Only a year after them getting Bella did Klaus confess about his dog trauma, which Caroline reacted to with sympathy and understanding. In fact, to help him overcome that fear, the blonde organised weekly training sessions with their retriever, and on their daily walks in the park, she encouraged Klaus to stroke other dogs too. So when they encountered that same dog owner a year later, she herself had even pointed out the visible difference in Klaus’s attitude towards dogs. From training and watching Bella change from an excitable pup to a caring, mature dog, to Klaus proposing to and then getting married to Caroline, plus having kids, their life truly did change in the best way possible.