Sunlight

Chapter 17: Fun with the Mikaelsons

"Hello darling." Kol greeted Caroline with a smile.

She did not raise her head from the newspaper she was trying to decipher with her middle school taught Italian knowledge.

"Morning, Kol."

"Sleep well?"

"Fine."

"Really." He said, pouring a cup of coffee for himself and refilling hers without asking. "I certainly would be able to tell that from the dark shadows under your eyes." Kol grinned toothily when Caroline prodded the skin under her eyes with a soft curse. "Did my brother keep you up last night?"

"He wishes." She replied shortly, and Kol chuckled, sitting down next to the girl who put the paper back with a sigh.

"Need help translating, lamb?"

"I'm perfectly capable, thank you." Caroline snipped.

"Fine," Kol said, leaning back. "How about you read out a section then?"

"Sure." She said with forced enthusiasm. She straightened out the newspaper, cleared her throat, and began to read out in faltering, American-accented Italian.

"Un recente studio si è scoperto che le persone, le coppie in particolare, che scopare a paradiso e di viaggio – " Caroline stopped to frown at Kol, who had almost spit out his coffee over the table before choking it down and letting a loud laugh escape his lips. "What?"

"Just read it out again, please."

"Un recente studio si è scoperto che le persone, le coppie in particolare, che scopare a para – "

Kol was on the floor now in whooping hysterics. Caroline stood from her chair, starting to get worked up.

"What is so funny?"

"I have to agree, Kol." Klaus said, halting by the door as Kol lay sprawled on the floor before him. "What is so hilarious that it would send you into fits of laughter and frustrate our guest?"

Caroline huffed with her hands on her hips, and Klaus sent a wink her way.

"Caroline, my sweet, please, just one more time, repeat the article." Kol pleaded in a wheeze, ignoring his brothers glare at the pet name towards 'his girl'.

Caroline sent a similar glare to the younger Mikaelson, but complied. "Un recente studio si è scoperto che le persone, le coppie in particolare, che scopare a paradiso e –" Caroline stopped and lightly stomped a foot in irritation as Kol hooted and cackled again. "What is it?!" She looked to Klaus who was biting back a smirk, and it distracted her momentarily before she remembered that she was being laughed at.

"Love, let me see the article?"

Before Caroline could pass the paper to him, or even blink, he was behind her, leaning slightly over her to read the article over her shoulder. His breath threaded through her hair and she bit her lip and tried to focus on the Italian print in front of her.

"Read it out with me?" He said, and she could hear the smile in his voice, but she decided it would be educational to figure out what was so hilarious about her poor Italian skills.

"Un recente studio," Crap. Klaus' Italian sounded sexy in her ear. Caroline exhaled and forced her hands to remain on the table.

"Un recente studio," She repeated.

"Si è scoperto che le persone,"

"Si è scoperto che le persone,"

"Le coppie in particolare," Klaus purred, placing his large hands over hers and making her breath catch.