*1 week later*

Caroline was cleaning her apartment. These days her apartment had been a mess, her clothes thrown on the floor. Caroline and Oliver started dating the night he kissed her. They spent the nights together pleasuring each other as Oliver had called it last night when he was here "Catching up"

Oliver left early in the morning as he had an important meeting with some of his employees. Caroline was not very sure of starting a relationship. She had proposed to Oliver that they would take things slow..... Very slow.

**Flashbacks**

"A penny for your thoughts" Oliver interrupted Caroline in her thoughts. 

They were both lying on the bed, Caroline was lying on her back and Oliver was tracing small circles with her finger on her back. 

"I don't know I think we are taking things too quickly. Am not sure am ready for another a relationship" she started blabbering.

"Am not yet ready" she repeated and then added in a small whisper 

"I'm sorry" tears overflowed her eyes, she didn't want to cry but she was feeling so vulnerable. 

"Hey! Don't cry its OK. I understand. Its fine don't worry" he raised her chin to make her look at him and then added with a small smile

 "What about friend with benefits?"

"Friends with benefits huh?" she raised her eyebrows at him.

 He chuckled "There are many benefits to having good friends, but friends with benefits are way much fun...."

"You are still the same" Caroline laughed stepping out of the bed and she threw at pillow at him.

 "The way you said it is like..... "She trailed 

"'Friends with benefits' in reality is telling you to your face that you're good to fuck, but not good enough to invest feelings in" she said imitating his voice.

"I know for ages Caroline. Judging by your face it's been very a long time since you had good sex isn't it?" 

and he continued with his usual smirk

 "I don't intend to be in a relationship for now. You know how am I" Caroline answered

 "Afraid of relationship aren't we" she teased then she said after thinking for a long time

 "I accept" but Oliver reminded her of something

 "Don't let good sex confuse your heart and make you think you're in love"

"I got it Ollie. No need to play the wise man and stop flattering yourself"

 she sighed "Am I not good" he smirked getting out of bed naked making Caroline blushed.

 "Cover yourself" Caroline threw the sheet on him but he ignored her instead he went in the kitchen and sat on a chair

 "I don't want your hairs on my chair Oliver" she yelled.

 Sighing, Oliver went back in her room and took the direction to the bathroom

 "Will you do the honor my dear consort of joining me" he smirked at her 

"I would gladly my husband"

**End of Flashbacks**

So Caroline and Oliver decided not to be engaged in any romantic type of relationships because each of them had their specific reasons. She was washing her utensils when she heard a knock at the door. She went to open but saw nothing. Then something caught her attention, it was a black box wrapped with a white ribbon. Looking from her right and left checking if someone was here and when she saw nobody, she closed the door behind her.

She opened the box to reveal a dress. It was an ice- blue empire waist gown with a gathered bodice and skirt, sheer puff sleeves and an intricate lace hem. The dress was exquisite. There was also a letter, she opened the envelope and read aloud

 "Please join the Mikaelson Family. This evening at seven o'clock for dancing, cocktails and celebration" and on the other side of the letter a few words was addressed to her

  "Save me a dance. Fondly Klaus"

"Seriously" she exclaimed throwing the letter on the table. 

She had no intention to go to that ball, yet alone be with Klaus' family. She preferred to stay at her house with Oliver by her side. Her phone buzzed, she got a message from Kat saying 

'Could you meet me at my house in a few minutes' she texted back 'Ok, I'll be right there'

Quickly, she put on a light pink strapless pleated dress and her high heels. After a few minutes, she knocked on Katherine's door. She opened the door and greeted

 "Hi"

"So what did you want to talk about Kat" Caroline asked,

 she went to her room and came back with a letter which made Caroline yelled

 "You receive that too" making Kat giggled 

"I'm just beside you no need to shout" she mouthed a small sorry to her.

"I must not be too surprised. Elijah is taken up with you isn't it?"

 Caroline teased Katherine who was slightly blushing.

 "Will you go?" Katherine asked.

 "I don't know" she shrugged her shoulders.

 "Think about it please Care. I don't want to go alone"

"Fine, I'll think about it" she gave up.

 Not knowing what to say, Katherine asked Caroline

 "are you seeing someone these days" Caroline looked at her confused

 "Is there any problem".

Katherine answered 

"Not at all. I was just wondering"

 "I'm currently sleeping with Oliver" Caroline said when Katherine gasped

 "The Oliver Queen" she confirmed

 "The Oliver Queen"

But Caroline quickly added

 "We're just friends with benefits nothing more than that. We are not both ready for a relationship. So only with benefits" Katherine raised her eyebrows at her 

"You could have chosen another boy apart from him"

 "and you suggest" Caroline asked annoyed.

"Damon Salvatore" Kat smirked at her shocked best friend and then continued

 "He's currently single"

"No offence Kat, Damon is my best friend. I don't find me with him on a bed laying on each other or kissing in the bathroom or in the kitchen. It's so.........weird" 

Caroline let out a dry laugh.

 "I was just proposing" Kat pouted.

 Since, they had many hours before the ball, they watched a film, they partied and they talked about what girls would usually talked...........boys.

"It's Ollie, I will just answer" Caroline said heading towards the kitchen.

"Hi Ollie" Caroline smiled.

 "Hey. What's up? "Oliver asked her.

 "I'm fine. Am at Kat's place" she replied silently.

 "Care, am sorry I won't be able to come at your place tonight. I have an important meeting" 

Oliver said sadly. "It's ok. You will make it up to me, won't you?" she teased and then he said in a sexy tone

 "That I will, consider already done sweetheart" she could imagine the smirk plastered on his face when he said that.

"Caroline we need to get ready for the Mikaelson Ball" Kat shouted enough for Caroline to hear.