Klaus was one of the most powerful opponents the characters of The Vampire Diaries ever faced. He was willing to do whatever it took to break the curse placed on him and killed anyone who got in his way. Because Klaus was introduced as a villain, his feelings for Caroline were an unexpected, yet welcome, surprise.
Their dynamic is complicated due to The Originals spinoff, but fans can actually track Klaus and Caroline's relationship in pictures. Caroline became proof that Klaus was capable of love, and he continuously made bold and romantic gestures to show her what she meant to him.
He Traveled From New Orleans To Attend Her Graduation
All it took was an invitation in the mail to get Klaus to attend Caroline's graduation in Mystic Falls. While the characters had been trying to reach Klaus to save Damon, he revealed that he wasn't answering his phone because he was already on his way to see Caroline.
His graduation gift was one of Klaus's most selfless acts of the series, as he allowed Tyler to return to Mystic Falls, knowing it would make Caroline truly happy. While he wanted to offer her a ticket to join him in New Orleans, he chose Caroline over himself. He left her with the promise of being her last love, however long it takes.
He Chose Caroline Over Revenge
Klaus and Tyler's hatred for each other played a major role in both of their relationships with Caroline. Tyler was expected to be the bigger man by letting go of his need for revenge and staying at Whitmore with his girlfriend. In a surprising turn of events, Tyler admitted that he hated Klaus more than he loved Caroline, which broke them up for good.
When faced with a similar choice, Klaus lets Tyler live and decided not to torture Katherine on her death bed. He chooses Caroline over vengeance, which is what leads to their long-awaited moment in the 100th episode.
He Offered To Show Her The World
Klaus wasn't wrong when he told Caroline that a small-town boy and small-town life wouldn't be enough for her. Her personality was too big to be confined to Mystic Falls for eternity, and it was obvious that she wanted to branch out and see what the rest of the world was like.
Klaus's offer to take Caroline around the globe was genuine, and it was the grand romantic gesture that she deserved. If he had survived the series finale of The Originals, it's likely that Caroline would've held Klaus to his promise.
He Drew A Portrait Of Her
Caroline is the only person who can insult Klaus and get away with it. She was able to call him out for all the horrible things he'd done, and receive a gift in return.
Caroline and Klaus both learned something new about each other the night of the ball—Caroline loved horses, and Klaus was a talented artist. Klaus drew a portrait of Caroline with a horse and thanked her for being honest with him. It's later revealed that Caroline is his muse, as Klaus has a book full of sketches of her.
He Gave Her Priceless Gifts
Money can't buy love, but Caroline still enjoyed receiving gifts. Klaus invited her to the Mikaelson family's ball by sending her a lavish dress along with a note, which she wore with the excuse of not having time to shop.
However, she couldn't come up with a good reason for wearing the bracelet that Klaus gave her for her birthday. Klaus wanted Caroline to have all the best things in life, and he even gave her a prom dress, that likely belonged to royalty, at her request.
He Tracked Down Her Miss Mystic Application
Klaus showed up at the Miss Mystic Falls Pageant fully prepared to impress Caroline. He was open and honest, and even Tyler picked up on how much Caroline enjoyed spending time with him. The best part of their date was when Klaus pulled out Caroline's Miss Mystic application, which he had somehow tracked down.
He teases her about how cheesy she sounds, and they end up in a game of keep-away. Klaus made Caroline genuinely laugh, despite how horribly the day had been going. The simple gesture showed that he wanted to get to know her, and was willing to put forth the effort.
He Donated Millions Of Dollars To Her School
One of the best Klaus and Caroline quotes in The Vampire Diaries comes back into play in the series finale. The letter Caroline receives from Klaus was romantic in itself, but it also contains a check for millions of dollars that he asks her to accept as a contribution to her virtuous cause.
Klaus ended the note with the phrase, "however long it takes," which is his way of letting Caroline know that he still intends to be her last love.
He Gave Her A Tour Of New Orleans
In one of the best full-circle moments in The Vampire Diaries, Caroline travels to New Orleans with a voicemail from Klaus she saved for 15 years. He had always wanted to show her his favorite place in the world, and with only hours left to live, he finally got the chance.
A deleted scene features Klaus guiding Caroline around New Orleans, and they even stop to admire a painting and hold hands. Their relationship has never been typical, but it could be considered Klaroline's second official date.