Klaus blinked slowly, several times, his breath caught in his chest and he almost dropped the glass tumbler he was holding, he even took a small step forward, his hand braced against the door he had just opened and peered out left to right, expecting some kind of assault, an ambush, dancing freaking elephants wearing aluminous tutus.

He could not quite believe what he was seeing at all, what he was hearing, could not comprehend it, not one bit.

Yes he had always hoped and wished terribly so that this day would come, but never ever did he expect it to actually happen, it had been what ten, maybe fifteen, maybe more years since he'd last seen her, heard her voice. Yes there had been calls and messages, but they were all one sided, all un-returned, he'd made a promise to her one time, a time that both felt like a lifetime ago and just yesterday. He'd promised to leave and never come back, and for her, because he loved and respected her and longed for her love and respect and understanding in return, he kept his promise. He stayed away, with the small hope that she may follow one day, but with every day that passed, a week that turned into a month, which regretfully turned into a year, hope faded and the warmth of his heart that she at one time had helped to thaw started to seize and chill once more.

He stepped back and stared, both obnoxiously and ridiculously so into the beautiful face staring back at him, he allowed himself a moment to drink her in, visions and images suddenly flooded his brain from all those years ago back in that town, the high school, the bar, the woods. He'd recognise her anywhere, at any time, she was still exquisite, his heart beat double time in his chest just as it had the first time he ever lay eyes on her and every other time after their first meeting. Her blues eyes sparkled mischievously, they stood out like sapphires, in stark contrast to her pale creamy flawless skin with just a slight pretty pink blush on her cheeks.

Her fair hair was a little shorter than he remembered it, it curled at the edges and bounced just past her shoulders, it was also shade ever so slightly darker, and shone brightly with highlights of caramel and a touch of bronze, she was always unique, to him she was everything.

His throat felt dry as he stood silently, his feet starting to shuffle his body weight from side to side restlessly, his brain ticking everything over, exploring the possible opportunities in front of him, the endless possibilities, I wonder, if only…

"Klaus"

A small jolt shocked his body into action with the softly spoken words, his thoughts and brain returning to reality, it was like a wake up call. That voice, her voice was so achingly familiar, his chest ached at how much he realised he had missed hearing it, he watched her lips, waiting for more, he wanted, needed to hear he speak some more, he wanted her to repeat his name again and again.

"Don't tell me you've become a mute after all this time?"

If he thought the sound of her voice, the way the words rolled delicately off her tongue, was a difficulty for his body to remember, then the accompanying chuckle, the light pitched, angelic giggle certainly made his knees quiver beneath his torso. He remembered helping to make that sound escape those soft pink lips, on several occasions. Nobody else knew, it was private for him, for them.

She brushed a stray curl back from her face with a slightly shaking hand and she smiled up at him brightly, all pearly white teeth, the almost not there dimples and the slight crinkle at the corner of her eyes, she was breath taking, as always.

She laughed lightly again and took a small step forward towards the door, towards him.

"God have you actually gone soft?"

His throat worked like crazy, swallowing around the dry lump, he licked his lips, his fingers flexed around the wooden edge of the heavy door, his knuckles were white and pulled tight from the deadly grip he had on the thing, like he was using it for balance, to keep him from floating away. He cleared his throat.

"Sorry to disappoint love, just a momentary relapse, what do you need? Mass murder? Town Execution? Hit-man? Escort?.."

God he wanted to bottle that laugh up and carry it with him, also he wanted to mentally capture the image of her smiling at him, only for him at this moment and replay it over and over.

She took one last step before her shoes actually touched the doorway, he dropped back behind the door and placed his glass down on the side table before stepping out and meeting her half way. They stood close, maybe too close for two people who hadn't spoken in over a decade, but Klaus had a feeling that didn't matter, not right now, she was here, she was here for him, smiling and laughing and she was here for a reason. They weren't physically touching but if Klaus flexed out his hand just so, he was pretty sure their fingers would brush, if he inhaled just a breath too deep, their stomachs and chests would maybe meet in the middle.

He tilted his head to the side and drank her in once more, a small smile playing on his lips, could it be?

"Hello Caroline"

"Hello Klaus"

They watched each other cautiously in a moment's silence, their breathing patterns heavy and matching, the birds tweeted around them in the warm early evening air. Silence, and bliss, the atmosphere between them felt thick with long lost hope, chance and promises.

"I-I'm uh, I'm asking you, it's um, it's not enough, not anymore and I'm asking you.."

All of the blood Klaus had in his body rushed to his head all at once, he stopped himself from swerving on his feet and focused on her eyes, her lips, the rise and fall of her chest.

Memories and words started to flood back to him all at once in a mad rush, taking up all coherent, rational space he had left in his brain.

'Great cities, and art, and music. Genuine beauty. And you could have all of it. You could have a thousand more birthdays, all you have to do is ask.'

'I'll take you, wherever you want, Rome, Paris, Tokyo..'

'Perhaps one day, in a year, or if in a century, you turn up at my door, and let me show you what the world has to offer..'

It's happening, it's actually happening, he knew, he knew what this was, and he wouldn't make it more or less of anything, or any more difficult or awkward then it had to be, he wouldn't allow time for mind changingor questions or justifications, it just was, and it was absolutely glorious, victorious. At last…

Her features started to transform in front of his very eyes as she trailed off and waited for him, waited for him to realise what she wanted, needed from him. She didn't even know exactly herself how far she wanted this to go between them, all she knew was he was the steady, promising presence in her life that had always been there ready to catch her and guide her no matter how far apart they were, he understood, he remembered.

Her eyes hardened and her shoulders tensed, she was here for a reason, she came to him, expecting and unsure and he would give her that, he'd give her everything.

She stared at him, her eyes wide and clear, her mouth opening and closing, struggling for what to say. He watched her carefully, he could see the internal struggle, the mental battle she was having within herself, he ached, his fingers throbbed to reach out and touch, to take, to soothe. But he wouldn't, he wouldn't scathe this beautiful reunion with an action that may not be wanted or reciprocated, could he handle rejection after all this time? His eyes suddenly fell to the small suitcase that sat at her feet, he'd never noticed it before.

She watched him, watched where his eyes fell and she held her breath, frightened she had made a terrible mistake. The answers they both were searching for were all in a simple gaze, a tilt of the head, a quirk of the lips.

"Where to first?"