She waltzed towards the kitchen, guided by the memory of chocolate mousse she'd tasted during the dinner; she had been too full to eat more than a few spoons of the delicious dessert and she now craved it again. Her footsteps were silent through the hallways of the compound, her socked feet protecting her from the chilly floor. It seemed vampires thought it was unnecessary to heat up the place, except for Hayley and Hope's rooms thankfully. As a hybrid Hayley did not have to bother covering up anymore which left her free to sleep in December in very short shorts and a large tank top, walking barefoot on a cold floor reminded her of too many bad memories. From the way the dinner had gone, Hayley felt reassured in her decision to stay the night in the compound with Hope so she could spend the morning of Christmas with her family. Her daughter deserved to spend some joyful time with her close family.

A light coming from the kitchen door slowed her steps and she shyly peaked through the doorway to see who she would have to fight for the chocolate mousse, already preparing a battle strategy – God knew Rebekah was vicious when it came to chocolate, and Freya not above using magic, that cheating witch.

She was completely caught off guard as she saw Klaus, head bent in the fridge, humming as he pulled out the chocolate mousse bowl. Questions of whether she was that hungry entered her mind but her debate was interrupted as Klaus turned towards her, the bowl in his hand.

"What will it be, Hayley? Staying, or going?" He gave her a depreciative smile, so different than his sharp and twisted smiles. She looked at him in his entirety for the first time that day; he looked soft, that was the only word she could find to explicate the contrast with his usual sharp presence, lighten by the dimmed light of the kitchen and wearing his favorite grey sweatpants and hoodie half pulled over his head.

Perhaps if he could look so open around her, it was time to repay him in kind. She walked straight to the silverware drawer, pulling two spoons out of it and sat on the central table in front of the fridge.

"Maybe this time we should start with sharing?" She held out the second spoon for him. Tonight was not the time for coy answers, and she felt freed as she answered him without any more pretenses, no more mirrors reflecting the illusion they wanted the other to see.

He took the spoon with a half smile and jumped next to her, the bowl of chocolate placed between them as an offering. Hayley took her first spoonful of mousse and let out a moan, the sinful dessert tasted even better than she remembered. Klaus chuckled at her, the table softly trembling with him.

"I guess I'll have to make more of this mousse au chocolat, huh?"

She looked at him with wide eyes, "you mean you made this? From scratch?"

"Why, yes. I'll have you know I learnt from the best chef in Paris, love. I wonder if Hope is old enough to taste some…"

"Oh, hell no!" Her vehement response startled him, and Hayley felt that he was closing himself up, hiding from her again. She couldn't bear that thought.

She grabbed the bowl and put it on her lap.

"There's no way I am sharing with Hope! She'll get addicted to chocolate, and I know you know she turns into a little devil when she's high on sugar."