With every small disaster

They say home is where your heart is set in stone

where you go when you're alone

Is where you go to rest your bones

It's not just where you lay your head

It's not just where you make your bed

As long as we're together, does it matter where we go?

So when I'm ready to be bolder,

And my cuts have healed with time

Comfort will rest on my shoulder

And I'll bury my future behind

I'll always keep you with me

You'll be always on my mind

But there's a shining in the shadows

I'll never know unless I try

Home by Gabrielle Aplin

As Klaus and Caroline finally reached the porch of the Forbes home, he slowly slid his arm from Caroline's shoulder. Caroline couldn't bring herself to look up at him, and instead toed the snow beneath her boots. She could feel Klaus's unnerving stare taking her in, and the seconds were excruciatingly long. She suddenly looked up, leveling her stare with Klaus's and squaring her chin.

"This night didn't happen," she began, "and things will go back to exactly how they were."

Klaus gave an amused chuckle, "Haven't had a chance to speak with Tyler, have you?"

Caroline blinked in surprised, her lips pursing.

"No," she said hesitantly, "no, he's not returning my phone calls."

Klaus merely nodded his head in response and Caroline felt a sudden anger swell up inside her.

"You're not going to hurt him." she growled.

Klaus's expression softened as his eyes analyzed Caroline's face.

"I'm not? What makes you so sure, Caroline?", he retorted.

Caroline took a step forward, and crossed her arms over her chest which began to rise and fall, quickened with emotion.

"You won't because.." she stated boldly, swallowing hard before the next part came out, "because I asked you not to."

"And what should your request mean to me, love? You, the same girl who simply serves as an alluring distraction at her friends' disposal, who tried vainly to betray me today. Why should I find it within my capabilities to spare your pathetic boyfriend?", he spat at Caroline, drawing closer to her as he seethed with rage.

"Because, Klaus," she yelled, not backing down from his threatening approach, "unlike the rest of the planet, I think you have some good in you. You've been hurt and angry and lonely too long for you to still see that."

Klaus shook his head in disbelief, his jaw clenching, "You are a stupid, blind, and naïve girl to put that belief in me, Caroline."

When he looked up at her, his eyes smoldered with an emotion that Caroline couldn't read but he refused to let herself back down.

"I think someone has to." she said, her tone becoming softer.

Silence fell over the two at these words, and their eyes met. Caroline's were soft but impassioned and Klaus's were, once again, unreadable. His hand wrapped around her upper arm, and his thumb rubbed circles over the fabric of her shirt.

"Either you will be the death of me, or I for you." he murmured. "May I show you something, Caroline, in the morning?"

All Klaus had to do was look at her for Caroline to agree. His face held more sadness than she had ever seen on another person. The Original looked defeated and tired.

"Thank you.", he said gently, releasing Caroline's arm. "Now, get some rest, love."

He turned and began to walk through the snow with his head down. The site reminded Caroline all too much of the day her father and her passed a stray dog on the road on a bitterly cold day. Caroline had begged her father to stop and pick up the poor animal, but he wouldn't allow it. A few days later, on the same road, Caroline saw the dog's lifeless body laying only a few yards away from where she had saw it.

"Klaus," she called out suddenly, surprising herself. It seemed to catch him off guard as well. "I can't make you walk home in a blizzard. Vampire speed or not, you look too pathetic for me to let you do that."

A wicked smirk broke out across Klaus's face.

"So, what do you suggest, love?", he teased as he approached the porch again.

Caroline rolled her eyes, and snapped, "We have a guest-room." She promptly turned around and entered the house, feeling Klaus follow behind her. She stalked through the house until she came to the guest room, only feet from her own. She jabbed a finger to the room and began to go towards her own room when she heard Klaus.

"Sweet dreams, sweetheart." he said simply, entering the room and closing the door behind him.

Caroline let out a small smile as she came to her room and collapsed on the bed. She had just enough energy to slip off her boots and manage to change into some appropriate sleep wear before she began to nod off to sleep. The house so quiet, she could hear Klaus's fingers drumming on his chest and the shuffling of his body in his bed. The rhythmic tapping began to lull her to sleep, simple and easy and most importantly, without nightmares.

Hello, readers! I just wanted to thank you all. I haven't written fanfiction in a long time, so to return to a good amount of positive feedback has been encouraging. I apologize for this relatively short chapter, but I couldn't compromise it with what will be Chapter 3 which will be much, much longer. So, that being said, thank you again and happy reading!