This is it, Klaus thought as he moved the brush over the white canvas in hard strokes. Karma had finally caught up with him after a thousand years. He could find no other explanation to the circumstances that had led him to hide away in his studio.

This was the punishment for finally having Caroline by his side. A girl he would never truly deserve but never would let go either.

A girl who had decided to invite her friends over for Christmas in the large mansion and had somehow made sure that all of his siblings would be there as well. It would take the Scooby Doo gang minutes to drive from their own homes to the Mikaelson Mansion in the outskirts of Mystic Falls, but Caroline had insisted that they'd all come early on the 24th and then spend the night in some of the numerous empty rooms.

The only reason he had finally agreed was in the thoughts that he could always leave the house and that way not risk Caroline's rage by killing anyone. But Karma had thrown him a curveball in form of a blizzard so now he was stuck inside with not only his siblings and Stefan, but also the rest of Caroline's silly friends.

Klaus' thoughts were interrupted by four short knocks on his open door and the hybrid turned his head to look at the intruder without pausing his movements as he continued to paint with a dark blue colour.

"Do you wanna build a snowman?" Stefan asked casually from where he was leaning in the doorway and Klaus turned around completely to look at the Ripper with a frown.

"A snowman? Aren't we a little too old for that?" Klaus questioned with a quirked eyebrow that only made Stefan shrug.

"Come on, let's go outside and play." the vampire then continued with a gesture of his head.

"What?" Klaus asked in a perplexed tone and then turned back to his painting. "Ask Caroline, mate. I'm sure she'd love to go outside in that wretched storm with you."

"I never see you anymore." Stefan replied with an almost accusing tone that made Klaus turn around once more. "Come out the door. It's like you've gone away."

"What are you on about?"

"We used to be best buddies and now we're not. I wish you would tell me why." the vampire sighed as he looked at the floor and Klaus took a step towards him in annoyance.

"What the bloody hell are you talking about?"

"Do you wanna build a snowman?" Stefan repeated as he looked back up at Klaus, who spoke his name in a warning tone.

"Okay, bye."

Klaus stared at the spot where Stefan had stood for a long moment, but couldn't find any explanation for the vampire's strange behaviour. After a long moment of contemplation, Klaus shook his head and returned to his painting. He wasn't interrupted again until an hour later.

*knock, knock, knock knock*

"Do you wanna build a snowman?" Kol's voice suddenly sang from the door and Klaus took a calming breath before answering his brother.

"Ask Stefan."

"Or ride a bike around the halls?" Kol then suggested making Klaus turn away from his painting to glare at the Original vampire.

"We don't have a bike, Kol." Klaus snapped at his younger brother, who only sent him a smirk in return.

"I think," Kol said pointedly as he took a step inside the room, making Klaus step forward threateningly, "some company is overdue. I've started talking to the pictures on the walls."

"Find someone else to bother."

"You know, it gets a little lonely with all these empty rooms and just watching the hours tick by." Kol continued undeterred and Klaus flashed forward when his brother suddenly started making ticking noises with his mouth.

The younger Original was gone before Klaus could catch him and the walls vibrated as Klaus slammed the door to his studio, giving him his much needed peace. When the same four knocks landed on his door only minutes later the painting brush in Klaus' hand snapped, but he was soon brought out of his rage, when a careful voice called from outside his door.

"Klaus?" Caroline asked as she remained outside the hall. "I know you're in there. People are asking where you've been. They say 'have courage' and I'm trying to. I'm right out here for you so please just let me in."

Klaus was in the door with a flash to open the door and he was immediately worried by the sad smile Caroline wore. Not much of what she had said made much sense to him, but the tone of her voice made his stomach churn.

"What's wrong, love?" he asked as he took her hands and pulled inside the room.

"We only have each other; it's just you and me. What are we gonna do?" Caroline continued with a small sigh as she reached up and rested her hand against his stubbled cheek.

"Caroline, tell me what's wrong." Klaus told her urgently, but the sad smile stayed on the blonde's lips. "I'll do whatever you want me to, sweetheart."

"Do you wanna build a snowman?" she asked carefully and a frown settled on Klaus' forehead before he finally let out a surrendering sigh.

"Yes, I'll build the bloody snowman." he groaned in reply and Caroline's face lit up in a bright smile before she leaned forward and placed a quick kiss on his lips.

Only moments later Caroline was dragging him downstairs – both of them fully dressed to go outside – and Klaus' mouth fell open in surprise when he was met by his siblings and Caroline's friends at the front door. Apparently he wasn't the only one Caroline had convinced to go outside in the storm.

"Let's build a snowman!" Caroline sang with a glee as she opened the front door and skipped outside. To everyone's surprise the blizzard had calmed and the snowflakes fell softly from the sky.

Klaus and Elijah both paused at the door when everyone else had disappeared outside and the positively murderous look on Elijah's face made a smirk appear on Klaus' lips. At least someone wanted to do this even less than he wanted.

"Come on, brother." Klaus chuckled as he clapped Elijah on the back and walked out the door. "Don't you want to build a snowman?"