I'm working to get this story wrapped up, so please bear with me. As of right now, this story is approximately 15 chapters, so…

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Chrissy's paw on her arm aroused her from her sleep the next morning, and Caroline opened her eyes to find someone sitting in her chair beside the wall, opposite her bed.

She gasped, and sat up, only to relax when she realized who it was. "Damn it, Klaus. Haven't you heard of privacy?" She asked, in a demanding tone, lifting the sheet to her chest, though it was pointless. One thing, he was blind, another, she was wearing jogging pants and a tank, noting to see there.

Klaus smirked, and motioned to the table beside him. "Well, I have heard of it, but I figured you wouldn't mind, seeing that I brought you a peace offering." He remarked, and her eyes focused on the object he was pointing to.

"You brought me coffee?" She asked, slowly throwing her legs over the side of the bed.

He smiled, and bowed his head. His face turned red at the words. She smiled at the shy expression on his face. "Well, it's kind of a thank you for yesterday." He answered, as she bowed her head, letting her blonde hair fall in front of her face. "Without you, I probably never would have gone to see my brother."

She lifted her head, and threw her hair behind her shoulders, giving Chrissy a scratch behind her ears. "You probably would have, eventually." She confided, giving him the benefit of the doubt.

He frowned. "No, I wouldn't have." He admitted, roughly.

She slowly stood up, and moved towards him, reaching for the coffee, noting how Chrissy moved to sit at Klaus' feet. "I believe you would have." She responded, picking up the cup, and took a sip. She hummed in satisfaction, as she swallowed.

He smirked. "Good, huh?" He asked, as she groaned in agreement. "Why do you see the best in everyone? Or is it just me?" He asked, after a moment.

She moved back to the bed, and sat down. "I suppose, it's because I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. Though you, I see as a special assignment." She answered, taking another sip of coffee.

He hummed, and moved the cane around in his hands. "Am I really?" He asked, his blind eyes moved towards her voice, and she inhaled sharply at the look in them.

She nodded. "Yeah, you were a beast, after all." She remarked, teasingly, or at least tried to be teasing.

He lowered his eyes, and shook his head with a smile on his face. "Is that the only reason?" He asked, absently.

She fiddled with the now empty cup in her hands, and closed her eyes. Her silence spoke volumes, and she knew it.

She heard him stand, and felt Chrissy's body press against her legs. She heard him stop at the bed, but her eyes still didn't open. He sat down next to her, feeling his way down, and turned to face her.

"Who could ever learn to love a beast like me?" He asked in a choked tone. "Would you, Caroline, even with the possibility of knowing I could die?" He asked, emotion riding in his voice.

She finally opened her eyes, and placed the cup on the nightstand next to her bed. "I said you were a beast, Klaus. I didn't say you are now." She answered, not giving away too much.

He tilted his head to the side, and his lips lifted up a fraction. "You didn't answer my question, Caroline." He urged, extending his hand out, searching for her arm, smiling when he found it. "Would you love me?" He asked, carefully.

She swallowed, and focused on his hand on her arm. Her mind tried to think of an answer that would not hurt him and yet would keep her love a secret from him. "I…" She began her voice cracking.

He smiled, but it wasn't a whole smile. It was a sad smile. She knew what it meant, and she touched his face, letting him know she was there.

"I would, Klaus." She finally remarked, watching his eyes close in relief.

"You've changed me, Caroline." He replied, his emotion hitting his words. "How have you done this?" He asked, with genuine curiosity.

She smiled, and lowered her hand from his face. "I didn't do anything. You did it yourself." She answered, seriously.

He squeezed her hand, and slowly stood up. "I would like to walk the grounds today, if you don't mind." He suggested, as she stood up beside him. "Be ready in 15 minutes." He added, with a smirk before he turned to slowly walk out of the room.

She tilted her head, and folded her arms over her chest. "Excuse me?" She asked, though it was said sarcastically.

He smiled, and stopped in the doorway to slowly turn to face her. "Please be ready in 15 minutes." He acquiesced, and she bit her lip to keep from laughing.

She nodded. "That's better. I'll meet you in the living room." She returned, as he smiled once more, and left her in the bedroom with her heart racing.

She was ready ten minutes later.

~XXX~

She smiled as Chrissy walked beside Klaus, guiding him by letting out a whine when he came close to an object that may obstruct his walking.

"She's smart." Klaus commented as they approached the woods surrounding the house and property.

Caroline nodded. "She is. Husky's naturally are, but sometimes they can be a handful." She remarked, with a laugh.

Klaus smiled at the sound, and paused when they reached the edge of the woods. "How did you come to get her?" He asked, casually, turning to face her, and felt Chrissy press against his legs.

"She was a birthday gift from my mom." She answered, carefully. "It was after I finished college, and mom didn't want me to be alone, so she found Chrissy, and it was love at first sight." She added, reaching down to pat Chrissy's head.

Klaus hummed, and turned his head, feeling the sun hit his face as he did so. "Perhaps I should get a dog," He muttered, thinking what would happen if he was alone. "I mean," He began, knowing she was about to protest. "You won't be my nurse forever. Sooner or later, you'll get tired of me, and resign." He added, turning so his face was aimed in her direction.

"That's not my decision, Klaus." Caroline returned, firmly. "I told you, I'll stay as long as you want me to. I don't care how long it takes." She added, trying to get through to him.

He frowned, and stepped towards her voice, reaching forward to grasp her upper left arm, and pulled her close.

"Christmas is three weeks away. What would you like?" He whispered, wishing he could see her.

She swallowed and lowered her eyes. "I… I don't want anything." She remarked, lying a little.

He smiled. "I'll tell you what I want." He whispered, leaning forward.

She held her breathe, and watched him come ever so close. "What…?" She breathed out.

He placed his lips on her cheek, and she gasped, lowly. "Take a guess, love." He whispered, pulling back a fraction, only to capture her lips with his.

Like always, she succumbed to her feelings, and melted into his embrace. She wanted to tell him what she wanted for Christmas was his love, but that would be pushing their relationship, especially when she wasn't sure what their relationship was.

His lips pulled back from hers, and their breaths mingled in the cold.

She watched his face wince lightly, and her hand came up instinctively to touch his temple. "Klaus…" She whispered, worry lining her tone.

He frowned, and closed his eyes. "You asked if my headaches were getting worse," He began, knowing he had to tell her.

"They are, aren't they?" She asked, stroking his face, as he nodded. "Have you been taking any aspirin?" She asked, curiously, knowing she hadn't given him any.

He shook his head. "No, I don't want to." He answered, feeling his head ache.

"It would help." She encouraged, worry lining her words.

He smiled, faintly, and felt her fingers massage the left side of his head. "You're helping." He whispered, feeling his heart race at the touch and his head ease.

Her fingers stilled on his head, and she searched his face, and found his eyes fading to a soft look. "You've been keeping this a secret, haven't you?" She asked, though she knew the answer.

He sighed, and lifted his hand to grasp her wrist. "Elijah knows." He answered, lowly. "I never told anyone else." He remarked, leaving his words hanging in the air, letting her know that it was a step for him to let her know.

She turned her hand in his with her fingers touching the back of his hand. Silence drifted between them, and it was a comfortable silence, a silence that made her smile tenderly, even though he couldn't see.

"I can't explain it…" He began, cutting through the silence. "But being around you…" He paused, unsure of his next words, if they would scare her or if they would open a door that he wasn't sure if he wanted open. "You take away my pain, Caroline, or at least, make me forget about it." He added, wishing beyond wishes that he could see her face, and hold her eyes. Blue-green, isn't that what she said?

Caroline swallowed, and lifted her free hand to his chest. "Klaus…" She whispered, tears stinging her eyes.

He lifted his right arm, and wrapped it around her, the cane in his hand pressed lightly at her back. "Let me take away your pain…" He offered, gently.

She smiled, and lifted her left hand to his face. "You already have." She returned, watching his face light up with a faint light.

"Have I?" He asked, teasing, but she could see the serious expression on his face.

She laughed, and trailed her hand down to his neck. "Don't you dare get a big head." She dared, watching him smile, and then let out a laugh.

"Would I do that?" He asked, and she groaned in a teasing manner.

"Yes, you would, and I'll never live it down." She answered, but he could hear her light tone.

"Oh, Caroline…" He called, letting her name roll off his tongue.

She smiled, and watched his head lean forward. Their foreheads touched, and she sighed with him, content to just be in each other's presence.

Standing in the silence outside, they knew words needed to be spoken, but for the moment it was enough to just stand there next to the woods, and hold each other close.

The pain between them had been numbed, but somehow they knew that a new pain was going to test them, and it was the most dangerous form of pain they could ever imagine.

~XXX~

Caroline had to go into town to get something for Chrissy, and as she walked to the door, she heard footsteps behind her.

She turned and smiled as Klaus stopped. "I'll only be gone for about an hour or so." She remarked, gently.

He nodded, and lifted his hand to touch her face. "I know. I want to go with you." He returned, feeling her mouth open, probably to protest. "Come on, love. I need to get out sometime." He repeated her words from earlier.

She sighed with a laugh, and shook her head. "Fine, but you better be on your best behavior." She warned, and he crossed his heart before being lead out the door to her car.

"You know, Walter would be more than happy to take us." He began, but he knew this was her day off, or at least half a day off.

"I know, but my car has not been cranked in over a week, and besides I like to drive, sometimes." She returned, helping him in her car.

He smiled, and settled in as she climbed in the driver's seat. "Where are we going?" He asked, lightly.

She smiled, and cranked up. "I have to pick up some food for Chrissy and her heart medicine." She answered, and then watched his face ask a question before he could get the words out. "It's medicine to keep her from getting heartworms. I give them to her every month, and she only has one left." She explained, as he nodded his head in understanding.

~XXX~

They wandered around the pet store with Klaus frowning at the strong smell of pet food and pets roaming the store.

"Does it always smell this awful?" He asked, and smiled when she laughed.

"It's the ferrets they keep up front." She explained, holding onto his arm.

"Ferrets? Who would want those long rats?" He asked as she slapped his arm, playfully.

"Some people find them cute and adorable." She returned, reaching for the sack of food on the shelf and put it in the cart.

"Let me guess, you are one of those people." He concluded, turning his head towards her.

She smiled, and sighed. "Alas, I do." She said, exasperatedly.

He laughed, held onto the cart with one hand as they continued through the store. Looking through his memories, he never recalled ever laughing so much. He realized, quite suddenly, that Caroline not only brought the light into his life, but she also brought the laughter. "Well, as your employer, I'm making it an order not to get one of those foul smelling rodents." He remarked, smiling.

Caroline jerked her head towards him, and placed her hand on her chest, though he couldn't see the move. "I certainly will, if I want one." She stated, smiling.

He shook his head, and bent it towards her. "Not if you want me to come into your house." He muttered, causing her breathe to hitch at the insinuation.

"Maybe I should, to keep you away," She remarked, once her breathe returned.

He smirked, showing off his dimples. "No, you wouldn't." He returned, feeling his heart beat faster.

She rolled her eyes, and sighed, dramatically. "Damn it." She gave in, snapping her fingers.

He laughed, and leaned forward to kiss her cheek, judging the proximity from the sound of her voice, and the body warmth.

She closed her eyes at the feel, and when she opened them she caught an elderly couple looking at them with smiles on their faces. She smiled as she blushed, and dipped her head, before pushing the cart towards the pharmacy section of the pet store.

After purchasing the food and the medicine, Caroline and Klaus exited the store laughing and smiling as they pushed the cart to the edge of the sidewalk.

Caroline looked in both directions, and nodded before pushing the cart into the street.

Klaus was the one who heard the revving of the engine before she did, and called her name in urgency.

Caroline turned her head and panic hit her chest. Pushing the cart and Klaus forward, slamming them onto the ground, she screamed as the truck slammed on its breaks, but it wasn't soon enough as the impact sent her falling onto the pavement.

Before she felt the darkness consume her, she saw the elderly couple from the store rush out, and tried to keep her awake. She turned her head to find Klaus a few feet from her, with his eyes closed and his face in pain. She could tell he was still conscious, but for how long, she didn't know.

The only words she was able to form before her eyes closed were simple words she didn't know if he heard or not.

"I love you, Klaus."


Please be kind!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! If you know me, then you know I'm not going to let anything happen to our babies, so please don't cry.

Next Chapter: Revelations

Until Next Time…