This one is for all you Klayley fans! Hope you like it. Reviews are always treasured.

Thank you? He actually said thank you. Hayley felt like her ears were deceiving her.

Stunned, she turned and walked back into the room. Klaus was a mess. He was a sinner, a loner, and completely unloved…but she could love him, she could. He needed love. She needed love. She stepped closer to him. Blood stained his clothes, and for once her anger was not directed at Klaus, but rather at Elijah.

"You know, you've picked the worse time to be nice," said Hayley.

"Why's that, Little Wolf?"

"Because…because I want to kiss you but I think I'll regret it." Her honesty surprised him, and it also surprised herself.

His lips curled into a slight smirk, and he stepped closer and whispered into her ear, "well, don't let your heart do anything stupid." His breath filtered down her neck, sending shivers through her body. Good shivers.

Klaus reached out and touched her hair and her cheek, caressing both softly. She never knew he could be so gentle. And before she knew it, his lips were on hers, soft but demanding, and she kissed back enthusiastically. He tasted like rum, and lemons. And power.

Klaus's hands traced her face, like he was trying to memorize her, but then they stilled, so Hayley cradled his large hands in her soft ones. They didn't speak. They always had communication problems. Klaus did not have a way with romantic words like Elijah did.

In that moment, as Hayley stared into his clouded eyes, she realised that she was selfish. She had wanted Klaus ever since the first moment they met, but she wanted Elijah too, but now she was in Klaus's arms and she decided not to waste the opportunity. She leant in again and kissed him. This was what a kiss was supposed to feel like, and that feeling embodied her, leaving her smiling as they broke apart.

"You shouldn't like me Hayley," murmured Klaus. His hands were still on her, but his face was impassive.

Hayley's smile vanished.

"You don't get to tell me what I feel."

"But –"

"No," said Hayley angry. "What do I have to say to make you understand? To some, all you'll ever be is that diabolic, cold blooded hybrid, but to me…to me you are an artist, complex, kindred and beautiful –"

"Beautiful?" Klaus's eyebrows looked unusually high on his forehead.

"Yes," repeated Hayley. "Can't men be beautiful too?"

He didn't response but stared at her as though truly seeing her for the first time. His intense gaze made her feel vulnerable but at the same time it strengthened her, so she continued on.

"I know you Klaus," she said. "You may think people don't see who you really are behind that stupid potent veneer of yours, but I see you. I truly see you. And what I see is worth loving."

Klaus stepped away, shaking his head.

"No," he said firmly.

"Yes," she said, exasperated. She wanted to touch him again, but didn't dare. "I thought I would regret kissing you but I don't. In fact I don't regret anything between you and me, and even if nothing comes between us, and even whatever we feel towards one another is doomed before it even starts – you have touched me here –" she pressed a hand to her heart, "and wherever I go in this world, I know I will wonder about you for the rest of my life."

"Well it would be hard to forget the infamous original hybrid, wouldn't it love?" He smirked but in his eyes she saw that her words had touched them. Hayley moved away, but stopped at the doorway for the second time.

"Klaus?"

"Mmm?"

"I hope that wasn't terrible as kisses go."

"No – kissing you is never terrible, Hayley. How could it be, when I have a beauty in my arms?"