Klaus awoke in darkness. He looked over at the clock on his nightstand and the time flashed, it was just after two in the morning. Caroline was still snuggled against him, her body warm and her breathing slow and even. Klaus smiled and tugged at a discarded blanket on the bed, drawing it up over Caroline's shoulders. Caroline whimpered and stirred.
"Shhh," Klaus soothed, his fingers reaching out to stroke her cheek affectionately. She quieted instantly. Klaus wondered if he could peek into her dreaming mind just this once. Caroline wore no vervain and didn't ingest it anymore…would it really be compulsion if he did this? No, Klaus justified, he was simply curious. He wondered if Caroline dreamt of him while she slept.
Slipping into Caroline's subconscious was immensely easy. Her mind blossomed for Klaus like a beautiful spring gardenia. And then he was bathed in the cozy warmth and the soft, flickering light that a fire provided. He was in his living room, sitting on the plush carpeted floor with Caroline underneath a luxurious cream colored cashmere throw. His right hand was intertwined with Caroline's while his left firmly grasped a mug of some hot beverage. Blood, Klaus automatically thought. But as he looked in the mug he found it only housed hot chocolate. It was almost laughable. Caroline's dream was holiday card picture perfect. From the sizzling fire going in the fireplace and the cat, yes cat, curled up in front of it…to the massive, ceiling topping, fully decorated Christmas tree in the cramped corner of the room and fuzzy red and white stockings strategically hung on the mantle. And if Klaus listened closely, he could hear The Drifters belting out the lyrics to "White Christmas", from his Bose stereo system in the background.
"This is perfect," Caroline's dream self sighed as the song shifted to "Have Your Self a Merry Little Christmas".
Both the real Klaus and the imaginary one grinned at this and Klaus didn't even wince at the sappy words that came out of his dream double's mouth.
"You're all I want for Christmas," is what he said, earning a smile and as well as a blush that was worthy as to be described as "holly berry red", from Caroline.
Caroline laughed a musical laugh, "You already have me," she told him softly.
Then the dream version of Klaus kissed Caroline and somehow, the real Klaus was able to feel it too. A Christmas miracle was the first thing that popped into Klaus's head. The kiss made Klaus feel comfortably warm and gave him a renewed sense of hope in the world, hope in his humanity. So when Frank Sinatra crooned the lyrics, "from now on all our troubles will be out of sight", and the dream faded away, Klaus believed him. All his troubles really were out of sight.
"I can't believe we're doing this…thank you," Caroline whispered to Klaus later that same day. Klaus had called in a favor and had everything Caroline and he could ever possibly need to decorate his home for Christmas delivered to his door step. And by called in a favor, Klaus meant that he had snuck away while Caroline slept, picked out the best decorations that Home Depot had to offer, and paid the hefty delivery fee for it all. It didn't matter though, he knew it would delight Caroline and that truly was Klaus's only Christmas wish.
"You're welcome love," Klaus replied as he strung shiny silver garland round and round the enormous artificial, pre-light tree. Klaus was a little disappointed that he hadn't opted for a real live tree but he had been stressed for time and this was the best he could do at the time. Caroline at least didn't seem to mind. Since Klaus had set it up and separated the branches all she'd been doing was watching in awe as the lights changed from white, to red, to multicolor and commenting on how wonderfully piney it smelled.
Once they were finished up with the tree, glittering glass ornaments, big red bows, and a fluffy white skirt in all, they moved on to the mantle. Caroline closed her eyes and just stood by the roaring fire for a moment or so, letting the warmth seep deep into her bones and the sound of cheery Christmas music fill her ears. This really was perfect. Klaus, who was already done with the mantle by now, noticed her standing there. He surprised her by enveloping her into a gentle hug. "I love you," he whispered to her.
Caroline blushed just like she did in her dream and untangled herself from Klaus's arms, taking a few steps back to admire what they had created together.
"This is the Christmas of my dreams," she confessed to Klaus.
Klaus smiled. That of course, was what he had been going for.
Klaus shrugged, "I just wanted to make you happy love," he said.
Caroline turned to him and looked him directly in the eyes, "You did, this is all I could ever ask for Klaus," she told him, her eyes shining.
Klaus smiled at her and took her hand and squeezed it lovingly, "Now all we need is a pretty little tabby curled up by the fireplace," he mused.
Caroline narrowed his eyes at him for a second before returning his grin with equal measure. "Yeah just maybe," she agreed.
*A/N*- How'd you guys like it? I hope it got you all into the holiday spirit if you're not in it already! :) PLEASE REMEMBER TO REVIEW! IT'S MY ONLY CHRISTMAS WISH! (it makes me so blue when you don't :( there's been a lack of them lately and a part of me fears that you all aren't enjoying this story as much as you used to…)