Klaus opened his eyes meeting his alarm clock curing to himself as he rose up muttering, "2:30 in the morning." He shoved out of his bed forgoing dressing as he went to his bedroom door accessing his hallway not bothering with the lights in the dark. His hip met the dining room table before he made it to his destination the incessant knocking on his front door.

He peeked through the whole his heart falling at the sight on the other end wet and cold from the rain still dressed in her white gown. He shut his eyes tightly placing a hand on the door as he looked at her sad expectant face her hand coming up to knock once more. He looked down wishing he was wearing more than he was his boxers unforgiving of his single state as he opened the front door.

"Hi," she said meekly removing her ruined veil as he stepped into the hall with her, "Caroline,' he sighed unable to deny his friend anything at a time like this pulling her close, "Your mother has called here at least a dozen times looking for you," he mumbled into her hair feeling her wet cold body pressing into his warm dry one as she held him back.

"I know," she said shivering, "I was just walking down the aisle and I kept going," she said her words muffled in his chest, "You weren't there to walk me down." she said but it sounded like an accusation, "Why weren't you there?" she looked up her eyes pleading for answers. "I wasn't wanted there," Klaus replied recalling his encounter with her fiancé to stay away from Caroline if he wanted her to be happy.

"That's not true," she refuted in his arms holding him tighter, "I wanted you there next to me," she told him firmly. Klaus had to bite his tongue at that knowing there was only one way he would stand on a alter with her and that was only if he was across from her not beside her. "I left him standing there with everyone watching," she said numbly Klaus felt his lips twitch holding back a smile as he held her.

"Now no one is talking to me," she shook her head on the verge of tears, "They're yelling but they aren't listening to me." Caroline said as she placed her hands on his chest, "Disappointed in me." Klaus felt his heart release the weight that had sat upon it for the last nine months since she had told him about her impending nuptials.

"But you're not mad right?" she said softly gazing up at him with hope in her eyes, "I mean, your glare is kind of heavy but I know it's because I worried you and showed up at your door at 2 in the morning," she began rambling as Klaus interjected, "2:30 Love." Caroline nodded continuing, "And I know Saturday is for sleeping, I'm sorry I swear if I hadn't just run out on Tyler I'd have another place to stay but I don't."

Klaus nodded once, "Come in," he led her inside, "Let's get you warm and call your mother," he said as she followed him onto the living room. He shook his head leading her back into his room, "You'll get sick if you don't change," he insisted as they entered his room. She flicked on the light switch temporarily blinding them both, "Sorry." Caroline exclaimed from behind him as he went to his chest drawer.

He bent over opening the first drawer looking over the contents before he looked up at her across from his bed looking like she felt she didn't fit in here though he enjoyed his view. He cleared his head looking away, "I presume your bouquet is all you have with you," he spoke to retain her attention as she nodded looking down at her hand before she dropped the flowers as if they burned her.

"Come here," he asked taking one of his gray colored shirts from the drawer and shutting it as she moved toward him. He reached for the remote by his bedside pressing the fireplace button the fire instantly starting below his television across the bed. "I'll get you some pants," he said thinking he should get himself some as well as his hands ran down her shivering arms.

"Thank you for taking care of me," she mumbled stepping on the tips of her toes to kiss his cheek her eyes filled with gratitude as she moved back to her normal height in front of him. "Whatever you wish for Caroline, you know it's yours," he said like he always said making her smile. The fact that she had yet to realize his heart was hers as well was merely sub-text.

"Could you help me," she said turning on her back so he could see her problem, "tiny buttons, seemed like a good idea at the time," she offered as he looked down her back to her bead detailed wedding dress his mouth feeling dry. "Please," she said reminding him of what she had asked of him not his sudden need for a glass of water.

"Of course," he said gruffly his fingers touching the ends of her dress meeting in the middle of her spine as he thought that had she said yes tonight instead of running away someone else would be removing this garment. His fingers trembled at the thought sleep no longer his top priority as his deftly worked down her back his fingers sometimes touching her warm skin.

He finished stepping back turning to look at the wall as she began to remove the rest he heard the ruffling of taffeta and silk and then his shirt being unfolded and slid onto her body. "Thank you," she said when she finally spoke her hand on his arm telling him it was clear to look now. Klaus turned his eyes widening at the sight as he took a deep breath, "Pants," he blurted turning around to opening the next drawer.

"I'm fine like this," she insisted stopping him, "Just some socks, a blanket and I'm good to go," she said gesturing outside of his room to his living room. "Don't be ridiculous you'll sleep here," he responded searching for his socks drawer knowing they would be too big for her anyway when he heard her sobbing he stopped turning to look at her.

"Caroline," his voice laced with concern as he observed her silently crying as she sat on the edge of his bed in front of her discarded gown. She continued to cry as he walked to her sitting beside her he didn't speak, he didn't need to that to console her Klaus just held her in his arms. Like he did when Caroline's dog died two years ago, like he did when she thought her bangs were cut too short three months ago.

Klaus held her until her sobs grew quieter, "I didn't love him," she admitted out loud sniffling as she did, "I always knew I didn't but he asked and I couldn't say no. I'm twenty-eight with no other prospects and a semi-good job that I like, you know?" she looked at him his eye bore down unimpressed. "Okay most days I like it! But he wanted me to quit that too," she sighed.

"Last week he went off the grid for that hunting trip and it should have bugged me that he didn't call for three days but it didn't," she said her voice growing stronger, "I would have lost it if I didn't hear from you for no more than six hours," she said he shook his head muttering, "Four," it was her turn to look unimpressed. "Fine four," she relented.

"Instead I was glad," she said relaxing against him, "Warm," he questioned rubbing his fingers into her back as he rocked her small body against his doing his best to relax her. She nodded thanking him as she yawned, "And sleepy." Caroline replied looking down at her feet, "And barefoot." He laughed softly at her quibble. "Get under the sheets and soon nothing else will matter," he promised looking to her.

TBC?

AN: Micheal Buble - You Don't Know Me