Hey, guys! I apologize for lack of updates (the last time being July 18). Real life has been quite busy and inspiration was difficult to come by. The idea for this was prompted by the lovely sweetandlow1012, who just updated her story. It was also inspired by Chapter 1, "Happy Birthday, Caroline.")

TVD 3x11 AU.

When I walk alone and think of you
I hear music on the wind
Birds are singing cause they hear it too
When there's music on the wind

Once there was a story I was told
Oh how love sings a song
If you hear the wind and listen close
It goes-aria,aria

Caroline tried to ignore the pain that she was in as she lay in bed. She was just brought home from the cemetery, where Tyler had attacked her, subjecting her to the venom that werewolves possess that would kill a vampire. Hell of a way to celebrate one's birthday, being bitten by one's boyfriend and then waiting for the venom to run its course. Great, she wasn't even a vampire a year yet, and she was about to die.

She then heard the front door open, as well as voices. Said voices belonged to her mother and Matt, and then there was another voice, a soft British one that belonged to Klaus. Wait, what was he doing here? Maybe he was here to put her out of her misery. Or maybe he was here to rub salt in her wounds. Either way, Caroline decided that it was best to wait and find out.

No sooner did she do so than she felt Klaus' presence and looked up to see him standing in her doorway.

In a bit of a frightened tone, she said, "Are you going to kill me?"

"On your birthday?" he replied, his voice sad. "Do you really think that low of me?"

"Yes."

Klaus didn't say anything in response at first, just approached her bed and pulled back the covers to reveal the wound, which was already spreading. How he wished he hadn't done what he did. No one, not even this sweet little vampire, deserved what was done to her.

"That looks bad," he said. "My apologies, you were what is known as collateral damage, it was nothing personal." I really didn't mean for this to happen, he added in his mind. So young and full of light. Damn it, Niklaus, how could you subject her to such agony?

Klaus then looked at the bracelet that Caroline was wearing on her wrist. Does that whelp, Tyler have any taste at all? I'd give my lady love diamonds on her birthday and not some cheap trinkets. "I love birthdays."

Caroline scoffed and rolled her eyes at that. "Yeah, what are you like, a billion or something?"

A billion? Dear girl, you flatter me. "You'll learn to alter your perception of time when you become a vampire, Caroline," said Klaus. "Celebrate the fact that you are no longer bound by trivial human conventions. You're free."

"No," said Caroline. "I'm dying."

Klaus sat down on the bed, looking her straight in the eye. "I could let you die, if that's what you want. If you truly believe your life isn't worth living." Lowering his tone a bit, he added, "But, I'll let you in on a little secret. There's a whole world out there waiting for you. Great cities and art and music." He looked at the bracelet again, detesting it even more than the first time. "Genuine beauty and you can have all of it. You can have a thousand more birthdays. All you have to do is ask."

She deserves to have the world at her feet, he thought. I doubt Tyler would be able to do that for her. He couldn't even get her a decent birthday present, for pity's sake.

Klaus was then brought out of his thoughts by Caroline saying, her eyes welling up with tears, "I don't want to die."

Not wanting to waste a second, he rolled up his sleeve and gently lifted her up off the pillow, placing her on his lap so that she could have easy access to his wrist. "Here you are, sweetheart. Have at it."

The smell of his blood reaching her nostrils, Caroline bit into his wrist, tasting the warm, sweet blood that poured into her mouth. Truth be told, she hadn't expected it to taste this good. She expected it to taste bitter and sour, but surprisingly, it was quite the opposite. Klaus let out a soft breath as he felt her fangs pierce his skin, gently stroking her hair with his free hand. He caught a whiff of the heavenly scents of sandalwood, lavender, and honey, three of the most beautiful scents in the world. He was doing more than just healing her, he was giving her the gift of life.

After a few minutes, he felt her let go of his wrist and saw that she had fallen asleep. Smiling, he laid her back down against the pillow, kissing her forehead gently. "Happy Birthday, Caroline."

Note: Yeah, this one is kind of short, but I hope you enjoy. Here's hoping that they're not lying about Klaroline becoming a couple in Season 6.