Karen woke up to find herself the only one in bed. She got up put her pants and shirt back on. She walked into the room with the firelight a glow. She was following the deep sound of Klaus's voice speaking in fast, fluent German. She stood with her back leaned against the doorframe and smiled at him as the firelight danced against his pale face.

"What are you doing?" She asked finally walking over covering his eyes with here hands.

"Practicing." He said chuckling and removing her hands from his eyes and kissing them.

"Well practice on me then." Karen said walking around and sitting in his lap.

"All right then." He said resting his chin on her head. "Once upon a time…"

"Wait a minute Klaus." Karen said placing a finger up to his lips.

Karen lay there with her ear against his chest. She could hear it. It was there, but how? How was it even possible for her to be even hearing it?

"I can hear it. Klaus, I can hear it!" Karen whispered to him.

"Hear what darling?" He asked.

"Your heart."

"Impossible."

"It's true!"

"Is not!"

"Is to!"

"I'm dead."

"Well apparently you're not."

"I don't believe you."

"Shut up. Close your eyes and listen."

Klaus closed his eyes and quieted himself. He listened for what Karen was listening to. He didn't believe her after all he was dead. Thud.

There it was. It was faint but Karen was telling the truth. He gripped the sides of Karen in fear and excitement. Karen placed her hands on his and kissed his chilly cheek.

"How?" He asked opening his eyes.

"Maybe you died too soon?" Karen said placing her lips near his.

"Maybe, or maybe I have a reason now." He said kissing her lips.

"We won't be able to do this for awhile." Karen sighed.

"Why is this?" Klaus asked stroking her hair.

"It's a little word I like to call college." Karen smiled into his winter blue eyes.

"Oh." He said looking away.

"You and Daredevil could move in with us. My room is big enough for us." Karen said looking down.

"I'd like that very much but maybe after you get settle this college issue." Klaus said.

"Haha that will take a year. No, its just school but you're right come to the house the week after next ok? We'll get you all settled in. We'll be all snug and cozy." Karen said getting up from his lap.

Klaus walked her out and back to her house but he didn't stay. Karen entered through the backdoor leaving the cold world behind her. She walked over to the thermostat and cranked it up a notch. She saw her two brothers playing toy soldiers in the hallway. The green men were scattered everywhere.

Karen sniffed the air and smelt the wonderful smell of apples in the air. She took off her boots and jacket she walked past her open her bedroom and tossed them and jogged down the stairs and ran into the kitchen where she saw Casey, one of her other sisters, helping her mom making pies. She walked over to the sink and washed her hands and looked over at Mary sitting all alone at the kitchen table.

"Hey Mary! Want to help me make sugar crusted crust cookies?" Karen asked.

"I'm busy." Mary said coldly.

"No you're not. Come on. We no this every time mom makes a pie. Please?" Karen asked sweetly.

"Fine." Mary said getting up to help Karen.

It took Mary five minutes to really get into but in no time she was laughing and throwing dough in her sister's hair. By the time they were done they had a bunch of piecrust cookies before them, shimmering in vibrate colors of the rainbow that was sugar. Karen placed the delicate cookies on the cookie sheets and placed them in the oven for them to bake.

"You know for some odd reason I feel loads better." Mary said wiping down the counter. Everyone had left them for bed long ago.

"You don't say." Karen said joining her side with her own washrag.

"Yeah! I feel like the heavy feeling in my heart was just lifted." Mary said turning to smile at her.

"Mary your scratch is all gone!" Karen said grabbing her chin.

"Really?!" Mary asked excitedly.

"Yup. Say, how about you pick me up after class tomorrow and we'll go by and get some fall treats and take a walk through the park." Karen said pulling out the trays as the buzzer went off.

"Yay! I'd love to!" Mary said hoping down from here stool.

"Oh goodness! It's way past your bed time kiddo!" Karen said getting down two plates and two cups of milk.

"No! I haven't had my cookies yet! They aren't the same an hour after they come out and even a day!" Mary said crossing her arms.

"I know, I know. Eat your cookie then it's off to bed!" Karen said pouring milk into cups.

"I'm not even tired! Or, we could deliver some cookies to Klaus. Hmmm?" Mary said crossing her arms hitting Karen's weak spot.

"I just left from there!" Karen said turning sharply carrying the cups to the table as Mary went for the cookies.

"So? Like I said. They just aren't the same." Mary said dipping her cookie in and slowly biting into, rubbing her small tummy.

"Oh fine! I give in! Hurry up and eat." Karen said returning to the kitchen isle and grabbing a container and started to place cookies into it.

Mary chomped down on her last cookie and chugged her milk down, feeling quite refreshed. She ran for her boots and hat and quickly put them on. She snuck back into the kitchen seeing that Karen had gone to get her coat and boots and snuck three cups and a filled thermos with milk in the basket. She then picked it up as she heard her sister come back in.

"O.k. You got the basket; lets get going then, oh, wait! Never mind the flashlight is right here in my pocket. All right let's move out." Karen said as she followed her sister out of the kitchen backdoor and into the blistering cold night.

They walked into the dark forest on their guard for the evils about at night, but strangely tonight was calm and peaceful, as if evil itself had decided to curl up on this cold night too. When they got to Klaus's tree Karen knocked on the wood and stepped back. Glistening blood trickled down the wood as the tree made its entrance big enough for them to get in.

They were greeted by Klaus's puzzled look as he saw them step into his warm shelter. The tree closed back up behind them and Mary smiled at Klaus. He noticed that she was back to her old self and he returned her smile with one of his own. Karen coughed a little bit to clear her throat of the embarrassment of returning so soon.

"What brings you two fine ladies to my humble home on such a cold October night?" Klaus asked helping Karen with her jacket.

"We baked you some cookies and decided to drop by." Mary said jumping up and down waving the basket.

"Hello again Klaus." Karen smiled softly.

Mary handed Klaus the basket and then went to go find Daredevil to feed him the apple she had found on the way there. Klaus looked in and smiled at the gift before him. He smelled the faint scent of cinnamon and sugar. He smiled at Karen whose cheeks and nose were pink from the bitter cold. Mary returned from Daredevil wiping her little cherry nose as well.

"I've been practicing my storytelling by my cozy little fire, and surely I can not eat all of these by myself. Would you two lovely maidens care to join me in a night of romance and adventure?" Klaus said taking Mary's small hand into his own, leading her to the cozy little couch by the fire.

"Oh can we?" Mary asked Karen as she followed closely behind them.

"Oh, I don't see why not." Karen said smiling sitting down next to Klaus who had Mary in his lap.

So there they were. Inside a cozy little sitting room kept warm by a bright, crackling little fire. Klaus's deep voice filled the room as he told Mary stories out of his German fairytale book. The only time he stopped was to take a bite out of a cookie Mary put into his mouth or to explain the German story to her. Karen placed her hands on her tummy and stroked it calmly, hoping that her child was hearing her father's voice. The night was so calmed, loving, and peaceful; Karen wanted it to last forever.

She looked over Mary's nodding head and placed a blanket over the three of them. Karen snuggled into Klaus's arm and sighed. He put the book down and stroked her hand as they gazed into the warm dancing fire and blocked out the still bitter night.