"I think it's really nice that you want to hold on to celebrating Christmas." Stefan told Caroline after a while.

He had agreed to help Caroline with the Christmas tree and so they strolled through the forest looking for a worthy tree. "Do it as long as you still feel like it."

"What do you mean?"

"Some days conventions aren't going to suit you anymore." He replied and looked at the ground in front of him.

"Klaus said something like that once." She kicked a twig. "I think he hates the idea."

Stefan smiled. "I don't think so. And even if…he still let's you have your fun."

"That's right." She answered with dreamy eyes. He hadn't forbidden her to celebrate it, he had simply told her to do it without him. She would persuade them. Everyone of them!

"Finally I found you!" Rebekah called out and appeared from behind a tree. "I have been looking everywhere."

"Wanna help?" Stefan asked and at first Rebekah had wanted to simply shrug her shoulders and tell them that she had just been bored, but then she decided against it and smiled instead. " Steal a tree? Sure."

Caroline smiled as well. "What changed your mind?"

Rebekah shrugged walking closer. "I don't know." She lied, but both Caroline and Stefan suspected that there was more, however they didn't comment. No original was to be pressed, you had to let them come to you on their own accord.

"Om my god, do you smell that?" Caroline burst out.

Her friends frowned. "Smell what?"

Caroline looked up at the sky with sparkling eyes. "The snow." She mumbled.

"I guess this whole Christmas thing is screwing with her head." Rebekah said and walked on. Caroline ignored her and kept staring at the sky. It would snow! She was sure of it!

"Hey, what about this one?" Rebekah suddenly called out ripping Caroline out of her trance while pointing at a large tree.

Stefan and Caroline joined her and there it was! The perfect tree. The one Caroline had seen in her imagination. "That's it!" She confirmed with a giggle. Then she hugged Rebekah quickly once, before she rounded the tree to look at it from all angles. "Yes!"

Rebekah suppressed a smile and shook her head. Suddenly Stefan put his arm around her shoulders and kissed her hair. By now he knew her well enough to notice that she actually enjoyed Caroline's rambling. She leaned into him. So this was part of what everyone was gushing about, wasn't it?

Christmas?

It took them no effort and time to cut the tree and soon Stefan dragged it behind him through the forest.

Caroline and Rebekah hung back.

"How about a helping hand?" He asked and Caroline giggled.

"Why? Is your arm already tiring?"

"In my eyes, you are doing perfectly fine, Stefan." Rebekah said and winked at Caroline.

The girls couldn't see it, but Stefan rolled his eyes smiling. He was becoming more and more like his old self again and after he had finally put Elena into his past he became even better. He even felt happy again.

"You know." Rebekah started after a long pause. "I have never had a real Christmas."

Caroline spun around and stopped. "You didn't?"

Rebekah turned her head to her and shook it no. She went on walking after Stefan. Caroline quickly followed. "But…"

Rebekah shrugged. "We didn't celebrate it when we were still human and then we were vampires and…why should we?"

Caroline was silent. Right. Why do it under those circumstances?

The family was damaged material anyway so why do it just for the sake of the family?

She put her arm around the older vampire. "Then this will be your very first Christmas!"

Rebekah smiled slightly at her. "You wouldn't have it any other way, would you?"

They had reached the car by now and Caroline stepped in front of Rebekah straightening up and putting on her most serious and menacing face. "I always get what I want, so you better don't stand in my way, mate!"

Rebekah burst into a fit of laughter and Stefan quietly joined. Caroline couldn't hold that serious face for long anyway.

"Nik is so not good for you!"

Caroline shrugged. "I am still learning."

Stefan stood next to her after he had secured the tree. "I think you both are, and don't misunderstand me, but if you do survive this Christmas, then he must truly have a soft spot for you."

Rebekah shook her head. "Soft spot!" She huffed getting into the car. "He's head over heels!"

Caroline grinned.

Stefan followed Rebekah's lead. "She is!" He said pointing at Caroline who suddenly spun around.

"Hey, don't leave me here!"

They had reached the mansion shortly before dusk.

Klaus was in the living room, staring into the crackling flames of the fire in the fire place. He was twirling a glass in his hands. Since the fire was the only light source in the room it made him look eerie. There was a dark frown on his forehead and his lips twitched with every uneasy thought that struck him.

Caroline didn't seem to see it. She immediately strode into the living room and threw her arms around Klaus' neck. "We found it! The perfect tree!" She chirped and Klaus rolled his eyes. "Please forgive me if I am not delirious with joy!" His tone was dripping of sarcasm.

Caroline huffed and let go of him. She noticed just then that he was tensed and she sensed that he was worried about something. His mood caught up with her immediately and her joy got a crack, but she couldn't ponder any further.

"Ignore him." Rebekah said who followed her inside.

Klaus pursed his lips and looked very grimly at her. He was in mood for this now, but pretence was his second name.

Stefan just shrugged at him when he stepped through the door asking: "So, where do you want it?" Dragging the tree inside.

"Next to the fire place." Caroline decided.

Elijah walked into the room and eyed the tree sceptically from top to bottom.

Caroline grinned at him expectantly, but Elijah just raised his eyebrows and moved on without any comment. What was going on here? Something had happened while they were gone…

Caroline's face morphed into a pout and Klaus laughed out loud, but there was an edge to his laughter. "Oh love, this is just perfect!" He squeezed her shoulder when he walked past her to follow his brother.

Caroline sucked in a sharp breath glaring after him. Then she quickly grabbed a book from the table next to her and she threw it after the hybrid. Klaus evaded it elegantly so it just hit the door frame next to him. His laughter died with his disappearing frame.

"Come on, don't give him the satisfaction of it!" Rebekah said and pulled Caroline back towards the tree.

When she entered their room later that night he was lying on the bed reading a book that was bound in leather and looked pretty ancient.

He put it down and looked at her.

Caroline went over to the big walk-in closet to change.

"Oh come on sweetheart you aren't still mad at me are you?"

Caroline tsked and Klaus smiled to himself going back to the book.

She was adorable when she pretended to be in a snit.

Caroline walked out of the closet again and came to stand in front of a floor length mirror to comb her hair. In the reflection she saw Klaus smirking at her and glared at him. Klaus actually had to bite his tongue in order to not burst out laughing and jump up, pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless. His body tingled. He simply adored her.

Suddenly Caroline turned her head around to the window. Klaus frowned and immediately straightened, his muscles tensing. A reflex reaction.

"It's happening!" She said and walked over to the window.

"What is?" Klaus asked and followed her. "Caroline?" His voice was tensed and wary, but Caroline's posture was as relaxed as ever with a look of anticipation in her eyes.

She kept staring outside. "Look!" She said and nodded outside at something Klaus couldn't see. He squinted into the darkness to detect any threat, but there was nothing. He was about to say something when…a first white snowflake seemed to appear out of nowhere and fell almost shyly from the heavens dropping onto the ground and disappearing again as quickly as it had come. Others followed hesitantly.

And Klaus had to admit that seeing Caroline with this twinkle in her eyes, made his stomach tight. If it made her so happy, than he would let her have a perfect Christmas, for her sake. Not that he would tell anyone…ever!

Caroline felt his arms coming round her waist when he pulled her into his chest. A sigh escaped her lips and she leaned back into him. His lips kissed her hair and he tightened his grip infinitesimally.

"Are you okay?" Caroline whispered. "I noticed how tensed you were today." Her hands covered his and Klaus heart clenched.

"It's nothing I can't handle, love."

"You promised to tell me." She said disappointed.

"I know, but let me keep it for a little longer, I am not used to give away my secrets." He tried to keep his tone light.

"Please be careful." Caroline replied resting her cheek against his shoulder. He closed his eyes and his throat tightened when he thought about those words. Those tiny powerful words.

His stomach clenched almost painfully and he held her as close as possible.

Klaus managed to draw air past the lump in his throat and it simply slipped out of his mouth:

"I love you." He whispered against her hair and Caroline spun around looking shocked.

"What?" Her eyes were wide.

When she looked at him with those wide eyes he felt like overstepping a line. He was afraid that he would crumble in front of her so he tore himself away. He wanted to walk away to put some distance between them and those words, mumbling that he wouldn't repeat it, but Caroline held on to his arm and he had no idea that without his support she would have probably toppled over onto the floor.

He just looked at her then and Caroline knew better then to ask him to repeat it. Baby steps would do!

A smile formed on her face before she reached up to cup his cheek. "Me too!" She said before she placed a sweet devoted kiss onto his lips. Klaus opened his mouth and returned the kiss with everything he was worth. Caroline melted into him and Klaus suddenly felt dizzy as if something had suddenly changed between them. She was his air now, the one thing he needed to survive.

Caroline felt so happy she could die and on the other hand as flabbergasted as ever. Had he really said it?

She kissed him until her lips were scorched, until they were raw and burnt, but she couldn't let go of him. It was like a drug drawing those sweet moans from him that told her that he was just as turned out as she was. Klaus couldn't get enough of her, of the way she responded to him.

He had never said those words to anyone. It was as if handing someone a white oak stake and waiting for whatever the someone was going to do with it. Scratch his skin or simply stake him in heart?

No one had ever given him what Caroline gave him and he had never felt this free before. Yes, he loved her.
Truly, deeply, forever.
He felt it in every fibre of his being and his neck burnt.

"Who sent you!?" Klaus snarled angrily with yellow eyes.

Elijah looked almost bored, the way he leaned against the wall. "Niklaus, I think he doesn't intent to return home."

"I do share your thoughts brother. A few days without blood but torture didn't seem to have bothered him much." He dropped the beaten up and bruised vampire onto the floor and joined Elijah. They stared at each other. "The vervain should be out of his system by tomorrow." Klaus said. "And then…" He turned to the stranger again. "…you will tell us everything anyway!"

Suddenly Elijah straightened. "Do you hear that?"

There was the sound of running feet and they came quickly closer.

Klaus frowned. "A vampire."

"Only one." Elijah stated but his tone implied another question. Why was a lonely vampire running towards them?

The originals looked at the window of the basement. It wasn't big but big enough for someone to slip through. And exactly in that moment were they surrounded by shattering pieces of glass.

A vampire with red eyes crouched in front of them. There was a savage look in his eyes and a snarl rumbled deeply down in his throat. Elijah frowned. He and Klaus hadn't moved and they simply stared at the aggressive young one in front of them.

"He's barely a few days old." Elijah mumbled and Klaus was just as surprised.

"He's compelled." He had hardly spoken the sentence when the vampire spun around to tear the other one's heart out of his chest.

"No!" Klaus screamed and he jumped at the young one, but it was already too late. The vampire dropped dead onto the floor. A growl rumbled through Klaus' throat but the young vampire just hissed at him before he threw himself at the original.

With one swift movement Klaus buried his hand in the younger one's chest and tore his heart out. His face was an angry mask when he watched the body turn grey and tumble lifelessly onto the floor.

Klaus turned towards Elijah and threw the bloody heart onto the ground at his feet. "You really don't care to get your hands dirty, do you?" His tone was a low snarl and Elijah shrugged, brushing invisible dust off his suit. "If I am not mistaken you had it perfectly under control, besides the suit is brand-new." He smirked at his younger brother who pursed his lips angrily.

The originals scowled at the dead bodies on the floor. Something was going on and whoever was behind it had no intentions what so ever to let them know any of it. Someone had created a new vampire simply for the purpose to kill the other one who had gotten caught. Who would do such a monstrousness?

This might be bigger than they had thought in the first place.

"Oh my god, what happened?" Caroline asked as soon as he was through the door, noticing his blood stained clothes and hands.

"Nothing." He grumbled and walked straight upstairs.

She followed. "Nothing!? Nothing!? You're covered in blood!" She rushed after him into their room and closed the door behind them.

"Caroline I don't need a preachment right now!" Klaus retorted angrily.

"Guess what you'll get it anyway! Klaus what happened?"

"Nothing you have to be concerned about."

"Damn I am anyway! Either we are in this together or we are not! You have been up to something for days and you are going to tell me right now what is going on!"

He flashed into her face and tried to immedate her like he did with everyone. "Don't you dare to boss me around!"

But Caroline was not everyone. She straightened and came even closer to his face. "The hell I will!" Klaus walked away from her again. "Do you know what I told my mum? That I believe in you, that you'd always tell me the truth!"

"Caroline you're straining my patience!" His hands were balled into fists, so tight that his knuckles were as white as the snow outside.

"Good! Perhaps I will just go and asked Elijah about it!"

"You're not!" He yelled.

"Because he'll tell me?" Caroline yelled back and walked towards the door.

"Stop right there!"

"What if I don't?" She reached for the door handle, but suddenly her feet left the ground.

"I said stop!" He screamed and shoved her roughly against a wall. Klaus imprisoned there, his fist connecting loudly with the stone next to her head. Caroline looked at him with wide eyes. She had been surprised by his physical attack and right now she actually was frightened of the hybrid who had lost control and let his rage take over once again.

He turned around smashing a chair into a wall and Caroline shuddered.

Klaus panted and paced.

"I am sorry sweetheart. I am sorry." He tried to regain control.

"It's all right, but please, Niklaus! I want to know!" Her voice was small and so low that it was hardly to be heard.

As quickly as he had gone off he changed his whole demeanour again.

He turned to her and his muscles tensed. His eyes looked indifferently at her, his face a blank page. He simply shrugged. "I killed him!" His tone unemotional.

"The vampire who was following us?"

"He was a threat." Klaus simply stated as if it was the most normal thing in the world and anger boiled up inside of Caroline. She knew what he was trying to do.

"Please, Nik, don't pretend that you don't care about anything!"

"But I don't! He was a threat and I eliminated him, it is as simple as that and if you have a problem with that than may I remind you that you wanted to know! I will go take a shower!" He was about to walk out of the room but Caroline's voice stopped him.

"Stop forcing your assumptions on me!" She yelled.

"What?"

"Yes, I wanted to know and now you assume that am going to hate you, because you killed a vampire who you thought was a threat to either you or someone from this family, how about you let me decide if I want to hate you now or not?"

He swallowed looking at her. This was nothing he had expected.

"Klaus, this is not going to work like this! Yes, I don't like how you're handling things and I don't think that I ever will, but I am ready to compromise. I love you, I do. That doesn't mean that I won't hate you from time to time, but please let me decide for which actions I am going to hate you and for which I won't!" She took a step closer. "Your secrecy will be what will really drive me away and not necessarily your cruelty. I want to trust you, but you have to trust me too! I won't run, not when you are honest!"

Klaus closed his eyes and he felt her arms coming around him. He pulled her to him and realized how much he needed her in his life. If she ever looked at him with disgust in her eyes again he would break. He held her close for another while before he wordlessly slipped out of the embrace and into the bathroom. He needed time, Caroline understood that.

After he had showered he walked quietly back into their room. His wet hair was dishevelled and it looked pretty hot in Caroline's eyes. The clothes fit his lean body just perfectly.

"I didn't mean to scare you." He almost whispered.

"You didn't." She answered shaking her head.

"Love." He gently took her hand. "I saw it in your eyes."

She shrugged. "Well, you can be pretty scary." She poked his chest.

"I didn't mean for you to be scared of me."

"I am so not afraid of you!" She said and gave him a smile.

Klaus took a breath. No, she wasn't and she shouldn't have to be, ever. How could she make him tremble like this? He didn't understand it, maybe one day he would.

She snuggled up against his chest on the bed and pulled his head down for a kiss.

Their tongues ignited a fire inside of them that burned deeply within them. Caroline purred and straddled him. His hands cam down on either side of her hips. She nibbled at his ear and moved slowly down the side of his neck, grazing it with her human teeth. He pressed her core closer to his throbbing member and Caroline grinned. She moved her hips teasingly and drew a growl from his chest. Klaus tongue savoured the taste of her soft skin. He outlined her collar and Caroline threw her head back. She moaned and suddenly she was buried under Klaus who kissed her fiercely and demandingly. She gasped when he attacked her and moved ruthlessly, while his hands ripped her clothes apart. There was no slow tonight. There was only heat.

Caroline writhed under him and her hand travelled into his pants to stroke his member. He hissed and pushed her into the mattress. She felt his fangs against her throat and her whole skin was on fire. She needed him soon. Her core pulsed and she was already beyond wet.

Klaus hand tasted her and he growled again when he noticed just how ready she already was. He wouldn't last much longer now. Naked skin on naked skin.

Her hands fisted in the sheets when he licked a wet trail over her breasts and down to her stomach. She rummaged through his hair and the hybrid shivered. His hands massaged her breasts and he simply devoured her. Licking and tasting. His whole body was screaming for release now with every whimper he drew from her lips.

His mouth was back at her lips. "You have no idea what you do to me." He hissed and Caroline angled her legs. "Are you sure?" The little veins under her veins appeared and pulsed with blood and a growl escaped her own throat.

Klaus smirked before he entered her in a swift thrust. Caroline panted and her insides clenched. She moaned at his deep thrusts that slowly picked up speed. Klaus lost control and his face turned. His fangs punctured her skin and Caroline cried out. The wave of pleasure was almost too hard to bear. She greedily bit into him and sucked his blood. Her throat burning for more and her body rolling beneath him. The edge was close.

Her moans against his skin were enough to make him tremble all over again. When she came Klaus followed her over the edge. Both of them were panting wildly and holding on to one another.

She cupped his face and stared into his eyes while he rode them down from their height.

She snuggled up against her hybrid and buried her face in his neck.

After a while of silence Klaus asked. "So, since you are still so persistent about this stupid idea of yours…any wishes?"

Caroline grinned. "All I want for Christmas is you."

He smirked and grabbed her behind jerking her closer. The sudden movement drew a gasp from her lips and her insides tingled with the flaps of her little friends. Klaus brushed his knuckles down her cheek electrifying her whole body once again with his next huskily whispered sentence. "I will happily grant you that wish, my love."

She moaned into the kiss and was granted with his hands on her body pulling her closer.

The kiss left her breathless when they pulled apart.

"I know that there are no limits for you, but I don't want you to spend so much money on a present for me, Ebenezer." With her finger she painted invisible patterns onto his chest. "It would really mean much more to me if it was just something simple…something personal, you know." She shrugged. "I don't want to celebrate Christmas because of the presents or religious traditions, but simply for the fact that it is a family holiday that brings people closer together, well it always did in my nostalgic childhood memories. I just want us to have a peaceful evening. I want us to celebrate it as a family."

Klaus eyes were full of warmth. He kissed her forehead. "I'll do my best."

His hands caressed her sides lewdly and Caroline hitched her leg smirking.

Christmas Eve came soon and the plan was to start it with a family dinner. That was probably the only time during the whole evening that the family would be sitting in one room. Caroline wasn't as naive as to think that her plan would actually work and bring them closer together. She hoped, but it would still be decades, if it ever happened anyway. And then it wouldn't be happening on Christmas Eve, but somewhere on the battlefield. She smiled to herself. The idea was just too odd, although it was likely to happen.

However, Niklaus and Elijah would keep up pretences tonight for her sake. She'd take what she could get, and besides everything the tree looked brilliant! Rebekah and she had spent the night before to decorate it. It had been fun to do it together, however the empty bottles of punch weren't innocent to that fact either.

The weather had changed overnight, so right now it just wouldn't stop snowing. It looked like winter wonderland and yes, that does sound kitschy, but sometimes kitschy is allowed.

Even though Caroline loved the look out of the window she had immediately learned the downside of the so called winter wonderland. There had only been one topic to talk about for the last days and everyone was already pretty annoyed. Caroline swore that the original hearing was so focused on their footsteps that they already left a room before she had even entered it, except for Rebekah of course. This morning when she occupied the kitchen Kol had dumped a huge snowball over her head.

"That is for the last few days! Can't you shut up for ONE second!?" Caroline had squeaked and tried to get the cold wet ice crystal out of her shirt. "Next time I want vengeance on someone I just bring you!" He said and had already left the kitchen, before Caroline could even react and pay him back. He was the most stubborn vampire she had met so far and he was just still around, because Elijah had threatened him with something. So much for building up family peace!

The evening hadn't been quiet either, but Caroline had been happy enough that no one got killed or daggered.

"I thought you said family dinner. What's he doing here?" Kol asked pointing at Stefan. Rebekah rolled her eyes, but before she could retort something, her oldest brother motioned for her to keep quiet.

Elijah put his cutlery down slowly, before he put fingertips together. "Kol. I doubt that anyone would mind if you just shut your mouth for tonight!" His whole attitude had written the word authority all over him. Kol gaped at him as did everyone else, besides Klaus. He settled back into his chair and raised his glass at Elijah grinning brightly. "I reconsider, this is going to be a fun evening after all!"

Kol had left after dinner to wherever. Caroline had suspected as much and wasn't too disappointed.

The rest of the party settled down in front of the tree where Caroline and Stefan started to fill everyone in on their Christmas experiences.

"…so Damon swapped the bottles. Everyone got pretty wasted, and the maid dropped a plate over which my uncle stumbled. He lost his balance, fell upon the tree that toppled over and fell right into the fire place. It caught fire immediately and that's how the evening ended." Stefan closed and Klaus was laughing out loud.

"Oh my god, that's horrible!" Caroline said but since everyone was grinning she couldn't help it but chuckled as well.

"I doubt you can beat that!" Stefan said to Caroline.

"Well, I was ten and what I wanted for Christmas was a pony. And I did get one…fluffy and stuffed. I was so mad that I was the one who pushed the tree over." She shook her head. "I was a horrible child!"

She was sitting next to Klaus who had wrapped his arm around his shoulders and was playing with her hair. "A spoilt brat, I see. Love, what if I told you there are no presents for you?"

"I'd throw a hissy fit, rip some heads of, dagger people and made sure someone got me a pony next time."

Rebekah laughed. "Everything just because of wrong presents. Nik, she is by far scarier than you are!"

"I think I forgot something in the shop…" Stefan joked.

Elijah was quiet and even though it didn't look like it he enjoyed the banter.

The snow kept falling and every house was lit by candles and chains of lights. Only a few people were alone tonight, most were surrounded by friends and family. Almost everyone of the people inside this room would have probably spend this night alone.

Then the three originals turned their heads towards the front door.

"Hello, anyone home!?" Damon yelled and Klaus immediately rolled his eyes.

Elena and Damon appeared in the doorway.

"No, and how about you knock next time so I can lock the door before you march in unannounced?" Klaus spat and Damon replied sarcastically. "Oh don't bother!"

"We just wanted to stop by to wish you a merry Christmas." Elena said and pointed at Caroline. "Well, to you at least." Caroline stood up and hugged her friend.

"Thanks."

Elena pulled a small box out of her handbag and handed it to her smiling and then she turned around to Rebekah. "And, one for you as well." While Rebekah's eyes widened with surprise and maybe even shock Damon rolled his. Why Elena had to do this was a mystery to him. Rebekah just stared at the box. "Take it. It's nothing special, just a little something." Elena said and Rebekah stretched her hand out to take it, but very hesitantly so. She muttered a low thank you and Elena nodded.

When they were about to leave again Klaus mocked. "Wanna set the tree on fire before you go, mate?"

Damon pursed his lips and stared at Stefan. "Seriously?"

Stefan chuckled and held up his hands in defence.

"I'll make sure it's not only the tree that'll burn." Damon said and marched out of the door.

Elena wrinkled her nose. "Sorry."

"Elena!"

"Yes, I am coming!" She rushed after her boyfriend.

Caroline shook her head. "I guess there simply is no Christmas without fighting!"

Caroline was the last one in the living room that night.

"Caroline?" Kol suddenly appeared and walked up to her.

"Kol!" She was surprised when he approached her and even more when she witnessed the way he behaved. He looked at the floor and had his hands inside his pockets. He looked up at her from under his eyelashes. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

She put the map she had gotten from Elijah and Rebekah down and straightened. It was a map of the world, the places that she simply had to visit were highlighted and Rebekah had given her a detailed list of places where they owned real estate properties all over the world. "This is your journey around the world, now you just have to do it." Elijah had told her and it all but overwhelmed Caroline.

"Ja, sure." She told Kol who sat down next to her almost carefully.

"I wanted to apologize to you."

Her heart almost stopped and she frowned. "For what?"

"The fact that I am at odds with Nik doesn't have anything to do with you. I didn't separate between you and him and I am sorry."

"But that's…"

"No." Kol shook his head. "You are a part of this family, to everyone else as well as to me."

Caroline's heart swelled and she was speechless.

Kol grabbed his necklace and took it from around his head. It was a blue lapis lazuli in a silver frame.

As it dangled down from his hand it reflected the shine of the fire.

He held it out to her. "It's a talisman spelled by a witch to keep angry ghosts away." They looked at the shining stone. "I want you to have it!"

"What? No, Kol I can't take that! It's for your protection!"

Kol shook his head. "I can get a new one. This is my present for you, please take it!"

Hesitantly she held out her palm and Kol dropped it into it. "Merry Christmas." He mumbled before he stood up to retreat again and be his usual obnoxious self again.

"Kol." Caroline called him before he could slip out of the door. He looked at her and Caroline asked:

"Is there a chance that you and Niklaus will put an end to your fight?"

Kol smiled with a mixture of amusement and haughtiness. "Sorry darling but not in the next decade. I like you, but that doesn't mean I am going to do you that favour."

Caroline nodded and tried to smile half heartedly to show him that she wasn't angry. Maybe a bit disappointed, but being part of this family, any family, came with accepting all of them the way they were. She nodded. "It was worth the try."

"Darling, you are far too self-opinionated!" He said in a serious tone, but winked at her.

"Says the narcissistic brother of the family!" She retorted playing along.

Kol nodded at her with a smile before he left the room.

"You are aware of the fact that she has wrapped the whole family around her little finger within merely 5 months."

Elijah's words rang in Klaus ears for a long time that night. He smiled to himself when he thought about his girl. And when he gave her the Christmas tree ball he had gotten her, he thought his heart had to break at the look inside her eyes.

"It's so beautiful!" She whispered when she turned it around in her hand to look at it from all angles. It was a dark blue with silver stripes and tiny stars on it. The date was engraved on the hook along with the initials N. M.

"I painted it myself if you care to know."

She smiled at him. "This is more than special."

"You're welcome." He muttered before he kissed her passionately.

Caroline had put just as much effort into her present and she was nervous about Klaus' reaction. She had spent weeks trying to figure out anything about his favourite poems with the help of Elijah and Rebekah. Every time he was busy she had spent hours with copying them into an empty book.

Some were illustrated with small pictures next to it. Finally she had put a leather cover around it.

The last few pages were still empty since an artist needed space to unfold oneself as she told him. His fingers glided gently over the very first entry in the book.

My big bad hybrid,

For the villain to muse about his plans,

For the artist to express his soul,

For the man to philosophise about the world,

For the lover to engulf in poetry and dream about the sweet sensations of loving tenderness.

In sheer love, Caroline.

Always and forever.