Inexcusibly long wait! I know - I blame Christmas, and my new story - The Devil In Me - for this very belated Christmas themed Klaroline fluff.

I wanted to get this out right over Christmas, but ran late... sorry guys!

After all the turmoil and drama... I think our leading gal and guy need some happiness...

Enjoy!

The street was filled with snow, and it was still falling steadily as she stepped out into the white night. It swirled around the street lamps and floating in the amber light. She felt Elena come out the door, and put an arm around her shoulders, then Bonnie was there too... and suddenly she was burying her head in their embrace. She heard the others coming out into the night, and turned to look for Klaus. He hadn't appeared yet, though, she could hear him moving about inside the building, followed by a wet, splashing sound. This sound was then replaced by a soft crackling, and she saw the windows of the abandoned building start to glow orange. The door opened with a loud creak, and Klaus stepped out, wreathed in smoke, his head outlined by the fire that was now starting to consume the corridor.

The assembled group watched the blaze silently for a while, before they started to move. Very few words were spoken, and Caroline realised that they must have already discussed what was to happen next. Elena and Bonnie were whispering in her ear about resting and seeing her soon. Kol and Elijah followed them, with compassion in their eyes, Elijah coming over to lay his hand on her arm briefly.

"I never should have told you like that. I'm truly sorry Caroline for any additional suffering I've caused you these past months" he finished softly, but Caroline was already shaking her head.

"You were trying to protect me... My running... it had nothing to do with you. It's all on me. I couldn't... cope" she said apologetically, and put her hand on top of his.

"For what it's worth, I think you're coping well, under the circumstances..." he said and she squeezed his hand.

"Thank you" she said warmly, seeing the relief in his rich brown eyes.

"No, Thank you Caroline" he said sincerely "I'm glad to have you back" he continued then raised an eyebrow as Klaus approached them, "And I know I'm not the only one. I'll see you soon"

Elijah turned and walked toward a dark car parked at the mouth of the alley. In the distance, the sound of sirens began to punctuate the air. She heard car doors slamming, and quickly realised that her friends were disappearing, turning she saw Rebekah placing a large bag in yet another big, black car, before looking their way and smiling, giving her a wave she started toward Elijah's car, which was now idling at the curb.

The sirens got closer, and realising that he wasn't going to speak first, she finally raised her eyes to his, and said

"We.." and before she could say one more word, she felt his hands go around her shoulders and pull her body into his. He held her tight, so tight she was glad she didn't need to breath. The suddenness of the action surprised her, as did the sheer ferocity of his grip. Slowly, she slid her hands up his back and hugged him in return, though she was not nearly as strong as him.

He leaned his head away from hers, so he could see her, and his eyes moved over her features, as though he was trying to memorise them.
"Klaus...I-" she started again and was once again interrupted as they became aware that the arrival of the fire engine was imminent.

"Come on" he said, tugging her hand, they were suddenly over at the car, he was opening her door, then flashing around to his side. As he started the car, the lights roared to life and the windscreen wipers started knocking off the snow. Caroline looked down the dark alley, now illuminated by the powerful headlights, and felt, as they reversed, that she was leaving her darkest and most awful self there, to burn in the shadows.

They were soon driving along quiet, eerily still streets, as snow continued to fall. The car was warm, and she felt sleep beckon. Klaus reached into the back with one hand, coming back with a a soft jacket in it. She took it gratefully, adjusting it under her head as she felt like she'd taken sleeping pills. The last thing she felt was her seat lowering, and his hand gently brushing back her hair, so it lay off her face, the look of tenderness on face lulling her to sleep.

She didn't know how long she had slept, she was aware that it seemed long, and she had surfaced sometimes, calling out for her mother in her dreams, and found him there, near her. Smoothing her hair, cradling her head, murmuring

"It's OK love, it's safe here. You're safe. I'm here and I'm not leaving." his gentle words allowing her panic to fall away and sleep to engulf her once more.

When she did awake, she felt her consciousness slowly sharpen, and with her eyes still closed, she listened to the sounds in the room. It was very quiet, almost a muted kind of quiet, except for a soft, rhythmic breathing. Cracking her eyes open a fraction, she realised she was in a dark room, with the curtains drawn, and a fire was crackling in the hearth. The room was full of fiery shadows and smelled like pine. The bed underneath her was meltingly soft and luxurious. Tilting her head slightly, she looked up at the bed frame, the structure seeming so familiar, though nothing else in the room did. It was an old four poster, the drapes open to admit the heat from the fire. Next she looked for the source of the breathing.

He was lying in an arm chair, just out of reach, next to the head of the bed. His arms crossed, his chin tucking into his chest, moving slightly with every breath. The fire danced over him as he slept, and she realised he had been there the whole time, however much time she'd been sleeping for anyway, and those dreams, and his gentle words had all been real.

The unreality of the situation seemed to heighten in that moment, this invincible hybrid, one of the oldest beings in existence, keeping watch at her bedside. He hadn't given up on her. He had saved her countless times now, and he didn't show any sign of stopping.

And... she loved him.

It was completely pointless to deny it, and admitting it to herself felt such a relief... not having to fight against something so strong and so beyond her control. He shifted a little in his sleep, and she decided to get up, and leave him to rest. Quietly creeping out of the bed, she paused to see if he'd woken, but he still slept soundly. She walked across the polished wood floor, and went to the window, drawing the heavy curtain back, and gasped at what she saw.

The bed had been a hint, but she'd thought maybe they were in one of the bedrooms at his mansion in Mystic Falls, but now she could see that was definitely not the case. Beyond the window, rolling, snowy hills reached out in all directions, crowed by pine forests. A beautiful terrace looked out over a frozen lake, and a pale moon hung in the star studded sky, washing the landscape with otherworldly hues. The bed... now she recognised it. The house where Klaus and her had first kissed. Where they had come to escape Simon. Where she had run from him, and started a long chain of events that had cost her entire world.

Closing the curtain again, she looked around the room again, seeing the similarities... but also the differences this time. It had been completely overhauled. Where before it had been beautiful, but fragile... on the point of fading into ruin. Now, whilst it still retained it's period style, everything was new, or restored. The only thing that remained the same was the bed. Glancing at the bed, she suddenly felt her cheeks colour at the last time she'd been in that bed with Klaus.

"A penny for your thoughts, sweetheart" hearing his voice sent a shiver through her, as she turned toward him, cuddling the blanket tighter around her. His hair was rumpled from sleep, his smile lazy, but his blue eyes were bright. Smiling she went over to him and sat back on the bed, facing him.

"I was just wondering why you haven't gotten a new bed...along with all the other changes" she gestured toward the restored fireplace and new shiny floor and walls.

"Well, when you get to my age, you start to get sentimental about things" his eyes crinkled in the corners with his smile.

She smiled, and looked down at her bare feet.

"How long was I asleep"

"About 3 days"

"No way!" she exclaimed, a little alarmed.

"Well. Trauma leads to exhaustion." he said, stretching his lean body in the chair as Caroline tried not to notice the tantalising gap of taut skin between the waistband of his low jeans and his t-shirt.

"And, I would like to flatter myself that you feel safe here... so you can sleep properly" he murmured this, gazing down, then looked up at her with the most endearing puppy dog eyes she'd ever seen. She burst out laughing and he got up and went over to the fire, adding more logs, smiling with her.

She watched him, appreciating the deft way he handled the wood and stoked the flames, reminding her that he was from another time, where these kinds of tasks were routine.

"So, why have you brought me here?" she asked as he returned to the chair beside her bed.

"I though you could do with a rest. A quiet place to deal with everything. And... I've missed you. I want to be alone with you" at his words, she felt heat surge in her belly. Stealing herself, she looked at him directly, her eyebrow raised

"Well... not in the mood to hold back are you?" she teased, his candid gaze making the heat in her belly dip lower. He leaned forward in the chair, steep-ling his fingers, and smiled at her.

"To be perfectly honest, I'm scared to hold back. When it comes to you, it's impossible to predict what's going to happen in the next minute. So... I'm not going to anymore."

"Are you telling me that you used to be reluctant to share before!" Caroline said, her eyebrows shooting up. If that was shy, reticent Klaus, she couldn't imagine a more forthcoming one.

"I'm saying... I don't want to waste anymore time." he stated flatly, and the direct look he gave her made her stomach flip, as he followed the teasing words by leaning forward slowly, and purposefully, getting up out of the chair to put both arms on either side of her and lean in. Stopping only inches from her face, his eyes were warm on hers, and she shivered in anticipation.

"We have been dancing around this for too long... and I'm tired." he murmured and Caroline could practically feel the butterflies take off in her stomach, closely followed by a loud growl. Glancing down, she laughed.

"I guess I'm pretty hungry" she said, seeing the laughter dance in his eyes, as he paused for such a long moment, she thought he was going to kiss her anyway, but instead he pushed back and stood.

"Let's see if we can't do something to remedy that. Rebekah brought you some things" he said, gesturing to the bag at the foot of the bed as he left the room, and she could hear him going down the stairs.

Opening the bag, she pulled out some comfortable clothes, grateful that Rebekah hadn't taken the opportunity to force her into anything skimpy. Wrapping a huge cable knit cardigan over the top of the clothes, and tying the belt tightly, she started downstairs to see what dinner might consist of.

Descending the stairs she marvelled at the work that had gone into the place. The stair was completely restored to it's former glory, with an intricate carved banister and plush cream carpet.

As she reached the ground floor, with all it's polished beams and roaring fires, she followed her nose toward the kitchen. Something smelled wonderful.

Finding the kitchen, which wasn't difficult considering how large it was, with shining surfaces, glittering lights and modern appliances. The sight that greeted her was slightly stranger. Klaus, in a black apron, looking completely at home, dicing, chopping and sautéing. Soft strains of classical music came from the state of the art sound system embedded in the wall. He looked up as she entered, and smiled at her.

"You cook" she stated flatly, as he came over to her, handing her a large glass of red wine.

"Cooking is creative, I enjoy it, though I don't just cook for just...anyone." he said, his eyes lingering on her lips as she sipped the warm, fruity liquid, a drop remaining on her lip. His eyes took on an intent note, as he placed a warm, large hand on her chin, tilting her face up to his. He slowly lowered his face to hers, and then, ever so gently, took her bottom lip between his, with the slightest brush licked the stray drop from it. She couldn't move, couldn't breath.

"Hmm" he murmured low in his throat, smiling somewhat devilishly, pushing back from her, he resumed his cooking. She buried her face back in her glass, feeling heat flush through her veins.

"Can I help?" she asked, coming closer to look at the food he was preparing.

"No need, love. It's almost ready."

"No hybrids tonight?" she asked, looking around

"No hybrids." he said shortly, handing her a large bowl of salad which she carried over to the table. Setting it down, she saw it had already been set, with tapering candles burning.

"Now, this is a practise run, so constructive criticism is welcomed." he said, placing a large plate before her, and a glass of blood. Her stomach growled in reaction to the steaming hot plate, pilled high with turkey, roast potatoes, vegetables and gravy.

"Wow. This is some dinner..." she said, picking up her knife and fork and pausing as Klaus smiled at her across the table, his words stilling her.

"Well, it is Christmas, love." he said, watching as slight confusion crossed her brow, and she leaned back, looking into the distance, a little stunned.

"Christmas" she whispered, unable to believe so much time had passed, that she had been so lost for so long. The though of Christmas was immediately followed by the thought of her mother... their little traditions, her childhood holidays. She felt Klaus move to her side, and raised her shocked eyes to hers.

"I'm sorry... this is all so wonderful. I just... I can't believe that so much time has passed. And, now, this will be my first Christmas all alone. I am all alone." she repeated it slowly, trying to let the words sink in, trying to understand their meaning.

"No...not alone. Not anymore." he whispered, seeing her grief and memories overtake her. He pulled her into his arms. She felt the lure of tears, and found herself too tired to fight them. He held her tightly. Smoothing her hair, and when her felt her body start to shake, he swept her up and carried her from the kitchen. Coming into the sitting room, he sat on the couch, and pulled her into his arms, cradling her body, murmuring into her hair.

Caroline felt as though she had been crying her whole life, and she was so terribly tired of it. Leaning back from him, as her tears finally ran out, she saw his face only inches from her own. Her face was open and vulnerable, and her eyes searched his for a sign of the monster she had hated and feared so much. But she couldn't find him, the man in front of her now... he was someone else. Someone who had fought for her, protected her, laughed with her and refused to give up on her. His face was so familiar, so comforting. He was not perfect, he was flawed and ironically, driven by the same human instincts she was... family, loyalty... love.

As her eyes met his again, she felt as though the deep look he gave her, warmed her heart. He leant forward, closing the gap between them, and gently kissed her eyes, reddened from crying. Her breath caught, as the atmosphere between them became charged with something else. He followed the line of her tears, down both cheeks, and then ran both his thumbs over them, smoothing away the sadness and salt, cradling her face in his hands as though it were the most precious thing he'd ever beheld. His eyes dropped to her lips, and suddenly, they were together.

This kiss was not like any other they had shared. It was soft, and tentative. It was a question, an offer... a promise all in one.

"I'm ready" she whispered and Klaus felt his whole body tense, as he very carefully leaned away, stroked her face, his eyes burning his desire, so she could be in no doubt of what he felt about her.

"Ready, love?" he asked softly. Watching her drop her eyes, a little shy, and little nervous, then she meet his eyes again, a renewed strength visible in them.

"I'm ready to hear about Simon"

Almost Happy New Year everyone!