The timeline for this fic is completely warped…Sorry :P oh well, read and enjoy (simply ignore all inconsistencies…)

I pause in the doorway of the study, eyes tracking Klaus' movements as he throws yet another crumpled drawing of Caroline into the fire. He's been doing that a lot recently, in some way it makes sense and in another it worries me.

After a pause, I rap my knuckles on the door jam.

Klaus raises his head and with it a quizzical brow. "You don't need to knock, I can hear you coming down the stairs from here."

I shrug and enter the room, striding over to his side and glancing down at the scatterings of drawings and letters over the desk. "I know, but just pretend to be normal sometimes."

He snorts, "What's normal?"

"Knocking on the door of a room before you enter it," I snipe and he rewards me with a roll of his eyes. Reaching out, I finger at the corner of a stunning sketch of the trees outside the house, it's magnificent. "I'm heading to work now. Did you want me to bring you anything from the Grill when I come back?"

The chair creaks slightly as he leans back, the wooden contraption balancing on two legs and he stretches his back. Why does that look so hot? "Whatever you deem edible, Clearwater,"

I step back, clearing my throat and crossing my arms across my chest in annoyance, "I'll just ask Matt for his opinion then,"

Klaus glares at me and I return the gaze with a stubborn look of my own. "Fine," he snaps and leans forward once more to start a new drawing. I wait a bit longer, but when no farewell is forthcoming and Klaus continues to ignore my presence, I roll my eyes and exit the study.

So childish, I muss internally, yet I'm not sure exactly which of us I'm directing the complaint at. I'd like to believe it is Klaus, but in all honestly I can no longer tell. I've been acting like a brat too. Whenever I reference Matt, Klaus seems to get riled up, and for some time now I've unconsciously been doing it more and more. Now, don't take this wrong, I'm not using Matt to irk Klaus on purpose…It's just that whenever Klaus acts all sullen and broody, I'm transported back to the bright, warm smile Matt always has at ready for me when I get to the Grill.

The comparison between the sweet kid I work with and my moody soulmate is insurmountable, and really there's nothing similar about them. Yet I find myself enjoying the company of both. Matt makes me laugh and often baffles me with his strange insight on random topics. While Klaus…Klaus is just there; his mere presence – whether sullen or not – is enough for me. He's the kind of person I can sit in the same room with for hours on end and never need to speak a word to. He's that person that makes me feel comfortable and complete even when he's moaning at me to leave him alone. He's that person I can't see my life continuing without…

But then I think, isn't Caroline that person for him?

And I start from the beginning once more. Confused and weary of these building feelings, which I try to shove into a dark corner of my heart. Then Matt makes me laugh, his innocent light chasing away my worries and for a time it's all okay, until I start thinking again and I realise…my eyes always seek Klaus.

By the time I reach the Grill, I've walked my body into a semi-warm, bordering on hot, state that requires me to peel off my jersey and pull the hair away from the nape of my neck. I need to invest in elastics or simply cut my hair again, either works. Matt greets me with a grin and passes me an apron – I can't look him in the eye without feeling guilty and hurry out front, with the haste of a bunny being hunted by a fox.

"Evening, Mr Snow,"

Whether or not the man greets me in turn or comments on my rush to get him seated – I'll never know. My mind is struggling to free itself of my earlier thoughts, but all it is managing to achieve is rooting my concerns further.

It's nearly ten when I manage to draw myself out of my Klaus-induced stupor and not because of any trying on my behalf. It is in fact a familiar blonde vampire that draws me from my thoughts. Caroline is in the midst of doing that thing where she grins so bright it looks like she swallowed the sun.

To be completely honest, I can't say whether I missed that expression in the last weeks or whether it still annoys the bejesus out of me. I smile back – less bright, but it's still something.

"Good!" Caroline literally bounces to my side and grabs at my hands, like long lost friends reunited by circumstance. She's still grinning like mad and I notice, following less enthusiastically and more placid, is the dark haired Elena. "Leah, the school is having a year-end dance next month. You need to come!"

For the longest moment I stare at that bright smile as the vampiress chatters on – I don't think I'm breathing.

All at once I'm assaulted with trillions of tiny connections, like my brain just put two and two million together and came up with an answer flashing in brilliant, red neon. I don't even know how to start sorting through the overload of information.

Tyler used me.

Klaus nearly killed me and I confessed my imprint.

Caroline's boyfriend fled.

Suddenly it was the night Elena asked for my help and Klaus wigged out.

Hayley tried to kill me.

It was in the weeks thereafter that Kol approached me.

It was in my recovery that Matt became a friend.

It was a night just like tonight that Elijah approached me with threats.

Hayley left.

Klaus lost it.

It's just to two of us.

Klaus and I, alone.

Original hybrid and foolish wolf, together...

It hits me like a freight train. There's absolutely nothing standing in the way of Caroline and Klaus getting together. And what better time than a freaking Christmas dance?

Mistletoes. Pointless hugging. Everyone dressed to their finest.

I really don't think I'm breathing. I mean, I can't feel air entering or leaving my body and my head does feel particularly foggy.

"What do you think, Leah?" Caroline chirps.

Just as suddenly as I'd stopped breathing, air rushes into my lungs with a gasp. I suck in mouthfuls, probably looking like an idiot, my hand reaching out to Caroline's shoulder for support. After a minute and the dimming of the blonde's smile in favour of concern, I manage to stutter out the hardest words. "Y-yeah, I'm sure Klaus would love to come too."