Summary: When Caroline Forbes was hired by Elijah Mikaelson to take care of his younger brother with a terminal illness, Klaus, she didn't expect to fall in love with the charismatic blonde.

A: I don't own TVDU or any character. Excuse me, my english isn't good. I'm so sorry if I portrayed anything wrong.

It was night outside, and thanks to the new prescription for sleeping pills, Klaus could sleep. As he usually did after coming home from a party or going out with friends, Kol had sat by Nik's bed and started telling him about his day, Davina, annoying teachers and the world outside, even if he knew Nik was too tired or dizzy inmost of the time to understand what he is saying. Honestly, it was breaking Kol's heart a little, seeing his older brother fall apart little by little every day, the weariness gaining strength, and the sparkle fading from Nik's eyes. Sometimes Kol would have to call his name three times before his brother acknowledges his presence, despite being awake.

Kol has also noticed how small and weak Niklaus has become since he got sick. Elijah could pick him up without even feeling his weight, and Rebekah was slowly growing taller than Nik. His brother had lost a lot of weight over the years, far too much to even think that he would be even remotely healthy, he had become skin and bones…the tube in his nose was one of the proofs. On the bedside table, where Klaus' water canister used to be, was the bag of supplements. The doctors had forbidden him to drink or eat anything by mouth, even though in some cases with a feeding tube it is possible.

Klaus had literally been in bed for hours, which honestly wasn't too unusual for him.

The Mikaelsons couldn't get enough of looking at him, his chest moving and his eyes opening after a nap. Rebekah had started a whole collection of different colored and patterned feeding tube patches.

"Today the teacher was absent for the last class, I went out on the town and...and, Nik, I got this for you." Kol said, even though the sleeping man in the bed couldn't hear him, and pulled out a small stuffed wolf from his jacket, black with glowing blue eyes, the same shade of blue as Klaus' eyes. "It reminded me of you, a wolf running free and wild in his dreams, I hope you like it."

Kol grinned, but his eyes were sad as he placed the wolf next to Nik on the bed. He rembered Nik used to always hug his plush after a beating...and the right of his room was full of them, but none in his bad. Kol looked again at Klaus, he was glad he was awake, but honestly, the feeding tube had scared him a little...and the thought of the two of them eating popcorn at the movies, their childhood food fights after Mikael's arrest, how they'd always sneak a mouthful of each other's juice, and how they'd never be able to do that again... It sounded silly, but somehow it hurt Kol to the core. Nik had taught him to ride a bike, given him advice about girls, told him bedtime stories…hid him under the bed when Mikael was angry… Klaus' eyes narrowed in pain and Kol almost jumped.

"Nikki? Hey, Nikki, how are you?" Kol shook her hand, using their childhood nickname.

Klaus' blue eyes opened slightly, mirroring the stuffed wolf's, before closing again. Unconsciously, he moved a little and hugged the stuffed wolf to his chest. He looked so innocent, like a child on an afternoon nap with his favorite toy, Klaus' neck was completely covered by the blanket and the little wolf was pressed against his cheek. A sweet but tired smile appeared on the blond's face, and for once Kol could breathe a sigh of relief. Klaus opened his eyes again, but this time he was able to stay conscious longer.

"How are you feeling?"

Klaus' eyes were wide open as if he couldn't believe what he was about to say.

"I don't feel any pain at all."

Kol grinned.

"So are we ready for the next step: a full night's sleep?" he joked.

Klaus laughed but choked up and started coughing suddenly. Kol put a hand on his back, steadying him…like Klaus used to do to Kol when they were kids and he had a cold.

"Are you okay? Breathe, Nikki." Kol's eyes were worried, something very unusual for his younger brother.

"I'm fine, don't worry…" Klaus said, hugging the stuffed wolf closer to his chest.

Kol nodded, his eyes wandering.

"What's wrong?" Klaus asked.

"Sorry if...but do you remember what happened with Mikael a little while ago? We were called at school...how we were called on the day that changed everything, that left your life hanging by a thread ...this awakened something in me, brought back some memories, and Nik, I love you more than anything."

"I love you too, Kol, you know that, but what's happening? You're acting strange?"

"You know, you and Rebekah are identical in so many ways, and I'm not talking about the eyes, Nik...you both dreamed of a family, you always dreamed of a family, a real father... I found someone online, someone I think could be your biological father, Nik."

"Y-you found him...?"

"Yes, Nikki, but I wanted to talk to you first...or I could have threatened that bastard with death." Kol joked. "I sent you his details, if you want to write to him, to meet him before it's too late? He likes to paint, to sculpt...it's literally just you in an older version. You have the power, it's your choice, and whatever you choose will be the right choice because you are awesome and we love you, Nikki. So, will you contact him?"

Klaus took a deep breath, then said in a small but confident voice:

"Yes" he hugged Kol.

Suddenly the doorbell rang and Kol went downstairs but was shocked when he opened the door. On his doorstep were two strangers with large gift packages in their arms.

"Can I help you...weird strangers?"

Hayley and Lucien looked rather uncomfortable in the doorway, but then the girl said, her wedding ring shining on her finger:

"Yeah, we're here for Klaus, we're old college buddies, we heard he woke up from his coma and asked Elijah if we could come visit."

Making a remarkable entrance just as his name had been spoken, Elijah entered the room.

"Oh, Andrea Labonair, Lucien Castle, good evening. I wasn't expecting you for a few hours."

"We were in the area, where's Klaus?" Lucien asked quickly.

"I'll take you to him right away." Elijah said.

"Cool, I brought the party stuff that Rebekah asked for, plus some extra gifts." Lucien picked up the boxes, his eyes shining with admiration for Klaus, the way they did in college...after all he had taught him everything he knew about art.

Elijah motioned for them to leave the boxes on a table in the corner, then, addressing Kol, continued: "Brother, these are Mrs. Labonair and Mr. Castle, Niklaus' old friends from college."

Kol just shrugged, not really caring about Nik's old friends. Elijah invited them into the house and urged them upstairs as Kol pulled him aside saying:

"I told him."

"Did you tell him about Ansel?" Elijah asked, looking up and making sure Hayley and Lucien couldn't hear them. The family business remained in the family.

"No, I told him that a sack of potatoes texted me." Kol grinned. "Yes, Elijah!"

"How did he react?"

"He said he would text to him." Kol said.

Elijah smiled. He was glad that his brother was going to give his new deranged dad a chance, Ansel seemed like a caring and calm man. Klaus's well being as well as his health were most important and Elijah would be by his side every step of the way. He was a dad, not a father.

The Mikaelsons had caught up with Hayley and Lucien. However, when they opened the door, Klaus was already asleep on the bed. He'd been falling asleep randomly for short periods of time lately, which was actually freaking Kol out a bit. He was so pale, even though he wasn't in so much pain anymore, the symptoms were still there, and his body was rapidly decomposing. Hayley flinched when she saw him.

"He looks so..."

"Broken" Lucien cut her off.

Elijah and Kol bit their lips. Kol admitted that he had recently started to feel protective of Nik, oddly enough. If Hayley and Lucien said anything else, they would be kicked out.

Hayley looked around uncomfortably, the two of them hadn't seen Klaus in months, almost a year, before he passed out, and his condition had worsened considerably during that time, the title of 'terminal' becoming obvious on his face.

"Ok, excuse me, but it's time for Niklaus' feeding session, so if you could wait downstairs, Kol will lead you there." Elijah said, gesturing towards the door.

The wheels of Caroline's suitcase creaked on the airport floor as she made her way to the boarding gate. She had postponed her trip to Mystic Falls to be with Klaus while he was in a coma, but now everyone was pressuring her to go. However, she would be back on Wednesday, in time for Klaus' birthday, commemorating another year of living.

"Alright Miss Forbes." the gate guard said, opening the gate for her to enter. "Have a nice vacation."

"Oh, it's not exactly a vacation, but thanks." she replied, disappearing out the door.

Her heart was pounding, but thinking about Klaus, his sparkling eyes, his smile, his laugh, the hope in his eyes, the way he called her "Love" seemed to calm her down. However, she couldn't help but think about seeing Elena, Tyler being there, and her past coming back... She made a plan to make these days pass as quickly as possible, and then she would return home, to Klaus and to the Mikaelsons. She had already started preparing the birthday party with Rebekah.

A: Don't worry, Hayley will be gone quickly, but I have some plans with Lucien. What you think? We'll see Tyler and Elena soon, Klaus' birthday is coming up, maybe a special guest will show up?