CHAPTER 1

Caroline was walking back to the dorm after tiring day. Jo Parker had somehow saved Alaric's life and he turned back to being human again and she and Stefan had made up and were best friends again. Suddenly she stopped cold when a very familiar voice called out to her.

She turned around already knowing who it was but was still shocked to find that it was indeed the Original Hybrid who had called her name. She hadn't seen him since…since he had left back to New Orleans after her graduation, not bothering to tell her about the affair he had with the town's wereslut.

Klaus' looked at her with sad and hurt eyes like he somehow knew what she was thinking. Or maybe she just saw what her own eyes must have looked like and saw it reflected in his eyes?

Caroline didn't say anything, just turned around and continued to walk the direction she intended to go. Suddenly he was in front of her again with those eyes that now mirrored regret.

"Caroline, I'm sorry that I was gone for so long. I know I should have called or something, I know you must be so angry with me right now. But please hear me out."

Again Caroline didn't say anything and just walked past him and tried to continue her walk back to her dorm. And again Klaus was in front of her in a flash.

He grabbed her by the shoulders and tried to get her attention, "Stop doing it, would you. Just tell me what you feel. Let it all out. I can take it."

Caroline looked him straight in the eye and said, "I hate you." And she almost choked on the words as tears stung to her eyes. Klaus of course instantly understood that she was about to burst into tears.

"Sweetheart, I-I…" Klaus stuttered.

"You-you what? Klaus, did you really think that I wouldn't find out about your affair with Hayley freaking Marshall."

"What?" Klaus asked in total confusion.

"The minute you had left, when we all celebrated graduation the following day, she made sure I overheard her parading about how you to two had an affair up until you left for New Orleans and that it was because she broke it off with you that you left."

Caroline started to walk away from him again, but he roughly grabbed her arm and yanked her back to face him.

"What the bloody hell are you talking about?"

"Please do me that courtesy of not denying it. I called Rebekah afterwards who confirmed that you and her had an affair."

On one hand Klaus was incredibly moved that Caroline even cared about who he was sleeping with, on the other he had no idea what she was talking about.

Caroline tried to walk off again after he couldn't get a word out. And again Klaus stopped her.

"I told you to stop doing that. One minute to explain okay. Please?"

Caroline sighed but surrendered, "10 seconds and if I'm still pissed off, you let me leave. Deal?"

"Fine. Caroline, love, I don't know what you are talking about. I slept with the wolf-girl one time," Klaus raised a finger to emphasize it. "We didn't have any other relations whatsoever. I swear."

Caroline raised a brow, "One time. So you weren't in love with her?"

"God, no. Never."

"And you didn't leave town because of her?"

"No." Klaus chuckled. Frankly he wanted to laugh more as it was just so ridiculous.

"Wait, Why did you sleep with her at all?" Caroline crossed her arms on her chest and demanded for an answer like she was entitled to it. Which she was. But it still was so damn cute that he wanted to kiss her right then and there.

"Well, I was just so tired of getting rejected by you and she was just there, available and I needed a release."

"Klaus! Too candid and too vulgar."

Klaus laughed but still raised his hands in surrender, "I apologize."

They stood there for a minute, neither one knowing what to say to the other one.

Klaus was about to ask how she's been when he was stopped by her falling in his embrace which he awkwardly returned. He wasn't used to hugging but hugging her was different, it felt so good to have her in his embrace.

"I'll hunt her down and I'll kill her." He kissed her head. Even that felt completely normal with her.

"Not if I do it first."

Klaus couldn't help but chuckle. The Caroline he had left a year ago would have forgiven the girl like it was nothing but she had hardened somehow if she had grown to be that vengeful. The other explanation was that…no that couldn't possibly be, Klaus thought to himself.

When they broke apart, Klaus said, "Come on, let's get you to you dorm room".

"Still friends then." Klaus asked while they walked side by side to Caroline's

"We'll see. You haven't been totally forgiven yet."

Klaus chuckled, "Then I will do everything I my power to earn that forgiveness."

"Hey, how long will you stay in town?"

Klaus looked at his feet and didn't say anything.

"Klaus?" Caroline searched his face.

"I don't know. I mean indefinitely."

"What's that suppose to mean?" Caroline asked him.

Klaus slowly raised his head to look at her, "I'm back for good."

Caroline was shocked. "For good? Why? What happened in New Orleans?"

"Nothing. I just decided that being the King of New Orleans doesn't live up to its perks. It's nothing if you don't have anyone to share it with."

By now they had reached Caroline's room. As Elena was inside sleeping, Caroline decided to say goodbye to Klaus.

"I see. Okay, I have to go now. See you around."

"See you around, Caroline."

With heavy heart, Klaus turned around and left.

The next morning Stefan came over and he warned her that Tripp's guys know that she's a vampire and they were searching for her. Caroline took the news well and told Stefan not to worry, she could handle herself. Just then her phone rang and it was her mom who told her that Tripp's guys have her and if she doesn't deliver Tripp then she's as good as dead.

The problem was that Stefan had told Enzo to kill Tripp in two hours and so Caroline was very mad at him for not setting his watch. They quickly went on location and when they got there, Tripp was luckily still alive but made a vampire by Enzo. They had a meeting place set and they exchanged prisoners. Everything went well with that. Still, Caroline's mom was a little banged up, so Caroline took her to the hospital for a check up.

Just when Caroline was waiting for the ER doctor to check on her, Klaus got there.

"Hello, love." He said, as he stood next to her as she looked on through the glass as her mother had her check up.

"Klaus, what are you doing here?" Caroline was confused as to what had happened for Klaus to show up there.

"Heard about your mom getting kidnapped."

Caroline looked at him questioningly.

"Small town, Caroline." He quipped.

Caroline nodded.

"I hope everything is okay with your mother." Klaus told her.

"I'm sure it is." Caroline told him. "Look, Klaus could you leave please. This is a family thing, I don't need you here."

Klaus looked at her with hurt and confusion, "You are still mad about Hayley, I gather."

"I'm mad but I don't hate you anymore, so that's progress." Caroline told him.

"I'm glad because I don't know if I could handle it."

"What are you talking about, Klaus. I hated you for a long time before we became officially friends." Caroline retorted.

"That was then. This is now."

They looked at each other for a minute and some kind of understanding set between them. They both acknowledged that they had become closer than ever even with him gone for a year.

"Look, I'm thankful that you came, but it wasn't necessary. The doctor is done with her and I'll take her home now."

"I could take you."

"Klaus…"

"Fine, I'll go. See you soon, sweetheart."

Few weeks went by while they didn't talk or see each other. Thanksgiving went by with Stefan, Alaric and Damon missing out as they investigated the Gemini coven. When it was finally Christmas, the most anticipated Holiday around the world, Caroline was currently on the phone with her mom when walking to the dorm room.

"I just figured that we were skipping Christmas this year, you know, considering the fact Bonnie is in some prison world and none of my friends including me are in holiday spirits."

"What happened to Christmas being your favourite time of the year?" Her mom asked her.

"Was my favorite time of year when I could actually help decorate the town tree and drink hot cocoa with my friends."

Caroline arrived at her room and found her mom inside, surrounded by boxes of Christmas decorations.

"What are you doing? You're supposed to be at the Mystic Falls tree decorating ceremony."

"I'm playing hooky this year. I just wanted to spend some time with my only child and I just figured I try to lighten your mood."

Klaus arrived then with two guys who carried lots and lots of Christmas decorations.

"Klaus!" Caroline shrieked. "What are you doing here and what is all this?"

"Oh, that, I heard that you're not in the Christmas mood this year because of your friend, the witch, having gotten herself in trouble yet again and I called your mom to get her to help me with this surprise. You weren't suppose to arrive before everything was set." Klaus regretfully explained.

"I see. Klaus, you are totally intruding on a family time. I mean everyone can be friends hanging Christmas lights."

Klaus' eyes grew dark for a second but then he remembered something and decided to back down.

"I'm sorry, I'll leave."

"Klaus."

"Don't worry about it. You are right. You should be with your mother."

Klaus walked out of the room while Liz started to chastise her daughter, "Caroline, he had good-"

And then just like that, in the middle of a sentence Liz Forbes collapsed. And before Caroline had time to register what was happening, Klaus flashed into the room and caught her mom.

"Caroline, we have to take her to the hospital." Klaus said as he went for the door.