Hi Everyone! So I decided to write a Klaroline Christmas story to get everyone in the mood for Christmas and raise their spirits. After all of the drama surrounding TO/TVD, I think us die-hard Klaroline fans definitely need it. I hope you enjoy this story because I have certainly enjoyed writing it. If you have the time, drop a review, favourite or follow. This story will be ten chapters long and I will hopefully have published it all by New Years Eve.

I don't own the characters or TV shows sadly.

Happy reading!

Sunday 22nd November 2013

Standing with teary eyes pointed towards the angrily flashing departure boards at Heathrow airport, Caroline Salvatore wondered why on Earth she listened to Elena Gilbert.

xoxoxo

"Caroline, it's a really good opportunity! I don't know why you didn't scream yes to Ric and fling yourself at him in gratitude straight away."

Caroline eyed her best friend over the top of her work desk with an exasperated expression. Elena was casually leaning against the desk staring at her incredulously and twirling the vibrant red streak in her hair around and around her fingers. She wasn't paying attention to the fact that she was getting numerous lustful looks from her uncle's employees and was seemingly oblivious to the fact that she was distracting everyone from doing their jobs, including Caroline.

"You know why, Elena." Caroline said bluntly whilst trying to fire off an email.

"Klaus? Really, Caroline? You're considering not taking this amazing opportunity because of Klaus Mikaelson? Caroline, you have to go! You'll be representing Ric's half of the company."

It was true. Saltzman & Mikaelson Publishing was a prestigious publishing company currently trying to clinch a deal with an incredibly talented up-and-coming British writer. The problem was the writer only wanted to converse with the owners of the company so that he knew that they truly had a passion for literature and were invested in his work. He didn't want to publish with their UK branch until he had met the owners. Unfortunately, Alaric Saltzman was unable to meet with the potential client as his wife, Jenna, was due to give birth to their first child on the day of the meeting. So Ric had chosen Caroline to represent his half of the company.

It wasn't that Caroline didn't want to go. Internally, she was jumping at the chance and was immensely proud of herself to have been selected by Ric to represent his half of Saltzman & Mikaelson Publishing. Going to the UK alone would be incredible and if they managed to get the client then she could surely expect a pay-rise and more writers considering her as their literary agent. It was an amazing opportunity and there was only one thing making her pause for thought.

Niklaus Mikaelson.

It all started at the work Christmas party three years ago. Caroline had only been at Saltzman & Mikaelson for a few weeks and going to the party had been a last minute decision prompted by Elena begging her to come to the party. Although initially reluctant to go, Caroline thought it would be a good way to get to know her new co-workers and so she put on her prettiest dress and jammed a pair of antlers on her head at Elena's insistence.

The party was being held at the office and the champagne was already flowing by the time she arrived. The only people Caroline knew were Elena and Ric and as they were both busy talking to people when she arrived, she decided to make her way over to the bar to get a drink. Several glasses of champagne later and Caroline was feeling decidedly sloshed and confident enough to go talk to people. Before she had the chance to move however, an incredibly handsome man with a sexy accent sat down next to her and offered to buy her a drink. Caroline wittily retorted that the drinks were free and that opened their dialogue for the rest of the night.

The man introduced himself as Nik and shamelessly flirted with her for the entire night. The drunker Caroline got, the more she flirted back and before she knew it, she was sprawled across the table in the conference room as Nik skilfully unhooked her bra and rained kisses along her collarbone.

Although the sex was mind-blowing, as soon as it was over Caroline quickly descended into a shame spiral. She had just slept with one of her co-workers and she didn't even know what department he worked in. So when a smirking Nik told her we was going to get them some more champagne, Caroline quickly took advantage of his exit to hurriedly dress and leave, almost sprinting as she left the building just before midnight.

It was the following Monday when she discovered who she had actually slept with.

She bumped into Ric as he was exiting the same conference room she had done the naughty deed in and who should be behind him? Well, none other than Nik himself. Ric quickly introduced him as Niklaus Mikaelson, the co-owner of Saltzman & Mikaelson Publishing, who was in town for the foreseeable future to oversee the meetings between potential clients.

"You'll be working very closely with Caroline, Klaus, as she is one of the literary agents that we have here." Ric had said, almost jovially, oblivious to the obvious discomfort and embarrassment that Caroline was exuding. Klaus on the other hand was smirking widely at the poor girl in front of him clearly amused that they were having this conversation outside the room where they had done unspeakable things to each other.

"Oh, I shall very much be looking forward to getting to know Caroline on a more intimate level." Klaus responded salaciously as his eyes practically devoured her.

Ric seemed oblivious to the tension between the two of them and instead offered to show Klaus his new office which had just been redecorated. As Ric began walking off, Caroline tried to make a run for it but was thwarted when Klaus grabbed her hand and pulled her flush against his chest, their hands resting entwined upon his chest.

"Did you really think you could get away with leaving me alone, sweet Caroline?" Klaus whispered in her ear, causing a deep blush to appear in her cheeks.

"I-I um-"Caroline stuttered, unsure on what to say.

"I'll be seeing you soon, Cinderella." Klaus said before placing a soft kiss on the back of her hand and stalking confidently away leaving a confused and slightly turned on Caroline in his wake.

It took her a minute to figure out why he had called her Cinderella before she remembered her hasty exit at midnight.

For the last three years, Klaus had taken every opportunity he had to make Caroline squirm with embarrassment or lust. He flirted with her, gave her lingering touches and stared into her eyes intensely whenever they worked together. It was quite clear to Caroline that Klaus intended to have his way with her again and the thought of getting involved with New York's biggest playboy frightened her.

Although Caroline loved her job, she knew that taking Ric's offer would only open her up to more of Klaus's flirtations and relentless pursuit of her. The idea of spending a week with him in a hotel, although secretly pleasing, made Caroline nervous beyond belief because she wasn't sure if she would be able to resist him.

But deep down Caroline knew that rejecting Alaric's offer would be ridiculous and how could she say no to those big brown eyes that Elena was giving her?

"Fine," Caroline sighed, "tell Ric that I'll go."

A small smile touched her face as she saw Elena jump up and down with glee and excitement bubbled up within her at the thought of securing her first major contract for the company.

xoxoxo

Oh, how she regretted saying yes now.

She supposed it wasn't all bad as she sat down dejectedly on the uncomfortable chairs they had in the airport. She and Klaus had managed to get the client to sign with them on the condition that Caroline would be his literary agent. Well, Caroline was ecstatic. She had read his work and absolutely loved it and knew that he would sell well on a global scale which could only mean good things for her. Truthfully, she was sure it was her passion for his work and Klaus's tireless efforts and reassuring him of their investment in his work that had swung the deal in their favour.

Even Klaus hadn't been that bad. They had flown in together to spend time with the writer before the official meeting and he had been positively gentlemanly in his behaviour towards her. Pulling her chair out for her at dinner, opening doors for her and even making sure that every one of her desires was met. Of course, he had been pursuing her non-stop during the trip but Caroline had been expecting that. What she hadn't expected was her resolve to be crumbling towards him. After all, she did like him and he clearly liked her if the last three years of flirtation and innuendos were anything to go by.

But all of that seemed to pale in comparison to the troubling situation she was in now.

A freak snowstorm had hit the UK that afternoon and subsequently all flights to the US where cancelled. The weather wasn't meant to improve for another four days which meant that Caroline wouldn't be able to go home for Christmas.

Now Caroline loved Christmas so she was very upset by this news. She wouldn't be able to drive from New York to Mystic Falls with her brothers, Damon and Stefan, singing along to Christmas songs much to Damon's annoyance. She wouldn't be able to help her mum bake a variety of Christmas treats after she finished her last police patrol of the year whilst Stefan and Damon nibbled on everything they made insisting they be called Chief Taste Testers.

She wouldn't be able to put a Christmas wreath on her father's grave with her family on Christmas morning.

If that wasn't bad enough, the only company she had was Klaus who was currently looking at her with a bemused look on his face.

xoxoxo

Klaus Mikaelson liked to think of himself as skilled in the area of women but even he was stumped by the look on Caroline's face as she stared despairingly at the departure boards. All the flights had a flashing angry red 'CANCELLED' sign next to them and they both knew they wouldn't be getting back to the US until after Christmas.

Now Klaus usually spent his Christmases alone unless, of course, he had ventured out to the trendy bar just down the street from his apartment and picked up a busty, beautiful girl that he could have writhing underneath him. After he had his way with them, he would kick them out and order enough Chinese food to keep him stuffed until New Year's Eve.

Merry Christmas to him.

So the fact that they wouldn't be able to get back to New York for the foreseeable future didn't bother him at all. After all, what he did for Christmas in the US he could definitely do in London too. So he was stumped as to why Caroline Salvatore seemed so upset that they were stranded in the UK. His company wasn't that terrible, was it?

"Come on, love, there's no need to be upset. I'm sure we can book some rooms at a hotel and still have a lovely time." Klaus said secretly hoping that she would be the beautiful girl that he could have writhing underneath him this Christmas.

But Caroline burst into tears and the sight made Klaus simultaneously nervous and sad. He never did do well with crying women.

"Caroline, sweetheart, what's wrong?" Klaus asked as he sat down beside her and cautiously put an arm round her shoulders in order to comfort her. What was it about this woman that had him questioning every move he made?

"I-I won't see S-Stefan or D-D-Damon! Who will help mum make the-the g-g-gingerbread house? They'll have to-to decorate the-the t-tree without m-me! We-we won't get our C-Christmas photo done! And I'll be in a hotel!" Caroline wailed as she sobbed into her hands.

Oh.

Not once did Klaus consider that Caroline actually liked spending Christmas with her family and it seemed that she liked doing silly traditions with them each year.

It was something completely foreign to him as he never liked Christmas with his family. Even as a child it was horrible. For Klaus, there was no illusion of Father Christmas or presents under the tree. Of course, he would open up the gifts from his brothers and sister and thank them profusely for them but later that day; his father would come to his room and take all his presents away from him saying that "bastards do not deserve presents". It was only when Klaus turned thirteen that he realised what his father meant by bastard and why his presents always got taken away.

The father that had raised him and was supposed to love him wasn't really his father at all.

Having found that out, as soon as he was able Klaus fled the family home and never spoke to his supposed father ever again. He still kept in touch with his siblings but he never spent Christmas with them. It reminded him of too many horrible memories.

But he realised that Caroline didn't share these horrible memories and that she probably had happy Christmases as a child spent with a loving family and so the idea of spending the holidays alone in a hotel room must be completely devastating for her.

Klaus knew what he had to do.

"You know, my family home is in Brighton which is only about an hour away from here. We could stay there if you wanted? Rather than booking into a hotel." Klaus mumbled nervously

Caroline looked up at him through tearful eyes and his ice heart melted at the sight of them.

"Really?" She said hopefully.

"Really." Klaus said affirmatively.

"I wouldn't be intruding on your family time or anything would I?" She asked nervously.

"Of course not. Truth be told, we very rarely all get on so it might be nice if you were there to break the tension." Klaus said nonchalantly.

Caroline wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.

"Thank you, Klaus," She breathed into his ear causing shivers to run down her spine, "I hate the idea of spending Christmas without family."

"Well, since you can't have yours, you are more than welcome to share mine." Klaus said smiling.

Caroline smiled softly back at him and waited for his instruction.

"I'll just make a phone call to make sure the company sends a car." Klaus said vaguely.

Caroline nodded enthusiastically and made herself as comfortable as she could in the seat as she waited for him to be ready.

Klaus wandered off slightly dragging his phone out of his pocket nervously.

Christmas with his family for the first time in twelve years.

But also with Caroline Salvatore.

Klaus wasn't sure if it would be a disaster or the best Christmas of his life.