Don't you dare look out your window, darling,
Everything's on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Hold on to this lullaby
Even when music's gone

2013

Caroline was enjoying the unseasonably warm autumn weather in Richmond. She had graduated from college last year, and now had a job as an online columnist for a local paper. It brought in enough for splurging every now-and-then, and it was a great job to help her out while she worked on her personal writings. She was planning on writing a book to publish under a pseudonym, and she was over halfway finished with it. That's why she found herself in the quaint little boutique in the middle of the city. She though a splurge was in order.

She walked around the circular clothes rack when she felt a gust of wind behind her. She turned and saw a young-looking girl browsing the rack next to her. She hadn't been there moments ago, but Caroline didn't think anything of it. She continued shopping, sneaking glances at the girl every so often. She had a kind face, but Caroline learned not to trust every innocent face you see. If the Original hybrid could have dimples, this girl could be the deadliest being on the planet.

Caroline walked to the back part of the store, where they kept the best sale items, and the young lady followed. She walked with confidence, but kept her head down like she was shy. Her black hair hung like silk over one shoulder, and made her skin look as white as snow. Her blue eyes pierced through you like white-hot lightning. She slowly made her way towards Caroline, keeping her eyes on the merchandise as she spoke.

"Are you Miss Forbes?" she asked in a soft tone.

"That depends on who's asking," Caroline replied at the same volume.

The girl gave a small smile and said; "Don't worry; I'm a messenger, not a soldier. My name is Luna. A friend of yours has sent me."

"Which friend?" Caroline asked.

"Klaus," Luna replied. That immediately got Caroline's attention.

"Why don't we pay for this and take the conversation outside?" she asked.

Luna nodded and said; "Don't be long. This is important." She slipped the little ring she had been playing with into her pocket and gave Caroline a wink.

Caroline watched as she left, and took her things to the counter to pay for them. She made small talk with the saleslady as she rang up her items, and when Caroline had paid her, she left the store. She walked out more quickly than she had intended, but Klaus had been heavy on her mind lately. She couldn't help but think of him every time she saw the sketch he gave her after the ball. She now wore his bracelet daily, and felt no shame. They were friends, after all. Yet, when she was finally ready to admit they could be more, he fell off the radar for almost a year. No one could reach any of the Originals, nor could they reach Stefan- who had formed a relationship with Rebekah.

Luna was leaning against the brick building, twirling the stolen ring on her finger. She smiled when she saw Caroline stumble across the threshold of the boutique. She picked up a bag that had fallen and handed it to the young vampire. They began walking down the street and Caroline couldn't help the questions that came pouring out of her mouth.

"Why did Klaus send you? Are you a vampire?" she asked.

Luna smiled at her and said; "No. I'm Klaus' last loyal hybrid."

"You've not broken the sire bond?" Caroline asked.

"No. I would never betray Klaus like that. Believe it or not, he is a good man, Caroline," she said.

"Well someone's hot for sire," Caroline teased.

"It's not like that at all, Caroline. I respect him, and I would never betray him. He saved me," Luna said.

Caroline looked at her with wide eyes. "I understood that turning every full moon was painful, but I guess I never really knew how much," she said.

Luna shook her head. "That's not all he saved me from. My father was not a nice man, Caroline. Klaus saved me from the torment he put me through," she said.

Caroline was growing uncomfortable with the subject area, so she changed the topic of conversation. "So, what did Klaus want?" she asked.

"It's complicated, but I believe everything can be explained well enough in this letter," she said, handing Caroline an envelope with a wax seal on it. "He thought you might want to read it inside, to make sure no one is peeking over your shoulder."

"Is this really that important?" Caroline asked in wonder. What could she possibly be needed for that was so important?

"It's more important than you can understand, Caroline. I need you to really listen to what I'm about to tell you. Please think this through before refusing him, okay? He wouldn't have chosen you if he didn't think you could do the job, and he loves you. He won't come right out and say it, but I know more about you through him than I could ever know by talking to you. You're all he ever speaks about. So please Caroline, for all our sakes, take this seriously!" she said.

"I will take it seriously," Caroline replied.

"Good. If you agree to what's in the letter, come to this address no later than midnight tonight. Remember what I said, Caroline," Luna said before she flashed away.

Caroline had put the envelope in her purse before parting ways with Luna. She loved her small townhouse on the outskirts of the city. She liked that Richmond was close enough to visit her mother, but far enough from the prying eyes of Mystic Falls. They couldn't notice that she wasn't aging here. Caroline double-checked to make sure her door was locked, and went around locking the windows for good measure. The hybrid's little speech had really freaked her out.

Once she was certain that no one would be reading over her shoulder, she sat on her sofa and lifted the wax seal from the envelope. She slid the thick parchment from the envelope and began to read the flowing penmanship that was so uniquely his.

Caroline,

It has been only one year since I have seen you, and I hope this letter finds you well. I find myself in a predicament that I never thought possible, and you are the only one I feel I can turn to now. I don't like showing weakness, but I must pour my heart out here. One year ago I learned that it was possible for me to reproduce after a one-night-stand left Haley pregnant with my heir. I know that you will fault me for my drunken indiscretions, but I hope you will find it in your heart to help me with this matter. I sent my child with my last loyal hybrid to get her out of New Orleans. It is not safe here for anyone associated with the Original family, and I am working on making us whole again. It is not easy considering we have to fight off an army of Marcel's loyal followers. They have already killed Haley and every other werewolf in the city of New Orleans. As I said before, this place is not safe for a child- even a special one such as mine. Please, keep her in your care. Raise her as her own. You are the only one who can help me now.

Until we meet again,

Klaus

Caroline was shocked… stunned. She couldn't move, and she was barely even breathing. She read the letter at least three times more before glancing at the clock. It was 9pm now. She didn't really have time to make an informed decision- she would have to choose on a whim. She weighed the pros and cons as she pulled her hair into a ponytail. A pro would be that she is helping Klaus, but a con would be that she is helping Haley. Certainly she wouldn't let her hatred for the she-wolf put the child in potential danger.

She knew what she had to do, so she grabbed her bag and headed out the door. She hopped into her car and drove to the address written on the small slip of paper.

Caroline entered the tall apartment building. It looked so rundown and decrepit that she wasn't sure it was even still livable. She walked to the apartment numbered 3-4-6 and knocked on the door. It opened, and Luna greeted Caroline with a smile.

"Please, come in," she said.

"Is this real?" Caroline asked. "Why would Klaus leave his child with me?"

"I see we're jumping right into it, then. I think there is someone else who could answer your questions better than me," she said before directing Caroline into the sitting area.

She rounded the corner and saw Stefan sitting on the sofa. He stood when he heard them enter the room. "'Stefan!" Caroline exclaimed, before tackling him in a hug.

"Okay, Caroline… I can't breathe," he said.

She scoffed. "Like you need to breathe," she teased.

"Caroline, there's someone you need to meet," Stefan said.

"Is it…"

"Yes, Caroline. It's Klaus' child- his daughter," Stefan explained. "Before you meet her, he wanted me to make sure you will care for her in every way possible."

"Of course I will, Stefan. But please, tell me what's going on in New Orleans. Is Klaus okay?" she asked.

"Klaus is… never okay. You know that. He has an old enemy named Marcel. They were once good friends, but now Marcel has taken Klaus' kingdom. Marcel has the numbers, but Klaus has the age. I don't know when it would be safe for his daughter to return," Stefan said.

"Klaus said in his letter that she was special. What did he mean by that?" she asked.

"She's not just werewolf," Luna began. "She's now the most powerful being on the planet; werewolf, witch, and vampire. It's never been seen before, and a lot of people don't like it."

"Are you ready to meet her?" Stefan asked.

Caroline waited patiently for Stefan to get the child. He was only gone for a few moments before returning, carrying a small bundle of pink blankets. Caroline wasn't expecting her to be so young, but it had only been a year. Stefan walked up to Caroline, so she could get a better look. She was beautiful, with lightly tanned skin and light brown hair. Her eyes were a stunning shade of blue, just like her father's. Her hair curled slightly, and the side was pinned with a pretty green bow. Stefan stood her in front of Caroline, who didn't know what to do.

"Caroline, this is Sarah. Sarah, this is Caroline," Stefan said.

Caroline smiled and asked; "Can I hold her?"

Stefan nodded and gave her a kiss on the forehead before handing her to Caroline. Luna left, saying she'd wait in the car. Caroline assumed she didn't want anyone seeing her cry. Stefan stayed behind to make sure she had everything.

"All of the things we brought with her are in the room," he said as he pointed towards the door across the room.

"Okay," Caroline said.

"And Klaus wanted me to give you this," he said, handing her a credit card. "He said to use it for anything that either one of you will need."

Caroline rolled her eyes and stuck the card in her pocket. "We'll be okay, Stefan," she said. "I wish you didn't have to go back so soon."

"Me too," he said. He gave Sarah another kiss, and then gave Caroline a hug as well. "Take care of her, Caroline. Please…" he said.

"I promise you she'll be okay," Caroline said. "Promise me that you'll stay safe, and keep Klaus safe."

"I promise," he said.

After that he left, leaving the two girls in the empty apartment. Caroline loaded the three boxes and two suitcases of Sarah's things into her car, and they both went to Caroline's townhouse on the outskirts of town.