Prelude

It was the little things he remembered about her the way she smiled when he said they would be forever friends or the way she sucked on her lip before she looked away from him when their arguments became too heated.

Even this place reminded him of a time not long ago.

For her it was hard to think back on he was another person who had left her but there were moments she would never let go of like the way he kissed her that night or the day he ruined her dress and gave her his shirt in compensation.

Why was she going back there again?


Caroline Forbes Age: 19

(Virgina)


The envelope held her future in its figurative hands. Turning into the parking lot of her apartment complex was torture; she had lived there since she had graduated high school.

The community had become her home especially after her mother had passed. She winced as she watched the envelope fall from her passenger seat to the floor as she braked.

Setting her car in park and killing the engine was a blur until she picked up the envelope once more and slid out of her car locking it with her alarm.

Currently in her third year at the University of Richmond she had fought from the first week to stay on the Dean's list, so far without fail she was on it.

To put it shortly, the news that was contained in the envelope had better be good. In the bat of an eye she had lost her social life in favor of studying.

Elena had left to New York after their first semester and Bonnie seemed to disappear more often than her into her studies.

The only difference between the women was that Bonnie still made time for her boyfriend the pair had continued to be best friends even picking random classes to be together.

They had different majors which made it rather difficult but at the end of the day they were happy to make time to see each other even if it was a scheduled class.

She took a deep breath unlocking her door sliding out of her shoes mechanically she placed them on the shoe rack by the door as she slumped down on the couch.

This scholarship was all she had going for her and maybe people that it was a bit odd that she wanted to spend her summer in a crazy remote place.

But that's what Caroline did, she set her mind on a goal and achieved it, now wasn't any different, dropping her bag next to her she slid her finger across the back.

Her eyes flickered to her watch and saw the time, maybe she was stalling, okay she was, she thought as she stood up dropping the envelop on her seat.

She began shutting the curtains cleaning up around the living room as much as she could before she picked it up again and walked to her room.

Looking at her bed she decided to change first and left the envelope on the comforter as she slid out of her uncomfortable skinny jeans and took off her bra without removing her tank.

She pulled some shorts on and sat in the middle of her bed holding the envelope no longer avoiding it as her back adjusted to the soft pillows supporting her.

She took one last breath as her fingers touched the metal edge undoing it so the flap fell open Caroline exhaled the negativity in her stomach and reached inside.

She felt her heart race as she held the papers in her trembling hand feeling them slide out of the packet which she would now call it.

Her eyes darted to the page reading out loud, "Caroline Forbes you are convivially invited to spend the summer…" she felt her eyes widen and a grin form.

Caroline squealed as she dropped the papers closing her hands into fists anxiety turning to excitement, "I got the Fucking scholarship," she exclaimed feeling the urge to hug someone.

She sobered at the thought but her mood quickly changed and she settled for jumping on her bed a little as she did a tiny victory dance.

Her body seemed drained from her former anxieties so she threw herself back taking a few deep breaths as she got up once more in search of her phone.

She text her friend's Bonnie and Elena letting them know of her good fortune smiling when they instantly text her back their congratulations.

She looked up closing her eyes, her mom had always wanted her to see the world and this was the first step to that, "Miss you mommy," she whispered.


Klaus Mikaelson Age: 20

(A World away)


Looking over at his brother Klaus knew why he was only half his brother because he had no doubt people would never guess they were even a bit related.

Kol had always been suave, outgoing, a bit unrefined but nothing that all too bad Klaus thought as he watched him walk passed him with a flock of girls vying for his attention.

Klaus knew better than anyone one this was his brother's draw and no doubt Klaus himself had his moments with the other sex.

Still for his status as the bastard black sheep his step father lovingly took in and forgave his wife for, most of them preferred to keep him as their dirty secret.

More often than not he was someone they would come to for cheap thrills. Kol was the true Mikaelson and the one they would choose in the end for all his faults.

He didn't want to be here but Mikael was the one pulling the strings here, Klaus had to behave, he had to draw as little attention to himself as possible and graduate.

It was that or say goodbye to his siblings while he would like to run out on his own if he left who would protect Kol and Rebekah?

Elijah could only do so much when Mikel came home drunk and looking for Klaus, he never wanted to think of a day where Mikael would turn on them if he up and vanished with their help or without it.

Ignoring his brother's wagging tongue Klaus strode over to the mailing office a floor below them with big hopes that today he would get the news.

Impatiently he waiting his turn and mumbled his name to the woman when it came to be his turn to check if he had anything waiting for him, he was eager to know.

Each passing moment was painstakingly slow as he was keen on knowing whether or not he had been admitted into the summer art program or not.

It was the one thing he had looked forward to in the last few months especially after his mother had surprisingly sided with him and as much as Mikael has tried to impede it.

When the woman returned with a packet and an envelope he felt his stomach drop, "Mikaelson," she said with a smile that flicked a light of excitement in his chest.

This was his chance to prove himself something he needed this more than anything he thought, if he could do this he could be his own man coming out from Mikael's thumb.

He looked at the smaller envelope recognizing the stationary as his sisters, the stamp was beautiful as much as you could expect when your sister when to school in Paris.

Klaus smiled thinking of her, Rebekah would be the only one he missed this summer he thought, "If you got into the bloody program," he muttered to himself.

He walked outside allowing himself one small smile as he looked around to make sure he was alone as he sat in the closest bench he could find that was unoccupied.

He sucked on his lip in contemplation rubbing his coarse fingers over the three day stubble of his jaw, "Open it," cried his mind sounding an awful lot like his brother as the sun disappeared over his shoulder.

"We both know what it is," Kol said coming around him gesturing to the packet Klaus glowers at his younger brother for stealing his moment alone.

"Have you no tact," he asked Kol as he noticed a drawing crowd before looking back at his grinning brother trying not to act on the impulse to pummel him.

"Ha, tact is for people lacking wit," Kol quipped, "That and a certain amount of charisma that makes women flock to me."

As Kol spoke Klaus managed to disappear once more leaving his brother dumbfounded but not lonely as he soon diverts his attention to another.

Klaus smiles from behind the tree, he got in, he couldn't believe it and yet he felt as if there was no way he was ever not going to.

Finally, he thought, something good was about to happen.


She finally she landed, she thought not wanting to go through that again anytime soon, Caroline took a hesitant step off of the plane as she pulled her instructions from her bag once more.

The paper was crippled the folded lines worn in from how many times she had looked it over knowing she was supposed to gather her luggage and meet her program group at the north entrance.

The problem with that is that Caroline had no idea just where that was but she was supposed to be able to do this on her own so onward she went to collect her things.

Pulling on a smile she sucked it up moving towards the baggage claim where a few minutes later her small bag appeared.

She reached for it when it came closer pulling it off of the line, she smiled at the tags her mother had given her, and the last gift she had presented her with, it was her art bag.

Her luggage took a bit longer making her impatient as she looked at her watch finally catching it out of the corner of her eye.

She raced towards the north exit thankful that she had heard someone whisper about it to their companion saving her some time and guess work.

Hoping she wasn't too late to meet the party she wasn't exactly paying attention and ran into something hard her body fell back as Caroline dragged whatever it was with her down to the hard ground.

"Ophhhff," the sound came from above her as she landed, she opened one eye then both looking at what or more specifically who had fallen over her.

She saw an angel she thought as she collected herself mentally assessing her state, legs fine, no aches, breathing hard, she hadn't fallen that hard had she, she asked herself.

She looked at her hands on his firm chest feeling him warm as she clutched his shirt without meaning to her eyes flickering back to his face.

His jaw was set indicating anger, but his eyes were curious about her almost amused by her reaction to him, like this was just his resting bitch face.

Like his eyes truly told the story, "Sorry," she mumbled in trying to regulate her breath her lips parted still as he lay above her.


Klaus felt himself bemused by the character before him to say the least, "I'm not," he blurted out with a smile marginally inclining his head, "We should work on the landing however," he murmured.

As he spoke he set his own hands on the floor on each side of her swiftly lifting himself off of the blonde beauty's soft body onto his knees.

Tearing his eyes from hers he surveyed the damage, her stuff was fine but his art supplies was spread out all over the floor making him scowl as he faintly felt her move between his legs.

He shuffled onto his feet leaning his elbows on his knees redirecting his rage internally not wanting to make a scene when he heard her move next to him.

He rubbed his face before brushing back the barley growing curls as he gave her a side glance feeling the corners of his lips curve as he properly looked at her.

She was on her hands and knees collecting his things into his bag the sight made a laugh gurgle up in his chest coming out like a snort when he tried to hide it.

Klaus normally didn't like when people touched his things, Klaus didn't normally laugh either so he was lost when he felt himself scoot closer to her.


She fought down the embarrassment of running into someone one let alone a hot someone by distracting herself with cleaning.

She felt warm even before he lifted off of her now it like her cheeks were burning as she busied herself thinking of the asthma pump in her bag that she did not want him to see as she took in shallow breaths.

Her fingers paused over the etching tools, the cool metal and wood with fine hairs at the end of his brushed as she admired them.

She felt the urge to sneak one but fought it down as she was once a Sheriff's daughter, and had never once even taken a gum without buying it first.

"Your set is nicer than mine," she said almost to herself as she finished color-coding his coloring pens and began resetting his brushes quickly.

"You could help you know." She muttered blowing her hair out of her face before she caught his face her eyes widening once more at the wonder written across it.

She looked from him to the speaker announcing their air boat was boarding soon, "I have to go," she told him scurrying to pick up the rest.

"You're a part of the art program here too," he asked but to her it sounded more like he was just confirming it for her more than anything else.

"Yeah," she nodded as if it was the most obvious thing in the world and then she realized she was a young woman basically alone on an island or a series of islands and maybe it wasn't so obvious.

"Come on or we'll be late or maybe even expelled," she said dramatically making him smile again she didn't know why but she felt like he hadn't smiled in a long time.

That triggered her own smile as they finished with his equipment Klaus chuckled retied the bag as she stood up and gathered her things.

Klaus chuckled moving to assist her, his eyes drifting over her eyes lusting after his bag of brushes like he might lust after her.

He felt his tongue stick to the top of his mouth as his eyes fell on her hands small and perfect, he thought as he held the handle of her suitcase, "Come on then Love," he said.

Caroline found herself once again trying to regulate her breath he was being ridiculous but she didn't stop him, she had only brought so many things so her bag wouldn't hurt him.

He extended his free after he adjusted his art bag and backpack and tried not to smile as she quietly gaped at him letting a stranger assist her.

"Thanks," she told him noticing how close they were that she could see the little flecks of green in his eyes with just a hint of darkening purple his pupils dilating the longer she observed him.

"We should run," she said barely feeling his finger brush one of her curls as she turned her head and her body in the direction of the north entrance.

He nodded to himself unsure of what had just transpired as he rolled her luggage and followed after her and her one carry-on bag she held.

"It will be faster," he said as he caught her hand insisting that she wouldn't fall behind as they pushed towards their exit she nodded though he doubted she couldn't keep up with her long legs.


Quickly the pair found their way outside to the train of air boats finding their port and signing in before displaying their passports and setting their bags on a growing pile.

Klaus couldn't believe his luck when he found out they would be boarding the same small plane to the even smaller island where their program would be taking place.

He stood at the entrance noting with a frown that almost everyone was seated as partners and he would be sitting alone were they to plummet into the sea.

"Why did I pick the window seat," she asked herself it wasn't long before he realized how hesitant she was to take a seat even as she sat and buckled herself in tightly.

He took a seat in front of her at the front of the plane when he heard her groan to herself, "Afraid," he asked with a hint of concern.

Caroline turned her head looking at him sure he was making fun of her and opened her mouth to bit back at him with she saw his face and felt him genuine.

"Yes. Sit with me," she said seeing him as he moved from his seat across from her to the empty seat next to her before it was taken.

He buckled in next to her giving her one of his most honest smiles, "And now," he asked as made sure her seat belt was tight enough.

"Only slightly better," she almost squeaked as the engine started and she gripped her arm rests Klaus lifted his chin to her as his hand came to hers.

He held it in his grasp his thumb running softly over her knuckles, "I'm Nik by the way," he said with a smile even though inside he was upset he had yet to learn her name.

They started moving and her grip became tighter, he was certain she hadn't heard him as the propellers began, his lips were at her ear in the next moment, "Close your eyes," he asked.

"Count to ten," he instructed as he watched her mouth form the numbers as she panted, his free hand touched the waves of her hair, "Open your eyes," he said once more.

Caroline listened her eyes looking from him to the window a smile forming as she saw how the Earth looked as she floated above the water.

Once she felt that her heart and her stomach had returned to their rightful places without incident she looked back at him, "Thanks for that," she told him with a squeeze of her hand.

"Not a problem," he said waving away her uneasiness with his hand feeling a little enclosed in such a small vehicle to be honest she had helped him to with his queasiness.

"I'm Caroline," she informed him as brightly as she could after determined to at least make one friend on this trip. "It's nice to meet you Nik," she added indicating that she had heard him.


Klaus reciprocated her smile with one of his own finding the action strange but not unwelcome in her presence even if during the take-off she was practically siting on his lap.

A bit of an exaggeration because they were both buckled in their own seats not that he minded when her bare legs touched the rough jean of his pants.

He sat in awe trying not to let his eyes longer too much over her, she seemed to radiate joy and a certain kind of purity that could never be diminished.

He tried not to make her out to be like some statue to be worshiped but he was an artist and he was the kind to build or break monuments for the purposes of art.

She wasn't a piece of marble or a slab of ivory, she was living and breathing next to his ear something his nether region's seemed to be enjoying as he shifted in his chair.

No, he would try to play a game with her, he would ask her for thrills he would befriend her, learn from her, and here he was a different person. Possibly the man he would become.

"Are you crazy tired from flying for hours or is it just me," she asked with a bubble of nervous laughter distracting him from his inner notions.

"Yes," he confirmed feeling his backside aching from the hours he spent sitting on it, "I think we'll be fast friends Caroline," he said testing her name on his tongue.

He found he liked it especially when she leaned closer into his side, "I'd like that," she replied as they began to descended having reached their destination.

"Good," he said hoping to distract her once more this time with a smile happy that he would have someone around to get to know without …complications.

He longed to learn how this nymph creature came to be he longed to know her hopes and dreams right down to the polish name on her nails for Rebekah.

Klaus took a moment to recognize that they were still holding hands when Caroline gripped his hard once again as they hit the water.


Author's Note:

Okay major Author's note, I wrote this story years ago and even had a cover made but never got around to posting it.

Not the point sorry, I'm currently reviewing it to see what needs to be updated.

I hope that you enjoy it though because I have not written something quite like this in some time.

Also there will be a lot of time jumps starting with the next chapter spanning years.

With that I leave you to make your deductions. Happy Reading! :))