Solar Flare

Summary: Her life was taken from her unexpectedly. Saved by an unlikely someone, she is given a second chance. And she plans on taking that chance to make her name known. Mikael Mikaelson will never forget the girl whose hair shined like the sun and eyes that were as blue as the ocean. He would never forget the fierce warrior princess his son sired. No one who ran from Mikael during 1919 would forget the solar flare that was Caroline Forbes.


I do not own The Vampire Diaries, The Originals or its characters, just this plot bunny and a few characters.


prelude

2009

When she thinks of her, she is reminded of a sunbeam. Catching your eye unexpectedly and if you blinked, it would leave but the after effects were there. Even if you don't think about it anymore, it still lingers. In a way, it was like a festering wound. It never left her, how could it?

Every morning she was reminded of the one she lost. The woman who saved her from a fate so horrible she was glad she walked the Earth with faint pulse, the woman who showed her kindness, showed her how to be strong. Her warm personality engulfed all those who met her. It was infectious like the plague and every morning, Elena wished she could once again feel that warmth, be within her very presence.

Bathed in the warmth of sunlight, from dawn until dusk and then caressed with moonlight and rapture every night. She missed it-more than she missed being about to grow old. She craved that feeling again. To have been loved and be loved in return by her was everything in the world.

She knew first hand how deep and how strong that love went.

So she was always astounded how every morning, without fail Bonnie was able to pass throughout the day without showing any form of mourning. Every morning, she watched the immortal witch awaken at dawn, meditate with the sunrise and then tend to her garden. She watched her companion settle into the kitchen and make breakfast for herself and other two human inhabitants of the house.

Today was no different for the witch. Elena watched from the doorway of the kitchen, her shoulder squared but her arms were crossed and her face set in a soft frown. Bonnie was facing the window of the kitchen, staring out at the sun as the tea and coffee brewed on the counter. Her long wavy curls was drawn up into a messy bun. The kitchen was filled with aromas of cooking food. Turkey sausage was being cooked, while egg whites were scrambled. Bonnie turned as the eggs finished and she removed them from the pan and onto a serving plate. The table was already set with three plates, while a cup of blood was being microwaved for Elena.

"Are you ever going to stop sulking?" the witch asked, though she didn't turn from the counter. Her hand reached for the carton of blueberries and she started rinsing them. Elena gave no answer as she watched her friend. Sighing softly, the witch stopped momentarily to glanced back at the vampire. Emerald eyes met whiskey colored ones, "I know it's hard, but we have to be strong Elena. We can't afford to sulk."

"You can't afford to sulk," grumbled the vampire. "I can do as I wish."

Bonnie frowned, her expression unreadable. "You really don't think this day is going to hard for me? For everyone in this house?"

"It wouldn't be if she was just here." Elena hissed, cutting her eyes at the witch. "If you had just stopped her from making that stupid-"

"It was her choice, Elena." Bonnie cut off, swiftly as the sound of footsteps approached. "We can't always agree to her choices, we can fight them all we want, but it was her choice. We're dealing with it, we're living with it. She wanted this and we will honor that."

Elena couldn't say anything as a man in his early thirties walked into the room. His hair was messy from sleep, dark chocolate locks still a bit wet from the shower he had taken and his soft green eyes still showing signs of restlessness. He grinned in Bonnie's direction. "Good morning, Bons." He greeted and then moved towards the counter, pouring himself a cup of coffee and turning off the stove as the sausages finished cooking.

"Good morning," snickered the witch. "Did you sleep well?"

"I slept good," he smiled softly.

Bonnie nodded and her eyes sparkled and a smile blossomed across her face as a preteen made his way into the room. The haunted look on Elena's face didn't go unnoticed by her either. He was no older then twelve years old, with sunshine blonde hair and blue-green eyes, though the blue seemed to overtake the green. He was dressed in a sleep shirt and pants, still rubbing sleep from his eyes as he waved good morning to all.

"Good morning, little one." Bonnie greeted.

"Good morning Bonnie," mumbled the boy and then he looked back at Elena. "Good morning Elena."

The man frowned. "What about me?"

"Morning dad," smiled the boy.

Bonnie laughed, grabbing the mug of blood and walked towards Elena with it. She ruffled the boy's blonde hair and kissed his forehead before she handed the mug to Elena. The vampire started down at the mug before cutting her eyes at her friend.

Did she not care? Today was the most heart wrenching day of their lives and Elena was the only one who seemed to care. She was the only one aware of how today was going to kill her on the inside-more than usual.

"Is something the matter Elena?" Bonnie asked.

"Of course it is." The vampire hissed. The other two turned towards the women. "Of course there is something wrong! You're acting like this what she wanted!"

"Elena," the man tried.

"Stay out of this, Adam," the vampire snarled, speaking his name like a curse. "You've caused enough trouble as it is."

Bonnie glanced at the young boy, who's sleepy demeanor dissolved as the weight of the conversation shifted. "Zach," she called to him.

"I'll go to my room," he muttered.

"No you won't," Bonnie frowned at Elena before she turned back towards the boy. She walked over to him and cupped his cheeks in her hands. "Sweetheart, today is a very emotionally day for us. Elena's just venting."

"She's mad because of my mom," he grumbled. "Because of what she did for me."

Bonnie sighed. "Zach," she began but stopped when he shook his head.

"I'm sorry." He whispered brokenly. "I'm sorry my mom decided my existence meant so much to her."

Bonnie glared viciously at her companion, who seemed to suddenly process how her outburst might have sounded. As usual, she inserted her foot into her mouth instead of thinking. It was what caused her last days with her beloved to be so strained. She gasped and walked towards the boy and replaced Bonnie, enveloping the boy in a hug.

Was she really that self-centered that she didn't think of her beloved's only child? How he might have felt about this whole thing? Dear god, she truly was a monster. She was no better than Nikalus and that was a stretch considering how obsessed the hybrid had been with the boy's mother. To this day, she was happy the man had paid no mind of her disappearance for the last twelve years.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm so sorry Zachary."

Bonnie sighed as she looked at Adam. Today was going to harder than they thought.

"Zach," Adam began. "I know it's not the best time, but..."

"Happy Birthday," Bonnie said timidly.

Zach laughed softly. He had forgotten today was his birthday momentarily in the midst of Elena's outburst. "I'm twelve today," he said softly.

"And I believe we promised you a story," Elena whispered.

:::

They gathered in the living room.

Zach was nestled between Adam and Elena as they sat on the couch. Bonnie had gone into the attic to obtain a photograph of his mother. He supposed if he wanted, he could just ask to go to the crypt. She laid there in slumber with Bonnie's own parents. Sleeping an eternal slumber until their children succumbed to death. The young boy often wondered how Bonnie felt about that, to know she lived because her parents loved her enough to not only give her immortality but also that once she decided to give up that immortality, they would awaken to find her gone from this plane. His mother shared a similar fate, she had given up her essence, gone into slumber for the one joy had always wanted: to have a child.

He didn't know much about his mother. He knew she met his dad fifteen years ago, he knew she was considered a force of nature to all.

"Here it is," Bonnie announced as she came back into the room with a series of leather bound journals. She handed them to him, "They were addressed to you. We wanted to give these to you when you were older but you've been asking since you were ten what your mother was like."

"She wrote in those hoping one day, she'd be able to pass her story down to her future family." Elena sighed and then smiled when she opened the first one, a soft red leather journal and inside was a picture of her beloved. "Your mother truly was beautiful."

Zach looked down at the picture, a woman with a bright smile staring back at him. The photo was a polaroid of his dad and a young woman. She was no older than twenty-three years old, with flowing blonde hair, blue eye and a bubbly smile. She was bright, illuminating the photograph more than her partner. Adam looked no older than twenty-one years old, his hand resting on the soft bump of her stomach, his eyes dancing with joy.

The caption read: Caroline and Adam, 3 months.

Caroline.

He knew her name, he always had. But twelve year old Zachary Forbes had no clue who his mother was aside from a vampire and dear companion of his two guardians.

"Why don't you read the letter inside?" Adam asked. He knew Caroline had placed a small letter behind the photograph. The young boy reached behind the photograph and found a small folded piece of paper. He unfolded it and in elegant scrawl, was a small letter addressed to him.

My Dearest Zachary,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. My sweet child, I'm sorry I will not be able to be there to see you grow. The fact I am granted these few days with you as my body slowly shuts down, well it is a gift. Right now, you're asleep in your crib. So precious you are, my dearest.

I can't give you much in this small letter, so I will be quick. I have journals for you, originally written for my legacy, for whoever stilled carries my name and human blood. But now, when you are of age, they will be for you. I will disclaim that my life after my marriage isn't the brightest but I made with what was due. But I wish nothing but eternal sunshine for you, my sweet Zachary.

Your aunts, as strong as they are, will not be the same without me. Your father will not either; within the two years we have been together, we have grown to love each other very much. Take care of them, my sweet. Keep them safe and remind them every day, I love them. And if you ever cross paths with him, in this century or however long your life is to last (hopefully very well into your hundreds my dear), please tell one more person I love them.

His name is Kol and he is my maker. I owe him this life I am to forfeit. Like a brother, he sheltered and took care of me. The last we saw each other, was long ago. Promise me you'll ask him to forgive his little firefly? I truly did want to see him again.

I hope this letter finds you well, my dearest miracle. Know that I love you very much and will never stop loving you.

Your mother,

Caroline Forbes

Zach blinked back tears, though it was futile and he started rubbing his eyes. He felt his dad's arm wrap around him and hold him close as he started to cry. Bonnie and Elena shared a look and Elena nodded her head.

"We'll leave you two to this," Bonnie said.

Elena stared at the two before she followed Bonnie out of the room. She could hear the book being opened and shut her eyes. This wasn't meant for her, it was private: between Caroline, Adam and Zach.

Inside the living room, Zach's eyes scanned the first sentence of a very long story.

1852 June 28th

Today is my wedding day, and yet it feels more I am preparing for a funeral.