A/N: I know, this has been a long time coming but here is chapter two! It skips ahead a little bit but hopefully you enjoy it! P.S this chapter is heavy in Carlijah!

Disclaimer: I own NOTHING! If I did Caroline and Elijah would be off making little love children and all that goodness

Chapter Two

"The world we knew

Won't come back

The time we've lost

Can't get back

The life we had

Won't be ours again"

Three Days Grace, 'Never To Late'

The party was going splendidly, as expected. There was music and dancing and merriment. Caroline enjoyed dances with lords who weren't Mikelsons and even flirted the tiniest bit with them. She had yet to dance with either Nik or Elijah and was wondering if she would be able to now. Among those that knew of the curse, there was a buzz. The Doppleganger had arrived.

Caroline watched from afar as Katerina Petrova was led into the ballroom. She was beautiful and as promised, looked just like Tatia. It was uncanny, the resemblance, like Tatia had risen from the grave and walked in. Trevor had done well. When she was presented to Nik and Elijah, the blonde strained to hear what they were saying. Elijah was polite, as always, and Nik was flirting. As always. She rolled her eyes and looked away, grabbing a goblet of wine off a tray that one of the servants was serving. She downed it, and when she saw Nik lead the girl onto the dance floor she wished for something a bit warmer. She squashed that thought quickly and grabbed another goblet and tried in vain to look anywhere but at them. She wasn't jealous of course. Oh no she wasn't with Nik so he could dance with who he pleased. She knew that they, well at least she and Elijah, were trying to make the girl as happy as possible in her last days. Why not let him flirt and lead her into false security?

"Caroline," a voice said from her side and she nearly dropped her wine. "You're quite good at that," she said, turning to Elijah. "Perhaps you should-" "Yes I know, 'make myself more aware." He chuckled before gesturing to the floor. "May I have this dance?" he asked as a lively tune began to play. She smiled brightly at him and allowed him to lead her. They dance and smiled together, perhaps the most elegant couple out there. When the song ended and a slower one was called for, she blushed and decided to grant him another dance. His hands were warm and strong on her, and she realized how much she missed that. She couldn't help but let her mind wander to another time, two hundred years ago. When his hands were on her and there was no fabric between them. And then when he was done and Nik would come for her. What a life she led in those days. Now she barely let either of them touch her in any way that resembled intimate. She chanced a look at Nik to see him whispering in Katerina's ear and she looked away quickly.

Elijah smiled at her and she tried to return it. Her effort was in vain and she looked away with a small sigh. "I'm tired, I think I may retire for the night," she said, as the song ended Before she could walk away however he gently grabbed her elbow to stop her. "Might I escort you back then?" he asked. She studied him for a moment before nodding and taking his arm. They walked out of the ballroom, Nik's eyes burning into their backs. They were quiet as they walked through the hall and when they finally reached her chambers she removed her hand from his arm and looked up at him. "Thank you, this evening was lovely," she told him, mustering a small smile. "Goodnight Elijah." She went to open her door but he placed his hand upon hers. Slowly, she looked back up at him. "I can see you're upset. The doppleganger, that is what is causing it yes?" he asked her. Caroline sighed and shook her head. "She's just a girl and Nik is...he's flirting with her and lying to her and...I hate seeing it. She's an innocent girl and she's going to die."

Elijah opened and closed his mouth, unsure of what to say. He hated her seeing this upset, especially over his brother and this situation. But this was necessary and he could not stop it. Caroline smiled at him suddenly, sad and sweet, and he was unable to say anything anyway because she leaned up and kissed his lips softly. He was set ablaze. She pulled away all to quickly though and touched his cheek. "It's ok Elijah. I knew it was coming. I just..." she sighed. "Goodnight Elijah." And with that she went into her room, leaving him to make his way back to his party.

Two weeks had gone by since then.

Caroline had been enlisted to keep Katerina company and at first the blonde had tried to resist. However Nik had been insistant and Caroline had no choice but to agree. So she spent time with the girl, taking her into town and showing her around the manor and gardens. A few times they had even gone riding together and against Caroline's better judgement she grew fond of the girl. She was sweet, if a little self absorbed, and the two made fast friends. They told stories from childhood and often spent nights talking into the wee hours of the morning. Nik seemed completely interested in the girl but Caroline knew it was an act. Still it made her burn with jealousy, and she was loath to admit that. Elijah was the perfect balm though, for he only wanted her. And as much as she didn't want too, as much as she wanted to hide her feelings, she loved them, both of them, wholly and completely that it consumed her. It was easier to ignore her feelings for Nik when he insisted on acting the way he did though. She would be more than happy with Elijah alone, if she in fact deemed it necessary to tell him how she felt.

Anyway, she and Katerina were in the gardens today and somehow the blonde had been talked into playing some kind of chase and catch game. She had not played such games since she was human and Bekah wanted to escape from her family. Elijah walked by just in time to see Caroline let herself fall to the ground laughing like she hadn't in ages. Katerina lay by her side, laughing and breathing heavy.

"What are you two doing?" he asked, approaching them. Caroline smiled and Katerina laughed. "Why, we were playing a game!" the brunette explained, sitting up. Elijah raised a brow as Caroline sat up as well. "And the point if this game was to exhaust one another?" Caroline narrowed her eyes playfully at him. "No, m'lord, it is to catch the other and for them to catch you afterwards," she told him, earning a smile. Before they could go on they were joined by Niklaus, who looked upon them all with that smirk of his. "Am I interrupting something?" he asked. When Katerina gasped the other two vampires noticed the blood. "My lord are you hurt?" the poor girl questioned, scrambling up to see for herself. He held up his hand and shook hi head. "An unfortunate hunting mess I'm afraid. I did not mean to startle you my lady," he said, feigning kindness. Katerina frowned but accepted that. "I'll see you all at supper then," he said, walking passed them. It seemed play time had been ruined now, and quietly they all made their way back into the manor.

That night after supper, Caroline found herself at Elijah's door. She didn't bother to knock, she simply walked in. He was at his desk, going over some ledgers of some sort and when he heard her entrance he turned to her. "Hello Caroline," he said, surprise evident in his voice. "To what do I owe this visit?" She stood by the door, wringing her hands, trying to find the words to express what she wanted. She'd been thinking about it all day, especially after Nik's appearance in the garden. "I...I want to find a way to keep Katerina alive," she finally said. Elijah's eyes widened, but he couldn't say he was surprised. He saw how close the two were becoming. That, and Caroline had always had a gentle heart. "Elijah I...she's just a girl, she's gone through too much already. We need to find a way to let her live after the ritual. Give her your blood for all I care just don't...don't let him kill her," she pleaded. She looked almost on the verge of tears and it had Elijah up from his seat so he could go to her. He gently placed his hand on her cheek and stroked it with the pad of his thumb. She closed her eyes and leaned into the touch. "Please, Elijah, please.."

"I've already found a way," he told her, causing her eyes to snap open. She looked up at him, eyes narrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?" she asked. He gestured to a finely engraved wooden box and she walked over and opened it. Inside was a bottle with some kind of liquid inside. "I had a witch make that. It will bring her back after she dies and she will be free to live a life away from us," he said. Caroline couldn't help but let a few thankful tears fall that she wiped away before turning back to him. "Thank you, thank you," she said. She walked over and leaned up and kissed his cheek. But she didn't want to leave it at that.

Elijah was just so...good. He had his faults, and sometimes his honor was questionable but...she loved that. She loved him. And when he turned his face to hers and let his lips brush over hers she kissed back with frevor. He pulled her close and deepened the kiss and her hands found his hair and she tried to tug him closer. His tongue asked for entrance and she gave it gladly and let their tongues battle for a while before his kisses began trailing down her neck. She moaned softly and he bit gently and got a louder moan out of it. She pulled him back to her lips and he gladly accepted.

The rest happened in a blissful blur. He made love to her passionately, showing her how he'd missed her, missed this. She could still feel his hands even after he fell asleep. She nestled comfortably against his side and let herself drift off into a peaceful sleep.

In his room, not far from the two sleeping lovers, Nik raged and broke whatever he could, including a maids neck. He fell to his knees, feeling tears he did not want rolling down his cheeks. He'd heard them, heard the sweet sighs and breathy moans. The curse would be broken and so would his heart because obviously she chose. He could kill them for this.

R&R PLEASE