A Little Bit Broken…

Summary: AU, Caroline and Klaus loved one another, travelling the world for 6 months before Mikael came and ruined the happiness they were experiencing, Klaus fled compelling Caroline to forget him in the hopes of protecting her, not realising that not only was she hiding a secret that protected her from compulsion but also that he had given her something that she could never forget…

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the storyline…

Super Quick Authors Note: Thank you so much for the amazing feedback!

Chapter 3: An Old Friend

Caroline returned to the hotel room later that day, not half as dunk as she planned to get…

"Hey Care," Katherine called from her seat on the sofa when Caroline walked into the main room of the suit,

"Hey," Caroline responded, sounding so utterly deflated Katherine sped over to her in under a second staring at her, her eyes full of concern,

"What's wrong?" Kat asked, the tone in her voice sounding so worried it forced a smile onto Caroline's face,

"No big deal Kat, this place just brings back a lot of memories is all… Anyway where's my girl, I thought we could all go out to find somewhere nice and have an early dinner and then just crash on the couch with a film?" Caroline said, quickly changing the subject so Kat knew not to push the topic any further…

"Yeah sure, she's in her room, she didn't realise she had a TV in there and hasn't left since. I stayed with her for a bit after you left but I swear if I have to sit through The Little Mermaid one more time I'll end up killing someone…"

"Go get ready and I'll get her sorted," Caroline laughed, both women knowing it would be a long time before the young girl got sick of the film.

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The three girls found themselves walking down the streets of New Orleans, looking for a place sensible to take a young child but still fun enough that the two older women could have a good time,

"Come on Care, you MUST know somewhere! I mean you lived here for God's sake!" Katherine moaned, the insensible heels she wore clearly causing her annoyance,

"Kat stop moaning, there's a really cute bar and restaurant just up here, or there used to be…" Caroline said, a hint of sadness in her voice,

"Care please what's wrong?" Kat asked, fully away of Becky's presence but also aware that the young girl was so fascinated by the beautiful buildings around her and the street performers she had never experienced before she had no idea what the women were saying behind her,

"It's the only sensible place to take Becky that I know… It's also the place Rebekah and I used to go to escape Nik when he was being… Well when he was being Nik…" She half laughed, half sighed,

"Ugh, I still can't understand how you could possibly get on with her; the idea that you and the blonde Original were friends… Eugh!" Katherine spat out faking a disgusted shiver,

"Katherine be careful, that is a very close friend of mine you're talking about AND the women my daughter is named after…" Caroline warned, both women knowing she was only half joking,

"I'm sorry" Katherine moaned, her voice dripping with sarcasm,

"Good." Caroline responded as they arrived at the restaurant and Caroline reached down to take her daughter's hand as they entered the busy establishment.

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"Oh my God! Care this food is amazing! Why have you never bought me here?!" Katherine moaned, taking another slurp from the gumbo she was practically inhaling,

"Kat I've never bought you here because we live in Virginia remember?" Caroline sighed, reaching over with a napkin to remove some sauce from her daughter's face who leant away from her before continuing to eat…

"NO excuse Care! This is incredible food!" Kat said somewhere between mouthfuls. Caroline just smiled but before she could return to eating her Jambalaya she saw someone across the restaurant, someone she knew very well and someone who was staring back at her,

"Kat I'll be right back excuse me a sec…" Caroline muttered before getting up from the table, both Kat and Becky murmured in acknowledgement before returning to their food. Caroline walked over to the person still staring at her until Caroline was stood in front of them sat at the bar, drink on the bar clearly forgotten…

"Hello Rebekah," Caroline smiled nervously at the woman, who clearly recognised her,

"Carolina? Is it you? You… You remember me?" Rebekah stuttered, looking at Caroline as if she had three heads,

"Yes Bekah… It's me… I remember you," she smiled, feeling tears trying to spring to her eyes, she hadn't seen Rebekah in years and she had been her best friend for quite a while, she missed her, almost as much as she missed him…

"W…W… What? I don't… Nik compelled you… You forgot… I was there…" Rebekah muttered, her face showing such shock and… Hope?

"It didn't work Bekah, I let him think I forgot, he was safer thinking that he succeeded and not having to worry about me being found, I changed my name, I moved away and acted as if meeting you all never happened…" Caroline muttered sadly…

"Caroline… I missed you…" Rebekah stuttered tears springing to her eyes before she threw her arms around Caroline and let the tears flow freely down her face,

"I missed you to Bekah…" Caroline muttered out also through tears,

"What did you mean it didn't work? Nik's compulsion never fails?" Rebekah asked, pulling back from the hug and trying to regain some composure,

"Um… It's a long story, one I'll tell you another time… Right now I just… I missed you!" She repeated again, wiping away another tear,

"Caroline I'm so glad you're safe… I was so worried that he might find you…" Bekah choked out,noticing Caroline stiffen at the mention of Mikael,

"No, I kept myself safe… Actually it wasn't just me… Can you keep a secret? I know Nik and the others are in New Orleans too but I want to tell you something and you can't tell Nik. I don't even want him knowing I'm here yet… Bekah I wanted to find you and tell you but you guys disappeared…" Caroline muttered nervously…

"Caroline whatever it is he won't know, I'm just so happy you're safe and I get to see you again I can't risk losing you again…" Rebekah choked out staring at the women who she considered her baby sister…

"Okay well you'd better come back to my table with me, there's someone I'd like you to meet," she stammered, trying not to be nervous,

"Oh… I saw you were with Katerina…" Bekah said, her voice suddenly turning hard and cold…

"Yeah she's my friend, I found her after her run in with your family and I took care of her, or she took care of me, I'm not really sure but she helped me a lot… But no that's not who I had in mind…" Caroline smiled, taking Rebekah's hand and leading her towards their table where Katherine had stopped eating and was now staring at the two women walking towards her with a look of distain…

"Katerina" Rebekah said with a clearly fake smile,

"Rebekah, I'd say nice to see you again but we both know I'd rather stake myself to a building in broad daylight without my ring…" Katherine smiled back,

"Katherine stop." Caroline reprimanded, "Anyway Bekah, the person I'd like you to meet is…" Caroline smiled, scooping up Becky from the side of Katherine where Bekah hadn't seen the small girl, "My daughter… Becky… Becky say hi, this is your auntie Rebekah," Caroline said softly to her daughter who was peering over at Rebekah from where she was in her mother's arms,

"Hi…" Becky muttered shyly, meanwhile Caroline was trying to hold back a laugh at the total and utter shock on Rebekah's face, "Are you my real aunt or are you a friend of mummies like autie Kat?" Becky said, gaining a little more confidence,

"Um…" Bekah stuttered out, totally at a loss for words,

"Wow Care I think for the first time EVER she's speechless… I like it…" Kat laughed smugly from where she was sat. This comment clearly bringing Rebekah back to reality. She looked at the girls blue eyes, the dirty blonde curls and the dimples in her cheeks and immediately knew the answer to the little girls question,

"Um… I think I'm you're real auntie," she said, staring at the adorable little girl in Caroline's arms, the similarity between the small girl and her brother was astonishing… Regaining her composure she smiled and looked towards Caroline who was now nervously biting her lip, "Am I right?" she asked, her eyes so full of hope,

"Yes you are. Becky this is your daddy's sister and the woman you were named after," Caroline said to Becky but while still looking at Rebekah for a response,

"This is the princess I was named after?!" Becky squealed so excited by the stories her mother had told her about the princess Rebekah, "That's so cool! Mamma has told me all about you!" She squealed again, looking happier than she had all day… "So you know my Daddy? Can we see him finally? Is it safe yet?" Becky yelled out so fast it was difficult to understand but Rebekah was able to understand because Nik had been the same way as a boy…

"Soon baby, soon," Caroline smiled looking down at her daughter and kissing her head before putting her down into her seat and taking Rebekah's hand and walking away from the table and out of earshot of her daughter again…

"She… She's Nik's?" Rebekah asked once more just to be sure…

"Yes definitely. But you promised me you wouldn't tell, not yet… I'll tell him soon… Just not yet… I need to see Nik first, I need to see if he's still the man I remember and I need to know if it's safe for her… Is… Is Mikael still chasing you..?" Caroline asked. Rebekah seeing the hope and slight fear in Caroline' eyes smiled warmly,

"He's gone Care, about 2 months ago, Nik, Elijah and I had been searching for a way and then Kol turns up with a bunch of witches and the perfect spell, it was actually incredible… At first we didn't believe it but it worked… Nik's been searching for you but couldn't find any news on where you were so we returned here to our old home… He's gonna be so happy!" Bekah grinned widely at the thought of Nik and Caroline and the beautiful little girl named after her.

"Um Care…" Came Katherine's voice behind her, "I think someone's a bit tired," Kat smied looking down at the young girl curled up asleep in her arms, "I'm gonna take her home, do you want to come or…?" she looked at Rebekah asking Caroline if she wanted to stay out with the other blonde,

"Actually Kat it's been a long day I think I'll come back with you. Bekah here's my number," Caroline grabbed a nearby napkin and a pen from the bar and wrote her number down, "Call me tomorrow and we can meet up and talk. Please don't tell Nik, I'm just not ready yet…" Caroline pleaded, handing Rebekah the napkin and smiling,

"I promise Care, I'll wait until you're ready, I'm just so glad to see you again…"

"You too Bekah," Caroline smiled hugging Rebekah before leaving the bar with Katherine and her daughter.

Rebekah stood smiling, "A daughter…" she whispered to herself grinning…

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Author's Note:

I want to thank you all for your amazing feedback! You guys are epic! Sorry for not updating sooner but bloody my final year at college and my uni applications are more stressful than I expected UGH! Anyways thanks for your continuing support, it makes the writing more rewarding.

Love you my Lovelies!

Lulu xx