"Good luck Caroline." Was the last thing she heard before her vision went blurry and she blacked out.

Caroline's eyes open slowly. She blinked a few times to adjust to the sun that was currently

blaring in her eyes. She was sprawled on her side on top of a bed of leaves. They were moist and it seeped through the thick dress she wore. Moving onto her stomach she braced her hands against the forest floor. The leaves pushing in and water pooling around her hands. She grimaced at the feeling. She pushed up quickly and shook her hands out. Droplets of water flying in every direction. The trees grew sparsely. Never close enough to touch two at the same time. It reminded her of an old forest reserve her and her dad would camp at. It backed up against a small mountain that they would hike. The trees almost bare of any leaves. Those that clung to stiff branches were rotted brown. The floor was covered in leaves and needles fallen from some of the surrounding trees. The occasional pile of acorn tops. Clouds had drifted in front of the bleak sun and took away the warmth. The forest suddenly taking on a darkness. Caroline did a slow 360, taking in the forest. It was silent and it was empty.

She headed north. The coarse patches that had once been moss led her way. An old survival tip her father had mentioned in passing.

"Moss grows on the north face of the trees. You listen well Caroline. It could very well save your life one day."

It was a two hour walk before she had found someone. She had wandered onto a trail about ten minutes back. It followed along the bank of a small river. Easily crossed in a handful of steps. The further she walked the wide the river got. The darker the water got. Turns out it backed up into a lake. An averaged sized one at that. You could see the horizon of the the other side far in the distance. The tree's looking like toothpicks broke in half. This side of the pool meeting with a small sandy bank that resembled a beach. The water a perfect gradient the farther you looked. She had only paused to admire the nature made landmark when the surface of the water was broken by a head of blonde hair. The calm waters split in half to allow the intruder up for air. The blonde quickly stood at about breast height water. She threw her head back and a spray of droplets shattered the rest of the lake. She wore a white gown. Clearly from an older time. She was still in the past it would appear. When Caroline squinted to look at the blonde's face she stumbled back and fell onto her butt behind a bush.

It was Rebekah. A much younger looking Rebekah.

Her thin body was outlined by the white dress that stuck to her. Perhaps a gown meant for swimming. Her small body not yet fully grown to what Caroline remembered. Her face thinner, her chest smaller, just all around smaller. But still so recognizable.

Rebekah swayed gently in the water. She ran her fingers through her long hair, working out the knots. Caroline watched her. It was weird seeing the blonde Original so relaxed. So young and oblivious. So human. It was then that Caroline thought it was strange that she was still a vampire. The Originals hadn't even been turned yet, so why was she?

In her musings Rebekah had shifter herself. A sharp yelp came from the young blonde. Caroline's eyes snapped to Rebekah who quickly disappeared below the water. She paused for a moment, giving Rebekah time to resurface. But when she didn't Caroline quickly stood and ran to the lake. She pulled the dress she wore over her head and left it in the sand. Left only in a white gown similar to the one Rebekah was wearing. Once she was in knee deep water she dove down deeper into the lake. Her eyes took a second to adjust to the dark water. A soft sea green and so clear. Rays of sun shone into the depths like a staircase. She swam deeper into the lake, squinting her eyes to try and find Rebekah.

She smelled her first. The smell of blood filling her sense, even in the water. Her eyes zeroed in on the head of blonde hair. She was unconscious and every so slowly drifting further down into the lake. Caroline swam to her with practiced ease, swimming lessons from when she was young. She looped an arm under Rebekah's arms and flatten her palm on the blonde's side. Using mostly her feet to propel them upward and her left arm. Her vampire strength making the trip up the surface easier. They broke the surface in seconds. They were about fifteen feet from shore, an easy trek. Caroline had just made it to waist deep water when a figure emerged from the woods by the shore line. He was small, younger than Rebekah by a few years. He looked to be around ten or eleven. His brown hair falling in waves around his slender face and to his shoulders. He stood still watching Caroline pull Rebekah to shore. She was walking backwards, her hands curled under Rebekah's under arms to support the young female. Caroline glanced back at the boy ever few steps. Once Caroline was able to placed Rebekah on the shore, the water lapping around the uncious blonde's feet, the boy rushed them.

"Rebekah!" He yelled. His voice catching at the end of her name. He dropped down onto his knees next to her. Caroline watching him from the other side. His eyes flittered all around her.

"Is she dead?" His voice was small as he glanced up at Caroline. Caroline watched him for a second more.

Could this be Henrik?

Caroline looked back down at Rebekah. Her skin paling. Sand sticking to everything. Caroline straightened out her face and saw the spot of red on the back of her head. It was still bleeding. She twisted her upper half and reached out and grabbed the dress she had discarded before going into the lake. She tore a strip of the fabric off of the bottom and tied it around the blonde's head. Folding the rest of the dress and pillowing it under the other blonde's head. Caroline felt for a pulse. It was a tense minute. It was weak, very weak, but it was there. She had only ever seen CPR done on tv and every time her mother had snorted and commented on how 'that wasn't the right way to do it'. She searched her mind. Her eyes widening. She remembered a time when her and her father had been white water rafting. They had just gotten out of a series of rapids and into a calmer section of the river. Caroline had pointed out to him the other boat that was pulled up on the shore line. A group of people gasping and spitting out water. They had quickly paddled over to them and beached their raft. One of the members was unconscious another member saying she was the last to get pulled out. Caroline's thirteen year old self watched her father perform CPR and revive the woman. She could do this. Quickly repeating the motions she had seen her father do. Remembering his words.

"Airway clear."

He muttered the process under his breath, reminding himself of the steps. Caroline thanked god for her father.

It was easier than she thought it would have been. A few presses to the human's chest and she took in a stuttered breaths. Not fulling inhaling, water still choking her. Caroline quickly moved her onto her side and Rebekah purged the water from her body. Choking heaves and heavy breaths.

Rebekah sat up on her own, Caroline's hand on her back just in case. The brunette child gasped in relief. Tears shining in the corner of his eyes.

"What happened?" Rebekah's voice was hoarse and she coughed.

"You fell. You were standing on a large rock that had a layer of sand on it that made it appear to be the lake floor but you stepped off the ledge and hit your head on the rock. I pulled you out." Caroline bit her tongue from making any rude comments. This wasn't the same girl she knew in the future.

Rebekah had looked at her when she started talking. Her eyes growing wider the more Caroline said. The small boy splayed across her lap with his hands wrapped around her waist.

"It's true." His words muffled by her dress. He looked up at Rebekah and glanced at Caroline.

"I watched her pull you out. Then she pressed on your chest and you coughed up water. I thought you were dead! I was so sure." His words were clouded with tears and he hugged her tighter. Rebekah looked down at him and ran her hand through his hair.

"I'm fine Henrik." She smiled at him.

So it was the youngest Mikaelson.

"I wouldn't say you're completely fine. You hit your head pretty hard. I would get that looked at." Caroline gestured to Rebekah's bandaged head. Rebekah's free hand going up to touch the crudely made bandage. Her brow furrowing. Her eyes flickering over to the folded dress and to Caroline dressed only in the white under-gown. Similar to what Rebekah wore, only thinner.

"You tore your dress?" Rebekah's words were filled with awe.

"We should take you back to mother." Henrik looked up at Rebekah.

"She had sent me to collect you anyway, but you are injured." He sniffled and wiped at his eyes. Rebekah nodded and Henrik let go and stood up, taking a step back to allow her room to stand. Caroline watched carefully as Rebekah stood. When the blonde stumbled Caroline was right there to catch her. Rebekah pressed a hand to her forehead.

"I feel light headed." Her words breathless. Caroline pursed her lips. She thought this would happen. Rebekah was stable on her own so Caroline let go and pulled her dress over the wet gown. She pulled her hair back and up into a messy bun with a hair tie she had on her wrist. She turned her back to Rebekah and bent at her knees.

"Get on." She angled her hands back. Her back hunching forward.

"What?" Rebekah stared at the other blonde with incredulous eyes.

"I'll carry you back." Caroline glanced back at the other blonde.

Rebekah stared back her eyes wide and her hands paused in mid air. They stared at each other for a few moments.

"Bekah." Henrik broke their stares. Rebekah glancing at her brother who stared back with wide eyes.

Rebekah silently walked over to Caroline and hiked her gown up to allow her legs better movement. She stood up on her tippy toes and grabbed Caroline's shoulder in a light grip. Giving the other blonde a moment to take back the offer. Caroline bent down further and placed her hands on the underside of Rebekah's thighs. The injured blonde let out a squeak when Caroline quickly stood up and adjusted the other blonde into a good position for the walk. Rebekah's hands gripped Caroline's shoulders and every so slowly relaxed to resting over them. Her body leaning on Caroline, her weight was nothing for Caroline's superhuman strength. Henrik walked in front of them, turning his head every once in awhile to make sure they were still following. They had been walking for about twenty minutes when Rebekah seemed to get a little more heavy. Her body leaning more on Caroline. Her arms curling against her back and her cheek resting against her shoulder. The blonde was relaxed but not asleep.

"We're almost there." Henrik called out from up ahead.

Turns out 'almost there' was another twenty minutes of walking. Who walks forty minutes to take a dip in a lake?

Caroline could see the village through the breaks in the trees. Henrik slowed down his pace coming to walk next to Caroline. As they stepped out of the trees the villagers didn't even spare them a glance. Simply moving about normally. Henrik seemed to have spotted someone and ran from Caroline's side. Caroline paused taking a moment to catch her breath. She may be a vampire, but she wasn't used to carrying another person for such a long time.

"Rebekah!" Someone yelled. Caroline looked over to where Henrik had run off to. The younger brother trailed behind two older men as they made their way over to the two blondes. Rebekah lifted her head up and looked at who had called her name.

Once the three of them arrived in front of her Caroline could tell who they were. Klaus and Elijah. Both with hair that touched their shoulders. Elijah's fell straight with two braids on either side of his temples. His shirt a dark brown with a v cut into the front that reached his mid chest. Two strings at the top of the v tying the material together. He wore pants of a similar material tucked into knee high leather boots. A sword tucked into the leather belt he wore. His left hand resting on the sword. Klaus's blonde hair fell in waves and was pushed back from his face. He wore a white long sleeve shirt with a black leather vest over top. His pants tucked into similar boots like Elijah. A sword resting on his hip as well. Leather cuffs on each wrist. His piercing blue eyes were narrowed and currenting staring down Caroline.

"She's fine. Hit her head on a rock." Caroline said in an even tone as she bent her knees and slowly lowered Rebekah's legs to the ground. The other blonde was reluctant to move. Her dress still damp and there was a slight chill in the air.

"It was more than that. I would be dead if not for her." Rebekah stared at Caroline as Klaus and Elijah flanked her sides. Caroline frowned and shook her head. She bent forward and placed her palms flat onto the ground, her back giving a loud crack. She heaved a sigh of pleasure. That felt so good. She straightened up and tilted her neck from side to side, a softer crack that only she heard.

"Lake Meris is a good length of a walk. Did you carry our sister the entire way?" Elijah asked glancing from Rebekah to Caroline. Caroline stared at him and nodded her head.

"She also pulled Rebekah out of the lake." Henrik said with a wide grin on his face. His thin arms wrapped around Rebekah's leg. His eyes twinkling with admiration as they stared up at Caroline.

"What does he mean?" Klaus asked.

"I slipped, in the lake. I hit my head and fell unconscious. She pulled me out." Rebekah said. Looking from Klaus to Caroline.

"You should really get that looked at." Caroline pointed a finger to Rebekah's head.

"I am Rebekah, these are my brothers, Henrik, Elijah and Niklaus." Rebekah gestured to each brother that Caroline already knew. Caroline hummed in acknowledgment.

"Caroline. My name is Caroline." She bit the inside of her check.

"Are you alone?" Elijah asked looking back into the woods.

Caroline glanced down at her daylight ring.

"I had been traveling with my brother but he was killed by wolves." Caroline lied. She clenched her jaw. Weighing their reactions. Rebekah gasped and placed her hand on Caroline's arm. Henrik rushed over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, burying his head into the side of her stomach and muttering apologies. Elijah and Klaus offered their condolences.

"Then you must stay with us while you remain here." Rebekah smiled and grabbed Caroline's hands in her own. Caroline frowned at her.

"You saved my life, I can't begin to repay you." Rebekah raised a brow at her.

"Very well." Caroline muttered under her breath. Carefully pulling her hand away from Rebekah's grip.

Elijah and Rebekah lead them through the village. Elijah's hand wrapped around his sister's shoulders. They talked animatedly. Caroline walked a few paces behind them. Her eyes taking in everything around her. Henrik walked next to her, his fingers curled around the sleeve of her dress. Klaus walking behind them.

They eventually made it to a large hut-like house. One story with large thick planks of wood as the siding to the house. A roof made similarly with a layer of hay and twigs for insulation. The doorway built higher than necessary and a metal plate over top. Some words spelled out in their ancient language. Perhaps their last name.

As they approached the house Elijah called out for their mother and the blonde witch came out of the house holding a wide flat basket against her hip. A small smile on her face. The basket filled with herbs and flowers. Caroline's eyes narrowing at the purple flower she knew all too well. Esther's smile faded when her eyes landed on Rebekah. She placed the basket down on a small wooden table that was pushed up against the wall of the house. She quickly walked over to Rebekah and took her daughter's face in her hands. Whispering words and she turned the blonde's head from side to side. Henrik tugged her closer and Caroline could hear Esther asking Rebekah what happened. The witch's fingers touching the bandage carefully. Her brow furrowing and her lips parting in confusion.

"It's for compression. Pressure to the wound and it stops the bleeding." Caroline offered. Pulling the bandages that was her dress off of Rebekah's head and looking at the small wound. It had already stopped bleeding. Caroline tucked the ruined piece of dress into the belt that was around her waist.

"I've never heard of such a thing." Esther looked at Caroline with wary eyes. She walked around Rebekah to look at the wound.

"She's right, it no longer bleeds." Esther's voice carried a hint of amazement.

"I will apply an ointment and it should heal quickly." Esther reassured her daughter and walked back into the house. A few moments later she was walking back out with a jar in her hand. The contents a paste colored like that of spearmint gum. She quickly smoothed some on Rebekah's wound and patted her daughter's shoulder. A booming voice made Caroline's blood run cold.

She had never actually meet Mikael. He had come and been killed before she had even gotten involved. But the endless stories of his horrendous treatment of his children. Hunting them down after they were all turned. She turned to look at the man. His hair was blonde like Klaus's. Falling in waves to about mid neck. Two strands twisted on the side of his head, similar to Elijah's braids. A leather vest tight against his upper body. Pants and boots like his two suns. A large sword strapped to his wait. Leather cuffs on either arm, almost reaching his elbow.

"Where had you all been?" His voice was cold and hard. Rebekah flinched. Henrik scooted closer to her.

"I'm sorry father. It is my fault. I feel at the lake and hurt myself. Caroline carried me back and Niklaus and Elijah were worried about me." She stepped closer to the man. His brows furrowed and he placed his hand on Rebekah's arm.

"Are ye alright?" He asked. Actual concern shining in his eyes. A small smile crossed Rebekah's face. Moments of tenderness from their father was rare.

"Yes. Caroline saved my life." Rebekah turned and looked at the vampire. Caroline could see the doubt in his eyes. The way he looked her up and down. Narrowing his eyes at her. She was just a girl after all.

"Very admirable of her." His eyes landed on Henrik who clung to her side. His smile beaming at his father.

"Yes indeed. Father, I was hoping she could stay with us whilst she is in town. Her brother was killed by the wolves." Rebekah whispered the last part.

"But of course." A fake smile settling across his face as he looked her in the eye. His eyes narrowing when she refused to bow her head in thanks. The smile still there.

Present

Rebekah yelled out in pain. Her hands gripping her head and pulling the hair taut. She fell to her knees and bowed in on herself. Imagines flashed through her mind in a swirl. Everything going so fast. Words spoken, emotions, so much. It felt real. It settled in her mind like a memory. It felt real. What she remembered shifting ever so slightly to accommodate the new memories. Everything froze on the image of one girl. Caroline.

"What the bloody hell?" Rebekah whispered as she eased her butt onto the floor. Her hands falling into her lap. Her mind slowly playing the memory over and over until it stuck.

She reached her hand back and threaded her fingers through her hair. Feeling along the back of her head. Her nails caught on a slightly raised line of skin. A scar from when she was human. A scar she never remembered.