Sorry for not updating sooner, but most of my exams are now over, giving me more time to write :) Hope you enjoy!

Characters belong to The Vampire Diaries (L.J Smith , Julie Plec ect.) and plot idea belongs to Sarah Blakley-Cartwright and David Leslie Johnson.

"Caroline."

Kneeling on the floor, trying to up a sheaf of hay, she heard a strong male voice above her. He remembers. Caroline froze, unable to look up.

"Caroline?"

Butterflies in her tummy, Caroline slowly raised her head – only to see Tyler Lockwood holding out a jug of water.

"Are you all right?" He asked, concern colouring his tone.

"Yes." She replied, unable to full hide her disappointment.

"I thought maybe you'd gone deaf from working too hard." Tyler teased, dark eyebrows raising in question.

"Oh. No." Feeling embarrassed that it wasn't Niklaus, Caroline was no longer feeling sociable.

Ignoring the water, she reached out and took the copper mallet he was holding in his other hand, and brought it to her cheek, cooling herself down.

She looked around, watching the movement of the harvest, angling past Tyler for a better view. Unfortunately, Tyler moved with her and was blocking Niklaus from sight.

Handing the mallet back to Tyler, she noticed his smirk and placed her hand to her cheek – it came away black. There was a round, soot-stained circle on each of her cheeks.

Caroline declined Tyler's handkerchief and wiped her face on her sleeve. She knew the water was just an excuse for him to be out on the fields. He got left out of a lot of things because of his families status. It was hard for him, she knew, to be in a class of his own. Looking down at his new leather boots, though, which were so shiny they reflected, and any sympathy she had for him was gone. To buy boots like those whist others were around him who didn't have enough to eat seemed... wrong.

"I know they're stupid," He said, and Caroline realized that she hadn't been subtle. "Embarrassing. But they're a gift from my mother."

Still not okay, she thought stubbornly. She tried to see if Niklaus had noticed her talking with Tyler. But he seemed to have no interest. Dejected, Caroline moved back to work.

Tyler muttered that he needed to offer water to others, but as he moved down the line, Caroline could feel his eyes lingering on her, longer than they should have.

Tyler knew Caroline was in one of her moods; that she wanted to be alone with her thoughts. As he moved away, though, he couldn't help but watch her. Rumors had circulated around Mystic Falls that she had seen the wolf as a child, that it had changed her. She would never tell, but it was a small town, and there were no secrets.

He'd always known that Caroline was different, but he'd always felt a little different himself. Tyler thought maybe they could be different together.

The sun blazed in the sky, indicating the lunch break. Heading to the shade, the men broke of into one group and the women into another.

"Just look at me!" Elena laughed, twirling around as hayseed sprinkled out of her hair around her. "I feel like a cow."

"You're covered in the stuff." Jenna scolded, pulling bits of hay out of her hair.

"Quite twirling like an idiot!" hissed Katherine. "Don't you want to look grown up for the boys?"

Caroline wasn't listening to her friends arguments. Her eyes were following Niklaus as he joined the rest of the men around the barrels of water. He glanced up at her again, and Caroline froze. Should she say something? She waited dumbly, watching his eyes flicker, praying he would recognize her.

The men behind Niklaus nudged him, and he picked up his bag, pushing past the rest of the men, forgetting his food.

One of the girls tugged at Caroline's skirt, and she reluctantly followed them, watching him go.

At the river's edge, a few of the village men were swinging from a rope tied to a long branch, daring each other into the water.

"Tyler, go!" One of the men called out form the bank.

Tyler hurled himself off the edge, letting go at the rope at the highest point. Plunging into the water he swam a few strokes before resurfacing. Another man had appeared.

Tyler recognized him instantly. It was Niklaus.

Tyler's heart pumped. Needing time to think, he took a deep breath and submerged himself into the water. It was peaceful under the water; no dead uncles. And no uncle killers. His lunges started to burn and he pushed himself upwards and burst through the surface. He looked to the shore and the laborers were gone.

Niklaus was gone with them.

Climbing out of the water, some of the other boys looked on nervously. His father looked especially concerned. Richard watched his son from the shore, but Tyler refused to meet his gaze.

He tried to push away the horrible memory of the day Niklaus left town. But nothing he could do would remove the memory of his father, a tough man, crying over the body of uncle Mason lying in the road.

Seeing Tyler Lockwood staring at him in horror sickened Klaus. Just like it had done on that day years ago. He had to leave before Tyler emerged from the water again, so he had told the men they should help set up the women's camp.

Why had he returned to the village? For so many years, Klaus had avoided Mystic Falls, the site of awful accidents.

Despite everything, there was always something about Mystic Falls that called to him. But he was afraid of being there. With her. His memory loved her too much. They had only been children at the time, both innocent. Better to keep her as she'd been, his memory safe and unspoiled.

But she was still here, and he couldn't help but look. She was beautiful. Like an angel. A beauty that almost hurt; he didn't feel worthy to even look at her.

But it prompted memories of a past that he had tried to forget.

The horn sounded from the field, signalling the end of lunch. It was time to back to work.

Why did I return?

Alaric was pairing up the women, who would stomp the grass flat in the wagons, with the men, who would heave armfuls up to them. The men were already lined up and as Caroline approached her gaze was drawn to the middle of the line. To Niklaus. His liquid eyes were fixed on hers, and the distance between them seemed to radiate with heat. Without thinking Caroline sidestepped a few women for a place in the line. She would be paired with Niklaus.

Alaric walked down the aisle between men and women, assigning partners. He pushed Niklaus and Caroline together.

Her pulse raced as they worked all afternoon, close together. A vibe seemed to radiate between the pair, yet he never looked at her once. Was Caroline just imagining it?

The day drew to a close and stacking her final bushel, Caroline saw Niklaus bending down for his sack, about to leave.

It was now or never.

"Niklaus..."

He stood up straight, his back to her.

"It's just 'Klaus' now."

A silence followed. Before Caroline could stop herself, she spoke up again.

"Well... Klaus," Letting his new name roll off her tongue. "Do you remember-?"

Klaus turned around and stepped towards her. She felt the heat flare up between them.

"How could I forget."

She felt weak with joy.

The horn blew again, signalling the end of the day and the start of the camp fire celebration.

Klaus held her eyes for a moment before turning and walking away. Caroline just watched as he disappear into the trees.

Let me know what you think! Reviews help fuel me on :P xx