"Sometimes You Will Never Know The Value Of A Moment Until It Becomes A Memory."
-Dr. Seuss

xXx

"Can Hybrids have kids?" Caroline asks randomly one night. NiKlaus was mostly sleep and only being kept barely awake by the sensation of Caroline creating patterns on his bicep but that comment woke him up immediately. And he could not even find the words to respond. He was stunned into silence. He hadn't thought about children, ever. Just the thought brought up deeply buried fears of turning out like his parents.

"It's just..." Caroline began at his silence. "I never really thought about kids when I was…there but if I ever wanted children could I have some."

"Do you want children?" Klaus questioned after much thought and finally finding the ability to speak once again.

"I..." Caroline thought carefully. "I think I want children with you." Klaus pressed a gentle kiss against her temple. She wants children.

"Then children we will have."

XxX

It doesn't take the Mikaelsons long to find out who is the head witch of Mystic Falls. A few threats here, and a broken bone there and the name Sheila Bennet falls from lips faster than a knife cutting through warm butter. It takes them less time to figure out where she lives and what family members need to be threatened per NiKlaus's instruction if she decides to be difficult. Frankly, Elijah is bit a scared, because this witch will be the key to returning Caroline to her original self and if the Bennet Witch does not cooperate, Mystic Falls will suffer greatly.

Elijah believes once Caroline had to be removed from their lives all of NiKlaus's enemies suffered a loss. NiKlaus was a better person with Caroline. He was a more reasonable person with Caroline. So, when they knock on Sheila Bennett's door, long after her Granddaughter has left after her daily visit before school, Elijah is really hoping she just cooperates. He doesn't feel like destroying another perfectly good suit.

"Hello!" NiKlaus says politely as the door cracks open just a bit. When the witch's face is a less than hospitable, Elijah finds himself placing a reassuring hand on NiKlaus's shoulder to convey a silent message. No need to resort to violence just yet, brother.

"We aren't here to cause any trouble." Elijah assures the obviously skeptical witch. "We have only come to collect one our own."

"There were extenuating circumstances that led to my mate ending up in this town and it seems we need a bit of witchy expertise. My brother Kol, after much questioning of his own, says you're the witch to talk to." Klaus chirps in an uncharacteristically bright and happy manor. "It'd be a lot easier if you invited us in."

Sheila gave them both looks, ones that clearly suggested that the men that who stood in front of her were much less than sane. As much as she wanted to spout dialogue about unnatural and evil, she restrained herself. She knew better than to get on an Original's bad side. She also knew this was probably something she wanted to know about if it was going to be happening in her town. So she invited them in. The words "come in" only brought a tiny bit of regret. There were other ways she could keep them out if her house if need be.

"Start talking." She instructed pulling her sweater tighter around her, as she once again became accompanied with her very comfortable couch.

"A while back my father came to visit and being the man that he is he tried to destroy my happiness and then end my life." Klaus began as he inspected her living room. She eyed him warily as he picked up pictures and knick-knacks left and right.

"He sought to accomplish this by first killing his mate, Caroline-" Sheila perked at the name as Elijah continued Klaus's explanation. "-then forcing us all apart."

"So we found a witch to hide her for a while." NiKlaus said as he examined a painting that hung above her fireplace. "Her solution was to transfer Caroline to another time period completely. She reincarnated her."

"My Caroline?" Sheila questioned. "You're talking about the Forbes girl, my granddaughter's friend?"

"Correct." Elijah confirmed.

"What exactly are you asking of me?" Sheila asked after another quick run through of the story with Klaus and his mate. She'd listened to them repeat the spell for Caroline's reincarnation three times and was surprised that they had memorized it so well.

"We need to know when Caroline will be our Caroline again." Elijah delineated. Sheila nodded thoughtfully. She'd gotten the gist of the spell. Whatever it was it was ancient and must have been lost throughout time but the words were clear enough. The spell was a work of art to say the least. It was simply executed for a rather complicated result.

"Your family is the key." Sheila stated quietly. "When she sees you all together, it will trigger all of her memories but all of the emotions accompanied with them as well. Be careful. If she's been through as much as you insinuate, the pain will be overwhelming."

NiKlaus wasn't worried about pain. Caroline could handle as much as anyone could give.

"Well if that's all it takes I'll make sure we all spend quality time together." Klaus smirked pulling out his phone. A quick look at the time let him know that it was Lunchtime. Perfect, he thought as he began composing a text to Rebekah.

XxX

Caroline was craving something. Even as she sat here with her friends and they laughed, she was missing something, and she wanted it back. She didn't want to think about science or history or math. She wanted to focus on that thing. She wasn't just missing something, she was missing something. Her heart felt empty. It was aching for something like it would if she missed her mom or her friends but more, a lot more. This was the most important thing in her life and it hurt to have it gone.

She found herself unwillingly laying her head on her desk. She couldn't think straight. She couldn't see it, the whole picture. She had bits and pieces. She kept dreaming of people in situations. Kol and her playing mind games with each other. The Blonde, whose name may be Rebekah, and her shopping in old times, and girl-talking.

The guy who always wore a suit liked to teach her things. He gave her books and helped her read because she's not good at that in her dreams. The last man, NiKlaus, he did everything. He shopped with her, talked with her, played with her, taught her, bought her everything, and he loved her most of all. And they run together but sometimes he's different when he runs. Sometimes he looks like a wolf in her dreams and sometimes the others, mostly when they're protecting her, they have fangs.

"Caroline Forbes, you're not even listening to me." Tyler complained. His face was sporting a pout at having his magnanimous fight story ignored. She laughed as she looked up. She found herself snorting at the name he called her. It was so odd. Those two things didn't sound right together.

"What did you just call me?" She asked with another small laugh.

"Um...your name?"

"What?!" She laughed again. "What type of ridiculous name is Forbes?!"

"Caroline," Matt interjected as he glanced worriedly at the other friends surrounding them, "what are you talking about?"

"Matt!" Caroline yelled causing some of the lunchroom to turn her way. "Come on! You should all know my last name is Mikael-" she stopped. She couldn't figure out what was she saying. She was taken aback by her own denial of her last name. She looked around. She spotted Kol and Rebekah strolling through the lunch room. Kol winked and Rebekah waved. She waved back hesitantly. Caroline watched as Rebekah said something to Kol and detached herself from him. She strolled over to Caroline.

"Hey Doll!" Rebekah chimed cheerfully as she leaned on the table.

That dress is gorgeous on you! You look like a perfect doll...

"My elder brothers are throwing a welcome home party for Kol and me." She said sliding into place in the seat next to Caroline's at the lunch table. "I wanted to know if you would come. Your friends can come too," she motioned to the stunned faces of the rest of the table, "and anyone they want to invite."

"Okay sure." Caroline said immediately without even thinking about it. Rebekah smiled with a greeting nod towards the other. She told Caroline that she was putting up flyers later with date and time but she just wanted to invite her personally and Caroline found her breath catching in her chest. When had that ever happened? Had one of her friends ever went out of their way to make her feel special?

XxX

It was the dogs.

That's was why she couldn't sleep. It was the dogs and the pain and the slavers that appeared. It wasn't always when she slept sometimes it was during the day while she did absolutely normal things. She would hear a shout or a bark or see something that reminded her of there and be back there all again. Often times it passed quickly and the others didn't even notice but it didn't always pass. Sometimes it was too much, sometimes she couldn't handle it. She'd just slide to the floor and cry. Shed squeeze her arm too tight or drag her nails down her arms. NiKlaus scolded her at times like those. He didn't like it when she hurt herself.

The best times were when she would wake up with NiKlaus beneath her. They'd be tangled together all limbs and hair but she'd hear his heart beat. He's not supposed to have one because he's dead but he does and she loves it. So if she dreams bad dreams, she finds her haven in the sound and sights and smell of him.

"What are you thinking of?" Kol asks her one day. She's not sure when he appeared in the living room where'd she'd been drifting, staring absentmindedly at the roaring fireplace, and stroking the wall beneath her finger tips.

"I'm happy here." She states with smile that's more somewhere else than with Kol. That's because she's happy. Kol realizes. She gets to lose herself in her mind without worry that someone will take away her peace.

"Who makes you happy?" She asks suddenly, her mind finding its footing in the real world. "Is it that girl? The one with all those powers?"

"She could make me happy," Kol states after a thought or two, "but I don't think I've found the person that'll make me happy the way NiKlaus makes you happy."

"I'm looking forward to the day that we all do." Caroline smiles a bit brighter at the mere thought. "I like to see my family happy."

XxX

"I don't like her." Elena frowns as the three girls sit in Caroline's room. They're looking for something for Caroline to wear, but, for some reason that Caroline can't understand, they can never focus solely on Caroline for too long.

"I like her." Caroline says absentmindedly as she slides through her closet. "What do you think blue or pink?"

"She kinda seems stuck up." Bonnie agrees as she and Elena completely ignore Caroline's question.

"I'm settled on jeans..."

"And she talks to Caroline like she's known her forever."

"That makes her nice not stuck up." Caroline argues. "Seriously guys blue or pink?"

"Care I don't think you should talk to her." Elena says after her and Bonnie do that secret stare thingy that they've been doing for months.

"I like her and she's nice." Caroline frowns. "Maybe black...black is always nice…"

"I've never even heard of her older brothers!" Bonnie points out. "When exactly did they move here?"

"The red is looking kind of cute too-"

"I know right! I've never even seen their faces!" Elena shouts.

"Hello!" Caroline calls from where she is buried in her closet.

"You think Stefan would know if they-you know." Bonnie whispers as if she is unaware that Caroline can definitely still hear her.

"He should-"

"JESUS, BLUE OR PINK?!" Caroline screams. "I mean, God, it's not that hard of a question! Are you two too busy keeping secrets and trying to control my social life to help me with something as simple as picking the color of a shirt?!"

"Care we're just trying to look out for you-"

"No, you're trying to look out for yourselves! You think the Mikaelsons have something to do with whatever weird thing you've been hiding since you got with Stefan, and it's the same weird thing that I've been trying to get you to tell me because I'm worried about you and actually care about your health unlike some people!"

"That's not fair!"

"Whatever", Caroline sighs, "just leave my family alone. They haven't done anything to you. Now please get out."

"Care-"

"Please!" She says with tiredness in her tone that is solely for them. She's been tired of their one way friendship since forever. Kicking them out of her house feels like she's defeated a super villain and she can finally breathe again.

After they've left and she's locked the door she goes back up to her room and practically marries her bed. She huffs into the pillows, resisting the urge to scream, before turning her head for some air.

"I think I'll go with dark blue." She mumbles to herself as she slips into sleep. "NiKlaus likes dark blue."

XxX

She didn't go to school the two days before the party. The human race was proving to be a test of her patience so, Tyler texts her with the address and time. It's from 8 to whenever and with free food. Although it's not on the flyer, Caroline is sure there is going to be beer but she's never really liked that sort of thing. She likes to have a clear head. Food though…food she likes.

She hasn't talked to Bonnie and Elena since she'd practically slammed the door in their faces and refuses to answer their calls. She suspects that they'll ambush her tonight in an effort to explain what they really mean and how they're not keeping secrets. Just at the thought of it, Caroline remembers how much she hates liars.

"If you do as we say, we'll let you go hehehe"

"….Really?"

"Yeah, of course, just come here and-"

"Ukhodi!"

She's more than prepared to tell them to fuck off in the nicest way possible. She doesn't know what she will do by herself at a party. She's never been to a party alone but…she has other friends...right? I mean there are Matt and Tyler. But really, they are Elena's friends, Elena's followers realy... Then again, who isn't? All her "friends" pretty much center their lives around Elena. Elena this and Elena that. Not to mention the fact that Elena has an incredible talent of getting in trouble. Honestly, she could make a profession of it. There is always something with her and they usually end up tied up in it. No matter, Caroline could make new friends. The Mikaelsons proved just that.

She didn't think about the scars when she'd picked out her shirt. She couldn't remember the last time she'd worn something sleeveless. The scars all over her arms had made her hide them. She used to have a wide variety of clothing, courtesy of her mom, and her wardrobe option had drastically lessened since her dreams had begun becoming a reality. It didn't matter. She could always wear a jacket. She had an abundance of those too. Heading into the Mikaelson house that was what she reminded herself of.

There was music and lots of people. The tables set out with a wonderful display of food. It was simple things like chicken, in forms of tenders and wings and more, chips and salsa.

"Are you enjoying that chicken?" Klaus laughed as Caroline tore apart the chicken that was in front of her.

"This is chicken?!" Caroline questioned around a mouth full of food and received a nod from Klaus. "This is the best thing I've ever eaten!"

There weren't any drinks though, to her surprise, but oddly enough there was chocolate. After examining the food table, she roamed aimlessly. She didn't really know these peole so she dealt with being alone. That was until Rebekah spotted her and whisked her away upstairs. She was talking really fast and Caroline listened hard and stared at her lips to try and decipher what she was saying.

"... I've been waiting for you all night." Was the first thing she actually understood out of Rebekah's mouth.

"Oh!" Caroline said. "Well sorry I'm was late. I had a bit if a wardrobe crisis." She didn't mention the part where she cried because she was ugly. That was a bit of a party killer.

"But you're here now!" Rebekah said happily. "It was totally worth the wait."

XxX

It's always when she's least expecting it. That's when he shows up. He won't leave them alone. He keeps coming back and the only reason NiKlaus hasn't killed him is because Caroline asks nicely. She doesn't want him to have blood on his hands because of her. Now though...now Caroline thinks maybe she should have.

"There you are." Her slaver grins. He's definitely hers. She remembers that face.

"Go away." She says calmly but sternly. NiKlaus has taught her to always be proud and strong. People don't get to talk down to her because she's young or because she's a woman or because they think she's property.

"Your noble isn't here to protect you, is he?" He takes a step closer. Caroline doesn't have anything in her hands just the bunches of her dress because she needs something to hold on to. She needs something to keep her sane. Usually that's NiKlaus or any other Mikaelson but they're not here right now. She has to be strong for herself.

"These are not your lands." She reminds. "Leave." He doesn't listen. Why would he? He used to own her. He used to take pleasure from her pain and cause chaos and sorrow in her life every day. She wants to run, she does, but that's what he wants. He wants to chase her. He thinks this is a game. She won't run from him or for him.

"You're my property, my territory." He scowls. "I still own you. What gives him the right to have you?"

"He loves me." She explains. "He's in love with me because I'm beautiful and smart and carefree. I like to read and dance and sing. He buys me things I need, things I don't, and things I didn't know I needed. He owns me in a way that you will never understand. I don't want to be free from him."

He's angry now. She's knows because he makes that face. He makes the face he's been making since she was a little girl, since before she was old enough to carry a tray although they made her do it anyway. She takes a few steps back, and she knows she shouldn't have. She knows she should not have waivered but she panicked at that face and he lunged forward. She heard dogs and of course he brought others. He's pushing her down. Her hands push back. She finds his face and pushes him away as a rough hand scrapes down her front, tearing her dress. She thinks she feels him hit her but it doesn't hurt like it used to. She was smaller then.

"Get off!" She orders as she kicks at him and pushes against his torso with the other hand.

"Stupid bitch!" He yells. His mouth is open wide and she sticks her whole hand in. Her fingers are touching the back of his mouth and she slides them down his throat. He's choking now. Hes coughing long enough for her to get up and run. She can't think of it as rubbing from or for him. She running for NiKlaus because she can't die here. She doesn't know what he will do if she dies. She's not afraid of death. For a very long time it had been on the top of her wish list. She's seen him upset over her and she's afraid to unleash that on the world.

Run faster!

Soon she's out of the forest and into the clearing that is right before the house. There, already headed her way, were three blurs. She knows who they are. The pounding footsteps following her can't tell but she's grown use to recognizing their blurs. She crashes into Rebekah first, who quickly molds the two of them together to hide Caroline's exposed chest. Rebekah is worrying and being pissed while she simultaneously curses and threatens the man while looking over Caroline. Caroline is sure the man is dead already. Both Elijah and Kol were headed his way. Then something unusual happens. Kol is flying from the trees and into the clearing and suddenly he is one of the many corpse decorating the ground. There's a branch sticking through his chest and Caroline rushes from Rebekah to Kol.

"Caroline!" Rebekah yells as a man comes strolling through the woods. He's unusually calm in the chaos and carrying something in his right hand. Caroline's not worried about him. She's worried about Kol.

"Caroline!" Rebekah screams at the top of her lungs causing Caroline's head to snap towards her. "Go! Kol is fine! Go! Go find Nik!"

Rebekah pulls her onto her feet and away from Kol and pushes her towards the house before urging her to go. She listens to her because this is important and begins towards the house. Before she takes off at top speed she hears Rebekah yell once more.

"Father, please!"

XxX

This is weird right?

Caroline thinks it is as she shakes the hands of Rebekah's eldest brothers. Apparently she's already met them, in real life and her dreams. She blushes a little because some of the dreams she had about the younger one aren't very innocent but the way he's looking at her-that's not very innocent either. Elijah is in a suit as always and NiKlaus is casually dressed. Kol gives her a hug because he's the touchy kind of person.

"Hi!" Caroline chirps. "It's nice to meet you all."

For a while it is all going rather smoothly. They make conversation. It's mostly the Mikaelsons talking. They tell about their travels and there are quite a few and Caroline is more than happy to listen. She notices some glances between the two older brothers that are indecipherable but chooses to ignore them. She isn't looking to create problems and she hadn't planned on it. That is until NiKlaus says-

"You're very beautiful, Caroline."

The words stop her mind mid-thought. She sputters trying to say thank you but really only turning red. They're just words, she tells herself but she knows that's not exactly true because these words seem awfully familiar. She hears Elijah say- "Why don't you tell me your name?"- although his mouth never moves and Rebekah is yelling about defeating the boys in a snowball fight while Kol lovingly whispers "You can take as much as time as you need.." and suddenly she can't breathe. Her eyes are blurry and she falls. She can barely make out the image of the hand below her as the other claws desperately at her chest. Abruptly there is a hand touching her shoulder and she finds herself stumbling onto her feet and away from the group that all have panicked eyes.

Her eyes are slowly focusing and she can make out their faces. One by one the blur clears up and though she can now breathe, she doesn't want to because these people…she knows them. The last time she saw them…NO! Not again! Kol doesn't look like he had, lifeless and dark. Klaus isn't covered in blood. Rebekah isn't crying. Elijah isn't furious but she knows. She knows that they were dying the last time she saw them. This can't be real.

"Caroline," NiKlaus begins stretching out a hand to pull her closer but she takes a quick step back.

"I can't touch you." She mumbles as her breath becomes labored. At least she is breathing. Elijah thinks as he lets out a breath of his own.

"Why?" Kol asks her as NiKlaus's face drops. Kol knows that Klaus has been waiting for this moment and that he will take her rejection the wrong way.

"Because," Caroline's voice cracks, a steady stream of tears begins to roll down her cheeks, and she slowly begins to sob, "I'm afraid you're not real." She hangs her head in between her hands.

Her heart is racing. It's craving that thing even more. She needs to breathe. She needs to relax. There are arms encasing her suddenly She tries push them away. She pulls them closer. She doesn't know why she does it but it makes her feel better immediately. She finds herself reaching to wrap her hands around the face of the one who is holding her. She brings his head down to rest his forehead against hers. Her fingers began running along the sides of his face. She closes her eyes and breathes. His hands come up to wrap around her wrists but he isn't just grasping her, he's holding onto her. He's hanging on for dear life.

"You remember right?" He breathes deep. "I've spent 500 years without you. You know I'm not a patient man."

"I'm sorry." A soft smile graces her lips and she wishes that they could stay like this forever. Why should they ever move? Why do they have to deal with the rest of the world?

"NiKlaus," Caroline mutters suddenly, "something's wrong. Kol is hurt-

And the slavers are back again!" Caroline yells as she enters the house. There's a commotion in the dining room and she follows the sounds. She finds NiKlaus. His hands are covered in blood and he is wiping some from his face with the back of his hand. He rushes up to her when he sees her. He doesn't touch her with his hands but fusses over her just like Rebekah.

"I'm fine." Caroline says, gently taking his hands into hers. She places them both on her face. She doesn't care about the blood. She never has. "See? I'm perfectly fine. But Kol-"

"So this is where you've been hiding." Mikael's voice announces as he bursts through the front doors. NiKlaus immediately pushes Caroline behind him. "Ah and there is where your little whore is. I was hoping to kill her before I saw you but she's quite slippery, that one."

"Father, leave Caroline-"

"DONT CALL ME THAT!" he roars. Caroline jumps where she stands behind Klaus. "I should've killed you when you were a baby." Caroline cringes at that. To threaten a baby is something a slaver would do because they don't have heart, only greed and anger.

Elijah zooms into the house. His blouse is ripped open and he's covered in blood.

"Father," he says cautiously, "leave them be. You've done eno-"

"I don't believe I was talking to you, Elijah." Mikael dismissed. He waved Elijah off turning to face NiKlaus and the girl.

"Caroline," Klaus said quietly, "you know where to go." Caroline doesn't hesitate before rushing up the stairs. She never thought she would need this hiding place. It was always just a reassurance for Klaus. Today it would be where she panicked.

XxX

"How long has it been, exactly?" Caroline questions as they sit in the upstairs den.

"500 years 6 months 3 weeks and 2 days." NiKlaus says immediately. "Not that I was counting." She giggles. He smiles because he can still make her laugh. She can't take it anymore. She kisses him. She kisses him long and lovingly because apparently she hasn't kissed him in five hundred years. She missed his mouth and she didn't know even know it.

"Caroline what are you doing!" Elena's voice reaches her. She sighs into the kiss and it's not a happy sigh. She rests her head on NiKlaus's shoulder as she hears the footsteps moving towards her.

"Hold it witchy and bitchy." Rebekah instructs with a hand to Elena's midsection. "You're interrupting a family moment."

"Elena and Bonnie," Caroline sighs again, "not now." She hasn't made them best friends in this lifetime.

"Love, there's something you should-"

"Seriously Caroline?!" Elena yells past Rebekah who really looks like she's trying not to strangle her. "This guy has to be at least twice your age!"

"I resent that." Klaus frowns. "I don't look thatold."

"You have no idea what's going on." Carol one guys before pinching the bridge of her nose. She shook her head at the incoming headache.

"Really, girls," Elijah advises, "you're out if your league here."

"Your mom-" Elena begins and Caroline realizes. She has a mom again and not just any mom but a really great mom. She turns to NiKlaus.

"She is actually my mom right?" She inquires. "She's not compelled or anything?"

"She is your mother." Kol confirms. He is the expert after all. "She birthed you and everything."

"About the compulsion-"

"Caroline, we're talking to you!"

"Okay!" She screams. "Let me give you my undivided attention. I know you're a vampire, Elena. Thanks for being such good friends and telling me. Your boyfriend's brother is an asshole by the way. These-" she motions to the Mikaelsons-"are my family members. NiKlaus Mikaelson is my mate and he has been since long before your stupid town with its stupid founding families was ever thought of."

Caroline had much more to say. She did but at the moment her head felt like it was splitting. She dropped to her knees. Immediately NiKlaus hands were on her, his arms wrapped around her and holding her tight. He was explaining this to her but she couldn't hear over her screaming. Thankfully the music downstairs was pretty loud and none of them would hear her. Her head still hurt like hell though.

"You little brat! I don't care if you starve!"

The cuts he supplied to her back gave her no doubt that she didn't care but she was still scared and hungry. Someone was grabbing her hair now. Whoever was watching didn't want to buy a child. They cried too much.

"This is the arrow chaser's daughter?" The man questioned as he examined her, a little blonde girl with tear stained blue eyes and dirt covering every inch of her skin. The man bent down to come face to face with her.

"Your mother was a whore." He voice smelled terrible. "She'd sleep with anything, even one of those goddamned Indians." Caroline cried. That was what he wanted.

This was Caroline's fault. At least that's what she thought as the whip hit her back. She wasn't sorry though. It could be her fault forever and she wouldn't be sorry. That man deserved to be hit with that pan. He'd touched her in a very inappropriate place. Her mother said men weren't supposed to do that. Her mother was also dead, so maybe she didn't know as much as she seemed to.

They usually didn't hit her in the face. Arms, legs, torso, they could all be covered. This particular incident after her escape the Master Slaver had been too upset to care. She had time to heal. They wouldn't sell her for another couple months. The slavers had a bet as to who would break her first. Who would have her begging for him before she left? Caroline wanted to die. That's what she thought as she sobbed miserably on the cold stone floor of her cell. She wanted to die.

"Back off, Gilbert!" Kol ordered as Bonnie and Elena tried to get to Caroline.

"Caroline," NiKlaus said quietly.

She cried harder. There was too much noise, yelling and whispering and music. Too much noise outside her head, too much inside her head.

"Too much!" She whimpered. NiKlaus looked to Elijah. It was time for the party to be over.

"Escort those two out." Elijah told Rebekah and Kol. They were more than happy to follow orders. Elijah headed downstairs to get everyone out of their home. The music cut off immediately. Any noise that may have come afterwards was quickly silenced.

"Caroline," NiKlaus tried again, "she told me of this. I told her there was no need to worry because you're strong. I know the memories hurt. I have memories that hurt too. Listen, love, you can handle them."

She grabbed at him desperately. She buried her face in his chest and cried. This was where the really bad memories came in and even though she couldn't remember them, she knew there were more than a few. She hugged him tighter.

"I remember the snowball fight." She cried. "I love you."

"I am in love with you."

XxX

She wouldn't have agreed to meet them if she knew it was going to be like this. This wasn't a discussion. This was Bonnie and Elena telling her all the reasons she should avoid the Mikaelsons. Murderers blah blah blah. Completely insane blah blah. Rebekah's a bitch blah blah blah. Kol's kinda hot though blah blah. She was resisting the urge to bang her head against the table. How did she handle this before? Did they do this all the time?

"Elena," Caroline sighed. She'd been doing a lot of that. "It's not that simple. Klaus and I we're mates. We have been for a very long time now and just because you don't approve doesn't mean-"

"Caroline, this relationship isn't good for you."

That was the last straw.

"Let me make this clear." Caroline whispered menacingly. "I am not your Caroline anymore. I have her memories and I love you like she does but we are not the same. I am not a Barbie and this is not your playhouse. Klaus has been nothing but good to me. He has literally saved my life time and again. I know what he has done. He's loves me thoroughly. I don't love him because he's all good. I'm not in love with him because he's a good little puppy. I need him for all the things that he is and I need him because I love him. He can be evil. He can be murderous and he can be downright cruel. I love him for ALL the things that he is and if those happen to be among the selections then I take those too. I don't want to change him. I love him for what he is, not what you think he should be." Caroline stood angrily. She yanked her coat out of the booth and yanked it mercilessly onto her arms.

"While you're judging my mate," Caroline shot angrily, "you should talk to your boyfriend because The Mikaelsons have told me some things about him and they're not all that pretty and innocent either."