AN; Especially for my friend Sophie who is a major Klaroline Shipper. Caroline goes to New Orleans. Happy Reading.

Chapter 4

The visitor.

Mikaela was sat in the court yard with a cup of tea and a chemistry textbook open on the white metal bistro table. Niklaus and Hayley were off talking to Davina about something and Elijah was out shopping for necessities for herself and their household. She was studying her textbook for her new major she would be taking in the fall at New Orleans' university.

She had been engrossed in a section about elements when there was a knock on the door the compound. So she got up, on her guard, in case it was an enemy baying for blood and made her way of the door. She opened it to reveal a blonde woman stood outside.

"Can I help you?" Mikaela asked giving her the once over.

"My name is Caroline Forbes, I'm looking for Klaus Mikaelson. Does he live here?" The girl asked and held out her ID to Mikaela to study.

"Come on in. he'll be back shortly."

"Thank you." Caroline said as Mikaela stood aside to let her in to the compound.

"I'm Mikaela Mikaelson, Elijah's daughter." Mikaela explained, waving her hand and packing away her books and setting them aside carefully. The books magically piled up neatly and floated over to the counter under the inner balcony of the compound.

"You're a witch?"

"A vampire- witch hybrid. My mother was a witch." Mikaela explained and turned violently when the outer door flew open and Elijah walked in. Mikaela magically sent the shopping bags to the kitchen where they unpacked themselves and ran to throw her arms around her father with a squeal.

"Papa!" Elijah opened his arms and scooped up his daughter, lifting her off her feet for a moment before returning her to the ground.

"Hello, Mikaela. I will never get enough of this.'" Elijah said his eyes closed in the moments of the hug. When he released her and opened his eyes he saw Caroline over his daughter's shoulder.

"Caroline? What are you doing here?" He was about to ask but was cut off by Klaus and Hayley returning to the compound through the still open door to he compound.

"Hello, Klaus." She said and then began to cry and Niklaus flashed over and held her tight in a friendly hug.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" He asked her tenderly.

"The other side has disintegrated. Bonnie and Damon are dead." Caroline explained, tears spilling over and soaking his shirt. "I needed some space and you said that I could always come here."

"I did and you may stay for as long as you need." Niklaus said sweetly, releasing her. Only now did she spot Hayley.

"What are you doing here?" Caroline asked and Hayley scoffed.

"I live here." She said and left to the kitchen, alone. Elijah remained with Niklaus, Caroline and Mikaela, whose waist he had his arm around. She had her head on his shoulder tenderly.

"I didn't know you had a daughter, Elijah?"

"Neither did I, Caroline, until a few weeks ago. Little Mikaela was raised by me as my goddaughter- her mother kept the truth from me for a long time." Elijah replied to Caroline as Mikaela magically made a three coffees and a tea appear on a tray which sat in the table. Niklaus guided Caroline to a chair, he took the one beside her and Elijah and Mikaela sat together on the bench opposite them.

"Hayley's going to bed." Mikaela explained, her face blanking for a moment. Niklaus nodded.

"She needs it."

"Papa? Perhaps we should go for a walk, whilst Uncle Nik explains Hayley's presence here?" Mikaela suggested taking her mug of tea from the tray. Elijah nodded. "Oh, and Caroline, I was born in 1902 in answer to your question." Caroline stared blankly at her, mouth open a little.

She stood up and took Elijah's arm before accompanying her father outside. Caroline turned to look at Klaus as the pair retreated. Klaus was chuckling to himself. "Mikaela is a talented witch but she can also read minds and control someone telepathically. She's very clever."

"Oh. I see."

"The reason Hayley is here is that she...um... She is the mother of my daughter, Hope who is currently residing with Rebekah as there are many here who wish her dead. Rebekah is protecting her for our family."

"Oh, I see. Well that complicates things." Caroline stated.

"How?" Klaus asked as they sipped their coffee.

"I came here because you said you'd show me the world, Paris, Tokyo. You can't if you're with Hayley."

"But I'm not with Hayley. Hope was conceived in a one night stand, an unplanned accident on both our parts. But I wouldn't be without Hope for the world, Caroline. I can still show you the world, if you want me to, sweetheart." He smiled kindly, taking her hand on the table.

"I'd like that." Caroline smiled back eagerly, squeezing Klaus' hand. Outside, Mikaela was translating what she heard in their thoughts to her father and Elijah took her hand tenderly because he knew his brother would be alright with Caroline around, he too was saddened by the loss of the young Bennett witch, not because he cared for her, but because she was Caroline's friend and no one should loose their friends. Friends were what kept you safe.

"Family too." Mikaela added to his thought aloud. Elijah smiled and nodded, pleased he had got his daughter with him once more. He watched the sun set on a good day for their family.