A/N: Hey guys, apologies this is a tad late. Good news is, I only have 3 more weeks of uni left(!) and then I'll be able to use all my hard earned spare time to work on this fic. Hooray! Double hooray TVD is back! Anywhooo, please let me know what you think.

Enjoy, MJ

Heading outside, Caroline was surprised to see a regular old Jeep parked by the curb instead of Klaus' usual extravagant vehicle of choice. Raising a sceptical eyebrow, she slides into the passenger seat next to him without complaint.

"What's that look for, love?" he says teasingly.

"Just thinking how strange it is to see you inside a normal car," she replies honestly.

"We're heading somewhere off the beaten track today, so buckle up."

"We're vampires Klaus," she rolls her eyes.

"Yes, but all it takes is a tiny wooden stick to kill you sweetheart, so please buckle up," he says, deliberately waiting for her to do so.

"Ok jeez, bossy much," she complains, but straps the belt across her chest anyway. "So where are we going?"

"If I told you I'd have to kill you," he says in all seriousness.

Rolling her eyes for what felt like the hundredth time since she arrived in New Orleans, Caroline let a small giggle escape her lips.

"What is it now?" the hybrid growls.

"Who even says that anymore?"

"Says what?" he looks at her brows furrowed.

"If I told you I'd have to kill you," she imitates him with a horrible English accent. "I thought as an original, you'd be more... I don't know, original," she laughs.

"Well it's true for all intents and purposes."

"Well now you have to tell me where we're going," she says eagerly.

"No, I don't think I will," he looks at her grinning cheekily.

"Klaus, tell me please," she says sweetly.

"No, sorry love," he grins again.

"Klaus!"

"Caroline!" he says assertively.

"Klaus, tell me where we're going. Pleaseeeee," she begs, pouting slightly.

"Nope," he pops the 'p' with his lips, casually teasing her.

"Please, please, please, please, please," she continues with a bigger pout this time.

"Caroline," he growls in warning, his eyes darting down to her pink lips.

"Oh fine! You're no fun," she grumbles, turning her attention to the scenery outside her passenger side window.

Two hours later, Caroline finds herself amidst one of the most bizarre dreams she's ever had. The scene before her is unfamiliar. Looking around the small room she's aware she's never been here before. There's a crib in the corner, surrounded by piles of children's toys. Looking down to kick a plush toy out of her way, she's startled to find a very distressed looking hybrid standing before her when she looks up.

"Caroline, I need your help," he says desperately.

"Anything, what can I do?" the words fall from her mouth involuntarily.

Stepping aside, Klaus glances over at the small white window in the Nursery. Looking outside, Caroline is chilled to the bone by the sight before her. It was as if the red, fiery pits of hell were staring straight at her. The most hideous creatures she had ever seen, all came together to form the most terrifying army imaginable. Ghosts, ghouls, vampires, demons and god knows what else, came closer and closer and closer towards the second story window. Stumbling back from the window with a hand over her mouth, Caroline quivered in fear. Hearing a small cry from behind her, she turns, only to find nothing there.

"Klaus?" she says uncertainly.

Hearing nothing in return, she walks over to the crib. Inside the pale wooden frame lay the most enchanting baby boy staring back at her. Wide eyes, blue enough to melt her heart, look up at her trustingly. Hearing glass break, Caroline turns to discover the hellish army making its way in through the window. Grabbing the baby boy from his crib she cradles him in her arms protectively. Her brain tells her to flee, to escape as soon as she can. But her body seems to have something else in mind. Out of pure instinct, Caroline rips the sapphire necklace from her throat and clutches the baby boy to her chest tightly. Blinding light escapes from her entire body, bathing the room in her glow. The light penetrates the hellish army and Caroline watches as it invades them all. The light seeps into them, turning them to nothingness.

Gasping for air, Caroline's eyes snap open in alarm. A soothing hand brushes her forehead and another grips her shoulder tightly.

"Caroline," she can hear the worried hybrids voice through the haze. "It's ok, hush," he calms her.

Her breaths slow as she chokes down the fear threatening to suffocate her. "What's going on? Why are we stopped?"

"You fell asleep a couple hours ago. Was it a bad dream?" he says leaning down and looking into her eyes. His rough palms stroke the side of her face, sending shivers down her spine.

"I guess so, but not really. What a bizarre dream," she ponders aloud, making no effort to remove herself from his grasp.

"You nearly killed us both. One minute you're sleeping peacefully, next minute your ripping off your necklace, trying to blind me. I swerved right off the road and everything, it was quite dramatic," he says lightly, still looking down at her.

"Sorry," she yawns, fingers touching the necklace Klaus had to of placed back around her neck. Squirming underneath him, she finally realises the hybrid is a little too close for comfort when her chest grazes his. "Umm..." she lets the word hang in the air.

"We're nearly there," he says smugly, dipping lower so his lips brush her ear. "Try to behave, will you?" he whispers hotly to her.

"I will if you do," she glances down at his hands lingering on her.

Offering her a throaty chuckle, he moves away and back into his own seat.

Breathing a sigh of relief, she takes a moment to compose herself after that close encounter with the big bad wolf.

A minute later, they arrive outside of a secluded cabin hidden by a few select trees. Hoping out of the car, Klaus places a protective hand on her lower back as they approach the front door.

"Let me do all the talking, ok? Only speak when she questions you directly and don't stray far from me," he whispers to her.

Nodding briefly and resisting the urge to punch him in the stomach for bossing her around, Caroline watches as Klaus approaches the door ahead of her.

Without even touching it, the door opens wide and Klaus steps inside, grabbing her wrist firmly in his hands as he goes.

Keeping his grip on her tight, Klaus leads her down a flight of stairs into the basement. Stepping into the empty room, Caroline lets out a small squeal as a large rat scurries past her.

"Gwendolyn!" Klaus shouts.

The moment he does, the room transforms before Caroline's eyes. Deep red silks are draped across the ceiling and walls, vaguely reminding Caroline of Daari's restaurant. Beautifully woven throw pillows are scattered across the floor haphazardly. On a pink, plush circular couch in the centre of the room, Caroline spots a beautiful blonde perched atop a couple pillows.

"Gwendolyn, I don't have time for games today," he growls, protectively pushing Caroline behind him.

"Since when," she snorts.

Caroline is almost surprised by the pang of jealously that hits her hard.

"You will play my game if you want the prize Klaus," the blonde stranger looks at him sternly. "You want something from me and I take something from you, that is how this works."

"Choose your words wisely, seer. I don't appreciate being told what to do," he bites out.

"I am bored," Gwendolyn waves her hand at him. "I've already had this conversation and I already know the outcome. You will concede and I will talk to the girl, it has already been decided. You may be stronger than me Klaus but I am an integral part of natures balance. The world needs me in order to continue spinning on its axis. Even if I die, another me will pop up in replacement, and so on and so on until the end of time. You need not waste either of our time any longer, I will serve your purpose." Wrapping her exquisite silk kimono tightly around her delicate shoulders, she eyes Caroline curiously. "So, who might this be," she purrs.

Preparing to let the strange blonde know exactly who she is, Caroline feels Klaus' grip tighten around her wrist in warning.

"This is Caroline Forbes," he snaps.

"I know," she smiles devilishly. "Caroline Forbes, tell me what brings you here?" she beckons her over.

Stepping around Klaus, she shakes her wrist free and approaches the couch despite his disapproving stare. "I was told you might be able to help me," she says confidently.

"Brave!" the other blonde muses. "I like this one Klaus. Your hand please Caroline," Gwendolyn purrs again.

Holding her head high, Caroline offers her hand to the stranger.

Taking her hand in her palms, Gwendolyn closes her eyes for the briefest moment. Inhaling softly through her plump lips, she looks up at Caroline with wide eyes.

"What is it?" Klaus interrupts in a panicked voice.

"It's... it's..." Gwendolyn stutters, as a tear rolls down her cheek.

"WHAT!" the hybrid roars at her.

"It's amazing," she cries, pulling Caroline's hand to her cheek, making it wet with tears.

"ENOUGH!" he roars again, pulling Caroline's hand from her grip and placing an arm around the young vampire. "Tell me what you know now or I will rip your throat out before your next sob," he threatens.

"I don't know what she is, but she's something that's for sure," Gwendolyn says, wiping the tears from her face. "She is the light, she'll save us all," she mumbles.

"Well now, it's a shame you can't elaborate," he says so smoothly, it sets off alarm bells in Caroline's head.

Beating him to the punch, Caroline lunges toward Gwendolyn, just in time to push her back and out of Klaus' reach.

As Gwendolyn lets out a deafening squeal, the room changes again, and all of a sudden Caroline and Klaus are left standing alone in a regular old rat infested basement.

"Gwendolyn!" Klaus bellows in the empty room.

As her surroundings swiftly change back to the red satin décor and plush embroidered cushions. Caroline spots Gwendolyn cowering behind the circular couch.

"Klaus, don't you dare," she stands in front of him, blocking his way.

"Just trying to get some answers, love," he says innocently. "It's much more effective than hugging the answers out of her."

"It's not happening Klaus. Lets just leave, she obviously doesn't know anything."

"I-I really don't," Gwendolyn's shaking voice interrupts them.

"It's up to you, love," he continues, completely ignoring the other blonde. "There are two others on the list to see today, so we can leave now if you want. But I guarantee she knows more than she's letting on. She always does," he says looking at the quivering mess hiding behind the circular couch.

"Lets just go, someone has to know something about it," Caroline says.

"As you wish," he says, stepping aside to let her pass.

"You're much more likeable when you're not trying to kill people, you know," she smiles over her shoulder at him as she passes by him.

"Well, you can't always get what you want, love," he says placing his hand on her lower back as he catches up to her.

"Never a truer word said," she retorts, batting his hand away.