Thanks for all the reviews I received last chapter. I am glad there are some of you still interested. It means a lot to read your thoughts and kind words, they are very motivating.

So, I was planning on updating Friday but finished it up today so here it is, Enjoy!

Caroline held Niklaus's hand tightly to her trembling body as they raced through the dense forest. She had grown completely numb as the trees flashed past her in the darkness. The only light was that of the moon and stars. Caroline wanted nothing more in this moment than to stop running and crawl up into one of the massive trees to let her brain process this unbearable fate that was being laid out before her.

It was as if everything that had happened was too extreme to be real, a bad dream in which she could never awake from. As she felt the warm tears prickling at her eyes Niklaus pulled her to an abrupt stop.

"My home is not far from here." Niklaus said turning just enough to look at her. She instantly averted her eyes, pretending as if she were examining the ominous field they had now found themselves in. "We can continue on foot or I can go obtain my horse from Richard's. The decision is yours, love."

Caroline was at a loss for words. Was he being…nice? "I can continue on foot." She spoke up, clearing her throat as she was felt the burn from being parched. She needed to feed but now was not the time.

She could not bear the idea of him leaving her alone out in this place to go retrieve his horse nor did she want to go back to Richard's castle with him. Even with the vulgar beast of a man dead she would never feel safe there.

"As you wish, sweetheart." He said as they began walking. There was no need to continue at the previous speed as Niklaus was certain Richard's men were not foolish enough to come after him.

"Why did you kill him?" Caroline asked softly, her voice hesitant. She kept her eyes staring ahead as they followed the hidden trail.

"I am certain he would have betrayed my family at some point. Tonight simply left me with the perfect opportunity to strike first." He replied glancing over at her. She was still looking straight ahead as they continued walking.

"Oh." She murmured, her voice hiding the small amount of disappointment she felt creep through her. What did she expect him to say? It was the best answer he could have given, she reminded herself. "Thank you. If you had not-"

"It's quite alright." He said as he came to an abrupt stop, roughly he grabbed her by the arms to hold her in place directly in front of him. "Do not misunderstand, Caroline. Just because I saved you, does not mean I am any better than Richard. In fact, I am far worse than him, love."

Caroline swallowed the large lump that had formed in her dry throat and simply nodded. She had experienced enough drama for one night, she reminded herself. She would just go along with him for the time being until she could figure out her next smart move.

Niklaus turned away and began walking once again, irritated by the look of confusion on her face. He despised Caroline more than any other woman he had ever met before. She was the reason he would become weak in the future. He hated thinking about being in love even if it was centuries away but even worse he hated that ever since the day he spent with her locked in his dungeon, she had crawled under his skin and remained.

"Seeing her at Richard's tonight of all places was an enormous surprise. He had always secretly hoped he would find her once more before the twenty first century but doubted it greatly. As his eyes found hers in the crowded area this evening, with a mask covering most of her stunning face he knew it was her.

She was the only woman he had ever met that had a radiant glow about her. He had wondered over the past few decades if he had only just imagined it but seeing her again tonight, he was reminded of just how breath taking she truly was.

There was something about this girl that he needed to uncover. Even with his future self, she was cold towards him, harsh and unrelenting in her rejections. He knew the reason he would fall victim to her love was due to that very thing. He relished a challenge more than anything else. Every single woman that had ever rejected him always succumbed shortly after. Caroline however was different, she knew her true worth, which was exactly why she would eventually bring him down.

She was the ultimate challenge he had realized and he could only hope that getting her out of his system now would effect how he felt about her in the future. He needed her to be insignificant; he refused to have someone around that could be used against him. He tried to sit back, hidden behind the tall trees as Richard touched her, kissed her. He had hoped it would lessen his desire to have her himself if she was ravished by such a monster. Yet as she fought diligently to defend herself, he only found himself reminded once again why he was so drawn to her.

He felt his intentions of allowing her to be violated begin to waver. It was when he saw Richard's hand crash against her perfect face, he snapped. Without thinking he found himself standing behind Richard, his hand plunging into the man's back and ripping out his heart.

Niklaus felt his anger begin to grow inside of him thinking of what could have happened if he had not been there and quickly shook his head. He needed to think of something different or he would turn around and kill every one of Richard's men.

"Tell me about the doppelganger." He said breaking the silence after a few miles of rapid walking.

"What do you want to know?" She asked thankful they were talking. She was certain she was going to fall asleep from the adrenaline leaving her body after the long day she had experienced.

"When we first met, Rebekah told me I find the first doppelganger in the late fifteen century. What happened to her?"

"Katherine?" Caroline rolled her eyes. "Well, she found out about the ritual and escaped. She killed herself to transition into a vampire."

Caroline glanced over at Niklaus who seemed to be processing her words.

"Katherine." He repeated.

"Katarina is what your family calls her. I guess that was her original name."

"I see." He murmured no longer paying attention to her.

They continued walking and just as she felt her eyes begin to flutter shut Niklaus snapped her back awake by his words.

"Do you know where I find Katarina?"

"Huh? Oh um, no" She replied rubbing her eyes with her fingertips as a small yawn escaped her lips. "How far away are we?"

"Still a bit of a journey." He told her and just as she was about to complain she felt his strong arms swoop her up under her knees and around her back. He pulled her in close to his chest, as he took off running. She closed her eyes as he began flashing through the forest faster than she could ever run.

She couldn't help but burrow her head in closer to his neck as his woodsy musk overtook her senses. She felt her heavy lids finally close as she gave in to her exhaustion, feeling safer than she ever imagined.

XXXXXXX

Niklaus gently laid Caroline down on the large bed in the middle of his room, carefully pulling the thick quilt over her still body. He sat quietly at the edge of the bed and simply gazed down at her.

She was breathtaking, he could never deny that. There was a fire in her that he could not escape. He was a mouth to her flame and as hard as it may be he needed to get rid of her.

He ran his hand softly down her cheek, tucking a few stray strands of her golden locks behind her ear.

"Goodnight, Caroline." He whispered as stood to leave the room.

Walking solemnly down the long hall he came to the one room he never allowed anyone to enter, his study.

He opened the door and entered to find it just as he had left it earlier that day. It was covered in dozens of sketches and a few paintings. Colors were quite difficult to come across in the towns around this area. As he sauntered to the back of the room he pulled a black quilt away from the corner, revealing a large stack of sketches, all of Caroline.

No matter how many women he had slept with after finding her missing all those decades ago, he could never forget her face. Her will was stronger than any vampire he had ever met and she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She was perfect.

He let out a loud roar as he grabbed the sketches and ripped them to shreds. Smashing the canvas paintings against the wall as his voice grew louder, his chest heaving before snatching up his landscapes, sending them the same fate.

He could not feel this way for her, for anyone. He would not allow it. He was Niklaus Mikealson, the most feared vampire in all of existence. He was brutal, ruthless and he would be the hybrid above all.

He stood in the middle of the room was that was now filled with scattered, destroyed slates and parchments. He was furious with himself for becoming so weak, his hands clenched in fists at his side as he growled at the one undestroyed sketch of Caroline staring back at his from the floor. It was taunting him, reminding him how weak he truly was for caring for her.

His head began spinning faster as he realized what needed to be done. He slowly ran his hands through his long hair trying to calm himself as he tried to come to terms with what he needed to do.

XXXXXXX

Caroline awoke with a stir as she heard the door fly open and smash against the wall.

She jumped up on the bed searching the room for any clue as to where she was when she saw Niklaus stumbling towards her. His eyes were black as the night and his hands were shaking horribly.

She scooted back further against the bed as he took a seat across from her, a bottle of vile smelling liquor in his hands.

"Niklaus?" She whispered not sure what was happening.

"I despise you. Do you know that, Caroline?" He sneered looking up to face her. "You make him feel things that I can't control! Things that are- Argh!" He growled angrier than ever that she could simply lie there so beautiful and perfect, taunting him. He could never have her, it would be the death of him if, he was certain.

"Niklaus, I-"

"I will not let you make me weak." Hi muttered through gritted teeth as he looked away.

She twisted her fingers together as she realized she should be very afraid right now. "You're not weak. Not now or in the future. I swear to you."

"You lie!" He hissed. "I have seen it with my own eyes. He cares for you. He protects you just like I did tonight."

"Niklaus, please understand-"

"No! I will not protect you. Never again, do you understand me! Damn you!" he yelled throwing the bottle against the far wall and grabbing roughly her by the neck.

"I will not let you do this to me!" He roared louder than before as he lunged for her, his warm breath inches from her face.

"Nikla-" She tried to speak hiding back her growing fear.

"I could end you so easily." He taunted, his grip tightening around her neck.

"Then do it! If that's what you want." she choked out. She was done being a punching bag to countless monsters. She would rather die than beg him of all people for her life.

He looked up from her neck, cocking his head to the side, stunned by her words as he met her eyes. He had expected to find them filled with fear and horror but instead all he could see was that roaring fire burning bright.

"You should be afraid." He hissed trying to push away the desire to run his mouth over her neck where he was certain he was causing her pain.

"No, if you want to kill me than do it. Do it!" She finally screamed.

She felt her heart racing as he sat motionless, no longer talking. His harsh grip on her had loosened but only slightly.

After what felt like hours had passed she finally decided to speak. If he wanted to kill her she could not stop him but she would not set here waiting.

"Are you going to kill me?" She murmured reminding herself of the first time she had ever asked him that. It was a different Klaus but still the same damaged man.

He slowly looked back up at her and she finally noticed how lost he truly appeared.

Without a single word he stood from the bed and left the room. Caroline let out a loud sigh as she felt her emotions come to a head. She wanted to go home more than ever. Niklaus was psychotic; one second he was saving her and the next he was attacking her. She always knew Klaus was screwed up but this was much more extreme than she had ever imagined.

XXXXXXX

"That was fast, was she not there?" Rebekah asked leaning in front of the tree he had left her at.

"Yes but-" Klaus began but quickly noticed his sister appeared livid and he had no idea why. "What happened?"

"You! You happened!" she spat as she began pacing the forest floor.

"I have been gone for no more than hour and already I did something. You are going mad, Rebekah." He laughed humorlessly, taking a seat next to the same large tree. "I need to rest now. Don't bother me with your insane ramblings till I wake. Do you understand me?"

He closed his eyes but as soon as he was feeling comfortable enough to give into his slumber he felt a sharp blow to his stomach.

In a flash he was on his feet and had his attacker pinned to a nearby tree.

He growled as he realized it was Rebekah that had kicked him so callously.

"What. Was. That. For?" He roared.

"While you were gone I took a little nap!" She yelled. "oh, how I despise you, brother!"

Klaus released her as he furrowed his brows trying to figure out what the hell was happening, when it finally hit him. She slept, she dreamed, which meant she retrieved the new memories of the past century.

"What did you see? What has changed?" he asked anxiously.

"Why don't you take your little nap and find out." She snapped. "I'm going to find some dinner."

"Rebekah!"

"Relax brother, I won't kill anyone." She called out as she flashed away. "Not that it would matter anyway with everything you already changed."

Klaus laid back down and forced his eyes shut as he fell into a deep slumber. His minds flashed images of his brothers, Elijah with Sage pleading for him to undagger Finn. Rebekah trying to turn the stable boy into one of them. Her plan to leave with the young man. Klaus then saw playback as he ripped the man to shreds. He would never allow Rebekah to leave him. She was safer with him, he had reasoned.

The next thing he saw was Rebekah in a wood casket, daggered. It was the same casket he had kept Finn in. A flash of Kol fighting him, upset he had let Finn out only to then lock away Rebekah. There was only dagger in his possession and Rebekah was not safe out in the world on her own. He traded her life for Finn's while he set out to find more enchanted daggers.

He saw the flashes of Finn reunited with Sage and pledging his loyalty to their family. As the new memories flashed quickly by he was finally hit with the answers he had been searching for.

His mind flashed the image of Caroline from the last day she had spent with Niklaus. After that the images and memories raced through his mind faster than ever.

His desire to kill nothing but blondes, the hours and hours upon days of sketching her, the feeling of wanting to ravish her mixed with disgust with himself. He wanted to kill her, remove her from this world so he would never have a weakness.

Rebekah came back after feeding on a young woman from a nearby village. She frowned as she stood in front of Klaus. She was satisified with her meal but still angry with what she had learned. She stood there, watching her brother sleep, occasionally he would toss and turn leaving her to wonder what all his memories consisted of.

After she had fallen asleep earlier, she was shocked to unlock all the new memories. The worst being the fact that she had fallen in love with a man that in her original past she had never even spoken to. Niklaus changed that by hiring him as stable hand because of the boy's older blonde sister. Niklaus courted her for a few weeks before killing the girl but kept the boy in his service.

Looking on it now Rebekah realized most of the women he brought home were blondes. "Caroline" she spit bitterly. How could the dumb girl cause all of this?

She shook the thought of the annoying girl away as she remembered the new memories of her dearest brother daggering her broken heart after killing the boy brutally in front of her when he had learned of their plans to leave together after she turned him.

As she sat their reminiscing, she saw Klaus's eyes jerk open. His last memory was that of himself leaving Caroline in his bed after attacking her. His feelings were intense as he tried to reason how he could kill her.

"Well, how was that?" She asked sarcastically.

He sat up as he began to process all of the new information. "This can't be happening. Too much is changing. Everything is all wrong." He said more to himself than her.

"Not much we can do about it."

"Let's go." Klaus said walking away.

"Where are we going now?"

"To see our family."

XXXXXXX

Caroline walked over to the heavy oak door, pressing her ear to it, as she listened to the loud screaming coming from below. It was Niklaus and from the sounds of bottles crashing against the walls she was sure he had resumed his drinking. She needed to leave, get as far away as possible. Whatever he was thinking was not going to end well for her, she worried.

She slowly creaked open the massive heavy door, peaking her head out to search the corridor for any signs of Niklaus.

She closed her eyes and let out a silent sigh as she stepped into the long dimly lit hall. She stepped as lightly as possible as she made her way towards the spiral staircase.

As she lifted her foot to take the first step she was suddenly slammed back against the wall.

"Going somewhere?"

Caroline looked up shocked to see Finn holding her firmly by the shoulders. Her body pinned to the wall as his warm breath hit her ear.

"Make a sound and I will rip out your heart!" He whispered.

Caroline nodded as she tried to remain silent. His fingers were digging into her shoulders and she could feel her skin beginning to bruise.

She took a deep breath as she locked eyes with his. His hand covering her mouth to keep her silenced as his lips twisted up into a sinister grin.

"Someone's waiting to meet you." He murmured just before everything went dark.

XXXXXXX

Klaus flashed through the forest, over the rough terrain, ripping through the trees as he headed towards his old family home. His brothers and Rebekah had lived there for over two decades during this time.

"What happened, Nik?" Rebekah called out from behind him. She was running as fast as possible but still her brother was much faster.

"He's going to kill her."

Rebekah knew who he was talking and she found her self trying to race faster. If Caroline died, especially by his own hands she feared what would become of her brother.

As they reached the medieval style castle he burst through the front door, tiny pieces of the once massive door flying through the air.

"Wait here!" he snapped looking back at Rebekah. She had never seen her brother like this before so she quickly nodded in agreement.

"Where is she?" Klaus growled as he flashed into his old study. Niklaus looked up from his place in front of the roaring fireplace. His eyes glazed over from the large amount of liquor he had consumed, yet they were filled with nothing but despair. In his hands Klaus saw the piece of parchment that held a perfect sketch of Caroline.

"She's alive." Niklaus muttered.

Klaus stood there staring at himself. Had he truly been this pathetic.

"I wanted to kill her, more than anything." Niklaus murmured. "She is a weakness."

Klaus stood by the door, silently taking in the sight before him.

"I will not be weak!" Niklaus roared throwing her sketch into the fire. "How could you allow this to happen? She will get us killed, surely you must see that. Why have you not killed her yourself?"

"The same reason you have yet to kill her." Klaus replied walking further into the room. "Perhaps I have left myself with a weakness by caring for her but she is the only one that makes me feel alive. You know that, you feel it too, after only one day with her you felt it. Now you've changed everything by meeting her."

"What could I have possibly changed?"

"How many of Richard's women have you taken to bed?" Klaus asked.

"What? I would never touch such wenches!" Niklaus spat. It had been decades since he had ravished a whore. He preferred the ladies of a higher class.

"That's not true. You changed things by meeting Caroline. By wanting something real with her. I ravished each and every one of Richard's whores during this time. That was what made me feel alive."

Niklaus looked over at Klaus with nothing but disgust but he knew it was true as before he had met Caroline he had never thought twice about wanting to take every woman that tried to seduce him.

"You crave her." Klaus spoke. "You know the doppelganger will not be around for another century so you've been doing nothing but running from Mikael and thinking about Caroline."

"How do you-" Niklaus began dumbfounded.

"I saw it. I saw everything that you did. Things that were far different than what I had done during this time. You have to forget her. But I will not let you kill her."

Niklaus walked over to the table across the room and grabbed another bottle, smashing the top to pop it open.

"Take her then, go back to your time!" Niklaus spat, downing half of the bottle. "I will forget she ever existed."

Klaus turned and left the room, leaving his drunken self to wallow in self pity.

He ran up the stairs and into his old bedroom to collect Caroline, only to find the room empty. As he turned to leave, wary of were she may have run off to, he found a note lying on the floor in the hall.

Mikael has Sage.

I had no other choice.

He wants only you.

Klaus crumpled the parchment in his fist, recognizing his brother's script. He let out a loud roar as he flashed back down to his study.

"Mikael has Caroline. It's time for you all to move on." Klaus said turning back to leave.

"Damn it! How could he know about her?" Niklaus yelled. He had never spoken about her to anyone. Only Kol knew she even existed yet Niklaus was careful to hide his feeling for her.

"Finn took her. He must have seen you with her tonight."

"I have to save her." Niklaus replied his tone firm as the thought of her being hurt because of him was too much to bear.

"No, find everyone and leave." Klaus said holding his hand out to stop him. "I'm stronger than you. She will be safe and hopefully we will then leave this time."

"You expect me to just run away!" Niklaus hissed. "I am no coward."

"Just go and find Elijah and Kol." Klaus said leaving the room. "Don't forget our dear sister in her box."

Niklaus furrowed his brows, his hands closed in tights fists as he watched his arrogant future self prance out of the room. How dare he think him better then me, he thought.

XXXXXXX

"Meet me by the trees outside of Richard's castle at dawn." Klaus told his sister as he walked passed her out the front door.

"You can't be serious." She called out catching up with him. She had heard everything and knew Klaus would be going to rescue Caroline. "You can't kill Mikael."

"No, but I can cause him great pain." Klaus sneered as he flashed off into the woods.

XXXXXXX

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please leave a review and let me know what you all thought. This was cut shorter than planned whcij is why no klaus?Caroline but I promise lots of them next chapter. With sick kids running around I left it here but will start next chapter soon:)

I noticed the last chapter had half the views as previous chapters as well as half the reviews. I do hope you all are still interested in this and reading it. I have gotten some very kind feedback and hope I you all stick around to see where this journey will go.

I will be updating against next week on Friday. However, if I get a good response I'll try to get the next chapter written and updated sooner.

Little spoiler alert- next time they travel it will be to a very familiar date in the 15th century

Thank you all for the supportive feedback. Hugs to you all!