Just to clear up some confusion... Yes Maria is really Giovanni's daughter. Gloria will tell her story more as her and Caroline begin to understand each other. I'm hoping you guys aren't minding the new characters I'm introducing. I cant use the real ones yet because they haven't been born :/ I hope they add to the story line and don't take away from the romance and the journey of Carolijah 333

**Read, Review and Enjoy


The day Giovanni left had been a tear filled one. Especially by Gloria and Giovanni himself. He had stayed with us for three days and on the fourth morning he had his coach packed and was dressed to ride. He would be stopping in Northampton to pay his respects and visit with my aunt and grandmother. Then he would be on a ship bound for Rome to receive his next assignment. He was hoping to return to England with this new one. They had clung to each other, each crying, and both trying to deny the inevitable. I held Maria while they embraced, and after Gio turned to me and reached for his daughter. His eyes clenched in pain as he looked at her. He brought her close to his chest and hugged her to him, and brought his face down to kiss her head. Tears pricked my eyes and fell over at the love and sadness that was touching this family. He handed the baby to Gloria to grab me into a bone crushing hug and kissed my temple.

"Caroline, I have you to thank for the safety of my love and my child" he whispered against my ear, "You cannot possibly know how much this means to me, but one day I swear I will return the favor" he added fiercely. He then moved onto my mother and kissed both her cheeks, and then moved on to embrace my father. I walked over to Gloria and put my arms around her and the baby, and together we watched Giovanni climb into his carriage. We waved until his carriage was far out of sight, and even then I knew it was painful for her to stop.

"Andamos.. fora?" I ask tentatively, not even sure if I was truly asking if she would like to walk around the gardens. She wiped away her tears and nodded. I signaled for one of the maids to take Maria back to the nursery and Gloria and I linked arms and made our way around to the side of the house. My parents had returned to the house right away and were no longer in sight. Even though it was only late April, the garden was in full bloom. We walked along the dirt paths aimlessly, neither of us needing to talk, but both offering silent support. I had given Gloria three of my old walking dresses from when I was younger, she was so slender that they fit her perfectly, even though I found out she was two years older than me. Today she was wearing a light pink walking dress with a dark pink ribbon at the waist and along the hem. She had forgone with her full hood and opted for one of my sunhats. She truly did look beautiful as an English lady. After a while she stopped and bent over to examine an array of flowers more closely. She plucked one from the Earth and held it out to me.

"Flor bonita por minha bela amiga" she said quietly. And I knew enough rough Spanish to know she had just paid me a compliment, so I graciously took the flower with a smile. I tucked the stem behind my ear and we continued walking. Eventually we headed back to the house, I knew Gloria wanted to see Maria, and we separated after entering. I walked to the library and Gloria went upstairs.

When I entered the library I was surprised to find it empty, but I was pleased it was. With all of the excitement of the past few days I had hardly read a single page. I walked along a length of shelving housing the geography books humming to myself as I browsed. I selected the one I knew would contain Portugal. I was curious to learn more about where Gloria had come from. I was flipping through the book looking for the correct page as I walked to the fire to take a seat. But when I walked past one of the high backed chairs a hand shot out of nowhere and pulled my arm. My scream of surprise was muffled by a hand over my mouth. As soon as the smell of cologne enveloped me I knew who my attacker was, Elijah!

He had pulled me onto his lap, his hand still over my mouth.

"If I remove my hand will you promise not to scream again?" he asked huskily into my ear. I nod in response, and he removes his hand from my mouth but does not release me. I am sitting sideways on Elijah's lap, tucked perfectly into his chest. I look up at him, breathing quickly.

"What on Earth was that about?" I ask in mock indignation

"I saw a rather large bug flying in your direction and I decided to save you" he said in a quite serious manner. And both of us burst out laughing at his ridiculous explanation. I rise from his lap and retrieve my book from the floor. I walk around his chair and sit in the matching one right next to it.

"What are you reading?" he asks

"It is a book of geography. I want to know more about the place that Gloria is from" I answer, again flipping through the pages to find the section I want. Elijah had been told about the situation with Gloria by my father. He had come to me the next day, praising my idea, filling me with warmth at the words. But then my father had kept him so busy the past few days I had hardly seen him.

"Always so curious Mistress Forbes" he replied with a lazy smile

"Always" I smile back. "Oh and mother wanted me to ask you if you plan on going to the fête with us on Sunday?" I ask, raising my eyes from the page to meet his

"Would you like me too?" he asked

"Of course, it will be so much fun. The Maypole at this village is truly a sight to see"

"Alright then," he says, rising to his feet and coming to stand in front of my chair, "but under one condition."

"And what condition is that?" I ask, my throat suddenly dry. He put his hands on the sides of my chair and leaned forward.

"You will need to save me a dance" he says with a smirk

"I believe I can accommodate your wish Mr. Mikaelson" I reply. He smiles at my attempt at formality. His hand rises from the arm of my chair and comes to rest on my cheek.

"Good" he says softly, and before I can stop him e has pulled the flower free from my hair and is tucking it into a button loop of his shirt. "I am looking forward to it" he says walking away, and then he is out the door.

I stare at the door open mouthed long after he has departed. My confusion is tenfold with his behavior. We go from him being my savior twice, to not speaking for two weeks, to friends, and now to…something else. The feelings he gives me were not those of a friend, and his actions told a different story than friendship as well. I slam my book closed in frustration, knowing that no reading will get done now. I close my eyes and lay my head against the back of the seat, picture what it will be like to dance with him. In darkness, under the stars, with only firelight to guide us. I pictured looking up at his handsome face and into his intense stare. I pictured one of his hands at my waist, holding me tightly, while the other hand was grasped in mine. Twirling me, lifting me, and smiling down at me. And when the song was coming to an end we would find ourselves at the edge of the dancers, under the cover of darkness. And he would whisk me away from the crowds and once we were alone he would finally kiss me. All of the sensations in my head felt so real. I could smell the smoke from the bonfire, and I could hear the sounds of crickets in the distance. His warm hands at my waist in stark contrast to the cool breeze of the night. And the slight stubble of his cheeks chafing mine as he crashed his lips to mine. But soon his lips moved to kiss behind my ear and then lower to suck at my neck. My knees had grown weak with wanting and he was supporting most of my weight as he worshipped my neck with his tongue.

Wait? Was that a pinch I just felt at my neck? Had he accidently bit me? The slight pain had immediately turned to something altogether different. It was as if my very essence were being siphoned. But it wasn't a feeling of theft, my essence never lessened, it was simply being shared. And it was ecstasy.

"Mistress?" I heard Elijah say, after he had removed his mouth from my neck.

"Mistress?" the voice repeated, but this time it was not Elijah's voice. Suddenly I am awake, and I immediately bring my hand to my neck as I shoot awake. I am also face to face with a startled maid.

"Are you alright Mistress?" she asked gently

"Yes. Yes I am thank you"

"You were muttering Miss, in your sleep". I could feel my face go pale with her words.

"Could you tell what I was saying?" I ask weakly, not sure if I wanted to know

"Yes miss, you kept saying 'don't stop'" she said embarrassedly.

"Oh" I smile quickly to hide my own embarrassment, "I was having a lovely dream of dancing with a handsome prince. And I simply wanted the dancing to continue forever" I say with a smile. The maid was immediately convinced by my dreamy tone of voice and faraway look.

"Oh I understand Miss!" she giggled.

When she backed away to stoke the fire I brought my hand up to my neck. I couldn't feel anything different. But that was unlike any dream I had ever had, and no, I hadn't wanted him to stop…


Did Elijah just give Caroline a vamp-dream? Ohhhhh I do believe he did! Sneaky little original ;). But trust me that does NOT count as their first kiss, doesn't even come close to that epicness awaiting you beautiful readers...

And to those of you keeping track, yes it is almost time to meet Simon! But that comes after the Spring fete and the May Day celebrations.