I've been working on this for a week, in between writing a 12-page paper... Hope you enjoy!

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! IT MEANS A LOT!

Please remember to review at the end! :)

~Library~

Caroline pulled a thick book from the bookshelf and carried it gingerly to the table.

Since the afternoon before, questions filled her mind. She needed answers, and something told her Klaus didn't know them.

Opening the book, she ran through the pages with careful eyes. She paused at a few passages, and she leaned closer to study them. Something…where…

"A Bond is forged between La Fleur and the King…" She paused, shaking her head. "That I already knew." She frowned, rolling her eyes.

Turning a few more pages, she froze at a single word on the page.

Mates

"What…?" She began, but her eyes continued to scan the page.

A mate's bond is deeper than an ordinary bond. Stronger in might, it is forged even before the birth of another. Without a mark being taken, one can afflict change in the other and can take on the other's power.

Caroline leaned back in the chair and felt her heart quicken. "It's not possible. It can't be." She whispered, shaking her head.

Her mind flashed to those moments where she felt his strength. "I saved him because…" She trailed off and closed her eyes before her bowing her head.

She was not expecting this.

~XXX~

"I heard you visited the library."

Caroline lifted her head from the book in her lap and nodded. "I did."

Elijah smirked and moved to the fireplace in front of her. "Find what you were looking for?" He inquired, staring into the fire.

Caroline's eyes moved to the side before answering. "Maybe," She paused, lifting her shoulder. "I can't be sure."

He hummed, and she fingered the book in her lap. "Do you believe in mates?" She asked, absently.

He smiled to himself before facing her completely. "Do you?" He asked, observing her, carefully.

She traced the pages in front of her, and let her mind go over the words she had read. "Perhaps," She answered, pausing as she ran over the words with her fingers. "If such a thing exists, it would explain so much."

His head tilted to the side. "Of whom do you speak?" He asked, stepping towards her.

She appeared to be in a trance, and yet her words were clear. "Klaus, his eyes turned blue." She whispered, her eyes lifting to focus on him.

Elijah inhaled sharply. "Does he know?" He asked, and she shook her head.

"No," She answered, turning her head from his sight.

"What happened?" He asked, wanting to know the truth.

She inhaled through her mouth, and let it out just a quick. "He was telling me…we were talking of Henrik and we connected." She rushed, trying to piece together the memory.

Elijah stepped towards her. His eyes hungry for more information. He wanted to know everything. He had to.

Caroline lowered her eyes, and drank in the words on the page. Her voice strong and full of determination as she spoke. "I'm not just the Lily, am I?"

Elijah sighed and shook his head. "No, you're not." He remarked, watching for her reaction.

She nodded and closed the book. "Klaus doesn't know, does he?" She asked, holding the book to her chest.

He shook his head. "No, he doesn't."

Slowly, she stood to her feet. "Please don't tell him." She requested, and his head tilted to the side. "Something tells me that he needs to figure it out himself." She continued, holding his eyes. "You already knew this, didn't you?" She asked, and he smiled. She smiled and dipped her head. "It makes so much sense knowing the truth."

He nodded. "I should have told you sooner." He acquiesced, but she lifted her right hand as her left held the book close to her chest.

"No, Elijah, this is something that can't be told. It has to be discovered, and besides, I probably would not accept it if you had told me." She revealed, smiling.

Elijah bowed his head in reverence. "You are a special woman, Caroline." He remarked, lifting it to look at her.

She shrugged her shoulders. "So, I've been told." She returned, walking towards the door with the book in her hand. "Klaus said he would send for me. Would you please let me know when he does?" She asked, and Elijah bowed his head.

"Of course," He agreed, and kept his eyes on her form as she left the room. "She knows." He whispered as the door closed, but his eyes closed as he realized. "But she doesn't know everything."

~XXX~

"You sent for them, and you didn't even inform me!" Klaus roared as he slammed into the library with Elijah standing next to the table, looking through a text.

Elijah closed the book with a sigh and turned to place it back on the shelf. "Rebekah and I felt back up was required, especially since we nearly lost you." He calmly spoke.

"Rebekah?" Klaus mocked, and scoffed, turning his head. "Bringing them here could put her in danger."

"I assume by her, you don't mean Rebekah." Elijah fired back, as Klaus growled. Elijah smirked and shook his head. "They won't touch Caroline, Klaus. They value their lives too much to go against you." He added, and Klaus snarled to himself.

"Yes, but they like to take risks, don't they?" Klaus barked, turning around to walk towards the table. "Especially Damon."

Elijah moved around the table, and casually leaned against the edge. "Are you saying this because you believe his charms would work on Caroline or that you fear he would endanger us all?" He inquired, watching his brother with interest.

Klaus moved to sit down in one of the chairs. His mind running over the words his brother had just spoken.

"Niklaus, Caroline is your Lily. Nothing will sway her loyalty to you." Elijah began, with Klaus lifting his left hand to cup his chin. "You know I'm right." He urged.

Klaus lifted his eyes to Elijah's and lowered his hand. "Perhaps, but I still don't trust him."

Elijah shrugged his shoulder. "Then why was he turned?" He asked, working Klaus' mind.

Klaus frowned. "Because Stefan would not turn without him." He answered, with disdain in his voice. He turned his head. "What about the other one?" He asked, and Elijah shifted on his feet. "I'm assuming you called her to come too."

Elijah lowered his eyes. "She's patrolling the border."

Klaus scoffed. "Of all the women in the world…" He paused, shaking his head. "They were the only ones who came, I hope."

Elijah nodded and sighed. "Marcel could not make it. Business in the south keeps him from journeying this far, but he will come if we need him."

Klaus nodded at the information. Everyone in the kingdom knew of only three who had turned, two had been Flowers, but one had died at the hands of Mikael. In total there were five turned, and only because they had sworn allegiance to the family. To keep the family safe and to come when called, if it was convenient.

Klaus' eyes darkened as he recalled the death of the one Kol had turned. She had been a Flower, and though she was one who despised Klaus, she had fallen for Kol, and it seemed him for her. One-night Kol, having asked permission, turned her. They were happy for a brief time until she decided to venture beyond the border.

Klaus' memory recalled the scene of Kol bringing her bloody, lifeless, heartless body through the door. If it had not been for Bonnie, Kol would have turned off his emotions, and never carried on.

Bonnie had been there that night, her own love having met a tragic fate, but Klaus suspected that her love and Kol's love were not true to the others, as Bonnie and Kol were rarely apart and their bond was so strong.

She had come down when she had felt Kol's anguish, and Klaus recalled the moment he knew of their connection. Even from the shadows, he could see the bond forged by love and friendship. They were more than friends, more than lovers. They were…

Klaus' eyes widened, and he lifted his eyes to the bookcase. Swiftly standing, he rushed towards the section he remembered from years before when he needed answers about Bonnie and Kol. The reason behind their strong connection.

Elijah watched with a smile crossing his face for a brief moment, and he nodded more to himself.

Klaus pulled a simple book from the shelf and turned to open the pages. He froze as he came across the passage, and the words leaped from the page into his mind. "It cannot be." He whispered as he continued to read. With a strong growl, he slammed the book shut, and slammed it on the table before rushing out of the library, not realizing that the book had opened to the page he had just read.

The same one Caroline had read just hours before.

~XXX~

Elijah found his brother on the balcony just above the garden, and he slowly approached.

"You knew?" Klaus asked in the slowly darkening sky.

"I knew she was special, but I didn't know how until she saved your life," Elijah revealed, slowly.

Klaus continued to stare. "This changes everything," He remarked, darkly.

"What does it change?" Elijah inquired, looking at his brother closely. Klaus' jaw clenched, and Elijah lifted his head. "You care for her." He continued, with a small smile. Progress.

Klaus scoffed. "She is the Flower of the people, nothing more." He argued, strongly.

Elijah shook his head. "She is more than that, and you know it, Niklaus." He began, roughly. "She is your favorite and the one."

Klaus closed his eyes. "It's hopeless, Elijah." He returned, absently. "How could she care for me like this?"

Elijah smiled and touched his brother's shoulder. "Do you really believe that she doesn't see beyond the image you find horrifying?" He asked, letting his brother piece together the pieces in his mind.

Klaus bowed his head. "She doesn't know everything." He whispered, slowly.

"Then tell her." Elijah encouraged, firmly.

Klaus inhaled deeply. "Not yet, she can't know, not until I know for sure." He remarked, backing away from his brother.

"Know what?" Elijah asked, turning to find Klaus leaving the balcony.

Klaus stopped, and looked over his shoulder. "If she feels the same,"

~Later that Night~

Klaus glared at the guests in the study, pleased that their first reaction at seeing him had them backing away the moment he entered. If there one thing he enjoyed, it was showing them how repulsive he could be, except to her. His glare faltered as she entered his mind before he snapped out of the daze, and returned to glare at the two brothers. One was his friend and confident, and the other… Well, Klaus had yet to kill him, so that was an accomplishment.

"So, Klaus, when do we meet the famed Lily?"

Klaus fumed at the mention of this... dark-haired cretin meeting Caroline. She was his and his alone. There was no competition. He growled lowly in his chest, much to the other man's amusement.

Elijah rolled his eyes and stepped forward. "She is in her room, and only when Niklaus requests will she join us."

The dark-haired man smiled and lifted the glass in his hand. "Well, then, request her, I mean we didn't come all this way just to see your...pretty face."

Klaus snarled, and turned on his heel and left the room with the other man lifting his eyes to his companion, as the door slammed behind Klaus with Elijah shaking his head as he followed his brother out of the closed door.

"Was it something I said?"

"No, Damon, he just likes you," Stefan remarked, rolling his eyes.

Damon smirked and lowered his eyes to his hand. "I'm going for a walk." He remarked, downing the rest of the contents, and stood up.

Stefan shook his head. "Damon…"

"I'm not going after her, Stefan. I value my life." Damon remarked, with a smile. "I'm going to see an old friend."

Stefan opened his mouth but closed it when he realized who Damon meant, and nodded. "Be careful, you know Kol." He encouraged, and Damon nodded before he left the room.

~XXX~

Caroline heard a yell down the hall, and she turned from the window nearly running towards the door, before hesitating. Hearing a crash, she made up her mind and opened the door. Running towards the sounds, she paused at the door of the dining room and covered her mouth just as a chair came sailing towards the wall beside her.

She glanced at the broken bits before lifting her eyes to the King, who was growling and trying to control his rage.

She started to step further in when she felt a hand on her arm. Glancing to her right, she sighed.

"Be careful," Elijah requested, leaving the room, but not venturing too far as he left the door slightly open.

Caroline took a deep breath, and slowly approached Klaus, who was gripping the table with a grip that was making the solid oak creek underneath his claws.

"Leave, Caroline," He ordered, refusing to look at her.

"How did you know?" She asked though she knew he could see her from the corner of his eye.

He laughed breathlessly and shook his head. "Because you seem to know whenever I'm distressed, and I'm distressed." He muttered, pushing away from the table.

She reached forward, and grasped his arm, stilling his movements, and felt him relax at her touch. "What happened?" She asked, and he slowly shifted to face her. He looked down at her hand before lifting his yellow eyes to gaze at her.

"Thanks to Elijah and Rebekah, we now have visitors. Unwanted visitors." He answered after a moment.

She swallowed. "Are they…?" She began, but he filled in the gaps as he nodded.

Her eyes lowered, but his movements made her look up. "They won't hurt you, Caroline. They would not dare harm the King's Lily." He uttered, strongly.

She smiled at the words he spoke, and her heart skipped a beat. "If they won't harm me, then why throw a chair at the wall?" She asked, tilting her head to the side.

"Because it irritated me." He answered, letting a small smile touch his face before he turned from her.

She let out a soft laugh and watched him. "That's not the reason." She returned, and he stopped to once again lean his hands on the table. "What is it?" She asked, feeling a pull towards him.

He sighed. "News of who you are has spread throughout the kingdom." He began, turning his head to cast a glance at her.

"We knew that when I became the Flower." She remarked, holding his gaze.

He shook his head, scoffed, and looked away. "It's different, Caroline." He muttered, keeping his gaze on the wall across from him.

"How is it different?" She asked, gently.

Words escaped him, with him pushing from the table. How could he tell her? Should he tell her at all? He didn't want to tell her. Not until he was sure. He had to be sure. He had to be.

She watched him and felt the conflict as if it were her own. Perhaps it was, she didn't know. Was that the bond between them?

"Out of all of the ones who came before…" She began, turning to keep her eyes on him. "What makes me so special?" She asked, moving her feet to get closer to him. "Klaus…"

He inhaled and lifted his head up higher. "Out of all the others, you are the favorite." He whispered, letting out part of the truth.

She felt her heart skips and warm in her chest. "Favorite?" She asked, moving two steps closer.

He slowly turned and caught her eyes. "You understand me, Caroline. You've pushed me to accept my family. No one else has done this." He continued, moving forward only until she was two feet away.

She inhaled deeply through her nose and opened her mouth to breathe. She moved even closer, taking the two steps until she was almost nose to nose to him. "I take it this is dangerous." She muttered, lowly.

He swallowed. "Very,"

She hummed, and lowered her eyes before leaning forward to wrap her arms around his waist, and placed her head on his left shoulder. "I trust you." She confessed, letting him know that she trusted him with her life, and she knew he would protect her.

His eyes closed as he felt his heart warm in his chest before he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to him.

For a moment, everything felt right.

~XXX~

Bonnie opened the door and gasped as she leaped into the arms of the person on the other side. "Oh, you made it!" She squealed and felt him return the squeeze.

Damon laughed and lowered her to the ground. "Oh, Bonnie, it's been so long." He remarked, stepping back.

"And who's fault is that?" She asked, slapping his chest.

He chuckled and followed her into the room. "Well, to be fair, I did try that one time." He answered, closing the door only part of the way.

She laughed and turned to face him. "True, but you were afraid." She returned, as his jaw dropped, and he placed his hands on his chest.

"Me, scared?" He asked, and she smirked, folding her arms over her chest. He groaned and dropped his hands. "Well, I'm not the one whose mate is a sociopath." He stated, walking towards the bed, and sat down.

Bonnie rolled her eyes. "Kol is not a sociopath. He's just…" She defended, trailing off, lowering her eyes.

He hummed and waited with his eyebrows raised. "He's just…insane."

She scoffed and marched over to push him backward on the bed as he laughed, and slowly raised up on his elbows.

"Well, look who's defensive." He remarked, wiggling his brows, and she laughed.

She shook her head and moved to sit on the bed next to him with her body facing him. "So, tell me, what's happening out there?" She asked, as he slowly sat up completely while he turned to face her.

"Oh, you know, the sun rises and sets…" He began, and she slapped his arm with a laugh. "Oh, you want details…" He corrected and laughed before he sobered up. "The Five are getting bolder. The other day I had to stop Stefan from falling into a trap." He revealed, and Bonnie lowered her eyes. "This is because of Caroline, isn't it?" He asked, and she sighed.

"It is." She answered, and Damon shook his head. "I assume you know the reason."

Damon nodded. "Klaus revealed himself to us this afternoon. Her doing?"

She smiled, and he sighed.

"I definitely need to meet this woman." He remarked, and Bonnie rolled her eyes.

"Not without Klaus being there." She returned, watching him.

Damon smiled. "Do you honestly think I would make a play for the King's mate?" He asked, and Bonnie tilted her head to the side.

"Knowing you…" She paused as he smiled and bowed his head. "Was it him?" She asked, after a moment.

Damon's smile faded, and he wanted to lie. He wanted to.

"Was it him, Damon?"

The voice from the door had Damon lifting his head and he glanced towards the voice before focusing on Bonnie. "It was."

Bonnie nodded and felt a hand on her back. She turned her head with a soft smile at the man beside her.

"Bonnie…" Damon began, and she focused on him. "I'm sorry."

Bonnie shook her head and reached forward to grasp her friend's hand. "Don't be, Damon. He chose the path he went down. No one is to blame but himself." She consulted and smiled through the mild pain.

Damon nodded, and gently squeezed her friend. "He was a fool."

Bonnie smiled and felt her other hand being taken with a warm touch. "It doesn't matter. I've seen the end, and he doesn't escape." She paused, lifting her eyes to Kol's. "Not this time."

Please be kind! I don't mind honesty, but cruelty is not accepted. :)

I've been working on getting a few more chapters and even getting a few more stories updated, so this week and next week should be good for updates. I hope...

Next Chapter: Proposal (Sneak Peek below)

Caroline frowned. "Klaus...?" She called, her voice shaking.

The arrow pulled back, and she inhaled sharply.

"Caroline!"

"Klaus!"

Her eyes opened, and she gasped as her hands grasped his upper arms. It was a dream. Just a dream. Tears sprang to her eyes. "Are you...?" She began, and Klaus sighed as he pulled her closer, letting her cry or feel him close.

"Did you break my door?"

Until Next Time...