A/N- Hey everyone. Sorry for the long delay between chapters. The keyboard on my laptop broke and typing has been impossible :( This isn't my best chapter, but it is longer than usual. Hopefully length will make up for quality and timing :)

Thank you to all of the followers and reviewers. The more I receive the more of a joy it is to write this :)

Enjoy.

"Brother," Elijah was all perfect speech and impeccable manners, but his eyes were shining with amusement, "Miss Forbes, Mr Salvatore." Caroline mumbled a hello whilst trying to put the lamp in her hand down without drawing more attention to herself. She was mortified. It was like being caught messing in the classroom by her schoolteacher.

"It would seem I have much to catch up on."

Elena was seriously beginning to piss him off. Damon felt his temples pound as he poured himself a much-needed whiskey. If she flounced past him half-naked one more time he wouldn't be responsible for his actions. She needed locked up until they could find a way to bring her emotions back.

Barbie was going to need her friend. And he needed the girl he loved. If Elena became a liability in what was going to come, he had no doubt that Klaus would kill her.

Stefan had been distant as he explained the situation over the phone. It wasn't sitting well with him. Especially because he knew he deserved it. Caroline had been an irritating Elena-wannabe as far as he was concerned when they met. It was only when he began to see for himself what a good person she really was that guilt had set in.

He knew that he would never be able to make it up to her. It wasn't in his nature to beg forgiveness. And to be fair to himself - Caroline was beyond annoying, no matter how much she had grown on him. But he would do what he could for her. Even if all he could manage was restoring her friend back to something resembling human emotion.

"Day drinking brother? Is it that bad?" Damon turned to see Stefan walk in.

"Wasn't expecting you. I thought you were going to stay with Caroline?" Stefan shrugged casually.

"I thought I'd stop by, see how things are for myself."

Damon poured him a glass and he accepted. "You just missed her. She's off to cause who knows what kinda trouble at school. Has the other psycho who wants Barbie showed up again?"

"Nah, think he's keeping his distance, For now anyway."

There was something off about Stefan. He was holding himself different. Damon sighed heavily. They had finally begun to bond again, be the brothers that they had been before Katherine had blown into their lives and destroyed everything. And because of his past actions that had gone out the window.

"Listen, Stef, things were different then, okay? I didn't know Caroline. I regret what I did to her. And if I could fix it I would. Not just for Elena or you, for her. She's a good person and she didn't deserve what I did to her."

Stefan had stiffened noticeably. "And what did you do to her Damon?"

"You know what I did brother." Self disgust was making his whiskey taste bitter. "You need to hear me say it? Fine. I compelled her. I fed on her. I had sex with her. I forced her to do things for me. Then I tried to kill her. And most of what I've done, even now I feel no remorse for. The people I've hurt, the things I've done... But Caroline... I am really, really sorry for what I did to her. If I could take it back I would."

He couldn't look at his brother. Knew what he would see in his eyes. So he just kept on talking. "She's a good vampire. And a good girl. After her crazy dads torture she should have been broken, but she wasn't. I was actually proud. You might be her mentor and all but I'm still her Sire. Sheriff Forbes nearly staked me when she found that out." he smirked.

When the stake entered his stomach, it was so fast the smirk hadn't even died on his face.

And hours later when Elena found him bloodied and beaten on the floor, he couldn't find words to describe how his brother had done it. How he had staked and tortured him. And then changed into a huge blonde man with sadistic grin.

Elijah hadn't mentioned the scene he had walked in on yet. but Klaus could see his big brothers amusement clearly. There was something in his eyes when he looked at Klaus now that reminded the Hybrid of their early, human years. Something light and teasing. He was grinning like a big brother who had just caught his younger sibling with the girl he liked, he realised. And with that, his scowl deepened.

They had retreated to the kitchen while filling Elijah in on all that had happened. He could see that his brother was more than a little taken aback by the realization that he had risked himself against a more powerful creature to defend Caroline.

Though Elijah said nothing, he was watching Caroline carefully. Studying her to see if he could figure out what it was about the baby vampire that had captured the loyalty of Klaus. As she went to the fridge and grabbed herself some water as though she were right at home. As she turned like a good little hostess and offered the others something to drink. As she smiled politely - if still a little red-faced, and sat down at the table directly facing Klaus. Caroline was more comfortable around him and his belongings than he had ever imagined she would be. The thought made him smile, which drew Elijah's attention from the blonde to study his brother instead.

'Good,' Klaus thought. He was beginning to feel uncomfortable with the amount of attention Elijah had given her. She was a beautiful girl and he and his brother had similar taste in women after all.

Elijah finally looked away from his brother and went back to the issue at hand. "So, what are we going to do about this Silas?"

"Qetsiyah said-" Caroline began and Klaus cut her off. She had filled him in on the witch's deception and she would be punished accordingly when he got his hands on her.

"Qetsiyah is a liar and you are not going anywhere near Silas. I told you-"

Caroline cut across him, "And I told you that it isn't your decision!"

As the pair began to bicker again, Stefan decided sighed heavily.

"Look, guys. We have to do something. Silas is bound to come back. It's only a matter of time before he finds out all he can about Caroline. Including who she cares about." His meaning wasn't lost on them.

When Silas discovered more about Caroline, he would find out who he could use against her. They needed to do something and fast.

Caroline felt a pang of guilt as she thought about her mom and her friends. At least Stefan and even Klaus were safe here. But her mother and her other friends were out there somewhere. He could be with them right now and she wouldn't be able to do a thing to stop him.

The fear erupted in her stomach like a physical blow and she let out a sharp gasp. Three pairs of concerned eyes swiveled towards her. It was hard to breathe but she had to make them understand why she needed to do this. Why she needed to trust the witch and do what was asked of her. Because whether Qetsiyah could be trusted or not, she was the only chance Caroline had to keep her friends and family safe.

"I have to do this. My mom is out there," she was looking Klaus square in the face and he was having a hard time looking away. "He could hurt her to get to me, you know that! You've done it! He, he loves me..." At Klaus' sharp glare she faltered, "Or at least he thinks he does. Which means he won't hurt me. If I can convince him not to hurt anyone I care about then it's worth a shot. She said all I'd have to do is keep him distracted. I can do this, I know I can."

"It is the best plan that we have." Elijah spoke up, watching them with interest. "If you wish to keep the girl safe Niklaus, perhaps letting her get Silas under some form of control is the best hope we have."

Klaus turned angrily to his brother, but before he could launch a tirade at him, Stefan spoke. " I agree." As Klaus rounded on him, furious, he held his hands up, "You think I like this? Caroline is like my little sister. If I could do this instead of her I would in a heartbeat. But she's the only thing he cares about. He wouldn't hurt her. He might tear the rest of us to pieces but he wouldn't lay a hand on her."

"You seem certain," Klaus bit out. "You're letting her play games with her life!"

"No," Stefan shot back. "I'm letting her make her own decisions."

"Then it's settled." Elijah said calmly. "Tomorrow I will escort Miss Forbes into Mystic Falls. Silas will have people watching this house for movement. He'll know the second we depart most likely."

Klaus glared around the room at all of them. Conspiring against him as usual. They had even recruited his own brother. The idea of Caroline going out there without him sent fear down his spine. He may never see her again. He should have forced her into his car and taken her away, tied in vervain ropes if necessary. Instead he had listened to the moronic part of him that cared about her happiness. That wanted her to not hate him.

He cast one final glare before vamp-speeding from the room.

Stefan had disappeared to call Damon and Caroline had taken to staring at the table in front of her, lost in thought.

Elijah was leaving his brother to calm down before attempting to speak to him. He sat next to Caroline quietly, patiently waiting for her to speak. It would be interesting to see just what it was that had his brother so enamoured of her.

Finally, she seemed to realise he was there.

"Why are you doing this? Helping me I mean. If you come with me tomorrow Silas could kill you."

He smiled briefly. "Miss Forbes the last thing in existence that could kill me was destroyed quite recently. I assure you I am a safer choice than your friend Stefan. And since Niklaus and Silas appear to despise each other, having him escort you would be foolish. It appears that you are stuck with me. I assure you I can be quite pleasant company when I want to be." Caroline gave a smile, raising her eyes to meet his. "I'm sure you can."

They looked at each other. Why did all the Mikaelson men have to be so damn hot? She was not flirting a little with Klaus' brother, that would be dumb... And if she sub-conciously ran her fingers through her hair under his intense scrutiny - well, then her hair must have been messy.

Elijah blinked and the moment was gone. "As for why I am helping, the reason is simple. My brother cares for you. And you seem to be good for him."

Caroline laughed out loud at that. "What gave you that idea? The screaming at him or the throwing things at his head?"

He gave a chuckle. "Yes that was quite the sight." Caroline immediately felt her cheeks redden. "I don't usually behave that way."

"I think no less of you. If I could get away with it I imagine a lot of my time would be spent throwing things at Niklaus. In over a thousand years on this earth, you are the first person I have ever seen stand up to him that way and get away with it."

"Oh I'm sure he'll pay me back for it." Caroline replied.

"I don't doubt it." With that, he rose to his feet and straightened his suit. "But for now I shall leave you and see if I can talk some sense into my little brother." He reached out and took her hand, raising it to his lips and placing a kiss on the back of it. "It has been a pleasure, Miss Forbes." Before she could stutter out a reply, he was gone.

By now it was approaching midnight and Caroline hadn't seen Klaus or Elijah for at least 3 hours. She wasn't sure whether that was a good thing. Stefan had checked on Elena and Damon hours ago and confirmed that she was still without emotion but under control for the time being.

She envied her friend yet again. All of the terrible things that had happened, and may still happen and Elena was happily numb to all of it. If she could turn off her emotions and forget all the pain then why shouldn't Caroline?

But she wasn't really considering it. She couldn't. Her mom would go crazy for one thing. And Stefan would have no one to turn to. Damon wasn't that great at comforting his brother and she knew that Stefan had been relying heavily on their friendship to keep himself going. If she turned her back on him now she would never forgive herself. And then there was Klaus. Caroline wasn't entirely sure why she should be worrying about how it would effect him but she couldn't help it. She had a sneaky suspicion that if she lost her humanity, he would be the one affected the most.

Sighing, she decided to just go to bed and figure everything out in the morning.

As she passed by the art studio she heard paper rustling within. Curiosity sent her into the room. Klaus was picking up the drawings that had been scattered everywhere earlier. Elijah was lounging against the wall watching his brother.

"Hey," she said quietly, eying the Hybrid cautiously. Klaus turned to look at her. Neither of them said anything. She could see the hurt shining out of his eyes and inwardly cursed him for being such a spoiled baby. She had her friends and mom to think about, she couldn't just hide here with him forever. But the longer she looked the harder she found it to be mad at him. He was only worried about her and she couldn't stay angry over that.

Elijah cleared his throat, drawing their attention away from each other. "I will leave you to talk." As Caroline's eyes flashed in alarm, he smirked, "I am sure my brother will refrain from biting you Miss Forbes."

"Will he now." Klaus muttered and Caroline turned to glare at him again. Before they could start shouting at each other again, Elijah took his leave.

Caroline turned to survey the damage she had caused earlier. There was glass everywhere. As she bent to start picking it up Klaus grabbed her arm. "Leave it love."

She nodded, straightening up and noticed that he was still holding her arm. "I'm sorry." She told him quietly. "I shouldn't have lost it like that."

Klaus released her arm and turned away, not ready to let the matter drop. "You lost it the moment you decided to listen to the witch that has pulled the wool over my eyes for 500 years. What could possibly go wrong?"

She bit her lip, determined not to let him draw her into another screaming match. "I have to protect the people I care about. I know you don't understand that because you don't care about anyone, but I do. This is the only way. And since you're so convinced that I'm too stupid to pull it off you should be a little nicer to the girl you'll never see again if you're right."

His eyes flashed and he made to storm out of the room, but he paused in the doorway and turned back to face her. "Did it ever occur to you sweetheart, that I know very well how capable you are at this game? You forget that it always worked well for you with me."

She recoiled as though he had hit her. There was no answer for that.

"Did it ever occur to you, Caroline, that your little plan might work a bit too well. What if he finds a way to make you remember?" He was pacing the floor now, "what if he finds a way to bring back the girl he lost all those years ago? Do you think she will care about your mother? Or your friends? What if-?"

"Klaus, stop. That won't happen, I won't let it. What do you think I'm gonna do, agree to be his girlfriend or something?" She was being sarcastic, but as she spoke it suddenly hit her why he was so afraid. It wasn't just her life at stake, it was her heart. And nobody knew better than Klaus how easily she could fall for someone she wanted dead.

He saw the moment realization dawned on her. Self loathing cut through him. He was worried she might fall for Silas. The idea of the warlock growing on her the way he had - it was making bile rise in his throat.

"Klaus, I-" Finally she understood. She had said it herself many times - Silas was not Klaus. She thought that out of everyone, Klaus would get that. God knows he was arrogant enough.

But clearly he didn't. Now he stood facing her, looking anywhere but directly at her and she felt like crying. She was long past pretending she didn't feel for him. But this - reassuring him, she wasn't sure how to do it.

"Silas isn't. I mean- he's not, you know..." Klaus finally looked at her. His beautiful eyes were boring into her, like he could see right through her. Sometimes she wished he could.

"He's not what love?" His voice was low, harsh.

"He's not you."

Klaus' eyes flashed and he made to speak but she cut him off. "I mean, I know it's the same but it's not. I have to do this, for all of us but it's not gonna... he's not gonna, I'm not gonna..."

Something was shifting off his chest. The heavy feeling was lifting. He stepped towards her slowly, watching her carefully as though she was a frightened animal that might run away at any sudden movement.

"You're not going to what, Caroline?" She felt like she couldn't breathe. As he came ever closer she felt like turning on her heels and running. But he deserved the truth from her. After all, he had protected her with everything he had. He'd placed himself in the way of a creature that could kill even him. All to keep her safe. If she didn't get this out now she wouldn't be able to go to Silas tomorrow without feeling like she was betraying him. And she wasn't Abigayil, no matter what the warlock thought.

"I'm not going to fall for him." she whispered.

The silence in the room was deafening. Caroline felt her cheeks get hot. Her eyes squeezed shut so she didn't have to see the look on his face. She had just admitted what he had wanted to hear for a long time now. What if now that she had said it he no longer wanted to hear it?

She didn't have to wait long to find out.

Klaus couldn't hold back any longer. He stepped finally in front of her and took her face gently in his hands. "Caroline love, look at me." Her eyes fluttered open and their eyes met. No matter what was going on outside this room, no matter who they had been before or were going to be in the future - right now they were Klaus and Caroline. And that was all that mattered.

Her eyes slid closed again as his lips touched off hers softly. Hands finding his shoulders to steady herself, she kissed him back.

They took their time, there was no fight in this kiss. It was all acceptance. He ran his fingers gently over her cheek as she opened her mouth to him. Their tongues tangled almost lazily as they explored each other, tasting, savoring.

Their lips moved as if they had been practicing together for a thousand years. Both moaned as they deepened the kiss. His fingers wound their way into her hair and while he was infinitely gentle with his mouth, his hands were showing what he really felt. He gripped her hair and held her against him, his erection pressing into her stomach, causing her to moan even louder.

Klaus was vaguely aware that they were in his art studio. And though he planned on having her in this room several million times over - for their first time he knew it wasn't right. Without even breaking their kiss, he released her hair and brought his hands to her hips. She seemed to know what he wanted as she slid her leg up his side and allowed him to lift her in his arms. She briefly broke away from his mouth to plant kisses along his neck.

With her legs securely around his waist, he moved a hand to pull her mouth back to his and vamp-sped them to his bedroom. In times to come, Caroline would always wonder how he managed to get her from the studio to his bedroom without crashing them into a wall. But for right now, she didn't notice.

They landed on his bed and immediately began pulling each others clothes off. Pausing with every item to kiss furiously again. Klaus had no idea what this baby vampire was doing to him - but kissing her felt better than anything else he could remember doing in over a thousand years.

Soon they were both naked. Klaus broke their kiss to stare down at her. A hundred different feelings were coursing through him but there were no words. Her hair fanned out on his pillow and it made her look like a Goddess. As she stared back up at him, a look of complete trust on her face, he felt his heart give a leap. He had never believed that she would look at him like that. Yet here she was. If this was some way of manipulating him - of making him let her go so that she could see Silas, he would take it. Anything in the world was worth this feeling.

"Klaus," she muttered, "Stop thinking and kiss me."

He didn't need asking twice.

Caroline had never felt anything like this. Her entire body felt like it was on fire. Every place he touched her only fanned the flames. She gripped onto him as they moved against each other and then suddenly he was inside her.

They both paused to groan as he filled her. Their eyes met, bursting with emotion. For a while he didn't move, content to finally be joined with the girl who had haunted him like no other. Her lips had formed a perfect O as she adjusted to him. He had never seen anything more beautiful.

Experimentally, he bucked his hips and couldn't help the smug feeling that settled in his belly as Caroline's eyes rolled back in her head. She arched upwards, moaning his name. He slid out almost all the way and thrust right back inside. She was so tight and warm around him that already he felt close. Too close. There was no way he was going to miss seeing her fall apart under him.

As he thrust inside her again, tortuously slow, Caroline felt her inner walls tighten around him. She had never been wetter, or closer to exploding.

"Klaus.." she groaned, "faster, please.." He needed no further encouragement. Grabbing her hand and forcing it above her head, he began moving fast. Their fingers gripped onto each other as they got closer.

Groans filled the air, mixing with the sound of skin slapping against skin. But neither was concerned about being quiet.

Caroline would never be able to describe how she felt with him inside of her. Although she had always believed in the idea of an "Epic Love" - even she thought that two people fitting together perfectly was a bit overkill. Being with Tyler had been intense, amazing even - but that had nothing on this. It all felt so new and yet somehow familiar.

There had been times, before, when she was alone, she had imagined being with him. In her mind, she had always seen it as rough, frantic. With a feeling of self-loathing and being somehow tainted by him.

But this was nothing like that. As she felt herself begin to shake, knowing her orgasm was close - she had never felt more pure.

"Klaus..." she whispered. Their eyes met again and they both exploded. He bucked into her wildly and she gave as good as she got.

Klaus watched in utter adoration as she came apart around him. His name falling from her lips, conveying things she had never said out loud; and perhaps never would - had him letting out a primal growl as he spilled himself inside of her.

He collapsed on top of her and her arms immediately wrapped around him. Both were breathing hard.

Silence filled the room as they recovered. If he was worried that now she had given in to him that Caroline would suddenly pull away, he was soothed right way.

Caroline began running her fingers through his curls, letting out a breathless giggle. He turned his face into her neck. Breathing in her scent.

Was this happiness? The feeling that was currently running through him? He had spent so long feeling everything other than it - he was no longer sure what it was meant to be like.

But this was close enough.

Caroline was almost asleep, the feeling of contentment not allowing any other thoughts. Now that she had finally crossed the line with the Original Hybrid, she didn't feel the disgust at herself she thought she would. Instead, she decided that the weight of him on top of her was the best comfort she had ever had. It was impossible to be frightened or worried with him here.

A lazy smile crept onto her face as she felt his manhood stir against her thigh. As his lips began doing scandalous things to her neck, she moaned softly.

"I always knew you were going to kill me." She mumbled at him, biting back another moan.

Klaus grinned against her skin, leaving a surprisingly chaste kiss on her neck before shifting up on his arms, towering over her. "Can you think of a better way to go love?" He asked without expecting an answer. Kisses were traced across her body as he made his way downwards. Her skin felt scorched as he kissed her stomach softly.

Caroline was convinced she was going to explode. There was no way she could take anymore of his touch right now. She opened her mouth to tell him this but was shut up immediately as his hot mouth closed around the tiny bundle of nerves between her legs.

"Oh God."

Elijah stood smirking in the kitchen. The young Salvatore had turned green. The sounds of Caroline Forbes begging for more of his brother was clearly making him uncomfortable. He wondered if Stefan was jealous.

Niklaus had clearly fallen hard for the blonde baby vampire. And seeing her in action tonight he could understand why. She was something quite special. Watching the two of them together had been quite interesting. He doubted that they even noticed, but they moved around each other in perfect sync.

When one moved away, the other unconsciously made up for it by somehow moving closer. Their easy talk after their blazing row was something to behold. Niklaus had killed people for even suggesting disrespect, yet he took all Caroline threw at him. They argued like a married couple.

Elijah smiled at the thought.

"I need to get out of here." Stefan's voice brought him back from his musings.

"Yes they are really quite loud aren't they? It would seem they have forgotten we are even here."

Stefan shifted uncomfortably. Elijah smirked again before he continued. "I know that given your understandable wariness of my brother you may not believe this - but he cares for Miss Forbes. Surely that is obvious."

"He cares about a lot of people. It never seems to do them any good. And when Caroline pisses him off he can't shut her up by sticking a dagger in her heart. What then, a stake?"

The Original sighed, "I see your prejudice has blinded you to the truth. Miss Forbes rather stunningly put my brother in his place earlier this evening and he merely sulked like a petulant schoolboy. Had myself or any of my other siblings spoken to him in such a way we would already be resting in a coffin somewhere."

Stefan appeared unconvinced. He had promised to protect Caroline and just because Silas was the current major threat - it didn't mean that Klaus was somehow tamed.

Elijah seemed to be following his train of thought. "Simply put, Mr Salvatore, she makes him better. I for one would like to see my brother change. And I believe the young woman upstairs is the one to make that happen."

"Did she believe you?" Qetsiyah turned at the words, smiling at the man in front of her. "Of course she did. Her inner goodness outweighs her suspicion. And besides, I was not lying."

The man smirked at her. His gleaming smile stood out even in the caves below Mystic Falls.

"I merely omitted some of the truth."

"Rather large omission is it not," he muttered, examining the altar she had built. He lifted a vial of blood from among the scattered candles and papers and raised an eyebrow at her, "that she will have to die in order for the plan to work."

Qetsiyah snatched the blood back and glared at him. "Do not pretend to care, Mikael. Besides, once you do your job, she will not be alone in her everlasting rest. Your son will be right there with her. And Silas will forever know that they are together."

Mikael sighed, staring past her to the markings that adorned the cave wall. "Peace is the one thing my bastard son does not deserve."

"Then perhaps we shall ensure that instead of finding peace, or roaming purgatory, he ends up burning in hell."

Their smiles matched perfectly in their viciousness.

"Now all we need is to convince Silas that she may be worth staying alive for."

"Oh don't worry about that," Qetsiyah replied, "Caroline is going to find herself drawn to him whether she likes it or not."

Hope you liked, let me know. I hope I got Elijah down properly, he's one of my favourite characters. I like to think that he and Caroline would have a small spark given the chance to be around each other. I could see her liking his manners and charms and maybe even getting a little giggly when he turns it on for her - much to Klaus' annoyance of course. Feel free to let me know what you think.