Fixing Mistakes

Chapter 20 - Light and Shade

1543

Scotland

Caroline was taking a walk along the grassy hills of Drumnadrochit, next to Urquhart Castle which had been their new home for the last three months after leaving England. The castle had an actual ditch and drawbridge. The buildings of the castle were laid out around two main enclosures on the shore. The northern enclosure includes most of the structures, including the gatehouse, and the five-storey Grant Tower at the north end of the castle. The southern enclosure, sited on higher ground, comprises of earlier buildings. The castle was situated on a headland overlooking Loch Ness. Yes, THAT Loch Ness. Caroline was honest to god living with the Original's next to the Loch Ness Monster. Every time she thinks her life couldn't possibly get any weirder she was proven wrong. Klaus had been rather bemused at her reaction to their location.

Caroline, Rebekah and Henrik stepped out of their carriage; Klaus, Elijah and Kol travelled in their own carriage, and looked at their new home. It was another castle, surrounded by green fields and hills, next to a large lake.

Klaus took Caroline's hand and pulled her to his side, "Welcome to our new home, my love."

Caroline entwined her fingers with Klaus, "It is beautiful." She noticed the quietness of their new surroundings, "Very remote."

"'Tis the point, Caroline." Klaus lowered his head to rest against Caroline's, "So that Mikael will not find us again." He frowned then sighed heavily, "Though he always does, eventually."

Caroline raised her hand to cup Klaus's cheek, "If that day ever comes then we'll face it together." Her eyes gazed lovingly into his as a small smile touched her lips, "As a family."

Klaus's mouth broke into a grin as he repeated, "As a family." He turned Caroline so that she faced the water, he came behind her wrapping his arms around her waist and rest his head on her shoulder, "Soon I will do a painting of you standing on this hill overlooking the loch with the castle at your back, a Queen in everything but name."

Caroline leant back into Klaus's embrace, her smile clear in her voice, "I would like that."

Klaus kissed Caroline's neck sensually before whispering hotly against her skin, "After that I will sketch you in the moonlight, your naked skin glistening with drops of water as you emerge from the loch."

Caroline shivered at the visual in her head, somehow she could feel the water on her skin and the scorching heat of Klaus's artistic gaze on her naked form. The idea was sexy and thrilling and she couldn't wait to do that, "I'd like that too."

Klaus smirked into Caroline's shoulder, "I believe you will love living besides Loch Ness, sweetheart."

"Seriously?!" Caroline spun out of Klaus's arms and stared at him with shocked eyes, "Loch Ness? THE Loch Ness?" She gazed into the water as if Nessie herself would suddenly appear in front of her and prove its existence.

Klaus creased his brow in confusion at Caroline's reaction, "I was unaware that you were familiar with this area. Besides the residents of the castle constantly fighting to stay the owners this place is not famous." He raised his eyebrows as he asked, "Is this another future thing?"

Caroline laughed, "Yes it is." She wrapped her arms around Klaus's neck and held him tight against her, "One day this place will be very famous."

"Anything to do with us?" Klaus questioned, curious as to how this remote place would one day become famous.

"No." Caroline grinned, her eyes sparkling with mirth, "Not unless your thirty foot long."

Klaus cocked his head to the side in confusion, "What?"

Caroline giggled at Klaus's confusion.

Caroline smiled at the memory. As of yet there had been no sightings of the monster, but she always kept an eye out just in case. For the most part it was an idyllic place to live, quiet and remote with breathtaking scenery, but she did miss the lively hustle and bustle of actually living in a town or village. Meeting people, old and new, and not just the same faces. She knew this wasn't their permanent home, it was just a stop gap until Klaus and Elijah decided where they would go next. She was more than ready to pack up and leave the remotest place she'd ever been to get back to some form of civilization.

Caroline made her way to the shore. One thing she liked about being so isolated was the privacy it afforded her to indulge in skinny dipping. She peaked over her shoulder to make sure no one was there before she slid her straps over her shoulders and slipped her dress over her body to pool at her feet. She could feel the coldness of the wind biting at her skin, her vampiric body protecting her from the true coldness of the Scottish Highlands. She stepped into the water until it covered her shoulders, just floating serenely as she soaked in the pureness of the surrounding nature. This was what she loved about this place, the natural beauty took her breath away and soothed away the ills in your soul. Which is why she always asked Klaus to join her when she went for a night swim.

A pair of arms wrapped around Caroline's waist from behind, Klaus's fingers danced across her stomach, his lips latching onto her throat and sucking the flesh into his mouth. His member growing in length as it rest against her butt.

Caroline threw her arm behind her to curl around the back of Klaus's neck, arching her back she moved her ass against his dick. She moaned as his sucks turned into bites, his fangs gliding across her throat before sinking into her skin and swallowing her blood. She took shuddering breaths at the exquisite feel of him enjoying her blood.

Klaus groaned as Caroline's blood ran down his throat, tasting as light and gorgeous and as perfect as she was. He moved his hand down her stomach to her nest of curls, he cupped his palm over her sex and slipped his finger inside of her. He worked his finger inside and out, even being in the water he could feel her slickness on his digit. He nuzzled her neck and whispered huskily as his thumb brushed her clit, "Come for me, Caroline." He found the spot inside of her that made her jerk against him, "Come around my finger and I will thrust myself deep inside you while you still spasm. Come."

Caroline came as Klaus commanded, her back aching against him, her pussy clenching around his fingers as she orgasmed. True to his word Klaus removed his fingers and slammed his cock deep into her core as she still twitched. She turned her head to the side and kissed Klaus. She gasped into his mouth as he began to move inside her, every thrust was building her pleasure back up.

Klaus explored every inch of Caroline's mouth, kissing her with all the love and passionate desire he felt for her. He pulled his hips back and slid back in, over and over, he set a slow pace, making love to her in the water. He wrapped his arm around her front to hold on to her shoulder, his other hand over her belly, holding her tight as he loved her body.

Caroline cried into Klaus's mouth as he hit her sweet spot. She pushed her hips into his as her pussy began to throb, her fingers grabbed onto his hair and dug her nails into his scalp. She broke away from his mouth to gasp against his jaw, her toes curling as electric shocks began in her veins. She was so close. She took his hand from her shoulder and brought it to her mouth. She whispered against his skin, "I love you." Then she bit down, her body exploding with sparks as her orgasm hit her whole body.

"Caroline..." Klaus groaned as Caroline pulsated against him, her fangs in his skin made his cock twitch inside her, the feeling so intimate. His thrusts became irregular as he built toward his own orgasm. He dragged his lips across her shoulder, moaning against her skin, "I've always loved you." He slid his fangs into her flesh, groaning as he thrust one more time before coming deep within her.

Caroline shuddered with Klaus, both of them still drinking from one another, joined as close as two vampires can get. Releasing her fangs she pressed kisses against his wrist, her breaths coming out as pants as she recovered from their watery love making. That's one other thing I love about this place, midnight loving with my husband, she thought with a grin.

Klaus laid his head against Caroline's, his arms still wrapped around her waist and chest, holding her tight as they floated on the water. He sighed in contentment, he could spend forever like this, wrapped around his wife with no intention of ever letting go. She was his home.

Unbeknownst to them there was a pair of malevolent eyes watching their encounter from atop of the hill. There was malice in his heart and rage in his eyes. He didn't know how that Forbes girl whom married the abomination still lived but he would rectify that. He wouldn't rest until he ripped every bit of happiness away from Klaus.

Mikael sneered as he watched the embracing couple for one last time before turning away and heading back to his dwelling. Now was not the time to strike, but soon he would take away Klaus's heart just as he took Esther's.

Only this time he planned to rip out Caroline's heart while forcing Klaus to watch.

Caroline towel dried her hair as she sat on the chair in her and Klaus's bedroom. A smile lingered on her lips as she recalled their love making, every time she invited Klaus to join her they always ended up intertwined. They were still in the "honeymoon" period though Caroline had a sneaking suspicion that they always would be even after centuries together. They still fought of course, sometimes raging and screaming, but they always made up - lovingly, passionately, animalistically - until their throats were raw from screaming and their bodies collapsed from exhausting pleasures.

Married life was never boring, Caroline laughed.

"What amuses you, sweetheart?" Klaus asked as he got into their four poster bed.

Caroline turned to look at Klaus, "Just thinking that our married life has never been boring."

Klaus raised his eyebrow, "Did you expect it to be?" He held his hand out for Caroline to take which she did, "Because I knew from the moment that ring slid on your finger that it was forever." He tugged on her hand and she fell on his lap, "And that I would love every moment of it."

Caroline smiled down at Klaus as she straddled him, "I expected it to be you and I until the day we died." She nuzzled her nose against his, "Which I am glad to say is millenniums down the line if at all."

Klaus quickly switched their positions so that he was hovering over Caroline, "Never, Caroline, I will never again have to live knowing that you died." Vulnerability entered his eyes and he placed his forehead against hers, "We are forever, Caroline Mikaelson."

Caroline cradled Klaus's face between her hands and pulled his lips to hers, "Forever, Niklaus, and always, always together." She opened her mouth to him and lost herself within his passionate kisses.

Klaus returned Caroline's kiss with fervour, his hands caressing her curves which he had memorized months ago and knew every inch like he knew his own body. He loved every curve, every inch of silken skin, every part of her was his to covet. He dragged her clothes off her body and replaced it with his hands and his mouth.

"I'm bored, Nik!" Kol pouted at his brother, "There is nothing to do here and there is a depressing lack of beautiful women to sink my teeth into."

"What do you wish me to do about it, Kol?" Klaus replied distractedly, he was sitting by the fire letting the flames lull him into a calm state.

"Leave this place!" Kol yelled, angry at his Klaus's lack of attention to him.

"Kol." Klaus looked at Kol, eyes boring into him as an indulgent smile crossed his lips, "Elijah and I chose this place because of its remote location." He stood from his chair and placed his hand on Kol's shoulder, "Mikael was very near to us when we left. We are just trying to keep our family safe and now that Henrik is back with us that requires more thought. He cannot just woosh away at the first sign of danger like we can." Concern shone in his eyes, "He is mortal and therefore vulnerable. We must protect him."

Kol knew Klaus was right. Henrik couldn't defend himself from all of life's evils. He wouldn't know to defend himself if Mikael ever made himself known, to Henrik he is his father, to Kol and the rest of his siblings Mikael is the monster who hunted them mercilessly for the last five hundred years. He hung his head in shame, "I know. We must protect him until the time comes when he can protect himself."

Klaus smiled, "I'm glad you agree."

Kol returned Klaus's smile before he went and made a drink, "I wish Henrik was older so that we could have made him a vampire already." He swallowed a mouthful of his drink, "Though he will not be an Original but he could at least defend himself."

Klaus swallowed at Kol's words, Caroline's echoing in his head, "Caroline wants me to give Henrik a choice. Leave the decision in his hands whether he becomes a vampire or stays a human."

Kol paused, his hand halfway to his mouth, "She does?" He quickly swallowed his drink before facing Klaus, "Are you planning on following her advice? Will you allow our brother to be mortal if he chooses?"

Klaus clenched his jaw, "I said I would and I will."

Kol took his glass and smashed it against the wall, "You never gave us a choice!" His hands clenched in rage, "I was only able to leave because I ran away. Afraid you would stick a dagger in my heart for the mere thought of leaving you."

"Kol." Klaus growled, "This has nothing to do with you. I want us close so I can protect you all from Mikael."

"You only trust Elijah to help you." Kol shot back, "You and him were always whispering in the corner never even consulting Rebekah and I in your plans."

"Elijah has a cool head on his shoulder," Klaus gave Kol a pointed look, "you do not, and neither does Rebekah. You two would have gotten us all caught if Elijah and I had not protected the lot of you."

Kol scoffed, "You only care about Elijah and Rebekah, your favourite siblings." He shook his head in despair, "And now Henrik is back, your most favoured sibling of all."

Klaus rubbed his forehead, "Stop being so childish, Kol. All of you mean the same to me. You're my family." He smiled, "Always and forever."

"That's just the thing, Nik." Kol blinked rapidly to hold back his emotion, however his voice gave away his anguish, "I was never included in that vow. You, Rebekah and Elijah were the ones whom made that oath, not I."

Klaus took a step toward Kol, angry that he could even imply that he didn't care about him, "Where is this coming from? We are Mikaelson's, we are strong, we fight for each other, we are a family."

Kol swallowed, "Then why does it feel like I have to fight to be included in this family?" He didn't stick around to hear the answer, he whooshed away.

"KOL!" Klaus yelled after Kol's quick exit. He was about to follow when he felt a strong hand on his shoulder.

"Leave him be, Niklaus." Elijah squeezed Klaus's shoulder in reassurance, "Kol has always felt adrift."

"But why?" Klaus turned to face Elijah, "We do all that we can to protect him and he accuses me; all of us, of not caring about him."

Elijah knew Klaus didn't understand Kol's anger, he himself was shocked he could believe such a thing. He loved all of his siblings and he would die to protect each of them. Elijah sighed, "You and Rebekah were always the closest of us all. You also had a bond with Henrik. I am grateful after our stupidity with Tatia and your finding Caroline that we regained our own bond." He swallowed before confessing, "I love all of you equally but I was the closest to you. Finn was closest to our mother. Henrik loved all of us the same. And Kol always seemed so happy to have his own adventures that I never realised that he felt as if he was left out."

"I felt like the black sheep with the way Mikael treated me." Klaus revealed, his heart ached for Kol's misguided feelings.

"I wish I had done something more to protect you, Niklaus." Elijah lowered his head in shame, "I failed as your big brother."

Klaus gripped Elijah's shoulders, "No, Elijah, you did not. We were young, mortal, and terrified of our father." He pulled Elijah to him and held him tight, "I can not hold our human failings against us, not when you have not left my side in centuries." He pulled back and smirked, "Besides an angry detour or two."

Elijah chuckled, "You do not make it easy to love you sometimes, Niklaus." A rare smirk covered his lips as he jested, "But I soldier the burden all the same."

Klaus laughed, "I'm sure Caroline would agree with you on that sentiment."

"No, Niklaus," Elijah shook his head, "loving you is the easiest thing she has ever done." He smiled at Klaus, "Just as loving her is as easy to you as breathing." His eyes grew distant as he thought of his own absent love, Katerina, and his voice was soft as he said, "You two are as perfect together as I have ever seen." Just as Katerina and I would have been if she had only trusted me to save her.

Klaus smiled, his voice soft with happiness, "Yes, we are."

Elijah returned Klaus's smile before daring to broach a topic he's avoided for a year, "Caroline has been back with us near on a year. Your happiness has been a joy to watch." He swallowed before asking, "Do you or Caroline have any idea if this is permanent? Will she stay with us for the next five hundred years until we reach when she left, or will she disappear again?"

Klaus hated to think about that, he knew that either possibility could happen but he knew the answer deep in his bones, Caroline would not stay in the past, she would return to the future and he would be alone. Though it would be easier this time, he could survive the centuries apart as long as she was alive and he could one day reunite with her. He frowned at Elijah and answered, "I do not know for sure, Elijah, but I fear it is not permanent."

Elijah could see the pain that thought brought Klaus, "Will we try to bring her back to us if the worst should happen?"

"As much as I want too," Klaus swallowed down the fear of losing his wife, "as much as I will need her back, I believe that we would not succeed." He raised his brow, "Powerful and possibly the darkest of magics brought her to the past. No witch on Earth could yield the power needed to bend time. Not Ayana or her bloodline, nor even mother was strong enough."

Elijah tilted his head and a knowing smile curled his lips, "You have already asked the witches, have you not, brother?"

Klaus dropped his eyes and breathlessly chuckled, "It was the first thing I did once learning Caroline was from the future."

Elijah laughed, "Always thinking ahead, Niklaus."

Klaus grinned, "You know if I could I would not spend a day away from her again." His gaze became unfocused as he recalled the past year, "I-I've never felt so content as I have in the past year. The rage from not breaking my curse is lessened somewhat though not completely. Caroline knew that I'm a Hybrid, once the curse is lifted anyway, and I obviously break my curse in the future."

Elijah dared not hope, "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying," Klaus wore a small smile, "that my pursuit of Katerina is not over and it never will be, I will catch up to her one day but for the next century," he smirked as Elijah's eyes widened, "perhaps I will ease off the pursuit."

Elijah was speechless and shocked. His heart raced at the implication of Klaus's words, he would give him a century with Katerina before resuming his hunt for her. He swallowed the lump in his throat, unable to express the gratitude he felt at this small gesture.

Klaus smirked at Elijah's speechlessness, the sight a rarity because his brother always had something to say. He gripped his shoulder tight and spoke with sincerity, "You deserve the happiness that I have with Caroline." He searched his brothers eyes, satisfied with what he found he smiled, "Or at least to have the chance to find out whether she could bring you a fraction of the happiness that Caroline brings me."

Elijah dropped his head and took a shaky breath. Klaus was giving him the chance to find out what Katerina and himself could be. He raised his head to meet Klaus's gaze, he placed his hands on his brothers shoulders and squeezed gently, "Thank you, Nik!"

Klaus just smiled back.

Elijah pulled his brother into a tight hug. Loving Klaus was never easy, he made it all the harder by his fear of losing them but, it was more than worth it when he justified your love for him when he did something unselfish, so rare it was usually a fleeting gesture. This day however, his gesture was as big as it gets with his brother and Elijah loved him all the more for it.

Klaus held Elijah tight, allowing himself to need the comfort his brother shared freely but he never took, not wanting to be so weak that he needed his big brother to take care of him. He had always been afraid to let him go for fear of him never coming back but this was Elijah, he loved Klaus as fiercely as he loved him, he had stuck by him through centuries of distrust, betrayals, anger and fights. After all this time he could finally trust his brother to come back to him and their family.

Elijah pulled away from Klaus, "I will make arrangements for my journey and I will let you know when I leave." He turned to go when his brother called him back, he faced Klaus, "Yes?"

Klaus smirked, his eyes bright with teasing, "I hear Paris is nice this time of year."

Elijah's eyes widened subtlety at Klaus's comment, he couldn't possibly know where Katerina is, could he?

Klaus grinned wider, "She's there."

Elijah let out a choked breath, "Thank you so much, brother." He left then to make arrangements to see his love again.

Klaus lowered his gaze to stare at the fire again and whispered to himself, "You are welcome, big brother." He went to pour himself a drink when he was hit with her vanilla scent just moments before she appeared in the doorway.

Caroline leant against the door frame, a soft smile on her lips and a proud look in her eyes, "You are a really great brother, Klaus."

"No, I am not." Klaus admitted, knowing that he had failed his family more than once, "Today I am, but usually, I am a terrible brother to my family."

Caroline felt her heart break in her chest, she knew Klaus's history better than he did at this point, she knew everything he did to his family and how that pushed them apart. She wouldn't excuse his actions as that wouldn't do him any good but she would reveal the parallel in their behaviour, "I know. You have done horrible things to them and you will more than likely do even more. But one day you will come back together and become united once again." She shrugged her shoulders, a smile on her face, "At least you did in my future." She sighed, before continuing, "When I was growing up, after my parents split up, my mom became so involved in her job as the sheriff and left me alone all the time that I resented her and I treated her horribly. I didn't understand how important her job truly was."

Klaus smiled, "Your mother is the sheriff? Women are allowed in positions of power in your time?"

Caroline narrowed her eyes, "It's the 21st century, Niklaus, women can do and be whatever they want. We are equals."

Klaus grinned at Caroline's fire, "Man has never known the true power women hold. If witches ever joined forces and took what should be theirs, they would rule the world."

Caroline laughed, "Good thing most witches aren't power hungry, or those that are usually become consumed by their own power."

"It is part of the reason I always like to be on good terms with a few of the witches wherever we settle." Klaus smiled, "You never know when you will require their services."

"My best friend is a witch." Caroline crossed her arms over her chest and raised her eyebrow, "And you tried to kill her."

"Is there any of your endless supply of friends that I haven't tried to kill?" Klaus asked incredulous, just how many friends did Caroline have? And how did she ever fall for him if he tried to kill her loved ones?

Caroline creased her brow in thought, "You killed both of my best friends but thankfully they came back to life. You killed Tyler and his mom plus my friends Aunt." She rattled off name after name, "I'm pretty sure you've snapped both Stefan and Damon's neck at some point but their vampires so that doesn't count. Kol broke Matt's hand, Rebekah killed my friend again and in doing so killed my other friend Ric who killed my father and tortured me," she waved those thoughts away, "but that's a story for another day."

Klaus was aghast, his eyes were wild with disbelief, "How can you possibly love me after I've killed most of your friends?"

Caroline shook her head and laughed, "Trust me, I've asked myself that question a thousand times." She gazed off into the distance as she mentally looked at their moments together, "I was always drawn to you but after everything you did to my friends I couldn't allow myself to feel what I was starting to feel for you." She dropped her head, "So I buried it, so deep that I convinced myself that I hated you, but the truth was." She looked at Klaus, tears swimming in her eyes, "The truth is that no matter how much I should have hated you I just couldn't, I kept letting you back in and I could never turn my back on you." She couldn't help but think of that day in Klaus's mansion, holding bloody pliers as she tried to dig out a piece of stake that was never there.

Klaus shouted, "I will not have my hand forced by you or anyone else!"

Caroline raised her voice, "What is wrong with you? I'm reaching out to you despite everything that you've done, and you still can't get out of your own way. God! I feel sorry for you." She turned her back on Klaus.

Klaus vamp sped to block Caroline's way, "Don't turn your back on me!"

Caroline shouted emotionally, "I should have turned my back on you ages ago!"

They remained silent, staring at each other, their breathing heavy, the air around them electrified with tension.

That right there should have been a huge neon sign to Caroline that not only was Klaus in love with her but she was starting to love him too. They do say that love is blind, well love with a psychopathic mass murderer? There is not an expression in the English language that describes that kind of willful blindness.

"And despite all that you still fell in love with me?" Klaus knew he was lucky to have met Caroline, but now knowing some of their history he didn't realize just how lucky he truly was. He strode across the room and took her hands in his. He swallowed before asking, "If you had never been sent to the past and fell for the human version of me, do you believe that we would have been together?"

"Yes, I do." Caroline cradled Klaus's face between her hands, stroking her thumbs against his cheeks as she explained, "I didn't fall in love with your human self then your vampire self." She swallowed, her eyes beseeching him to understand, "I fell for the Hybrid whom terrorized my friends and kept coming back to save me and smiled so hopefully when he asked me if we were friends." She tearily laughed, "I loved the monster first, then the man. Because I could always see the humanity in you."

Klaus clung on to Caroline's words, he could see the truth of them in her eyes. He has no idea how she could love him after all he's done to her and her friends but he is eternally grateful that she did. He doesn't want to imagine what his life would have become if he'd never met her as a human.

Caroline smiled at Klaus, she could see how hard it was for him to accept that she loved the thousand year old Hybrid first. She brushed a sweet kiss across his lips and gazed into his eyes, "I love you, Klaus." She took a step toward him and nuzzled his neck, "Always and forever."

Klaus dropped his head to bury his face in Caroline's silken curls, he wrapped one of his arms around her lower back and with the other he cupped the back of her neck, "I love you, Caroline, always and forever."

Caroline grinned against Klaus's throat. She ran her nose up his neck, across his jaw to brush against his nose. She brought her hands up to cup his cheeks and pulled back slightly to look at him, "I am going for my swim tonight, if you wish to join me you can but if you don't that's fine with me."

Klaus lowered his head to kiss Caroline, soft and gentle. He pulled back and smiled down at her, "I wouldn't miss it, sweetheart." He ran his fingertips down her arms teasingly, "You are irresistible in the light of the moon."

Caroline blushed, a small smile curling her lips as she thought about their watery lovemaking, "I can't wait!" She winked at Klaus, grinned widely and spun around and left the room.

Klaus grinned as he watched his ball of sunshine sashay from the room. Caroline was his light, she shone the way through the dark and made his existence better just by being by his side.

I really don't deserve her, Klaus thought, Caroline's scent still lingering in the air long after she'd left, and I will never let her go.

Caroline fancied taking a stroll through the hills before her swim today. She took it slow and enjoyed the silence except for a few creatures scurrying across the land. A smile touched her lips as she mused whether the tiny patter of the animals feet were either thumper, bambi or squirrel - Stefan's animal diet - the thought made her heart ache for her best friend.

"I miss you, Stefan." Caroline chewed on her bottom lip and began to play with her wedding ring, "All of you, in fact. Not that I don't love my family and my husband because I do." She gazed at the twinkling stars in the sky, a light sheen of tears covering her eyes, "But I miss you all. And sometimes I just wanna rant with you, or tease Matt about turning into a shrink, or drinking with my girls while being in Damon's tub." She had to laugh at that memory, once she calmed herself she let a tear roll down her cheek, "I just really miss my mom."

Caroline allowed herself a moment of sorrow from missing her mom and friends before pulling herself together. She had been away from them for almost two years now and if nothing took her away again that could potentially be 471 years until she returned to when she left. She would only let herself miss her friends for those few moments when it squeezed her heart, otherwise she held onto the hope that she would one day be reunited with them, whether it be soon or in centuries time. She would see them all again.

Caroline walked back along the hills until she could see the loch in front of her. She tipped her head back, eyes closed and breaths even, as she let the cold night air soothe her for a moment. She reached up to her shoulder and prepared to lower her strap.

"Hello, Caroline."

Caroline spun around, her eyes wide as she looked into Mikael's eyes for the first time in a year. She opened her mouth to scream a warning to her family when everything went black.

Crack!

With lightening fast reflexes Mikael broke Caroline's neck. He watched as she dropped to the ground, her neck twisted, her body vulnerable to him, if he wanted to kill her now was the time.

Mikael bent down and picked Caroline up. He had been waiting centuries to get his revenge on Klaus for being his wife's bastard offspring. He would not make hers or Klaus's death quick. He would make them both suffer.

Mikael set up the scene for when Klaus arrived. In the mean time he would teach Caroline a lesson for even thinking she could stand up to him. Nobody laid a hand on him, especially not some whore Klaus married and somehow brought back to life.

Caroline fingers twitched as she awoke with a gasp escaping her mouth. She tried to move her arms and found she couldn't. She looked up and saw that her hands were bound to a tree with rope above her head, she looked down and saw that her feet were tied to the tree as well. She frantically searched her memory for what happened until she remembered hateful eyes and hands around her neck, Mikael!. He was here, he had found them and that meant her family was in danger. She raised her chin and determination entered her eyes, she would not let that happen.

"I see you are finally awake." Mikael spoke, his back was to Caroline and he was sitting on a log by a fire.

"What do you want, Mikael?" Caroline glared holes in the back of Mikael's head, "Have you not hurt your children enough?"

"Such fire." Mikael chuckled to himself. He stood up and walked toward Caroline. In his hand was a stake, not the Original killing white oak stake but a normal regular vampire killing stake.

Caroline watched Mikael warily, her eyes tracking him as he came closer to her. She just knew she was going to be tortured again, seriously?! She rolled her eyes in annoyance, why is it that every psycho she meets wants to torture her? Was three times not enough torture for several lifetimes let alone in the space of a couple of years? As Mikael reached her she found that she didn't even feel scared just overwhelmingly irritated.

Mikael tilted his head as he saw the irritated glare Caroline threw him, "You...are not afraid?"

"Duh!" Caroline rolled her eyes.

"I am going to torture you until Niklaus arrives and then I will kill you." Mikael explained what he was about to do in hopes that Caroline would show her fear. She didn't, if anything her gaze grew even more annoyed.

"Sorry to burst your bubble but your not the first to torture me and with my luck you are probably not the last." Caroline stared Mikael down defiantly, not an ounce of fear in her body.

"Such brave words." Mikael sneered, he didn't buy Caroline's blazè attitude at all. Before Klaus arrived he would make her scream and cry and beg to die. This he was certain because bravery only went so far when your nerves were crying out in pain.

Caroline leant forward as much as the ropes allowed her and glared at Mikael, "Bring it on!"

Mikael grinned, "As you wish, eager one." He thrust the stake into Caroline's stomach, blood leaking from the wound and covering his hand.

Caroline gritted her teeth against the pain and continued to glare at Mikael.

Mikael left the stake still buried in Caroline as he returned to the fire and retrieved his knife from where he placed it in the fire. The blade glowed red hot. He grinned, "This shall do nicely." He reached Caroline and slid the blade across her carotid artery, her skin sizzling as it burned and the blood cascading from her neck and soaking her dress with blood turning the blue cloth black.

Caroline gasped and a small cry escaped her lips. She couldn't help it, as the blood left her body the pain from the double wounds became even more agonized. She took ragged breaths to try and get through the pain, not giving up under Mikael's satisfied smirk.

"I shall get a scream out of you before the night is done." Mikael moved the knife to Caroline's bicep and sliced the skin open. He clenched his jaw as she remained resolutely silent. He moved the blade to her other bicep and just as he sliced through her skin he twisted the stake in her abdomen.

Caroline bit her lip so hard it bled, tears filled her eyes and her breathing became shallow.

"That's more like it." Mikael grinned before renewing his torture of Caroline.

Klaus left the castle and headed toward the loch. He reached the shore and frowned, Caroline wasn't in her usual spot and her clothes were nowhere to be seen. He saw the glow of a fire in the distance so he went towards it, hoping that it was Caroline.

A pit appeared in his stomach.

The closer he got the worst it became.

A shrill scream that could only be Caroline pierced the night.

Klaus didn't think he just ran.

"I told you I would make you scream." Mikael taunted Caroline smugly.

"Fuck you!" Caroline spat the blood in her mouth at Mikael.

Mikael laughed, "Such language from a lady!" He leant in to whisper in her ear as he thrust his blade just below her heart, "I always knew you were a whore."

Caroline hissed, dropped her fangs and shot her head forward and buried her fangs in Mikael's neck swallowing down as much of his blood as she could.

Mikael roared at Caroline's bite, he gripped her hair and pulled her off his neck, "You shall pay for that, whore." He saw a heavy, two feet piece of wood to the side, he picked it up and swung it at Caroline's kneecaps.

There was a crack and a crunching sound.

Caroline screamed.

Klaus reached them in seconds. He took one look at the scene in front of him and reacted. He flew at Mikael, pushing him several feet away from Caroline, "Don't you touch her again!"

Mikael grinned, "I've had my fun with her, Niklaus, now it is time for her to die." He ran at Klaus, throwing a punch as he jumped.

Klaus swung his body with the momentum of the punch and kicked his leg out to take Mikael's feet from under him. He picked up the piece of wood he'd seen Mikael use on Caroline and brought it down on his face with all of his strength, over and over he hit Mikael until his face was a bloody mask. He dropped the log and went toward Caroline, "Are you..."

Caroline's relieved smile turned into a horrified shout of, "KLAUS!" As she saw Mikael come up behind Klaus.

"...okay?" Klaus gasped as a branch was thrust through his chest, just brushing against his heart, and he fell to his knees.

Mikael grabbed hold of Klaus's hair roughly and pulled his head up so that he could hiss, "Time to watch your wife die, boy!"

Klaus already had his hand at his chest to pull the wood out. He looked up at Caroline's tear filled gaze, Mikael was already at her side. He got onto his knees, ignoring the agony in his chest he stumbled to standing, he never took his gaze off Caroline. One more second and he would be with her.

Mikael chose that second to strike. His hand slicing through Caroline's chest like butter to curl his palm around her heart. He sneered at Klaus, "Now I take your heart away."

Caroline gazed at Klaus, her eyes wide with sorrow and her face covered with tears. Her lips trembled as she said her final words, "I love you, Klaus."

Mikael's hand began to move.

"Noooo!" Klaus hearbreakingly cried out.

TBC

AN - What do you guys think? You totally hate me for ending it there, don't you? :)

Thanks for all the reviews, they mean so much to me. I hope you all enjoyed it. Until next time X X X