AN: Thank you for reading. No beta still. This chapt is the second to last one. It's kinda long so the epilogue will be the next chapt. Thank you for staying with me this long. See you at the bottom. And yes you'll find out where Caroline has been all this time.
Caroline went outside the temple and saw that it was bright and sunny and warm. There was no snow in sight. All she saw was the bright blue sky with a few clouds. She saw Tyler helping some of the monks tend to their garden. She didn't understand how when they were trekking through the snow they ended up here. She walked around on the lush grass. It was warm here, vibrant, almost too perfect.
"I know you have questions" Liz said from behind
"This place is really weird" Caroline said
"It's different, but it will keep you safe for now"
"Where are we exactly?"
"Somewhere in Nepal. We're near Everest actually. People pass us by all the time and they never know that we're here"
"How is that possible?"
"This temple, this entire area is a sanctuary, protected by the elements, and by magic."
"How did you even find this place?"
"I didn't. I was running from your father. I was passing through when I fell in the snow. One of the sherpas found me and brought me here. This was after I gave birth to you"
"It's beautiful here"
"It is, but don't get too caught up in it. This is only temporary, we can't stay here much longer"
"We've only been here a few days"
"That's far too many days. We have to keep moving."
"I know. I just want to talk to Klaus, to tell him I'm ok"
"You can't keep using your powers, you'll lead Silas to us, to here. And these monks don't need that kind of trouble"
"I know. I just miss him. And this is scary, being pregnant with his hybrid baby and all"
"I have to tell you something Caroline, and you have to be calm about it"
"What?"
"Where we are is a magical place"
"I got that"
"What you don't know is that time passes differently here than the outside world."
"What?"
"We've only been here a few days, maybe a week, but the outside world, time passes by much faster"
"What are you saying?!"
"Just be prepared when we leave, expect the worst"
"How much time has passed?"
"Caroline calm down"
"No! How much time?! Oh my god, Klaus must think I abandoned him! I have to talk to him"
"You can't!"
"Tyler!"
Tyler dropped what he was doing and ran to Caroline.
"What is it?" Tyler asked
"I need something from you"
"Anything"
Caroline grabbed onto Tyler's neck and opened her mouth. A red glow came out of his mouth and went into Caroline's.
"No Caroline!" Liz yelled
Tyler passed out and Caroline dropped him to the ground. Caroline closed her eyes and her body fell back. Liz rushed to catch her. The blue glow floated out of her body and disappeared into the air.
Sophie and Jane Ann were closing up their restaurant when they felt their presence.
"We're closed" Jane Ann said
"What happened to that southern hospitality?" Klaus said walking towards them
"We're out of gumbo" Sophie said
"I came for something else" Klaus said
"Look we can't find her ok? Whatever is blocking her is strong, too strong" Jane Ann said
"Aren't the witches of New Orleans not to be reckoned with? Didn't you say that?" Rebekah asked
"Look, maybe she doesn't want to be found, I mean it's been years" Sophie said
"Take a hint, give up, she doesn't want to be found" Jane Ann said
"I gave you back your city, and I only ask this one thing of you!" Klaus said
"What my brother means is, maybe your coven can talk to its ancestors and help us out here" Rebekah said
"We can't help you. We've never encountered anything like this before" Jane Ann said
"Can't or don't want to?" Klaus asked
"All of our ancestors are here, they don't know what it is. They've never experienced it before. Whatever is cloaking her is powerful. It's not a witch, it's a thing, she's somewhere well guarded" Sophie said
"Where?" Klaus asked, "I've searched for her all over the world! Searched every bloody continent for her! How can she just vanish?"
"She could be anywhere, there are lots of magical hot spots" Sophie said
"And I've searched them all" Klaus said
"You can't, some of these places won't reveal themselves to your kind." Jane Ann said
"Are you saying you can see them?" Klaus asked
"I"m saying some of these places cannot be seen by us, supernaturals. Sometimes you have to be a boring plain old human to see it. Sometimes you have to be a woman or a child. Fairies are only seen by children. Look wherever she is, you have to know she's safe" Sophie said
"She's somewhere and I intend to find her. And you're going to help me" Klaus flashed in front of her
"Nik!" Rebekah yelled
"I want her back!" Klaus yelled
Rebekah pushed Klaus back a few steps away from the witches.
"Nik! This isn't helping! Dead witches can't help you!" Rebekah said
Rebekah looked back at the witches and motioned for them to leave. Sophie and Jane Ann quickly rushed out.
"I did everything I was suppose to. I killed Silas, the immortal, the one who couldn't be killed. I did it! Why can't I find her?!" Klaus yelled
"We'll find her! You need to calm down"
"I can't! She's out there with my child, a child that's growing up without me!"
"Whatever happened, there's a reason for it. She's hiding to protect her child"
"Then why hasn't she contacted me!? Where is she!?"
"Nik"
"No! Why can't I find her? These bloody witches are no use! I gave them back their city! I did!"
"Well it was more of a group effort but ok"
"Shamans, witch doctors, druids, they all say the same thing. She's being blocked by something. But it's been so long, why is she still hiding?"
"She doesn't know Nik! She doesn't know Silas is dead, maybe she's still running because she's afraid"
"She's afraid of me isn't she? Afraid that I'll turn the child into me, a monster, an abomination"
"No, she's afraid that Silas will find her. She wouldn't abandon you."
"Where is she? Where is she!?"
Rebekah sighed and wrapped her arms around him. She held him close.
"We'll find her" Rebekah said
"I'm not a child, do not coddle me"
"You're more of a brat"
"You're the brat"
"I'm the one that's stayed by you all this time, I've helped you, loved you through all this. Not Kol, not Elijah, not Finn, ME!"
"Yes you, do you want an award then?"
"I'm the one that's still trying to help you. Killing the witches of New Orleans isn't exactly a good idea"
"Why are you still here? I'm sure Stefan misses you"
"Stefan's a big boy"
"You should go back to him"
"And leave you alone to kill more witches? I will stay and help your ungrateful ass"
"Elijah's gone, he's living his happily ever after with that wretched Katherine of all people"
"You said you didn't care about Katherine"
"I don't, I didn't expect him to leave with her. Even Kol is gone"
"That witch lost her powers, and tore the veil to get him back. Taking her around the world is the least he could do for her"
"Why does everyone else get to be happy except me?"
"Stop comparing yourself to everyone. That's always been your shortcomings"
"What if she doesn't want to be found? What if she doesn't want me?"
"It's only been 5 years Nik. That's nothing for us"
"It's the first time I've actually felt time passing. She's out there with my child"
"We'll find her, we will"
"Enough of this, we should go" Klaus said pulling away from her
Klaus turned from Rebekah and saw the blue glow floating towards him. He froze and saw it approaching. He reached out and it wrapped around his hand and was absorbed into his skin. He took a step back and started to fall backwards.
"Nik!" Rebekah reached out to catch him
Klaus looked around and saw himself in a white room again. He turned around and saw Caroline standing there.
"Caroline!" Klaus ran to her and grabbed her, "Where are you? Where have you been all this time?!"
"Klaus! I just spoke to you a few days ago. They told me time moves differently where I am. Slower than the rest of the world. I've only been here a few days. How long has it been?"
"Five years"
"What?! I've been gone 5 years?!"
"Tell me where you are. Tell me!"
"I don't know, somewhere in Nepal I think. You have know I didn't know. I'm leaving this place. I'm going home"
"And our child? How is he or she?"
"Klaus, I'm still pregnant. I swear it's only been a few days since I last spoke to you."
"I'm coming to get you"
"You can't. This place is magical, you'll never find it. I'm going home. Wait for me there, I'm coming home"
"Caroline, please, I have to find you"
"I'm not lost. Is Silas-"
"He's dead. I killed him"
"So it's safe then"
"Yes, Caroline, tell me where you are"
"I'm coming home. Wait for me this time"
"Always"
"Good"
Caroline pulled him closer and kissed him. Klaus had forgotten what her lips felt like. He held her closer and kissed her back. He could almost taste her. But then he felt her fading. He held onto her tighter.
"Caroline!"
And then a flash of images flooded his mind. He fell back and Rebekah caught him.
"Nik!" Rebekah yelled
Klaus opened his eyes and looked around. He was still in the restaurant. Rebekah helped him stand up.
"Are you alright?" Rebekah asked
"I just spoke to Caroline."
"Where is she?"
"Somewhere in Nepal. I saw where she was. It looked familiar, I've seen in a book before."
"Nepal? I'm not bloody going there"
"I think I know where she is"
"Five years?! I've been gone 5 years?!" Caroline screamed
"Caroline stop yelling!" Liz said
"You knew, you knew time moved differently here!"
"Why did you think I brought you here?! To hide from your father!"
"Well dad's dead! Klaus killed him, with a bunch of witches and werewolves, and vampires"
"Are you sure?"
"Why would Klaus lie about that? I"m getting the hell out of here!"
"Caroline!"
"No! I have to go, I have to find him. He's been waiting for me this whole time"
"Out of all the men in the world you pick a vampire werewolf hybrid, and not only that you got knocked up with his baby. At least he's not a troll"
"Those are real?"
"Yes Caroline. Fine we're leaving, but Tyler's still out"
"Whatever, he can do whatever he wants when he wakes up. I'm leaving" Caroline started walking
"Wait!" Liz yelled as she ran after her
Klaus stood by the fire, watching the light from the flames reflect off the glass of bourbon in his hands. When Caroline said she was coming home he wasn't sure which home she was referring to. He went to his house in New Orleans and started to pack. He went back to Mystic Falls to wait for her. Both her fathers didn't know where she was. They thought she was with him the entire time. They had not heard anything from her in 5 years and they assumed they were in hiding from her crazy father. But when they learned Klaus had killed Silas, they became worried that something happened to Caroline. But Klaus told them she was with her mother and on the run.
"She's fine, if she's with her mother, she's fine" Bill said
"You have not seen that woman in action. Caroline is in good hands" Stephen said
"That woman managed to stay hidden for 17 years, she won't be found unless she wants to be found" Bill said
"How do you contact her?" Klaus asked
"Succubus signal" Bill answered
"Bill! He's being serious" Stephen said
"It doesn't always work. We send out a signal, but she doesn't always respond" Bill said
"Can you try?" Klaus asked
"We have been trying, she hasn't responded yet"
"I've searched every continent for her, every blasted corner of the earth and I still can't find her"
Klaus held the glass in his hands and threw it into the fireplace.
"Destroying the place already?" Rebekah asked as she walked in
Klaus ignored her and went to get another drink. Rebekah walked over to his desk and looked at the open book laying there.
"You've spent the past year renovating this place and now you're going to destroy it?" Rebekah asked
"Not in the mood" Klaus said
"You're always in a mood. I see you decorated the nursery"
"What of it?"
"Very gender neutral. Though I don't think there's nearly enough toys inside there"
"What do you want?"
"Nothing actually. I've brought you a gift"
"I don't want it"
"I'm sure you do," Rebekah picked up the book on his table and her fingers ran over the picture, "You can come in now"
"A skinny man walked in, with dark hair and eyes. He looked around and when he saw Klaus his heart began to beat faster. He was afraid.
"What is this? Your newest toy?" Klaus asked
"He's been there" Rebekah said
Klaus flashed in front of him.
"Tell me where it is" Klaus said
"No need to compel him. He's a gypsy. Or traveller as they like to be called these days" Rebekah said
"Tell me where it is" Klaus said
"It will not appear to you. Not to your kind. I was trekking in the snow in Nepal. The cold took over my body, I thought I was going to die, I fell into the snow but then someone found me. They brought me there. And it was beautiful, magical." the man said
"Where in Nepal is it? Show me" Klaus said
"It will not appear to you. It only appears to the living"
"I'm part werewolf"
"If your woman is truly there, she is safe. No one can get in unless they allow it. No harm will come to her"
"Is she trapped there? Can you leave?"
"Yes, you are free to leave, but no one really does. It is perfection on earth. Hidden in the mountains, safe, protected."
"Then why did you leave?"
"I missed my family. Though when I left I didn't realize how much time had passed. I had stayed there for a few months. And when I left, several decades had passed. My family was no more"
"Rebekah what was the point of bringing him here?"
"To show you Nik, that she's safe" Rebekah said
"I don't want her to be safe, I want her to be here with me!" Klaus yelled
"Show him on the map where you were last" Rebekah said
The man walked over to the table and looked at the map.
"It only reveals itself to people who need it." the man said
"I need her back" Klaus said
"Then I hope you find her"
The man looked at the map and then made a mark.
"I was trekking here, but I could have gone in any direction before they found me and carried me there. Good fortune in finding her" the man left quickly
Klaus stared at the map. This would where he would look for her.
"Nik why are you still here? I thought you'd be compelling your way through the airport by now" Rebekah said
"I'm going to find her"
"Tell me if it's real. If it's really what people say it is"
"Probably hallucinations from the lack of oxygen and altitude sickness, but I'll let you know if it's real or not"
"Call me when you find her"
"Thank you"
Klaus flashed away before Rebekah could say anything. She glanced down at the page on the book.
"Shangri-la"
Klaus sped to his room to pack but stopped when he passed the nursery. He went back and looked inside again. He had painted the walls himself, a giant mural on all the walls. A sunny day with a few clouds over looking the beach and walking along it was a couple holding hands. A yellow sundress just like the one she wore. Another of an elephant and giraffe out in the grass, and a blonde standing between them. And then a pig wearing a sombrero, surrounded by puppies making food. And then the last was just her. Her blonde hair flowing freely as she cradled the small infant in her arms. He longed to find her. He missed her. And he became very aware of time passing when she wasn't around. His immortality turned out to be a curse instead without her to share it with. It all seemed meaningless.
"I don't hear you packing!" Rebekah yelled from downstairs
Klaus ignored her and picked up the stuffed giraffe toy. He decided he would take it with him.
"You've been in a mood this past year, and I don't want to be around you much longer! I'm going to see Stefan."
Klaus heard the door slam shut as Rebekah left. He was alone again. He went to his room to pack his bag. He saw her blue robe, the one he said was far too short for her hanging in the closet. He walked over to it and his fingers glided along the fabric. It still had the faintest scent of her lingering on it. He heard the front door open again and knew Rebekah had returned to goad on him more. He returned to packing his bag and held the stuffed giraffe toy in his hands. He was being too emotional now. He heard footsteps coming up the stairs. He groaned inwardly as he didn't want to deal with Rebekah again. He did love his sister but she was getting on his nerves again. He heard her stop at the door.
"What is it Rebekah? Come to critique me on my packing?" Klaus said
"Klaus?"
That voice. He should have picked up on it earlier. The way she walked up the stairs, the way she stopped at the door. And then he heard it, the sound of her heart beating and the flutter of another heartbeat. But he would go mad if it wasn't her. He didn't imagine her, she had to be here. Klaus turned around slowly.
"Klaus?! I found you!" Caroline cried out as she ran towards him
Klaus watched as she ran towards him. Her hair disheveled, her clothes disheveled and dirty, she looked tired with the dark circles under her eyes and she smelled like airports, airplanes and bad greasy food. She flung herself into him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Klaus, I missed you. I tried to get back sooner. Klaus? Klaus say something"
Klaus reached up into her hair to touch her to see if she was real. His arm wrapped around her waist holding her close.
"Klaus?" Caroline lifted her head up to face him
"Where have you been?"
"Trying to get back here."
"It's been a year since we last spoke"
"I know, I'm sorry, we had to wait for Tyler to wake up, I kinda drained him to send you that last message. And it took forever to get out of all that snow, and we had to compel a bunch of people to get on the flights here, who knew getting out of Nepal was that difficult, and then-"
Klaus cut her off by kissing her, something he hadn't done in so long he almost forgot what it fell like. Caroline pushed him away slightly.
"I've been on planes for how many days, I haven't showered, or washed my hair or brushed my teeth. I'm really gross right now"
"You're beautiful"
"Just let me shower"
"I haven't seen you in years Caroline, I'm not letting you out of my sight!"
"God course you want to watch"
Caroline pulled away heading towards the bathroom. Klaus followed her. She noticed the stuffed giraffe in his hands.
"What's that?" Caroline asked
"For the baby"
Caroline took the giraffe from his hands and looked at it. She smiled.
"You remembered" Caroline said
"Of course I did, you brought an elephant and a giraffe to the backyard"
"Actually it was 2 elephants"
Klaus reached out and pushed her hair aside away from her face.
"I missed you" Klaus said
"I missed you too" Caroline smiled back
"I was trying to find you. I finally got a lead on where you were. I was going to fly out tonight"
"Good thing you didn't, or else I wouldn't be able to find you"
"I was trying to find you love"
"I'm not lost. At least not anymore"
"No you're not"
"Alright lemme shower!"
She shoved the toy back at him and started taking her clothes off to shower. Klaus watched as she stepped into the shower. He wanted nothing more than to ravage her thoroughly but knew she wanted to wash the smell of traveling off her. She reached out for the shampoo and began to wash her hair. Klaus went back into the bedroom and started to unpack.
Caroline stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around herself. She stepped outside and found the bedroom empty. She saw her robe in the closet and put it on. She heard the doorbell ring and went out into the hallway. She could hear Klaus paying the pizza guy. She smiled. She walked down the hallway towards the steps when she stopped at the room with the open door. She walked inside and gasped at what she saw. It was a nursery. She saw the crib and the toys, there were so many toys. But then she saw the walls. Klaus had painted all of it. She knew it was him. She saw the image of herself holding a baby in her arms and her hand reached up to cover her mouth. Is this how he saw her? He made her look so beautiful so angelic.
"Do you like it?" Klaus asked from the doorway
"It's beautiful!" Caroline said
"I spent a lot of time trying to get it right" Klaus said putting the pizza box on the dresser
"You did all this? For me?"
"Of course, I wanted it to be perfect for you"
Caroline reached out and grabbed his henley and kissed him. Klaus pulled her closer, kissing her back harder. His hands pulled at the belt on her robe.
"Where are your hybrids?" Caroline asked
"I let them go. I didn't need them while I was searching for you. I can always call them back if you want"
"No, you don't need them"
"Where's Tyler?"
"I sent him home, told him to live his life and all that"
"Good" Klaus said as he lifted her up and put her on the diaper changing table.
"You know I'm already pregnant"
"We're just practicing for the next one"
"No way, this one is enough!"
"Oh come now, you're a succubus, you know abstinence is the only guaranteed way of not getting pregnant. And I doubt you could hold out that long"
"We're getting condoms, lots of condoms, hybrid condoms!"
"You know whatever happens, with this child or the next I won't leave you"
"You're so on diaper duty!"
"I mean it sweetheart. I'll always be here for you"
"I know, that's why I found you"
"But I'm not lost"
"No you're mine"
"Claiming ownership already?"
"Gotta mark what's mine"
Caroline pulled his shirt up over his head and tossed it to the floor. Her hands ran over his chest.
"I missed you" Caroline said
Klaus opened her robe and pushed it off her shoulders.
"I'll show you what you missed" Klaus said
Ok, hope you guys liked it. epilogue coming up next. I posted it cause apparently some shit storm went down last night that I have no idea what happened. I was out at a concert while everyone just went crazy. I didn't watch T.O. so I don't know what everyone is yelling about. *loud noises* But I hope this keeps your klaroline heart going. Leave me a review, and the next chapt is the last one. I'll make it a good one, but no rainbows or unicorns.