A/N: An update! Woohoo! We are now back in the past with Caroline and the Mikaelsons.

Summary: Klaus was not the only one affected by the hybrid curse, denying him his werewolf side. The curse had a second victim, his wife Caroline, who for a 1000 years he thought was dead. Only days before he is meant to break his hybrid curse, he learns she is alive and closer than he ever imagined. Klaroline!Time travel story.

Chapter Seven

Niklaus watched as Caroline gingerly held the recently carved bird in her hands. He was nervous about her reaction, whether or not she would like it. Throughout the time he spent carving it for her, the two had fallen into a comfortable silence. While he was incredibly focused on the carving, he could not ignore how close Caroline was to him.

Her eyes focused on his every move with the knife, interest in those sky blue eyes. She was so close, it wouldn't have taken hardly any movement in his part to touch her and close the distance. However he wouldn't close that distance, no matter how much he would have liked to. When the bird had been completed, she had only asked to hold it. The expression she wore wasn't one he could decipher, it made him even more anxious that he had no idea what she was thinking.

"Do you like it," Niklaus asked, hoping he sounded casual.

She turned away from the bird to face him, a genuine smile on those soft lips, "It's incredible. You have a gift."

Niklaus released a soft laugh, "Thank you love, but it is just a hobby."

Caroline scoffed, "A hobby you are insanely good at."

"I'm glad you think so," Niklaus said with a sideways grin.

"I do," Caroline said, her smile wide, "Thank you for this, it really means a lot to me. What else have you carved?"

Niklaus was surprised by the question, "A great deal of things. I carved a Knight for Rebekah when we were children, a deer for Elijah and a few other creatures for my family. I carve weapons for my brothers. Now a bird for you."

"Wow, that is impressive," Caroline praised, it made Niklaus' heart swell, "Do you only carve?"

"I have a few drawings, but they aren't very good," Niklaus told her.

"Nonsense, I bet they are wonderful," Caroline replied as though it were obvious.

"Perhaps I will show them to you one day," Niklaus said, "Maybe you will do the honor of being one of my subjects."

Caroline's expression turned sheepish, she tucked a stray hair behind her ear, "Oh I don't know about that. I mean, I've never been drawn before and I doubt I would look that nice when there are so many other nice things you could draw instead of just plain old me."

Niklaus tilted his head to the side, "You think yourself plain? Have you not seen yourself Caroline? There is nothing plain about you."

Caroline bit her lip. Even though she knew she was attractive, she also had a lot of doubts and insecurities when it came to her appearance. That was why she always had to be put together, her clothes perfect and coordinated. Her make up always flawless no matter the time. It was only when everything was perfect did she feel beautiful, but even then she felt unsure.

As a vampire, that insecurity seemed to fade in and out. That had worked in her favor considering it allowed her to get handle on it and in a sense her over it, but now. Now she was just a human again and was overwhelmed with how insecure and weak she had been. It was as if nothing changed and that stung the most.

Caroline could only shrug her shoulders.

Niklaus spoke again, "Caroline, I have never seen such beauty like the one you possess. Inside and out."

"You're just saying that to make me feel better," Caroline said softly with a wry smile.

"I am saying it because you do not seem to know this," Niklaus informed her, "You are beautiful, strong, full of light. There is a fire within you that shines brighter than the sun. I have never encountered someone like you and I do not know how I have lived this life without having known you. Forgive me if I am being forward, but I cannot accept that you do not see the beauty you hold. It is unlike any other."

Caroline blinked in surprise, "I, I don't know what to say. You believe that?"

Niklaus nodded, his expression serious, "Every word."

Caroline visibly swallowed, she didn't know what to say. He was looking at her in a way no one had ever looked at her before, none of the guys she had been with ever looked at her this way and she wasn't even with Niklaus. He hardly knew her, they had met only a few days ago and already he thought these things about her? She was flattered, beyond flattered actually, but didn't know what to do.

She knew she liked him, but it didn't feel as strong or it wasn't as obvious to her. But that did not stop the potential and all the ideas of the pair of them from flooding her mind. It was then she noticed they were much closer than before, still not touching, but just barely their shoulder brushing against the other. Their faces were closer as well, mere centimeters apart. She could feel his breath on her, her eyes glanced at his lips and she had to wonder how it would feel to kiss him. The idea had crossed her mind before, but this was stronger. Her eyes found his again.

He broke the silence that had stretched between them, "I fancy you, Caroline and I wish to do this properly. To court you. You have been through a great deal these past few days so I do not want to push you into anything. My desire is that should you wish to begin something with me, that it will be on your time and because you want it."

Niklaus wanted nothing more than to kiss her, he had been imagining it ever since her first night, but knew he couldn't do it. After all that had happened, it would be unfair to play with her emotions. Not to mention given what has recently happened, it felt wrong to begin something of the sort now. He hoped he was doing the right thing, that he had conveyed his message the right way to her. Niklaus had been so lost in his thoughts he hadn't realized she moved until her lips pressed lightly against his cheek. The touch was softer than a feather, it was sweeter than honey and sent warmth throughout Niklaus.

When she pulled away he saw her smile was softer than before, her eyes shinning as she told him, "Thank you for your words. I appreciate it and the bird."

Niklaus nodded, he was too stunned to speak. The two left the open patch to return to the house so that Mikael would not have further ammunition against either of them. It was in these moments that Niklaus wished he was stronger, that he could defend those close to him from Mikael's wrath, to stop him from ever hurting anyone again. He refused to believe it would be impossible to one day he rid of his father. It was not something he could accept.

He glanced at Caroline, her gaze focused on the ground beneath her. Niklaus wished he could comfort her, he wished there was something he could say to make her feel better, do something so that she would no longer be in this mood, but he knew it was no use. There was nothing he could say to help her now. And that seemed to hurt him more than he thought it would.

After dinner, Caroline found herself helping Esther put away herbs. Even though Caroline would have preferred to be away from Esther due to their conversation earlier, she was pleased that the older woman didn't bring it up again. At least she hadn't brought it up. Rather it was Kol. He joined them after several minutes of their silent cleaning to ask his mother question. He glanced at Caroline, though he wanted to ask how she was feeling after the earlier incident, he thought she may not appreciate it. So he turned to his mother.

"I'm going to need the recipe for more of that paste mother," Kol said as he leaned on the table.

Esther frowned, "Have you finished it already?"

Kol shook his head, "No, you just haven't taught me how to make it yet. Besides, you've said so yourself that it is not difficult to make. I believe it would do me and our guest some good to learn how to make it. After all, only those with special talents can make it."

Caroline frowned, "Special talents?"

Esther gave Kol a pointed look, "Kol, mind your tongue."

"I am certainly minding my tongue," Kol said with a grin, "Do not be put out mother. How about tomorrow?"

"Kol," Esther said in a warning tone.

Caroline looked between the two, "Does anyone want to tell me what is going on here?"

Kol answered her, "I know you're a witch darling like my mother and myself. You should start tapping into your power, use it to your advantage."

"I, I'm not a witch," Caroline argued, her tone not as strong as she would have liked.

Kol spoke again, "No need to be ashamed love. We're a unique lot."

Caroline shook her head, she set the herbs down, "No, I'm really not a witch. I don't, I do not know why you guys think this way, but I-"

Caroline stopped when Kol interrupted her, "Hold out your hand. Palm up."

"I, what," Caroline stumbled out in confusion.

Kol smiled at her reassuringly. There was something about his brown eyes that Caroline noticed as she looked into them, she hadn't realized how dark they were compared to the lighter shades she noticed on Elijah or Finn.

"It won't hurt," Kol said grinning, he lifted up a medallion hooked to a leather strap, covered in a bunch of symbols, "This is one of the oldest ways to tell if someone is a witch. Mother used it on us all as children to see if we inherited the magic. I was the only one who could tap into the magic properly."

Caroline glanced at Esther as the older woman spoke, "This test has never failed in all it's years of use. If you are truly a witch Caroline, this medallion will tell us."

Caroline looked back at the pendant that Kol was holding in front of her. It reminded her of all the weird things Bonnie would do with objects sometimes. Her heart twisted at the thought of her friend, who was still out there with the others about to face the biggest challenge of their lives so far. If there was a chance she could get home with the magic they claimed she possessed, well she had to try. The worst that could happen is that it was false right? Caroline released a breath, she steeled her gaze as she looked at Kol who's smile had yet to fade. Without a word, Caroline lifted her right hand, her palm facing upwards.

Kol slowly took hold of her wrist to keep her hand in place as he let the medallion hover over her palm.

"If it doesn't move, you're human. If it travels north to south, you are a wolf or possibly some other magical being," Kol said mischievously, but at Caroline's sour look he sobered up, "Should it go east to west, you are a witch."

Caroline looked at the medallion ready to see it remain still over her palm, but it was in fact moving from side to side. She had no idea which direction it was swinging back and forth with, but based on the too pleased smile Kol wore and a knowing look on Esther's face meant one thing.

"Well you aren't a wolf," Kol said as he let go of Caroline's wrist and pocketed the medallion, "You are in fact a witch. Welcome to our mini coven."

Caroline swallowed, "You could have been swinging it on your own."

"Denial does not suit you," Kol teased.

Esther gave her son a pointed look, "Kol, do not make this anymore unpleasant for our guest."

"Oh come on mother, it is one of my many talents to keep any atmosphere pleasant," Kol told her with a grin, he sombered slightly when he saw Caroline's paling complexion, "You have nothing to be upset about. Sure, witches aren't the most popular group of people, but we are certainly a force to be reckoned with. This is a gift Carolena, something to celebrate."

Caroline wouldn't look at him, she couldn't speak. Anything she could have said seemed to die in her throat. The familiar pressure and burning of her eyes told her she needed to get out of there, she needed to get away and be by herself before she really lost control of her emotions. For days she had been able to keep herself under control, but this was just the icing on the cake and she had to shut it off somehow.

Learning she had been a vampire had been an ordeal on it's own, but this was something else entirely. A witch? She was a witch. Honestly, what else could come her way? It wasn't enough for her to be sent to the past, but now she was a witch. From her mom or dad's side, she had no idea and it wasn't like she could ask since there was a thousand years separating them.

Caroline took a breath, "Excuse me for a minute."

Caroline didn't wait for an answer, she moved past Kol to leave the room and go outside away from their prying eyes. Kol had made a move to follow her, but his mother stopped him, saying something about letting her have some space, though he didn't quite hear her words. Making Caroline upset was the last thing he wanted to do. After what she had done for him, had tried to do for himself and Henrik earlier had meant more to him than he could ever express.

Caroline's arrival had changed things in this household for everyone. Before her arrival, there was nothing, but tension that seemed to be here as of late. Of course there were times when this family enjoyed bits of happiness. It just seemed as if these past few months that things were on the colder side, as if the upcoming winter season were affecting them all. Yet their guest seemed to make things warmer.

Mikeal could not be as hostile as usual due to her presence, besides Kol and Elijah were certain their father was trying to see who she could become a wife to. Esther appreciated having more help around the house and with the news of her being a witch, it meant she could share her talents with her more than she could with Kol. Finn remained mostly the same, but Kol noticed at meals his oldest brother seemed to relax a bit more since her arrival. Elijah's mood had improved greatly, he thrived on having goals and things to accomplish.

Based on what Kol knew, Elijah's goal was to have Caroline and Niklaus grow closer. Rebekah was still insufferable, but she had a friend now, something that had never truly had before. Of course there were women in the village close to her age, but the only times they truly bothered with her was when they wanted something. Henrik adored Caroline, he had a boyish crush on her because he found her pretty and she smelled nice. It amused Kol to hear that Henrik enjoyed her company.

Niklaus was by far the most changed since her arrival. He was more open and responsive to the world around him in a way he hadn't been since they were children. There was something brewing there. Kol released a sigh. He enjoyed teasing Caroline and was grateful for what she had done for him and Henrik earlier. Somehow he wanted to show her that it meant a lot to him, making her upset was not the best way to go. He would make it up to her though. For now he would do as his mother asked and not go after her.

Caroline was restless that night. After the conversation with Esther and Kol, she immediately ran into Rebekah. Though Caroline wanted to be alone, she also really wanted a friend. Despite only knowing Rebekah for barely a week, she considered her a nice person and a good friend. It wouldn't do her much good sulking alone, so Caroline spent some time with Rebekah just talking and laughing with each other. However it ended far too quickly for Caroline's taste.

Now here she was lying in the bed room, listening to the sound of quiet snores and the creatures outside to keep her company. Not to mention the pounding headache which had yet to leave her. Ever since the conversation with Kol and Esther, she had felt the urge to cry even more than before and the longer she held these tears back, the worse her headache became. Though she wanted to kick herself being weak, she also had to consider that everything happening around her was a lot for one person to handle.

Being sent a thousand years in the past with no memory as to how she got here, her vampirism disappearing without a trace, discovering she is a witch, the incident with Mikael, the fact that she had no idea if her friends were alive or even knew if she was gone and the list went on. The more she thought about it, the worse she felt about it. Shallow, hitched breaths filled her ears and it took her a moment to realize that the noise was coming from her. She couldn't do this, she couldn't do this.

"Get it together Caroline," she whispered to herself, she swallowed thickly as she felt the tears fall from her eyes.

Her bottom lip trembled incessantly, she bit down on her lip as hard as she could, trying and failing to keep her emotions at bay. She was sad, scared, angry. All she wanted was her friends and her mom, that was it. She tried to picture them, to pretend they were nearby, but as she called on the memories, it was blurred and not right.

Panic flared inside her, why couldn't she remember what they looked like? It only lasted a moment and their faces made an appearance in her mind, but the fear didn't leave her. This was a nightmare, a nightmare she would likely never wake from. She wanted to go home. A choked sound rose in her throat and she barely caught before it entered the night. She had to leave, she had to go.