Tabithatvd - thank you for your wonderful comment! I appreciate what you said, truly. And this might get a sequel if I feel this chapter becomes too long or enough others want a sequel. Thank you for asking. :)

And it officially has; there are two other parts after this one. Hope you like it. :)


Things were just as different with the Quarter as they'd been the first time Rebekah had dropped in, worrying about Elijah's well-being. Only it seemed like things were darker. Perhaps they were, given the world they'd built for centuries had turned against them only five years ago. Nik had been rescued, he wouldn't say by whom, and had been a completely different person. Leaving his room silently, slowly, looking everyone hard in the eye as he passed but not addressing a word to them. In fact, Nik hadn't spoken one word since they'd been reunited.

As depressing as it was to have the strongest of them all be a shut-in once again, Rebekah found there were other problems to be addressed, as usual. There was word that a witch was trying to get a message to one of the Mikaelsons, but she couldn't because she'd end up on the wrong side of Marcel's new teeth. Rebekah couldn't go to Marcel and convince him to let the witch through; she was avoiding him at the moment, and knew he'd catch up to her one day and defend himself so well she'd be tempted to forgive him on the spot. But she was not going to make it easy for him.

So Kol was the one to do it. Since they had gotten the antidote for the hybrid bite, he was immune to Marcel's threats. While Kol smuggled the witch through layers and layers of red tape and suspicions, Rebekah expected Nik to have something to say against the decision. He merely sulked away and shut himself in his room. This had to end, but for the life of her she didn't know how to end it. Everyone in the house had tried to talk to him every which way. But no one had gotten through to him. If Hayley hadn't been so busy with Hope whose powers were unimaginably strong, more attention would be on rehabilitating Nik.

But that was a different story.

Kol had gotten the witch to safety and immediately she and Elijah came to the woman, who sat in a chair near the window.

"Are you certain you want to be so near something that could expose you to the people you're hiding from?" Elijah asked. He had aversion to windows since the first day they'd been brought back; a vervain bomb had been thrown through the window he'd stood by. The witch brought her chin up to meet his eyes.

"I've been smuggled through dark alleys and in tinted-windowed cars for the past three weeks. I'm gonna enjoy a little sun." She snapped. Elijah looked at Rebekah in surprise and then turned back to her.

"We understand you wish to give one of us a message, although we've no idea of the context. Who is it you wish to speak to?"

"Klaus Mikaelson." The witch replied boldly without a moment of hesitation.

"Good luck with that darling," Kol said, entering the room and standing beside his siblings. "He won't even talk to us. Now if you know something that'll get him to act like the Nik we all know and love, why don't you just tell one of us and we'll relay the message." He promised, kneeling before her.

The witch considered him.

"If I have your word you will do as you say." She replied. Kol nodded. "And if for any reason I should doubt you I can easily make you do it; truth-telling vampires are hard to come by these days." She added, narrowing her eyes at the three.

"Wonderful, we're talking to a prejudice witch." Rebekah groaned.

"Is there any other kind?" Elijah asked, getting a smile Rebekah had to cover.

"Hey!" Kol snapped, standing up to face them. "This is a chance to bring Nik back, why don't you bring your noses back down to the normal level we all have, and show some understanding." Elijah sighed and looked at the witch.

"Would you like to be out of the sunlight quite yet?" He asked her. The witch looked away

"Not yet." She decided.

"Alright then, since we're pressed for time, why don't you tell us the bloody message." Rebekah said.

"Yes, if you've heard, our brother has a child, Hope. She's a powerful witch, even more powerful than you. She's a loose cannon this week, to put it mildly." Elijah explained.

"Okay. Well someone's looking for Klaus. Someone, it appears, he needs more than you." The witch said.

"Who the bloody hell is that?" Rebekah asked.

"You've met her before, surely you remember." The witch replied. She looked at the others. "You've all met her. Caroline Forbes."

The remembrance of the young vampire who Nik had chosen over saving her sunk in for Rebekah. The shock of hearing the woman's name again confused the others.

"I'm sorry; I don't understand the importance of this Miss Forbes. She was a conquest for Niklaus, that was all." Elijah said. The witch gave him a look.

"If she was really a conquest would I have risked my life to get here?" She replied dryly. "Klaus Mikaelson and Caroline Forbes are in love. And if that man hadn't found a love by the time I found him, he would've died back in Mystic Falls along with all his sired hybrids and vampires." She said.

"I'm sorry, you were in Mystic Falls?" Rebekah asked

"Yes. Possibly you've heard of me, I'm Jossana Matthews." The witch replied. A moment of silence. "Of the Matthews coven your beloved brother massacred."

"That was sixty years ago. You have the appearance of a twenty-year old." Elijah protested. Jossana shrugged.

"Your sister isn't the only one who had a preservation spell put on her."

"Yes but that takes centuries. She was asleep for a hundred years and awake for one day." Elijah said.

"My coven found a better way while Dahlia kept trying to get more power." Jossana explained.

"How?" Kol asked in suspicion

"I believe you wanted to know about this Caroline Forbes? I don't feel telling you about this is necessary. And it won't matter if you stick to your end of the bargain; my preservation only lasts until I fulfill my wish. And that's bringing Niklaus Mikaelson and Caroline Forbes back together."

The Mikaelson siblings stood in silence again, sharing looks.

"Prove it." Elijah said simply. Jossana looked at him in confusion. "Prove my brother and Miss Forbes are in love, and we'll relay the message."

"Or I could just make you do it anyway." She replied, bringing a hand up.

"I wouldn't do that, dear" Kol began with a smile "we own anti-magic chains, which we could put on you. Now are you going to cooperate or am I going to make sure they're uncomfortably tight?" He asked. Jossana's hands fell limp on her lap with a glare. She thrust her hand out towards Elijah, for him to hold. He took it hesitantly and with a jolt something crossed through his mind.

Klaus had been trying to get at the doppelganger. She'd been called away, and only now did the Salvatore brothers learn she had been kidnapped by the vampire killer.

Klaus stood on the doppelganger's porch, lighter fluid and a burning, rolled-up newspaper in two hands.

'Put it out' Stefan ordered.

'Come outside and make me.' Klaus taunted. In brief hesitation the young vampire did so.

'Elena's not here, Alaric has her and Caroline and is gonna kill them both unless you turn yourself over to him.' Stefan replied matter-of-factly. The two had a staring contest for a moment and Klaus knew Stefan wasn't lying. He threw down both the fluid and the newspaper, sighing in frustration. The three started working on a plan to get the two girls out of Alaric's hands. They conversed with the Bennett witch and had a plan she hadn't cared about. She would follow Klaus to the school and kill him.

She was cloaked, and would begin to chant the paralyzation spell as soon as Klaus was in her sight. Caroline came into it first, panting and staring back at the place she'd just run through.

Muffled scream, Niklaus's hand covering the blonde vampires' mouth.

'It's okay, it's okay it's me.' The blonde turns to look at him and then turns away. 'It's okay, you're safe.' He assures her. Niklaus has to tear his eyes from her face to make sure he can't hear someone.

'We'll save Elena. You go straight home, stay inside, do you understand?' He hissed in her ear. He yanked her body to face him, it was clear the blonde had had a vervain gag in her mouth; the corners of it were still red.

'do you understand me?' Klaus asked with a deadly serious stare. The blonde stared back at him. She nodded silently.

'thank you' she whispered. Klaus' eyes stared harder into hers, they began to soften immediately. Once again, he had to tear himself from her, Caroline left alone again and staring after her rescuer. Within seconds she vanished as well. That was it. In that one moment the hybrid and vampire shared, there had been a spark.

She would not kill Klaus Mikaelson after all.

Elijah gasped and looked at Jossana.

"That's your proof? A shared moment in a high school hallway?"

"Not quite, but I can see I'll need to show you every memory I have of them." Jossana replied.

"What did she show you?" Rebekah asked.

"Nikaus had had an opportunity to take the doppelganger, but his plan was foiled by the vampire hunter mother had made, Alaric. He kidnapped Elena and Caroline, and Klaus assisted the Salvatore brothers in rescuing them."

"What was in it for him?" Rebekah asked.

"He was the one to save Caroline." Elijah replied. Rebekah and Kol stared at the witch and she gave them both a smile.

"Do you need more proof?" She asked.

"Yes, I believe I do." Rebekah replied. Jossana frowned at her. "My brother has chosen to save the baby vampire over me once. Besides clearly getting something in return that day, it doesn't appear my brother cares much for Caroline. She was merely a conquest he would do anything to have."

"You've clearly missed a lot, dear." Jossana said. Rebekah gave her a look. She held out her hand to Rebekah, and she took it hesitantly, gasping as Elijah had done.

Rebekah was taken through the day Silas had gotten to Klaus. A stake he'd been told was the white oak was shoved in his back and broken off as to keep him from getting it out. Nik had never told them anything. He called Caroline for help, again and again until she gave in, demanding to know what in the hell he wanted.

'Used all your bleach' Caroline rushed into the room right after Nik got off the phone with Elijah. His eyes fixed upon her while she went past him, wiping her hands of the bleach.

'Hey' Nik interjected, taking a huge step out toward her, grabbing her elbow and gently pulling her toward him. Caroline stared at the hand holding her dangerously until he let go. Her eyes went to his in hesitation. 'Thank you,' Nik began 'for helping me.' He stood tall again, letting his hand drop to his side.

'Yeah' Caroline replied, as if it were obvious she would help him. Nik merely blinked at her and waited for more. Caroline didn't hold his eyes. 'Well, if you need anything else,' She began with a grin. Nik's eyes went from hers to her smile, smirking himself. 'Don't call me.' She ordered, pushing the rag with bleach stains into his chest, taking Nik by surprise. 'I have a prom to plan.' She reminded him. Nik looked away as Caroline began to leave the room.

'Friends, then?' Nik managed, hesitantly bringing his eyes up to her head again. She slowly turned around.

'Are you gonna let Tyler back in town?' She asked in return. Nik gave her a look. Of course he wouldn't be, it was absurd to keep asking. Caroline gave him one in return; why does he want to be friends when he continues not to earn her friendship. She turned around and headed for the door again.

'You might've noticed,' Klaus began, and stopped her again. Caroline turned her shoulder. 'I'm not exactly scouring the earth for him, am I?' He asked rhetorically. Caroline left with a smile. She was glad he wasn't trying to kill her love. And as Caroline left with a smile, Klaus looked after her with a smile.

That was the happiest Rebekah had seen him in decades.

Rebekah gasped again and looked at Elijah, then to Jossana.

"Nik got injured by Silas and never told us. He wanted Caroline's help the most." She wowed, almost in irritation. Elijah's eyebrow rose and he turned to Jossana.

"How many more memories of Niklaus and Miss Forbes do you have?" He asked.

"I have several. Probably not as many as most couples have, but enough for one to see what their value is." Jossana replied.

"Very well. You shall show them to our sister you spoke of. If she believes the memories are real, then we will convey your message."

"Hang on a minute." Kol interjected. "I can't say I've met Caroline Forbes in person; she was standing in the kitchen over my dead body at one point. But why the bloody hell would Nik be so interested in her?"

"She stood up to him. And not in the way Cami did. She was with someone else, and didn't accept Niklaus's advances." Rebekah said.

"Why didn't he just kill her boyfriend in some way that didn't make her believe he was the culprit?" Kol asked

"Because he wanted her to trust him. I could see in the way he was with her when he rescued her from the vampire killer, he didn't want her to believe she was being kidnapped all over again." Elijah replied.

"Show me another memory." Kol ordered Jossana. She looked at him. "I want to see how this vampire who helped plan my murder is so angelic in the eyes of my big brother." He explained. Jossana looked at the others.

"Perhaps you two should link to your brother." She suggested. They did so and all three gasped.

'So there's not one moment, in your whole life, when you wanted to be human?' Caroline quizzed him. Klaus looked back at her with a dubious face. He popped the champagne bottle and they both watched it fly.

'How bout you?' He asked. They knew the answer now, as Jossana did. Caroline wished to remain a vampire just as Klaus wanted to remain one. Mother's antics wouldn't have ever worked on him.

'Life used to be easier.' Klaus said, beginning to stand up. 'Don't you miss the days of being...'

He made her laugh. She made him laugh.

He hadn't laughed with mirth, pure unadulterated mirth for centuries it seemed.

They walked back to the place Caroline was in charge of the pageant, walking over a bridge. Somehow Nik had offered his arm to Caroline and she took it, as they climbed over the bridge.

Then they reached the point where they would part ways for the moment.

'I never answered your question, if I ever thought about being human. Once.' Klaus began. Caroline stared at him, seeming ready to listen. 'I was, on a trek in the Andes, and a hummingbird, flew up to me' Klaus said, gesturing how the hummingbird flew. His eyes shifted around, he was clearly nervous about telling her this story. 'it just hovered there, staring at me. Its tiny heart was pattering like a machine gun.' Klaus said, gesturing to his own heart with wonder. He looked back at Caroline and she was smiling at the reaction, at the imagery of his story. Klaus returned to the memory, still in awe of what had happened. 'And I thought what a thing. You know, to have to work that hard, every day, just to stay alive. Constantly on the verge of death.' Caroline took in his words as if they were now her own. And Klaus began to look elated. The look in his eye was peaceful, he had a certain glow about him. 'And how satisfying everyday must be that it survived.' He added. Caroline's eyes began to regard him as something good. He'd proved himself to her, and to everyone who was watching this play out. 'And that was the only time I thought about being human.' Klaus finished. The moment passed between them and Caroline smiled at his story again. Klaus continued to stare at her for a long while.

The three siblings gasped and looked around at eachother.

"Did you know about that?" Rebekah asked Kol. He shook his head. She turned to Elijah.

"I believe that was kept a secret for a reason, sister." Elijah replied. "He didn't trust us enough with the words."

"He trusted Caroline with something he never shared with us, despite her and her friends trying to kill us so many times." Rebekah said in awe, still replaying the memory.

"If that is to be believed." Freya said, walking in the room. The four turned their eyes to the witch.

"Is Hope asleep?" Rebekah asked.

"No, she merely calmed down, wanted to know what her other aunts and uncles were up to. I'm sure she wouldn't mind sitting in on this...whatever this, is." Freya replied.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea." Jossana interjected. The other turned to her.

"Freya checking to see if your memories are real, or Hope coming in to watch us see what you have seen?" Elijah asked in suspicion.

"If Hope can't see what it is I saw, then I am fine with it." Jossana replied. "Otherwise if she can then I have to decline."

"Is there something in those memories that young children should not see?" Elijah asked.

"Possibly. And I am not one to bring those memories to children if I don't have to." Jossana said.

"Can't argue with that, will she be able to see?" Rebekah asked.

"I honestly don't know. Even as she grows, her powers grow with her; we will do a test. I understand if Hope feels un-included she may lash out again, hopefully she'll grow bored." Freya suggested.

The five went into Freya's spell room and sat down around it. Jossana took the lead while Hayley and Hope came into the room. Freya turned to Hope.

"She is here, let's do the test." Freya said.

"What's she going to do?" Rebekah asked.

"Merely sit and wait. If nothing comes to her we'll know." Freya replied. She turned to Jossana and with everyone's hands joined, the witch closed her eyes.

Klaus and Caroline walked along the hill to the bench.

Klaus and Caroline walked away from Tyler, and he brought her under his arm so they could begin to dance.

Klaus and Caroline's banter in his home, as she asked for a new prom dress. She grinned and so did he.

The group was let out of the memory as Klaus began to laugh at Caroline's problem again. The group turned to Hope.

"Did you see anything, child?" Freya asked. Hope looked at everyone in confusion and Jossana turned back to the group with a grin.

"What memories do I need to prove are real or false?" Freya asked Jossana. The witch looked at the Mikaelson.

"First could I show you a few others the others have not seen?" Jossana asked in return. Freya considered her.

"Very well. Just know I will still be able to verify their truth or not." She replied. Jossana nodded.

"I know."

"Why are these memories so important?" Freya asked.

"They'll give us Niklaus back; this witch claims through these memories that the girl in them can bring Klaus back to us." Elijah explained. Freya nodded in understanding.

"Alright." She said to Jossana. "I'm ready."

Jossana closed her eyes. As Freya was also a witch, she did not feel the stab the others did.

'Caroline!' Klaus called, running across the street after her. She turned around.

'Are you serious? Take a hint.' She replied, then spun back around to get on the sidewalk.

'Don't be angry, love. We had a little spat. I'm over it already.' Klaus replied with a shrug, still following her.

'Oh, well I'm not.' Caroline replied in mock sympathy, looking over her shoulder but not at him. She had ceased walking, the look in her eye being strange. She wanted Klaus to either make a fool of himself or win her over. She was betting on the latter.

'How can I acquit myself?' Klaus asked, staring drunkenly at the back of her head and waiting for a response. She sighed and turned around to face him.

'You and your expensive jewelry, and your romantic drawings...' Caroline began, taking a breath. The drawing Nik had made for her had affected her somewhat. 'can leave me alone.' She told him, her body language telling him he should quit right now. Klaus stared back at her with hurt written all over his face.

'Oh come on.' Klaus pressed, earning another sigh. 'Take a chance, Caroline.' He said. He looked at the bench she had been trying to pass and immediately sat on it. 'Talk to me.' He said. Caroline gave him an excited look with a smile. Klaus outstretched his arms and rested them on the back of the bench 'Come on, get to know me!' He exclaimed, staring up at her. Caroline gave him a dubious look. Had he actually just asked someone to get close to him? Klaus dropped his arms to his sides.

'I dare you.' He offered, smiling up at her. Caroline hid the smile that was escaping from her lips and looked away, considering how much trouble she could get in for saying yes, for sitting down next to him. She turned slightly to look at Klaus again and he caught her eye, still staring. His eyes changed, as if trying to catch whatever thought she was thinking. Caroline shook her head.

'Fine'. She decided with a reluctant tone. She stepped in and turned to put her legs to the bench, then curtly sat down. Klaus scooted closer to her, still staring while Caroline held her head up, looking away from him. She rocked on her legs and looked at him. Klaus's head began to shake and he gave a cocky smirk, she knew he'd won that round. But his continued staring began to unnerve her. She nodded. With another shake of her head, she lifted a hand.

'So what do you wanna talk about?' She pushed. Klaus's demeanor changed from cocky to open in a matter of seconds.

'I wanna talk about you.' He replied. Caroline looked away again with a laugh and shook her head. Klaus looked away as well, looking down in thought.

'Your hopes, your-your dreams...' He offered hopefully. Caroline sighed again and stared at him suspiciously. 'everything you want in life.' He finished in a whisper, a predatory stare on his face as Caroline scoffed and began to laugh with another shake of her head. She turned to him with the smile still on her face.

'Just to be clear,' She replied, her head cocked to the side. Klaus' eyebrows raised in surprise. 'I'm too smart to be seduced by you.' She said in condescension.

'That's why I like you.' Klaus replied with a smile. Caroline smiled again, trying to see suspicion. But there was none, and so she was left speechless.

Jossana opened her eyes and looked at Freya, who was connected still to her siblings.

"Wow." Rebekah said, putting her head back. "Of all the people Klaus chooses to fall in love with it's someone who tried to kill him."

"Loves you still does he not? You did bring father to us." Kol replied. Rebekah yanked on her hand but Kol kept it in a tight grip.

"Was that a true memory?" Elijah asked.

"I believe so. But I need all of Jossana's memories to determine if someone didn't implant them."

"They weren't, I swear." Jossana replied. "The reason I went to find Klaus was to make him pay for what he did to my coven. I was so close to killing him. When Klaus rescued the girl, I saw redemption. My mother wanted me to believe love could redeem, and so I gave the hybrid a chance." Jossana smiled. "He didn't disappoint."

"He's truly in love with that baby vampire?" Kol asked.

"It can't truly be determined until Miss Matthews is thoroughly checked." Elijah replied.

"Hey." Hayley said teasingly. He looked at her and they shared a happy smile.

"Show me more." Freya said instructively. Jossana stared at her as the others joined hands with their sister. She soon closed her eyes after Rebekah and Kol were done quarreling.


this has officially become too long; I was gonna go to 5,000 but that felt like I was pushing it. The sequel will be up shortly. :)