Hello everyone! This is my first fanfic, but I am trying my best to create the klaroline dynamic that I love so much. I would really love it if you guys reviewed, whether it's constructive criticism or feedback. What do you like about the story or the writing, and what do you dislike? As Klaus would say, "I dare you, love."

Enjoy! :)

Chapter 1

Light slowly crept into Caroline's vision, coloring the back of her eyelids red. She stirred slightly then snuggled deeper into her blanket, trying to travel back into the solace of deep sleep. Wait, blanket? Caroline's eyes shot open sleep forgotten as she remembered the past events.

The blonde maiden frowned however as she tried to recall what was real, and what she imagined. Was she hallucinating? She tried to sit up, but her head spun with an overwhelming dizziness, and she fell back unto a soft pillow with a soft thump.

Caroline was on a verge of a freak out. Where was she? And why in the world was a blanket on her? Calm, Caroline, calm. Think rationally. You are level headed, not delusional. You are not a neurotic psycho.

Caroline took a deep breath and slowly opened her eyes, still lying down as she tried scan her surroundings. The first thing she saw-a ceiling. Caroline let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding. It wasn't a hallucination.

She was safe, in a house. Shelter. This was a good start. But why was there a house, no, mansion in the middle of the woods? Caroline remembered the local town legend, about a house just like this one…the feared estate of the ruthless Niklaus Mikaelson, the immortal hybrid, half vampire and half wolf, who killed nearly everything in his path.

Caroline's heart stopped. No she told herself. It was just a legend. But then…she was at a mansion in the middle of the woods, and worst of all, Caroline swore she had seen a figure approach her before she blacked out.

Caroline realized the evidence. The figure carried her and had tended to her. Caroline took deep breaths, trying not to panic. Anyone could have a house in the middle of the woods, right? I am NOT going to be killed by…by…a monster. No. No, no.

"I see you are awake"

Caroline let out a shriek of alarm and sat up, temporarily forgetting her nausea. She saw the figure step back in surprise.

A man. Blonde curly locks adorned his head and piercing blue eyes, with raspberry lips graced his fair face. He was…handsome, Caroline thought before she jolted back to reality. Niklaus was said to look like a man. Caroline laid back down and turned her head to the side, chest rising and falling with panicked breaths,

The man's mouth had dropped open, forming a slight o, before he came back to his senses and sat slowly, in a chair beside Caroline, as if afraid that she might erupt and any sudden movement. They sat awkwardly there for a few minutes

He cleared his throat, the voice piercing through the thick silence. "I brought some soup and water; you look like you are in great need of it." He moved forward to lift the blonde's head up gently, and guided the liquid towards her mouth. Caroline drank greedily, finishing every drop before the man took the glass back and resumed to sit by her.

"Thank…thank you sir" Caroline spoke weakly. Her head was already feeling better. He nodded in response.

There was more silence, as the man seemed to watch Caroline intently.

"…Are you Niklaus Mikaelson?" Caroline asked, unable to hold her anxiety. The man grunted, and his eyebrows furrowed, before he pursed his lips.

"In body and flesh"

Caroline's eyes widened as she turned her focus straight ahead at the ceiling, refusing to show her alarm.

"Are you going to kill me?" Caroline blurted her voice cracking. "Why would you say that to him Caroline! Now you just gave him the idea, couldn't keep your mouth shut..."

She looked back at him, directly into the man's-no, Niklaus' eyes, as she felt anger rise up at the thought of being killed before proving to her village that she could be taken seriously, before she could find her father.

"Sweetheart, do you really think that low of me?" Niklaus replied softly, barely a whisper as his eyes hardened, although Caroline swore she saw hurt flash through his eyes-just for a second.

Caroline stared back at him, weighing her choices of response.

"Yes" Caroline replied firmly, glaring back at him, before her eyes widened.

"Wait! I mean no!" She stuttered. "I mean…I don't know."

He raised an eyebrow at her. Great job Caroline, way to show him your confident personality! She mentally scolded herself.

"You should be afraid of me, if you have heard my name" Niklaus said leaning forward, as if hanging on to each word of her reply.

"I think I should be. I've heard of you, you know, from our village legends. How you kill everything in your path. But…you've kept me alive and fed me water and everything, and, well, you don't seem that bad!" Caroline tried honestly, making an attempt to smile, although she was sure it looked more like a grimace.

Niklaus suddenly stood up, hard eyes scanning over the blonde maiden before he spoke. "You can stay here for at most 2 weeks. Then you must leave this place never to return, and you must never speak of our encounter." He said in a more formal, reserved term.

Caroline flinched at the sudden change of his personality. Had she said something wrong, to offend him?

Niklaus leaned closer to her face, brushing a stay curl out of the way. "Do you understand me?" He said, his voice drawing to a whisper, his breath tickling Caroline's ear. She shuddered at his proximity, his raspberry covered lips…and she unconsciously wet her lips, caught in his gaze. Caroline nodded slowly.

"Crystal clear".

They stayed in a locked stare before Niklaus pulled away, clearing his throat. Caroline wondered what if the hybrid ever smiled.

"Rest now" He said voice distant again, but Caroline could already feel her eyelids drooping.

Caroline was back in the musty cellar of her house. She sat on a chair against the stained wall, ropes tied behind her back. "Help!" Caroline cried frantically but was stopped when a hand slapped her face.

Hard.

She gasped in pain and turned around to look at the offender, even though she knew who it was.

"Father…" she said as sternly as she could while trembling with fear. "You're drunk again!" She yelled loudly. "You-" Her voice trailed to a whimper as her father threw the glass beer bottle, which shattered on the wall, inches away from Caroline's face.

She refused to acknowledge the sharp pains coming from the glass shards tearing at her cheek.

"YOU TOOK HER AWAY FROM ME! YOU KILLED HER!" Her father screamed.

Caroline winced as she heard a table overturn and break.

"SHE DIED BECAUSE OF YOU! ELIZABETH IS GONE!"

Caroline refused to make a sound, but she could feel the tears trickling down her face, getting steadier and steadier, salt stinging the cuts of glass.

William Forbes' voice dropped down into sobs.

"She's gone, died in my arms."

"Father please-"

"You look just like her, you know." William said quietly, but his tone held no softness.

"A living memory of her…reminding me…"

Glass shatters.

"tormenting me…"

Wood breaks.

"EVERY SINGLE DAMN DAY OF MY LIFE!" William screamed breaking more objects in his fury.

"FATHER PLEASE!" Caroline screamed, holding back the sobs that ached to be voiced. "She…mother wouldn't have wanted this. I…I'm sorry that she died when I was born, don't…d…please don't…hate me…" Caroline started sobbing, finally giving in to her sadness.

William seemed to realize what he had done, and looked around.

"Caroline! I'm so sorry… I didn't mean any of it…"

"Caroline!"

Caroline suddenly found herself back in the mansion. Breathing heavily, she looked around madly for any sign of her father, tears still pouring from her eyes.

"Caroline…"

He was here, and her father was drunk. Sobbing madly she buried her face into her pillows, shielding herself for what was about to come…

"Caroline, love, look at me."

It wasn't William, but Niklaus. Body still racking with sobs, she turned her head slowly to meet the blue eyes, which softened in concern. He awkwardly stroked her hair, not really sure how to comfort her.

Caroline felt surprise. The legends of Niklaus seemed to portray him as cold and ruthless, but for the days she had stayed in his company, she had seen him tend to her, and comfort her.

"You were screaming out in your sleep, love." Niklaus whispered softly, wiping away Caroline's tears. "Who is this William any how?"

Caroline paused, before deciding to tell the so-called evil hybrid. "He is my father….well was. He went missing two months ago, and everyone says that he's dead…but I know he's alive. I…I can feel it!" She said, used to defending her beliefs from unconvinced villagers.

Niklaus was dumbstruck. "But you were crying out to him to stop hurting you!"

"But I will always love him."

"…How can you love someone who hurt you so much?" Niklaus said, head tilting, intrigued.

Caroline laughed bitterly. "He's my father, Niklaus. Plus, I haven't even told you anything about him!"

"I heard enough from your screams." The hybrid grunted.

"No…he was a wonderful father. But…my mother died giving birth to me." Caroline could already feel the tears welling up as a deep hollow feeling grew in her chest from the memory. "My father loved my mother so much though." Tears started to fall again. "But…he was distraught when she died. He put on a good face for me. But sometimes…he would lose it, get drunk, and let out all the feelings he had put behind him."

Niklaus remained quiet, listening intently.

"He didn't mean any of it though. He would be so sorry after, and I knew he loved me." Caroline whispered. She decided to keep on going with her tale.

"He was gone one day though, 2 months ago. And I couldn't find him anywhere. It was after one of his…episodes with me too. I thought he had gone to collect himself again, but I waited, and waited…and he never showed."

Caroline remember that day with clarity. The confusion and sadness that overtook her as she sat hopefully, staring the meal she made him that she just knew he would love when he returned.

"That's actually why I'm here. The village men set out to find him, but I know they didn't search hard enough". Caroline insisted stubbornly. "Proclaimed dead, but I knew he was alive. I know it." Caroline turned back to Niklaus, eyes full of conviction.

His eyes hardened. I told him too much, he thinks I'm delusional too. Caroline thought inwardly as defeat overtook her.

"I'm sorry, Caroline." Niklaus finally said, looking at her with an intensity that entranced her.

She chuckled softly. "Aren't you, what a billion years old? You've seen worse."

"You'd be surprised, love. There are not many people with the determination you posses, the fire." The hybrid stared back.

Niklaus suddenly stood back again, eyes wide. He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it. Then opened it, before closing, pursing his lips as if in resignation.

"Good night, Caroline. I hope you find your father."

He started to leave, but a soft, unsure voice stopped him.

"...Thank you. For staying with me. I mean, I'm sure you probably had more important things to do, but...thank you."

Niklaus turned around, his lips now forming a hard line, showing that he was deep in thought. Then he looked up and gave a curt nod before quickly opening the door, which then closed with a final click.

He thinks I am determined, the ruthless hybrid.

A wild thought passes her mind. Niklaus seemed to so…understanding. What if they became friends...or more? Caroline mentally slapped herself. That's ridiculous, Caroline. Plus, she only knew him for a few days. Caroline didn't want to believe that he was capable of being ruthless, or a serial killer for that matter. But a voice nagged Caroline in the back of her mind. All tales come from a truth, no matter how big or small.

Review please! I hope you got the foreshadowing that I tried to place there :P

Chapter 2 coming soon, and Caroline's impressions of Klaus will change drastically...