Hi Everyone! Sorry I haven't updated in a long time, and honestly I can't promise that I'll update once every week or something. Just know that I haven't given up on this story, and intend to finish it no matter how long it takes.

You know the drill, comment and review! Not only do these reviews make me happy, but it gives me feedback so that I can write better in the future. It is only with your guys' wonderful reviews that I can improve.

Enjoy! Let me know what you think!

Chapter 6

Weeks had passed. How many, Caroline was unsure.

However, there was one thing she was sure of-that her run-ins with the hybrid have become increasingly awkward ever since the…knife incident.

After a few more weeks had passed, Caroline had resorted to pretending the incident (which she resorted to calling it) had never occurred.

However, every time Niklaus came into her presence, a thick tension filled the air.

To Caroline's relief, she did not see Niklaus the rest of the day, save for a note of tasks. She secretly felt slightly disappointed, though she didn't want to admit it.

While she stabbed at her breakfast a week later, the hybrid finally made an appearance.

"Well it smells delightful in here love!" He said, his usual smirk plastered on his face as he pulled up the chair across from her and brought out the plate of food that she had always left out for him, as instructed.

Caroline stiffened. How in the world was she supposed to act after the night where he had saved her? After he avoided her?

"Good morning, Niklaus" Caroline said curtly, a tight smile on her face.

He had killed Vicki, brutally murdered countless lives, and took her father.

How could she ever want to see him? So he had saved her life. But his brutality drove Caroline to stab herself.

The tension was thick in the air, and breakfast continued in thick silence, until Caroline finally addressed what she had been on her mind.

"Why did you save me?"

"You didn't want to die, love."

"Yes, but its no secret that I infuriate you! Why did you heal me?"

Niklaus' eyes diverted. He started to say something, then stopped himself. He turned back at her with the façade of ease he so easily wore.

"You are my maid, I need things done. It would do no good if you were dead, would it?"

Caroline felt disappointed, as Niklaus went back to eating.

As Caroline got up to clean the dishes, Niklaus cleared his throat, interrupting the silence.

"I have business to attend to, but here is your list of tasks"

Caroline's eyes scanned through the list.

- Mop floors

- dust furniture in kitchen living room, bathrooms,

- Cook lunch and dinner

She glanced up in surprise. "Not much to do"

"Not much is needed, but I'm sure you can find someway to entertain yourself." He gave her one last glance, before briskly walking out and slamming the door curtly.

Caroline started the tasks, eager to have some leisure time to herself.

5 hours later she finished cutting the ingredients to lunch and dinner. All she would have to do was bake. It was only then that she realized she had nothing to do.

Exploring was out of the option, the last time it happened she was traumatized.

She cocked her head to the side; she remembered there was a room with a piano in one of the rooms…yes!

She hadn't played in a long time.

She remembered how her father used to teach her, but after he went missing, she lost all heart to play.

Now the least she could do was play in his memory.

Caroline rushed down a flight of stairs, turned a right, then a left, then another right.

The piano stood to her, beckoning to her after years of obvious abandonment.

She touched the keys, feeling the firmness of the white and black keys.

After playing chord after chord, months of pent up frustration soon evolved into a beautiful melody, pouring from Caroline's soul unto the piano keys.

She played everything and anything she could remember-Beethoven, and Debussy, Mozart and Chopin.

And then even then, she played songs she learned at such young an age that they were instinct-taught by her father.

As if her fingers acted on their own, she began to play the age old lullaby her father sang to her at night.

She remembered wistfully his soft but rich voice sing, as he rocked her to sleep at night, or wiped away tears in the day.

He may have had his outbursts while intoxicated, but when truly himself, he could comfort her like no other. Caroline fought back a pang of sadness.

Her voice came up soft at first, almost a whisper.

I remember tears streaming down your face

When I said, "I'll never let you go"

When all those shadows almost killed your light

I remember you said, "Don't leave me here alone"

But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight

Just close your eyes

The sun is going down

You'll be alright

No one can hurt you now

Come morning light

You and I'll be safe and sound

She stopped, her fingers running the final chords, mind going to a time where she was still with her father,

"Well, isn't this a surprise"

Caroline turned around sharply, eyes burning with anger, that Niklaus had invaded her intimate moment.

Niklaus stood there, with a smirk, hands folded behind his back as he lounged easily on the doorway.

"I didn't know you had returned" Caroline said, cheeks reddening with anger. "What do you do in the woods anyways?"

Niklaus' expression of pleasant surprise did not change, but Caroline couldn't help notice the way his eyes darkened.

"Were you hunting? I'm not a brainless idiot, I know you need blood". She shivered at the memory of Vicki, and a wave of unexpected sadness ran through her at the dark memory.

"That, love, is not for you to know."

Must he always be so mysterious? The anger ebbed in her.

"That piano used was an old antique belonged to a brother of mine." He went on ignoring Caroline's burning glare.

He sat beside Caroline. Reaching out his right hand, he touched the keys and played a string of chords that echoed and vibrated through the room.

Caroline suddenly stiffened as she felt his warm breath on her cheek.

"I used to teach him, when we were younger…" He said, fingers still dancing along the piano, playing a soft melody. "…Before things changed; when we lived in a simpler time." His fingers played one last chord, and let the note hang in the air.

"What happened to him?" Caroline said, softly as in a whisper entranced by the music, his proximity.

"Time." He replied simply, eyes wandering down the old wood of the instrument, taking in the dark mahogany, worn my ages of neglect. "

Time, Caroline, can bring down cities, destroy nations, make empires crumble," he looked at her, and his dark eyes seemed to pierce into her, paralyze her. "Destroy families."

"Time brought death to your brother" Caroline said, intrigued, allowing her to feel a small bit of remorse.

Was this why he acted out? She really did not know anything about this hybrid's history.

"Worse," Niklaus chuckled, but there was no humor in his eyes. "He lost his humanity."

"But no one can truly loose humanity, can they? You can bury it, but there's always a small ounce of humanity in everyone, no matter how heartless they seem"

Niklaus regarded the young girl with skeptical eyes.

"Do you truly believe that?"

"Yes, I do. I…" Caroline faltered. "I used to believe people were simply vile because they were horrible people. But now I know better. I believe people act inhumane for very human reasons-say, hurt.

"So if someone has done horrible things-things so unimaginable that it even breaks the bond of family, and acts without reason, they still possess humanity?"

"Yes!" Caroline found herself insisting-she had a feeling that they weren't talking about his brother anymore. "People never act without reason-there is always a…reason, a cause..."

Caroline trailed off as she found herself entrapped Niklaus's eyes. They were a light blue, fiery like lightning but as mysterious as the blue ocean.

Caroline blinked, struggling to keep her breath even as Niklaus slowly glanced at her lips and as if in a trance, started to close the distance between them.

Caroline could hear her heart throbbing, blood in her ears as her eyes fluttered shut in anticipation. She could feel his warm breath on her lips, gently grazing her skin. In that instance, Klaus suddenly froze.

Though Caroline didn't see it, his eyes widened in shock for a split second; but as quickly as it had come, he easily slipped back into a practiced mask of nonchalance.

"Then," Klaus growled, "you are as naive and delusional as people say."

He was gone before Caroline had even opened her eyes, leaving sitting on the piano bench, mouth slightly agape as she stared at the open door.

Ok, I know it was a little short, but I have the whole story plotted out, just need to bring out the moments, try to instigate some character.

Review!

Love you guys! :)