A/N: This was written at the end of Season 4 of The Vampire Diaries and before any showing of The Originals. So this will obviously not follow any storyline set following that timeframe.

Disclaimer: L.J. Smith is the creator of the characters and I own nothing.

CHAPTER TWO

The night of the Mikaelson gala was going as expected. Rebekah was in full glory as she always reveled in a good show.

"Sister, why do you always feel the need to flaunt extravagance, don't you grow tired of these events? It isn't as if anyone likes you, or is this your simple way of making new friends? Who have you compelled this time to accompany you? Is it that pathetic excuse for a human, the bartender you cannot stop talking to every evening?" Klaus asked as he walked into the family drawing room of their home where Elijah and Rebekah were just finishing a conversation.

"I wouldn't think you'd understand Nik. Let's just say it is fun diversion for the night. Besides what do you care, you are going to be wooing your newest little pet, Magdalene." Rebekah responded as she stood up and headed out of the room. "The evening begins in an hour, I'm going to get ready. Please don't ruin this for me Nik." And she exited.

Klaus sat across from Elijah who was just finishing off a glass of scotch, he looked up at his younger brother. "Why do you like to upset our dear sister, brother?" Elijah questioned.

Klaus smirked, "Perhaps because it is so easy."

"Well I, for one, second Rebekah's request. Please couldn't we have an enjoyable evening Niklaus, with no unexpected interruptions?"

Klaus re-poured Elijah's glass and grinned, "Of course brother. A nice quiet and refined party."

—

The night was going smoothly. About 200 guests had been admitted to the private event, mostly the local elite- vampires, hybrids, and witches. Along with some protected human guests. Drinks were pouring freely, both champagne and blood depending on your preference.

Rebekah had joined the party and was spending the evening with her newest interest, Joseph. Klaus had been watching their story play out from their first meeting roughly 4 months ago. Rebekah has been protecting him, trying to keep him away. And Joseph appeared in love with her and trusted her despite his knowledge of what she was. Klaus had no actual interest in this human, as he knew he was only a temporary fling. Bound to be scared off or more likely die, just like all of his dear sisters former suiters. However he kept his eye on them, instructed a couple of his hybrids to watch them at all times and report back to him.

Elijah wandered the party, greeting those he felt were worthy of his acknowledgement. Continuously playing the politician even at a party. Making arrangements and contacts wherever he went. He too kept an eye on his sister and Klaus.

—

Caroline has always loved a party even if she didn't get to organize it, and it has been awhile since she has been able to celebrate much of anything. But she wasn't prepared for the event, and she found herself enjoying the day as she scoured the shops of the city finding the perfect dress. As always she was looking to make an impression and she knew what she had in her mind. She was counting on something timeless and most importantly something he would notice.

She had managed to secure an invitation, and arrived roughly two hours after the party had begun. It was a beautiful mid-Spring evening, the weather still enjoyable to spend it outside. She entered the Mikaelson Estate and started searching to find him.

Elijah found her first. Although he startled her by suddenly appearing by her side, she did her best not to admit it.

"Hello Caroline. I didn't know we were expecting you." He grinned as he took her hand and gently placed his lips on the back of her palm. "Is my brother expecting you?"

"Elijah. It is good to see you." She smiled slightly as she took a breath of relief and pulled her hand back. She didn't trust any Mikaelson but was happy that Elijah and not Rebekah had found her first. "I didn't know I'd be here myself, until this afternoon that is. I just arrived in the city and didn't tell anyone of my plans. I hope it is ok that I am here."

He grabbed two glasses of champagne from a waiter passing by and handed one to her. "Of course, welcome to New Orleans Caroline and to our home." They clinked glasses and took a sip. "I know Niklaus is going to want to see you. Follow me and I will escort you to him."

She sipped from her drink. "Please Elijah, let me find him. I don't want to intrude, he isn't expecting me. And perhaps doesn't even want to see me."

Elijah nodded his head. "As you wish. But I doubt that." At that moment another vampire had approached Elijah and was waiting patiently. "Excuse me a moment Caroline while I take care of something. Please save a dance for me this evening, and again welcome to the city." And with that he took off in the direction of the younger vampire, leaving Caroline alone again.

Caroline walked the perimeter of the room, leaving her empty glass on a table, while her eyes continued scanning the room. Stopping when finally she found him, standing on the stairs, leaning against the banister. But his attention was elsewhere. Klaus was smirking and at times appeared to be laughing with a tall elegantly dressed women, if you liked the tall dark haired easy type of girl. She noticed that he was resting his hand on her lower back and they appeared to have an intimate conversation.

Two can play at this game, she thought to herself quickly. Although it has been fifty years since she last saw him, she surprised herself how fast she took on the jealous teenager role. Taking two deep calming breaths, and embracing her inner Scarlett O'Hara, she asked the unassuming gentleman next to her if he would like to dance.

She knew how to distract him, even after all this time. The orchestra next began playing a waltz as she took to the floor with the stranger. Caroline rolled her eyes at the choice of music thinking to herself, those Mikaelson's never change. She began dancing the room, chatting with her partner, appearing engaged.

It only took minutes.

—-

Klaus was having a conversation with Magdalena. He needed information from the witch and he had been gaining success with his charm. Magdalena was new to the quarter and either didn't know his story or was playing him for her own use. Either way, Klaus was prepared for both outcomes. He leaned toward her and rested his hand on the small of her back as she finished telling him about her recent discovery of a believed lost grimoire.

It was at that moment he saw her, looking out briefly toward the courtyard where the guests were dancing. The blond curls were longer, but the face was undeniable. She was wearing a magnificent beaded white strapless gown. Not like anything else was being worn tonight. It was old, it was French. And on her wrist a small familiar looking diamond bracelet, which he had returned her years ago. She had a smile on her face as she was dancing around his floor. Caroline!

After suddenly excusing himself from Magdalena he found himself next to the dancing couple and stepped in. The young vampire who was dancing with her quickly moved aside and excused himself. Klaus never even bothered to look in his direction as he left.

"Hello love," Klaus grinned and continued to spin her across the floor.

She looked up from the floor and looked boldly into his eyes without wavering her glance. "Hello Nik."

He paused for a moment and looked at her eyes closely, only his family called him that. "I am surprised to see you here tonight, had I known you were in in my home," he held her closer to him as the music came to an end not wanting her to walk away. "To what do I owe this honor?"

The music had finished, but he was still holding her against him. Standing still in the middle of the floor.

"I've always wanted to see New Orleans, I am just passing through is all. I heard there was a party. You know how I enjoy dressing up." She paused and looked away, "I wouldn't have come if I knew."

She started to walk off the dance floor before he grabbed her tightly on the wrist, pulled her closely and whispered in her ear, "Now don't think I believe that for a second." And started brusquely escorting her upstairs to the family drawing room away from the crowds.

—

"Klaus, let go. You are hurting me." Caroline expressed as she was pulled into the room.

Sighing slightly as she called him by his more popular name, he let go of her wrist, and she began rubbing her arm as the bruises faded. He sat down on the armrest of the couch, but not taking his eyes off of her.

"Now we can talk. Why are you really here Caroline?" his steal gaze on her.

"I told you. I am passing through, just visiting," she protested.

"You have been actively avoiding me AND this city for fifty years. You want me to believe that now you have given up and come rushing here. I know you've been here for four days watching things. Did you think I wouldn't know what is happening in my city? Do you think I wouldn't know when someone new enters?" he voice growing louder with each sentence.

"Klaus, let me explain."

Just then the door opened and Rebekah walks in. "Nik we need to talk…" she stopped when she noted Caroline standing in the room. "Well well, this has become quite the evening. Look what came in from the gutter."

Caroline rolled her eyes at Rebekah. "I'm leaving." And she headed toward the door.

With vampire reflexes Klaus was ahead of her shutting the door that Rebekah had left open and blocked her way. "We are not done talking sweetheart, besides you just got here. Sit." He motioned to the leather sofa that he previously was leaning on. Caroline made her way and sat down, taking the liberty to pour herself a glass of scotch on the way over.

Moments later the door opened again. "Niklaus, a moment please," Elijah said as he walked in and observed the now full room. "I see you found each other," he said to Caroline.

"ENOUGH!" Klaus roared. "Will someone tell me what is happening."

Straightening his jacket as he too went to pour himself a drink. Elijah looked up, "Four young hybrids were just found with their heads ripped off and hearts missing in the front yard."

Klaus' eyes flashed yellow with anger. "What do you know?"

Elijah took a sip, "Nothing at the moment, I have someone looking into it. Created a stir however. Seems it is putting an early end to your party Rebekah."

Hearing Elijah's news, Caroline began to look agitated, nervous even. "I am really not wanting to get in the middle of this family drama. Best I leave you to figure this out. Elijah, Klaus nice to see you again. Rebekah maybe in another fifty years or so." And again she tried to leave.

Klaus noticed the change instantly. Something was wrong, Caroline was not saying much. And there was something behind her eyes, fear he wondered. "You cannot leave now sweetheart. Not until we have apprehended who did this. Who knows what is going on out there tonight, not a safe place for a pretty blond." He walked toward her and curled her hair for a moment around his fingers.

Elijah noted Caroline's eyes as well. Realizing that Klaus would be better at getting to the bottom of this, "Rebekah, come with me. It appears we have some work yet to do tonight." And with that Elijah escorted Rebekah from the room.

—

With just the two of them left, Klaus escorted Caroline back toward the sofa and after sitting her down looked into her eyes. "Now tell me again love, why are you here?"

He didn't compel her, but she gave in. The recent news surprised her, it shouldn't be happening this fast, she thought to herself. She hated that she couldn't keep it together, she was stronger then this. She felt her chest tighten a lump forming in her chest although she fought it from turning into tears. "I don't have anywhere else to go anymore."

Klaus moved closer to her, he breathed in her vanilla scent before backing away and sitting down on the couch opposite. He needed to maintain distance from her. A few days ago when his informants had reported about a blond vampire entering the city he had to see for himself. He first caught site of her two days ago, and even at a distance she took his breath away. He watched her for hours that first day, and for the most part she seemed the same Caroline he had known, full of light. But on the other hand something was off, she was jumpy and on edge in her surroundings. He couldn't trust her yet, he couldn't just give in to her yet.

"Now is your chance to to tell me some of the details, sweetheart."

Caroline nodded with a slight smile at the use of her pet name. She agreed she needed to tell him something, she did come to him for help after all. "I don't really know where to start. I don't feel that I even understand the whole story myself."

"I find, it is always best to start at the beginning,"

"Ok," she took a steadying breath, "We were in the Oberkampf, twenty years ago. Tyler and I were spending time finally seeing something of the world," she stopped to glance up at his reaction before continuing on. "I don't think we even realized things were off at first. Tyler had met the local pack and felt he left on friendly terms. But then bodies started turning up. All with the same tattoo on the inside of their wrist, like a brand. We knew we didn't want to be mixed up in some local brawl and we moved onto another part of the city. But it kept happening. The local pack was beginning to assume this was coming from us and strongly urged us there would be consequences. So we got out of there and moved to the coast."

Klaus didn't say anything, but at the mention of the young hybrid's name he gave a slight frown. And at the same time he felt disappointment as he had always pictured being the one to show Caroline Paris for the first time.

"The murders continued to follow us no matter where we went afterward. Tyler was becoming paranoid and the slightest thing would set him off. I tried calming him down, but friends finally suggested we leave Europe for awhile and go somewhere else. I agreed and we headed to Central America, trying to find a remote spot."

Klaus grinned at the word 'friends' imagining the Salvatores must be involved in this story eventually. He took a sip from his glass but remained silent.

"We had a few quiet years while we travelled, and then it started again. Tyler was beyond himself with suspicion. Kept us moving every few weeks. Being chased but not knowing what is chasing you is crazy," at this point Caroline was pacing the room.

"And just where is your paramour now? I haven't smelled him around you."

"Tyler's dead." she stopped pacing and looked him in the eye. "Murdered, with his head ripped off and heart removed from his chest. And a small brand on the inside of his wrist."

Klaus watched her eyes for further emotion. But couldn't feel sorry for the loss, even if Tyler was his first successful hybrid.

"Keep going."

She took a sip from her glass and continued pacing the floor, "I left, again. I've been continuing to move over the last 15 years. But it keeps happening." She kept her eyes away from him, looking instead at her glass.

Klaus knew there was more to the story, something she wasn't telling him. "Then why are you here, now? Why did you come to me?"

She stopped moving as she silently thought to herself, he isn't going to help me then. "I want to stop running."

Angered by the accusation he frowns and questions, "Do you think I am responsible for this?"

"Tyler seemed to think you were. I didn't at first and defended you… and then I did. And now I don't know what I think anymore," she fell onto the couch. "I am just tired of running and feeling, responsible."

He walked slowly to the other side of the room and looked out of the window, overlooking the streets. It was well past two in the morning and a couple people were staggering home from the bars. He thought to himself. She still feels, she never turned it off. She constantly clings to her humanity. Of course she would feel responsible for all the deaths.

"What does this brand look like on the inside of the wrist of the victims?" he asked keeping his back to her.

"It reads 'vivere sat vincere' it's latin, it means…"

He quickly interrupts, "To conquer is to live enough."

Caroline stands up and walks over to him, "Klaus, do you know who this is? Why does this keep happening? How do I make it stop?"

He turned to face her, reaching up and placed both hands on the side of her face. "I will figure this out. Why didn't you come to me sooner." He gently presses his lips onto her forehead before pulling away. "You will stay here while you are in my city. I will have someone collect your things."

Awaking as if from a daze, Caroline quickly responds, "I am not your prisoner. I will not stay here. I am perfectly fine staying in my own rooms. I've kept myself alive this long."

"Caroline don't push me. You would be our guest, not prisoner."

"I will not. And don't set your dogs spying on my every move now."

Klaus clenched his jaw together, he never could refuse her, "Fine, but the guards are not up for debate. They will escort you home now." He opened the doors and stepped into the hall, returning moments later with two hybrids. "I will see you tomorrow Caroline. Enjoy your rest." With that he left the room.

—

Klaus walked out of the room without turning to see Caroline leave. He entered the library and quickly found Elijah waiting.

"And, your thoughts?" Klaus questioned, knowing that Elijah would have heard the conversation he just had.

"You still have feelings for her Niklaus. Otherwise her leaving would not have been an option."

"Get to the point Elijah. Who do you think is doing this?" Klaus snarled as he didn't want to consider any feelings for her at the moment.

"The bodies this evening, they too had the branding. Vivere sat vincere. It is obvious, I thought."

"How are they here without me knowing about it? And what is the connection to Caroline?"

Elijah stood up, "Give me some time," and walked out.