She fell asleep long after he left, not waking up until the sun was beating heavily on her face. When her eyes finally opened she couldn't find enough strength to move. Her arms laid limp at her side and her legs remained curled up in a ball. Oddly she heard birds chirping, laughter from kids outside and a few dogs barking. It reminded her that the world went on with or without you and the thought scared her more than she wanted to admit.

Eventually Caroline pushed herself off the mattress and wandered out into the hall, pulling her robe tight against herself. The house was fairly quiet and she wondered if her mother had even noticed she returned. But perhaps it was too late at night and she had already left for work. Caroline was slightly grateful for it though. Being bombarded by her mother with millions of questions wasn't something she wanted to deal with. Especially the disapproval she would get when she brought Klaus into the equation. It made her sick just thinking what Bonnie and Stefan would have to say about all of it.

Slowly she made her way into the kitchen, turned the brewer of the coffee pot on and got a blood bag out from the fridge. She sat at the table and poured the blood into the coffee mug, sighing as she did. Her phone laid in front of her, taunting her as it sat with a black screen. Klaus said he was supposed to update them, that they were waiting to hear something. But no matter how much she wanted to talk to them, to hear their comforting voices, she couldn't bring herself to. The fear was slowly creeping building up within her and leaving a rather bad taste in her mouth. Just the thought of hearing Bonnie's disapproving voice come through the phone made her sick. She was even on the fence about Stefan, not having a clue of what his reaction was going to be. Though perhaps they calmed down slightly seeing as Klaus had to deal with the worst of it.

Klaus.

The thought of him made her stomach flip. She still couldn't wrap her mind around what was happening. The idea seemed too...impossible. And she knows that she's a vampire and she used to date a werewolf and the very man she's involved with in this curse is the almighty hybrid but still...going back in time? Reliving each other's pasts? How does someone make sense of that?

Caroline shook her head and finally grabbed the phone, staring at it for a second before finally dialing. But she found as she waited for him to answer, a dull ache began on the side of her neck. Her eyebrows knitted together as she rubbed it softly and tried not to wince. She held her breath just as he answered.

"Caroline? Is that you?"

She sighed and smiled ever so softly, ignoring the shooting pain. "Yeah, Stefan, it's me."

November 5th, 2009

Klaus stumbled slightly before righting himself and took in his surroundings carefully. Laughter sounded behind him as well as a crowd of voices, clinking of glasses and music. The sun was beginning to set and he turned to see the Grill, people spilling in and out of the bar. Familiar voices filled his ears and he only assumed that this was where he was supposed to go. But as he made his way over to the entrance he found himself feeling hesitant, nervous almost as to what he was would see. So far, although it's only happened once, what he's seen of Caroline's life hasn't been rather comforting. She didn't have it good and he could only imagine what he would see once he came inside.

Klaus pushed his way through the crowds, ignoring the puzzled stares towards him. His eyes scan the crowd but he finds no sign of her. For a minute he thinks, while heading to the bar area, if this was the wrong place to go. Perhaps he was just thrown here and she could be somewhere else. Maybe her home or the Salvatore's or even the blasted doppelganger's house. He decided to give it only ten minutes and then he would go in search some place else.

"Scotch," He said to the bartender, nodding only once as he took a seat.

His eyes surveyed the crowd slowly, picking out every blonde, curly head. There seemed to be hundreds of them and every time they turned his heart picked up speed. But it slowly diminished once their faces were revealed. Although only minutes passed it was becoming pointless to him. He took a large gulp of his drink and was just about to push off from the counter when he heard her.

"Bonnie has it but she wouldn't give it to me."

Klaus immediately froze as his eyes searched the crowd again. Her voice was strained, softer even as she pleaded again to the man which he soon found to be Damon.

"Well rip it off her neck."

Caroline sighed. "I tried but it shocked me."

Damon shook his head and muttered under his breath. Something about needing the crystal and cursing the fact that it keeps doing that.

"I need it though." He hissed.

Caroline frowned, not seeming to understand him. "Why are you being like this? I mean I tried my hardest and you know I'd do anything for you. I'm so good to you, Damon."

"Obviously," Damon said, his voice harsh, "You didn't try hard enough."

"I did my best," she whispered. Klaus finally caught sight of him and watched as Caroline's nimble fingers took hold of Damon's jacket. "Can't that be enough for you? I mean it's just a stupid necklace."

Klaus held his breath and tried to contain the surge of anger slowly building up in him. He analyzed every movement, guessing their next action so he could decide to intervene or not. The look in Damon's eyes was similar to what Klaus has seen before which didn't play out well in his favor.

"No," Damon spat, his eyes looking over her menacingly. He grabbed her wrists and pulled her closer to him. "You're the only stupid thing here." He began to walk away but came back, his face more contorted and forehead creased. "And shallow. And useless."

Caroline stood in shock, her eyes blinking a few times as she watched him leave. She bit her lip slightly before taking a deep breath and turning around to walk the other way. People watched as she stumbled by, hand covering her face partly as she shoved her way through. Klaus was already on his way to her, pushing past crowds of people. He could see the tears pooling in her eyes and hear her shortened breath as she tried to make her escape. He was torn between wanting to rush and comfort her or to turn around and tear Damon's throat out.

It was a rather difficult decision.

But he found himself continuing to go towards her, his fists slowly uncurling as his prime focus was only her. She was disappearing before his eyes, immersing herself into the crowd and before he knew it she was gone completely. He blinked only once, not believing he actually lost her when he realized that he wasn't even in the Grill anymore.

Klaus looked around to find he was standing outside a window, crickets chirping around him. He sidestepped a frog that jumped over his shoe and kicked a plant in front of him. For a moment he thought he was back home but then her and someone else's voice came through the window.

The quarterback had her in his arms, her legs swaying back and forth. He was studying her face as he gently set her on the bed, pulling off each of her shoes before bringing the covers over her waist. Her eyes fluttered open briefly but closed quickly as he sat beside her.

"Are you gonna be alright?" He asked.

With her eyes closed she grumbled: "No."

Matt chuckled quietly but said nothing. Klaus watched with baited breath as her eyes slowly reopened again and a sigh escaped her lips. She shifted slightly under the covers and frowned up at him.

"Do you ever feel like there's not a person in the world who loves you?"

Klaus' heart clenched and he barely managed to swallow. Hearing those words made him relive almost every moment of his life. When he was constantly betrayed and when his siblings disobeyed him time and time again. He could still feel the blows from Mikael, the whips on his back and words spat at him during the beatings. People cowered in his presence, women threw themselves at him, blood spilled at his feet and bodies littered his entire life. And through the conquests, the massacres, the betrayals, the daggering, the beatings, the poisoned words and bad sex...nothing made him feel complete. People were only loyal to him out of fear of repercussions and he still doesn't believe his family truly cares for him. Perhaps he doesn't deserve it, after all the things he's done. Though it doesn't stop the thoughts.

But who needs love when you're the most powerful being on the planet?

Who needs a weakness like that?

Do you ever feel like there's not a person in the world who loves you?

Yes, Klaus wanted to say, I do.

"Care…." Matt started but she sighed again.

"I just wish that life...that life was different, you know?"

He looked down at her and frowned. "Yeah, I do."

She nodded and closed her eyes, almost drifting off but not quite. Matt took this as a sign to get up but her arm reached out last minute, fingers curling around the edge of his sleeve.

"Stay," she whispered, her blue eyes gazing up to his.

How could he say no to a face like that? Without hesitating he climbed into bed with her, pulling the covers gently over the both of them. But Klaus saw that his face looked almost pained as she curled up against him. Her fingers wrapped around his shirt and it sounded as if she breathed a sigh of relief.

And before Klaus knew it he was standing in the middle of his mansion, a fire roaring behind him. Elijah was rummaging around upstairs and he heard no sign of Rebekah. He blinked his eyes a few times, not believing that the journey was so short. But then there was a knock at the door and then the sound of heels clicking together.

Elijah was already making his way down the stairs, eyes widening at the sight in the doorway.

"Katerina," he whispered.

She smirked, looking at both men with a gleam in her eyes. "I'm glad you still remember me."

Present

Caroline didn't hesitate as she walked through the boarding house doors. She straightened her back and lifted her chin up slightly. The pain in her neck hadn't diminished but it didn't progress either. She thought that maybe this was a side effect of Klaus being away. All the pain of a real bite without the whole dying part. She supposed she would take it so long as it didn't get too out of hand.

Stefan was in front of her within seconds, eyes sweeping over her face in amazement. His arms were out almost immediately and pulled her in as he buried his face in her hair. It took her off guard slightly but she happily returned the gesture. She found that she missed him more than she realized and was grateful that some of the normalcy was seeping back into her life.

Well...just some.

"I'm so glad you're okay."

Caroline nodded. "Me too."

"You've missed a lot. I don't even know where to start."

She swallowed nervously as he began to walk down the hall. "I mean I know it's only been a few days but a lot has changed."

She couldn't imagine anything getting more out of hand than it already was but seeing as this was Mystic Falls, anything was possible. Stefan remained silent as he took them into the living room. The fireplace was lit and she noticed Damon in the corner. He held a glass of bourbon in his hand and his gaze was fixated outside. He seemed completely distracted, barely noticing their arrival. She couldn't help but stiffen at the sight of him as previous memories resurfaced. She blamed Klaus for bringing them up again and could only imagine what he did to Damon when she was away.

"Has Bonnie called yet?" He asked and Caroline only assumed the question was for Damon.

"No," was all he responded with.

Stefan rolled his eyes and looked back to Caroline. "Well...where should I begin?"

Caroline shrugged and took a seat on the sofa.

"You know the state Elena was in before you left. Complete denial, not willing to accept Jeremy's...state. But of course that didn't last long."

Her eyes shifted towards Damon again but his back was still to the both of them.

"What happened?" She asked.

"She snapped. I've never-" Stefan swallowed, shaking his head. "I've never seen her like that. It was like everything she had left of herself was gone and she didn't know what to do. She had a panic attack right in front of us all, trying to make sense of everything."

Caroline closed her eyes tightly, fighting back the tears that were begging to fall. She couldn't imagine what that was like; to lose every one of your family members. Elena was strong and she got herself through a lot in her life. But Jeremy was all she had left and to have him gone...well what was the point in trying?

"What did you do?"

"Well Damon-"

He finally spun around then, face completely placid as he stared at the both of them. Caroline locked eyes with him and he down the rest of his drink without breaking contact. She tried to remain unaffected as she was attempting to sympathize with him. The ending of this story was playing out right in front of her and she knew how it ended. For some reason she expected this of him despite everything he's done. He would give Elena the peace she desired even if it meant losing everything she was. He was selfish enough that he would rather have her heartless than six feet under.

"I made her turn it off."

"You used the sire bond." Caroline confirmed.

He nodded. "It was the only way."

Stefan looked like he could disagree but remained silent. His eyes shifted between them before speaking again. "And now she's running rampid. We thought going back to school would bring back some normalcy for her."

Damon was pouring himself another drink as he laughed. "Yeah that didn't work out well."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's just say," Damon smirked and took a drink, "that your cheerleading competition squad is down one girl."

Caroline's eyes blazed. "Excuse me?"

"Now, now, Blondie, don't get your pom-poms in a twist. We've got it under control."

"Oh really?" She said, standing up and placing her hands on her hips. "Where is she now then?"

Stefan and Damon looked at each other before Stefan took the reins.

"We're working on it. We just got a little sidetracked with your...situation."

Caroline took a deep breath and knew that her next words would lift millions from his shoulders. "Really, it's none of your concern. I'm trapped in a curse that none of you can do anything about. Your main focus should be Elena, the cure and Silas. That's all the matters."

"But Bonnie-"

"Can't do a damn thing."

The voice caught them all off guard as the witch entered the room. She was hugging the grimoire to her chest, eyes cast slightly down as she approached them. Caroline watched as she bent down and opened up the to the middle of the book. Her eyes caught sight of a wolf and a few symbols that were foreign to her. She didn't understand anything that was written on the pages either but by the look on her friend's face she guessed that none of it was necessarily good.

"Caroline's right. Once the curse activates there's nothing that can stop it. I can't slow it down or put it on hold. You go through the cycles whether you like it or not and try to tough it out. I can't break it or sever the bond. It's just weird destiny/fate stuff." Bonnie looked sadly to Caroline. "I'm sorry but I've tried everything."

Caroline swallowed hard and looked down at the wolf again. It was howling at the moon, nose to the sky and tail curled upwards. For a minute she was reminded of Tyler as he was the only one she saw in wolf form. She almost wondered what Klaus would look like but banished the thought before it had anymore time to fester.

"It's okay, Bon. I sort of expected that anyway."

"Doesn't it bother you? That you're tied to him this way?" She asked, a disgusted look twisting her features.

Laughter erupted from the other side of the room. Damon couldn't seem to contain himself as he knocked back another bourbon. "Are you kidding me? This is like her excuse for all those nasty thoughts about him these past few months. At least now she has something to blame it on."

Stefan sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Damon-"

"Well it's true, isn't it? We all think it."

Caroline recoiled instantly, swallowing hard as she took a step back from everyone. She could see that he was right judging by the looks on Bonnie and Stefan's faces. There was a mixture of shock and guilt swimming in their features. She watched as they each composed themselves quickly and Stefan stepped forward towards her.

"I don't." He said softly. "I just think that maybe you've been keeping something from us. You're worried what we would think and I want to tell you that it's okay. It doesn't matter…."

Bonnie's face scrunched up in disgust as she pressed her lips together. She was biting her tongue, Caroline knew, to keep herself from saying something she knew she would regret. In that moment she knew that it would never be okay. They would always look at her differently if those feelings should ever develop and for some reason that made her recoil. She could only imagine Elena's reaction-

"You know," Caroline said, gathering her things on the couch. She had this strong urge to just bolt, run as fast as she could to get as far away from this place as possible. Mixed with the burning pain in her neck, she couldn't stand it. "I actually told my mom I would meet her at the Grill for lunch and it's almost one."

"Caroline-" It was Bonnie. She was frowning towards her, hand stretched out with the grimoire in it.

"What?"

She placed the book in her hands, eyes shifting away. "Just look through it." And then her voice dropped to a whisper, barely audible for even her to hear. "There's some things you might want to see."

Caroline glanced down at the pages, picking up a few words only for Bonnie to close it abruptly. Their eyes connected and the gaze lasted a few seconds longer than normal. She hadn't denied what Damon said despite Stefan's efforts and Caroline tried to ignore the sting it created in her chest. She focused on the book and excused herself again only quieter, keeping her head down. Stefan protested a few times but she ignored him.

The pain in her neck was increasing and she barely made it out of the driveway before she felt it happen. The last thing she heard before she disappeared was the incessant laughing from Damon.

"What in the name of-"

Elijah cut him off. "Niklaus-"

But it was already too late. Before they realized it Klaus had Katherine pinned to the nearest wall, his hand curling around her throat as she grasped it. Her eyes widened and flickered to Elijah even though they both knew he was useless. Nothing could stop Klaus when it came to her.

"Do you realize how foolish you're being, Katerina? Coming here, to my home."

"Well," she managed to say, "If you would put me down-"

"Not bloody likely," Klaus spat. His fingers around her throat tightened and he smiled as the color began to drain from her face. It was odd though that she was being affected so quickly, she could usually hold out longer than this. His head cocked to the side as he studied her, eyes flickering over her features.

"Niklaus-" Elijah attempted, taking a step closer to the pair. His eyes didn't move to Katherine but remained solely on his brother. There was no hiding his affections for her but he couldn't let them blind reason. She obviously had information, important information, because there was absolutely no way she would come here willingly. Katherine was many things but she wasn't stupid. He wanted to believe there was more to it than that.

Katherine glanced over to Elijah, willing him to look her way. She could see that he was fighting for her in the only way he could. In the end Klaus would do whatever pleased him despite the feelings his brother may possess. Her betrayal weighed heavily in his heart, she knew, and he would never let her rest until her head was mounted above his fireplace. Just the thought of it made her skin crawl. God the man could really hold a grudge.

But she came here for a reason and she'd be damned if he killed her before she even got to say it.

"It's about," she dug her nails into his skin which didn't do anything but annoy him. "the cure-"

Not even with the mention of the damned thing did his face even flinch. He seemed to have other things on his mind because only seconds later did he register what she said. She was itching to find out and the thought of a distraction for him made her want to grin. What a tool that could be. But right now wasn't the time to think of it. She already had a tool and that was the cure. To trade that for her freedom was the main goal. She only hoped he would take it before severing her head from the rest of her body.

Klaus' head cocked to the side. "What about it?"

"Well...you want it, don't you? You know they're probably planning to use it against you and I'm guessing becoming human isn't in your best interest."

He winced his eyes towards her, the glare almost throwing her off her game. "What is it you're trying to say, Katerina?"

She avoided looking towards Elijah, not sure she wanted to see his expression. "What if we made a deal? The cure for my freedom. I give it to you and I'm free to go."

"You must be joking." He barked out a laugh as he shoved her against the wall. The plaster cracked and a cloud of dust erupted around them but neither flinched. Klaus' face slowly composed once more and he studied the woman in front of him. How foolish could she be? Did she really think the cure mattered that much to him? He wasn't afraid of Caroline's friends any longer. They proved to him that although they knew how to fight, winning was something foreign.

"Why would I lie? Why would I joke about my freedom?"

"Why would you be foolish enough to walk into my home when I could so easily kill you? What game are you playing because there's not a chance I'm falling for this one."

"You don't get it, do you?" By this time his hand had loosened and her words were coming out easier. He honestly didn't understand. "You're a target. With Silas out there and now that gang of misfits on the prowl, your odds of getting out of the town are getting slimmer and slimmer."

"I'm the original hybrid! Does that mean anything to you?" The gold in his eyes were shining and she tried to remain calm as the fangs from the top of his mouth descended.

"But you're distracted, I can tell. This whole time your mind has been somewhere else. Sure, your eyes are on me but you react just a few seconds after everything I say. You're not completely here and if it was obvious to me what do you think everyone else is going to think?" She was embellishing this just a tad, hoping to tap into something that was just slightly off about him. She couldn't be completely right but she knew on some level she was. Something was off tonight and if she played the part perfectly he may just go along with it.

"If you're trying to get a rise out of me it's not working."

"I'm just stating the facts. Now either kill me or take my offer because this is getting old." She squirmed against him, smirking ever so slightly because she knew she had him. He wanted the cure more than anything but for what purpose she wasn't sure. Perhaps he simply wanted it in his possession or maybe it was to take down Silas. Either way she didn't care. All she wanted was her freedom and if this was the ticket out then so be it. She never wanted the damn thing anyway.

"I'll grant your freedom on one condition."

"I never agreed to conditions. It's either you take the cure or I'll die knowing where it is. You pick."

Elijah looked quizzically at her, stunned by the boldness in her voice. Normally she was always like that but when it came to his brother she knew when to steer clear. He couldn't imagine why she was trying so hard for something that she wasn't entirely certain on. It was always a toss up with Niklaus and he didn't think Katerina a fool to toy with him now.

Klaus laughed, shaking his head. "I don't bloody care if you die, Katerina. I'll find that cure with or without your help, it's just easier if you're alive. So take my condition or I'll tear your heart out here."

Her eyes narrowed at him but she remained silent, letting him go on.

"You give me the cure," he smiled suddenly, knowing he won, "But in return, you stay as far away from my family as possible. I never want to lay eyes on your mop of curls for the rest of eternity. If I do I'll kill you and it won't be quick like the one I'm planning now. Or I'll simply take the cure and shove it down your throat instead. I have two doppelgangers, you know, and I'd gladly choose you over Elena." He never wanted anything more, a life free of this ratchet girl. For five hundred years he wanted her gone, wanted her to suffer and feel the pain of her betrayal for eternity. But she struck a deal he couldn't refuse, the cure was important to him and everything she said was true. He couldn't take the risk. Yet he couldn't let her go so easily either. If he were to let her live, he never wanted to see her face again. He didn't want her tearing his family apart either like she did so many years ago. She wasn't good for Elijah and he hoped his brother would come to understand that someday. For now he was doing him a favor as well as the rest of his family. He knew there may come a time, hundreds of years from now, when Katherine would slip up and do something to make him completely forget about their deal. He would have another reason to kill her and he would gladly wait for that day to come. But for now, this was good enough.

It was an easy condition, something she knew she could adhere to for the rest of forever. But for a fraction of a second, her eyes flickered over to the man that always seemed to be a constant in her life. No matter what she knew he was waiting in the wings, always willing to have her. He was the greatest possibility of her existence and now it was all taken away. She had her freedom but at a cost. She almost wondered if it was even worth it after all.

"Fine," Katherine responded through gritted teeth. "We have a deal."

Klaus grinned and dropped her to the ground. He watched as she picked herself up quickly, brushing herself off and came to stand in front of him. Tantalizingly slow, she reached into her bra and pulled out a dark red vial. Her smirk was wide as she handed it over to him, eyes sparkling as she dropped it into his hand. He wanted to roll his eyes but snatched it up quickly.

"You seemed awfully sure of yourself to carry it around with you like that." Klaus commented as he tucked it into his jacket pocket.

Katherine shrugged. "Girl's gotta dream."

Before he could say another word, she disappeared leaving the door wide open. He shrugged, barely glancing at his brother as he pulled his jacket closer to him.

"It's a shame I don't go back on my word. I would love to show up at her door hundreds of years from now and tear her heart from her chest. I love to see the surprise flash before their eyes just before the lights go out. It gives me this sort of thrill." Klaus smiled and glanced back at his brother who looked eerily calm. "Is something the matter, 'Lijah?"

Elijah shook his head, a small smile coming to his lips. "Not at all, brother."

Klaus nodded and took out his phone. "I'm going out for a bit. I should be back later."

"Very well."

He watched Klaus disappear up the stairs and moments later flash out the door. For a moment he stood there in silence, watching the empty door thoughtfully. Only when he was sure that Klaus was nowhere near the house, he let the moisture bubble up and cloud his eyes. He looked to his side and took a deep breath as the emotion building up inside of him began to fade. Soon he appeared as if nothing was ever wrong and walked over to the shelves where the scotch sat. He reached up and grabbed one of his favorite books before proceeding to the couch where he would remain the rest of the night.

Katherine had just finished packing her last suitcase. The man she compelled on the way to her apartment was standing by the door, already holding two of her suitcases. She smiled and waved at him before zipping up the last bag. There was no time to waste and she didn't want to risk "accidentally" bumping into Klaus. God knows he just said all of that only to run into her on the street and rip out her heart there. It was better to leave now.

She pushed all thoughts of the man she was forbidden from out of her mind. Every time she even remotely came close to thinking of him she distracted herself. There were a million other things to do and think of, she didn't have room for anything or anyone else. It was too hard.

She kept trying to convince herself that she would be okay. She's been alive for over five hundred years and she's been perfectly fine on her own. There's millions of men in this world, odds are she'd find a few worth paying attention to. She was Katherine Pierce for God's sake, she wasn't about to let one man drag her down from the world. Finally there was no more running, no more being at the will of someone stronger. Finally she could live her life without the fear and worry of everything coming to an end. She should be rejoyceful, ecstatic...feeling as if she was on top of the world.

But instead an empty feeling came creeping into her heart and she couldn't push it away so easily this time.

"Miss. Pierce, someone is here to see you." The man called. But before she was able to respond she heard the sharp intake of breath followed by choking.

Slowly, she poked her head out of the room only to find the man dead at the threshold of the door. Her bags had fallen and there was blood pooling from his neck. For a minute she thought Klaus had come back, forgetting their entire deal. But then she saw him step out of the shadows. There was something different about the walk, the look in his eyes as he smiled. She wanted desperately to believe that it was Stefan coming her way but knew that was just too good to be true.

"I heard they call you Katerina yet others tell me you prefer Katherine now." He was walking towards her, hands behind his back...the sinister smile never fading. "You can call me Silas." He was in front of her now and she found that all her strength was gone. "We're going to have fun together, I can feel it. Before we get started though, be a dear and clean him up for me."

Wordlessly and without protest, Katherine went to the kitchen to wet a rag. Soon she was on her hands and knees, scrubbing the blood from the hardwood and then leaving to dump the body at the bottom of the lake.

He hadn't seen her since he came back and the whole Katerina dilemma held him up even more. He wasn't sure if she'd even be home by the time he reached her. It's been too long, he knew, but it was worth a try.

On his way over he passed the boarding house and he barely paid much attention to it. But something caught the corner of his eye and when he took a second look, his foot immediately slammed on the break.

Crashed into a tree was a steaming, silver car. He flashed to it immediately and he could tell instantly whose it was. Her purse was sitting in the passenger side along with what looked like a grimoire. He saw her phone peaking out of the bag and it was continuously lighting up. The car was completely wrecked but there was no sign of her anywhere. He swallowed hard and opened the badly beaten door and gathered her things. He shut the car off and made a mental note to take care of it later. It would spend a few days in the shop but it'd be as good as new.

Looking back on the scene, he came to the only possible conclusion. She must have traveled while she was driving and is now hundreds of years away from home. He felt the heaviness in his chest return as he started his car and drove away.

London, England 1750

Caroline blinked her eyes slowly, wincing at the bright light shining on her face. As her eyes opened fully she realized it was just the sun and she was standing in the middle of a dirt road. She whirled around a few times, trying to get a sense of where she was. But as she spun around completely she was stunned to find someone in front of her.

"Well aren't you a pretty little thing."

And then darkness consumed her.

Hello! I know it's been forever...like a really long time I don't even remember how long. But I hope this chapter makes up for it all. This was one of my favorites to write so far and I hope you can agree!

I hope you all had a great holiday, whatever you celebrate! And I hope everyone has a great and happy New Year! :)

Let me know what you think, comments, thoughts, concerns, anything! It's all good to me. Thanks so much reading!

Have a great week and new year!