Summary: When Caroline Forbes was hired by Elijah Mikaelson to take care of his younger brother with a terminal illness, Klaus, she didn't expect to fall in love with the charismatic blonde.

A: I don't own TVDU or any character. Excuse my english and if I portrayed something wrong. I'm so late with this chapter, I know!

Niklaus was lying on the bed as the light rays dappled his face through the window. The little wolf from Kol was right next to his head. He didn't feel well, he knew his last moment will come soon...the operation had taken away some of his pain, but it hadn't delayed his death. Katherine was sitting on the side of his bed, looking through a box.

Caroline had only been gone for a short time, but he already missed her terribly, he was constantly thinking of her. Elijah had promised to let him know if she sent him any messages, considering that Klaus no longer had a phone, he didn't think it had any use for him now.

Everything had become extremely difficult, as if even the simplest things had become extremely tiring. Elijah had ended up doing everything for him, from brushing his teeth to getting him dressed, and his brother had paid for an entire team of paramedics to come and pick him up from his home in an ambulance for his appointments. It hurted his heart to know that Rebekah and Kol had to see the ambulance come and take him, knowing full well that they would probably come and take him like that the day he died. He could never forget their screams the day they found out he was gonna die...and he could never forget himself for allowing them to suffer like this. They were his world, his little princess and prince, his baby siblings, he was supposed to be there for them when they will graduate, get married or have kids, he was supposed to guide them throw the world.

He was already dead, he knew that, but he wasn't unlived and he will take advantage of all the time he has left, Caroline had reminded him to live until the last moment.

"Sunny-face, are you sleeping?" Katherine grinned, lifting the arm not attached to his medicine infusion and shaking it a little. "Excited about your birthday?"

"Yes, Kat, I'm definitely very excited about my last birthday ever."

"Oh, come on, champ, it will be fun. I will be there for you, and if you just want to go back to your room, sleep and wait until the day will pass, I will come upstairs with you." she paused as she squeezed Klaus' hand. "A memorable date can make as eleven years of memories, and I promise I'm gonna make you live forever."

Klaus chuckled, as much as he could manage without coughing, and then Katherine pulled an old tie out of a box, her eyes lighting up, the same as Klaus's, who said:

"Remember when we took that ice cream truck, we dressed in suits from Elijah's closet and entered the fire station with ice cream all over us?"

"Oh, yes, old memories, it was so funny!" Katherine laughed. "Or that time when we broke into my boss' apartment and almost flooded it? He never caught us."

Klaus smiled. He was aware of how pale and weak he was, how he couldn't walk or even stand up without help, how his whole body was giving up and the feeding tube, but Katherine made him laugh, made him feel again like when they took plastic boats and ventured intothe middle of the ocean, it made him feel like himself again, because that's what best friends, almost-sisters were for. They used to talk for hours without either of them getting bored...well, "they used to", now Klaus couldn't hold a conversation for that long without getting tired.

"Elijah is talking to these doctors in London, they want me to stay a few weeks there and try some new medicines, maybe it will help."

"Are you sure about it? The treatment can be very dangerous."

"Since when are you afraid of some danger, Kath?" Klaus smiled.

"You're right, Nikki...it will be alright, but tell me when it's planned so I can come with you and threaten the nurses if they don't treat you like the wolf king you are." She said, looking at the wolf plush. Katherine's smile was innocent, but the woman behind it was not.

"Of course I will let you bully the people who are in charge of my meds, Katherine."

"Admit it, you adore me, like I adore you. We're like some psychotic twins." Katherine grinned again and Klaus repeated the motion. "Now, Klaus, sleep, or I'm gonna talk to you about my relationship with your brother until you do." Katherine added, laying down next to Klaus and kissing his cheek. He just grimaced.

The drive to Mystic Falls was shorter than Caroline thought, even though she spent the whole flight thinking about what was going to happen. Once off the plane, she immediately noticed her mother at the airport gate, waiting for her. Liz was dressed in her sheriff's uniform, as always.

"Mom!" the young blonde caregiver ran over and grabbed her mother in a big hug. "I missed you."

"I missed you too, Caroline. I'm so glad you're finally home."

'Home', but Mystic Falls wasn't Caroline's home, it never was. Ever since she was little, she had dreamed of leaving this small town, seeing the world, traveling...and she had, before settling in New Orleans and taking the job as a caregiver, she had traveled all over the world. She had been to Rome, Paris, Tokyo, as well as many other special locations. She had seen more than half the globe.

However, she had decided it was time to settle down and make some more money before starting again...then Klaus appeared, Klaus with his dreamy grin, Klaus who promised to show her the other side of the world, Klaus who loved wildlife and travel as much as she did, Klaus who adored her. He had promised her that they would travel the world together, even though he knew he couldn't, even though his time and energy were too short to do so.

"How was your flight?"

"It was ok, mom, I loved the sunset." Caroline smiled.

"Jeremy is at our house, he couldn't wait to see you."

"Jeremy Gilbert? I can't wait to see him too, I think he's grown so much, I haven't seen him since his engagement party with Kai!" Caroline smiled.

"Elena's waiting for you at the house too. She really missed you."

"Elena's at our house?! Mom, you know what she did to me."

"She said she changed, Caroline. Her marriage with Damon changed her."

Caroline just grinned, feeling betrayed. After all these years, she still felt betrayed.

"So she decided to stay with Damon in the end? Even after everything Stefan did for her?"

"Stefan is getting better." Liz said.

Liz liked Damon more, it was obvious; While Stefan spent hours at Sheila's house, Bonnie's grandmother and guardian, Caroline's mother was always at the Salvatore mansion. She loved Damon even more than she loved her own child.

Bonnie was lucky that she wasn't here, that her grandmother had moved to Paris and that she wasn't forced to return to this world-forsaken town. Caroline left town at once with Bonnie, and they eventually found themselves in New Orleans, their friendship as strong as ever. The young fashion designer was one of the reasons why Caroline couldn't forgive Elena, not only for her treatment of Bonnie when they were young, but also for playing with Damon and Stefan's health, who were like brothers to Bonnie. That was the difference beetwen Sheila and Liz, while Liz loved other people's children more than her own, Sheila had enough love for all equally.

Honestly, Stefan was the reason why Caroline chose a career as a caregiver. She remembered when Stefan saved Elena from a bus accident while she was cheating on him with Damon. He saved Elena, he was a hero, but he put his own life in danger. He was paralyzed from the waist down, giving up his career as a doctor for her, but becoming a poet instead. His books of poetry were all over New Orleans bookstores.

Stefan was paralyzed, he had a really hard time adapting to his new life, but Caroline didn't think that Damon looked even a second back, he prefered to be with his wife who dated him and his baby brother at the same time. After the accident, Caroline, Bonnie and Sheila were the only ones who were there for him.

As they approached the house, Caroline could see Elena's car in the parking lot. She was really taking advantage of the Salvatore family's money. Entering the house, Caroline was greeted by Jeremy's arms around her. Where Elena used to ignore him completely, preferring to be with her friends or Damon, Caroline was there to be Jeremy's backup big sister.

"I missed you so much!" he said.

"Aww, I missed you too, kiddo." Caroline replied. "How's Kai?"

"He's good, he needed to stay home because of Luke and Liv."

Jeremy left Mystic Falls after his engagement party with Kai just a few years ago. He met him at high school, the Parker young boy being just a few months older than Jeremy. He had a lot of trouble, but Jeremy found his emotions, he made his heart beat again. They married very young and then adopted two of Kai's younger siblings after their parents died, but now they were both architects in New York and living their perfect life.

"How are you?" Jeremy asked, smiling.

"I'm good, New Orleans is magnificent this time of the year." she smiled.

"How's work, dear?" Liz cut them off.

"It's good, I've got a new patient and he's..." she stopped. "He's...amazing, so smart, loving and strong."

Her eyes watered. Why was she here, in a place she hated, when she could have been with Klaus for a few more moments?

"He seems to make you happy." Liz grinned.

"It's not..."

"I'm your mom, Caroline. I can notice how your eyes become lighter when you talk about him and I can't wait to meet him."

Caroline shrugged, admitting that Liz could really tell what was going on between her and Klaus.

"Mom, you forgot what I'm doing? He's terminal."

Liz's eyes darkened as she realized, as did Jeremy's.

"I will lose him in a couple of months, maybe even less."

Footsteps in sneakers were heard in the hall, and Elena entered the room, saying:

"Caroline! Oh, how long I haven't seen you."

Elena looked the same: the same straight hair, the same pink blouse, the same red sneakers, only now her hair was cut to her shoulders and her soul was more venomous. Those were the only differences. Caroline did not let herself be manipulated by her fake smile, so she spoke directly:

"Drop the act, Elena. Did you talk to Stefan recently? You know, the one who saved your life? Or you just stopped Damon from communicating with his baby brother and spreading lies?"

"Caroline, enough! Damon is in the next room!" Liz said.

"I'm not here to fight, but why are you here, Elena? In my mother's home?"

"God, I just wanted to talk to you, Care." Elena said.

"About what? How your ignorant perfect life with Damon has been?" Jeremy said suddenly.

"It's okay, Jer." Caroline said, smiling at the young man, not wanting to make his relationship with his sister worse than it really was. Caroline's gaze shifted to Elena as the blonde woman spoke: "Live in the fairy tale where you are the princess as long you want, Elena, but remember that in this kingdom the queen rules... Let's watch a movie." Caroline grinned, winking at Elena, whose mouth was almost on the floor.

Without Caroline there, and with Rebekah off shopping for the party, the Mikaelson mansion was plunged into a blinding silence. A few years ago Elijah wouldn't have imagined that this would be possible, Klaus used to talk a lot, excited about so many topics, but ever since he was diagnosed it was as if his voice and his desire to talk suddenly disappeared with his health. Elijah didn't think he could ever miss his brother's voice this much. He didn't talk so much anymore, animated, excited about life, as if he had been waiting for the inevitable end long before it was confirmed to them.

Elijah had been on the phone with the director of the London hospital for more than half an hour, then with their aunt and with the head of the treatment ward, and finally with a medical team that would ensure Niklaus' safe transport. It was risky, incredibly risky, both the experimental treatment and the journey there, but it was his brother's decision and Elijah couldn't stop it. His thoughts were interrupted by his phone ringing. It was Freya. She and Keelin needed to go back home due to the baby and Henrik's schedule, but they called frequently and the youngest Mikaelson sibling loved to play games with Klaus on the phone.

"Hello, sister, how are you?"

"I'm good, Elijah, how about you? How's Niklaus?"

"He's upstairs with Katherine at the moment, but I think he fell asleep. I just talked with some doctors in London."

"Are you sure it's prudent? It's very dangerous."

"It's Niklaus' decision and I agree with whatever he says, Freya."

"His judgment is clouded by the way he feels, Elijah, he's too tired to think straight, it's your responsibility to handle the important decisions, he's got enough on his mind. The treatment is incredibly dangerous, and so is the complete change of environment right now. You're there with him, you should have advised him...listen, I've thought about it a lot and if you want us to come and help you with him, if you think you can't handle it anymore, we're just a phone call away, okay? You don't need to stress so much with him, we can help you."

"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of him on my own! I've been taking care of him all this time, sister, remember that. I appreciate your offer and intention, but I will need ti refuse it."

"I'm not saying you can't take care of him, 'Lijah, I'm saying just that you might be tired too. The road to London is not a prudent decision. Of course, Niklaus can make decisions for himself, but he's still our baby brother and he's in pain. Maybe you should let someone else take care of him."

Freya's last words were particularly familiar, and Elijah found himself thinking back with dark eyes to a conversation he had had many years ago.

~flashback~

"Maybe you should let someone else take care of him." Finn said from his spot on the couch of the new place Elijah bought for him, Kol and Rebekah with Freya's help.

"What?" Elijah asked, a confused look on his face.

"Niklaus' health is getting worst and stops you from working properly, you even quit your job because of him!"

Niklaus had passed out in his own dorm room just a few months ago, and a week ago Elijah quit his job so he could stay with him in the hospital because doctors said he needed 24/7 supervision. They still didn't know exactly what was going on with him, but the tests didn't stop and they should find out soon. However, considering that his symptoms were random and could not be monitored yet, he needed constant supervision so that he did not become so ill that his life was endangered for even a moment. If he got hurt and Elijah wasn't there to take care of him, he could never forgive himself. At the moment Freya was with Niklaus at the hospital while Elijah put a few things in order, but after this he would immediately return to his baby brother.

"I haven't quit my job because of Niklaus, I wanted to take care of him and spend more time with him, Finn, it was in no way his fault. Money is not a problem at the moment, if that's what worries you." Elijah said, calm as always. "We talked about it when we were at his college."

"You are ruining your life, Elijah, it's not like he's going to be terminal! He's not going anywhere, he's not dying!" Finn shouted.

"I'm his older brother, it's my job to take care of him, he needs me."

"No, you need someone to need you. What Niklaus needs is a medical team." Finn paused for a second, but then continued, "I talked to this hospice in Arkansas, it's right by the mountains, it has a great view and a great medical team, I think Niklaus would well very good there. They still have a few rooms available and are waiting for him this monday. I didn't have his signature, but he will can complete all the formulars there, there's nothing money can't do."

Elijah's eyes darkened, Finn was talking like this was his life, his choice, not Niklaus's, it was like he wanted to get rid of him.

"You talked with a hospice without telling us?!" Elijah shouted at him, hurt by his older brother's actions.

"He's not our problem, Elijah, you are destroying your life for him!"

"It's my life, Finn, as his life is only his, you can't just hospitalize him in a hospice without talking to him first! I can't believe you called them...you even asked about a room for this monday!"

"I just think he will feel better at a hospice, and we'll be able to live our lives as well!" Finn stood up.

"You didn't even talk to him, what was your plan, kiddaping him and taking him to the hospice in the middle of the night?"

"I just thought it would be better for everyone, I still do."

"Get out." Elijah's eyes showed no expression, it was as if they were dead. "Get out of my house and from Niklaus' life. It's not your decision and you're not going to abandon him in a hospice, because he's not a burden, Finn, he's our younger brother, but if you don't want to be the older brother he needs, I will. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of him on my own!"

Finn stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him, and his family hasn't seen him since.

~end of the flashback~

Both Freya and Finn didn't think that Elijah could take care of Niklaus on his own, but for two very different reasons. Freya just wanted to protect Niklaus, while Finn wanted to get rid of him. Elijah would be able to run with Klaus to the other side of the planet just to keep him safe...and healthy.