AN - I am so so sorry that this chapter took three weeks. I just moved and for anyone who's done this, it is one of the most stressful and time-consuming things you can do, then I was ill.

I hope this chapter is worth the wait. Enjoy x

Fixing Mistakes

Chapter 6 - Calm Before The Storm

It was the day after the events of the full moon and Caroline was by the lake washing the dirt and blood from her hair and body. She felt fine, the wounds she had sustained were gone, all that remained was tenderness. Whatever spell Esther and Ayana had performed had worked. She had thanked Esther as soon as she had seen her upon wakening, Ayana she had not yet seen and wasn't particularly looking forward to it.

Finished bathing Caroline swam to the shore, getting out she patted her body down with a cloth and put on a new dress. She walked back to the village and knocked on the wood of one of the homes, waiting for them to answer the door.

Ayana welcomed Caroline inside, "I was hoping you would come, child."

Caroline took a seat on a chair. Nervously clenching her hands she replied, "Before we discuss anything I need you to burn sage first."

Ayana raised her brow in surprise, "You know of the privacy spell?"

"You'd be surprised at what I know." Caroline replied, nerves gripping her.

Ayana fetched the sage and lit it, "It is now private." She sat opposite Caroline, "Tell me how you came to be here," she gave her a knowing look, "I know you are not from this time."

Caroline released a breath, she knows, "I do not know myself how I came to be here." She frowned as she recalled the events that brought her here, "All I know is, a storm came out of nowhere, a bolt of lightning struck the ground in front of me, it circled me in a ring of fire growing so hot that I passed out and when I woke I was here."

"Interesting." Ayana was intrigued, she had never known time travel to be possible, there had been stories passed down through generations but no proof that it had actually occurred, until now, "How far have you travelled?"

Caroline hesitated, unsure how much she should reveal.

"I cannot help unless I know." Ayana stated, seeing that Caroline still hesitated she added, "Unless you do not wish for my help." At Caroline's surprised look Ayana chuckled, "I saw the way Niklaus reacted when he brought you to the caves after the wolf attacked. He cares deeply for you as I am sure you do for him." She smiled gently at her, "He is why you hesitate, is he not?"

"He is." Caroline admitted.

"Do you wish to stay for him?" Ayana asked. A long silence met her question. Her eyes turned kind and she placed her hand on Caroline's in comfort, "You can tell me, Caroline."

They were Bonnie's eyes staring back at Caroline, warm kind and caring, they made her miss Bonnie for the first time.

"I just got a vision of a woman with green eyes and a caring face when I touched you." Ayana kept her eyes closed as she remembered the flash she got at touching Caroline, "I feel...connected to her somehow."

"Bonnie." Caroline smiled at the thought of her best friend, "Bonnie Bennett. My best friend."

"Bennett?" Ayana asked in surprise.

"Your great great great whatever granddaughter." Caroline answered. She almost smiled at the way Ayana's face softened at the revelation of her kin, she seemed scary and intimidating but there was a softer side to her.

"My line lives on." Ayana smiled, happy at the news her family lives on in the future, "How far into the future are you from?"

"A thousand years." Caroline answered, deciding she could trust Ayana with this information. She reminded her of Bonnie and knew in her heart that she could trust her.

Ayana was shocked, "That is a very long time."

Caroline chuckled, "It is indeed."

Ayana smiled at Caroline, "I will make us some tea." She glanced at the sage, "As the sage still burns how about you tell me about Bonnie."

Caroline grinned, "I can definitely do that." She was happy to talk to Ayana about Bonnie, glad that she could talk to someone about certain aspects of the future.

It was a couple of hours later when Caroline left Ayana, they parted with a hug and a new-found friendship between them. She walked back to her home.

"Caroline! There you are." Rebekah almost ran into Caroline as she entered their home. She took Caroline's hand and pulled her inside and toward their room. Sitting down on her bed she asked, "How are you?"

"I am well." Caroline replied, "I am healed from my injuries. Ayana and Esther's spell worked."

"You knew of witches before settling here?" Rebekah asked, she had noticed that Caroline appeared unsurprised at Ayana and Esther's use of magic to heal her, "You were not aware that mother was a witch before last night."

"I know of witches." Caroline replied, "One of my best friends back home was a witch."

"Are you?" Rebekah asked, she was curious to know the answer as she herself had the power within her and her mother taught her secretly when Mikael was not around as he did not want her to learn it until she was older and more responsible.

Caroline laughed, "No, I am not." I'm a vampire, or at least I was. You can be a witch or a vampire, but never both, that was what she wanted to reply but she couldn't reveal the existence of vampires as they didn't exist yet. Except Silas. He was currently locked away on the Island, calcified, feeding off the scraps of blood of whomever was unlucky enough to discover the well, willingly bleeding themselves to death as Silas tricked them with visions of the dead. No, she would not reveal anything about Silas, especially as the Hunter's were not created for at least another century, she would rather not encounter him again.

Rebekah was disappointed that Caroline was not a witch, she would have loved for them to learn witchcraft together as being a witch was in Rebekah's blood, it was just not in Caroline's. She decided to change the topic to what happened last night, "I cannot believe you fought a wolf and lived!"

"Neither can I." Caroline could not believe it herself, she had fought with every breath in her body to survive and luckily she had.

"What was it like? How did the men look?" Rebekah was dying of curiosity, she knew that they turned into wolves she just had no idea what they looked like.

"They do not look too different from regular wolves except their eyes," whether as a vampire or human Caroline would never forget that animalistic stare, "their eyes are golden instead of black."

"How did you get away?" Rebekah was fascinated, her older brothers had always discouraged her from spending too much time thinking about the wolves, her father most of all them as he called them nothing more than beasts, natures abominations. Yet, if nature herself created them then how could they be abominations? She had not the courage to speak back to her father and ask. He frightened her.

"It was not without luck." Caroline settled on her bed comfortably as she began telling Rebekah how she survived the wolf's attack, "I heard the wolf growl behind me, turning around my heart almost stopped as we locked eyes. It howled and I started running. Almost immediately it clamped its jaw around my ankle..."

Rebekah listened with rapt attention, not missing a word that Caroline said.

Klaus listened to every single word that Caroline spoke. He knew he should not eavesdrop but he passed their room just as Caroline began telling Rebekah about her fight with the wolf. He could not make himself move as he heard every strong and brave thing Caroline did to survive. She was the strongest woman he had ever met.

Klaus had never been so afraid as when he thought Caroline dead, the sight of her limp and bloodied body broke his heart. He did not want to lose her, she was precious to him and he did not want to imagine his life without her.

Klaus waited until Caroline finished talking to announce his presence. He lightly tapped on the wood frame.

Caroline looked up to see who was there and her whole face lit up at the sight of Klaus, "Hey."

"Nik." Rebekah smiled at Klaus, "Come in."

Klaus walked inside. After a few moments of indecision he decided to sit on Rebekah's bed, it would be too tempting to him if he sat on Caroline's bed surrounded by her scent. He shivered at the thought.

"Are you here to see how Caroline is?" Rebekah asked, knowing that Klaus had as he had been anxious the whole time Caroline had been out.

"Yes." Klaus replied, he looked Caroline over with worry in his eyes, "How are you, Caroline?"

"I am good, Niklaus, thanks to your quick actions." Caroline smiled at Klaus's concern, his caring nature so plain for her to see that it made her sad that in a thousand years it would be all but gone, save for a few choice events.

Klaus blushed under Caroline's praise, "You do need to thank me." He looked in pain, "If I had not reached you in time..."

Caroline reached over placing her hand on Klaus's, "But you did." She turned his hand over and interlocked their fingers, "And I am fine." She brushed her mouth against the back of his hand, "You helped me."

Klaus's breath quickened at the feel of Caroline's soft lips on his skin and the delicate stroke of her fingers on his palm. The barest touch from her sent his heart racing, her sweet vanilla scent making him heady with desire. It was a struggle to not act on his feelings, but however tempting it might be he would have to make her an offer first. Just whom he would ask for permission he did not know, Caroline had no family, perhaps he would ask his mother as she had taken responsibility for Caroline.

"Niklaus?" Caroline called for the third time, concern colouring her tone. Klaus had been staring into space lost in thought, it worried her as he hadn't even heard her say his name.

Klaus shook himself from his thoughts as Caroline's concerned voice reached him. He smiled reassuringly at her, "Forgive me, love, I was lost in thought."

"N-no problem." Caroline blinked in surprise at Klaus's use of 'love' as an endearment. More and more as she got to know him she could see parts of him that reminded her of future Klaus, his brief moments of that arrogant charm, the smirks, his use of sweetheart and as of today love. Klaus and Niklaus were the same and yet so different at the same time, they were both full of insecurities just different ones, they both loved their family furiously and both had a sweet and tender side. Klaus's was well hidden and only made the most rarest of appearances but it was there. Niklaus was more free with his caring but he still held himself slightly away from Caroline, though she suspected it was the time period they were in as there was no sex before marriage and all that pent-up desire must make men tense at the slightest brush of skin.

Rebekah coughed trying to break the charged tension that had suddenly filled the room. She felt awkward sitting between Klaus and Caroline, their feelings for one another plain for all to see. She knew it was only a matter of time before her brother made Caroline an offer. This knowledge pleased her as she already thought of Caroline as a sister, making it official only heightened her joy.

A blush darkened both Caroline and Klaus's cheeks at their mutual daydreaming, unaware that they were both thinking of the other. Catching each others gaze Klaus and Caroline smiled at one another before giving Rebekah their full attention.

Rebekah smiled at finally having their attention, "I wish to take a walk in the forest until we come to the Great Falls."

What Rebekah called the 'Great Falls' Caroline knew just as the falls. She was curious to see what changes had occurred between now and the future, just how had the falls changed in a thousand years? Was it bigger? Smaller? Or had it simply remained unchanged over the millennia. Curiosity burning within her she eagerly agreed, "I would love too."

Klaus stood and held his hands out to Rebekah and Caroline, "I would be honoured to escort you both."

Rebekah took Klaus's hand, "Wonderful." Her eyes were bright with excitement, "They are a sight to behold."

Caroline took Klaus's hand pulling herself up, "I can't wait. How about we ask Henrik to join us?" She frowned, "He was quite frightened after last night."

"That would be perfect." Klaus smiled at Caroline, her heart was so big and loving. She had lost her entire family and had somehow found the strength to give her heart to his family and see them as her own.

"We must include Kol." Rebekah added, "He will be quite insufferable if he is left out."

Caroline giggled, "That he will." She had another thought, "I do not want to leave out Elijah and Finn, how about we make it a family trip?"

The smile on Klaus and Rebekah's lips spoke volumes. Caroline thought of them as their family, just as they viewed her as one of them. Caroline's suggestion brought them nothing but happiness.

Klaus thread his arm though Caroline's, "Let's gather our family."

Caroline's breath caught. Klaus just referred to his family as ours, he seamlessly included her in that description. A smile shone on her face as she followed him. It was indeed becoming a struggle to want to leave Klaus, all of them in fact, Rebekah was her best friend, Kol her partner in crime, Henrik her younger brother, Elijah her sage older brother, Finn the same, more and more he was opening up to her. They were her family, just as Bonnie, Stefan, Matt, Tyler, Jeremy, Elena and at times Damon were in the future. Loving the Mikaelson's now didn't decrease how much she still loved and missed her makeshift family in the future less, it just made her sad. If she ever returned Henrik, Kol and Finn were dead, Rebekah hated her, Elijah didn't know her and Klaus left her to live his new life in New Orléans, doing God knows what with God knows who.

Caroline's eyes widened with realization, I'm jealous! The moment Klaus chose to leave Mystic Falls; and herself, behind him she had been jealous and hurt. Jealous of whomever he would meet in New Orléans, it was a big place after all and he may find someone who would capture his attention just as she had. Despite his lofty promises of being her last love and giving Tyler back to her, he still left her and when he did return he promised he would leave and never come back if Caroline would only be honest with him. Plus he did smirk when he promised.

"Are you alright, love?" Klaus asked, "You have been quiet since we left home."

Caroline felt warmed at Klaus's concern, "I am fine, Niklaus." She brushed her mouth across his cheek, "I was just thinking of...back home."

It pained Klaus to hear Caroline call it that but he knew it must pain her even more. She no longer had a home. Klaus shook his head in denial, no, that is not true. He glanced at Caroline through the corner of his eye, the light that always surrounded her shone bright, Caroline's home is with me. With all of us. He looked down at the floor, a secret smile across his lips, she's a Mikaelson.

"What has brought that smile to your face, Niklaus?" Caroline asked, she was curious as Klaus had a smile on his face for the last few minutes.

"Nothing." Klaus blushed, though his smile grew bigger as it was wont to do under Caroline's gaze.

Before Caroline could question Klaus Henrik ran in front of them.

Henrik looked at Caroline with concern, "How are you, miss Caroline? After last night I was worried."

"I am well, Henrik." Caroline ran her hand across Henrik's hair, "I am all healed."

"I am relieved." Henrik frowned, "I was scared."

"Oh, Hen." Caroline bent down and wrapped her arms around Henrik, holding him tight and running her hands along his back in comfort, "I am sorry that I made you scared. I am just relieved that you were not out there." If Henrik had died last night Caroline would have been devastated. She would gladly give her life so that Henrik could live, he was the sweetest boy she had ever met and he deserved to live a hundred lifetimes. He should not die so that vampires could live, it was not right.

"I am sorry I wondered off." Henrik was truly sorry, it would have broken his heart if Caroline died because of him, she was like another sister to him.

"All is forgiven." Caroline kissed Henrik's cheek. Smiling at him she asked, "Niklaus, Rebekah and I are going to the Great Falls. Would you wish to join us?"

Henrik beamed, "I would love too."

"Great!" Caroline grinned, "We just need to find Kol, Finn and Elijah and we can go."

"Let's go find them then!" Henrik enthused, running ahead of them, eager to find his siblings.

Caroline, Klaus and Rebekah chuckled at Henrik's eagerness. He was such a sweet boy.

An hour later found the Mikaelson's at the Great Falls. Klaus, Rebekah, Caroline and Henrik had found Kol, Finn and Elijah easily and happily all had been more than willing to join them.

Caroline stared in awe at the falls before her. It was bigger now, the water gushing over the top to a huge, picturesque lake at the bottom. It was a truly memorable sight.

"Wondrous, is it not?" Elijah asked, a smile on his face at Caroline's awe.

"It is." Caroline replied softly, still gazing at the magnificent sight before her, "You cannot beat nature for her splendour. Her beauty surpasses all."

"You are truly a good match for Niklaus." Elijah chuckled.

"Whatever do you mean?" Caroline scrunched her brow in confusion.

Elijah smiled, "You speak poetic on the beauty of nature just as Niklaus often does with his drawings." His smile fell, "When he actually shows us."

"Why would he not? He is..." Caroline stopped herself just before she revealed she knew Klaus drew, "I mean, is he not talented?"

"Extremely talented." Elijah could not help but recall a young Klaus, a large smile on his face as he showed him his first forays into drawing. His stick figures had soon turned into intricate and artistic depictions of their everyday life. Yes his brother was very talented, however their father discouraged Klaus's drawing at every instance that he caught him in the act. Usually in cruel and painful ways. He despised his father for the way he treated his brother, he was sure there was not an inch of love in the man for his son.

"Then why does he not display his passion more often?" Caroline could guess why, Mikael. She had been lucky so far as not to see him, Mikael was away doing business but she knew that his return was imminent and if she saw him lay a hand on Klaus she was not sure that she would not intervene. She would cross that bridge when she came to it.

"Niklaus is very reserved when it comes to his art." Thanks to our father, Elijah thought, "When he feels able he will show you his art."

"I look forward to that day." Caroline looked at the falls before casually asking, "How is Tatia?"

Elijah swallowed, "I do not know." He shifted awkwardly, uncomfortable with the question, "We are no longer courting." He balled his hands into fists, "She sees another."

Caroline felt for Elijah, he truly had loved Tatia but she betrayed him at every turn, first with Klaus and now with whomever had happened to capture her eye, "I am sorry."

"I know she is no good for me. Yet, I still feel hurt in my heart at the loss of her." Elijah admitted, he felt like he could tell Caroline of his pain because unlike his siblings she was truly removed from the drama surrounding himself and Tatia.

"Of course you are." Caroline laid her hand on Elijah's arm and offered him knowing words, "You may have woken up and realized that she never really cared for you and cast her out but our hearts are never so easily convinced to kick the bad out of our lives."

Elijah gazed at Caroline with new eyes, her words belied a wisdom that was unusual for one so young, "You speak as if you have experienced this."

"Because I have." Caroline stated, more than once she had been presented with the choice to kick out that which wasn't good for her and yet her heart still craved them back, "When you love someone, it is almost impossible to release your hearts grip on them."

"Then what hope is there for me?" Elijah asked forlorn.

Caroline thought over her answer for a moment before deciding to impart a little advice tailored to Elijah's future choices, "One day you will meet someone similar to Tatia," she smirked as she thought of Katherine, "and yet she will be different. She will bewitch you and you will fall under her spell. She will make you question your loyalty and your heart. You will hurt each other as lovers are partial to do. You will separate and come together again. It is up to you if it lasts forever or is lost to the regret of time." She gave his arm a squeeze, "Only then will you know if she is your true path."

Elijah could not help but grin, "That is quite specific, Caroline."

Caroline chuckled, perhaps it was a little too specific, "Perhaps so, maybe it will never happen or perhaps it will happen differently." She smiled at Elijah, "Do not close yourself off from love. Guard your heart but do not encase it in walls that can never be climbed. Do not spend your life alone."

"I will heed your advice, dearest Caroline." Elijah kissed Caroline's cheek, "I hope you spend forever with my brother. He truly deserves happiness." He smiled at her before joining his siblings.

Caroline stared after Elijah, his words causing her heart to pick up. There were two kinds of forever open to her, the forever of two humans living their life together until they left this world or the forever of immortal beings, a truly infinite amount of time spent with the one you loved. Either prospect was daunting and yet appealing at the same time. Both involved Klaus.

It was while Caroline was thinking these deep thoughts that Henrik approached her.

"Miss Caroline?" Henrik got Caroline's attention, breaking her out of her thoughts.

"Yes?" Caroline answered, still distracted over her possible future with Klaus.

"Would you sing for me?" Henrik asked, smiling sweetly at Caroline as he added, "As I did for you."

Caroline opened her mouth to refuse but the way Henrik looked up at her with puppy dog eyes made denying him impossible, "Okay, Henrik, I will sing for you."

"Yes!" Henrik clapped his hands grinning, he sat on a rock and waited for Caroline to start.

"Okay." Caroline blew out a breath and raised her hands to her face, "What to sing? What to sing?" She racked her brain for a song that was appropriate for the time she was in, most songs had a sexual undertone to them so she had to pick carefully. She finally decided on a Taylor Swift song she'd always adored.

Caroline took a deep breath and began singing, "We were both young when I first saw you. I close my eyes and the flashback starts: I'm standing there on a balcony in summer air." She closed her eyes and smiled as she thought about the ball she once attended as Klaus's date, "See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns. See you make your way through the crowd and say, "Hello," Little did I know..."

Henrik giggled with joy as Caroline suddenly pulled him to his feet and they began dancing as she continued to sing, "That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles, and my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet" And I was crying on the staircase begging you, "Please don't go" And I said..." Caroline giggled as she playfully swung Henrik around, "Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone. I'll be waiting; all that's left to do is run. You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess, It's a love story, baby, just say, 'Yes.'"

Caroline felt a tap on the shoulder, releasing Henrik she turned around and a smile covered her lips as Klaus took her in his arms as she continued, "So I sneak out to the garden to see you. We keep quiet 'cause we're dead if they knew so close your eyes... escape this town for a little while. Oh, oh." She covered Klaus's cheek with her palm, her voice softening as she sang for him, "'Cause you were Romeo – I was a scarlet letter, and my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet." But you were everything to me, I was begging you, "Please don't go." And I said..."

Klaus could not look away from Caroline's expressive eyes, they showed a depthness of emotion that thrilled him and gave him hope that she shared the same feelings as he.

"Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone. I'll be waiting; all that's left to do is run. You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess. It's a love story, baby, just say, 'Yes.'" Caroline was sure that she could read love in Klaus's eyes as he gazed at her. Her heart raced as they spun around, his arm holding her tight as she held on, the next lyrics fitting them both so well, "Romeo, save me, they try to tell me how to feel. This love is difficult but it's real. Don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess. It's a love story, baby, just say, 'Yes.'" Oh, oh."

Caroline nuzzled her face against Klaus, "I got tired of waiting wondering if you were ever coming around. My faith in you was fading when I met you on the outskirts of town. And I said..." Her eyes became teary, unable to stop associating the words with how Klaus must have felt in the future, loving her from afar and waiting for her to return his feelings, leaving town and coming back where they ended up entwined on the forest floor.

"Romeo, save me, I've been feeling so alone. I keep waiting for you but you never come. Is this in my head? I don't know what to think." Caroline felt a tear escape, powerless to stop its descent down her cheek, until Klaus wiped it away with his thumb and their eyes locked, "He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring and said... "Marry me, Juliet, you'll never have to be alone. I love you, and that's all I really know. I talked to your dad – go pick out a white dress it's a love story, baby, just say, 'Yes.'"

Klaus did not know why Caroline cried but the sight of her tears tore his heart in two. How could he possibly love her so much after only a few weeks together? She had bewitched him, completely and effortlessly, and he knew that he had found his other half.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.'Cause we were both young when I first saw you." Caroline tried to swallow back her feelings but found she could not. She missed future Klaus more than she thought she would, yet at the same time she was falling deeper and deeper in love with Niklaus. Was it possible to love two versions of the same person at the same time? Stefan, Damon and Elijah would probably say yes.

Klaus lowered his head and gently covered Caroline's lips with his own, his feelings overwhelming him so much that he craved her touch. Wanting nothing more than to be near her.

Caroline gasped against Klaus's mouth, her hand coming up to cradle his cheek. He was always so gentle with her that she was afraid to get too passionate as she did not know how he would react. Would it be too much for him?

Turns out Klaus was not the reaction she had to be worried about.

"Well isn't this quaint," a voice sneered from behind Klaus and Caroline, "the boy has finally crawled out from beneath that Petrova's skirt."

Klaus and Caroline broke apart immediately. Klaus seemed to shrink into himself, his eyes lowered to the ground as he addressed the newcomer, "Father."

Caroline gasped.

Mikael had returned.

Ara glared at Mikael's visage in the mirror, anger filling her at the sight of the true monster of the Mikaelson family. Though they knew he would return it was typical that he chose the moment when Klaus and Caroline were on the verge of admitting their true feelings to one another.

Nera glanced at her sister, she could tell that Mikael's appearance had vexed Ara and she could not fault her her ire. She could actually see what was about to come to pass and her heart sympathized with Klaus and Caroline. The test that Mikael provided would stress their newfound relationship. They would need all the strength, love and protectiveness they both possessed to come out the other side stronger.

TBC

AN - What did you guys think? Elijah and Caroline had a heart to heart where Caroline imparts some advice about Katherine. Klaus and Caroline have grown even closer just as Mikael returns. I truly hope y'all enjoyed it. Until next time (Which will be sooner) x x x

Song used was 'Love Story' by Taylor Swift