Fixing Mistakes

Chapter 23 - History Rewritten

1922

Chicago

It had been three years since the New Orleans massacre, where Mikael burnt the opera house to the ground with its audience and Marcel inside. Klaus and Rebekah ran that night, and Elijah stayed behind to throw Mikael off their scent. He had vowed to find them but there had been no sign of him since that night. Klaus refused to even entertain the idea that Mikael had killed him, his brother was strong, smart and proud, and therefore would not be felled by a vile creature such as Mikael.

Klaus and Rebekah spent most of their time at Gloria's, a speakeasy, where they indulged in the jazz and it's customers. It was the closest that they had been to happiness since New Orleans, even if they now had to keep one eye over their shoulder for Mikael.

One night, a dark haired man entered the bar. The smoky tones of the jazz singer was heard.

Gloria, the singer and also owner of the bar saw him and called out to him from the stage, "Guess who my eyes have just spied, ladies? Looking for a good time, Mr. Salvatore?"

Stefan smiled at Gloria, "Save me a dance, Gloria." He's about to grab a glass of champagne from a waiter but a lady takes it before he can, "Ooh. Please, help yourself."

Rebekah turned to face Stefan and smirked, "Oh, I always do." She got closer to him, licked the corner of his lips, her face vamping out and whispered in his ear seductively, "Careful, Mr. Salvatore. You're still wearing your date. She's lovely."

Rebekah turns to leave but Stefan caught her arm and pulled her to him, "No, no, no. Who are you?"

Rebekah placed her finger against her lip to tell Stefan to shut up. She whirled around and left.

Stefan stared after Rebekah, a slight smile on his mouth and intrigue in his eyes. She was fascinating.

Stefan was at the bar, drinking with his friends, and laughing boisterously.

Rebekah was dancing with a man but Stefan and his friends laughter was annoying her. She stopped dancing and stormed over to scold Stefan, "Sorry to crash the fun, boys, but some of us actually came here to hear the music. Not you."

Stefan smirked, "I am so sorry, sweetheart. Are we offending you?"

His friends laugh.

Rebekah walks up to Stefan and touched his face, "It would take a lot more than a baby face like this to offend me." She turned to leave.

Stefan chased after Rebekah, "Ahem. Hey, hey. You ever going to tell me your name?"

"Sure. When you earn it." Rebekah leant in to whisper in Stefan's ear, "Now do Gloria a favor and stick a sock in it."

Rebekah goes back to the dancefloor and continues dancing with the man.

Stefan stares after her, his eyes alight with challenge and a smile curling his lips.

Stefan and Rebekah continued their flirtations for days, teasing one another every time they danced with someone else, feeding on their respective partners to illicit lust in the other. Until one day Stefan ripped her dance partner away from her, sunk his fangs into his neck before offering it to Rebekah who delightfully drank from the man before pushing him away and sealing her lips on Stefan's. Both groaning at the taste of blood and each other.

Pulling away with a grin Rebekah brushed her lips seductively against Stefan's and whispered, "My name is Rebekah." She spun around and flaunted off.

Stefan grinned as he watched Rebekah saunter off. Chicago just got a lot more fun.

Stefan and Rebekah were seated at a booth, a woman between them moaning. Stefan was drinking blood from one side of her neck, Rebekah drank from the other side of her neck. After a few moments they broke feeding and they began to heavily make out.

Stefan left Rebekah's lips and began kissing down her throat to her chest when he spotted her necklace. Resting his head against hers he commented, "It's beautiful."

Rebekah touched the necklace, "A witch gave it to me. Supposedly it's magical."

Stefan smiled, "And is it?"

"It brought me love, didn't it?" Rebekah tilted her head and began kissing Stefan passionately.

Klaus then arrived and caught Rebekah kissing a man he's never met before. He grabbed her arm and pulled her up, "It's late, Rebekah, we're leaving."

Rebekah pulled her arm back, "Get off of me!"

Stefan got up and eyed the stranger with narrowed eyes, "Who is this guy?"

Rebekah got in front of Stefan and warned him, "Stefan, don't. He'll kill you. He's a lot stronger than he looks."

Klaus's eyes widened infinitesimally at the name. He had heard the name quite a lot but he hadn't put it together until just now. Caroline told him he would meet Stefan Salvatore in the twenties, it had almost slipped his mind before laying eyes on him. So this was Caroline's Stefan, the man she wanted him to give his most prized possession to. He hated him already.

Eying Stefan with disdain Klaus smirked, "So this is the famous Stefan Salvatore I've been hearing so much about. You're right, he does have funny hair. I'm bored. I want to go."

Rebekah crossed her arms across her chest, "Then go without me, I'm not your girlfriend."

"No, you're my sister, which means..." Klaus grabbed Rebekah's arm in a vice grip and pulled her to his side, "You have to do as I say." He dragged her away.

From what Klaus saw there was no way in hell that Stefan Salvatore deserved to be the bearer of Caroline's ring. Best friend or not, he was not worthy of the honor. He would just have to give her the ring himself.

Once they arrived at their house Rebekah couldn't help but yell, "Why did you drag me away from my boyfriend like a child?"

Klaus rolled his eyes at his sisters predictable tantrum, "He's hardly your boyfriend, sister. Just another man you drop your knickers for before you inevitably grow tired off him."

"I love him!" Rebekah cried, tears in her voice at Klaus's belittling words.

"Sure you do." Klaus went over to the cabinet and poured himself a drink, "Just as you loved Emil? Alexander? Marcellus? Or the dozen or so poor sods you've loved in the meantime."

The tears rolled rapidly down Rebekah's face, "I did love them. Marcel most of all." Her voice cracked on his name, the pain from his death still fresh in her heart, "Why can you not allow me the smallest comfort of love? Must I be alone and miserable as you are until you meet Caroline again?" She shook her head, "Because that is not fair!"

Klaus slammed his glass down, "You don't even know what love is."

"How can I when every time I do you either kill them or we have to run because of Mikael." Rebekah sobbed, despaired at never finding the one she could spend eternity with. Stefan was the closest she had come to wanting that since Marcel.

Klaus felt tears prick his eyes as he stared unseeing in front of him, "If you would have loved any of them you would not even be able to get out of bed at their loss never mind fall in love with the first idiot whom shows you the slightest bit of affection." He spun around and hissed angrily, "You know nothing of being in love because if you did your heart would be broken beyond repair without them." A tear betrayed him and slid down his cheek, "In the centuries when I believed Caroline dead I could never even imagine loving another. THAT is love, Rebekah, you only know of infatuation."

Rebekah stared at her brother in disbelief, "Not all of us are privileged enough to have a soulmate. Someone meant for you, created for you, and sent back into the freaking past to fall in love with you!" She shook her head, tears overflowing from her eyes, "Some of us have to brave the world and actually search for the one for us." She sneered at her brother, "Not just have it handed to us on a plate."

Klaus clenched his teeth and growled. His anger at Rebekah reaching destructive levels, his hands itched to retrieve her dagger and thrust it in her chest. She could not understand the devastation from being without the one you loved. It crippled you, it broke you, and it would never be healed until you either died or they were returned to you.

"You didn't deserve her, Niklaus." Rebekah hissed, before spinning in her heels and stomping to her bedroom where she slammed the door behind her.

Klaus clenched the glass in his hand before throwing it at the wall. He didn't deserve Caroline but he would hold onto her with everything inside of him. He would never ever let her go once she was back in his arms.

Klaus would have to get to know Stefan and see if he was truly worthy of Caroline's trust and belief before he made a final decision about her ring.

Klaus was seated at a booth with his arms outstretched, Stefan and Rebekah seated across from him with his arm around her. He cocked his head to the side and addressed Stefan, "So, Stefan, enlighten me. What makes you worthy of an Original like my sister? She's pure vampire and you're no more than a diluted bloodline."

Rebekah shook her head, "Don't listen to him, Stefan. Nik's an elitist."

"Hmm. And where's the rest of your family?" Stefan asked curiously.

Klaus answered blithely, "Well, let's see. Um... I killed most of them."

Rebekah added, "But not all."

Stefan turned to Rebekah, "And you're okay with that?"

"Well, we all had the chance to choose a side. I chose the right one, eventually." Rebekah replied, though the pain of what Klaus did to their family haunted her eyes.

Suddenly a man stopped by their table. He glared at them, "Where the hell's my wife?"

Stefan shrugged, an amused smile on his lips, "I don't know. I give up."

The man eyed them all with anger, "You think you're so tough? Hiding in your bar, drinking your liquor? A telephone call to Chicago P.D. might set you straight."

Klaus and Rebekah laughed at the man's stupid threat.

Stefan smirked and called over a woman, "Lila? Lila, please. Come here for a second."

Lila stopped what she was doing and walked over to the table.

The Man saw that it was his wife and breathed a sigh of relief, "Oh, thank God. Come on, we're leaving."

Stefan stopped him and compelled him, "Oh, no, no, no, no. No. You're sitting."

The man sat down next to Klaus reluctantly as Lila sat beside Stefan. Klaus couldn't help but watch Stefan with interest, he was intrigued to see where he would go with this.

Never taking his eyes off the man Stefan took off Lila's glove and then took a knife out of his pocket.

"Stefan, don't be mean." Rebekah tsked.

The Man watched Stefan with anger in his eyes, "What the hell are you doing?"

Stefan held Lila's wrist and cut it, letting the blood pour into a glass, "Thank you so much, Lila." He released her hand and told her, "Why don't you go and bandage that up?" She got up and left. Stefan then compelled the man, "I'd like you to join me for a drink." He gave the man the glass with the blood of his wife.

The man looked at Stefan with disgust, and fear, "What kind of sick freaks are you?"

"I said," Stefan smirked, "drink!"

The man reluctantly picked up the glass and took a sip of his wife's blood, almost gagging at the taste.

Stefan grinned, "I didn't catch your name."

"Go to hell."

Klaus laughed.

Stefan cocked his head to the side, "Do you want another sip?"

"Liam. Liam Grant." Liam replied quickly, fear making his voice shake.

"Liam Grant!" Stefan said his name jovially, and laughed, "Have another sip, Liam."

Liam took another gulp, fear pouring off of him.

Stefan smirked, and completed the torture of Lila's husband, "Finish it."

Liam's hand shook as he drank the rest of the blood. Coughing and spluttering. He almost ran from them as soon as he could.

Klaus laughed. Stefan played with his victim just as he did, the way he tortured Liam amused him greatly. Perhaps Stefan wasn't as unworthy as he first thought, he would give him one more chance to prove his worthiness. Though a thought occurred to him, his loving and kind wife that hated killing humans was best friends with a man whom tortured his victims. How did that friendship come to be? It vexed him that he would have to wait for almost another century to find out.

That night Stefan and Klaus became friends.

Klaus and Stefan were at the bar drinking. Klaus was in one of his depressive moods and explained to Stefan that he daggered his family because they wanted to kill him.

"They're jealous." Stefan replied, projecting some of his own feelings about Damon; whom abandoned him after they turned, onto Klaus, "Your family wants you dead because they can never be what you are."

"What?" Klaus stared onto his drink as he used the word Mikael called him, "An abomination?"

Stefan shook his head and declared, "No. A king."

Klaus smiled and Stefan laughed.

"Look at us. Two sad orphans." Klaus rolled his eyes at how pathetic he was being, "My sister fancies you, you know. But... I should warn you, Rebekah doesn't do anything half speed, and that includes falling in love. So just be careful." He smirked at Stefan, "She's totally mad."

Stefan was amused, "I appreciate the advice."

Klaus liked Stefan; which Caroline already knew that he would, and continued to warn him, "And when the point comes where she inevitably leaves you... She can't help it, it's just who she is. Don't let your heart do anything stupid."

Stefan appreciated Klaus's honesty and smiled at him, "You know what, you're a good friend, Nik. I'm glad I met you." He drunk his drink then turned around in his stool. Spotting a photographer he called him over, "Hey, buddy, take a picture of my brother and me." He took Klaus by the shoulders for the picture.

Klaus and Stefan smiled for the photographer as he took their photo.

Klaus truly liked Stefan and was finally convinced that he could be trusted. He took two items out of his pocket; Caroline's ring and a drawing of her. He passed the drawing over to Stefan.

Stefan unfurled the parchment and stared at the drawing of a woman with tumbling curls, a bright smile on her face and eyes which sparkled, "She's gorgeous." And she was, unbelievably so, "Who is she?"

Klaus noticed the interest in Stefan's eyes and almost growled, "She is someone very important to me." He placed his hand on Stefan's shoulder and began compelling him, "You won't remember anything to do with this conversation or with her once we are done. Her name is Caroline Forbes and she is my wife. One day she will be turned into a vampire and will require a daylight ring. Your number one priority once that happens is to make sure she has one as soon as possible after her transition." He took the ring and placed it in Stefan's hand, swallowing hard as he let go of the symbol of his love for Caroline, "You will use this ring only. For you it will just be a spare ring you had laying around." He leant closer to Stefan and stressed, his voice dark and menacing, "You will keep this ring SAFE, at any cost. You will KILL to protect it."

Klaus watched as Stefan placed the ring in his inside pocket and made sure it was secure before returning his attention to Klaus. Before he could stop compelling Stefan he had one more thing to add, "Oh, one more thing, Stefan. You and Caroline. Never gonna happen."

Stefan shook his head as the compulsion took hold and everything he'd just learnt was locked away into his mind until the time came for him to act on it. He smiled at Klaus and asked, "Another drink?"

Klaus smirked, "It's on you, mate."

Stefan laughed as he turned back to the bar.

Stefan and Rebekah were dancing. Klaus looked at them with a smile. But suddenly he sensed something was wrong. In the next moment policemen entered and started to shoot everywhere in the bar.

Rebekah and Stefan ducked and hid behind the bar. Stefan picked up one of the bullets from the ground, "They're using wooden bullets. They know."

That could only mean one thing, Mikael had found them. Rebekah gasped fearfully, "That means he's here."

Stefan creased his brow, "Who? Who's here?"

Klaus pushed his way through the panicking crowd and yelled, "Rebekah! Come on, we've got to go, sweetheart."

Rebekah stood up, and Klaus started to make his way over to them. Once there he took hold of her arm.

Stefan was confused why Klaus and Rebekah were running scared, they were Original's after all, "What the hell is going on?"

Rebekah turned to Stefan and called out, "Stefan!"

Klaus pushed Rebekah, "Go!"

Rebekah hesitated a moment before rushing off. In the chaos her necklace fell to the floor.

Stefan noticed and was about to pick it up when Klaus interrupted him to talk with him.

"Stefan. I'm sorry, but the fun has to end here." Klaus was truly sad to leave Stefan behind as he had become a good friend.

Stefan didn't know what Klaus meant as he was coming with them, "What are you talking about?"

Klaus compelled Stefan, "You must forget Rebekah and me. Until I say otherwise, you never knew us, Stefan. Thank you. I had forgotten what it was like to have a brother." He disappeared and left Stefan behind.

Klaus knew that he would see Stefan again, he was Caroline's best friend after all and that meant he was in Mystic Falls with her in the future.

Klaus opened the car door for Rebekah, "Hurry up, Rebekah. Let's go!"

Rebekah didn't move as she waited for Stefan, "He'll be here any second."

Klaus walked over to stand in front of his sister, "Do you want to die? We've been found. We need to move."

"Not without Stefan." Rebekah shook her head, determined not to leave without Stefan, she would not leave behind another man she loved to die.

"Stefan's not coming. We have to disappear. He'll draw too much attention. Let him go." Klaus replied, revealing that he had done something.

"What did you do?" Rebekah cried as she realized what Klaus had done.

Klaus walked back to the car, "Come on. We don't have time for one of your tantrums."

Rebekah couldn't believe that Klaus had done this, tears ran unchecked down her cheeks as she cried, "I don't want to run anymore, Nik! All we do is run. I want to be with Stefan."

Klaus gritted his teeth and threw out an ultimatum, believing that Rebekah would choose him like she always does, "Fine. Then choose. Him or me."

Rebekah didn't answer.

Klaus smirked knowingly, "That's what I thought. Get in the truck. Let's go."

Rebekah swallowed hard and followed her heart for once, "Goodbye, Nik."

Klaus closed his eyes in pain as Rebekah chose Stefan over him.

Rebekah turned to leave but Klaus was in front of her and drove the dagger through her heart. She stared at him in betrayal as her skin turned grey and ashen as she desiccated.

Klaus eyes were filled with tears as he caught Rebekah in his arms. He knew she would hate him for this but if he allowed her to go off with Stefan, Mikael would find them and kill her and him. He was only trying to protect her.

1950

Moscow, USSR (Russia)

Katherine was walking down the streets of Moscow, her eyes looking around her on full alert. A friend had warned her that an Original had been spotted nearby, they didn't tell her who it was just that it was a man, so that meant it was either Klaus, Elijah or possibly even Kol. In the centuries she had been running from Klaus she had grown very adept at getting close to him without his knowledge to spy on him. Last time had been in Chicago in the twenties when he and his sister had been partying with Stefan.

Katherine wore a shoulder length red wig that had a fringe that swept across her eyes, hiding the top part of her face. She had a floor length mink coat on to protect her from the biting cold, and underneath she had on knee length black dress that hugged her curves perfectly. She entered the bar and took a quick survey of the occupants. The usual rabble of drunken men and wanton woman, until... her eyes met Elijah's from across the room and she couldn't help but gasp his name. She hadn't seen him since they parted ways in Greece in 1643, just over 300 years ago.

Elijah locked eyes with the redhead that just entered the bar, she was unfamiliar to him until she gasped his name. That voice was Katerina's. The next second he was stood in front of her, his hand cradled her face gently, a smile curled his lips and his eyes drunk her in, "Katerina."

Katherine shivered at Elijah's husky voice caressing her name. His touch lit the fire insides of her which had been quietly burning for him ever since he left. Her eyes closed of their own volition as his thumb caressed her lips and a shudder of desire ran through her.

Elijah lowered his head towards Katherine, his lips parted ready to explore her mouth for the first time in centuries. He moaned at her taste, his hand sliding to curl in her hair and promptly growling with disappointment at the feel of the wig between his fingers. He pulled away to rest his head against hers, "Shall we go somewhere more private so that we can... talk."

"Just talk?" Katherine smirked, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Not just talk." Elijah swooped down and kissed Katherine briefly, pulling back to whisper against her lips, "I can't wait to rip that wig off."

Katherine giggled, and took Elijah by the hand. She walked him to her apartment which was only ten minutes away.

The moment the door closed behind Katherine, Elijah had her pinned against it and gently took the wig off and smiled, "There's my Katerina."

Katherine smiled back and took Elijah's lips in a passionate kiss. She had missed him since she'd been without him.

Elijah picked Katherine up, her legs curling around his waist and proceeded to take her to the bedroom to make up for lost time. He had missed her with an ache that never went away.

Elijah leant on his hand as he gazed at Katherine, who was lying on her side facing him. They had made passionate love for hours as they made up for lost time. He stroked along her back with his other hand, delighting in the fact that he could touch her soft skin again, "My brother has still not found you?"

"I have become very good at hiding myself." Katherine purred under Elijah's touch, "How come he is not with you?"

Elijah's hand stilled, and he swallowed back a lump in his throat, "I have not seen my family for thirty years." He had been searching, constantly, without success. Not one word had been heard of Klaus or Rebekah since that night in New Orleans when Mikael tore down all that they'd built, "I do not know where he is and I fear that he has daggered Rebekah once again."

"I saw Klaus and Rebekah in 1922." Katherine admitted, wanting to alleviate some of Elijah's concern.

"What?" Elijah's eyes widened in concern, "They did not see you?"

"No." Katherine smiled wryly, "I know how to hide in plain sight."

"Have you seen them since?" Elijah had to know, he needed to know where his family was and if they were safe.

Katherine shook her head, "It's almost like Klaus has fallen of the face of the earth. For some reason he has gone underground and no one has seen him in years."

It must be because of Mikael, Elijah decided. Klaus would not hide unless he had a reason to, their close call in New Orleans must have shook him. That knowledge just made it that much more difficult for Elijah to find them, how could he reunite with them if no one knew where they were.

Katherine smoothed the furrow of Elijah's brow, "Sleep, Elijah. You will find them." She kissed him deeply and passionately, memorizing the feel of his arms around her and the taste of his lips.

Katherine slept in Elijah's arms all night, waking up at dawn to silently slip out of his arms and to leave Moscow. He may not have seen his brother for decades but she couldn't take the risk that Klaus would find them. Until Klaus was dead or had released her she could never be with Elijah.

Katherine brushed a kiss across Elijah's lips and whispered, "I love you still, Elijah."

Then she was gone.

When Elijah awoke to an empty bed and apartment he knew instantly that Katherine was gone and that she wasn't coming back.

He was heartbroken.

1992

Mystic Falls

October 10th

Klaus walked over to the viewing window and looked inside. His eyes immediately found a newborn with tufts of blonde curls on her head. The name tag read - BABY GIRL FORBES. He smiled at her, and she stared curiously back, her big blue eyes, that would one day captivate him, took him in.

"Hello, Caroline." Klaus place his hand against the window, his heart unburdened with loneliness for this moment, "I have been waiting for you for a very long time."

Not wanting to talk with her through a window Klaus made sure no one was around and quickly walked into the room. He made his way over to her and carefully picked her up to cradle in his arms, "I am your husband." He smirked, chuckling, "Or at least I will be one day."

Baby Caroline stared up at Klaus. She raised her tiny hand to rest against his chin.

Klaus swallowed hard at the feel of her tiny hand on his face. Even now there was a connection between them, a tiny thread that would one day become an unbreakable chain. For the first time in centuries there was a lightness inside of him, Caroline was born and his waiting game was almost over. Just a couple of decades and he would finally have his wife back.

"I will not see you again for a while, Caroline." Klaus stared down into her bright eyes and adorable face, "But know this, I will always care about you and I will be waiting, eagerly, for the day we are reunited." He kissed her forehead and carefully laid her back down.

"Goodbye, Caroline." Klaus smiled down at her, "Until we meet again." He disappeared.

A moment later Bill Forbes stood outside the window, "Hey, baby girl. It's your dad."

The Chamber of the Guardians

Ara could not prevent the tears that streamed down her face as she watched Klaus visit a newly born Caroline. It was the most heartrending moment, and the sweetest joy to behold. If not for her and Nera's actions this would have never happened, none of the events that happened after Caroline travelled to the past would have come to pass.

Henrik would be long dead. He would have never had the chance to meet Isabella and fall madly in love with her. His wife, and eternal companion.

Niklaus would have killed Esther after she told him the truth of his parentage after he had triggered his werewolf side when he took a life as a vampire.

Elijah and Katherine would have not seen each other again until the day he compelled her to stay in the caves. They would have a relationship only for Elijah to break it off once Katherine was finally free to go with Klaus to New Orleans to find his redemption. When he had made peace with his feelings for her she was killed in front of his eyes by Bonnie whom he then killed, destroying the other side in the process.

Kol would be dead, killed in the stupid pursuit of the cure to vampirism. He had been trying to do the right thing for once in his life and the so called heroes of Mystic Falls had killed him for it. Silas killing Jeremy was rather poetic justice.

And so many other things that had yet to happen would still change.

Ara turned to Nera and was shocked silent at the lone tear that ran down her cheek. Her sister very rarely cried, if at all, and seeing that one drop now brought a lump to her throat, "Nera?"

Nera turned to look at Ara, and sniffed, "They are going to be just fine, Ara." A beaming smile covered her face and she laughed with happiness, "Perfectly fine."

Ara smiled.

There were a few more twists and turns in the story then they would have liked but the end result was what they had hoped for. Caroline and Klaus, happy, together and unbreakable.

2009 (Season 1)

Mystic Falls

Caroline was talking to Bonnie about the new boy at school, "His name is Stefan Salvatore. He lives with his uncle up at the old Salvatore boarding house. He hasn't lived here since he was a kid. Military family, so they moved around a lot. He's a Gemini, and his favorite color is blue."

Bonnie smiled incredulous, "You got all of that in one day?"

"Oh, please," Caroline waved her hand in the air at Bonnie, "I got all that between third and fourth period. We're planning a June wedding."

Back to school party

Caroline approached Stefan, a wide drunken smile on her face, "Hey! There you are. Have you been down to the falls yet? Because they are really cool at night. And I can show you. If you want."

"I think you've had too much to drink." Stefan avoided answering Caroline, he didn't want to take advantage of a drunk girl.

Caroline chuckled, "Well, of course I have. So-"

Stefan's eyes glazed slightly as Klaus's compulsion took over his words, "Caroline. You and me, it's not gonna happen. Sorry."

Stefan left Caroline and approached Elena.

Mystic Grill

"Are you sober yet?" Bonnie asked.

Caroline held her head in her hands, "No."

"Keep drinking. I gotta get you home. I gotta get me home." Bonnie did not want to stay here for the rest of the night waiting for Caroline to sober up.

Caroline couldn't help but ask, "Why didn't he go for me? You know, how come the guys that I want never want me?" It was devastating and humiliating that Stefan rejected her without even giving himself a chance to get to know her.

Bonnie held her hands up, "I'm not touching that."

Caroline compared herself to Elena, "I'm inappropriate. I always say the wrong thing. And... Elena always says the right thing. She doesn't even try! And he just picks her. And she's always the one that everyone picks, for everything. And I try so hard, and... I'm never the one."

"It's not a competition, Caroline." Bonnie smiled reassuringly at Caroline. She never understood why she insisted on comparing herself to Elena.

"Yeah, it is." Caroline replied.

On her way out of the grill Caroline spotted a handsome stranger. He had dark hair, wore a leather jacket and jeans that perfectly molded to his thighs. He was hot. She almost frowned, if he was anything like Stefan he would dismiss her instantly.

Before Caroline could move her eyes away from the hot stranger Damon smiled at her. She smiled back.

Caroline was walking to her car. She heard something and stopped. She rushed toward her car, dropped her keys, and then stood up.

Damon was suddenly in front of Caroline.

"Oh... whoa." Caroline gasped, her heart beating fast.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you." Damon smirked. Now here was a perfectly fun distraction for him.

"No, it's fine." Caroline smiled, her eyes checking Damon out, "Um... I was hoping I'd see you again."

Damon smirked, "I know."

Caroline quirked an eyebrow, "Cocky much?"

"Very much." Damon replied cockily.

Caroline's bedroom

Caroline was laying on her bed, Damon kissing her stomach. All of a sudden, his face transformed; eyes bloody, veins rippling and fangs lengthening, and he bit her.

"Aah!" Caroline screamed terrified.

Caroline woke up, her pillow was covered with blood. She sat up gasping, recalling what Damon had done she touched her neck, feeling the bite marks. She looked at Damon terrified, whom appeared to be sleeping soundly next to her in bed. She got out of bed so slowly, trying to make as little noise as possible as she sneaked across the room. She stopped as a floorboard creaked, turning to look at Damon scared. She continued to the door, wrapping her hand around the knob and turned it. She glanced over at the bed one last time, Damon was not there.

Damon stood in front of Caroline, "Good morning."

Caroline started walking backwards, trembling in fear, "Please... Don't!"

Damon follows Caroline, "Don't do that. Ah, ah, ah, ah."

Caroline hit Damon with the lamp, "No! No! No! Get away from me! No!" She threw the pillow covered with her blood at Damon.

Damon smirked, "This could have gone a completely different way." He smelled the pillow, his face beginning to change as the blood lust came over him. He attacked Caroline again, pushing her to the bed and sinking his fangs into her neck.

"Aaah!" Caroline screamed in terror.

2010

Founder's Day

Tyler was driving Caroline and Matt home when he suddenly heard a loud high pitched squealing noise in his head; the Gilbert device, "What the hell is that?"

Caroline looked at Tyler in concern, "What's the matter?"

Tyler winced as it became painful, "That noise!"

"Wait, what noise?" Matt asked from the backseat.

Tyler let go of the wheel, grabbed his head in pain and began to scream.

"Tyler!" Caroline tried to get Tyler's attention, "Tyler!" She shouted his name as he took his hands off the wheel.

Tyler began to lose control of the car, causing it to swerve across the road.

"Dude, hey!" Getting no response from Tyler, Matt shouted at Caroline as he saw that the car was out of control, "Caroline, the wheel!"

Caroline desperately tried to grab the wheel.

Tyler screamed, holding his head as the sound engulfed him.

The car crashed into a wall.

Matt and Caroline were out of the car. An ambulance had arrived, the paramedics were working on a unconscious Tyler, who was on the ground.

Matt placed his hand on Caroline's shoulder, "Hey, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine." Caroline's voice was shaken, worry for Tyler overwhelming her.

Matt shook his head, his eyes full of concern for his girlfriend, "No, they need to check you out."

"No, I'm fine, I'm fine." Caroline reassured Matt, "They're helping Tyler."

The paramedics were examining Tyler. One of them opened one of his eyes, it flashed amber-gold before going back to brown.

The paramedic flinched back, "What the hell?!"

Matt rushed over, not seeing how Caroline stumbled, and asked frantic, "What's wrong?"

The paramedic pointed at Tyler, "His eyes!"

They both turn to look at Tyler when suddenly he woke up gasping.

Tyler breathed harshly, "What happened?"

Matt released a relieved breath, "Dude, don't scare me like that!"

Matt turned his head, and saw that Caroline was on the ground, unconscious, "Caroline!" He ran over to her side and yelled, "Guys, over here!" He stroked her cheek, "Caroline, wake up!"

Mystic Falls Hospital ( Season 2)

Matt was sitting alone outside of Caroline's room, waiting for news on her. Bonnie arrived and walked over to him.

"How is Caroline?" Bonnie asked Matt, concerned for her friend.

Matt swallowed, "She's not good, Bon."

"What happened?" Bonnie asked.

Matt recounted what happened to Bonnie, "We were driving and Tyler heard this noise and he got…"

Bonnie interrupted Matt, her heart beginning to pound at what he said, "A noise?"

Matt frowned, trying to explain what had happened, "He got this migraine or something and he lost control of the car and... I thought that Caroline was fine and then... and then she wasn't so..." He trailed off, scared for Caroline and afraid that he was going to lose her.

Elena arrived at the hospital and walked over to Bonnie.

"Bonnie." Elena got Bonnie's attention, "How's Caroline?"

Bonnie's eyes were full of tears, "She's weak. They don't know if she's going to make it."

"What?" Elena gasped, tears coming to her eyes and her heart breaking at the thought of losing Caroline.

Bonnie embraced Elena, holding her tight as she felt guilt. She was the one that pretended to deactivate the Gilbert device and now her best friend was paying for it.

Damon was nearby, listening to them and he peered over at them.

"Is there something that you can do?" Elena asked, hoping there was someway to help save Caroline, "Like a spell or something?"

Damon made his presence known, "She doesn't know how, do you?"

Bonnie reluctantly agreed with Damon, "No, I don't."

"No, you don't because it took Emily years to learn a spell like that." Damon replied.

Bonnie lifted her chin and glared at Damon, "Well, I can take down a vampire, that spell was easy to learn."

Damon shook his head at Bonnie's unproven confidence in her abilities. He turned to Elena and offered a solution, "I can give Caroline some blood."

Elena shook her head, "No, no way."

Damon tried to reassure Elena, "No, just enough to heal her. She will be safe in the hospital and it will be out of her system in a day, she will be better Elena."

"It's too risky, I can't agree to that." Elena didn't want what happened to Vicki to happen to Caroline. She didn't want her friend to become a monster.

Bonnie agreed to it instead, "Do it." Seeing Elena's expression she stated, "This is Caroline. We can't let her die. Do it."

"If I do this, you and me, call a truce?" Damon tried to bargain with Bonnie. Though she was nowhere near as powerful as Emily one day she might and when that day came he wanted her on his side.

"No." Bonnie rejected Damon's offer before telling him, "But you'll do it anyway. For Elena." Then she left Damon and Elena alone in the hallway, confident that Damon would do it for Elena.

Bonnie was talking with Matt, "You've been here all night?"

"Yeah, with the sheriff." Matt looked exhausted, he had spent the night worried about Caroline.

Bonnie needed to know, "No one else?"

"Stefan's brother Damon stopped by late last night." Matt replied.

Bonnie felt relieved at hearing Damon had been here, "How is Caroline today?"

Matt couldn't help but smile, "See for yourself."

Matt and Bonnie walk into Caroline's room. Caroline was awake, sitting in bed watching TV and looked completely healthy.

Caroline smiled at them, "Jersey Shore's on."

Bonnie embraced Caroline, tears filling her eyes at the relief she felt.

Caroline returned Bonnie's hug, wincing slightly at the ache of her body, "Careful, still a little sore."

Bonnie gentled her hug, "Sorry."

Caroline smiled reassuringly, "Its okay but they say I'm healing really quick."

Matt smiled brightly, "My turn." He leant in and kissed Caroline.

Bonnie couldn't help but cry from joy.

Caroline smiled up at Matt, "Oh, isn't he cute?" Noticing Bonnie's tears she asked with concern, "Why are you crying?"

Bonnie smiled through her tears, "I'm just happy you're okay."

Caroline smiled, she had never felt so loved before, their concern for her warming her heart, "Oh, I love you guys!"

"We love you." Bonnie returned Caroline's sentiment.

Matt, Bonnie and Caroline embraced each other.

Caroline was in bed, sleeping. She woke up and saw Katherine.

Caroline blinked sleepily, "Elena?"

Katherine affected a concerned expression, "Hey, Caroline."

"What are you doing here?" Caroline asked, confused why Elena was there so late.

Katherine walked toward Caroline's bedside, "My name is Katherine. I was hoping you could give the Salvatore brothers a message for me."

Caroline furrowed her brow, why was Elena calling herself Katherine? "What are you talking about? What message?"

Katherine smirked, "Game on."

"What?" Caroline frowned confused.

Katherine grabbed one of Caroline's pillows and pushed it down over her face. Caroline screamed and struggled desperately until she ran out of air. Her body stilled as she died.

Katherine took the pillow off and placed it next to Caroline. She gazed down at her dead body, I now have the vampire for Klaus's sacrifice. I have almost everything to secure my freedom. She smiled before walking out of the room.

Caroline woke up with a start. She made her way out of bed and walked out of the room. The nurse is the only one in sight.

Caroline approached the nurse, "Excuse me? Where is everyone?"

"It's the middle of the night, honey." The nurse replied tiredly.

"It is?" Caroline felt confused, "Oh, uh... have you seen my mom?"

"She left after dinner with your boyfriend and then your friend Elena stepped by." The nurse replied.

"She did?" Caroline frowned, then a memory resurfaced, "Yeah, she did but she said her name was Katherine." She shook off the confusion and asked, "Can I just get something to eat?"

The nurse didn't even look up, "Breakfast comes around seven."

"But I'm hungry." Caroline responded shortly, she was starving.

"You should go back to sleep." The nurse replied.

Caroline went toward the room but then she stopped, "What is that smell?"

"Back to bed." The nurse dismissed Caroline before she left.

Caroline stayed in the hallway. She looked everywhere and saw a blood pouch in a patient's room. She walked toward the pouch, mesmerized and aching, and touched it but the nurse arrived.

"What are you doing in here?" The nurse asked.

"I don't know." Caroline replied.

"You need to go back to bed." The nurse took Caroline to her room and then left.

Caroline sat down on her bed and took the blood pouch from her pocket. She brought it up to her mouth, hesitatingly she took a sip but almost gagged at the taste, disgusted she threw the pouch on the floor. She looked down at the pouch on the floor, craving it, then she climbed down from her bed and picked it up. She started to drink it, gulping down the rest of the bag, unable to stop.

Caroline was in her room. The curtains were drawn except for the small ray of light trickling from the window. She tried to put her hand in the light, but withdrew it painfully when it burnt. She tried it again, keeping her hand in the light for longer but after a few seconds she had to pull her hand back as it hurt.

Matt opened the door and arrived with a tray of food, "Your mom said you're not eating."

Caroline shook her head, "It's gross."

Matt smiled and leant in, "It's hospital food; it's supposed to be gross."

Matt went to kiss her but there was sunlight between them. Caroline pulled away and turned away. He lost his smile and straightened up, "She also said you're getting released tomorrow morning."

Caroline panicked, "Morning? I need to get out tonight."

Matt smiled affectionately, "No, the carnival is going to happen without you, Caroline. I know it's hard for your neurotic control freak personality to process but Bonnie and Elena have it."

Caroline shook her head and couldn't help but reply, "I'm not neurotic."

"Yeah you are but it's cute so..." Matt grinned.

Caroline was getting desperate, she couldn't leave here in the morning as she would burn, "Look, it's not about the carnival okay? It's just that this place is just really depressing."

"It's because you're sitting in the dark." Matt walked toward the window and began to open the curtains.

"No don't!" Caroline cried.

Matt opened the curtains fully, the light pouring into the room. Caroline ran to the opposite wall and pressed herself flat against it to avoid the light.

Matt turned around, "What the hell?"

Caroline had her eyes closed and was pressed as close to the wall as she could get, "Just close it, please."

Matt frowned in concern, "What's wrong with you?"

"Close it!" Caroline almost screamed.

Matt closed the curtains and shared a look with Caroline. She didn't say anything so he decided to give her space, "I'll just come back later, okay?" He left.

Caroline banged her head against the wall in frustration. She slid down the wall, feeling like she could cry.

What is wrong with me?

Caroline was putting on her earrings, she put on the necklace Elena gave to her but it burnt her skin so she threw it on the floor.

The nurse arrived and picked it up, "That's pretty."

Caroline was rubbing the burn on her chest, "Yeah, my friend gave it to me."

The nurse put the necklace on the bed and left. Caroline waits until she's left before pulling out a blood bag and drinking from it. She looked at herself in the mirror, her face was changing, veins rippled underneath her eyes. She covered her face with her hands, her gums felt painful so she removed her hands, seeing her fangs appear she screamed, terrified of what was happening to her.

The nurse arrived, "What's wrong?"

Caroline strangled the nurse and pushed her against the wall, "You can't tell anyone, you can't tell anyone!" She unknowingly compelled her.

The nurse repeated, "I can't tell anyone."

"You'll do what I say?" Caroline was surprised.

Nurse replied, "I'll do what you say."

"Good," Caroline's veins rippled and her fangs lengthened, "because I'm starving." She attacked, her fangs sliding in her neck and she drank deep.

High school

Damon was walking alone in the hallway of the high school when Caroline arrived. He turned around, "Hey Blondie, they let you out?"

Damon walked away when Caroline called out, "I remember."

Damon turned around bored, "What do you remember?"

Caroline slowly walked toward Damon, "I remember how you manipulated me, you pushed me around, abused me, erased my memories, fed on me."

Damon smirked, "You're crazy."

Caroline continued, "Memories have been coming back, in pieces."

"You can't remember." Damon walked towards Caroline, "It's impossible, I mean unless you're becoming a..." He trailed off as he came to the realisation.

Caroline smiled, "I have a message from Katherine, she said "Game on"." She turned around to leave.

Damon grabbed Caroline's arm, "Wait..."

Caroline spun around and pushed Damon with all of her newfound strength. He flew across the hallway, sliding along the floor. He leaned on his elbows and stared at her.

"You suck." Caroline sneered at Damon before she walked away.

Caroline is alone outside crying when she sees Carter. He's sitting on the back of his truck and he's bleeding. She cried harder as she realized that she wants his blood and was starting to give in.

Carter noticed Caroline, she is upset and staring, so he asked, "Hey, is everything okay?"

Caroline continued to cry as she failed to resist temptation, "I'm so sorry."

"What?" Carter was confused.

Caroline rushed over to Carter, jumping onto the back of the truck behind him, she grabbed him and bit him. She drinks his blood, savaging his neck. Then she stands up and pushed him further onto the truck. She jumped on to him and continued feeding, killing him.

Caroline was crying next to Carter's body when Damon arrived.

Caroline had blood all over her face, "He's dead. I killed him. What's wrong with me?" She cried, horrified at what she'd done.

"Hey, hey it's okay." Damon rubbed Caroline's arm, "I can help you."

Caroline looked at Damon, "You can?"

"Yeah, I have to." Damon soothed.

Caroline looked down, she knew what Damon wanted to do, "What are you gonna do?"

Damon smiled, "The only thing I can do." He moved Caroline's hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear, "I'm gonna kill you." He tightened his grip on the stake in his hand.

Caroline jumped off the truck and begged Damon, "Please don't! I don't want to die!"

"Yeah, but you are already dead." Damon was still using his soothing voice.

"No! I'm not. Don't say that, okay? Just help me!" Caroline pleaded, she just wanted someone, anyone, to help her.

Damon agreed, "Okay."

"Okay? Just help me please! Please, please!" Caroline cried, her heightened emotions overwhelming her.

"Okay, okay." Damon embraced Caroline, holding her close as he raised his hand with the stake. He is about to kill her with the stake but Stefan arrived, rushing over to stand between them and pushed Damon away from her.

Stefan took Caroline to the bathroom. She leant against the sink as he took some tissues to wipe the blood off of her face.

Caroline started washing away the blood too, "She hates me! Bonnie hates me."

Stefan continued wiping Caroline's face, "No, she's just in shock, we all are."

"And what about Matt?" Caroline cried.

Stefan tried to sooth Caroline, "Hush. One thing at one time, let's get this blood off, come on."

Caroline sobbed, "I'm a m-m-murderer. I'm a monster!"

Stefan cradled Caroline's face, "Look at me, your emotions are heightened right now, it's part of the transformation, it's completely normal, I promise you okay?"

Caroline saw her face changing in the mirror and started to panic, "Why does this keeping happening to my face?!"

"Look at me, look at me, look at me! Caroline, Caroline! Look at me! Look at my face, look at my face!" Stefan made his face change into his vampiric features, "You see that? When you feel the blood rushing, you tell yourself that you're going to get through it, that you're strong enough. Yes, yes, no matter how good it feels to give yourself over to it, you fight it off, you bury it. Watch me, watch me." His face returned to normal again, "It's the only way you're gonna survive this thing. Try."

Caroline took a few deep breaths, her face becoming normal again.

"That's good." Stefan breathed with Caroline.

"Why did Katherine do this to me?" Caroline asked.

"I don't know, I wish I did." Her face fell and he cradled her cheek, "Hey, hey, I promise you I will not let anything happen to you. Come here." Stefan pulled Caroline into his arms and embraced her.

Boarding House

Stefan had just returned from dropping off Caroline at her home. He poured himself a drink and made his way up to his bedroom. Once inside, he gulped down his drink, put the glass on his desk and walked to his dresser. He opened the top drawer, put his hand in and removed a small package stuck to the top.

Stefan sat on his bed, opened up the pouch and tipped the content into his hands. It was a ring, the band made of silver and the stone was lapis lazuli. He had had it for almost ninety years, he wrinkled his brow in thought, he couldn't quite remember exactly where he acquired it but he had, it was just a spare ring he had lying about. Wherever he went over the years he had made sure to bring the ring with him and kept it safe at all times. He didn't know why.

Stefan once thought that perhaps he would give it to Elena but that thought had always felt wrong. But tonight, in that bathroom, promising Caroline he would never let anything happen to her he knew, he just knew, that the ring was meant for her and only her. After that, knowing she was a vampire and would need to be able to walk in the sun to have any hope of surviving this, he had felt an overwhelming urge to find the spare ring and have Bonnie make it into a daylight ring as soon as possible. It consumed his thoughts, he had to make that happen as soon as possible.

Stefan picked up his cell to call Bonnie.

One day she will be turned into a vampire and will require a daylight ring. Your number one priority once that happens is to make sure she has one as soon as possible after her transition.

Stefan; once again unknowingly, followed Klaus's compulsion.

Mystic Grill

Bonnie was sitting at a table with Stefan, "I don't know how to make a day-walking ring."

"Emily made mine, she made Damon's too, instructions must be in the Grimoire." Stefan knew that the spell must be in there somewhere.

"That doesn't mean I can cast the spell." Bonnie still resisted agreeing.

Stefan pushed, his number one priority was to get Caroline a daylight ring, "Bonnie, you know how to drop vampires with a single look, okay? I think you can figure it out."

Bonnie revealed her true reason for resisting, "Caroline killed someone, Stefan. I can't make it easier for her to do it again."

"No, we're not making it easier for her; we're just giving her the chance to survive. Listen, every day that she's cut off from her old life: from you, from Elena, from Matt, it'll make it that much harder for her to hold on to her humanity." Stefan was not going away until Bonnie agreed to do it. He couldn't.

Bonnie narrowed her eyes as Stefan, "And how do you know she won't hurt anyone else?"

"I don't but if we don't do everything we can to help her or at least trust the fact that she can keep it together, we might as well just stake her right now." He frowned at his own choice of words, "But I won't do that to her. She made a mistake, a mistake that every vampire has made, and she deserves a chance."

Bonnie clenched her jaw, "I don't know if I can trust her, not with this."

"Then trust me." Stefan covered Bonnie's hand with his own, "I will be there for her, I will teach her, I will help her." His eyes begged her, "Trust me."

Caroline's house

Bonnie, Caroline and Stefan were in Caroline's bedroom. Bonnie has Emily's grimoire in her hands looking over the spell.

Caroline held the ring in her hands, "So, I don't get to choose the ring I have to wear for the rest of my life?"

"Hey, if you don't want it..." Bonnie threatened to take the ring.

Stefan jumped in, "No, no, she wants it."

Caroline sighed, before asking Bonnie, "Now what?"

Bonnie gave Caroline a unforgiving look, "Now is the part where I explain the rules. The witch who spells the ring has the power to dispel it so if you ever do anything to hurt anyone..."

Caroline was hurt at Bonnie's tone, "I'm not gonna hurt anyone."

Bonnie continued in the same harsh voice, "You are a vampire that means the urge to kill is a part of who you are. The minute you let it take over, I will stop you."

"Bonnie, you're supposed to be my friend." Caroline felt alone and abandoned by her friends. The only one who had been there for her was Stefan.

"I can't ignore what happened okay? If you want to be friends, you have to prove that the Caroline I remember isn't gone." Bonnie wouldn't be a friend to Caroline until she'd proven she could be trusted, "Now put the ring on the bed."

Caroline put the ring on the bed, and couldn't help but say, "Do you really think I meant to kill that guy at the carnival?"

"He's still dead." Bonnie would not change her opinion, "Now, do you want me to cast the spell or not?"

Bonnie opened the curtain a little bit. The sun shone on the ring. Bonnie looked at the ring and closed her eyes for a moment before she finally opened them, "All done." She gave the ring to Caroline.

Caroline took the ring and put it on her finger, "So that's it? I mean nothing witchy happened. You know, no flickering lights, no gust of wind. Have you even done this before?"

Stefan glanced at Caroline, his tone warning, "Caroline..."

Caroline shrugged, "I just want to make sure that it worked."

Bonnie opened the curtain. Caroline immediately covered her face with her arms but she didn't burn, "It worked."

Caroline crossed her arms over her chest in annoyance, "What if it hadn't, Bonnie?!"

Bonnie looked sympathetically at Stefan, "She's all yours." She took the grimoire and left.

Caroline held her hand in the sunlight and beamed at Stefan. He hesitatingly smiled back, knowing that he had his work cut out for him.

Mystic Falls woods

Caroline and Stefan were in the woods, hunting.

"So what I do when I see the rabbit?" Caroline asked.

"Chase it, catch it, feed on it." Stefan replied.

Caroline couldn't help but comment, "Isn't killing cute defenseless animals the first step in becoming a serial killer?"

"Well, you sort of skipped the serial killer and went straight to vampire." Stefan touched Caroline's arm and stressed, "Caroline, if you're not serious about all of this I think you should tell me."

Caroline ran her hands over her face, "No I am. Look, I swear that I am okay? But it's just... I haven't been in the sun for days and everyone is at the swimming hole having fun and Matt is there! And he finally told me that he loved me but I have been blowing him off and now you want me to eat bunnies and I'm kind of freaking out okay?!" She rambled, finally exploding with everything she'd kept inside.

Stefan was laughing.

"And now you're laughing at me." Caroline shook her head, annoyed.

"No, no, I'm not laughing." Stefan stopped laughing but kept a smile on his lips, "None of this is funny, trust me. It's just that..."

Caroline raised her eyebrows, "What?!"

"When someone becomes a vampire, all of their natural behaviors get sort of amplified." Stefan replied.

Caroline frowned, "What do you mean?"

"I mean... as a human I cared deeply for people, how they felt. If they were hurting I felt their pain and I felt guilty if I was the one who caused it and as a vampire all of that got... magnified." Stefan explained.

Caroline chewed her cheek, "So you're saying that now I'm basically an insecure, neurotic control freak... on crack?"

Stefan grinned, "Well, I wasn't gonna say it like that but... hey, listen, let's hunt okay? And then after that we'll go to the swimming hole."

Caroline perked up, "Really?"

"Yeah." Stefan smiled at Caroline, "Matt is the closest connection that you have to your humanity and I think that being around him is a good thing."

Caroline grinned, "Okay."

Mason passed next to Stefan and Caroline. He looked at Stefan and Stefan looked at him, eying each other.

Caroline peered at Stefan curiously, "Why are you looking at him with your serious vampire look?"

Stefan turned to Caroline, a shocked and amused look on his face, "My what? My "serious vampire look"?"

"Hum hum." Caroline nodded, explaining Stefan's 'faces' to him, "I mean it's different from your worried vampire look, neither of which stray too far from your "hey-it's-Tuesday" look."

Stefan couldn't help but grin, "I get it, okay. You think I'm... you think I'm too serious. Is that it?"

Caroline lips curled up, "I mean I was not gonna say it like that but..."

Stefan arrived after Caroline compelled the girl talking to Matt, "Hey, I saw that. You compelled her."

Caroline crossed her arms, "Yeah, she deserved it."

Stefan shook his head, "Caroline, nobody deserves to have their mind messed with for shallow reasons."

"You know, why is everyone sticking up for Amy freaking Bradley?" Caroline felt like she wanted to explode from the jealous anger inside.

"You're letting the jealousy get the best of you." Stefan tried to calm Caroline.

"Oh, so now I have magnified jealousy issues, too. That's great." Caroline couldn't believe that being a vampire made all her issues worse.

"I told you this wasn't gonna be easy." Stefan reminded Caroline.

Caroline huffed in annoyance, "Yeah, well, I might as well have stayed dead. My entire personality is killing me."

Stefan couldn't help but smile.

Caroline noticed Stefan's smile and rolled her eyes, her own smile teasing through, "Shut up."

"Have you heard anything about where our brother is?" Henrik asked, his hand tangled around Isabella's.

"Only whispers. Rumours of his whereabouts. I have not stopped searching." Elijah replied, his jaw clenched. Since Katherine left him in Moscow he had never stopped searching for Klaus.

"It has almost been a century, Elijah." Isabella reminded, her Italian lilt softer now after centuries of travelling, "What makes you think that you can find him?"

"I can and I will." Elijah replied, his voice certain, "Even if it takes me another century I will eventually find my family."

Henrik ran his fingers through his hair, "Who knew that without Caroline, Nik would become a monster." One girl had the power to make or break his brother and unfortunately the fates had decreed it that they must spend the better part of a thousand years apart.

"I knew." Elijah replied, his voice soft and broken, "Rebekah knew. Kol knew. Even Finn saw it before he was daggered. We knew because we lived through it, and saw just how being without her affected him."

Henrik dropped his head and sighed, "The time is near for them to have their reunion." He glanced up at Elijah, his eyes big and sorrowful, "Would she even want to be with him like this?" A tear slipped down his cheek, "If Caroline rejects him... Nik will be truly lost forever."

"Oh, Rik." Isabella brushed the tear away with her thumb, stroking her husband's cheek lovingly, "We will make sure that doesn't happen."

Elijah knelt down, his hand coming to rest on Henrik's shoulder, "That will never ever happen, little brother." He smiled in reassurance, "Caroline was aware of whom our brother was before she ever fell in love with him. She knows the man, and the monster, and she loves him still."

Henrik smiled, relief flooding him. He remembered how much Caroline loved Klaus, as much as he loved his Bella, and there was no way she would ever give up on him.

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of Elijah's cell. He answered, his eyebrows raising with whom was on the line. He listened for a few moments before ending the call by saying, "I shall be there shortly."

"You're leaving?" Isabella asked, sad to see Elijah go. She hardly saw him in the last century as he has been busy chasing after Klaus.

"Do not be sad, Isabella, for this is good news." Elijah couldn't help but smile, "That was Rose, a vampire that has been running from Niklaus for five hundred years. She has the doppelganger."

"Katerina?" Isabella asked, regretting it once the shadow entered Elijah's eyes.

Elijah swallowed, "She is the only doppelganger."

Henrik and Isabella stood and each gave Elijah a farewell hug before wishing him luck.

After going to see Rose and finding the doppelganger - not Katherine but a human called Elena - and his little fight with her two vampire companions, one of whom staked him, Elijah was angry, curious and elated.

There was a doppelganger. That meant Klaus would come out of hiding and he would finally release their family from his control.

He sent the Martin's; Jonas and Luca, to Mystic Falls at once. He needed a pair of eyes on Elena, and information on her friends and family.

"I have the information you wanted." Jonas said into the phone.

"What have you learnt?" Elijah responded, eager to learn all he could about the new doppelganger.

"Elena has a brother, Jeremy, and an aunt, Jenna, whom live with her." Jonas divulged what he'd learnt, "She is involved with a vampire, Stefan Salvatore, and his brother, Damon."

"One of them staked me." Elijah stated dryly.

Jonas continued, "Her friends are Matt Donovan, Tyler Lockwood, Bonnie Bennett; whom is a witch, and another vampire, Caroline Forbes."

Elijah dropped the phone at the name. Caroline Forbes, his sister-in-law's maiden name. Could it truly be her? It was only a few years away from when she told them to meet her.

Elijah picked up the phone and changed his plan, "Keep an eye on them. I will be in Mystic Falls very soon."

He had to know if it was Caroline.

Elijah stood in the middle of the town square, staring in shock and joy, at Caroline as she conversed with one of her friends. It was her, she was here and she was a vampire. Was she their Caroline yet?

He had to know. But first he had a lunch date with Miss Summers.

Katherine and Stefan had been locked together in the tomb for days. They can both hear that the door was being opened. They looked at each other and went to the entrance.

Katherine saw Elijah and was surprised and frightened, she had abandoned him in Russia almost sixty years ago, "Elijah."

"Good evening, Katerina." Elijah couldn't help but glare at Katherine even as he soaked her up with his eyes, "Thank you for having the good sense to be frightened." He looked at Stefan, "Your release has been requested."

Stefan was shocked, "What? By who?"

"The lovely Elena drives a hard bargain. However, we reached a peaceful agreement, she and I. Please." Elijah gestured for Stefan to walk out of the tomb, "Come."

"I can't." Stefan couldn't leave, the spell prevented it.

"Yes, you can." Elijah stepped aside to allow Stefan to come out, "I've had the spell lifted."

Stefan slowly, cautiously, made his way past the door. He breathed a sigh of relief once he was out.

Seeing an opening Katherine rushed to get out too, but Elijah blocked the entrance. He took hold of her arms and compelled her, "As for you however, you should not exit until I say so. When Klaus comes, he'll want to know exactly where you are." He looked over at Stefan and dismissed him, "You're free to go. Elena will explain the arrangement to you. If she keeps her word, I'll keep mine."

Stefan turned to leave, anxious to see Elena.

Katherine shouted, "Stefan, no. Please don't let him leave me in here."

Stefan looked at Katherine one last time, "Goodbye Katherine." He turned around and left.

Katherine crossed her arms over her chest and looked at the far wall avoiding Elijah's gaze, "What are you going to do to me, Elijah?"

"Something I should have done a long time ago." Elijah took a step closer to Katherine.

"And what's that? Kill me?" Katherine finally found the courage to look in Elijah's eyes, and she couldn't help but gasp at what she found there. Love, tenderness, relief.

"No." Elijah reached up to cradle Katherine's face in his hands, his thumbs brushing her soft skin, his eyes searching hers before finding what he needed to see, "I'm going to love you, Katerina." He nuzzled his nose against hers, "As I always should have."

"Elijah..." Was all Katherine could whisper before Elijah's mouth covered hers, she moaned deep in her throat and curled her hands in his suit holding him closer to her. Her first thought when she saw him was that he was going to kill her, she was pleasantly surprised to find that was not the case.

Elijah pushed Katherine against the wall, his hands grabbed her thighs and wrapped them around his waist. He ground his hardness into her, groaning into her mouth at the feel of her against him. He tangled his fingers with hers and held her arms above her head. He began kissing down her throat and nipping her skin when he felt the urge.

Katherine threw her head back, moaning loudly, and thrust her hips against Elijah's. It had been so long since she had felt his touch.

Caroline's house

Tyler kissed Caroline.

Caroline pulled back, shocked and confused, "You can't do that."

Tyler licked his lips, savouring Caroline's taste, "I'm sorry, it's..."

Caroline was flustered and said the first thing that popped into her head, "Everyone just need to stop kissing me!" She went inside and shut the door behind her.

Tyler looked at the door in longing before leaving.

Elijah chuckled from his hiding spot. That was definitely Caroline, only much younger and less worldly. Klaus would go insane with jealousy if he witnessed Caroline with another, he couldn't help but grin at the thought.

Unable to resist Elijah made his way to Caroline's front door and knocked. He waited patiently.

Caroline was already mid rant as she opened the door, "...I can't handle any more kisses today, Ty..." She trailed off as her eyes met a handsome stranger she had never met before.

Elijah smirked, "No kisses from me." He held his hands up, "I promise."

"Oh my god!" Caroline flushed, her hands wailing about uncontrollably, "You were definitely not who I was expecting, not that I was expecting someone. It's just my ex boyfriend kissed me and then his best friend kissed me and I'm so confused and I can't handle anymore..." She covered her face with her hands mortified, "...and why am I telling a complete stranger this?"

Well that answered one of Elijah's questions, Caroline didn't remember him so therefore she hadn't been sent back to the past yet.

Caroline took a deep breath and pasted on her biggest and phoniest smile, "What can I do for you?"

"I only wished to see you in person, Caroline." Elijah smiled at Caroline before he started to compel her, "You will not recall having seen me tonight. We have never met." He waited for it to take effect before vamping off.

How will Caroline being here now, and friends with the doppelganger, change Klaus's actions once he makes his appearance. Elijah would have to wait and see what happens.

Caroline was walking to her car when she sensed that someone was behind her.

"Excuse me, Caroline, right?" Jules got Caroline's attention.

Caroline answered cautiously, "Yeah."

"I'm looking for Tyler." Jules watched Caroline's reaction closely, "You haven't seen him, have you?"

"No, not since earlier." Caroline faked smiled, "Sorry." She turned to her car.

"I know you're lying." Jules said to Caroline's back.

Caroline unlocked her car, "Really? How? Is that one of your little wolf tricks?"

"Actually, it is." Jules smiled.

"Well, I have a trick too." Caroline vamped out and turned around, but Jules sprayed her with a vervain spray.

Caroline stumbles against her car hurt, she heals and turned around again to attack Jules, but Brady shoots her in the head.

The woods

Caroline was in a cage in Brady's RV. She had a wound on her head. She screams a little as she dug the bullet out of her head. She tried to unlock the cage, but saw Brady and stopped.

"I see you got the bullet out. That was nasty." Brady smiled, "I got lots of wooden bullets, other toys. It's gonna be a long night, sweet pea." He shot her again.

Caroline screamed.

Tyler's mansion

Stefan's phone rang. The caller ID said it was Caroline. He answers, "Hey. Is everything okay?"

Jules answered, "That depends. How badly do you want to keep her alive?"

Stefan's posture stiffened, "Who is this?"

"Ask your brother." Jules replied before asking, "Where's Tyler?"

"Jules?" Stefan voice was harsh, "Where's Caroline?"

Jules ignored Stefan's question, "You made a mistake, Stefan. I'm gonna give you a chance to fix it."

"Where is she?" Stefan growled, worried for Caroline.

"Right here." Jules voice was smug, "Want proof?" She went into the room to join Caroline and Brady. She smirked at him, "He needs proof."

Brady shot Caroline and she screamed.

Stefan heard Caroline screaming and clenched his jaw, he wanted to kill the person who was hurting her, "Hurt her again and you're dead."

"I hurt her again, and she's dead." Jules wasn't concerned about Stefan's threat, "Bring Tyler to me, the clearing by Wickery Falls. You have 20 minutes until she dies." She hung up the phone.

Stefan felt like crushing the phone.

The woods

Caroline was still in the cage, hurt bad, and crying.

"So, How many vampires are there in this town anyway?" Brady asked, Caroline didn't answer, so he shot her with a squirt gun filled with vervain. She screamed in pain, "No?"

"Why are you doing this to me?!" Caroline screamed, kicking the cage, "Why are you doing this? Why?"

"You're a vampire. Why not?" Brady shrugged before he shot more wooden darts into her neck. Caroline screamed, "I'm sorry, what was that?" He tilted his head.

Caroline rattled the bars of the cage, "Let me out!"

Brady stood, "Excuse me? What was that?"

"Let me out!" Caroline yelled, crying from the pain.

Brady left to join Jules outside. She asked, "Get it out of your system?"

"No," Brady smiled, "I'm just getting started."

"Brady, let's be smart about this." Jules had no problem hurting a vampire but she just wanted Tyler, "I just want the boy. It's our duty to help him, it's who we are."

"You want to talk duty and honor? These are vampires." Brady replied, stressing their code of vengeance, "They cross one of us, they cross all of us. That's who we are."

Jules was alone. Suddenly she heard something, "I know you're out there."

Stefan comes out of the woods with Tyler. Not seeing Caroline he asked, "Where's Caroline?"

Jules smirked, "Locked up tight."

"Let her go, and I'll release Tyler." Stefan offered Jules an olive branch, "It doesn't have to get any messier than it already has. I'm not your enemy, Jules."

Jules shook her head, "It's a little late to be waving the white flag, don't you think?"

Stefan glared at Jules, "You need to leave town. No one else has to get hurt."

"I'm not leaving without Tyler." Jules just wanted Tyler.

Stefan stood his ground, "Tyler is free to make his own decisions, as soon as you release Caroline."

Damon arrived, "My brother the peacemaker. Since Stefan got here before me I'm gonna let him try it his way before I resort to my way, which is a little bloodier." He smirked before demanding, "So give us Caroline."

"Let go of Tyler." Jules responded, not backing down.

"Give us Caroline." Damon repeated, looking up at the night sky, "Without a full moon it's not an even fight and you know it. We will take you."

Jules smirked, "I'm not so sure about that, tough guy." She brought her fingers to her lips and whistled.

The rest of her pack walked out of their hiding places, all holding stakes and crossbows.

Jules looked smug, "Let's try this again. Give us Tyler."

Damon looked over at Tyler, "You heard her. Go. Get over there."

Tyler walked over to stand by Jules.

Brady called out, "Which one of you killed Mason?"

"Uh, that'd be me." Damon smiled cockily.

Brady points at Damon, "Boys, make sure that one suffers."

Damon looked at Stefan, "We can take them."

Stefan didn't share Damon's confidence, "I don't know about that."

"Well then..." Damon rushed over to Jules, but she flips onto the top of the RV.

One of the werewolves tried to burn Stefan, but he takes the flamethrower from him and burnt two werewolves with it.

One of the werewolves jumped on Damon, but he ripped his heart out of his chest before he could reach him.

Inside the RV, Tyler saw a pale and bleeding Caroline in the cage.

Caroline sat up, relieved at seeing a friend. She stuck her hand through the cage and pointed to the latch, "Tyler, there's a latch on the door and I can't get to it." Tyler hesitated, and she noticed, her voice trembling, "Tyler?"

Outside, Stefan killed a werewolf. Another threw a stake at him but he caught it.

Inside the RV, Caroline tried to plead with Tyler, "Tyler, please! Tyler?"

Tyler finally walked toward the cage and opened it for Caroline.

Outside, Stefan was fighting with one of the werewolves and drove his stake through his body. Another shot an arrow at him, but he caught it and threw it in his neck. The werewolf dropped to the ground. Another went behind Stefan and drove a stake through his back. Stefan fell to the ground. Damon was fighting with Brady, but Jules appeared and shot him with a wooden bullet. He fell on the ground.

Tyler opened the cage so that Caroline can leave, but Jules caught her, pushed her against the RV and pus a gun to her back. Tyler sees Caroline being held at gunpoint, but he once again didn't do anything.

Brady grabbed a stake and was about to kill Damon, but suddenly, all of the werewolves who were still alive, except Tyler, began to scream in pain. They all grab their heads in their hands and drop to their knees.

"What's happening?" Caroline didn't know what was happening to the wolves.

Tyler was just as confused, "What the hell is going on?"

Jonas Martin appeared, his hand outstretched. He was casting a spell on the werewolves to give them all repeated aneurysms. Damon and Stefan get up off the ground.

"Elijah made a promise to Elena." Jonas spoke to Damon and Stefan, his hand still stretched out in front of him, "I'm here to see it's upheld. You need to go. Get out of here. Now."

Stefan went to Caroline, he slid his arm around her waist to give her support. He, Caroline and Damon left. Tyler also fled.

"You can come out now." Jonas called out, releasing the spell from the werewolves.

Elijah stepped out of the shadows. He straightened his suit sleeves before asking, "Now, which one of you worthless creatures hurt my sister in law?" At the confused faces that stared back at him he repeated, "Whom hurt Caroline?"

"That would be me." Brady stood up shakily, before proudly stating, "And, oh my, how she screamed."

"The rest of you are free to leave but if you ever return I shall slaughter you all." Elijah warned the pack, his eyes never leaving Brady, "As for you."

Brady stared back unafraid.

"I shall take my time with you." Elijah smiled menacingly as he took a step forward, "No one hurts my family."

Suffice it to say, blood curling screams were heard from the woods that night.

Caroline's house

Stefan walked Caroline to her doorstep, "So is your mom home?"

Caroline shook her head as she unlocked he door, "No, she's at work."

"I can come in, if you want me to." Stefan asked, not wanting to leave Caroline alone after everything she'd been through tonight.

Caroline turned to face Stefan, "I'm fine, Stefan."

Stefan leant against the doorframe, his eyes shone with concern, "You don't have to pretend with me. Anybody would be upset after what you went through tonight."

"I'm okay. I'm not girly little Caroline anymore, I can handle myself." Caroline tried to smile.

Stefan smiled back, "Sure you can."

Caroline felt like she was close to breaking so she tried to get rid of Stefan, "I just really want to go shower so..."

"Okay." Stefan replied.

"Good night." Caroline smiled, truly grateful for the rescue.

"Good night." Stefan returned Caroline's smile, his eyes still full of worry for her.

Caroline walked inside and closed the door.

Some time later Stefan knocked on the door.

Caroline opened it, "What's going on?"

"I was a bit worried about you, after everything you went through tonight." Stefan answered.

Caroline swallowed, "I'm fine."

"Good." Stefan smiled, "But, just in case, I brought some back up."

Elena and Bonnie appeared behind Stefan.

Elena was carrying her sleeping bag, "We're gonna slumber it!"

"We haven't done it in ages." Bonnie smiled, her sleeping bag in her hands.

Caroline couldn't help but cry, sometimes you just needed your friends. Bonnie and Elena embraced Caroline, cocooning her in their arms.

Stefan smiled at the sight. He knew Caroline was strong but he knows that she would need someone after what she'd been through.

Alaric's Apartment

Katherine woke up and saw the warlock casting a spell on someone sitting in a chair. There are two vases. One is full of blood; the other is empty and knocked over on its side. She started to get up when sees that Elena's necklace is gone.

It's Alaric that is in the chair. He opens his eyes and gets up. The warlock bends down in a bow.

Katherine was confused, "Alaric?" She rushed over to the door but she's trapped, she can't cross the threshold.

Alaric walked towards Katherine, "Zdravei, Katerina." He takes her face in his hands, "I have missed you."

Katherine gasped in fear, "Klaus!"

Klaus/Alaric smirked.

60s decade dance

Jeremy and Bonnie were dancing so were Elena and Stefan. Klaus/Alaric stood beside Damon as he watched Elena. Then Caroline and Matt arrived.

Klaus/Alaric's eyes almost bugged out of his head, Caroline... His wife whom he'd been waiting centuries for was here, smiling, beautiful and on the arm of another man. He held back a growl.

Matt and Caroline were on the dance floor. Caroline smiled at Matt, "Dance with me."

"I'm a really bad dancer." Matt tried to resist, lying to Caroline about knowing that she was a vampire was killing him.

Caroline laughed and took Matt's arm, "I know better than that."

Caroline and Matt started to dance. She sensed that something was off, "What?"

Matt swallowed nervously, "You look really pretty tonight."

Stefan joined them, "Hey, guys."

"Hey, man, what's up?" Matt greeted Stefan.

"Hey. Do you mind if I steal your date for a moment?" Stefan asked, needing to speak to Caroline.

"No, not at all." Matt was relieved to have an excuse to be away from Caroline, "I'll get us something to drink."

Stefan smiled, "Thanks."

Matt left, and Stefan started to dance with Caroline.

Caroline could tell that something was bothering Stefan, "What's wrong?"

Stefan looked around subtly before warning Caroline, "Klaus is here."

"What?!" Caroline gasped, fear for Matt's safety filling her.

"Yeah." Stefan nodded.

Caroline looked around, "Where?"

"We have no idea." Stefan hated that they had no clue what Klaus looked like, he could be here right now and they wouldn't know, "But keep your eye out for anything that might be weird, ok?"

Caroline nodded, her and Stefan continued to dance.

Klaus/Alaric wanted to kill something. His Caroline was smiling and laughing with another man and all he wanted to do was go over there and rip the boys arms off.

Then Stefan approached Caroline and they began dancing. For the first time he could see Caroline and Stefan's friendship, he could see the closeness between them. He looked at her finger and to his immense relief he could see that she was wearing her wedding ring. Trusting Stefan had been the right thing to do. He wanted so badly to approach her but he knew that now wasn't the right time as he wasn't in his right body.

He would have to be patient.

By the next night Klaus was back in his own body. He began preparing for the ritual, one of his desires from the last thousand years was about to be fulfilled.

When he found out that Caroline had been taken for the vampire sacrifice he kidnapped Jenna and fed her his blood, he also had Jules as backup. He allowed Damon to rescue Caroline and Tyler, he would have released her himself but he didn't want anyone to know about his feelings for her, not yet at least.

The ritual happened as planned. He sacrificed Elena, Jenna and Jules and became a hybrid. Bonnie almost succeeded in killing him as Elijah's hand was in his chest but he revealed that their family was safe.

When Stefan sacrificed himself for his brother Klaus left Mystic Falls to find some werewolves to turn. Once he had created his hybrids he would head back to Mystic Falls.

For Caroline.

TBC

AN - Theory = writing TVD Season 1-5 in one chapter will be no problem. Actuality = 2 seasons almost 15000 words. Um, this is not gonna be as easy as I thought :)

What did you guys think? I know it was LONG and I still have like 2 and a half seasons to go but I do hope you all liked it. Thank you all for waitig patiently for me to update ;) The lengths of these last 3 chapters have been killers - 10k each, and I can tell you right now, the next chapter is going to most definitely going to be 10-15k again. Thank you for all your awesome reviews, they mean so much to me. Until next time X X X

Next chapter - the Klaroline years ;)