A/N: This is a COMPLETE FLASHBACK CHAPTER! No present time whatsoever. Enjoy!

"Heart-shaped Wreckage"

X

Running. She did alot of that in these woods. It was all a game. A game of chance and to see if she would win just this once. She would run and hide. She was always caught but maybe this time, she'd make it to base before anyone found her. She came to a halt. Climb the tree? Or hide in the thicket? Decisions, decisions. She chose the thicket. It was dark in there so maybe she would blend in.

As soon as she had crawled into the thicket she heard footsteps getting closer and closer. "Caroline..I know you're here somewhere," the voice said. 'They won't catch me this time,' she thought. After a couple of minutes the voice said, "Caroline, come on. It's getting late and I need to be home for dinner." She wouldn't budge, then their shadow cast against the thicket. She held her breath and closed her eyes hoping they wouldn't see her. Then she was grabbed.

She started screaming, "put me down! put me down!" Caroline hated being grabbed. Especially when she wasn't expecting to be. "Alright, alright don't throw a tantrum." After she was put down and got herself situated she said, "Niklaus! You know I don't like being grabbed. You knew I was in there the whole time didn't you?!"

Niklaus laughed at her and said, "I'm sorry Caroline, but I couldn't resist. And yes I knew you were in there the whole time, but I was waiting to see if you'd try and make a run for it."

Nine year old Caroline was known for her temper and 13 year old Niklaus was known for making it show. He aggravated her and got on her nerves just because it was fun to see her face turn purple with anger.

Caroline hauled back and punched him in the arm, saying "well I thought I was doing very well in hiding from you. One day I'll hide so good you'll never find me and you'll feel sorry for all the times you picked on me."

Niklaus rubbed the area that Caroline had punched. It didn't really hurt, but he liked to make her think she had the upperhand on him. "Caroline that would be impossible, because no matter where you run or where you hide, I'll always find you."

Caroline scoffed at him and said, "keep telling yourself that."

Before Niklaus could respond he heard his and Caroline's mother calling them home. "Come on, let's go home and I promise I'll let you win next time," he said offering her his hand.

Caroline glared at him and then with a sneaky grin on her face, shoved him and said "Race you to the village!"

Niklaus laid on his back and watched Caroline get a head start. "That girl is going to be the death of me," he said as he got up and ran after her.

Caroline beat Niklaus back to the village just in time to wash up for dinner. As soon as she arrived, she saw Niklaus out of breath wiping his trousers off from her pushing him. She stuck her tongue out at him and he laughed at her. They teased each other all in good fun because they were close like that. Caroline was teased by all of the boys. Finn, Elijah and Niklaus. Thank goodness Kol was only 7 or he would chime right in. Caroline was an only child, so she was thankful for all of the other children in their village. Finn was 17 and Elijah had just turned 15. They were both getting older and didn't have that much to do with Caroline anymore, but Caroline knew that no matter how old she got she would still have Niklaus.

As she was getting ready to go in the house, she watched Niklaus' fade completely away. 'Oh no'

"BOY!" It was Mikael, Niklaus' father. He hated him. Mikael would always beat Niklaus and humiliate him in front of the entire village. And it almost seemed like Mikael took pleasure in it.

"Yes Father?" Niklaus said. He knew what was coming, but he always responded to his Father when he called.

Mikael walked up to him and grabbed him by his shirt and growled, "didn't you hear your mother calling you?"

Before Niklaus could respond he was thrown to the ground, the wind knocked out of him.

"Your brothers and I slave all day to hunt and your mother breaks her back to prepare the meal for you. And you're in the woods playing games?!"

Mikael raised his foot to kick Niklaus but was stopped by a voice, "STOP!"

He turned and said, "stay out of this girl. Elizabeth! Get control of your daughter!"

Caroline's mother,Elizabeth came to bring Caroline back into the house, but Caroline ran in front of Niklaus. She was in between him and his Father so if anyone was kicked, it would've been her.

"Stop! Please, it was my fault. I was in the woods and he came to find me. That is all. Please don't hurt him," Caroline pleaded with tears running down her face.

Mikael raised his head and noticed he had the entire attention of the village. All were wondering if he would beat this innocent 9 year old as well. He sighed, trying to contain his anger. Mikael set his foot down and said, "dinner is ready, boy. Come inside as soon as you're clean enough to sit at our table."

As Mikael walked away, Caroline bent down to tend to Niklaus, but he kept pushing her away. "Please let me help you," Caroline said offering her hand, but Niklaus pushed it away and said, "I can take care of myself." He got up and went to the creek to go wash up. Caroline followed him and watched as he cleaned his face and hands. He was silent, and she didn't say anything. She just watched him trying to wash away the humiliation and pain that was brought on by his own father. Caroline's heart broke for him. She was only nine, but she understood more than people gave her credit for.

"You shouldn't have done that. You could have been hurt," Niklaus said, breaking the silence but not looking Caroline in the face.

"He shouldn't treat you like that. He shouldn't treat anyone like that."

"I can take care of myself, Caroline. And yes, you stopped him today, but what's to stop him from kicking me tomorrow? Or the day after that? Or for the next 1000 days? You can't always jump in and stand against him."

Caroline went up to him and took his hand, and this time Niklaus didn't pull away. He just stood there with tears in his eyes, thanking whatever god there was for this brave little girl. "Niklaus, I will always fight for you. I promise you that," and after saying that Niklaus pulled her in for a hug. A few tears fell from his eyes and onto her shoulder, but he didn't care. He felt like he could be open with Caroline. She saw him for what he was, a scared 13 year old who just wanted affection from someone.

All too soon, Niklaus backed away from her and dried his face. He looked at her one more time and said, "come on, let's get you home. Your supper is getting cold and your Father will be furious if you're not there soon."

They walked up to Caroline's hut and she hugged him one more time. She watched him go into his hut and prayed that he would be alright and have some peace tonight.

X

The next morning was a busy day in the village. Everyone was packing and getting food ready for that night. It was the full moon and their neighbors would turn to beasts soon. Caroline had never seen one, but she had heard stories. The villagers turned into wolf-like creatures and they attacked anything that they saw.

As Caroline was helping her mother with the blankets, her father walked in handing her a bouquet of wild flowers. Caroline loved her father. He was always so good to her and would sing to her. And he always brought her special surprises even if it was a bouquet of flowers. "Oh, Father these are beautiful!"

William hugged Caroline and said, "wild flowers for my wild girl" He picked Caroline up and spun her around. Elizabeth walked in and said, "William! Don't you think we should be getting our supplies in order?" William set Caroline down and said, "yes dear." and walked out with an armful of blankets and pillows.

Elizabeth, though she loved her daughter, was extremely jealous of William and Caroline's relationship. He never brought her flowers. Never showed her any type of affection that a husband should show his wife. It was always Caroline he paid any attention to.

"Come Caroline, put those flowers down and come help me," Elizabeth snapped at Caroline.

"Yes, mama," Caroline said. She didn't know why her mother was so mean to her around her Father. Caroline didn't know what she was doing wrong, but she always did what her mother said in hopes that one day she would find favor in her eyes.

After loading all of the supplies and food, the village off to the caves for the night.

X

Caroline couldn't sleep that night. She tossed and turned and all she heard was the howls of the wolves. They sounded as if they were searching for something, or someone. Like a wishful call.

It was almost dawn outside so they were probably back to their human form, so Caroline decided to go outside. Just a few feet away from the caves.

Caroline wandered and started to pick flowers as the sun came up, but was stopped when she heard a twig snap. 'Oh no. It's them.' Caroline stood there, paralyzed by fear. Should she run? Should she scream? She didn't know. All she could do was pray that it wasn't a wolf.

"Caroline?"

"Oh Father!" Caroline ran and hugged him. Thankful that it was her father standing there and not a vicious wolf.

"Caroline what are you doing outside of the caves?" William said. His heart nearly exploded when he saw Caroline was not in the caves with him and his wife.

"It was dawn so I thought it was all over."

William stood up and listened. They were coming.

"Caroline, listen to me, I need you to run as fast as you can to the caves. I'll be right behind you. Don't wait for me. Just run."

"But father-"

"GO!"

Caroline's father never yelled at her unless she was in SERIOUS trouble or something was VERY wrong.

She ran. As fast as she could. Hadn't she been running in these very woods yesterday? Playing hide and seek with Niklaus? She ran with all of her might and then she saw the caves. She felt relief wash over her. She stopped only a moment to see if her father was behind her. He said he would be.

"Caroline!" Elizabeth called after her,"what are you doing out here? where is your father?"

"He said he was right behind me," Caroline explained, "He'll be here any minute."

But the minute turned into an hour, then two, then five.

Mikael and and few other men went to find William. Elizabeth was in hysterics and Caroline was pacing outside of the caves, waiting for her father to come home.

She soon heard Mikael's voice and it looked like he was carrying something? 'No. No. NO!'

"Elizabeth!"

Caroline and her mother ran to Mikael and saw her father barely breathing. He was bleeding everywhere and had gashes all over his chest.

Mikael set him on the cave floor and Elizabeth was immediately by her husband.

"William, william speak to me!" Elizabeth pleaded.

"Ca-Caroline.." William wheezed out. "Yes father I'm here," Caroline said in between sobs.

William looked at her and put his hand on her cheek.

"I'm so sorry Father! I'm so so sorry!" Caroline cried.

"No, it's not your fault. You're such a brave, beautiful. I'm so proud of you, my wild thing," William barely whispered. He was dying and he wanted to say goodbye to his pride and joy.

"No, father. Please, please don't leave me."

"I love you, my sweet girl.." and with that William sighed his last breath and Caroline cried into him for the next hour. Elizabeth started to scream and left the caves.

After Mikael and the men took William's body away, Niklaus carried Caroline in his arms back into the village. He had witnessed the entire thing and his heart broke for Caroline. He wanted to protect her and keep her from this kind of pain, but it came anyway and all he could do was cradle her and hold her until she fell asleep.

Her mother didn't return that night so Caroline stayed with Esther and Mikael. Niklaus bunked with Elijah and Finn and Caroline stayed with his parents. He tried to sleep that night but all he could think about was Caroline sobbing and noone there to comfort her.

Elizabeth came back into the village the next morning, but when Caroline found her, she was packing to leave. "Mother? Where are we going?" Caroline was scared. She had never seen her mother act so...insane before.

"We aren't going anywhere. I have to get away from here," Elizabeth responded. She had get away. From this village, from her husbands grave, from Caroline.

"But mother, you can't leave me here. I'm coming with you."

Elizabeth turned around and grabbed Caroline by the shoulders, with tears in her eyes and said, "No don't you understand? I can't stay here. Not near your father's grave. I can't do it Caroline I cant!"

"Mother we will get through this together. We will be alright.." Caroline said trying not to cry. Why was her mother being like this?

"No. I need to leave I can't stay here another minute."

"But mother-"

"NO! Everytime I look at you I see your father! Everytime I see your face I see the reason he-"

Caroline stared at her mother in horror. 'No. She couldn't'

"The reason he died. You blame me for his death." It wasn't a question. It was what her mother was too cowardly to say.

"I didn't say that."

"But that's what you meant! You don't think that I've wanted to die a million times in the past day because I know that I'm responsible?! Mother please don't go! I need you! I can't lose you too!"

Elizabeth watched her daughter fall on her knees to the ground, begging her to stay, but she just couldn't. "Caroline, I'm doing this for you."

Caroline got up and stared into her mothers eyes and said, "No. You're doing this for you. You hate me. You always have. You were jealous before Father cared more for me than he did for you. Because you hated him for just being a FATHER! Well now you have your wish. He's gone! HE'S GONE! And you're free! Free from the burden of a CHILD! So go ahead! Leave! All I ever wanted was my mother to love me! But I guess it's just too hard isn't it?"

And with that Elizabeth ran out of the hut, not being able to take it anymore, and down the path that led out of the village.

Caroline's screaming caught the attention of everyone in the village. She ran after her mother and Esther followed her and took her and calmed her down. Esther fell to the ground with Caroline and held her like a baby. Caroline just sobbed into Esther and knew that day that she was an orphan. Her father was dead, her mother had abandoned her, and all within 24 hours. She had lost her only family.

Niklaus walked over to where Caroline and Esther sat, and picked Caroline up bridle style and carried her into their hut. He stayed there with her when she cried herself to sleep and when she woke up in a fit of tears all over again.

Mikael and Esther talked it over that night and decided that Caroline would stay with them. She had nowhere else to go and Mikael was close to Caroline's father.

Caroline became apart of the family that night, and that is where she stayed for the next 10 years.

x

"Happy birthday Caroline!"

Here it was. Another birthday. Caroline was thankful for the people in her life that have become her family. Ever since her mother left, Niklaus and his family adopted her. Elijah and Caroline became very close. Finn was always there when she needed him. Kol was the pest but he meant well. During the 10 years Caroline was with her new family, Esther had another child, a boy, and named him Henrik. Caroline helped Esther take care of him and now knew what it felt like to have a baby brother. And Niklaus...Niklaus was the sweet protective grown man who Caroline could always rely on. He still comforted her when she wept for her father. It wasn't as bad as it was 10 years ago, but it still hurt.

Her thoughts were broken by Kol calling her name, saying, " please open the present Caroline!"

it was something from all of them. They didn't have to do anything for her but they did and she would be forever grateful for that. As she opened it she saw it was a embroidered blanket with all of their initials on it. It was a signifying of the family they had become.

Caroline, with tears in her eyes, looked at the people she had grown to love and even Mikael, on a good day, was the only father figure she had left, "Thank you. All of you."

As the festivities went on, Mikael soon called Caroline outside with him. She didn't know what he wanted, but she followed his lead.

"Yes sir?" Caroline said. She never called Mikael anything but "sir." He was never hateful with her, but she still feared him. She saw how he treated Niklaus and the other boys, well except Henrik. Henrik was the favorite son. He never got any mistreatment. But Niklaus took the brunt of everything. He even sometimes took the beating for Elijah or Finn, even Kol. He loved his brothers that much.

"There's someone I'd like for you to meet,"Mikael said as he led her out of the house.

She followed him thinking the whole time 'who would Mikael want me to meet? Why is he acting so nice?'

"Caroline, this is Peter, he's moving into the village and I thought I'd introduce you to one another."

'Oh no'

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Caroline," said Peter as he took Caroline's hand and kissed it.

Peter was blonde with blue eyes. He was very built. He looked like a farmer or someone who handled heavy objects and worked all day long. His hair was cut short and he had a very pleasing and inviting smile.

"And to meet you as well," Caroline said as she curtsied.

"Today just happens to be Caroline's birthday, Peter. Won't you join us for dinner?" Mikael asked.

"Oh I wouldn't want to impose.." Peter protested.

"Nonsense! You are more than welcome to join us, right Caroline?" Mikael said turning the conversation over to Caroline. He gave her the look that said, 'don't be rude. Invite the man over.'

"Of course. There is always room at our table for visitors," Caroline said trying not to show her discomfort about a man who she had met 3 seconds ago that is now coming to her birthday dinner.

Peter looked at her and smiled warmly saying, "Thank you Caroline. I'd be honored to help celebrate the day you came into this world."

Caroline blushed slightly at his words, but before Peter could notice Mikael started walking him toward the house with Caroline walking behind. She knew exactly what Mikael had intended for her, and she wasn't going to like it at all.

This is part 1 of the chapter seeing as it's 10000 words long. Review and leave me your thoughts. Thank you my lovelies! ;)