Hey guys,

So, I guess this is rather a filler chapter, there is not much Klaroline happening, but Elijah and Kol and the "Mystic Falls gang"^^

I hope you like it anyway.

Enjoy it!

The first thought in the morning belonged to someone else.

Someone who was not here, but far away, and probably nowhere to be found.

Caroline sighed just after she had opened her eyes to the new day.

She had dreamed about him, but she couldn't remember what it had actually been about. It was all blurry and hazy. But what she recalled was the feeling of security, warmth and happiness that she had felt in her dream and for which she longed for so badly at the same time. However hard she tried to remember the dream the images remained blurred. She was sure that she had heard his voice in her dream and felt his touch. The only image that wouldn't leave her mind was his dimpled smiling face. Caroline closed her eyes and saw it before her so clearly that she thought she could touch it.

Another yearning seized through her and she just wished that she could keep the feelings, but she knew that they wouldn't last for long. When she got up and left her bed they would be gone, they would simply stay behind in the crumbled sheets, so she buried her face into her pillow and took a deep breath. Trying in vain to stay in the moment as long as possible. Trying somehow to contain the feelings anyway.

Klaus…

His name was all over her mind and she couldn't help it.

Where are you?

Suddenly her radio set off at the set alarm, tearing Caroline brutally out of her daydreams and pipe wishes.

A grown left her throat unwilling to face the day.

"You're listening to Mystic Falls' number one radio station and we wish you a good morning!"

Screw you! Caroline thought and pulled the sheets tighter around her.

The next thing she heard was the first beats of Tyler Swift's song I Knew You Were Trouble and the young vampire just had to laugh out loud wryly.

"Seriously?" So even the universe knew it! Great!

The day was already starting to be smashing!

"I should have turned my back on you ages ago!"

He still heard her voice in his head, screaming at him as if it had been yesterday. Klaus couldn't forget how much strength and determination she had had standing up to him, without any visible fear.

Her words and the determined streak around her eyes had actually really startled him to be honest. He had been so furious himself but then suddenly something inside him had paused.

What if she had really left that day? Turned around and never spoken to him again?

Somehow he still waited for it to happen.

Longingly he glanced at his mobile on the front passenger seat next to him. He waited for her to stop calling him, but she hadn't yet and it just made him yearn to talk to her. He wanted to hear her sweet voice again that would promise him something that he didn't dare to hope for.

They all left in the end, so he made sure that he was the one to leave.

And yet she had never really left him alone even though, in her eyes, he had done so many horrible things. Why?

It certainly would have been better for her to leave him.

Her friends hated him.

Everyone hated him.

Everyone feared him.

Everyone…but Caroline?

She had been trying to reach him for over ten times already today.

Just a young vampire with a big heart?

There was another memory that he also just couldn't forget. It was the other day as she had turned up on his doorstep to vent her anger:

"Somebody has stolen my dress." She had been so furious about a simple silly bagatelle. And he thought that only she could get this furious and stubborn about a silly dress.

"I am sure it is in your vampire capabilities to get another dress?" He had asked her not being in the best mood, but Caroline had just pouted. She had really pouted and he had thought she'd stomp her foot onto the floor as she whined on:

"I don't want just another dress!"

It had been a long time ago that he had genuinely smiled back then, but when he had seen her like that he couldn't help himself. It was all it took to make him feel joyous.

To her it had been a serious crisis, but to him it had been one of the sweetest things he had ever witnessed. With her irresistible big blue eyes she had asked him sweetly:

"Could you please go back into your creepy trophy case of family collectibles and dig me out something of royal calibre?" He had answered with a laugh then.

If someone ever asked how to describe her in one word, he would answer: light.

She was a bright light. A whirlwind even.

He grabbed his hair. What the hell was going on? He shouldn't think about this! About her!

Klaus panted. He had left to forget about her! And yet she seemed to be everywhere!

A face in the streets, a reflection in a mirror, a scent in the air or a musical sound in his ears.

Klaus thought about the beautiful night they had had…Her fingers all over his body and her sweet kisses scorching him.

Why was he so drawn towards her, because if he was honest that's what he was.

He felt drawn towards her, against his will.

After all he couldn't let himself deserve love…love…was it already that?

Could he tie himself to someone and let that someone be his weakness?

The only thing he knew for sure was that he didn't want Caroline to get harmed. Never!

This made him realise that she already was his weakness and probably had always been, but it didn't mean that it wasn't yet too late for her to recover from him, because she would and she had to.

Klaus was a thousand years old and he would live on the way he used to just because he knew nothing else, but Caroline should discover the whole world for herself without him as a death threat by her side.

The worst part of this was that he knew he couldn't simply leave Mystic Falls behind. Not when the pack was still in the woods, not with his Caroline so close to them. He had to keep in touch with his spies who observed every movement of the wolves. His only hope could be that they needed him so badly for their plans that they would simply break camp and turn their backs on the town.

Everything had been quiet so far but he was afraid that they were simply waiting for the right time to strike. Maybe they were performing a spell that needed to brew like a good cup of tea.

"Honey, I have to go to work." Liz said to her daughter who sat in the kitchen in her pyjamas and was indifferently scanning through a newspaper. "Please, promise me you won't stay in the house all day long!" She put a hand on her daughter's head. "I know you are sad that Klaus left after he helped you and please don't get me wrong, I am really glad he did, but Caroline it's better that he is gone."

"I know." She whispered but didn't lift her eyes off the table. Liz' mouth pulled into a thin line and she sighed. She kissed her daughter's hair. "Okay, I'll see you tonight."

Caroline nodded: "Bye mum." Her voice was as unenthusiastic as ever.

Some mother's worry about the drug consume of their kids and me…well, could be worse, right? Liz thought to herself while she walked over to her car.

Inside the house Caroline jumped onto the couch to watch something on television. Something, anything, she didn't care. But she still pulled her phone out of her pocket for the tenth time this morning.

No new messages.

She sighed and zapped through the TV-channels.

Admittedly she had tried to call him but he wouldn't take her calls. And why would he anyway?

Caroline angrily hit a button on the remote.

Kol prepared himself a blood bag when Elijah walked into the kitchen. "Good morning, Kol."

"Morning, Elijah." The two originals went about their usual morning routines which meant that Elijah would open a cupboard to grab a small box of dried tea leaves.

"You look more thoughtful today than on any other, so pray tell what is the latest problem that is troubling your nobility of feelings?" Kol mocked and smirked but Elijah just peeked at him.

"You have been funnier." He commented dryly and Kol rolled his eyes. This family was insufferable! But maybe it was just Elijah and his lack for fun. But all of a sudden Elijah turned towards his brother and stared at him. He fixated Kol with pensive eyes which made the younger one pretty nervous. He asked suspiciously: "What?"

"Kol." Elijah started. "I assume you did notice that Niklaus has left?"

"And?" His brother left all the time so what was Elijah on about now?

"I want you to go look for him."

"What!? Me?" Kol laughed. "Oh, excuse me, I was mistaken, you actually can be hilarious when you want to!" Kol shook his head and threw the empty blood bag into a bin but Elijah neither stirred nor batted an eyelid. "Kol…"

But Kol interrupted him quickly. "No big brother, why the hell should I go after Nik? He leaves all the time plus he can't be killed so I don't think there is any need to go after him!" Elijah let him finish his ranting before he tried again. "I met Niklaus before he left and I do think he could need some company right now."

"He left me daggered for 90 years and I don't think he would want me to follow him!"

"Yes, he did you wrong, I know, but right now might be the right time to forgive."

Kol laughed again and it sounded almost hysterically. "Okay, first what makes you think that I even want to forgive him and second if he doesn't want to be found why do you believe that I can find him?"

Elijah pulled the tea sieve out of his cup and took his time while Kol waited impatiently for an answer. His eyes were dark and he crossed his arms over his chest.

"I know you look up to him, Kol, and I know that the two of you are more alike than anyone of you would ever admit. I believe he needs a friend right now, someone who takes his mind off things."

"So let me guess, that is the reason why you don't follow him yourself?"

Elijah just smiled without replying, instead he sipped his tea.

"What is this all about anyway?" Kol asked and frowned but then it dawned on him already in the second he had asked. "What happened at the weekend Elijah?"

Elijah shrugged and took another sip of his tea. "I do not know."

Kol's eyes began to glimmer mischievously." Did he kill his favourite toy?"

Appalled Elijah looked at his little brother. "Certainly not!"

"It is Niklaus we are talking about!" Kol chuckled about the hint at the past. "But then what is it?"

"You will figure it out when you find him, I guess." Elijah grinned and Kol stared at him annoyed.

"Manipulative idiot of a brother!" Kol snarled but the oldest original brother just chuckled amused, while Kol stared daggers at his older brother and pursed his lips angrily.

"Kol, please." Elijah asked and left Kol dumbfounded. When was the last time Elijah had practically begged him to do something?
"Are you afraid that he will fall off the wagon?" Kol asked incredulous and Elijah hit his goal without Kol really noticing, because the youngest original was really wondering about what had happened to his brother Niklaus. If Elijah was scared for him to lose his way then he must be really bad off. Kol soundly sucked in the air. "Okay, fine I will go under one condition!"

"And what is that?"

"I will not end up daggered again! Promise me that!" He said sternly but Elijah knew that he was very nervous about it. The older vampire nodded: "You have my word. I will pull the dagger out of you myself."

"But not just after 90 years, Elijah!"

Elijah stepped over to him and held out his hand. "I promise that if you should end up daggered I will immediately retrieve your body and pull the dagger out of it!" Kol eyed his hand and Elijah felt sad about his brother's mistrust. In the end Kol slowly shook his hand. "You know I never break my word." Elijah reassured him and Kol answered timidly: "I know."

Caroline opened the door and wasn't surprised to find Elena there who looked a bit shocked at the sight of her in her pyjamas and totally bleary though. Caroline just looked at her. "What?"

"Your mum asked me to check on you. She said you didn't feel well."

Caroline shook her head. "I am fine, just tired."

"Care…"

"No, Elena I really don't want to talk with you about it!" She snapped a little too harshly and felt sorry for it the next second. "Sorry."

Elena shook her head. "It's okay. Listen, I know this is about Klaus and maybe I am really not the right person to talk to about it, but…" She hesitated. "If you need someone to talk maybe try Stefan? He knows another side of Klaus as well…"

Caroline nodded. "Thanks, but I really want to be alone right now."

Elena nodded. "Okay, but call me if you need anything!"

"I will." Caroline closed the door and Elena sighed. She couldn't grasp it and wondered what was going on in Caroline's head and what had really happened at the weekend. She knew Caroline!

She was a good person and she wouldn't just change her mind unless something crucially had happened between them.

"They probably committed a crime together." Damon's voice suddenly said from behind her. Elena spun around. "What?"

"The answer to your question." He shrugged and Elena frowned. "Since when are you a mind reader?"

"Honey, believe me your mind isn't hard to read!"

Elena just rolled her eyes at him. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"Wanna grab some lunch with me?"

Elena stared at him for a second before she nodded. "Okay."

"We should be glad he is gone!"

Elena frowned at Damon because she didn't immediately understand what he was talking about for she just saw how bad her friend dealt with Klaus' absence. "What do you mean?"

"It means that we won't have to worry about the dogs anymore. For whatever they were planning, they needed Klaus, right? Well and since he isn't around anymore, I'd say: problem solved!" Damon grinned stupidly.

"Are you sure about that?" Elena asked because she still had an awkward feeling about it. "Why are they still around then?"

Damon shrugged. "Wallowing in self-pity, enjoying the countryside, I really couldn't care less! It's over trust me."

Elena hoped that he was right and not mistaken...

An hour later Caroline's mobile rang and she jumped because she had not expected it to ring anytime soon. Her heart started pumping wildly. Maybe this time…

She scrambled off the couch and as quickly as possible she grabbed her phone and moaned frustrated when she saw the caller ID. Disappointment was written all over her face. She had wished it to be someone else and a silent voice asked if it was stupid to hope.

"Did Elena talk to you?"

There was a pause at the other end before Stefan answered. "Er, no…why?"

"Really?"

"Really, Caroline. What is going on?"

Caroline sighed and leaned backwards. "It's nothing. Why are you calling?"

"I just wanted to make sure you are okay."

Caroline snorted and rolled her eyes. "Yes. I am okay."

Stefan didn't reply.

"I am! You can all stop feeling sorry for me now!"

"You weren't at the meeting for the organization of the autumn ball this afternoon." He stated slowly. Was that his afternoon? Caroline asked herself and felt as if she had been living out of time and space lately. "No I wasn't, but how do you know?"

"Because Rebekah volunteered to host it."

"Mh." Caroline felt a little sting. She loved to do the work and Stefan knew that as well as everyone else. She was good at organizing but now that Rebekah did it, it left her with nothing to do.

"That's good for her." Caroline whispered, but Stefan wasn't sure if she meant it.

"She has not been out of the house for two days now!" Elena explained to Stefan and Damon. "And that's why we are going to take her out tonight!"

"Excuse me?" Damon asked. "We?"

"Damon!" Elena whined. "There is karaoke at the Grill. You know she always enjoyed that! Bonnie is meeting us there and I want you to come as well! Matt will be there as well for he has the night shift."

Damon rolled his eyes when Stefan agreed. "It sounds like a good plan and I am going to ask Rebekah to come."

"Rebekah!?" Damon and Elena asked in unison.

"Maybe I can persuade her to offer Caroline to help her with the dance."

Elena nodded. "Good idea!"

"What is it between you and Barbie Klaus lately?" Damon asked but Stefan just ignored him. Elena squinted at Stefan but didn't comment.

The younger Salvatore drove over to the Mikaelson's mansion that afternoon to look for Rebekah. A tingling sensation sneaked up his whole body whenever he thought about her and he was ready to a find out more about this feeling. When he had seen her again after 90 years he had remembered not only everything that had happened but also every feeling that he had felt for her back then. Everything Klaus had taken away from him.

"Rebekah?" He called out down in the hall. He hadn't bothered to knock since the door was open anyway and everyone in that household would already know someone was there.

There was silence and he wondered if anyone was home at all.

"What now?" Her bored voice suddenly sounded from above the staircase. He turned towards her and smiled. "Hey."

The smile that was tugging at her lips was ever so faint, but he noticed it. "Hi." She replied. When she had reached the bottom of the stairs she looked at him expectantly and Stefan smiled. She wasn't the person for idle chitchat. So he cleared his throat and went straight to the point: "Rebekah, would you like to join us tonight? We want to get Caroline out of the house."

Rebekah wrinkled her nose. "Seriously?"

Stefan shrugged. "Sure."

But Rebekah was suspicious: "What else is it?"

"I wanted to ask you to ask Caroline if she wanted to help you with the organization of the ball."

"I don't need any help!" Rebekah said condescendingly.

"I know, but it would give Caroline something to do. Please Rebekah."

She didn't answer right away.

Elijah who had heard their conversation joined them in the hall. "Good evening Stefan."

"Elijah."

"Sister, I beg you to consider him."

"Did you eavesdrop?"

"Not intentionally." He replied. Elijah liked Caroline and he felt bad that she was sad. He wanted to help her and Stefan's idea was the best he had heard so far. "If you are not doing it for her or us than do it for Niklaus."

"So it is her fault after all? That he left town?" It had pained Rebekah to hear of her brother's leave and the fact that he didn't pick up his phone made her even more upset.

"She is the reason he left, yes, but it is not her fault." Elijah said sternly.

"He does not care about her Elijah, so why should I help her?"

"Did he tell you that?" Elijah asked and raised one eyebrow.

Rebekah glanced at him suspiciously. "No…but the fact that he is not answering his phone and that he is already gone for three days says more than that!"

"But why wouldn't he take your calls? Or mine for that fact."

Rebekah became thoughtful then. Nik adored Elijah just as she adored Nik and now he wouldn't even talk to him? What were the means of this? Suddenly she was wary and unsure of what to do. "Kol did not find him yet either if you would like to know." Elijah added.

If Kol couldn't find their brother than he was hiding on purpose. All of a sudden Stefan detected something strange on Rebekah's face. Something he had never seen there and it told him that she was after all just a teenage girl. "Elijah…" She whispered. "Where is Nik?" Her voice was unsteady.

Niklaus had always been her rock, the strong one of the family, but what was he doing now? She needed him!

Elijah shook his head. "I don't know, but don't blame Caroline. It is not her fault."

Rebekah's face became solid again and she squinted at Elijah. "I won't promise you that."

The Grill was packed and Caroline wondered how the hell she could have been persuaded to go. She didn't feel like it at all. She wanted to sit at home and watch a movie.

"Ca-ro-line!" Bonnie sang and hugged her friend. "Finally! It is about time that you leave the house!" Elena smiled at her friends. This was way overdue!

"Come on, Matt saved us a table!" Bonnie took Caroline's hand and dragged her with her to a table with a perfect view at the stage.

"Guess what!" Bonnie said cheerily as soon as they had sat down and Elena giggled going along with her cheeriness. "What?"

Bonnie blew the candle on the table out and focused on the wick. A second later it was burning again and Elena squealed. "Oh, Bonnie that's fantastic!"

Caroline couldn't help but smile as well. "I am happy that you got your magic back."

"It's just burning candles though and a bit of blowing wind, but it's a start. I found something in grandma's grimoire that helps me find back to my roots so I can channel my ancestor's magic again."

Matt walked over to their table: "Excuse me, Miss, but I saw that!" He pointed at the candle and Bonnie hit him playfully. She was in a brilliant mood. "Stop talking and bring us some drinks here!" She grinned and Matt nodded. "I know what you need!" He said and was gone.

Elena cocked her eyebrows. "Well, let's see what that will be."

"Probably just club soda because we already had enough!" Bonnie giggled.

"Well, you certainly do seem to have had enough of something." Elena laughed along.

Bonnie rubbed Caroline's shoulder. "You okay?" Caroline tried to smile and nodded. "Sure."

She was happy for her friend and she did actually enjoy being around them, but she didn't feel like partying. She just wanted to sit here and take in the atmosphere. She couldn't yet let go of her grief. She wished he was here.

Her mind replayed their weekend over and over and the more she thought about it the worse it was. She had seen a totally different side of him but she hadn't figured out which side she had discovered. Niklaus? Or Nik?

It made her wonder what else was there to him. What else would she never discover?

Why the hell had he used her!?

Before she could cover herself fully with the grief of his absence Elena started to wave and called out: "Stefan!"

She turned her head and watched Stefan and Rebekah approach. Rebekah was hosting the upcoming dance. That was what came to her mind as soon as she saw her and somehow she wished that she could do it.

"Hey." Stefan greeted them. Rebekah just nodded and sat down wordlessly but she was saved from any awkward greetings anyway because Matt arrived at their table again. "Ladies, three cosmopolitans for you!" Elena and Bonnie laughed and giggled.

"Perfect Matt, thank you!" Elena said.

"Would you like one too, Rebekah?" Matt asked her and Rebekah shrugged. "Why not."

"Stefan, what would you like?"

"A beer would be great, thanks Matt!" He smiled and Matt walked off to the bar to get the orders ready. "So, did the humiliations already start?" He asked and Elena slapped him. "Humiliations!" She huffed. "It is far too early for that, but we are going to sing tonight without humiliating us!"

Stefan chuckled and Rebekah just mumbled bored. "Are you?"

Bonnie gazed at her annoyed. Stefan nudged Rebekah's leg under the table and she rolled her eyes mumbling: "Sorry."

Luckily Matt returned before the atmosphere would become really uncomfortable.

"There you go! So Caroline I guess you are going to sing tonight?"

Caroline just shook her head lightly. "Oh come on! You have to!" Matt pleaded, but Caroline didn't smile. "I don't think I feel like that."

"Then you do need more to drink." He joked. "Anyways I need to do another round but I'll see you later!"

The later the evening the more people dared to walk up to the stage to perform a song. There were some really horrible ones who didn't strike the right note at all. But everyone seemed to enjoy it. However Caroline pondered about her situation. She had always loved these evenings, but tonight she couldn't really bring herself to enjoy it and she wondered if this was it. Would she ever enjoy it again?

Rebekah had been silent as well the whole time and no one knew what to make of it. Inside of Rebekah, however she was cheering. This was fun admittedly, but she didn't dare to show it.

"Oh, come on, our turn!" Elena squeaked and pulled at Bonnie's hand. She laughed and followed Elena up to the stage.

Caroline smiled as she heard the first beats.

"So no one told you live was gonna be this way."

"Your jobs a joke you're broke your love life's DOA."

"It's like you're always stuck in second gear."

"When it hasn't been your day."

"Your week."

"Your month."

"Or even your year."

They sang the refrain together and laughed when someone didn't strike the right note. The audience went along with it and enjoyed themselves just as much.

Caroline watched their friends indifferently, but her eyes wandered around. Stefan shook his head amused while Rebekah squinted at the stage. Was she annoyed by it?

Rebekah had never had real girlfriends but had always wanted some. She suppressed the smile that wanted to form itself on her face. She would never admit to anyone that she would have loved to try. She was so absorbed in what was going on at stage that she didn't notice Caroline watching her. But Stefan noticed it and he nodded his head into her direction so Caroline bit her lip. Somehow she felt sorry for Rebekah who looked so longingly at the stage. When Elena and Bonnie had finished Caroline's helper syndrome kicked in and she asked Rebekah carefully: "Would you like a go?"

Stefan winked at Caroline from behind Rebekah's back. He smiled at her and nodded.

"What? With you?" Rebekah said in her usual tone, but instead of snapping back Caroline just shrugged and Rebekah bit her lip. She swallowed. "I don't know any good song."

Caroline's lips twitched. "I know one."

She pulled Rebekah with her before she could reject her.

"I hate the world today, you're so good to me

I know but I can't change tried to tell you but you look at me

Like maybe I'm an angel underneath, innocent and sweet

Yesterday I cried, you must have been relieved to see the softer side

I can understand how you'd be so confused…"

Caroline was good but everyone who had once heard her knew that she could do better.

However the crowd loved them and they applauded loudly at the end.

Caroline smiled but her smile didn't reach her eyes but Rebekah therefore did smile even more.

"That was amazing!" Elena cheered.

"I didn't know you could sing." Stefan said to Rebekah. Caroline just nodded at the compliments.

Rebekah answered Stefan simply: "There is a lot you don't know."

The mood then somehow changed and Rebekah joined occasionally in the girl's conversation, while Caroline was still quiet.

Later that night Caroline rose from her chair: "Guys, I think I will call it a night."

"What? Now? Really?" She nodded.

"Oh." They pouted but didn't make any attempt to tie her to her seat.

Rebekah rose as well. "Me too. I will give you a ride if you like." Since Caroline had come with Elena's car she nodded thankfully.

The car ride was quiet and it wasn't until Rebekah cut the engine in front of Caroline's house that the original talked. "Thanks for the song." She mumbled.

"You're welcome." Caroline answered just as quietly. Rebekah stared at Caroline's wrist where the bracelet dangled that Klaus had given to her. Originally he had once stolen it for Rebekah, but she hadn't wanted it back then, because it was one of those nights where they'd had a terrible fight and she believed that he'd just wanted to buy her off.

"You really do miss my brother, don't you?" Rebekah asked carefully.

Caroline bit her lips and threw her a hooded glance her before she nodded slowly. "I think I do." She looked at the bracelet herself.

Rebekah nodded as well and Caroline went on. "But since no one knows where he is I don't think there is any reason why I should. He won't come back, will he?"

Rebekah shrugged. "I wish I knew. May I ask what happened at the weekend?"

The unusual polite tone always made Caroline suspicious but she just remembered that probably every one of them had a different side too. "I don't know. I guess I just understood why you adore your brother so much." A smile flashed over Rebekah's face.

"Caroline, I was wondering if you would like to assist me with the preparations for the dance."

"Really?" Caroline asked and Rebekah nodded.

"You have done it before and maybe you could give me a hand with everything plus it might take your mind off things."

Caroline nodded and however she wondered about Rebekah's motives she didn't want to miss the chance to do something she actually enjoyed. "I would like to. Thank you Rebekah."

"Okay. I will see you tomorrow then."

Caroline nodded. "Get home safe."

"I will."

Thanks for reading!

I so wasn't sure about the bar scene and I do know that it's debatable, but I needed to get Rebekah and Caroline closer.

The next chapter will be on the stuff Klaus is up to meanwhile...and knowing Klaus there will be blood!^^

I think I might even upload it rather sooner than later;)

The songs in this chapter are:

Taylor Swift - I Knew You Were Trouble

The Rembrandts - I'll Be There For You

Meredith Brooks - I'm A Lover