A/N: Thank you to all of you who sent me warm welcome backs. And my apologies to all of you who were disappointed by my last chapter update. My coming chapters may be a bit small for the moment. I am just going to be easing my way back into writing these stories so that I can get myself back into the mind frame of this story. I don't want to publish any lengthy chapters and have plot lines that don't match up.

Caroline was trying her best to calm her panicking nerves when she heard the snap of a twig in the underbrush below. She quickly tried to pull herself back into the the farthest corner of the small nook she was taking shelter in, but the sharp pain in her ankle made it near impossible to move. It amazed her that she still had't healed yet. She racked her brain trying to remember something or anything at all that Bonnie may have said about her powers, but the snapping of brush beneath someone's feet continued to grow closer and she had to push her train of thought aside as fight or flight mode kicked in. She hoped that the reason she hadn't healed yet was simply because she hadn't fed and not something else entirely because she feared she may need to vampire strength to fight off her on coming assailant.

Suddenly the snapping stopped and a head bobbed up into view. "Hello darling," she heard a cheerful voice say to her. It took Caroline's eye a minute to focus on the person before her, but sure enough the face and voice belonged to Kol. She breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Never in her wildest dreams had she ever imagined that she would be relived to see Kol.

"Kol. You scared me half to death," she chided him in a hushed tone.

Kol gave her a sly smile and shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry, darling. You know I still can't get over how funny you talk. I pray to the heavens its just because you bumped your head-" Kol's rant was cut short by a hand smacking against the beck of his head.

"Shut up, Kol." Caroline didn't need to see to know who it was talking. She couldn't help the small smile that crept upon her face as Klaus came into view. She almost wanted to slap herself for it. Here she was only a few days with them and she was already smiling and breathing sighs of relief at the sight of members of the original family. "Caroline, are you all right? Hope my not being there when you got up frightened you too much. I brought you back something to eat." Klaus held up a sack, and the wafting smells of meat and fresh bread came forward enticing Caroline's nose. "Do you think you can slide over here and we can help you down, or do you need some help?"

Caroline nodded her head, then slowly began making her away across the small distance to the two men. She made sure not to put too much pressure on her ankle as she did. She reached the edge of the small cave allowing for her legs to hang over. Klaus stepped down to the bottom of the rocky surface and Kol reached for her hands guiding her down. They instructed her to hop on Klaus's back and that he'd carry her back to their village, and she could eat on the way there. Caroline did as she was told blushing a bit when she felt Klaus's firm hold of her thighs. She quickly hid her face in Klaus's shoulder knowing that if Kol saw her blush, he would have definitely made fun of her.

Klaus lightly squeezed one of his hands in a comforting manner. "I'm sorry, love. I didn't mean for you to be frightened. I hope you weren't too scared."

Caroline couldn't help but smile into Klaus's shoulder. It seemed kind of ironic that the guy she knew to use fear at any chance he could get, was now apologizing to her for frightening her. It amazed her how different the Klaus she knew was from Klaus that was carrying her on his back.

When they reached the forest edge and stepped into the village, Caroline felt tired all over again from the steady rhythm of Klaus's walking and the satisfaction of finally having food in her stomach. However, before she could fall back into sleeps grasp she heard the pattering of feet. She glanced up over Klaus's should and saw a young boy trotting their way.

"Caroline!" Henrick shouted. "They found you. I'm so glad you're okay. I made a a bath for you and..." Henrick continued to go on and on about how happy he was that she was safe, and what he and his sister had prepared for her in her safe return.

Caroline smiled at the boy. He was honestly the sweetest thing. She couldn't believe that something so precious wouldn't even live a full life. Again another sense of sadness waved over her. 'If only I could save him,' she thought, but before she could explore the idea further Klaus turned his head towards her, making it so his lips brushed against her skin as he spoke, catching her attention and bringing he back into the moment.

"Caroline, I'm afraid I have to put you down so we can check on your ankle and get you cleaned up."

Caroline blushed as Klaus placed her down on the bed she had been given.

"Oh, come on Nik. You know you love that she's clinging to you for dear life," Rebekah teased.

Caroline blushed again, but she didn't hide her face which allowed her to catch sight of Klaus trying to bite his bottom lip trying to hide the smile that crept onto his face. Klaus ran a hand through his hair and shuffled his feet.

"Well as much as we love having your company, I'm sure Caroline would rather have you boys not watch her undress," Rebekah kicked all the boys except for Henrick who was already tending to her ankle.

Rebeck turned her attention back to Caroline, "You know he's only ever acted like that with Tatia."

A/N: Wow sorry that took so long. I look forward to any opinions that you may want to give as far as plot line wise that you might want to see. Thinking about doing a peak into real time.