AUTHOR'S NOTE

I'm so so so sorry for not updating sooner. I've just been so busy with college and my workload keeps on growing. But I've finally found some time to write. Yay :) In all honesty, I've also hadn't much inspiration until today, so it's not just the schoolwork that has kept me busy. My apologies.

I hope it was worth the wait

btw, I threw in a little Klaus ;)

Enjoy and thanks for reading

Caroline

"Promise me." She saw Enzo's pleading face, asking her, begging her. Caroline reached out, but he was disappearing, slowly fading from existence.

Caroline's eyes fluttered open. "Good, your awake." Her gaze flickered towards the voice. "Katherine? What are you doing here? It's like way too early to be awake." Caroline was still groggy from sleep and a bit shaken by the memory. She tried to shake it off. "Please, it's like two am. Some would argue it's too early to be in bed. Anyway. I was thinking. With me gone, who's going to protect you?" Caroline sat upright in her bed and looked at Katherine. "Protect me from what, Kat? I'm a vampire, I can take care of myself." "Against puny little humans, you can. But my dearest Captain Swan, what are you going to do when a bigger and badder vampire wants to do you in? Or a werewolf comes out of nowhere?" Caroline resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the five hundred year old vampire. "I won't go out during a full moon and why would another vampire want to kill me?" "Caroline, bear with me, okay. You need to learn how to fight properly. And since I'm leaving in like six days, we have a lot of work to do. Luckily, we have the ghost of a thousand year old Original vampire who wants to help us." "Did I hear someone mention a superhot Original vampire?" Kol popped into Caroline's room. "Don't tell me she got you into this?" "Sweet Caroline, just amuse us. Besides, this way, Elena won't be able to stake you when she decides to turn off her humanity. So, grab a nice work-out bra and let's get this tutorial on the road." Caroline groaned, but got up anyways. Kol had a point. She quickly changed into some shorts and a tank top and followed Katherine outside.

Katherine halted in the woods. "This should be far enough from populated areas." Caroline looked at her surroundings. They were in the woods. She could hear cars in the distance. Suddenly Caroline was slammed into a tree. "Ouch." Caroline said as she tried to push the brunette back. The scraps were already healing, the tree was a bit bent. Katherine backed off. "That's what happens when you're not paying attention." "I was paying attention." Caroline said defensively. "You weren't." "You honestly expect me to be aware of everything all of the time? How in the hell is that possible?" Kol joined the fray. "Well, Care, that's exactly what you're supposed to do. The key is to be everywhere and nowhere." Caroline looked at Kol in confusion. "What does that even mean?" "It means that you use all of your senses. As a vampire, your mind works differently. You're able to process a whole lot more than humans. You're just need to learn how to use your vampiric abilities to the fullest." Kol responded calmly. "Close your eyes." Katherine said. Caroline looked at Katherine suspiciously. "I promise I won't attack you again." After a slight hesitation Caroline closed her eyes.

"What do you hear?" Kol asked. Caroline focused on her hearing. "Cars." She said, they weren't that far from a highway. "What else?" Katherine asked exasperated. Caroline listened more intently. The sound of the cars was pretty much drowning out the rest. "Ignore the cars. Tune them out. Focus on other things. We're in the woods, there's a whole range of living creatures surrounding us." Kol said silently. Caroline tried to do just that. She pushed the cars away and she suddenly became aware of a whole new range of sounds. "How?" Caroline asked as she opened her eyes. "It's because you're so attuned and used to certain sounds, you don't listen to what really is around you." Kol explained. "Close your eyes again and tell me what you hear." Caroline took a breath and closed her eyes. She listened and started shifting through all the sounds. There was Katherine's heartbeat, irregular, like that of all vampires. She could hear several heartbeats of animals. There was the rustling of leaves. The sounds of an owl flying over. She could hear the beating of its wings. A smile played around her lips. It was an amazing feeling to be so aware of her surroundings. To hear how the animals were moving through the woods, or the heartbeat of sleeping creatures. The blood that was flowing through their veins. It was like waking up as a vampire all over again. For the first time in a long while, she felt alive again.

For the next couple of nights, Caroline learnt how to use her vampiric abilities to its fullest advantage. Kol and Katherine were excellent teachers and Caroline picked up very fast. They told her about the changing in the air when something approached her and taught her how to deflect attacks. She was instructed in combat and learnt how to use her surroundings to her fullest advantage. She wasn't beating Katherine, but she was making process. Next time, she wouldn't be so easy to put aside.

"You look terrible." Elodie said as Caroline walked into the room. "Shut up." "Elo's right, Care. Are you sleeping okay?" Marissa asked, her voice filled with concern. "Yeah." When she was getting sleep. With her nightly training sessions with Katherine, she rarely slept much. It was usually four hours a night. It was unfair. She was dead. Why did she still had to sleep? Why did she feel tired? "You'd tell us if there was something going on, right?" "Sure." Caroline said with a plastered smile on her face. She went to grab a bloodbag from the fridge and drained it. It made her feel a bit better. "It's been a while since we've hung out, just the three of us. We should totally do something tonight." Marissa looked at Caroline. "Can we do it tomorrow night? I already have plans." It was Katherine's last night here before she left for the motherland. Katherine had insisted on doing something nice to celebrate or something. "Alright, we'll do it tomorrow, but you better not bail on us." Elodie said, pointing her finger at Caroline to emphasise her point. "You guys are the best." Caroline said before heading out the door. She was meeting Jasper for breakfast.

"I was thinking, it's been a while since we've been out. What do you think about dinner, tomorrow night?" "How about the day after? I promised Elo and Marissa that we were going to hang out. I've been so busy with things that I haven't spent much time with them either." Caroline threw in a slight bit of compulsion to win Jasper over. He smiled. "Anything for you, Care."

Caroline had a very full day, she had promised to herself to catch up on her workload and spent the rest of her time in the library. Around nine, Katherine came to get her away from her books. "Alright bookworm, time to get my going away party started." Katherine dragged Caroline away from the library. They went to their usual hangout away from campus.

"You'll be okay without me, right?" Caroline asked Katherine. "I'm Katherine Pierce, remember?" Caroline smiled at that. If there was one thing Katherine was good at, it was surviving. Not even death could keep her longer than a couple of months. "Are you going to be okay?" "Yeah, I need a break from witch hunts and grimoires." Caroline said as she leaned back. "I get what you mean. Let's hope I find something in Scotland." "I'm not sure whether we're going to be that lucky, but let's hope so." It was silent for a moment while they waited for their drinks.

"How's Stefan?" Caroline was caught off guard by that question. "He's good. Stefan's been travelling around the world, being all zen and such. He's enjoying himself." "Is he happy?" Katherine asked quietly. "I think so. After everything that had happened with Elena, I think he needed some space. Space from everything." "Space is good. Besides, Elena was only going to bring him pain. Stefan deserves better." Caroline hated to admit it, but Katherine made an excellent point. Katherine smiled. "You totally agree with me. Who would've thought? Weren't you an advocate for Stefan and Elena?" Caroline bit her lip, trying to come up with an answer. "I was. I still believe their love was epic. But I've come to accept Elena being with Damon." "Spit it out, Care. It's okay to admit that Elena isn't a saint."

"Oh, are we gossiping about Elena? Because I just want to say that I haven't forgiven her for coming up with the plan to kill me. Therefore I have a right to call her an inconsiderate murderer and wish her all the worst." Kol suddenly popped up. "Duly noted." Katherine said dryly. "I'm still waiting to hear why Caroline doesn't think Elena is so precious anymore." "Isn't she your bestie?" Caroline sighed. "Elena and I are still friends. It's just that ever since she became a vampire, she's been different." "You can say a heinous bitch, if you like." Katherine interjected. "Elena and I will always be friends, we've gone through too much together to let our friendship go to waste." "But you needed space." Kol suggested. "Yeah. Everything always has to be about Elena. Even when I got accepted to Harvard, things were still about Elena. And when Enzo was killed, it was still about Elena. And pretty much every decision I had to make in Mystic Falls had something to do with Elena and not stepping on her toes. It's just so damn frustrating. And unfair. Elena gets a free pass and she holds everybody up to immensely high standards, because she believes that everyone can be as good as her. And she's not a saint, for crying out loud. She has turned her freaking humanity off and went all berserk. And we all had to forgive her for the things she had done. All because poor Elena has lost so much and we would do well to remember that. So, once again, Elena got a free pass and we all had to suck it up." Caroline finished.

"Now tell me that didn't make you feel better?" Katherine smiled slyly. "It did feel good." She needed to get this off her chest. She loved Elena, but sometimes she just wanted to smother her. "Just because she's your friend it doesn't mean she gets a free pass for everything she does. If she hurts you, push back. Stand up for yourself. Bonnie has lost just as many people and their loss can just as easily be credited to Elena, yet you don't cut her slack. I never got that with you three. It's like Elena's the fucking queen and you and Bonnie are her handmaidens." Kol argued. "I never thought about it that way. And you're right, Bonnie has lost as much as Elena. And for some reason, this doesn't compare to Elena's pain. I always thought Elena to be strong, but Bonnie is the one with the actual strength." "I learnt long ago, that things would always be about Elena, everything pales in comparison. I think the time away from them will do you good." Caroline nodded in agreement. "The time is doing me good. I feel like I'm growing more into myself. I miss Bonnie and Stefan. I miss Matt and I might even miss Tyler. But I don't really miss Elena. Because for once, my life can be about me. For once, I'm not second best to Elena." "I'll choose you over Elena every day, darling." Caroline smiled thankfully at Kol. Then something suddenly dawned upon her. Her smiled disappeared and her face grew serious.

"I'm sorry, Kol." Caroline said sincerely. "For what?" "For not stopping them from killing you. Or warning Klaus. Elena may have come up with the plan and Jeremy may have carried it out, but I've still played a part in it. I didn't stop them. So, I'm sorry for the part I played in your murder." Kol stared at Caroline for a moment before shrugging. "I never blamed you, Caroline. Besides, even if you wanted to stop them, you wouldn't have been able to without having other deaths. They would've succeeded in their plan anyway. But thank you. It's nice to know." Kol's hand hovered over Caroline's. "You're so much better than all of them. You always seem to see the good in people. It's this rare gift you have. You continue to believe that people can be saved. I was there, in spirit form. I was in the house, Caroline. And I know that you covered my body. You were being a decent human being, even when you didn't owe me anything." A small tear formed in Caroline's eye. "It was you I saw then." She whispered quietly.

"For once, I was afraid that my brother's stubbornness would be the end of the one light he's had in a thousand years. But thankfully, he saved you, just in time." "Okay, this is kind of getting really sentimental and I don't do sentimental. Also, I'm not following." Caroline wiped the tears away before briefly telling what they were talking about. She left out the conversation she'd had with Klaus, because the last thing she wanted was to admit to Katherine that there were real feelings involved when it came to the Original Hybrid. "Wow. That was incredibly stupid from Tyler. He should've known better than goading an Original. Especially Klaus. And Klaus has saved your life twice. I really do believe that Klaus is completely smitten with you. You really do have a knack for making the people that are the most undeserving of you, care for you." Katherine concluded. "And now I think we need another drink." Katherine briskly said before walking to the bar. She did know how to steer a conversation.

"So, Elena's with Damon. Stefan's travelling. What about Matty-blue-blue and the others?" Katherine said as she put some beers on the table. Caroline smiled at the nickname Katherine had given Matt. "Matt's still in Mystic Falls. He's now the proud owner of Mystic Grill. Bonnie's with Jeremy, Damon and Elena. They're in LA. I've spent a couple of weeks there before heading back to Mystic. Tyler is off somewhere. I don't exactly keep track of him." "And you are here, with us." Kol concluded. "Yeah." "I'll drink to that." Katherine said as she lifted her glass. Caroline raised hers. "Cheers."

Klaus

It was already late when he got back from business. Klaus rushed to his studio to get some peace. Klaus took a look at his phone and noticed that he had one missed call. It was from Caroline. He cursed that he had missed it. How he would've loved to talk to her again. It had been too long. He was also very surprised that she'd called. After their last conversation, Klaus had believed he wouldn't hear from her within this decade. And yet, there it was. A missed call from the one thing that meant the most to him. He listened to it.

"Hi..." He could hear the nervousness in her voice. "I'm glad you didn't pick up and I'd rather you don't call back. I just needed to get this off my chest." She had been pacing. He could also hear the strain in her voice. She sounded tired. And there was also another emotion he couldn't quite label. "I'm sorry for what happened to Kol. I know it's long overdue, but I want you to know that I apologise for whatever part I have played in his death. At the time, I ignored my conscience and didn't stop the others from killing him. I was wrong. So, I hereby officially apologise to you and your family. I know it will not bring him back, but I just wanted you to know. I'm sorry."

That was the end. Klaus had not expected this. He wondered what this meant. Why would Caroline suddenly bring this up? Why would she even think for one moment that he ever blamed her? He now knew that it had been remorse that he'd heard in her voice. Klaus sighed and listened to the message again. He could hear it all so clearly. He didn't call her back, knowing that she didn't want that. And if he called, he knew she wouldn't want to talk about this. Yet, he couldn't help but wonder why. Klaus did know that he missed her.

Caroline

She hadn't been able to fall asleep. After their little soiree, Katherine had taken off and Kol hadn't stuck around. Caroline had gone back to her dorm room. She'd gone to bed, but had found it very hard to fall asleep. She'd lain tossing and turning before finally giving up and getting out of bed. Grabbing her phone, she'd dialled the one number she'd sworn to never use again. Caroline couldn't delete Klaus' number, she had tried, but never succeeded. She'd heard his voicemail. Hearing his voice after so long had been strange, but she'd been glad that he hadn't picked up. That made things easier. She'd apologised. Hoping that it would give her some peace. Then she'd climbed back into bed. And finally, after laying awake for a while, wondering what Klaus had been doing that he wouldn't have picked up. Wondering whether he still cared. And her last thing she'd seen before she'd fallen asleep was his face.

She was awoken by a sudden loud knocking. "Stop it, I'm trying to sleep." She groaned and turned back around in her bed, pulling the pillow over her head. Then she heard someone call her name. "Urgh, I'm coming." She yelled. Caroline hastily got up and walked towards the door. She was ready to yell at whoever was standing there, disrupting her sleep. But when she opened the door she stopped dead in her tracks. "Surprise!" The two girls yelled. Caroline tried to smile. "Elena, Bonnie."

Sooo, what did you think?

I thought it was time to bring back some more familiar faces :)

Anyway, I think that it will only be one or two more chapters before I'm going to get to Caroline's second year in college and in her second semester, I'm going to bring Klaus in the picture. Anyways, let me know what you think. And once again, sorry for the very late update.

I'll try to update again soon, but I can't make any guarantees. I haven't exactly figure out where I'm going to go from here.

Thanks for reading