Hi

I'm so so so terribly sorry for not updating sooner. I feel really bad for keeping you all waiting. I hate it when I have to wait for the next chapter in a fanfiction and I get really annoyed when it's not up within the next few days. So sorry to keep you hanging for weeks. And I hate to say, but it will probably happen again. Sorry.

My muse had gone into a bit of a pre-hybernation and then a hybernation. Luckily, she came back tonight and helped me write this. Also, I've had a lot of work for college and I've been studying for the past two weeks. My exams are starting Tuesday and they will last until the 30th of January. So, I'm not sure how much time I'll have to write.

Anyway, enough excuses, I'll just let you read.

Thanks for reading and I really, really, hope it was worth the extremely long wait. Sorry

Caroline

"Elena, Bonnie." They moved in for a hug, and Caroline let them, too surprised to move. Finally getting her brain back working, Caroline asked what they were doing here. "We missed you so we figured we'd come and visit you. How are you, Care?" Elena asked, looking her friend up and down. That was an excellent question. Caroline didn't really know how she felt. Here she was, standing opposite Elena, whom she really didn't want to see. "I'm good. You guys?" Caroline answered, plastering a smile on her face.

"LA is amazing, you really should come back soon. It's so different from Mystic Falls and I love every minute of it." Elena was smiling. Caroline turned towards Bonnie. "And you?" Bonnie looked tired. "I'm okay." Caroline doubted that, but decided not to comment on it, yet. Caroline led them inside. "Nice room, Care." Bonnie surveyed as she walked around the room. "Yeah, it's much better than Whitmore. The campus is amazing." "I'm having the time of my life." Caroline said. Whether she was entirely truthful was definitely up for debate.

"So, now that the Kat is gone from home, you and I can start a party." Kol said as he walked in. And then he noticed the others. Caroline looked at Kol, but then quickly turned away. "Kol?" Bonnie asked. Of course, Caroline thought, Bonnie was the anchor, she could communicate with Kol whenever he was around. "Bonnie, how lovely to see you." Kol said. He caught Caroline's eye and then shook his head, ever so slightly. Caroline understood the gesture, she was to pretend that she didn't see him.

"Kol's here?" Elena asked. Bonnie nodded. "Yeah, he's talking about a party, though I don't quite understand." Kol smiled at Bonnie. "That's because it wasn't meant for you. I must have missed my exit. Trust me, I had no intention whatsoever to see this doppelganger. But since you're here, I'd appreciate if you would relay a message for me." Bonnie raised a brow at Kol's request. Caroline knew what was happening, but Elena looked around, wondering what was happening.

"What does he want?" Elena asked snidely. "What makes you think Kol automatically wants something?" Caroline asked Elena. "Why else would an Original be here? He obviously wants something, that's the way the Mikaelson family operates." Caroline turned towards Elena. "He's dead, Elena. I doubt there is much that we can do to help him. Besides, it's not like he has any leverage to use against us."

"Bonnie, darling, would you be so kind to tell Caroline that I have many dirty little secrets I can spill. And tell Elena she's a stuck up bitch who needs to keep her mouth shut. I am not in the mood to listen to her whining." It wasn't easy for Caroline to pretend not to know what was going on. She could hear the bitterness in Kol's voice when he uttered Elena's name. She sneaked a glance at Kol, and an unspoken conversation passed between them. They were both thinking about the their talk from last night. Bonnie relayed the message.

"We're very scared. Who's he going to spill his guts to? It's not like anyone can see him except for the dead. And Bonnie. Besides, who cares? He didn't amount to much while being alive, so I'm pretty sure we can neglect him while being dead." Elena remarked. Caroline noticed Kol's demeanour change. He was furious, she could see it in his stance. Were he in corporal form, Caroline didn't doubt that Elena wouldn't be standing anymore. She didn't quite understand the hostility Elena had towards Kol either. Sure, her friends didn't like Originals, but Elena didn't actually had the chance to know Kol. She wondered whether Elena was acting this way just to spite him.

Either way, Caroline was getting seriously annoyed with her best friend. "Would you just give it a rest, Elena? You already took his life away, there's no need to obliterate him even more." Caroline shouted, her voice laced with exasperation. Elena regarded her for a moment. Then she shook her head. "I wasn't…" Elena started but Caroline cut her off. "Don't give me some lame excuse. You were." Her tone indicated that this discussion was over. She heard Kol applaud her, but had to pretend she couldn't hear him. "If I had a hat, sweet Caroline, I would most definitely take it off. But alas, I do not. Now, miss Bennett, if you would be so kind to relay my message." Bonnie nodded at Kol. "It depends to who."

"Always cautious, but don't worry darling. This one's for my favourite blonde in this room." Caroline supressed the urge to turn around and face Kol. She saw Bonnie frown. "What is it Bonnie?" Elena asked. "Kol has a message for Caroline." "To me?" Caroline did her best to sound surprised, which wasn't all that hard, because she actually was curious. "Tell her: thank you." Bonnie relayed the Kol's message, with a confused look. "Thank her for what?" Elena asked before Caroline had the chance.

Kol regarded Caroline for a moment. She noticed he was wondering what to tell. "That's something between Caroline and I. And just so she knows, my brother never blamed you either." Once again Bonnie relayed the message. Caroline nodded. "Where is he?" Caroline asked Bonnie. All for the sake of appearances. Bonnie pointed at Kol's direction and Caroline turned towards him. "It was the right thing to do. He deserved to hear it." Caroline shrugged it off. Kol stepped towards her and placed his hands on her shoulders. She did the best she could not to react. "Kol what are you doing?" Bonnie asked.

Caroline turned her head towards Bonnie. "What is he doing?" "He's standing right in front of you, his hands on your shoulders." Caroline turned back to face Kol and saw the gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you." He whispered and backed away. Caroline stepped back. "It's okay, he's already on the other side of the room." Elena looked from Bonnie to Caroline. "What was that all about?" Caroline just shrugged. "Are you and Klaus in contact with one another?" She could hear the judging tone in Elena's voice.

Instead of going on the defensive, Caroline turned toward Elena. "What if we are?" Out of the corner of her eye she caught Kol's smile. "Care, I get that there was something between the two of you, but wasn't that a one time thing? I mean, the guy killed aunt Jenna, he's used Stefan as his slave. Not to mention what he did to Tyler." "I know what he did, Elena." Caroline said through clenched teeth. Now wasn't the time to bring all of this up. "Well, I just don't want anything to happen to you, Care. I just don't get how you can even remotely care about someone who's don so many terrible things to people you love, to your friends. You should really stay away from him." And just like that, Caroline snapped. She pushed Elena to the wall, almost choking the life out of her.

"Go, Care. About time someone taught the all high and mighty Elena a lesson." Kol cheered. "Kol." Bonnie said in warning. Caroline ignored them and focused on Elena, who was struggling against her, trying to get her off. "You have no right to comment on any of the choices I make, Elena." Caroline said as she let go of Elena and stepped back, glaring at the brunette. The doppelganger looked at her friend in disbelief. There was hurt in her face. It surprised Caroline how easy it was to not be affected by Elena's hurt. "I was only trying to help, Care. Klaus is no good and you won't be able to change him, he's bad." Caroline shook her head.

"Do you even realise how much of a hypocrite you are. You pretend to be all high and mighty, but you're not a saint. You're no better than the rest of us. So get off your high horse and stop being so judgy all of the time." Elena started to lunch at Caroline, but she was better. She'd been training with a five hundred year old vampire and an Original. Elena was no match. Caroline pushed Elena back. They stared at one another for a while. "Look, Care. I don't know why you are acting like this, okay? If this is about Enzo –" "Don't bring Enzo into this, Elena." Caroline felt herself tense up. This was so not what she had imagined to do today.

Bonnie was about to cut in, but Kol stopped her. "Not this time, darling. Caroline needs to do this."

"I get you're upset, Caroline. I know that I haven't been the best of friends, and I'm sorry. And so is Damon. He never meant for –" "Would you just stop it, please. I don't care. I don't want excuses. And besides, Damon never apologised. Not once. He treated me like some Barbie he could just play with and throw away when he was done with it. I never dwelt on it, Elena, because I can see he has changed. But it doesn't take away the fact that it happened. And it hurt me. Damon abused me. And I'm not sure whether I will ever be able to forget that." "Then why are you still acting like I did something to you? Like I'm to blame for it?"

"It's not about blame, Elena. It's just, have you ever thought that maybe, I didn't want to see you? That I need space? I love you, Elena. You're one of my best friends, you'll always be my best friend, too much has happened that could change that. But right now, I need my life to be about me. And I can't have you around, because every time you show up, something happens and suddenly, everything is about you. I can't have that, not when I'm finally finding myself. When I'm enjoying myself and don't have to wonder whether I'll be second to Elena. Because let's face it, you're always the one."

Silence fell in the room. Elena took a step towards Caroline, but she shook her head and Elena remained where she was. "I'm sorry. I'll leave you be since that is what you want." There was shock and hurt and anger in Elena's tone. Then she left the room. Caroline sat down on the couch. That had been intense. She took a deep breathe. Caroline felt conflicted. Part of her was glad to finally get this out, but she also felt guilty about hurting Elena.

"Cheer up, Captain Swan, you finally stood up for yourself. That's a victory if I ever saw one. Besides, she needed to get a reality check. And kudos for the attack, no one saw that one coming." Kol said. Caroline looked up and smiled at him. "Hear, hear." Bonnie looked confused. "You can see him?" Busted. Caroline glanced at Kol and bit her lip, trying to find a way to explain it. Then she looked at Bonnie. "Yeah." "How?"

"That, darling, is quite the mystery. We do not know." "How long has this been going on?" Bonnie looked from Kol to Caroline. "Since this semester started. He sort of just popped in." She looked at Kol with a silent question, wondering whether they should mention Katherine. "And you didn't think it was strange? Or maybe you could contact someone? And you totally didn't miss your stop, you were planning on throwing a party with Care? Someone else knows of this, right?"

"Darling, that's a lot of things all at once. But yes, I did plan on seeing Caroline to thank her and to hang out. She's quite the lovely company." "So you're hanging out with a dead Original? Why?" "I'll pretend to not be offended by your question, darling. I am pleasant company. But since you asked so nicely, Caroline is helping me with something." Bonnie looked at Caroline. "Kol, could you maybe, like give us a moment?" "Fine. And Care, some secrets aren't yours to tell." And then Kol disappeared.

"What are you doing, Caroline? What is it with you and the Mikaelson males?" "First of all, I know perfectly well what I am doing. Secondly, Kol and I are just friends. No way in hell that there ever was, is or will be something romantic between us. Third, I'm not with Klaus. I haven't seen the guy since that time in the woods. And finally, how is this my fault? He just showed up out of nowhere, in need of my help. And I never asked for any involvement with the Mikaelson males. They just happened to stroll into my life and for some weird reason they refuse to walk back out. No matter how many times I tell them that they're annoying, arrogant assholes." There was a small smile on Bonnie's lips.

"Can I just ask one thing, why are you helping Kol?" Caroline shrugged. "I wasn't planning on helping. I wanted to show him to the door. But I just ran instead of making the call right then and there. And Kol showed up during class and afterwards he followed me around campus, talking about mortality. I don't know, there was something sad about it and I said I'd help him." "You're too good for this world, Care." Caroline laughed, looking at her best friend. "I missed you, Bonnie." "I missed you, too." And then they hugged.

"Looks like I got back just in time." "Kol." Both girls said at the same time. "So, I just had a chat with our co-captain and she said, and I quote: 'Way to go Blondie, I knew we'd make a proper vampire out of you yet. I've never been so proud of anyone in my life. Tell her to include the witch, because I don't feel like staying here long. It's rainy, depressing and my hair is suffering from the humidity. I can't wait to get out of here and go to a spa. And don't feel guilty about kicking Elena's ass. The girl had it coming.' Unquote. Plus, she wants full disclosure when she's back, I believe that will include a demonstration."

"It's scary, how she knows so much." "It's that uncanny ability she's developed during the time my brothers were chasing her." "Katherine. You're working with Katherine? She's alive?" "Apparently, without any explanation, she came back from the dead, just as clueless as we are." "Didn't you think we deserved to know, Care?" "And what would you have done? You deserve to have a life, Bonnie. You have suffered so much, you died, you gave up your life so we could be safe. Besides, they came to me and it was my choice." "What are you involved in?" Caroline looked at Kol.

"Your dear friend and Katherine, who happens to be able to see me too, have been helping me with tracking down a grimoire." "You're using vampires to track down a witch? That won't end well." "Darling, I know what I'm doing. Besides, we're tracking a grimoire, the witch in question, well, she's either alive or death, but that's not the important part. The grimoire has been out of her hands for quite some time. Considering that the last time I saw her was the twelfth century." "Who is she?" "Gaia." Bonnie sucked in a breath. "You've heard of her?" Caroline asked. "Of course I have, Qetsiyah mentioned her once. From what I've gathered, she's someone you don't want to cross. You want to use her grimoire to come back from the Other Side." Bonnie concluded. "Are you going to tell on me?" Kol said half mockingly, half serious. "She's not. Bonnie you can't tell anyone about this. Not about Kol or Katherine." "I won't, Care. I understand there's a reason why you were keeping this from us. I'm just not sure whether it's a good idea. I get why Katherine's doing this, but why are you? It's not like there's anything in it for you."

Bonnie looked at Caroline. Caroline shuffled her feet before answering. "I was doing it for you. I hope that there might be something in it that could make you a witch again, or at least that you don't have to suffer every time a supernatural died." Bonnie threw her arms around Caroline. "It might be a long shot." Caroline said, surprised by the force Bonnie had put in the hug. "You really are the most kind and loving friend anyone can have, Caroline. I love you." "I love you too, Bon. You're my best friend and like I said, you've already given up so much. This is me trying to give something back."

"Bonnie, I'm leaving and I was wondering whether you're coming or not." Elena just walked back into the dorm, like the fight from earlier hadn't happened. She ignored Caroline completely and Caroline decided to do the same. "I think I'll stay for a couple of days." Bonnie hesitantly said. Caroline and Kol exchanged a smile. "Oh, okay." Elena sounded anything but okay with Bonnie's decision. It was as if she'd expected Bonnie to take her side.

"Oh my god, Care, we just went to a guest lecture from this super sexy professor and…" Elodie trailed when she saw the other two people gathered. "Elodie, Marissa, these are Elena and Bonnie." "Hi, nice to meet you, Caroline has talked about you a lot. You're the vampire, right?" Elodie said to Elena. "They know?" "Relax, I'm a witch and Elo's a vampire. We're not going to out you or anything." "A vampire and a witch. It hasn't even been a year and you already found replacements." Elena said and walked out. "Elena." Caroline said as she was about to walk after her, but Bonnie grabbed Caroline's arm. "Don't give her what she wants. You can't go grovelling now. Tough love, darling. One day she'll come around, I hope for your sake. And if not, you've got another doppelganger who's been a much better friend to you than Elena. She's not worth it, Caroline, not right now." Kol said before Bonnie even had a chance. She looked at Bonnie who nodded in agreement. "As much as I hate to admit, he's right. Not now."

"Did we say something wrong?" Marissa asked. Caroline shook her head. "No, Elena and I had a falling out earlier. She's still mad at me for it." "Sucks. Her loss. Blood bag?" Elodie asked as she headed to the mini fridge. "Hit me." Caroline said. "Marissa, how long have you been practising?" Bonnie asked. "A couple of years, nothing big though. I'm not that powerful." "You've got to start somewhere, right?" They eased into a conversation about witchcraft. Caroline smiled. "Now that's true friendship. I'm going to go check up on Kat, make sure her hair isn't entirely ruined by the rain." Caroline nodded and Bonnie did the same. Caroline sat down next to her best friend and joined in the conversation.

"So, what were you guys saying about some sexy professor?" Caroline asked as she sat down on the couch. "Well, you know how I've been going to several different lectures to find my elective for next year, right? I thought I would go to some history lecture. It could be interesting, so many things have happened in the past after all. Marissa went with me and then he walked in. He's a guest lecturer, he was only here for the day. But his voice. Oh god, Care, his voice was one of the sexiest I'd ever heard. He even had a British accent." Bonnie looked at Caroline. "Looks like you're not the only one who has a soft spot for accents." Bonnie joked. "How can anyone resist? It's just so sexy. Anyway, the good news is, they offered him a job for next year. And he took it. Looks like I've found my elective. And he's mine, Care. Just so we're clear." Elodie warned.

"Don't worry, I've had my fair share of guys with accents." "Right, you're so over it. That's why you called him and you still have a painting hanging on your wall." Bonnie laughed. "I knew it, the painting is from a guy." Elodie shouted. "I stand by what I said Bonnie. He promised. I was honest about what I wanted and he left." "After ripping your blouse apart, that is." Caroline tried to act unaffected, but the truth was that she could still feel the ghost of what had transpired in the woods back then. "Was it good?" Elodie asked. "It must've been, she's blushing." Caroline suddenly felt very selfconscious. Damn Klaus and the incredibly hot hybrid sex. "It was quite the adventure, wasn't it Care. You got lost in the woods?" "Bonnie Bennett, I'm never telling you something again." "I totally misjudged you, Caroline. You've suddenly gone up a few places in the naughty list. I mean, in the woods with a guy who ripped your blouse apart and who has an accent. Dude, that's like a fantasy coming true." Elodie exclaimed and then they all laughed.

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"Listen to me you old hag. I've been looking for you for hours now, and you're not going to die on me. I need to know about Gaia's grimoire and I'd appreciate it if you would be alive." Katherine said through the throbbing in her head. That accursed shadow was starting to get to her. First she got attacked by something that looked like Chimaeras, tearing at her clothes and then there was the annoying witch trick. Usually she wasn't affected by it much, but she felt weakened. Someone really wanted to keep her from finding out the truth. But she'd be damned if she wasn't Katherine Pierce. She survived and she always got what she wanted. "You're a fighter, and I feel we're going to have a lot of fun. But you're too late. Ding dong, the old witch is dead." The shade disappeared and so did Katherine's headache. She was by the old woman in less than a second. But the shade had been right. The witch was dead.

"What the hell happened here?" Kol asked. Katherine wasn't looking well. Her clothes were all torn and bloody, as if she'd been attacked by something that had very sharp claws. The brunette looked up at Kol. "Does Bonnie know?" It took her quite some effort to get the words out. "Yes. Kat, what happened?" "No time, the witch is dead. We need to know. Go." And Katherine lost consciousness.

Kol didn't want to leave her like this, but he heeded her last demand and went back to the dorm room in Harvard. The girls were laughing. Bonnie seemed so carefree for the moment. He felt sad that she would soon be suffering.

Caroline looked up and saw that Kol was back. She saw a look of horror on Bonnie's face. "The witch is dead. And Katherine didn't get the information. She didn't look good, Care. But she said that we needed to know." Caroline grabbed Bonnie's hand. "Bonnie, can you delay her?" "I can try." "What's happening?" Marissa asked. "Not now. Later." Caroline said and focused back on Bonnie. "Maria, what do you know about Gaia's grimoire?" Caroline asked tentatively. She squeezed Bonnie's hand. Care knew that she was asking a lot of Bonnie and she knew she was suffering. And then Bonnie buckled over in pain, screaming. Caroline looked at Kol, but he shook his head, there was nothing they could do.

"Bonnie?" Caroline asked after the screaming had stopped. "I'm okay." "Can I get you anything?" "Some water, please?" Caroline rushed to the cupboard and filled a glass with water. She handed it to Bonnie and was pleased to see that she looked better.

"Care to tell what that was all about?" Elodie asked. "I died. I'm the anchor. Basically, I have one foot in the world of the living and another one on the Other Side. Every supernatural being that dies has to go through me. And that hurts." "And the grimoire?" "We've been looking for a way for me to have two feet in the world of the living." Bonnie answered. Caroline was surprised by Bonnie's quick thinking. "And that explains why you've been hauled up in the library so much. We won't judge you anymore." Elodie said with a smile. "Yeah, I was helping out a friend." "Well, you've got an answer now, right?" Caroline nodded. "I need some fresh air. Caroline?" Bonnie asked. Marissa and Elodie nodded. "It's okay." Marissa said.

Klaus

Klaus was humming when he heard Elijah walk back into the house. "Brother, how was the lecture at Harvard?" "Great. They offered me a position." "And are you going to take it?" Klaus asked. If his brother were to be at Harvard, he would run into Caroline. And that could very well play out in Klaus' advantage. "You are awfully cheery today, Niklaus." "Can't I celebrate a victory, brother?" "What victory are you celebrating?" "I've made some progress with Caroline, Elijah. Now, will you be taking the position?" "That eager to get rid of me?" "Nonsense." Klaus was getting annoyed with Elijah dodging his question. But he had to be patient, if he were too eager, he might give himself away. "Well, I may take them up on the offer. It has been quite some time since I've taken some time for myself. And I feel that you are in less need of supervision nor that you are by any means tempted to get in over your head. So, to answer your question, I will take the position. Good night, brother." Elijah left Klaus' studio. Klaus smiled. Next semester, his brother would be lecturing at Harvard. It might give him an excuse to go there himself.

Caroline

"Ann Grant, Borthwick Castle. That's what Maria told me. She also said that we are being watched. Katherine's in danger." Bonnie said. "Katherine's quite able to handle herself, though I should go check on her with the new information. Whatever's watching us doesn't want us to get the information. Katherine was viciously attacked by something. I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but I'd hoped it wouldn't be too dangerous." "You couldn't have known. You have an anchor to the Other Side to help you, that has to count for something." "In that case, welcome to our party, Captain Bunny. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to check up on Captain Pierce." Kol disappeared, leaving a very confused Bonnie to stare in his wake.

"Katherine?" Kol asked when the girl finally stirred. "Kol. Please tell me we got what we needed." Katherine was pissed. Some shadow had got the best of her and she'd be damned if they lost their first opportunity to get information. "Yes and we've got a new member too." "Bonnie decided to join. That could come in handy. So, where to captain?" "Borthwick Castle." "Sounds like a great vacation spot. Let's go."

"Captain Bunny?" "Code names. He's Captain Original, I'm Captain Swan. And the grimoire has been named Davy Jones' Locker. I makes it all the more exciting. Welcome aboard." Caroline said as she hugged Bonnie. Maybe this could work.

Somewhere a woman wearing a purple cloak smiled. Let the hunt begin.

Okay, that was chapter 7

So, what did you think? I really had a hard time with doing the Caroline/Elena confrontation that was long overdue. Just to be clear, I don't hate Elena. And I'm a Delena shipper (not as much as I ship Klaroline, Kalijah and Kennett, though), but Damon did abuse Caroline and it has just been glossed over in the show. I felt as if it needed to be adressed.

And Elijah is going to be playing a bigger rol in the story. Yay!? It'll probably be one more chapter to finish the semester off and summber break. Then I'll start on Caroline's second year at Harvard. And you know what that also means? I'm going to bring Klaus to Harvard too. It won't be at the same time as Elijah, but I already have the beginning of the Klaus and Caroline encounter written out. I still have to figure out some other things, like the grimoire and of course, the Woman in Purple. Bet you saw that one coming, didn't you? She's not going to play a big part in the coming chapters, she'll just be lurking in the shadows, watching and sending chimaera's after Katherine.

So, what did you think?

Thanks again for reading and I hope I have a new chapter up soon.

Once again, sorry for the delay.

and thanks for the reviews, even though there are only twelve, it's nice to know that people are enjoying what I write. So thank you ;)

Lovies,

Zoë