A/N I know some of you are waiting anxiously for Klaus to make an enterance ,i have planned that for the next chapter so please bear with me.

To answer Night script its an AU/AH and no sorry Klaus is not a mobboss and his profession is a bit of a surprise. Thankyou for reviewing my fanfiction.

And Thankyou to Guest,Spencer,Suniya009,ankitakashif ,Anaelle klaroline and of course Nour and Fawn who gave amazing reviews for my ff I'm humbled.

Once again I would like to thank Hasi my beautiful beta and sweet friend aka on twitter as hasigoody ,my awesomely talented friend Javeria You guys rock.

CHAPTER 2

'Welcome to New Orleans' thats what the sign said, as the taxi drove under it. When the taxi driver had asked her where in New Orleans she was heading, she stuttered and said the main square,he eyed her; as if she didnt know what she was saying, but kept driving.

Of course she did not know where she was going or why she chose New Orleans. Perhaps it was because, Mason the local vet back at Riders Peak was always talking about how it was a great place to visit, how he had the most wonderful time there; once when he had attended Mardi Grass. Mason was one of the few kind people of the town, when she first had come to Riders Peak a year ago he had been the one who had helped her and her aunt.

He was the one who had given her aunt a job at his farm and sometimes even let Caroline help with the animals. She liked helping and feeling useful, at times she would assist him with birthing foals and calves.

She would listen to him tell her about all kinds of things about different animals and how to take care of them. Although Mason was the local vet and his wife Jules was the local physician, they both also took care of the farm that his parents had left him. They were kind hearted and a loving couple with successful careers, who were leading a happy and a healthy life. She and her aunt had quickly forged a strong friendship with the couple so much so, that she even babysat for the couples' 2 year old a few times.

He would often tell her wonderful stories about all the places he had been to, always starting with the same monologue "Well kiddo let me tell you a story about: when i was in Wyoming or in Maine or when he went to Tokyo or Russia "

He would tell her all sorts of interesting things and she would never get bored of his knew he considered her like his little sister; one he had lost in an accident five years ago. She didn't know her but knew she was a blonde like her, maybe that's why he was affectionate towards her. His wife Jules was the one whom she could really talk to (with the exception of her aunt), that's why Jules was the only one who knew when Caroline was a kid she had wanted to be a dancer. She would often go to the fields and do a contemporary dance routine with Jules as her audience.

Dance was the one thing that made her feel content like she was in her own world where she was untroubled,carefree and buoyant, yes buoyant as if all the weight of her past tribulations would lift off, of her and she would feel a lightness of she would dance all her conundrums and hardships would disappear and Caroline would feel as if she was in a bubble where nothing could touch her.

She had never danced in front of anybody, not even her aunt; except for Jules: because Jules was the one who had helped her cope with all the scars left behind from the physical abuse she been through as a kid and as a young had helped her bring her out of her shell. She was the kind of person whom you could just talk to; without fear of being judged.

Caroline let out a sigh and wiped a lone tear from her eye with her hand. She knew the past year had probably been the best year of her life. She had been able to finally let go of her past and was enjoying her life until the past caught up with her and shattered all of her dreams and aspirations. Dreams of being a dancer , of being happy and completely at peace with herself, of perhaps someday finding a love like the one Jules and Mason shared, but here she was once again trying to dodge her fate running away from her uncle.

The taxi abruptly came to a halt and she grabbed the front passenger seat to steady herself. The taxi driver turned back and said "Here you are and it would be 100 $ dollars kid". Rifling through her bag she handed him the money and quickly got out of the cab. Taking off her hat and putting it in her backpack which she then slung over both her shoulders, she started walking aimlessly over the side walk looking at the array of waist length curly blonde hair which was now caught up in a messy bun and some stray tendrils of her hair was fluttering around her angelic face due to the morning breeze.

It was 8 in the morning, some shops were still closed and some people were opening did not know what day it was, but judging by the hordes of pedestrians dressed in work clothes walking pass her it was probably a workday. She was thinking she would have to do something about renting a room at an inn and also find a new job. She sighed, she had to start all over again; one would think she would be used to by now, she should be used to all of it by now because this is how her rest of the life is going to be she thought dejectedly.

A guy walking behind her collided with her, she jerked from the impact tripped and fell on the road in front of a car which fortunately came to an abrupt halt. She was still sprawled on the road and was getting up when she heard a high pitched shriek. " O My God , I'm so sorry are you okay? Are you hurt?"Saying this was a stunning brunette with long curly hair and chocolate brown feline eyes came over to help her get was wearing a red silk top with a black skinny jeans, with silver hoops in her ears, blood red pencil heels and her curly brown hair which she had let loose were cascading down her back. Judging by the way she was looking at Caroline, Caroline could see she was trying to estimate the extent of her injuries. Caroline leaned on her,stood up and said: "It's okay I'm fine"

The brunette slung Caroline's arm over her shoulder, helped her up on the side walk to sit her on the bench and asked again " Are you sure you're okay, i mean i can take you a hospital if you want. I'm really sorry again.

Caroline urgently replied " NO! I mean I'm fine you only hit me on my right shin with your bumper." Pulling up the hem her grey jeans on her right leg she said, "See it's just a bruise nothing major"

The brunette replied " You sure?that's one nasty looking bruise. I mean you may need a tetanus shot." "Look, it's no big deal I'll take you."

Caroline reassured her " NO i said im fine and you only need a tetanus shot when you get a scratch or a wound where your skin breaks. I just need an icepack and aspirin and I'll be okay." The brunette raised one perfect brow and said "You a med student or something?"

" No i had a friend who was a doctor so…"

The brunette whistled and replied. "Nice. Anyway, I'm feeling really guilty. Can I at least drop you off somewhere? Come on! It's the least i can do for you. "

Caroline was still contemplating about her offer, cautiously eyeing the brunette beauty and bit her lower lip , when a few cars which had to stop behind brunettes car that was still parked on the road started honking their horns and shouting obscenities at her. Furiously the other girl turned and yelled at the top of her lungs, "Don't get your panties in a twist you people! Fine,fine I'm coming."

Muttering to herself " I swear to god people don't even have the decency to be patient these days." She left Caroline on the bench and got into her car and parked it on the side of came back to the blonde sitting on the bench and standing in front of her said, " Hey come on , i could drop you to your house, if not for you then at least to make me feel better."

"Okay" Caroline said as she got up and started walking towards the car with a slight limp, her backpack still secure around her shoulders, alongwith the brunette in tow. She got into the passenger seat and the brunette got into the driver's brunette turned towards Caroline and said, " I'm Katerina By the way, some call me Katherine, some Kat, some Kitty Kat, Some Kit Kat, some even call me Kitten. "

Caroline looked at her and wondered if she was the one who got hit by the car, Kat caught her look and replied after a short breathy laugh," You're probably wondering if I've lost it. I was just trying to make you feel better. Mind telling me your name, you of course don't have to tell me your nickname just the name , oh and address too , so i can drop you off. "

Caroline knew she shoudn't trust a stranger but there was something about this 'Kat' girl that seemed genuine so she smiled at her lame attempt to ease the tension and replied , " I'm Lina ," still not trusting her and ironically telling her, her nickname. Then said, " I don't have an address, " At Kats pitying expression she hurried on to say, " Not that I'm homeless I'm just not from here ,I...I.. I'm new here and kind of alone, i came here today from another state . You can just drop me off to a nearby inn."

Saying " Okay " Katherine started driving her car and was wondering why Lina's declaration that she was new and alone here left her feeling uneasy and sympathetic towards the doe-eyed she felt disturbed because the blonde sitting next to her looked guileless and naive reminding her of herself when she first came to this state running away from an abusive alcoholic father, in search of her stepsister.

Katherine would never claim to be a person who would consciously help someone, in fact she was one of those people who only helped themselves because she aggressively believed in the motto that God helped those who helped themselves, If helping others had been Gods agenda then they would have said God helped those who helped others, but nobody said that, so she was clearly going down the right had always considered helping others too much work, so why this blonde's quaint reply had left her wanting to HELP her..emphasis on help here people ...as she was definitely not loving this feeling. But she knew she had to do it, otherwise she would continue feeling perturbed and restless and she had to get rid of this stupid feeling, so by #helping her that's what they would say on twitter these days wouldn't they she was # helping herself. Yeah she was helping herself, good she could work with this wanting to help Lina the mysterious blonde was actually stemming from her innate instincts to help herself. "YES,"

Caroline looked at Kat when she said yes, " I said that outloud didn't I ?" Kat said after uttering yes

"I mean yes , look here we are." and parked her car in front of an elaborate looking house. Both women got out of the car with Katherine leading Caroline towards the house. "I know this does not look like an inn, because technically it's not. It's actually a boarding house that belongs to my stepsister's husband and his brother. But don't worry, they keep paying guests here and i'm sure they can find you a room." Both of them reached the main door and Kat pressed the bell muttering " Please don't let Damon be at home, please don't let Damon be at home", and turned to smile at Caroline. Caroline wondered if she was a little cuckoo because she kept muttering to herself and kept oscillating between sanity and insanity, it really was an education watching Kat go by the day.

Then a handsome blue eyed, black haired guy opened the door and Kat said , " SHIT, what are u doing at home Damon?"

The Damon guy rolled his eyes and replied with a pained expression on his face, "It's shitty meeting you to Devil incarnate."

Paying no attention to Damon's reply Kat pushed him aside and pulled Caroline inside.

Damon once again passed off a snarky comment, " By all means , come inside, we do entertain paying guests here , Oh wait i forgot you live here for free."

Kat flicked of her black curls and said, " Lina this is my stepsisters soon to be late husband, and Smarty pants this is Lina; your new house guest."

Damon said, " Really, smarty pants? Is that the best comeback you can come up with Katzilla?"

"You know Damon if it weren't for my sister Elena, we both know i would have easily killed you while doing my nails." Kat said and clenched her teeth.

"Yeah sure , you totally scared me terminator." Damon said and smirked fully aware he was riling up his sister in law.

Caroline was watching their interaction with a bit of a fascination, she had never had this, the way they were arguing with each other knowing well that it was nothing more than a harmless squabble.

Before either of them could launch into another round of colourful name calling and arguing another brunette entered the main hall of the boarding house. She was eerily like Katerina ,with few differences like she had straighter hair, with big round chocolate , whereas Kat's were a little upward slanting , she had softer expression on her face whereas Katherine face had a sharp expression like she was familiar with the cruelties and misfortunes of life.

" Damon , Katherine please be nice to each other. " said Elena and came to stand beside her husband putting an arm around his waist. Damon kissed his wife and said , " But she started it."

Kat replied ," I started it ? what are u eight?"

Elena once again intervened, "enough you two, at least show some manners in front of our guest."

Turning towards Caroline Elena said extending her right hand, " Hello, I'm Elena; Kat's older sister and you are? "

"I'm Lina, and Kat mentioned you provide accommodations here" Caroline shook her hand and replied tentatively.

Elena looked at Kat who said " Yeah about that, she was looking for a place to stay so I thought what's better than our very own Salvatore boarding house. "

Before Elena could say anything, Kat started ushering Lina towards the corridor at the far end of the main hall, leaving the couple standing in the hall, passing by the main counter at the left side of the hall Kat grabbed a pair of keys and hollered, " I'm giving her room 12. "

Entering the room Caroline could see that there was double bed in the middle of the room with a closet on the right and a nightstand with a vase on top of it on the left. There were 3 adjacent windows on the left of the room which gave her a view of a beautiful garden outside. Kat went straight to the windows opened them and let fresh air pour into the room.

Turning, she looked back at Lina still standing at the threshold, she sighed and remarked, " So this is going to be your room for as long as you want or you can pay. " As if almost immediately she realized that it came out wrong seeing a frown marring the blondes ivorytoned forehead.

Glaring at Kat Caroline spat out " I am not homeless as I told you before and besides it was not me who insisted you bring me here. I am perfectly capable of paying for a room at a bed and breakfast, don't act like you're doing me a favour okay? "

Katherine suddenly felt guilty and found she did not like it, moving two steps closer to Caroline and remorsefully remarked , "Look Lina I'm sorry. I did not mean it like that. See my problem is I'm not familiar with the concept of helping someone, i don't do this usually I mean being nice is so not my thing and for the life of me I don't understand why I want to be nice to you, and also considering I don't have a nice side this is what happens when I try to be. And gee..sorry seems to be only word I've been saying to you since we met... " then she stopped talking waiting for Caroline to respond to her sincere apology.

Caroline somehow understood where Kat was coming from, for the first few years of her life when she was abused she never knew how to respond or what to say. Somehow she had always blamed herself for the physical abuse, always thought that it was her fault maybe she hadn't been a good girl that's why it was happening to her. She had also struggled with interacting people, consistently trying to make them like her but no one had ever loved her or took the time to understand her, with the exception of her aunt's love for her had been an illusion that had shattered all too soon.

Yes Kat was in nowhere near the same situation Caroline had been through but she couldn't help but identify with her,maybe because she could see the same maturity in her eyes that she saw every time she looked in a mirror, which is usually foreign to regular twenty year olds, plus for some weird reason Katherine wanted to help her and was actually making an effort for her; so she smiled and exclaimed, "Well it's okay i guess plus sorry isn't the only thing you've said to me, you also said are you okay, I'll get you to a hospital etc , etc ."

"Well that lame excuse of a joke just shows you can't make it big as a stand-up comedian. "Kat replied with sassy smirk on her face.

Both gave out a short laugh and Caroline said, "Well i tried. So what's the rent for a fortnight? "

"It would be $250 and we accept only cash. " Damon said entering the room and interrupting them.

"Ignore him, he lost his brain during a scholastic decathlon when he was nine, which apparently was too much for his pea brain that it gave out, so it's really not his fault when nonsense just flows out of his mouth like shit out of a clogged gutter." Kat told Caroline and looking at Damon she said " Jerk-in-law you're ripping her off. She won't pay more than $150. "

" No tightwad-slash-lawyer-slash-philanthropist I won't do any concession just because you sashayed in here trying to order us around. " Damon grumbled.

"Fine. I'll talk to Elena. Come to think of it; I babysat Giuseppe for you guys all those times and for what? Nothing, i get no favours at all in return for all that drudgery. Lina you wait here. Unpack your stuff I'll be back. "Saying this she marched outside with Damon trailing behind her miming killing her with an axe.

Caroline smiled (their arguments were fun to watch), and moved towards the closet to had a feeling somehow it was the best idea coming here. She felt like she belonged in New Orleans.