AN: when i write these chapters they always seem longer than they are lol i write it and think sweet long chapter! then i post it and im like shit haha anyways. here she be.

thank you for all the follows and favorites!

Chapter 6

3Rd Person POV

They sat for a few moments before Caroline dared to end the silence. She tried for some levity.

"Well Mr. Mikaelson, I don't know what kind of magic your mother uses but I barely feel anything anymore."

Elijah choked on a laugh.

"Oh Miss Forbes, if you only knew," he joked. "but don't let that fool you, you're still quite injured and should not strain yourself too much."

With the reminder of her injuries, the moment was broken and it all came rushing back. Caroline took in a shuddering breath.

"Elijah, I want to thank you. Thank you for finding me. For getting me help. For, well everything."

"There is no need for gratitude, Caroline. I'm just thankful that I came upon you when I did or else I fear the river would have carried you away when you lost consciousness," Elijah said while running his fingers through her hair.

The silence returned, but, try as she might, Caroline could not help but ask, "Elijah? What happened?"

"What do you mean? I found you on the edge of the river before you passed out and then…." He started, confusion on his face.

"No no. Elijah. What happen between you and Nik?" Caroline asked quietly.

Elijah's breath caught and released shakily while the hand in your hair stopped.

"I…I ran to the house to find Nik for you like you'd asked," he started quietly. So quietly that had he not been right above your head whilst you laid in his lap, you wouldn't have heard him. "I got to our home and Rebekah came out after hearing me yelling, telling me Niklaus was not home. I sent her you way and went to find him in the direction she pointed. I came upon Tatias house," he seemed to get choked up, so Caroline reached for his hand and squeezed it.

"I….I called out but I'm guessing no one heard me. I walked in and…..they were in a lovers embrace. Against the wall without a care or thought in the world. I loved her, Caroline. With my whole being and this is what she's chosen. To sneak around behind my back with my very own brother. And he's no better. He knew of my plans to court her. I don't….I don't know what possessed them to hurt me like this. Maybe I did something. Maybe I deserve it after the amount of times I never stopped fathers abuse of Niklaus," Elijah finished with his head down.

Caroline, very slowly, tried to sit up, but only accomplished it when Elijah snapped out of his sorrows and helped her. She then reached for his face with both hands on either side.

"Listen to me, Elijah Mikaelson. I don't know you and your family half as well as I'd like to. But there is one thing I do know. You did nothing to cause this. This was a decision made by Tatia and Nik. This is not your fault. You are a noble man, Elijah. Don't let this ruin you." Caroline said, vehemently.

Elijah stared for a moment before placing his hand over hers on the side of his face and took a deep breath.

"Im sorry, I should not have unloaded all that on you in your state. But thank you. You are one of a kind, Caroline," he said with a gentle smile.

A smile lit up Caroline's face and a small giggle escaped and some sort of switch flipped for Elijah, and his smile was warm when he returned it. Her face seemed to light up from within and made his breath catch for a moment.

Beautiful, he thought.

Beautiful, she thought, watching Elijah smile.

Caroline POV

It wasn't much later that I decided it was time.

"I have to go home," I sighed to Elijah.

After our talk, Elijah had guided me to lay back on his lap to rest. Elijah sighed as well.

"I don't want you to. I don't want to return you to that monster but I also know it would be much worse if you didn't." He slowly helped me sit up again and then stood and held his hands out to help me stand.

I stood and took stock of how I felt. My body ached but not nearly as bad as I expected it to.

"Seriously, Elijah, what was in your mother's medicine basket? This stuff has worked wonders!" I said, shocked but pleased.

Elijah hesitated. "That, my dear, is a story better left for another time. Perhaps…..perhaps tomorrow if you're not too busy after chores we could go for a walk? I can explain it all to you then."

"If I'm able to, I would love to accompany you," I said with a small smile.

Elijah held his arm out and I hooked mine in his, accepting the aid he provided since waking still hurt a bit.

They were just about to breach the trees when I dropped his arm.

"I'm sorry, I can't take any chances. This all happened because Nik was being too nice to me," I said, stepping further away.

Elijah shook his head. "That's okay. The last thing I want to do is cause you any pain. You go on, hopefully I'll see you tomorrow," he said softly.

He started to walk toward his home.

"Elijah?" I called out before he got too far

He turned around.

"Hear him out, please? Your brother loves you. At least listen to why he's done what he's done. Please."

Elijah stared for a minute, gave a slight nod then disappeared through the trees.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and steeled my nerves before reaching toward my back to pull away the bandages and gasped in pain. I didn't want to do this in front of Elijah. He would have stopped me. But I knew if my father saw them he would have known. He would have known I had help. And it would have deadly consequences.

Elijah POV

I stood in the doorway while Caroline came out of the forest and walked towards her home. She didn't turn to me, just walked like a woman walking to an execution.

How could Mr Forbes do that? Mikael does it to my brother and that's hard enough. But a sweet soul like Caroline? I'll never understand it. But neither will I stand by and have it happen again.

Even I knew I was stalling at this point. I didn't want to to go in and see Niklaus and whatever excuses he had.

I also didn't want all of our siblings to hear everything though I knew they'd be listening regardless.

"I won't do this inside Niklaus, lest the urge to hit you strikes again and I upset the others. Come outside and let us get this over." I said over my shoulder, where I knew he was standing and moved back towards the woods to sit on a fallen tree.

As I sat down I saw Niklaus sit down across from me on the ground leaning against a tree.

The silence was awkward.

"Elijah, brother, im sorry," he murmured, head down, too ashamed to look me in the eye.

I scoffed. "No you're not."

He looked up then. "I am. We shouldn't have done it. But brother…I love her."

I stood up and paced back and forth. "Love? You call that love? You sneak around behind my back, keep this secret and claim its 'love'. You shouldn't have to hide love brother. If you do, it's not real. But who am I to talk, I thought what me and her had was love, and look where that got me? Betrayed by the two most important people in my life."

"I only just found out you were still together, Elijah. Today, on the walk with Caroline, when we saw you both, that's when I knew she'd lied and you were still together. I went to confront her. I….I'm weak when it comes to her. She tells me she loves me. She says we could have a life together," he said. Like he was begging me to understand his indiscretions.

"funny, she said the same to me. Shall we find out where her heart truly lies, brother?" I said, while walking off into the woods.

Niklaus followed.

We walked through the woods for a short while before we happened upon her home. She was out front with Thyra.

"'Lijah!" the little girl yelled, as she ran towards me.

"Hello, how's my little Angel today?" I asked her, picking her up.

She leaned in to whisper in my ear. "Mama's in a mood," she said, making a funny face.

I looked up at Tatia, who refused to look at either of us.

"Angel, how about you go inside for just a little while. My brother and I need to talk to your mother," I told her while setting her down.

She looked over at Niklaus.

"Are you 'lijah's brother?" she asked.

He looked pained. "Yes. My name is Niklaus."

With a little wave to him, and a last hug to me she skipped into the house.

Niklaus turned on Tatia. "You never introduce her to others, huh? How does she know Elijah so well then? How long before you allowed him into her life?"

She refused to answer so I answered for her. "The day after I met Tatia. We had a picnic in the field near the horses." I wasn't being smug. I was just stating a fact.

Niklaus turned an angry look towards Tatia.

"Seems you're all for telling the truth, aren't you, my love," I said, sarcastically.

"Elijah," she started.

"if the next thing out of your mouth isn't the truth, for once, then I don't want to hear it. Explain this to me. Explain this to us. You claim you love me. You claim you love my brother. So choose," you demanded.

"I didn't mean for this to happen with Nik. But you were more concerned with your family than with me! I felt alone Elijah! Don't I deserve to be first? Then today! That stupid blonde twit shows up and I'm once again forgotten!"

I was about to speak up, but Niklaus beat me to it.

"Don't," he said in a low voice. "Don't ever speak of Caroline that way."

"What, has she put a spell on you as well? Has what she got between her legs that good that it's stolen both of my men away from me?" she cried out.

"Watch your mouth, Tatia. You aren't half the women Caroline Forbes is," I said, angrily.

She scoffed. "you want my answer, Elijah? You want my choice? Well the answer is I don't have one. I cannot choose between the two of you. Please do not ask me to."

"Well you can't have us both. And I deserve better. So if that is truly your answer then I'm sorry, but we're done," I said quietly, backing up to turn back to the forest.

"Elijah! Please!"

"Please, what? Please come back? Would you say the same if it was me walking away, Tatia?" Niklaus asked

"Nik…"

Niklaus nodded his head. "I see. I get it now. Goodbye Tatia." He turned around and followed me out into the forest. We both ignored her cries behind us.

"Elijah. I don't know what to say. I thought it was true love. I didn't know and im so, so sorry," Niklaus said with a hitch in his voice.

I didn't speak for a while till we were almost home.

"I don't forgive you brother. I can't yet. But maybe in time. Just give me some space to get my head and my heart around everything that's happened," I asked quietly, before walking forward into our home and straight to my room to lay down.

My thoughts instantly went to Caroline and how she was doing.

Caroline POV

When I arrived home, my father, thankfully was not there. My mother, however, was.

"Your father went to a meeting with Mikael and the town council. He will be back shortly. Would you like me to loom at your back?" She asked while preparing the vegetables for dinner.

"What? You didn't get a good enough look while your husband was beating the life out of me while you just say there and watched like a coward?" I spat.

She remained silent.

"I'm fine, mother. I don't need your help."

"Caroline. Your father is the provider for this family. To question him would be pointless. You must learn your place if you don't want to repeat the same punishments over and over," she said, without even raising her head to look at me.

"Words of wisdom from one victim to another, right?" I scoffed. I walked into my room to clean myself up before father got home.

I was standing at the window waiting for supper to finish cooking over the fire. I saw Elijah and Nik walk out of the forest and hoped they had talked out their differences. I turned slightly and saw father walking home. I rushed back to the pot on the fire to stir and hopefully avoid any more confrontation.

He walked in and took his coat off to hang up, not even acknowledging my presence. I wasn't complaining.

"Elizabeth. Come in here," he called, sitting down by the fire.

My mother soon joined us and after checking the pot, spooned out some stew into bowls for us. We sat down to eat and listen to father.

"I've just met with Mikael and the council. Usually I wouldn't believe half of what I was told but with the amount of people verifying the story, I really can't deny it. On the next full moon, in just under a months time, we will be required to pack some belongings and follow the rest of the families from town into the caves for the night."

"Yes, William," mother said.

"Why?" I asked at the same time.

My father shot me a look but didn't comment.

"There are wolves in the next town over. As crazy as it sounds, they are werewolves. Humans that turn into wolves on the full moon. They are vicious and inhuman and will kill anyone and anything in their paths. One of the council members showed me scars he received when he was lucky enough to escape one. I'd rather be safe than sorry," he said, continuing to eat his stew.

I was at a loss for words. Wolves? Humans that turn into wolves? They were joking right?

I went to say something else but with a swift look from my father, I snapped my mouth shut.

"Caroline. I spoke to Mikael today. He agreed that you need to keep your distance from that boy, Niklaus. He is nothing but trouble from what Mikael has told me. I don't want you anywhere near him, is that understood?"

I remained silent while eating my supper.

His bowl slammed down on the table. I jumped.

"I said is that understood, Caroline?" he asked in a harder tone.

"Yes father," I said.

"Good. Tomorrow you will spend the day gathering. The harvest is still in effect and the trees are overflowing with fruit."

On the inside, I was giddy. I didn't even have to come up with an excuse to sneak away to meet with Elijah tomorrow!

"father, im done my supper. May I please be excused for bed?" I asked

"Go," he dismissed me.

I left and went to lay in my room. My back was really starting to hurt but I was exhausted and very excited to spend the day with Elijah and I soon fell asleep.

The next morning I couldn't have been more eager to complete my chores. Which was highly unlike me. I was down by the river washing clothes with a few other wives and daughters of the village. I was almost done when I felt someone kneel beside me. I looked over into the eyes of Esther Mikaelson.

"Hello, dear. Its nice to see you again. I hope you're adjusting well to the new village?" she asked, warmly.

"Hello, Esther. Yes, everyone in the village has been so welcoming. Including your family. It's a very nice change," I said, politely.

"Whoops! Sorry!" a girl from the village accidentally tripped into me with her basket of clothes and I sucked in a gasp when she collided with my back. She didn't stop just kept walking down the river bank.

I took a moment and closed my eyes to focus on my breathing like Nik had said to do.

When I opened my eyes, Esther was staring at me with an unwavering look.

"I, um. I hurt my back yesterday. When I fell," I mumbled out, turning back to finish my basket of clothes.

I could feel her eyes on my back.

We finished our washing in a tense silence and when she was done she got up to go back.

Before she left, she turned to me and said, "after your talk, please come and see me. You will have some answers but not all and I can help with the rest." She gave me one last smile and walked back to the village.

I had no idea what she was talking about.

I had just finished washing my last item when I felt like I was being watched. I looked up and glanced around until I spotted Elijah just within the trees on the other side of the river. He nodded his head towards the woods with a small smile on his face.

My smile was huge when I returned it, motioned to him I'd be just a minute and gathered my things to rush back home. I dropped the clean laundry with mother who's job was to hang it all, grabbed my basket and told her is be out gathering as per father's instruction.

I walked back out and crossed the bridge over the river and into the forest. I looked around for Elijah and was just about to call for him when I felt hands wrap around my eyes, covering them completely.

I was about to scream when I felt his lips near my ear.

"Breathe, sweetheart, it's just me. But I have a surprise for you and I don't want to ruin it by you seeing it beforehand," Elijah whispered.

I took a calming breath and let him lead me forward, trusting him completely. We walked for another few minutes when I heard the sound of rushing water.

That's when Elijah uncovered my eyes, and I gasped in awe.

We were standing at the top of the most beautiful waterfall.

"Elijah this is gorgeous!"

"it is isn't it?" he murmured, still looking at me.

And boy did I blush then.

He cleared his throat and turned to the falls. "It is said these falls contain magic. They're also said to have mystic properties." He was quiet for a moment, then sat down, patting the ground beside him for me to sit. I sat down and took in the view with him.

"Do you believe in magic, Caroline?" Elijah asked quietly.

I turned and looked at him.

"You mean like making things appear and disappear kind of magic? Or turning from a human into a wolf kind of magic?" I asked jokingly.

Elijah smirked. "Ah, I see you've been informed."

"It's all rather hard to believe, Elijah. I've seen no proof that such things exist."

"Oh but you have," he said, turning to look at me.

I gave him a questioning look.

"Your back, Caroline," he said, glancing toward my back.

I touched my back and thought back to yesterday.

"Seriously, Elijah, what was in your mother's medicine basket? This stuff has worked wonders!"

I gasped as I realize what he was saying. "Are you telling me magic helped heal my back, Elijah?" I asked, shocked.

He continued to look at me and gave a small nod of his head.

I blew out a large breath.

"Seriously? Elijah, please explain, because im this close to panicking," I begged.

He reached over to grab my hand to give it a reassuring squeeze. Just when I thought he would let go, though, he didn't and continued his explanation with it twined with his.

"It's quite simple. Well, to me it is anyways, but I grew up with it. My mother is a witch. She practices magic. Casts spells, performs rituals," he then gave me a knowing look, "and heals."

I touched my back again.

"Is everyone in your family witches?" I asked, curiously.

"No, just mother and Kol. They're the only ones with any inclination towards magic. There is another witch in our village, her name is Ayana. You'll see her just before the full moon, setting protection spells alongside my mother, outside the cave."

We were quiet for a few moments.

"I'm sorry Elijah. You just have to give me a minute. It's a lot to comprehend. First werewolves. And now witches. Back in my old village the only thing I had to worry about was old man Luther getting too handsy," I laughed.

"well I must say, so far you're handling it quiet well," he said, giving my hand a small squeeze.

"You'll find out that there's not much I can't handle, 'lijah," I said, looking at him.

I continued to stare at him, and him at me. He raised his hand to my cheek and brushed his against it. "I wanted to thank you, Caroline. For your words of comfort yesterday. They helped more than you'll ever know."

I placed my hand over his.

"Well everything I said was the truth. You deserve so much. You deserve everything," I said, blush rising to my cheeks and I couldn't look him in the eye anymore so I turned towards the falls.

I felt him slide closer before his hand was once again on my face. He turned me to look at him, looking into my eyes.

"I don't know what it is about you, Caroline. You're unlike anyone I've ever met," he whispered, looking from my eyes to my lips and back again. "I can't stop thinking about you."

My eyes widened in shock.

"R-really?" I asked stupidly.

He nodded his head.

"I'm going to kiss you. I'm only telling you now because if you aren't feeling what I'm feeling I'm giving you the chance to walk away," he whispered.

I sat looking into his eyes before I brought my hand up to his face.

"I'm not going anywhere," I whispered.

The next second he crashed his lips onto mine, kissing me like a desperate man. I'd kissed boys around the old village before but this was a man. And this kiss blew my kind. I felt his tongue beg for entrance as I opened my mouth for him. My hands went to his hair to grab hold as he continued to caress my tongue, grabbing me around my waist to pull me into his lap. I pulled away from the kiss to gain back the breath he stole. He continued down my chin to my neck, leaving hot kisses and little nips as he went.

I moaned into him and felt him stir beneath me. That brought me quickly out of the haze of lust we were in.

"Elijah," I panted.

He looked up and saw the lustfull (and semi panicked) look on my face and eased up a bit. His kisses got gentler as he kissed back up to my face, laying gentle kisses on my chin, my cheeks, my eyes my nose and everything else he could reach. I giggled at his display of affection. He finally made it back to my mouth and gave me a gentle kiss before pulling back to look at me.

"You are the dream I never knew to ask the gods for but received anyways. And I'll never stop thanking them for that," he murmured.

"God's, Elijah, keep talking like that and you'll ruin me for any other man," I said with a shaky laugh, tears in my eyes from his words.

He smirked. "That's the plan," and he gave me a quick peck on the lips before standing and helping me to my feet. I laughed.

"Let's go. We've been gone a while and you cannot return with an empty basket. I will help you with your gathering," Elijah said.

"Doing womens work, Elijah? Whatever will your brothers say?" I joked, walking ahead of him.

"Don't you dare tell them anything!" he laughed, running after me. I laughed when he got to my side, stole my basket and took off.

"Elijah! You know I can't run!" I yelled after him.

His laugh echoed off the trees.