Caroline felt Klaus's warm hand clasp hers, gently tugging her deeper into the embrace of the woods. The deep hues of night had surrendered to the gentle light of dawn, the sun just beginning to peek over the horizon, casting a golden glow that made it feel as if they were the only two souls in the world. "Caroline," he murmured, his voice rich and melodic, a sound she knew she would cherish forever. "You trust me, right?"
The question hung in the air, almost teasing in its simplicity. It felt almost silly to ponder how best to respond—of course she trusted him. With her heart laid bare, he was the one she trusted completely, the only person worthy of holding her deepest secrets. While her loyalty extended to his siblings, the bond she shared with Klaus was unlike any other. The two have been walking for a little less than forty minutes away from their village. Towards whatever surprise he had planned. "Absolutely. But does that mean you're finally going to tell me where we're going?" She giggled, the sound bubbling forth, a testament to the ease he brought into her life. In his presence, she felt invigorated, cherished, and utterly secure.
A moment of silence stretched between them, the anticipation crackling in the cool morning air. Then, without a word, Klaus moved behind her, his strong hands gently covering her eyes. With a playful flourish, he guided her forward, each step igniting a thrill of curiosity within her. As they approached, the distant sound of rushing water greeted her ears, an enchanting melody she had not noticed moments before. "I discovered this spot a few days ago while Elijah and I were out hunting," he explained, his voice filled with excitement.
With a flick of his hands, he revealed the hidden beauty before them—a picturesque small waterfall cascading into a serene river, sparkling like a treasure under the emerging sunlight. The sight stole her breath, not just for its beauty, but for the sense of adventure and intimacy swirling around them. "It's so beautiful," she whispers.
"I thought we could take a moment to ourselves and enjoy the water before we tell Mother and Father," he chuckles, tossing aside his shirt. "What do you think, my wife?" Caroline beams with joy, nodding in agreement as she gently lets the fabric of her dress slide down her body.
Caroline stood at the property line of the Mikaelson estate, her fingers drumming an anxious rhythm against her thigh, each beat echoing the turmoil roiling within her. The sprawling mansion before her loomed like a fortress of lingering secrets and unspoken truths, its grandeur overshadowed by the frustration bubbling just beneath her composed exterior. The Mikaelson's were her family - at least that was what her memory was telling her. She fixed her gaze steadfastly on the imposing front door, summoning every ounce of determination as she knocked with a firmness that resonated with her resolve. The years of ambiguity and unanswered questions had led her to this moment—she had waited far too long for clarity. Today, she would confront the past and demand the answers that eluded her.
With irritation simmering just beneath her skin, she knocked again, the sound sharp and insistent, breaking the pregnant silence of the opulent entryway.
The door swung open on its hinges, revealing a stunned Elijah Mikaelson dressed in a black suit with a dark grey tie. His brow furrowed in astonishment, and surprise washed over his refined features. "Caroline," he stammered, clearly taken aback by her sudden appearance at their doorstep.
"I remember you," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath as memories flickered like fireflies in the dark corners of her mind. "Bits and pieces are resurfacing… Just a few scattered memories so far. But every single memory I have had, evolves you and the rest of the Mikaelson family.." She hesitated, the weight of her emotions pressing against her chest that made her almost want to panic as footsteps echoed from the upper floor, a reminder that she was not alone in this moment. "You should have told me as soon as you saw me. You knew who I was, didn't you?. I've spent years searching for my family—for all of you," she continued, each word laced with a mixture of hurt and desperation.
Elijah stepped aside, opening the door wider as an invitation, his voice softening. "Come in; we can talk about this." Elijah always thought of Caroline as his little sister, she was always an important member of the Mikaelson family and it devastated him to hear her so broken.
But Caroline remained rooted to the spot, a fierce storm of uncertainty raging within her. "Am I not good enough?" The question slipped from her lips, fragile and quavering, as if it carried the weight of a thousand unshed tears—just as a familiar voice called her name, shattering the momentary lull.
Turning toward the staircase, her heart quickened when she saw him: Klaus, the man from the bar—the one who embodied a connection she had longed for, yet scarcely understood. Confusion etched across his striking features, it was clear that he had overheard every word exchanged between her and Elijah. "Why have I been alone for so long when everyone in this family roams this planet?" she challenged the two of them, bitterness creeping into her voice.
"Caroline," Klaus breathed her name, urgency threading through his tone. "We th—"
The sight of the family she had so desperately longed for inadvertently sent tears welling up in her eyes, the weight of her yearning and pain swirling into an almost unbearable ache. "I can't." The words escaped her, a spontaneous utterance that interrupted whatever Klaus had intended to articulate, her gaze dropping to the floor before drifting upwards in a silent plea.
In the suffocating silence that enveloped them, as the three of them remained suspended at the threshold of the Mikaelson home, something shifted within Klaus. With sudden resolve, he stepped past his brother, positioning himself before Caroline. His familiar presence ignited a flicker of recognition deep within her. "Don't do this, Caroline. Let us explain. Please, just hear me out. I'm sorry." The weight of Klaus Mikaelson's apology was substantial; it was a rare gift he rarely afforded, but he meant every word this time.
Caroline looked up, the shadow of doubt lifting just enough for a wide smile to break through her turmoil, softening her stormy demeanour. "I haven't done that yet; it feels easier than what others have described." She reached out, her fingers brushing over Klaus's face, igniting that intimate connection they shared long before, in an eye blink, she vanished from sight.
"Did she…?" Elijah began, though he sensed the answer even before the question was fully formed, concern etching itself into his features.
Caroline had been tantalisingly close—just inches away—and yet he couldn't hold her back. The years of pain and isolation that had once filled her heart surged forth with the resurgence of her memories. It was a tipping point he had feared, a bubbling over of emotions now surfacing without warning. Klaus exhaled heavily, his heart heavy with concern. "It's been a long time since we've had an Original without their humanity intact. I didn't think at our age we could still do that."
Elijah lets out a sigh as memories flood back to the moment they all awoke after Mikael's brutal attack. Among the six of them, Caroline was the only one who could manage her hunger, a feat Elijah has not witnessed since. "Caroline has always been exceptional in everything she undertakes."
"I'll finish getting dressed, and then we'll go after her," Klaus declares before hastening to his room to change, determined not to let her get too far ahead.
Caroline contemplated whether this was genuinely how she was meant to feel with her so-called humanity switch turned off. She had expected to experience only her body's cravings—perhaps for alcohol, blood, or maybe nothing at all. Instead, what engulfed her was a profound, bubbling rage. She intended to leave town swiftly, convinced that the man from her memories, whom she referred to as NiKlaus, would chase after her following his dramatic apology at his doorstep. She had only one destination in mind along the way, stopping to get Ripper if she could get him out.
Without knocking, Caroline entered the Salvatore household, hoping to find her friend she had left in the woods earlier that day. To her surprise, the living room was crowded with the very people she had considered friends just a few days ago, along with Damon. She remained silent at first, acutely aware of the stares boring into her as she made her way to the bar. Skipping the glass, she uncapped the expensive whiskey and took a swig straight from the bottle.
"Someone didn't ask," Damon remarked, the undertone of anger clear in his voice.
"Couldn't care less," she shot back, taking another sip. She did truly love getting underneath Damon's skin. "What's the topic of discussion?"
Bonnie exchanged a glance with Elena, the shift in Caroline becoming evident to everyone in the room. "We were discussing you," Bonnie replied.
Caroline rolled her eyes, letting out a theatrical sigh before she flashed to Stefan, pinning him against the wall by his neck. "I find it quite rude that you'd discuss matters I've shared with you in confidence," she said, tilting her head in a mock show of curiosity.
"Barbie!" Damon shouted, shocked; this was a side of Caroline none had ever witnessed before, a side that briefly reminded Damon of NiKlaus. He watched intently as she loosened her grip slowly on Stefan's neck, only to reappear by his side in an instant.
Before Damon could finish his warning, he found himself in the same predicament as his brother, pinned to the wall with her hand tightening around his throat. Caroline could hear Elena asking Bonnie if there was anything she could do, but the thought barely registered in her mind. "What did I say about name-calling?" she asked, tilting her head to meet his gaze. "You will call me Caroline—nothing more." She noticed his eyes widened in surprise, and a laugh escaped her lips as she released him, allowing him to crumple to the floor. "Well, that was intriguing."
"You shouldn't be able to do that," Damon growled.
Bonnie exchanged a glance with Elena, who broke the tension in the room by asking, "What did Caroline do?"
The blonde stepped closer to Stefan, who stared at her, wide-eyed, as Damon replied in the background, "She compelled me."
Caroline extended a hand to help Stefan up from the floor. "I'm leaving town, and I need you to come with me," she stated, her voice almost making it sound like a request rather than a demand.
"Okay," he replied, offering no further protest.