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Elijah Mikaelson coughed lightly, drawing the attention of his siblings and prompting a gentle smile to appear on his lips. They were gathered in the woods, a secluded spot away from their parents, to celebrate the union of Niklaus and Caroline Mikaelson. Niklaus had sought a more intimate celebration with his siblings and new wife, and Elijah was determined to make that happen—it was his gift to the couple.

"I'd like to say a few words," Elijah began, watching his brother return his smile. Despite their many conflicts, the bond of brotherhood was unshakeable. "Love, true love, is a rare treasure in this world. When you discover your soulmate, you hold them dear and never let them go. Caroline, you've illuminated Niklaus's life since the moment you met. I couldn't be happier that you two have found each other." Elijah turned towards the newlyweds, who shared a tender glance. "To our new family."

Raising their wooden cups, each Mikaelson sibling, along with the blushing bride, echoed, "To family."

Caroline was the first to awaken after Mikael Mikaelson had plunged swords into each family member. It had been weeks since the tragic loss of Henrik Mikaelson and the agonizing death of her own son. Though it had only been a year since she became a Mikaelson, so much had changed. As her eyes fluttered open, she could faintly make out Esther and Mikael in the corner, engaged in quiet conversation. A shudder ran through her body as the rest of the family began to stir.

Panic surged within her, recalling the moment when Niklaus transformed into his werewolf form, driving her to flee. She had hidden from the Mikaelsons after Mikael's furious demand for her to leave. In a moment of desperation, she had taken her first life just outside of town, an act that felt foreign yet inevitable. It was Rebekah who ultimately found her and brought her back to the hut.

"It's going to be okay, Caroline," Rebekah whispered, her voice soothing. "Elijah saved Niklaus. He's still alive."

One Hundred Seventy-Five Years and Four Hundred Thirty-Three Days Later…

NiKlaus Mikaelson stood silently beside his siblings, gazing at the dwindling flames of the fire. The weight of heartbreak lay heavily upon him, and he found no words to express his grief.

"She will be missed," Elijah Mikaelson murmured, his voice soft and filled with sorrow. The noble Original cast a glance around at the siblings who were not confined in coffins—Kol Mikaelson lingered behind their only sister, Rebekah Mikaelson.

Stepping forward, NiKlaus placed a single white rose on the smoldering grave. "I will never find another like you," he vowed, his voice trembling. "Not that I would want to. I will always love you, always cherish you. And I will take my father's life for robbing me of yours."

A flash of memory crossed his mind—the image of the blonde woman stepping in front of him to take the white dagger meant for his heart. That memory elicited a deep sigh from NiKlaus; love could compel someone to make foolish sacrifices.

Turning to his older brother, NiKlaus spoke softly, "We need to leave. We can't stay here for too long. He will come back." His siblings looked on in surprise; NiKlaus's decisions often carried weight, especially in matters of grief. Elijah opened his mouth to protest, wanting to argue that they could take a moment to mourn their loss. He felt the ache of his sister's passing, just as NiKlaus did for his lover, his best friend, his other half. But NiKlaus interrupted his thoughts. "She died for us, Elijah. We can't just sit and wait to be hunted by our father. Her death must not be in vain…"

Elijah nodded, recognizing the truth in his brother's words. "You are right. Let's move then." One by one, the Mikaelson siblings departed, murmuring soft phrases of remembrance for their beloved adopted sister, leaving NiKlaus standing alone.

"I will see you again, my light, my love. There's no question about that…" NiKlaus promised, his heart heavy as he walked away from the grave site.

Mystic Falls, VA - Now

Elijah Mikaelson's gaze lingered on the blonde woman before him. There was a slight pep in her step, an illusion of normalcy, but he could sense the pain beneath her surface. Elena Gilbert, the latest doppelganger to enter their tumultuous lives, spoke animatedly about issues Elijah had no desire to engage with. He interrupted her mid-thought, curiosity piqued. "Who is the blonde?"

Elena sighed, a familiar exasperation in her tone each time Caroline was mentioned. "Her name is Caroline Ricci… although we're not sure if that's her real last name."

Elijah mentally repeated her name, a flicker of recognition igniting within him. This couldn't be the same Caroline, could it? "How long has she been here?" Elijah is suddenly grateful for the gossip this doppelganger seemed to be, he picked up from the sound of her voice that she didn't like the blonde much.

Elena shrugged, her indifference clear. "Caroline was a friend of Stefan's back in the 1930s. They traveled the West Coast together until Damon found them in Las Vegas. There are a couple of rumors about her…"

Elijah's attention returned to Caroline as she ordered a drink from the bartender. A smile tugged at his lips as he overheard her compel the bartender to ignore the reality of her age and serve her a gin and tonic. "What are the rumors?" he asked, intrigued.

She rolled her eyes at the thought of Caroline. "The rumors say she's missing her family. Whenever someone gets hurt, she feels their pain. But the twist is, she doesn't remember them. She says she woke up in 1178 with no memory of who she was, who her family was, or what she was. Apparently, a witch cursed her to forget everything—but she still feels a connection to them. All their pain, she bears it firsthand."

Elijah noted the skepticism in Elena's voice. He turned to face her fully. "You don't trust her."

Elena shook her head. "Would you trust someone…?" She quickly corrected herself. "Would you trust someone who just woke up as a vampire with no memory of being human? But both Stefan and Damon seem to trust her, that must mean something."

Elijah understood her concerns, her caution rooted in past experiences. Yet, if this truly was the Caroline they had left burning in the woods of Italy so long ago, he saw a path forward—a way to save his younger brother from a darkness that threatened to consume him. Perhaps, in helping Caroline reclaim her memories, he could also find a way to mend the fractures within their family and pull Niklaus back from the edge.

Elijah's first call was to his younger brother, a voice he hadn't heard in three long years. He felt a twinge of relief that cell phones had become a staple of their time—NiKlaus had agreed to keep the same number, a lifeline in case either of them needed to reach out.

"Elijah," the voice that haunted many a nightmare greeted him, smooth and edged with curiosity. "This is a pleasant surprise. I wasn't expecting a call from you, at least not anytime soon."

Elijah rolled his eyes, knowing exactly how NiKlaus thrived on theatrics. "We need to change the plans. You need to move up—take your rightful body and come to Mystic Falls sooner rather than later."

NiKlaus's voice tightened with suspicion. "Why? Is someone trying to take the doppelganger away?" Anger tinged his words, a familiar fire that flared at the mere mention of their past.

Shaking his head—though his brother couldn't see it—Elijah sighed, choosing his words carefully. "What I'm about to tell you, you must believe. I am not lying, NiKlaus. Not about this, at least."

"Just tell me, brother," NiKlaus muttered, impatience creeping into his tone.

Elijah paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "Caroline is alive. She's living in Mystic Falls." He may have questioned it during the conversation with Elena the day before, but hearing her laugh at the bar, Elijah knew it was the woman his brother loved so much.

"She is dead, Elijah. We saw our father murder her while she was trying to save my…" His voice faltered, emotion cracking through the bravado. "To save my life." Elijah heard the shuffle of his brother pulling the phone away for a moment, collecting himself before speaking again. "Anyway, if she were alive, she would have come after us. She would have come after me," he corrected.

Elijah nodded slightly, even though NiKlaus couldn't see. "Well, I've figured out the solution to that question of why she didn't come after us. The doppelganger mentioned to me that Caroline woke up with no memory of her former self. Apparently, when she awoke, she didn't even know she was a vampire—though she caught on quickly enough. I don't know the whole story but we will figure it out shortly."

NiKlaus was silent for a moment, digesting the information, the weight of it heavy in the air. "I'll be there in three days, Elijah. Keep an eye on her. And brother, if you are lying to me, I will put a white oak stake through your heart and bury you at sea before you can even mumble 'I'm sorry.'" With that, he disconnected, leaving Elijah alone with the weight of the conversation. Slipping his phone into his jacket pocket, Elijah sighed. The self-proclaimed "king of the supernatural" was heading to Mystic Falls to reclaim his lost angel, and Elijah knew that things were about to get very complicated.