Hello everyone! This is my first fanfiction and it's for Klaroline. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything belonging to the vampire diaries

Caroline sat down heavily on her mother's bed. She didn't bother turning the lights on- it would be too painful to look at her things yet. She just wanted to sit there at the edge of the mattress and smell what was left of Liz's perfume. The travelers had caused her mother's death and she wasn't there to stop it. Damon tried to save Liz, but she was already gone by the time he lifted that ceiling beam off of her. Caroline sobbed uncontrollably for three days and then barricaded herself in her house. Her friends tried coming over and calling repeatedly, but she was too numb to look at them. She must've sat in this room for days staring at herself in the mirror across from her; she watched the sun go down twice.

Caroline eventually decided to leave the room to go and retrieve her mail that's been piling up outside hoping that no one would decide to visit her now. From what she could tell, it was mostly sympathy cards, but noticed one carefully wrapped package. Throwing the sad cards aside, not wanting to deal with it yet; she ripped the brown paper open to find a letter on top of some book wrapped in paper.

The letter read:

"Dearest Caroline,

You have not yet met me, but I knew your mother. My name is Lilah and I am an immortal creature, much like yourself, and I care very much for your family. It pains me greatly to hear of your mother's passing. She was a warrior in this life and a kind woman. She loved you very much.

Liz was also incredibly smart which I'm sure you inherited from her. You're probably wondering why she's never mentioned me; I can't blame you for not trusting me, some stranger. Your mother was my great great great etc. grand niece, which also makes you my kin. Knowing you'll want proof, I have enclosed a copy of our family tree. Some of the members have their own pictures; older relatives were sketched by a very talented artist I know.

I am also writing because I was wondering if you would let me attend the funeral. You don't have to meet me if you don't want to, I'll just pay my respects. I would also like you to visit my home. I live in New Orleans and believe it would be a nice escape for you. I will write my phone number at the bottom for you to respond.

Enclosed is also a check, not only to pay for funeral expenses but for you to use to your liking. I can only take credit for half of the sum. It seems that you have other friends here that deeply care about you.

Please consider my offer.

Love,

Lilah"

To say that Caroline was baffled is an understatement, why wouldn't her mom ever say anything, especially when her dad left? This can't be real, the only family Caroline ever knew was her mom and her friends and now suddenly this mystery person shows up out of nowhere? Not completely believing the letter from this mystery relative, Caroline ripped open the paper and held an archaic, leather bound book. On the first page were sketches of a man named Charles and a blonde woman named Sarah. "Father and Mother" the inscription said and Caroline read out loud. Under them were their children Delilah and Felicity. Felicity died in childbirth while Delilah's death inscription read "murdered, but reborn"- whatever that means.

Sarah apparently remarried a Bulgarian man whose daughter was named Tatia and she must've been another Elena doppelganger because she looked just like her. Delilah was born in 987 a.d. in Mystic Falls. Caroline was trying to do math in her head.

"Did she know the Mikaelsons?" Caroline thought. It would make sense if Lilah lived in Mystic Falls a thousand years ago she probably ran into them. She knew from Alaric's class that the villages back then were small and close knit.

She hesitantly flipped to the last page of the book where Bill Forbes was smiling at her, "murdered by accident, wasn't reborn." Caroline's eyes welled up with tears remembering the hurt that came with her father's death. He didn't want to be what she was so he chose to die. She looked at her mother Liz next, "murdered, but avenged." Then she looked at herself. "Murdered, but reborn." Just like Lilah. So she must a really old vampire then, did one of the Mikaelsons turn her?

She had so many questions and had no idea where to start, but the funeral was tomorrow and this woman wanted permission to come. Caroline decided she would let her come to interrogate this stranger. She glanced at the number written on the bottom of the letter and debated on whether or not to call.

She did.

"Hello?" A woman answered after the first ring.

"Uh, hi, is this Lilah Charleson?" Caroline was definitely off her game, she felt shy and hesitant instead of the confident and strong vampire she was.

"Yes, is this Caroline Forbes?" Lilah's voice sounded so kind and familiar, like her mother's, but she kept her guard up.

"Mhm." Caroline really didn't know what to say to this person.

"I'm glad you're calling."

"To be honest, I'm really confused by everything." Where does Caroline begin?

"I can imagine you would be. Your father didn't know of me because of his prejudices against our kind. I hope you understand." That answers that question. Caroline knew how her father hated vampires; he died because he refused to become one.

"I do." It was an awkward conversation, like the kind you have with your second cousin at a family reunion.

"Have you considered my offer?" Caroline was genuinely curious about Lilah, what if she was telling the truth?

"You can come to the funeral, as for New Orleans, do you know the Mikaelsons?" She decided to just rip that band-aid off.

"If it's them stopping you from visiting, don't worry yourself. They won't know you're here. It's a big city."

"That didn't answer my question."

"Didn't it?" she laughed. "Look, Caroline, I have much to tell you of the past- one part of it being about the Originals. You should know that I grew up with them. We are friends." This was concerning for Caroline. The Mikaelsons never mentioned Lilah, but they never really mentioned anyone.

"How friendly are you?" Caroline wasn't letting this go.

"I won't lie to you Caroline, in his human life I was Niklaus' best friend. Since, he has done unsavory things. We would go decades, a century at a time without speaking, but friends always find their way back to each other, as you know I'm sure." Caroline did know. It didn't matter what happened between her, Bonnie, and Elena, they'd always be friends.

"I do know." Caroline thought for a moment. What would really be so bad about leaving? After all that's happened she was itching to leave Mystic Falls. "OK. I'll do it." She said defiantly.

"Do what, Caroline?"

"Come to New Orleans, but please don't tell them yet." She didn't know if she was ready to see Klaus, she hasn't talked to him since Katherine died.

"Oh my God, yay!" Lilah squealed sounding like a teenager. "I promise you won't regret it! You can come back with me after the funeral…if that's okay of course." Caroline felt a pang of guilt. Should she leave so soon? What will Klaus think when he finds out that he's not the one showing her New Orleans? Would he even still care? Does she even care about him?

"It's fine."

"I will see you tomorrow then Caroline."

"Thank you."

"No, thank you, Caroline…you should know how sorry Niklaus is about your mom's passing." There it was. He remembers who she is after all.

"Tell him 'thanks'."

"I will. Goodbye."

"Bye."

Everything was happening so fast. Caroline lay awake in her bed thinking about all that has happened this week. Bonnie and her mother are dead. She thought she had feelings for Stefan, but he didn't want her; he was still in love with Elena and drove off after Caroline said she might have feelings for him. She knew now that she was just lonely and scared. Elena and Enzo are always busy with Damon. She feels so alone. She wondered why Klaus didn't say anything to her, she told him not to come back but, she didn't think he would be silent now. "He's probably the 'friend' that helped Lilah pay for the funeral", she thought. She considered turning off her humanity for a split second, but couldn't. That's not what her mom would've wanted. Feeling exhausted, she drifted off to sleep, dreading tomorrow.