A/N: I hope you enjoy :)
Disclaimer: I do not own The Vampire Diaries, nor do I own The Originals. I am not affiliated with those corporations that do, and receive no profit for the publication of this fan-written work.
According to psychologists, there are five stages to grief.
It begins with denial. You deny that it ever happened, and, for a while, the concept that life has changed, that you have changed, does cease to exist. That is, until you realize that you can't hide from reality. Well, that's how the doctors say it. But then again, they don't understand that you don't hold on to something gone because your brain tells you to. You hold on because it hurts like hell to let go. You hold on because admitting that your world is broken is admitting that you, too, are broken, and no one wants to be the fragile person that everyone fights to protect, no matter what that means.
The next stage of grief is, as follows, isolation. You isolate yourself from what life once was. You hide from the people you once knew, because, again, you cannot imagine accepting the fact that something vital, nearly as important as breath, is gone from your life. And so, you hide. You run like hell, and as childish as it may be, it's also a way to survive in the bitterly cold wilderness that is reality.
The third stage of grief is anger. You're pissed off at the situation, pissed off at the world, pissed off at the person who left. It's not logical, but it sure as hell is emotional, which means that you hold onto your anger much as you once did your denial; it's like a rope and you're drowning out at sea. It's a lifesaver, but eventually, the waves you escaped come crashing down and you're caught in the tide.
The next step is bargaining, or blaming yourself for a loss you had no control over. It's like being angry at the dead, although at least the subject of your anger is alive. But what doctors again fail to realize is that, for humankind, it's second nature to blame ourselves. We do it every day.
The fifth step is depression, an emotion felt throughout every step. Denial and isolation are caused by depression, and the anger is a way of allowing the world to see how deeply broken you are. The bargaining is a way to make yourself feel guilty, praying for that emotion, one of the very few you'll feel that will allow you to breathe.
The sixth, and final, step is acceptance. It comes after days, weeks, months, years. It hurts like hell but it's possible to survive. It's proof that you fought a battle with yourself, your mind, your soul, and you survived.
Caroline Forbes wasn't sure what stage of grief she was at. She stared with numbness coursing through her veins as an officer handed her a flag. As he walked away, she allowed a lone tear to travel done her cheek, dampening the pristine cloth of the flag. Other than that, though, she was absolutely still.
She didn't know what to feel. She had left her mother in a time of need, gone with the man who made her feel as if she had betrayed a relationship she wasn't even a part of, and now, she was all alone, lost in the world of her thoughts, caught up in her own mind. She didn't feel Stefan kiss the top of her head or Elena clasp her hand. She didn't think when Damon hugged her tightly and murmured his apologies. She only wanted one set of arms around her, and they were thousands of miles away.
It was nearing dusk when Stefan finally walked out of the home she had shared with her mother, a sympathetic smile on his features. "Caroline," he said softly, and she spun, displaying her tear-stained face. "We need to talk."
She agreed. Of course she agreed. It was Stefan Salvatore, the man she had once wanted. Now that he was about to admit that he wanted her, though, she knew that she was going to break them both, end a friendship that had survived more than she had ever thought possible.
"Listen, we need to talk about what that kiss meant. I know this isn't the best time, but I need to know."
She shook her head, laughed mirthlessly. "No time is going to be better than this, Stefan. Not now." She stared out at the trees that were coming back to life, finally out of their hibernation period brought on by winter. She glanced back at him. "Listen, I wish I could tell you that my feeling haven't changed since that night when I was absolutely head over heels for you, but they have. I was a human, Stefan. I wanted someone who wanted me, and as much as it kills me to walk away from the thing I thirsted for just a few years ago, I have to."
He nodded, his face set in the mask she had seen him wear on countless occasions. "Why?" he murmured, and she smiled, shook her head, and reached out her hand.
"Things change, Stefan. Right now, in this moment of agony and loss, I don't want to be here. Sure, it would bring comfort, but not to me. I can't cope with being around people who don't understand how I feel. And so I'm leaving. Stefan, I'm running away, because what he and I shared, it was real. And you can't walk away. You can't walk away if it's real." She looked up at him. "I'm sorry," she murmured.
"You wanted him forever, Caroline. He's your best friend and the love of your life. I can't tell you not to go. In fact, you should. You deserve happiness, especially after this tragedy. So go. I'll make your excuses."
She stared at him, smiled. "I'm going to do this, aren't I?" she murmured.
"You sure as hell better," he murmured, grinning as he walked away.
It was nearly midnight when her bags were packed, stuffed into her trunk without much care. She was driving, which was probably not her best decision, but it guaranteed that she would arrive faster. She took a deep breath, smiled in her rearview mirror, and reached for her phone, dialing a number.
"Hello?" he answered, and she felt tears prick her eyes.
"Klaus, hey," she said, trying to remain upbeat. "Is that invitation to join you still open."
His reply was instantaneous. "Of course, love."
"Good, then. I'm coming home, Klaus. I'm coming to you."
A/N: Not edited, may not leave it up. Oh, well. For being written during a thirty-minute lunch period, I'm satisfied with it. Please review!