Author's Note: While TVD is on its second Season 4 hiatus, I decided to create a story that goes into the direction of Klaus and Caroline's developing. This first chapter was created BEFORE episode 16 came out. The rest is just what I want to happen from these first chapters on. This isn't an AU fic, so if you're looking for some Klaroline development that sticks to the storyline somewhat realistically, this should be for you! ;) Please review and let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I obviously don't own The Vampire Diaries.

"Tyler," Caroline began, her phone by her ear. "I've left you, like, a thousand messages in the past three hours. It's been two days now. I'm sort of just riding on the hope that you've turned your phone off, or even tossed it on the street somewhere." She let out a shaky laugh. "Please be okay. I know you're on the run and most likely don't have time for answering, but just in case you do hear this…" Caroline trailed off, her throat clogging up.

"I miss you," she said finally. "I miss you, and I just know that our good-bye wasn't really a good-bye, because I love you and you love me and our last memory isn't supposed to be on a porch that doesn't exist anymore because Elena burned the house down and I love you and I miss you and good-bye." Caroline's finger twitched at the "end call" button, breathless from her ramble. Slowly, she brought the phone down from her ear.

Last night, she had cried herself to sleep. Not just for Tyler, but for Elena and Jeremy and Matt and Bonnie and everyone else who had been scarred by the deadly search for the cure for vampirism. Which, by the way, ended up being for nothing as Katherine magically appeared and stole the only dose.

Now, Jeremy was gone and so was Tyler, though Caroline didn't allow herself to believe for a second that their separation was permanent. To make matters worse, the evil first immortal being ever created was just roaming around, and Caroline and her friends had no idea what Silas even looked like, let alone have information as to how to stop him.

Caroline had woken up with some resolve. She was the bossy, neurotic, and to a lesser extent, maternal one. She could fix things. She would fix things.

After brushing aside stray feelings lingering after her voicemail to Tyler, Caroline picked up her phone again. She had one more call to make.

He picked up on the first ring. "You should have come over," he said.

"Good morning to you too, Stefan," Caroline began jokingly. Then she grew serious. "Why, what's wrong? Is it Elena?" Panic rose within her at the thought of yet another friend facing a difficult time.

The previous night, Elena's boyfriend Damon (who Caroline still didn't approve of) had used his complex vampire sire bond to get Elena to turn off her humanity. Although Caroline was never one to agree with scum like Damon, she had to admit that it was the only way to help Elena during her period of depression. Elena had just lost Jeremy forever—her brother and the person she loved most in the world. Turning off Elena's humanity would lessen the pain, but it was only a temporary solution with many side effects to boot. However, Caroline was optimistic that Elena wouldn't feed on innocent people if her, Stefan, and Damon kept a close eye on her.

"No, it's not Elena," Stefan replied. "Well yeah, it is, but it's not just her. The Mayor dumped vervain into the town's water supply, remember? Last time I checked, my place is the only house in Mystic Falls with showers that won't burn us creatures of the night to our deaths."

"We're already dead, Stefan."

"Very funny. Either way, you're more than welcome to freshen up here. Come over later." Stefan's voice dropped a little. "We also need you to come here to think of some way to help Elena. Anything to distract her from thinking about, you know, what happened," he whispered.

"Already have a plan for that," Caroline said, then let out a small sigh of relief. "It's sort of sad to say this, but I honestly haven't even thought about taking a shower, what with everything that's been going on. I'll come over as soon as I can."

"The reigning Miss Mystic Falls, everybody," she heard Damon say from the other end. Caroline rolled her eyes.

"I'm not Miss Mystic Falls anymore, Damon. How typical that you would go to the actual pageant and not realize that. And Stefan, I had a reason for calling too, you know." She paused, memories of the previous nights washing over her.

Bargaining and pleading and cruelty and mercy and pity and the strangeness that was… Klaus. Caroline shuddered, remembering his words to her. He had asked if she wanted to take the cure along with her friends, if she had the chance. Somehow, he had prodded his way into finding out her little secret: that she enjoyed vampire life over her human one.

"You wouldn't, would you?" Klaus said, a small smile appearing on his face. "You prefer who you are now to the girl you once were." Caroline didn't speak. She was, to be frank, stunned at his realization.

"You like being strong," Klaus continued as they stood inches apart, on opposite sides of the threshold. "Ageless. Fearless."

And then the words that still sent shivers down her spine.

"We're the same, Caroline."

Were they? Caroline had spent all this time condemning him for being a cruel hearted murderer incapable of real feelings, but was she just like him all along? God, she didn't want to be anything like him, not like the—

"Care?" Stefan's voice floated through the phone, interrupting her thoughts. She snapped out of her daydream.

"Right. Hi. I was going to ask if you've heard anything from a certain Original vampire-werewolf hybrid? One named Klaus, hopefully."

"No, I haven't," Stefan said in a suspicious tone. "Why are you looking for him, of all people?"

Caroline sighed. "You know he's on the hunt for Tyler, right?"

"And you think you can convince our resident evil villain to let your little boyfriend go."

"Well, I'm hoping!"

Stefan was quiet for a moment.

"He's probably in his house right now, if he hasn't already gone after him. I would hurry if I were you, though."

"All right. Thanks, Stefan. Really. I know you've got a lot on your plate right now, too. Believe me, I'll come over right after I visit him and help you guys."

"Yeah. And one more thing, Care?"

"What is it?"

Stefan sighed. "We all know Klaus has some sort of out-of-character infatuation with you. You've used that to your full advantage so far, but…"

"But what, Stefan?" Caroline said impatiently.

"But remember that he has feelings. I know it sounds crazy," Stefan added hurriedly. "Just, I don't know. Deep down, Klaus is just… really, really lonely. You know? We're all sort of the same when it comes down to that."

Caroline froze.

"We're the same, Caroline."

She heard Stefan sigh again. "Fine, whatever. Forget I said it. See you later, then."

"Um, yes," Caroline breathed out, finally finding the ability to speak again. "I'll, uh, see you soon."

She ran a brush through her wavy blonde hair, grabbed a jacket, and headed out to her car.