"The hardest choices in life aren't between what's right and what's wrong but between what's right and what's best."

― Jamie Ford, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Life is interesting.

For seventeen years of your life, you think you know exactly what you want.

And through trial and error, you finally get it.

But, that's when life decides to get off the sidelines and intervene. Presenting you with a brand new choice; something you didn't expect, and is totally and completely wrong.

And now you have to choose.

But you don't want to.

xxx

Caroline bit her bottom lip and closed the top of her laptop. Groaning, she laid her head down onto the table and covered her ears with her hands.

Where was her mind these days?

As if on cue, she heard the car pull into the driveway. She whisked herself out of the office, down the stairs, and sat in a big reclining Lazyboy, book in hand, just as the front door opened.

"Helllo stranger." Caroline said playfully, a smile tugging at her lips. She dropped her book, stood from the chair and made no sound as she was suddenly infront of Tyler.

He returned her smile and caught Caroline in an embrace, he kissed her lightly. "I missed you too."

Caroline hugged Tyler as she rested her cheek on his shoulder. "How was it this time?" She asked him softly.

She felt Tyler sigh beneath her. "It still hurts like hell."

Caroline delicately kissed his neck, "It's getting better though, right?" When Tyler didn't answer Caroline looked up to meet his eyes. Something unfamiliar flashed over them, but as quickly as it appeared it was gone.

Tyler relaxed into Caroline's petite frame, "Sure." He smiled and rested his forehead against hers, "I love you." He whispered and kissed her forehead.

Caroline allowed her body to relax into his, but the worry she felt for him remained.

Running away together had been the best and worst possible thing for each of them.

The best in that, they were stronger than ever. The time spent away in the mountains had allowed them to connect on their deepest levels. Caroline had never felt this close to anyone ever before. She felt safe with Tyler, secure; happy. Here, they had a new life away from Mystic Falls. They hunted wild game freely, the surrounding cities' hospitals had copious amounts of bloodbags to donate, and since a neighboring town was an old miner's town, Tyler made a makeshift "werewolf cellar" where he could safely shift into his wolf form.

The worst, however, because now they were isolated; only each other to keep them company. And although Tyler could freely shift, the more he tried to suppress his feelings of rage, the more aggressive his behavior. With this discovery, Tyler began experimenting with his transformations, staying a wolf for longer periods of time had proven success. This unfortunately, meant that Tyler would be gone more often than less and Caroline would be left alone. With only her thoughts as company.

Which always came back to one recurring thought; Klaus.

Caroline refused to think of it now.

"I could really use a drink." She said softly, pulling herself away from Tyler. He nodded, "I have to call Matt back, I'm pretty sure they've stopped looking for us by now."

It was meant as relief, but the feeling Caroline found herself submitted to was uneasy.

Why was no one looking for them? Did they not care? Or were they just too busy dealing with Rick and the council from hell?

It didn't matter, really.

Caroline retreated into the kitchen and pulled a blood bag from the refrigerator.

They could really live a great life together, she often told herself, staring out at the snow-capped mountains in front of her. Staying seventeen, traveling the world, watching the universe progress thousands of years…

It would make for a beautiful novel.

She knew Tyler better than anyone else, seen him through his absolute worse and best. Caroline could understand what Tyler was feeling before he expressed it. She knew the meaning behind his smiles and the puzzling looks that crossed his face. She knew Tyler understood her, that he could make her laugh when she was upset. Tyler's presence in the room had an immediate effect on her.

Peace.

Tyler gave her peace.

It wasn't always easy.

But it was understanding.

The love between Tyler and Caroline couldn't solve world problems or unite universes.

But it could comfort, and understand.

It was love.

Maybe that was the problem.

"Did you talk to Matt?" Caroline asked, hearing Tyler step into the room. She continued staring out of the bay window; dusk beginning to fall.

"I did." Tyler replied. Stepping behind her he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him.

"What did he say?"

Tyler sighed, his breath danced playfully near her ear. "He just said not to worry. He'd tell everyone we were safe."

"How much longer are we going to be stuck here?" Caroline smiled as she turned to face Tyler, his arms protectively around her still.

"Stuck?" Tyler feigned hurt, "I would hardly call it stuck."

Caroline's eyebrows rose, "What would you call it then?"

Tyler smirked, "Romantic."

Caroline laughed. "Okay seriously? You've been reading too many Harlequin novels."

Tyler's grin relaxed into a half-smile. "Please," He gently reached up and tucked a piece of stubborn hair back into it's rightful place."I put the "man" in romance." His thumb lingered over Caroline's cheek, brushing it softly.

Caroline waited for it, her eyes closed. The electric current created from the feral energy inside them. But it never came. Instead, only a gentle kiss graced her lips.

Annoyed, her eyes opened. "Who are you and what have you done with my boyfriend?" She asked, taking his chin in her hands and tilting it side to side. "Because you look almost exactly like him but…."

Tyler laughed, "I told you I missed you! Besides, I'm just being a gentleman."

Caroline rolled her eyes and pulled herself out of his embrace. "Right. Okay." She walked out of the kitchen and through the adjoining living area. When she approached the staircase she reached up into her hair and pulled out a clip, allowing her hair to cascade onto her shoulders.

"When you're done being a gentleman," She said tauntingly, unzipping her athletic jacket and carelessly throwing it onto the lazyboy, "You can come find me upstairs."

"Find you where?" Tyler played along, his features puzzled yet interested.

Caroline shrugged, "I don't know, but I've been so lonely all day." She said, dramatically sweeping her hand up to her forehead for mass effect.

"Now who's been reading romance novels?"

Caroline dropped her hand and stamped her foot a little, "Honestly, are you coming up here with me or not?"

Tyler was instantly in front of her, their chests touching. "Why do we have to go upstairs?" His voice was rigid as he roughly pushed Caroline against the wall and kissed her the way she expected.

xxx

All I've ever wanted was to find one guy who would love me unconditionally, marry me, and come home to me after a long day at work, let me make him dinner, and then bore him about all the wifey things I did that day; like go to lunch with my group of friends or take a pre-natal yoga class.

But I guess, when I became a vampire…that's still weird to acknowledge... my view changed. Not a lot. I mean, I still want those things, mostly. But when you have forever to do anything, I don't know. I guess anything becomes everything.

I have eternity to do whatever I want.

Anything.

Everything.

With Tyler.

xxx

Caroline strummed the keyboard in silent frustration. Somehow, after all that they'd been through, he just didn't fit.

It didn't make sense, and yet it made perfect sense.

It just depended on the day.

A/N: Forgive me, I haven't written anything unoriginal in YEARS (literally. Like…5) But, after the finale of TVD, I've been looking on here for some juicy Klaus/Caroline/Tyler triangle disaster love story…and haven't really found anything. So, I just had to write my own. Hahaha. Not sure what this will be…maybe a few chapters or so?

Let's just forget the end of the finale, yeah? No Klaus in Tyler's body drama, no, no. Here, we find Tyler and Caroline actually make it out of Virginia unscathed. I haven't decided if Elena's a vampire or not…it's not really important to the story line either way so, I might not touch on it other than right here.

I was just tired of reading that Tyler didn't love Caroline, or he was border line abusive, OR, (and this one is really irritating) That after they slept together Tyler just "Rolled off and went to sleep". I mean, COME ON! Not even the haters can deny those coveted scenes of season 3! I love Tyler, I do. I love them all really. So, this should be pretty interesting considering.

I haven't given any thought to the ending at all. I'm really looking forward to this journey.

P.S. it was kind of a pain in the ass to mark the passing of time, so that's what's up with the "xxx" I can't decide if I like writing from 3rd or 1st person...so I just kind of write from both.