Author's notes: Hey guys! I'm back with another multi-chapter fic. I was so awed by the response toBroken Downthat I decided to try my hand at another. This is a little bit different and I'm hoping you like it! So thanks for reading.

Caroline Forbes was captain of the squad, in love with Matt Donovan. Everything was perfect. Except that it wasn't. She wasn't 17 anymore and…was that a laugh line? OMG! And when in the hell did she marry Tyler–Freaking-Lockwood! She swore that that damn bridge was going to burn!

The light had been extinguished. Its absence felt unlike any time before. It reeked of death and like a reaper, its certainty would almost be comforting if it didn't mean her demise. She had no idea how she had gotten here, for if she knew she would backtrack, take the first flight out of this hell-hole, where water was her torturer, her judge, her executioner… The desire to fight filled her as did the niggling sense that there was more, that there was something or…or someone to fight for, to get back to, to love. But as the water closed there was nothing she could do.

"Caroline! Caroline! Care, babe…I need you to open your eyes and look at me. Everything is fine. You're okay…"

For some reason, the voice calmed her agitation. It was rough and husky. A deep tenor trying to be soothing but there was also an underlying anxiety. An anxiety a deep part of her wanted to allay, if only she could get her eyes to cooperate.

"Open your eyes for me, please! You're safe…"

And again though she couldn't fathom why, she believed him. He, whoever he was, gripped her hand as though the mere thought of being separated from her filled him with pain. And so she struggled, wanting to open her eyes to the man whose voice called to her. His voice beseeching every god known to man to have her return to him. It was surreal that she felt like she knew him.

Finally she got her lids to open and in no way was prepared for the sight of Tyler Lockwood standing at her bedside, tears in his eyes as he smiled a truly brilliant smile as though a great gift had been given. As though she was his whole world and his entire future was dependent on her opening her eyes.

Tyler couldn't remember the last time he had been in the hospital. Well, it was more accurate to say he didn't want to remember, that night. That night he had lost and gained so much that there wasn't even a day he didn't see the repercussions. He had lost his father on that night. Not that Richard Lockwood had been present enough prior to that – the bastard. Tyler shook off the rage and melancholy thoughts of his father - if the man deserved the title - brought. He pushed him out of his mind with the ease of practice and focused on what he had gained.

If he had to go through everything again, the disappointed looks, every cutting word, every bruise, he wouldn't change a thing because he had finally found the love of his life. And the joy she brought him was incomparable. That night these same pale pink halls had haunted him too, but her comfort and support had been invaluable. Caroline.

Tyler didn't even realize he was toying with the wedding band on his finger. It was a nervous habit, one that his wife always laughed at him for. God, he needed her here! Which was a stupid thing to even wish! But what most people didn't know was that Caroline was the backbone of their relationship. Always had been. She was the one that had saved him, the one that had loved him through his messes, his breakdowns, his absolutely clueless moments. She had loved him when he had hurt her, angered her… She had taken a chance on him, when he had been no more than a kid who was following in the footsteps of a man he had no right to. The kid who lashed out and hurt people because he didn't know another way to be. She had taken a chance on him and he had vowed that she would never regret that decision.

"Mayor Lockwood, I'm Dr. Fell," he cringed at the name that still reminded him too much of his father.

"Tyler, please," he answered, "How is my wife?"

The doctor with the dark brown hair and full expressive eyes looked at him with sympathy, "Mrs. Lockwood is stable," he breathed a sigh of relief at that, "But we're not out of the woods yet. She's breathing adequately but we have her on oxygen. One of the major problems with near drowning is the lack of oxygen to the brain."

"Is…Is…" he stuttered as his face crumpled in pain.

"We were able to rouse her for a few moments but she was not coherent. We won't know anything for sure until she wakes up but her EEG was normal so that is always a good sign. But I have to let you know we're unaware of the length of time she spent under water and the other complications are a very real possibility."

Tyler nodded, scared to death that his wife who had suffered so much would still have to suffer more and it was all his fault. God, why the hell had he cancelled on her? He should have postponed the council meeting but the other members had been breathing down his neck, using his youth and his 'temperament' as an excuse despite the fact that the alliance had made things easier.

Caroline had needed a few days off so when she found out that one of her favourite national charities had been hosting an auction in the town over she had decided to make a day of it. When she had pitched the idea of a fun day away from his duties Tyler had almost jumped at the chance. But then he had gotten word that a 'situation' had occurred and the council ever eager to meet to talk about solutions had required his attendance. If he had gone with her, she would've been fine. Even if his reflexes hadn't saved them, he would have been able to pull her to safety. It was all his fault.

"Can… Can I see her?" he interrupted Dr. Fell as she continued. It wasn't that he didn't want to know, but he needed to deal with one crisis at a time. Caroline was alive. That was more that most people could say after going over that damn bridge which he was sure now he was going to burn to the ground.

The doctor smiled at him kindly not even minding his interruption, "She's being transported to ICU. It's a precaution because she needs surveillance for the next 24 hours at least, then we will move her to the ward. So, give them a few moments and then you can see her there. If you need anything just ask one of the nurses to page me."

Again he nodded and whispered a thank you. Tyler pulled his cell from his pocket as he dialed the numbers he knew he had to. First was his mother. He almost couldn't hold it in check as he heard her voice. She wanted to come home immediately from her vacation because she loved Caroline as much as any mother could love a daughter. They had grown close after Caroline's mom had died. It took a lot but he finally convinced her to stay where she was. He had to promise to update her everyday. He was glad because he wasn't sure he could handle his mother's hysterics.

Caroline's dad had never been a part of their lives. Never wanted to be when he found out whom his daughter had married but Tyler knew no matter what he loved his kid. So he called the man only getting voicemail. It was hard to leave that message.

Damon was next and Tyler was pretty sure the elder Salvatore was going to rip him to shreds over this one. But again he got voicemail and he honestly started wondering where the hell everyone was tonight. By the time he reached the others; Jeremy, who he called first because the Bennett witch turned Gilbert was in her last trimester and he knew he was in no state-of-mind to not cry when she started to, Stefan and Elena who immediately became hysterical and started booking flights from Italy, he was tired. Walking down the halls he felt freezing, which was a new sensation for him. Ever since…he never felt the cold. But it was like all the warmth had been sucked out of him since he had received that call.

The nurse in ICU directed him to Caroline's room, giving him a brief talk to prepare him for what he would see. He really didn't care as long as he got to see her breathing, to know she was alive. He just needed to walk into that room and look on her face to reassure himself that she had made it and was coming back to him.

But his breath still caught in his throat when he saw her. It was hard to imagine that this was his bubbly, chirpy, force-to-be-reckoned-with wife. She was still, too still as she lay in the bed. Her breathing sounded heavy, her skin was waxy pale and with all the tubes hooked up to her he knew she looked worse than she was. At least that was what the nurse told him.

Tyler sat next to her bed, the tears which had threatened to fall finally coursing down his cheeks as he talked to her. Telling her how much he loved her, how much he needed her, needed her to awaken. It seemed like he stayed that way for hours looking at her, hoping that now was the second she would open her eyes.

And suddenly it was like a flip was switched. She went from lying quietly to agitated in a second. Her eyes flicking below eyelids, hands squeezing his as her breaths became faster.

"Caroline! Caroline! Care, babe…I need you to open your eyes and look at me. Everything is fine. You're okay. I love you. Please open your eyes." He continued, hoping against hope, she would open her eyes.

He mumbled endlessly until finally he saw her eyes flick open, dazed at first but eventually clearing up. But he was an idiot. If he had paid attention for 1 second he would have noticed the confusion in them but he had been so happy when he had seen those baby blues that not for a moment did he imagine this.

Tyler watched her as her eyes were at first vacant and narrowed in confusion. Caroline slipped her hand from his and croaked out, her voice raspy "Where am I? And…what are you doing here Tyler Lockwood?"

"Babe…" he countered fighting the urge to step back at the confusion in her eyes. Tyler Lockwood? Caroline only called him by his full name when he was in the dog-house.

Her frantic voice interrupted him, "I'm in a hospital aren't I? What happened? Why does my chest feel like an elephant is sitting on it?"

"You… were in an accident, Care. Scared me half to death. Are you… how are you feeling?"

"Like death warmed in a tea-cup," she stated drily as Tyler moved toward her, "Still trying to figure out why you…Oh! You came with Matt didn't you? I mean I'd much rather wake up to my boyfriend than his best friend but I guess Matt has gone for coffee or something. Are Elena and Bonnie here?"

"Caroline sweetheart," he tried again, as his eyes opened. This was… she couldn't be…no! But she was looking at him like he was the one who had lost his mind.

"Not that I don't appreciate the softer side, Lockwood, its kinda nice what with being in the hospital and all but could you get Matt?"

Tyler was in way too much shock to even fathom that his wife was asking about her long-lost boyfriend.

"Matt isn't here," he answered instead stepping toward her.

"What?" she said softly as if the little she had spoken was tiring her out, "I'm in the hospital and he doesn't even come to see me…"

That was the moment when her rings became visible to her, "Is this my ring? Why do I have a ring on my finger?"

Tyler could tell she was somehow panicking and that snapped him out of the stupid shock he was in for the last moments. His wife, the love of his life didn't know she was married to him, she thought Matt Donovan (he spat the name in his mind) was her boyfriend. The last time they had seen Matt was a few years back.

"Yes," he said softly not wanting to startle her "You're married Caroline. You're married to me."

Her scream this time was so loud and shrill that it alerted the nurse who came back in. Tyler rushed to her side but that seemed to make her freak out more as she tried to get away from him. Seeing the glare from the nurse he stepped back. Caroline was coughing uncontrollably, unable to catch her breath. The nurse sat her up and grabbed a kidney dish as she saw Caroline rip the mask from her lips and upchuck into the bowl.

"Mayor Lockwood, can you wait outside please?"

Tyler didn't even notice the one thing that annoyed him to no end. There was no way in hell he was leaving his wife! Caroline's coughing was finally subsiding but now her breathing seemed labored.

"God… tell me… this is …a coma…induced…nightmare!" Caroline got out in between breaths.

"Just rest," the nurse cooed at her as she placed a new kidney dish beside the bed and carried out the soiled one motioning for him to follow her.

"Mayor Lockwood, Mrs. Lockwood has been through a terrible trauma. She is recovering but any added stress isn't helpful."

"She doesn't remember me!" he hissed at the nurse.

She looked confused for a second and then said, "I'm going to page Dr. Fell but it would be best if you wait here until the doctor can tell you more."

Tyler sighed as he wondered at which point his life had surrendered any sense of normalcy. He felt like screaming, punching something, someone and in the old days that was probably what he would have done but now, he was more controlled. And that was mainly due to the woman who loved him despite the craziness.

It didn't take Dr. Fell long to get there and in those minutes he got a few calls. Jeremy and Bonnie were a few hours out and despite his protest he needed all the help he could get especially if Caroline really couldn't remember her life. He didn't tell them anything because no need to freak out a pregnant Bonnie but he was so glad everyone was coming home.

Dr. Fell emerged from the room and Tyler almost ran her down in his attempt to get answers.

"Mayor…Tyler. Would you like to have a seat?" He knew it was bad news then and took her advice and sat, "I spoke to Caroline and she appears to have some memory loss. She is oriented in place and person but not time. She thinks it's the year 2011 and that she is 17 and attends Mystic Falls High School."

"What?!" if he hadn't been sitting he would have collapsed. This was crazy! His wife thought she was a 17. That was why she asked for Matt.

"She doesn't remember the last 10 years?"

"I'm sorry. I wish I could tell you more but we need to run some more tests."

"Is…is this permanent?"

"It's too soon to tell," And with another sympathetic squeeze to the shoulder, she walked away.