Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries in any way, shape, or form.


"We're going to do a week of preparation work in less than one day. I want my mother buried today, and for it to be over with as soon as possible."

Caroline Forbes looked down at her less-elegant-than-usual handwriting. She had been shaking when she wrote those simple words down at three in the morning instead of sleeping like the rest of her friends. The funeral hadn't even occurred yet, and all ready Caroline Forbes' dreams were nightmares. She had no longer wished more than now that those stupid legends about vampires not sleeping at all were true, because now, as she looked down at the yellow journal paper through hazy, tired eyes, none of the words seemed simple at all.

"Whatever you need, Care. We're here for you." In Caroline's eyes, Matt Donovan had always been a remarkable friend. Even after their failed attempt at dating, she knew he would always be there for her. Just like someone else.

But she couldn't bother to think of that today. She had a lot on her mind; more so than usual.

"Matt's right, Caroline. Just point us in the direction of what you need, and it'll be done." Caroline let her eyes flick up to Tyler Lockwood's. Unbeknownst to him, Liz had always warned Caroline to stay away from him. She had said that he was trouble.

If trouble was what her mom was worried about, Caroline couldn't bear to think about what her mother would have thought of him as her significant other. Compared to him, Tyler was well-off enough to be considered husband material.

She shook her head slightly in an attempt to rid her mind of these reoccurring thoughts.

As she barked out orders to her friends, she immediately knew that her attempt to clear her mind was a failed one.


"No, no, no! I doubt my mom would want to be stuck in some gaudy, silver box the rest of her. . .being! Even if she did, I would not let that happen because it would clash with her uniform!"

Elena Gilbert watched on in sympathy as her best friend paced back and forth in the open-floor plan of the casket shop.

"God, I should have asked her!" She had stopped pacing, and now had her hands balled up into fists at her sides. "That would've been so horrible of me to do, though. Don't you think? I mean, we all knew she was dying, but I doubt it would help if I sealed her fate asking what color of a freaking casket she wanted to rot away in-"

Elena softly clamped her hands down on Caroline's shoulders.

"Caroline, I promise I have everything covered in here. Please, just go outside, and take a few deep breaths."

Without a word, Caroline obeyed and now found herself sitting on the wooden bench outside of the shop. She tapped her fingers on the wooden bench, and for a moment, the action seemed so familiar. Fate seemed to have a bone to pick with her, because she found herself remembering back to a time before she even thought about associating the words dead and mom in the same sentence.

"So, how am I doing?"

She looked up into the hopeful eyes of Niklaus Mikaelson as he brought his face close to hers.

"You're. . ." She trailed off as she took in his immaculate suit and tie that he somehow had managed to coordinate with her gold, mid-thigh dress. "Perfect."

"Well, I doubt the host of this ceremony would expect anything less than perfection. I've heard through the grape vine that she's a hard one to please."

Caroline could feel herself losing the battle to keep from smiling as she took in her date's smirk.

Before she could respond to his notion, she is knocked so hard in her shoulder that Klaus has to grab onto her to keep her from toppling over in her dainty heels.

"What the-"

"Oh, sorry, Barbie. Didn't see you standing there." Caroline immediately glared at her best friend Elena Gilbert as she steadied herself using Klaus' chest. Elena, of course, didn't even flinch. Her emotions had been turned off now for quite a while.

"You liar! You wanted me to fall in the grass and ruin my dress!"

Caroline failed to notice the crowd her and Elena were now attracting.

"What if I did? I wanted to be back at the boarding house downing vodka shots, but apparently there's always something stopping me from getting what I want. Isn't that right, Stefan?"

Stefan Salvatore flexed his jaw as he ignored Elena's jab at him. It certainly wouldn't be the last.

"Well, anyway, I'm feeling a little thirsty, and Miss Mystic Falls is looking pretty appetizing-"

"You better not, Elena! Or so help me-"

"Caroline, love, you're bringing in an audience." Klaus had put his hand on Caroline's shoulder in an attempt to diffuse the situation.

Caroline looked around and realized that she was now the center of attention. Without thinking, she had taken Klaus' hand in hers and led him all the way into the other side of the yard.

They plopped down on the wooden bench together, and Klaus almost gave a sad sigh at the loss of her hand when she released his from her death grip.

"I'm sorry. I hate how crazy Elena makes me. It's just, even when she was a normal vampire she was a handful, and now that she's a vampire with her humanity turned off. . ." Caroline trailed off as she was at a loss for words.

"Being a vampire simply amplifies what we are, Caroline. Turning off our humanity just simply adds to the mix." Klaus smirked as he looked into Caroline's eyes.

"Well, I don't remember ever being this erratic and controlling before I was turned." Caroline smiled as she tapped her fingers against the bench.

"Caroline, you are anything but erratic and controlling." Caroline raised an eyebrow at him and he let a small laugh escape. "All right. Maybe a little, but you know what?"

Caroline met Klaus' stare as he lightly took her hand into his.

"You're beautiful, strong, full of light." Klaus took in Caroline's bashful smile but continued anyway. "And I enjoy you."

Caroline suddenly felt sick to her stomach. She had no idea why she had done it; why she had made him promise to stay away. She'd been a fool, and now she knew it was too late to take it back.

"Caroline? Everything's done. Are you ready to go?"

Caroline shook her head as she tapped her fingers on the wooden bench once more before standing up. She breathed out what she thought was a calming breath, but she swore she had felt more stress enter her body than there was before.


Elena's hand enveloped Caroline's as they sat in the first pew of the church. Luckily, Caroline had instructed the workers at the funeral home to promptly close the casket as soon as everyone was seated and the service had started.

That didn't make it hurt any less, though.

Caroline took in the classically black casket. It had a less-gaudy silver lining that accentuated her mom's uniform perfectly. Her thoughts drifted back to before the service when she straightened her mom's tie. She had said her final goodbyes at that moment, and had she been human, the pain she was feeling now could have killed her on site.

As Caroline rose to sing a parting song to her mother, she stood beside the casket and looked down. The small opening of the door made her look up and toward the back of the church. She felt tears spill from her eyes as she took in his sad countenance as he looked at her after so long away.

Klaus could feel his heart shatter in his chest as he took in the broken look on Caroline's face. He had agreed to stay away, so what was he doing here?

He knew the simple answer to that question. She was, is, the love of his life.

Caroline finished her song quickly as she made herself avert her eyes from the spot on the corner of the last pew. She didn't want to look up to see what, or rather who, was awaiting her there.

Fortunately for Caroline, the rest of her mother's service went by like a band-aid. Ripped off quickly, with the wound left to fester later.

Liz's casket remained closed just as Caroline had wished as she smoothed the flag down that had been placed over its surface minutes ago. She thanked everyone personally as a way to stall herself from the last pew.

Finally, as the last person gave her their condolences, she let her eyes slowly lift to the pew that taunted her.

Her knees practically buckled beneath her as she took in the empty space. She no longer felt Matt grab onto her waist to hold her up. She no longer heard him asking if she was all right.

She was focused on whether she really was overcome with grief; if who she had seen was just a step into the healing process. It had almost felt like a dream that didn't survive the clarity of day.

If it was real, which she knew it was, he was long gone, and she wasn't too far behind him.