Caroline sat, alone, under a dim streetlamp near the cemetery. Only a few minutes ago she'd been walking from Tyler's – not walking home per se, but walking nonetheless. That betrayed look on his face had seared into her memory, the faint glint of yellow in his eyes marking a warning that she wouldn't forget… and her heart had dropped, realizing just how great her mistake might be. Caroline Forbes had fucked up royally, and she didn't know how to fix it.

She hadn't intended to mourn her stupidity at the cemetery. Even for a vampire, that was a bit gloomy. But the police in this town still enforced curfew, and Caroline didn't need the added annoyance of compelling officers, so she'd skirted around the main square and ended up at the graveyard.

The park bench had called out to her. It's perfect. Dark, cold, made for two, but with only one… Caroline mused. No, she didn't feel the premature chill of winter on her skin, but she knew it was there. And despite the conditions, and despite wanting desperately to call Elena or Bonnie and spill her guts about Tyler and how angry he'd been with her, she managed to find some small comfort in sitting in the silence by herself.

It didn't take long to realize she was being watched.

She looked up the street, mildly shocked to find a familiar Mikaelson face only yards away. She shouldn't have been shocked at all, and to be honest she wouldn't have been, except she'd expected to find Klaus coming to her rescue.

Instead, Elijah's darker, older features and clean-cut appearance greeted Caroline's confused gaze. Not that she'd been crying, but she'd hardly been eager to find this kind of company in her pensive state, and so she couldn't help but stare without any welcome in her eyes. His hands were in the pockets of his laid-back yet trim gray suit, and he stood planted until granted an invite.

"Elijah?" Caroline asked, pulling her sweater tighter around her body. It had nothing to do with the sudden breeze, and everything to do with the sudden consciousness she felt of herself. She couldn't feel comfortable under that speculative stare.

"Yes, Ms. Forbes," he answered quietly, giving a small nod. "I have to say, I wasn't expecting to find you here."

Caroline immediately looked to the ground. She wasn't about to give the full emotional summary of her relationship to an Original, especially one she wasn't so fond of.

Like I'm fond of any of them, she reminded herself.

"Would you mind if I join you?" he asked, tilting his head.

Caroline looked to the man, quite dapper and seeming so very put-together, and couldn't help but wonder what he would gain from her company. His eyes, dark brown, didn't shine with a hidden agenda like Klaus's though; she sensed a kind of sincerity from them. Probably the exact sincerity that had screwed Elena over once or twice.

"Sure," Caroline said. She looked ahead into the trees, wondering just what this evening would bring.

Elijah approached. He slowed as he neared the bench, obviously cautious – why the caution, Caroline couldn't imagine. She suppressed a smile at the thought of an Original exhibiting caution in her presence. It was ridiculous.

And yet he did. He slowed, paused, and then set himself on the far side, eyes on the younger vampire the entire time.

"You look troubled, Ms. Forbes," he stated calmly, though his intonation made it clear he was prompting her response.

"Caroline," she said quietly.

They shared a glance, Caroline pulling her sweater tighter in the icy air. She was loaded with question and suspicion, unsure of how to process the randomness of their interaction; Elijah was also uncertain, though visibly more relaxed.

"'Caroline,'" he corrected himself, smiling. "You do look troubled, Caroline."

Again, it was a question. She bit her lip, debating whether or not it was worth digging into her life with present company. In all truth, she knew nothing about Elijah. But if she knew anything about the Mikaelson's, it's that they were trouble, and they always got their way.

She drew in a deep breath. He noticed.

"It's nothing important," she said. "I mean, nothing you would find important, anyway."

Elijah's eyebrows raised slightly, though the accompanied smirk gave him an air of amusement. Caroline immediately regretted speaking. Of course it was important, that was a blatant lie. And she didn't need her drama to become the entertainment of some thousand-year-old vampire.

"I highly doubt you'd be wandering the streets alone, at night, if it weren't important," he argued, "but it's also not my business. Please forgive me for my prying."

They fell into an uncomfortable silence once again, Caroline unsure of how to respond exactly.

Damn these Originals, she thought. It would be so much easier if they weren't so stupidly charming all the time.

Elijah's eyes flitted over her continuously, trying to gauge any kind of a reaction, though he received none. Caroline refused to meet that gaze, filled to the brim with discomfort, and hoping to find a suave exit from their conversation.

"I see now why my brother finds you so fascinating," Elijah said at last.

"Yeah, well as confident as he is, I can promise you he stands no chance with me," Caroline spat. Her mouth snapped shut immediately, eyes widening a little. If Elijah had a temper comparable to Klaus's, that offense wouldn't be received so well… and not knowing this brother, she couldn't anticipate him the same way.

But he laughed. It was a light, misplaced sound.

"I am sure you're right," he said. "Though I must warn you, it's your adamance that will keep him trying."

"He's done this before?" she asked.

Elijah nodded, slowly. "Yes, but only a few times. Niklaus rarely affords himself vacations from… business." He paused. "I would be blatantly misleading you, however, if I made it seem that you weren't special. Clearly, you are."

She chewed this over with a wince.

"How special?" she asked, voice barely audible.

This time when Elijah looked to Caroline, their eyes met. Even in the dreary light, her irises shone green with an inner glow, the same energy he was sure fueled her charisma, confidence, and loyalty. He'd felt it just before, when he'd hit the nerve and she revealed a touch of spitfire. Now that fire had dimmed beneath her guard, and he couldn't tell if she'd let that guard down again.

Caroline watched the older vampire carefully, also feeling the brief connection as their eyes met and then didn't; Elijah looked away before she could fully grasp whatever something had passed. But it was there.

"Judging by his actions and temperament, Caroline, I would say my brother finds you quite special," he admitted. "Moreso than the others, however few they'd been. Yes, he's been up to his usual tricks – the drawings, the gifts, it's always the same – but I've rarely seen Niklaus so… quiet." At Caroline's quirked eyebrow, he continued. "I don't mean quiet in that brooding way he gets… I think careful is the best way to describe him. He is quite careful when it comes to all things Caroline Forbes."

"And the others…" Caroline looked to him again, brow furrowing. "Where are they now?"

The following silence more than answered her question.

"Why are you talking to me about this?" She asked. "Why are you even here?" She couldn't imagine he'd been her godsend, that upon wishing for a shoulder to cry on she'd actually received one.

"I was actually quite surprised to find you here," Elijah said, "but my business tonight isn't immediate, and I can afford the time. This is merely a short break between more tedious obligations."

The vagueness didn't faze her.

"You have business in the cemetery?" Caroline deduced. "How very… predictable."

Once again, the Original laughed. She found herself becoming used to the sound, and smiled.

"Yes, well we can't all be original–" Caroline's eyes rolled at the pun. "–And unfortunately, I didn't choose the venue. I can assure you, if I had, there would be a touch more… taste… involved." He was staring into the cemetery at this point, a shadow of disgust clearly evident on his face.

Caroline laughed, unable to stop herself. Elijah looked to her, but there was good humor in his expression as well.

"And do I get to know what this business is? Or is it top-secret?" Caroline asked him.

"It's always top-secret, Ms. Forbes," Elijah answered seriously. "I've made the mistake of trusting too many ears before, and it rarely ends well. I prefer to keep my business private these days."

"Right. Of course." She crossed her arms. So far, things were going pretty well. Caroline was even dangerously close to enjoying herself, despite knowing that her relationship with Tyler was probably doomed.

And just like that, the image of his angry and betrayed face flashed across her mind, and all comfort slid away. She heard the shattering glass clear as day, and flinched as though he'd thrown it just now.

Who was she kidding? Distractions happened, but at the end of the night, she was going home alone and probably crying herself to sleep.

"Something else is bothering you," Elijah noticed, speaking barely above a whisper. "I apologize, have I overstayed my welcome?"

Caroline looked to him, considering for a moment – just a moment – telling him what had happened. But she couldn't, she wouldn't steep quite to that level of ridiculousness.

"It's nothing," she said, forcing a smile. He wouldn't buy it, but he wouldn't pester her about it either. "Actually, I should be going. This was nice and all, but… it doesn't change anything."

"Right," he agreed, though he was now staring to the cemetery with an entirely unreadable expression. "I can't expect anything more of you."

She paused, but stood all the same. The Original remained seated.

"Thank you," she blurted, unable to find a genteel and sophisticated way to mask her confusion. "I mean, I appreciate this. Your company."

Elijah nodded, glancing up in his relaxed manner. "Anytime, Ms. Forbes."

Caroline turned and walked away. To say she was confused would be an understatement.