I do not own nor will I ever own the vampire diaries. I am a fan, simply writing for fun.

I started writing this between 04x07 and 04x08. It's my first ever fanfiction and the first narrative piece I've ever done.

She was sitting in the parlor of the mansion. She wanted to feel warm here, due to the rich tones of the décor but with Stefan at her house and Elena sired to Damon; this place only made her feel dread. Caroline and Elena sat diagonal from each other, sipping whiskey. Yes, a good whiskey, smooth with a little bite was exactly what she needed. Caroline had come over to talk with Elena, trying to put the Miss Mystic Falls pageant mishap behind them. As soon as Caroline had walked through the door, Elena and her had embraced and apologized. Then they proceeded down the hall to the parlor.

"I'm sorry Care, things are just so hectic. Between being a newborn vampire, Stefan, Jeremy, school…. Just everything… it's so hard, you can't imagine." Caroline's mouth popped open slightly and her face went blank… Elena recanted quickly "That's not what I meant Care!" "...I'm just over whelmed." Caroline let it go, remembering all too well the first few months of vampirism. Elena got up from her place on the settee and poured herself more whiskey, stopping to smell the whiskey as she did this, thinking of Damon. Just then, Damon walked pasted the room and Elena's head snapped up her face immediately filled with longing. Damon slowed at the door pausing to pop his head in… "Hello Barbie." Giving Caroline his tight lipped smile, quickly flashing his eyes to Elena, piercing her, simply saying "Elena" drawing her name out before pushing off the door frame and continuing down the hall. Elena stood frozen in place, transfixed on the spot that once held Damon.

This act immediately annoyed Caroline, "Earth to Elena!" she scoffed, Elena's head snapped to her, like she'd forgotten about Caroline being there. "Sorry Care." As she sat down looking flustered, zoning out temporarily. If Elena transfixing on Damon before annoyed Caroline, this enraged her. "I noticed you left Damon off of your list of problems." Caroline snapped. Elena tensed, "Care, Damon's not a problem. He's fixing me, helping me get through…." She paused. "Through this disaster!" She stood up again, her throat tightening. "My life ended! I need him now." The rage in Caroline bubbled up, exploding, teeth bared, "What about when my life ended?! What about Damon using compulsion on me, feeding on me, using me, practically raping me! How is it that you let his monstrous acts go so easily?! Even with this freaky sire blood thing, it's not an excuse." Elena was shocked but quickly on defense, "There is no freaky sire blood thing, between Damon and I, I love him. I was just blinded before. Stop projecting your issues with Klaus and Tyler on my situation. It's not the same."

With that, Caroline huffed, grumbled, snatched her bag from beside her arm chair, and stormed from the room. Damon raised his eyebrows as she stormed past him but kept his mouth shut, even as she slammed the large oak door behind her, sending a tremble through the house, Damon never said a word.

Once outside Caroline continued to storm off. Caroline felt frustrated, angry, hurt, sad, but mostly…she was pissed. After being far enough away from the Salvatore's, she paused to put her hand to her temples and breathed in and out slowly. Yes, she knew the breathing was pointless but it's a relaxation technique she used when she was still alive…when she was human. Stressed, she needed to get away, separate herself from this drama. She knew exactly where she'd go. She set off, trekking through the woods at a leisurely pace, thinking of all the drama from the past couple of days; Stefan with his hopelessness, Elena and Damon's "bond", Klaus…well that was a whole different set of issues especially after their date yesterday. He wasn't Klaus yesterday, he was someone different, when she had called him perfect, she had meant it. Thinking of her date yesterday made her think of Tyler and where their relationship was…or more likely was not heading. Most of all, she did not want to think about Hayley. She knew Tyler and Hayley was a ruse, a ploy to fool Klaus, distract him while they saved the hybrids but Caroline had a nagging sensation. It started in the back of her head, it traveled down her spine, and made her tense anytime she seen, thought of, spoke to, spoke about, or heard anything concerning Hayley. Again, she pushed the feelings away. Caroline had changed for the better after becoming a vampire; it was like she had gained her humanity instead of losing it. She liked the new Caroline and she wanted to stay this way, so she let all her reservations concerning Hayley go and would continue to push them down until they disappeared for good.

As Caroline continued to walk she felt the earth soften beneath her feet, heard the rush, and finally felt the mist on her face from the falls. She continued until she reached the top, finding her "place" that over looked the falls, the town, and a place where the moon or sun could shine down upon. It was peaceful for her. This was the place she discovered after her father tortured her. It was her break from reality, her dis-connect to keep her connected. It was her thinking place, the place she needed when things became too much for her.

Even though the town was named… "Mystic Falls." It was rare for anyone to ever visit the falls. Caroline imagined the towns people were used to it and any tourists probably never made it back home considering the density of their supernatural population in Mystic Falls. Caroline was sitting on the cliff, stretched out several feet from the edge, leaning back on her hands, letting her hair fall down her back, with her face lifted to the moon as if she were human again basking in the sun's warmth. The weather was still warm with a slight breeze, she enjoyed her special place. It was exactly what she needed. Something that was truly hers, something that wouldn't be compromised.

Then…..she felt it. Something or… someone behind her. The hair on the back of her neck stood at attention, her body tensed preparing for an attack. She jumped up, turned around, taking a defensive position at vampiric speed. She bared her fangs, letting the blackness envelop her eyes, and the veins sprout on her face. She couldn't see the trespasser yet but she knew someone was there. Just as she was about to pounce, he stepped out of the shadows, his head bent down. He looked at her from an angle; the moonlight seemed to make him glow, the sheepish grin capturing his face, his dimples materializing…

"Hello, love."