"He's dead."

What?

"Well, he's not 'technically' dead or I wouldn't be here but…"

Caroline's mind went blank. Nothing came to her. Although she could see Tyler before her—his eyes ablaze with delight, his lips moving animatedly as he shared the "good news" he had been bursting to announce the moment he stormed into her room, she could hear none of it. For a brief moment, Tyler, her room, everything ceased to exist. All she could register was the strange numbness that had taken hold of her. Instinctively she bowed her head, the apparent shock in her eyes carefully concealed.

"Caroline?" said Tyler uncertainly, having realized Caroline had not moved or said a word since he had appeared. A tinge of insecurity tugged at him. And Caroline seemed to sense this. She lifted her head and broke into her most convincing smile.

"Wow, I just can't believe it! That's great! Finally! After all we've been through." Caroline lunged at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She suspected how forced she was coming off as but Tyler seemed not to pick up on this.

"I know," he whispered as he embraced her affectionately.

Eventually, Caroline pulled away to face Tyler. "You know…" she mused. "I think this calls for a celebration!"

"I think it does." Tyler grinned.

"Well, let's go surprise Elena. I'm sure she's thrilled she won't have to be Klaus' blood bag any longer. Can you call everyone while I get dressed?"

"Sure." And with a kiss on the cheek, Tyler left to the living room.

Caroline waited until the door shut to slump onto her bed. She felt drained and she couldn't understand why. Instinctively, she reached for the picture Klaus had drawn for her, carefully hidden in the draws of her bedside table since Tyler's last outburst and stared. Could it have just been a few hours earlier that he had held her to his side and whispered everything was going to be okay? He had taken her aback then. Sure, he had told her he fancied her, tried to woo her with gifts and frequently charmed her with his smooth words but it was only then – as he clutched her and desperately urged her to go straight home after her attack that she could see it in his eyes full of worry that he really cared. That it wasn't all a joke and he wasn't just toying with her. And she knew at that moment that despite all horror he brought upon her friends, she could never hate him. She also knew that he was 'dead' and that wasn't "okay".

As Caroline lost herself in the memory and the many moments she and Klaus had shared, she was startled by Tyler knocking.

"Nearly done in there?" Tyler asked.

"Just a minute!" Caroline answered. A wave of guilt washed over her. What was she doing? Mourning over Klaus? While her loving boyfriend stood behind her bedroom door? What would her friends say? They couldn't know what she felt for Klaus. Even she couldn't understand it. But so as to not arouse any more suspicion—especially from Tyler, she thought it best to be the one to throw the party. Maybe a drink or two might even cheer her up a bit although she doubted this.

The get-together was in full swing when Elena and the Salvatores made it back to the house, with everyone chatting excitedly and celebrating their victory over Klaus. Caroline had sensed their presence the moment they had walked up the front porch and couldn't help but listen in. Amidst Elena's confession that she couldn't choose between Damon or Stefan, Caroline picked up that the Salvatore boys were heading off to 'dump' Klaus' body. After pouring Elena a drink and reluctantly toasting to a Klaus free life, Caroline quickly excused herself to "run off an errand" for Sheriff Forbes and strapped herself into her car. Before she could think about it, she drove off after the Salvatores.