"In the end that was the choice you made, and it doesn't matter how hard it was to make it. It matters that you did."

― Cassandra Clare, City of Glass


What's the difference between being ignorant and just stubborn?

Because I feel like I'm walking that grey area.

Ignorant. Blind. I'm only seeing what's in front of me. I'm not going to lie little word page, I have tunnel vision at the moment.

Stubborn. Out of sight, of mind. If I can help it, I won't think about it.

But word page, the more I try not to think about it, I always do.

I have this curse of over-thinking situations. And, I'm going to be mature about this, stubborn or ignorant, and break it down for myself. So hopefully, when these feelings return, I can just look back at this, and feel confident.

One. Klaus is catatonic. Mostly alive but not, in a coffin, somewhere in hiding; at the discretion of Damon and Stefan. So, even if something might've began to develop there…it's over. Done. I don't even know where he is, not to mention he'll be in this state of being for a few centuries, minimum. Two. Nothing developed between us. Really. I got caught up in his accent, big deal. Sue me. All the "love's" and "fancy" this and that.

This is all happening because I'm left alone for days at a time. Netflix can only entertain me for so many hours. And, after three full seasons of Gossip Girl, my mind starts thinking like a script.

If I was still in Mystic Falls, I really don't think I'd have such a terrible dilemma. I could go on, living my life convincing everyone I hate Klaus, and he'd never give up, continuously bothering me…

Oh my god.

Epitome.

It's the attention. God. I'm so thankful for this moment! These typed words will never express the relief I'm feeling!

The accent and charm, it all plays together! I'm vulnerable and lonely, and my emotions are on super drive anyway.

This all makes so much sense now.

xxx

Caroline smiled as she snapped the laptop shut.

A new day, a new era.

Tyler began to awaken across the room. Caroline returned to the bed and slid under the sheets next to him. The temperature under the blankets would've been unbearable for a human, but neither Caroline nor Tyler noticed it.

"Stop watching me sleep, stalker." Tyler said with closed eyes, a playful smile spreading across his features.

Caroline giggled and propped her head up under her elbow. "Sorry…" She said coyly, "I'm just a little obsessed with you."

Tyler laughed as he sat up. He stretched his neck from side to side, and then his arms straight up, interlocking his hands as he gave a big yawn. Then, without warning, he wind milled his arms over Caroline's torso and pulled her on top of him. His head resting comfortably where hers once was.

"I think I'm a little obsessed with you too." He said sweetly as Caroline knelt down and kissed him softly.

"Well, what're we going to do today?" She asked, lifting herself off Tyler and moving next to him. Her head rested against the headboard behind them.

"I can think of one thing, about fifty different ways…"

Caroline giggled as Tyler held tightly to her hips and pulled her next to him, his hands played gently with the elastic of her pajama shorts.

Caroline swatted his hands away, "I'm serious." Her eyes met his and she smiled, "We've been here two weeks and I haven't gone shopping once."

Tyler rolled his eyes and sat up, yawning once more he tossed his legs over the side of the bed, his feet touching the floor. Caroline followed his stance; hovering behind him on her knees she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "Does this mean you're coming with me?" She asked, her hands tracing circles on his chest.

Tyler smirked, "Do I have a choice?"

Caroline kissed his neck and nestled her cheek on his shoulder, "Not really, but you get brownie points for not saying no!" She kissed his cheek quickly as she slipped off the bed and into the bathroom.

xxx

Caroline held a gold earring up to her ear and twisted her head both directions. She put the earring down and thumbed a teal necklace with a smooth stone on the display. She caught a glimpse of Tyler in the mirror across the wall.

He was thumbing through a sport's magazine. A scowl cut deep through his forehead.

He probably would've played college football, Caroline thought suddenly. She then had a vision of Tyler running onto a field, thousands of people in the crowd all wearing the same color, the other players slapping his chest and back as he ran past them. Tyler stopping suddenly, turning to face the crowd, and blew a kiss. "To me," Caroline thought as she envisioned herself there, bundled up in the schools colors; maybe in a cheerleading uniform, waving and blowing a kiss back.

Caroline shook her head at the idea. What a predictable life she could've led.

Tyler caught her eye in the mirror's reflection. Caroline smiled at him and held up the earrings with a shrug. Tyler made a face and shook his head "no." Caroline laughed out loud and laid the earrings back onto the glass counter. She walked over to Tyler and took his hand. They walked out of the shop together.

xxx

Caroline thumbed through a pamphlet with "The best things to do here" listed on the pages. "There is really a lot going on here." She commented, turning to the pamphlet over, revealing several more things.

"Yeah…it runs circles around Mystic Falls."

Caroline had never felt that she belonged in a big city. Small town life was what she knew; she belonged to a founding family. The history of the town was important to her. She'd never admit it, but if she could somehow have a daughter, you could bet that her daughter would be Miss Mystic Falls and her daughter after that, and after that….she could've started a legacy.

But the more she walked through the streets, the more she felt like she was missing out on something. Something bigger.

"Are you up for some froyo?" Tyler asked, pulling Caroline from her thoughts. Their hands swung between them, intertwined. "I'm always up for froyo!" Tyler smiled and led her towards a retro-looking building.

As Tyler pulled open the door, Caroline laughed in amazement, "This place is awesome!" She turned to take it all in. It was set up like an ice cream shop from the 50's, complete with black and white flooring and seafoam green walls. Pictures of Elvis and Marilyn Monroe hung neatly behind the counter. The multi-colored juke box was spouting Frank Sinatra from its speakers.

After ordering, Caroline led the way to the outside patio. They sat down across from each other in white iron chairs. "You probably would've been a Marilyn." Tyler started, taking a bite out of his yogurt.

Caroline rolled her eyes, "Why do you say that? Because I'm blonde?" Caroline scooped up yogurt onto her spoon, and waited for Tyler's response.

Tyler shrugged, "Yeah, and she was pretty hot."

"She was depressed and on drugs, also an alcoholic!" Caroline stated, "Also, she was not exactly faithful." She took a bite of yogurt, "All of things, of which I'm not."

Tyler put his hands up in defeat, "All right, all right."

"Blue Moon" started playing over the speakers. Caroline suddenly looked at Tyler, "Rosemary Clooney!" She exclaimed, standing up quickly she readjusted her shirt.

Tyler looked at her quizzically, "Bless you?" Caroline scoffed, "Come on, we have to dance." She held out her hand to him. Tyler just looked at it, and then back to her eyes. He shook his head "no".

"Come on Tyler, please. I know you can dance." She begged, looking toward the middle of floor, "Look, some other couples are dancing too." She pointed out.

Tyler took another bite of his yogurt, "It'll melt, come on, we'll dance later."

Caroline couldn't hide her disappointment well. She sat back down in front of her yogurt and twisted circles in it with her spoon. "Couldn't you be a little spontaneous?" Caroline thought.

The streetlights were beginning to turn on, and rather than the townspeople returning home, it seemed that more were coming out. Caroline could see a Ferris wheel in the distance, probably a local carnival. A group of little kids ran by the shop, laughing and chasing each other. A vampire free world.

No vervain laced drinks, no moonstones. No one worried about being out past sunlight, afraid of supernatural elements.

These people lived.

Actually lived.

"How nice it would be to join them." Caroline thought as a scene unfolded in her mind: She and Tyler riding the Ferris wheel, waving to Elena and Matt below; Bonnie arm in arm with someone, leading them to the carnival games. Laughter.

Normal.

"Hey, let's get out of here." Tyler said gently, nudging Caroline's arm. She nodded as they rose from the chairs.

xxx

The two walked in silence.

Caroline kept her eyes ahead. With the silence came a slow growing of anger inside her. She wanted to talk to Tyler, about not just tonight but of all the things that have been bothering her since they ran away. But she wouldn't. Fighting with Tyler was a lost cause.

"You're right." He'd say finally, "You're right, I'm an ass. I don't deserve you." Always.

Was it wrong to want to fight? To be angry and have a full argument with two opposing sides, with two stubborn people who both wanted to win?

"That's terrible." Caroline thought, "I actually want to fight with my boyfriend." She rolled her eyes and tucked a section of hair behind her ear.

"Look," Tyler stopped suddenly, "I'm sorry." He put his hands up in defense, "I'm sorry I didn't dance with you at the yogurt shop."

Caroline shook her head, "It's not just that Tyler." She smiled sadly.

"Okay." Tyler took her hand and led her to a bench a few paces away. "Let's talk. What's wrong, I want to know."

Caroline sat back on the bench. "Think really hard before you say anything." She mentally reminded herself. Where was she supposed to begin?

Truth be told, there was nothing wrong with this relationship. They were both happy, committed…They understood each other.

So what was the problem?

Klaus. Or the idea of Klaus, anyways.

When Tyler mistakenly bit Caroline on her birthday, she could've died. She wouldn't admit it at the time, but she thought about it. When Klaus asked her if that was really what she wanted, Caroline thought about saying yes.

Klaus made her see the beauty in being what she was. An eternity to spend doing anything; the freedom to live a fuller life than any human could ever imagine.

She would never forget that.

Caroline was going to exist for a long time. And after decades and decades of being out in the world and experiencing things Mystic Falls would never offer her, who was it that she'd return to?

Caroline faced Tyler now, her hands gently in her lap, "I don't want to break up, Tyler." She told him earnestly, she reached her hand over to his; he clasped it in between his own. "It's just been a little crazy." She paused to think of what to say next. What was she supposed to say?

Tyler opened his mouth to respond, but his ringtone filled the silence.

He looked at Caroline apologetically, "It's Matt, I probably need to take this." Caroline nodded as Tyler stood; he answered the phone as he walked away.

Caroline was thankful for the interruption.

She knew she couldn't change Tyler. He liked doing things the small town way, he didn't have any interest in leaving Mystic Falls, let alone the country. Caroline just needed some time to herself to figure everything out.

Klaus or no Klaus, he was right about what he said.

"I just need some time to think" Caroline quietly rehearsed to herself, "I want to go away somewhere, maybe New York-"

"Caroline!"

Caroline quickly turned her head to see Tyler, running back to where she was sitting. "We have to go back, there's a little bit of a situation." He said quickly, trying to catch his breath.

"What kind of situation?" Caroline asked, "A Rick situation or-"

"A Klaus situation." Tyler finished for her.

Caroline felt her eyes widen, "What happened to him?"

Tyler shook his head, "I couldn't tell you, he's missing."

Caroline exhaled.

This changed everything.


A/N: Well, like I say, I like Tyler, but I LOVE Klaus. I'm thinking a reunion is in order ;)

I just really wanted Tyler and Caroline's relationship to come off the right way. Despite them being supernatural, their relationship is very "high school senior". Don't you think? Or that's the way I see it going anyway. Torn by choosing the closest school to your significant other, or your dream school, the decision to break up and go to opposite sides of the country, attempting a long distance relationship…blah blah blah. Throw in some blood bags and a full moon and BAM. Tyler and Caroline.

Just so you all know, I'm very excited about writing my Klaus scenes.

Until next time,

Jaime