So... you guys were so enthusiastic in the reviews, and so many alerts and followers, I felt bad leaving it at a one shot... so maybe it will be a mini-story - if that exists! So, maybe 3 or 4 parts... if you are still intrigued.

Review and let me know!


Caroline jumped as a balloon popped in the crowded hall, her vampire hearing magnifying the sound. She glanced over her shoulder and saw two guys fooling around with the helium tank.

"Guys, cut it out! Unless you wanna stay here all day?" she warned, turning back to her check list and frowning. Wasn't planning prom meant to be more exciting than this? She wondered as she ran through the things left on the list.

Another pop sounded, and Caroline whirled to unleash pure wrath on the guys, when she saw Rebekah had gotten there first. The boys stared at her spell bound, then started blowing balloons up as fast as they could, working silently side by side. Rebekah sauntered over.

"You're welcome" she said with a smile and Caroline rolled her eyes.

"You didn't have to compel them" she muttered.

"Because screaming at them like an ageing fish wife was proving so effective" Rebekah said sarcastically. She hopped up on to the table Caroline was working on and swung her legs, looking round the hall. Caroline continued over her list, sighing periodically, swiping her hands through her hair in exasperation.

"Why do I get the distinct impression you are not excited about your senior prom?" Rebekah asked.

"It's not exactly how I was picturing it. Bonnie is delusional, Elena, out of her mind and I..."

"You're what?"

"Nothing, never mind. You're right, I should be more excited. This is a chance for us all to celebrate what we can. Before we all end up, who knows where..." Caroline trailed off as her thoughts turned to Klaus and their arrangement. A week had passed with nothing but silence from him, and she wondered if the agony of waiting for his reappearance was part of his intended suffering.

"You are coming with Stefan?" Caroline suddenly asked Rebekah, not missing the flash of sadness that crossed Rebekah's features.

"Yes, I suppose so..."

"So Elena is coming with Damon" Caroline said "Matt with Bonnie, if she leaves crazy town long enough to come... and me..." she trailed off, realising that this close to prom, she would never get another date.

"With Nik" Rebekah finished, and narrowed her eyes at Caroline's startled look.

"You did agree to come with my brother didn't you?" she asked.

"I guess I did" Caroline said, turning away a little, trying to hide the panic on her face from his sister.

"Have you spoken to him?" she asked, as casually as she could manage.

"This morning, when he got back from his werewolf hunt. I must admit, I thought he'd be more disappointed at failing to find your boyfriend" Rebekah remarked, standing up.

"Enough small talk, the prom is only hours away, and I need to go and make myself beautiful." she said and Caroline snorted.

"You better make sure you leave enough time yourself, Caroline. You're looking a little... tired" she said sweetly and smiled at Caroline's glare, as she turned and left the gym. As soon as she had gone, Caroline dropped her clipboard on the table and gripped the edge. Her heart was pounding, and her palms sweaty. He was back, her time was up. There was no escaping him and her promise to him. Now, all she could do was wait and see what he had in store for her.


She dropped her bag on the kitchen counter and sighed into the silence of her empty house. Her mother was out, and Caroline was exhausted. The act of cheering everyone up, propping up the rapidly falling house of cards that seemed to be her life lately was draining. She pulled her damp hair put of the elastic that held it, thinking she'd better fix it before it dried.

With vervain still in the town's water supply, she had to stop by the Salvatore on a daily basis to shower. Which meant running into Elena, and dealing with her new attitude. Caroline knew it wasn't Elena's fault, they had done this to her... but, it was hard to remember when she was pushing her new found lack of morals and inhibitions in Caroline's face.

The doorbell rang, and Caroline flinched, resisting the urge to bang her forehead off the counter top. She went to the hall, and paused, seeing no one outside the glass door. She went forward and opened the door, hit by a major sense of deja vu as she saw a large, creamy white box, wrapped with white ribbon, sat on the mat. She swallowed, looking around for a sign of the deliverer. The was no one about, but that didn't mean he wasn't still watching, she thought, her face heating up as she grabbed the box and went inside, slamming the door behind her.

Her pulse racing, she went to her bedroom, and set the box down on the bed, she then sat in a chair, across from it and stared at it. She knew who it was from, there was no doubt. He was back, and he was expecting her to start honouring their deal. She stood slowly and carefully pulled the lid off the box.

It was blue, like her first, but this one was pale, duck egg blue, shot through with gold. It was full length, and silk, A backless sheath of material, that she could already see dipped dangerously low on the back. She pulled it from the box, appreciating the heavy feel of the luxurious fabric and hung it up. Turning back to the box, she saw a box in the bottom, and a card. The card sent her heart clambering back into her mouth.

She picked the box up first. Snapping it open, her eyes widened as she saw the exquisite jewellery nestling inside, the diamonds glinting on deep green satin. She set it down, and picked up the card. Her name was written in that familiar flowing script. She turned it over hesitantly.

8 O'Clock. Be ready