a/n: I really am very sorry for the ludicrous amount of time it took me to write this chapter. Things were just a lot more hectic than I anticipated. I tried to bash this out and I appologies for the shortness and awfulness of the whole thing.

Caroline groaned slightly as she rolled over in the bed. It was cold. For a moment the singer presumed this was because she was on tour and therefore the only reason she was even contemplating why the bed was cold was due to the fact she missed Matt.

And then her eyes snapped open, she remembered she was home and the fact the bed was cold meant that Matt wasn't there with her. She forced herself to sit up and look at the clock, it was 4am. "Matt," she muttered. "Where are you? It's 4am in the bloody morning."

"Sorry," came a guilty voice from the corner. "I couldn't sleep and I wanted to watch you. It felt creepy watching you in bed, I felt like a stalker."

"Mattie," Caroline responded and looked over. He was sitting in a chair holding a mug of something and sitting with a book, the light on just over his shoulder so that he could read. She nodded slowly. "You are here. Okay, now I have that established, I'm going back to sleep, just because I'm jet lagged doesn't mean that I really don't need the sleep."

"Of course," he stood up and walked over to the bed. Caroline closed her eyes as Matt kissed her forehead. "Sleep well Care."

Before her head could even hit the pillow, Caroline Forbes, the Grammy nominee, was fast asleep.

The next time Caroline's consciousness stirred she was aware of her limbs being intricately tangled up in Matt's. His warm body crushing up beside her, she could feel his pulse beating through her own tiny frame. She smiled contentedly as she opened her eyes.

Matt's face was leaning towards her, his mouth was slightly slack, his eyes were still closed and his hair was sticking out at several odd angles. It was moments like this where Caroline truly appreciated just how good looking her boyfriend was.

Slowly she propped her head up on her hand still smiling at him. Matt opened one of his eyes slowly and promptly started smiling back at her.

"I didn't just dream that you had come home then?" Matt murmured. "I'm so glad, you have no idea."

"No, you didn't dream me coming home. That part was reality, and I'm staying for a while I hope," Caroline told him softly. This moment was perfect and she didn't want to ruin it.

Matt smiled up at her, "I'd like that. I would really like you to be around for a while Caroline. I miss you when you're not here."

Caroline smiled back at him. She knew how ridiculously hopeful her face must look but she couldn't help it, "I miss you too Mattie." Then she leant down quickly and kissed him.

"You are coming today aren't you?" he whispered softly. There was worry in his voice and Caroline could tell that for him just asking her to come to his place of work was a big deal, there was no way that she would willing let him down.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," she told him. Sure, she kept secrets from him. But didn't everyone keep secrets, even from the people that they loved most in the world?

Matt smiled at her and nodded slowly.

"Come on," she said grabbing his hand and rolling out of bed. "I think I might need some help showering."

They had eaten breakfast together, eventually, and now they were getting a taxi together to Matt's work. Something no one else could ever claim to have done with Matt and as Caroline glanced over at him she sighed softly.

"Are you okay," he asked looking back towards her. They were holding hands as the taxi rolled silently along the backstreets on the way to the theatre that was Matt's life.

"Yes," she replied. "I'm just glad we're doing this. Together. Now."

"Me too," he told her. "I'm just sorry that we waited so long, this feels so right don't you think?"

Caroline nodded. "We are right Matt. No matter what happens just hold onto that."

Matt just nodded. He didn't seem to want to say anything and he just tightened the grip on her hand as he turned his head away and returned to staring out of the window as the world passed by.

It didn't take half an hour from their apartment to reach Matt's work, the tiny theatre that was almost exclusively for the elite of the country. Although the theatre regularly hosted private showings of popular shows, comedy and Broadway, singers and more they liked to occasionally host something original. Matt had been chosen to create the current original show and he had been pouring his heart and soul into the project.

As Caroline stepped out of the taxi and into the street she admired the exterior. It had been through performing here that she had first met Matt; he had told her that she was the most sensational thing that the stage had ever seen or heard. She was sure he was lying but she'd liked the compliment. Things had progressed and somehow they had ended up where they were now.

Matt joined her on the pavement and took her hand again. "Are you ready?" he asked her.

"I have been all along," was all that she could reply.

He gave her a wry smile. "That's the attitude we like here."

"Then I'll fit right in," Caroline replied before stepping in front of him and leaning up to kiss him lightly on the lips.

"And I sure do hope you welcome everyone like that," a voice came from behind her.

Caroline spun around to face some guy with dark hair and gleaming eyes. She could tell from his smile that he was joking. "Sorry," she told him. "I only great people like that when I've actually missed them."

"Then I'll make a note of that and making sure that you never miss me because my boss looks like he'd happily dispose of my body right now," the guy replied.

Caroline laughed instinctively and she felt Matt grip her arm. "That sounds like a very sound plan," she told him. "It's always highly upsetting whenever I have to bail Matt out of jail for murder."

This time it was the guys turn to laugh, he inclined his head at them both before ducking into the building. Caroline felt Matts hold on her arm slacken a little.

She leant back, her head resting against his chest. "Don't worry," she told him. "I'm not going anywhere."

Matt pressed his lips against the back of her head. "I know," he told her. "I know that deep down but sometimes I forget that other people want you to say that to them as well, and sometimes I'm scared that someday you might want to."

"Matt," she replied. "In ten years we might have broken up and moved to other sides of the globe, or we could still be here, or we could be married with eight kids. You don't know, you can't know. But for now, for this moment I have no plans of going anywhere unless you're in the picture."

Caroline heard his chuckle softly. "You really are wonderful," he told her.

She smiled in response to that. "I do my best," Caroline told him.

"Come on," Matt said grabbing her hand and tugging her in the direction of the theatre. "Let's show them how a real star does it."

Caroline felt herself unable to wipe the grin off her face as they walked into the theatre, this place had always felt magical to her but never as much as it did in that moment.

The morning was a whirlwind of introductions and standing at Matt's side smiling. Caroline had to admit it made a nice change from having him at her side smiling.

"The productions good," she had told him and all he'd done was look at her and smile.

"Yes," he murmured later. "But it needs to be fantastic."

She understood where he was coming from, the same need drove both of them to achieve above and beyond what was ever expected of them.

Caroline watched Matt for a while. He didn't need her, not at the moment.

"Matt, I'm just going to stretch my legs," she told him.

He nodded at her. "Don't get lost."

"I won't. I'll be here if you need me."

"I know. You're not going anywhere."

"Not without you."

As she wondered though the corridors Caroline hummed lightly to herself. So far this had proved to be a nice day, she'd enjoyed herself so far and Matt hadn't killed anyone and he didn't seem to be regretting bringing her here. That made her feel considerably better about herself.

When she'd set off she'd had no real goal to head towards but Caroline found herself wondering in the direction of the sound and lighting box. Matt wasn't using them today and Caroline had always found it a good hiding place, somewhere safe where she could observe what was occurring without being seen.

She pushed open the door to the room and was happy to find that it was deserted. As she released the door it closed behind her and Caroline walked towards the window and smiled to herself as she looked down on the stage. Matt was standing there talking to some other actor, or at least that's what she assumed he was.

Caroline stood silently watching for around an hour or so before she heard something, the sound of light footsteps walking towards the door. She'd never quite been sure if she was allowed in here and there was nowhere obvious to hide. It was quite obvious that she was going to have to bluff her way out of this one.

The door swung open hastily and Caroline blinked in surprise to see the man from outside of the theatre standing there looking at her in shock.

"Excuse me miss," he said after a moment. "No one is supposed to be up here."

"Well, I'm sorry, I'm a little disorientated," Caroline told him. "I was looking for the ladies room. You couldn't possibly point me in the right direction could you?"

The man's look of surprise disappeared at that. There was something dangerous and seductive in his eyes. "You could have just followed the signs."

"I'm short sighted and forgot my glasses."

"Really, it looked to me as though you recognised me easily enough."

"It was your shirt. Very unique colours."

"Is that so? Would you like to see how it looks on the floor?"

"Ew. No," Caroline spluttered. "That's disgusting."

"I knew a batman design wasn't going to work with the ladies."

"You're hilarious you know."

"And that line usually works so well."

Caroline rolled her eyes. He was arrogant to the point of being absurd.

"No really. A real treat, although usually I am being paid."

"What are you a stripper in your free time?"

"Actually not far off."

"Oh, an escort then."

"Closer still."

"A escargot?"

"What?" his face crumpled slightly in confusion.

"It's French for snail," Caroline told him. A bored expression sliding over her face.

"You shouldn't call yourself such things."

"Wow. Now you think you're me. So that would make you delusional too."

"Actually I meant I'm also a singer, performer, prostitute, or however else you'd like to phrase it"

"You're a Grammy nominated, multi-platinum musician?"

"Oh, a Grammy. When did that happen?"

"You're a stalker?" Caroline gave him a wary look.

"Either than or your boyfriends composer, your call."

"Wait, that's who you are?"

"On second thoughts maybe I am a stalker…"

"Or you could be a composing stalker," Caroline offered.

"Actually that's not bad. I should try that sometime, though maybe switching stalker with admirer."

"So you're saying that a stalker and an admirer are the same thing?"

"Well, they both are obsessed with you and learn your every more."

"Wow. I should tell my publicist and agent that they're both officially stalkers."

"That'll go down a hoot in the office."

"Um, Jenna would probably laugh and call the police herself."

"She sounds like fun."

"She's amazing."

"So are you."

"How would you know?"

"I saw you sing."

"What?"

"You were… indescribable."

"That bad?"

"That good."

"So you were drunk?"

"I would call it tipsy."

Caroline let out a short laugh. And looked away.

"I'm Tyler by the way."

"Well, you must have figured out that I'm Caroline."

"I think I guessed it when I saw you all over Matt Donovan. The clue would be you are the hot blonde he's dating."

"So you think I'm hot."

"That you are Miss Forbes."

"So, am I allowed to go now."

"Only if you call me."

"I don't have your number."

"Matt does."

"You want me to what, steal his phone, take your number and then call you?"

"And then confess your undying love for me."

"You annoy me."

"That's no way to speak to the guy who caught you skulking up in the sound and lighting booth."

"Are you going to hold that over my head?"

"Are you going to call me?"

"Touche."

"Thank you."

"Fine. I'll call you."

"That's the spirit Miss Forbes."

"It's Caroline."

"Well then, it's been a pleasure Caroline."

"Can't say the feeling mutual Tyler."

"Please. It's Mr Lockwood."

"Hang on a second. As in Tyler Lockwood the composer."

"And country music artist."

"Who could forget that rendition of nine 'til five."

"My sentiments exactly."

"Goodbye Tyler."

"Until tonight Caroline."

Caroline pushed past him to get out of the room. His body was firm next to hers and she tried not to think about the little rush of excitement that pulsed through her body. It didn't help though that she could feel his eyes boring into her neck as she walked away.

It had been too long since anyone had questioned her, argued with her. Made her feel alive in that sense. It was exciting and refreshing.

He was annoying and arrogant and at the same time considerate and light-hearted. She got the feeling that with him she'd just shown a side that she would never show Matt, at least not in her right mind.

a/n: I just want to say thank you for all the lovely reviews and messages I've gotten about this story. I'm glad people are enjoying it and hope you continue to do so even with my apparent inability to update nicely like everyone else does.