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Epilogue: Take My Hand and Take My Whole Life, Too

She knows before she even sees his initials conspicuously painted in the bottom left hand corner. She knows it's his because of the scenery depicted in the thick layers of acrylic paints.

Sure, it's a painting of what the falls and surrounding forest looked like before, as far as she's concerned, the beginning of time. But the woods and waterfalls of Mystic Falls were practically her backyard when she was growing up. It's home and she will always know what home looks like.

He sees her from afar and comes to stand at her side, their arms touching. And as he looks at her out of the corner of his eye, wondering why she hasn't acknowledged him, he sees her smile slightly.

She doesn't have to look to know that he's standing there, beside her as she observes his landscape, in the middle of one of the five buildings that make up the Hermitage, and wonders at how he thought no one would notice it.

She doesn't have to look even though she's in St. Petersburg, half a world away from Mystic Falls, as she reaches for and finds his hand, threading their fingers together and leaning into his side.

She doesn't have to look up at his sandy curls and dimpled features, seeking his blue eyes, as he gives her small hand a gentle but reassuring squeeze.

She doesn't have to look because she will always know what home feels like.

Always and forever.

A/N: And they lived happily ever after! Okay, it's not won't be without a few bumps in the road because both Klaus and Caroline are too stubborn for their own good, but at least as far as I'm concerned, Klaroline is a happy ending in and of itself:) I, originally, really wanted to write it from Klaus' perspective but then I had a brain blast and this was the result...but I actually am quite fond of it, lol.

I also realize that this probably doesn't help with the cliffhangerish ending of part 3. It obviously takes place some time after Part 3 and when I was writing it, I always imagined Klaus leaving to give Caroline the space she needs to tie up her loose ends. But, it's up for you to decide how futuristic this is, if he stayed and waited or left to wait for her or if she went with him immediately even though she said she needed time:)

Thanks for reading this, and if you have a second, please review- I appreciate all the feedback!