THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! I LOVE YOU ALL!

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE SONGS USED NOR DO I OWN TVD!

SETTING: AFTER 4X23

DESCRIPTION: After graduation, Caroline visits her father's grave, and goes to see the world in his memory, though she encounters danger along the way. SLIGHT ANGST IN THE END!

Song: On My Father's Wings from Quest for Camelot

Caroline inhaled deeply as she walked into the cemetery, carrying a bouquet of daisies. It had been two days since she graduated, and there was emptiness in her heart.

Everyone she loved had been at her graduation, except one that really mattered, her father.

She still couldn't believe that he was gone. It was unreal. She was supposed to be Daddy's little girl, and he was supposed to live forever. He could have lived forever, but he didn't. He chose death instead of being like her.

She didn't choose what she was either. She had wanted to live, but fate seemed to have other plans. She was a vampire. A monster. The terror of every child's nightmares.

But she was more than that.

She was also a young woman, who loved her father, mother, and her friends. She loved being who she was now. Granted she was what her father had despised, but since she had become a vampire, she was more than just a weakly little girl, who was pushed around. Now, she had strength, power, and she would never grow old.

William Forbes

Beloved Father

She sighed as she knelt down in front of the stone tombstone.

"Hey daddy," She whispered, placing the flowers on the grave. "I brought these for you." She replied, arranging them on the small vase she had placed there in the ground.

She sat back on her heels, and looked around her. "Well, I finally did it. I graduated." She stated, with tearful eyes. "You would have been so proud of me, daddy." She continued, as she nodded, and smiled.

"I wish you had been there. Mom was." She replied, glancing down at her fingers, resting in her lap. "She was so proud that I made it." She whispered, with a smile. She sniffed as she looked up at stone once more. "Klaus even made it." She stated, with another smile.

The wind began to pick up, and blew her hair to the right side of her face. She lifted her right hand and pushed her flowing hair behind her ear. "I told you about him, remember." She continued as she glanced down, when her hand fell in her lap. "I told you how he annoyed me, and wouldn't let up." She stated with a small laugh. "Remember, daddy, remember how he had sired Tyler, and you helped Tyler break free." She replied, sorrowfully. "Well, Tyler did break free, and it only made matters worse." She explained, as the tears filled her eyes.

"Tyler turned back to the way he was before we started dating, and became vengeful on Klaus. He tried to kill him, and Klaus retaliated. He vowed to hunt Tyler down and kill him, forcing Tyler to leave." She replied, sadly. "Of course, he asked me to go with him, but I turned him down. I just couldn't leave mom." She concluded, though knowing the real reason why she didn't leave.

She smiled as she reached out with her right hand and touched the stone. "I miss you so much, daddy." She choked out. "My life hasn't been the same without you." She continued, pulling her hand back, and rubbed her nose.

"I've gotten stronger." She began, after a moment. "Not in the physical sense, but in the emotional." She added with a smile.

"I'm stronger, because I know you are always with me, and I know that wherever I go, you will always be there." She whispered, as tears fell down her face.

She took a minute, and felt the wind blow once more. It was time.

"Well, daddy, I've got to go." She replied, standing up. "I've got a plane to catch." She added with a smile.

She covered her mouth, and smiled. "I'm going on a trip, daddy. I'm going around the world, and I'm going to see everything, and do everything I can." She replied, with a laugh.

"Don't worry. I'll be just fine." She began waving her hand in front of her body. "Mom's going to join me when she can, and besides I'll always have you." She paused, with a wan smile. "Looking out for me." She added, her smile becoming watery. "I love you, daddy, and I'm going to make you so proud of me." She whispered, blowing a kiss towards the headstone.

She smiled, as the wind blew once more, and she couldn't help but feel calm about it all.

It was the first time, since his passing that she felt at ease and it was a relief. She had carried the pain of his death with her for so long, and shielded herself from it, that she now she had accepted it she felt such peace and freedom.

As she walked back to her care, she noticed a letter underneath her windshield wiper. She smiled as she reached for it and lifted it free.

Shaking her head, she opened it to find two credit cards, and first class tickets to Paris, Rome, and a blank one. She smiled as she lifted the letter, written in a familiar writing.

Caroline,

I know you probably wanted to do it on your own, but think of this as a belated graduation gift. I know. I said I would take you, but certain matters have left me unable to leave New Orleans, at the time, and I deeply apologize.

I hope you enjoy yourself, Caroline, and I sincerely wish I could go with you.

Fondly,

Klaus

She shook her head as she read the letter again and again. It seemed like her dad wasn't the only one looking out for her. Her chest felt warmth encompass her. She looked around her, and swore she could see someone in the distance. Tilting her head to the side, she took a step towards the figure, but in an instant the figure had disappeared. She smiled and shook her head at the thought of him watching her.

Walking towards to her car door, she slipped into the driver's seat, and drove away feeling lighter than she ever thought she would ever feel.

~Four Months Later~

Caroline had traveled everywhere. Well, everywhere she wanted to go. She traveled to Paris and stood before the Eiffel tower, and smiled as she felt the wind blow around her. Somewhere down inside of her she believed her father was traveling with her, as she thought he would.

She traveled to the Louvre and drank in the paintings and other works of art. She even thought she saw a painting by him, but she didn't dwell on that too much.

She met her mother in the city of Rome, and smiled as they toured the Coliseum. They laughed as they drove through the country side of Italy, and stopped to taste the wines made from the grapes from the vineyards.

Out of all the places she visited, she loved Italy the best. The history, the culture, and the countryside. It reminded her a little of home, but also of the world she had yet to finish seeing.

She said goodbye to her mom after they arrived Athens. She cried as she hugged her mom, and promised to come home when she could.

"See the world, sweetheart." Liz said, as she hugged her daughter one last time. "See it for him, and for both of us." She whispered, as she kissed her daughter's cheek.

Caroline nodded, and kissed her mom one last time before her mom disappeared in a sea of people boarding the plane home.

She entered the Parthenon, and took in the statue of Athena. It was in ruins, but still she could feel the history inside.

Standing amidst the ruins, she thought about her life. She had taken a chance. She had left her friends, and life behind. She was becoming something stronger with each day, and each step she took. As she lifted her cell phone, she found fifteen messages. She shook her head as she listened to ten voicemails from Elena, Tyler, and Damon. All wondering where she was, and who was she with. Three others were from Stefan, telling her that he hoped she would call him, and he understood her reason for a break, and that he would always be there to talk to. One was from Bonnie, who wished her the best. The last one was from Klaus. She smiled as she listened to him.

"Caroline, I do hope you are enjoying yourself. Travel safe."

She erased all but Stefan's, Bonnie's, and Klaus'.

She trekked her way across the Holy Lands, and avoided the insurgent armies, as she entered Egypt. She traveled to the pyramids, and was amazed at how tall they were. She called her mom.

"Your dad always wanted to see them." Liz said, as Caroline felt the tears fall down her face.

"He would have loved this." She whispered into the receiver.

They talked a few more minutes, before her mom had to hang up. Caroline sighed as she placed the phone in her pants. She turned to walk away from the pyramid, and then thought better of it.

It had been four months, and she needed to talk.

Taking her phone out of her pocket, she dialed his number.

He answered on the second ring. "Caroline?"

Caroline smiled at his uncertainty. "I got your message." She stated, simply.

She heard him chuckle on the other side, and she smiled. "Well, four months without hearing from you, love had me a little worried." He stated, nonchalantly.

She rolled her eyes at his words. "I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself, Klaus." She stated in her usual bickering manner.

"I know you are, love, and that's what I like about you." He replied, huskily.

She laughed at his words, though she knew he was serious.

"Where are you now, love?" He asked after a moment.

She smiled and looked around her. "Egypt." She said, with a smile in her voice.

"Ah, yes the land of sand, pyramids, and pharaohs." He said in a strong tone.

She tilted her head. "Don't tell me you met some of the pharaohs." She stated, as she walked through the sand.

He laughed. "There is such a thing as before my time, Caroline." He replied, on the other end.

She laughed. "I figured you were about a billion, so you must have known a few." She said in a teasing tone.

He chuckled, and she heard the sound of leather moving. He sat down. "I'm only a thousand four hundred, love." He said with ease.

"Wow, you are ancient." She replied, still teasing.

He chuckled once again, and she heard a door open and close. "I'm sorry to have to cut this lovely conversation short, love, but I have something to tend to." He said in a slight tense tone.

Caroline felt her heart drop in her chest. "I understand. I have things to do myself." She replied, nodding her head.

"I trust I will talk to you soon." He said in a hoping tone.

Caroline smiled. "Yeah, soon." She returned with a false tone.

She heard him sigh, and she followed suit. "Goodbye, love." He whispered, softly.

She nodded. "Goodbye, Klaus." She whispered in return.

The next she heard a click.

~Two Months Later~

Caroline fought for her life.

She had traveled to South America, and had discovered that the beauty of the rainforest also carried dangers.

She choked back a sob as she pulled a stake from her stomach, and growled at the hunter. Her vision became red, as the hunter smirked and pulled out another stake from his makeshift belt.

Caroline didn't give another thought. She didn't think about the curse, all she could think about as the hunter lunged towards her was living. She still had a life.

Sidestepping the hunter, she quickly picked up a fallen log, and knocked him out. As his unconscious body fell to the ground, she panted, and dropped the log. Whipping her head around, she searched for someplace to hide as the wound from the stake began to slowly heal.

She sighed as she ran as fast as she could, and sighed as she made it to Manaus, close to the Amazon River, on the edge of rainforest, where she had been staying.

She fell to her knees as she made it to her room, and locked the door. She should be safe here, at least for a while. Glancing at the nightstand, she picked up her phone. Noticing her hands were shaking, she bit back a sob as she lowered the phone.

Who could she call?

Her friends had stopped calling, except Stefan and Bonnie, but they were a little preoccupied with the Silas debacle.

She could call her mom, but what would she say? Come home, Caroline. Caroline shook her head. No, she couldn't call her mom. She wouldn't worry her. She bit her bottom lip, and threw her head back.

"Daddy, please help me." She whispered, into the quiet darkness of the room.

She closed her eyes, and felt the tears fall down.

"Stay strong, sweetheart." A voice whispered a familiar voice.

She smiled as she lowered her head. "I knew you wouldn't leave me." She whispered, as she felt a soft feeling encompass her soul.

Standing up, she smiled as she heard a pounding on her door. She turned as she inhaled deeply. The hunter.

She closed her eyes. "Daddy, what do I do?" She whispered, as the door began to budge.

"Fight, sweetheart, fight, I'm right here with you."

She smiled as her body eased and the door opened.

Her eyes focused on the tall brown skinned man with long dark brown hair and cold brown eyes.

"Did you think you could run from me, vampire?" He asked in a cold tone.

Caroline smiled, and shook her head. "I'm not afraid of you." She stated, in a strong tone.

He smirked, and stepped into the room. "Oh, by the time I'm finished with you, you will be." He stated, in a cold yet satisfying tone.

Caroline shook her head. "I will never be afraid of you." She stated, lifting her head high.

He chuckled as he stepped further inside the room. "Well, who is going to save you, then?" He asked, lifting his arms outward.

Caroline jutted her chin forward. "I don't need saving." She stated, spreading her feet towards a fighting stance. "I can take care of myself." She added with a proud tone.

He chuckled once more. "I bet you can vampire." He stated, pulling out a stake from his belt.

Caroline smiled as she shifted her feet, and prepared for the inevitable.

"Keep your guard up."

She smiled wider as his voice calmed her. The hunter lunged forward, and she sidestepped his advance.

He swung his arm around, and she grasped his wrist tightly in her left hand, and then pushed her right hand forward on his arm, breaking it at the elbow. She heard the satisfactory crunch, and his howl in pain, as he dropped the stake. She grasped his upper arm, and swung his body against the wall, his head colliding with the plaster.

She stepped back, and quickly picked up the stake on the floor. Now she had a weapon.

The hunter turned around, and growled at her, as he began his advance once more. Folding his right hand into a fist, he swung at her head, but she ducked the swing, and jabbed the stake into his abdomen.

He groaned in pain, as she pushed the stake further into his abdomen, and the scent of blood traveled to her nostrils. She inhaled deeply, and felt her fangs beginning to descend through her gums. She lifted her eyes to his, and discovered fear in his eyes.

He was afraid.

"Afraid of me, hunter?" She asked, tilting her head. "You should be." She stated, leaning forward and sinking her teeth into his neck.

He struggled under her tight grasp, but he couldn't break free.

"Caroline, stop!"

She lifted her head only a fraction when she heard his voice. Blood fell down the edges of her mouth, and drizzled down her chin. Her mouth was agape, and her eyes were still unfocused. All she could see. All she could hear was the blood in the hunter's body.

Slowly coming out of her daze, she realized the hunter was near death. Letting go of his body, she stepped back, and brought her hands over her mouth.

What had she done?

Shaking her head, she turned around, grabbed her phone, bag with the plane ticket and a set of clothes, and left the room. She didn't need anything else. She didn't want anything else.

She had almost killed someone, and if not for her father's voice in her mind, she would have. Tears fell down her face at the thought. Her dad was still looking out for her, and she almost became what he had thought of when he was alive. She had almost become a monster.

Shaking her head, she picked up her pace. She ran until she couldn't run any longer. She realized when she stopped that she had missed the small airport, which was back in the town. Lifting her right arm to her nose, she shook her head. No, she wasn't going to go back there. She was going to keep going forward.

She had been in such a daze she didn't realize, she had arrived in another town, and the sun was about to fade into the distance. Had she been running all day?

She swallowed, and looked behind her. No one was following her.

Taking deep breathes, she looked around her. Seeing a sign in the distance, she sighed as she walked towards it.

"Boa Vista." She whispered, as she looked around. "Please let there be an airport here." She prayed as she walked calmly in the city.

After searching for hours, she finally found the airport. Entering the building, she walked up to the desk, and with quick eyes, found the destination she was hoping for.

Taking out the blank ticket, she handed it to the clerk, and arranged for her travel.

As she waited in the lounge, her mind drifted to the hunter, and what she had almost done. She had long since changed her blood stained clothes, and cleaned up as best she could with the moist towelettes she had carried with her. She waited for only a few minutes before she heard her plane being called.

Standing up, she shook her head. She should call. She should, but as she turned her head she realized she couldn't. She didn't need to call.

Sitting down in her seat, she clutched her small bag, and closed her eyes.

"I'm proud of you, Care bear."

She smiled as she let his words soothe her body, and she went to sleep.

After two stops and twenty-two hours later, she arrived at her destination.

As she stepped outside of the airport, she clutched her bag, and took out her phone. With a smile on her lips, she dialed the number.

"Caroline, to what do I owe this pleasure."

Caroline smiled, and bowed her head. "I'm here."

He arrived fifteen minutes later.

What did you think?

I hope you enjoyed it, though I'm not entirely satisfied with it, but, anyway…

Again, I take requests. If there is a song or what have you, you wish to see, let me know in the review or pm me. I will do my best to accommodate.

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Until Next Time…