Caroline didn't know how much Tyler had heard of the conversation inside, but she couldn't tell Tyler that Klaus was going to tell him. All she said was that he was showing him some mercy, and that he needed to run and hide, and to never return to Mystic Falls. Tyler had just nodded and joined her on the swing they were now sitting on.
She couldn't even look at him while she sniffed a little, trying to hold back tears. Her entire body felt numb, but she knew that she had to speak. "How many times are we gonna have to say good bye?"
She tried to turn her body towards his more, but it hurt to even be around him. To know that this was the end. That this was their final goodbye. If she ever saw him again, it would likely be moments before his death.
"At least this time we have a minute to do it the right way."
Caroline started crying then. He didn't remember their last goodbye. When it had been Klaus in his body. He had never said goodbye when he went to break the sire-bond, instead just abandoning Caroline. And when he had left with Jules, she had known nothing. This, though. This time there was no coming back. It was like he was dying all over again.
"There isn't a right way."
She felt his hand slip into hers and grip it, and she looked up at him. She felt like her world was ending, but Tyler was calm, as if he didn't realize that this was over. This was all over for them.
"This isn't good bye. This is, until we find a way. We're immortal." Poor Tyler. He truly thought there was a chance. That he could escape, and defeat, the Original Hybrid. "Remember?"
She nodded to herself, not speaking, and looking at his hand holding her. She couldn't look at him. She couldn't tell him that there was no way. That there was no future. Even with immortality.
"We will find a way."
It was destroying her, keeping silent while he spoke, and she forced herself to whisper out, "What if we don't?"
Tyler didn't say anything, and she knew then that it was starting to dawn on him that there was no hope. The only thing that could have saved him would have been the Cure, and that was gone now. Nothing else would destroy Klaus, and the man was still hunting Katherine after 500 years. He wouldn't just drop Tyler's betrayal.
"Tell me that you'll never think of me again. Tell me that you'll forget about me, tell me that you're gonna go on and live a full and happy life without me."
It pained her to speak, but she did it anyway. He had to say the words. He had to say them, and believe them. He had to make her believe them too. He had to go, and live, away from her, until Klaus killed him.
Tyler looked away from her for a moment, then looked back. "I will live a happy life without you."
She nodded and tried to not cry, but it was hard as he spoke again.
"I will forget all about you."
Caroline could feel her lip trembling, waiting for him to finish his statement.
"And I will never, ever think about you again."
She broke down crying, wishing that things could change. Wishing that she could save him. Wishing that she never had to feel the pain of loss again. She could feel Tyler's arm wrap around her and she let him kiss her, then gripped onto his arm and face, savoring their last few kisses. They both pulled away, and she gave another sniff.
"Until we find a way?"
She knew she was lying to herself, but she had to say it. There was no way. There was just this. An ending. An ending of her life with Tyler.
Tyler nodded then gave her a little smile. She felt his lips touch her forehead in a final kiss good bye, and then he was up off the swing, walking away. Caroline sat there, crying, watching him walk out of her life. Forever.
Last Chapter will be up tomorrow. Until then, enjoy.
Love, C.