I apologize for taking so long, but everything seemed to come at me all at once this year. I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME!

Please remember to review at the end! :)


The moment Stefan returned home, he knew something was wrong, and that something was sitting on the small couch in the living room.

"Caroline, what?" He began, but she shook her head, as he took in the destressed look on her face.

"I made a mistake, Stefan." She answered, bowing her head. "I'm sorry, but I can't stay married to you anymore." She remarked, standing up, and walked calmly into their bedroom, but before she closed the door, she slid off her ring, and placed it on the table. "Don't worry, I'll find someone for you. A better wife," She added, with a small smile, before closing the door.

Stefan stood in the living room, his mind raced over her words, and something in him told him who and what was responsible.

With a set in his jaw, he turned on his heel, and marched out of their apartment. In his anger, he walked in front of moving vehicles, not caring if they ran him over. He stomped up the stairs, and proceeded to bang on the door.

The said door swung open, and he glared at Klaus with all the anger he had inside him. "What the hell did you do to my wife?!" He demanded, pushing past Klaus, not caring if Klaus had a patient in the room.

Klaus swallowed, and folded his arms over his chest, trying not to give away any feelings. "I didn't do anything to her, Stefan." He answered, simply, which was the truth, in a way.

Stefan wheeled around, and glared at him. "Well, you must have done something, because I just got home, only to find out that she doesn't want to stay married to me and insists on finding me another wife!" He shouted, throwing his arms out.

Klaus swallowed, and his eyes widened. "She what?" He asked, in mild disbelief.

Stefan glared at him, and then let out a sigh, as his hand ran over his face. "She told me that she had made a mistake, and that she was going to fix it." He stated, his eyes narrowing into anger that Klaus assumed was misplaced and filled with confusion. Perhaps Stefan wanted the marriage to work.

"What does that mean?" Klaus choked out, shifting on his feet.

Stefan shook his head, and threw his hands out. "Damned if I know." He answered, shaking his head once more. "All I know is that one session with you and she's thinking that this marriage was a mistake." He stated, stepping towards Klaus.

"I don't know what you said to her, but you stay the hell away from her!" He shouted, marching past him, and left the office, leaving Klaus standing in the center with his world starting to crumble around him.

~XXX~

She hadn't spoken to him since he had left her that morning, and frankly she didn't know what to say.

"Why don't you just tell him?"

She turned her head to find Bonnie standing in the doorway of the shop, and she shook her head. "Tell him what?" She asked, shrugging her shoulders, before she started to pull the apron over her head.

Bonnie smiled, and approached her carefully. "Tell him that you love another, and that you want the kind of happiness that he wants, just not together." She answered, as Caroline placed her hand on the counter.

"I can't. I'd feel like…" She began, trailing off with her words shaking.

Bonnie smiled, and stepped closer. "Like a traitor?" She asked, watching Caroline nod her head. "Caroline, the heart is a fickle thing. You love a man who is not afraid of your gifts, and accepts them and you." She continued, in a calm tone. "I can tell you, as long as you stay with Stefan, you will never be happy, nor comfortable." She added, shaking her head.

Caroline sighed, and lowered her eyes. "I don't know how I let this happen." She whispered, tears filling her eyes.

Bonnie smiled, and touched the young woman's hands, gently. "Destiny has a way of working itself out; sometimes it needs a little push." She replied, gently.

Caroline nodded. "I'll talk to him." She answered, as Bonnie nodded. "Thank you, Bonnie." She remarked, as Bonnie nodded with a smile.

"Anytime, now, I should get going. I have a few more stops to make before it gets dark." Bonnie replied, stepping back, and headed out the door.

Caroline nodded, and closed her eyes. How was she going to tell him?

~XXX~

Bonnie rounded the corner of the street and gasped and she bumped into a rock solid body. Hands reached out to steady her, and she lifted her eyes to capture the warm brown eyes of the person who kept her steady.

"Kol?"

Kol tilted his head to the side, and smiled as he recognized the woman in front of him. "Bonnie,"

~XXX~

Stefan placed the meats in stacks, and sighed as his mind drifted to the woman of last night. "Rebekah,"

Her name drifted off his lips like water to a thirsty man. She was perfection, a woman who loved him despite his profession.

And he loved her.

It was simple, he knew. Tell Caroline that he had found a woman who made him happy, and ask…

He shook his head. How could he tell her? They were married for all but four days, and she deserved better.

She deserved someone who loved her. It wasn't that he didn't like her. She was a sweet, kind hearted woman, but he never felt that way towards her.

How was he going to fix this?

Moving his eyes to the ring on his left hand, he let out a long breathe. Sliding the ring off his left hand, he felt the world lift off his shoulders.

He had to talk to her.

~XXX~

She shifted on her feet outside the door, and lowered her eyes to her bare hand.

The door opened, and she lifted her eyes to catch his blue. "I need to talk to you." She whispered, nodding her head with urgency. "Now," She added, as Klaus pulled the door open, and she entered.

"Are you alright, Rebekah?" He asked, closing the door behind her.

She sighed, and began to ring her hands. "I'm in love, Nik." She stated, causing him to stop midway to his desk.

He slowly turned around, and smiled, softly. "Who is he?" He asked, after a moment to process.

She lowered her eyes, and smiled. "He's a man who loves me despite it all, and makes me feel confident in who I am." She explained, in a rushed tone.

He nodded, and folded his arms over his chest. "Is he married?" He asked, knowing Rebekah's past relationships.

She sighed, and sat down on the loveseat. "He told me that he and wife are having problems." She answered, placing her forearms on her legs. "I don't know, Nik. I mean, I know him, and he's a good man, and I truly believe that Stefan loves me." She continued on, shaking her head, not realizing she had said his name.

Klaus' eyes widened, and a slow smile appeared on his face. "Stefan?" He asked, causing Rebekah to jerk her head up. "You're in love in Stefan?" He asked, as she began to shrink in her chair.

Rebekah lowered her eyes, and closed them, unaware that Klaus had knelt down in front of her. "What am I going to do?" She asked, shaking her head.

Klaus smiled, softly, and touched his sister's hands. "It seems we're in the same boat." He whispered, as her eyes opened. He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm in love with his wife." He remarked, lowering his eyes in disbelief.

She smiled, and squeezed his hands. "Does she love you?" She asked, gently.

He shrugged his shoulders. "She hasn't said, but I believe she does." He answered, lowering his eyes.

"Nik, that's wonderful!" She exclaimed, reaching forward to hug him in her sisterly way.

He chuckled, and returned the hug, before she pulled back with a serious expression on her face. "What about Katherine?" She asked, as he rocked back on his knees.

"We broke up." He answered, though he had seen it coming. "She was ready for the next step and I wasn't." He added, watching Rebekah nod her head. "Of course, it also had to do with the fact that I heard Elijah's voice on the other end of the phone when I called her." He concluded, shaking his head.

Rebekah placed her hand on his shoulder, and smiled. "He deserves some happiness, Nik, and so do we." She stated, standing up.

Klaus followed her, and watched her head towards the door. "Where are you going?" He asked, watching her turn around with a bright smile.

"I'm going after the man I love, and you should do the same." She answered, with a confidence that made him smile. "Good luck, Nik." She returned, opening the door, and sauntered out the office.

Klaus stood there in the empty office, and placed his hands in his jeans. Maybe Stefan and Caroline were not meant to be, but they were still married, and he couldn't go after her, yet.

Could he?

~XXX~

Caroline folded up the clothes she had brought with her, and placed them in her suitcase. She couldn't stay here.

She couldn't.

She had made a mistake, and though she had tried, she couldn't fix it. No woman was good enough for her husband, not to her, so maybe he would have better luck if she just left.

Her thoughts ran to Klaus, and slowly she shook her head. He hadn't told her that he loved her, though she suspected he did, or at least cared about her in some small way.

A knock sounded on the door, and she dropped her nightgown on top of her suitcase, before heading towards the door.

She opened the door, and gasped, lowly at the man on the other side. "Klaus,"

He nodded, and motioned to the inside. "May I come in? We have to talk." He stated, calmly.

She nodded, and opened the door a little ways to allow him to enter.

Klaus looked around the apartment, and frowned as he realized this was not the way he had imagined it to be. Looking down the hallway, he noticed a suitcase on the bed, and the frown became more prominent.

"Are you leaving?" He asked, motioning to the back room.

She shifted on her feet, and lowered her eyes. "I think it's best." She answered, causing him to turn, and shake his head.

"Caroline, running away from your problems is not going to help them. It's only going to make it worse." He remarked, stepping towards her.

She shook her head, and moved towards the window. "I can't fix this problem, Klaus." She replied, quietly. "I've tried to find him another wife, but no one seems to fit the bill, and I can't keep up the pretense that this marriage is going to work when my heart belongs to someone else." She added, feeling him step closer, but not too close.

Klaus inhaled deeply, wanting to ask if he was the one who owned her heart, but fear gripped him in a way that terrified him. "Wha…" He paused, and cleared his throat.

She turned around, and lifted her eyes to his. "Do you love me?" She asked, watching him, carefully. "I need to know, Klaus." She added, watching him swallow, nervously.

He remained silent, not knowing entirely what he needed to say. He wanted to say yes, I love you, but the words remained stuck in his throat.

He watched as her face fell into despair, and his heart broke. "Caroline,"

"Leave, Klaus, please." She whispered, turning her head away from him.

He shook his head. "Caroline,"

"Damn it, Klaus!" She shouted, stepping back from him. "I've been hurt enough this week, but this…" She remarked, pushing him back. "I…you…." She stuttered, pushing at his chest. "Just leave me alone, Klaus!" She shouted, pushing him against the door.

He grasped her hands, and shook his head. "I can't, Caroline." He stated, firmly, holding her hands firmly in his.

"I asked you a simple question, Klaus." She stated, tears forming in her eyes. "One simple question, and all you had to do was answer it." She added, shaking her head.

He nodded. "I know, but there is still…" He began, but closed his eyes, finally giving in. "Caroline, I do love you, but Stefan…" He continued, but trailed off when she kissed his cheek in a gentle manner.

His eyes opened to find her still brimming with tears, but her eyes had grown softer because of his words. "Stefan will understand, Klaus." She finished, lowering her eyes. "I can't stay with him, not when my heart belongs to you." She concluded, feeling his hand touch her face.

"Whatever you decide, Caroline, I'll be here." He whispered, watching her smile, before brushing his lips over hers, and then pulled her into his warm embrace where everything was right.

Or at least for the moment, they imagined it to be.

Though in Caroline's mind, she knew there was one hurdle she had to do in order to prove to herself and to Klaus, they belonged together.

She had to leave.

~XXX~

Rebekah found Stefan in the cooler after she had left her brother, and smiled as the shirt he wore tightened as he stacked the meat.

"Need a hand?"

He stilled his movements, and turned with a light shining out of his face. Taking a step towards her, he pulled her into his waiting arms, and crushed his lips to hers until they needed air, and pulled back.

"Stefan," She whispered, laying her head on his shoulder. "I want this to work." She added, as his hands caressed her back, gently.

He kissed the top of her head, and closed his eyes. "So do I." He remarked, before she pulled back.

"I spoke to my brother, and he agrees that we should give it a try." She stated, holding his eyes.

His brow furrowed, and he tilted his head to the side. "Which brother?" He asked, and she shrugged. He shook his head. "Not Klaus," He stated, but she nodded, giving him the answer he didn't want to hear.

"He's the only one I talk to, Stefan, besides, he understands." She remarked, placing her hands on his chest.

"I bet he does." He stated, pushing her away, and headed for the door.

She reached for his hand, and stopped him. "He loves someone, Stefan." She replied, causing him to turn his head to look at her. "It's not Katherine." She added, shaking her head. "I can't tell you who, but please, Stefan…" She began, feeling his hand slip out of hers.

"He just won't leave me alone, Rebekah." He stated, shaking his head, and marched out of the cooler, leaving her staring in disbelief, before shaking her head, and followed him.

~XXX~

Klaus had only just arrived back at his office when the pounding started, and opened the door to find Stefan marching in with Rebekah stopping the doorframe.

"Why? Why? Why are you fucking with my life?!" He shouted, throwing his hands out

"I haven't laid a hand on her." Klaus remarked, pointing to his friend, knowing that it wasn't entirely true.

Stefan tilted his head to the side, and shook it in disbelief. "My life! My Life!" He shouted, ignoring Rebekah standing beside her brother. "First, you start by telling my wife to get me a girlfriend. Then, you tell my girlfriend that we should have an affair." He began, pointing towards Rebekah.

"But my wife is down there still searching for another wife, because she wants to handpick her, and if I refuse, she gives me looks with a meat clever!" He shouted, ignoring Klaus' smirk at the image of Caroline eyeing Stefan with the meat clever. "What the hell did I ever do to you?!" He asked, throwing his hands out towards Klaus.

Klaus bowed his head, and Rebekah touched his arm, gently. "Did it ever occur to you that your wife has accepted the fact that your marriage isn't going to work? And that she's found someone else?" He asked, folding his arms over his chest.

Stefan's eyes narrowed, and he stepped towards Klaus. "My wife ain't having an affair." He remarked, glaring at his friend.

Klaus shook his head. "No?" He asked, knowing the whole truth.

Stefan studied his friend, and then moved his eyes towards Rebekah as the information began to sink in. "It's her, isn't it?" He asked, turning to look at Klaus. "You're in love with Caroline." He stated, in mild anger.

Klaus raised his hands, just before Stefan clenched his fist, and slammed it into Klaus' face, causing Rebekah to scream, and rush towards her brother as he staggered to the floor.

Stefan lifted his head, and glared at them both. "Stay the hell away from my wife, Klaus! I mean it!" He shouted, storming out of the office, leaving Rebekah to tend to Klaus' busted lip.

"Well, that went well." Klaus muttered, wincing as Rebekah touched his lips, tenderly.

She shook her head. "He'll calm down after a few minutes and after he talks to his wife." She remarked, bowing her head. "Why didn't you tell me it was Caroline?" She asked, as his eyes lifted to hers.

He sighed, and lowered his eyes. "I knew how much you liked her." He answered, watching her smile.

She nodded, and kissed her brother on the temple. "I'm sorry." She replied, softly.

He nodded, and sat up. "So am I."

~XXX~

By the time Stefan reached the top of the stairs, his anger had melted, and embarrassment flooded him. He had punched his love's brother, and his friend, for the same action he committed.

Shaking his head, he opened the door, and entered the apartment to find her standing at the window with a bag sitting at her feet.

"Caroline?" He called out, causing her turn to face him.

"I know you know, Stefan." She remarked, gently, tears filling her eyes. "I should apologize, and I am, but I just… I'm not sorry for loving him." She added, shaking her head. "I'm just sorry that it ruined us."

He shook his head, and walked towards her. "You didn't." He returned, grasping her hands in his. "We just don't belong together, it seems." He added, finally accepting it.

She smiled, and shook her head. "I jumped in your arms without thinking, and I ended up ruining your life, Klaus', and everyone's it seems." She commented, but he shook his head.

"You didn't ruin our lives, Caroline." He countered, firmly. "In fact, I would say, you brightened it." He added, watching her smile, lightly. "Without you, I never would have found her." He concluded, watching her tilt her head to the side in confusion.

He smiled, and bowed his head. "Klaus' sister, Rebekah," He remarked, turning to lead her to the couch, where they both sat down. "I've known her for years, and always liked her, but until you, I never knew how much I truly loved her." He explained, gently.

She smiled, and bowed her head. "We should have waited." She replied, sadly. "I never…" She began, but his finger touched her chin.

"I know, Caroline." He remarked, knowing she never cheated, not physically. "I never did either." He confirmed, but from the nod of her head, he knew she knew. "So now what do we do?" He asked, shrugging his shoulders.

She bowed her head. "We could file an annulment, since we…" She muttered, and he nodded.

Though they had slept in the same bed on their wedding night, and they did make love that night, it was the only night. Since that night, they never moved to continue the physical side of their marriage, which was a good thing.

"I'll file the documents in the morning." He commented, as she nodded. "The process won't take long." He added, softly.

She smiled, and nodded once again. "I'll go back home, after I sign what needs to be signed." She confirmed, with a soft voice.

He smiled, and squeezed her hands. "What about Klaus?" He asked, as she smiled.

"We'll see." She whispered, with a special gleam in her eyes.


Please be kind!

I hope you liked the way everything went! I tried to stay true!

Only three more chapters left! :)

Next Chapter: Klaus has a decision to make; Rebekah and Stefan take their romance to the next level; Kol gets a great opportunity

Oh, to the Guest who left the review on this chapter: Thank you so much for bringing me down just a fraction! I'm sorry you don't approve of the couples, but if have read any of my other stories, you would know that I ship certain couples, and if you don't like them, that's fine. I don't have a problem with you not reading this story, but please for the love of all that's holy, don't send a scathing (or semi-scathing) review telling me you will no longer read this story because of a certain couple.

I do agree that some authors write couples in that I don't agree with, but they are secondary characters, so I over look them when I read. You could do the same. (If you read this message). The only couples worth much in this story are the main four. Kennett will not be in here too much, only mentioned a maybe a scene or two.

Thank you so much for almost ruining my Sunday, but others have lifted me up! Thank you all for your Kindness! (Sorry for the Rant.)

Until Next Time...