A/N: I highly suggest rereading Chapter 5 before reading this one. I wrote this chapter with the intention of tying up a few loose ends, hope you like it!

Chapter 11

She dreamt of the moon that night.

An orbiting mass of rock, so immense but so small when gazed upon from the surface of the earth. For centuries, it had been the center of awe and fear of countless societies. Unable to understand something that seemed so far away, people bestowed the moon with mystical and even healing powers.

Caroline Forbes, on the other hand, held her own distinct view.

'To the moon and back,'

The same words still haunted the depths of her conscious, lingering into her thoughts without warning.

She dreamt of the moon that night, so she inevitably dreamt of Matt Donavon too.

First loves were impossible to forget, especially when it was one that was supposed to last forever. As the saying went, only the good died young. Unfortunately, there was more truth in that phrase than she had ever anticipated.

Devastation, grief, depression. The range of human emotion she embodied in those short months after she lost him was inconceivable, unimaginable. She was so young, but the prospect of death couldn't have hit closer to her heart.

But when all hope seemed lost, there was one person who swept her off her feet. With no substantial connection or relation, a complete stranger managed to heal the wounds that had cut so deep. Though she would bear the scars of the past forever, she was pulled from immediate danger.

Matt would hold an eternal place in her heart; that fact remained unchangeable. He had been the boy to show her that someone else could care for her, the boy who adored her to no end and would sacrifice the whole world if it meant he could see her smile. She didn't think it possible to feel anything remotely the same for another human being. And she was almost right, almost.

The moon was a guiding light, perpetually following the lives of those its subtle light illuminated. It was protective, calming, and consistent. It was, in other words, like Matt. A symbol of the lost love, it remained a steady presence in the night sky.

'To the moon and back,'

She never said it back when she had the chance. Whenever Matt would whisper his coveted promise to her, she would nod, and bury her head deeper into his embrace. She thought she had all the time in the world to muster the courage to reciprocate the affection he showered on her.

Perhaps it was guilt that struck her the worst after his death, guilt for never loving him like he loved her. Guilty for never willingly unveiling her vulnerable side, for holding herself back.

Maybe it was the knowledge that nothing lasted forever that prompted her to block it all out.

Caroline was by no means a superstitious individual, but she couldn't help but feel that Matt's ghost was still with her. Not haunting her, but doing what he always did; watching her and taking care of her. His presence was stronger before, but the strength had begun to fade. Especially in the past few days, Matt's presence seemed nonexistent.

He was letting go. Even worse, it felt like he was encouraging her to do the same.

No, she didn't want to lose him. She was grasping with the tips of her fingers, clenching onto the last semblance of him. He always called her stubborn, and she was going to live up to the name. She would not let him leave her completely, she would not be left alone.

And that was when the realization hit her like a wall of bricks.

Blue eyes snapped open in a panic, a sharp intake of air filling her lungs as she sat up in bed. Her blonde hair fell forward over her shoulders, her chest heaving slightly as she struggled for a real breath. An unknowing hand reached over to wipe the cold sweat off of her forehead.

Instinctively, her gaze followed to the window on the far side of the guest room. Through the translucent surface, she spotted the clear sky mixed with the lush foliage that surrounded the estate. Brightness leaked in through the panes, it was morning. The sun had risen, and the moon was gone.

Like they were the last parting words she would ever hear from him, like a fleeting gust of wind rushing past her body, she swore she heard Matt's voice one final time.

'I love you to the moon and back, always.'

A single tear rolled down her cheek, leaving a silver stream on her otherwise perfect face. Suddenly realizing the weight of that last sentence, she opened her mouth to respond. The twinge of pain shooting through the middle of her chest stopped her, the words catching in the back of her throat.

She hated that he died, she hated that he was gone, she hated that he had left, she hated that she loved him too much to voluntarily let him go. But no matter what, she couldn't hate that he had left her alone, because he didn't.

Had it been any other circumstance she might have smiled at the irony. He always called her a living angel, who would have known he was the one to become her guardian angel?

Caroline wasn't alone, and Matt made sure of it.

She wasn't alone, because she had Stefan now.

The younger Salvatore was the man who helped her heal, who would love her, take care of her, and sacrifice the entire universe if it meant he would see her smile. Stefan was the man who would teach her to love again, to live again.

Finally, her heartbeat returned to a normal pace. She felt the oxygen enter and leave her body as she took another slight breath. She brushed away the stray tear with the back of her hand, her lips parting.

Shaking her head, she stopped herself.

One breath, and then another.

Shifting her feet so she now stood on the cool hardwood floor, she stumbled over to the table pushed by the window. Scrambling clumsily in the drawers, she discovered what she had hoped to find. A shaking hand grasped the black pen, its tip pressed hard against the surface of a single leaf of paper.

One breath, and then another.

Too rushed to take a seat in the wooden chair beside her, she kneeled on the ground with her elbows hovering on the edge of the table, letting the ink bleed onto the paper. She didn't know why it this was so urgent, why she hadn't felt the need to do so earlier.

"To the moon and back, Matt. I love you too," she whispered softly, "Goodbye."

-p-

Stefan was too preoccupied to sleep that night.

So he laid awake in his bed, unable to keep his mind from wandering to the flaxen haired beauty who rested in her respective room down the hall. He continued to relive the moments they shared hours earlier, playing them over and over again.

Sighing in resignation and accepting he wouldn't be able to get any sleep, he sat up. Reaching over with his arm, he grabbed his watch and secured it on his wrist. He cursed under his breath as realized it was still a quarter to six.

Then the idea occurred to him.

-p-

Setting down her pen down on the table, she neatly folded the papers together into thirds. She sealed the envelope shut, its contents the cultivation of her work over the past hour.

Just as she finished printing the words, 'To Matt', on the front, a knock sounded on her door.

Jumping to her feet in surprise, she put her hand over her heart to calm its rapid beat. She glanced over at the clock that hung on the wall, eyes narrowing as they noted the early hour. Catching a glimpse of her appearance, she froze.

She was scantily clad in a thin strapped night gown, white. Thankfully it reached well over her knees. Begrudgingly throwing an earlier discarded shawl over her bare shoulders, she sucked in another breath and headed over to the entrance, apprehensively opening the door.

"Good morning, Miss Caroline,"

Kind greenish grey eyes greeted her, looking as if they were smiling at her themselves. She couldn't help but reflect the sentiment in her friendly disposition. The gloom that seemed to suffocate the enclosed space had instantaneously dissipated.

"Good morning," she returned with newfound jubilance.

"I apologize for visiting so early, I hope I didn't wake you," he said sheepishly.

"Oh, don't be. I've been up for some time now,"

He looked both ways down the hall before leaning in closer with a whisper, "I have a proposal for you,"

"Yes?" She nearly squeaked, attempting to maintain her composure with his face inches from hers.

"I fear another repeat of what happened at dinner last night," he began, a bit strained, "So I wanted to see if you would like to go out for breakfast with me. We can take a short walk, head out to town, and then I'll begin the tour I promised you yesterday,"

She didn't have to think twice, "Of course, I would love that," she replied immediately.

There was a slight pause between them, as bright blue and green grey orbs stared at each other. Strange, how content both parties were to simply be in the other's presence.

"Alright, it's a plan."

And then another pause, with nothing but smiles and longing stares. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach, and he couldn't wipe the grin off his face.

"We should probably hurry," Stefan finally suggested, "We wouldn't want to run into anyone on our way out. I'll let you get dressed and—" he cut himself off short.

Her delicate eyebrows met together as she looked up at him, questioning his unfinished sentence. But then she followed his gaze, and saw that he had caught a glimpse of the letter in her hand. That, and the name that was addressed on its face.

Yet one more pause, only this one was far more awkward than affectionate.

He opened his mouth to begin, but she beat him to it.

She quickly concealed the letter behind her back, her eyes widening at her mistake. Sudden shame heated her cheeks, she could imagine the scarlet color blush. A thousand thoughts swirled in her head, the potential material weaving a number of different explanations.

But the only word her lips could form was, "Closure,"

He stared at her for a few long seconds, his eyes taking in the vision she made. She looked uncomfortable, hiding something he'd clearly already seen.

And then like magic, he understood. No further elaboration was necessary.

It never ceased to amaze her, how well he seemed to understand every little thing about her without having to be explicitly informed.

"I see," he slowly nodded, his prominent jaw line tensing as he spoke, she could practically see the wheels turning in his head before he continued abruptly, "I'll let you get changed then. See you soon,"

She was stunned, still unsure of his reaction until he flashed her one reassuring half smile.

"See you soon," she agreed, reluctantly shutting the door as he backed out.

Stefan stood in the hallway alone, consumed in the shadows of the windowless space. A million thoughts beguiled his sanity at once, until he organized them into another scheme he knew he would be proud of.

With a few long strides, he returned to the mouth of his own room. Not having to pause for an instant, he went to the canvas bag he had yet to unpack. His mother had insisted that the maids unpack his luggage, but he had refused.

There were some things too precious in his bag, things too precious to put in the care of someone else.

Digging past the few articles of clothing he had brought back, he reached his prize at the bottom. Slowly and carefully, he pulled out the small wooden box that stored what he was sure to be his most treasured object.

Rising back up to his feet, he clicked open the lock and opened the top. Inside were two separate piles of letters. One pile, tied by a blue ribbon, was his. The other, the bigger pile, belonged to Matt. Scattered on the bottom were the few mementoes Stefan had refused to throw away.

With two fingers, he laid the dried red leaf in the palm of his hand. It had been the first she'd sent him.

Removing his possessions, and storing them in the first drawer of his large desk on the other side of the room, he closed the top and carried it under his arm.

Stefan was always more perceptive than the majority, but this was the first time he thought he understood someone else so completely. Closure, she said. If she really wanted it, he would help her achieve it.

End Chapter 11

A/N: Please leave a review if you want me to continue!