One Week Later (At the Falls, In the Woods)
Caroline had been busy since she left, but kept in contact with Katherine. Elijah had been staying with her while Caroline had been gone, and she heard that Elena, Rebekah, and Klaus had been staying at the boarding house. She was glad that everyone had listened to her for once. She had spent the week driving to different towns to meet the leaders of other covens to let them know what she had learned. She could have called them, but she wanted out of town. She took a break to come back for her spell to see Tyler before she would leave again to talk to more covens.
She set everything up and began the spell. She watched as Tyler appeared before her and became solid-like. She finished the incantation and ran to him. He wrapped her in his arms like he had before and they knelt down to the ground. He moved her hair out of her face as she started crying.
"Hey Care, I've missed you. I've seen everything that's been happening."
"I've missed you too; so much. I feel like I'm drowning without you."
"Let's just enjoy this time together. This will be the last time you can summon me. I'll be reborn soon."
"What?"
"Be happy for me. I've seen what my life will be like and it will be great."
"I will be happy for you. I just wish I could see you more before you have to leave me for good."
"Care, you need to listen to me. You need to bind with him. It's the only way you both will survive this. I can't tell you how it's going to end this time, but I can tell you that it will be worth it to bind with him. You can be happy again. If you don't bind with him, you're going to end up doing into the darkness. I've seen it. That's why the gods are allowing me to see you this one last time. I have to tell you because they know you're holding on to me. Let me go and do what you're supposed to do. Change the cycle, but not with your original plan. Bind with him and make sure everyone is safe."
"I don't want to bind with him. I love you Tyler; even though you're gone and not coming back. Being bound or paired to be bound doesn't mean that I automatically love him. I don't want to be bound to someone I don't love."
"I know that Care, but you can come to love him. You're made for each other."
"But it wasn't always like that!"
"I know Care; I know. He didn't have a mate to begin with because one hadn't been made for him. When you gave up your immortality you became his mate. You ARE meant for each other. You can take things slowly between you guys, but please do this. I don't want to be reborn into a world that is covered with pain and darkness and that is what will happen if you don't bind with him. I want to be given the peaceful life I saw."
"Tell me about that life. I want to know how happy you'll be."
"I'll be just as happy there as I was with you. I won't know anything about magic and I'll have a family and a good job. I'll live a long, healthy life before I pass away at an old age. I won't remember any of this or you. That's the only thing I'll miss; you."
"I want that for you. I want to see you happy. What will you look like?"
"Well, I'll look almost like I did when I was with you. My hair will be a lighter brown and my eyes will be green. You won't see me in that life or any future lives. I'll be with my mate there. I was always fated to die young so I could be reborn with her. The gods just decided to put us in each other's lives to fill the void and give us something to be happy about."
"I know we weren't meant to be, but you meant everything to me."
"I know I did. But, it's time to let me go. I can't stay until dawn this time. I'll be leaving soon and you have things you need to do. By the way, Beltane would be a nice date for you."
"But that's too close to the first attack."
"Yes, but it will still give you enough time to get things done."
"So can I avoid him until then?"
"No. Take your time getting to know him, but go through with the binding. You need each other. I can't tell you the future I see for you both, but I don't have any doubts about you guys."
"Don't go yet. Please just stay as long as you can."
"I'm trying Care, but it's almost time."
"No. I love you Tyler. I will always have you in my heart. I just want a little more time with you."
"I love you too Caroline. It will be any time now." He said as he started to shimmer. She wrapped her arms around him and started crying again. She felt him dissolving underneath her and cried harder. When he disappeared, she fell forward onto the ground. She lied there crying for nearly an hour before she heard footsteps coming up behind her. She sat up and looked to see who it was while rubbing the tears from her eyes. She saw Klaus walked right up to her and sit down beside her.
"What are you doing here?"
"It's almost dawn and I knew you would be here."
"I want to be alone right now."
"You shouldn't be. I'm guessing the spell didn't last long because it looks like you've been crying for a while."
"He had to leave. He's not coming back again. He's getting reborn." She replied as she started tearing again. She looked away for a minute before she moved to gather her supplies. Klaus reached his arm out and stopped her. He made sure to avoid skin contact, which was easy when they were both in long sleeves.
"It's going to be alright. He's getting to live again. Does he know what is going to happen?"
"Yea he's going to live a long happy life. He said he won't see me again. He's going to be born so he can be near his mate. They'll find each other and have a family."
"That's a good thing isn't it?"
"Yes."
"So, what are you going to do now love?"
"The time to fight is coming up. I've got to get ready for that and I have to leave again. I've been talking to other covens and having them make preparations."
"Will you still be back for Yule?"
"Yes."
"Are you staying then or are you taking off again?"
"I don't know. I don't really want to be here, but I have to make sure everyone is safe."
"I've been talking to Damon and Stefan. They moved up the dates on telling the girls. They wanted to wait on you, but they're getting impatient. I think you should come back long enough to show them like you showed me. You can leave directly after and they can decide what they want to do."
"What are you doing?"
"Other than talking to Stefan and Damon? Working and wondering how you were."
"I'm fine."
"Have you thought about what is going to happen with us?"
"Not really. I don't know what to do. Even Tyler told me to go through with the binding, but I just need time to think about everything."
"That's what I told Stefan and Damon. I think we both need time to deal with this. They said that the pull would only get stronger each time we see each other."
"They're right, but there are ways around it. We can stay away from each other and slow it down; weaken the feeling."
"Or we could try to get to know each other. I still want to know you. Aren't you even a little bit curious about me?"
"Curiosity killed the cat. I've learned to not be curious."
"Fair enough, but how about we make a deal?"
"What kind of deal?"
"Well how about we spend some time together and get to know each other without mentioning anything about the binding? We can be friends until we decide what we want to do."
"How much time are we talking about here? There's so much to prepare for and I already told you I keep a busy schedule. I'm sure you have a schedule too."
"Yes, but we can work around our jobs and I could always accompany you doing your activities."
"Are you sure you could keep up with me?"
"I think I've got enough stamina to take on that challenge."
"I'm not even going to mention how wrong that sounded?"
"I couldn't help myself. You left yourself open for that one."
"Maybe I did, but still… it's weird."
"Sorry love. I'll try to retrain myself. No promises though sweetheart."
"Well I have to get back on the road. There's a lot to do."
"Can I come with you?"
"I don't think that's a good idea. I haven't told them about you yet."
"Why?"
"Because neither of us has figured out what we want to do with everything. I can't tell them and leave them expecting us to go through with it. We keep it to us here in town until we make a decision."
"You know when it's just us talking about it, I feel like we should, but when we're not around each other I don't know what to think."
"That's normal. That's another reason I said we shouldn't be around each other. If we make the decision around each other, you wouldn't know if it was the pull that made you decide or your own opinion. If we decide and we've been away from each other, at least you know that you made your own choice."
"Well I told Stefan and Damon I would have my decision made by Yule. Is that enough time for you to decide while you're away from here?"
"That's only a week from now. How are you going to make that big of a decision in that amount of time?"
"I've already had a week to think about it. One more week should be enough."
"Did they explain everything to you?"
"Yes they did love, and I don't think it's all that bad."
"Are you insane?!" She asked as she got right in front of his face. "You need to take longer than that for this decision." She stated calmly. When she noticed how close they were she tried to back up, but he grabbed her arms. He bent forward and she leaned back. He only stopped when they could feel their breaths on each other.
"I am thinking about this. If I feel I need more time than that, I will tell them that, but I doubt I will."
"Let go of me"
"I'm not going to do anything to you, so just listen to me."
"Let me go and I'll listen."
"I've dealt with Stefan and Damon bossing me around all week. I'm not taking orders right now. Now, I will give my answer at Yule because I've already made my decision. I'm letting you make your own decision, but don't think you can sway me from mine."
"Don't…" she whispered and looked away.
"Have we ever successfully fought being bound?"
"No."
"I don't think we should fight it. I think we should use it to change the ending."
"I don't want to be bound to you or anyone else. And we don't even know each other; we just met a little over a week ago."
"Listen, I won't expect anything from you. Let's just do the binding ceremony and we can figure out what we think about each other then."
"You don't get it. Once someone is bound, they can't be away from their mate for long, unless they're dead."
"Perfect opportunity to get to know each other. I know you're afraid…"
"I'm not afraid…"
"Yes you are, but we can change things. If you haven't noticed, I have just as much to be afraid of as you because I watched as I died right after you in all those lives. Now that tells me that the best thing we can do is work together to get through this."
"Okay so you have a point with that, but it's still a lot to think about. Think it over again and make sure you've decided what you want; not what you think you're supposed to do."
"I'll keep thinking, but I'm not going to change my mind. I thought I would tell you before I told them. I don't know which way you're leaning towards, but I thought you might consider it more if you knew my choice."
"Your choice has no bearing on mine."
"You're going to say no, aren't you?"
"I said I didn't know."
"Take me with you this week. You don't have to let anyone know who I am, but you can spend time with me and make a decision then."
"I can't. It may expose you and everyone we know by taking you with me. Just give me this week to think, okay?"
"What day are you coming back?"
"I won't be back until right before the ritual starts. After we finish, Stefan and Damon will ask Rebekah and Elena if they still want to be a part of their lives. If they do, I will do the handfasting. If not, then they will be given time to think more on it, but I will have to use a spell to keep them from telling other people."
"If we agree, will we be bound then?"
"No. There's too much to do that night and I won't have the strength to do any more for a couple days. I don't want to get bound right away anyway."
"When would you want to do it?"
"Tyler mentioned Beltane which is in May."
"I thought you said the attack would happen in May or June."
"I did say that. Tyler said there would still be enough time. He knew what would happen, but he refused to tell me. He wasn't allowed to give me very many details."
"So you think he was trying to tell you that we would be bound in May? That's almost 5 months from now."
"Well Beltane is May 1st so either he meant us or the attack would occur then."
"Why wait that long?"
"Because I'm not too comfortable with the ending of the binding ceremony. I'm sure you being a guy don't have a problem with it, but I do."
"You wouldn't have a problem, I assure you love. The only thing I'm worried about is what Stefan and Damon mentioned regarding that part."
"What was it?"
"They said you would probably conceive during that part, and that we wouldn't be allowed to use birth control."
"We only have to do that once. Later on if we decided to do THAT, it would be however we decided it. Oh this is way too awkward of a conversation for me. I don't think I can do this."
"Out of everything, you're worried about the… What did they call it…? Consummation part?"
"I'm not comfortable with the idea of it, that's true."
"Why?"
"Multiple reasons. One, we don't know each other and that means we don't really feel anything towards each other. Two, we wouldn't be far from everyone that attends the ceremony which means they could hear. Three, I've only ever been with Tyler. There are other things, but I don't want to keep rambling on."
"I'm sure we'd work it out sweetheart." He answered with a smirk and released one of her arms so he could push her hair out of her face.
"You're still not funny." She said with a small voice. "Will you let me go now? I won't run off right away."
"Okay but I'm not moving from this spot. You've got to get comfortable with me being close to you if we're going to do this."
"I thought we hadn't decided yet?"
"Not officially, no, but like I said, we're just waiting on you."
"I really need to leave so I can get everything done in time to get back."
"There you go trying to run away again love."
"I'll be back in a week. We can discuss this more then."
"Are you going to give me your number, or am I going to have to get it off Stefan?"
"Fine. Follow me to the car and we'll swap."
"Are you going to answer me if I call or text you?"
"I never said I would."
"Very well sweetheart. At least let me know if you get into trouble and need me to send your back-up to you."
"Fine." She said as she took his phone and called hers. She stored her number in his phone and handed it back before doing the same with hers. "There; now you have my number. Don't use it unless it's an emergency please. I don't know when I'm going to have to focus and it could distract me."
"Oh come on love, I know you turn your phone off when you're using magic. I won't distract you."
"Well I'm going to hit the road. I'll be back next week. You'll have your answer then."
"I'll see you later Caroline." He replied as she sat down in her car and closed the door. After she started the car, she turned back to look at him and give him a nod. He was still looking at her with a smirk. As she drove off, he shook his head and chuckled. He couldn't help but think it was funny that she could fight the things that go bump in the night, but when it came to him she was skittish. He made his way to his car and looked at his phone. He debated sending her a text to see if she would answer him. He didn't know if she was going to drive straight through to her destination or stop off at her house, but he was curious as to where to location was.
I don't want to bother you love, but I was wondering where you were headed to first.
He sent the text and started his car. He was surprised when he heard the ding of his phone signaling a text.
Seriously? I don't want to have to pull over repeatedly because you decide you want to text me. But, since you asked so nicely, I'm headed over to Roanoke. It's not far and I'll be there for 2 days. Then I'm headed to North Carolina for the rest of the trip.
Well love, at least you get to see new places. Would you do me a favor and send a quick text at night when you make it back to wherever you're staying?
Fine I will. Now I have to get driving again. I will text you tomorrow.
He smiled as he read the text. Stefan and Damon would be glad to get updates on how she's doing and they could help him with her. As he drove back to the boarding house, he thought about how lucky Stefan and Damon had been to be able to spend time getting to know their mates, instead of the reverse. He wondered if Stefan had any pictures of Caroline when she was growing up, or grown, that he could see her actual smile. He hadn't even managed to get a fake smile yet and it bothered him. He wasn't used to her kinds of reactions. He sent a text to let Stefan know he was on his way back and he needed to talk to him before setting his phone down for the rest of the ride.
