Note: Go back and read the last four chapters to shake off the cobwebs of this effin' story…I have about a million times to get through this chapter.

"If you're stuck between two options, flip a coin. It works, not because it solves your problem, but while the coin is in the air, you'll know what your heart is really hoping for."

Caroline poked her head through the frame of the back door to the Salvatore's mansion.

"Hello? Anyone?"

She let herself as she latched the door behind her.

"Caroline, hey!" Elena said, appearing seemingly as a wisp of wind.

Caroline stood momentarily surprised.

"Sorry," Elena apologized, "I heard you from upstairs…I'm still getting used to these 'vampy senses'" She told Caroline sheepishly.

Caroline smiled, "It's okay. Actually, I'm glad you snuck up on me, I came over to talk to you…" She trailed off ominously, walking away from Elena and the door and into the Salvatore's foyer.

"Uh, oh…this sounds serious." Elena frowned as she followed.

"Are you the only one here?" Caroline asked, turning to face her friends.

Elena nodded, situating herself on to the couch.

"Okay, good." Caroline sighed. She looked at Elena, debating on where to start on the rant that was constantly floating through her head. She took a deep breath and began to pace.

Suddenly, she stopped.

"Elena, who would you choose, Klaus or Tyler?"

Elena laughed, "Caroline, I can't make your choice for you!"

Caroline's lower lip protruded into an adorable pout, "But, but, everyone had something to say about your love triangle!"

"Yeah, and see how well that turned out."

"Touché."

Caroline dramatically threw herself onto the loveseat across from Elena, "I just don't know what to even think anymore."

Elena pursed her lips for a moment, "Okay, wait a second…" She said standing and disappearing out of the room. She returned with a pad of paper and pen.

She neatly wrote "Klaus" and "Tyler" at the top of the page in T chart form, beneath both names she wrote "Pros" and "Cons".

"Alright…" Elena said, placing the pen on top of the paper and passing it over to Caroline, "I know if feels really stupid." She said of Caroline's skeptical look, "But I promise if you write it all down, even the dumb stuff, it'll help."

"Okay, okay…" Caroline took the pad of paper from Elena with an eye roll. She tucked her legs beneath her and twisted the pen around her fingers while she thought.

Xxx

Elena frowned as she looked at Caroline.

"What?" Caroline asked innocently

Elena cleared her throat, "Tyler, pro number one, has awesome body…Caroline, that's his number one trait? Really?"

Caroline sighed dramatically and fell into the plush pillows of the couch. "Of course there's more! This is my thinking stage, not the final product!" She groaned, "I want the lists to be fair but…"

"But what?"

Caroline regained her posture, "But the lists aren't fair. Every time I think of Tyler….He's just so…Mystic Falls-"

Elena's face contorted with confusion, "Meaning?"

"Meaning…I don't know!"

"Think, Caroline. Just talk it out. I'm only ears." Elena smiled.

Caroline sighed, "It's like…everything I ever wanted is completely embodied in Klaus."

"Except?"

Caroline pursed her lips, "Except I can't read him. I always knew when Tyler was pissed or excited, happy or sad…Klaus is like…" She shook her head, "He's this huge cloud of mystery. I want to be around him, to understand him, but at the same time I'm afraid he'll turn into this giant tornado and suck me right in….and then I can't escape…you know?"

Elena thought silently for a moment, "But, why would you choose Tyler? What's his hold on you? How does he make you feel?"

"He makes me feel…safe."

"And Klaus doesn't?"

Caroline's brow furrowed, "No, he does…" She began twisting the tips of her hair, "It's weird, I feel completely out of control when I'm with him, but at the same time totally in control of myself. Like, I know he'd do anything for me…."

"Does he love you?"

Caroline shrugged, "I don't know…but, come on Elena. How do you really know when someone loves you?"

Elena relaxed into her seat, "Well…I think when someone loves you, they accept you for who you are and never try to change you. Every decision they make involves you somehow, they want you to be a part of their future…I think…" Elena stopped and looked at Caroline, "I think it also has something to do with the way they look at you. It's this sort of non-judgmental, far off gaze they hold with you. And when you say, "What?" They just shake their head and smile."

Caroline blinked a few times as her friends words sunk in, "Is that how you know Damon's in love with you?"

Elena gaped at her friend, "What?"

Caroline's eyes smiled, "I never completely understood the whole, Damon infatuation…until I went to Paris with Klaus." Caroline exhaled, "It's just," She looked sheepishly at her friend, "Don't take this the wrong way, but I've always been second to you. And I've seriously hated it." She laughed.

"Caroline, no one puts you second to me."

Caroline laughed again, "Oh, please. Stefan, Damon, Matt…They all chose you first." She smiled sadly, "Except Klaus. He makes me feel…well, amazing. When he looks at me, I'm the only one he sees. It's almost like, all this time that I've been wasting on other guys, he's just been there, waiting patiently for me…and even though he's never said it, I think he's in love with me. I think I've changed him…but not on purpose. Just by being with him, I think I've changed him…I…I love him." Caroline looked at Elena, "And I don't think I can ever stop."

Elena smiled, "Caroline, I think you've already made your choice."

Xxx

Caroline checked her phone for the hundredth time. She bit her bottom lip as she glanced around; there was no movement on the Lockwood property for miles.

The excitement began to melt into anxiousness as Caroline dropped her duffle bag, hitting the ground with a thunk.

Caroline began pacing back and forth in the fallen leaves. As she continually moved, a visible track was being made; worn into the ground.

Rebekah was already fifteen minutes late. Not that this surprised Caroline, but the waiting was killing her.

Her choice was made; she was ready to leave Mystic Falls for a long time. Travelling the world with Klaus by her side, the infinite possibilities that stood before her…all that stood in her way was this meeting point with Rebekah, who was going to take her to Klaus.

But she wasn't here.

Finally, a twig snapped behind her.

"Rebekah, thank God. You were seriously taking-" Caroline turned around and as quickly as it appeared, her smile fell from her face.

"Hello Caroline."

Caroline's features widened in horror, "Ric, what are you-"

Before she could even complete her sentence, the vervain was seeping through her still veins. Caroline's vision began twisting and spinning as she fell helplessly to the ground.

Xxx

Caroline

Caroline groaned as her eyes blinked open slowly.

"Owe" She uttered, lifting her left arm a few inches above the ground. She rolled her wrist over, only to expose an IV that penetrated her cephalic vein. It was pumping enough vervain into her system to keep her sedated.

Caroline exhaled and tried to sit up; the restraints that held her chest were belted tightly, limiting the movement of her upper body. Her right wrist was bound with nothing but a type of leather restraint, but due to the amount of vervain in her system, she knew she couldn't even move in an attempt to rip it off.

"Fighting would be pointless."

Caroline looked quickly to her left as Alaric Saltzman appeared in the doorway.

"Where's Rebekah."

Alaric shrugged as a smug look spread across his face, "She's contained."

Caroline swallowed and turned away from him, "Why am I here."

Alaric laughed coldly, "Because, Caroline, I've missed you. Tell me, how were you travels abroad?"

Caroline whipped towards him angrily and tried prying herself out of the leather belts; she struggled only for a moment before the dosage of vervain restrained her.

"As I said before, fighting is pointless, Caroline."

"What do you want from me?" Caroline's voice cracked as she asked, "I've been here for 3 days, I don't even see how you need me."

Alaric chuckled as he dragged a wooden chair across from the cot Caroline was laying on; he put it levelly on all four legs and sat easily. He bent over and rested his elbows against his knees, lacing his fingers together.

"Where's Klaus, Caroline."

Caroline felt her dead heart drop, "I don't know." She said nonchalantly.

Alaric chewed his bottom lip, his eyes invading her hers, "Tell me where he is, and you can go. It's really that easy."

"It's not that easy. Because I don't know where he is." Caroline rolled her eyes, the annoyance seeping from her words.

The vampire hunter nodded quietly. He stood and was still shaking his head, "Okay…sure…I believe you."

In one swift movement, Alaric bent down and gripped the chair tightly, he slammed it into the wall; breaking it into several pieces.

Caroline flinched as he picked up on of the larger pieces.

"Tell me where he is, Caroline." Alaric said evenly, "Or things are about to get a little bloody."

"I'm telling you the truth!" She responded with courage, "I have no idea where he is, I haven't seen him since I've been here, in Mystic Falls."

Alaric shook his head, "Not good enough."

He lunged towards her and punctured her right wrist.

Caroline cried out as the wood penetrated deep through her veins, protruding through her entire wrist.

"Are you ready to be honest now?"

Caroline clenched her fist, in hopes that it would somehow stop the burning that was spreading from not only the wood but also from the vervain IV.

Alaric continued, "It's not going to heal with all that vervain in your system…and I have three chair legs left…"

"I don't know where he is, why don't you believe me?" Caroline asked, her jaw clenched as she shut her eyes.

Alaric cocked his head to her, "You can't be serious?"

"I'm telling the truth." She pleaded, a tear slid from her eye down her cheek.

He knelt over her, "Oh, you poor girl. Abandoned again, I see…." He reached over and gently placed his palm against her cheek, "And it's been three hours and no one's come to save you." Alaric pouted mockingly, stroking her cheek.

Caroline turned away from him, feeling the tears that brew just beneath her eye lids.

"Oh, no, no, no." Alaric soothed, using his index finger to bring her face level with his, "Since you can offer no help, you're no use to me."

Caroline exhaled as she blinked, "You're going to let me go?" She asked cautiously.

"Not quite."

Caroline screamed as the second chair leg was stabbed into her left shoulder.

Xxx

"Caroline"

Caroline moaned as her eyes barely opened. Her head lolled to the sound of the voice.

Alaric smiled at her, "Oh good, you're awake."

Caroline exhaled slowly, feeling reality slowly slipping away from her.

"Ah, stay with me Caroline. I have to question you some more."

She was too weak to speak, her vision appeared fuzzy. After the third chair leg was driven into stomach, the final leg was plunged into her neck.

The pool of blood that surrounded her was immense, and continuing to widen its perimeter.

Caroline stopped struggling.

"I'm done."

"Where is Klaus, Caroline?"

Despite every muscle in her body slowly being drained of life; Caroline felt an ounce of warmth beginning at her toes and pushing up towards her. It acquired her calves and thighs, her hips and stomach…

"Where is he, Caroline!" Alaric yelled, watching the vampire before him blink slowly, her breaths becoming deep and measured.

Alaric slammed his fist into the wall; he exhaled angrily, "Fine. Surely if I keep you here long enough, someone will surely come for you." He spat venomously, running a hand through his hair as he turned away from Caroline and left through the bolted door he arrived from.

"Caroline"

Caroline's eyes drowsily opened to the empty room; the bright lights making her squint.

No one was there.

The warmth was winding up her hands now, reaching her elbows and shoulders; finally encompassing her neck.

And suddenly, she could no longer feel any pain.

"Caroline"

"Nik" Caroline whispered, "Where are you?"

The warmth Caroline felt had consumed her fully, she relaxed into it as her eyes closed; surrounding her in darkness.

xxx

Caroline's eyes fluttered open.

The sunlight poured in through the bay window, causing small pulses of gold to be strewn across her cheek.

The warmth from it brought a smile to her lips.

It felt like a memory, a soft idea of floating through the air.

Caroline sighed and watched the ocean waves lightly paw the shore.

"Caroline."

It was a whisper in the wind, so faint it was barely audible.

Caroline turned away from the window and towards the voice, but no one was there.

She shrugged and daintily pulled her knees into her chest. She looked back out the window, just as the sun was beginning to disappear beneath the horizon.

"Caroline"

It was louder now, she was certain someone was there.

But as she'd turn away, there was no one.

Three more times this happened.

Finally, Caroline decided to ignore the voice.

She rested her head against the window frame and felt her upper eyelids encroaching to the ones below.

Her breathing deepened as her head tilted to one side.

Peaceful drifting.

"CAROLINE"

Caroline felt a tingling sensation against her arms.

Like someone was shaking her, or trying to.

She tried incredibly hard to remain on her bay window, being lulled to sleep by the ocean waves…

But the shaking was incessant, and there were voices.

Voices growing louder and louder

Until finally…

Xxx

"It's okay! It's okay! She's okay!"

Caroline's eyes slowly opened.

Carefully she began to take in her surroundings.

She was in a car.

With Elijah driving and Elena in the backseat with her.

Her head was resting against Elena's lap, and something was in her hands.

A blood bag.

Suddenly, Caroline gasped and sat up, "Rebekah! She's with Ric, he has her in some torture chamber and we have to-"

"Easy, easy." Elena cooed, "It's okay, Ric's gone."

Caroline faltered slightly, not fully healed from the amount of vervain in her system.

"Lay back down, Caroline." Elena said sternly, worried for her friend.

Caroline nodded and obliged, resting a palm over her eyes.

Elena stroked Caroline's hair softly, looking at Elijah, "I'm glad the plan worked…but she's in bad shape."

"She'll be alright, physically." Elijah told her, watching the road carefully.

"Plan?" Caroline asked, "What plan?"

Elena shushed her, "We'll explain everything later, just rest."

"But I…" Caroline felt the effects of the blood healing her rapidly, "I don't need rest. Elijah?" She asked, realizing Elijah was there in the first place.

Suddenly she looked to Elena, "Is Klaus here?" Caroline asked, nearly panic stricken, "He is isn't he? Where is he?"

"We're almost home." Elijah said quietly, "You'll see soon enough."

Caroline exhaled and felt her body easing back into the darkness.

A/N: Okay, okay, everyone just put your wooden stakes down. Happy freakin' Easter.

What's really stupid is that I've been working on this forever. I just kept thinking, "I can't get it to connect to the next part…"

Never thought I should break it into 2 chapters.

Slow clap for the idiot.

This story can't have more than five chapters left. It MUST be finished! Sorry for the long delay and endless questions of when I'll be updating! Tvd kind of sucks right now in the Klaroline department, so that's who we're blaming, okay?