I'M ALIVE! I'm so so so so so so sorry for the delay! I'm in college and have essays to write! But I have read all your beautiful reviews, and I want to say sorry to all my readers for the wait! But here it is, I'm in starbucks, and I haven't really edited it, but I hope you all like it and PLEASE let me know what you think! If you have any idea's about where you want the story to head SEND THEM MY WAY! I lover you're comments and suggestions! CHEERS 3

Walking in, I slide my shoes off of my feet. Checking my watch, it's nearly midnight. I notice the smatter of blood across the cuff of my white dress shirt. Pulling it back over my watch, I take the stares two at a time, removing my sports coat as I go.

Her perfume hits me before anything else. I could pick that scent out of a crowed of a thousand.

Pushing the door open swiftly. She's seated on my bed. Her blonde hair falling in tendrils around her face, as she looks down at her lap.

Taking a step into the room, I expect her to react. Look up, stand, run, anything. But she merely sits—she must have heard me coming, yes?

Following her gaze, my eyes focus on the object she holds in her hands.

The black velvet box; she turns it over and over in her hands. Quietly, wordlessly.

My chest tightens uncomfortably, and I shift my weight from one foot to the other.

"Is this for me?" Her voice is soft, balanced and well thought through.

Waiting another second, I close the door behind me, draping my jacket across the chair nearest me. Remember the evidence of my recent hunt on my shirt sleeve, I remove my cufflinks roll my sleeves to my elbows. Shoving my hands inside the pockets of my suite slacks, I take a few tentative steps towards her.

"If you like." I say, my voice sounding much louder than hers in the otherwise silent room.

She doesn't reply. I stop when I am standing directly in front of her; her knees touching my shins. Looking down at her still frame, perched on the edge, near the foot of my bed. Blinking down at the box, she rubs her thumb across the smooth top.

"You know this is a terrible idea." Her words sounds dejecting, but her tone has promise. Against my great will, I feel a small blossom of hope unfurl in my chest, which I try quickly to stamp under my foot.

I don't reply, only wait for more. With Caroline, there is always more to say.

"You were crazy for even asking. I mean what will my mom say? My friends? How could we ever spend eternity together?" She's shaking her head, still refusing to look up at me, and into my eyes. I wish I could see her expression; it would ease my nerves to be able to read what hides behind her eyes.

"It's insane, and reckless, and I can't believe I'm actually saying this..."

That sounded like a yes.

"I..." She sighs, reaching up with one hand, and combing through her curls with her fingers.

With great caution, I raise my hand, sliding my fingers around her wrist, her hand still tangled in her hair; I rub what I hope are soothing circles on the inside of her forearm with my thumb.

Raising her head slightly, she seems to watch my hand, narrowing her eyes slightly; I can see the moisture there. I've made her cry again.

Reaching for her hand that still holds the closed box in her lap, she drops her other hand from her hair, and clasps my fingers tightly in hers with her vampire strength. I'm not sure she notices, so I don't say. Letting out another deep sigh, she looks down at her lap, twisting her hands with mine, around the small box.

Bending my knees, I crouch in front of her, keeping my eyes on her face as I do so. She closes her eyes, taking in a deep shaking breath, yet says nothing.

Shit.

Carefully removing my hand from hers, I slip the box from her limp fingers. Keeping my eyes on her, I open it slowly.

XXX

The ring is an antique, it's obvious. Possibly 18th century, maybe older. A delicate gold bang wraps beautifully around an oval diamond that should look too big for the small band, but somehow looks perfect. When it catches the light, it sparkles and dances.

I swallow, blinking my eyes so I can see through the tears. His strong hands are intertwined with mine as I stare down at the piece of jewelry that could change my life.

"Caroline..." His voice is stern, but careful. It's a familiar and dark and hot...

XXX

"You're choosing him..."

"Right now, like this. Yeah I am..."

"You think he won't hurt you. But he will. That's what he does."

"Next time you want to cuddle, all you have to do is ask..."

"He will hurt you beyond repair. He will take your light."

"Forever is a long time to spend with the wrong person."

"I meant what are you doing here. In my living room...?"

"You're impossible! Why do you have to make loving you such a chore!"

"What, you think that man is capable of real feelings?"

"Take me with you...Take me home..."

"What easy way? There is no easy way, no matter what I do, somebody gets hurt."

"I'm leaving Caroline, whether you come with me or not—"

"Who do you know from New Orleans?"

"You know you'll regret it if you don't go..."

"I just can't picture a sweet thing like you having anything to do with a man like that."

"Let's get out of here."

"What you were saying earlier... About this slow pace..."

"...I love you..."

"There's something about you, that makes the most powerful man on earth, want to act like an actual human being..."

"You've made me weak."

"Well you've made me strong! And that pisses you off!"

"I can see you will be with each other forever."

"Forever's a long time..."

"Make love to me."

"I slept with Hayley."

"I hate you."

"Will you marry me?"

"We'd kill each other!"

"Consider it..."

XXX

"Yes."

My voice is hardly a whisper. If he didn't have vampire hearing I'm sure he would have missed it. He lets out a heavy sigh, as if he'd been holding his breath for days. There is relief; joy and fear in his eyes as he looks up at me from where he's crouched on the ground at me feet.

I squeeze my eyes shut tightly, and with a careful tough, I skim the pad of my thumb across the face of the ring; it shifts slightly in its box. Catching my fingers in his, he brings my hand to his mouth. He presses a kiss to my hot palm. We close our eyes together; an inadvertent sig escapes my lips as his feverish kisses climb to my fingertips.

My other hand curls with his free fingers as he takes the time to kiss each finger on my left hand, stopping when he gets to my ring finger. Slowly, he presses the softest kiss against the base of naked finger. A shiver races down my spine and I let my fingers twist with his.

"What did you say?" He breathes into my wrist. I roll my eyes, a breathy laugh. Another tear falls on my cheek, but these ones are different. A feeling begins to swell in my stomach, my heart pounding hard against my ribs and I know he can hear it. When I open my eyes he's looks at my face. As if I am the only thing in the world worth looking at.

His eyes set me on fire.

"I said yes." I repeat, just as quietly as before.

His mouth twitches at the corners, his eyes penetrating mine with an intense look. Finally releasing me from his electric stare, he glances to my lap where I am still holding the ring in my limp fingers.

His vampire speed has the ring pinched between his thumb and forefinger and my left hand held gently in his own in less than a second. Sliding it into place on my finger, he lets go, and it slips to the side, at least two sizes too big.

"Hah," He laughs, too loud, and freely, causing me to giggle along with him. He carefully turns the diamond back to the center of my finger with his thumb. It looks perfect, expect for the space between the band and my finger.

For a moment we are silent. Both of us staring at the visible commitment I have just made to this wild man, resting delicately on my wedding right finger.

Holy. Mother. Of shit.

I don't know who moves first, and I really don't care. Our mouths mold together perfectly, the desperate breaths we take mingle between our lips, making me drunk with his infectious passion. He pushes me flat against the best, allowing just enough of his weight to press against me. A fire that begins at my lips and blazes just bellow my bellybutton rips me apart from the inside out.

I grab handfuls of his shirt, and with his help, pull it over his head. Hooking his thumbs to the insides of my jeans, he urges my hips against his, pressing himself against the button of my jeans.

A small whimper escapes my lips as I grab hold of his shoulders, bracing myself as shivers slip through my body all the way to my toes.

Grabbing the hem of my shirt I pull it over my head, and chuck it across the room. In the process of shedding our layers, the ring slips from my finger, falling onto the quilt beside us.

"Mm!" I moan against his mouth, pressing against his chest harshly, I sit up on my elbows. There's a look of confusion on his face as I skim my hand across the bed, finding the ring quickly and sliding it back on my finger. He chuckles through his heavy breaths, his eyes dance in front of me.

"Have to fix that." He glances down at my hand.

I reach up, touching his stubbled chin with my fingertips.

"I love you," It slips out, so easily I almost don't remember a time that it was ever a question if I did or didn't.

His eyes go quiet, and he scoots me back on the bed, situating himself so he's kneeling beside me on the bed.

"Caroline Forbes." He looks at me; his voice relaxed, the wild passion in his eyes hasn't fully subsided as he squints at me. "I don't deserve you."

"Tha—"

XXX

She opens her mouth to respond, maybe to defend me, though I have no defence. I have never, and will never be able to earn from her what she gives me. Her compassion is staggering, and contagious. If there was anyone to love, I'm glad it is her.

If I had any control over what it is I'm able to feel, the first thing I would do is leave her. She deserves less monster, and more hero. Someone with less blood on his hands, and more than a hollow shell, holding what's left of hundreds of years of damage to an already bruised soul. Someone who can make her better, instead of harder. Quieter instead of hot headed.

But she's strong. Is that because of me? No, she was strong far before we met.

"Tha—"

I silence her mouth with my own, crushing her lips against mine. She steals my air and I steal hers right back. Like night and day, somehow we work. I don't know how, and I don't understand why, but she doesn't run.

She stays. She lets me remove what's left of her clothes and mind. She allows my hands to skim across her feverish skin, to cup the back of her neck and ease her naked body against me, nothing between us. She lets me share her bed, and her breath and her body. He heart pounds hard against my own. I feel the coolness of the ring against my shoulder blade as she clutches me at her climax. Following close behind, we breathe together. My mind racing as her body contracts with my own.

XXX

How could this ever work? It couldn't, could it? Oh God, but it feels so right...

Right now I don't care. I don't care if we're both going to kill each other in the process. I don't care if we get dirty looks, or if my friends hate me forever, or how long our story lasts... Right now is just me and him. Together. I don't know anything else right now... I just know that right now. I feel exactly how I should.

Happy.

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