Okay, everyone… I worked super hard to punch out an even more monster chapter than last time instead of two staggered regular ones for reasons that will become clear soon enough. So let's get on with it, shall we?

Here are our relevant changes:

- Mikael died without telling Damon about the white oak stake. No one knows any details about the weapon that could have killed Klaus, only that it existed and it's gone now.

- Because Tyler didn't take a hard stand with Klaus at Homecoming, most of the Mystic Falls gang doesn't understand the full ramifications of his sire bond, and Caroline hasn't internalized the danger it could pose for her friends.

- The coffins (and Rebekah, obviously) aren't missing, buuut that doesn't necessarily stop Klaus from being an imperious asshole because… well, we'll get into that.

- Bonnie does not start having unsubtle witchy dreams about the Originals' coffins for reasons that will be explained much, MUCH later.

The morning after girl's night with Bonnie, Caroline came home to find two letters on her bedside table. One was written in gorgeous script (was that calligraphy?! What exactly constituted calligraphy, anyway?) and the other had been written in normal-person handwriting she recognized as Tyler's.

She read Tyler's first.

Care,

I may not get why you dipped out like that, but I'm glad you did. Something big happened at the party last night. No, it wasn't Klaus. Not exactly, anyway.

I was out of the picture for most of it (someone snapped my neck), so I'm sure the others will fill you in. Don't worry, everyone's fine. It could have been really bad, though.

Klaus wants to grow his hybrid army ASAP, and he decided I'm the guy to do it. I'll be out of town for a while and I'm not sure how cell service is going to be where I'm going. It's not exactly on the grid.

I'm sorry I can't stay to say goodbye. The only reason I didn't leave right away was that Klaus wanted his letter delivered to your house. I tried to wait for you to get home, but even as I'm standing here writing this, it's like I can't sit still until I go do what he wants me to do. No way that's all me. It's kind of scary.

I think you were right about the sire bond. It's screwing with me a lot more than I knew. I'm going to look for a way to break it while I'm away. This seems like my best chance without him having eyes on me all the time.

I love you.

- Tyler

Caroline honestly had no idea what to do with all that information and the worries that swelled and swirled in her chest. Something bad happened and it wasn't Klaus' fault? Tyler was going away? Klaus was using him to make more hybrids?

But Tyler had finally admitted he had a problem. He was searching for a way to break the bond. And he loved her. Clutching the letter to her chest, Caroline picked up the other letter.

The girlfriend,

I've sent Tyler on an urgent mission, which I'm afraid will take significantly longer than a week. Apologies in advance for the frustration I'm sure you'll endure as a result. I assure you it was nothing personal this time. In fact, I may even loan him to you as a courtesy after he returns.

You missed quite the spectacle at my Homecoming party. Though Tyler assures me you had nothing to do with our unexpected guest, you should know that you're not above my suspicion. I would suggest staying out of the Salvatore's business for the time being. Particularly the older one.

Don't try anything stupid, sweetheart. I would hate to have to explain to my first hybrid what happened to his beloved baby vampire while he was gone.

Klaus

Of all the parts of that letter that could have stuck with her, Caroline couldn't get over Klaus "loaning" her her own boyfriend and calling it his Homecoming party. If that wasn't confirmation of her suspicions, she didn't know what was!

And who the heck responded to a text with a handwritten letter weeks after the fact?!

She sent a quick text to Tyler.

Caroline

Do what you have to do, Ty. I understand.

And another to Elena

Caroline

What the heck happened last night?!

Then another to Damon

Caroline

Whatever half baked assasination plan you've cooked up in that tiny little brain of yours, stop. Klaus is onto you

Jerk Face

The plan came and went without you, Blondie. Boy was that a dud

Of course it did. Because why oh why would Caroline ever be part of the team even though it affected her life just as much as everyone else's. Except Elena's. Elena definitely got complaining rights there.

Jerk Face

Why?

Caroline

I woke up to a vaguely threatening note from the Big Bad Wolf himself in my bedroom this morning, so… just be careful, ok?

There was a pause.

Jerk Face

Klaus is sending you love letters?

Caroline

What part of vaguely threatening don't you get? No, Damon, it was a watch your step letter. He told me to "stay out of the Salvatore's business for the time being"

Another pause.

Jerk Face

Sounds kind of like a love letter to me. Coming from him

Caroline

YOU THOUGHT REBEKAH AND I WERE ASKING YOU TO JOIN A THREESOME

Jerk Face

Weren't you?

Damon sent her something else and she ignored it. Why did she even think he was the one to warn?

Caroline

Your brother's a dick

Stefan

What did he do this time?

Caroline

I just told him I got a vaguely threatening letter from Klaus warning me to stay away from you two and he's arguing about threesomes

It took so long for Stefan to respond, Caroline had time to brush her teeth.

Stefan

I feel like I missed something

Caroline

Yeah, that makes two of us. Meet me here? I think your house is watched

Stefan

Twenty minutes

Caroline

I'll make pancakes

Caroline

And for the love of god don't bring Damon.

Stefan

Wasn't planning on it

Fourty minutes later, Caroline and Stefan sat at her tiny kitchen table with a half-demolished stack of pancakes and two cooling cups of coffee between them. Caroline licked syrup off her fingers as Stefan read both letters, eyebrows raising higher and higher as he went until she swore those wrinkles on his forehead would have been permanent if he weren't a vampire.

"It seems kind of like he's taunting you? But being polite about it?"

"Right?!"

"When did you guys even meet?"

"We didn't. I snapped when he interrupted a date one night and texted him from Tyler's phone, and now he's out to get me, but, like, in the Mean Girls way, not the psycho vampire serial killer way. It's weird."

"... Explain?"

"I'm the reason he took over the dance! It was his stupid way of showing me how much more powerful than me he is. Ruin the party he knew I was planning and then throw an even better one instead. And to top it off, he got the intel from my boyfriend, who we were arguing over- and who doesn't believe me, by the way-, which, again, proves his point. Now this!"

Caroline stared at Stefan. Stefan stared at Caroline. It lasted so long it got a little awkward.

She was about to excuse herself to clean her mess on the stove when he finally rendered his judgment. "... Why not? We all know he's a vindictive son of a bitch. I could see him being that petty just for the hell of it."

"Oh my God, thank you! No one else believes me!"

"Huh." Stefan started to lift another forkfull of pancake to his mouth, but then seemed to think better of it. He was responsible for most of the damage to the stack Caroline had over-zealously cooked, so at this point he was probably dealing with a Thanksgiving stalemate situation.

Caroline briefly considered spiking her coffee with some blood like she often did, but then decided that might be kind of rude in front of Stefan if he had a human blood problem like the others were saying. At least it explained the bunny diet. "So, do you think Damon had something to do with Mikael showing up?"

"Yeah. I really do. I mean, Damon had a vervain dart on hand."

"Of course he did."

"To be fair, it was a good plan."

Caroline quirked an eyebrow at him. "When has Damon ever had a good plan in the history of ever?"

"Well, I'm not sure how much of it was actually his," Stefan admitted. "It's not like we talked about it. But Klaus almost died. Whatever Mikael's weapon was made of, he looked afraid. And he had him pinned."

"Okay, well if it was such a good plan, why didn't it work?"

"I… kind of screwed it up."

"Huh?! How?! Why?!"

"I jumped Mikael and then Klaus staked him. I still don't know why I did it."

Okay, that definitely wasn't the explanation Caroline was expecting. "Could he have maybe compelled you? That's a thing he can do, right?"

"It is, but I don't think he did… I've been taking vervain ever since-" Stefan cut himself off mid-sentence.

"Ever since what?"

"Ever since I realized how dangerous it was not to." Stefan answered slowly, picking up steam halfway through his sentence.

Something must have happened. Even though Caroline really, really wanted to bug him about it, he didn't seem ready to talk.

But speaking of vervain… "Hold on a sec."

Caroline retrieved her bottle of vervain water from her bedroom and took a few quick chugs. It burned all the way down her tongue and esophagus. The first time she had tried to take vervain like this, she'd failed to angle it straight down her throat and some of it pooled under her tongue, causing open sores until she managed to spit it out. She never made that mistake again.

The second time, the burning triggered her gag reflex.

It took five tries to actually get and keep it down without too much incident. By now she was practically a pro.

"Wait, when did you start?"

"Right after what happened to Damon." Two doses, morning and night, ever since the day Klaus trapped Damon in his own basement with compulsion. Damon said twice a day was overkill, but Caroline wasn't willing to take the chance. After all, these weren't regular vampires.

Honestly, she didn't understand why Elena didn't ingest vervain, too; it seemed a lot more secure than a necklace that could be (and sometimes was) snatched away, and it wasn't like she had to deal with the same discomfort as the vampires in the group.

At that thought, Caroline glanced at her lock screen. Nope, still nothing. "Hey, have you heard from Elena today?"

"No, why?"

"I texted her at the same time as you and Damon, but I haven't heard a peep back! That's not like her unless she's with you, which she's obviously not 'cause you're here."

Talking to Stefan was so much better than talking to Damon. He didn't question a lifetime of friendship. Instead, he immediately whipped out his phone.

After three rings, Damon picked up with a loud groan. "Look, I'm dealing with the closest thing to a hangover I think I've ever had as a vampire since I'm actively trying to drink away the disappointment of the raging failure that was the legendary vampire killer Mikael, and it's completely your fault, so I'm more than a little pissy right now. If whatever you're calling about isn't literally life-or-death, leave a message after the beep." There was a brief pause. "Beep," he said in a lifeless tone.

"Have you heard from Elena today?"

There was a pause. "Should I have?"

An unpleasant jolt went through Caroline's stomach that had nothing to do with the vervain still eating its way through her system.

"I'm with Caroline right now and neither of us have heard from her either."

"What about Witchy?"

Caroline shot Bonnie a text.

Caroline

Hey, have you heard from Elena today?

Bonnie

No. Why?

"Bonnie hasn't either," Caroline reported loud enough for Damon to hear.

"Hang on. I just got a text." Stefan pulled his phone away from his ear. His face hardened. "That was Alaric. He hasn't seen her all morning. He wants to know if she's with me."

It was two in the afternoon.

Klaus. For just a moment, Caroline and Stefan exchanged a horrified look. Then she rushed to her bedroom to change out of her pajamas at vampire speed.

Damon seemed to agree. "Shit. Shitshitshitshitshit."

"I'll check the hospital that handled her transfusions," Stefan said.

Caroline stopped in the middle of picking a shirt. "What?!"

"I'll explain later."

Right. Not the time. Pants. Caroline needed pants to leave the house. "I'll check the Lockwood cellar where he held us for the ritual!"

"I'll go bug Bonnie for a locator spell." With one last curse, Damon hung up.

Why didn't I ever ask Tyler to show me where Klaus was staying? If he were still in town, maybe…

Then again, Caroline wondered if he would have been able to tell her.

"This wall needs more windows. I want a fortress, not a dungeon." Klaus wandered the skeletal beginnings of the home he and his siblings would inhabit once he fully secured their safety with his new army. In the meantime, another kind of army (consisting of compelled contractors) saw to his every command. It was quite fulfilling for both the artist and the megalomaniac in him.

Klaus had spent all night drawing up rough floorplans and was finalizing them as the construction team worked. Mikael was dead. He had killed him. For the first time since New Orleans, he could allow himself to grow some roots.

Would Klaus have picked Mystic Falls as his first place to settle? No. But perhaps this town wasn't as cursed as he once believed if it was also the place of his father's demise. Besides, Klaus wanted to stay within a stone's throw of his doppleganger, and this was likely the first family home of many. Simply a starting point for the rest of the Mikaelson's new lives.

He could hear Elena's heartbeat in the next kind-of room. It had slowed a bit too much for his liking, even in her unconscious state.

"Nurse," Klaus called, and his heavily compelled off-duty nurse came running. "That's enough for now. See that our patient is tended to and then returned safely to her home."

A few minutes and another room on the blueprint later, Rebekah passed by with the cooler of newly acquired blood bags, stopping briefly to whinge about it on her way out. "Honestly, Nik, why am I doing the grunt work? I am not your little messenger! And do you have any idea what sawdust does to suede?"

"Who else would you suggest I entrust with my precious supply of doppleganger blood?" Klaus preservation-spelled safe waiting to receive the blood bags at their little temporary condo. As far as getting it there, he would only entertain the notion of it being himself or Rebekah. "And I hardly see how you failing to dress for the occasion is my fault."

In that moment, his sister seemed to come to the realization of exactly what he was trying to say without getting all sentimental about it. She opened her mouth briefly, closed it, then tried again. "Well… Fine. Just don't make a habit of expecting me to do your dirty work."

A half-smile tugged at the corner of Klaus' mouth. He inclined his head in acknowledgement and went back to his plans.

Thankfully, Rebekah had long since departed when Klaus heard his first houseguest enter. "Ah, perfect timing," he called down to the ground floor. A gust of wind accompanied the arrival of the elder Salvatore.

"Where's Elena?"

Klaus waved a dismissive hand toward the other kind-of-room. "I was just about to return her, but it seems you've saved me the trip."

Damon sped off in the direction he'd indicated. Klaus could hear him cursing and coddling her from where he stood (even if he rather wished he couldn't). "Elena? Elena, hey. Hey, shhh, it's okay, I'm gonna get you home. Damn, what'd he do to you?"

Disgusting. On the other hand, it was convenient having two built-in bodyguards to turn her over to."She's perfectly fine, I assure you. Just a bit peckish after her generous donation. Feed her a cookie or something when you get home."

The way the younger vampire marched back over without the girl in the arms put Klaus on alert, though he didn't allow it to show in his posture.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Damon shouted. "I thought you had some kind of deal!"

"Ah yes, that." Klaus straightened up and put his pencil down. "We did, until someone saw fit to alert my father of my whereabouts." He watched Damon's expression freeze in place.

So it was him. Good. Let the guilt paralyze him from acting for a while.

"That and I'm reasonably certain the doppleganger attempted to turn my own sister against me. I tried to do the honorable thing, despite the circumstances, but it seems I can't trust a single one of you. So here's my counter-offer: I will take what I need when I need it, and in return, you lot continue to breathe. Anyone who gets in my way will die. Quite generous, if you ask me. I find that my father's death has put me in somewhat of a good mood."

"Yeah? Well, here's my counter-offer: go to hell." All but announcing his intentions, the fool grabbed a screwdriver from the workbench and flashed straight toward Klaus, who caught his arm with ease and re-directed the momentum so the tool embedded itself deeply into Damon's stomach. He let out a pained grunt at the impact.

Klaus pulled the screwdriver back out, licking a sample of blood from the business end. Yes, that was the slight burn of vervain. "What a shame, you've come prepared." The scent of fear on the other vampire brought a wicked smile to Klaus' lips. "But I'm not above bleeding the vervain out of your system and using you as your little almost-girlfriend's new jailer. Remember that."

After a quick, bloody pat on Damon's cheek, Klaus stepped back toward the bench to clean the tool with a rag. "And should she turn, I will hold both you and your brother personally responsible, regardless of the circumstances. I'm sure I don't have to remind you what happened to the last person responsible for my loss of a doppleganger."

"Katherine seems like she's doing pretty okay now."

Klaus had now started to wipe the blood from his hand. "Does it look that way from your perspective?"

"She's outrun you for five hundred years."

He's thinking about taking my doppleganger. Now that just wouldn't do. "Has she?"

Uncertainty flashed behind Damon's eyes at the thought of his devious little sire being outmaneuvered. Oh, Klaus did love a good opportunity to gloat.

"No, that's part of her punishment, you see. Give her time to build up a false sense of security. Begin putting down roots. Begin to hope. Then, every time she does, I swoop in and rip it all away. At this point, it's become somewhat of a hobby."

"A… hobby?!"

"Yes, it takes so little effort after learning her patterns. This time in particular should be quite entertaining. I'm sure Katerina thinks I've forgotten all about her what with my curse broken and the promise of an army on the horizon, but believe me when I say I haven't. That's the beauty of immortality, you see. There's no need to rush the details; retribution can last a literal eternity."

"You can't do this. We'll find a way to take you out."

"Oh, but you'll find I can," Klaus purred. "In fact, I can do so much more. Shall I give you a demonstration of my reach?"

Klaus slipped his phone out of his pocket and dialed the number he'd acquired that morning. The boy picked up near-immediately, but, as instructed, didn't say a word. That would ruin the element of surprise.

"So that thing I told you to do… why don't you go ahead and get on with it?" Feeling quite pleased with Damon's transparent attempt to hide his dread with a smirk, Klaus hung up. His compulsion would take over the rest.

"Okay, I'll bite. What was that about?"

"I'm sure you'll find out sooner or later. In the meantime, why don't you make yourself useful and remove my doppleganger from my future home? Unless you'd rather I keep her, of course. That could be arranged."

"... This isn't over."

"Of course it's not. I'm sure I'll see you next time."

Klaus didn't even bother seeing him out. He'd made his point.

Elena managed to make it to the meeting, despite being kidnapped and having her blood drained to the point of unconsciousness yesterday morning, spending most of that evening at the hospital with Alaric when his ring malfunctioned horrifically after saving Jeremy, then spending this entire morning helping Jeremy pack for his new life in Denver.

Caroline couldn't say she agreed with compelling anyone to do anything, but at the same time… she couldn't disagree that Jeremy would be happier (and safer) away from all of this. At this rate, it was just a matter of time until he got killed to send a message, just like she did.

Elena could hardly keep her eyes open. Even so, she wouldn't let Caroline give her any blood, mumbling something about Klaus taking it out on Stefan and Damon if she turned by accident. So, instead, Caroline just sat on the couch with Elena's legs across hers holding her orange juice. What she really wanted to do was go stake Klaus right then and there. Even if it didn't take, it would at least make her feel a little better.

"This is so not okay," Caroline complained. "You said you were fine!"

"I was fine," Elena said, and then pulled Caroline's hand closer to take another sip through her straw.

"Until a certain someone decided to take matters into his own hands, right?" Caroline shot Damon a pointed glare. It was always Damon.

"... He was just trying to help."

The idiot in question knocked his tumbler of whatever-that-was back like a shot and poured himself another.

Caroline huffed. "Yeah, and how'd that work out? Oh right, like it usually does!"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it, Barbie. I'm the bad guy and you're pissed 'cause you didn't get the memo before the action. What else is new? At least I'm trying to do something."

Caroline hated that she couldn't argue with that. Especially since Stefan had been compelled and she'd been too worried about Tyler to even notice.

Bonnie was still slumped in her chair. Yesterday had hit her particularly hard. "I still can't believe he got to Jeremy like that…"

"Klaus has a network," Stefan said. He'd taken to leaning against one of the walls instead of sitting. He was apparently too agitated for that. "You should have seen what I did between the ritual and the blood donations. Vampires, humans, the occasional witch or two… Whatever he wants is basically a phone call away."

"Not to mention an incoming army of probably-sired hybrids," Caroline added. With my boyfriend as their leader. She found herself chewing on her lower lip and forced herself to stop. Vampire healing or not, it was a bad habit.

"You know what? Enough's enough!" Damon slammed his glass on the dry bar and raised his right hand. "Quick show of hands: who here has been personally victimized by Regina George?"

"Ooh!" Caroline's hand shot up. "Me! Me! Memememe!"

Elena and Bonnie raised their hands with less fanfare. Bonnie almost smiled at Caroline's enthusiasm, knowing exactly where it came from.

Clearly lost, Stefan looked around the room.

Caroline decided to help. "Raise your hand, Stef."

"Um... okay...?" He did.

"Damon, why do you know about Mean Girls?" Caroline asked. It seemed like guys never knew about Mean Girls.

"Don't ask. Just... just don't."

No one said a word. The girls exchanged a look. Stefan still had no idea what was going on.

"Anyway, I think it's about time we kill him, don't you?" Damon had that glint in his eyes. The murdery one. God, how bad was it that Caroline actually agreed?

Elena lifted her head weakly. "So… cave drawings?"

Bonnie nodded. "Cave drawings."

"I'll order a pizza," Stefan sighed, as though it was some huge inconvenience.

"I'll text Ric," Elena said.

Caroline extracted herself from her seat. "I'll get the colored sticky notes!"

"Who wants booze?" Damon asked, opening the doors to his bar.

The answer was everyone. Everyone wanted booze today. Except Elena, who was stuck with orange juice and cookies.

Tyler's mission in Vancouver was a rousing success. As Klaus had ordered, he posed as a lone wolf in need of shelter to win the trust of the pack. Klaus hadn't planned for him to turn the whole pack in one night. That was a happy surprise. Say what you will about his intelligence; he's certainly eager to please.

Klaus was beginning to have a suspicion about that. And the possibility made him giddy.

As he walked up and down the line of thirty or so new comrades, he noted that none of them seemed particularly put out by their surprise hybridism and forced relocation. If anything, they were all smiles and obedience. Not to mention the lusty looks (and smells of arousal) from the females (and one of the males).

His wolf swelled with pride, but stubbornly ignored the chance of a fun romp.

Oh. Right.

Why did it seem like every time Klaus solved one problem, a more frustrating one popped up?

Some kind of tree.

That was all Caroline and the others had been able to figure out. The Originals could be killed by some kind of tree.

Super helpful.

After yet another translation cram session, Caroline groaned her way through her front door.

Liz looked up from the couch as Caroline shuffled by the living room. "What's wrong?"

"Oh, you know, just another day trying and failing to figure out how to kill an all-powerful werewolf/vampire hybrid boogieman who keeps draining my best friend and stole my boyfriend to raise an army for his evil plans of world domination. You know, normal high school in Mystic Falls things." With a huff, Caroline threw her backpack unceremoniously on the kitchen table, and ducked into the fridge for a blood bag to heat up.

Liz was quiet the whole time she got it ready for the microwave. When Caroline looked back, she found her watching with a deep frown.

"What?"

"... I should have told you about all of this."

"Huh?"

"The supernatural. I… thought if you didn't know, you could have a normal life. A good life. Your father kept talking about training you to be a hunter, but I didn't want you to grow up constantly looking over your shoulder for vampires, and werewolves, and witches. I should have known there was no way to avoid it in this town." Liz crossed her arms. Leaned back. Looked back at the tv without any real interest. "Maybe if I had listened, you wouldn't be..."

A vampire, Caroline completed for her.

It hurt that even though Liz seemed to support her now, she still didn't necessarily approve of what Caroline was. Instead, she treated Caroline's vampirism like she'd developed some kind of illness that had to be lived with. An undesirable trait to be tolerated. Isn't it, though? I mean, I need blood to survive. I'm always one slip away from ripping someone's throat out. I'm a monster.

The microwave beeped.

Caroline retrieved her blood and retreated back toward the stove, out of view.

She wanted to reassure her mom that things wouldn't have been any different because being friends with Elena basically put her in the line of fire no matter what, but she couldn't.

Because even if knowledge of the supernatural didn't keep Caroline from dying or turning, knowing what to look out for might have kept her out of Damon's clutches.

Liz still didn't know anything about that. Would never know anything about that, if Caroline had her way. The last thing she wanted for Liz was more self-blame when it was mostly her own fault for throwing herself at a complete stranger like she did. She should be the one who bore the crushing weight of the consequences, not her mom.

There was an uncomfortable silence as she drank her vampiric dinner.

Eventually, Liz's quiet voice cut through it. "I'm sorry."

Caroline swallowed the lump in her throat. "I don't blame you." It wasn't a denial, but it was the only honest solace she could offer without hurting her mother more.

They never were very good at these family talks.

Having his own pack was more than Klaus could have ever hoped for.

No longer was he the only one of his kind. He could share the thrill of the hunt and the hedonism of blood with the same individuals. Learn about the strange set of instincts he was still coming to understand while teaching them how to feed without drawing attention. Run through the woods, prowl a club, or even share a sit-down human dinner, always with willing company.

Not only that, but there were no silly little power struggles, despite the previous alpha still being alive. They belonged to Klaus, and they catered to his every whim without complaint, though he couldn't be sure whether it was because he was their alpha or the more vampiric sire bond he strongly suspected. Perhaps a bit of both.

Either way, Klaus had no complaints. If anything, it was reassurance that these, at least, would be individuals who would never betray him.

He would have to make absolutely sure before assuming as much, though. Somehow.

Caroline hadn't been sure at first, but after a night at the Grill with Bonnie where they'd watched a group of rowdy out-of-towners get into a brawl over a game of pool, it was all but official. There were some new hybrids around. The high tempers and flashing golden eyes were a dead giveaway, even if Bonnie's witchy spidey sense hadn't gone off when one of them brushed against her on the way out of the bathroom.

Tyler had obviously been successful, but he hadn't come by to see Caroline yet. Not even so much as a text.

Loan him to me as a courtesy my ass. Klaus was such a liar. And how pathetic was it that Caroline had actually been hoping he kept that demeaning semi-promise?

Rebekah even teased her during practice about all the sex she must be having now that Tyler was back and a little more free, only to seem legitimately aghast when Caroline told her she hadn't seen him.

But if he's not with me, what is he doing?

The thought of Tyler feeding off of some girl behind a club asserted itself.

No.

The next thing that came to mind was the way he looked at her that one time she'd been captured by his uncle's pack.

Could it be happening again? Is he getting carried away with another pack?

She was just going through the motions of her cheer routine. Thankfully, she'd practiced so much that it was like second nature.

No. No, he said he was trying to break the sire bond. And I told him to do what he needed to do.

Caroline tried her best to push old insecurities down. That she wasn't enough. That he was losing himself to the group-think of a pack. That he was losing his humanity to his bloodlust.

Either that, or Klaus is keeping him from me again.

It was fine. They would be fine.

"Watch it!"

Rebekah batted Caroline's pom pom away from her face.

"Oh! Sorry!"

For a moment, she thought the other girl might attack her (or at least rip into her verbally). Instead, she let out a deep sigh. "Just get your head back into the bloody routine. You're setting a terrible example."

"Right." Rebekah was right. There was nothing Caroline could do about it right now.

Time to compartmentalize.

A handful of Klaus' hybrids had taken to arriving late for their duties, and excusing themselves as quickly as possible to "go hit the town," yet Klaus hadn't seen this particular group anywhere public. And this was Mystic Falls; there weren't that many places to go. He wondered if they were heading to the Lockwood mansion instead.

Klaus might have asked Tyler about it, but he'd been notably absent since his return to town. That came as no surprise after being kept apart from that girlfriend of his for so long. Monogamy was, after all, quite the burden for creatures such as them, as that little vampire had more or less summed up in her text.

"Have some of my hybrids seemed a bit preoccupied to you recently?" Klaus asked his sister.

"You're just being paranoid again," Rebekah insisted, not even looking up from her magazine. She sat in the finished and furnished living room working hard to catch up with the fashions of the times. Klaus felt a twinge of guilt for forcing her to sleep for so long that she had to go through this again.

But she's safe now, he told himself firmly. That was the point.

And soon it wouldn't just be her. With Mikael dead, Klaus would wake his siblings as soon as the house was complete. The question was who amongst them would betray him?

Hopefully the hybrids would pose some form of deterrent. Assuming Rebekah was correct and he was just being paranoid again, of course.

"By the way, I haven't seen much of Tyler recently." Rebekah had that tone she usually adopted when she thought she was being subtle. To be fair, it was entirely possible she was exactly as subtle as she thought and that the centuries had simply rendered Klaus too familiar with her. "I imagine he's catching up on everything else he's been missing?"

"Such as?"

"School. Football… His girlfriend. He is still a teenager, you know, and he over delivered. It seems like he deserves some time off."

Now she's sending my sister as a probe? Klaus wasn't sure whether to be intrigued, impressed, or annoyed. "Well, I'm certainly not stopping him at the moment. I have other things to concern myself with."

"Hmm. Well, see that he understands that."

Annoyed. Definitely annoyed. The sooner Bekah gets a new plaything the better. Surely, that would redirect some of her attention.

As Klaus walked by the couch, he caught a hint of… some sweet undertone in his sister's normal scent. It wasn't strong, but it was pleasant. He found his interest suddenly peaked and his wolf shifting in his chest.

Ever since awakening his werewolf side, Klaus had been able to smell fragments of the places people had visited, food they'd eaten, company they'd kept… It was occasionally noteworthy, but didn't usually arrest his attention like this.

"Where were you all morning, Bekah?"

"Cheer practice." Rebekah let out an irritated huff. "Don't tell me you still expect me to report my every movement! I thought we were finally past that!"

"No." It surprised Klaus how quickly the response came out. Rebekah may be fickle about the little things, but he absolutely believed she would support him when it was important. That was new.

And nice.

And dangerous.

He would have to be careful not to let that get the better of him. "No, it's just… a wolf thing."

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"

"... You've been near something that smells… interesting. I'm trying to place it."

"Oh, is that all?" She flipped the page. "That's a bit vague."

"Yes, it is." And yet it caught my attention. Why?

"Speaking of wolf things, I realize you're excited about your little pets, but could you maybe cut back on them all being in the house at once? It's becoming overwhelming."

"I didn't see you complaining about sharing a girl with Tony the other night."

"Tony is fine. All of them are not."

"I'll take that into consideration."

"And don't forget to keep them off the furniture!"

Klaus didn't dignify that particular demand with a response.

Caroline wasn't expecting anything special when she pulled into the school parking lot that morning. Sure, it was her birthday, and she'd put a little more effort into her appearance for the occasion, but so much had been happening recently that she doubted there would be time for something as silly or shallow as a birthday party for a vampire.

Eighteen. I should have been eighteen today.

Her body wasn't eighteen. Would never be eighteen. Was there even a point in birthdays anymore?

That uncomfortable conversation with her mother still sat heavy on her chest.

At least now that I'm not human, I can't be- Cold blue eyes stared at her from the other side of the bed. Looked right through her.

Caroline shook it off. School parking lot. Birthday. Right. That can never happen again. The moment she'd turned, she'd been freed from that particular nightmare.

But that wasn't completely true, was it? Vampires could still be compelled by Originals.

Not that Klaus seemed to be taking an interest in her with all his new toys. Seriously, he should have his hands full with a bunch of baby hybrids. So where the hell is Tyler?

Just then, she spotted her boyfriend waiting by the fence with his arms crossed. Her breath caught as they made eye contact and his expression softened a little.

She blurred right into his arms, earning an "oof!"

"Tyler! Oh my God where have you been?! You finally got away! I'm so happy! This is the best birthday gift ever!"

It took a moment, but he finally wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his head on her shoulder.

"... Care."

She'd forgotten how much heat he gave off. Her entire body warmed in his embrace. But there was something in his tone that sounded… off. Concerning.

"What is it? What's wrong? Is it Klaus? Is he being an ass again? What am I saying, of course he's being an ass again. How is he being an ass this time?"

Tyler practically pushed her away and fixed her with a serious look. "Listen. I know what you're thinking, but it wasn't Klaus who kept me away."

"Huh?" That didn't make sense. Tyler loved her. He wouldn't just…

His downcast gaze said one thing, but his hands still on her hips said another. "I… can't be around you. It's not safe."

Caroline tried to understand, but it was like she couldn't wrap her head around the words coming out of his mouth. Of course it wasn't safe. It hadn't been safe from the moment he activated his werewolf gene. "What are you saying?" It came out in a small voice. Pathetic. Childish.

"... I poisoned an entire pack."

Caroline drew a sharp breath.

"It wasn't even his idea; it was mine. They took me in, no questions asked. They were good people and I practically enslaved them all just because I knew Klaus wanted as many turned as possible. That's the kind of hold he has on me."

"Oh my God, Tyler…" Tears pricked behind Caroline's eyes. Is that what you've been dealing with all alone? And all this time I've been thinking… Seriously, she was the worst girlfriend of all time.

He still wouldn't meet her gaze. Like he was ashamed.

"Hey. Hey, look at me." It was worse when he made eye contact. He looked like he was drowning. "It's not your fault." Caroline tried to reassure him the same way she reassured him about Jenna. "You can't control what the sire bond makes you do. You didn't even know it was influencing you until this trip. You can't blame yourself like this."

When Tyler shook her hands off, it was like a shard of ice had pierced her heart. "Does it matter whose fault it is? The bottom line is, I can't be trusted." He took a small step away and that distance opened like a chasm. "Not by you, not by anyone. Not as long as I'm sired to him."

Please don't do this. Please don't do this now.

"There's something I'm trying, but I don't know it's going to work. I think… I think in the meantime, Klaus could make me do anything. And you know how things were, even before I left. Even though I want to put you first, before anyone, I can't. Not the way things are right now. And I'm sorry." The tears building up in his eyes and the sincerity in his voice threw Caroline over the edge. She sniffled embarrassingly. "I'm so sorry. This… us… it's over. It has to be."

"... Just for now, right? Just until you break the bond…"

"I hope so."

It was the most unfair thing in the world, looking into the eyes of a man who loved her and knowing he still loved her, but that they couldn't be together. Caroline had never hated anyone more than she hated Klaus in that moment. She'd never hated anything more than she hated this stupid town for taking everything from her, one piece at a time.

She didn't know whether the fact that they were both in agony over this made it better or worse.

Clearing his throat and blinking rapidly, Tyler produced a pouch from his pocket. He held it out to her, looking like that awkward, sweet guy she'd started to see beneath the cocky jock back when they really started to become friends. "Happy birthday."

It was a silver charm bracelet. A little kitschy, but cute. And he'd thought to buy it despite everything else going on.

Caroline stifled a series of sobs.

He was leaving. Just like that. He'd said what he had to say and he was just going to walk away.

No. No, that's not good enough. This isn't alright. Caroline clutched the bracelet tightly in her hand. "Tyler!"

He looked over his shoulder.

"There's another way! Klaus has a weakness. Mikael knew it. If we can just-"

"Stop." He took a shaky breath. "You can't tell me anything like this, okay? The less I know about whatever you're thinking about trying the better."

He was right. He was right, and she knew it. They had to treat him like an enemy from now on. That only made it hurt more.

Tears traced hot patterns down Caroline's cheeks, but she tried to put on a brave face anyway. "We'll find a way to free you. I promise."

Tyler gave her a sad smile before slipping away.

After that, all Caroline could bring herself to do was wallow. She got back in her car and left. What was the point in class anyway? High school? College? A degree?

She couldn't take any of it with her when being a vampire forced her to reinvent her life in another decade or so.

Caroline considered stopping by the grocery store to get all kinds of fatty comfort food, but decided she'd just rather go back to bed and try to drown herself in covers as soon as possible.

With that on her mind, she unlocked her front door, her last gift from Tyler tinkling and shining in the sun with the flick of her wrist.

"Surprise!"

Elena, Bonnie, and Matt all jumped around the corner looking absolutely ridiculous decked out in balloons and party hats.

Caroline almost burst into tears all over again.

Klaus couldn't be completely certain of his wayward hybrids, but Tyler was definitely attempting to hide something. While the pup was, in fact, the highest in command of the others, Klaus had noticed him whispering with individuals in corners of the (now mostly constructed) mansion. Stealing into the yard and huddling in small groups with dire expressions. Hushing when they noticed Klaus' proximity or any kind of attention.

It was almost as though he were running a secret campaign for allies. Klaus was now completely convinced Tyler was scheming something. Something that required him to cement a position of trust with the new hybrids now, while they were still adjusting to their new lives and positions within the pack. Something that couldn't wait, lest Klaus figure it out.

Klaus had tracked Tyler himself the last few nights and saw five or so of his hybrids entering and leaving the Lockwood cellar for hours at a time, at roughly the same time every day. Whenever asked how he'd spent his sudden influx of free time, Tyler muttered something about catching back up with life in Mystic Falls, likely knowing the assumption would be that he was spending time with his girlfriend.

Which was why Klaus had called him into his new office today and shut the door behind him.

The moment he did, Klaus found himself extremely distracted. That smell again! But try as he might, he couldn't identify it. It was far too faint.

It's nothing. Klaus was just looking too far into things ever since his unfortunate realization during Homecoming. This recurring sweet almost-scent that piqued his interest was nothing more than a pleasant aroma he'd likely not been sensitive enough to notice during his last visit to town.

Decidedly shutting down his near-obsession with pursuing the subject further, Klaus peered at Tyler over the edge of his glass. "It's been a while since I've heard about the girlfriend, mate."

"You remember her?"

"I remember anything that might cause a problem for me."

Tyler scoffed. "How is me having a girlfriend a problem?"

Swirling the liquid in his glass, Klaus answered, "It splits your loyalty."

Klaus could see the gears in his not-particularly-smart hybrid's head turning. Give up his cover to protect the girlfriend or throw her under the figurative bus to maintain his deception? Klaus eagerly awaited his decision.

"Then you can relax. I broke up with her today."

"Did you now?" The girlfriend over the scheme then. Interesting. "Any particular reason?"

"Things just weren't working out."

"Hmm. If I had to guess, I'd say you… did it for her own good? Perhaps you were overwhelmed by your own actions in Vancouver. I must say, it took even me by surprise. And you've been so very compliant with anything that doesn't have to do with your feisty little vampire." Klaus could smell his hybrid's budding fear. He'd hit the nail on the head. "No, I don't want you to break up with her."

"... What exactly do you want me to do, then?" Tyler asked through gritted teeth.

"I'd rather you bite her."

Absolute silence. Klaus fought the urge to smile into his drink.

"She's a vampire." The boy's voice was thick with emotion. "It would kill her!"

"Yes, I assume it would. A very slow, painful death. I've seen it once or twice over the years."

Tyler stepped right into Klaus' face, holding his gaze with a challenge from his own wolf. Direct mutiny. Amused, and rather excited by the chance to display his power, Klaus drew himself to his full height and stared right back. His own wolf demanded submission, but there was no point in a physical altercation.

Tyler may have more brawn, but they both knew where the true power resided. Klaus could see Tyler making the conscious decision not to back down despite his own instincts obviously screaming at him. "What the hell is wrong with you? I'll never do that. You can't make me."

"Alright. I'm disappointed, but it's your decision. Free will and all that. You can go now."

"That's it?"

"That's it."

Bewildered, the lesser hybrid all but attempted to retreat from the room. Before he could leave, Klaus added a little… fuel. "Although, I must say, I expected more from my first hybrid."

If Klaus was right, the sire bond would do the rest. He would know whether his theory on the hybrids was correct, Tyler would learn his place, and that intriguing girlfriend of his would finally understand that no matter what his first hybrid felt for her, his allegiance was with Klaus. Three birds, one simple, venomous stone.

Tyler's fist clenched and his jaw set. "Asshole."

"Hm," Klaus hummed into his glass, quite unable to come up with a hard disagreement.

When Elena had first led them to the crypt to finish the birthday party there, Caroline definitely had her doubts, but she had to admit, the girl knew how to mix wallowing with partying. Probably all that experience she'd built up recently.

And when Tyler showed up, Elena had flashed a soft smile and whispered "See, I told you it would work out," before seeing herself out. Elena always had been team Jacob (although, honestly, why wasn't there a team "no thanks; I'll just head back to Arizona and pretend neither of you exist?" Manipulative stalkers were creepy and weirdly possessive not-boyfriends with anger issues weren't sexy. And don't even get Caroline started on the whole vampires-are-actually-fertile thing.) Seriously, Caroline didn't put much stock into Elena's relationship advice, but she was glad she seemed to be right about this at least.

"What did I say?" Bonnie agreed. "Disgustingly cute. Happy birthday, Care." With a quick hug on her way out, she followed Elena.

Surprisingly, Matt seemed the most worried.

"You sure you're good, Ty?" he asked, forehead wrinkled in that thinking-too-hard expression Caroline knew way too well. "I know you were worried about-"

"Yeah, man," Tyler interrupted, flashing a smile that seemed legitimately happy. "It's okay now. I'm sure of it."

It wasn't okay.

Tyler had just finished telling Caroline Klaus couldn't sire bond him into hurting her (because of course Klaus had tried to turn her boyfriend- ex?- against her in yet another powerplay) when he freaking bit her in the middle of a makeout session!

Matt was the one who found her. While Bonnie and Elena left assuming she and Tyler were having makeup sex, he'd stayed.

He was on the phone with Stefan now, watching her tremble under his own jacket-turned-makeshift-blanket. Seriously, when did it get so cold out here? The smell brought back a few comforting memories, and Caroline remembered for the first time in months why she'd ever dated Matt to begin with. "Yeah. Yeah, a werewolf bite. Isn't that…? Okay, what do I do? Uh-huh. You're sure? Can you…? Yeah. I'll see you there."

His eyes flicked to Caroline. He looked pale, even in the moonlight, and despite the weird ringing in her ears, she could hear how quickly his heart was racing.

Why wouldn't he be freaking out right now? I'm dying.

Oh God, she was dying. There was no cure for this! Tyler was going to be the one who killed her! On her birthday!

At least she probably wouldn't live long enough to listen to Damon's I-told-you-so.

The pain radiating from her shoulder was so much worse than vervain, or wooden bullets, or sunlight. Nothing Caroline had been through could have prepared her for this.

"Matt?"

"... I can't believe this is happening."

Caroline started to stand up, but even shifting her back from the tree seemed to set her blood on fire. I wonder if moving makes the poison spread faster? "Yeah. That makes two of us."

They just stared at each other for a while. "I'm really sorry," he choked out.

Sorry. As if that could sum up how utterly awful the last year of her existence had been. Bloodbag, accidental vampire, torture (so much torture!), werewolf boyfriend, hybrid boyfriend sired to Klaus. Why was she even surprised this was where it was all heading?

"Does mom…?"

"Not yet." Matt shook his head and bent to a crouch. "Can you still walk?"

"It hurts." Even so, the pain only half-registered. Shock. Caroline realized distantly that she was in shock.

"Okay. Okay, don't worry. I'll get you home." As a human, Matt struggled to take her into his arms, but he managed it. Caroline rested her head on his shoulder and tried not to pay too much attention to his accelerated heartbeat.

Normally when Klaus' door flew open without so much as a knock, he could only conclude he was either about to meet either someone with absolutely no idea what they've stumbled into, or someone with an actual death wish. This time he was simply delighted, even before Tyler found him. The pup looked like death warmed over.

"I bit her."

"Congratulations."

"Please," Tyler sank to his knees. "I didn't want to. I decided not to, but I couldn't help it. I've heard you say your blood is the cure."

"And just what do you want me to do, Tyler?"

"Save her."

"Why should I do that? If anything, all she is to me is an inconvenience." Not strictly true. She was very entertaining, and Klaus sincerely hoped Tyler was smart enough to know what he had to say so he could meet her in person and see whether that spine of hers stayed just as hard face-to-face.

"Because I love her."

"Wrong answer mate." Klaus went back to his book.

"... Because I can't! Because you're the only one who can and… I… I need your help. I'll do anything."

"Ah. There it is." Klaus rose and patted Tyler on the cheek. "And what is your girlfriend's name? I'm afraid I haven't quite caught it."

"Caroline. Caroline Forbes."

"Forbes?" Klaus raised an eyebrow. A member of a founding family had become a vampire and was dating another member of a founding family. That might explain the distinct decrease in vampire hunts since the last time he'd visited, as well as the surprising willingness of the Council to hear him out tonight without compulsion.

But the name sounded familiar for another reason. She was on Elena's list of loved ones. Yet, I still haven't put a face to the name. Interesting. "And where might I find Miss Forbes?"

This was perfect in every way. Not only were his three goals accomplished beautifully, but he would finally meet this amusing thorn in his side face to face. And he would inarguably be the one holding all of the power when he did. If he was lucky, she might even beg for her life.

He couldn't remember the last time he was so excited for an introduction.

This never would have happened if Caroline had just stuck with the initial plan and stayed in bed all day.

Cocooning under her comforter as though she could make up for her mistake through sheer force of will, she squeezed her eyes shut and tried to ignore the rancid odor coming from her wound, along with the way it switched back and forth between lancing heat and near-numbing ice (complete with a lovely sensation like needles in her veins).

"Honey," her mother's voice soothed her. "It's going to be okay."

No, it's not. There's no cure. But Caroline couldn't bring herself to say that. Not to her mom.

Liz's hand stroked the back of Caroline's head, like she used to do when she got sick as a child. "It's not that big a deal. You're dead already, right?"

Caroline's eyes shot open. She tried to focus, but all she could make out was the frown on Liz's face.

"I always wanted to be a grandmother, you know. Silly, right? I'm supposed to be this strong independent woman in charge of keeping the entire town safe from vampires and werewolves and everything else that goes bump in the night, but that was always something I wanted. To watch my daughter grow up, get married, and have kids of her own. Now I don't get to do any of that."

I know. I'm sorry, mommy.

"When you turned into a vampire, you ruined everything. I have nothing else to look forward to. You're a disappointment, honey."

Caroline's pillow was wet. Not that it mattered.

The weight left the bed.

"Say your goodbyes, Bill," her mother said.

"Daddy?" Her father was here? He'd come to see her? "But I thought you hated me."

"I do."

Having her heart torn from her chest would have been preferable to the pain Caroline felt at those two small words.

Her father's face was surprisingly soft as he settled beside her, close enough for her to see through her unfocused haze. "My little girl is dead. I tried to bring her back, but you were just too weak. She's gone forever. That's why I had to leave; it hurts too much to look at you and be reminded of that. You're a monster now, Carebear."

"I'm trying my best. I don't drink from humans. I haven't attacked anyone since that one day. I'm doing everything I can to be good!"

"That's why you weren't enough, you know." Tyler had replaced her dad. He caressed her hair, the way he did when he wanted to calm her down. "If you were what I really needed, I could have resisted Klaus. You never found the right things to say. Instead, we always ended up fighting. I'd have been a lot happier if I broke up with you earlier."

Caroline squeezed her eyes shut. Opened them again.

Blue eyes bored into hers. That was all she could make out now.

"You are nothing," a familiar voice said. "No one cares about some needy, shallow cheerleader with a closet case of ocd just because she's got a pretty face and puts out. You're not even that good in bed, or I might have been nicer to you. You could live or die, and it wouldn't make a bit of difference to the rest of us. I mean, look at how long it took to save you before. Like grabbing the mail from the mailbox. Just something they happened to get to when it worked for them." Damon brushed a knuckle against her cheek. It was covered in tears. "Oh oh oh, no, don't cry. You've got to keep smiling. That's all you're good for, you know. Decoration. It's the only real use anyone could have for you."

With a scream to drown out anything else he could say, Caroline curled in on herself.

Her door flew open and a hand wrapped around hers. "Hey." Stefan's voice was soft and kind. "Hey, it's not real. I don't know what you're seeing, but it's not real, okay? That's what the venom does; it causes hallucinations."

"Please just kill me," she whimpered back.

"... We'll figure something out."

"Are you really real?"

"Don't you think I'd be someone else if you were trying to comfort yourself right now?" He was right. It probably would have been Tyler again. Either that or she'd be seeing Elena and Bonnie.

"What are you doing here?"

"I got here as soon as I could. Matt called me for help, remember?"

She did. She did remember that.

"Listen, Care, Tyler says he knows a cure and he's working on getting it for you. Just hang on, okay? We're here for you."

"... We?"

"I can't let them come in the room in case you lash out, but your mom and Matt are both here. They're worried sick."

The bite burned again. A pathetic little whimper passed Caroline's lips.

"So am I. I'm not going anywhere, okay?"

Caroline squeezed his hand.

The vampire girlfriend from the other side of the phone had an honor guard. The sheriff, Liz Forbes, he'd expected. But then there was Stefan, arms crossed and more broody than ever. And… the quarterback? That one in particular took Klaus by surprise. As did the way the boy looked ready to punch him in the face, despite knowing first hand he stood no chance of surviving such an encounter.

Who do you have other than those whose loyalty you've forced?

Klaus fed them lines about wanting the Council's support in exchange for Caroline's life (he did have an image to maintain). They shouted back this was entirely his doing and that they had no way of knowing he was telling the truth. It was as though they were so angry they'd forgotten who held the real power here.

Eventually, they left him no choice but to get Rebekah on the phone to give a firsthand account of his blood being the cure. ("No, he's telling the truth. Unfortunately, my insufferable brother is now her only hope of survival. Let him in quickly. Caroline and I have a cheer competition in a month and the routine would be a catastrophe with Dana as her replacement… I mean the girl doesn't know a kickback from a cartwheel. By the way, Nik, I want a word with you when you get home, do you understand?")

Fantastic. Even his own sister. What was it about this girl?

The three exchanged a look.

"Boys, you would know best."

"That sounds like what I know of Rebekah logic," Stefan admitted.

Matt added "They're almost friendly in a weird way I can't say I get. I've seen them talking after practice and sitting together at the Grill sometimes."

Really, now?

Reluctantly, Liz invited Klaus inside.

A pleasant aroma had settled into the house. Sweet citrus and frost. His wolf seemed interested in it as well. Enraptured, even. This is it. This is what I've been smelling. Klaus wondered for a moment what in the world might produce such a scent and whether there was any way to take it home with him. Yes, let's just ask the angry sheriff what air freshener she uses. Honestly, it was like building a home he intended not to abandon at the drop of a hat was turning Klaus into a housewife.

Though filled with a strange sense of belonging, his body was more alert than usual; crackling with the same energy as the very first time the full moon called to him.

With each step toward the bedroom the sheriff indicated, the sensation grew stronger, as did Klaus' dueling feelings of unnamed dread and a strange kind of giddiness. He swore his heart even began to race. His hand practically vibrated with anticipation as he reached for the doorknob.

The first thing that hit him was a concentrated version of that scent. It permeated the air in the room. But it had been tainted with rotten overtones of infection and death.

The next was the girl in the bed.

The moment he laid eyes on her, he knew.

A one thousand year old monster, the one and only Original Hybrid, irrevocably tethered to a frail teenage vampire less than a year turned. Eighteen today, based on the balloons on her bedside.

He found himself caught between the impulse to laugh and the equally strong urge to rip someone's trachea out with his bare hands.

Sorry, mate, he told his first hybrid silently. You pled so prettily, but I'm afraid I can't keep my word. If it's any consolation, she would have broken your heart eventually.

He closed the door behind him. Yes, there would be plenty of fallout. But none of it mattered in the face of what he stood to lose.

Klaus rolled up his sleeves, steeling himself for an internal struggle with his wolf. There would be no savoring this kill. He would end it quickly.

But when she shifted in near-sleep and looked at him with those young blue eyes, defiance flickering behind them like a dying flame (blue always did burn hotter), his body froze. He found himself thoroughly overwhelmed by the sudden need to scoop her up and feed her his healing blood right that instant.

Weak. Dangerous. If you're lucky enough to not be betrayed by her, she will die simply by association.

Help, his wolf practically roared without words, pulling at his skin to drag him closer to her, to fix this awful scene he had created. She looked so helpless and dangerous in the same shallow breath (why did this vampire breathe? It must have hurt at this point). The perfect temptation. Any artist's dream. He'd underestimated the allure.

How had she looked as she messaged him? As she walked into his party and realized he was toying with her? As she woke to find her boyfriend gone and a taunting letter on her nightstand? What shape did her glorious fury take when just a disapproving look was enough to paralyze him?

He couldn't kill her. He didn't have it in him. She could be holding the white oak stake to his heart, and still, the worst he might be able to inflict with his own hands would be a snapped neck.

But he could walk away and leave her to her fate. He had at least that much willpower left. She had hours left, if that.

"Klaus?" she rasped, and it came off like an accusation. Just the sound of his name from her lips was another chain around his heart.

Finding his tongue too heavy for a reply, Klaus simply nodded.

"I thought you'd come, sooner or later." As she appraised him more fully, Klaus found himself standing taller. "You're prettier than I thought you'd be. No evil mustache or anything. God, how much does it suck that you're already better company than the hallucinations? At least, I think that's what they are. Hope that's what they are…" She let herself sink back into her pillow with a deep sigh that sounded almost like relief. "So are you going to stand there and gloat, or are you going kill me?" She asked it like she disapproved of his choice of shirt and wanted to know if he really planned to go out like that. "I'd like to just get that part over with, if you don't mind."

Klaus' heart clenched.

She wasn't afraid.

In pain, miserable, and certainly angry. But she accepted the idea of her death. In fact, she'd given into it. Eighteen years down, eternity left, and she seemed to hardly even care.

Mentally stringing together curses from at least six dead languages for optimal vitriol, Klaus found that this bothered him. Immensely.

She's going through a lot, the pup had said in one of his endless pleas for more freedom. She needs someone to be there for her. I'm her boyfriend. It's my job.

And then Klaus made him bite her.

The self-loathing rolling in his gut was beyond anything he'd felt since killing his own mother. "On your birthday? Do you really think that low of me?"

"Yes."

Add intelligence to the list.

Because it was true. She was too dangerous to let live even another day. More dangerous than even the mind reading witch. Klaus knew that. And yet…

He found himself gently peeling away the blanket covering her wound. Honestly drawing a sharp breath at the raw decay that greeted him, only to become a bit nauseous from the rank scent. "That looks bad. My apologies. You're what's known as collateral damage. It's nothing personal."

Why did he even feel the need to explain himself to her?

But those eyes held him captive in their disbelief. He had to look away.

A childish little charm bracelet graced her wrist. A howling wolf caught Klaus' attention and he smiled at the irony. "I love birthdays."

The girl scoffed at him, just like his sister might. He thought he saw a little of her spirit return. "Yeah. Aren't you like, a billion or something."

"You have to adjust your perception of time when you become a vampire, Caroline. Celebrate the fact that you're no longer bound by trivial human conventions. You're free."

Just like that, the spark he'd been marveling at retreated once again. "No… I'm dying."

Klaus found he could no longer resist the urge to be by her side. He allowed himself to sit beside her, overly conscious of their proximity despite the many layers of fabric between them. It was so much less of a barrier than the centuries that had previously spanned between them.

It would be better if she died now. Better for his plans, his safety, his sanity…

But he found he didn't want that.

"And I could let you. Die. If that's what you want. If you really believe your existence has no meaning. I've thought about it myself once or twice over the centuries, truth be told."

Why did he bear himself to her like this? Opening wounds he'd hidden from the world just so she saw he bled the same as her. If I can push on, I know you can, too. Why did he feel this unshakable need to reach her? To cheer her. Was it his wolf? "But I'll let you in on a little secret. There's a whole world out there waiting for you. Great cities and art and music."

He brushed the Eiffel tower hanging from her wrist, and the feel of just that bit of contact produced a vibrant hum beneath his skin. Addictive. "Genuine beauty. And you can have all of it. You can have a thousand more birthdays. All you have to do is ask."

"... You have the cure." The hint of wonder in her voice gave him hope.

"Sweetheart, I am the cure. All you need is my blood."

Her face fell at that. "What, is this your newest thing? You want me to beg?"

Not anymore, Klaus realized, much to his ever-growing concern. "... No. I simply want you to make a choice, and I will honor it." Regardless of the consequences. "What will it be, Caroline? The decision is yours."

The silence that permeated the room as she thought it over might have re-stopped his heart.

But then she cried, and in that moment, Klaus knew what was coming. "I don't want to die."

There it was. Possibly the most important decision in Klaus' life, and he wasn't the one who made it. He was so relieved. Absolutely terrified. Overwhelmed. But this wonder of a vampire was going to live.

When he pulled her against him, she practically melted into his embrace. Like it was natural. Even more natural was offering her his bare, unmarred wrist.

The girl looked up at him, a question forming behind her eyes.

He wondered if anyone had informed her of the significance of feeding off another vampire. But she needed his blood, and Klaus found that, for once, he didn't feel like removing any part of the experience. "There you go, sweetheart. Have at it."

He had never let another vampire feed on him directly. The moment any had tried, he'd ripped out their hearts or worse. And while he recognized that this was meant to be transactional, that didn't stop his blood from pumping a little faster as her breath tickled his wrist, or the surprised gasp that escaped him as her fangs pierced his flesh.

It was nothing like biting into himself. The pain was more precise and followed by a kind of… pleased awareness of her fangs inside him. Vampiric instincts, he supposed. He wondered briefly if this was how the more inexperienced women he bedded felt when they were first penetrated. Then she took a drag of his blood and he could feel himself filling her.

It made no sense, but the sudden rush of possessiveness was not unlike the typical male response to bedding a woman (which had taken quite some time for him to shake).

The absolute thrill of her taking his blood inside herself, warming her body with it, letting out a delighted hum at the flavor, followed by an enticing moan he would very much like to hear again under different circumstances, had him stroking her hair. Calm, for once in as long as he could remember, while still incredibly aroused.

The sudden idea of this gorgeous creature buried in his neck… of them drinking from each other at the same time (how did she taste?)… it was more than even the wanton image of sheathing himself in her writhing, supple embrace. And what an image.

He wanted her to gasp and whimper with pleasure beneath him. To lose all memory of everything but him, and the way he filled her. He wanted to listen as her words failed her. To mark her with his own scent, so that everyone would know exactly who she belonged to.

All of this just from a passing conversation and her drinking from his wrist. His wolf and his vampire seemed to reach an accord, both tearing away at his common sense and control. They wanted her. Badly. More than anything, in fact.

This was a mistake. I need to leave. Love is weakness. I am not weak.

This wasn't love. Not yet. Rampant lust, for sure, but… also a tenderness. The soft spot in the fruit before it spoiled. A warning the likes of which Klaus had never felt, but recognized nonetheless.

There must be some appeal, right? His sister kept extolling it like the Holy Grail. That mutt Tyler seemed to think highly of it; highly enough to face down his alpha and sire despite not having a chance (or very much in the way of brains). The old witch with the loud shirt had even said he should try it after viewing his darkest secrets. What if she actually was thinking of his well being, and not some convoluted plot to neuter him?

Would it really harm him so much to just… find out who fate had deemed his perfect match? He didn't have to accept the bond, after all. He could simply court her. Carefully, like in the old days, when a simple brush of the lips on a hand was considered a public display of affection. Innocently, for once in his life. They might even be happy, for a time.

Klaus rested his chin atop her head and closed his eyes, listening to the heavenly sound of her swallowing mouthful after mouthful of his blood, feeling himself filling her in one of the ways he so craved, pretending for a moment that his life could ever be that simple.

Run.

But he couldn't quite work up to it.

"Happy birthday, Caroline." he murmured into her scalp, watching her skin knit itself back together. When she released his wrist, he embraced her fully, and it was like he'd been reunited with a piece of himself he didn't realize was missing.

To his astonishment, she fell asleep like that. As if he hadn't just stood in that very doorway with every single intent to kill her. She must have been exhausted.

Those soft, rhythmic breaths she didn't even need were as soothing as the lapping of the ocean outside one of his favorite little homes in Croatia.

Klaus found himself lingering in exactly the same position, committing every sensation and detail to memory, until the sheriff barged in to threaten him with vervain-soaked wooden bullets if he didn't leave her daughter (who he almost killed on her birthday, she made a point of reminding him) alone.

Him. The Original Hybrid.

Rather than laughing, Klaus did the brave woman the courtesy of at least feigning some amount of concern for his safety and grudgingly disentangling himself from her daughter. The sheriff may be human, but he could see the exact same fire in her eyes as Caroline's. And far be it from him to deny something so beautiful.

Stefan and the quarterback came by to make sure Klaus fulfilled his promise. While they inspected Caroline, the sheriff escorted Klaus outside at gunpoint. Heartwarming, really.

That didn't stop him from coming back with a peace offering of sorts. At least, that was what he told himself it was as he placed it on her nightstand. But, somewhere in the very back of his mind, he knew the truth.

Even if he chose to walk away from this, if he spent the rest of his eternal life avoiding her and denying their bond, Klaus desperately wanted this girl to think well of him.

I've wanted to get to this point forever! You have no idea!

When I was first deciding whether to commit to this story idea or not, I drafted up a few fragments of the bedroom scene to see if I thought my spin added anything of value. I tentatively concluded it did, but tbh I'm not the most confident writer, so I still won't be sure until I hear what other people think.

I considered lots of alternate meetings (because, again, I doubt myself sometimes), but I always found myself coming back to this one. The scene itself just felt right, even with the differences in how it came about and its ramifications. Kind of the same, but drastically different because mindset and context is everything. At least, I hope so.

My main intention in starting the story as far back as I did was to take the connection we all love about this pairing and amp it up to a million the instant they met. I hope I didn't create too much of a pacing problem in doing that! It felt like a serious gamble and I seriously doubted my decision all the time.

Btw, the night of the bite isn't over yet; I've got something special planned for Klaus next chapter. =)

So, yeah… How was it? Good? Bad? Eh? Worth the wait or not? Feedback, please please please!

Jennifer: Thank you so much for reviewing every single chapter since the very first day I posted, even without an account! I know that takes some extra effort! Hopefully I was able to live up to your expectations this chapter!

Veganwitch: I'm really, really happy you enjoyed the dynamic/near misses between Klaus and Caroline last chapter! It was something I kind of wrote myself into and then expanded on when I found myself enjoying it. And I'm not sure I'd call Caroline and Rebekah "friends" yet since they're both being silly about it lol.