You guys are so awesome & sweet! We hit 400+ reviews 10/1, so I figured I'd update a day early as a thank you!

I really hope you enjoy this chapter, I feel all my characters are beginning to grow, and this would be the start of changes in each of their lives. As the title states, everything changes, and it does c;

Enough of my rambling, I really hope you enjoy!

Kudos to my beta, as always!

Previously on Everything Changes...

He snapped his fingers. "That's how long it takes for you to get your head ripped off, love. Damon has to get in and out, without being worried about anyone's safety."

Elena sighed submissively, agreeing.

"This would end up in a bloodbath none of us can walk away from. Including Stefan. I get it. I understand." Damon said, acting uncharacteristically gentle.

Ric glanced at his watch. "Guys, if we're gonna go, then let's go."

Third Person POV

The slow beats of a heart stood out despite the pouring rain. Frederick paused, listening.

A moment later, someone knocked on the front door.

"Oh, good, someone's home." A tall man with brown hair and tanned skin stood at the door, smiling awkwardly. "Uh, could I use your phone? My car broke down a few miles up the road. This was the first house I saw." The man stared at Frederick kindly, seemingly oblivious to the dangerous vampire standing in front of him.

"Well, lucky you," Frederick replied smoothly, studying the man. Something about him was strange.

Perhaps it was just humans in this century...

"Yeah." Laughing dryly, he glanced over the vampire's shoulder, peering curiously into the house. "Lucky me. It's no trouble, is it?"

"Not in the slightest." He stared at the human long and hard, before stepping back, allowing him inside.

"Great!" He beamed. "Whew." He entered the house. Once he was standing in the living room, the man, more commonly known as Alaric, turned to Frederick again. "Hey, man, I really appreciate it! It's rough out there."

Frederick ignored the human. Turning to Billy, he commanded, "Billy, show our visitor where the one is in the kitchen. And get me something to drink."

Billy and Frederick met eyes before Billy nodded. "Yeah, sure thing."

Billy led Alaric into the kitchen, where Miss Gibbons was standing.

"Hey, Miss Gibbons, this guy wants to use your phone." He explained, keeping up the act.

"Oh, sure, honey. It's right there," Miss Gibbons said airily, smiling at Alaric.

"Thanks." Ric bobbed his head, and wiped his hands off on his pants, before walking towards the phone.

Billy suddenly came at him with a stake, but Alaric was too quick for him, anticipating the attack.

Ric grabbed the stake from the vampire's shocked grasp, and stabbed the vampire with his own weapon.

Billy cried out in surprise.

Letting Billy fall to his knees, Alaric whirled around, turning on the faucet and starting the blender.

"What's happening?" The elderly lady asked, eyes wide.

"I'm really sorry." Ric said, and he was. "But you're gonna need to invite a friend of mine inside."

He took a hold of Miss Gibbons' bicep and led her to the side door, where Damon and Klaus were standing outside.

"Oh, I'm sorry," She said calmly, but Ric could feel her trembling. "He's not allowed in the house."

"I know that." Ric looked at Damon warily. "But you've got to make an exception."

She stared blankly at Ric.

"Get her out of the house," Damon barked. "NOW!"

Alaric pushed her out of the house, regretting doing so soon after.

"Miss Gibbons," Klaus said kindly, brushing her short bangs out of her face. "Tell me the truth. Are you married?"

"No," She whimpered.

"Parents, children, anyone else who lives on this property?" Damon questioned next, coming to stand next to Klaus.

"No. It's just me."

Damon and Klaus' met eyes, both smirking victoriously.

"Hm. No? Good." Damon broke the lady's neck in one swift moment, causing her limp body to sag to the floor.

Alaric stood frozen in the doorway, shell shocked. "You...you were supposed to compel her."

"It doesn't work that way...," Damon said with a shrug.

"She's human," Alaric narrowed his eyes, staring at the two vampires.

"And I'm not! So, I don't care and neither does Klaus." Damon pushed by him, Klaus right at his heels.

Damon paused for a moment, staring hard at Ric.

"Now get out of here!" He shooed him away. "And get rid of the body!"

~0~

Meanwhile, down at Damon's car, Caroline sat in the front seat, with Elena in the back.

Unbeknownst to Caroline, Elena slipped her stolen vervain syringe from her purse. She studied it, obviously contemplating her next move.

The storm was raging on outside the car.

What a great day for a rescue mission. Caroline thought dryly. I still haven't even gotten my car back from that damn back road to hell...

Lightning flashed, a bright light paired with the loud crack that struck something nearby.

A huge tree branch fell onto the car's windshield, shattering a great portion of it. Both girls gasped, jumping in surprise.

~0~

At the Grill, Matt stood by Tyler, who was staring at his father and that Pearl lady. They had been conversing about history and obtaining property.

"Guy's not even subtle about it," Tyler growled, unconscious clenching his jaw.

"Who is that?" Matt asked, following his friend's gaze to the pair.

"It's not my mother, that's for damn sure."

Across the room, Anna was playing darts by herself. Unable to help himself, Jeremy wandered over to the girl. Anna told him to stay back, and she threw the dart, hitting dead center.

The couple grinned at each other.

"I'm sorry, Mayor," Pearl said suddenly, having took noticed in the boy's interest in Anna, and Anna's interest in him. "Do you know that boy over there?"

"Yeah," Richard said, looking at where she was gesturing. "That's Jeremy Gilbert."

"You don't say," She replied coolly, studying him for a brief moment.

~0~

Alaric ran down the hill, heading back to Damon's car. Throwing open the front passenger door, where his bag – and Caroline – had been just ten minutes ago, he saw that neither girl was there.

Mumbling a curse, he picked up the bag and turned back around.

He saw a flash of blonde hair that stood out like a sore thumb in the dark forest as she crept behind a tree not too far from the house.

Caroline. he sighed.

Damon would be pissed.

~0~

"Billy!" Frederick called, causing Elena and Caroline to freeze. They were outside, just a step down from being on the porch. "What's the holdup?!"

Frederick turned to another vampire, who was just as wrapped up in the television like he was, and told him to go see what the holdup was.

The vampire got up, and headed into the kitchen.

He looked around, and headed into the pantry. Damon popped out, swiftly staking him.

Jacob shrieked silently.

"Billy, Jacob, get back in here!"

Outside, Elena jumped onto the porch, Caroline right behind her, mentally cursing all the way.

This would not end well. She just knew it.

Frederick got up, heading into the kitchen. Elena, whom had been staring through the window, took this moment to run past the screened door leading into the room where Frederick was. She stumbled down a staircase, and tried to open the door.

"Elena!" Caroline hissed. "Stop!"

Elena glanced over her shoulder, rolled her eyes, and tried to open the cellar door again.

Nothing.

Taking her jacket clad elbow, Elena broke one of the glass panes, wincing. The glass clattered obnoxiously as it hit the floor, shattering further.

Caroline held her breath, waiting for someone to come to the door, to kill or attack Elena, and then her.

Opening the door, Elena slipped inside. Caroline followed, despite her better judgment. A man stood at the end of the hall, acting as guard. Elena pulled her syringe out of her jacket, and gets ready to attack. Right before she pounced, Caroline grabbed her collar, hauling her backwards.

NO! She mouthed, pulling a stake from her jacket.

Caroline crept forward, her heart pounding so violently she was shocked he hadn't heard it yet.

Leaping forward with a soft battle cry, she sunk the stake into the vampire's chest. It only went in partially, as she was not strong enough yet. The vampire cried out, and she flinched at the noise. Suddenly, a figure came up beside her, and shoved the dagger the last few inches into his heart, their hand over hers.

Caroline stared wide-eyed up at Damon, who stared impassively back.

Her heart continued it's dun-dun-dun-dun patter in her chest.

Caroline was the first to break eye contact, looking away quickly.

"What the hell?! Are you three insane?," he rumbled, his voice terrifyingly low.

Three? Caroline wondered, and she glanced over her shoulder to see Ric, dagger in hand.

~0~

Inside the room, Stefan and Harper were both still trapped.

Stefan groaned, working up the strength to roll his head to look at the other vampire.

"Thank you. For trying to help me."

Harper's sad, dark eyes met Stefan's. "They just need somebody to blame." he said in heavy Southern accent. "Someone to punish."

After a minute of silence, Elena barged into the cellar, Damon and Caroline right behind her, as usual.

Caroline gasped softly as she took in Stefan's haphazard appearance.

His thin white tank top was on the floor, blood soaked in most places. His toned, bare chest had multiple slice wounds across it, with vervain burns around his wrists, face, shoulders, and anywhere a rope could go.

When Stefan's green eyes stared at the groups' with shock, Elena noticed his eyes were bloodshot.

"Elena...," Stefan groaned. "Caroline. You two shouldn't...shouldn't be here."

"They were supposed to stay in the car," Damon said, his hand wrapped tightly around Caroline's arm, gazing at her with a fiercely protective yet dicey look.

"I was planning on doing that!" The blonde protested, her voice soft. "But Elena here just had to take off. I wasn't going to let her go on this damn suicide mission alone..."

"Uh, hey guys?" Ric asked, stopping Caroline's rant. "Where's Klaus?"

Damon growled, staring up the narrow staircase. He seemed to have just realized he hadn't seen his so called friend since the 'party' had begun.

Harper moaned, causing Elena to finally realize his presence.

Damon let go of Caroline, shooting her a glare that said, Don't even think about moving.

Caroline's POV

I held my hands up innocently, as Damon went over to the dark skinned vampire.

"Unnnh!" Stefan groaned. "No. No! Not him."

Damon shrugged, pulling back from Harper. "Suit yourself."

"Let's get you down," Caroline said gently, having went over to Stefan.

"Vervain on the ropes," he mumbled weakly, and she nodded.

"Pull that," she commanded Elena, pointing to a rope hanging from the ceiling.

Elena tugged, allowing Ric to slice the knot that kept Stefan's body in an upward position.

He groaned, sagging slightly in the chair.

Elena and I worked quickly, removing the ropes from his body.

"Alright," Damon snapped impatiently. "Let's go, clothes on."

"Wait," Stefan said, his eyes locked on the boy's sagging figure. "Harper helped me. Now it's my turn to help him."

I stepped over to Harper's body, and pulled the stake out of his left knee. Stefan ripped out the right, groaning from the effort.

"C'mon, we gotta go," Damon pushed again.

Third Person POV

Upstairs, Klaus crept around the corner, coming from where the bedrooms were.

He had heard that Pearl told Damon she knew where Chandra was.

A quick search of her room told him otherwise.

A deep voice met Klaus' highly sensitive ears. "Turn that down. It's too quiet."

One of the men closest to the television got up to turn it down, not aware of remotes just quite yet.

Klaus sped into the living room, sunk a stake into the man's chest cavity and disappeared from view.

The vampire fell to the floor with a dull smack.

"Spread out. Now. You two, back of the house. Go. Check both rooms," he jerked his thumb in the direction, and they scurried off like good little mice. "Cellar, now," he said to the last vampire, who got up, just as he did.

"Something's not right."

Caroline's POV

Stefan and I pulled the last two stakes out of another vampire before we left.

Elena and Ric helped Stefan get outside and walk down the slippy slope.

Damon followed, keeping a close eye on me.

"What about Klaus?" I asked, studying Damon's face, gauging his reaction.

He shrugged. "Gonna have to leave him."

"Leave who?"

Speak of the devil. I thought when Klaus jogged up beside me.

"Nobody anymore," I chirped, glancing at Damon again.

"Can you get him in the car?" I heard Ric ask 'Lena as they picked their way through the mud.

"Yeah." she nodded.

The porch door slammed open, and I heard someone roar.

"Klaus – get her to safety!" Damon commanded, pushing me into his waiting arms. "You rescue- I'll distract – go!" He then shouted down to Ric and Elena.

"No!" I squirmed in Klaus' grasp. "Let me walk! I can walk just fine on my own!"

I stomped on his toe, accidentally, of course, and he grumbled, letting me go. "Fine, love, just don't come crying to me when you -"

Suddenly I was slipping down

d

o

w

n

down, through bushes and mud, conking my head against multiple trees and rocks.

When I came to a stop, I was right at Stefan's feet.

I groaned in pain, feeling a headache blossoming behind my skull.

"You okay?" Ric asked, letting go of Stefan to kneel by my side.

Elena, who seemed to be weaker than she let on, crumbled to the floor, unable to keep Stefan up.

I groaned again, nodding slowly. "I think so," I said, grimacing as I tasted mud, and maybe even a little blood.

Third Person POV

Damon fought what seemed like countless vampires, staking some, ripping heads off others. After a few moments, he managed to pounce on Frederick.

Almost immediately, two vampires were on him, pulling him off and beginning to attack him, giving Frederick the perfect chance to escape.

Klaus, having heard the ruckus, stared off at Caroline for a moment, before deciding to go inside to help. Pulling out a dart, he threw it at the vampire's back, immediately making him sag to the floor.

"I'm going after Frederick!" Damon called, running off.

~ At the Grill ~

Pearl and Anna stood in the woman's bathroom, talking heatedly about Anna and Jeremy's relationship.

"I want you to stop seeing him!" Pearl ordered her daughter sternly.

Anna scoffed, pushing her black hair off her shoulder. "I've been on my own for a long time mother. I can make my own decisions."

"Then stop acting like a child! As soon as Jeremy finds out what you really are, he'll turn on you!" Pearl retorted, and her daughter knew that this wasn't true.

"He already knows," She murmured, looking away.

A venomous tone crept into her mother's voice. "What did you just say?"

Anna swallowed, took a deep breath, and repeated herself. "Jeremy knows. He likes it. And he likes me."

Pearl snarled, slapping her daughter. Anna stared up at her mother in shock, quickly leaving.

As soon as she was out of her sight, she pulled out her phone and sent a text to Jeremy.

I'll do it. I'll turn you.

~0~

Caroline's POV

Ric helped Elena and Stefan get back up, before coming back over to me.

"You don't look so good, Caroline," he said softly, helping me into a sitting position.

I nodded, my stomach rolling. "I feel..." I made a face, and he chuckled.

"Yeah. I bet."

Stefan and Elena had already headed off down the hill, almost to the car.

Dusk had fallen, and I could see the beginning moonlight glimmering off their hair, and off the car.

"Can you walk?" He asked, after following my gaze.

"Y-yeah." I took his proffered hand, allowing him to pull me to my feet. "Ooh." The world spun. "Maybe not."

Ric bent down, scooping me up into his arms.

"Thanks," I said quietly, smiling at him. He reminded me of my dad, from what little I could remember. It would be nice to have a father figure – or even just someone I could look up to – around.

Third Person POV

"C'mon, Stefan," Elena said gently. "It's right over here."

Elena eased Stefan into the car, and went around to the driver side.

Hadn't Caroline left the key in the ignition?

She swallowed thickly. "Stefan..."

She saw a shadow move around the side of the car, and Frederick shattered the window on his side, dragging his limp body out.

Once Stefan was on the ground, he began to beat him.

Both men grunted and groaned, out of rage and pain.

"This is for Beth-Anne," Frederick snarled, running Stefan through with a very sharp branch.

Elena screamed and saw Alaric holding Caroline, picking his way down the hill as careful as possible.

Stefan made an inhuman sound as the other vampire twisted the branch.

"NO!" Elena pounced on him, stabbing the needle into his back.

His body crumpled, and he fell to the mud.

"Stefan..." she knelt next to him, quickly removing the branch.

"No, please...Stefan." she repeated his name over and over, gently shaking him.

Alaric's breath caught in his throat as he saw Elena run and suddenly disappear from view as she knelt at Stefan's side.

"What is it?" Caroline asked sleepily, not fully conscious.

"Stefan," he breathed, and Caroline made a little noise, nodding.

Elena stood up, and grabbing a rock, sliced open her hand, wincing.

"Stefan," she murmured, falling back to her knees. "Drink."

"Elena, please...run," he groaned, and Elena heard Frederick stir behind her.

"No," she said stubbornly, despite Stefan's plea.

"You need more blood!" she said again, rubbing her blood on his lips. "I trust you. Please."

She moved her wrist to his lips, and he bit down, just as Alaric came into view.

When sleepy Caroline saw Stefan drinking from Elena, her eyes shot open.

Was Stefan...really...that...bad off? She wondered as her brain tried to process everything.

Pearl and Anna walked into their house, which was now strewn with bodies of their dead friends.

"So, you are aware that Pearl lied to you about knowing Chandra's location, right mate?" Klaus asked, staring intently at his friend.

"Yep," he said, though the wild look in his eyes said otherwise.

"Stop," Pearl said in shock, running inside. "What did you do?"

"What? Little ole us?" Damon mocked, looking at Klaus with a devilish smirk.

"Damon here is a bit furious your little band of vampires spent last night and today torturing my brother," Klaus chuckled, his eyes locking onto Anna's.

"Trust me. The parties responsible for this will be dealt with." she looked to the blood covering their clothes and hands. "But...something tells me that you already did just that." Glancing at Anna, she sighed heavily. "This wasn't supposed to happen."

"Well, it did," Damon said, gesturing to Klaus to leave. Damon paused in the doorway. "If I had a good side...not a way to get on it. And by the way, I know you're lying about Chandra. You don't have the slightest idea where she is."

Peal blinked in shock, before turning away.

"C'mon Annabelle. We have some bodies to dispose of."

~0~

Frederick groaned, getting to his feet. Elena gently pulled her wrist from Stefan, staring deeply into his eyes.

Alaric watched in shock as Stefan leaped to his feet, ripped the branch from his grasp, and repeated stabbed the other vampire in the heart.

He snarled viciously, and Elena ran to his side.

"Stefan!"

Caroline, wiggling out of Alaric's arms, got to her feet and staggered over to Stefan and Elena.

"Stefan." she laid her hand onto his shoulder, and he turned around, snarling at the girls.

They both recoil, looking a bit shocked – Elena more than Caroline.

Stefan froze, looking horrified. The veins under his eyes evaporated seemingly immediately, and his fangs retraced.

~0~

Back at the Boarding House

Caroline's POV

I had just walked in the door, when my phone rang.

Matt

"C-Caroline?" his voice was pained, and I could tell he had been – or was currently – sobbing.

"Matt?!" I exclaimed, rushing into the other room for privacy.

"It's – It's Vicki."

My heart stopped. "Whaaaatdya mean?" I winced right after it left my mouth. I sounded...off.

Great going, Caroline.

"My mom – she – she had me go get your car and I-I was walking over to get it, and I slid down the little hill, and she was right there...just...dead." he took a gasp-y breath, his voice shaking.

I gasped.

Damon Salvatore! Did he even bury Vicki? I growled. I was going to have a bone to pick with him.

"Oh my God, Matt," I said quietly. "I'll be right over."

"Th-thanks, Care," He mumbled before hanging up.

I slid my phone in my purse and limped upstairs to quickly change.

When I got back downstairs, Klaus was waiting for me.

"And where do you think you're going, love?"

"To Matt's," I replied, trying to sidestep him.

"No you aren't." Damon said, and I glanced over my shoulder to see him walk into the foyer. "You just slid down a hill in the dark, Caroline. You probably have a concussion."

"So?" I snapped, turning to face him. "You tossed Vicki's body into a ravine, the least I can do is go visit the poor kid! He found his dead sister's body, alone, in the cold and the rain. I'm going."

I quickly spun on my heel, and walked out the door, heading for my car. Klaus appeared in front of me, blocking the door.

"Klaus!" I whined. "Let me through!"

"I'll drive you," he said gently. "You aren't well."

"And how do you plan on getting back?" I demanded, placing a hand on my hip.

"Vampire speed, love. It's not that complicated."

I huffed and nodded. "Fine."

I went around and got into the passenger seat, crossing my arms.

Klaus climbed in without a word, took my offered keys, and we drove off.

~0~

"Matt," I said quietly as he opened the door.

His blue eyes were puffy and his face was pink from crying.

"Aw." I jutted out my bottom lip, feeling a wave of guilt wash over me.

You could've done more, Caroline. You could have stopped them from killing her.

Murderer.

A tiny voice sneered at me from the back of my mind.

"Care," his voice cracked, and I pulled him towards me, hugging him tightly. "Thanks."

I just nodded, and my tears flowed freely. I'd never really been friends with Vicki, but I'd always been friends with Matt. When she died, Matt and Jeremy lived on, oblivious, but I knew. I'd always known.

I was sobbing now, my chest shaking just as much as Matt's.

We pulled away and moved to sit next to one another in the living room.

I saw Sheriff Bennett and Kelly in the kitchen, chatting silently.

"Is there anything I can do?"

He shook his head, still crying softly. "I-I just...really, really, don't want to be alone right now."

I nodded knowingly and pulled him into a hug again, gently stroking his back.

Tears streamed down my face, and I realized how much vampires could really ruin your life – even if you weren't even aware of them...

Elena arrived earlier, and cried, just like I did. After staying for an awkward while, she left.

"I have to go check on Jeremy," She'd murmured lowly. "He's probably an emotional wreck."

Third Person POV

Damon, Klaus and Alaric sat at the bar, glasses of alcohol seated on the table in front of them.

"That was fun," Damon mumbled, breaking the silence. Alaric turned to glare hatefully at him. "Oh, don't look at me like that. I know you hate me." He took a long swig. "Guess what? Everyone hates me. But you can't deny it. We were bad ass."

Alaric took his last sip before decking Damon, causing him to almost fall of the stool.

Ric threw his glass down, almost shattering it, and left.

Damon shook his head roughly. "Unh. Happens."

Klaus chuckled. "It does, mate."

~0~

"Jer...," Elena murmured to her brother, who was headed upstairs. "Are...you okay?"

He stared blankly down at her. "I'm gonna go get some sleep."

She nodded, not thinking twice about a thing.

Jeremy headed into his room, where Anna was standing.

"What are you doing?" she asked when she saw his slumped shoulders.

"My...My friend Vicki. She- She's dead."

"Vicki?" She furrowed her brows for a split second. "The one you thought was a..."

He nodded. "Yeah." He pushed a hand through his hair. "Turns out she's been dead all along."

Anna stared at him, clearly hurt. "She's the reason you wanted to turn? You wanted to be with...with her?"

Jeremy stared at the floor, ashamed. "Look, Anna...I'm sorry."

When he glanced back up, she was gone.

Caroline's POV

I walked back to my room, when I had a thought.

I wonder how Stefan's doing? I knew he usually didn't drink from humans...

I noticed a chunk of clear plastic peeking out from under his door. Squatting down, I picked it up.

O+

I made a face, dropping the bag immediately. Getting to my feet, I pushed the door open.

Empty blood-bags were everywhere, strewn across the floor, on his bed, even in his lap. Stefan was sitting on the floor, his face partially vamped out, sucking viciously from another blood-bag.

My breath caught nervously in my throat, and his head swiveled to stare at me.

"Uh." I backed up, almost tripping over nothing. "Sorry!" I ran back to my room, locking the door behind me.

This could not be good. I thought, plopping down to my window seat.

My mind racing, I pulled out my favorite pen and began to write in my journal.

:D

QOTC: What would you do if you were Caroline, and the events that happened to her in this chapter, happened to you?

What time is a good time for me to update? I'm in Eastern TN, USA, and on the Eastern time zone.

Let me know, please!

R&R