'They never fucking listen to me.'

That was the thought going through Caroline Forbes brain as she used her vampiric speed to race to Elena's house. Klaus was going to kill them all and there was likely nothing she could do about it. She ignored the pang in her heart at the thought of how devasted the Original Hybrid must be. She had never liked his brother, but despite their disfunction she knew that the Original Family loved each other. In fact, she suspected that Klaus felt that bond more than any of them, why else would he cart his siblings around for centuries. If all he had wanted was to be rid of them, it would have been simple to stash them in a storage unit somewhere.

What were her friends thinking… Ignoring the moral ramifications of causing the deaths of no doubt thousands of vampires who had done them no wrong by killing their sire… But even if they were banking on Klaus's interest in her to stay his vengeance … Rebekah and Elijah had no such interest . it would likely end up being a blood bath of biblical proportions.

His feelings. Now there was a conundrum.

She never would have guessed when all this started that she would catch the Hybrids eye. She had accepted she was going to die in that room for the second time, her death immortalized on the same day as her birth. She thought at first she was hallucinating when she heard the strange voice bartering with her mom. When she first laid eyes on him, she thought he must be the devil himself, because only the devil could hide such an evil heart behind such a beautiful face. He seemed almost bashful as he approached her, and she couldn't help the question that popped out of her mouth. "Are you here to kill me?" of course he wasn't. in fact, he did quite the opposite. He opened her heart up to the potentials for her future and for the first time she felt peace with her immortal life.

She always thought she would lead an average, ordinary life. Career as a Realtor, mom of two kids to an appropriately handsome man. Never seeing much more beyond the town that her family had been apart of for generations. She wasn't special. Not like Elena with her subtle charm and otherworldly beauty. She was Neurotic and obsessive and insecure. She loved her Friend, she did, but she remembered being jealous knowing that she was merely background whenever Elena walked into a room. Her friend took all the sunlight without even trying and left all others in her shade. She made peace with it, accepted it, but couldn't help the occasional bitter thought that even the men who sought to share her bed, wished Elena was in it instead. Yet here was a man offering her the world, and in that moment she could not help but want to take him up on the offer.

Her relationship with Matt had been sweet, but typical, him being the type of male the head cheerleader was supposed to be with. His infatuation with Elena merely cemented what she knew her life was destined to be. Until Katherine killed her, turned her as a warning to Elena and a way to appease Klaus. Until the horrible memories of what was done to her came rushing back. She ignored it as best she could, putting all her efforts into protecting her friends, but secretly the feeling of worthlessness grew steady, brought to a boil when even the people who were supposed to love her, supposed to put her first… tortured and tried to kill her. How pathetic is that. to be rejected even by your own parents.

She threw herself into her relationship with Tyler, even if she secretly admitted to herself that the two of them had nothing in common. Tyler had always been a typical Jock, running through women and picking on those weaker than him. Their relationship began out of his need for her as she helped him through his transformations. The Sex was good, but outside of the bedroom the two of them had little to talk about.

When she awoke after being healed on her birthday, she briefly wondered if that conversation with the ancient immortal had been a dream, until she discovered the gift he had left her. At first, she was certain it was a trick, that he was like Damon, trying to use her to get at her friend. She nearly refused his invitation to his family ball until she realized her friends could be in danger. Instead of danger and hidden plots, she discovered that even the devil had a heart.

She didn't expect him to be so honest with her. His face earnest , his words sending shivers down her spine. As they danced together, she found herself absorbed into his dimples and easy smile, and for a moment she forgot she was dancing with someone who had no doubt murdered thousands. He was just a man dancing with a woman he was attracted to. It was so simple, so earnest that she had to escape to gather her breath and remind herself of who she was dealing with.

Obviously, it was some kind of trap, a way to gain leverage over Elena and the Salvatores. And she refused to be a party to it. She had worked up a good head of steam, and allowed the frustration to color her interaction with him. She didn't really expect a response when she snapped at him and asked why he invited her and the response he gave rocked her to her core.

" I fancy you" he said, with a hint of nervousness in his voice.

She scarcely believed her ears. but there was no way to deny the way her heart fluttered when he told her how he saw her. No one she had ever said such things to her. His words were uttered not to flatter or seduce, but as a mere fact of the universe. Beautiful, Strong and full of light. Those words were meant for Elena... Not her. before she could recover from her surprise. She saw him gaze in boyish wonder at the horse in front of them. When he spoke of his Fathers cruelty she felt it resonate with her own recent bout of torture from her father. Later she blamed the surprise at his openness on why she followed him to his gallery. She marveled at the art and his demeanor as he shared a part of himself with her. This couldn't be a trick. No one would be so open; show such vulnerability with someone they were trying to use. He truly liked her. and nothing could be more terrifying.

She snapped at him then... throwing in his face the vulnerability and humanity that he tried to show her. she was beginning to feel empathy for the man rejected by his father and hunted for a millennium. her words were true but cruel and as she left him devastated in her wake , she half expected him to end her life right then and there. Instead he had thanked her for her honesty and presented her with a symbol of his affection. A drawing so beautiful that she could hardly believe that's how he saw her.

And from there , their dance began. The first time Damon suggested she use her charms to distract him, she nearly laughed at the absurdity. Surely a man who had been with probably hundreds of women in his long life, would be immune to the charms of a high school girl. All that awaited her was a mocking laugh and a quick death, but her loyalty to her friends gave her courage. She could see the knowing look in his eyes as he followed her out of the bar and was sure her time had come. Instead he merely smiled at her and asked her about her dreams.

Never had she been pursued like this. never was she the one someone sought. Her relationship with Matt and Tyler had happened because she was there or needed. With Damon she had been a targeted victim. But here was someone who attempted to court her. learn about her, and in doing so touched yearnings in her that she did not know she had. He seemed to see into the deepest parts of her, the parts she hid even from her friends, and in turn he allowed her a glimpse into himself.

He was every bit the Apex Predator. Cocky and self-assured. She noticed that he was rarely as emotional or upset as he acted, his every interaction seemed to be crafted to draw certain reactions from his prey. She noted the eyes that stealthily followed her and her friends as they moved through the town, and she wondered how many of the towns people he had compelled as his spies. He seemed amused at her friends attempts to outmaneuver him, and always seemed to be two steps ahead. She had seen him rip a man's heart out in one moment and shamelessly flirt with her the next.

Despite his power it was clear that he was Loyal, that he loved his family despite his willingness to dagger them on occasion. He had an easy camaraderie with Kol at the bar, and she did not miss the concerned looks he gave Rebekah when he thought she wasn't looking. He was charming and funny, and soon she began to look forward to their poignant but brief interactions

She knew she was in trouble the day Alaric took her hostage at the school. She had been so scared, worried for herself and her friend, when she felt the safety of his arms around her. He did not even need to speak for her to know it was him. His very smell seemed to soothe her frazzled nerves. Never had she felt such tenderness as she felt when he gazed into her eyes, and she felt so protected when she noticed him checking her over for any wounds. Clearly, he was here for her, and she didn't know whether to thank him, or pull him close and kiss him. She was secretly devastated when she learned of his death and while she went through the motions with a party and fear for Tyler, a part of her mourned the loss of the first person that had ever put her first.

Only loyalty prevented her from rebuking her friends, especially when Elena was killed by Rebekah. They had caused this. Set the Dominos falling when it came to Elena's death and resurrection as a Vampire. It was so easy to blame the Originals , but truthfully Klaus had caused them no permanent harm outside of his killing of Jenna for the ritual. Stefan had went with him willingly as a bargain to save his sister, and even Tyler was initially thrilled to be a hybrid and avoid the pains of a full moon transformation. Surely a little blood was a small sacrifice to keep the peace, especially with the sacrifices she made every day for her friends. The daily reminder of a real monster who dwelled in their midst. Of course Rebekah had retaliated. She loved her brother a much as she seemed to hate him sometimes. She certainly felt that way about bonnie and Elena sometimes.

She knew immediately it wasn't Tyler from the way he kissed her, reverently and as if he couldn't get enough. But her Joy that he lived was too overwhelming and so she allowed herself for a moment to pretend. Here was the proof that the universe was determined to torture her. He had put his plan and his newly vulnerable life in jeopardy to save her from sure torture and death. Finally, someone had put her first, and yet she was shackled by her love for her friends from letting herself give into her feelings.

No one not even her Best friends had ever put her first. Matt and Bonnie were all wrapped up into protecting Elena, and one had to be blind to miss how the Salvatore brothers sacrificed everything around them for her. They were even willing to sacrifice her. For all that Stefan became her mentor and friend, there was a part of her that would never forgive the knowingly look in his eye when Damon had her under his spell. He did nothing to prevent her torture and rape by his brother, and even Elena and Bonnie seemed to have forgotten that it had happened. Well She hadn't. and everyday she had to resist the urge to shove the sharpest point she could find into his nonexistent heart. Damon did whatever he wanted and everyone else paid the price. Her. Stefan. Even matt. And yet Elena seemed more and more determined to give herself to him. It sickened her, but what else could she do, except what she had always done. Been there.

She supported Tyler in his breaking of the sire bond. She remembered all to well what it was like to be bond to someone else's will and she was willing to do whatever it took to save anyone else from their fate. Fake breaking up with Tyler was easy because a part of her longed to do it for real. He was frequently gone all the time anyway and all they seemed to do when he was near was have sex.

She also wasn't a fool and knew that his Relationship with Hayley was more than they said. She did not miss the way the other woman's eyes roamed his body, or the little touches they shared that she was sure they didn't even know they were doing.

She let it slide and focused on the hybrids she was trying to help, only to be rewarded with torture and the discovery that Tyler's plan went far beyond just freeing his friends. Yet again they were going to challenge Klaus, attempt to kill him after taking what was his, and she knew death would be the only satisfaction they would have. Foiled by the treacherous Hayley, she could only hold her breath in secret relief that the Hybrids and Carol Lockwood were the only casualties of the failed Coup. Tyler had to run, but at least he would get to cling to his life.

But now this. Elena had proposed this foolish plan and like always everyone else fell in line. Now a genocide of an entire sire line and the unavoidable retribution of the family that had been dealing in revenge for longer than most countries had existed. She let out a scream in sheer frustration at the stupidity of the situation she found herself in, and with a final burst of speed neared Elena's house.

She could have cried in anger. Tyler's Car was there. Which meant the fool had no doubt risked his sire's wrath to gloat. She sped into the house and noticed with a grimace the burnt corpse on the floor and the unconscious body of her boyfriend being picked up by Klaus. She moved quickly to free him, but she was quickly captured by the Hybrid. She stared into his eyes with as much anger as she could muster, and yet she felt herself soften at the hurt and longing in his eyes.

"Hello, Love" he said calmly.

...

Thank you all for the immediate support you have given. Next chapter will dive into a long overdue discussion by our two lovebirds, and then we will get into what awaits the mystic falls crew. Please leave your comments and feedback.