Part two of 'Losing Your Memory'.

After assessing that Caroline did indeed suffer from a slight memory loss from her accident, Dr. Roberts suggested that she spend a couple more days than otherwise necessary at the hospital, for check-ups and further investigation on the matter.

That had been almost a week ago now, a week during which Klaus visited her every day, a strained smile on his face as he tried to conceal his pain and ignore the heavy weight on his aching heart. The amnesia was supposed to be only temporary, or so the doctors had reassured him, but, with every failed attempt at jogging her memory, he lost some of his hope.

The fact that her so-called friends, and especially Tyler, seemed to be almost happy that Caroline couldn't remember him only added to his anger. They all had tried to explain to her what had happened during these past, few, forgotten months, telling her that she was not with Tyler anymore but with him, but that didn't change the fact that she always had a beaming smile for the dark-haired boy and only scowls reserved for Klaus.

He could understand that the situation couldn't possibly be easy for her either, waking up like a stranger in someone else's life, but why was she angry at him? She had chosen him, two months ago now, on her own free will, it wasn't like he had forced her. Persuaded her (or at least tried to)? Yes. But forced her? Never.

Although on a lesser level, Rebekah was hurting a lot as well. The two blondes had really bonded and grown closer during the past summer, becoming great friends even before he and Caroline had finally, officially started dating. Caroline could have her bad, bitchy moments, yes—who didn't?—but, over all, she was sunny, loyal and genuine, the first person Rebekah had ever been able to truly call a friend, and now that she had no more memories of their unexpected friendship, she was back to hating her, giving her a cold shoulder almost somehow worse than the one aimed at Klaus himself.

It was a very hard situation on everyone, to say the least.

Like every other day that week, Klaus finally rounds the corner to the long hallway in which Caroline's room is located, a sight that has become way too familiar to him already.

He can't say to be in a good mood—lately, he never is—but, if possible, his anger grows tenfold as he spots Tyler coming his way, having obviously just been to visit Caroline, a smug grin on his face.

As they're about to cross paths, Klaus menacingly stops him, a firm hand on the other boy's chest.

"Lockwood," he growls. "I would like to remind you that Caroline's current situation doesn't make her any less my girlfriend."

Tyler's smirk only deepens, as he moves away from Klaus. "It's not me you should remind that to," he goads him, leaving him somewhat dumbfounded on the spot.

After taking a few moments to collect himself, Klaus finally straightens his shoulders and saunters off towards Caroline's room with a somewhat warier step.

The sight that greets him immediately has him even more worried.

"Caroline! Caroline, what's wrong?" he asks frantically, running to the side of her bed, where she's crouched over herself, tears freely streaming down her already wet cheeks, her eyes red and puffy.

He tries to have her look at him, but she's doing everything possible to avoid just that, shrinking away from his touch and closer to the headboard of the bed.

"What happened? Is it Tyler? What did he tell you? Did he do something?"

His questions are a mix of worry and fear, anger and torment.

"No!" she answers forcefully, too forcefully. Her eyes snap up into his and she gulps, defensively hugging her legs closer to her chest.

There's a long moment of silence, but, eventually, she sighs, focusing her gaze somewhere on the floor.

"He–he kissed me," she admits, finally.

Her words cut through him like the sharpest of knives, and Klaus takes a step back, suddenly feeling like he doesn't know how to breathe anymore.

She expected anger from him, but what she gets is much, much worse—pain.

"He did what?" he says, barely above a whisper, and she wouldn't have heard him if it hadn't been for the deadly silence encompassing them in the room.

"He kissed me," she repeats, just as quietly.

Klaus nods his head twice, almost in a daze, petrified.

"He–he leaned down, suddenly, and I–I didn't know what to do!" she cries out, tears treating to fall from her eyes once again. "I mean, in my mind he's still my boyfriend–"

"But he's not!" Klaus suddenly roars, finally snapping out of his shock, eyes blazing with fury and heartache.

"I know!"

"Do you?" he pauses, and Caroline doesn't say anything back. "I don't think you do. It's been a week and you haven't even tried–"

She scoffs, outraged, interrupting him. "Do you think that this is easy for me? That I'm enjoying it?"

"I know that it's not easy for you, but it's not fair to me either!"

"Well, then, stop! Stop acting all nice, stop caring about me, stop coming to visit, just stop!"

"God, Caroline," he growls over her yelling. "I can't!"

"Why?"

"Because I fucking love you!"

Caroline gasps, eyes wide and mouth agape at his sudden confession.

There's a long pause again, the two looking intensely at each other with bated breath.

"I–I don't know what to say," she gulps.

She wasn't sure to what extent her relationship with Klaus had grown, did memory-her even know that he loved her? Did she love him back? Why did she care, she didn't even remember being with him, after all. But still—it mattered, and she knew it. It changed things. She was already feeling guilty enough about not pushing Tyler away before, but now she was feeling really terrible about it.

Running a hand through his hair, Klaus shakes his head, almost helplessly.

"You don't have to say anything," he answers after a few moments. "If you want me to stop coming, I'll stop. I just want you to be happy," he says, not meeting her eyes for even a second before turning on his heels and quickly leaving the room.

She didn't miss the way his voice broke on his last words, and she knows that, with it, somehow, something broke inside of her as well.