Padrino – 'Godfather'

Cosa Nostra – Mafia

Consigliere – counselor

"I don't think as long as I live I'll ever get it," Elena remarked and Caroline turned toward her. It was another day at Mystic Falls High School and they were standing next to Caroline's locker where she was pulling out the books for the rest of the day.

"What?" she asked but all her friend did was shift her eyes in the direction of the hall. Caroline turned to see the student body part as Tyler Lockwood strolled in. It was a common placed occurrence for the young man. Everything about him just screamed dangerous. He had bad boy written all over him, perpetuated by his black jeans, white t-shirt, his leather jacket held casually over his shoulder and smokes in hand. He looked…hot as all hell, which was a dangerous thing to think about your best friend.

"You guys are polar opposites," her friend continued, "You are golden girl Caroline, and Tyler is…Tyler is a juvenile delinquent."

"He is not! And it's not like Stefan is a saint either," she charged hitting back at Elena's newest boyfriend. Stefan had recently moved into town with his brother Damon and he had that mysterious brooding thing going on. He had kept to himself with his dark beautiful eyes, gorgeous smile and great a… other assets. Even she had been interested but when his eyes landed on Elena it seemed as if every other woman faded. It wasn't an affliction he suffered alone if going by all the stares directed the girl's way.

"Tyler just gets a little bored and when he's bored he does things to amuse himself," she continued.

"Yeah, like setting the school tool shed on fire and beating the crap out of football players. That isn't boredom Caroline."

She really wanted to mouth at Elena that he hadn't set the shed on fire and that those football guys had jumped him. But there was a lot Elena didn't know, a lot the town didn't know - or at least didn't know for sure - about Tyler and his 'family'. As it was they were merely the eccentric, unsociable folks who had moved to Mystic Falls.

At least that was who they were to everyone else, Caroline knew differently. And that wasn't something she was able to share with her best friend, for her sake and for Tyler.

"Can we just not have this discussion today 'lena?" In all honesty she was tired of trying to explain her friendship with Tyler to anyone else. They had been through a lot together, stuff no one knew about and stuff she would never/could never tell them. Not if she wanted a long and happy life anyway. She almost sighed in relief as she saw her friend nod and wave as she left her.

"She doesn't really like me, does she?" Tyler spoke completely unconcerned. His eyes merely flicked in Elena's direction before meeting hers.

"Not like you make it hard, Ty," she sighed pulling the cigarette he had been about to light from between his lips.

"Care," his eyes looked questioning, "Are you mad at me?"

"No," she answered. Breathing deeply she shook off her conversation and ventured a smile at him, "So we still on right? Because I told my mom…"

"I can't tonight Care," he sounded apologetic, as he leaned up against the locker. Caroline could almost feel the stares in their direction but if she looked around every eye would avert. Elena wasn't the only one that didn't understand their relationship.

"Tyler we made plans! So help me if you're in detention or grounded or serving community service I will…"

"No, I have a family dinner," He whispered looking around and so did she.

"Oh, your mom loves me she won't mind…." She whispered back unsure why they had to speak softly.

"Padrino and the 'family' are coming in tonight. It's a…business dinner," His voice became hard.

"Oh…" Caroline finally understood. Slipping her fingers between his she asked, "Do you need me to…do you need me after?"

Tyler closed his eyes for a moment, sighing out as he squeezed her fingers before saying, "They are staying the whole weekend."

"Shit! Is it this weekend…I mean, are you going to…"

"I don't know Caroline. Maybe." He shrugged, his voice sounded pain-filled and scared like he was still that dark-haired ten year old boy she had met so many years ago.

Caroline watched his face before making a decision, "We should get out of here. Just you and me. Skip school and hang out."

"Caroline, you can't skip."

"Notice how your only concern was that I not skip school…" she said shaking her head at him, "Don't worry about it, my mom owes me for yesterday."

"Something happened yesterday?" his voice now betraying his concern for her, "You never told me. Are you alright?"

"We can talk about it later, okay?" she answered squeezing his hand again, "If we are going, we have to go now."

She saw him nod his head before saying, "Ok, let's go."

Tyler's Audi R8 was parked at the end of the lot and they practically ran to it as they heard the final bell signaling the beginning of class. Caroline slipped into the passenger seat as she texted Elena so that the girl wouldn't freak out and call in the cavalry. When she saw the car heading to the edge of town she knew precisely where they were going. It was a place they had spent many a day to escape the stresses that came with their families. Caroline had her own problems but today was about Tyler, her best friend.

Sometimes it still amazed her that they had become so close. But two people who had been through what they had been through, it was probably the most logical step. She looked over at his face and had the urge to smooth out the frown, instead she slipped her fingers between his, applying pressure to let him know that he wasn't alone. His lips quirked up in the corner, an expression she knew well by now. He was anything but okay. But she left the serious talk until they arrived.

Tyler parked just off a beaten track that led to the old cellar. It was their place and they had spent a lot of time there, talking, laughing, saving each other. Stepping out of the car he waited until Caroline was beside him before moving toward the cellar. Besides the damp, smell there had been no sign of decay when Caroline had discovered or rediscovered it. Her obsession with history had proven helpful in that she had actually found it one day in her explorations through the Founding families' archive. It was near the site of the original Smallwood home and she had forced Tyler to accompany her on this particular exploration. From that day they had used it as a getaway spot. Both enjoying the peace and seclusion that it brought, they filled it with camping gear; sleeping bags, blankets, lamps and Caroline had taken the time to clean it out as best as she could so they would never be uncomfortable. Shaking the blanket Tyler laid it out on the floor and sat pulling his best friend with him. He wrapped her in his arms and squeezed loving the comfort that he found with her. But when he felt her flinch he pulled back.

"What's wrong Care?"

Caroline looked up at his furrowed brows as they dipped showing his concern. When they had left school she had no intention of telling Tyler what had happened with her mom knowing that he needed all her attention today; his family meeting was a big deal. But as he squeezed her back he had aggravated the cuts there.

"Nothing, Ty."

His fingers gripped her chin forcing her face up to his, looking deep into her eyes. He knew she was lying. Running his hands down her back he tried to soothe but all it did was aggravate the cuts there and she couldn't help the whimper of pain that fell from her lips. She saw his lips tighten as he pulled away from her. Before she knew what was happening her shirt was pushed up almost to her neck.

"Caroline…" his voice had gone hard. She tried pulling away knowing he was seeing the smattering of cuts across her back, "What happened?"

Caroline tried pulling away again but he stilled her, his fingers ghosting across the abused skin and she wanted to cry, to bawl, to break down in tears but what did it matter. Crying never made the pain go away. Crying only left her with a headache, running nose, red eyes and a clear view of her agony and she didn't want that. She just wanted to forget. It was so much easier to bury the pain and pretend like it didn't matter. She still hadn't answered when she heard his sigh.

"Don't move. We have a first aid kit down here."

So she didn't. She didn't move as he patched her up. She didn't even flinch with the sting of the antiseptic on her skin or when his fingers ran along the bruise she knew stretched from her shoulder. But she did shudder when his lips touched her back, kissing every bruise, every scrape, and every forming scar. The tears burned the back of her eyes but he didn't let her move away but pulled her in his arms, careful to lay her on his chest. They spent long minutes like that until she heard his voice.

"What did she do to you?"

"When I got home she was there," she began softly. Caroline felt him stiffen in response, "And I knew it was going to be that kind of night. I can tell so easily now. So I locked the doors and windows and left her down there."

"Why didn't you just leave? Or call me to get you?"

"You know I can't leave her. She'll do something stupid and the neighbors will see that the town sheriff is…a drunk." It still hurt her to say those words about the woman who had raised her. The Elizabeth Forbes who had been her rock when her dad was little more than an inconsistent presence. That Elizabeth Forbes would hate what she had become, a woman who was destroying herself and her daughter.

"Let them see her. I don't know why you keep protecting her when she huts you, Caroline."

"Please Ty, Just don't…just please…"

"Sorry. I'm sorry." He murmured while kissing her head.

"I mostly stayed up in my room. But there was a noise and when I went downstairs she was taking the chair to the window because she wanted out. She wanted out and I told her no. And then she started at me. She told me I was good for nothing and…and no one cared for me. Not even my own father. I...I turned to leave then not knowing she had a bottle and she threw it at me. It hit my back and broke, the glass doing most of the damage you see."

Caroline swallowed loudly snuggling deeper into his chest as she willed the tears away. She could feel him vibrating with rage. He was the only one who knew about her mother, that secret had stayed with her for she had vowed never to out her mother. No one understood all the woman had been through and she would never betray her. Tyler was the only one who had any idea of the challenges she faced at her house, how everyday she lived in fear that her mother would take her last drink. In the sober moments she tried to get the woman some help. And the promises kept being made and broken. Somewhere along the way she had stopped believing them but she still couldn't bring herself to tell any of the adults around. Until Tyler came into her life she had no one to share the burden with.

Tyler for his part could hardly bear to see her like this. So sad, so alone. The first time he heard about Sheriff Forbes' drinking problem he had seriously contemplated putting in a call to his uncle. But Caroline loved her mother and had suffered too much so that the woman could maintain her dignity. He still didn't know how in a small town like this, no one had noticed the Sheriff had a problem and that her kid was suffering for it. He tried to relax enough to give Caroline the comfort she needed for he knew this was one of the rare moments she was letting him take care of her. They lay there for several minutes; his fingers ran through her hair pulling it back from her face, making soothing sounds until her body relaxed against his. He just had to be there for her, until she could get out of her mother's house, until she could leave.

He wished he could leave. He wished he could run away but there was literally nowhere to run that the Cosa Nostra couldn't find him. He wished he could but he couldn't. As if she could feel the change in his thoughts, Caroline asked, "So… do you know why they are coming?"

"My father said that I was required to be there…required. Not allowed. This is the first time hehas made that request. But I'm 18 now, and I owe…them."

"I'm so sorry…I am so sorry you had to…"

"Hey none of that. Not a bit of this is your fault. I'm just not sure I can handle what they want me to do."

"Do you know what they normally ask of you?"

"Luca told me of his," Luca was the one friend he had made in the family. He was a son of low-level bodyguard whose talent for numbers and wise counsel had made him the youngest Consigliere of the clan Burgio. He was a few years older than Tyler and they had struck up a friendship when they were thrown together as kids, "Your vows are made in blood and by proving the clan is your number 1 priority. He had to…kill an informant and infiltrate an official's house to ensure his silence. I may have taken care of half of that already by there is nothing set in stone. It is up to his discretion."

"It doesn't matter," she raised up to look at him, "No matter what, I'll be there. We're in this together okay?"

"Caroline…" he began shaking his head.

"Together, you got that?" her eyes bored into his and he could see the promise in their depths."

"Yeah," he muttered simply before pulling her back down. He let the discussion end there; and they spent the rest of the day just being teenagers, not worrying about what havoc could be wrought by this weekend.

.