I have season two on DVD since no-where stocks season one. I am finally beginning to see the appeal of Steroline, pleased by that and the abundance of Katherine. Matt is so adorable I hope he gets to be happy. Klaus is still awesome even as a lunatic with a major God complex. This is set just after Matt asked Caroline to compel him when he was in cahoots with Liz.

Maroline

I'm waiting
For the perfect time to call you back
Cos' I remember saying
Don't wanna know the truth
Can't handle that

Matt knew he had to call her back soon. As far as Caroline knew they were fine, he knew nothing about vampires or what really happened to his sister. It was no surprise that she was calling him every ten minutes; he'd been silent on her since the night before. She must be worrying now, wondering if her compulsion worked.

How could Caroline be a vampire? He'd known her all his life and she'd died months ago, how did he not know? He thought back over their time together, she was pretty much the same, sort of. If he concentrated he could see some differences, but truth be told they were improvements. She was less shallow, of course she'd become deeper, she'd died and now she was going to live forever. The old Caroline would never have been strong enough to handle living as a vampire, taking care of Tyler who was apparently a werewolf. Matt wasn't sure he could even handle the existence of all these fairy-tale monsters let alone have them be a part of his everyday life.

He was so angry at her; his girlfriend had lied to him. She knew what had happened to Vicki, it wasn't a drug overdose; she'd been murdered. Damon Salvatore had killed her. He deserved to know what had happened to his sister and no-one had told him, every-one of his friends had lied about it.

She should be angry too; he'd accused her of killing his sister and refused to let her explain. He treated her like a monster when she had just saved his life and then told her mother. No matter what she was, that was Caroline's choice and he regretted taking it from her. Especially since doing so meant he had been drawn into 'council business' and had ended up lying to Caroline, she'd hate him when she found out. She hated using compulsion and begged him to reconsider but had done as he asked in the end.

And I try to
Just forget you
But I don't know how
If only I knew

He had eventually called her back and faked his way through an ordinary conversation about their days. She sounded exactly the same as always, bright and bubbly and excited about everything. She looked exactly the same before sprouting fangs and biting into her wrist, it was all a lie. She was a vampire and vampires are evil. He tried to remind himself of that after hanging up but it was difficult.

He hated feeling guilty about lying. He repeated over and over again that she wasn't sweet little Caroline Forbes anymore, she was a soulless demon. But it didn't feel true somehow. Every time he tried to picture the monstrous face he'd seen at the grill it was chased away by the Caroline he knew. In her cheerleading uniform, drinking at the grill or trying to study for a biology test.

He want to push those images out of his mind, told himself that they were lies. But he couldn't forget a second of the time they'd spent together and truth be told he wasn't sure he wanted to.

It's written all over your face
Such a painful thing to waste
Tell me now where do we go?

Matt sat in his car outside the Forbes house. He was supposed to be taking Caroline to the decade dance tonight and he was terrified of keeping up appearances. Something Caroline no longer had any problems with.

In all the years they had known each other Caroline had never told a convincing lie. Did the fact that she'd hidden her nature for so long mean that he was wrong to believe that she was truthful? Could the girl who couldn't lie to save her life keep up a constant illusion? It could be one of her new vampire powers, that wasn't too hard to believe.

Matt had believed that Stefan Salvatore was a good guy. He'd even gotten over Elena dating him because at least he was good enough for her. He was the one who'd taught Caroline how to hunt and how to control herself; perhaps he taught her how to behave human despite the fact she wasn't. Not anymore. Or maybe he was right the first time. Stefan was a good guy and Caroline was the same girl. They were just vampires. Vampires weren't even meant to by real so how reliable were the stories when applied to real life?

But what about Damon Salvatore, the murdering bastard? He wasn't remotely human in any way. He'd murdered Vicki in cold blood and showed no remorse. Caroline was in complete control of her vampire urges, she told him that she didn't need to kill to feed; that meant that Vicki's death was no accident. If Caroline could control herself with him after only a few days as a vampire he was sure that a vampire as old as Damon could control himself if he could be bothered.

Either vampires were just different humans or Damon was the only one who wasn't lying. He trusted Caroline over Damon, he'd be stupid not to, so why was he keeping up this lie? He finally got out of the car; the questions in his head were driving him crazy. The cold air outside helped.

Caroline looked beautiful as Jackie O. Her smile was radiant, she glowed with happiness and excitement. This was the first dance she'd been a vital part of organising. It meant so much to her, that was plain on her face. She could throw a man clear across a room with just a flick of her wrist and get anyone to do what she said with just her eyes but she was excited about a cheesy high-school dance.

He felt horrible when she kissed him in greeting. He loved her, as confusing as it was, and he felt awful for turning against her over something that she had no control of. If she hadn't become a vampire she'd be dead now. What choice would he have made in her place?

Now the future's not so clear
I can't believe we've ended here
Where's the world that doesn't care?
Maybe I could meet you there

He considered running from her once or twice. He was jumpy despite still feeling for her. Every shadow thrown across her face made him jump back; convinced that the demonic ace he'd seen before was back. His nerves were shredded throughout the whole dance. He was beginning to realize that maybe he couldn't handle this, it was too much.

One upon a time he could see a future for himself with Caroline. He'd go away to college on a football scholarship and she'd come with him. He might be a small town boy but that didn't mean he had to stay in this small town. Vicki was gone so he had no reason to stay. They'd be able to settle down somewhere new, have some beautiful blonde children and have a normal life. That was impossible now.

He couldn't believe it was over already; he wasn't ready to lose Caroline. But if Liz was right he already had. He wished that no-one else knew, that this was a decision he could make on his own. But it was too late now.

I'm sorry
If I slagged you down
I meant no harm
When I heard the stories
Said things I didn't mean
Should have stayed calm

Matt was back in his car outside of Caroline's house. He's spoken to the sheriff earlier but she refused to believe that Caroline was still a good, technically dead, person. He didn't have long before the council made a move. Damon should be their primary target, not Caroline. She was a victim in this situation, she'd killed one person and she hadn't meant to.

He didn't know whether he was doing the right thing in coming here to tell her everything but he couldn't let her be caught unaware. She'd done nothing to hurt him. He'd been terrible to her after she'd revealed her secret in order to stop him from bleeding to death. No good deed goes unpunished.

He crept into her bedroom through the window, flinching slightly when she appeared in front of him instantaneously. "Wow. You are fast." She'd explained that super speed was one of the perks of her new life but as far as she knew he was still clinging onto blissful ignorance.

"Um… That's because I erm… heard y…"

"And you're a vampire." He finished for her. She froze, terrible liar as always. "I was on vervain when I asked you to make me forget, it was your mom's idea."

"My mom knows?" She croaked out eventually, dropping onto the edge of the bed. "When did you start taking vervain?"

"Your Mom gave me some before I came to talk to you." He explained softly.

"So it was deliberate." She said coldly. "You lied to me?"

"I'm sorry Caroline. I was just so messed up, thinking that you killed Vicki. I freaked out when I found out how much you'd hidden from me."

"I would never hurt someone on purpose, especially not someone I grew up with." She snapped. "Do you really think I liked hiding what I was from you?"

"Then why did you do it?" He asked.

"Because you would've panicked and hated me! I had to break up with you to protect you!"

"What? Because I can't protect myself?" He hissed, trying to keep from her mom overhearing them.

"Not from a vampire." She told him ashamed. "You think I'm a monster then."

"No Caroline I was wrong." He insisted desperately. "But I let your Mom know and she hates vampires."

"Does she want to kill me?" She asked, her eyes sparkling.

"I don't think she can."

"So you're going to do it for her." She spat with venom.

"Never." He promised. "I didn't mean any of the things I said, I was angry."

But sadly
You got angry
And it breaks my heart
You're so mad at me.

He was right. She was furious at him for his lies. "I didn't know what I was doing Care. You kind of caught me off guard."

"You know me Matt." She began crying. "You told me you loved me but you think I'm a killer? Why would I choose this?"

"I know I shouldn't have spoken to anyone until I'd figured everything out but it was Vicki…"

"I'm sorry that Damon killed your sister, Matt, I am!" She interrupted. "I'm mad because you wouldn't even let me explain that I was trying to protect you."

"I love you, Caroline."

"Liar!" She wouldn't even look at him. She began throwing clothes into a bag.

"Caroline, what are you doing?"

"I'm leaving." Her voice was horse from tears. "My mom knows and so will the rest of the council. I have to go somewhere safe." She stopped to look at him. "Did you tell her about the Salvatores?"

"He killed Vicki."

"And Stefan?" She looked heartbroken. "Do you know how many lives he's saved? He tries so hard to stay off people blood, he doesn't even use blood bags! You're going to get him killed. And Elena? How is she going to feel when he's gone?" She grabbed her phone and began texting. "Tell Bonnie and Elena I said goodbye, they know what I am already." He felt like his heart was breaking.

"Don't go. Please." He begged her, feeling like hell because he had driven her away

"I have to. I'm sure you'll eventually find some nice human girl." She spat.

"Let me come!" He spoke impulsively but meant it all the same. "Where do you want to go?"

"What is the point? You hate vampires." She reminded him.

"I don't Caroline, I was an idiot." He insisted.

In a rush of cold air he was pinned to the wall, the face of a monster inches from his. She was waiting for him to decide if he was still willing, if he cared more about who she was than what she was. "I love you Carebear." He whispered; his voice clear with no fear. He gently ran his thumb along her bottom lip. She backed up her face turning back to that of the sweet girl he loved.

"I have to leave now Matt." She said sadly.

"Then we'll go now."

"No Mattie. Carry on with high school…"

"But Care…"

"No listen." She pulled him into a hug. "You need to get your scholarship. It's only one more year honey."

"I don't want you to leave." She kissed him gently. "Turn me!"

She stared at him in shock. "Do you mean that?"

"I think so."

She shook her head, dropping her bag. "I'm not doing that to you unless you're sure, Matt. You have the choice I never did, so use it." She whirled around suddenly to see Liz in the doorway. "Mommy?"

Matt stepped out in front of her. "She's not a monster Mrs Forbes. I won't let you kill her."

"I've never seen a vampire that close refuse blood." She said in astonishment.

"Mom, I'm still Caroline! I could never hurt Matt." As she stepped forward her mother stepped backwards. "I'd never hurt you." She began crying again. "Mommy I don't want to leave so please, look at me, you know me." She threw her arms round her mother. "I love you Mom and you trusted me once. Let me prove it."

"What do you mean?"

"Let the vervain leave your system, I had to compel you to forget when you found out about me and the Salvatores. I can let you remember again when it's out. I promise Mom you were okay with it." Caroline begged. "Believe me Mom please."

Liz nodded. "How long should that take?"

"Three days."

"Okay." With that Liz left.

"Guess I'm staying." There was an awkward silence between she and Matt. "I can make you forget if you want, on a temporary basis. Let you finish you're final year as a normal guy in a normal relationship."

Matt took her sweet face in his hands. "I love who you are and everything you are. Fangs and all, Caroline. I'm not ready to be like you yet, but I will do everything to protect you until I am."

"Matt, you don't have to give up your life to be with me, I know you wanted children and a white picket fence. Things I can't give you." He kissed her deeply.

"All I need is you."

Maybe I could meet you there
Maybe I should meet you there

I love Matt so much, he's a darling. But he's no competition for the Original Hottie. He can have his own Original Beauty. Reviews are love.