AN: An art assignment makes Tyler think about the future. What does he draw? I own nothing it all belongs to L.J. Smith, Kevin Williams and Julie. Hope you enjoy. Not Beta'd. Hope you enjoyed the first chapter. This is shorter, but wanted to break it up.

Tyler had dropped the drawing off first thing that morning when he'd gotten to the high school on Monday. Mrs. Rainer had smiled at it and he knew she was going to put it with the rest. He had seen them in the Art display area of the school's main entrance. There was a spot with his name already put up in place. The picture was supposed to go there. He wasn't sure what the reaction would be from Caroline, but he hoped she didn't take it the wrong way.

He was waiting for Caroline to come out for lunch at the moment. Elena had grabbed her hand dragging her off for something. He figured it was girl issues since they hadn't dragged Stefan with them. Bonnie had been pulled along as well. Jeremy and Stefan were sitting at the picnic table few feet from him, but he was waiting for his girl. He could say that now, his girl because Caroline had made it official.

"You know Mrs. Rainer been talking about that picture of yours all day," Jeremy said looking at Tyler. Jeremy Gilbert being one his friends had never actually registered at all. He used to get into a fight almost every other day with him back in September. They had a reason to fight, but then again he could have backed away. He was older, but now they were friends. Jeremy was the first one that told him about what he knew.

He didn't miss what Jeremy said, but he didn't say anything back to him though. He figured that she would brag on him. Tyler nodded not sure what to say, it was what he saw in his future. He saw Caroline, the two kids maybe even more, the two dogs and the porch swing. Two car garage, tire swing hanging from a tree white fence going around the yard. He hadn't drawn the fence, but it was a given to be there.

"It was better than your past drawings," Jeremy added when Tyler didn't say any thing. He hadn't expected to be friends with Tyler. However, he felt the same thing that made them fight had started their friendship after Vicky's death. It really had started that day at his house with Sarah and Aimee though.

He felt guilty about Mason's death still because he couldn't stop Damon. Jeremy wished he could just saved Mason, but Tyler had Caroline and all of them to help him. Caroline was the one that brought Tyler to the boarding house after what happened with Jules. He had gotten the gist of what happened from Bonnie. Caroline had been taken, Tyler saved her and he threatened to kill Jules if she didn't leave town.

Stefan didn't say anything because he wanted the same with Elena, but his picture was in his head. Elena had seen the drawing and she had been shocked. He hadn't though after all it was obvious the teenage werewolf loved the teenage vampire. He wasn't sure how it would work for them, but they could have a future together. Tyler chose to stay here instead of going with Jules. It was the right choice to make even if Damon thought differently.

Tyler being here might not be hundred percent safe for him, but they would keep each other safe. Stefan knew that he proved where his loyalty lied; he'd risked his life to save Caroline. Brady had promised him death if he let Caroline out of the cage. Brady had the gun pointed at Tyler when he had freed Caroline. It was full of wooden bullets but it still would have hurt, just not as much.

Stefan was sure the choice had been easy after that which side held Tyler's safety. Besides Damon nobody was going to hurt him here. Elena had made sure Damon wouldn't though; she'd gotten him to promise it. He knew his brother loved his girl, but they never said it out loud; or rather Damon didn't. Tyler had fault Brady and won when he ripped the other werewolf's heart out. Tyler was new at being a wolf, but he hadn't had a problem taken on Brady.

Alaric had gone with Damon down to Florida for the weekend and got Mason's other journals. It had been Elena's idea that he had to have other journals there. She hadn't been wrong and she was going give the rest the stuff to Tyler after school. It might help him in some of the answers he needed. The rest would just have to be learn has they go.

The main thing that had caught them by surprise was that it was possible for a vampire to have kids. It was magic involved, but that left possibilities open not just for Caroline, but Elena and him.

"Why are you pulling me to the display board?" Caroline asked as Elena finally let go of her hand. She had seen this board plenty of times. She always came here actually to see Tyler's art work. Mrs. Rainer always put the art work up to show the school her students' talents.

"Oh my god," Bonnie said looking at the art work that was in the special case, the artist of the month's case to be exact. Mrs. Rainer put the student out of all her art classes that she thought was the best for that month.

Caroline looked at the drawing and she gasped. It was her in the picture with a baby in her arms. She didn't miss the rest of the drawing either. The inscription at the bottom got her the most. She didn't have to see the signature on the drawing to know it was Tyler's work. She didn't care if she was in the school at the moment. She blinked back the tears because there was no doubt in her mind she had made the right choice.

She felt eyes on her, but she really didn't care at the moment. She wanted what was in the picture; she wanted the blue eyed little girl she was holding. She wanted the two dogs; the front porch swing the little boy inside the door that she just knew had his daddy's eyes. She didn't care that the tears were actually falling now because her heart ached wishing she had Tyler beside her tell him how much she loved the picture.

"Love cannot go wrong if you believe in it. If you let your heart open up to the possibility of loving some one you'll be amazed where it leads you," Elena read out loud, if she didn't know that Tyler could draw or the fact he really was a sweet guy locked behind the walls; then she wouldn't believe the words he wrote. It made her happy for Caroline because she knew after reading from Mason's journal that Caroline could have this.

"He loves you, Caroline," Bonnie said, it would take a person blind not to see what that picture was saying. The way it was full of details and a picture said more than a thousand words. This drawing showed the future of possibilities for her two friends. She knew that Tyler was changed from the guy he was just five months ago. That guy wouldn't have drawn this as a future for himself.

Caroline nodded before she walked off towards their hang out spot. When she heard Elena ask where she was going she just said to find her boyfriend. He had pretty much told the whole school he loved her with that drawing. She had to find him and kiss him because it was one the sweetest things she had done for her.

She felt safe when she was around him. The worry that he would freak out if he saw her vampire face wasn't there. He had seen it and she had seen his drawings of her in his sketch pad. He had told her that she had no reason to hide it. He saw her as Caroline, not a vampire.

Tyler felt her there before he saw Caroline; he could tell something was up. He was about to ask her what was wrong before she pulled him to her and kissed him. She didn't care who saw her. She pushed him up against the tree and deepened the kiss until he needed air. She was trying to show him how much she loved him with this kiss.

Tyler was kissing her back not sure what had triggered this, but he kissed her back. He pulled her closer wrapping his arms around her waist. It wasn't like that first kiss full of longing for her or the one they had shared in his room. This was like a promise of more, that they would be there. All the love he felt for her was there in the kiss like hers was.

"The picture is beautiful," she said with a smile before she hugged him, she knew that some how they would get that dream. The future that he had drawn for himself would be theirs. She felt his arms tighten around her before she added, "I love you, too," He didn't comment on the fact he hadn't actually said it out loud, he knew what she meant.

Tyler didn't care that half the school was staring at them right now, he had his girl in his arms and the future was still there. He had risked a lot with the drawing, but it was well worth it. Caroline was right here she hadn't run from the drawing. He would be forever grateful for the art assignment and Mrs. Rainer for always pushing him to do better.

THE END

AN: I love Tyler and Caroline together.