A/N: Yay, it's Thursdayy and that means Vampire Diaries comes on! Oh, and I guess The Hunger Games at midnight to... and chapter 9! It's just a "big, big, big day!" as Effie Trinket would say :) anyways, enjoy the new episode tonight and this chapter, and as always, review if you have a minute:)

Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Diaries

Lessons of Love, Chapter 9: Caroline to Klaus, Part 5

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude." Denis Waitley

Spring Break of Senior year. Caroline Forbes had never thought it would arrive, but at last, it was here. Despite her status as a vampire, it still meant that she was nearing the end of one journey and about to start another, but whether that journey was college or not was up in the air.

But it was Spring Break and definitely not the time to worry about the future. It was time to have fun, to hang out with Elena and Bonnie. To go shopping for a Prom dress. To do girl things.

Until Damon surprised Elena and took her off to Denver, Colorado to see her brother, and there went Caroline's plans for the rest of the week. Ever since things in Mystic Falls had gotten hairy, Bonnie and Caroline had not been the best of friends like they once were. Elena was the glue that held her and Bonnie together. So, Caroline hung out at home and went to lunch with her mom. She even drove to some bigger towns to look for a Prom dress, she just went by herself. Her mom had offered to take her but Caroline said it was fine.

The only person who could really see through her 'I'm fine's' was Klaus. At least, he thought he could.

"Come, on, love. I can see the boredom radiating through you. Let's go. Just a little trip out of town. Only a couple days."

"No, really, I mean maybe I am a little bored but I'm fine here! I know I can't stay here forever, so I might as well enjoy it while it lasts," Caroline said with a smile in the dirty blonde Original's direction.

He looked at her questioningly as they walked through the woods surrounding the Gilbert's lake house. Caroline had driven them up here for the day. She had packed a picnic, complete with some blood bags, and showed up at the Mikaelson mansion to drag Klaus with her. He had laughed at her idea first, thinking the picnic was overkill, but went along with it.

"Seriously, Klaus. I don't mind staying here for the week. Sure I wish that Elena had stayed but its not like she's going to stay here for her entire life, I might as well get used to being without my friends."

"You don't have think about it so somberly, love," he said kindly as they looked out over the lake. "Forever doesn't have to be miserable and neither does your Spring Break. I thought that high school students went to the beach and got incredibly intoxicated on these breaks."

"I know, I know and I'm not trying to make it seem like it will be miserable! And, yeah, some seniors do stuff like that, but I drink enough to be legally intoxiacted just about every weekend," she said. He looked at her with disbelief and she laughed. "I promise, I'm fine, Nik." The name had come out of Caroline's mouth before she had thought about what she was saying.

Klaus looked at her with surprise, briefly, before continuing. "Well, if you're sure…but just know that my offer still stands. Rome. Paris. Tokyo. The beach. Wherever the hell you want, love."

Caroline laughed again. "Okay, point taken. But, I just want you to understand that I'm happy. I'm actually happy with this. Sometimes it means more to just sit around and be with those you love. I really do appreciate all of your offers," Caroline thought for a second before she continued, "Nik, I really do, but I don't need to travel, I don't need fancy jewelry to wear or given to me. Right now, what really matters is the humans in my life and spending time with my friends because one day I'm going to have to say goodbye."

Klaus looked down at the blonde vampire who stood at his side. She was looking at him and he could really see it in her eyes. She was happy with this, at least for now, and he did understand what she was talking about with her human friends and Klaus felt bad for her situation.

But as he smiled down at her, Klaus vowed to be here when she had to tell her human friends goodbye. He would be there to cheer her up and take her places and spend forever with her, because, at that point, Klaus was sure that Caroline would be the only person he had left. He would say goodbye to this life with her.

Together, they would be stronger.