Hello, everyone!

Final chapter, here we go!

Ohmygod I'm too excited!

Enjoy!

The years passed and I only got to see Caroline at night when I would close my eyes.

Sometimes we would talk, sometimes we would do nothing but look at each other. I prefered those dreams to the ones where we were doing...other things. Those left me feeling cold and alone when I awoke because I knew that Caroline wasn't alive.

Well, at least not yet.

The ghost of her touch would torment me at night and during the day she was constantly on my mind.

There was a time when I thought she hadn't been real. That she had just been a figure of my imagination.

That went on for twenty-four years, and every night I had a new woman in my bed. I hardly slept because I knew she would be there when I closed my eyes, and throughout the day I would distract myself so that I wouldn't think about her.

I even went as far as turning off my emotions.

Rebekah found me soon after and spent over a month convincing me that Caroline had been real. After days locked up in a torture chamber- something I assumed Rebekah had enjoyed because she had recently been undaggered- I was finally convinced that Caroline had been real.

When I began sleeping again, I began seeing her again.

Thinking about her became a daily routine again, and I longed for the day where I could see her.

Whenever I saw a head of blonde hair bobbing through the crowd, or whenever I heard the sound of tinkling laughter, I would follow to see if it was Caroline.

But it never was.

The girl with blonde hair paled in comparison to her, and the sound of laughter was never quite right.

Now, I sat on a bench, watching as the people came and went.

Over nine hundred years waiting, and no sign of Caroline.

She had disappeared from my dreams around twenty years ago, leaving me in the dark once again, just like she had done the day she had left me in the cabin.

I watched as some students from the local college walked down the street, a mother pushed a stroller in the nearby park, a man got into his car.

I had been back in this small town for about a week now. It was quaint and quiet, a place I often went to to get away from the world.

I leaned back and spread my arms out over the back of the bench, resting my ankle on my knee.

From the corner of my eye I caught a streak of blonde hair. I looked to the side as the head bobbed down the sidewalk, the person's face covered by a hedge.

I shook my head- it probably wasn't hers.

A laugh rang through the air, the tinkling sound echoed in my ears.

I looked back at the head of blonde hair as it continued to move down the sidewalk, closer and closer to the corner of the street where they would have to turn.

I listened closer and tried to make out the voice of the mystery person. But before I could figure it out, the person rounded the corner and started walking towards me.

Her skin glowed in the sunlight, her smile shone, her eyes sparkled and her golden curls created a halo around her face.

She laughed, switching the phone she was holding to her left ear to her other ear and adjusting her hold on a stack of books she carried in her hand.

I was frozen, staring at the woman who had been haunting me for over nine hundred years.

Her hair was shorter, just a few inches below her shoulders. She wore a white dress which left her shoulders exposed and came down just above her knee, leaving her creamy legs out for everyone to see.

She was an angel.

I quickly got up from the bench and began walking toward her at vampire speed before bumping into her.

Not the smoothest move, but it got the desired effect.

"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry!" She said apologetically, her hands reaching out to steady me, even though she didn't need to. The gesture brought us closer and when she looked into my eyes, I had to swallow and remind myself that it wasn't the appropriate moment to have my way with her.

"It was entirely my fault, sweetheart" I said, smirking down at her. She had a dazed look in her eyes as she stared up at me. She shook her head quickly and took her hands off of me.

"Sorry" She said nervously before bending down to pick up the books she had dropped.

I frowned, bending down to help her, picking up a french textbook and handing it to her as we stood up.

"Thank you" She said with a smile.

"I'm Klaus" I said, holding my hand out to her. She shifted her books and dropped her phone in her purse.

"Caroline" She said as she slipped her hand into mine. I took the opportunity to bend down and kiss her knuckles. I felt her breath hitch as I did and I smiled triumphantly. She cleared her throat "I've never seen you around here" She said.

"I visit every once in awhile. I would have come around sooner if I knew such a beautiful woman had joined the community" I said and she flushed instantly.

"I just moved here a few months ago" She said, tucking her hair behind her ear "College" She added, tapping her books.

It was quiet for a moment as I watched her. She bit her lip and looked around- I was making her uncomfortable. I smirked at the idea.

"Well, I have to go. It was nice meeting you, Klaus" She said with a smile as she began walking around me. I reached out and grabbed her elbow before she could get away.

"I'd like to see you again, Caroline" I said cooly, trying not to sound desperate.

She looked down at my hand and when she looked back up, all traces of the shy Caroline were gone. She smiled.

"Well, this is a small town" She said coyly and I enjoyed the change in her. She was exactly like Caroline from the past- shy at first, but fiery when you got too close.

"I meant that I would like to take you out" I said with a chuckle, easing into the banter. She quirked a brow and looked at me quizzically before sliding out of my grasp.

"Let me think about it" She said as she began walking away "I'll see you around, Klaus" She said over her shoulder.

I watched as she walked, letting my gaze run up her long legs, up to her hips as they swung from side to side.

"Bet on it, love" I said and listened as she let out a giggle.

This new, modern Caroline may not remember me, but she was still the same.

Well, almost the same- she was a vampire now.

I saw him again as I came down the same sidewalk a few days later.

He was on one of the park benches along the sidewalk and I saw him as soon as I rounded the corner. I quickly looked him over- he wore a white shirt and a black jacket, dark grey jeans and combat boots.

I held back a groan- he was beyond hot.

I shook out my curls and flattened my skirt, holding my head up and walking over confidently.

Wait, how would I approach him? Should I approach him? Maybe I should turn around.

I was looking down at the ground now as I thought about what to do next when I bumped into someone.

"I'm-" I started but I looked up and was caught in Klaus's gaze once again "...sorry" I said and he smirked."We've got to stop meeting like this" I laughed and took a small step away from him. I hadn't noticed he had a hold on my waist.

"I agree" He nodded "Next time we see each other it should be on a date" He said confidently.

"Really?" I said, challenging him. I wasn't going to give in that easy, but his smile was irresistible.

Stupid heightened vampire senses.

"Yes, how about tomorrow night" He said, making the question seem more like a statement. I looked into his eyes and saw the confidence, but also the hope.

His eyes were like two deep blue pools filled with emotion. I got lost in them, and he seemed to be lost in mine.

"I don't even know you" I whispered, more to myself than to him.

"Just take a chance, Caroline" He said, his eyes darting over my face. I shook my head, breaking out of the momentary trance and easing into a smile.

"Just know that I am too smart to be seduced by you" I said, poking him lightly in the chest.

He laughed and we began to step away from each other.

"I'll pick you up at 7" He said.

"See you then" I nodded, turning and walking away for the second time that week.

I don't think I had ever been so nervous in my life.

No, that was a lie- going back to school as a vampire had been nerve racking enough. But this came in as a close second.

I looked at my phone to see that it was five o'clock already. I had done a pretty good job at not obsessing over the fact that I had a date with a hot british guy, but it was hard not to think about it.

The few times we had seen each other it had been intense. The way he looked at me and the way he talked made me feel like we had met before. But I would have remembered meeting someone as intense as him.

And those dimples.

I shook my head and got up from the couch, turning off the television and making my way to the bathroom.

I had woken up and gone to class, but since it was Friday I only had a morning class today. I spent the rest of the day cleaning my apartment- which consisted of a small kitchen, a living room, my bedroom and the bathroom.

It had taken up about three hours of my day so when I finished I sat down to watch some Netflix which killed enough time.

I stripped down and got into the shower, turning on the water and started lathering my hair with some strawberry scented shampoo.

My apartment wasn't much, but it was better than being back at home.

Leaving Mystic Falls was one of the best decisions of my life. After becoming a vampire, I realized that there wasn't much there for me anyways. I had planned to graduate high school and then work as an intern in the Mayor's office, all the while accumulating funds so that I could open up my own event planning business.

But now I could do anything- I could go to school and study whatever I wanted because if I didn't like it I still had eternity to choose. Having blood cravings and heightened emotions was a small price to pay for having the world at my fingertips.

And after three years of being eternally seventeen, things got a little easier.

I turned the water off when I finished and grabbed my towel. I padded across the apartment and began the task of looking for something to wear.

I had distracted myself long enough, now I had to focus.

I sifted through my closet and picked out my favorite clothes. Klaus hadn't really told me where we were going, but he just didn't seem like the "dinner and a movie" type of guy.

I sighed, looking at my outfit choices.

After half an hour, I finally decided on a black lace dress that came down to just above my knee. It had sleeves that went down to just below my elbow and the back dipped to expose a nice bit of skin. I picked out a pair of red stilettos and a matching clutch to go along with it.

Satisfied with my choice, I sat down in front of my mirror and began blow drying my hair. When it was all dry, I curled it, making the curls tight enough to be elegant, but soft enough so that they accentuated my facial features.

I started on my make-up, not going for anything too dramatic because the dress and heels were already dramatic enough. A light smokey eye and lipstick one shade darker than my skintone was enough.

When I was finished, it was already six thirty. I slid into my dress and pulled on my heels, shaking out my curls and checking my make-up one last time before grabbing my clutch and leaving the apartment.

I walked down the sidewalk, taking my time.

As I did, I remembered some of my past dates. I had been dating since I was fifteen, but I don't remember ever having a serious relationship. My longest relationship was probably three months, and it hadn't been all that exciting.

I never really seemed to connect with anyone enough to see them on more than one date.

I rounded the corner and made my way to the bench where I had seen Klaus sitting yesterday. He wasn't there, and when I checked my watch it was still five minutes to seven.

I sat down and crossed my legs, watching the people walking through the park and some of the teenagers that were just getting out of class.

Technically I was only twenty, but the things I had seen in the past couple of years had aged me mentally.

I started to get nervous again. He would be here any minute. Would he even come? I mean who just asks out a random stranger? He probably wouldn't come. Relax, it's hardly even seven.

Just as my thoughts started to get away from me, I black BMW came down the street, stopping right in front of me. The driver side door opened and out came Klaus.

I bit my lip to keep my jaw from dropping to the ground- he was gorgeous. Well, I already knew that but I had never seen him in a black button down shirt and dress pants. His sleeves were rolled up to give me a perfect view of his tanned forearms and he had a couple of buttons undone at the top, revealing his many necklaces.

He smiled as he came around the car to stand in front of me. I stood as he did, giving him a small smile in return.

"Good evening, Caroline" He said- no, more like purred. He held out his hand and I slipped mine into his. He bent down and placed his lips on my knuckles, lingering longer than he had before. "You look absolutely ravishing"

"Thank you" I said, feeling my smile getting bigger "You look..." I tried to come up with the appropriate word, giving him a once over as I did so "Handsome" I said finally. Yes, he did look handsome.

"Really?" He smirked, cocking a brow as he led me to his car, opening the passenger door for me.

"Hm" I said with a shrug, knowing that it was a flirty move. He laughed and went around to the driver's side.

After a while of driving, I realized we weren't staying in town.

"Where are we going?" I asked, already feeling comfortable around him.

"There's a small Italian restaurant a few miles outside of town. Is that alright?" He asked, looking over at me momentarily.

"That's fine" I smiled, looking back out the window. That was more than fine- that was perfect.

Back in Mystic Falls, the only place where teenagers would go out on dates was the Grill, and it got boring after a couple of times. You could always go watch a movie, but there were never any good movies playing. Your other options were the town events that were hosted, like, every other month or the school dances.

Some couples went out to Richmond, but I had never actually gone out to Richmond on a date. No guy had ever tried to take me out there, really.

This had never bothered me- up until now. I had just met Klaus and he was already nicer than most guys I had gone out with.

We didn't talk to each other on the way there, but it was a comfortable silence. He drove as I looked out the window, watching the passing countryside. I tapped my fingers along to the music he had playing, the artists ranging from Bon Jovi to Kings of Leon.

After about half an hour he pulled up into the driveway of the restaurant, coming around to my side and helping me out. He handed his keys to the valet and slipped his arm around the small of my back as we entered the restaurant.

"Reservation for Mikaelson" He said to the hostess and she led us to a booth.

"Are these seats to your liking Mr. Mikaelson?" The hostess asked, flipping her dark hair over her shoulder and giving Klaus a flirty smile.

"Yes, thank you" He said while helping me into my seat. He gave her a tight lipped smile and sat down, picking up his menu. I held back a laugh as she practically swooned.

"Let me know if you need anything else" She said, batting her lashes and turning to return to her post, swing her hips from side to side, but Klaus didn't even look her way.

"Wow" I said as I looked over my menu.

"What is it?" He asked and I looked up at him. He looked at me carefully and I let out a chuckle.

"I almost thought I had lost my date there" I said with a smile, teasing him.

"No one can take me away from you, sweetheart" He smirked and I swallowed. I was good at being coy, but he was much better. I cleared my throat.

"So your whole name is Klaus Mikaelson" I stated conversationally.

"Actually, it's Niklaus Mikaelson" He said.

"Niklaus Mikaelson? That's a mouthful" I said, still looking over my menu.

"Indeed it is" He said suggestively and I looked up at him, catching my mistake. Oh god. I pursed my lips, looking back down at my menu. Thank goodness that the lighting in the restaurant was dim or else he would have seen my face turning fifty shades of red.

"Good evening my name is Dean and I will be your waiter for this evening. Can I get you anything to drink?" I looked up at our waiter, and he was looking at me. I looked at Klaus who was also looking at Dean, but Dean wasn't looking at him.

I kept my eyes on Klaus, not at all interested in our waiter. He was cute, but my date was better.

"We'll have a bottle of Villa Raiano Fiano di Avellino" Klaus said and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't impressed with his choice.

Back in Mystic Falls, I used to hang out a lot with a guy named Stefan Salvatore- mostly because at one point I dated his brother. But the Salvatore family had rich Italian roots and I was able to pick up a few things.

"Anything else?" Our waiter said, bringing my attention back. He was looking straight at me again.

"No, thank you" I said politely, not really looking at him. He left then, leaving Klaus and I alone again.

"So, how is college treating you?" Klaus asked and I closed my menu, giving him my full attention.

"Great actually. I think I'm kind of weird because I actually like going to school. I don't know, I just like learning new things" I rambled, feeling kind of nervous again.

"What's your major?" He asked, seemingly interested.

"Foreign languages" I said proudly, and he raised his eyebrows in surprise "I know it's not common but I really like languages and learning about the cultures of all the different countries"

"That's very interesting. Have you been anywhere?"

"No, but I'd like to" I said.

"I could take you. Paris, Rome... Tokyo" I laughed at the last part.

"Let's get past our first date first" I said just as our waiter returned with our bottle of Villa Raiano Fiano di Avellino. He poured us each a glass and then set the bottle down in the cooler.

"May I take your order, miss?" He asked me.

"I'll have the Mushroom Risotto" I said, handing him my menu.

"Scelta molto buona, signora" He said with a smile- and a terrible accent.

"Grazie" I said, politely returning the smile.

"And you, sir" He turned to Klaus, the smile slipping from his lips.

"I'll have the same" He said, handing him his menu as well. The waiter nodded and walked away.

"Mushroom Risotto goes very well with Villa Raiano Fiano di Avellino" I said, taking a sip from my glass. I hadn't had a chance to try it yet because we had been talking so much, and it was very good.

"Yes, I agree. How did you know?" He asked.

"I had a friend who was an italian food fanatic" I said with a laugh.

We eased into a steady stream of conversation, talking about my hometown and some of his travels. He had been to a lot of places and I was about to ask how old he was, but that would be rude.

"Is there anywhere you haven't been?" I said as I ate my chocolate gelato. Klaus had passed on dessert but he insisted on me having some after he saw my face when a waiter passed by us with a tray filled with ice cream.

He thought for a moment.

"No" He said and I laughed. He laughed, too.

"Would you excuse me for a moment?" I said when I finished my gelato. I stood and grabbed my clutch. He stood as well.

"Sure" He said and I smiled, turning to find the ladies room. As I walked I remembered the hostess as she walked away, swinging her hips. I bit back a smile because I could feel Klaus's eyes on me.

I went to the ladies room and checked my makeup and hair.

What now? Would he drive me home? Should I invite him in if he did?

"Ugh" I said as I washed my hands, drying them off.

I checked my dress and hair and makeup again and walked out of the ladies room.

Klaus stood by our table.

"Ready to go, sweetheart?" He asked and I nodded, letting him wrap his arm around the small of my back. I felt comfortable immediately.

As we walked out of the restaurant we passed by Dean and he threw a flirty smile my way. I pursed my lips and looked at Klaus who had seen everything.

"I haven't lost my date, have I?" He asked with a smirk and I smiled, wrapping my arm around him.

"He's not the one I'm leaving with, now is he?" I smirked. He looked down at me surprised, but I didn't miss the lustful look he gave me. I bit my lip and looked down.

The valet pulled up with his car and he helped me into the passenger's side before slipping into his seat. He was always such a gentleman.

"There's one more place I would like to take you" He said as we pulled out onto the road.

"And where is that?" I asked.

"It's a surprise" He said with a smile, showing off those dimples. I couldn't help but smile every time that he smiled.

"Alright" I laughed just as a new song came on the radio. "Oh, would you mind?" I asked, motioning to the volume.

"Have at it, love" He said and I turned it up a little. In My Place by Coldplay had always been one of my favorite songs. I hummed along to the lyrics and bobbed my head to the soft beat as I looked out the window. As the song came to an end I looked at Klaus who had an amused look on his face.

"What?"

"You are adorable" He said and I laughed lightly, hiding my blush behind a curtain of blonde hair.

We spent the rest of the car ride talking about random topics like our childhoods. Well, more like I rambled and he listened.

We finally pulled up to the driveway of the most amazing mansion I had ever seen. Well, one of the only mansions I had ever seen besides the mayor's mansion back in Mystic Falls.

Klaus opened my door and held out his hand to help me out.

"Wow" I said, looking up the the columns and white exterior. "You live here?" I looked over at him.

"Yes. I come back here every once in a while to visit the town. It's a peaceful place" He said, opening the door to reveal the marble floors and a grand staircase.

He lead me through the mansion to the kitchen, opening the fridge and pulling out a bottle of wine. He grabbed two glasses out of a cabinet.

"Follow me" He said.

"This is my surprise?" I asked.

"I actually wanted to show you the garden. It looks quite beautiful at night" He said as we walked. I smiled up at him.

As we walked, I looked around the house, taking in everything I saw. We passed by a room and the door was open. The lights were on and there was a huge painting hung up on the far wall, multiple spotlights on it.

"Woah" I said, stopping to look in the room. He stopped, too. I looked in and saw that there were other paintings hung up.

"Would you like to go in?" I heard Klaus say and I nodded absently, walking in and looking around. For some reason, I was drawn to the room.

Everything was so beautiful, words couldn't even describe it.

"Do you collect these?" I asked, looking at one wall which had multiple landscapes on them, others were of objects, others were more impressionistic or abstract.

"I paint them" He said and I turned to look at him.

"No way!" I couldn't contain my surprise- they were beautiful!

"Yes way" He said with a chuckle, pouring some wine into both glasses and handing one to me. I walked around, aware that he was walking a little behind me. I sipped at my wine, commenting on some of them.

"What's this?" I asked as I reached a wall that was partially covered with a velvet curtain.

"That is my personal collection" He said.

"Can I see it?" I asked, too curious to care that I was stepping over a boundary. He made a gesture that I took as 'go ahead'. I stepped forward and moved aside the curtain.

There were a bunch of frames up, all of them had pages of parchment on them. When I looked closer, they seemed to be more like sketches than paintings.

All of them were of a girl with long curly hair. I looked closer, gasping and dropping my glass.

All the memories hit me- Klaus in the woods, the werewolf camp, Bonnie, Elena, Tyler, the Council.

I took a step back, dazed. I hit something hard and felt my knees buckle under me.

"Caroline, are you alright?" Klaus said as he held onto me. His fingers came up and moved my chin so that I was looking right at him.

It took me a second to respond.

"Nik?" I asked, running my hand down his cheek. His eyes grew wide and he leaned into my touch.

"Sweetheart" He said, pulling me closer and pressing his lips to mine. I moaned, missing his touch and the feel of his lips. He pulled away after a while "Where have you been?" He asked.

"I've been by your side the entire time" I whispered, running my fingertips over his face.

"What do you mean?" He asked, pulling away with an adorably confused look on his face.

"When I died all those years ago, my body disappeared but my spirit remained. I was stuck in a sort of limbo" I said "Since my soul was tied to yours, I was able to see you and be by you the entire time"

"So, you were in my dreams?"

"Yes, that was me" I smiled, remembering the couple of hours I got with him everyday.

He stayed quiet, lost in thought and taking it all in while I continued to trace his features.

"I'm sorry" He said, looking into my eyes.

"I know" I said softly "I wasn't only able to see you, I was able to feel what you felt as well" I knew he was referring to the twenty-four years in which he had thought I had only been a figment of his imagination.

He leaned in and kissed me again, not as forceful as the first time, but just as passionate.

"Never leave me again" He pleaded, but there was a certain command to his voice. I smiled, adjusting myself so that I could wrap my arms around his neck, weaving my fingers through his sandy curls.

"Never"

Woohoo!

Wow I can't believe I actually finished a story! (Fun Fact: I've never finished a story)

It has been such an amazing experience to be able to write this story and I appreciate those of you who followed me through the journey!

It feels so weird to actually be done. Wow.

So, I'll be gone for a little bit. I'll be putting up my "surprise" for you guys tomorrow or Monday (Oh and the surprise has nothing to do with this story so just keep a look out for something I publish) and then I'll disappear for a little while so that I can get a head start on my next few stories.

What are they about, you might ask?

WELL YOU CAN CHECK IT OUT ON MY NEW WEBSITE! THE LINK IS IN MY BIO!

Ahhh! I know! I'll keep you guys updated through there (I have a blog) and I'll be back here soon :)

Bye for now!

~M

P.S.: I did a double update today, so the next chapter is the "Ending Credits". Feel free to check that out :)