Caroline pushed Klaus off, trying to think of something to say, but she just… fell silent, tears burning in her eyes as Bonnie sent her a dark, filthy look.

Suddenly, Carolines head snapped around as Klaus let out a yell, a hand shooting to his head, winding into his hair.

"Let him go-!" Caroline snarled at Bonnie, eyes flashing dark, fangs on the verge of coming out. Bonnie let him go, shaking her head a little as she stared at her friend, muttering. "What's he done to you-?"

Caroline truly growled now, and Elena saw the blondes fangs out, realizing in an instant-

She and Klaus had gotten close.

She'd saved his life.

But now Bonnie yelled at Caroline. "You lied to your friends and ran off into his arms-? You're no better than him! Rot in hell! Both of you!"

Bonnie stalked out, and Elena looked at Caroline, at the tears rolling down her cheeks, eyes more than hurt. But she couldn't think of anything to say or do.

She followed Bonnie out without a single word.

Klaus knew better than to hug her, but as he watched her fangs vanish, eyes back to normal, albeit, more than a little red around the rims.

Caroline looked to Klaus now, shaking her head a little as she muttered. "I can't stay here now. I just… these are my friends, Nik. I just…" she started crying again, and Klaus sighed lightly, shifting forwards and pulling her into his arms, embrace tight and comforting as he kissed the top of her head, closing his eyes lightly.

"I get it sweetheart."

She was silent in his arms, listening to Bonnie and Elena pack up, wishing she could just go sleep, then wake up, finding this whole night was a dream.

But not the whole night.

Klaus made her smile.

So much.

When the pair left the hotel, Caroline sighed, muttering into the hybrids chest. "I think I'm stranded here."

"I'll arrange something love. Go and grab your stuff. Meet me outside in twenty."

She was gone in a flash, and Klaus just stared after her for a moment, mood sinking more than a stone in a pond.

Their story…

He was sure now they were never meant to be together. Not happily.

Klaus shoved those thoughts aside as he got dressed once more, heading downstairs and grabbing the first taxi driver he saw, compelling him to take Caroline home.

It was the least he could do.

When Caroline came downstairs, stepping outside with her case trailing behind her, Klaus saw that she'd been crying once more.

She set the case down, refusing to meet his eyes, so he sighed quietly, taking her face into his hands, thumb caressing her cheek gently, saying, voice as soft as a whisper. "Calm down sweetheart."

Caroline sniffed back another wave of tears, hesitantly meeting his aqua eyes as she muttered. "Is this… where we end-?"

He said nothing, just holding her close, closing his own eyes with a light sigh.

Now he did speak.

"Love, nothing lasts forever."

"You do."

There was a pause, and Klaus pressed a kiss to the blondes cheek, groaning lightly. "Sweetie, let me go."

"Do I have to?"

"You have to."

Caroline wanted to kiss him, so much. The hurt the hybrid was hiding in his eyes was tearing her apart at the seams. He was lonely.

He was all he had really…

And they had to let each other go.

She threw her arms around him well and truly, burying her face into his chest, tears spilling over the edge as Caroline wound her hands into the back of his shirt.

The pair held each other for a few minuets, and Klaus muttered. "Do you… want me to make you forget-?"

Caroline considered it, the opportunity to forget, to stop the hurt…

But, she wanted those memories.

"No. I want to remember." She mumbled, and after another pause, Klaus nodded, kissing her softly for a minuet or two, closing his eyes, not seeing the tears that were burning in the hybrids eyes.

He loved her.

He always would.

Now Klaus felt her pull away, spying her red eyes as she smiled weakly. "I love you."

A smile twitched onto his face, and he nodded a fraction. "I love you too."

With that, Caroline tore her eyes away, getting into the back of the taxi, steeling herself for the drive back.

She got in…

Couldn't look back.

Looking back hurt too much.

Klaus watched the car drive off with a heavy heart, letting out a long breath-

Love hurt too.]

-Marked-

One year later…

"You're gonna fall!"

"Caroline-!"

Caroline burst out laughing as Elena fell off the low wall, catching her, letting out a tut. "You need to be more careful."

Elena wrinkled her nose at that, scoffing out. "I am."

The blonde scoffed, yanking on her friends hand towards the nearest cafe, angling for something to eat.

Inside, Caroline walked up to the counter, asking for two fajitas. But she stopped dead at the back of the man, just… staring.

God it was him.

"Klaus-?" She blurted out, and the man turned, frowning lightly. "Excuse me?"

Brown eyes.

It wasn't him.

Caroline chuckled quietly. "Sorry. You just look like someone I used to know from the back."

After that, she walked back over to Elena who noticed the sad look on the blondes face, frowning lightly. "Care?"

Caroline smiled, shaking her head. "Yeah?"

"What's wrong?" Elena frowned, but then her eyes flickered to the man, and she saw the resemblance, her face falling as realization hit her, groaning out. "Care…"

"It's all fine. Elena, really."

As Caroline sat down, she remembered the year that had now passed since she'd last laid eyes upon that hybrid;

Caroline had returned to Mystic Falls, feeling pretty much like an outcast. There had been a month of utter… well, she had been ignored. But they soon realized Klaus truly was gone, and Caroline was left all alone and friendless.

Bonnie… she had taken a while to come around, but when they had all graduated High School, things calmed down, and the vampire and witch started talking once more.

Caroline thought of Klaus often, wondering where, literally, in the world he was. There had been no sign at all. He'd not been near Mystic Falls.

And now she, Elena and Bonnie were on Summer Break from college on the outskirts of Atlanta, taking a break.

But Caroline missed him.

Of course she did.

Caroline bit into her fajita, and Elena groaned out. "Look. Klaus is gone, he's never coming back. I'm sorry Care, but… I'm glad."

The blonde was silent, nodding a little-

They were lucky she guessed.

Thunder rumbled outside, rain splattering against the window, making Elena sigh. "Lovely weather (!)"

Caroline laughed, wincing as the thunder rumbled again. At that, Elena went, getting to her feet and pulling her hood up. "I gotta run. Urgh."

With that, she left, leaving Caroline to eat her lunch, staring at the rain on the windows.

There was a prickle on the back of her neck, feeling as if she was being watched.

Her eyes scanned the outside of the café, trying to stare though the growing darkness, sighing-

Nothing.

But- movement caught her eye, frowning, up in a flash, yanking the door open and running outside, the rain pouring onto her head, swearing she had seen someone.

Caroline saw the movement once more, dashing across the road, calling. "Hey-!" having no idea why she was doing it.

But there was something… she wanted it to be Klaus.

As she reached the end of the street, her eyes narrowed-

Something was here.

And she had a feeling it was him.

Caroline stood there in the rain, blinking as it hit her eyes, muttering to herself. "Klaus-?"

Thunder rumbled overhead once more, and the vampire just stared, thinking…

Was he back-?

Here we go! Next chapter! Hope you all like, sorry it's shorter than usual- just a filler chapter before the big one next chapter. Caroline and Klaus have parted ways… for now;) thanks for the lovely reviews! They keep me smiling so much. Hope you leave more x