Caroline never mentioned the fact that Klaus might be back to either Elena or Bonnie. They might have been friends once more, but the blonde didn't trust them.

She'd been a fool to let the man she'd loved go.

But she'd been so young.

Such an idiot to let her friends get the better of her, acting so rashly.

Caroline glanced out the window again, the sky was still dark with the threat of rain heavy in the air, thinking about what he'd said what felt like years ago…

That she'd turn up on his doorstep.

That this life wouldn't be enough for her…

He'd been so right.

Caroline cared more about her friends, but now-?

She was eternal. They weren't.

It was time she grew up.

Her humanity had been slowly slipping away the whole year. All she needed was one more knock.

And boom.

She shoved her phone into her pocket now, stepping forwards through the woods on the way home, swallowing hard; she'd changed, hardened.

And it was for the best.

So many times she'd wanted to rage, yell at Elena and Bonnie that they knew nothing about her happiness, that they should accept her with him, or not at all.

There was that prickle on the back of her neck once more as the heavens opened, making Caroline groan and step backwards under a tree, taking shelter, closing her eyes and listened to the patter on the leaves, letting out a light sigh.

Footsteps.

Her eyes snapped open at that, stepping forwards with wide eyes, muttering. "I know you're there."

There was silence but for the rain.

Caroline shivered as the cold air blew through, realizing that maybe he wasn't here after all, that she'd been chasing a dead end.

She turned now, just stopping dead as she saw the figured stood in the clearing, staring at her. His eyes dark, emotionless.

"Klaus…" the name slipped from her lips, eyes widening as she stared.

It was him.

Oh god.

She stood there, the rain splattering onto him as she watched, hair plastered to his head. Finally, he moved, cocking his head the slightest fraction as a light smile twitched onto his face, and Caroline heard it clearly-

"Hello Sweetheart."

Caroline felt tears burning in her eyes, as hot and wet as the ones she had shed when they had said goodbye.

The hybrid frowned lightly, walking forwards until he was stood before the girl, and Caroline noticed his hair had grown a fraction longer, and before she realized it, she'd raised a hand to his cheek, caressing it with a thumb, muttering. "Nik…"

Klaus smiled lightly, taking her own face into his hands and touched his lips to her own, muttering against them, voice almost a groan. "I missed you…"

She never replied, but rather nipped at his bottom lip, kissing him hungrily as she wound her hand into his sopping hair, groaning a little.

God she had… missed him so bloody much.

The year away from each other had made her love him more, she knew that now, and Klaus could tell as she kissed him with so much passion he took her waist, holding her still as he kissed her back, pushing her backwards and against the tree, sheltered from the rain.

Caroline pulled away after a second, running a hand through his sopping hair, groaning out. "Why are you here?"

"Want me to leave?"

"No!"

Klaus smirked at that, cocking his head as he took her face into his hands once more, kissing her gently, muttering against her lips. "I never should have let you go."

"Touche." Laughed weakly, wrapping her arms around his neck, capturing his lips once more, melting into it, feeling as if this was a dream in which she could wake up from any moment.

But this was reality.

This was love.

-Marked-

Caroline wound a hand more into Klaus' hair as she let him push her against the shower wall, lips more than heated as they explored the others bare bodies with their hands.

The hybrid moved a hand to his hair now, smoothing it back before pulling away, nipping at her lips, muttering out.

"What ha-"

Caroline placed a finger over his lips, whispering. "Shut up. Just kiss me."

She didn't have to ask twice.

After the shower, Caroline was content to lock her bedroom door and let the man hold her in his arms in bed under the covers, eyes closed, but awake.

"Where have you been?" Caroline asked now, voice quiet. Klaus was silent, replying lightly with his eyes still shut. "Everywhere."

"Care to elaborate?"

Klaus chuckled at that. "Mainly London. Always had a soft spot for that place."

"And what have you been doing?"

"Truthfully? Eh, not much. Taking a year off."

Caroline frowned a little now. "So why are you back here?"

"I missed you."

So blunt, and Caroline didn't doubt him one bit.

But he was quieter than usual, making her ask. "Are you ok?"

Klaus opened his eyes at that, frowning lightly as he looked down at her. "Why wouldn't I be fine?"

"I was just asking my love."

The hybrid chuckled once more, pulling the covers over them, groaning out. "It's getting late." Caroline nodded, sighing. "Elena and Bonnie are coming over t-"

"I'm not hiding."

Caroline was too tired to argue, sighing in defeat it seemed, snuggling into is chest, more than content as she drifted off.

-Marked-

The next morning, Caroline was the first to wake up, not wanting to open her eyes, the feeling of having those arms around her once more still lingering.

The best dream.

But there was movement next to her, and she turned to stare into the face of the sleeping hybrid, his slightly longer hair rugged like she remembered.

Caroline left him to go and make breakfast, slipping on her dressing gown with a light yawn, a smile escaping her-

How could she not smile-?

He was back.

Downstairs, Caroline made a cup of tea, remembering how it all began.

Against the fridge.

On the table…

Against the side.

My god it seemed so very long ago now since he done all that to her. Shaken up her life for the better.

There was a knock on the door now, and Caroline set her cup down, feeling…

Nothing.

She glanced to the door, making her way over and opened it, smiling at Bonnie. It felt so fake.

Like Klaus returning had been the wake up she'd needed.

It was her future

Her choices.

Hers alone.

Bonnie smiled at Caroline, shrugging. "I was passing through." The blonde shrugged. "Come in."

They both walked into the kitchen, and Bonnie stopped dead at the Original sat in just his dark jeans, hair a mess and cup of tea in his hand.

"You." Bonnie snarled, and Klaus flashed her a smirk. "Yes." He got to his feet, walking over to face the witch, cocking his head with narrowing eyes. "Your worst nightmare."

Bonnie backed off now, shaking her head at Caroline. "Again?"

At that, Caroline snapped, eyes narrowing at the witch. "Excuse me? This is my life! Not yours! And if I happen to love Klaus, that is my own choice. Not yours."

Bonnie scoffed, shaking her head. "He's corrupted you. You would have never done all this if he never came back."

The blonde snarled at that. "You miserable little bitch."

Bonnie blinked at her words, hissing back after a second. "After everything he's done? He was going to kill you! Use you as his sacrifice! You know the sick, twisted things he's done as well as I do!"

"People change."

"Not him." Bonnie retorted, and Klaus' eyes narrowed, but he stayed silent as Caroline snapped. "Your opinion is irrelevant."

"You're turning into him."

"I'd rather be like him than you."

That was the last straw for Bonnie, who next to growled, Caroline yelling as the pain hit her full on, ripping at her.

But then a snap rent the air, the pain stopping dead.

Caroline straightened up slowly, eyes widening as she watched the hybrid drop the witch to the floor after a moment, looking to Caroline, eyes dark.

"Klaus… what have you done-?" Caroline muttered, eyes widening as she stared at the figure upon the floor.

The hybrid was silent, and Caroline just backed off, shaking her head. "You killed her…"

"She deserved it."

"Nik! I just-!" Caroline went, but then realized something-

She wasn't crying.

She wasn't… feeling anything.

Caroline shook her head so much, muttering. "Why aren't I crying? Why am I…" she stopped dead, eyes wide, hardly feeling Klaus take her face into his hands, muttering.

"Don't try to care sweetheart. Just… don't. That hurts."

"I don't… I'm confused. What-?"

"Caroline. Stop it. Stop caring about that world you used to know. You don't fit in there anymore. Me, you… we're outcasts."

"What do I… do now-?"

"Come with me."

"Where-?"

"The world is ours. Anywhere."

"You're asking me to leave everything I know."

Klaus leaned forwards now, staring into the girls eyes- she was a mess. She had no idea what to feel anymore. What to care about, how to react.

He pressed a kiss to her cheek, moving to her ear, muttering into it. "You're not human anymore, sweetheart. Embrace your other side. Because… it's beautiful. You are beautiful."

"You're twisted."

"So are you."

Caroline met his eyes at that, narrowing her own as she told him, feeling those last few uncertainties, the doubt drift away.

Mystic Falls was a chapter in her life that was closing.

The next one?

The world.

The chapter that should have happened a year ago.

Eh, no matter how many times I write this chapter, it just won't come out good XD so here! Not too many chapters left now. Thank you for the reviews and comments! Next up soon enough x