Hi all! Sorry it's taken me ages... but at least it's long. Trying to work round to getting Klaus in his own body, Tyler out of the way and some Klaroline interaction!

Thanks for the reviews, and sorry about any spelling mistakes! (Stephan/Stefan doh!, I'm British if I can use it as an excuse:)

I hope you enjoy this part and let me know if you like the direction it's taking!

Caroline sat in the car as Tyler walked around it and opened the door. She breathed in deeply, the evening smelled of jasmine and the warm air hinted at more hot and sunny days ahead.

"Caroline" Tyler's voice brought her back to the present and she grasped his waiting hand and got out the car. Shutting it behind her she leaned back against the door and smiled at him. He had seemed distant today, quiet.

"Tyler, are you OK?" She asked, slipping her fingers through his.

He looked down at their joined hands and then gently raised hers to his lips and kissed the back softly.

"I'm fine, I have to go. Thank you for today." holding his gaze she smiled uncertainly.

"Well, don't sound so serious, I'll see you soon, after I get back from my trip... right?" she asked. He smiled and nodded.

"Right" raising his other hand, he drew his thumb along her cheek and tucked her hair back.

"Goodbye Caroline." He broke the contact then, left her hands trailing in the air and turned. The gravel crunched softly under his feet and the street lights seemed to paint his black hair gold for an instant as he walked into the night. She watched him until the darkness swallowed him up, he didn't look back once.

Bonnie heard the door open and she and Rebekah looked at each other. The cavernous room housed a great roaring fire at one end and in the middle sat the coffin which held Klaus's body. Candles formed a circle around the body and a skylight reflected the lunar eclipse that was tonight's special event. Not a full eclipse, it hadn't gathered much attention from the public, but it was all Bonnie needed.

"Evening ladies" a dry voice came from the hall as Klaus/Tyler strolled in.

"Nik, where have you been? It's almost time." Rebekah spoke impatiently.

"Come now love, I'm sure I'm just in time." and gave a sad sort of smile. Something in Bonnie realised he wasn't as eager to get back to his own body as he made out.

"Stand here" she said positioning him at the head of the coffin.

"I still look awfully haggard." he observed as he peered at his former face.

"The eclipse will take care of that." said Bonnie as she paced his hands on Klaus's body's shoulders.

"Rebekah read this out loud" she thrust a dusty old book into her hands and went to the other end of the coffin.

Rebekah started to speak quietly in some ancient language. Bonnie closed her eyes. The candles flared. Overhead the moon had reached its peak of eclipse. Taking a knife from her belt she walked round to him and slit his palm open, holding it over the desecrated body's mouth. She started muttering low and insistently. He felt something inside. A wrenching. Like someone had opened a door, and cold air was blowing in. He followed the feeling and feel the edge of consciousness. Here was Tyler and here was Klaus. All he need do was step over. He teetered on the brink.

"Pass over Klaus... NOW!" Bonnie demanded sensing his hesitation. Taking a breath, a last breath in the body Caroline had kissed, touched, that she had loved... he crossed the divide.

Tyler Lockwood wasn't sure where he was. The last few weeks were a blur to him. He felt as though he had been a wolf the entire time. He sat up and looked around him. His room. His bed. Everything the same. Putting his head in his hands he breathed deep and thought back to the last thing he remembered. Caroline and the cave, preparing to leave, going to see Bonnie...

He remembered the deal he made. To let Klaus have his body to make sure everyone was safe. He was the only one it could truly work in, because of their connection and because he was also a hybrid, he'd kill anyone else.

A sudden noise made him look round.

"Tyler" Bonnie said as she walked towards him and sat down "Tyler, I'm sorry, are you ok?" she asked shakily.

"I'm OK, what about everyone else? Did it work?" his eyes searched her face.

"It worked" she nodded.

"Where is Klaus?"

"At home, recovering. He played it well Tyler, no one knows what we did. No one even knows he is still alive yet." she reassured him.

"What about Caroline?" he asked worriedly

"Has he been seeing her?" he stood up abruptly pushing Bonnie back suddenly.

"If he..." Shouting now rage threatened to engulf him. He began to pace his room, arms flexing with imagining punching Klaus right in his Original face.

"Nothing happened!" cried Bonnie "I'm certain, nothing happened. They hung out, she thought it was you the whole time."

"How long has it been?" he asked quietly

Bonnie hung her head, and looked apologetic

"Not more than a couple of weeks, I tried my best to fix it quickly, but... it wasn't so easy"

"Oh god Bonnie, what have we done?"

"We did what we had to. For our friends, my mother, we had no choice."

"I just hope the others see it that way. They're going to find out Klaus is back, we can't keep it from them. He's hardly low key. They'll figure out you helped them, and it'll all come out. I should go and see him."

"Just be careful, your sire bond might be strong again since he has been inside your head."

"Don't worry, I can take care of myself." he gave her an uncertain grin.

"Nik, would you like some more blood? I could go out and get us something a little fresher." Rebekah wandered around the room picking up the empty blood bags and throwing them in a bag.

"Nik!" she eyed her brother as he lounged in front of the open fire, nursing a drink and staring into the flames. He had been moody ever since he switched back bodies and she was getting tired of it.

"Hmmm?" he replied, not turning towards her.

"More blood?" she demanded, almost stamping her foot in a bid to rouse his interest in her a little.

"No thanks sis, don't forget our little deal with the mayor. Plus the council being extra alert right now... what happened with that anyway?" he finally turned to her.

"I compelled them. The mayor messed with their vervain supplies and I had a nice little chat with them. I couldn't have them staking the body you were in, though Caroline would hardly have been a great loss to the world." she curled up on the couch across from him and watched him. He smiled at that.

"She's not so bad." he could hardly keep the smile off his face, a secret smile, Rebekah didn't like it one bit. She instantly felt a rush of jealousy. For a thousand years she had been the most important person to her brother, now he had secret smiles and private memories of that blond airhead.

"Well, that's only because she didn't know who you were." Rebekah came back smugly, satisfied that would throw some cold water on his romantic musings. "If she'd known who you were, she never would have spent all that time with you."

"Yes, I am fully aware of that but thank you for reminding me." he looked at her wryly, he raised his glass to her in a toast.

"To being unloved and miserable forever." Rebekah watched him silently as he downed the rest of his drink and went back to brooding.

Caroline began that day in the shower. As she rubbed green tea and lotus flower shampoo through her long tresses she though about the best way to get to her Aunt's house, a trip she'd been putting off for ages and unfortunately couldn't anymore. Stepping out the shower she started toweling her hair.

A knock at the door interrupted her reverie. Quickly slipping her shorts and vest top on, she was walking to the hall when the knock came again.

"Coming!" she shouted annoyed.

"Tyler, what's the rush?" she asked as she opened the door and saw him standing there, dressed in sweats and a football top.

"Caroline" he said as he stepped inside and put his arms around her. Holding her tightly he seemed to shudder.

"Tyler! What's wrong...? Did something happen?" she asked concerned. He leaned back from her and took her face in his hands. Gazing into her eyes he bent his head forward to kiss her. This was a full on, all out kiss. It almost sent her staggering backwards.

"Tyler!" she breathed as she fought for a little space and backed away. His hands were wandering lower down her back, slipping under the t-shirt, caressing the smooth skin. "Tyler, wait!" Finally using all her strength she pushed him back.

"Why are you here? I though we weren't seeing each other for a couple of days, until I get back."

"I just had to see you." he said pulling her back into him again. She took a deep breath and tried to still her hammering heart. She supposed he was suddenly over his aversion to physical contact he'd recently developed. It felt weird, suddenly being full on after taking it slow. He leant back and looked at her,

"I love you Caroline." he said earnestly, she smiled nervously in return.

"I love you too Tyler, you know that." she was confused about what he was doing. Did he want their relationship pause to be over? Was she ready for that?

"I'm sorry if I freaked you out! I just woke up this morning and couldn't wait to see you." his lips captured hers again. His demanding mouth moved on hers, pushing hard.

"Tyler... stop" she started to apply a little pressure to his chest to push him off. He wasn't budging. Suddenly she gasped as she felt his teeth slid along her lip a little too sharply.

"Ow! What was that! Be careful." she warned searching along her lip with her tongue. A small tang of blood filled her mouth.

"Tyler... I think you just bit me! What the hell?" she turned to the mirror and pulled her lip down. There it was, a tiny puncture mark in the skin, so small, barely noticeable.

"What? I can't have! Let me see..." he steadied her head with his hands and looked at her lip. The tiny hole stared back, he felt a cold wind blow through him. What had he done? Been too rough with her... hurt her... she'd need Klaus's blood. She though he was dead, everyone did. All these thoughts spiralled through Tyler's head in a matter of seconds as he watched horror dawn on her face.

"I... I'm gonna die now? After everything we've survived... I'm going to die... " her voice trilled off shrilly. "Oh my god" she sat down heavily on the floor, staring ahead.

"I need to call my mum, and Elena and Bonnie... I have to speak to them."

"No! Wait, just wait. I need to think." head in his hands he started pacing back and forward. His thoughts flew wildly around in his head. If Bonnie found out, she'd tell everyone about Klaus and not care that Caroline might realise it hadn't been him these past weeks. She would have a tough time forgiving him, for letting him believe it had been him, for not warning her before. That plus this biting slip, he was going to lose her. The only thing he could think of was if Klaus agreed to do it, without anyone else knowing, then compelled Caroline to forget. He could do that, it was in his power, then it would buy him and Bonnie some time. Some time to come up with an explanation, or at least find a way to tell them all the truth.

He stood paralysed for another second, then pulled out his phone and began to dial.

"I'll call them"

The world was starting to slip in and out of focus. Her fever was building, she could feel the poison seem to burn along her veins. She felt so weak. It hadn't happened so fast last time. It must be because she's already almost died of this once, her body just picked up where it had left off. Tyler was busily moving round her room, he grabbed a big blanket and wrapped it around her. He started to lift her up.

"Where are we going?" she whispered "My mum will be home soon, I need to see her."

"It's going to be OK Caroline. You're not going to die, just rest and this will all be over soon"

She could feel the fear and guilt curling through him. She bit down to stop the helpless tears rolling from her eyes. How could she be OK? How could anything? How could she ever have thought she could have a relationship with a man whose bite could kill her? A tiny, playful, inconsequential slip... and death? They'd been fools.

The light hurt her eyes as Tyler carried her outside and she turned her face into his chest. Images flashed in her mind's eye as she relived the last few weeks. The tenderness, the respect they'd found between them. The excitement before she saw him and the pleasure she felt speaking to him. She couldn't even find it in herself to be angry at him. Mistakes like this were always going to happen, especially between two super strong supernatural beings. The car moved under her as he pulled out.

"Are we going to Elena's?" she asked feverishly, clinging to his hand.

"Caroline, please just rest, save your strength. This is all going to be OK"

Tyler hauled the car around a corner and put his foot down. Caroline had seemed to drift off, still murmuring to herself. His hands gripped the wheel, he recalled his conversation with Klaus

"Tyler mate, I was wondering when you'd call. Feeling a bit more yourself?" The low voice asked in his ear.

"Listen Klaus, we'll have to save the catching up for later, something's happened to Caroline."

"What's happened?" the voice, lower and more intent.

"I... I bit her... by accident." Tyler's voice threatened to shake as he spoke.

"How could you bite her by accident? She's not a piece of meat mate, you might want to be a little more careful around her." Klaus's teasing seemed to cover anger. Tyler supposed he was angry at his carelessness, now it threatened to expose them all, not that it should worry Klaus that much.

"I don't know what to do..." Tyler trailed off, feeling horribly vulnerable, knowing it was completely possible that Klaus would let her die.

"Yes... you do. I'm waiting for you here, there's too much risk someone will see me if I come there. Hurry." the dial tone sounded over the line.

The gravel crunched under his tires as pulled into the expansive driveway of the huge mansion. He jumped out the car and ran to the other side. Scooping Caroline up, he rushed up the steps to the house, where Rebekah had opened the door, standing with her arms crossed she stood aside to let him in.

"Well well, it seems Caroline is certainly good at getting chewed on. Seriously, what were you guys doing that you forget not to kill her..." she raised an eyebrow suggestively.

"Rebekah! Shut it and prepare a room."

"I'm not her maid Nik." Rebekah shot over her shoulder as she turned and flounced out the room without a second glance. Caroline started struggling in Tyler's arms suddenly and almost fell from the blankets she was being held in. Lowering her to the floor, Tyler felt his phone begin to buzz in his pocket. Looking at the display he saw Liz Forbes number flash.

"It's Caroline's mum. What am I going to say? She'll never trust me again."

"Tell her Caroline already left for her aunt's house. Leave her car here, she's meant to be gone for a few days."

"Why are you helping us?" Tyler demanded, watching as Klaus stood over them, arms folded looking impassively down on the scene.

"Chalk it up to boredom I guess. Or maybe gratitude. You did save my life after all. Fair's fair mate. Now you need to answer the phone, then get over to Caroline's and make it look like she left on the trip."

"I..." Tyler hesitated, torn between wanting to stay with Caroline and wanting to make sure not too many questions were raised.

"Don't over think it, it's not your strong suit. I'll clean up your mess. Go" that single command propelled him into action, he knelt beside Caroline, stroked her shoulder and whispered softly to her

"I'm so sorry Caroline, you're going to be OK. I promise." with that he stood, looked a last time at Klaus.

"Thank you. I know you don't have to do this... so thank you." he quickly turned and started to run back into town and Caroline's house, fishing his phone from is pocket to return the sheriff's call.

The door closed with a slam and silence fell around the scene in the hall. Klaus went directly to Caroline's side and gently lifted her. She weighed nothing. She stirred and her little hands reached up to his neck, they burned with fever. Carrying her upstairs steadily, he opened a room next to his, books and a coffin were scattered around the room, making the bed unusable. She suddenly started to retch in his arms, blood spilled out her mouth.

"Bloody hell" he muttered as he swept through to his room and laid her on the open bed. Coughing she leant over the side as more blood came up, he held back her hair and waited for her to calm. He'd never seen such awful suffering in a vampire before, and it horrified him. And now, to see her, dying there, his heart felt frozen and his veins clogged with ice. He felt a cold rage build at the thought of Tyler, carelessly endangering her like this. Gently laying her back on the bed, he used a wet cloth to wipe the smudged blood from her mouth.

"Caroline" he whispered softly "Sweetheart. I'm going to fix you. I just need you to drink from me."

At the sound of her name her eyelids fluttered. Her eyes were cloudy and red as they fixed on him.

"Am I dead?" she asked a sob escaping her lips as she realised who held her.

"No... well, not yet anyway."

"But you're dead, you died. Damon saw it." she whispered.

"Looks can be deceiving." Her eyes closed again as a fit of racking coughs overtook her, followed by trembling shakes that had her teeth clattering together.

"You have to drink, now, there's no need to suffer anymore." he tried to hold her head steady enough to allow her mouth access to his wrist.

Watching him roll his sleeve up she asked in a small voice

"Aren't you going to make me ask for it again. Let me choose whether to live or die?"

"No. This time, I'm making the choice for you. You're not going anywhere."

Ripping the skin open he put her mouth to his arm, her lips finally fastened on and she started to drink.

"That's it sweetheart." his other hand cradled her head and his blood swirled through her, leaving her feeling giddy. There was definitely something in this original hybrid stuff that went to your head Caroline though as she sucked deeper. Suddenly she broke off and fell back on the bed. She could feel the blood inside her, colliding with the poison. She closed her eyes in an effort to make the room stop spinning and felt the weight of Klaus move off the bed. Running water sounded from the bathroom and then he was back, near the bed. Opening her eyes, she saw him crouched down wiping blood up off the floor. He looked up and their eyes collided, mere inches apart. Neither spoke, Caroline's eyes searched his face and he watched her watching him.

How could he be alive? Why was he helping her again? The questions whirled around her head, but she didn't feel brave enough to ask any.

"Two times I've been lost and afraid, dying... and none of my friends could help me. And both times you've been there. Why do you keep saving me?"

Klaus was taken aback by the brutal honesty of the question and the response he instinctively wanted to give. Because she had come to mean something to him, something more than he cared to examine. That the last weeks had brought him the kind of happiness and peace he had long forgotten. That he had glimpsed what it had meant to feel human again. Then he thought of Bonnie and their deal, and the words died.

Summoning up a smirk instead he said carefully "Do you really think I'd give up a chance to have you owe me?