AN: I don't own this, please don't sue me :)

I loved the scene in 3x20. It conveyed Klaus is age, he is one of the oldest beings on earth. If he wants something he will wait for it. He has all the time in the world.

This story takes place after the decade dance. Disregard everything after that. I love feed back so please review.

Mark My Words

I called my mother a few months after leaving Chicago. Obviously, I couldn't go back to Mystic Falls. That life was over for me. So Mom took two weeks off and we went to Europe.

We didn't go to England. I convinced Mom that it was too much like the States and would be a waste of time. That we should spend the time exploring more exotic places. It was a lame excuse, I know, but I didn't think I could handle England. Not yet anyway.

So we went to Greece. Saw the sights, ate the food and swam in the ocean.

Soon, too soon I had to say goodbye.

"This was wonderful sweetie." Mom said while stroking my hair. "You are growing up. I am so proud of you."

Then she started to cry.

"Mom whats wrong?"

"Nothing, nothing" she wiped her eyes. " I am being silly. It's just, you are living the life I always wanted for you. It is hard knowing that you can't come home. That you have out grown our old life together. Out grown me."

I smiled at her.

"I could never out grow you. You are my mom and you will be my Mom twenty, thirty even two hundred years from now. Besides I was human back then. Given all the craziness of Mystic Falls, hadn't I been turned I would be dead and buried right now. I am going to make the best of this. There is no use getting upset about things I can't change. You and daddy taught me that."

Talking about my father always brought up bad memories.

"He loved you Caroline. He did terrible things to you. But in the end he loved you. I truly believe that he would be proud of you."

I hugged her goodbye. I stayed at the airport watching the planes take off, trying to guess which one was taking my mother home.

I walked back to my hotel enjoying the heat from the setting sun. I went over the pros and cons of going to China. It would be amazing. Completely foreign. Maybe I could even teach english. But it would cost an arm and leg to get there. Maybe Spain would be better. I still feel guilty about using compulsion. It always reminds me of Damon and how weak I felt back then. I try take things only from those who had plenty to spare. But even that didn't make me any more comfortable with it.

As I passed the front desk one of the employee's stopped me. "Miss Forbes. This was left for you."

"Thank You." I replied automatically. It was only when I saw the writing on the envelope that I remembered that I was checked in under another name.

Klaus. He had been here

I scanned the lobby of the hotel looking for any sign of him. Of course there was none. This cat and mouse game would only end when he wanted it to.

I sat down on the bench at the bay window in my room. Even though I would never say it out loud, I was secretly hoping he was still watching me. My dark phantom. That he would see my reaction.

A card with his hand writing fell out as I opened the envelope.

To replace what was lost.

See the world guilt free.

I pulled out the paper and gasped. It was me and mom laughing with the Parathion behind us. It was gorgeous. But then again, everything he gave me was. The drawing invoked all the same feelings when he gave me the first one the night of the dance. flattery, awe, disbelief, pleasure and guilt. It was delicious I realized how much I missed that feeling.

I fought to keep my expression neutral just in case some one was watching. As I stood up to go back to my room another card fell out of the envelope. I could hardly believe my eyes. It was an American Express Black card. The world's only unlimited credit card. Someone had once told me that there were less than ten in the world..

Klaus had just handed me the world on a plate.