So, I was definitely not expecting anyone to follow this story, but I am so grateful for those of you who did! Ya'll made my morning a little bit better. So, I know I said there would be some klaroline moments in this chapter, but the way it played out, the chapter would've just had too much in it if I had put them in it. But I will say they will be together in the next chapter, no doubt. Thank you guys so much and hope you enjoy!

Arriving home, Caroline dropped her keys in the bowl on the table and hung her purse on the hook above it. She opened the drawer of that same table, checking to make sure her nine millimeter was still there. Caroline had a gun in every single one of her tables around the apartment. Call her paranoid, but she had been caught by surprise too many times and she was not about to go unprotected...not this time. Seeing that she had three new messages on her answering machine, she went over to the phone and pressed play.

"You have three new messages; message number one" she heard the answering machine say before she heard: "Hey, Care. It's Elena. Just wanted to check in. I haven't talked to you in a while, and I know you have big day ahead of you tomorrow. Call me when you can. Love you."

Elena was probably the only person who could even remotely know how Caroline felt, considering she'd been through some of what Caroline had been through. They'd been best friends since second grade, and Elena was actually the one who'd recommended Katherine as her doctor. Katherine was Elena's older sister and they could basically pass for twins, which they have on a few occasions. Deciding she would call Elena back before she went to bed, she continued listening.

"Message number two: Hi, sweetheart. It's aunt Karen. Just wanted to wish you good luck tomorrow. I know you'll do great and your mom and dad would be so proud of you. Let us know how it goes. Love you."

Oh, aunt Karen and uncle Jack. Always worried about how she was doing, which was definitely to be expected. They'd taken Caroline in after her parents had been...had died. Her parents were not exactly a topic Caroline liked to think about. But Karen and Jack had brought Caroline in like she was their own, without dishonoring her parents memory, and that was something she would be eternally grateful for.

Remembering she had one last message, she froze when she heard the voice on the other end.

"Message number three: Caroline." There was a pause as the person on the other end hesitated. "I've been meaning to call you for a while, but it seems like something always got in the way. But if I'm being honest with myself, I could have tried a little harder to call you. I spoke with your aunt the other day; she tells me you're starting your first job tomorrow. That's really great, kid and I know you'll do great. I'm real proud of you...your parents would be real proud, too. Well, hopefully I won't wait as long to call you next time. Good luck, kid."

She stood there, just staring at the phone. Alaric Saltzman. Or Ric, for those few people who had known him long enough and Caroline was one of those few. She hadn't talked to him in almost two years and she was perfectly fine with that. Not that she was upset with him, but because every time Caroline heard his voice, it was like she was a high school freshman all over again. Ric had been the lead detective in Caroline's case, so he'd practically become like her family. But speaking to him just brought on a slew of memories that Caroline didn't like remembering.

Shaking her head, she deleted all the messages and wrote herself a reminder to call Elena later. She walked over to the fridge and pulled out the leftover chinese food from the night before and stuck it in the microwave. While waiting for that to heat up, she went to her room and changed into her pajamas. Taking off her shirt, she caught sight of her reflection in the full-length mirror in the corner. Throughout her life, Caroline had always been told how beautiful she, whether it was her eyes, her body, or just simply her face. But looking in the mirror now, she felt she looked like a broken doll. Her eyes weren't as blue and her body was especially not what it used to be. One scar across her left shoulder, one across her right forearm, one right above her belly button, and the worst one of all: an X right over her heart.

"No matter how many men come after me, they'll always know that I have your heart."

And as of right now, he did.

Slipping on her pajamas, temporarily forgetting the scars, she grabbed her food and started where she left off in "Castle." Over the last couple months, it had become one of her favorite shows, probably because of how much her and Kate Beckett had in common. A hard-ass woman with a dangerous past, who's put up so many walls, not even Miley's wrecking ball could knock them down. But on thing they didn't have in common was the witty knight in shining armor who accepts her past and wants nothing more than to break down those walls. But even if someone like that came along, Caroline would never let them get close enough to do that. She learned a long time ago that anyone who ever gets close to her ends up getting hurt, or worse.

Noticing that she'd been watching TV for almost five hours, and knowing she had an early morning ahead, she turned the television off, threw away the empty cartons, and headed for the phone to call Elena back. Worrying that it was too late and was already asleep, Caroline was relieved when she heard Elena pick up.

"Took you long enough."

"Nice to hear from you, too" Caroline said while chuckling.

"Well I haven't talked to you in almost a month, and then you wait until ten o'clock at night to call me back." Caroline could tell she was joking, but she could still hear the slightest bit of hurt in her voice.

Caroline sighed, "I know, I know, I'm a terrible person, But let's not forget that a phone works both ways. You could have called me, too."

Scoffing, Elena said "well, I did, so I win. Now, on to more important things. Are excited and ready for tomorrow? Or are you nervous and dreading it?"

Thinking about it for a moment, Caroline said "a little bit of both, I guess. I'm finally getting to do what I love, but there's always the possibility that I'll epically fail and fall flat on my face."

Elena didn't say anything for a while, and for a moment, Caroline thought maybe she agreed with her. Before Caroline could dwell on it for too long, Elena confidently spoke: "Caroline Forbes, you've been through eight years of nothing but heartache and death. No one alive today can say they've been through half of what you have. This job? It's the first good thing that's happened to you since that son of a bitch came into your life and took everything from you." Caroline winced slightly when she said that, but let her continue. "You are going to blow everyone away, and no one's gonna know what hit them when they meet you. Stop being scared, Caroline. Stop letting him win."

Realizing that she had began crying, Caroline wiped away the tears that had escaped.

"You, Elena Pierce, are, without a doubt, the best friend a girl could ask for."

Elean laughed on the other end and said "well, it's about time you figured that out. But I think there's one exception to that."

Both girls became quiet after that, remembering that one exception. However, Elena started laughing when she suddenly heard Caroline start yawning.

"Well, you're not going kill that job if I keep you up all night. I'll let you get some sleep. Love you, Care. Goodnight."

"Love you, too, Elena. Goodnight."

Caroline hung up the phone and headed to her bedroom. Checking for the gun in her bedside table, she awaited what was sure to be another nightmare-filled sleep.

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It would be harder this time. There was no air vent to crawl out of. There was no cell mate to use as a distraction. No, this time he was in a box. A transparent box that was only visited by the officer who brought him his food everyday. This time would be more difficult, but he had to see her. It had been too long since he saw her face, her blonde hair, or those blue eyes that made everything okay, as long as he was looking at them. This time would be more difficult, but for her it was worth it. To see Caroline again, it would all be worth it.

So, I really value opinions and I'm not opposed to constructive critisism whatsoever. If you guys have ideas for plot lines you would like to see, please feel free to let me know. This story isn't gonna drag on and on, but I don't want to tell you all the secrets right away, so we'll see more of both Caroline and Elena's past. Leave me some review thanks so much for reading! xoxo