Sorry for not updating, Senior year has been busy. There are only two chapters left!

Chapter Twenty-Three: Heart and Soul

"He's going to die and it's all my fault," Elena said near hiccups. There were tears running all over her pretty face ever since she had begged Elijah to save Damon hours ago. Katherine and Elena had been sitting in the small living room of the hotel while Elijah tried to save Damon in the room upstairs. "He's going to die and I'm going to have to live with it. It's all my fault, if I hadn't been so stupid then maybe-"

"It's not all your fault, stop sniffling." Katherine scolded. She tried to keep her voice light, but she wasn't the best when it came to comforting people. Besides a small part of her did know that it was Elena's fault that Damon had been shot, but she wasn't about to tell her that especially when she was sniffling like crazy. "Besides Elijah is a great doctor and he will save Damon I am sure of it."

Elena finally stopped crying to look at her with a hopeful look on her face. "You are?"

"Of course I am," Katherine's voice was as soft as butter and she hoped that she wasn't proven wrong. "Now dry your tears, you don't want to look puffy for when Damon wakes up, now do you?"

Elena shook her head as she took the hankie from Katherine and dried the tears from her puffy, red face. "What were you even doing at Elijah's house anyway? Were you feeling sick?"

Katherine hesitated a bit as she played with the sleeves of her dress. "Not really." She didn't know how to bring it up. "Elijah and I met long before I started working at the saloon and," she stuttered with her words. She had never been the most lovey dovey person and she didn't know how to explain this to Elena. "Anyway, my parents came to look for me, yesterday actually to disown me. Again."

Elena looked at her with sympathy. "Oh, no Kat I am so sorry."

Katherine shrugged. "Well, anyway Elijah has always kind of been my white knight. He asked me to marry him and I accepted."

Elena squealed with excitement as she hugged her. "Oh, really Kat I am so happy for you! He always seemed to have a little crush on you, but you always seemed a little cold towards him. When's the wedding?"

Katherine looked at her lap. "We haven't decided." Marriage. Fiancée. Mrs. Mikaelson all those words sounded strange to her.

"If Caroline and Klaus marry then you will be sisters in law," Elena said with a small smile. "How fun would that be?"

Crack.

Caroline flinched when she heard the branch crack under her foot. She looked over her shoulder to see if anyone had seen, but the streets were empty. She breathed a sigh of relief and scolded herself for being so paranoid.

Jesse's cabin was only a few feet away, but it felt forever. A part of her wanted to turn and run away in the opposite direction, but then she thought of Klaus and she was determined to continue. He would do the same thing for her.

Caroline stopped short when she saw light coming from Jesse's former cabin. She had thought that the cabin would be empty. Apparently, Jesse's old buddies had taken refuge there.

Still, Caroline couldn't back away now. She continued her track stubbornly slouching down to avoid being seen, but all of them were probably so drunk that they didn't even see her. As she got closer Caroline could smell the cigars and she could even the smell the sweat and alcohol than clung to the men.

"Brian, once again we have you to thank for this," A bearded man said. He was wearing a stripped shirt. "Killing Jesse was the best idea that you could have come out with."

"Yeah," a skinny man in a red shirt let out a laugh. "With that bastard gone we got to keep his stuff and get Sherriff Mikaelson off our back."

Brian laughed as he raised his glass. "Cheers boys to the perfect murder and may Jesse rest in peace." The entire table burst out laughing as they clicked their glasses.

Caroline felt the relief spread towards her body. She picked up her skirt and headed towards the sheriff's office. She needed to tell Luke the truth. Then Klaus would be free.

Caroline felt out of breath as she arrived at the sheriff's office and Luke had been about to leave when Caroline had screamed at him to stop. Luke had sighed, probably thinking that Caroline had come to complain again. "Miss Forbes, I'm tired can we talk about this tomorrow."

"No we can't." Caroline said feeling out of breath. "We need to talk about things now, Luke you need to head to Jesse's cabin now." Luke raised an eyebrow as if asking to elaborate. "I went there to find anything that might prove that Klaus was not involved in Jesse's murde. I went to the cabin and one of the men Brian kept bragging about how great it was that they had killed Jesse because they got to keep his cabin and all his money. The killed Jesse, not Klaus. Klaus is innocent."

Luke settled his blue eyes on Caroline. "Are you sure about this Caroline?" Caroline nodded and Luke sighed. "Stay here, I am going to get a few other men and we are going to question them, but I need you to stay here, Caroline do you understand?"

Caroline nodded. She gripped her hands together and for the first time in a long time she prayed.

Caroline shifted in her feet nervously as she waited for Klaus to be released. Luke had promised that Klaus would be release today. The doors finally opened and Klaus stepped out. He had slight stubble on his face and Caroline let out a squeal when she saw him as she raced towards him.

Klaus grabbed her by the waist and spinned her around until Caroline grew dizzy. Klaus kissed her. "I heard you were quite the little heroine." Klaus smiled. "And Luke told me that I have you to thank for your bravery they were finally able to arrest those men for Jesse's murder. You were reckless, Caroline."

"Don't scold me," Caroline said as she caressed his face, "I was brave and I got what I wanted, did I not?"

A smile curled on Klaus' lip as he rested his hand on her lower back. "And what is that, love?"

Caroline smiled as she leaned over to kiss Klaus again. "You." She squeezed his hand. "I have a wedding to plan. I can't have it if my groom is in jail."

Klaus looked at her with amusement. "Is that why you did it then, so that you can tie me down."

Caroline shrugged, "You started first, Mr. Mikaelson. I just won the game."

-End of Chapter Twenty-Three-