Welcome to the sequel to A True Best Friend; Not the Destination.

We're picking up from where we left off:

Elena survived the sacrifice as a human due to John sacrificing himself. John, however, became a vampire sired by Isobel.

Damon got the girl a lot earlier, due to the absence of Stefan and the influence of his best friend Bree. He gave Elena a ring on the night of the sacrifice, and they're officially in love.

Anna never died, though Pearl did. She's dating Jeremy and living with Jenna and Ric (who are engaged)

Caroline was killed in a car crash by Tyler Lockwood. Now a vampire, after drinking Klaus' blood (against her knowledge). Officially dating Tyler, she's had a bit of flirtation going on with Klaus.

Stefan initially left Mystic Falls but came back when Katherine returned. His friend, Lexi, still lives. Stefan was captured by Klaus and is sticking with him to learn about his life in the 20s and why he has so many missing memories.

Katherine was sacrificed as the vampire victim. Mason Lockwood was killed the same night for attacking Caroline.

Bonnie is working with Bree to avoid the draw and pull of dark magic.

I've probably left bits off, but you should go read A True Best Friend. It's a Delena story primarily but has bits of Forwood and Klaroline in for you too.

x-x-x-x

"Nik, these boots are going to be spectacularly ruined."

Caroline pouted as they may their way through the mud. The rain wasn't standard weather for this time of year; and she hadn't exactly had time to pack for all outcomes. Even so, Nik could have listened to her on the drive and stopped by the mall.

He never listened anymore. None of her boys did.

They'd been up and down the country for the past 2 months. Well, down to Florida and back up again, but it was still further than she'd travelled before.

Now they were in the Blue Ridge mountains, tantalisingly close to home. Part way through the hike she'd found her mind wandering, considering if in her new body she could run the entire way back to Mystic Falls. She wanted to; so badly that she'd stopped in her tracks in contemplation.

She missed her mom. That was something she'd never thought would happen; her mom wasn't exactly the world's most devoted parent. Nevertheless, Caroline missed her. When they'd been down in Pensacola beach, she'd been able to get a message through at least.

Running wasn't an option though; she'd promised to help Nik. He needed to protect his family, his siblings all stuck in boxes whilst they were hunted by the original vampire hunter. Mikael. The way Nik had said his name had scared her; his face had been filled with revulsion, but his voice had wavered. Mikael must be truly a terrible monster for Nik to fear him.

Klaus. She'd sworn to call him Klaus ever since he killed Elena, killed Mason.

She kept slipping. Tyler and Stefan rolled their eyes every time she did. Tyler was at least justified; he was along for this ride because he'd offered anything to save her life. As far as she was aware, nothing was forcing Stefan to stay. Nothing but the knowledge that Katherine was dead, Elena was a vampire and in love with his brother, and Klaus apparently knew him long ago.

As such, they'd followed the maniac around for months.

They'd not actually really done anything. Stefan had been sent into a few houses to question people after Nik had secured an invite. Tyler had been asked to speak to the local werewolf population, figure out where Mason's pack had disappeared to. Caroline? Well, she'd been asked to dress up and look pretty for a business dinner. The rest of the time she had no idea why she was there, not a single one of her actions (and there had been many hated herself for) couldn't have been done my Klaus or Stefan.

Unless she was simply there for him to torment? To force to do her bidding.

Nik barely let up his barrage of flirtation, growing more and more fond of winding Tyler up through his remarks. On the second night that the hotel they were staying in had magically only had 2 double rooms, she had put her foot down and refused to stay with anyone but Tyler. Nik had chuckled, opening his palm for a twenty dollar note from Stefan before handing the keys over to a third room. The absolute dick.

Klaus. Klaus was a dick.

"I'll buy you a hundred more pairs, Caroline." The offending vampire purred moments later, pulling her back out of her thoughts. "Though I suspect I might need to build you a larger closet first."

She folded her arms, stopping dead in her tracks, "I've told you before Klaus, I will not be living with you. I agreed to help with the hybrids. That's all."

"Whatever you say, sweetheart." He practically sang, not stopping his pace for a moment.

"Don't bother Car, you know he's just trying to get a reaction out of you." Tyler whispered as he overtook her on the trail.

She sighed, her eyes meeting Stefan's as her only hope for someone on her side. He simply shrugged, pursing his lips as he made space for her to walk beside him.

"So," she started, "How are you feeling about walking into a forest full of werewolves on a full moon?"

He sighed, "Honestly? I'm more worried that this close to home my idiot brother might turn up."

"Why?" She questioned, furrowing her brow, "We told them to stay away?"

"Have you ever heard Damon Salvatore follow an instruction?"

She chuckled, adding, "He would for Elena."

Stefan nodded solemnly, "Therein lies our problem. Elena wanted to chase after you that night you went on a date with Niklaus. We've been gone months Caroline, there's no way she hasn't got him searching for you."

"And you, Stefan."

He shook his head, "My brother will probably be wringing his hands with glee that I'm stuck here."

x-x-x-x

Damon was pacing. He knew he was pacing, and he could see Liz's eyes follow him up and down the office as he did so, tutting every time he turned on the spot as if she cared that he was wearing a hole in the station's floorboards.

"You're sure it was them?" He asked for what was potentially the four hundredth time.

She sighed, "You went to the house yourself Damon, you said it was Stefan's work."

He nodded in recognition, "But the CCTV, it had Caroline in?"

Again, she sighed; he was annoyed with himself so he couldn't blame her. "Yes, Damon. I recognise my own daughter."

The sheriff had called him in a panic only an hour ago. She'd received reports of a murder a week or so ago, one that Damon had been able to unequivocally link to his brother. He'd never met anyone else with Stefan's distinctive method of murder. The investigating officers had sent her an image this morning; the suspect's car driving away from the scene.

It appeared that Klaus had driven the car, Caroline in the passenger seat.

He'd cursed when he heard.

Not because Caroline was with Klaus and Stefan; they'd assumed as much to begin with and had been able to confirm it when they were tracked down in Miami.

In the murder house, which he'd taken Liz and Ric to, they'd found a werewolf hide-out and a map.

He'd put a thousand bucks on the fact that Klaus and his gang were heading to the blue-ridge mountains. Hell, he'd even wager the exact camp they'd be at on the next full moon. Conveniently, that was tonight.

"I can't go into the forest on a full moon night when we suspect there's going to a full pack of werewolves, Liz." He finally said, after another full five minutes of pacing.

There was nothing worse than letting his friend down, letting Elena down, but he'd promised her. He'd promised her he wouldn't go anywhere. She had lost enough already.

The past few months hadn't been great for Elena. Her best friends had both left town, Caroline with Klaus and Bree with Bonnie. Neither were particularly capable of calling; Bonnie's draw to dark magic hadn't lessened in Atlanta and Bree and the coven had had to find a way to subdue her. Jeremy and Anna were good company sometimes, as was Matt. Her ex and her baby brother weren't exactly the company she desired, though.

Worst yet, a few days ago was the anniversary of her parent's death.

The only thing he had found to help her was promising that he too wouldn't go anywhere. A promise he wasn't about to break only days later.

Liz only closed her eyes in response, falling back.

"How did she survive?" She whispered into the air.

It was a question they'd discussed a hundred times. The night of the sacrifice, Caroline had arrived at home with a werewolf bite. Liz had tucked her into bed and called everyone she could think of. Unfortunately, by the time anyone answered Caroline had disappeared.

Liz had mourned her at first, sinking herself in bourbon and wasting her days in the shooting range. To lose her child twice in a matter of weeks had broken her.

The message Caroline had managed to get through had given them all hope. There must be a way to survive werewolf bites. Perhaps they could rescue them from Klaus after all, survive his wrath if he ever returned to Mystic Falls.

It wasn't good enough to march into a known werewolf run-about. Not when they didn't know exactly how she'd managed it.

He pulled the chair opposite her out, allowing himself to slouch into it.

"We don't know, Liz. Bree's talked to everyone she can. Isobel had researched it before; she said the only thing she ever found was that 'the leader of the pack can fix all misdeeds'. Perhaps that means the pack alpha can cure it?" He was speculating, hoping he'd manage to find a way to rescue Caroline and his brother and not sign himself to a certain death.

Hell, if he could guarantee leaving that forest, he might even be tempted to save that utter dick of a Lockwood.

Maybe.

x-x-x-x

"Absolutely not." Elena snapped as soon as the sheriff and Damon had finished telling their story.

What they were suggesting was absurd. Even with Anna, if she agreed to come, they'd be ridiculously outpowered. Not to mention that Anna or Damon could easily die. Who's to say Caroline even wanted to come home?

At first, she was sure she had been kidnapped and taken, Tyler and Stefan too. After weeks of no contact, no sign at all, she was starting to doubt it. Everyone had left Mystic Falls. Perhaps it was simply that now they had their supernatural lives they didn't want to be in a small town anymore?

Her life was filled with finishing the year at high school; homework and extra-curriculars. Why would a vampire want that? Why would a werewolf or a witch?

She had to want it; she was human.

Now that her blood had already been spilled her status as a doppelganger wasn't even that important. Instead, she had the knowledge of what the world held without being able to access it. She was even jealous of Matt, of his ignorance.

It wasn't that she wanted to change, to become a vampire and be with Damon for eternity, but she also did. Jeremy was going to do the same; to join Anna.

Ric and Jenna had simply asked that they wait until they were eighteen. Jeremy had protested; having to wait two years and already appearing a bit older than Anna. Elena though, she only had to wait a week.

There was no way she was risking her future with Damon until she knew a bigger part of the story, the bigger picture.

"We need to use the opportunity to communicate with them." She said, "Give them a way to communicate with us."

Liz sighed, rubbing her forehead, and Damon released a large breath of air next to her.

"How could we get a message past Klaus?" She pondered.

"Scent." Liz answered, "We use a scent that Tyler will know. He'll be in wolf form tonight; he has no choice."

Elena nodded, "We could leave a message, something they can write on and then return."

Damon shook his head, "Tyler isn't Lassie. I'm pretty sure the doggy version won't be able to speak, never mind write."

They sat in silence, pondering. "We add Caroline's scent. Then he might know to take it to her."

"It's risky." Damon responded, "Klaus might find out."

"It's Caroline." Liz responded, "Stefan and Tyler too. We have to try."

"I'll take it. I'll be back before sundown." Elena insisted, feeling her hand being grabbed by Damon, his eyes meeting hers in a silent battle.

She might doubt them enough to not risk his life, but she still couldn't completely turn her back on her friends. If it didn't risk his death, she would try and help them, or at least try to understand them.

x-x-x-x

"Caroline, dearest, do me a favour and snap the pretty girl's neck." Nik breathed at her, a strangely serene calm smile on his face.

She obliged, letting the body drop to the floor.

It wasn't the first time she'd killed someone on this trip. Her first was in a small town in Georgia. She'd never forget her first.

He'd been older; maybe fifty or so, with a beer gut and a tee that was a few sizes too small allowing the dark hairs on his stomach to splurge out and over his waistband with the roll of flesh they belonged to. He'd smelt strongly of cigarettes, beer and stale sweat. They'd stopped in the bar for no reason other than to have a break.

She'd needed a rest from Tyler and Stefan's sulking and Nik's incessant flirting, so she'd excused herself to the ladies to 'freshen up'. She hadn't actually had any lipstick with her at the time to reapply, she'd just needed a few moments to herself.

Travelling with her boys hadn't brought much alone time, and she'd felt the need for it even back then.

The guy, 'Hairyguy McStinkypants' as she'd called him to herself in the days since, had been waiting for her as she'd stepped out of the filthy washroom. He'd positioned himself so that she couldn't pass, greeting her with a leer.

"Having a good time, gorgeous?" His voice had been sickening. It wasn't the harmful intention it was dripping with as much as the way it scratched on his throat as it came out. She couldn't imagine a less attractive creature.

"I'm just here with my friends." She smiled politely, hoping to diffuse the situation.

He'd smiled at her, stepping forward further into her space. "I could be your friend." He'd almost whispered it this time, the effect somehow even more disturbing. This was when the smell had really hit her, as he'd leant towards her, an arm above your neck.

She'd frozen, forgetting that she was ten times stronger than him or that she could literally ear him; however unappetizing the thought was.

He'd stepped forward again, forcing her back into the ladies' door, causing it to swing open slightly as she pushed against it.

"Good idea, beautiful." He'd grinned, pushing them both through the propped open door and into the empty room.

That's when Nik had appeared, clearly hearing the incident. He'd had the brute in a headlock before she could even think to shout out.

"My, my, my, that's not how we treat ladies." Nik had purred into his victim's ear. "You were treating her like the vermin you are." He growled, tightening his hold.

Caroline had stiffened, glad to be free of the situation but unsure of how to temper the anger of the monster in front of her. Nik was a murderer, and she was sure the man who had accosted her wasn't going to survive the next five minutes.

Surely, they could just call the police, press charges?

"Nik, don't hurt him. We can call the cops, get him arrested." She'd almost begged, advocating for a man who had been planning on using her, potentially in the worst way.

"Spoken like the Sheriff's daughter, love." Nik had responded softly, meeting her eyes. "No, I've lived through ages with much more fitting punishments for such beasts. You have a choice, Caroline."

He'd paused for dramatic effect at this point, the smirk on his lips so wide she was sure he would suddenly erupt into triumphant song. Luckily, or perhaps not, her life was not a musical, and he had continued once they could both hear her heart calming.

"Either you kill him, through a method of your choice, or I rip off his genitals and keep him alive long enough for him to eat them. You're welcome to stay and watch, in fact I might invite the entire bar to be an audience. It used to be quite popular."

How on earth did someone keep their voice so level whilst discussing torture? Yet the stare he had set her with left no doubt that he meant it.

She'd snapped the man's neck before she could contemplate the idea further.

He had been her first, but Klaus had taken the chance to push her again and again, threatening ever more creative deaths until she had no longer been able to count her kills on her fingers. He was teaching her to be a vampire, something she had once longed for him to do.

At the time, she hadn't realised the price.

Now, as she looked down at her latest victim, she understood the difference between Stefan teaching her to kill bunnies and the original vampire. One still valued human life. The other? To the other, everyone outside of his family was either food or a tool.

Nobody else mattered.

Soon, Stefan had made light work of killing the entire pack once Klaus had fed them his blood, following a rather melodramatic speech. It was safer that way; Tyler would be the only wolf formed to transform and Klaus could heal a single wolf bite with ease.

The rest of the wolves would be his first hybrids.

If tonight went well, she might be free.

x-x-x-x

Ric had agreed to take Elena and Jeremy into the mountains. They were obviously well stocked with vervain, wolsfbane and all manner of different weapons.

The hope was they wouldn't need to use them. Damon and Anna had demanded to come along, but they had been forced to wait in the car. In the event it took them longer to get back, and the werewolves started turning, the last thing they needed was the scent of a vampire in the air.

The trip had gone smoothly. They'd planted several postcards and pens, each wrapped up in a stray item of Caroline's from when she was a human. Each one was blank, but the image was of a local landmark. Nothing too obvious; nothing from Mystic Falls itself, but of other nearby towns. Places Caroline would recognise.

Ric had been able to identify a clearing the werewolves were likely to gather in; a spot the moonlight would hit first on the ridge. They'd got as close as they dared, not wishing to alert anyone to their presence.

Now they could only go home and wait and pray that they could rescue the items tomorrow with a response. Elena was happy with the plan; only a fool would rush into that forest on a rescue mission. She could understand the urge; if it had been Damon taken, she'd be stood i the middle of the clearing right now originals and werewolves be damned.

Luckily, she didn't have to make that choice. Her man had waited sensibly in the car for once in his life. The kiss she had rewarded him with when she had returned to the car, that she thought the hike in the mud had been completely worth it.

x-x-x-x

Elena had looked alive today, for the first time in over a week.

He'd wanted to argue with her plan; the desire to rush in and grab his brother and Caroline almost overwhelming him and forcing him out of that car. It was only the haunting look in her eyes when she'd hugged him farewell that had kept him planted.

Elena couldn't lose anyone else, not this week.

When she'd returned from planting the cards, she'd lit up for the first time in a while. Her laugh as she'd stumbled down the slope to the car had been more angelic than all the birdsong they could hear.

She was his, and he wasn't planning on leaving her anytime soon.

Now that the threat of Katherine had been extinguished and the threat of Klaus was decisively elsewhere, Elena had relocated back to her own home on school nights. It had partly been on Jenna's insistence, and partly on her own. She had a second chance at being human, a second chance at a normal life.

He'd not reacted well at first, assuming her desire to be human meant she didn't want him anymore. Even her repeated statements of love hadn't fully convinced him.

But even once she'd moved back properly, she was still wearing his ring on her finger. Even once she returned to school, she'd proudly sported it; even letting her classmates coo about wedding dresses and flowers.

One day, he'd arrived early to pick her up. She'd been supposed to finish late with some extra-curricular group or other, but he was too used to his routine of picking her up to wait around the full hour. Damon didn't mind being one of those creepy older guys who hung around in school parking lots, not if it meant a chance to surprise her.

He'd heard her coming out of the building, chatting with her new friend's. They weren't close, she'd insisted, more girls to gossip with than anyone she'd spill her secrets too. Yet they'd been discussing whether a red or green theme would go better with her complexion.

It had been difficult for him to not instantly interrupt, mocking their horrendous sense of style and abysmal colour schemes. He hadn't though, merely listening in further. Elena was joining in with the chatter, so it clearly wasn't just a misunderstanding.

She'd had the decency to blush when she saw him, turning an endearing shade of burgundy as she scuttled over to him. Red! Whatever were the silly girls thinking?

"Damon!" She gasped, "I wasn't expecting you just yet."

He grinned at her, pulling her in for a quick peck on the lips before looking down at her. He was deciding just how much he wanted to play with his food.

"So, I'm wearing a green suit, am I?" He teased playfully.

"I, uhm, …" she began, biting her bottom lip and grinding the ball of her sneaker into the ground, "They just assumed… and I… uhm."

He raised his eyebrow in question, prolonging her agony just a little bit longer.

"Well, we never really talked about it, so I didn't really correct them when they assumed it was an engagement ring and… uhm… I figured it didn't really matter." She finally breathed out.

He let his gaze pierce through her blush for a moment more before the corner of his lips rose and he couldn't hold back the giggle that was pushing at his lips.

Realisation dawned on her face, and she gently solved him in the shoulder.

"You dick! You were winding me up!" She scolded him.

"Elena Gilbert," he began, managing to keep his voice solemn even as he wanted to live with her, "I will marry you tomorrow if you want, as you damn well know. I told you as much when I gave you that ring, it means whatever you want it to mean. But when I do, the colour scheme will involve some shade of blue and your friends and my brother will damn well be there. In the meantime, you can tell your new friends whatever you please. If you want to tell them you're arriving at a church in a horse-drawn carriage, then you can."

"Well, that bit is obviously non-negotiable." She responded, her smile dropping, "I've wanted a Cinderella style carriage since I was a girl."

How the hell the girl managed to keep a straight face in response to what he was sure was an absolute scowl on his he had no idea, but she did. Eventually she cracked, pulling them both into giggles and a tickle match that had somehow ended with them making out on the hood of his Camaro.

Today was the first day she'd smiled like it since.

Perhaps it would be fitting if he got his revenge today.

"So," he announced to the car, turning to Ric who was beside him after he caught Elena's eye in the rear-view mirror. "Elena and I had a disagreement a few weeks back. She insists on a horse-drawn carriage at the wedding. As I protest, I think a compromise would be that the de-facto father of the bride pays for it. Thoughts, Ric?"

He'd managed to speak fast enough that not a single person had a chance to comprehend what he had said for at least 20 seconds afterwards, when he was met by at least three voices screaming, "What?"

"Oh, I didn't tell you?" He grinned back, "Elena insists on marrying me."

He caught her eye and winked.