Caroline sighed for the hundredth time as she nudged her salad with her fork, her eyes cautiously peering across the table at her silent mother.

Liz Forbes sat straight and tall, the brown and tan Sherriff uniform hanging off her slender form in the way Caroline always remembered, silver badge pinned to her chest. It used to bother her when her mother wouldn't change the uniform anytime they were out together. But considering they hadn't really interacted in five years—not to mention the way they had left things the last time she had been in Mystic Falls—she let it go this time.

Clearing her throat, Caroline raised her head and smiled. "So...how's work?"

Small talk...she and her mother had been resorted to small talk over lunch.

Liz looked at her, returning a half-hearted—albeit uncomfortable—smile. "It's good," she said, dropping her head and returning her attention to her pasta and cheese. "Same old, same old. You know Mystic Falls. It doesn't change that much." She shifted in her seat. "How's the, um...the broadcasting firm you work for?"

Caroline shrugged. "Oh, you know, the glamorous life of an intern," she laughed, her fork dangling from her fingertips. "I'm slowly working my way up the ranks, it's just not happening as quickly as I would like."

Liz nodded, and they lapsed into silence once more.

And if there was one thing Caroline hated more than anything, it was awkward silences.

Her fork hit her plate with a loud clatter, and she watched as her mother flinched slightly at the sound. "You know, having a conversation with you would be a lot easier if you'd look at me every now and then."

Liz sighed, setting her fork down, and slowly raised her eyes to meet Caroline's. Caroline, in turn, rolled her eyes, tossing her hands up slightly.

"With a little less disdain would be nice."

"Caroline, I don't know what you want from me," Liz said, sighing again, her hands flat against the tabletop. She kept her gaze on Caroline, though not on her eyes. She focused on anywhere but the blue eyes of her daughter. Her chin, her forehead, over her shoulder. But she couldn't bring herself to meet her eyes full-on. "You've been gone for five years. We've barely spoken. I'm here. I'm sitting here, with you. What more do you want?"

Caroline sighed, shaking her head as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Things haven't exactly been easy around here over the last five years, Caroline. Things changed. Your actions had consequences. Consequences that are still felt throughout this whole town."

"I realize my actions had consequences, Mother," Caroline said, closing her eyes as she ran a hand through her hair. "Okay, trust me. I've been living with them for five years. But I'm your daughter." She opened her eyes and looked across the table at her mother. "Mom, I'm your daughter. Your little girl...is it really too much to ask for you to actually want to be here with me?"

Liz stared at her daughter, mouth opening and closing slightly as she fought to form an answer to the question. Caroline felt a stab in her heart with every second that passed. A muffled vibrating sound was heard from under the table, and the sheriff sighed as she reached into her pocket, pulling out her cellphone and flipping it open. Her eyes scanned the message that waited for her quickly, and she bit her lip, returning the phone to her pocket as she looked across the table. "That was work...I have to go, Caroline, I'm sorry."

Caroline scoffed, nodding, and absentmindedly rearranged her place setting. "Yeah. What else is new?"

Liz sighed, setting her napkin on the table, the legs of her chair scraping against the floor as she scooted it back and rose to her feet. "Look, lunch is on me." Caroline nodded, avoiding her mother's gaze. "I'm sorry I can't stay, but this needs my attention...I'm sorry, Caroline."

"Yeah," Caroline said softly, the word barely even audible to her own ears, and she kept her gaze fixed on the table before her until she heard her mother sigh and start to walk away. She looked up in time to see her quickly disappearing through the door to the Grill, the sudden onslaught of burning tears making her cover her face and shake her head. She leaned forward, her blonde hair creating a curtain around her, and took a few deep, steadying breaths. She knew this wasn't going to be easy. She knew it was going to hurt.

She just hadn't been prepared for how much.

Sighing, she raised her head, pushing her hair behind her ears, and let her gaze travel to the bar where she knew Klaus still sat waiting for her. Her heart nearly stopped when she saw the familiar form of Damon Salvatore sitting next to him.

A very drunk Damon Salvatore, from the look of things.

Caroline could feel the color drain from her face even as her fingernails dug into the skin of her palms, and she shot to her feet. Quickly she gathered her purse, slinging it over her shoulder as she maneuvered her way towards the bar, ignoring the passing glances she received with every step she took. She'd already faltered under her mother's judgmental gaze. She wasn't going to give the rest of the town the satisfaction.

She kept her gaze trained on the dark haired man that sat next to Klaus, and she could only pray that Damon—stupid, selfish, drunk off his ass DAMON—had the common sense to keep his mouth shut this one time. This one time, please just let him care about the feelings of someone other than himself.

But as she stopped just behind them, and Klaus swiveled around on his barstool, his cool blue eyes giving her a thoughtful onceover in a way completely different from last night, she knew that her prayers and hopes went unanswered.

She let out a defeated breath, fighting back the tears she knew were welling just below the surface.

Just like that, the one person in town who didn't know her deep dark secret was gone. The one person with whom—though she hated him, and they had just met less than 48 hours ago—she didn't have to pretend she was stronger than she really was.

Crossing her arms over her chest, she let her gaze travel from Klaus' contemplative expression to the semi-guilty—and full blown drunk—one of Damon Salvatore.

"It's getting late," Caroline said, keeping her steely gaze firmly fixed on her best friend's brother, silently giddy at the fact that his bloodshot eyes immediately dropped to the bartop in front of him. "We should get to the garage and get your truck. Stefan and Rebekah will be waiting."

Klaus nodded, rising to his feet as he simultaneously tossed a few bills on the counter. "As you wish, love," he said, giving Damon one last glance before he descended the stairs and strode towards the door of the Grill.

Caroline watched him walk away, turning to follow him, but not before sending one last glare in Damon's direction. "I hope you drink yourself to death," she said softly, threateningly, years of hurt and angst behind her voice.

Damon finally raised his eyes to meet hers, and she felt a sudden sadness deep in her chest at the utter emptiness she found in his stunning blue orbs. He raised his eyebrows, settling back on his elbow against the bar. "He would have found out eventually, Blondie," he said, his voice just as soft but even colder than hers had been. "People like you and me? We don't have the luxury of secrets untold."

Caroline scoffed, shaking her head, and turned her back on him, striding towards the door Klaus had disappeared through, running a hand through her hair.

"I am NOTHING like you," she whispered under her breath.

But even as she said the words, she knew that it was yet another lie.

000000000

Caroline couldn't stand silence. She was loud and enthusiastic. She liked laughter and talking.

But for once she was absolutely terrified to break the silence that was in the car.

Though the ride to the Mystic Garage was a few short minutes, to Caroline it had seemed to take hours. She could feel Klaus' eyes on her as her hands gripped the steering wheel. She didn't dare peek at him from the corner of her eyes, so afraid of the judgment and disgust she was sure she'd find on his face.

How much had Damon told him?

She sighed as she brought the car to a stop in front of the Garage, her eyes spotting Klaus' familiar truck sitting in front of the double doors. Klaus was making no move to leave the car, however, and she found her grip tightening on the steering wheel as she clenched her eyes shut.

"Could you stop looking at me like that?"

She heard the leather of the passenger seat squeak slightly as he shifted to face her further. "Like what, love?"

Caroline scoffed, shaking her head as she turned to look at him. "Like THAT," she said, gesturing to his face. "Like I'm some weird riddle you can't unravel or something." Klaus simply continued to stare at her, his head titled slightly as his eyes scanned her face. "Look, I know Damon told you. So, there you go. You know why little Caroline Forbes hasn't been home in years. It's because I'm a freaking pariah in this town, Klaus. So, stop staring at me like you're trying to make sense of something that just doesn't, and get out of the car."

Klaus nodded. "So it's true then?" He shrugged when she looked at him with furrowed brows. "I'm quite familiar with the ramblings of a drunken man, Caroline. You can't take everything they say at face value." He watched Caroline's lovely face quiver slightly, her eyes dropping to her hands on the steering wheel, her teeth capturing her bottom lip. "I don't believe you're quite capable of cold-blooded murder though, darling...so what happened?"

The softness of his voice washed over her. It was as if he honestly cared. It was as if he didn't see her as the same monster the rest of the town surely did.

He could see her struggling, trying to reconcile the thoughts in her head, and he leaned the slightest bit towards her. "Was it an accident, Caroline?" Her eyes flickered towards him, and he saw the shadows that flashed through them. But just as quickly they vanished.

"It doesn't matter," she replied softly, shrugging her shoulders as she sighed. "Elena and her parents are still dead, and it was my fault. Accident or not, nothing changes that." She laughed then, a harsh bitter laugh. "Anyway, there you go. There's the big mystery surrounding my infamous return." She looked over at him, jaw cocked as she took in his expressionless face. "So, if you don't mind...I'd rather get back to the boarding house. There's still a lot to get done, and sitting here reminiscing? Not exactly the most productive thing."

Klaus couldn't help but shake his head, wondering at what point exactly did this small town girl suddenly matter to him. Why did he care? Why had her bitter, defeated laugh cut him to his very core? Caroline was bright. She was the very definition of light. A sound so sad and full of despair wasn't meant to come from her mouth.

He moved without thinking, reaching out a hand and gently pushing her blonde hair away from her face. He felt her flinch slightly against his touch, and he froze, his hand gently cradling her cheek as he leaned towards her, his eyes connecting with hers and keeping them fixed on him. Her skin was softer than he'd imagined, flawless in the midafternoon sun. Her blue eyes seemed brighter as they searched his, and he felt an odd tightening in his chest. "Caroline..."

The shrill ringing of a cellphone broke their trance, and Klaus gritted his teeth when Caroline shrunk away from him, her back nearly colliding with her door as she reached for the phone that sat in the center console. He sighed, running a hand down his face. What the hell was wrong with him? He didn't feel—not like this.

And yet he felt the strongest urge to make the shadows in her eyes disappear.

She sighed next to him, her eyes glancing at the screen in her hand. "It's Stefan," she said softly, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Of course. Mr. Salvatore," Klaus said, his fingers tapping against his knee as he looked out the windshield. "Well, as you said, love. Can't keep them waiting. My sister doesn't have the gift of patience, in case you hadn't noticed." He glanced over at her once more, seeing her gaze fixed on anything but him, and he knew that the wall that had crumbled moments before had been erected again. He sighed, reaching for the handle and shouldering open the door. He looked over his shoulder. Caroline's eyes were glued to the phone in her hand, her thumb hovering over the Talk key. He leaned towards her then, neck craning, and he met her eyes when her head shot up. "These people? This town? They don't matter, Caroline," he said, his voice low and raspy, betraying just how much conviction his words held to him. "Don't let them imprison you, love. You're meant for so much more."

And then he was gone, the door slamming shut before Caroline could even open her mouth to utter a reply. She watched as Klaus strode into the garage, not even sparing a backwards glance to her. She sighed, her eyes staying with him until he disappeared through the entrance. His words coursed through her head. She couldn't wrap her mind around it. Around him. Niklaus Mikaelson.

She jumped when the phone in her hand starting ringing again, and she sighed, running a hand through her hair as she raised it to her ear.

"Caroline?" Stefan's voice called from the other end. "Is everything ok? You didn't answer your phone."

"Sorry, Stefan," Caroline replied, her head falling back to rest against the back of the seat. "I was...in the middle of something."

But the middle of what, she had no idea.

Stefan was silent on his end, the sound of his steady breathing the only thing she heard. "Care...are you alright?"

She closed her eyes, silently cursing her bond with Stefan Salvatore. They'd been friends for so long, nothing got by them. Not when it came to the other. Stefan could hear the defeat in her voice. Could hear the pain and the memories and everything she'd been feeling since driving back into Mystic Falls. And she knew she couldn't lie to him. She'd never been able to lie to him.

And he'd never been able to break a promise to her.

It was a trait she relied on. A trait she desperately prayed he would never lose.

"Not really," she finally conceded, the sound of a door slamming shut snapping her eyes open, and she watched as Klaus made his way to his truck, his hand tucking his wallet into the back pocket of his jeans. His gaze stayed straight ahead, never venturing towards her, and she swallowed the lump of disappointment she felt. She sighed, shaking her head. "But I'll get through it."

Klaus slid into his truck, the roar of the engine igniting, and finally his eyes flicked towards hers. Their gazes met through the windshields, both seeming to search for something—anything.

But Caroline was afraid she didn't have anything to give anymore.

She sighed again, sinking further into her seat as her eyes stayed fixed on Klaus.

"I always get through it."