He sensed her the moment she walked in. Her sweet scent trickled through the air, momentarily stunning him. Strawberries and sunshine. He could never quite put his finger on it. If it wasn't for one of Ivantika's hands placed delicately in his, her other hand resting gently on his shoulder, teetering him, he was sure to have forgotten his steps entirely. He yearned to see her again. She was so close, yet so far, hanging onto the arm of the Ripper. Klaus couldn't find it himself to feel any animosity towards the younger Salvatore brother. After all, Klaus was sure Caroline was here as a result of Stefan's cajoling.

He didn't think she'd come. Honestly, he expected her to never want to see him again. And to have invited her to his daughter's birthday party... he was terrified. For the first time in his life, he was genuinely uncertain as to how she would react to his invitation. So like a coward he had sent a messenger instead. Klaus was surprised that Stefan had actually agreed to help him. After finding out that the Ripper and Caroline shared but a fleeting moment, a relationship that had ended before it even really began. Klaus was taken aback by Stefan's sincerity. There was no ill will there. Only acceptance. Stefan had reverted to being simply Caroline's best friend, quite graciously.

Klaus wondered if he would ever do the same. If she ever deigned it fit to give him a chance, Klaus was sure that he would never be able to let her go. He'd spend the rest of his existence becoming worthy of her affections. But Klaus wasn't sure what having her here mean't. He wouldn't know what was going on inside that pretty little head of hers until he had a word with her.

As Klaus guided Ivantika around the dance floor, he yearned to catch a glimpse of Caroline. His features schooled into fatherly affection, a fond smile on his face. His eye caught the fabric of her skirt... dark blue lace. He heard Stefan excuse himself to say hello to Rebekah. Then Klaus followed Caroline's movements out the ball room... to his art room, of all places. What could she possibly be doing in there, he wondered, as the door shut silently behind her.

"I didn't think she'd come either" Ivantika said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Klaus was sure that none other would hear. Klaus flinched, looking down warily. Ivantika wore a patient smile, her eyes alight curiously. In that moment, he knew that she knew. He knew that there was no point in denying anything. But he couldn't formulate the words that needed to be said to reassure her that his affections for Caroline...

"I know daddy" Ivantika said, offering him a bright smile. As the dance came to an end, she curtsied. He bowed. A round of applause filtered through the air. "I love you too" Ivantika said, giving a subtle nod in the direction Caroline went.

There was a moment of indecision, as Klaus stood facing her. He could see no judgement, no anger, no resentment. Ivantika looked curious, amused even. Klaus chuckled, shaking his head. His daughter was quite a conundrum. There was only one other woman in his life that he had no hope of ever figuring out. And she was possibly waiting for him right now. Klaus gently cupped Ivantika's face in his hands, looking into her sea green eyes. She was so beautiful. So innocent.

"Thank you" Klaus said softly, the reverence in his voice uncontained. He placed a chaste kiss on her forehead, before dashing away.

Miley Cyrus vs. Cedric Gervais- Adore You (Remix)

She stood facing the same portrait, the one of Hayley cradling a new born baby Ivantika in her arms, when the door clicked open and Klaus walked in, gently closing it behind him. Taking a deep breath, she breathed him in. His scent was earthy... a woodsy smell. She could feel the raw power radiating off him in waves, even from where she was standing. Dangerous. But she wasn't afraid. She didn't think he could make her afraid of him even if he tried, knowing that he didn't have the capacity to hurt her. Not intentionally anyway.

He stood silently, waiting. Patience was never his strong suite, or maybe being over a thousand years old taught him that some things were worth waiting for. Remembering how she had reacted, she guessed that he expected her to be furious. Not just for his supposed betrayal, but for breaking his promise as well. But this conversation was going to go a lot differently from the way it had last time.

"She's beautiful" Caroline said softly, breaking the thick silence. She looked over her shoulder to see him standing stock still, a frown marring his handsome features. He looked just as she remembered, if not even more beautiful. His dirty blonde hair just a bit too long, his face covered in scruff, his blue eyes dancing in the candlelight. A smirk slowly formed on his raspberry lips.

"She has Hayley's hair, and your full lips" Caroline commented, training her attention to the plethora of sketches that were strewn across the table. "Though I'm unsure of where she got her raven luscious locks from, or the gorgeous colour of her eyes."

"Careful, she might hear you" Klaus said, just as softly, coming to stand by Caroline's side. "Trust me, she doesn't need another admirer" he said, chuckling lightly.

"Oh" Caroline said. "She got the huge ego from you, huh?" she joked, giving him a gentle nudge. Finally looking up, into his beautiful eyes that shown curious, a bit uncertain... hopeful. As always, Klaus was waiting for her to decide on the pace. Despite all the horrible things he'd done... things that didn't even matter to her any more, Klaus always allowed Caroline to set the pace. He was such a gentleman, entirely too honest and sincere when he was with her. It still perplexed her how she had taken so long to fall for him.

"I must admit, love" Klaus began, a bit hesitantly. "I expected quite a different reaction from you upon seeing me again" he said, honestly.

"Is that so?" she said, playfully running a hand along his jacket lapels. She could feel him relax instantly under her touch. How could she have ever thought that he would be unaffected by her? It didn't matter that he didn't remember. Those memories were of her falling in love with him. But Klaus was already in love with her. He had been long before that day in the woods, seventeen years ago. He had always loved her. He had always wanted her. How could she have ever questioned that?

He took her hands gently in his, stopping her movements. Oh how she missed his touch. The feel of her hands in his. Her heart clenched painfully, but she would not cry. Taking a deep breath, she stopped the possibility short. She would not cry now. She would not allow herself to be anything but perfectly happy, in this moment, with him.

"Are you all right, sweetheart?" Klaus asked, his brows furrowed in worry.

"No" she said, shaking her head. Her voice was so full of emotion.

"What is it?" he whispered, as if asking a secret. Klaus placed a finger under her chin, gently coaxing her to look at him.

Caroline looked into his eyes, giving him a warm, affectionate smile. "I am so hopelessly in love with you" she said, laughing.

She watched as a flurry of emotions crossed his features, the most prominent being disbelief. Gently cradling his face in her hands, "I love you" she said, giving him a bright smile. "I love you with all my heart and all my soul. With everything that I am and I everything that I can ever hope to be" she confessed.

The doubt slowly seeped away and tentative belief took it's place. An exuberant smile formed on his face. "Caroline" he said, and it sounded so much like a question. He placed his hands over hers, intertwining their fingers.

"I love you Klaus" she repeated. "But I can't be with you" she said, watching as his face fell. "Not yet" she amended.

Klaus frowned, perplexed. After a moment, he tore himself away from her. "Is this some cruel joke?" he spat angrily, his eyes flashing yellow, specks of gold in his irises.

"It isn't" she replied calmly, not the least bit perturbed by his reaction.

"Then why Caroline?" he asked frustratedly. He ran a hand through his hair. She could almost feel his anxiety. "Why tell me you love me only to tell me you cannot be with me?" he asked, pacing the short space. He looked so utterly defeated, broken beyond repair. But Caroline would not cry. She knew what needed to be done.

"Klaus listen to me" she said patiently, grabbing his hands and holding on to them firmly. "There are things that I need to do, before I can be with you" she explained.

"But you've done them" Klaus practically growled. "You've lived the human façade... you've gone to college, you've gotten a job. All those things on that bloody list of yours has already been achieved. What else is there?" he asked, his voice raw with emotion. "What else needs to be done before you're ready to be with me, Caroline?" he asked sincerely.

"I am ready to be with you..."

"Then be with me" he roared. Taking a deep calming breath, "then just be with me" he said a bit softer. "I can make you happy sweetheart. I will do whatever it takes to ensure your happiness. Just tell me what you want and I shall give it to you" he pledged.

"I need you to trust me" Caroline pleaded.

Klaus scoffed, trying to tug his hands away, but she didn't let him go.

"Klaus... Klaus I love you" Caroline said. "Please... please believe me when I say that I'll come back to you... I promise."

"So I'm just supposed to let you go?" he asked incredulously. Shaking his head, "I cannot be without you Caroline" he stated honestly. "Not now... when I know you feel the same way."

"Then don't" Caroline said. "Don't let me go... hold on to me. We will be together. I want to be with you."

"Then be with me. My love... please" he said weakly. "Whatever it is you need to do... then let me help you."

"You can't" Caroline said, shaking her head. "You can't Klaus. Trust me please... let me do this. And when it's done... I will come back to you."

"Caroline..." he pleaded.

"No." Taking a deep steadying breath, "Klaus..." she hesitated, but then a firm resolve took it's place. This needed to be done. "Klaus... I'm going to walk away. But one day I'm going to come back to you. I promise..." she said, letting go of his hands.

His hands fell numbly to his sides, and she knew that he must have seen the resolve in her decision because when he opened his mouth to protest, he didn't. He simply stared at her, closing his mouth shut. In his eyes shown understanding, his love for her shining through. "However long it takes" he said softly, but Caroline could hear the promise in his words. He would wait for her.

She didn't hesitate to kiss him deeply, memorizing the feel of his lips on hers, pouring all the love that she could into the kiss. A silent promise... "Yes. I love you. I want you. Yes. You are good enough. You are mine. I am yours. Forever. I love you." And when she couldn't bear it any longer, when a few traitor tears did fall, she pulled away. She vamp sped out of the room, out of the mansion, knowing that he would not follow. He would wait for her... however long it takes.

The tears fell freely, streaming down her face. She cried. No she bawled. Raw, strangled sobs, gasping for breath, by the time she reached home. She hadn't bothered to say goodbye to her friends. She knew that they would never let her go. But the reason was mostly due to her already failing resolve. She wanted nothing more than to run right back into Klaus' arms, consequences be damned. But Caroline knew she couldn't. Not with an ever present threat looming over their heads. Being with Klaus mean't his eventual demise, and she couldn't do that. She refused to be his weakness. When the time came, she would have to be able to protect him again.

"Pity you tempting fate once again" an eerie voice came from behind her. Caroline halted from fumbling with the keys. She was never more grateful that her friends were still at the party and her mother was effectively tucked into bed, asleep. With a heavy sigh, she turned around, trying not to let her fear show.

"Are you going to kill me?" she asked, looking at the face of the Guardian who had tricked Ivantika and sentenced Klaus to death. Her voice sounded strong, unwavering, and for that Caroline was grateful.

"Now, love" she flinched at the use of the fond name, "you know it's not as easy as me killing you" the Guardian said.

"But you really want to, don't you?" Caroline asked, summing up all her brute courage. "You must hate me, for what I did."

The Guardian chuckled, shaking his head. "I must admit, I never expected you to come up with such a neat little wish... effectively undoing all that was done" he said honestly. "But I don't hate you. It was more of an annoyance than anything" he said, shrugging.

"So you're not pissed off that all your hard work was for nothing?" Caroline asked, a bit incredulous.

The Guardian smiled, looking at her with renewed interest. The way he was looking at her, made Caroline's blood crawl. "I forgot how young you are" he commented. "There's so little that you know."

Caroline frowned, confused.

"The Guardians have waited a long time for a war to break out, and you hindered our plans. That is true. But war will break out once again, sweet Caroline. Peace is not a constant. The opportunity will present itself again in a century, or in a millennium, or even a few thousand years. And the Guardians will still be right here waiting to step in when the time is right... you cannot stop the inevitable from happening" he said resolutely.

Caroline bristled, her fists clenched firmly at her sides. "I won't let you hurt him" she said softly, but the threat was clear.

The Guardian merely laughed. A few other Guardians seemed to appear out of thin air, standing behind him, laughing as well, mocking her. "And you're going to stop us?" he said condescendingly.

"I already did" she spat angrily. She gasped, taking a step back when he was suddenly upon her, all laughter died down, his face serious, threatening. But she held her ground. What the Guardian said was true... he couldn't simply kill her. It would upset the balance. "I can do it again" she pledged. "I don't care if you burn the whole world to the ground, only to build it back up in your likeness. But if you ever hurt Klaus, or his family, or my friends... I will stop you again" she threatened, a low growl rumbling from deep within her chest.

The Guardian smirked, taking a step back. "In the land of monsters... you are but a child. A little girl who believes in a fairytale ending... isn't that why you promised to return to him?" the Guardian mused. "I know what you're about to do, Caroline, and I will see you dead before your task is complete" he warned.

"Well" Caroline said, "better me than him."

She didn't even realise what was happening, and before she had time to react, she was blinded by darkness, a heaviness weighed upon her before an excruciating pain came upon her entire body. Her fell on her knees, trying her best not to scream. He grabbed her by her hair, pulling her up. Leaning in to whisper in her ear, "you silly vampire... you are a fool to think that you can beat us. Why not just accept your fate? Accept what time you have with him? You cannot save him..."

Caroline felt his hand rip into her chest, grabbing her heart in the palm of his hand. One tug, she felt the life leave her. But in an instant, her eyes shot open. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She was completely disoriented, not sure what just happened. Not sure if it had really happened. When a figure suddenly appeared infront of her, Caroline startled.

"Oh my God..." Caroline said, taking a few deep steadying breaths.

"Are you okay?" Ivantika asked, worriedly.

Caroline looked around, but there was no one else there. The air was still, and there wasn't a single sound but her erratic heart beating and a few grasshoppers chirping. Caroline frowned. "What are you doing here Ivantika? You should be at your party" Caroline said, finding her voice somewhat steady. Her mind was reeling. So the Guardians couldn't kill her, but they could cause her a great deal of pain. She'd remember to not anger them too much the next time she saw them, and she was sure she would.

"I heard what you said." At Caroline confused look, "to daddy. I heard what you said to him" Ivantika explained.

"No offence, but what I said to your father is really none of your business..." Caroline said tiredly. Fumbling with the keys once more, she finally got the door open. She didn't have the energy to argue with Ivantika when the girl followed her inside. Caroline needed to pack some things and make a quick exit, before anyone had a chance to suspect a thing.

"You said that you needed to do something... before you can be with him" Ivantika started.

"I know what I said" Caroline muttered, making her way to her bedroom. She hastily pulled the empty suitcase out from under her bed and proceeded to pack. Vamp speeding back and forth, paying her unwanted visitor no mind.

"I want to help" Ivantika said, causing Caroline to stop short.

Caroline frowned, looking at Klaus' daughter curiously. Then as realisation dawned on her, Caroline gave the girl a small smile. "You can't" Caroline said. "This is something I need to do on my own."

"You've got the whole 'I'm ready to save the whole world' look on, and I'm beginning to see why my father is so fond of you, but you're just a vampire Caroline. A young vampire. I really don't think you should do it alone" Ivantika said, hoping to convince her.

It was then Caroline noticed that Ivantika was no longer wearing her gown. Ivantika had changed into dark jeans, boots, black top and leather jacket. She was sure that she had caught sight of two suitcases out on the porch, an unfamiliar car in the driveway. "If anything happens to you..." Caroline started.

"If anything happens to you" Ivantika said, cutting her off, "daddy's going to be just as upset. The difference is, I'm practically invincible."

Caroline chuckled without humour. If only that were true. "No one's invincible" Caroline said, shaking her head. "Everyone has a weakness."

"And you're hell bent on not being his" Ivantika said. Taking a deep breath, "look I'm not going to stalk you for the next century. I like to travel and by tomorrow I'd be on my way to some corner of the earth any way... so why don't we just go together? You and I both know that daddy's going to have eyes and ears following us both... so why not make his job easier and go together?" Ivantika said, and Caroline could see the near desperation. It was clear how much Ivantika loved Klaus.

After a moment, "you won't ask questions" Caroline said firmly. A smile slowly spreading on Ivantika's face. "I'm your keeper... you're not mine. So if anyone's bossing anyone around, it's going to be me bossing you around, do you understand?" Caroline said seriously, waiting for an affirmative answer.

"Yes" Ivantika practically squealed in delight.

"Good" Caroline said, throwing the last few items in her suitcase and zipping it up. She had already told her mom of her plans, but she still left a note that she would call soon. "Let's go" Caroline said making her way out.

"Shot gun" Ivantika sang, practically stuffing Caroline into the back seat, after the luggage was stowed in the trunk.

Caroline stilled when she noticed someone else in the driver's seat. Ivantika turned around with an affectionate smile on her face. "Oh" Ivantika giggled. "Caroline, this is Darius. Darius, this is Caroline" she introduced. "Where to?"

"Central America" Caroline choked out. "Just drive."

And as the car sped off, Caroline looked out the window, shaking her head. This was going to be a long drive...

That's all folks.

I don't want to say this is the end, because this is clearly not the end of the story. But the ending will be posted as an epilogue, which will be multi chaptered. And which will be posted separately (so look out for "Just a ghost, running scared- epilogue").

I think everyone should have a pretty good idea of what Caroline is going to do. Klaus can protect her, and Caroline really wants the ability to be able to protect him too. In her mind, she equates being with him, to his eventual demise. She remembers the desperation she felt, seeing him offering himself up and not being able to save him. And that's a terrifying concept. She can't live like that. So she's going off to do what she thinks needs to be done... she's going to find a way to save him, if the need ever arises. And then she'll make her way back to him.

The epilogue will be a bit of a time jump. We're going to meet up with everyone when Caroline's task is mostly complete.

I want to thank all of you who have been following this story. Those of you who have favourited this story, it makes my heart so happy to know that this story is forever on your list. And my precious babies who review... I really do cherish all of you. You've motivated me, inspired me, encouraged me, and helped me along the way. And I don't want this to be too long, because this isn't goodbye... but it feels like one chapter has come to a close. So thank you for standing by me. You mean a lot to me.

And I so look forward to writing the epilogue. After which I will return to rewriting my fic "Sweet serial killer" so I hope you look forward to that too. Okay byeeeeee :) (for now).