That's it, guys. This is the end.

I want to thank everybody who managed to stick around until I finally finished my first multi-chapter story. This has been quite the journey and I'm actually a bit bummed that it's finished. However, I'm also happy that I ended it on a sweet note and gave my own personal farewell to this enchanting couple we all love so much. I have no idea if I will write another Klaroline story someday but hey, never say never.

A special shout-out and huge thank you to jordanbear, TwilightHybrid, chimera629 and Isahh, who left me some really sweet and insightful reviews. There were days where those words of encouragement motivated me to continue writing this story.
But I also want to thank all the other great reviewers and silent readers who liked my story and continued reading it.

Thank you all so much and I hope you will enjoy the final chapter of Wherever I may roam.

Disclaimer: I don't own neither the lyrics, nor the song titles I shamelessly used as my chapter headings nor the characters (except for the few I invented).

Feel free to review one last time.

Now that I've worn out
I've worn out the world
I'm on my knees in fascination
Looking through the night

Two months after the wedding

"Wow that's…breathtaking." Caroline exclaimed while watching the sun rise above the fjord in awe. Enzo nodded at her words and Freya let out a small, content smile.

They had finally reached the last destination on Freya and Emily's post-wedding-journey-list. The impossible to pronounce Preikestolen, a platform-cliff in the south of Norway. While now a popular tourist destination, some 900 years ago it had been the place Dahlia had forced Freya into a century long slumber for the first time to stop them from ageing. As much as the times had changed since then, the sunrise resembled the one Freya had witnessed when she had woken up from her 100-year-hibernation for the first time. A couple of years ago, the oldest Mikaelson had returned to this place and that was where she had met Emily, taking photos of the stunning scenery.

The camera clicked as Freya captured the sunrise over the fjord, much as her wife had done all those years ago.

"You know what? This is definitely a selfie-worthy backdrop." Caroline announced while taking off her gloves (which she didn't really need but you had to keep up appearances to not raise suspicions) and reached into her backpack to take out the disposable camera that had survived their many travel destinations.

Enzo snorted at that but nonetheless, the three friends positioned themselves to take the photo, turning their backs towards the fjord.

"I want a copy of that." Caroline grinned as she handed the camera to Freya. The witch nodded and the three of them sat down, watching the sun slowly rise behind the mountains.

"So…what now?" The young vampire asked after a while. Other tourists had started to show up and their serene silence was bound to come to an end soon. Just like their trip had, as they had been to all the destinations Freya and Emily had written down before their wedding.

"I don't know. This journey has given me a bit of closure. I will never get over losing Emily but… I can't let the grief control my life anymore. And my powers." Freya cringed as she thought back on the times she had acted out and nearly killed Caroline after letting her pent-up emotions out.

The blonde smiled softly and put an arm around her friend.

Enzo sighed. "Why does this sound so much like a goodbye to me?"

Freya shook her head and took his hand. "It isn't a goodbye. I'm just going to reduce the traveling a bit. I've decided that my next destination is going to be New Orleans."

Both Enzo and Caroline quickly turned their heads to look at the witch.

"Yes. It's time to properly re-unite with my family again. Hope and Hayley haven't left for Mystic Falls yet and Kol is currently there as well. I miss them."

Caroline nodded. She was happy for Freya; happy that her friend was finally ready to return home. Even though she would miss her horribly.

As if she had read her mind, the older woman turned towards her. "What about you? Will you come with me?"

Caroline smiled woefully and shook her head. "Not yet."

Freya nodded calmly and did not say anything. She understood.

"Way to make a man feel unwanted, Angel Face."

Freya laughed at Enzo's pout and offended tone.

"I'm sorry. I just wasn't sure… you've basically been a prisoner in your own body for the last couple of months and as soon as you were free again, you joined us in our travels. I thought you might want to enjoy your freedom again."

Enzo contemplated her words for a while and then sighed. "You make it sound like it was a burden for me to come along. You have no idea how much I missed you. Both of you."

Caroline smirked at being added at the last minute but kept silent.

Freya smiled at Enzo, who cleared his throat embarrassed.

"Besides, I haven't had the chance to hang out with Kol in a while. And annoying your sister is always an immane plus in my book."

Caroline and Freya laughed at that. Poor Rebekah would have a hard time very soon.

Four years later

"Caroline, are you even listening to me? She told me that she might be in love with him! That brutish bellend!"

The blonde in question had just been exiting the historical building when Rebekah called her. She giggled at the Original's outraged tone and adjusted her stylish book bag.

"Oh, you think this is funny? Can you possibly describe what you find so comical about this situation? Bloody hell, Caroline, Freya has considered letting us turn her into a vampire! She has been slowing down her ageing process for years now, alright, but this? She never would have contemplated that if it weren't for that … that…"

"Jesus, Rebekah, that's my best friend you're talking about. Can you please stop with those terms of endearment?"

"You don't sound surprised at all!"

Caroline grimaced. To be honest, she was not. Everybody and their mother knew that Enzo still loved Freya but the gradual change from one-sided love to mutual had been more subtle. Caroline, who knew those two better than anyone, had noticed Freya's feelings changing pretty early. While the witch had always been very fond of the vampire, it had taken her a long time to let herself open up romantically after Emily's death. And while she had dated a witch named Jane a year after returning to New Orleans, she never fully committed to her.

After she had broken up with Jane, Freya had met up with Caroline and Enzo in Paris for a week to finally celebrate her birthday like they had missed out two years earlier. It was there when Caroline realized that Freya was acting differently towards their British friend. The biggest indicator had been her low-key jealousy when Enzo had flirted with a French woman. Naturally, both girls knew that Enzo would have ceased flirting with anyone if he knew the extent to which Freya's feelings for him had changed. But Freya, being her emotionally closed off self, did not say anything and neither did Caroline. She would not push her friend to do anything before she was sure about her emotions because it could hurt both her and Enzo.

After that week in France, Caroline had tried to keep up with any possible developments, but it was difficult since the trio had not been on a longer journey together for a while. She might have covertly planned a getaway with both of them in two weeks' time. But it seemed like Freya's feelings were not so secret anymore.

"Well, it's because I'm not surprised, Rebekah. Have you ever actually seen those two together? Besides, if Freya really loves him, would you begrudge it her? After everything she's been through, I think she deserves to be happy."

There was silence on the other end. Caroline, who was approaching the café she was heading to had to cut the conversation short.

"You know what, just think about it for a bit. I know you're worried about Freya, but Enzo would never do anything to hurt her. Be supportive, alright? I gotta go. Bye."

She heard a low mumbled answer before she put her phone away. Sighing, she entered her favorite café and – after seeing that she had arrived first – took a seat at one of the tables further in the back. She ordered her usual and took out her notebook while she waited.

After travelling a bit and working here and there (including opening another wedding planning agency in Germany), Caroline had begun taking some history classes at Cambridge University six months before. She figured if Klaus had a thousand of years on this earth on her, she might as well brush up on her history knowledge a bit.

Coincidentally, Hope – who had started attending Tulane University after graduating from Alaric's school – had convinced her father to let her do an exchange year at the prestigious England based university. Her being already 20 years old had not really lessened his protectiveness concerning his daughter. However, Hayley had convinced him to let her go. Caroline being there as well had eased his mind considerably too.

Caroline looked up from her notes on "A World History of Art" when Hope sat down on the chair opposite of her. She smiled at the tribrid, who had grown into a beautiful young woman over the years.

"Hey Care." She ordered a cappuccino from the waiter, who appeared at their table and looked at the vampire expectantly. "How was class?"

Caroline groaned. "Exhausting. I'm supposed to finish this book by next week and I'm only halfway done. Besides, it's so weird to be in a room full of 19-year-olds. I have no idea how Stefan managed to go back to high school."

Hope snickered. "Well, he did it for a girl so…"

Caroline shook her head and took a sip from her mug. "I just got off the phone with your aunt. Sometimes I forget why I even like her."

Hope put down her cup and sighed. "So she pestered you too because of aunt Freya and Enzo?"

Caroline gulped, surprised to hear those words from the young witch.

"She frantically called me this morning. Insisted I check if somebody put some love spell on Freya or something."

The blonde shook her head disbelievingly and answered. "Wow, Rebekah really doesn't like Enzo. What did you say to her?"

Hope shrugged nonchalantly. "I told her to chill because it had been a long time coming anyway."

Caroline grinned at her attitude. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah."

Two years later

"Seriously, Stefan? You were always the romance and commitment kinda guy. Why don't you just marry her already?" Caroline asked exasperated. She had been in Edinburgh for the last two weeks, visiting Kira and Stefan in their pretty house. Stefan was currently working as a history teacher at a high school. Fortunately, he had grown out of attending high school as a student. Kira had (more or less) subtly asked Caroline if she thought Stefan would ever marry her and mentioned how important this seemingly unnecessary human tradition still was to her.

"I don't know, Care. We are vampires…does marriage even mean anything to us?"

The blonde raised her eyebrows at him suspiciously. "Yeah, I don't buy that. What's the real reason you won't get on your knee?"

The younger Salvatore finally caved under her stern stare and admitted his fears. "Kira has been with me nearly the whole time since she was turned. I'm afraid I'm keeping her from the freedom a young vampire should experience… from making her own choices and her feeling indebted to me."

Caroline's stance softened immediately. Yeah, definitely the superior Salvatore.

"Oh Stefan. You have to talk to her. Even though I highly doubt that Kira feels that way, you need to voice your concerns. Right now, she thinks you don't love her enough and has no idea about this. Don't let your relationship be ruined because of bad communication."

Eight years later

"It's okay, mom. I'll be alright." Caroline caressed her mother's hand while tears were streaming down her face.

She had known that moment would come one day. But there had been a small, childish hope in her that Liz would live forever. Alas, even though the years had passed without affecting Caroline's body, they had aged her mother. When she had lost Frank two years before, Liz lost some of her spirit as well. At 75 years, she was lying on her death bed.

She supposed she should be glad that the proud Sheriff Forbes had not suffered the faith of many other residents of Mystic Falls to die by the hands of someone or something supernatural and lived a long life. Nevertheless, it hurt to let her mom go. It hurt so much.

Deciding to make use of her abilities, Caroline entered her mind to set up one last moment for the mother and daughter.

It was simple, really. A younger, human Caroline and an active duty sheriff Liz sitting on their couch in their cozy house. They talked; carefree and openly. Caroline assured her that everything would be alright and Frank was waiting for her. Liz hugged her daughter tightly, already regretting leaving her behind.

"We'll see each other again, I promise. It might take a while but…someday." Caroline assured her. With one last, tender look at her daughter, Liz caressed her cheek and slowly walked out of the house.

Caroline opened her eyes, finding herself at the hospital bed and not hearing her mother's heartbeat anymore.

She let out one sorrowful sob. "Please take care of my mom, Bonnie."

The vampire remained seated next to her mother for a few more hours even though she knew that she had found peace already.

Yet somehow, she found the strength to let go eventually. She got up from her chair, looked down at Liz' body and leaned down to plant a soft kiss on her forehead. "Goodbye, mommy."

When she walked out of the room, she found Klaus sitting in a chair across the hallway. He got up immediately and she let herself fall into his arms, crying for the loss of her mother.

Two years later

Caroline sat down on the steps leading up to her father's cabin and looked at the photo in her hands. It showed her at about four years old with her parents. Many of Caroline's early childhood memories had taken place at that cabin. Whenever Bill and Liz Forbes were able to take time out of their busy schedules, they had taken their daughter out of town to the cabin. There she had built mud cakes with her mother (whose cooking skills never really developed past that stage), played hide-and-seek with her father, tried to play Barbies with Liz but eventually gave up and played cards with them instead. She had learned how to ride a bike and practiced early cheerleading routines. As she became older and her parents' marriage got more strained, they visited the cabin less frequently. Her last memory was of her sitting next to the fire place with a cup of hot cocoa while trying to ignore her parents' yelling upstairs.

And yet … whenever potential buyers contacted her about the cabin, she just did not have it in her heart to sell it. Now that Liz and Bill were both dead, she cherished those memories she had collected in the wooden house even more.

"You know, gorgeous, this is actually a really nice place. How come we've never visited before?" Enzo plopped down next to her and handed her a warm cup of blood.

"Because you would have probably tried to turn it into a sex cabin or worse. I don't want this house to be tarnished with supernatural nonsense."

"Fair enough." Enzo paused for a moment and then raised his cup. "To Sheriff Forbes."

A sad smile appeared on Caroline's face as she raised hers as well. "To Sheriff Forbes."

15 years later

"Damn. Somebody knows how to invest money well." Damon said appreciatively as they walked through the spacious foyer into the main living room. Caroline rolled her eyes but secretly enjoyed his awed tone. The classy mansion on the Italian coast was her pride and joy. She had spent months looking for her dream house and even more months renovating and furnishing once she had found it. Even though she had a couple of apartments and houses all over the world, Italy had captured her heart. It was only logical for her to find a more permanent home for herself to be able to return to and relax.

When she had heard that Damon and Elena were in Venice, she invited them to come visit her. She had not seen her friend in over a decade and was happy to reconnect.

While Elena and Damon had a less nomadic lifestyle than Caroline they did enjoy to travel from time to time.

"It's really beautiful, Care. And that view!" Elena's gaze swept over her infinity pool to the turquoise sea below.

"Not bad. Hey Blondie, you won't believe who we ran into recently!" Damon added while still scanning the surroundings, not noticing Elena's warning glare.

"I rarely believe anything you say but go on." Caroline smirked.

"So, Elena and I were casually strolling through London when we ran into the Big Bad Hybrid."

"You met Klaus?"

"Yep. You can imagine how thrilled we all were, but he didn't kill us on sight, which I consider an absolute win."

"Oh."

"Yeah. I do wonder if he's still hung up on you or if he has found himself another baby vampire to play with."

"Damon!"

Elena's sharp tone finally led to him look at his wife and see her angry expression. His eyes wandered to Caroline who absent-mindedly played with the hem of her dress and he sighed.

"Alright, looks like we'll be needing the booze earlier than I thought. I'll go and get us some drinks." He quickly disappeared through the French doors and left the two friends behind on the terrace.

"I'm sorry, you know Damon's filter doesn't always work like it's supposed to. He was actually really excited to see you again."

Caroline grimaced. "I bet."

Elena guided her to sit down at one of the chaises. "I'm not really up to date on your love life so excuse me for being so curious, but … what happened to you and Klaus? I thought you were heading towards being together and not drifting apart again."

The blonde sighed. "We were. Well, not really. I admitted my feelings for him, but I told him that I wasn't ready to fully commit yet."

Elena nodded understandingly. "And when was that?"

Sheepishly, Caroline mumbled. "At your wedding."

"Oh!" Elena exclaimed surprised. "Wait, Klaus was at our wedding?"

She felt Caroline flinch beside her. "Ah you know what, nevermind. So, you haven't seen each other since then?"

Caroline quickly shook her head. "No, we've met a couple of times during the years."

The former doppelgänger frowned. "But… you love him, right?"

The blonde nodded. She did not even hesitate anymore and was way past the point of hiding her feelings from her friend.

"And he loves you." It was not a question, but a statement.

Caroline nodded again.

Elena fell into a thoughtful silence for a moment. Damon, who did not hear them talk anymore, carefully walked back outside with three glasses in his hand. He handed two to the girls and complimented Caroline on her choice of Bourbon.

"What are you waiting for?" Elena shouted suddenly.

The two other vampires looked at her in shock.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm serious, Care. What's holding you back?"

Caroline stared at her friend; her warm brown eyes, a face she had known for most of her life.

Suddenly, she downed her drink in one quick gulp and turned back to Elena with an alleviated look on her face.

"Nothing."

Someday, somewhere in Japan…

Caroline's gaze swept over the delicate pink sea of blossoms surrounding her. While it was dark already, the lightning along the way artistically illuminated the cherry trees and made her feel like she was walking through a beautiful wonderland. The further she walked towards the park, the more she felt a blissful serenity spread through her body. Even though her head swarmed with anxious thoughts, she focused on that peaceful feeling that had engulfed her. She might have been nervous but that was mostly the giddy excitement for what was lying ahead of her.

She passed a few people on her walk – teenagers, who were destressing from their busy school schedules, couples walking hand in hand, enjoying the mild spring evening and the occasional solitary roamer like Caroline was.

That was right. She had been somewhat of a lone wolf in the last couple of years. Even though she had often met up with Enzo and Freya, Stefan and Kira, Hope, Kol, Rebekah and whichever friend else she encountered, she had remained alone. And to be honest, she was sick of it. Yes, Caroline Forbes was an independent woman. And she fully intended to keep her independence. However, she was also a bit of a romantic and that side of her craved to finally be with her soulmate. To be somebody's first choice. To experience that epic love she always talked about.

She smiled brightly as she stepped into the park and saw the lone figure standing next to the small river, looking up at the crescent moon. She slowly walked towards him and came to a halt at his side.

He turned his head to acknowledge her presence. His smile was small but laced with joy and utter adoration.

"I wasn't sure you would come." Caroline spoke softly.

His smile faded immediately. "You really thought I would not? Did you forget the promise I gave you decades ago?"

She shrugged apologetically. "Of course I didn't. I just figured…I don't know. I did keep you waiting for a quite a while."

"It was worth every second." He finally turned towards her and took her hands into his surprisingly warm ones.

"However, I do wonder what lead you to make this decision, love."

Caroline sighed, feeling completely at ease in his presence while simultaneously, her pulse quickened at the proximity to the hybrid.

"It was a long road, to be honest. I had time to grow up; to find out who I am and what I want for the rest of my life. I saw great cities, experienced art and music."

He smirked as he recalled saying those words to her way back, when they had first met.

"And sometime, along the way, my doubts faded and I realized I was ready. Which doesn't mean I'm not worried that you'll one day get sick of me or something."

Klaus frowned and moved his hand up to gently caress her face.

"Caroline, I promise you I will never get sick of you. And I swear, I would rather die than hurt you in any way. I will never stop loving you and the light you bring to my life. I will even tolerate the doppelganger's and Damon Salvatore's recurring presence if that is what you wish. I will make sure to give you everything you want."

Caroline smiled at those words. She moved closer to his face until they were only mere inches apart.

"You. I want you."

I just want to feel you
When the night puts on its cloak
I'm lost for words don't tell me
'Cause all I can say
I love you 'till the end