Setting: This is Tyler's POV during the time Caroline was with Stefan and Damon in Chapter 1 and a few moments after she comes back when she hears him groan in pain.

I hope you like it!

Disclaimer: Nothing except plot belongs to me.

Italics - Tyler's thoughts

"Is this the end of the moment or just a beautiful unfolding of a love that will never be or maybe be everything that I never thought could happen?"

- Anywhere But Here by Safetysuit

He opens his eyes, the sun glaring in his face. He squints.

Great, even my eyes hurt now. What else?

It doesn't really matter though, like how it doesn't matter that he's naked, sitting on the ground against a rock, in what he now considers a prison cell for monsters like him.

He really thought he would've died.

He doesn't know whether to find it normal or disturbing that he's actually disappointed by the fact he's still kicking it.

But he remembers everything, every single waking second of pure agony and he's scared to admit it but he can vaguely remember the animalistic noises he made and how he couldn't help but want to kill Caroli-

Caroline.

He's looking around frantically and it takes him a while to digest the fact that there's nobody but him down there in the Old Lockwood property.

He supposes that this is what should happen. She was incredibly stupid to have stayed when they both know that he could have hurt her or maybe even killed her. He supposes that maybe it's best that he should be alone with this…this curse.

He supposes that it's just because he's a wreck right now that he finds his own convictions hollow and obvious lies.

Coming from him, Tyler Lockwood, that is saying something. He's been lying since preschool, lying is next to breathing for all he cares but here he is, lying to himself.

He's surprisingly calm about this whole predicament, even he's surprised. Of course, his whole body is aching, right down to his toes, but like he said that doesn't matter to him.

She does, if that ever counts.

And she isn't here.

He sighs in aggravation. He's pining.

He remembers her staying. Through everything. That alone warrants his pining but he's still denying it.

Most of all, he remembers hearing her call him when he woke up from the nightmare. It's the first thing he remembers but he's denying that too.

Because afterall, he's denying that the first thought he had was her.

He knows it means something, but he also knows that he shouldn't be screwing with the pure, selfless friendship that Caroline gave him.

He should be thinking that it shouldn't even mean something but he isn't thinking that and it's all he needs to realize that he might be having it bad.

Then he's wishing that she's there with him.

That's when he decides, just fuck it, he's going to get her back.

He stands up so suddenly that pain shoots up his leg. He groans in pain before he sinks back to the ground.

"Damnit, what the h-"

He's reaching for his leg but he feels something cool on his knee and it sooths the pain, even if that sounds crazy. He looks and sees someone's hand.

He looks up immediately.

She's back.

He smiles so wide that his jaw hurts but he can't feel it, it doesn't make sense, but it's the truth. The only thing he feels is her cool hand holding his hand just as tightly as he is holding hers.

He feels something burst in his chest and it's damn cheesy and corny but it fills him, it floods him. His smile falters, he feels winded, like he just got punched in the gut unaware.

He bites down his lips hard.

I love you.

Fin.

He stopped himself from saying it. This is the end of this fic! As I wrote in the 1st chapter, I cannot go AU unless the story is set a few years later, but even then, I'd still make the past the same. This corresponds with the 2x12 promo. He does love her and that's why he'll kiss her!

I decided to make this the later chapter than the last one because it's kind of the piece of the puzzle that explains everything else.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE POURING SUPPORT YOU ALL HAVE GIVEN FOR THIS FIC!

I don't know but maybe I will continue this. Because FORWOOD IS FOREVER and I just might have new ideas.

-DarlingDearestDeadForever