(A/N: Alright, we're coming up at the end, just a couple more chapters left! Fair warning, these updates are going to be relatively short from here on out. I'm really just trying to pound out these chapters as fast as I can, so I apologize if they seem a bit rushed. The title/song for this chapter is "To Be Alone With You" by Sufjan Stevens. Listen. Read. Review. Enjoy!)

Caroline's POV:

I feel like a flower that has bloomed overnight. Not only has Klaus unequivocally declared his love for me, but the binds that once held me down in fear have finally loosened and I've been able to break free. I can breathe again. I sleep better at night, I'm less irritable, and my medication has decreased so I'm slowly becoming more of myself again. With every passing day, I get a little bit stronger and more determined. The former zombie that used to drag around these halls has transformed and come back to life.

"Check," Klaus says, moving his Chess piece to mine.

Continuing to keep up the distant charade is somewhat harder than before, but we get by. Between seemingly platonic games of Chess in the rec room and quick glances in the hallways, we find little ways to savor and make the moments last.

I take my turn and move my King piece far out of the way, while knocking one of his pieces down.

"You can't do that," he quietly laughs out.

"Whoops, I think you're going to have to try again," I say, distracting his logical thinking by moving my bare ankle up his pant leg.

He closes his eyes and gives out a soft moan. I love that I can do that to him.

A smile makes its way on my face as I focus on the feeling of his skin against mine. Every touch, no matter how light, feels like electricity shooting through my entire body. Still, it wasn't enough; I wanted more of him.

"Is Lexi still watching?" He asks softly, keeping his eyes shut.

I shoot a quick glance over at Lexi who's out in the hallway chatting it up with another doctor, but still has her gaze focused on us.

"Don't be so paranoid, she can't see under the table," I lightly tease.

"Stop smiling so much," he whispers, opening his eyes and looking down at the Chess board, "You're going to make her suspicious."

"I can't help it," I say quietly, looking down at the game as well, "I'll stop when you stop."

He gives a quick, soft laugh and covers his face with his hands. Then, letting out a deep sigh, he recomposes himself.

"Okay, how am I going to beat you now that you've taken my bishop?" He asks seriously.

The smile soon disappears from my face as I look up to see Stefan approaching.

"Incoming," I warn, moving my ankle away from his.

"Hey, buddy," Stefan says, giving Klaus a quick pat on the shoulder, "I'm going out for lunch today. Wanna come?"

"Yeah, sure," he replies quickly, "When?"

"Like, now."

"Oh, okay," Klaus says, straightening himself up, "I'll meet you out front in a minute."

"Sounds good. You doing good, Caroline?"

"Yeah, Klaus just got his butt kicked at Chess."

"Yes, apparently," Klaus agrees.

"Well done," Stefan commends, "See you soon, Klaus."

And with that, he exits the same way he came.

"Now, where was I?" Klaus says, carefully contemplating each location of the few pieces still left on the board.

"Ah yes," he states, moving one of his last pawns, "Check mate."

"What?!" I declare, throwing my hands up in disbelief.

"Until next time, love," he whispers before getting up from his chair and leaving the room.

I shake my head and begin to put away the game when Lexi approaches.

"My turn!" she exclaims, sitting down across from me, "Do you want to play again?"

"Sure," I reply, cheerfully.

Lexi and I have been much closer lately. Ever since I stopped moping around, it's like she became easier to talk to. Or maybe I just became easier to talk to. Either way, the relationship is better. She reminds me of myself at times: Strong headed, clever, witty… blonde. We're not so different after all.

I begin to setup all the pieces but stop suddenly when the sight of Matt and Elena catches the corner of my eye. They're in the hallway, and it looks like Matt is trying to walk away from her. They're both crying.

Lexi notices my split attention and follows my gaze.

"Have you two not made up yet?" she finally asks.

I shake my head in response, "No."

I've been avoiding Elena since our last encounter. Mostly because I don't really know how to apologize for blowing up at her the way I did. I'm slightly embarrassed.

A confusion stirs in me when I see that Elena is tugging on Matt's sleeve, trying to get him to turn back toward her. What happened? Matt never leaves her like this.

Matt turns around with a painful expression on his face and gently puts his hands on her shoulders. He speaks low, but I can just barely make out the words he says: "Don't settle for less than what you are. You are better than this."

With that, he gives her a quick kiss on her forehead and walks away.

I can't believe what I'm seeing. Is he actually leaving her?

Elena stands still in the middle of the hallway with a blank expression on her face as she watches him go. He's about to walk out the front door when she runs after him and gives the most distorted, painful cry I've ever heard echo off these walls.

"MATT!" She chokes out desperately. The sound is dry and raspy, but it gets his attention. It gets everyone's attention. Finally, the first time Elena has spoken in years.

Matt smiles bewilderingly, and quickly runs back toward her. He picks her up in his arms and kisses her head as she continues to cry out his name.

"I'm here. I love you. I'm here. I love you," he tells her repeatedly.

Suddenly this sight is too personal for my comfort, and I try to shift my focus back to the game, as does Lexi. We're not meant to share this private moment with them.

"Well, I'll be damned," she says, moving her first piece, "He got her to talk."

"Yeah," I reply, in a contemplative daze, "He did."

My mind drifts off to thoughts of Klaus as I stare down at the board. I think back to some recent words he had said to me… "You don't need to forget; you need to heal."

Klaus's POV:

"So, I have a confession to make," Stefan says as he drives us back to the hospital after picking up lunch.

"Sorry, mate, you're not my type," I joke.

"Sadly, I don't have a crush on you Mikaelson," he teases, "But I do happen to know about a certain crush of yours."

My heart drops into the pit of my stomach.

"I know about you and Caroline," he declares, his tone turning serious.

There's a moment of awkward silence as I fumble for the right words to say. I decide not to deny it.

"How did you know?" I ask him nervously.

"Well," he starts, "It was obvious, for me at least. Especially on Halloween when you two were under that blanket."

Damnit, I knew it.

"Does anyone else know?"

"Nah," he replies casually, "Elijah's too busy to notice and John is too one-sided to even consider how you might be feeling."

"You've known this whole time?" I ask incredulously, "How come you didn't say anything before?"

"Because I believed that whatever you two shared, was genuinely helping her. It was working… then it got unhealthy."

He takes a deep breath before continuing, "Listen, I think she might be too emotionally dependent on you."

We've made it to the hospital parking lot now.

He's not wrong, this notion has already been clearly stated by Elijah, John, and Lexi. But still, he doesn't know everything. Caroline relies on me for comfort, but the strength comes entirely from her.

"Yeah, you might be right," I agree, "Tell me, what would you do if you were me?"

"Look," he begins, parking the car and taking the keys out of the ignition, "They don't know what I know, I just had to say something. Things have changed now, and you need to think of what's in Caroline's best interest."

"That's all I ever wanted."

"I know, I believe you," He says, taking a look out the window for a moment before looking back to me, "Dude, how did it even get this far?"

I shrug, half laughing at my predicament, "I honestly don't know."

He laughs with me. It feels good to get this off my chest and talk to someone I can trust.

"She's much stronger than you think," I finally tell him.

He nods his head understandingly and opens his door.

"Then she needs to prove it," he states simply, getting up and exiting the car.

My heart sinks even deeper. I now know what I have to do.

(A/N: OoOOOOoo snap. What do you think it is he has to do? Thanks for reading, don't forget to review!)