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And so it came down to this, that same old choice. Klaus may not have known it but there's a list of men who have been in his position before. Not literally of course. Different situation but it was still the same dilemma. Elena or Caroline.

It isn't even a choice really and it hasn't ever been. He would choose as his predecessors did before him. Elena, of course it was Elena. It was always going to be Elena and maybe that was her curse. To always survive, a most befitting punishment if he ever saw one. Even as she pleads for her friend's life the once again human doppelganger knows how this scene plays out.

"No, Klaus, please please," Elena screams as she fights for air because she needs it now, "don't do this don't don't."

It turns out nature has a funny sense of humor and the cure isn't anything they thought it would be, which is exactly what he was expecting. And if he was a hero, if he was a knight in shining armor then he'd save the day, the night, and the girl too but he's the villain and he doesn't save anything. Instead he gets the choice.

A sorry choice if he thinks about it long enough. Besides villainy takes sacrifice and what's one blond baby vampire for an immortal army and peace of mind?

"Save her, please just save her," Elena pleads so softly that only a vampire could hear, "I'm not worth it. It's not worth it."

Oh but she is and it is.

That's the bitterest part, all the parts fit so perfectly. He is the man who can't love and she's the girl who always survives. And Caroline, sweet, bright and lovely Caroline was the girl who never gets to the finish line first. And they would all have to play their parts until the end.

"They say choosing who lives or dies," Klaus says his mouth pulled into a tight frown, "that's what truly makes you a monster, a god."

The moment that Elena is safe in the arms of her Salvatores, Caroline dies.