The Second Life Of Stella Salvatore

Death? Or Life?

Klaus's POV:

Damon was completely silent the whole trip back to Mystic Falls. A single word never left his mouth and it was the same way with Damian. It was like Damon had become a zombified statue. His eyes were glassy-like as he stared out at the rippling water; his brain probably still trying to process what had happened back on the island.

Out of kindness, which I very rarely ever expressed to someone, I reached over and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I truly am very sorry, Mate." His tired crystal blue eyes glanced over at me briefly then went back to staring at nothing without uttering a sound. He didn't even smile. And who would blame him?

I dropped my hand and dived back into my own thoughts about our time on the island. I pulled out my cellphone, quickly going to my pictures, and pulled up one that I dearly cherished. The photo was taken back when she felt like she could trust me for once and I took her to the top of the Falls for an old fashioned picnic. She had loved every minute of it. Even if she wouldn't admit it, I knew she did. Caroline had her arms around me resting them on my shoulders as she smiled at the camera. Her baby blue eyes were bright and sparkling as she gave her gorgeous smile. I was actually smiling too, but it was a small smile. You could tell I was happy. We both were. I was anxious to get back to Mystic Falls.

That night we finally returned to Virginia and I was a running blur through the trees. I knew they had buried Caroline's body in the cemetery and just knew that would be where I would find her. My heart sped up.

The gate was already unlocked making it easy for me to flit past. My heart nearly burst out of my chest when I came to a halt in front of the tombstone that read: Caroline Elizabeth Forbes. I wasn't sure I heard it at first, but when I heard it again I was sure. I was hearing some yelling and it was coming from deep in the ground. Caroline. It had to be.

I quickly fell to my knees and started shoveling dirt and rocks away like the whole world depended on it. "Hold on, Love! I'm coming!" I shouted down to her hoping she could hear me. My hands dug furiously as my nails got caked with the fresh earth, but that didn't stop me. Nothing would stop me from reaching her. I had easily dug a pretty good sized hole within a couple of minutes and my arms weren't even burning.

Fifteen minutes later I finally hit something that was some kind of wood. Oak, I think. I could hear banging coming from inside and then Caroline's tired cry. I brushed away more dirt from the lid of the casket before I finally pried it open. Caroline shot up like a bullet and went straight into my arms with a sob as she threw her arms around my neck in a tight hug.

"Oh god, Klaus. I was yelling and banging on that lid for hours. But nobody heard me. I was so scared," Caroline buried her tear stained face in my neck as I held her close to me.

I closed my eyes concentrating on stroking her long blonde hair and comforting the shaking girl in my arms. Oh how I longed to have her back. "It's okay now, Love. It's okay. I'm right here. I heard you. And I will always hear you."

We stayed sitting on the ground like that for a while as she sobbed into my shirt as her body continued shaking. But I didn't mind. I was just so happy to have her back. Once she had finally managed to calm down she pulled back to look at me with those slightly puffy baby blue eyes. We held gazes for about a minute in which I gave her a gentle smile to show she could trust me.

Before I even knew what happened, she leaned forward, wrapping an arm around my neck, and pressed her lips softly to mine. It was like she was scared to kiss me. But the longer she tasted my lips the more she relaxed in my arms. After a few minutes she pulled away and looked at me again. I smiled and whispered,"Caroline Forbes, I am so deeply and madly in love with you and I no longer wish to deny myself the extraordinary pleasures of being with you. I love you."