Above It All " SEQUEL TO ABOVE ALL ELSE "

Chapter 1

"I know how your mind works Caroline. You need to sort and shift through everything that has transpired and all the possible outcomes before you can find closure. And knowing you as I do, you will do this on your own to an obsessive degree. So, the empty book." Steven shrugged and waved his hand towards it, "A journal if you will."

"You want me to keep a diary." She stated in a monotoned voice, staring at the object in her hand as if it had a disease. At the moment, she could hardly even think of all that had happened, let alone process it all. How in the world was she supposed to write about it even to herself?

Steven gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze, "You'll figure it out Sunshine." He looked at her with a soft smile as if he knew exactly where her thoughts were heading. He suddenly inhaled deeply, blowing his breath out heavily before looking into her eyes meaningfully, "and in regard to closure; be sure you find a little of that here in Mystic Falls before you go galivanting off across the globe."

"What do you mean?"

"There is a woman in this town Caroline that you thought to be a vital family member for most of your life here. I'd hate to think you let that go unhandled before you left." He offered her a meaningful grin before walking out of the room.

Caroline kept her jaw clenched tightly until she was sure Steven was gone. The instant he left her lip began to tremble and her eyes filled with tears.

Caroline smiled with a fond shake of her head as she idly fanned the pages of the journal with her fingers. Steven always seemed to know what he was talking about, she thought, even when at times she wished he didn't. She giggled and rolled her eyes heartfeltly as she remembered the argument she had with Klaus a few days after and the events the subsequently followed.

XXX

Klaus had been reluctant to let her go out on her own. Standing with his imposing form blocking her way to the front door with his arms crossed tightly over his chest he snarled, "No."

"Klaus I'll be fine." She huffed in exasperation.

"You don't know that for sure what with..."

She cut him off quickly before they gained the attention of the others in the house, "The dangers are gone and I just have something to do before we leave. I need to do this and I need to do it alone."

The rigid set of his jaw as well as the narrowing of his eyes had her sighing. She could easily see what he tried so desperately to hide beneath his hard exterior; his worry. Not only over her safety but also whether or not she would return. Somewhere inside him Klaus still had this crazy idea that she would leave and never come back. Caroline knew it would take years if not decades for him to lower his guard with her completely. Even still, she could see right through him. He used orders and demands, force and anger as a way to hide is more vulnerable emotions.

Stepping in close to him she gently ran her hand over his scruff covered cheek, smiling inwardly as he leaned into her touch just a smidge. Moving her head down to catch his eyes with hers she kept her voice just as soft as her touch, "I will be fine. I will come back. No one will hurt me."

Klaus was beginning to despise how easily she could sway and affect him and he tried to stand firm, "You will be fine because you will not go alone."

"No, I will be fine because I can take care of myself." Caroline stated strongly as she took a step back.

Not to be ignored Klaus stepped forward, his body pressed tightly against hers as he hissed in her ear, "How? With this newly formed powers we know nothing about? The very same ones that you do not want to discuss with anyone yet?"