Going back to my OTP for this story, something funny and light. Please review if you like it ;o)

"This is a complete disaster!"

Caroline put her cellphone on the kitchen island and started pacing across the room.

"What is?" asked Stefan distractedly, as he was busy putting a finishing touch to an elaborate plate of delicatessen and vegetables. Caroline's neurotic outbursts didn't really worry him anymore, at least until he could see by himself that there was indeed a disaster involved, and that she wasn't just being a control freak on crack (her words, not his.)

"That was Mrs Rodenberry," she said, pointing an accusing finger to her cellphone. "She thought I might want to know that there would be an extra 15 people to her party. 15 ! Who adds 15 people to their party 3 hours before it starts?"

"Mrs Rodenberry does, apparently. So that's it? That's the disaster?"

Caroline huffed. "Well, do you have another word for it?"

Stefan smiled. "What about 'no problem'?" He opened the fridge and took out some more delicatessen and vegetables. "I have enough to make at least two others like that one. I know what our customers are like, Care, I learned to anticipate."

She smiled at him. "You're awesome."

He grinned. "Tell me something I don't know."

"You sound like your brother. When is he coming back anyway?" She put on an apron and started helping Stefan unpack the food and clean the vegetables.

"Isn't it supposed to be today, or tomorrow? I kind of lost track, to be honest."

"Well we certainly could have use his help. Stupid woman," Caroline mumbled, cutting a red peppers if it was Mrs Rodenberry's head.

"Don't know about that. Last time he helped us he told you he expected to be paid if we needed him again."

Caroline shook her head, smiling. "Aah, dear Damon. I miss him. I wish he would stay with us more."

"You know why he does it," Stefan said, referring to his brother's constant traveling.

Caroline'smile faded. "Yes, I know. But it's been three years. I though he would be better by now."

"He is better. But Damon has never been the stay-at-home type. As long as he shows up here every once in a while as a proof that he's still alive, it's fine by me," Stefan replied, too casually to be entirely honest. Caroline knew he also wished for his brother to stay in Mystic Falls and have some time to reconnect.

Three years ago Elena had decided against transitioning and she had died peacefully the next day, surrounded by Jeremy and her friends.

Her death had changed a lot of things. Jeremy had left and go back to their family in Denver. There had been a lot of drama following the Klaus-in-Tyler body, but that had been quickly resolved as Bonnie undid her spell. Unfortunately, that had been the death knell of Caroline and Tyler's relationship.

Klaus had left town shortly after, dragging a daggered and coffin-bound Rebekah with him.

It's not like anybody were going to miss them.

At the end of the Senior year, almost everyone left Mystic Falls to go to college in different states.

But Caroline stayed. For Stefan and Damon. To say that they had taken Elena's death the hard way was a vast understatement.

There had been grief, anger, blame, guilt and even a nasty fight or two. That's when Caroline had decided to intervene and put a stop to all those negative feelings. She had been the first surprised when it had actually worked. It had taken some time of course, and both of them had cope their own way. Damon had been taking off across the globe as often as possible, and Stefan had started a catering business with her. It had been her idea actually, and she wasn't afraid to say it had been a brilliant one. Surprisingly, considering all the events and parties going on endlessly in Mystic Falls, there was only one caterer and he was about to retire. Caroline had taken the company over, and between her great sense of planning and Stefan's culinary skills, they hadn't stopped working since.

She had gotten extremely close to the two Salvatores, and when Damon had started to travel, her college plans didn't sound like so much fun anymore. She hadn't wanted to leave Stefan alone and moping in Mystic Falls. Because she knew him, and there would be lots and lots of moping, which would lead to very bad ideas like taking his ring off and meet the sun. Over the next few months they had supported each other and rekindled their friendship, even more deeply than before.

And ok, let's be honest here. She had developed a giant crush on him. Again.

Not that she was going to do anything about it.

Her friendship with him was too important to risk it, and after all he hadn't sent her any signals indicating that he felt the same way. Besides, she didn't want to be rebound girl, even though it was obvious that Stefan had moved on since the last few months. He also didn't seem in a hurry to dive into a new relationship.

Not that Mystic Falls was a dating paradise anyway.

But he wasn't back to his broody self, and there was actually a tranquility and new found serenity about him that perfectly completed her cheery and bouncy self, and she found that quiet strength undeniably attractive. She had also discovered a dry sense of humor in him that she had had only a few glimpses of before.

All of this made it very hard to keep her feelings to herself, but she had managed it so far. If she was ever ready to come out of the Friend Zone...she would call MTV.

When they got back at the Boarding House it was early evening, and there was some food left so they had a quick dinner in the kitchen, talking and laughing about some of the guests at Mrs Rodenberry's party.

Caroline had been living at the house for more than a year now, mostly out of convenience as it was their catering business home office. Besides, Liz had met someone a few months ago and was now living with him in Richmond. She had sold the house and gave a good part of it to help Caroline's business. The two women stayed closed and called each other frequently.

Stefan and Caroline had just finished eating and were cleaning the kitchen when they heard the doorbell. They looked at each other, surprised. Stefan shrugged.

"Maybe Damon forgot his keys."

He left to open the door, and a few seconds later Caroline heard him call her.

"Uh, Care? Can you come here?"

Intrigued, she joined him. "What?"

She followed his gaze, to discover a maxi-cosi on the floor, with a baby in it.

A real baby.

"What the...?"

She looked at Stefan who raised his hands. "Don't look at me. I have no clue. And I'm pretty sure it's not mine."

She stepped out on the front porch looking around, but nobody was there, obviously.

She turned to Stefan, who had kneeled down in front of the baby, a little girl judging by her little yellow dress and matching knitwear.

"Is this a prank?"

Despite the situation, Stefan smiled. "Yes, I'm sure Carol Lockwood is the evil genius behind this."

She glared at him. "Not funny, Stefan. There's a freaking baby on our front door!"

She crouched down near him and looked at the sleeping baby, calming instantly. "She's so cute," she sighed with a tender look.

"Let's get her inside," Stefan suggested and delicately lifted the crib. Caroline closed the door behind them and they brought her in the living room near the fireplace.

The blonde vampire shook her head. "Why would someone leave a baby here? Why not the hospital, or a church?"

"Beats me," Stefan muttered, looking at the baby with a pensive face.

"What should we do with her?"

Stefan sighed, putting his hand on his waist. "No idea. Bring her to the police, or the hospital."

"Ok, but it's late, and she sleeps so peacefully, so maybe we should..."

She was interrupted by the slamming of the front door, and Damon appeared, all smiles, throwing his travel bag on a nearby chair.

"Hey guys! I'm back. I hope you behaved while..."

He stopped abruptly, taking in the scene in front of him.

"Geez! How long was I gone?"

TBC...;o)

A/N : My dear friend and fellow writer Honeeym wrote a terrific Stebekah story called 'Forever and A Day' and you should all go read it NOW ;o)