A/N: Before you get started, there are a few things I want you to know:
English is not my first language.
This is an AU. Short-fic divided in max. five parts.
This story is rated T/T+ because (I suck at rating things) it may contain inappropriate themes for children.

Part I - The backstage

"Okay, you're ready to go" the make-up artist, Angela, says as she takes of the pencil off Caroline Forbes' face and put it back on a case. She takes a few steps to her right and start packing her stuff, her work done. Caroline watches herself through the wide mirror, trying to find an answer to why she's always so nervous before the show begins. She's beautiful, yes, some part of her truly believes is not because of Angela's talent. But her heart is beating too fast inside her chest; if this spectacle was only about how gorgeous Caroline is, she'd be calmer, perhaps.

Being a magician has been a dream-come-true but sometimes she feels like she's still sleeping. It's wonderful but one day someone may wake her up – that's what she's afraid of. Her anxiety on the backstage has become more and more usual, as she made more and more success. From Mystic Falls to the world, she remembers her mom's words when she left. And yet, there she is, cold-sweating as if this was her very first time on stage.

"Someone bring me something with many ice cubes and a lot alcohol too? Please?" she asks as she starts fanning herself with a fan.

"I thought we had an agreement to only get drunk after the show" someone's voice comes from the door. He walks in and takes a deep breath after Caroline turns around in her chair. Stefan wants to tell her she's stunning, as she always was, as she always will, but the words get stuck in his throat. He smiles instead and she smiles back, checking upon him from head to feet.

"You look really handsome" she raises one of her eyebrows. "Is there a lot of pretty girls in the audience tonight?"

She gets up, balancing herself on the black high heels she bought past week – when they went to Rome (or was it Paris?) and Caroline "accidentally" got a little bit drunk before getting on stage. The alcohol didn't affect the beauty of her show, but Stefan wanted to make sure she was sober to understand how many people appreciated her – and their agreement began. It was a happy day;

"Stop. You're the pretty girl here" he lets out. It was supposed to be a simple compliment, but not even Caroline's make-up hide her blushing cheeks. It became as usual as her anxiety, those types of talk between her and Stefan. They start talking about something and at the slight possibility that their words could mean something else –something deeper -, everything becomes awkward. Their cheeks blush, they blood in a rush to reach their hearts – who dies every time they look at each other and their silence deny how they feel. It has always been obvious to the whole team that they're long date best friends who never admitted that their friendship changed. To romance;

The tension between them grew stronger since the day before, during Caroline's training...

"FIVE MINUTES!" Cindy screams. She writes down something on a paper then starts to rant, asking why everyone isn't where they're supposed to be. People start to leave the dressing-room and assume their positions. All on the backstage or among the audience, because Caroline is the only one on stage – she's the main trick.

"I think I'm going to kill a man tonight. Any volunteers?" She looks at the people remaining in the room, two girls and five guys. They look away. Everyone always trusted Caroline, except for this one trick – which the preferred to call "The Treat", presented at the end of the show once every three or four weeks. She changes some things according to the place she was presenting at, but it always ends up the same way: her hands around somebody's neck and yet it's a peaceful death and suddenly the person comes back to life. It was a trick at first, but after the presentation in a mysterious town that Caroline wants to never go back to, her hands became lethal. Stefan used to say there was a witch in the audience that night, and as much as Caroline denies it she knows it's probably true; and now her show it's no longer full of illusionism, but pure magic.

Stefan raises his hand.

"I'll do it." He says, softly, accepting his imminent death with his heart and his mind open.

"No, not you" Caroline immediately says. I can't risk it.

"Well, none of us will be a part of your treat, as you like to call it" Marc, a black-haired guy who was the tallest man Caroline has ever met, said. "I'm sorry Caro, we can't forget what happened to Elle".

It felt like a punch in her face. Caroline stopped breathing for a few seconds, her anxiety trying to win over her hope. She would never forget what happened to her assistant, her first one, but she always tried to not remember that night. Elle was also the first one to be in "The Treat", her participation was just after the witch incident. Caroline put her hands in her necks and told her it was okay, no one could hurt her, but then the lights went out. The darkness wasn't a part of the show, everyone was confused. Caroline let go of Elle and after long minutes the lights were back on. Elle was gone. When she was found, under a table, it was too late...

The blond girl swallowed, trying to forgive not only Marc for bring the subject back but herself. Would the guilt ever go away?

"The show is going to be wonderful, okay?" Marc said, before going out the door. Everyone else follows him and then there's only Caroline and Stefan.

"Caroline, I can handle this"

"No, I don't want to risk losing you!"

"I know, but…" he sighs. An image of the previous day come to his mind and he gets closer and closer, really wanting to touch her again somehow – a kiss on her lips this time? He hesitates, remembering that everyone also thinks Caroline's powers don't come only from her hands but from other parts of her body – what about the kiss of death? But then Stefan also remembers that he doesn't care – he would never forget what happened the previous day. If touching her meant being killed, his only wish is to soon be a corpse, for he cannot let another day go by without the feeling of her skin under his hands.
She leans a few inches closer to his lips and suddenly the high heels become a bad idea, her legs shaky.

"STEFAN, CAROLINE, WHERE ARE YOU GUYS?!" Cindy yells again.

They take a large step away from each other, their precious moment being ruined.

Stefan turns around, starts to follow Cindy's voice. He's the one that announces Caroline, his Italian suits and gorgeous eyes giving him credibility.

He's on stage and people are applauding, calling for her. He looks at Caroline in the corner, hidden behind black and thick curtains. She's biting her lips and it takes a little bit of time for her to meet his gaze. When she does, he smiles and she's no longer afraid.

"It's going to be a wonderful show", Stefan repeats Marc's words. Caroline shakes her head, agreeing. "I promise you it'll be beautiful, sexy and unforgettable".

Your reviews are very important so let me know if you want to read Part II.