It's been a year since Stefan died, saving Mystic Falls.
Caroline has been busy working on opening the boarding school.
Elena has been working on her medical degree.
One day in spring, Damon decides to visit Ric at the boarding school. But he finds that Ric has taken the girls on a little field trip and Caroline has stayed behind, working on the school.
Damon walks into the room and spots Caroline arranging some books on the shelf.
"Be careful you're gonna run into my secret stash of booze" Damon smirked.
Caroline turns back to face Damon, "I have two small children here, Damon. Your booze is all gone."
"Does that mean you got rid of it, or you drank it?" He asked with a smirk.
"Does it seriously matter?" Caroline smirked back.
Damon walks over to a bookcase and slides aside a few books, in one motion he pulls the back panel loose, pulling out a bottle of bourbon.
"All of it you say?" He questioned, turing around to show Caroline the bottle.
Caroline gave him a look, "Seriously?!" she snapped.
Damon waves the bottle in front of Caroline, inviting her. "Join me for a drink?"
Caroline crosses her arms, "You know Damon, I'm supposed to be working, not to mention that fact that's it's freaking ten in the morning"
Damon shrugs, "Has that ever stopped me before?"
Caroline tilts her head, "You know what, screw it. I could use a drink"
She follows Damon who was already making his way to the kitchen.
Damon grabs two glasses, setting them down on the counter and pours them both a generous amount of bourbon.
Caroline sits down at the table and Damon joins her, sitting down across from her.
After a few sips of their bourbon in silence, Damon decides to inquire, "So, where is my drinking buddy today?"
Caroline looked up to him, her finger trailing the rim of her glass.
"He decided to take the girls on a little road trip to get them out of the house. We have been really busy working on the school, I felt he just needed a break" Caroline replied.
Damon, taking another sip of bourbon, "Well what about you? Don't you need a break too?" He asked.
Caroline sighs, moving her fingers away from the rim and picks up her glass, swirling her bourbon as she contemplated her response.
"Well, I try to keep myself busy because it helps me not dwell on all that we have lost."
Damon looks up at her, giving her a genuine smile. "Yeah, I miss him too."
Caroline sets her drink down, "So.." She paused, "When are you gonna pop the question to Elena, so I can start planning the wedding?"
Damon took another, longer, sip of bourbon as he mulls his answer over. Damon never really thought of himself settling down, but after meeting Elena, the idea of it didn't seem so bad.
"Oh I don't know, Caroline. I figured you would plan everything and all I would have to do is show up" Damon teased.
Caroline rolled her eyes, "Well, that may be true. But you still have to ask her."
Damon scoffs teasingly, finishing off his bourbon. "Fine."
Caroline smiles back at him, "But you have to make it romantic."
Damon smirks, "Oh come on, have you met me? I'm the epitomy of passion, romance practically oozes off me."
Caroline rolls her eyes again, finishing of her own glass. "Okay, Prince Charming, let's see what ya got then."
Damon retorted, "Well, I thought we could take a romantic carriage ride through the park in the middle of winter with fireworks going off... No Caroline, of course I don't have anything yet"
"Okay good, I have plenty of ideas" Caroline smiles proudly at him.
Damon rolls his eyes, "I would expect nothing less, Blondie."
R & R are always appreciated. I will posting the next chapter soon, the actual proposal. Hope you all enjoy. :)