Basically after 4x16, my inspiration for writing these two peaked again. I thought I'd write snippets of the beautiful relationship they have. Imho, theirs is the best relationship on the show that is still wonderful to watch and unblemished.

For this, I suggest that you listen to "Hazy" by Rosi Golan ft William Fitzsimmons. A little early morning easy-listening never hurt anyone.

...

All The Reasons

..

'Cause without you things go hazy.

.

It was a Sunday morning. Rays of sunlight peeked through between the curtains in her bedroom, and Caroline Forbes knew it was time to get up, but after the difficult week she'd had with her sort-of-best-friend, she couldn't stand to get up. It was too exhausting, having to get up and contemplate the situation they were all in – again, another problem, another mess. Glancing briefly at the alarm clock sitting on her bedside table, she saw that it was indeed way too early for a Sunday morning. Consequently, she closed her eyes and covered her head with the cosy duvet, all too happy to sink back into oblivion again. Before she knew it, despite her thoughts running at a thousand miles per second, she managed to go back to sleep.

Just after she'd fallen back asleep, the front door of her house opened softly and in stepped Stefan Salvatore, wondering if his best friend had woken up yet. He could hear her breathing, and decided she probably still was. Damon had gone out of town, with Elena in tow, and he had no one else to talk to about his concerns. It wasn't just that she was such a good listener and that she knew practically everything about him and his life; it was that he enjoyed her company.

With her, he felt like he got his strength back, and he had hope, for whatever and whoever he needed to hope for.

It was funny for him when he considered that she really had ended up being his best friend. He could depend on her greater than he depended on his own brother. Multiple times she reminded him of Lexi, but somehow there was something about the dynamic between himself and Caroline that was different. She did resemble Lexi in the sense that they were both his confidantes, his best friends. He could lean on them for support and he knew he'd get it. But Caroline wasn't exactly the same as Lexi. Caroline was younger than him, firstly. He was originally her mentor first, not the other way around. And when he bantered with her, he sometimes questioned if they were flirting with each other – perhaps because of how much he knew he cared for her, and vice-versa. He cared for Lexi too, back then, but that felt more because he owed her so much, for teaching him and being like an older sister, and even a mother to him.

All these unusual thoughts in his head remained there as he very quietly pushed Caroline's bedroom door open and looked in. A cheeky voice in his head teased him, telling him that he was being such a creepy stalker. But he wasn't, he felt, and he told himself he was just checking up on her. She had been nearly killed by his ex-girlfriend, after all.

And there she was, sleeping soundly. Her head was turned slightly to the right side of the bed – the side facing him and the bedroom door. Her eyes were closed, her golden curls spread out on one section of her pillow. He found himself admiring how peaceful, how innocent and how beautiful she looked when she was sleeping.

He suppressed a smile growing on his face, and he decided that he would make breakfast and wait for her to wake up. After all, her mother the Sheriff was never home – and she did allow Stefan to watch over Caroline for her.

He let his gaze linger on her sleeping form for a few more seconds before he closed the door. He realised he was indeed smiling to himself, thinking about the first time they had properly talked at a party when Caroline threw herself at him. He had given her an outright rejection.

"Caroline, you and me… it's never going to happen."

Well, it never happened in the way she originally wanted it back then, but it did happen in a way that was unexpected – a blossoming, tight-knit friendship that was one of the only things in life he knew he could hold on to and not be disappointed.

He opened her refrigerator and took out all the necessary ingredients he needed to make omelettes and pancakes. It felt a bit weird for him to cook amid all the chaos that was always enveloping his life. He could leave and investigate the matter Sheriff Forbes had told him about, and come back later. But a part of him preferred if she was there with him.

An hour later, he was done, and he laid the table for both of them to eat. The mushroom-and-cheese omelettes and chocolate pancakes were in the middle, and he had poured two glasses of orange juice. Looking at the clock, he knew it was time for him to wake her up. It was a pleasant Sunday breakfast anyhow, and she would not pass this up for sleep.

He went into her bedroom and sat on her bed beside her, leaving the door open. He knew the smell of food would eventually wake her up. He nudged her elbow a little, and immediately she stirred, blinking her eyes open.

"Hmmm…" she began, but her eyes instantly saw Stefan there, and she sat up straight in her bed, eyes wide. "Stefan! What are you doing here?"

"Oh, nothing, just watching you sleep," he replied, smiling.

She narrowed her gaze. "Was that necessary? You really gave me a fright. If it wasn't you, I'd think you were a stalker."

"Well it's good to know I'm not in that category in your book, Caroline," he responded, amused.

"Are you okay? I've never seen you this jovial since you carried me over your shoulder that day," she asked, half-concerned and half-suspicious of his behaviour.

He looked at her and let out a small sigh. "I'm just taking a time-out from being worried about everything," he answered honestly. "Would you prefer if I brood all day, all the time?"

"You are Stefan the brooder," she said, smiling at him, and he laughed.

"But," she continued, "It is nice seeing you be happy and free – you know, provided you don't go off the rails."

"That's why I'm happy and free around you," he said. "I know you'll keep me from going there."

Caroline chuckled, genuinely thankful that he was in her life, and that she was in his.

"Yes," she affirmed. "Yes, I will."

They glanced at each other, and in that moment, it felt electric. Their connection was intimate, so pure, and he understood then that no matter what happened, if she was here, he would be fine. As long as they had each other, no matter what they had to face, he would be okay, and she would be okay.

"But you aren't really here just to watch me sleep, are you?" she questioned, getting out of bed.

Stefan grinned. "No, I wanted to talk to you about a few things. And, I made breakfast."

She turned to face him, her face full of light and joy. "No wonder I smelled the pancakes."

"Ready to eat? My Sunday breakfasts are the best in town," he claimed.

"Ready," she said, following him in her pajamas. "And Stefan…"

He paused in his tracks, turning back to look at her.

"Thank you," she finished, giving him her best smile. "For being here."

He knew what she meant, and smiled back at her.

"Anytime."

Okay, that's it for today. I may continue with more moments between them, but I may also just keep this a one-shot. Review? It'll help me gauge what to do. Please, and thank you for reading!