Magical Steroline

Chapter 1 - Moving In

Caroline was dozing on the couch when a knock at the door awoke her. Sitting up, she ran her hands over her face to wake herself up, yawning as she looked at the clock on the wall; ten at night.

She frowned wondering who it could be. She walked through, seeing Stefan through the curtain of the door. A smile came to her face at seeing her best friend. She hurried to open the door, the smile slipping from her lips as she saw the tears in his eyes and the bags at his feet. Not waiting for him to say anything she pulled him into her arms.

She didn't need him to say a word for her to know how heartbroken he was. The sobs that wracked his body only confirmed her suspicions. Elena. She tightened her hold on him, and rocked him in her arms as she made soothing sounds. She held him against her until his very last cry. When he quietened down she pulled away only far enough to see into his miserable green eyes. She raised her hand to his cheek, wiping the tears away with her thumb, asking quietly, "You need a place to stay?"

Stefan didn't trust himself to speak, all he could do was nod. He was grateful that she didn't ask any questions, just took his hand and led him to the couch. He swallowed back another round of tears, and just sat there. He didn't have the energy to do anything else. Once he'd left the boarding house, he'd walked around aimlessly with no real destination in mind. He thought about getting a hotel, but with the way he was feeling, he didn't trust himself not to take his heartbreak out on the neck of an innocent.

That thought led him to his best friend and sober sponsor. His legs had brought him here before he'd even consciously made the decision. He knew that Caroline would never ever turn him away. And honestly, she was the only person he wanted to be around right now, the only one he could trust and rely on.

Caroline would never betray him.

Not like Damon. Or Elena.

Caroline reached behind the couch for the throw and pulled it over to cover both of them. She rests her head on his shoulder, and reached to entwine their hands under the throw. She brushed her thumb over the back of his hand, lending him comfort and support, not expecting him to open up until he was ready.

She knew that he was hurting, and she wouldn't leave his side while he was upset. She would stay and sleep with him on the couch. He shouldn't be alone right now, and he needed someone in his corner who was only looking out for his best interests.

Stefan wrapped his arm more firmly around her shoulder and pulled her more into his side. He rests his cheek against her hair and closed his eyes. He breathed in the soothing scent of Caroline, relaxing at the feel of her around him. Her soothing fingers soon allowed him to drift off to sleep.

Caroline smiled that Stefan was able to sleep. She didn't know what had happened but she didn't have to really guess as to what it could be. Damon and Elena. Since she'd become a vampire she had leaned more on Damon than Stefan and it was obvious that something would come to a head sooner rather than later. Looked like sooner it was.

Her heart ached for him, he didn't deserve the pain he was going through. She slowly tried to disentangle herself from Stefan when his arm tightened around her. She looked up to be met with his desperate pained eyes. She swallowed back her gasp. He looked so hurt and helpless that it killed her to see him like that.

"Don't go." Stefan practically begged Caroline. He didn't want to be alone, couldn't handle being on his own with his heartbreak. He needed her.

"I'll stay." Caroline immediately reassured Stefan, placing her head against his chest this time and running her hand along his chest to soothe him, "I'm not going anywhere, Stefan."

Stefan relaxed his tense muscles, sliding both of his arms around her fully this time making sure she couldn't escape his embrace. He dropped a tender kiss on her head and whispered, "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Caroline whispered back before closing her eyes and settling against his chest to spend the night sleeping with him on the couch.

A sudden thought came to her which make her giggle, an inappropriate noise for the devastation that clung to Stefan.

"What's so funny?" Stefan asked in slight hurt. Surely she wouldn't find his misery funny. Not his best friend.

"Sorry!" Caroline apologized, amusement still coloring her tone, "Back when we first met I would have loved to have been in this position with you."

And just like that, Caroline was able to make a bark of laughter escape him despite his pain. He smiled, still chuckling as he pulled her closer, "Shut up!"

Caroline smiled, happy that she had been able to bring a small bit of laughter to him.

The next morning, Stefan woke with his nose buried in hair. For a moment he was confused, the hair beneath his nose smelt different to Elena's. He opened his eyes and was met with blonde curls that belonged to his best friend. His breath hitched as he recalled what happened yesterday.

He and Elena had broken up. Because she was confused about what she tried to say we're feelings she'd never had for Damon before but he knew that wasn't true. She had always told him to his face that it had always been him, but in his heart he knew that only in the beginning of their relationship was that true. She'd had feelings for Damon for longer than she was able to admit to herself.

He dragged his hand over his eyes, suddenly feeling exhausted despite only having woken from a deep sleep. He loved her, of course he did, but should he continue to share a place in her heart with his own brother. Was it fair that he always shared the woman he loved with his brother? First Katherine and now Elena. They did share the same face so could he really be surprised that history repeated itself when he was literally repeating his own history by falling for someone with Katherine's face but completely different personality.

He groaned at the direction of his thoughts. Why couldn't he have this kind of revelation when he wasn't already totally in love with her. Though that was another problem. He was in love with her before he even officially met her. He stalked her to make sure she wasn't Katherine and fell in love in the process. Was that truly a healthy way to start a relationship?

Perhaps a break from the emotional roller coaster that was him and Elena was good for all of them. Him, Elena, and Damon. Elena was free to truly choose who she wanted. Damon would just be his normal self and try to get her to pick him. As for himself, he was tired of fighting for something that might only hurt him in the end, so he would step out of the ring, and attempt to live his life without the threat of losing Elena to his brother hanging over his head constantly.

It wouldn't be easy, and it would hurt like hell but he knew there was someone who would be there for him every single step of the way. The only person who was truly there for him without any agenda but his own happiness.

Caroline.

He looked down at her peacefully sleeping face on his chest and couldn't help but smile. She was the best friend he could have asked for after Lexi. He wished the both of them could have met, he knew they would have adored each other and would have loved ganging up on him. A sad smile covered his lips, the old grief resurfacing in his heart for a moment. He truly did miss her.

Caroline woke when she felt the chest beneath her shudder. She turned her face up to see Stefan looking down at her, but she knew he wasn't seeing her at all. His gaze was unfocused, tears swimming in his eyes. Her heart ached at the sight, wanting nothing more than to chase all the pain and heartbreak away from him, he had had more than enough in his life. She lifts her hand up to wipe a stray tear that had fallen down his cheek.

Stefan's eyes closed at her tender action, so overwhelmingly grateful for Caroline that words could never truly express. He raised his own hand to cover hers and took a shaky breath before looking into her concerned gaze. He attempted a smile, but it was only pathetic at best, "Morning."

"Morning." Caroline stroked her thumb across his cheek to soothe him as best she could, "I'd ask how you're feeling but I know that's a stupid question."

Stefan snorted, "Not stupid at all." He gazed at her meaningfully, "Just asking means the world to me."

Caroline just smiled back, not knowing how to answer. She searched through her mind of what to do to take his mind off it when she had the perfect answer. Her face lit up in a grin, "Let's go bunny hunting!"

Stefan couldn't hide his amusement, "Since when have you been so excited to hunt rabbits."

"Since you need a distraction." Caroline jumped up, now that she'd made a plan she was eager to get to it, "We'll both get dressed and head out." Not waiting for a response she practically ran up the stairs.

Stefan could only shake his head and chuckle at his excited best friend. He was looking forward to spending time with her, having neglected her in his quest to help Elena transition into a vampire. No more though.

He wasn't going to continue having his life revolve around Elena.

He needed a life of his own.

Caroline launched at the bunny, giggling uncontrollably as it wriggled out of her hand and ran off.

Stefan smiled at her affectionately, chuckling as he walked over to hold a hand out and pull up her giggling self. He tugged playfully on one of her blonde curls, "You know, we'll never catch anything with you scaring away all the food with your laughter."

Caroline giggled, slapping his shoulder, "Shut up!"

Stefan joined her in laughter. His heart was light and free, as it always was with her, and he could enjoy the moment despite the lingering pain in his heart.

Caroline looped her arm through his and led him through the forest, "Show me how it's done, oh wise one."

"Watch and learn, miss Mystic Falls." Stefan winked before vamping off.

Caroline smiled proudly as she followed him. He had not frowned a single moment since they'd been in the woods. He was smiling, he had been laughing, and most importantly, he'd had fun. She knew the pain was still buried deep inside, and would be for a while, but as his best friend she would help him move on.

She reached Stefan to see him proudly holding up a drained rabbit while grinning at her. The smile on his face warmed her heart.

"Stefan; one, Caroline; zero." Stefan smirked, a challenge in his eyes.

"Game on, broody." Caroline growled, before vamping away with a giggle to find her own bunnies.

Stefan grinned and followed his blonde best friend.

He would definitely enjoy living with this little ball of sunshine.

TBC

AN - I hope you all liked it!