This is the follow up to "The Story Of Us". It begins after the last flashback in my previous story, after Lizzie was born, so it starts 17 years ago, and will span out across those years. This will be three parts.
The Story Of Our Life
One week old
Stefan stood in the doorway of Caroline's old bedroom, which was now their daughters bedroom, watching Caroline stand over the crib watching their little girl sleep. The sight took his breath away, just as it had every time he saw it in the last week. He had a child, something he thought would never happen to him, and it was with the woman he loved more than life itself. Caroline.
He smiled with pure happiness, his eyes crinkling in the corners as he gazed adoringly at his family, not in the sense of the last few years where every member of their Mystic Falls friends had become family, but the true sense of the word. Damon was no longer his only family; or Sarah but she was still kept a secret from his brother, Lizzie was his own flesh and blood, connected to him with familiar bonds that he had only previously shared with Damon.
His perfect beautiful family. He found himself thinking about his past, and everything that led him up to having this wonderful sight before him. He didn't regret a moment of it any more, because if none of the horrors and heartbreak of his past never happened, he never would have met Caroline, he would have never fallen so completely in love with her, he would have never been as happy as he was in this moment, and they would have never had Lizzie. Every single ounce of pain was worth it for what he now had.
Caroline and Lizzie. The love of his life and his beautiful daughter. They completed him in a way that he never realised that he was incomplete before he had them. He would protect them both until he no longer lived, they were his everything, and he would fight all the Silas' and Klaus' of the world so that they remained safe. He would never lose them, he couldn't, as it would destroy him completely.
Stefan walked over to Caroline, and wrapped his arms loosely around her now slim again waist, her vampirism healing her and returning her body to her previous state. He kind of missed placing his hands over the bump of her stomach, and feeling the movements of their child beneath his hands. Only now he had something even better, he could hold their daughter in his arms, he could count every eyelash, touch each tiny finger or toe, and look into her beautiful eyes. Every time he looked at her he was in awe. This tiny baby was his, his and Caroline's, theirs, and she was perfect in every single way. The only child they would ever have.
Caroline leaned back into Stefan's embrace, her hands covering his over her lean stomach, her eyes never straying from the perfect sleeping form of their daughter. She would never regret the circumstances that gave her to them. She had been tortured, suffering greatly, almost constantly in pain for days, but for the that one small perfect moment where she and Stefan gave into their feelings for each other, and had made love to one another on the ground of their cell. Lizzie being the amazing gift from the night they opened their hearts to each other, and from that moment on they were together.
Stefan rest his chin on her shoulder, gazing at their beautiful daughter with love and affection, his heart full as basked in the presence of his two girls. He pressed a kiss to Caroline's neck, the smile clear in his voice, "How long have you been watching her?"
"Hours." Caroline's voice was hushed, not wanting to wake their perfect sleeping angel.
Stefan rubbed his hand over her stomach, a sigh of pure contentment leaving him, "You have to sleep, Caroline." He nuzzled his nose against her hair, breathing in her unique scent which was now intertwined with that of their daughter. Their scents now one.
Caroline turned her head to rest against Stefan's, her sleepy gaze meeting his, both of their eyes full of love and happiness, "I know. I fed her, and I had every intention of coming back to bed, but..." her eyes swung back to the crib, a smile creeping up her face, "She was so beautiful... I couldn't stop myself from looking over her."
Stefan tightened his arms, his nose buried in her golden locks, his voice soft with love, "You are a wonderful mother, Caroline."
"Say that again when she becomes a teenager." Caroline laughed, remembering her own relationship with her mom through her tumultuous teens.
Stefan chuckled, "Even then. You'll still be the most amazing mom." He found her left hand, and unconsciously began rubbing the bare skin of her ring finger, the desire to cover it with a ring made his heart race. He would wait though, wait for them to settle into their new roles as parents, wait until Lizzie didn't require their complete and immediate tension all the time, wait until the time he could leave Lizzie with Damon and Bonnie so that he could take Caroline out, show her the night of her life, and ending it with him on one knee holding out his grandmother's ring.
Caroline finally turned in his arms to curl her arms around his neck, "And you will be her perfect father." She couldn't help but smile lovingly at the pleased flush on his cheeks. Once again she found her heart skipping within her chest at all the love contained for the two most special people to her. She gazed deeply into his shining green eyes, and whispered, "I love you so much, Stefan."
Stefan grinned, his heart thudding away within his chest, the words resting on his tongue begging to be released but he held them back for now. It was not the time, and just as he has always done and forever will do, he will wait for the perfect moment. He cradled her cheek in his palm, looking deeply into those eyes that enchanted him on a daily basis, and whispered back, "I love you more than you'll ever know, Caroline."
Caroline smiled, lifted her head up and kissed Stefan tenderly, her fingers playing with the hair at the nape of his neck, a moan escaping her at the touch of his tongue against her lip. She gladly opened for him, still keeping the same slow and loving pace of their mouths.
Stefan's eyes were still closed, his lips still smiling, as he pulled away from her lips. He stroked her face gently, basking in their quiet peace of their love. Then he heard a yawn escape her, he chuckled as he looked into her drooping gaze. He dropped a kiss on her forehead, sliding his nose down until he nuzzled against hers, "Sleep, Caroline. I'll watch over her."
Caroline smiled, placing a chaste kiss on his mouth, before turning back to their daughter, "Sleep well, my angel." She soaked in the sight before she finally left to return to their own bed, in what was once her mother's room, but was now hers and Stefan's.
Stefan smiled in relief as he heard Caroline slip into bed and almost immediately fall into sleep. He looked down to see a pair of curious blue/green staring at him. His heart skipped a beat, hitting him all over again that this precious bundle of joy was his and Caroline's daughter. He didn't think he'd ever get used to the thought.
He leaned over the crib, and caressed her soft cheek, "It's okay, angel. Momma needed her rest." He smiled at her lovingly, and whispered to her, "Daddy's here. I'll be watching over you."
Lizzie stared back, wiggling her little hands and toes, gurgling happily. What they have come to presume a smile curving her face.
Stefan felt a lump in his throat at the sight of her happy gurgles. The image was so precious, so utterly heart warming, that he felt tears prick his eyes. He placed his finger in the palm of her hand, a beaming smile on his face as she curled her tiny fingers around it. He remembered a promise from long ago, and he couldn't help but repeat it now, meaning it with every inch of his soul, "I will never let anything happen to you."
8 months old
Caroline was sitting on the couch folding laundry, Lizzie was crawling on the floor playing with her toys, Stefan was in the kitchen cooking dinner. Damon and Bonnie were coming over tonight for a family meal, something they had made a weekly thing since the birth of Lizzie. Damon was surprisingly good with her, holding her with the utmost care and gentleness, smiling and playing with her without complaint. Bonnie was a natural, and would fly feathers and toys in front of her, the happy giggles Lizzie let out made them all smile. She was such a happy baby.
Caroline had reached over to grab some more laundry when she gasped, her eyes widened and shouted frantically, "Stefan! Stefan, come here! NOW!"
Stefan, afraid something was hurting his family, dropped the spatula he was using and vamp speed into the living room. His heart in his throat, he surveyed the room for any sign of danger, and relaxed as he saw none. He was just about to scold Caroline for giving him a heart attack when he looked over to where Lizzie played. His breath stopped and his eyes filled with tears, "Oh my god."
Lizzie was standing with the help of the chair, slowly making her way over to Caroline, taking her first steps.
Caroline had her phone out, filming the event, her face covered in tears as she watched her daughter stumble her way through her first steps. It was the most amazing and wonderful thing she'd ever seen. Now she could show Damon and Bonnie when they arrived. She encouraged her daughter to come closer to her, "Lizzie! Come to mama. That's it. Come here, Lizzie."
Stefan watched with pride as his little girl walked toward Caroline, her wobbly steps the most adorable and beautiful thing he'd ever seen. He watched as she came to the end of the chair, a small space between the chair and couch, he almost laughed at her expression. It was what Caroline would call his "contemplation face". She looked confused for a moment before she took the giant step forward without the help of the furniture. She was even more unsteady, his steps growing quicker, the floor being her next destination. His baby was walking.
Caroline knelt down on the ground, her phone in one hand, her other outstretched toward her daughter. Her smile was a mile wide as she watched her precious little girl stumble her way over. She almost reached her before her legs gave out and fell onto her bum.
Lizzie looked confused as to how she came to be sitting down. Her father's frown on her face, before she smiled her mother's big smile, giggling happily as she clapped her hands.
Caroline stopped the video, and put her phone on the table. She swooped her daughter into her arms, swinging her around smiling at her, "My baby walked for the first time!" She pressed kisses all over her face, Lizzie giggling happily at every touch of her lips on her, "Mama is so proud of you!"
Stefan moved over to his two beautiful girls, his angels, the two loves of his life. He curled his arm around Caroline's waist, smiling down at Lizzie, tickling her little waist, delighting in the giggles she let out, "Daddy is proud of you, angel."
Lizzie smiled wider at her two parents, her little hands waving at them happily. Baby talk erupting from her, random sounds and gurgles as she talked to them.
Caroline turned her head to gaze into Stefan's happy and loving eyes. They were equally as wet as hers, tears of joy in their eyes. She nuzzled her nose against his, a sigh of content leaving her, "I love you."
"I love you more." Stefan replied, closing his eyes, and smiling in pure wonder. How did he ever get so lucky? After every bad thing he's ever done he shouldn't deserve the beautiful and perfect life he now had. A love free from pain and sorrow, they did fight every couple does, but they never went to bed angry with each other.
Caroline covered Stefan's lips with hers, kissing him sweetly and lovingly. She held Lizzie close, and felt complete and utter contentment. Her life was bliss. She was in love with the best man she'd ever known, and he was still her best friend. They had a gorgeous child together, and she brought her joy every single day that she got to watch her grow.
1 year old
Stefan, Caroline, Bonnie, and Damon were at the beach. A family day out, on a secluded stretch of beach so that they were free to be who they truly were without having to censure themselves with other people nearby. Which Damon was taking full advantage of.
Damon vamped out, wiggling his fingers at Lizzie, as he flashed her his fangs.
Lizzie was screaming with laughter, having learnt to walk a few months prior she was able to walk over to her uncle Damon. She smiled wide, bouncing on her feet, clapping her hands, wanting to see it again.
Stefan looked over at Damon and Lizzie, and couldn't help but laugh, "Damon!"
"What?" Damon shrugged his shoulder, grinning, his fangs on full display. Lizzie only laughed louder, "My niece loves my fang face."
Bonnie smirked, raised her hand over the sand, and each grain rose into the air and began swirling around, until they formed a mini tornado. Lizzie abandoned Damon to watch what Bonnie was doing. She was giggling, watching with happiness. She sent Damon a smug look, "My niece loves when I do magic."
Caroline chuckled to herself as she prepared Lizzie's juice box for her. It amused her greatly that one of the deadliest vampire's, and the strongest witch she knew, behaved like children themselves when it came to Lizzie. They both vied for her attention, their usual playful banter now including Lizzie. She could honestly say that Damon Salvatore became a complete teddy bear in the presence of his niece. It was the cutest thing.
Stefan took the juice from Caroline, kissing her lovingly, playfully slapping her ass. He grinned as she giggled, a blush lighting up her cheeks, his heart skipping a beat as he looked at her. It amazed him that he still had the same affect on her as she had on him after being together for almost two years now. He never wanted their feelings to change, and he knew that they wouldn't. She was his forever.
He smiled as he watched his big brother turn into a softy when around his daughter. This was the Damon he remembered as a kid, the one he looked up to, the one who took care of him, held him when he cried, and soothed away his hurts. He was happy that his daughter got to experience the loving brother he grew up with, and he knew that made her the luckiest little girl in the world, because Damon would do anything for her.
Stefan held the juice out, "Here's your juice, Lizzie."
Lizzie abandoned both Bonnie and Damon at the sound of her father's voice. She smiled at him, walked to him, and took the box from his hands, "Dada."
Stefan's eyes widened, his heart racing in his chest, "What did you say?"
Lizzie giggled, "Dada!"
Stefan felt his eyes prick with tears, this was her first word, well actual word to be honest. She babbled away in her own little language, the occasional sound hearing like an actual word, but this, this was her first truly spoken word. He was speechless.
Caroline's eyes filled with tears, her smile wide on her face, her hand on her chest as she was overwhelmed with happiness. His daughter's first word. It took her breath away, she was growing up so fast, it felt like just yesterday she held her in her arms after giving birth to her. She leaned her hand on Stefan's shoulder, smiling at Lizzie, "Can you say mama?"
Lizzie stared at her mom, and then grinned toothily, "Dada!"
Stefan's lips twitched in amusement.
"Mama." Caroline repeated.
"Dada!" Lizzie squealed, then began jumping around laughingly repeating, "Dada! Dada! Dada!"
Stefan's grin couldn't be bigger if he tried. He felt Caroline's gaze on his face, he turned and couldn't help but laugh at the pout and narrowed eyes looking at him.
Caroline was about to say something when Lizzie jumped into her laugh. She wiped the disgruntled look off her face, and smiled wide at her daughter, wrapping her arms loosely around her.
Lizzie grinned at her mom before looking over at her dad, she reached her hand toward the twinkling object in his hand, "Dada!"
Caroline turned around to face Stefan, wondering what held their daughter's attention. When she saw what was in his hands her breathing stopped, her eyes filling with tears, "Stefan..."
Stefan could already feel tears in his eyes, and he hadn't even said anything yet. He held out the box which held his grandmothers ring; a solid silver band, with one big diamond in the centre, surrounded by dozens of little diamonds.
Damon recognised the ring immediately, and couldn't stop a small smile on his face. Several years ago he would have never thought that Caroline and Stefan were meant for each other, that they were the perfect fit, as he swore his brother's heart would always be Elena's. Now though, before and after they had Lizzie, they were made for one other, and made each other so happy. He was pleased for his little brother, after all this time he finally had everything he ever wanted. A girl that loved him completely, and a beautiful daughter.
Bonnie was already in tears. Caroline was basically her sister, and to see her become a mother over the past couple of years, was the most amazing thing she'd ever witnessed. Caroline was too motherly to never be a mother, and apparently fate had agreed, and she had been gifted with Lizzie. Now Stefan was going to make their family complete by putting a ring on Caroline's finger.
Stefan took a shuddering breath, gazing tearfully at his two precious girls, and started the speech he had rehearsed a thousand times ever since he learned that Caroline was pregnant, "From the moment you became my best friend, you changed my life. You were there for me at some of my darkest times, and you never let me give up on myself. You helped me overcome my ripper issues, and gave me the ability to control myself." A tear ran down his cheek, "We fell in love, and we made mistakes along the way, but once we got past that, you became the best thing that had ever happened to me." He looked down at Lizzie, a laughing sob escaping him, "Until you gave me the greatest gift of all. Our daughter. The product of the deep and everlasting love I hold for you."
Caroline sobbed, her tears falling freely, a shaky smile on her lips. She dropped a kiss on Lizzie's head, holding her close to her, her heart thudding loudly in her chest. She was so happy, and to become Stefan's wife would only complete her happiness.
Stefan took the ring out of the box, shakily reaching for Caroline's left hand. He gazed at his beautiful love and daughter with awe, his voice trembling as he continued, "I have never been so happy before I loved you. I will never stop loving you, every single day of our eternity I will love you more than the day before. You are everything to me, you and our little angel, you complete me. You two are my whole world." He slid the ring onto her finger, his heart aching at the sight of it on her finger, looking like it belonged there. He looked into those gorgeous eyes that had stolen his heart years ago, and asked in a shaky voice, "Caroline Forbes, will you do me the greatest honour, and the purest joy, of being mine forever. Will you marry me?"
"Yes!" Caroline cried, her tears spilling down her cheeks as she laughed in complete happiness.
Stefan released the breath he was holding, pushed the ring along her finger so that it sat in its rightful place. His heart was so full he thought it would burst. He raised her hand to his lips, and kissed the ring. He smiled at the love of his life, anticipating the day that she would become his totally and completely. The day she became his wife, and he became her husband.
Bonnie was crying tears of pure joy as she witnessed the most beautiful moment between her two friends. They were so perfect for each other, and she knew they would last forever. She was sad that she would not be around for all of their life together, but she was satisfied that for the next six or seven decades she would witness their perfect life. And then it was Elena's turn to share in their life.
Damon felt the absence of Elena most strongly in this moment, but he was happy for his little brother that the small twinge of envy was immediately forgotten. He would share his own moment with Elena when the time came, and now that Lizzie was in their lives he could bare the wait until he was reunited with Elena. After all she wasn't dead, merely sleeping. It took a long time for him to get over that, but he had, and watching his brother find his happiness after a lifetime of hurt and heart break, made his own wait for his happy ending just that tiny bit more bearable.
Caroline pulled Stefan to her and kissed him passionately. Stroking his cheek, as she moved her mouth over his. She was so happy, and it was all to do with Stefan and Lizzie. She missed her mom right now, wishing she could call her and share in her perfect happiness, but she knew wherever her mom was, she was looking down on her with love and happiness.
Stefan kissed her back just as ardently, the smile never leaving his lips, his happiness so overwhelming that he felt a tear fall down his face. She was his everything, and he couldn't wait to make her his wife, and finally make their family truly complete. The Salvatore's'.
"Dada!" Lizzie cried out, unhappy at being ignored.
Stefan broke their kiss laughing, and pulled his daughter into his arms. Smiling into her hair, he breathed her in. He caught Caroline's eyes, swimming in her own happy tears. He tangled his fingers with hers, "I love you."
"I love you." Caroline replied, smiling so wide at the sight of her daughter in the arms of her future husband.
In her head, she was already planning the perfect wedding.
TBC
AN – I hoped you all enjoyed it! Next chapter - the wedding, and Lizzie starts school.
