Author's Note: Let me start off by saying that I have no clue why this idea popped into my head. I was watching this week's Vampire Diaries (2.07 for y'all wondering) and thinking how cute it would be if Bonnie and Tyler were a couple. Then I realized that Jeremy and Caroline are ridiculously cute too (not that Bonnie/Jeremy aren't adorable!) So I'm not sure how many reviews this will get because it's kind of different, but I'm hoping at least one person likes it. Enjoy!


Jeremy blew his bangs away from his face, and tried to concentrate on the weapon in front of him. How had Alaric explained it, again? He slipped the brace on his inner-arm, but could go no further than that. The sharp wooden stake seemed to momentarily freeze him from shooting the stupid thing.

Anna...

Jeremy winced as the old, haunting memories surfaced in his mind.

Her screams of agony...

The helplessness he'd felt as he watched the police drag her away...

The loneliness and defeat that had consumed him as he swallowed the blood, and then tossed back the pills...

"You know, you'll have to shoot it sometime."

Startled, Jeremy whirled around, dropping the stakes he had been studying. "Jeez, Caroline, you can't sneak up on me like that."

"Sorry," the young blonde smiled slyly. "Sometimes I forget how light on my feet I am."

"It's okay," he muttered. "Next time just knock over a lamp or something first."

She smiled, amused at his irritation. "Noted. Everybody left a few minutes ago, so I wasn't sure who was in here."

"Yeah, I should probably get going too, but I just can't get the hang of these things."

Silently, Caroline watched him fumble around with the stakes, seeing how in-over-his-head he looked. "You know, I think it's sweet."

Jeremy looked back at her, now clutching the 'stake-bracelet' in his hand. "What?"

"You protecting your sister, even though you bit off way more than you can chew," she elaborated admiringly.

She's gonna pay, Elena. I don't know how, but she's gonna pay.

"Well, Katherine has to realize just how wrong she is. She can't use people like pawns in a bigger game; it's not right. Especially what she did to you."

"You mean turn me into a neurotic monster that no one will ever love?" Caroline said, cynically.

"No," he rehashed, astounded at her sudden change of demeanor. "I mean that she took away your chance to live your life the way you want to."

Caroline's eyes widened, taken aback by his defense of her-or more surprisingly-of what she was. "Because of that unnecessarily kind comment, I'll give you some advice. The thing you have to realize about Katherine is how easily she changes the rules. She'll snap your neck before Stefan or Damon could even think about interfering. And you can't be scared by what I'm telling you, because she lives on fear. She craves chaos like humans crave normality. So, I guess I'm trying to say, just to...be careful."

"Are you scared of her?" Jeremy questioned, taking a step closer to her.

"I'm terrified of her," she grinned ruefully. Before he realized what was happening, Caroline was suddenly in front of him. "And she loves it."

Jeremy cleared his throat, feeling very out-of-control. "Thanks for the tip. I guess, I should probably start, um, practicing."

"I'll go then; you don't seem to have the best aim of the group," she smirked, playfully. "Just call me if something happens, I'll be in the kitchen. Good luck tonight, Jeremy."

"You too, Caroline," he smiled at her before turning back to the table of weapons. His vervain bracelet felt ten times heavier than before she had walked in...because it meant she hadn't compelled him.

It was real...


*so as I said before, it's kind of different. thoughts?