AN: This is a Caroline One shot is based on the song The Scientist by Coldplay. It was a really cool idea to play and I hope you enjoy! Thanks for reading and if you have a prompt drop it in the comments or PM me.

-Love Taylor Breanne

I woke up and looked out the window at the dreary November day. My eyes filled to the brim with tears as my toes touched down on the cold floor. I wasn't ready to face the day or even get out of bed for that matter. I put on a black dress and a pair of heels, similar to what I wore to my mom's funeral. I looked in the mirror as I put a few curls throughout my hair. You can do this Caroline, you can get through today. I told myself, catching the loose tear with my thumb.

I walked down the stairs of the boarding house, my heels clacking on the hardwood. Everyone was there in the living room; Alaric, Bonnie, Elena, and Matt. Damon was waiting at bottom for me, his face was already blotchy. He held out his arm to lock with mine as we walked to the car.

I got out of the car at the Mystic Falls Cemetery, taking a breath. I walked through, arm locked with Damon's. My heels crunching the autumn leaves beneath them. As they approached the Salvatore crypt I wiped a runaway tear from my cheek. This was not how I wanted to celebrate my husband's birthday. I thought, glancing at the ring on my left hand.

⸺

Damon stood there looking at his closest friends in front of him and took a long drink of Bourbon, to fight the emotions. "This day, 172 years ago I hated my life. No, not true it was honestly a great day. It was the day I met my best friend. It's been 8 months and I still can't believe he's gone..." Damon paused as his lip began to quiver. After a moment he held up the bottle of bourbon "So here's to you baby brother, for choosing to save my life instead of your own... something I still don't understand. I love you Stef. Happy Birthday Brother you would have finally been of age." He took a drink and went to sit down.

After everyone who had something to say had spoke, I stood up. I looked at everyone with tears overflowing down my cheeks. "8 months ago I got married and it was one of the best things I ever did. I can't believe that my happiest and saddest day where the same one. We were supposed to spend our lives together that day and now it's hard to even live at all." She took a deep breath so she didn't completely fall apart. "Happy Birthday Stefan... I love you." I looked over at the crypt and thought I would do anything to just start over, to go back to the beginning.

⸻

A loud buzzing filled the room and I sleepily reached over to turn off the clock, rubbing my eyes. As soon as I opened them I realized I wasn't in the boarding house. I sprung up and looked around at my old bedroom, I was at my house. I looked over at the clock and it read 6 AM.

I sat there in my old bed trying to figure out what was going on. When I looked down at my hands, I noticed my wedding ring was gone.

"Caroline, you need to get up and get ready for school." Liz said from the kitchen "I'm going to work. Love you."

I brought my hands to cover my mouth as I heard my mom's voice. Tears damped my cheeks as I realized what was going on. I jumped out of bed, running downstairs and wiping my tears before getting to the door and seeing my mom. "I love you too Mom." The words came out of my mouth before I realized it and ran over to hug her.

Liz smiled and hugged her daughter back before looking up at her "What was that for?"

I smiled, looking at my mom and trying to take in that she was there. "Oh I don't know. It's the first day of Junior year, it's a new thing mom." I said.

"Okay Care, I gotta get to work. Have a good day." Liz said with a smile as she left.

I squealed, standing there in the foyer. That was my mom! I thought as I walked back upstairs.

Thoughts began to flood my head about what was going on and what it would mean. If my mom is here that means Stefan is too. My lips curved into the biggest smile at the thought of seeing my husband. I knew he wouldn't be my husband or even know who I was but he would be alive. I began to get ready in the hall bathroom as I used to every morning before school.

I got to school that morning, the parking lot was already pretty full and I was early. I walked across the lawn to the school building, seeing so many faces I hadn't seen in years. I could feel my eyes begin to sting from tears being formed. Vicki Donovan was over in the stoner pit, lighting a cigarette. She would probably miss the first day of classes to hang out there, that would be just like her.

The halls were crowded as everyone arrived for the first day of the year. I didn't know what to think about stepping into the school building, when this all felt forever ago. I had changed so much since this day and been through more than anyone should. Embrace it! I thought with a smile as I walked down the hallway. You are Caroline Forbes-Salvatore.

Elena and Bonnie were standing in front of their lockers, when I seen them. They look so young! I thought and then looked at my hands for a moment. I said to myself "Caroline you need act like your old self." before rushing over to them, wrapping my arms around Elena. "Elena! Oh my God, how are you?" I said releasing the embrace and looking at her. "It's so good to see you!" I nodded looking over at Bonnie "How is she? Is she good?"

Elena had a Really? look on her face as I was looking at Bonnie. "I'm right here. And I am fine." She said, nodding her head at reassurance. "Thank you."

I looked at her concerned, scrunching my face a little "Really?" I said in a questioning tone.

"Yes, much better."

"Ah you poor thing." I said and pulled her into another hug, hugging her tightly. "Okay. See you guys later." I smiled and walked off from them, thinking about the day that actually happened. It felt like forever ago, in a time when we still had a lot of growing to do.

I walked down the school hallway, seeing Matt, who was so much younger looking. Still heartbroken over Elena. Wearing all of his troubles on the sleeve of his letterman even though they nearly begun. None of the people in this hallway, that I loved so dearly had a clue. They thought time at that moment was bad, but it was only the start.

I got to my old locker, pulling up on the latch to open it. I placed my books neatly in there making sure they were in the right spot. I then turned around waiting for the right moment, it would come and I was ready for it. I hadn't seen him in 8 months and this was what I needed, even if we didn't know each other at this point. I saw him and it all came back to the first day, when this had first happened. Mister tall, dark, and handsome. The new mystery guy in the hallway at school.

I bit the edge of my lip as I looked at him, watching him, eyes narrowed. I took a moment to study him, to take it all in and remember every minute of this moment. He had the sunglasses on even though he was inside, I remember finding weird the first time. I didn't realize anything else going on around me, my attention only on him. It consumed her and she watched him out of sight, before mumbling to herself "Stefan Salvatore."

⸺

I shuttered awake and sit up partially to look around where I am, utterly confused. I noticed the antiques and surrounding me and the fireplace in arms reach, I knew exactly where I was. "The Boarding House." I said to myself yet the words escaped my lips anyway. My head hit back down onto the couch as I realized I was still in my dress from earlier that day. I felt the tears well up in my eyes before I could stop it, wiping them on the couch. When I looked back up a rather familiar face was there with his usual smirk, but a brokenness hid in his blue eyes.

"Well look who is awake. Welcome back sleepy head." He said in his casual tone. "Come on blondie, we have something to do."

I sighed at him "What is it Damon? I don't really feel like doing anything." she said "what time is it anyway?"

Damon grabbed her hand and pulled her up to her feet "It is a little past midnight so we are late."

I let out a sigh and he took my hand and lead me into the kitchen, I looked around to see a cake laying there on the kitchen counter, as a few tears rolled down my cheeks. It was a poorly iced chocolate cake with two cheesy candles, a one and an eight. They were crooked and leaning in towards each other, it was a quite pitiful looking cake but the biggest smile appeared through the tears. "Why do we have a pitiful birthday cake here?" I said, looking over at him.

"A pitiful birthday deserves a pitiful looking cake." Damon said, looking at it with a sigh. "Now you get to blow the candles Blondie."

I watched as he lit the candles and the fires reflection glistened in my watery eyes. Pulling back my hair, I bent down a little and said "Happy Birthday Stefan." in a whispering tone before blowing them out.