prompt from tumblr: Caroline has feelings for Stefan but he stayed oblivious, so she tried to move on with a new nice guy, that she met and after they dated for a long time he asked her to marry him and because she thinks Stefan would never feel the same way she says yes and Stefan realizes he loves her at wedding day but it's too late.
I loved writing this.
So let me get this straight
You say now you loved me all along
What made you hesitate
To tell me with words what you really feel
When Jason got down on one knee, Caroline's eyes flickered to Stefan's. His eyes were tightened, staring straight at her, his jaw slightly ajar.
It had been five years since she'd realized their friendship could have been so much more. But, he seemed utterly and totally oblivious.
At first, she let it slide. Damon was gone, Bonnie was gone and Stefan wanted to do everything in his power to get them back. And then... he did. They were back in the land of the living. Elena and Damon moving toward happily ever after and Stefan still looked past her on his journey to eternity.
After a while, she got tired of being his sober sponsor/best friend. They lost touch, and she met Jason.
Six months ago, she and Jason moved to Chicago. Stefan had snuck up behind her in a book store, whispering a soft 'boo' in her ear, and then hugging her tightly for way to long to be platonic.
They'd rekindled their friendship, but her feelings had stayed on the side of friendship, until this moment. The exact moment where she should feel nothing but friendship for Stefan, she was hoping for a reaction.
When her eyes focused back on Jason's, his human eyes hadn't noticed her lapse in attention.
"Will you, Caroline Forbes, marry me?"
Caroline nodded. She said no words. He stood, picked her up in his arms and spun her around.
When he set her down, another set of arms engulfed her in a bear hug. It was Stefan.
"I didn't know your dream was to be a doctors wife," he whispered, jealousy and sarcasm in his voice. He kissed the spot under her ear and set her on her feet. When he pulled back, she was flushed. He smirked and walked into the sea of people going to congratulate her, disappearing.
only time will tell
time will turn until
"We've been here for 3 hours, Caroline," Stefan groaned.
"Just drink your champagne and tell me I look pretty," she snapped from inside the dressing room. "Dammit."
"What?"
"The zipper."
"You're a vampire, Caroline. How is a zipper besting you?"
"Shut it, Salvatore."
Stefan chuckled and finished his beverage. He poured himself another glass and walked to the dressing room door. He tapped on the door lightly. "Come on, I'll take a look at it."
"I'm in my underwear, Stefan."
"I've seen you in a bathing suit, Caroline."
"It's so not the same thing," she barked. "Buuuut, I don't think I have a choice." The last part came out as a huff and she cracked the door open. He slid in and noticed, she was in fact in her underwear. Black and lacy and leaving nothing up to the imagination.
Stefan looked away (the gentleman that he is) and noticed the poofy white mass that was seemingly stuck to her legs.
"I can't get it past my thighs," she said. "The zipper is stuck."
Stefan got on one knee, ironically, and licked the tip of his finger and swiped underneath the zipper. "Found the culprit," he said and brought his teeth to the zipper, pulling the fabric that was stuck underneath it.
"Come on," he said. "Turn around."
She turned away from him and he pulled the fabric up over her body softly, his thumb grazed her thigh. Then the tips of his fingers caressed her back. It was so subtle, it could have been on accident. But it wasn't. He pulled the straps over her arms and rubbed her shoulders before pulling his hands down her back, never not touching her. Then he began zipping her up. The zipper started right below her bottom and went halfway up her back.
His finger grazed the lace of her panties, and then the smoothness of her back.
When she was zipped up, he asked her to turn around. She did so, and he looked her up and down, completely in awe of her.
"Wh-what do you think?" she stuttered.
"I think Jason is very lucky," Stefan said, his eyes on Caroline.
"That good, huh?"
Stefan opened his mouth, and looked her up and down again. "I'm not talking about the dress," he said. He let the words hang in the air for a minute and then he said. "What are you going to do about shoes?"
"What?"
"Well, it's at the beach, right? So are you thinking barefoot or a sandal?"
"Oh," Caroline shook her head, her thoughts still on Stefan's touch... and his words. "barefoot, probably."
Stefan nodded. "You have nice feet," he said. "That will work."
Then he walked out of the dressing room leaving Caroline breathless.
could've been lovers
but at least you're still my day late friend
The rehearsal dinner was a blur of clinking glasses, pretty dresses and well wishes. Stefan had sat across from her, whispering funny things too low for human ears at inopportune times.
When dinner was over, it was onto cocktails and chatting away about the uncoming nuptuals.
"Only two more days," they would say.
"Can you hardly believe it?" they'd swoon.
"Tell me about your dress," they beg.
Stefan leaned against the bar next to Jason and they other groomsmen watching the women blabber about dresses and flowers and how perfect the happy couple was.
Alaric walked through the crowd to get to Stefan with Damon behind him.
"You missed dinner," Stefan said with a smile and hugged them both.
"Is this the unlucky bastard?" Damon asked, pointing to Jason.
Stefan rolled his eyes.
Jason, smiling polietely. "This is-?"
"Damon and Alaric," Stefan said.
"Oh yes. Elena's boyfriend and... Step-dad?"
"Former guardian," Alaric said and laughed. "Now... just a good friend."
Stefan turned to Caroline and saw her and Elena hugging tightly. "I'm glad you made it," Stefan said softly to Damon. "Caroline needs a girl for all of this stuff."
"We wouldn't miss it," Alaric said and Damon rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, we're here. Let's get smashed. When's the bachelor party?"
"We're not having one," Jason said, a proud smirk on his face.
Damon narrowed his eyes and looked into Jason's. "Yes we are."
"He's probably on vervain, douchebag," Alaric said and Stefan smirked.
"I got him off of it," he said triumphantly. "Just in case I needed to get him to leave town on a whim."
"Just in case, huh?" Damon tilted his head. "You mean when you admit your feelings for vampire barbie."
Jason came out of his trance. "What?"
Stefan looked him in his eyes. "You won't remember what Damon just said. But you will be having a bachelor party. Tomorrow night. We're all invited."
"When's the bachelor party?" Damon asked, devilish smirk on his face.
"Tomorrow night," Jason said, easy grin on his face. "You guys should come."
"We'll be there," Damon said and patted him on the shoulder. "Now go away. And maybe invite everyone else."
Caroline and Elena walked to the group, arm in arm.
"We should totally ditch this place," Caroline said. "Go to a bar Stefan and I like to go to. Maybe?"
"You're going to ditch your own rehearsal dinner, Caroline?" Alaric said, his head tilted in confusion.
"How often are we all together? Plus, Matt works at the bar so you guys can see him. And Bonnie and Jeremy will be in town in less than an hour. They can meet us. Mystic Falls reunion!"
Stefan smiled softly at his best friend, her eyes shrunken from her wide grin, the dimples popping up on her cheeks.
"Yeah," Stefan said. "Let's do it."
"I'm going to go tell, Jason," Caroline said and squealed as she disappeared into the crowd.
"Oh my god," Elena remarked looking her former boyfriend up and down. "You've got it bad. For Caroline."
loves come and go, and this I know
I'm not who you recall anymore
After lots of drinks, laughs and dancing, the night came to a close. Caroline shouted to her girlfriends. "I LOVE YOU!" and Bonnie and Elena kissed her cheeks and hugged her tightly.
"We'll see you tomorrow," Elena said.
"Bachelorette party!" Bonnie sang.
The girls walked down the street, arms around each other. Alaric, Damon, and Jeremy following them down the street.
Stefan nudged Caroline and she wiped her cheeks. "You okay?"
"Yeah," she said, her voice a soft whisper, she looked at Stefan and smiled. "I just missed them."
Stefan tilted his head in at the bar. "Want to try for last call or you want me to walk you home?"
Caroline rubbed her lips together and looked up at him. "One more drink," she smiled.
"You've got yourself a drinking buddy."
When they walked in, Stefan put his fingers up. Two more.
Matt shook his head. Stefan furrowed his eyebrows and looked around the dark bar. "We missed last call?" he pouted.
"Sorry," Matt said and tossed Stefan his keys. "You guys lock up if you want to stick around. But, I gotta get home."
"Baby mama need you?" Caroline asked, a light smirk on her face, her finger pointed at him in a teasing motion.
"Always," Matt laughed. "Bring those keys by the bachelor party tomorrow," he told Stefan.
"Bachelor party?" Caroline asked, her head tilted in confusion.
Matt made an oops face as he walked out the front door.
"Damon sort of..." Stefan closed his eyes, not wanting to see her scold. "Convinced him."
He peaked out behind his eyelids to see Caroline laughing. "No he didn't."
"He did."
"How?"
"Compulsion..."
"But- he's on vervain."
"I got him off it," Stefan said, bracing himself for the punch.
"I know," Caroline said. "I got him back on it."
"You knew?"
Caroline giggled. "Duh."
Stefan walked behind the bar and poured them both a couple drinks. "Why weren't you pissed?"
"I know you, Stefan," she said, taking the drink from him and sipping on it. "I know you did it for me. Just in case I decided to bail or if something happened you needed him to forget. Doppleganger hijinks and all the things we used to deal with."
"But?"
"But, I trust him." Caroline put her hand on Stefan's. "I appreciate the gesture."
"But... I compelled him."
Caroline shrugged. "He was faking it. He's probably faking it. You're totally going to show up at a fake bachelor party. Or he secretly wanted one." She sighed happily. "Either way."
Stefan internally swore. Jason had heard many incriminating things come from his lips over the past couple months. He'd always compelled him to forget... what had he remembered?
Stefan chewed on his lip and noticed the jukebox in the corner of the bar. He ran to it and back so quickly, Caroline almost hadn't noticed he was missing. He put his hand out as the music started. "Dance with me."
"Stefaaan," she whined.
He smiled, took her hand, and kissed it. "Dance with me," he said again. His voice softer. More serious.
Caroline let him pull her to the dance floor. He pulled her into him. His mouth was next to her ear and she heard him hum along to a song she'd never heard before. They swayed slowly though the dance floor.
"Are you excited?" he asked softly.
"Yeah," she answered after a pause. Her mind was focused on the hand on her lower back, tracing circles on her skin.
"Nervous?"
"Absolutely," she said without a second thought.
"You'll be a beautiful bride," he murmured.
She tilted her head toward him, resting her head on his shoulder. "You think?"
"I have eyes, so yeah, I'm pretty sure."
She slapped her hand on his chest in a lazy fashion. "I'll miss you," she said.
"I'm not going anywhere."
She looked up, tears in her eyes. "I am."
Stefan tilted his head, confusion scribbled all over his face. "We're moving to Paris. He's helping his firm with something overseas. Something super boring. But we'll be there for, like, a year."
Stefan's jaw slacked at he looked at her. "Is that what you want?"
"No," she said simply. "But, it's his career, you know? It's important to him. And it's just a year." She licked her lips. "I don't have that long with him."
"He's not going to transition?"
Caroline shook her head. "Nope."
"And you're marrying him anyway?"
Caroline turned away from Stefan. She put her hand on her mouth and looked at the ground. Contemplating.
"Hey," he said, touching her shoulder softly.
"What is it that Lexi says?" she turned to Stefan. "Vampires don't fall in love just once."
Stefan smiled. "You're paraphrasing, but yeah."
"Well, maybe he's one. A for now love."
"And after he's gone?" Stefan asked, moving toward her, his hands finding her hips.
"Then I'll find another." She shrugged. "After a grieving period."
"And when he's 80 and you're still smoking hot."
"We'll tell people I'm his granddaughter."
"Gross," Stefan said with a chuckle. She moved from his grip and he followed her, his hands grabbing hers.
"What are you doing, Stefan?"
Stefan gripped her hands tighter.
"Stefaaaan," she whined softly. "What are you doing?"
"Caroline," he said, her name sounding at home on her lips. "Tell me you don't feel it."
"I'm getting married," she said like it was a newsflash. She pulled her hands from his grip and placed them on her hips.
"I know, but..."
"No buts, Stefan," she whispered. "You've had years to win my affection, and you chose to be oblivious to our connection."
"I realize my timing is off."
"It's not timing, Stefan," she told him. "It's the chase."
He gave her an incredulous look. "You know that's not me, Care. I'm not Damon."
Caroline laughed and looked at the floor. "I love you, Stefan, and I don't want to lose you." She looked up, their eyes meeting as the music reached a crescendo. "Don't do this to us."
"To you and Jason?"
"To me and you."
Stefan nodded and cleared his throat. "Let me walk you home."
can't help but entertain these thoughts
thoughts of us together
The bachelor party wasn't a fake.
Jason was there with all the groomsman. Including him, the groomsman of shame. Stefan took a shot of tequila and threw the keys at Matt as he walked into the living room.
"Thanks for hosting, man," Jason said and patted his back.
"When are the strippers getting here?" Damon yelled as he walked in and then mumbled into Stefan's ear. "Stripper blood always tastes so sweet."
Jason glared at Damon as he walked to the bar. "I don't like that guy," he said with his head tilted. "You guys are nothing alike."
"I know, right?" Matt said. "They are night and day." Matt pointed to Damon. "I wouldn't trust that guy to watch a seat let alone hang out with my girlfriend."
"Stefan can speak to that," Alaric mentioned. "Damon stole his ex."
"Twice," Damon said proudly.
"But, Stefan," Matt said patting his back. "He's a good guy."
"Good," Jason said and smiled. "Then you won't mind keeping an eye on CareBear for a couple months while I get us all settled in Paris."
"A couple months?" Stefan asked. "You're only going for a year."
Jason made a face. "Well," he said nervously. "I haven't told her yet, but it's looking more like five."
"FIVE?!" Stefan shouted in shock.
"Oh stop," Damon said with an eyeroll. "What's five years to you? You can be without your bestie for a couple years. You have an eternity of making her watch you brood."
Jason laughed. "I'll never get used to that," he said. "The way you talk about lifetimes like it's nothing." He beamed and looked at a picture on Stefan's coffee table of Caroline and Stefan from highschool. She hadn't changed a bit. "I'm so grateful I get to spend her first lifetime with her, you know?"
wow, Stefan thought. That hurt. He felt like he was being punched in the gut. Like, I know you'll get her eventually, but I get her first. I get a full lifetime with her. Which you wait for my scraps.
Stefan looked at his brother who was admiring Jason's style, a smirk on his face.
"Anyway, what's five years to you?"
Stefan poured the drink he was holding down his throat and smile polietly at Jason. The I'm okay smile that was usually reserved for Caroline. The smile that was a lie.
"Excuse me, I'm going to go get some champagne from the cellar."
"Busting out the Dom?" he heard Damon say as he disappeared into the dark.
all these years and you were nowhere to be found
and now you want me for your own
Caroline laughed as the stripper grinded against her co-worker. Elena had compelled all the strippers to wear clown noses and clown shoes.
It was hilarious and super disturbing.
Bonnie took a shot of vodka and put the glass down and asked the bartender for another.
"Slow down, Bon-Bon," Caroline giggled.
"Last night of freedom!" Bonnie yelled and poured the cool liquor down her throat. "Woo!"
Caroline laughed, her head falling backward. Elena wrapped her hand around Caroline and kissed her cheek. "I missed you both so much," Caroline said.
"Stefan isn't nearly as much fun as us?" Bonnie asked, her voice teasing.
"He can be really fun," Caroline defended him. "But, sometimes you just need girls. You know?"
Elena bit her lip, clearly holding back. "What?" Caroline said. Elena gave her an innocent look. "What?!"
Elena sighed. "Okay, I'm just going to say it. I'm going to channel you and just say it."
"Elena," Bonnie whispered, trying to silence her.
"No, Bonnie," Elena snapped. "We're her friends. We're going to tell her."
Bonnie looked at the ground and nodded. Caroline waited for Elena to speak again.
"You shouldn't marry Jason," Elena said. "Because you shouldn't marry someone when you're in love with someone else."
Caroline opened her mouth to deny it. Elena and Bonnie both gave her a look.
"He's into you too, Care," Bonnie said.
"And I'm cool with it," Elena offered.
"No offense, Elena," Caroline said. "That's not what's holding me back."
"Then what?" Elena asked, concerned scribbled all over her face.
"I love Jason, I really do," Caroline said.
"And?"
Caroline sighed, sitting on the stool closet to her. "And what if it's all about the chase."
"That's not Stefan," Elena said.
"I know," Caroline said. "I know. But then why did it take his so long to realize his feelings?"
Elena shrugged. "Timing has never really been his thing."
"He kind of sucks at it actually," Bonnie said.
"And to quote you," Elena said. "Stefan is your epic love. And you're going to make him wait?"
"What if you make him wait sixty some odd years and he decides to start a life with someone else?"
Caroline thought back to the song from last night. "Then he'll be my day late friend."
Bonnie and Elena exchanged a look. "It's up to you," Bonnie said. "You know we'll support you no matter what."
Caroline nodded. "Then you can support me by walking with Stefan down the aisle," she said bluntly. "Because I'm getting married tomorrow."
but you're a day late, my love
and she's still renowned
Caroline was dressed in white. All the girls were in dark blue strapless dresses.
Caroline was pulling her curls out of her curlers as Bonnie passed out bouquets. Elena was helping the men with their boutineers.
When she got to Stefan, he took it from her. "Caroline can do mine."
"Stefan," Elena partially scolded. They shared a look and Elena moved on.
Stefan walked to the brides room, knocked on the door. He heard a soft 'come in',
He walked in and was struck by her beauty. Her beauty on a normal day was breathtaking, but today, she was heart stopping.
"Whoa," he said, his voice barely audible.
She beamed and did a teasing curtsy. "Impressive, huh?" she asked.
Her blonde curls were flowing down her back, her white dress made her bronze skin look like it was glowing. Her bright eyes seemed brighter and her lips were shining with red lipstick. She was putting a lily in her hair and he walked to her. He grabbed the flower from her and behind her ear and curled a piece of hair around the stem. He grabbed the bobby pin from Caroline's hand and slid it over the stem and hair, before hiding the pin with another lock of her hair.
"Impressive," she breathed.
Stefan lifted his eyebrows, his signature response. "I used to help Miss Katherine with her hair."
"Mmm," Caroline said and saw Stefan's boutineer in his hand. "Want help?"
He nodded. She pulled it out of it's box. She walked to him and pinned it to his jacket slowly. He licked his lips and he looked her up and down.
"You look perfect," he whispered.
"Thank you," she said, smiling widely up at him.
When she was done she stepped back and looked him up and down. "So dashing."
Stefan swallowed and kissed her cheek, pulling her into a hug. She hid her face in the lapel on his jacket and he put his hand on her face, caressing the crease-less skin. "I'm just going to say it once," he murmured. Caroline nodded, he eyes watering. "I know it's too late. That I'm too late."
"Timing isn't really your thing."
Stefan gave her his best smile, one only reserved for her. "No it isn't." He sighed. "I love you. I'm in love with you." Her breathing caught in her throat. "And I know I'm too late. But, I just needed you to know. Once."
"No 'I will wait forever' speech."
Stefan chuckled. "I'll be around, I'm not going to ruin what we have. And I'll take care of myself, but when you call... I'll come running."
Caroline blinked the tears away, a rogue tears fell and Stefan caught it with his thumb.
"I love you, too."
"But you promised yourself to another?"
Caroline nodded, tears falling freely now. Stefan looked at his feet and sighed. "We've got time," he said it like a promise.
Her nod became more furious. More intense. Stefan smiled the I'm Okay smile. And Caroline smiled her best one back.
"Now go get married," he said, wiping her cheeks. He turned away and walked to the door. Before he could open it, Caroline pulled him back to her, their lips meeting in a soft kiss. It wasn't a I choose you kiss. It was a goodbye kiss. Stefan let his tears fall now. Their kiss tasting of cherries and salt. When they pulled back, their foreheads found each other and they looked at each others lips.
"Until next time," she said, her voice hushed.
Stefan stole one last kiss and slipped from the room, knowing it might be the last time their lips ever touched. He wiped his eyes and took his place next to Elena.
"You okay?"
"I will be," Stefan said. "It just hurts for now."
my day late friend
Little emotional, but super fun to write. Thoughts?!