AN: This is just a lame little Steroline drabble. Kinda fluffy kinda sexy. My take on what could have happened after 6x19. May possibly be two parts. Or three. I really have no clue. Anyway enjoy! Don't forget to review!
After Caroline left the bed and breakfast she went directly to her mother's grave. She cried for two straight hours and in between sobs she spoke to the headstone and to herself a little. Mostly about how she couldn't believe what she had become. While she was thinking in the back of her mind about how Stefan could never love her now that she'd done such horrible things, she decided to focus on her mom right now.
Finally at 1:30 am Caroline decided she'd said all could say for the time being to the slab of concrete that had her mom's name engraved on it.
As Caroline pulled in her driveway all she could do was sit in her car and look at the house that she had been raised in. The more she looked at the house the more of an urge she had to turn around and go find a hotel to stay at for the night. After all she had just flipped her switch back a few hours ago and fallen to her knees at her mother's grave to confess all of her sins and express how much she missed her. Just as Caroline was turning her car back on so she could find somewhere to rest for the night, Stefan vamp sped into the passenger seat.
"Jeez Stefan! I know I'm technically dead but you almost gave me a heart attack!"
"Sorry I didn't mean to frighten you, I was waiting inside with a bottle of wine and some chocolate. And when I heard you about to drive away I figured I'd ruin the surprise and come out and get you."
"Wine and chocolate? I'm trying to cope with the loss of my mom and deal with the guilt of all those innocent people I killed. I'm not on my period Stefan!" Caroline exploded.
"Okay, okay. Maybe that was a little cliché, but alcohol and chocolate can help anyone with anything. And if I'm wrong, I promise I'll let you sulk by yourself, sober. But if I'm right, then you have to let me stay with you tonight. Here. Deal?"
Caroline scanned his face looking for any hint of insincerity, finding none she reluctantly replied "Fine. You can stay."
Stefan grinned boyishly stepping out of the car and vamping to her side to help her out.
"But 'Barefoot Bubbly Pink Moscato'?'" Caroline asked humored grabbing the bottle out of his hands.
"What? The guy at the counter said girls buy that stuff all the time." Stefan replied not understanding the blonde's issue with the drink. "Besides bubbly wine for a bubbly girl" he added cheekily.
Caroline stopped in her tracks halfway to her door. She turned to face Stefan and said "look, I get that you've done this before. You've gone through the guilt and coping with finding your old self again and finally accepting what's happened but," she couldn't finish without getting choked up. "But right now I have to focus on dealing with the reality that is my life. And the reality is, I'm sad. And I feel broken. And I don't think I'm going to be bubbly for a long time. So if that's what you need then maybe you should drink the damn bubbly wine and go on your way because right now, that's not me. And I don't know when or if that will be me again." By the time Caroline finished she wasn't even looking at Stefan anymore.
He was looking at her though, he never stopped. He grabbed her hands and asked "Are you done?"
"Yes" she replied.
"Okay, first of all I know eventually you'll be back to normal. Because that's just who you are. It won't happen overnight, especially because you have your mom and your guilt to battle. But it will happen. And, not to repeat myself, but when I said I'm a patient guy I meant it. I will wait for you Caroline. However long it takes." He replied with his eyes boring into hers.
"Well I'm gonna need something less bubbly to drink if I'm gonna be with 'Mr. I have a suave answer for everything because I'm a bajillion years old' all night." Caroline replied attempting to lighten the serious mood and get a jump start on drinking. "Remember that case of liquor I brought to the cabin? There should still be a bottle or two in the cabinets." She continued walking in the house.
Stefan followed suit shaking his head at the blonde in front of him. Even when she's not like the old, pre humanity less Caroline, she's still her. The girl who he had no interest in at first, then gradually was his friend, then best friend, now the only person he can imagine being the love of his life.