Hi Everyone! I'm so excited for you to read this story! I've been meaning to write an original fic for quite some time, and now that I've completed this work I plan to retool it and publish, so I would love to know what I should keep/change/rearrange/etc.

Please, Please, Review. I thrive off of your comments, good and bad. I generally ignore flames, but yes I do take your input into account regarding the plot and my writing style. I love reading comments! They are what make doing this worth it. If I get enough likes or comments, I may retool it and include it in the original series I am currently crafting, so let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries, however the story itself is all mine!


Caroline stared at the blinking line on her computer, quietly signaling that she should be transcribing the voice notes she had been given that morning, instead of daydreaming about running through the office screaming at everyone and everything.

Sighing, she rewound the tape for a second time and focused on the conversation taking place over her headphones. Architects were so infuriating. Why was it that Walter couldn't spell out the name of the person he was speaking with, but words like upright needed special emphasis? She glared at her fingers as they flew over the keyboard, thinking about all the things she would rather be doing instead.

The phone on her desk lit up with an incoming call and she pressed pause on the recording to answer it. Caroline attempted to page one of the intern's at their desk before realizing they had stepped out of the office. She took the message and groaned internally. Beth was glaring at her from across the room, and she knew she was in for another patronizing lecture about paying attention to the comings and goings of the people who worked on their floor.

The end of the day couldn't come fast enough.

Caroline Forbes prided herself on being everything that was expected of a true Southern belle. Blonde hair and baby blue eyes, she had been involved in everything she could get her hands on in high school. She told everyone that it was for her college transcripts, but it was mostly because she loved the attention. This did seem to give people cause to stereotype her and, even though she had graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania School of Business, she found it hard to be taken seriously.

It had been even harder when her mother had been diagnosed with cancer and Caroline had moved home to Mystic Falls, Virginia in order to care for her. The only available well paying and flexible position she could find was her current administrative assistant job. It had been hard to reconcile her new life with the one she had always planned. She kept the black Alexander McQueen "high powered executive pumps" her father had bought her as a Graduation gift, in a special box in her closet. One day they would help her rock the business world, but for now they were lovingly stored away.

Glancing at the clock on her desk, she stretched and started gathering her things. Beth had disappeared and Caroline planned to escape for the weekend without having to speak to her. She had a dinner date, and refused to have her boss put her in an even more foul mood before she left. That could wait for Monday morning.

She made her way across the town green and headed for the Mystic Grill, heels clicking across the familiar paving stones; her hair bouncing across her back and shoulders. The air was fragrant, smelling of spring. Pink, Purple, and Yellow Tulips, recently planted by the Mystic Falls Garden Club, lined the walkways of the town. Blooms on the cherry trees promised to burst open with the colors of the season as their green branches swayed in the breeze. If she had to pick a season to call her favorite, spring and it's promises of new beginnings, would be it.

Waiving to her date, Caroline picked up her tempo and crossed the street.

"Hi Bonnie!" She chirped, reaching out to give her best friend a hug. Bonnie Bennett and Caroline had been friends since they could remember. Even though they had gone to separate colleges, they had remained close. Their bond had become even stronger when Caroline had moved back after her mother had gotten sick. She didn't know what she would have done if Bonnie had already moved away from their hometown.

"Hey Care. I got your text about really needing to vent. Is Beth being an evil bitch again?" Bonnie asked sympathetically. Caroline groaned.

"The most evil. I can never do anything right." She whined. Her dark haired friend nodded.

"I thought she called you her favorite." She implored as they were seated at a table near the window.

"She never said favorite, she just said I was one of the most competent people she had hired. But if that's how she treats people she likes, I completely sympathize with the poor souls that quit before I started." The blonde replied sighing.

Their waiter appeared at the table and Caroline grinned.

"Hi Matt."

"Hi Bonnie, hey Care. How are you today?" Matt asked, running a hand through his sandy blonde hair. The late afternoon sun shone through the glass, casting afternoon shadows on the table and glinting gold across some of the strands.

"In need of significant amounts of wine, but otherwise alright. You always know the best vintages Matt, I'll leave it up to your discretion" Caroline replied. He nodded and left.

"Significant amounts of wine? She really pulled an attitude today didn't she?" Bonnie joked. Caroline groaned.

"I don't know how much more I can take, Bon. It's torture. I feel like I am wasting my talents." The blonde remarked. Matt returned with their wine and Caroline took a massive gulp. Seeing the look on her friends face, she colored slightly and set the glass down. Thankfully, Matt was flagged by another table before he could say anything. She didn't need yet another lecture today, and she knew that Bonnie wouldn't say anything about her alcohol intake.

"How can a man's eyes be that blue? It should be a crime." Bonnie moaned, watching Matt walk away. She glanced at Caroline, who's eyebrows were drawn up on her forehead inquiring. Bonnie shook her head. "I don't want to marry him, but I can still look." Both girls giggled.

"What am I going to do Bonnie?" Caroline asked, sighing.

"Don't take this the wrong way Care, but why are you still in Mystic Falls?" Bonnie questioned, swirling the dark liquid in her glass. Caroline frowned, her fingers absentmindedly skating along the rim of her own glass.

"What do you mean why am I still here? I'm here because this is my home." She retorted, taking another sip.

"You're here because you're scared. You're here because it's easy." Bonnie countered.

"Mom needs me."

"Your mom has been cancer free for a year now Caroline. She's doing fine. I love you hun, but this place is killing you. Are you still hiding those shoes in your closet?" Bonnie asked casually.

"Ok you have a point." Caroline admitted, setting down her glass. "I could use a change of scene. Something new."

"You mean someone. Where is that loser Tyler anyway?"

"Somewhere in South America. Last I heard he was base jumping with his Frat brothers. They were having a reunion." Caroline muttered, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Dump him Care. He so doesn't deserve you." Bonnie stated, sipping her wine. "Come stay at my house tonight. We'll have a total girls night; drink wine, eat chocolate, and gossip. It'll be fun! We can brainstorm ideas about how to get your pumps out of the closet."

"Like old times?" Caroline replied. "Alright, girls night it is. And don't think I'm ignoring how you looked at Matt Donovan. We are definitely going to be talking about that."

"Please, I caught you watching him walk away too." Bonnie replied with an incredulous look that sent Caroline into peels of laughter. This was what she needed. A best friend and wine always did the trick.

"Guilty." Caroline remarked, smiling. She and Matt had dated briefly, and though they hadn't proven to be a great match, she had to admit that the sight of his toned biceps and firm backside still made her heart race. Matt Donovan was every girls All-American fantasy.

"I'm going to text Elena. If we are having a girls night, she should be in on it too." Bonnie stated, pulling out her phone and snapping Caroline out of her racy thoughts. Her manicured fingers fluttered over the phone as she typed out the memo to their friend.

"Tell her she's responsible for bringing the snacks. I think I still have a bottle of Midus left from our last night in."

"You mean the stuff that had us prank calling the fire department looking for strippers? I think that bottle is better left untouched." Bonnie replied, her eyebrows creeping into her bangs. Caroline laughed.

"What's a party without a little merry making?" She asked her dark haired friend.

"Merry Making my ass, your mom threatened to let them fine us for harassment and take us to jail." Bonnie retorted. Caroline rolled her eyes.

"Mom threatened to throw me in jail for disorderly conduct when I shut a door in her face during an argument. She's just blowing steam. Besides, one of the guys tried to ask you out later when they found out who we were didn't he?" The blonde pointed out, smirking.

"Point taken, but I'm still bringing my own bottle tonight." Bonnie answered, trying to hide her blush.

"More fun for me." Caroline smiled mischievously and picked up her menu.

...X...

The door clicked softly as it latched behind her. Fumbling, Caroline tried to put her keys into her clutch, and closed her eyes briefly. The world still felt slightly tilted to her, and she thanked whatever deity happened to be listening that she didn't have any place to be that morning. A little more sleep and a hot shower, not to mention a strong cup of coffee, would be a necessity before she could drag her brain out of its lingering drunken stupor.

It had been an enjoyable girls night. Elena, the third part of their trio, had joined them at the restaurant after a quick text from Bonnie. As per the rules that they had established when they were in Middle School, sleepovers were a sacred event. The guidelines had morphed over the years, adding and subtracting items as they grew.

Wine was a must have; snuck from their parents pantries when they were in high school and later purchased when they became old enough to do so. Bonnie had read somewhere that it was the beverage of choice for sophisticated ladies, and so it was written into the bylines as a non-negotiable item. Caroline still had the "contract", though it had become lost in her closet sometime since moving back to Mystic Falls.

The three of them had stayed up late into the night, chatting about boys and jobs. Elena had a new online friend. She was always meeting new people through her writing. Caroline envied her sometimes for her openness and ability to float through so many different social circles. Everyone loved Elena, and it was, as always, completely effortless on her part. Bonnie had pushed for details when she found out that it was a guy, but Elena had been avoidant, and eventually the talk moved to other topics.

Topics like the never present Tyler.

She really hadn't wanted to talk about him. It was a confusing topic for her, and one that she was happy to avoid when possible. Caroline knew she should end it. She had been dwelling on it for months, but it had just been easier to ignore that there even was a problem.

Since their families were both considered town founders, they had known each other most of their lives. The summer before senior year of college they had a chance encounter at a function and decided to start dating. There had been some fun times for a while, but after graduation Tyler had changed. Caroline was fairly sure that he was having trouble coming to terms with the responsibilities of adulthood. While she was back at home and completely overwhelmed with taking care of her mother, Tyler had run off with some of his rich friends to play jet-setter.

She still held onto some hope that he would walk back into town and become an adult, but after a year of playing "where in the world is Tyler Lockwood" she realized she needed to move on. There were other men out there that would gladly enjoy her company and she was done feeling unimportant. She needed to shake off Mystic Falls, and this would be the first step.

Caroline wandered into the kitchen, embracing the smell of coffee as it hit her nose. She was startled to see her father sitting at the kitchen table talking to her mother. The two of them had separated in Caroline's Sophomore year of High School, and their subsequent divorce had been hard for Caroline. Even harder still when she learned that it was because her father was gay.

Processing what that meant for the prospect of putting her family back together was perhaps the hardest part. While some kids were at least awarded the fantasy of their parents realizing their "mistake" and becoming a family again, Caroline was left with the hard truth that her dad just wasn't all that into her mom. And never really had been after all.

Bill Forbes had been surprisingly helpful through Liz's cancer ordeal, but he had recently moved to South Carolina with his partner and hadn't been around much. Caroline was more dismayed that he had arrived without first letting her know he was coming. Despite everything that had happened to their family, he still maintained that she was his baby girl. He smiled when he noticed her moving toward them.

"Good Morning Princess." He greeted, standing up from the table. Caroline let him pull her into a hug and stepped backward toward the coffee maker. Blessedly, there was still enough left in the bottom of the glass pot for a full cup.

"Morning Daddy. I'm surprised to see you here." She remarked. Her tone came across colder than she had meant it to and she saw him register her mood.

"Caroline, I'm sorry I didn't call. I didn't know I was coming until last night." Her father apologized sighing.

"Did something happen?" Caroline asked, relenting when she saw the droop of his shoulders, and carried her coffee mug over to the table to join them.

"Your Great Uncle Calvin passed away." He replied. "He was your Nana's brother. Unfortunately, since he never married and didn't have any immediate family, I was appointed as the executor of his will."

"Your father needs a place to stay while he works through the details with the lawyer." Her mother interjected. "I offered for him to stay here so you can spend some time with him."

"Where do you have to go?"

"Uncle Calvin had a farm near Richmond. It was a beautiful place if I remember correctly, though I'm sure it probably needs some repairs before it can be sold." He explained. Finishing his coffee, he glanced down at his watch. "Well pumpkin, I'm sorry but I need to get going. I have an appointment with the lawyer soon and since he is doing me the favor of meeting on a Saturday, I don't want to be late."

Bill pushed back from the table and stood up, grabbing the briefcase beside him. Caroline reached up and hugged him, planting a quick kiss on his cheek. He had more grey in his hair than the last time she had seen him, she realized.

"I'm glad that you are going to stay for a little bit." She remarked.

"We will spend time together while I am here. I promise." He smiled, the lines around his eyes deepening, and put a hand on her shoulder. "Richmond is only an hour away. I will make sure that we have at least one proper father/daughter dinner while I am in town."

Caroline walked him out the door and waved as he got into his Jetta. Her mom joined her to watch his car disappear around the corner.

"Well I had better get ready for work." Liz announced, moving back inside.

Caroline considered going into the house, but decided that between the warm air and the growing sunlight she would rather take a walk. She had already waved any possibility of more sleep aside, and staying inside the house on such a beautiful spring day seemed a waste. Grabbing her purse off the table in the entryway, she pulled the front door closed behind her.

She didn't really have a specific destination in mind, but her feet decided to carry her next door. It could have been the subtle swaying of the porch swing that had caught her attention and directed her to move toward it, or the years of heading in that direction whenever she was looking for someone to talk to. Whatever it was she found herself directly in front of the Gilbert house. Elena was pushing the old wooden swing in a slow, oblivious rhythm while typing on her laptop. A small smile flirted across her face as she stared at the screen. Caroline coughed softly, causing her startled friend to slam the laptop shut.

"Mystery guy?" Caroline asked, walking up the short staircase to sit beside her friend.

"It's nothing really. He was just voicing his opinion on my recent column." Elena replied, clearing her throat.

"Is he cute?" Caroline pressed with a sly smile.

"Yes." Elena blushed slightly.

"Would I know him?" Caroline asked, curiously.

"No. Honestly I don't really know much about him myself. We haven't gotten to that stage yet." She explained, shrugging. "And he's just a friend Care. There's no reason to exchange personal information."

"Right." The blonde remarked, nodding. "Just a friend."

"I saw your dad leaving." Elena commented, deliberately changing the subject and settling back into the swing. "Why didn't you mention he was visiting?"

"Because I didn't know." Caroline answered, deflating. "He's on his way to Richmond to take care of my Great Uncle's estate. I guess he has to execute Uncle Calvin's will."

"I'm sorry. Did you know your uncle well?" Her friend asked gingerly, putting a hand on Caroline's arm. Elena had lost her parents in a car accident when they were in high school. She understood loss better than anyone Caroline had ever met.

"I didn't know him that well. I think I received a card or two for special events, like graduation, but if I ever met him in person I don't remember. He was a bit of a recluse"

Elena nodded and tugged at a split end, ripping the bottom of the strand of hair as she pulled.

"You know I'm not going to let you off the hook about this guy right? You haven't dated since you and Matt broke up three years ago." Caroline winked at her, "You deserve someone who makes you smile like you were when I got here."

"I didn't think you would." Elena replied laughing. "How about you just give it a little time before you push too hard though ok?"

"Fine." Caroline answered. "but I only push because I love you."

Elena pulled her friend into a hug and grinned.

"I wouldn't expect anything less."


For anyone that is curious, Midus is a type of Mead or Honey Wine. It is one of the extremely potent varieties and can sometimes have up to 75% alcohol by volume!

Thank you for your comments!