"The Zombies or The Turtles?" Stefan asked, flipping through his records.

"You pick," Caroline said, perching on the edge of Stefan's bed and looking around his dimly lit room.

"Zombies, it is," he announced, slipping the record on and carefully lowering the needle. The music was foreign to Caroline but she enjoyed as it filled the air around them.

What more can I do
You know I'd gladly loose myself to you
But something always holds me back
I wish I knew what it is that stops me from loving you
The way it should be

Caroline tried not to notice the weight of the lyrics and turned her face quickly away when Stefan met her eyes, obviously noticing the same thing.

She felt strangely nervous as he sat next to her, the bed dipping slightly with his weight. The music enveloped them, creating a strange atmosphere.

"I feel like we should be like…smoking doobies or something," Caroline said.

Stefan laughed, "Doobies, Caroline?"

"I don't know!" she said, laughing.

"I think we might have something growing downstairs in the vervain room if you want," Stefan joked.

"Shut up!" she said, laughter lighting up her face. She shoved him gently, and when he moved back, his arm was touching hers. Warmth spread through her where they were connected. Quick images of their bare skin sliding against each other flashed across Caroline's mind and she felt her cheeks warm

Stefan must have been thinking the same because he swallowed and looked away. Caroline smiled at the shy gesture.

"Stefan, I'm going to ask you something and I want you to be completely honest with me…," she said suddenly.

His head looked to her quickly and his eyes were serious, ready for whatever she was about to say.

"DO you own a blacklight poster?" she asked, her face straight but her eyes glittering playfully.

Stefan wore an expression of relief mixed with disappointment and smiled before gently hitting Caroline with one of his heavy feather pillows. She giggled as a few feathers floated in the air around them.

When he laid back onto his bed, she couldn't help but join him. Tension filled the air around them, but along with it, was the comfort of one another's company. Something she hadn't even realized she needed so badly until now. It terrified her for a moment how crippled she'd been without him. And how centered and at-peace she felt with him.

Stefan's fingers tickling her own brought her out of her thoughts. She watched as he slowly laced their fingers together and squeezed her's gently. They looked good together. She had always figured they might. Feeling Stefan's eyes on her, she looked up to find his intense green gaze on her.

"Thanks for hanging out with me," he said, his rich, deep voice vibrating the pillow under her head.

"Anytime," she said, smiling and glancing at his lips as she turned on her side to face him.

He smiled and leaned forward, his lips brushing against hers.

"Caroline, I'm so sorry!" Bonnie said, popping from the hallway and swinging with one frantic arm into the doorway, "I stormed out and completely forgot that I was your ride!"

Stefan and Caroline quickly scooted away from each other. Stefan cleared his throat and ran his fingers through his hair. Caroline sat up and smoothed her dress.

"Oh my god!" Bonnie exclaimed, covering her face and backing out of the room.

"It is never-ending in this house!" she complained, walking away.

"Bonnie, wait!" Caroline, laughed.

"We're just hanging out, listening to music, you want to join us?" Stefan asked.

"Join you?" Bonnie asked, smiling playfully.

Caroline blushed and giggled.

"Stefan's trying to peer pressure me into listening to rock n roll and smoking doobies," Caroline joked. Stefan chuckled and rolled his eyes.

Bonnie looked between the pair, smiling goofily at one another. She rolled her eyes and smiled at the ground.

"….uh huh," she said, "Well, as tempting as that sounds, I can't really deal with being here after being here for six months and that never-ending dinner tonight. Plus, I like my blood right where it is. So…thanks! But I'll pass."

Stefan and Caroline nodded in unison and then locked eyes, reluctant to say goodbye.

"I could take you home later, or you could…stay, here…I have an extra room or four?" Stefan offered, shyly.

Caroline smiled.

"Next time," she said, a promise.

"I'm gonna hold you to that," Stefan said, giving Caroline's hand a final squeeze before dropping it to allow her to follow Bonnie from the room.

"You guys are so cute," Bonnie teased as they excited the mansion.

"Ugh!" Caroline said, covering her face in embarrassment and laughing.

Caroline felt her nothingness being replaced by something. The fact that Stefan had been able to lift her out of weeks of sadness in just a few hours…it wasn't scary now. She didn't want to hide. She wasn't a ghost. She was alive. Somehow even more so than ever.