Title: Blonde Distraction

Summary: Stefan's not quite sure what planet he's on anymore

Disclaimer: The Vampire Diaries, The Originals and their characters belong to their respective owners. I am not making any profit from this story.

Characters: Caroline/Rebekah/Stefan

Genre: Angst/Hurt/Family

Rating: Teen +

Warnings: None


Blonde Distraction


Visiting Caroline is one of the first things Stefan does when he and Damon arrive home from the car show.

One of the last things he expects to find is Rebekah Mikaelson curled up on the sofa and dipping cookies into a cup of tea.

She barely stares back at him as he raises his eyebrows at her over Caroline's shoulder. Instead she seems far too engrossed in whatever daytime trashy soap has her attention.

"I've missed you," Caroline says with a brightness that he hasn't seen at full force since he told her that her mother was going to die and there was nothing she could do about it. "You best have gotten me a gift," she says, half heartedly. There's a keychain in his pocket that says Welcome to Texas across the front but they both know that Caroline finds the inner workings of cars about as interesting as mould.

He kind of subtly nods his head in Rebekah's direction. Caroline not so subtly fills him in. "She's staying her for a little bit while Louse and Failey pretend to be parents in New Orleans."

For the first time since Stefan arrived, Rebekah comes to life. She laughs, though it seems more like a snarl. "Yes, so don't worry, Stefan. I'm not here to commit some dastardly deeds against you and your friends."

"You're here to watch Passions instead?" Stefan says with just a hint of his signature dry sarcasm. He does believe her. There's a certain kind of world weariness when she speaks...but he can't help but throw a barb her way.

Rebekah purses her lips and manages to look the smallest bit embarrassed. "It's better than watching the walls, Stefan. Caroline might not be the most sophisticated company," she says with a head tilt towards Caroline who just rolls her eyes like she's heard the same old song before, "but at least she's not as dull as your doppelgänger."

"Insulted in my own home," Caroline grumbles as she stalks off towards the kitchen after promising to fix Stefan the best welcome home snack he's ever seen. There is very little bite behind her words though.

Stefan takes the closest seat to Rebekah, waiting until he hears the microwave ping to life. He can't help but smile at Caroline; the eternal modern teenager.

"How has she been?" Stefan asks, keeping his voice low enough that the noise of the microwave will cover their conversation.

Rebekah shrugs, not terribly invested. "On and off. Mostly okay though. She was talking about going back to school last week."

That's progress, Stefan thinks. He's spent enough time with Caroline so sure that she had nothing left to live for and nothing to care about to know how big of a deal it is that she's even considering returning to college.

"I was thinking about it too." Rebekah says after a thoughtful pause. "Better than sitting around here all day." She says quickly, as though the Rebekah Mikaelson needs to excuse her sudden desire for academics.

"You should then," Stefan says because he can't really think of much else to say. Honestly, he's still not quite sure what exactly is going on here.

"So, you and Caroline are friends now?" He says, reclining back in his chair.

"Don't be ridiculous!" Rebekah's face twists in a sneer. "Friends with Caroline Forbes?"

It's not the most glowing response but Stefan notes that it's hardly an outright denial. It;s the specific lack of revulsion and irritation that usually accompanies Caroline's name that gives the game away though.

Caroline returns with the self-proclaimed best microwaved snack that Stefan has ever tasted and the three of them settle down to watch the next episode of Passions.

As Stefan tries to stifle his yawning and Caroline and Rebekah half-heartedly throw barbs and jabs in each others direction, Stefan finally understands why Rebekah is sitting on Caroline's sofa and why Caroline is letting her.

Sometimes, it helps to have a little blonde distraction.