Summary: It has been said that key moments in our lives will forever define us, and lead us to the path that will take us to our eventual destination but you're losing your memory now and your course shift to where you were always meant to be. Steroline.

Long Road Home
by
xConcr3t3 Jungl3 5urf3r

Chapter Three: Anywhere but here

(Three days later)

The better part of a decade has been stricken from his memories.

Sleep hasn't come easily to the eternal teen. In fact, he's spent so much time staring at the ceiling that he's starting to think he's formed an intimate relationship with it. In frustration he kicks back the covers and stomps across the room, plopping down in his desk chair and putting his feet up on it.

Stefan: (whisper) Ain't no rest for the wicked.

Stefan's not one for living without answers, wandering helplessly. He likes control so he decides to take the bull by the horns and continue reading his diaries in an attempt to gain as much knowledge as he can. After all, knowledge is power. Gorgeous green eyes scan page after page absorbing the knowledge like a sponge. He reads everything from the day of his first encounter with Elena to the last few sentences.

'To save Damon I must seek help from the devil and I only hope… I only hope that it will not be in vain. I refuse to come back without a cure. No matter how long it takes, whatever it takes, I'll find a cure. I'm Stefan Salvatore and this may very well be my final entry.'

He closes the page and, as if on cue, there's a knock at the door. Tired green eyes move upwards to find the last person he expects to see… Caroline Forbes.

Caroline: Hey Broody. Whatcha' reading?
Stefan: The story of some poor schmuck that made a martyr of himself.
Caroline: Autobiography?

Gorgeous green eyes go curious as they shift upwards to the blonde wondering how she knew so well what he was talking about. A smile teases his lips as he shoots her a nod.

Stefan: And what can I do for you, Caroline.
Caroline: So you remember me now?
Stefan: Are you kidding me? Who could forget you?

She returns his smile, one of those patented Caroline Forbes smiles that get all the boy's hearts racing. He imagines it'd work on his heart too… that is if it'd actually beat. How was it that he wrote these extensive romantic heartfelt words about Elena and spent mere pages recognizing the blonde goddess before him. She was beautiful, no not beautiful… the word's too feeble too insignificant. She's breathtaking, heart skips a beat gorgeous. There's no denying that.

Caroline: Ya' know I've never been here before.
Stefan: (sheepishly) No I don't actually.
Caroline: Yeah, that whole memory loss thing sucks.

He finds it a statement that doesn't need anything added on other than a small nod of comprehension. As if he's no longer there she begins moving through his room and look through shelves of books and records. Long, slender fingers move from album to album reading off the names on the records in her mind.

Stefan: There's over a century's worth of junk in this place.
Caroline: Well, I would not call ACDC and the Rolling Stones junk.
Stefan: Let's get out of here.

Her attention snaps back to him, her face illuminated with surprise. The whole reason she was here was because the man had become a recluse since his return and Damon begged her to do something about it. That just made her job a hell of a lot easier.

Caroline: Sure. Whataya' have in mind?
Stefan: Anywhere but here.
Caroline: Think I know a place.

Stefan can practically see the cogs in her head turning and has no clue what he got himself into. Yet he can't bring himself to care where. He wants to be anywhere but here- under the same roof as his ex-lover and brother- and he wants to be there with her.

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