CAROLINE'S POV:
I sat on the sofa, biting my thumbnail as Stefan spoke to his lawyer, continuously pacing the living room as he did so. I'd told him everything Leo had said to me and we'd agreed the best thing would be for him to talk to his lawyer. Watching him, he hung up the phone and sat down next to me…
"What did he say?" I questioned
"He's going to consult with Elena's lawyer. That's the only thing he can do." he replied
"And until then?" I asked
"We stick to the plan," he informed me "Leo's the main priority here, agreed?"
"Agreed." I mirrored, resting my head on his shoulder and entwining my hand with his "Do you want some food?"
I looked up at him and he nodded his head. Pressing my lips against his cheek, I left the room…
STEFAN'S POV:
Caroline and I were climbing into bed that night when my phone began to ring. Seeing it was Elena, I told Caroline and answered it…
"Elena…" I proclaimed "What's the matter?"
"What do you think?" she questioned "You can hear him, right? He's been that way since you left. I don't know what to do."
"He's going to make himself ill, Elena," I replied "you need to do what he wants, before he makes himself vomit."
"You'd better come over then, hadn't you?" she inquired
"Are you sure?" I asked
"Do I have any other choice?" she questioned
"I'll be over in 15 minutes." I informed her
CAROLINE'S POV:
"What's going on?" I asked as Stefan hung up the phone
"I take it you heard Leo in the background?" he questioned as he began to redress "Elena says he's been like that since we left, so I need to go and get him before he makes himself sick."
"Shall I come?" I inquired
"No." he replied
"Okay. I'll see you both when you get back then." I informed him
"Caroline," he sighed, taking my hand in his as I climbed into bed "I didn't mean to snap. It's like we said earlier; I can't give Elena any more ammunition. We need to keep the peace."
"You're right." I replied "I just want what's best for Leo; you know that, right?"
He nodded his head… "You adore him, and he adores you. It's one of the many reasons I love you."
"What did you just say?" I questioned, pursing my lips together nervously
"That I love you…" he informed me "And it's not just a slip of the tongue thing. I do, Caroline. I love you."
I smiled at him warmly and moved onto my knees, throwing my arms around his neck… "I love you too!"
STEFAN'S POV:
I made my way up the driveway to the house and opened the back door, Leo running over to me as I did so…
"Careful, bud," I proclaimed "you almost knocked me off my feet."
"Sorry, Daddy, but I'm so excited," he replied "I'm coming to live with you and Caroline."
I swallowed a lump in my throat… "It's just tonight, bud."
"What?" he questioned
"You're only staying tonight, and then Caroline and I will take you to school in the morning and Mommy will pick you up." I informed him
"No…" he replied, folding his arms across his chest and stamping his foot
"Throwing a strop's not gonna get you anywhere." I admitted "It's how it has to be, bud, and you know that."
As he was about to reply, Elena made her way through, holding a suitcase in her hand, a weak smile on her face as she held it out to me…
"What?" I asked
"I don't wanna have to do this, but I feel as though it's my only option." she admitted "Leo's not happy here, so he can stay with you, on one condition."
"If it's about Caroline, I'm sorry but it's not happening." I informed her
"I don't want her anywhere near my son, Stefan." she replied "Not after what she accused Damon of."
"She didn't accuse Damon of anything." I sighed "All she cares about is Leo."
She exhaled a breath and handed the suitcase to me and bent down to Leo's height, pulling him into her… "Mommy loves you, little man."
"I love you too, Mommy." Leo replied
"Pinky promise we'll talk on the phone every day?" she asked, holding out her pinky finger to him
He nodded and linked his pinky with hers, Elena pressing a kiss to his nose as he did so. Exclaiming in disgust, he wiped his face and turned to me… "Can we go now?"
I smiled at Elena and she mouthed "thank you" to me. Lifting Leo into my arms, I made my way out of the house and down to my car…
CAROLINE'S POV:
"We're back." Stefan's voice called into the apartment almost an hour later
"Caroline!" Leo proclaimed, hurrying through to the kitchen
"Whoa, what happened in here?" Stefan inquired as he made his way through
"I'm stress cleaning." I informed him
"Leo, can you go to your room and get your pyjamas on please?" Stefan asked
"What about food?" he questioned
"I'll make you a sandwich in a minute, mate." I replied "Go on, do as your Dad says please."
"Why are you stress cleaning?" Stefan asked as Leo left the room "What is there to be stressed about?"
"I'm not stressed," I admitted "I'm just worried, and when something's on my mind, I clean."
He smiled at me warmly and shook his head… "Another reason why I love you."
"You love the fact that I'm a neurotic control freak?" I inquired, raising an eyebrow at him
He nodded his head… "How have you managed to make my kitchen look like it's brand new in the space of an hour?"
"I'm good with my hands." I informed him
"I know you are." he replied, pulling me flush against his body "What are we gonna do?"
"What about?" I asked, placing my hands on his shoulders
"Elena's packed him a case and said he can stay here." he informed me "She doesn't know what to do anymore."
"We get through it the best way we can." I replied
"And how's that?" he questioned
"Together." I informed him, pressing my lips against his, pulling away as Leo walked into the room "Right, little guy, what do you want in your sandwich?"
"Peanut butter and jelly!" he proclaimed
I smiled at him warmly and ruffled his hair, laughing as he flattened it back down… "Coming up."
Turning my head, I saw Stefan smiling at our exchange and smiled warmly at him, mouthing "I love you" to him, a blush forming on my cheeks as he mouthed "I love you too" back…
Leo's staying with Stefan and Caroline for the foreseeable – how do you think that'll go? And Stefan and Caroline have said "I love you" for the first time. Awe!