A/N: Hey all! Sorry it's been a bit, but here we are! Thank you all for still reading! Shoot me a message or leave me a review so I know your thoughts :) I appreciate the love!

Disclaimer: I don't own TVD.. at all /:

Approximately 16 years ago

"Care, we need to talk." Elena said as she laid her sleeping baby down in her bassinet.

"Sure, Lena, anything." Caroline said, her still young face smiling from ear to ear. She rested her hand on Beth's chubby tummy and rubbed it. "She is so sweet, isn't she?"

"Yeah, Care… She… is… And um…"

"I can't believe she is already so big." She gushed.

"Caroline… This is…"

"Even though she has so much of Damon, she really does look like you."

"Caroline! Listen to me!" Elena said, agitation filling her voice.

Caroline sucked in her breath, Elena hadn't acted like this since she was a vampire, being a new mother had her emotions heightened. "Sorry." She squeaked.

"I don't want to do this." Elena said burying her face in her hands.

"Don't want to do what, Lena?"

"You… you can't be here anymore, Care."

"Huh?"

"We decided that we don't want Beth to know about vampires. And I'm sorry but when you're around vampires, they tend to flock."

"What are you saying Elena."

"I just-"

"Spit it out." Caroline said, her words filled with venom.

"You can't come over anymore. We can't let Beth know about you."

"I'm sorry but, what the fuck Elena?"

Elena was taken aback. "Huh? I don't understand…"

"Of course you don't." Caroline said standing up, throwing her hands in the air. "It's always innocent Elena Gilbert, even now. Different name, same damn story."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean… God what the actual fuck!?" The blonde shouted, making the baby toss slightly in her sleep. "This is ridiculous! You're going to ban me from seeing her? From seeing you?!"

"It's what's best for her, Care. It isn't what I want."

"It was real easy for you to say, though, wasn't it?" Caroline said through her gritted teeth, and perfectly glossed frown.

"It wasn't… I've been practicing it in the mirror for months trying to find out how to say it."

"MONTHS?! YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS FOR MONTHS?!"

"Care, I'm sorry."

"No, Elena. This is bullshit. How dare you." Her eyes were like ice as they dug into Elena's soul. "There won't be anyone left to protect her when you're too old and weak to do it. Or did you forget that I'm the only vampire in our group left." Her upper lip twitched in anger before she smoothed out her hair. "You've always been a selfish bitch, Elena. But you were never stupid." She grabbed her purse and flung it over her shoulder. "But I guess some things do change."

18 Years Ago

"Damon, I'll admit that I wasn't your biggest advocate at the beginning. You were an ass." A smile grew on Caroline's face. "An epic on."

"Here, here." Stefan said with a smirk, raising his glass.

"But, as time went on, I started to see the error of my ways, because despite my dismay… you made my best friend happy. In a way that, after her parents died, we never thought she would be able to be. You two challenge each other, help each other grow. Test the darkest part of each other and prove that in the darkness you can always find the light when you are with the right person."

Elena smiled as Damon scooped her hand into his, her newly polished wedding band sparkling in the low light.

"You know me, I'm a hopeless romantic, but I know true love when I see it. And you two have it." Caroline quickly wiped a tear from her face. "I know there are a lot of people you wish could be here, Lena. But I can say, from watching you grow into this amazing person… They would be so proud of you." Caroline mouthed 'I love you' at Elena, to which Elena did the same. Before Caroline turned to Damon. "Now listen here, Damon Salvatore." She said pointing a finger at him. "I swear to God if you hurt my best friend you will regret it. Actually you won't have time to regret it because you won't survive if you hurt my best friend. And you know I'm capable."

Damon chuckled and held his drink up to her. "Sure thing, Blondie."

"To the lovely couple." Caroline said with a sweet smile as she held up her glass.

Clink.

Present Day

Beth swallowed hard before knocking hard.

"Give me a minute!"

Beth ran her fingers through her curls nervously as the front door opened. A young blonde stood in front of her. They seemed to be the same age, she assumed this was Caroline's daughter. "Hi… Um, sorry to bother you but does Caroline Forbes live here?"

The blonde eyed her, as if she was trying to recognize her. "Yes… And who are you?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Beth Salvatore. My mother was Elena Salvatore."

The girl gasped and covered her mouth. "Ohmygod. Of course you are." She began tearing up. "You look just like her."

"You knew her?"

"Come in, I think we should talk." The girl said opening the door a little wider.

Beth nodded And stepped over the threshold and walked into the living room.

"Take a seat. Can I get you anything?"

"No I'm fine. I'm just looking for some answers."

"I think I can help you with that." The girl said sitting across from her. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Caroline."

Beth swallowed. "What?"

"Let me explain." She said gently standing up and grabbing a photo off the counter. She walked back over and handed it to Beth.

"Oh my god." Beth whispered as she held the picture. It was a picture of three women, Caroline who was on the left, her blonde hair curled, a mocha-toned girl with short hair and a huge glowing smile, and her mother. "How is this possible?"

"Beth, can I ask you a question?" Caroline said calmly.

Beth nodded slowly, her curls springing around her face.

"What brought you here?"

"I found this." Beth said slowly and pulled Elena's journal out of her bag and slowly handed it to Caroline.

Caroline opened it slowly and smiled sadly. "Oh. Of course." She said running her fingers over the aged pages. "I bet your Dad's pissed."

"He doesn't know."

"Hm." Caroline said raising an eyebrow. "I always thought you'd be a Daddy's girl."

"It's hard to be one when your whole life is a lie."

"I see." Caroline said softly, her eyes were Damon's but man did they hold Elena. Her fire and drive came straight from her mother.

"My mom left a note for me in the journal, she said to come find you, Caroline… You have to help me." Beth said desperately.

Caroline was silent for a moment. She had dreamed of this moment for years after Elena cut her out. She hoped that her best friend would come back to her. That she would get to see her niece again. And now she was here, she was beautiful just like Elena. It made Caroline's heart-ache. The last time she had seen Beth was at Elena's funeral, from afar. She was this tiny sobbing child, who was terrified. Caroline wanted nothing more than to comfort her. For a long time she was angry and hurt. But she had to let go of her pride and help her, because here she was and she needed her. "What do you need to know?" She said after what seemed like an eternity.