Chapter 10

It was the week before Christmas break now and Caroline's world had begun to gain a little of its normality back. Despite having a little bump now, she was settling back into her usual routine just with the added appointments and extra toilet breaks. It was 8am on Saturday morning, Caroline was sat at the breakfast table, reading over the note that Liz had left her, informing her she would be late home that evening. Caroline rolled her eyes at the bluntness of the note, no 'have a good day or I love you' like there usually would be. Liz still hadn't accepted the pregnancy and was hardly talking to her daughter, although considering she was still living in the same house, Caroline counted herself lucky.

Setting the note down and picking her phone up, she dialled the number that had become all too familiar in recent weeks, hoping she wasn't going to wake them up…

"Well this is a nice way to start the day" he spoke as he answered the call "good morning…"

"Sorry" she replied "did I wake you?" she asked

"No, I was awake." he informed her "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Are you busy today?" she questioned

"Nope, why?" he asked

"I was wondering if maybe you wanted to come to my scan with me," she admitted "I mean you don't have to but Mom hasn't even acknowledged the fact I have an appointment, even though it was on the calendar. Bonnie will be there but I thought the three of us could maybe make a day of it?"

"Caroline…" Stefan interjected, stopping her babbling as she was about to continue "I'd love to come with you. What time's your appointment?"

"12pm," she replied "Bonnie and I are getting the 11am bus as neither of us fancy driving in this weather."

"Why don't I drive?" he suggested "I doubt either of you want to sit on the bus…I have a really nice car, heated seats and everything" he teased

"That does sound better than the bus…are you sure? I didn't ask you to come with me just so you'd drive" She said quickly "I actually do want you there…"

"I know you didn't, but yes I'm sure. I'll pick you up in about an hour then ok? And then we can go and get Bonnie?"

"Thank you Stefan. I'll see you in a little while…"

As promised Stefan arrived an hour later, Caroline opening the front door to him as he approached…

"Morning." he greeted her as he stepped inside, shutting the door behind him

"Morning," she mirrored "I'm nearly ready; I've just got to find my boots. How bad is the weather?"

"It's snowing, but the roads are clear." he informed her "I got you a hot chocolate and a donut."

"You didn't have to do that…" she proclaimed, smiling at him warmly "Are they from Al's?"

"I wanted to and Where else?" he questioned

Caroline thanked him and moved to the hallway cupboard, pulling out her boots, Stefan watching from the entrance to the lounge as she sat on the sofa trying to pull her boots on, seeming to struggle over her little bump. He couldn't help but laugh a little "would you like some help?"

Caroline looked up at him a slight frown "The stubborn part of me says no… but the pregnant part says yes please because if you don't, we'll be here all day" She smiled, Stefan walking over to her and gently lifting her feet and sliding her boots on.

"All done." he said helping her stand and then helping her into her coat. "Do you have everything you need?"

"I think so…" she admitted as she looked around the room, "oh…" quickly turning to grab the hot chocolate and donut he'd set down on the table "now I do."

Ever the gentleman, Stefan helped her into the car before making his way round to the driver's side…

"I can't believe this is your car…" Caroline informed him as he started the engine "My Mom would never let me have anything like this."

"Is that your way of politely saying that you think I'm spoiled?" he questioned, as they began their drive to Bonnies.

"No, although I know your family do have a lot of money." she replied "I meant what I said; this is a nice car."

"I like it." Stefan admitted "So is this your 5 month scan?"

Caroline nodded, her hands resting on her bump "Yeah, I'm not quite 20 weeks yet but it was the only time slot they had that wasn't in school time"

"You can usually see the sex at 20 weeks, do you want to find out?" Stefan asked "sorry I'm doing it again and butting in…"

"Next left…" she informed him smiling "You can butt in anytime you like, it's nice to have someone who actually talks to me about this like its normal. But in response to your question I haven't really thought about it to be honest, I'm not sure if I want to know, it'll be a nice surprise." She said "it's this one here, with the red door…"

Stefan stopped the car and beeped the horn, signalling they were there "I think I'd like a surprise too if I had kids…My mom says that gender scans aren't always 100% correct anyway. I remember the once she told me one woman and her husband had been told they were having a girl, then she ended up having a boy, they had to go and exchange everything at the store because they'd brought all pink."

Caroline was laughing as Stefan told her the story "yeah, I think I'll keep it a surprise…" she wiped her eyes as she laughed.

"Are you crying?" he asked

Caroline nodded dissolving into another fit of giggles "It was funny…" she sniffed "I may have to use Bonnie's bathroom though…" she said opening the door as Bonnie walked down the path. "Can I use your bathroom please? I've just been laughing and I think the baby is now pressing on my bladder which isn't doing anything for the gallon of water I drank this morning…"

"Yes go…say hi to Grams in there she keeps asking about you." Caroline nodded disappearing into the house as quickly as she could, as Bonnie climbed into the car. "Hi Stefan…"

"Bonnie…" he greeted

"She's just gone to the bathroom" Bonnie told him although he already knew. "Soo she asked you to come then?"

"No Bonnie I just thought I'd invade your day together and see where it took me…yes she asked me to come with you, why? Is that a problem?"

"Nope, it's just Caroline's been through a lot and she doesn't need anyone messing her around, especially not now." she explained "She's got enough to deal with."

"I know you're looking out for her," Stefan admitted as he turned to face her "but I promise I'm not messing her around. I really like her, Bonnie, and as I've said before, I'm just being a friend."

"But you want more?" she questioned

"It doesn't matter what I want." he replied "I care about what Caroline wants and right now, that's a good friendship."

"She likes you too," she informed him "but she won't admit it because somewhere in her mind she's still trying to find the guy whose baby it is. And she thinks she's not good enough for you, so you need to show her otherwise. You're good for her, Stefan."

The car door opened as Stefan was about to reply and Caroline climbed back into the car, rubbing her hands together before fastening her seatbelt…

"Sorry," she sighed "it was a really long wee."

"Too much information, Care," Bonnie proclaimed "now can we go? I want to see my niece!"

"It could be a boy, Bon," Caroline replied "and anyway, I'm not finding out. You're outnumbered."

"What?" she asked "How?"

"I don't want to find out, and neither does Stefan." Caroline explained "You're outvoted."

Twenty minutes later, the three friends walked into the doctor's office, Caroline stopping as they reached the doors…

"What's wrong?" Stefan questioned

"I hate coming here," she admitted "everyone stares at me and they're judging me, I can tell."

He held his hand out to her and Caroline took it willingly… "No one will know any different."

She smiled at him warmly as he ran his thumb across the back of her hand as Bonnie held the door open for them, a rush of calmness washing over her as she continued to hold Stefan's hand…

"Hi, I'm Caroline Forbes and I have an appointment as 12pm." she informed the receptionist on duty

"Just fill out this form and you'll be called shortly." the receptionist replied snootily, eyeing Caroline up and down.

"Ignore her, Care…" Bonnie whispered as they made their way over to the chairs

Caroline sat down and began to fill out the papers, rising to her feet a few minutes later to go and hand them back…

"I'll go." Stefan informed her

"Thank you." she replied

Stefan moved back over to them and sat down next to Caroline again and after another five minutes, her name was called…

"Good to see you again Caroline, if you sit up on this bed and we'll get started." The doctor instructed. Stefan saw her struggle and helped her up on the bed before sitting in the chair next to Bonnie.

"Who have you brought with you today then, Caroline?" the doctor asked

"My best friends, Bonnie and Stefan." she informed him "It is okay that they stay, isn't it?"

"It's not a problem; as long as you're okay with them both being here." he replied "It's nice to meet you both." She turned back to Caroline "I'm sure you know the drill by now Caroline so, if you lift your shirt we'll get started…"

Caroline lifted up her shirt as the doctor instructed her to and he squeezed some gel onto her stomach and she winced, not remembering how could it had been last time, she began to panic like she always did at these scans, it seemed Stefan noticed though and slid his hand into hers squeezing it slightly

"You're ok…" he told her knowing she needed some reassurance again.

"Okay, so we should be able to locate the heartbeat." the doctor informed her "There's the baby for starters."

"That's so cool!" Bonnie proclaimed

"And here," the doctor began, clicking a couple of buttons on the keyboard "as you can now hear, is a very strong heartbeat…"

Caroline's eyes filled with tears as the sound filled the room… "Everything's okay?"

"It's perfect, Caroline," she replied "you need to stop worrying so much. It'll only increase your stress levels. I'm sure your friends have told you the same?"

"All the time!" Bonnie admitted

"I just worry…" Caroline sighed

"Well I can safely say there's nothing for you to worry about," the doctor informed her "do you want a print out?"

"Yes please," Caroline replied "3, if possible."

After getting cleaned up, Caroline met Stefan and Bonnie in the waiting room and handed them a picture each, Stefan's arm pulling her into him, her arms wrapping around his waist so naturally, her head resting against his chest as they began to walk…

"Shall we go for lunch somewhere?" he suggested as they reached the car park

"Lunch sounds amazing! I'm starving" Caroline admitted "Bon, are you up for it?"

"Grams texted while you were getting sorted and asked me to pick up some groceries for her so I'm gonna have to say no," she informed her "sorry. You two go and have fun though. I'll call you later, Care."

Has Bonnie just set them up ? I love how at ease they are around each other now, wonder how the next chapter will go ? and Happy NYE !