Caroline had just stepped off the stoop of her apartment building- having just finished cooking lunch a mere ten minutes ago for Steve who was staying with her Mom today- and runs straight into the hard form of a person. She was too busy searching her bag for her phone that she hadn't seen anyone standing in front of her, and only looked up when strong cool hands wrapped around her biceps.
"Whoa, there," Stefan's amused grin greets her. "Are you always this distracted when walking the streets of New York?"
"Stefan!"
He only has a split second before arms are wrapped around his neck, he supporting all of Caroline's weight as she hug attacks him. He gives her a couple of seconds before patting her back and chuckling, and then sets her back down on her own two feet.
"How are you doing, Care? How's your mom?" Her smile falters and she tries to quickly mask it, but Stefan catches it anyway. "What happened?"
"She's gotten sicker to the point she can't move around on her own anymore." Her best friend is shocked by the news, his face going slack. "I've been trying to work from home as much as I can but Mom keeps sending me back to the Tower."
"So she stays alone?!"
"No. No!" she's quick to assure him. "Natasha, Steve, or Clint stay with her when I go into work. They have a rotation set up and my Mom surprisingly enjoys their company now that they have no ulterior motives."
"That's- I can't- wow," Stefan breathes in shocked awe. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know it was that bad," he says and pulls her into a comforting hug. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"'Cause of Mom," Caroline tells him, voice muffled by his shoulder. "She didn't want anyone to make a big deal about it."
Stefan can understand where Liz is coming from, she being one of the most independent women he's ever met. But for her to have at-home caretakers- one of them being Captain America- he can't help but snort at the thought as a grin twists his lips.
"What?" Caroline asks.
"Nothing. It's just- your Mom is being babysat by an Avenger. How crazy is that?"
"It's just Steve."
"And that- that right there," he finally chuckles. "Who would have thought that you'd be on first name basis with an Avenger?"
Caroline finally joins in on the chuckles, letting the worry over her Mom slink away. "What are you doing here, if you don't mind me asking. You usually text or call before visiting."
Shrugging, Stefan tucks his hands into his pockets and gestures down the street where his car is parked. "Well, you asked for vervain so I brought some. It's already been cut and everything so they'll have to start the garden another time but there's enough for at least half a year in the trunk of my car."
"That's still good," she assures him. "Why don't you grab the bag I'm pretty sure you brought it in and you can join me at the Tower with the others."
xXx. XxX. xXx
Stefan had been a bit hesitant to enter the Tower where the supposed superheroes lived, he just wanting to give Caroline the bag of vervain and then be on his merry way. But since this was Caroline he was speaking with, she managed to drag him along and into Stark Tower, leading them towards a private elevator that was just out of view from regular visitors.
Once settled inside the elevator with Stefan at her side, Caroline hesitated with her finger hovering over the panel of buttons. And instead of pressing one, she frowns and tilts her head upward. "JARVIS, where's Tony at right in this moment?"
"Sir appears to be in the labs with Doctor Banner," said AI answers, startling Stefan along the way.
"Don't worry," she quickly assures her best friend. "JARVIS is just an AI that Tony built. He's the eyes and ears around here." And then turning her attention back towards the top corner of the elevator, Caroline smiles sweetly. "Is Stark busy? Stefan's here with the vervain and well, he doesn't exactly have access to the top floors like I do. Tell him the vampires are requesting a meeting."
"Of course, Miss Caroline. One moment, please."
Caroline smiles contently and feeling Stefan's gaze on her, she turns to him. "What?" she then chuckles nervously.
"Nothing," he shakes his head in amusement. "It's just- you're so comfortable talking with the AI and calling Tony Stark just Tony. I know I was amazed earlier that you're on a first name basis with these people but it's one thing to think it and a whole different story to see it."
Again, Caroline chuckles as she shakes her own head, her blonde curls bouncing. "You'll get used to it."
"Miss Caroline, Sir has requested both the presence of you and Mr. Salvatore on the family floor. He will meet you in the elevator on your way up."
"Alright, thank you, JARVIS."
"It's been my pleasure, Miss Caroline."
"It's like he's flirting with you," Stefan murmurs as Caroline presses a button on the panel to take them upward. She only grins in response and leans against the back wall, eyeing her best friend and taking glee in the fact that he seems nervous. "So what should I expect?"
"Well, Steve's with my mom so you don't have to worry about being well-mannered in front of Captain America," she shrugs. "And if Tony's rounding everyone up, well then be aware of Natasha. She has the uncanny ability to make you feel threatened but it's only because she's wary of our kind and our little compelling trick."
"And Natasha would be?"
Caroline startles, she only just remembering that while Stefan knew of Steve and Tony, he didn't know about the others because their identities weren't public knowledge as of yet. So worrying her bottom lip nervously, she eventually sighs. "We're going to have so much paperwork to sign," she grumbles before answering her friend. "Natasha is the Black Widow. She'll be the beautiful redhead. Beautiful but very deadly. Remember that."
"Right," he drawls. "Another Avenger. Only this one shot you twice."
"Exactly."
"Okay. Next?" And yeah, that didn't phase him at all.
"Tony's a bit much," she tells him. "He's a bit like Damon only he doesn't kill people. He'll try to get under your skin about me- he thinks there's something between us- but just let it slide. I do. Then there's Doctor Banner," she continues on, not wanting to go into detail about Stark's obsession between the two of them. "Banner is the fluffy haired scientist who's quiet. He'll also put you on edge because- because he's the Hulk but trust me!" she's quick to continue on when that earns her wide eyes and a now tense vampire. "Bruce is a good guy. He wouldn't hurt you unless you threatened him or his friends."
It takes a moment for Stefan to calm, he finally nodding. "So what you're basically saying is that Tony Stark and Doctor Banner are the human versions of Damon and myself."
Caroline opens her mouth to retort but comes up short. Her mouth snaps shut with a click and a hand comes up to cover her mouth as she starts laughing. "I hadn't thought of it like that!"
She's still laughing when the elevator comes to a stop, Tony already smirking at the two of them when the doors open and Doctor Banner at his side as he shakes his head in exasperation.
"Well would you look at this, Brucie," Tony says a little too sweetly. "The not-so-secret boyfriend has finally decided to grace us with his presence."
Stefan's lips twitch and Caroline stops laughing only to groan in response. "Seriously?!"
"What?" he feigns innocence, sauntering into the elevator with Bruce at his back. "That was tame compared to what I originally wanted to say. You're just lucky Pepper adores you."
"Thank god for Pepper," Caroline quickly retorts before turning to her best friend. "Stefan, Tony Stark and Bruce Banner," she introduces them. "Guys, my best friend Stefan Salvatore."
"Friend? Right." Tony scoffs with a roll of his eyes before leaning forward and offering his hand for a shake. "So I take it you brought the stuff," his gaze falls to the bag hanging off of Stefan's shoulder.
"Uh, yeah," Stefan smirks. "I guess you can say that."
"Excellent."
Bruce sighs yet again but this time, there's a small grin to show his amusement in the situation. He's quick to introduce himself to Stefan, though, and Stefan now understands what Caroline meant by the man putting him on edge. He can feel something dark about the middle-aged man, something not quite right but if Caroline said he was a good guy, well then he was going to trust her judgment.
Since Tony was quick to ramble about Pepper not being able to make it to the meeting because she was stuck in other important meetings, no-one had time to prepare Stefan for Clint because the floor of the labs was only a few floors below the family room. So needless to say, he's totally unprepared for Clint's child-like curiosity.
The doors to the elevator open, and Bruce, Tony, and Caroline all walk out without even a glance over their shoulders. And it isn't until Stefan clears his throat rather loudly do they stop in their tracks and turn around.
"Uh, vampire, remember? No invite, no entrance."
Caroline lightly face-palms herself for forgetting about that, Bruce's eyes light up in curiosity, and Tony is outright smirking. "Wait a minute, that's not a myth? Vampires actually need an invite to enter a home?!"
Clint comes skidding in from the kitchen, eyes wide in awe as he stares at Stefan who's still stuck in the elevator. "Vampires have to be invited in?! Why didn't I know this?"
"Because you didn't ask," Caroline deadpans before turning to Tony. "Invite him in, please."
"Wait, wait, wait," Clint stops Tony from inviting him in. "What happens if we don't invite him in but he tries to enter anyway?"
"Uh, he's right here," Stefan mockingly waves. "And nothing. There's a barrier that'll keep me out. See." He puts up his hand, palm out and meeting an invisible barrier keeping him from exiting the elevator. "The building itself is open to the public but from what Caroline's told me, there are some floors that are private hence the need for an invite."
"That's good to know," Natasha suddenly drawls, appearing beside Clint. "Who exactly are you again?"
"He's Stefan," Caroline groans. "Natasha and Clint, meet Stefan. Stefan, meet Natasha and Clint."
Stefan grins and nods in greeting, and Clint tilts his head to the side. "Stefan? The guy who's form Caroline's-"
"Finish that sentence," said blonde vampire flashes in front of Clint with a glare. "I dare you."
"Nope. No. I'm good," he gulps and takes a step back as Natasha smothers a grin.
"Stark, hurry and invite Stefan in or we're walking with all the vervain he's brought you."
"Mr. Salvatore," Tony hurriedly obliges Caroline's request. "Won't you please come in, Mr. Salvatore?"
Stefan steps off the elevator slowly, grinning over at Caroline who's obviously embarrassed about something, yet comfortable enough around these people that they're joking about it freely in his presence.
"So, uh, this vervain," Bruce shuffles besides Stefan as he gestures him towards a coffee table in the sitting room. "Caroline's told us some about this plant but just how lethal is it to your kind?"
"Depends on the dosage," Stefan answers, setting the duffel bag on the table. "Some of us drink a low dosage, even if it's painful, to keep us from being compelled by the Originals but anything more than a few drops will start to weaken us."
"Inject us with half a syringe full of this stuff and we're knocked out," Caroline huffs, kneeling down to open the bag.
She opens it before Stefan can stop her, the amount of vervain inside making an invisible cloud of the essence to drift upward. Caroline immediately feels the effects, coughing rather violently before flashing to the other side of the room.
"Care," Stefan doesn't bother hiding his amusement. "You okay?" he asks as everyone tenses at the sudden snarling noises the blonde vampire is hissing.
"Fine.. fine," she grumbles, slowly turning just as the vampire visage melts away. "You should have warned me."
"You're not a baby vampire anymore. You know better."
Caroline glowers at her best friend as Clint eagerly delves into the bag, pulling out plant after plant before he finds the liquidized versions of it.
"All the vervain I had was already processed, and I couldn't exactly bring everything to start your garden without making my brother suspicious," Stefan tells him. "There's instructions in there also to tell you how to process everything to liquidize it yourself."
"And this actually burns you," Clint asks just as Caroline makes her way back towards the group. Stefan nods, holding out his hand for Clint to drop the plant into his palm and when Clint does, Caroline grimaces when she hears the sizzle of skin and sees the smoke drifting upward. "Oh. Cool."
Stefan snorts and drops the plant back into the bag, clenching his hand shut as the skin quickly heals over. Everyone takes a turn reaching into the bag, pulling out plants or the bottles of liquid to study the contents. And when they've had their fill of studying, Tony's the first to turn towards Stefan with a smarmy grin.
"So. Any dirty little secrets you have about Little Bit that you're willing to share?"
Caroline groans, glaring at the side of Tony's head before said glare is directed at Stefan himself. "I don't know," Stefan lowly chuckles. "Caroline has about as much dirt on me as I do her. I'm not sure it's wise to share."
"Wise decision," Natasha mutters and Caroline nods in agreement.
But apparently, that's not enough for Tony. "Seriously?! Come on, you're older than her. You can totally take her!"
"Well.."
"Stefan," Caroline mutters in warning.
"Did Caroline ever tell you about the time she went skinny-dipping and was busted for indecent exposure? By her own mother."
Gasping, Caroline points her finger at Stefan in accusation. "Stefan fell off the roof of our school in a drunken stupor! So much for vampire reflexes," she scoffs, cheeks burning at the secret he had let loose about her.
"I might have fallen off the roof but at least I'm not that one that nearly fell on my own stake in a drunken stupor!"
"Stefan slept with Rebekah- an Original."
The words are out of her mouth before she can even stop them, her eyes slowly widening in horror at the mistake she's just made. The standing men and woman around them are all in various stages of amusement, as well as shock at the fact that Stefan slept with an Original after all the stories they've heard about said Originals.
"It was the 20's," Stefan shrugs off the secret without a care in the world, a smirk slowly turning up the corner of his lips. "But Caroline slept with Klaus- the Original hybrid- a couple years back."
Caroline gasps yet again, all eyes darting over the blonde vampire. "Katniss. Katniss!" Stark lowly hisses. "Go make some popcorn. This just got interesting."
Days after Stefan had dropped by for a visit and secrets were let loose, Tony still hadn't let Caroline live down the fact she slept with their supposed enemy back in Mystic Falls. The joking is done all in good humor, Pepper even going as far as congratulating Caroline for bagging the scruffy hybrid even if it was just for one day and making Tony pout in jealousy.
Stefan had apologized later for blurting that secret out- the environment being so easy going and fun that he forgot these were secrets for a reason but Caroline had waved off the apology. She wasn't upset in the slightest and even though their secrets were blurted out left and right, she had had fun and was glad they all got along with at least one of her friends from back home.
But now with the weekend finally here, she finally has time for her Mom once more without said woman trying to shoo her back to work.
Saturday had the two Forbes women lazing about their apartment, Caroline vegging out next to her mother as they watched trash TV for the thousandth time. And in between shows, Caroline told her mother that Stefan had dropped by, and about their secrets being put on blast which caused great amusement for the team back at the Tower. Liz had laughed, as did Caroline, and then the two were back to watching TV and forgetting all about the real world for hours.
But Sunday- Sunday was possibly the worst day of Caroline's undead life.
Usually Liz was awake in the mornings and ready for Caroline to help her get dressed for the day, but Sunday morning had Caroline forcing her mother awake. Liz had forgone breakfast yet again and eased into her usual position on the couch, tiredly clicking on the TV.
Caroline had quickly fixed herself a mug of blood but upon entering the refrigerator, she realized they were low on groceries.
"Mom, you going to be okay on your own for a bit? I need to go grocery shopping."
"Yes," Liz answers rather gruffly. "I'll be fine, sweetheart."
If Liz's unusual sleepiness hadn't tipped off Caroline to something being wrong, then the coughing fit after Liz's few mumbled words should have. But still, Caroline ignores her instinctual feelings, grabs her mother a glass of water and some pills, and makes sure her mother's comfortable before grabbing a quick shower and heading out.
She'd taken her car down to the nearest mini-shop, throwing in what groceries they needed and even adding in a few sweets that she could do without here and there. However, the entire time she spent scouring the aisles, Caroline was at unease. She didn't know why she had the sudden urge to be home, to be with her mom, but their home needed the essentials so she was going to purchase them as quickly as possible and race home.
The entire time Caroline is waiting in line to purchase groceries has her undead heart beating the fastest it has since she was turned. Her stomach is in knots and she feels like she's about to explode out of her skin. So when the bag boy asks if she needs help to her vehicle, Caroline feels guilty when she snaps at him that she could do it on her own. And with a quickly apology, she's nearly running the cart to her car and loading everything up.
By the time Caroline makes it back to her apartment building, she feels a bit better and takes a calming breath after having parked. And since there's a bit of privacy where she usually keeps her car parked, and the people of her building aren't the nosy type, Caroline doesn't bother trying to hide the fact that she can carry more weight than what she should be able to.
So instead of playing the damsel and carrying two bags at a time, Caroline loads up her arms with her purchased goods and heads for the rarely used elevator of her building.
Standing outside of her apartment door, Caroline can hear the TV playing inside. She enters with a smile and a fond shake of her head, her Mom watching Say Yes To The Dress again.
"I love that show as much as you do," Caroline laughs, winding her way to the living room. "But enough is enough. You officially have a problem." She adjusts the bag in her arms before looking up at her Mom, her smile faltering when Liz doesn't respond. "Mom?" Her head has fallen back onto the backrest of the couch, eyes open and unseeing, and the remote loosely held in her hand. Just the position her mother is in alone makes Caroline gulp in fear and her eyes sting with tears. "Mommy?"
The bags fall from Caroline's arms, she flashing to her mom's side. She kneels on the cushion beside her, her right hand brushing the bangs from Liz's forehead before her palm cups her mother's cheek. "Mom? Wake up. You need to wake up." There's obviously no response and tuning out the television show behind her, Caroline focuses her hearing on what should be her mother's heartbeat.
Only.. there is none.
"Mom!" Caroline cries now, voice cracking as the sobs suddenly wrack her body. She tries to shake Liz awake now, being as gentle as possible but still with enough force that would wake someone up. "No.. no, come on. Don't do this. Not now."
With shaky hands, Caroline leans back just far enough to retrieve her cell from her pocket. She hastily unlocks the phone, gets into her contacts, and taps the name that's the most recent and closest to her location.
xXx. XxX. xXx
"I'm telling you, Barton, you touch one more thing and I'm taking away your new arrows."
Clint freezes, fingers inches away from the newest addition to Stark's suits. "You wouldn't."
"I totally would," he huffs in response. "I'll give Widow all new updated toys and not make anything for you anymore."
"You're a horrible friend."
"I'm an excellent friend."
The banter between Stark and Barton is cut short, JARVIS suddenly interrupting them.
"Sir, you have an incoming call from Miss Caroline."
"Patch her through, J."
Tony had just come around the table, smacking Clint's hand as he tried to pick up one of the gloves for the newest Iron Man suit again when Caroline's frantic voice fills the lab.
"Mom, wake up! You have to wake up."
Both Tony and Clint freeze, gazes catching one another as they hear a tearful Caroline frantically trying to wake her mother. The emotion and cracking of her voice has both men tensing and preparing for the worst.
"Caroline?" Tony calls out rather loudly.
"Please.. please," she pleads and for a moment, they think that she hasn't realized her call has been connected. "Tony, please, help me. She's not waking up!"
That has Tony jumping into action, he dropping whatever arrows he had been working on so they scatter across the table before him. "I'm on my way, Little Bit." Caroline's still sobbing over the line but Tony isn't paying her any mind and moving as fast as he can. "JARVIS, get me a suit. Any suit, just get me one now!" He's standing in the middle of a circular platform, the suit being manhandled by Stark's other creations as they suit him up. "Barton, contact everyone else. Tell them it's Liz."
Clint is quick to give Tony a grim nod in understanding, he watching as Iron Man zooms out from a hidden exit in Stark's lab and take off to help out the Forbes women.
xXx. XxX. xXx
When Tony gets to the Forbes' apartment building, he's quick to land at the front entrance and rush inside. He uses the thrusters in his boots to carry him up the stairs instead of having to take the elevator and finds the door to the Forbes' apartment left open.
People are standing in the hallway rather worriedly, muttering about Captain America having been spotted entering the apartment but no-one else dared to enter since Caroline's wails could be heard outside. And when gazes land on Tony, his Iron Man face plate slides up and the mutterings get even more frantic. But since it's Liz and Caroline he's worried about, he pushes past everyone and enters the apartment only to find Steve holding a sobbing Caroline in his lap at the kitchen table.
Tears and eyeliner streak down her face, her fingers gripping onto the forearm of Steve as he rubs her back in a soothing manner. "I- I was coming to visit Liz," Steve tells him when Tony doesn't say anything. "I found them- her- like this." He shakes his head clear since he's in obvious shock. "T-their neighbors called 911."
"That'll take too long," Stark gulps. "I'll take her to the hospital."
"You're not supposed to move the body."
Tony's lips thin at Steve's words, jaw clenching and eyes getting misty at Caroline's heart wrenching sobs. He hardly opened up to anyone, let alone let anyone get close to him, and this had just reminded him as to why. Keeping people at arm's length because he didn't know if he could trust them was a habit, but occasionally he met someone worth getting to know. And letting people in only to have them pass away from something he couldn't prevent was something new and a lot more gut wrenching to Tony that he didn't know how to proceed.
He'd never ever regret letting Caroline and Liz in, of course, but it still hurt.
Sirens can finally be heard and Tony makes a decision. "I'm taking her."
Seeing the determination on Stark's face, Steve doesn't argue and only tightens his hold on the sobbing girl in his arms. And making his way into the living room, Tony has bite the inside of his cheek to keep his emotions in check.
He's quick to use the blanket at Liz's side to drape over her, and hooks one arm under her shoulders and the other beneath her knees. He calls out to Steve that he's coming through and Steve immediately turns Caroline's face into his neck so she doesn't have to see Tony carrying her mother's lifeless body.
There are many gasps from neighbors out in the hall when Tony goes through, his face plate sliding down as he hurries back down the stairs. Just as he makes it outside, he can see the incoming help but he ignores them in favor of taking flight and taking his friend to the nearest hospital.
So, uh, I might have watched a certain show as I wrote this and gave Steve her words to say. Kudos to those who guess that show :)
And I'm terribly sorry for this but it was expected, wasn't it?
P.S- Before you ask, I am not psychic, haha. I started writing this months before the mid-season finale of Vampire Diaries aired and I had no idea that was the road they were taking a certain character down. I was shocked!