CAROLINE'S POV:
"I don't think I can do this…" I admitted, stopping in my tracks as Stefan and I made our way down the hallway to Leo's room later that evening
"It's okay." he replied "Just hold my hand and I'll do the talking."
Glancing down as he stretched out his hand, I looked up and into his eyes, finding myself smiling at him weakly as I did so. Entwining my hand with his, he knocked on Leo's bedroom door and proceeded to walk in, me shutting the door behind us…
"Hi, bud, do you think me and Caroline can have a talk to you?" he asked
"Is this about me and Mommy staying here?" he questioned "Are we not going to be anymore? Are we moving out? Because I don't want to go; I want to stay here…"
"It's not that, mate," Stefan replied "you're staying here for as long as you want. Right, do you remember Caroline told you that you were going to have a little brother or sister?"
I watched Leo as he nodded his head, Stefan tightening his hold on my hand as he began to speak again…
"Well I know you're going to be a bit upset and it's okay to be, because Caroline and I are too, but we're not having a baby anymore. You see, sometimes, if the baby isn't well or if it doesn't want to be born, it decides to go to heaven." he explained
"Like Granddad?" he inquired
"Yeah, like Granddad." Stefan informed him "He'll look after the baby."
"Was it a boy or a girl?" he asked
"We don't know. The baby hadn't decided." Stefan replied
"I think it would've been a girl, even though I wanted it to be a boy. Then she would've been pretty like Caroline." he informed us
I smiled warmly and watched as Leo stood up and moved over to us, hugging us both. Swallowing a lump in my throat, I could feel the tears building in the backs of my eyes and quickly pulled away, mentally kicking myself as I noticed the worried look on Leo's face as I hurried from the room, bursting into tears as I made my way into mine and Stefan's bedroom…
"Caroline, are you okay?" Elena questioned as I sat on the end of the bed
"I'm a mess." I admitted
"It's okay," she replied, wrapping her arm around my shoulder "it's okay…"
"How did you manage to keep it in check?" I asked "When you lost yours and Stefan's baby?"
"I was well aware that I had to keep it a secret, so I did everything I could not to break even though I wanted to," she admitted "at times I almost did, but I managed to keep it together for the most part."
"You didn't have to keep it a secret at all!" I proclaimed
"What?" she questioned
"You didn't have to keep it a secret from Stefan. In fact, why did you?" I inquired
STEFAN'S POV:
"I didn't mean to make Caroline cry." Leo admitted
"I know, bud, and so does she," I replied "she's just very upset right now, so you need to keep giving her lots of hugs and telling her you love her, okay?"
"I hugged her just now and she cried. I don't want to make her cry. I want to make her smile again." he informed me "Can we get her some flowers? She likes flowers, doesn't she?"
I nodded my head… "Why don't you go and sit with Caroline? Maybe watch a movie? And I'll go and get some flowers…"
"Okay." he replied
CAROLINE'S POV:
"We shouldn't be talking about this…" Elena sighed
"Why?" I questioned "Are you afraid Stefan's going to overhear and find out your secret?"
"All I'm doing is trying to comfort you," she replied "why do you keep bringing up something that needs to remain in the past?"
"Because you were pregnant with Stefan's baby and you miscarried," I informed her "don't you think he has a right to know?"
"Of course I do," she sighed "and there have been times when I've been so close to telling him but not anymore, not now he's going through that pain. I couldn't do that to him twice."
I swallowed a lump in my throat and as I was about to reply, I heard Leo's voice say my name… "Hey, mate."
"Hi." he greeted me
"Where's your Daddy?" I questioned
"He went out." he informed me "Can we watch a film?"
"I think that's a great idea." Elena admitted "How about Despicable Me?"
"Just me and Caroline…" Leo replied
I looked at Elena as Leo spoke and sighed… "Can't your Mommy join us, mate?"
"I want it to just be me and you, as you need love and hugs." he informed me
"I think that's a lovely idea." Elena replied
"You do?" I questioned "Are you sure?"
She nodded her head… "I'll see you guys later."
STEFAN'S POV:
"Leo," I called as I walked into the apartment half-an-hour later "can you come here please, bud?"
A couple of minutes later, Leo made his way into the hallway and smiled at me as I held out the flowers to him. Taking my shoes off, I followed him through to the living room, a smile appearing on Caroline's face as she Leo presented her with the flowers…
"What is this?" she asked as she took the flowers from him
"I wanted to make you smile." he informed her
"Mission accomplished." she replied, pulling him in for a hug "They're beautiful, thank you."
"I went and got them…" I proclaimed
She smiled at me warmly and rose from the sofa, pressing her lips against mine softly… "Thank you to you too."
"You're welcome." I replied
"I'm gonna get them into some water." she admitted, making her way out of the room
CAROLINE'S POV:
I was busy sorting the flowers into a vase when Stefan wound his arms around my waist from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder. Turning my head, I pressed my lips against his cheek…
"Thank you." I sighed
"What for?" he questioned
"Making me feel better." I informed him
"You're welcome." he replied "Where's Elena?"
"She's gone out. Leo told her that he wanted to watch a movie with just me. I think she was a bit hurt, but she understood when he said I needed love and hugs. I'm guessing that was your doing too?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him
"Maybe…" he admitted "But it was Leo's idea to get you flowers. He said he wanted to make you smile."
"I know it's gonna upset Elena, but I don't care…" I informed him
"What's gonna upset her?" he inquired
"Us going for residency of Leo." I replied "I want him with us, now more than ever."
"Are you sure?" he questioned
I nodded my head… "That little boy is amazing, and whether he's blood or not, he's my son. I know people will probably think it's crazy of me to think that, but we've been through so much in these past 4 months, I just want a little bit of happiness, and when I think of Leo as my son, it does make me happy, because he is. I love him as though he's my own, Stefan."
He smiled at me warmly and wound his arms around my waist, pressing his lips against mine… "Do you have any idea how much hearing you say that makes me love you?"
I shook my head… "No. How much?"
"More than words can describe." he informed me "Now how about we go and join our son and snuggle up together as a family?"
"What about Elena?" I asked, pursing my lips together nervously
"I don't know…" he admitted "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
How cute of a family do Stefan, Caroline and Leo make? And what will Elena think to Caroline and Stefan still wanting residency of Leo?