So here it is chapter 21. Sorry for my long delay. Hope there are still readers of this story.

Again, I don't own anything over this story. The characters belong to TVD, and the story to Mia Levis, I just translate it. Thanks for reading. Hope you will enjoy it.

Chapter 21. Trust

Caroline POV

Small reception? Seriously? Yeah, you and me clearly have very different opinions upon the word "small". I understand this in the morning, when exiting my room and seeing all of the staff working out there for the 'small reception".

"Good morning darling." I bob scared not because you are right behind me, but more of use of the word "darling". "You have a good mood I suppose?"

"Yeah, good...Thanks." You smirk like only you can and ask me what plans do I have for today, until the reception starts.

"Plans? None." I clench my teeth, because this question seems so funny to me. Interesting, what plans could I have if i can't make even a step and you aren't already behind me, or even better: I have to ask you if I am allowed to make that step. I can't even see the people I care about without putting their life in danger.

"That's a pity. Oh, Dolly, did you write the list I asked you to?" - and here it is the main question you wanted to put right at the very beginning.

"Yes". I take that list out of my packet behind my jeans and seemingly uninterested I hand it to you. You look at that piece of paper and with a quick glance you already know what have I written on it.

"Bonnie, Elena, Jeremy and Angela who the hell knows who is she? This is all? Are you even serious?" - I only nod in agreement. Yeah that was all because I was thinking for too much time whom to write on that list. And in the end I chose exactly the girls you already allowed me to see before, and I was honestly hoping that you already had forgotten the fact that they tried to kill you at the ritual - "You can't even make a list of guests Dolly. well, I will have to take the matters in my hands… once again…" - You just walk away without saying anything and I can't even disagree with you, or say something against it. Why all this circus if you already have known whom you want to invite over for this damn reception?

I look in the mirror and featherly touch the blue fabric of the dress. And why am I against you calling me a Dolly? Am I not? You bought me the dress. By yourself. You bought me the jewelry. Again by yourself. You sent the girl to have my hair done. And guess what? Again by yourself. It only left me to put that damn smile on my lips and head down the stairs towards the hall that all of those people who once were the meaning of my life. They have to remain now like this just because after eight years, when all this prison of mine will be finished, I will have to come back to someone and if they will not be the meaning of my life, to whom will I return? They have to… But is it this way? Will they want to help me? The people I risked for, will they want to accept me the way you made me be? I am not so sure anymore. And this situation of not knowing - is one more reason to make me tremble, to bite my lips and to feel this nervousness creep in each part of my body because of all those sounds coming from the hall.

"Are you ready?" - You silently enter the room, close that door and just look at me. Your eyes are getting darker and darker with each second you take to look at me and I feel some kind of satisfaction. I won't hide the fact that I feel proud of the fact that I am the one that awakens the desire in your eyes,moreover, even after two years of being together, in the strangest possible way, you ignore other women over me. maybe this means something?

"Yeah… Almost." I take that jewelry from the table and to try to put it on by myself…

"Let me help you." You take that jewelry from my hands and put it on. You almost touched my bare skin with your fingers, but this is more than enough for me to shiver from desire and make the parts of my shivering body - you have touched feel like aching. Our eyes meet in the mirror, and I ask you the thing I wanted to ask since you asked me to make that list while your hand is sliding down my belly and drag me to feel the pressure of your body against my back…

"The reception from tonight… Can I be calm over it? Can I trust you?" You keep the silence between us for too long, kill my earlobe, just like a small baby, then you say clearly and thoughtful:

" I can put you the same question. Can I be calm over it? Can I trust you, Caroline? Can I hope that you will keep the promise you have given me two years ago?"

"Y… Yes" I almost choked on my own words. Was I sincere? Was I lying? Maybe. Who could I know that in that damn night I would've been put face to face with my past that was seducing me to that period where everything was stable and when there was that first young love…

"Than you also can be calm about it. Let's go. Guests are waiting for us." You distance yourself from me, hold your hand to me, put my palm into yours. You squeeze my fingers hard, until it hurts. Right now is a necessary pain. Only this pain can make all the fear I feel inside of me when I imagine the faces of those I love down there seeing me and you shoulder to shoulder interlaced not only with our fingers but with our destinies also, go away.

Everything is even worser than I thought. The first one to see of course is Damon. Why the hell did you invite him? I try to pull out my hand from yours but you are holding it too tight to even try to escape your tight hold on it. I think is easier to cut it than to free it.

"Control yourself!" you hiss into my ear, and I try to answer something but I can't because all the heads of those present in the room turned to watch me. I try to control all those feelings that are taking over me. Pitty, fury, small happiness, misunderstanding, repulsion...So many feels. So many reactions. How am I supposed to handle all of that?

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am very happy to greet you in our house." You accentuate the word "our". Then you add "Have fun!"

"Caroline! You didn't change at all! I am very happy to see you again." Stefan… He feels sorry for me. And I just want to scream that he doesn't have to feel sorry for me. I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me.

"Stefan… I am also happy to see you." He hugs me. I always appreciated his friendship, and I hope that there is even a little of it left there inside of him also.

Then all the faces are becoming faded. And all of them are telling me how happy are they to see me, that missed me, and I just feel awkward because I know that they are not honest at all and even the air is full of tension. Damon even dared to approach me and greet me. On his face his usual smirk, but his look is very serious and puts me in guard. I just want to turn and check if you are watching me. Of course you are. I feel your eyes on my back even without assuring me to look over you. I already imagine how you hold Damon's heart in your hand… or mine.

" He isn't looking. Hug me and take me by the hand. Be quick." - Damon whispers quickly, then loudly adds "Caroline, you look awesome! Allow me to congratulate you with your return to Mystic falls." Damon stretches his hands towards me, takes me by the shoulder and drags me towards him. And I know that you are looking. I know. I feel that hot flame burning my back, then Damon's hand slips and puts me something in my hand. "Well then I'll go indulge myself with some bourbon." He parts slowly giving me the opportunity to fix my glove, when in reality i just slid that piece of paper that Damon gave me, into it. Some more minutes I can not turn to face you because I was too emotioned. All the air was swept away. And I don't even have to face you because you are right behind me handing me a glass of champagne.

"Everything is okay? You seem pale."

" Okay? No. It's hard for me Klaus. I am afraid to touch someone without risking with his or her life. You treat me like a thing. you don't trust me." Some short seconds you are quiet. You are watching me, looking in my eyes as if trying to find there some secret information then touching me on the cheek with your finger you add: " I trust you Caroline. You can be calm. I will leave you alone for some minutes, don't miss me." I wait until you hide after that damn door that leads to the library, then I head towards a corner, where noone sees me, pull out that piece of paper perfectly hidden into my glove where with a black pen, clearly are written some words, that maybe can turn my life upside down.

" In the garden. Near the fountain. At midnight. We have to talk."

I just finish to read when the clock starts to sound like an echo the middle of the night.