I don't own The Vampire Diaries.
A/N: I forgot to mention last chapter that there are links up on my profile for this story for things I mention like presents, clothes etc. Check it out if you want to see what I had in mind.
This chapter continues right from the last.
The Solution
Chapter 21
"I've just realised that we only have one koala teddy for them." Caroline said pointing to the toy propped up on her dresser that Damon got in Australia and he frowned.
"I never even thought of that." He remarked annoyed that he'd forgotten about the toy.
"I have an idea." She chirped. "Why don't we find someone in Virginia that's going to Australia sometime soon and compel them to bring back like a stuffed toy kangaroo or something so that there's two toys but they aren't the same." She suggested and he looked surprised.
"Not a bad idea." He agreed. "Or we can just order one from an Australian website." He offered and she giggled.
"That's way less hassle than my big elaborate plan." She quipped amused and he snickered. Caroline picked up her wrapped packages then took them over to her closet and stashed them next to the others and Damon looked at her amused.
"What other stuff have you got in there?" He badgered with a cheeky expression and she smiled.
"I have a Christmas present for Abby, Matt, my Aunt and Ric." She replied and he chuckled.
"You got Ric a Christmas present?" He asked amused and she looked at him confused.
"He's going to Stefan's 'Christmas at the boarding house' thing. I got everyone a present." She stated.
"Even me?" He smirked and she grinned.
"Yep." She answered happily. "But yours is more kind of… sentimental rather than just clothes or stuff like everyone else got."
"Sentimental how?" He requested nosily.
"You're just going to have to wait and see." She teased and he sniggered.
"I'm all curious now." He remarked and she giggled.
"Well, I have a 'stuff' present for you too but the sentimental one is my favourite." She smiled.
"What did you get Ric?" He inquired curiously.
"A new black leather work bag with tons of pockets for all of his little nifty vamp-slaying gadgets." She grinned and he laughed – she was too cute. "His is falling to pieces and I just can't look at it anymore." She mumbled and he kept laughing.
"He'll probably love that." Damon commented.
"I wanted to ask your opinion on it actually. I haven't wrapped it yet." She said as she went back over to her closet. She pulled out a box then set it down on her dresser and took the lid off carefully then pulled out the bag. Damon was surprised at just how… Ric the bag was. He honestly thought the teacher would love it.
"I have to say, Blondie, I think that's perfect for him." He agreed and she smiled widely.
"Great. I'm really glad you think so. I'd hate to get him something that he totally hated because he's too nice to just tell me that he hates it, you know?" She asked and he chuckled.
"So, if I hate what you got me, you actually want me to tell you that?" He tested amused.
"Of course." She agreed like it was so obvious. "And that whole 'it's the thought that counts' thing is crap because there's nothing worse than someone getting you something that you will never use and it'll sit collecting dust because you can't throw it out in case they ask but you're not going to use it because it's hideous or crap or whatever. So I avoid all of that by having people be blunt with me. I've always been like that and it's made me a better present buyer because I know what people do and don't like." She explained and he smiled at her fondly because she was just so… wonderful. Every little thing she did just made him adore her a little more.
"So, what constitutes as a 'stuff' present?" He examined amused.
"Well… I didn't actually buy your 'stuff' present." She admitted and he looked at her curiously.
"What do you mean?" He questioned.
"I made it." She revealed and he looked surprised. That only made him more curious!
"Now you have to tell me." He said with a smirk and she giggled.
"I'll just give it to you." She smiled and he looked surprised.
"But Christmas isn't until Friday." He pointed out and she shrugged.
"I can't really wait that long to see if you like it. Besides, if you don't like it then I have time to go get something else." She acknowledged and he chuckled. She went over to her closet and pulled out a small wrapped package with red paper and a black ribbon then took it over to him and sat down next to him on the bed. "The other one you have to wait for but this one you can have today." She said then handed it to him. Damon honestly couldn't remember the last time someone had given him a present so he was extremely curious. He untied the ribbon then unwrapped the paper and he was kind of wide eyed. There in his hand sat…
"Is this a book cover?" He asked her surprised and she smiled. It was black leather with engravings in the leather and a silver ornate button to hold it closed.
"You said that your favourite collector's edition of 'Gone with the Wind' is getting damaged so I thought maybe a cover would keep the condition of it better." She explained and he stared at her in awe and disbelief… It was so sweet and so thoughtful and he'd just melted into a puddle.
"You made this?" He questioned her shocked because it was beautiful and perfect.
"I did." She agreed. "It fits your book. I checked already." She said and in a blink she found herself pinned to the bed and he kissed her. He pulled up to look at her and he couldn't understand what he could have ever done to deserve the beautiful creature underneath him.
"You are just the sweetest and most wonderful creature in the world, you know that?" He asked her and she smiled though her stomach fluttered at that.
"You like it?" She tested and he stared at her in disbelief.
"Like it?" He asked shocked. "That is like the most perfect present ever. The fact you made that for me… I was just complaining about my book and you… God, you're perfect." He observed softly and she giggled.
"It's a book cover, Damon. It's not like I ended world hunger." She smirked and he chuckled then kissed her again.
"I love you." He said as he planted kisses all over her face and neck and she giggled and blushed at all of the attention. She realised he obviously seriously loved the present because she'd never ever seen him so ridiculously mushy before though she loved every second of it.
"I love you too." She replied happy that he liked it.
"I'm probably going to bubble like a baby." He admitted and she ran her hand softly down his face.
"Why?" She asked him.
"Because that is the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me." He clarified softly and that tugged at her heart. She knew as much as he was 'Damon', he'd been treated pretty terribly by everyone most of his life. It made her sad that a little present she made him would mean so much to him.
"I just want to make you happy." She replied.
"You do." He assured looking into her eyes. "More so than I've ever been before combined." He confessed and she smiled widely.
"You know you're being a big sap, right?" She teased and he chuckled but he knew that she was only teasing because it meant a lot to her that she made him happy.
"I don't care." He admitted as he started to kiss her again.
Just after 7pm, Damon and Caroline wandered into the boarding house hand in hand. Caroline was wearing a black one shoulder short flowy dress with black shoe boots, her hair was straight and she had dark eye makeup on. Stefan was in the living room and he instantly looked over her arms before he spoke.
"Are you okay?" Stefan verified.
"I'm fine." Caroline smiled. "Do you want to come to the gig?" She enquired and he looked surprised.
"Are you going?" He asked Damon.
"Mmhmm." Damon nodded.
"Alright." Stefan agreed. "You look great, Care." He stated motioning to her outfit and she smiled.
"Thanks. I still don't look remotely 'rock chick' but I figured it was better than like a pink dress." She joked and they both chuckled.
"You look hot." Damon remarked with a wink and she beamed at him.
"Thanks. Are you getting changed?" She queried him and he looked down at himself.
"What's wrong with this?" He tested amused. She looked at his dark grey button down sceptically then figured there would be no point in arguing.
"Uh… nothing." She said and both he and Stefan guffawed.
"You don't like the shirt." He stated amused seeing where her gaze went and she shrugged.
"It's just kind of…frumpy." She divulged and Stefan laughed loudly at Damon's horrified face.
"Are you kidding?" He probed in disbelief.
"You know I love you… but you're frozen at nineteen not forty five." She quipped and he gaped at her while Stefan was howling with laughter.
"Never wearing this shirt again." Damon grumbled then darted upstairs and Caroline smirked at Stefan deviously like 'and my work is done' and he chortled at her cheeky expression.
"Let's hope he goes for the sexy t-shirt." She grinned and he laughed. "Kat in her room?" She queried and he nodded through his snickers. Caroline wandered down towards Katherine's bedroom then knocked on her door. The door opened to reveal Katherine in a black satin robe and half of her makeup was done.
"Hey." She smiled happily at the sight of Caroline. "You look great."
"Is this okay? I've never been to a metal gig before." She admitted and Katherine sniggered and motioned for her to follow her into the room and Caroline closed the door behind them.
"It's not very metal but that's okay. I'm not dressing metal either." Katherine said motioning to her black strapless dress with red stripe detailing at the bottom that hung up on her wardrobe.
"I really like that dress." Caroline smiled in approval.
"Well, we do seem to have the same taste in dresses a lot of the time." Katherine agreed as she sat back down to finish her makeup.
"We do. Now what happened last night?" Caroline examined with a smile as she sat down on the bed.
"We all went to the party in the woods but it was freezing so we ended up in the tomb." Katherine chuckled as did Caroline.
"Just you and Brent?" Caroline tested.
"No, Stefan, Bonnie, Allan and some girl Allan was talking to were there too." Katherine said. "So, we got drunk in the tomb. We kissed but that was all." She revealed and Caroline nodded.
"So, do you still really like him?" Caroline inquired and Katherine turned and grinned at her.
"I really do. It must be because I'm human again but I don't just want to sleep with him." She confessed and Caroline nodded.
"If you want something more with him then maybe you should hold off on sleeping with him for a little while. Brent can get laid any night of the week." Caroline commented and she nodded.
"I was thinking that too. Not long though because I haven't gotten any since I was a vampire but I want to go and get birth control all figured out first." Katherine explained and Caroline nodded.
"The clinic has a family planning area. Why don't you come with us on Tuesday?" Caroline suggested and Katherine smiled surprised.
"I'd love to." Katherine agreed. "Is there space for me to go?"
"Yeah, my mom's working." Caroline shrugged. "What about Stefan and Bonnie?" She probed and Katherine smirked.
"They were full on making out after a few drinks." Katherine smirked and Caroline tittered.
"That's funny." She mentioned amused. "Though… that can't happen again." She stated absently and Katherine looked surprised.
"Why not?" Katherine queried.
"You know why not. Witches don't turn." Caroline prompted and Katherine sighed.
"I know. I think Bonnie thinks that Damon might leave Stefan human though." Katherine said.
"Then she really doesn't know Damon." Caroline countered and Katherine nodded in agreement.
"Speaking of Damon… what can I get him for Christmas? You and I decided with Bonnie that we'd get everyone one thing." She reminded and Caroline shrugged.
"A bottle of whiskey or something. Doesn't have to be anything spectacular. I know what he's giving you." Caroline confirmed.
"What?" Katherine probed curiously.
"A vial of his blood so that you can turn whenever you want." Caroline replied surprising her. "He's also going to promise to not compel you to do anything embarrassing." She added and Katherine smiled.
"Glad to hear that part. I so do not want a Mohawk." She retorted.
"Yeah, I can see why." Caroline agreed amused. "When do you want to turn back?" Caroline asked.
"Well…" Katherine trailed off. "Can I tell you something? That I don't want anyone else to know?" She questioned and Caroline smirked.
"You want to have a baby first, don't you?" Caroline inquired quietly and Katherine looked surprised.
"How'd you know?" Katherine examined.
"You get this look whenever you're talking about my pregnancy or anything that can help… I can just tell." Caroline revealed and Katherine nodded.
"I do want that." Katherine agreed. "I don't know how I'm going to do all of that but I definitely want to." She confirmed.
"When?" Caroline asked her.
"In a few months. I want to finish this school year." Katherine said. "Maybe near the summer." She optioned.
"I'm sure it would be nice for the twins to have a little friend close to their age." Caroline smiled and Katherine grinned back at her. Katherine had been worried that Caroline's friendship would have a time limit but she was happy that it wouldn't.
"That would be nice." Katherine agreed. "So you would… still be my friend?" She tested and Caroline smiled.
"Of course." Caroline agreed.
Caroline and Katherine wandered in arm in arm ahead of Damon and Stefan who trailed behind them. Damon had to compel him and Stefan in as the gig was sold out much to Damon's surprise. The girls spotted Brent and Allan over at their band Spirited Ghost's merchandise stand so they wandered over. Brent and Allan grinned at the sight of them. Brent kissed Katherine to greet her and Allan hugged Caroline then saw Damon in the background about twenty feet away scowling at him and that made him snicker.
"If looks could kill, I'd be dead." Allan remarked to Caroline amused and she looked over her shoulder and saw Stefan laughing and Damon scowling and she giggled.
"Just ignore him. He's being grumpy." Caroline replied and he chuckled. "Do you have any t-shirts for girls?" She enquired and he smirked.
"We do have girls' tees." He approved with a smile. "What size?"
"Medium?" She tested sceptically and he grinned then went over to a pile and pulled out a black skinny tee with 'Spirited Ghost' written across the chest in electric blue then he handed it to her. "How much is it?"
"It's on me." He winked at her and she looked surprised.
"I can't take that." She disagreed.
"Of course you can. I'm just really happy that you came." He grinned at her.
"I'm really looking forward to seeing you guys play." Caroline smiled.
"There's another band on before us." He mentioned.
"They any good?" Caroline asked.
"Not as good as us." He winked at her and she giggled. Caroline had to admit – he was very charming. "You look amazing, by the way." He stated and she blushed a little.
"Thanks." She replied – she was sure that Damon was listening to this but she couldn't really help it. Allan was just so nice.
"Do you have plans on Monday?" He queried her and she kind of wished that Damon wasn't listening to this.
"Why?" She inquired inquisitively.
"Decker and I are going to Charlottesville to see a band called Avenged Sevenfold on Monday night and we have two extra tickets. I think Katherine already agreed." He added as an afterthought and Caroline didn't want to leave Katherine to go alone.
"Sure. Sounds fun." Caroline settled and he smiled at her.
"Great." He approved.
"I'll get Katherine to let me hear their stuff so I'm not totally clueless." Caroline joked and he chuckled.
"Cool." He smirked.
Caroline and Katherine stood talking to them for about twenty minutes then the boys had to go backstage so they went back over to Stefan and Damon.
"Look at my t-shirt." Caroline grinned showing Stefan.
"Caroline?" Damon requested calmly cocking an eyebrow at her.
"Yes, sweetheart?" She tested sugary sweetly and both Katherine and Stefan were trying not to howl with laughter at her trying to look super innocent.
"Monday?" He questioned her aggravated and she rolled her eyes.
"Did anyone ever tell you that it's rude to eavesdrop?" She enquired aggravated and they snickered.
"He was practically humping your leg." Damon snarked and they laughed.
"Jealous is not a good look for you." Caroline pointed out and he scowled at her. "I wasn't going to just leave Katherine to go alone with them." She remarked and Katherine smiled at her.
"Katherine is over 500 years old. Even human, she could kill another human with her eyes closed and one arm behind her back. She doesn't need you to protect her." Damon stated annoyed.
"Well, did you consider that maybe I want to go? That it would be fun?" Caroline questioned him bothered and he shot her a look. "Anyway, if you're just going to be a buzz-kill then don't talk to me." She retorted irritated and Katherine and Stefan chuckled at her being blunt.
"I'm not trying to be a buzz-kill. I just don't get why you want to hang out with some guy that you know is into you." Damon replied and Caroline rolled her eyes.
"Look, nowadays dating is kind of different from when you were human." Caroline started. "When a girl likes a guy, her friend hangs out with his friend because going alone on dates is awkward as hell until you know each other better. It's just the way it is. If Katherine is going to date Brent then it's good if I can be friends with his friend." Caroline replied.
"That's true." Stefan agreed.
"Nobody asked you." Damon muttered to his brother aggravated and the girls giggled. "That sounds like a big crappy excuse." He responded to Caroline.
"Well, go ask any teenager you see and they'll tell you the same thing. It's a 'safety in numbers' thing." She clarified and Damon sighed because he could kind of see the point to that. "I'm not going to do anything. Chill out." She said to him exasperated.
"Fine." He muttered.
"And don't follow us to Charlottesville." Caroline warned him and he scowled at her for knowing him that well and Stefan and Katherine sniggered at his infuriated facial expression…
A/N: Let me know what you think! :)
A/N2:
I saw an article for the show that stated that the Stefan/Elena/Damon triangle would come to an end by the end of this season and since it's Elena/Stefan endgame in the books, it's probably safe to assume that Damon/Elena aren't going to be together at the end of the season.
I also saw that they filmed the scene where Stefan saves Elena from the car crash that her parents died in...
So... all of that got me thinking. Do you remember how season 1 started? With the couple in the car with Damon lying in the middle of the road? I have a suspicion that we're going to find out that Damon is the reason that Elena's parents' car drove off the bridge. If Stefan was lurking around then, who's to say that Damon wasn't too? I think Elena will find that out and that's why she'll stop with the Damon thing... what do people think? I really can't think of any other explanation for Elena suddenly stopping her wanton manipulative ways towards Damon.
I just wanted to put my prediction out there because I think there will be Damon/Elena kissing in the next episode if the Canadian promo is anything to go by so I'm really hoping that I'm right and TVD will be done with Delena forever, because that would be AWESOME!
(Since it's one less person to stand in the way of Daroline, of course!)