A Year To Prove You Wrong

Chapter 28

Stefan walked into their apartment to hear the sound of Caroline's excited voice. He stepped into the living room and smiled as he saw her stretched on the couch chatting away on the phone. He leant against the wall as he watched her, his heart skipping a beat as the moment she noticed he was there her face lit up with a smile that could rival the sun for its brightness.

This was what coming home meant. Being greeted with a bright smile from the love of his life the moment he walked inside. She was his home.

Caroline winded down her conversation once she noticed Stefan in the room. She finished her call with a joyful, "Enjoy the rest of your honeymoon, Bon!"

Stefan made his way over to the couch, sliding himself in beside her, wrapping his arm around her waist to draw her closer to him, and resting his head against hers as they relaxed against one another. He trailed his hand along her arm to slip his fingers between hers, pulling their joined hands to rest against her chest over her heart. He placed a sweet kiss on her shoulder before asking, "How's the happy couple? Killed each other yet?"

"Shut up!" Caroline laughed, slapping her free hand against his thigh. She turned her head so that she could look into his soft and loving green eyes, a smile turning her lips at the butterflies that filled her stomach from the way he gazed at her. They weren't that far off a year of being together and he still made her feel like a teenager in love sometimes.

Stefan got lost in the perfect blue of her eyes, a sigh of complete adoration escaping him as he just gazed at her. She was gorgeous, and he could happily stare at her beauty all day. She took his breath away every single moment of every single day. He still didn't know how he could push her away for so long, or how the hell he managed to resist her for as long as he did, when now all it took was one look into her beautiful eyes and he was a goner for her.

Caroline smiled at him, a faint blush staining her cheeks at the way he was looking at her. She dropped her head to her chest, bringing their joined hands up to her lips to kiss his knuckles tenderly, keeping her lips brushing against his skin as she said, "Bonnie is having the time of her life. She and Enzo are doing plenty of exploring mixed in with days that they just stay in the hotel."

Stefan buried his smile in her neck, the sweet whisper soft feeling of her lips brushing against his skin made a shiver run down his spine. He nuzzled into her hair as he replied, "I'm happy that they are having fun. How long have they been gone now?"

"Just over a month now." Caroline shook her head in wonder, hardly believing that it had been over a month since Bonnie and Enzo's wedding. The time was flying past, "And they still have another month before they come back."

"Long honeymoon." Stefan commentated, almost starting to drift off with his senses filled with everything that was Caroline Forbes.

"Enzo had some free time before he goes back on tour in a few months so he wanted to spend as much time with Bonnie as he could." Caroline answered, snuggling her back closer to Stefan as she sighed at the romance of it all, "Which I think is just soo romantic. Bonnie found a good one."

Stefan snorted, "I'd debate with you about Enzo being a good anything, but Bonnie obviously sees something in him soo... the main thing is that she thinks he's good for her."

Caroline could only shake her head and laugh. It seemed that Stefan would never warm up to Enzo, not that it bothered her too much, as she would never force him to like someone. Just because her and Bonnie were as close as sisters didn't mean that their husband/boyfriend had to be that close as well, just as long as they remained civil with each other than it didn't bother her whether they liked each other or not.

She smiled before turning around to face Stefan. She caressed her fingertips along his jaw as she whispered with a smirk, "I haven't given you your welcome home kiss yet."

"No you haven't." Stefan smirked back, sliding his hand along her back to tangle in her hair, his face moving closer to hers as their eyes locked together.

"Let me fix that." Caroline grinned at him before she tilted her head and covered his lips with hers. She sighed as their mouths moved together, her hand falling to cup the back of his neck, holding him to her as she kissed him passionately.

After a few desire filled moments she pulled back, her chest moving rapidly as she panted from the passion of their kiss. She licked her lips, moaning at the hint of him that she could still taste, before saying breathlessly, "Welcome home, Stefan."

Stefan smirked, "Now it's my turn to welcome you home, Caroline." He flattened his palm against her back and turned them so that she was underneath him on the couch. He ran his nose along her throat, breathing in that scent that was all Caroline, before he made his way to her lips which he devoured with his.

Caroline groaned at Stefan's passionate assault of her mouth, her arms clutching at his shoulders pulling him close, as her legs went around his legs to hook his thighs. Her mind was lost in a haze of intense lust, while her every sense was alive and focused on everything that Stefan was doing to her, and also on the way that he was making her feel with his every tantalizing touch.

Welcome home indeed.


Caroline was at her desk, looking through her emails when she spotted one from HR. She clicked on it and started to read it.

Miss Forbes

As per the terms of your contract of employment with the graduate program, your twelve months as Stefan Salvatore's executive assistant is almost concluded, and therefore we have arranged a meeting between Mr Salvatore, Mrs Mary Jane – whom you met on your first day, members of the HR department, and the head of our New Orleans office to discuss whether or not we will be continuing your employment with The Salvatore Agency.

The meeting will be held in conference room 1 on Tuesday September 3rd at 9 am.

Kind regards

Rachel Garton

Head of the HR Department

Caroline's eyes widened as she finished reading. She couldn't believe that she had been working here for a year already, it didn't seem that long, in fact it felt like barely any time had passed since that first meeting with Stefan where he was closed off and acted like a complete ass.

From that first day spent working together she never would have predicted that the boss she couldn't stand would become the man she fell deeply in love with and was planning on spending the rest of her life with. They had both come so far since the beginning. They've had their ups and downs over the past year, both of them having emotional issues to overcome, heartbreaking times when they'd pushed each other away, and once they'd gotten past all that they'd never been happier.

They weren't just boss and employee or boyfriend and girlfriend, they were a team, both here at work and back at home. They knew each other so well that they could predict what the other needed or wanted before they asked. They were a perfectly balanced and equal partnership.

Her stomach clenched with anxiety, fear that they would be separated making her worry. She was pretty positive that Stefan would vote for her to continue being his executive assistant. She was afraid of what the other members of the meeting would decide, especially given that she and Stefan were openly together. Also she didn't know whether Giuseppe Salvatore would have any influence on what would be decided of her fate, she knew that he didn't approve of her and Stefan being in a relationship, and she wouldn't put it past him to try and break them up by having her contract be terminated.

A year ago she wouldn't have cared so much whether or not she was given the job at the end of it. Of course she would have wanted it and she would have worked her butt off to deserve it, but if Stefan had decided he didn't want her to stay on she would have found a job somewhere else. She would have even been prepared to move to another state to find a suitable job.

Not now.

A year ago this was just a job and New Orleans was just a place that she lived. Now however, twelve unbelievably amazing and life changing months later, New Orleans wasn't just a place to her it was her home. A home where she'd made new friends and watched her oldest friend fall in love and get married. The place where she'd met the man of her dreams and was lucky enough to work beside him every single day. She had fallen in love with everything about New Orleans – the place, the people, the attitude, the food... everything.

She had so much more to lose now than when she first arrived. She knew that Stefan would support her if she wasn't offered the job, he had the money but she didn't want that, she was an independent woman and she needed to be able to support herself without relying on her boyfriend to pay for her. She was not and never would be, a kept woman.

She needed to talk to Stefan once his appointment with one of his clients was over.

She sat at her desk and chewed on her nail as she watched the minute hand of the clock tick the time away until Stefan was free.


Stefan stepped out of his office with his client, shaking his hand as they said goodbye. He looked over to Caroline's desk and immediately frowned at the anxiety he could see pouring off of her. Concerned for her he took the steps to her in a quick pace and knelt down on the floor in front of her. He placed his hands on her thighs as he asked her, "Caroline, what's wrong?"

Caroline didn't care if anyone was nearby, everyone knew about them anyway, so she bent forward to rest her head against his, placing her hands on his shoulders as she released a breath, "Have you checked your email yet?"

Stefan frowned at her question, "No, I haven't." He searched her eyes, his stomach clenching at the fear he could read in them, "Baby, what's happened?"

Caroline closed her eyes, her fingers digging into his shoulders to pull him close to her, needing the comfort his presence gave her. She smiled as he brought his arms around her, cradling her within his embrace, just holding her, bringing her comfort even though he didn't know what had upset her. Just another reason in the thousands she had as to why she loved him.

Stefan held Caroline tightly against him, running his hands up and down her back as he waited for her to be ready to tell him what was upsetting her. He was patient with her, prepared to hold her for as long as it took before she opened up to him.

Caroline let herself enjoy his embrace for a few more moments before forcing herself to pull back. She raised her hand to his cheek to brush his skin, smiling at the pure concern she could read in his gaze. His love gave her the courage she needed and she finally spoke, "Read the email on my computer."

Stefan furrowed his brow, his worry for Caroline growing, his gut clenching with anxiety at whatever he would read. He pushed himself up from the floor, moving to the side of her so that he could bend down and read the email. He released a breath and let the tension leave his body. He stood in front of his girl, a soft tender smile on his lips as he asked with a hint of incredulity, "That is what has got you so worried."

Caroline chewed on her lip and nodded, "Uh huh."

Stefan chuckled, dropping a kiss onto the top of her head, before he gazed down at her with affectionate, "I think it's more than safe to say that I'm not gonna fire you. Even if I wasn't completely and totally head over heels in love with you," he stroked his fingertips over her soft cheek, smiling at her with love and adoration, "you are the best assistant I've ever had, and you more than deserve to be given the position permanently."

Caroline was starting to feel reassured by Stefan's words, but she still couldn't help but have some doubts, so she shared them with him, "The others in the meeting might not feel the same way as you."

"Personally I think our record speaks for itself." Stefan leaned over to kiss her lips sweetly, pulling away he told her, "But if it doesn't... we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Caroline frowned, not prepared to leave her fate up to chance, "Stefan!"

"Trust me." Stefan cradled her face between his hands, trailing his thumbs across her cheeks as he told her firmly, "I won't let anything happen to you. I'll always have your back."

Caroline leaned into his palm, returning his smile with a soft one of her own, "I do trust you, Stefan."

"Then you have nothing to worry about." Stefan rest his forehead against hers, staring deep into those beautiful blue eyes of hers that completely took his breath away, "It's you and me forever, Caroline Forbes. Don't forget that."

"I won't." Caroline replied softly, her gaze turning tender as she gazed at the love of her life in wonder. She tilted her head, kissing him gently, letting her love for him flow through her until she could feel it throbbing in her veins. She smiled as they parted, "I love you."

Stefan smiled against her lips as he returned, "And I love you."


It was the morning of the big meeting that would decide Caroline's fate and she was freaking out. She had changed her clothes five times, and her hairstyle three times. She wasn't ready, even though she'd basically had a year to prepare for this moment, she was so not ready for it.

Stefan reached out for her arms when she went to whiz past him yet again. He pulled her close to him, smiling at her as he told her, "You look beautiful, like you always do."

"I don't want to look beautiful!" Caroline cried out, her eyes wide in her panic, "I want to look professional. I want to look like I deserve this job because I earned it and not because I'm in a relationship with my boss. It's important that I give the right impression."

"You do look professional." Stefan cradled her face in his palm, stroking her skin softly as he smiled at her, "You also look beautiful, because you always look beautiful, and I'm afraid that nothing you could wear could ever hide that fact because you are beautiful."

Caroline just about melted into a puddle at Stefan's sweet words, her heart throbbed happily in her chest as she smiled lovingly at him, calming down instantly. She shook her head in amazement, her voice full of awe as she told him, "You always know the right words to calm me down."

"That's because I love you." Stefan nuzzled his nose against hers, smiling at the little giggle that she let out, the sound music to his ears, "And I don't want you to stress unnecessarily before you even have a reason to."

"Why are you so perfect?" Caroline asked on a sigh, raising her arms up so that she could wrap them around his neck to hold him close to her.

Stefan shook his head in disagreement, a grin spread across his face as he told her with all seriousness, "You're the perfect one in this relationship."

"I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on that one." Caroline chuckled, pulling him down to place a kiss on his lips that was just shy of inappropriately passionate.

Stefan returned her kiss eagerly, sliding his hand across her face to sink into her blonde hair, groaning in annoyance that he couldn't because her hair was scraped into a bun like all the other woman at work wore. He smirked into her mouth before he purposefully took off her hairband messing up her hair.

"Stefan!" Caroline pulled back to scold him laughingly, "Why did you do that?"

"You have never in the year you've worked beside me wore your hair like that." Stefan kissed her cheek, whispering into her skin meaningfully, "I won't let you try to fit in just to get the job you already have."

Caroline nuzzled her nose against his hair, sighing dreamily into the shell of his ear, "See? You are perfect."

Stefan shivered at the feel of her breath tickling against his skin, "And you are perfect just the way you are."

"Perfect." Caroline repeated in a teasing sing song voice.

"Shut up!" Stefan chuckled, playfully nipping at the skin of her neck as she burst into laughter.

"That's my line!" Caroline threw her head back as she laughed uncontrollably.

Stefan smiled into her neck as she giggled in his arms. He stroked his hand through her hair as he waited until she'd calmed down before asking her patiently, "Are you ready to go now?"

Caroline pulled back to narrow her eyes at him, snorting at the innocent expression that stared back at her, "Nice distraction technique."

Stefan tried to stop the smirk from covering his face as he acted innocent but with Caroline's knowing look he couldn't help but let it spread. He chuckled as he pulled her into a hug, "You don't feel as anxious now, do you?"

"No..." Caroline grudgingly admitted, the pout on her face clear in the tone of her voice.

Stefan chuckled, turning his head towards her to share a soft brush of lips, "Come on. Let's get this meeting over with."

Caroline could feel herself beginning to panic again when Stefan slipped his hand into hers. She looked down at their intertwined fingers and smiled. One touch from him and her mind cleared.

Stefan held her hand tightly as he led her out of their apartment.


Stefan and Caroline walked into their building hand in hand, going straight over to the elevator and pushing the floor for the conference room instead of their office.

Caroline was taking deep calming breaths as she tried to stay composed for the meeting and not a nervous wreck. Holding Stefan's hand helped her but once they were inside he couldn't hold her hand anymore so she would have to stay calm on her own.

Stefan could practically feel the nervous energy coming off of Caroline in waves. He hated that she was so scared of the outcome of the meeting. No matter what happened today he would make sure that she was taken care of, and not in the creepy kept woman kind of way, but in the she was the love of his life and it was his job to make sure that she was happy and fulfilled for the rest of their lives together.

The doors opened, and before Caroline could stress over it anymore she marched through the doors and straight to conference room 1. She'd dropped Stefan's hand in her rush to get there so she waited for him to join her before she knocked on the wood.

"Come in!"

Caroline took a deep breath before she opened the door and walked inside. The several pairs of eyes staring at her almost caused her to falter but the feel of Stefan's hand brushing soothingly against her back gave her the courage to walk completely into the room.

"Miss Forbes, Mr Salvatore, please have a seat." She gestured to the other end of the table, where place cards with their names on them indicated where they needed to sit. She waited until they were seated before she began, "I'm Rachel Garton, head of HR."

"Nice to meet you." Caroline greeted, feeling slightly intimidated at being at the head of the table and the focus of everyone's attention.

"Miss Forbes, your contracted twelve months are now at an end and it is time to review your performance." Rachel glanced down at her notes briefly before looking over at Stefan, "Mr Salvatore, would you tell us about Miss Forbes work in the past year." She narrowed her eyes at him as she stressed in a judgmental voice, "And please be completely honest. We want you to disregard your personal circumstances and speak as her employer and not as her boyfriend."

Stefan bristled at Rachel's tone, narrowing his eyes into a glare as he answered in a harsh cold tone of voice, "I would not evaluate Miss Forbes any other way."

Caroline started at Stefan's tone as she had not heard that tone of voice from him in such a long time, not since they had started to get to know each other and had fallen in love with each other. That was how he had spoken to her when they had first started working together and he was still cold and closed off. It was jarring to hear it again even if it wasn't directed at her.

Stefan took a sip of water before he started speaking again, "Miss Forbes' work is exemplary." He kept his eyes on the other people in the room and not Caroline as he didn't want to smile or show how much he loved her so that they understood that he was speaking the truth and not just praising the woman he loved, "She single-handedly organized Enzo St John's shows to showcase his new album. They were a huge success and the client was extremely happy with the results."

"Mr St John, your brother Damon's friend." The distaste was clear in Rachel's voice, "He is hardly the most high profile of clients."

"Actually, Miss Garton." Caroline couldn't help but speak up. That was her best friends husband she was speaking of, and she would stand up for him just as she would Bonnie, "Every single one of Enzo's shows were completely sold out and people were desperate to get more tickets but unfortunately that would have made the venue over capacity and that is a fire hazard." Her nerves had abandoned her now that she was defending one of her friends and the first campaign she worked on, "He may not be up to your standard of high profile, whatever that may be, but Enzo has had a number one album and several songs in the top ten. He is a successful artist and has a very big and very loyal following."

Stefan knew that he was smiling insanely wide, and his love for her was written on every inch of his face but he didn't care in the slightest. He was just so so proud of Caroline for speaking up and stating her opinion eloquently and passionately.

Rachel gritted her teeth at Caroline's response. Her answer had made it seem like she knew more about one of their clients than she herself did. She would not be made a fool of. She raised her brow as she sneered, "Are you always on a first name basis with your employer's clients?"

Caroline smiled back sweetly as she responded, "I am when they are my best friends husband."

Rachel's mouth was open wide as she floundered for a response in her shock.

Stefan couldn't stop himself from laughing. At the looks he received he faked coughed into his hand to try and cover up his amusement.

Caroline looked at the others in the room as she asked, "Anymore questions about Enzo's extremely successful and lucrative shows?" At the negative head shakes she received in response she grinned brightly, "Let's move on then."

Stefan smiled over at Caroline, not even bothering to hide his adoration for her any longer. He knew that she had nothing to worry about.

"Please continue, Mr Salvatore." Rachel gestured to Stefan, using all her self control to not glare at Caroline.

"Right." Stefan cleared his throat and attempted to smooth out his expression into his controlled blank one, "Miss Forbes organized Klaus Mikaelson's art show which was another success. She impressed both Elijah and Klaus that they expressed their desire to work with her again when another opportunity arose."

Caroline eyes widened and her cheeks reddened at the new information she was hearing. She didn't know that the Mikaelson brothers had told Stefan that they wanted to work with her again. Then again after the show she and Stefan had been kind of busy having a fight and then sleeping together for the first time. Her face grew even more flush at the memory of their passionate first time after they finally gave into their feelings for one another.

"Mr Mikaelson is a very hard client to impress." Mary Jane finally spoke up, impressed that the girl she took to Stefan on her first day would prove that she was more than capable of doing the position she had been assigned.

"If you run the ideas by your client and listen to what they have to say than it's not that hard to please them." Caroline replied. She was a people person and over the years she had learned that the number one skill to have was to just listen to them.

"Indeed it is." Mary smiled at Caroline's response, impressed by her grasp of a skill that not everyone possessed. Listening should be one of the highest requirements of their job but unfortunately it wasn't always viewed as highly as it should be.

Caroline relaxed as it appeared she had someone beside Stefan on her side. She sat up straighter and let her confidence fill her for the rest of the meeting.


An hour later the meeting was coming to a close, all of Caroline's work had been discussed and assessed and it was now time for the big decision on whether or not she should continue.

"Your work is impressive and has garnered very good results. You have surpassed the others of the graduate program." Rachel shared a look with her fellow members of the HR department, at their nods she continued on, "If all the members of this meeting agree that you should be hired permanently than after this meeting we can discuss which day you will meet us to draw up the new contract with the terms of your employment."

"Okay." Caroline nodded. Her stomach twisted as the nerves came back as she waited for their decision.

"Me and the members of my team are a yes on hiring you permanently." Rachel said, shocking Caroline silent as she was sure that after her attitude it would have been a resounding no.

"I agree." Mary smiled at Caroline, "I think you have excelled in the role. You and Stefan make a wonderful team."

Caroline smiled back at Mary, very happy and grateful for her support. And the support kept on coming, as every single person voted yes to hiring her. It was mind blowing, especially as she was expecting everyone to reject her because of her relationship with Stefan, so for everyone to say yes to her it was surprising to say the least.

Finally everyone had cast their vote and there was only one person left. Stefan.

"Stefan?" Rachel looked over at Stefan, wanting to roll her eyes at asking a question that she already knew the answer to, "Yours is the deciding vote. No matter what we've decided it is up to you. So what is your vote?"

"No." Stefan replied.

Caroline swung her head over to Stefan, tears filling her eyes as she felt an agonizing feeling of betrayal rip through her. How could he do this to her? He had told her that he was a guaranteed yes and now he'd said no. She didn't understand what had changed his mind.

"N-no?" Rachel stuttered, completely shocked at his reply. She was sure that he would say yes, especially seeing as he was in a relationship with Caroline.

"It's a no from me for the executive assistant position." Stefan repeated, his voice as serious as it had ever been.

"Stefan... what?" Caroline's voice was tight with the strain of holding back her tears, her heart breaking at how serious he sounded, meaning that he was speaking the truth. What would Stefan's decision do to their relationship? How could they survive him basically firing her? She didn't think they could.

Stefan spared a glance at Caroline's devastated face, wanting more than anything to reassure her and wipe that look off her face, but he had to do this first before he could take that broken look of betrayal from her face.

"Just to be clear, you want us to terminate her employment effective immediately?" Rachel had to clarify, she had to be sure that Stefan meant what he said. Surely he couldn't be advocating the firing of his girlfriend? Especially one that from all accounts he was deeply in love with.

"For the executive assistant position." Stefan confirmed.

"Okay." Rachel blew out a breath, "Then this meeting is now concluded." For the first time she looked at Caroline sympathetically, "Miss Forbes you are..."

"I have one more thing to say." Stefan interrupted what he knew would be Rachel firing Caroline.

Caroline looked down at her lap, blinking furiously to keep the tears behind her eyelids for just a little bit longer before she could leave. She couldn't even bare looking at Stefan. With this one decision he had broken them for good. There would be no coming back from this.

They were over.

She swallowed back her sob, hardly even able to hear whatever heartbreaking thing Stefan would say next.

"I don't think Miss Forbes should be my executive assistant." Stefan glanced over at Caroline, the sight of her so hurt killed him but he was sure that her expression would change with his next words, "I think that she is so much better suited for a position as the head of her own department."

Caroline's head shot up, her eyes meeting Stefan's for the first time since he said no. She was shocked, so unbelievably amazed at what he said that a tear slid down her cheek against her will, her voice a shocked whisper, "What?"

Stefan smiled at her, the love and admiration he held for her making his green eyes shine, "You are the driving force behind the success we have enjoyed. You are better at my job than I am. You shouldn't just be an assistant." He reached across and placed his hand on hers, "You deserve so much better than that."

Caroline was speechless. Her broken heart from moments ago was gone in an instant, replaced by a deep and all consuming love that she didn't know how could be real, how Stefan could be real.

Rachel was confused at the sudden turn around. It spun her mind in circles, and it took her a moment to get her head sorted. Once she had, she could only shake her head, "That will not be happening. There are no positions open. It's execute assistant or nothing."

Stefan smiled serenely and shocked everyone silent with his next statement, "Then I quit."

"What? You can't!" Rachel was in a panic. She didn't want to be the one to tell Giuseppe Salvatore that his son had quit over his secretary. She used his father to try and get some sense back into him, "What would your father say?"

Stefan never even let the smile slip as he stood up from the table, his eyes showing not one ounce of regret for his decision, "I think it's high time I got out of my father's shadow. It's time for me to live for myself and go out on my own." He looked over at his gorgeous girlfriend and if possible his smile grew even wider, "I'm stronger now. Caroline has made me strong. I don't need my father's help anymore, not when I have the woman I love by my side."

He walked over to the door, finally feeling freer than he had in years. It was the best decision he'd made since giving in to the feelings between him and Caroline. He regretted neither decision. He turned his head over his shoulder, smiling at his love as he held his hand out to her, "You coming, Caroline?"

Caroline's head was still spinning from what had just happened. She went from heartbreak, to amazement, to she had no idea what the hell had just happened. But still, she would follow Stefan anywhere, so she stood up from her chair and slipped her hand into his as they left the meeting behind them.

Stefan walked toward the elevator with a smile on his face, completely happy and at ease with what had happened. He would start fresh, completely separated from his father, and succeed or fail it was all him. He wouldn't just have a job because his father handed it to him on a silver platter, and no matter his mistakes he would always have a job. Now it was on him and him alone. It was scary and exciting and something he should have done a long time ago. But he didn't have Caroline back then, she had made him strong and brought him back to the person he used to be. If it wasn't for her he would never have had the courage to venture out on his own.

Caroline waited until the elevator doors closed behind them before she spun around to ask, "What the hell just happened in there?"

"I quit." Stefan cradled her face between his hands, smiling at her with affection, "And it's all thanks to you."

Caroline frowned, unsure if Stefan realized what he'd just done, "No, you just had us both quit. And what did I have to do with that crazy decision."

"You fixed me, Caroline Forbes." Stefan stroked his thumbs against her cheeks with utmost tenderness, his eyes bright with wonder and an awe that took her breath away, "I am myself again because of you. You took my broken pieces and put them back together. You made me whole again."

Caroline's breath caught, the look in Stefan's eyes made butterflies fill her stomach. She couldn't look away as he came closer until their lips touched in a soft and loving kiss. It made her heart race wildly in her chest despite that slow and gentle way they were kissing.

Stefan wrapped his arm around her waist to pull her closer to him, moving his lips against hers passionately, keeping her occupied as he pressed the button for the floor of their – as of now – former offices.

The ding of the elevator pulled them out of their passionate embrace. Stefan took her hand and led her out of the elevator. Caroline was confused to see the floor of their office and not the lobby like she was expecting. Why was Stefan in the office just after he'd quit? He really was making her confused right now.

Stefan pulled Caroline to his office with eager steps, his body thrumming with nervous excitement. He had been waiting for this moment for what felt like forever but now that it was here he had never felt more terrified or excited than he did right now.

Caroline stopped just inside of his office, watching with confused eyes as Stefan went to his desk to look in one of his drawers. She needed to know what they were doing here, "Why have you brought me to your office, Stefan? Especially after we just quit!"

"Technically I just quit, you left before they could fire you for not giving you the job I think you should have." Stefan answered her as he searched through his drawer for what he came here for.

"Thanks for reminding me!" Caroline huffed, crossing her arms over her chest as she glared at Stefan's bent head. She grew annoyed that he was paying attention to his drawer rather than her, and she couldn't help but burst out, "What are you doing?"

"Ah hah!" Stefan cried out as his hand made contact with what he'd been searching for. He quickly slipped it into his pocket before making his way around his desk to stand in front of Caroline. He smiled nervously at her, "This is where we first met."

"I know." Caroline furrowed her brow, not sure what Stefan was saying it for, "I was there."

Stefan ducked his head and chuckled nervously, "I remember it just like it was yesterday. You took my break away from the first moment I saw you."

"But you were so cold and closed off." Caroline was surprised, she never would have thought he felt anything at their first meeting.

"My defense mechanism." Stefan huffed out a laugh, shaking his head at how he tried to push away any feelings he had for her, "I was broken back then."

"Stefan..." Caroline took the few steps that separated them, and placed her hand on his arm as she looked up at him with concern, "Why are you telling me this?"

Stefan just stared at her for a moment, his mouth opening and closing as he searched for the words to say. She just looked so beautiful, and she completely took away his ability to think. It was hard for him to find the words he needed to say.

Caroline raised her hand to cup his cheek, brushing her thumb across his jaw as she asked again, "What are you trying to tell me?"

"God I love you." Stefan released on a sigh, smiling at her as his heart beat frantically within his chest.

"I love you too." Caroline smiled back, unable to resist a little teasing jab, "Despite the scare you gave me earlier when I thought you wanted me fired."

Stefan laughed under his breath, his eyes sparkling back at her with love and affection. Unable to wait any longer he very slowly dropped down onto one knee, pulling out the ring box from his pocket and opened it before he held it out in front of him.

Caroline covered her mouth with her hand as she gasped. Tears instantly filled her eyes at the absolutely gorgeous ring seated within the velvet cushion. It was a large but not too large round diamond surrounded by little diamonds on a platinum band. It was breathtaking. But not nearly as gorgeous as Stefan's teary green eyes gazing up at her with the purest love she'd ever known.

Stefan's hand shook as he reached for Caroline's dainty hand, loosely holding it as he took a breath and prepared himself to ask the question he'd been dying to ask her for months, "Caroline... you came into my life and completely turned it upside down."

Caroline laughed, the tears sliding down her cheeks unchecked. She couldn't believe that this was really happening.

"I am happy that you did. I was lost at sea, adrift in dark waters until you appeared like the shiny beacon of a lifeboat." Stefan had to stop for a moment, the emotion tightening his throat. He took a few deep breaths before continuing, "You saved me. In every single way that a person can be saved you saved me." He choked out a laugh, his own tears clouding his eyes threatening to spill out at any moment, "And what's even more amazing than that, is that saving me wasn't enough for you, you just had to take every broken piece of me and put me back together."

"I am so grateful to you for somehow managing to fall in love with someone as broken as me." Stefan smiled dreamily up at her, stroking his thumb across the back of her hand as he reveled in her, "I will love you for the rest of my life. I will spend every second I have on this earth dedicated to making you as happy and as loved as you've made me."

Caroline was sobbing now, the smile on her face the widest she had ever had. Her heart was fluttering away helplessly in her chest and her stomach was filled with butterflies as she was filled with anticipation for what he was about to ask her.

Stefan released her hand from his so that he could take the ring out of the box. He placed the box on the ground and held the ring with one hand while with the other he took hold of her left hand, "Caroline Forbes, will you make me the happiest man alive, and marry me?"

He held his breath in terrified excitement as he awaited her answer. His hands were shaking so much that he was afraid that he would drop the ring in a minute. He had never been so anxious to hear an answer in his life.

Caroline cried into her hand, unable to say anything for several minutes as the emotion of the moment formed a lump in her throat that took her ability to speak. She was completely overwhelmed by the moment and the question.

"Stefan..."

TBC

AN - I couldn't resist the cliffhanger - sorry! There's only one chapter left now. The end is nigh. Sob.