STEFAN'S POV:
"What is going on with you?" I asked Caroline as we watched a movie that she was paying no attention to whatsoever "I'm trying to do something nice for you here and you're not the slightest bit interested…"
"I'm fine." she replied
"Yeah, sure." I scoffed as I reached forwards and picked up the remote, switching the TV off
"What did you do that for?" she inquired "I was watching it…"
"If you were watching, you'll be able to tell me the characters names?" I questioned "Exactly. You weren't watching. Have I done something to upset you? Because if I have, I'd rather know than have you give me the silent treatment…"
She lifted her head, her eyes wide and tear-filled… "You've not done anything. You've been perfect, you are perfect. It's just something I can't tell you about, I'm sorry."
"What have we always said the two pillars our relationship are built upon are, Caroline?" I asked, taking her hand in mine
"Trust and communication." she informed me
"Then tell me what's wrong, please." I begged "I hate seeing you this way…"
"I want to but I can't." she admitted "I'm really sorry, Stefan."
"I need to know, Caroline," I informed her "because you can barely look at me."
"I promised I wouldn't say anything…" she replied
"Promised who?" I questioned
"Damon…" she admitted "I spoke to him in the elevator and he was upset."
"Upset?" I inquired "Upset about what?"
"I can't say." she informed me
"Caroline, please," I begged "Damon's my brother. What was he upset about?"
"He and Elena can't have children." she admitted "They've been trying and trying and trying but they've found they can't and he was asking me how he could help Elena. I've never seen him the way he was, Stefan. He was so upset."
I swallowed a lump in my throat and ran my hands over my face… "No wonder he's been so distant lately."
"He hasn't wanted to be if it's any consolation." she informed me
"And I bet Mom and Dad prattling on about having grandchildren isn't helping either." I sighed "Poor guy, poor Elena. Thank you for being there for him, Caroline…"
She smiled at me warmly… "I wanted to tell you, honestly I did, but Damon asked me not to and I hate myself for breaking his confidence when he's confided in me but I couldn't go on being with this way with you for much longer. If I had, I'm scared it would've ended up ruining our relationship."
"I'm not letting you go so easy." I informed her "You really have no idea how amazing you are, do you?"
"You think I'm amazing, even though I've broken your brother's trust?" she asked
"I didn't really give you much of a say in the matter, did I?" I questioned
"I suppose not," she replied "I just hope he understands when I tell him."
"You really are amazing." I admitted "And I'm just starting to realise how lucky I am to be able to call you mine."
She smiled at me warmly and pressed her lips against mine, sighing against my mouth as I bit her bottom lip softly…
"I don't know how I can thank you…" she informed me
"Thank me for what?" I asked
"Not just you," she replied "you and your family. You've all made me feel like a part of the family from day one and made me feel as though I actually belong somewhere, but I just wish there was a way we could help Damon and Elena."
"Maybe there is." I informed her
CAROLINE'S POV:
Stefan and I made our way into the Starbucks close to the office that I'd arranged to meet Damon in, Stefan and I making our way over to the counter to order…
"He's going to hate me!" I sighed
"No he won't. He might be a bit annoyed but he won't hate you. You're impossible to hate." he informed me, pressing his lips against my forehead
"Rebekah hates me." I admitted
"Rebekah's irrelevant." he replied "And Damon's here."
I turned my head to see Damon making his way in. Swallowing a lump in my throat, Stefan and I made our order along with a coffee for Damon and headed over to the table he'd acquired…
"Hey, Damon." I greeted him
"What's he doing here?" he asked, motioning to Stefan
"I told him." I admitted
"Before you start, I made Caroline tell me." Stefan informed him "She didn't want to and she feels guilty for having broken your trust but I had to literally force it out of her, Damon. So she told me, which is what you should've done in the first place…"
"Why did you tell him?" he questioned as Stefan and I sat down
"Because it was eating her alive." Stefan replied
"Do you want to know what Stefan spent the majority of last night doing?" I inquired
"Pitying me, probably." he sighed
"No," I replied "he sat there thinking of every reason he possibly could that justified you not telling him, and when he couldn't think of anything else he researched every possible solution to your problem."
"Why?" Damon asked
"Because you're my brother, that's why." Stefan informed him "You're my brother and I love you, we both do, you and Elena."
"I'm sorry we didn't tell you," Damon admitted "and for the record, there isn't anything you can do. This isn't something we've only just found out about."
"I thought you said you'd only just found out?" I inquired
"We had our final consultation at the hospital the morning I saw you," he explained "but we've been exhausting all our options for the last few years."
"Isn't there anything we can do to help at all?" Stefan questioned
"You could impregnate Caroline and then Mom and Dad will be off our backs…" he replied, smirking as he spoke
"We'll think about it." Stefan informed him "Right, Caroline?"
I smiled and nodded my head, taking my free hand in Damon's… "That's a promise."
How lovely is the Stefan/Caroline/Damon friendship?
