CAROLINE'S POV:
I woke up early the next morning and climbed out of bed, wrapping my dressing gown around me, watching Stefan as he slept. I was scared to broach the subject with him, even though I know he knew it'd happen sooner rather than later. Today had to be my last "human" day, and I was going to make the most of it…
STEFAN'S POV:
I made my way downstairs as I heard Caroline moving about in the kitchen, switching the coffee machine on. Standing in the hallway, I watched her as she moved around the kitchen, her head turning to me as she shut the fridge door…
"Hey..." she greeted me
"Hey," I mirrored "you're up early, is everything okay?"
She nodded her head as she moved back over to the worktop… "I need to tell you something though."
"I know what you're going to say, and it's okay." I replied
"How do you know?" she questioned, raising an eyebrow at me as she turned to me
"I just do." I informed her "Today's going to be your last human day, and you and your Mom need to make the most of it. Are you still going to take her to the family cabin?"
She nodded her head… "And then I'm going to take her to the Four Seasons for some pampering."
"Is that more for you or her?" I asked
"It's for both of us, Stefan." she replied, smiling at me warmly
I reciprocated her warm smile and moved over to her… "Well I'm going to go for a hunt. If I'm not back by the time you go, I'll see you tonight."
She nodded her head in agreement and I pressed my lips against hers…
"I love you." she whispered as we pulled apart
"I love you too." I mirrored
CAROLINE'S POV:
"Are you ready, Mom?" I questioned "We should be on the road if we're going to be back in time for your surprise."
"Are you going to tell me what my surprise is, by the way?" she inquired
"That would defeat the object of it being a surprise though, wouldn't it?" I asked "So no, I'm not. Shall we go?"
She nodded her head and both of us said goodbye to John, making our way out of the house to my car that was parked in the driveway. Starting the engine, I reversed out onto the road and drove off, heading out of town…
"So where are we headed to then?" Mom inquired
"The cabin," I informed her "I thought we could have a couple of hours there and then head back into town."
"Are you sure?" she questioned
I nodded my head… "Why wouldn't I be?"
"I just thought…" she began "No, forget it."
"What, Mom?" I asked
"I just thought it might change your mind about what's to come," she admitted "but I know it won't, so I'm sorry for even thinking it."
"You don't have to be sorry," I replied "I should be the one that's sorry for putting you through all this. I should've just asked Stefan to do it and we wouldn't be going through all this."
"But I wouldn't have had a chance to say goodbye to you as you if that had been the case, would I?" she questioned "Even though it still freaks me out, I know it's what you want and I much prefer that we're doing it this way."
I glanced at her momentarily and smiled as she entwined her hand with mine as it rested on the gearstick as we pulled up at some traffic lights…
STEFAN'S POV:
"There you are," John proclaimed as I walked back into the house "I was wondering where you'd got to…"
"I had to, well, y'know…" I replied
He nodded his head in understanding… "Well, I was thinking, seeing as though the ladies have headed out for the day, why don't you and I do something?"
"What were you thinking?" I questioned
"A baseball game and a few beers?" he suggested
"I'm not really a baseball fan…" I admitted
"How about a bar and some beers then?" he inquired, raising an eyebrow at me
"Now we're talking." I informed him
Caroline and her Mum are heading to the family cabin, and John and Stefan are heading to a bar, how will both go?