Chapter 32

Caroline awoke to a stifling heat but she refused to open her eyes. She could feel the sunlight on her back, warming her naked flesh. She had forgotten to close her bedroom curtains. She nuzzled her face into her pillow but instead of cotton soft she felt the velvet touch of a smooth naked torso. Her grey eyes flew open in shock as she noted that , Stefan was in deed beside her naked as well and that they were in a strange room.

The events of the previous night fluttered like a light bulb losing its strength. With sudden clarity she recalled the previous night and instead of feeling like she had to flee she rested her head back on his chest and sighed in content. She didn't want to walk out on him again because first of all it had been him with her the previous night and not the ripper and second in had been more than just a physical joining it was more and she had never felt that feeling before ; too truly love someone and be with them.

She peaked at him again and felt her heart flutter as her stomach did somersaults that instead of making her feel queasy had made her feel ticklish with glee. They had shared something special the night before and it was just them. No distractions. Caroline couldn't help but smile when she took in his features. She was used to the hard, masculine yet handsome features of Stefan but in sleep his face was softer as he puffed out little breaths of air through parted lips that pouted deliciously. She couldn't resist the temptation and leaned forward and pecked his lips.

Stefan felt her kiss and opened his green eyes as he looked down at the blonde haired goddess who was lying sprawled out naked on his chest. He may have come from a respectable time – a more gentlemanly time but even he was powerless to succumb to dirty thoughts and traitorous body parts like an adolescent boy. Despite these feelings he too felt something more when he looked into her sliver grey eyes. An event had taken place last night.

"Hey." Caroline blinked sheepishly. She hadn't wanted to wake him up but she couldn't help herself … clearly.

Stefan combed his hand through her tresses as he smiled at her oh so guilty look. He was glad that she had woken him up, nothing could make him grumpy if he was with her.

"Morning" He whispered before lifting himself up slightly as he pecked her lightly on her pink stained lips.

"Did you sleep well?" He asked when he pulled away slightly from her mouth.

Caroline nodded.

"And you?" She asked smiling with stars in her eyes.

"Never slept better." He kissed her again before he took her in his arms again and moved her to his side like he had done the previous night, just so that he could look at her.

They lay unmoving for what could have been hours but was only a comfortable few minutes just looking at the other; knowing that somehow life didn't get much better than this. They both wanted to just stay there locked in one another'sembrace, uncaring about the events going on around them. Neither of them voiced it but they both knew the other was thinking it as well. Light meetings of their lips had led to passionate kisses which in turn lead to more earth shattering moments like the previous night. When they were done, Caroline was the first to voice the impending doom of reality.

"We have to go back." She said as she stroked his chest.

Stefan didn't say anything but he knew she was right. It would have been easier just to ignore the people in their lives and go their own speed but the truth was neither he nor Caroline were the type to give up on the people around them. He and Damon were finally on level ground for a change and Stefan sensed something that he had never thought he would ever feel towards Damon again and that was hope. Hope that they could repair their relationship, hope that they could be what they once were and hope that they both could forgive and leave both Katherine and Elena behind. Because even though Stefan knew Damon was in love with Elena, he wanted his brother to have the happy ending that he deserved. Elena would only turn out to be like Katherine in the end. Perhaps not the characteristically but she would break him because she would remind him of who he was and the terrible things he did for Katherine just because he was in love with her and it was his right to do those things because of the love he felt for her.

Caroline however was bound by loyalty and friendship even though it was one sided most of the time. Bonnie and Elena had always been the closet of the trio and Caroline had always felt like the third unwelcome wheel in the party. But they were her friends and in a small town you couldn't really pick your friends, you just had them and that was it. On more than one occasion they had both let Caroline down at some point. Elena had on more than one occasion thrown Caroline advice back in her face and Bonnie had been so distant with Caroline because by some freak of nature she ended up being a vampire and that wasn't good for Bonnie. Even then Bonnie and Elena had shown little to no concern for her turning. Stefan had been there the entire time. He'd convinced Bonnie to create a daylight ring for her and he had willing allowed Elena to go off with Damon and Alaric that time just because he knew that she needed him. But despite all this she would help her friends even if they hadn't been good to her because that was just the type of person she was.

Caroline was the first to break free of Stefan's embrace as she went and washed up. When she had returned from her shower, Stefan had arranged for a set of new clothes for both of them and had ordered breakfast for her. After he had too washed up he joined her for breakfast at the small dining table. They laughed and talked about small things – nothing dull and nothing epic just good old fashioned conversation. Neither one of them had switched on their phone's. They would face the drama in person but right now nothing was going to break the serenity around them.

They walked out the hotel, hands laced together as Stefan helped Caroline into the back of a cab. Both unaware that in the distance a certain pair of brown eyes was watching them with vengeance.

An: So who does the brown eyes belong too? Next chapter the secret about the moonstone is revealed. Hope you enjoyed this little soft romance going on between the two in this chapter. I just wanted them to have some normalcy and some alone time. So thank you for the reviews and all the support and encouragement. Promise the next chapter will be kinda hectic.