Thank you Tonia, Steroline Forev, and everyone else who left reviews as guests that I can't reply individually. All of you motivate me to kee writing.
It's true. Stefan and Caroline are different people now. Tougher. Going to gray areas. Maybe that means they can be a stronger unit, but maybe it also means they need to get to know each other all over again.
As always, let me know what you think in the comments.
My love was as cruel as the cities I lived in
Everyone looked worse in the light
There are so many lines that I've crossed unforgiven
I'll tell you the truth, but never goodbye.
Taylor Swift, "Daylight"
17. REGRETS ARE FADING (I'M MUCH BRAVER NOW)
When they kiss, it burns and it's the same intoxicating sensation that he felt just weeks ago, when she was still human. So maybe it never had anything to do with the blood after all. Maybe it's because they have both long stopped belonging to this word, or at least he has, in such a way that this hunger is now so foreign.
"Stefan," she calls his name, nails digging into his back and he loses what he has left of restraint.
"I've missed you so much."
It's a trail of discarded clothes from the kitchen to the bedroom, something neither of them cares about, such is their urgency now. But later Stefan takes his time to worship her body as it is due, because this is Caroline, and she deserves to be adored and revered every single day of her life. And this time they'll have a long life that allows him to do exactly that.
It's a shame when morning comes and she reminds him that they have a flight to catch (their weekend is over, and Mystic Falls is still waiting for them). Funny because she was the one who needed to escape the town for a little while, and now he's the one reluctant to go back.
He kisses her bare shoulder, lingering on her skin that smell of roses and just Caroline, Caroline, Caroline.
"I'll make breakfast first. There's no need to hurry."
She turns to look at him, her blue green eyes are smiling now, and for a moment he sees a tiny bit of that perfection they could have for the rest of their lives, waking up just to be in heaven (it makes his years at peace feel like that was never peace at all).
"It was a happy life", that's what Caroline had told him.
He wants it more than he's ever wanted anything in this world.
"I'll be with you in a minute", she winks and flashes to the bathroom, so he gives up the idea of breakfast in favor of joining her in the shower.
It is to be expected that Liz is furious at him now. Stefan knows what's coming before they arrive at Mystic Falls (as soon as they turned on their phones, he and Caroline got all the texts and missed calls from Damon and Bonnie respectively).
"I thought you were a more sensible young man, Stefan. I am disappointed in both of you."
"I told you it was just going to be a weekend, and I'm back, see?" Caroline sighs, "everything is alright, mom."
"That's not what this is about. You are seventeen, Caroline, you are not in a position to go away by yourself the way you did."
No one would be able to understand, after all they've been through, it seems pointless to act like a pair of teenagers. It's ridiculous, in the large scheme of things. However, they keep the charade in front of Liz, as she isn't ready to learn the truth yet, and this is the result.
"This was all my idea. Please don't be hard on her."
Liz ignores him and keeps looking at her daughter. "Do you have any idea about how worried I was? I even called your father."
He sees Caroline's face lose all color.
"No! Why?"
"This is not how I wanted things to go, but since it looks like you no longer respect me at all, then maybe you are going to listen to him. Get into the car."
She doesn't let go of his hand, so he smiles at her and whispers. "Let's talk later."
"Okay."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Stefan knows. They should be acting apologetic, but there's nothing to regret. So Liz looks beyond surprised by the exchange, as if she sees something there that shouldn't be there when, in reality, things are back to their rightful place for the first time in forever.
"When you were out there on your little sexcapade with Blondie, John Gilbert came to threaten me again. Apparently he's against any of us turning his daughter into a vampire." Damon plays with his glass of bourbon. "By the way, Elena isn't excited about your incredible plan, and Judgy will never let you do this."
He never assumed it would be easy to convince the other parts involved.
"But, you still admit it is the most reasonable way to avoid a war in our town."
"I admit nothing. I'm willing to trust you, but I haven't even seen this Klaus guy yet. And from what you told me, we cannot trust he's going to agree to this idea of keeping everyone alive either."
It's just a few minutes later that Bonnie, true to Damon's warning, comes knocking at the door and tells him that she will not let another of her friends die and if anything happens to Elena, he will pay the consequences.
This is something that his old self would have never dared to try, either. But this is now, and he knows that things could be much worse, even if it all seems like madness to everyone else. As long as the conflict can be avoided and it does not affect Caroline and him in a permanent way, then everything else can be damned.
At least it looks like his brother and Bonnie have found an ally in each other this time, too. It is a good thing. Even more so than Elena, Bonnie has always been a good influence on Damon.
"Isn't it fun that I'm grounded?" She lays atop of him, her head resting on his chest. "I'm too old for this."
Straight from school to her house, and they are not supposed to be seeing each other either, not for the rest of the week. Liz even made a point to clear the night shifts from her schedule, which is a true effort on her part, but unfortunately does not stop Stefan from visiting that night.
If Caroline accepts back her ring, how long will it be until they can go back to normal? He voices this thought aloud, and Caroline just chuckles.
"Normal, Stefan? Really?" Her blonde curls fall to one side, and he's distracted by them.
"We can do normal. To an extent."
"You want me to marry you now that we're supposed to be high school students. Yes, that screams normal as in a shotgun wedding."
Even if that was actually possible, it wouldn't be so bad. Stefan always wanted to be human, except for the time when he actually did because it came at a moment when he finally embraced his nature, and the possibility of spending countless years by her side. But if they could be human together, if she wanted that, then it'd be different.
He wants to ask about the other future she saw for them, and again has to bite his tongue. They cannot take the cure anyway. Now until they find out the reason why the curse can't be broken yet, after everything the girls and Bonnie tried, and after everything Caroline went through.
A car parks in front of the house, and it is almost midnight, so Caroline sits straight right then, and he can hear her heart practically drumming out of her chest.
"My dad."
"It's going to be fine." Bill Forbes can't know she's a vampire, and even if he does, Stefan won't let him do the things he did the first time around.
