AN: *Emerges from hole in the ground, coughs awkwardly and waves*

Hi guys. I am so sorry I am bonkers late with this update. Shortly after I published my last chapter I got accepted into a program and I only just graduated. It has been a crazy busy time and despite that, I really wanted to return and keep writing these amazing prompts you guys send. I am so sorry again! However updates will be more frequent now, so yay!

I just want to thank you all again for the positive reception to this story so far. It's my first try at something like this so it means a lot that you guys are reading and liking this story.

Prompted by infinity: I would have liked that the amnesia time for Stefan would have lasted longer and that he would have recognized his feelings for her and that a time after Carolyn(sic) und(sic) Tyler ended their relationship the first kiss would have happened(sic).

Oh, absolutely! I adore this prompt! I am going to like a series of one shots in this chapter, some from the show, and some from my own mind. Hopefully you like the chapter just as much!

Please leave reviews with more prompts guys! I enjoy trying to bring your ideas to life!

Love,

JM


Lost Memories

Stefan was pretty over this whole ordeal, to be honest.

Waking up with no memories had been rough, and everything that had happened since was just making it all that much harder. Damon, his brother and Elena, his ex-girlfriend. They had spent every moment since they found him trying to hammer the person he used to be back into his head, but they didn't get it. It didn't matter how many stories they told him or how many of the journals the old him had written, those memories were gone. And just when he thought he'd seen a ray of light and assumed that he and Elena had been in love she dropped the bomb that she was with Damon.

Just how complicated had his past life been?

Well, Stefan didn't want to think about that right now. No, Stefan pretty much just wanted to drink and let the rampant thoughts swirling around in his head rest. So that was exactly what he was going to do. Stefan made his way between the drunken teenagers, grabbing alcohol anywhere he could. A pleasant buzzing began to settle under his skin and he gave a small smile. Finally some relief. Granted that relief kept getting interrupted by his phone buzzing, the name 'Elena' flashing across it again and again.

Stefan growled before turning the infernal thing off. He didn't want to talk to her. He didn't want to deal with her explanation for how she and Damon got together or to see those pleading eyes, begging him to remember her. No, what he wanted was another drink. Stefan bent over and picked up an abandoned bottle of vodka off the forest floor, uncapping it and taking a swig. Once again the buzzing came back, affecting his mind, making the world seem tipsy. Perfect.

Except this moment was interrupted again. Not by some high pitched phone ring, but by a gentle voice just behind him that he didn't recognize, saying his name. Intrigued, Stefan turned to see a blonde beauty staring at him with something akin to awe. He stared at her for a moment. She did look kind of familiar. And that's when it clicked. The photo albums Damon and Elena had had him study. This was Caroline.

"Caroline Forbes," Stefan smirked, putting the cap back on his bottle. After all, she had probably been prompted by the others to stop his fun, "My best friend."

The girl's eyebrows rose, "What, you recognize me?" She asked, obviously surprised.

Stefan sighed and removed the cap from his bottle once more. Alcohol was needed for this if she was just going to be like Elena and try to force him to remember her. Still, he had to admit, this girl was beautiful. He knew Elena and Damon had insisted that they had only been friends, but Stefan couldn't help but wonder if that were true, "Well, I've studied pictures. You are much hotter in person."

Stefan had only meant to say the first part out loud, but according to Caroline's face he was willing to bet he'd said the whole thing. He didn't regret that though. It was true, "Sorry, I'm a little drunk."

That brought on a smile that lit up the blonde's face and Stefan just felt…drawn to it. She was stepping closer to him, which only intensified the feeling, "Yeah…yeah, I can see it," Caroline said with a laugh in her voice only to grow serious the closer she got to him, "Are you okay?"

Stefan smirked. Are you okay? Not what do you remember or how could you forget me? Stefan couldn't help but appreciate the sentiment, but he was still drunk and pissed and looking for a fix, "Well, if by okay you mean heavily spiraling into ripper oblivion, then yes, I'm dandy."

He watched as Caroline's face fell further and felt momentary guilt at being the cause of that, however the moment was brief as they were interrupted by yet another person Stefan didn't know or recognize. Stefan had no interest in what the stranger was saying, keeping his attention on Caroline. The only things interesting about this human was the fact Stefan could smell his blood rather strongly. He only looked up at the man when Caroline asked him to give them some privacy, "Yeah, it's probably a good idea," Stefan agreed dangerously, "Because I can sense from here that you have a paper cut on the palm of your left hand and I'm going to rip your entire arm off."

"Stefan", Caroline cut in before compelling the human to run. And what a mistake that was. Part of the fun seemed like it was in the chase. He kept staring after the human until Caroline drew his attention back, "Look, I know that you are hungry but you don't do people, okay? It doesn't end well."

And then a thought struck Stefan. He didn't want to hurt this girl again, but all he could think about was the bleeding human that he could chase down so easily, "What about blood bags? Do you have any blood bags?" Stefan watched the relief cross Caroline's face and fought off the pang of guilt at what he was about to do.

"Yes, in the car. Follow me." As soon as Caroline walked past him Stefan was off. He needed to feed. Now.


What was the point of being good? Really. Stefan let that thought consume him as he tore into the pitiful human's neck. He had meant every word he told Jesse. Damon, his own brother, stole his girlfriend. Elena had let him. Everyone has been telling him since he woke up that he's the good one. The hero. Damon is bad. Damon is evil. Stefan is the good one. Well if this is what it got him then what is the point in being good?

He could have done it. Stefan was so close he could have torn this human's head clean off. And he would have had it not been for a desperate voice and two small, warm hands grabbing him and pulling him back. He didn't even need to look up to know how had done it. Caroline.

Stefan wasn't really sure what he was expecting her to say, but he was caught off guard by her words, finally looking up and meeting her gaze, "This isn't you. You might not remember, but I do. You are better than this. You are not this person."

It hit Stefan hard. Here was someone not begging him to remember them, but to remember himself. Caroline knew the kind of person he was and she wasn't afraid to tell him how she saw things. Stefan swallowed thickly, tasting the blood still smeared across his mouth. It reignited his hunger as he gazed at the unconscious body strewn across the floor, "I have to go," He gasped out.

He saw Caroline's face scrunch in confusion, "What?"

But Stefan had no time to explain, "I have to leave." He turned around and walked out of the crypt, ignoring Caroline calling his name. He had to leave because if he stayed he would have attacked Jesse again. Stefan had already given in to his urges and it would be too easy to do so again. He had to remove himself from the temptation and clear his head.

Because Stefan really wanted to be the Stefan Salvatore Caroline remembered.


Stefan burned the journals. He knew he was probably scaring his brother and his ex, but he didn't care. They were questioning him, scared about why he was doing this, and Stefan did not care. If his brother was willing to steal the apparent love of his life and she was willing to let him then they weren't the kind of people he wanted to be around right now.

Stefan shouldered his bag and turned to face them, "Caroline promised to call me every hour, and I actually do trust her," He saw them wince, but once more he didn't care. Stefan made his way past them and went out the door. He was going to stay at the crypt where he almost lost control, try to give himself some perspective and clear his head from the Damon and Elena show.

He wanted to remember.


Caroline tried to keep it together. Just a few more steps. She just needed to keep it together for a few more steps, tell Stefan what happened to Bonnie, and then she could join up with the others for her funeral. She had volunteered to go and tell Stefan, knowing he was feeling distant from the others. She made her way into the crypt and managed to force the words out, trying to stay neutral as she discussed the demise of one of her best friends. Caroline didn't want to think or talk about it too much. If she did then, as she explained to Stefan, she would start crying and she was fairly certain there would be no way for her to ever stop.

"All I have is this anger and pain and this sadness…" Caroline listed off miserably before Stefan cut her off, taking her hand in his.

"Me…you have me," Stefan murmured gently. Caroline gave him a small smile, tears filling her eyes before she leaned forward, resting her head on his shoulder. She felt his arm come around her and she finally let some of those tears spill over and down her cheeks. The blonde allowed herself to begin to fall apart in the arms of her best friend, because no matter what form Stefan came in, she always felt safe with him.

"There is something you can do for me. Come to the funeral? I understand if you don't want to, but if you could…" Stefan shushed her and gave her a squeeze.

"I'll be there, Caroline."


Caroline shook as she dropped Bonnie's pom-poms on the stump along with her other belongings. She bit her lip to hold in a sob as she made her way back to Stefan's waiting arms. He encased her readily, offering all the comfort he could as she grieved and he wished he remembered Bonnie so he could grieve alongside Caroline and their friends. Damon held a crying Elena, and Matt was barely holding it together.

Once all the items were placed, Jeremy began to relay messages to all in attendance from Bonnie herself, who was there despite them not being able to see her. Eventually she got around to Caroline and Stefan tightened his hold on her as Jeremy spoke, "Caroline, I want you to decorate that dorm like your life depends on it. And I know college isn't everything you expected, and you might feel like something is missing, but…" Jeremy paused momentarily, watching Bonnie while no one else could as she looked beyond Caroline, "Tyler."

Stefan and Caroline both turned to see the boy approaching, white rose in hand. Tyler? Who was Tyler? Suddenly Caroline was out of his arms and running toward the mystery man, throwing her arms around him instead. Stefan's jaw clenched involuntarily. Seeing Caroline in the arms of another man did things to him…things he could not dwell on for the time being. Caroline and Tyler made their way back to the circle, Tyler's arms still wrapped around the blonde vampire.

Just as Stefan went to step to the side to give Caroline more space with this man that obviously meant a lot to her, a hand reached out and grasped his. Stefan started slightly, looking down at the slim, pale fingers that were intertwined with his own. Slowly he looked up to meet the eyes of his best friend, taking in the watery smile Caroline was giving him. He smiled slightly in return and gave her hand a squeeze.

Not for the first time, Stefan found himself desperately wishing he could remember Caroline Forbes.


Stefan hated feeling this way.

Sure, Caroline had basically been his salvation. Since he had re-met her she had been a constant in his life. They were always together and despite all he was going through, Caroline never failed to make him smile. She was funny, she was good, she was funny. Every day he got to learn something new about her.

In fact, Stefan couldn't help but think, not for the first time, how had he and Caroline only ever been friends before? Best friends, according to Caroline, but still. A blind man would now she was gorgeous. Her blonde hair would bounce around her shoulders as she scurried around in haste to always help everyone around her. Her smile would light up even the darkest of rooms. Her giving spirit was open to all.

And Tyler didn't deserve any of it.

After the boy had returned Caroline had been splitting her time between helping Stefan and welcoming Tyler back home. Any time he couldn't get a hold of her he knew who she was with. And Stefan hated it. He had since been filled in on the Caroline and Tyler story, and he didn't deserve her. Tyler had disappeared for months, and even after he was able to return, he didn't. He hurt Caroline over and over again. Stefan hated Tyler for it. And he hated himself for feeling that way, because if he was going to be a good friend like the old Stefan was, he would have to support Tyler. Because Tyler made Caroline happy.

Stefan watched as Caroline and Tyler entered the dance dressed as Bonnie and Clyde. He was pondering escape options so he wouldn't have to deal with the happy couple when he noticed he had been spotted. The vampire shifted in the leather jacket Caroline had instructed him to wear, smiling as he thought of her telling him he would be James Dean. Making a decision Stefan downed the rest of his drink and headed toward the couple, extending his hand to Caroline, "Dance with me. I'm buzzed and I am on the verge of having a good time," He said light-heartedly. He was kidding of course. Stefan had no intention of losing control like he did in the crypt that night. It felt wrong, and it had hurt Caroline.

The blonde smiled at him and slid her hand into his, spinning into Stefan's arms seamlessly. Like she was meant to be there. Caroline gazed up at Stefan as they made their way between the dancing couples, "Having a good time?"

Stefan smiled, "Caroline, I am having the best time. I always do, when I'm with you." Stefan felt a sense of accomplishment as a pretty pink blush spread across Caroline's cheeks. He loved making her happy, letting her know what a special person she was to him. Caroline always had the tendency to see the worst in herself. He could tell she was insecure, that she doubted herself, but not Stefan. When he looked at Caroline he saw perfection.

And it was then, with their bodies dancing together like they were created for just that purpose, that Stefan realized that he was falling in love with Caroline Forbes.


Later that night Stefan sat before the fire in the Salvatore Boarding house, pondering his realization. Yes, he had rapidly growing feelings for Caroline. How could he not? She was like this bubbly, warm perfection that he wanted to hold to his heart and keep safe always. However, Stefan knew that Caroline loved Tyler. She had for years, much longer than Stefan had lost his memories and re-met her. It wouldn't be fair of him to throw his hat in the race, so to speak.

What he wanted, above all else, was for Caroline to be happy. If Tyler did that for her, then so be it. Stefan would always be there for her, always be her friend.

And at that moment there was a knock on the door. Stefan stood slowly, stretching his neck as he made his way to the door. Damon repeatedly breaking his neck so Silas could impersonate him really did a number on him. Stefan opened the door to reveal Caroline, still in her Bonnie costume but without the wig and hat. Her mascara had made lines down her face, the end of her nose was a rosy red, and her breathing was quicker than normal. She had been crying.

"Caroline, what-"

"I gave Tyler a choice," Caroline interrupted, her eyes steely but Stefan could see the pain laying underneath, "He's l-leaving again," She stuttered out, "So I told him, Tyler…you have to choose. Your hatred for Klaus or your love for me…and well…he chose Klaus."

Stefan felt the air woosh from his lungs, "He chose wrong. Caroline, any choice that is not you would be wrong."

At that Caroline's face crumpled as she allowed herself to cry, falling into Stefan's ready arms. He held her tightly, wishing that he could mend her broken heart then and there. No matter what, Stefan was here for Caroline for the long haul.


"Ugh, I am never going to understand this play," Caroline groaned, letting her head fall into her book. She wanted to hit her head against the book until she knocked herself out. "Why am I so stupid?" Caroline grumbled against the pages.

"Caroline, you are not stupid," Stefan responded, his voice thinly veiling the laughter he was trying to keep in. Two hands came out and gently rubbed her shoulders. When Stefan had offered to come to Whitmore and help her study, she didn't realize how much she would struggle in front of him. Even without his memories Stefan was the smartest person she knew, and it was embarrassing to be anything else than that in front of him.

The blonde sat back up to pout at her friend, "You have to say that. You're my best friend. It's…in the best friend code or something." She huffed, tucking her hair behind her ears as she gazed down at the words she was trying desperately to analyze.

Stefan smiled at her and removed his hands from Caroline's shoulders, "I don't have to say that. I'm saying that because I think you're a genius. Truly." He followed her eyesight and smiled softly, "How about I run some of these lines with you? Maybe hearing it out loud will offer a new perspective." He offered.

Caroline brightened, sitting up straighter as she clapped her hands together, "Oh my god, Stefan, that would be amazing. Thank you."

Her friend promptly waved off her thanks, "It's nothing, Caroline. Anything for you." Stefan began collecting the papers and started reading the lines of the male protagonist, missing the soft smile Caroline was giving him.


Caroline laid her cheek against Stefan's shoulder as they circled around the floor of Caroline's dorm room. Stefan had come up to the college for a "Bestie's Fun Night" as Caroline had called it over the phone. The night had started with lots of talking and laughter, and then the drinks came out and the music was turned on. They started with fast songs and were now listening to nostalgic ballads from their prom night, which Stefan wished he could remember.

Stefan ran his hand down Caroline's back, joining it with his other to hold her close, "Caroline?" He murmured into her ear. When he heard the hum of response he hesitated a moment before asking, "How long have you been in love with me?"

Caroline immediately stiffened in his arms. She pulled back with alarm in her eyes, "I-i…what? I…um…" She took a deep breath and closed his eyes, "When we first met…I asked you out and you told me that we would never happen. So I guess…since then?"

"Okay. I really was an idiot before." Stefan cleared his throat, "Caroline…I am so in love. I have been for a while now and…I just needed you to know that I think…you're the most amazing woman and I…well, I…" Stefan leaned in slowly, making sure Caroline was too before he closed his eyes. His lips were suddenly met by fingers and he opened his eyes to see Caroline staring up at him remorsefully.

"Stefan, nothing would make me happier than you kissing me…but you're not really you right now." She sighed and dropped her hand, "I just…if we do this and then your memories come back and you need to break my heart because to realize this love for me doesn't come near the love you have for Elena…I can't go through that. I need you to be sure." Caroline bit her lip, "I love you. I always will. But I can't get my heart broken again because I cared too much and the other person walked away easily. I'm sorry." Caroline looked down at her feet.

Sighing, Stefan bent down to gently kiss Caroline's cheek, "I can't wait until I get my memories back, so I can show you just how wrong you are. No one ever could, or ever will, compare to you." With that Stefan turned and walked out of the room. He needed his memories back. Now.


Stefan knocked on the door of the Forbes house anxiously. He knew Caroline was home for the weekend and he had to see her as soon as possible. The boy smiled as the blonde appeared through the window of her door, coming forward to open it for him.

"Hey...what are you doing here- oh." Caroline was cut off as Stefan cupped her cheeks and leaned down to lay the most passionate kiss of her life against her lips. Despite herself, Caroline's eyelids fluttered shut and her hands came up to clutch Stefan's arms. She whimpered into his mouth helplessly, like she couldn't help herself. Eventually Caroline remembered herself and promptly pulled away, "Stefan…what…I thought we agreed-"

"That we wouldn't start anything until I got my memories back. This is just me keeping that promise." Stefan waited, watching for Caroline to slowly come to the realization of exactly what his words meant.

Caroline's breathe caught, "Wait…Stefan. Do you…do you remember?"

Stefan smiled, taking Caroline's hands in his own. "I remember the first time I met you, I remember how I stupidly turned you down. I remember you turning and how I promised I would never let anything happen to you. I remember dancing at prom and how you told me that someday, I would meet someone new, and fall in love without realizing it. And how right you were. When I was drowning in that quarry, the thought of you was the only thing that got me through. The first thing I wanted to do when I got out was find you and tell you, but then I lost my memories. But it didn't matter, because I fell in love with you all over again."

He took a deep breath, squeezing Caroline's hands, "You were new to me then. I met someone new. I fell madly in love. And that love is unmatched by anything I have ever felt. Caroline…I love you with everything I am…please tell me we can be together."

Stefan didn't have to wait long for a response. Caroline threw her arms around him and kissed him. After a few blissful moments she parted long enough to murmur against his lips, "We can be together." And Stefan knew, they would be for a very long time.


AN: Longest chapter to date! Whoohoo! See you soon with new prompts! Please review!