Chapter 4: Welcome Home Caroline
Caroline stood outside her once familiar home, Stefan hadn't changed one thing since she had left. She felt foolish about this whole ordeal but she needed his signature so she could finally move forward with her life. She sat on the porch for a few minutes waiting to see if Stefan would open the door, but she knew with all certainty that he was going to that man was just about as stubborn as they come. She felt her phone vibrate in her purse, she grabbed it and saw Klaus' name. A smile came across he face.
"I love you, I love you, I love you" Caroline spoke softy as she answered the phone.
"I know your probably busy, but I just wanted to make sure you landed safely" Klaus voice echoed.
"I did, and thank you for checking up on me" Caroline quickly replied.
" So… How did your mom react?" Klaus asked. Caroline sighed before responding.
"Well, haven't quite got there yet… My surprise visit has her well a little be surprised." Caroline lied. She knew she couldn't tell Klaus about her pervious marriage that would well ruin everything she had built in New York.
"Well, I mean it has been seven years." Klaus responded.
"Yeah, note to self remember to visit my mother" Caroline giggled.
"Well, I'll leave you to it. Remember that I love you and can't wait to start planning the perfect wedding with you" Klaus laughed.
"Love you to Niklaus. Be safe and stay out of trouble" Caroline replied.
"I should be saying that to you, if your stories about that town are true."Klaus spoke before hanging up.
"I'm a taken woman now, and I've changed a lot" Caroline muttered quietly. Caroline carefully looked at her phone and smiled. Klaus was the man for her, he was a man, not some overgrown man child that barely man it to the wedding. She found her thoughts drifting, but then it hit her. She had hid the spare key under the gnome so many keys ago, and if it was still there she could go inside and finish this divorce. She looked for the gnome and found it in some overgrown bushes, she smiled when she lifted the gnome and found the key.
She slipped around the porch and carefully unlocked the door, as she opened the door she couldn't help notice that the inside much like the outside hadn't changed. She sighed before looking around to find Stefan, as she carefully crept around her former home she saw the bathroom door closed. She went a sat on the couch in the living room waiting for him.
Shortly after, Stefan exited the bathroom and he headed straight for the fridge. He grabbed a beer and began to drink it. Seeing his wife, seeing Caroline after all these years was shocking. He missed he but she had left him, and he understood her reasons but he still couldn't sign those papers. As he went to sit in the living room, he noticed the front door was open and Caroline was sitting on the couch.
"You can't really lock someone out when they know where the spare key is" Caroline laughed.
"Maybe if they had told the other person where it was, they could have found a better hiding spot" Stefan retorted.
"Just sign the damn papers, and I'll leave you alone" Caroline yelled.
"No, I don't have to do anything" Stefan smiled as he sat down on the couch.
"Please, Stefan lets just end this"Caroline pleaded as she handed the papers to him.
"End this marriage, honey I'm just getting started. Besides having a wife is so much fun." Stefan smiled.
" I'm not your wife Stefan, I'm just the first girl to climb into the back seat of your car" Caroline replied as she rummaged in her bag for a pen.
"You didn't complain then" he muttered
"I didn't know what a real relationship was" Caroline replied.
"What's his name?" Stefan stood there and bit her lip. After seven years he could still read her like an open book. She stood there silently. "Care, after seven years you come back and you think hmmm… Maybe my husband will give me that divorce I've wanted… There has to be a reason, and I'm betting it's a guy." Stefan stood up, and so did Caroline they stood inches away from each other, she could feel his breathe on her face. There eyes connected for a split second and Caroline found herself thinking back the that raining night many years ago. She shook her head lightly before stepping back. "I heard you on the phone, he doesn't know does he?" Stefan asked.
"Stefan, this guy is a man, that treats me like princess and cares about me" Caroline muttered.
"Well he can wait a few more days." Stefan replied as he saw a sheriffs vehicle turning into his driveway. Caroline turned and saw the car.
"You called my mother?!" Caroline yelled.
"Not exactly" Stefan replied. As he went over to the door "Deputy Donavan" Stefan smiled as Matt Donavan greeted him at the door. Matt had been one of Stefan's groomsmen at there wedding, and he knew Caroline very well, once upon a time.
"What seems to be the problem, Stefan?" Matt asked as he stepped into the home.
"I'm the problem, Matt" Caroline stated.
"Caroline Forbes, it's been ages!" Matt smiled as he ran over to her and gave her a hug. Caroline sent a playful look to Stefan. Matt began to ask her many questions.
"Ahem" Stefan said after a few moments.
"Right, Caroline you can't just go breaking into people's home" Matt said.
"Well Matt, if you could tell Stefan here to sign these divorce papers. I'd happily leave." Caroline explained.
"Stef, I thought you took care of this?" Matt asked.
"I thought I did!" Stefan replied.
"So you two are still married?" Matt asked.
"Yep" Caroline quickly replied.
"This isn't a break and enter, this is just a domestic dispute, sounds like you two have a lot of talking to do" Matt answered as he turned to leave. Caroline smiled and waved.
"Do you know you sunk your mom's tractor in the Hewitt pond?" Stefan asked
" stop!" Caroline yelled, sending Stefan a glare. Matt carefully turned around and glared at Stefan.
" It was little miss sunshine over there" Stefan smiled innocently and pointed at Caroline. Matt frown.
"That was like eight years ago!" Caroline replied. Matt shook his head and pointed to his truck, Caroline nodded and followed him, scowling at Stefan.
"At least now your mom will know your in town!" Stefan called out behind her.
Caroline sat quietly in the sheriffs office, being the sheriffs daughter did have its perks. But honestly she'd rather be anywhere else. She watch as he mother entered the building a walked directly over to her office.
"Liz it's nice to see you" Caroline smiled as her mother entered the room.
" Caroline" her mother muttered before sitting down at her desk.
"Old habits die hard?" Caroline replied. Liz sighed before making eye contact with Caroline. Just like everything in this town her mother had also not changed one bit.
" of course the first thing you do is stop at Stefan's" Liz stated.
"He and I had some unfinished business." Caroline replied, with a smile.
" Seven years and your first stop is to your ex-husbands?"
"Technically not ex-husband" Caroline replied. Liz looked around, her office was like a fish bowl, and this would be conversation to have at home.
"Let's take you home, where we can discuss this not in front of my entire department" Liz said standing up quickly. Caroline nodded.
A/N: I know it's not a very long chapter but it does have some steroline and klaroline. I actually haven't decided on who I'd rather want so let me know if you all have preference and I'll take it into consideration!