Chapter 6: You're Making Me Look Like a Smuck
After Stefan so abruptly walked out, earlier that evening she decided she would stop by the grill and see some old friends. Well at least that is what she was going to tell everyone, meanwhile she was really going to ruin Stefan's date. As she pulled up out front of the grill, she felt her phone vibrate. She looked down at the phone and it was Klaus.
"Has anyone ever told you have perfect timing?" Caroline asked answering the phone.
"I hadn't heard from you today, and just wanted to check in" Klaus responded.
"Well, my mom was really happy and can't wait to meet you" Caroline spoke happily.
"That's wonderful, should I get the next plane down?" Klaus asked.
"I would love to see you, but I've got a few more things to figure out" Caroline quickly responded. "Caroline, I'm going to see where you came from eventually" Klaus retorted.
"And you will but I'm just tying up a few loose ended so that everything will be perfect" Caroline replied.
"We all have our secrets and I knew what I was getting into when I proposed"
"Klaus, I want you to visit. I'll be back in New York in a few days and then we can plan a weekend to come visit together." Caroline replied. She had missed him, but she couldn't have him finding out about Stefan.
"I understand. I just picked up the New Yorker Magazine and I quote that cool breath of fresh air that was blowing through the tents at fashion week, was the soon to be household name Caroline Lockwood, she has been labeled the next big one" Klaus responded.
"Oh my, the next big one? Thank you honey I needed this, almost as much as I need you"
"What is that noise?" Klaus asked as he could hear strange tunes playing in the background
"The sound of my past"
"Enjoy your evening, I love you"
"Love you too" Caroline answered before hanging up her phone. She took a deep breath and got out of her car and headed into the Grill.
She instantly met eyes with Lily, Stefan's mother. Lily owned the grill, this would be an interesting evening. "Well isn't it my favourite daughter in law!" Lily smiled.
"Hi Lily" Caroline smiled.
"The big apple spit you out?" Lily asked.
"Nope, just here for a visit" Caroline replied.
"Well, drinks are on the house for you tonight, besides your still my favourite" Lily smiled before turning her attention towards Stefan.
Stefan stood beside a pool table with his same friends from high school and his arm around Katherine Pierce. Katherine had been pretty much the town slut in high school, so it wasn't any surprise to Caroline that some people never change. Caroline got herself a grey goose martini with two olives dirty and headed over to the group.
"Caroline you made it!" Tyler yelled. Caroline watched as Stefan's face dropped.
"You invited her…" Katherine muttered.
"Hey Guys, you haven't changed one bit" Caroline smiled, as she let her last words sink in towards Katherine.
"Oh my god, Caroline!" a voice from behind Caroline shouted, she turned around to see a very familiar face of Elena Gilbert.
"Elena you look wonderful!" Caroline grinned giving her a hug
"I might look wonderful now, but you should see when I get home Damon doesn't help with the boys ever!" Elena laughed "I've heard you've been working in New York, have you met Whitney Port?"
"I have not, but when I do I will be letting you know" Caroline walked over to Stefan and stood behind him for a second before tapping him on the shoulder. "I hope you don't mind me interrupting, but I thought I should let you know you're on a date with my husband, as I'm his snotty, bitch Yankee wife. Even though he refuses to divorce. But I am engaged to another man" Caroline held out her hand with the ring
"Oh, my god, Stefan look at this" Katherine screamed
"Katherine, why don't you go see the boys, I'll be over shortly" Stefan responded, Katherine nodded and left the bickering couple. "We had an understanding Caroline, and now your flaunting your Everest sized ring, makes me look like a smuck"
"I have a way to fix that for you!" Caroline retorted.
"Give me the damn papers tomorrow and I will review them"
"Finally!" Caroline smiled.
"One condition, you stay far away from me" Stefan stated before walking away.
"That's fine by me, I'll drink my martini in peace" Caroline grinned. Mystic falls really had not changed, Katherine had always tried to have what Caroline had since they were kids and for the first time Caroline did not have a care in the world towards Stefan and the jealously she once felt towards Katherine. That is after a few more martini's she could barely remember she was back in her hometown. She stumbled out the bar and began to walk home. She enjoyed the freshness of the air and the quietness of the town, it was never like this in New York, this was peaceful. As she walked she heard a honk behind her, she turned. It was Stefan, she shook her head and kept walking.
"Caroline Forbes, still just as independent as ever" Stefan said as he rolled down the window of his truck.
"You told me to stay away" Caroline replied.
"It's 1 am, let me drive you home" Stefan stated as he got out of his truck.
"I am well aware of the time, I don't need your pity" Caroline continued to walk.
"Does your fiancé know about how strong willed you are?" Stefan stated. Caroline stopped.
"No because I've learned to compromise for the one I love" Caroline replied.
"Does he know about you past?" Stefan asked.
"What's it to you?" Caroline asked.
"How do you know if you really love him, if he doesn't know the real you" Stefan stated.
"Will you stop asking questions if I let you drive me home?" Caroline asked. Stefan nodded. The two walked silently back to his truck. Stefan opened the door and Caroline got in.
"Car- I didn't mean to press earlier, if you meet the one for you then there shouldn't be secrets. You told me that when you left. Sorry in the note you left." Stefan said as he drove the truck.
Caroline tried not to react to his comment, it was pretty selfish leaving your husband with a note. She knew that she would need to tell Klaus everything when she saw him. Klaus was her world and knowing that he didn't have a clue about the real her hurt. It hurt more because she had hurt Stefan all those years ago. "What do you want me to say?" Caroline stated firmly.
"That answer is more than enough" Stefan replied
"I'm not going to apologize for our broken marriage, I had the courage to leave because there was nothing left to save. You weren't there for me in my time of need, so much so that I was able to leave without you realizing we had problems." Caroline said.
"What am I doing, this is a bullshit conversation. I tried to be the nice guy and give you a ride home and now you've put all our problems on me. Caroline the best day of my life is when you left, come by tomorrow and I'll sign the damn papers so I never have to see you again" Stefan said as he stopped the truck in front of the Forbes house.
The next morning Caroline got into her rental car and drove over to Stefan's. She sat her in car clutching her papers carefully. She began to think back to all the good times, before everything changed. Before the engagement, when things were simple. They were the happiest then, there was no pressure, no baby, just them. She shook her head as all the bad times flooded back, to the times when he didn't come home. They were so young then, and couldn't work through that one problem. She took a deep breath as she exited the car and walked towards the front door.
"Good Morning Hubby" She smiled
"Hand me the damn papers, and I will drop them off later" Stefan growled before taking them and closing the door.
"This is what I thought love was" Caroline muttered before heading back to her car.
Caroline smiled ear to ear as she drove back to her mother house, she had convinced Stefan of everything she needed and soon she would be married to her soulmate. As she reached the front door she dialed Klaus' number and it went straight to voicemail.
"Klaus honey, I'll be home tomorrow. I have so things to talk to you about when I get back, but I miss you so much and I love you. I hope you are having a great day, and I love you"
Caroline knew she needed to tell Klaus everything, if their marriage was going to work she needed to be truthful with him. Klaus needed to know about being a Forbes and Stefan. Klaus would be supportive of her past he would have to be, she hoped.