A/N The Vampire Diaries Settings and Characters all belong to LJ Smith and the CW. Any original characters and this story are copyright © 2011-2018 to Hopelessromanticgurl, all rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.


Stefan and Lexi shared a look. What were they going to do now?

Elena was hesitant about letting Jeremy leave once he was calmed down, but Lexi promised to keep an eye on him through the night so she finally agreed. But once Lexi and Jeremy left Elena sighed.

"I don't want to sleep Stefan. I know I'll have nightmares."

"Do you trust me?"

"Of course, why?"

Stefan walked over to Elena and took off her necklace. "If you trust me I'll control your dreams and make sure you don't."

Elena smiled softly. "You're not going to make it weird are you, like us making out or something, or you shirtless?"

Stefan laughed. "Not unless you want me too."

Elena giggled and blushed.

Stefan laughed harder. "No, I promise it will be clean."

"Ok."

Elena crawled into bed with Stefan next to her. She snuggled into his arms and closed her eyes. She quickly fell into a deep peaceful sleep, with no nightmares.


The next morning Elena woke up early and had to rush over to school to help set up for the school carnival. Since Caroline was still in the hospital it was up to her and Bonnie.

While she was helping set up the carnival Lexi and Stefan were teaching Jeremy how to be safe around vampires.

Once everything was set up outside she went to see Stefan and the others inside. She just appeared by Stefan's side when he turned to her with a big smile "Hello Elena." He greeted.

She had suspicious feeling he had just said something about her but she decided to let it go for now. She looked to Jeremy. "Do you have…."

"Yeah, yeah, I know the goldfish toss, all 300 goldfish. It's going to be epic." Jeremy groaned. He slammed his locker and walked away. Elena sighed and leaned her head back against the locker.

"He's going to be fine." Stefan said. "He's just been through a little bit of an ordeal."

"I was just hoping that this carnival would wild him back into the land of a high school teenager." Elena said.

"Oh is that what we're doing here?" Stefan teased.

"Yes." Elena answered seriously. "We all are. We're going be boring high school students who live in a world where the "v" word is not uttered."

"Got it!" Stefan nodded.

"Then later you're going to take me on the Ferris wheel, we're going to ride to the very top and then you're going to kiss me and my heart will flutter like a normal high school girl. Do you see a running theme here?

"Yeah I know." Stefan nodded." I'm seeing it and I'm liking it but I have a quick question. Uh, what do we do about Damon?"

"Uh, no "D" word okay? That has been deleted from the list of topic that we can discuss." Elena said.

"Unfortunately Katherine showing up has been a little bit of an odd place, little off-kilter, kind of dangerous. Who knows what he's up to?"

"Don't worry about him. I'll keep an eye on him." Lexi said. "Also tonight during the carnival I'll keep an eye on Jeremy. He seemed a little too excited about learning how to kill a vampire."

Stefan chuckled. "Thanks Lex."

"See you both later." Lexi smiled and walked away.

"I've got to get back to work. If this isn't a completely success Caroline is going to kill me." Elena said. She and Stefan shared a kiss and Elena walked away.


That night Stefan was at home getting ready for the carnival.

"I know you're planning to follow Damon around tonight." Lexi said.

"Yeah, so?" Stefan asked as she ran a brush through his hair.

"Stefan, when was the last time you saw Elena smile? When was the last time you heard her laugh?"

"Uh…."

"Exactly! Forget about your brother! I'll deal with him and keep him away from Jeremy. You take Elena and have fun. She needs it."

"And what about the Lockwood's? If he thinks they're dangerous he might try to do something stupid."

"I will deal with Damon and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid. You trust me right?"

"Of course, Lexi. More than anyone but…"

"No, no buts. Spend tonight with Elena and leave Damon and all his drama to me."

"Are you sure?"

"Stefan, stop arguing." Lexi said.

"All right, fine. Thank you."

Lexi just smiled and walked away.

Stefan finished getting ready and then he headed out.


He arrived at the Carnival and went in search of Elena. Lexi was right, he should be spending tonight with her and making her laugh and smile again, not worrying about his brother's crazy new theory of the Lockwoods.

He went inside to look and saw Damon over by the arm wrestling table. He was watching Tyler win every match. He went over to Damon. "You're lurking." He said.

"I'm observing."

"It's more like obsessing."

"He's got strength." Damon said as Tyler won another match.

"He's a triple varsity athlete, of course he has strength. You're reaching." Stefan said.

Tyler's Uncle Mason walked over to the table. "I bet I could beat you."

"Enter the uncle." Damon said softly.

"That's ridiculous." Stefan said hoping he'd let this go.

They were both shocked to see Mason had beat Tyler. "Ok, he's the champ, who wants to go next?"

"Stefan wants to go." Damon said.

"Thanks." Stefan muttered. Sighing he figured if it would prove to Damon he was a normal human then he'd do it. "Yeah, sure, I'll… give it a shot."

He went over to Mason "My brother over there thinks I could beat you."

"Your brother's wrong." Mason smirked.

Stefan is shocked when Mason's strength over powers his and he wins. He smiled nicely and then went back over to Damon.

"You didn't put in any effort at all." Damon growled.

"Yeah, actually I did." Stefan said shocked.

"Come with me."

Together they went to a private hallway where they could talk alone.

"Is he…?" Damon asked.

"No, no, it wasn't that kind of strength but it was more than human, it doesn't make sense." Stefan said.

"What is up with that family? They're not vampires, what are they?" Damon asked.

"Maybe they're ninja turtles!" Stefan laughed.

"You're not funny." Damon growled.

"Or zombies, werewolves!" Stefan continued with a huge smirk.

"No comedic timing at all."

Damon looked behind him to see a man repairing something. He looked to Stefan with a smirk.

"What? What are you up to?" Stefan asked worriedly.

"Since this is reality and there's no such thing as werewolves or combat turtles…."

"Ninja turtles." Stefan corrected as he walked over to the guy.

Before Damon could even touch the guy Lexi jumped in front of him. "Don't even think about it Damon."

"Why must you always ruin my fun?" Damon sighed dramatically.

"Because your fun involves innocent people getting hurt." Lexi said.

Damon growled and walked away.

"Sorry, I got a little lost." Lexi said.

"It's ok. You have perfect timing." Stefan said. "I'm sure Damon will fill you in, but just in case he doesn't. I just arm wrestled Mason Lockwood and his strength isn't vampire strong, but it's stronger than a human."

"I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. Just go find Elena."

"Thanks Lexi." Stefan quickly went back in search of Elena.


He found her standing off to the side looking at her clipboard. It had been practically glued to her hands all day. It was time to get rid of it. He went over to her and turned to face her and grabbed the other end of the clipboard.

"What do I have to do to pull you away from this thing?"

Elena smirked playfully and held on tighter tugging it toward her. Stefan knew he could easily rip it from her hands, but he decided to play along for a bit and tugged it gently back towards him. Small giggles escaped her lips as they played tug-of-war with the clipboard.

"You won't win Salvatore so give it up." Elena teased.

"I will never give up Gilbert." He teased back. "Besides I know a special trick to remove this from your hands."

"Oh yeah? What's that?" She taunted. "What are you going to do about it, huh, huh, huh?"

"This." He gave the clipboard one hard tug, but he wasn't expected her to be holding on so tightly she ended up lifting the clipboard and Elena right off her feet.

He laughed. "Ok this wasn't what I was planning, but I can used this to my advantage."

Elena giggled as her feet dangled in the air. "Put me down!" she giggled.

Stefan lowered her back down but kept the clipboard up high in the air along with her arms. "Still don't know what I'm planning?"

Elena shook her head. Still using only one hand Stefan reached his other hand toward her. Elena instantly shrieked and yanked her arms down letting go of the clipboard.

Stefan laughed. "That was really too easy.

Elena pouted. "That wasn't fair. You know I'm ticklish."

"What does that have to do with anything? I didn't even touch you."

"You were going to."

"I was going to what?" Stefan smirked.

She pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. "No, I'm not saying it."

Stefan laughed harder. "All I was going to do is reach up and remove your fingers from around the board."

"You liar." Elena said. "You were going to tickle me on my armpit!"

"What did you say Elena? Did you say tickle you on your armpit?" Stefan smirked.

"Stefan no!" Elena squealed. She took off in a run. Stefan laughed and gave her a head start before running after her.

They laughed together as she ran. Soon he gained speed and caught her around the waist and spun her around. She laughed hysterically with him.

When their laughter calmed down they looked into each other's eyes and shared a kiss. They pulled away and smiled at each other. "Let's go have some fun at the Carnival. Lexi is on Jeremy watch and Da…the other person who shall not be named." Stefan said.

Elena giggled and shook her head. "Why is Lexi watching for Lord Voldemort?"

Stefan laughed and shook his head. "You know what I mean."

"I do. Thank you for not using the D word."

"Anytime. Come on let's go play some games."

Elena giggled and followed after him. They spent the next few hours playing games and Stefan continued to win stuffed animals for Elena.


They were just about to stop and get something eat when Damon walked over to them.

"We need to talk in private. Meet me in Ric's classroom in 5 minutes. Just so you know it's about your best friend Caroline so you don't want to blow me off." Damon said. Then he walked away.

Elena looked to Stefan in a panic. Stefan looked to Lexi as she came over. "Listen to him, I know what's going on and it's not good."

Elena sighed and looked to Stefan. He just took her hand and together the three of them walked to the classroom.


Stefan, Lexi, and Elena got to the classroom and sat down by the window. Elena was in the middle of them both. Damon explained to them about Caroline suddenly become a vampire.

"How did this happen?" Stefan asked.

"Well I fed her blood, Katherine killed her, a plus b equals…"

"But why?" Elena asked.

"Because Katherine is a manipulative nasty little slut"

"Why Caroline?" Elena asked.

"I don't know." Damon answered.

"Caroline must be going out of her mind. She has no idea what's happening to her." Stefan sighed.

"Yes, she does, my compulsion started wearing off the minute she was in transition."

"We have to find her."

"Yep, then kill her."

"No!" Elena cried. "You're not going to kill Caroline."

"She knows who we are, she's officially a liability, and we've got to get rid of her."

A flash of Damon snapping Jeremy's neck ran through Elena's mind. She knew he'd have no problem killing Caroline. She reached over to Stefan a look of fear all over her face. He shook his head and rubbing her back.

"Damon, absolutely not."

"Need I to remind you the tragic little story of a girl named Vicki Donovan? Caroline, of all people, will not make it as a vampire. Her mother is a vampire hunter. Guys come on, we all know how this story's going to end, just flip to the last chapter and…"

"Need I remind you…?" Lexi started in a mock type tone. "That I managed to save and help Vicki Donovan? She is doing very well and hasn't killed or hurt one human yet."

"Yet." Damon said. "You got lucky. Caroline won't be the same. It would be a lot easier if we just…"

"It's not an option Damon!" Elena said.

"No?" Damon looked at Stefan who didn't say anything. "Your silence is defining, Stefan. You know I'm right."

"We're not going to kill her." Stefan said.

He took Elena's hand and led her out of the classroom. Lexi followed behind her.

"It's the only way." Damon called.

Stefan and Elena walked out of the school and back into the Carnival.

"You're agree with Damon, don't you?" Elena asked.

Stefan didn't answer he just continued to walk.

"Stefan?"

Stefan stopped walking and turned to face her. "Damon's right, not about what we should do but about what's going to happen. Katherine has decided Caroline's death sentence."

"We can't let it end that way. Stefan he can't kill Caroline."

"I promise you Elena I'm going to do everything I can to stop Damon and help Caroline."

"He's right. I will take her out of town again if I need to, I helped and saved Vicki, I can do it again for Caroline. No matter what it takes we will help her." Lexi nodded.

Elena nodded. "First we need to find her."

Stefan grabbed Elena's hand and they rushed around the carnival looking for them. Lexi went looking as well.


Suddenly Stefan stopped.

"What? Do you hear something?" Elena asked.

"Blood. I smell blood." He said. Stefan literally followed his nose knowing it would lead him to the right place. Elena followed Stefan.

Finally she saw something. She saw someone who looked like Damon hugging a blond girl who had blood all over her face…wait…hugging? Damon wanted to kill her not comfort her unless…the old Damon was coming out.

Elena's eyes went wide when he saw Damon raise the steak over Caroline's head.

"NO! DAMON STOP!" she screamed.

Stefan rushed over and grabbed the steak from his hands and pulled Caroline away from him. Elena ran over to Caroline.

Caroline pulled away. "No, get away from me! You killed me!"

"No, no, no that wasn't me. That was Katherine you know that."

"Then why does she look like you and why, why did she do this to me."

"Caroline it's ok. Calm down." Lexi said as she walked over to Caroline. "We're going to help you."

"No!" Caroline screamed fearfully.

"Not Damon's way, my way." Lexi said. "I'm going to help you my way."

Caroline seemed to calm down. "Good girl, now come with me. I'll take you inside and help you clean up."

Caroline nodded and took Lexi's hand as she went to lead her into the bathroom.

"She is going to die, it's only a matter of time." Damon said.

"It's not going to happen tonight." Elena said.

"Oh yeah it will."

Damon quickly rushed over to Elena and Caroline but Elena used her body as a human shield to protect Caroline.

"Damon she is my friend." Elena growled.

Stefan pulled Damon away and grabbed the stake from his hands. "We've got it under control just get out of here." Stefan said.

He turned to the three girls and they all headed inside to help Caroline.

Once Elena knew Caroline was taken care of she went back outside to wait, but in doing so she managed to stop Bonnie from killing Damon, then she had to comfort Bonnie who just learned about Caroline as well.


It was late, very late. The Carnival was officially over and it her day of normal fun turned into a disaster. She was at her locker getting her things when Stefan walked over to her. "Hey. Caroline is okay for now, I'm going check in on her later and Lexi is spending the night to keep an eye on her."

"What about the guy she…" Elena asked carefully.

"It's taking care of." Stefan said.

"Damon's right, isn't he? It won't end her for her?"

"No, I'm going to make sure that he's wrong."

"I just can't believe what this day has turned into."

"Not a normal day huh?"

Elena shook her head. "I was stupid to think that it could be. I mean, nothing about my life is normal. My best friend is a witch and a vampire, my boyfriend is a vampire and I have a doppelgänger who wants to destroy all of us."

"I'm sorry." Stefan sighed.

"No, it's not your fault, Stefan. It's no one's fault you know? It is what it is."

Stefan reached out to gently stroke her cheek.

"I'm fine, I'm fine." Elena said more to herself than Stefan. "It's just that… you know what? I'm fine. I'm going to call you tomorrow okay? Good night Stefan." With that she walked away.

Stefan sighed. "Good night."

Lexi walked over. "How is she?"

Stefan shrugged. "She's pulling away."

"You know will make her feel better?" Lexi asked.

"A different boyfriend, a human one."

Lexi rolled her eyes and shook her head. "No, what's the one thing she asked for tonight that you never did?"

"The Ferris wheel." Stefan said.

Lexi nodded. "I'm going to compel the guard to go on break, just before dawn go get Elena and bring her back her, jump both you and her to the top and watch the sunrise and kiss her. It's not much but it will make her smile again."

Stefan nodded. "Thank you, Lexi. For everything."

Lexi smiled and nodded. "I'm headed over to Caroline's now. I'll see you tomorrow."

Stefan nodded and they said their good byes.


Just like Lexi said, around dawn Stefan went to Elena's house and into her bedroom. He smiled at the sight of her sleeping peacefully with her teddy bear snuggled in her arms. He leaned down and kissed her cheek.

She woke up with a surprised gasp but then relaxed when she saw him. "Hmm. Hi, what time is it?"

"Almost dawn. Come with me." He said softly. He took her hand and kissed it gently helping her get out of bed.

Elena was surprised when they wound up back at school. But she was even more surprised when they went back over to the Carnival.

He took her hand and they went over to the Ferris wheel, it was empty and there was no guard.

"Stefan, what are we doing here?"

"Lexi compelled the guard to go on break so I could kiss my girlfriend on the top of the Ferris wheel as we watch the sunrise."

"Stefan…" Elena sighed softly.

"We have to take these moments, Elena. What Katherine did to Caroline could just be the beginning and there are things with Tyler's family that we don't even understand yet and there's always a "D" word but I came back to this town to start a life with you. We can't forget to live it."

Elena smiled. "How are we going to get to the top?"

Stefan smirked. "Just hold on tight."

He pulled her into him and jump up landing on the seat. Elena burst into laughter. Stefan smiled, that was the sound he had been waiting to hear all week. Elena caught him staring at her and smiled.

"What?" she asked.

"It's just so nice to hear you laugh." He said.

She smiled and they shared a deep kiss. They pulled away and Elena cuddled into his side as he wrapped his arm around her holding her close. Together they just sat there watching the sunrise.

"It's so beautiful." Elena said.

"Yeah it is."

Elena giggled. "And here I was thinking you were about to say something cheesy about me bring more beautiful than the sunset."

"You said it not me." He smirked.

"Did you just trick me into complimenting myself?"

"Maybe."

Elena just giggled shaking her head. "I love you Stefan."

"I love you too Elena."

They shared another kiss, they would deal with everything else tomorrow, but for right now it was just the two of them and that's just how they wanted it to be.


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