The Story Of Our Life

2 years old

"Hi, Elena!" Bonnie waved into the camera that she held, smiling brightly for her sleeping friend, "Today is Caroline and Stefan's wedding day. It is going to be perfect, Caroline would demand nothing less." She turned the camera around to walk over to Caroline who was in her robe applying her make up, "Say hello, Care."

Caroline turned to the camera, a mile wide smile on her face which has never gone down since she woke this morning and remembered that it was her wedding day, "Hey, Elena. I am getting married today to the love of my life!" She giggled, a part of her was still unsure whether this was some part of a perfect dream that she hadn't woke up from yet. Her smile twinged with sadness, "I wish you could be here, Elena, but I know that when you wake up we will have so many videos to show you." Her eyes twinkled with happiness, "It'll be like you were there with us."

Bonnie rest the camera in a position so that it would be on herself and Caroline. She walked to the side and swooped up her niece in her arms, she walked back over to the camera smiling down at Lizzie, "Say hello to your aunt Elena."

Lizzie; who was wearing a miniature version of Caroline's wedding dress, looked toward the camera and waved her hand enthusiastically, a beaming smile on her face, "Hello, auntie Elena." She laughed excitedly, "My mommy and daddy are being married today." She creased her brow in a spitting image of Stefan's confused face, "I don't know what it is. But daddy told me that it means he will love mommy forever and ever and ever." She grinned as she stretched her arms as wide apart as she could, "So I'm happy. Daddy needs mommy, and mommy needs daddy, and I need my mommy and daddy forever and ever and ever."

Caroline was trying to apply her make up when she overheard her daughter's beautiful words, her eyes filled with tears as her heart gave an extra beat. She was the most perfect and the happiest little girl, and everyday with her made her love her even more. She smiled over at her precious angel, wiped away a tear, and felt overwhelmed with love for her family. After today they would be complete, tied together for eternity by two matching rings on their fingers.

She reached over for her phone and sent a quick text:

I love you forever and ever and ever, Stefan Salvatore

In a room in the other wing of the house Stefan was already dressed in his suit, his hair was styled, and he was eager for the ceremony to start so that he could begin the rest of his eternity married to the love of his life. He had a glass of bourbon in his hands that he was slowly sipping on not wanting to get drunk but he just needed something to steady his nerves.

He knew that Caroline loved him, he knew it straight down to his bones, there was not one hint of doubt in his mind that she didn't want this as much as he did, but... until he saw her beautiful face, watching as she walked towards him, waiting for her to slip her hand in his... he would remain nervous. Their lives until Lizzie was one disaster after another, and unfortunately he still remembered the tragic outcome of the last wedding they went to, and while their lives had been quiet since becoming parents he couldn't help the fear of what could happen.

A text interrupted his thoughts. Stefan pulled his phone out, and couldn't help the big grin that covered his face after reading Caroline's message. She knew just the right moment to make him feel that everything was still perfect, and banish his morose and fearful thoughts from his mind. He chuckled as he wrote his reply:

Have you been talking to our little girl?

Caroline's reply was quick:

Yes :) It was so sweet what you told her, and makes me love you even more. I can't wait to be your wife xxx

He smiled big, his eyes sparkling with tears, his heart racing at the thought of Caroline becoming his wife in a few short hours. His life had become a perfect fairytale of complete happiness. He only wished that he had realised how wonderful Caroline was sooner so that he could have gotten with her earlier. But as she tells him quite often, if they'd gotten together sooner than they would have never had Lizzie, and neither of them could imagine their life without her now.

And I can't wait to be your husband. I love you forever and ever and ever too, Caroline xxx

Stefan was still smiling at his phone, the screen saver being the smiling faces of Lizzie and Caroline, taken the day at the beach when he had asked her to marry him. The second happiest day of his life after Lizzie's birth, and after today it will be in his top three moments.

Just how did his life become so perfect?

Damon chose that moment to walk over, a full glass of bourbon in his hand, and another full one for his brother, he placed it on the table in front of them. He slapped his hand on Stefan's shoulder and squeezed it, "If you wanna make a run for it, brother, the time is now."

Stefan turned his unamused glare to his brother, "Do you honestly believe that I would ever run out on Caroline or Lizzie? They are my entire world."

Damon smirked, "I know you wouldn't, Stefan." He walked in front of Stefan, patting his cheek with his other hand, "But my job as your older brother is to make sure you have all available choices before you."

Stefan's lips twitched in amusement, "Oh yeah?" He crossed his arms over his chest, and asked on a laugh, "So what are my choices, big brother?"

"Well, little brother, option one is that you and I do a runner." Damon couldn't stop the smile on his face at the completely fixed relationship between him and his brother. He had missed him when they were apart, and after all the heartbreaks between them he was glad they could finally put that behind them, especially now that they had Lizzie. She was his little angel, his saviour in one little adorable package, and she had been a big part in lifting him out of his Elena depression.

"Never gonna happen." Stefan was still smiling but his voice had never been more serious. He would never leave them, not ever, and it would kill him to ever be apart from them.

"Option two is that you wait at the end of that aisle for your happy ending to come to you." Damon smiled, squeezing Stefan's shoulders as he watched the tears spring to his eyes.

Stefan closed his eyes and smiled. A shuddering breath leaving him, his heart racing, his hands shaking in anticipation of seeing his gorgeous girl walk towards him and make him the happiest man that ever lived. He opened his eyes to meet his brother's knowing ones, swallowing the lump in his throat he stated shakily but confidently, "Option two it is."

Damon pulled Stefan into his arms, slapping his back as he smiled, "I am happy for you, little brother. You deserve the happiness that Caroline and Lizzie give you." He tightened his hold briefly as he spoke past the heartache in his chest, "Hold on to it with everything you have. Never lose it."

Stefan nodded into his brother's shoulder, tightening his own arms around him, "I will."

Damon patted his back one more time before releasing him. The emotional moment was over. He grinned down at Stefan, "Time to take you to the church to wait for your girl."

Stefan took a deep steadying breath, his hands still shaking with nerves. He couldn't wait until Lizzie and Caroline came down that aisle and his life became complete. He took the drink off the table, and necked it in one go before putting it back. He smoothed out his clothes one more time before smiling at his brother, "I'm ready."

Two words had never been more accurate.

Caroline was waiting in the foyer waiting for her turn to walk down the aisle and become Mrs Caroline Salvatore. Her whole body was vibrating with electricity, her heart racing in both nerves and anticipation. In just a few minutes she would turn the corner and see Stefan waiting for her, and then she would take the twenty steps toward her happiness.

Bonnie placed a kiss on Caroline's cheek, a happy smile on her face, "I'm so happy for you, Caroline." She blinked away the tears in her eyes, the happiness she felt for her best friend was almost overwhelming to her, "You and Stefan are made for each other."

"I love you, Bonnie Bennett." Caroline felt tears prick her eyes at Bonnie's words. It meant so much to her that her best friend was happy for her, she just wished that her other friend could be here, but she would video it and when Elena woke up she could see everything like she was there with them.

"I love you too, Caroline Forbes." Bonnie giggled, holding Caroline's hand briefly, "Soon to be Salvatore."

Caroline grinned, her heart racing as the music changed. It was almost time for her to walk down the aisle to join Stefan.

Bonnie walked to the archway where Damon waited for her. They would be walking together as he was Stefan's best man, and she was Caroline's bridesmaid. She threaded her hand through his, clutched her bouquet of sunflowers, and walked down the aisle.

"Your turn, sweetheart." Caroline smiled at her daughter, handing her a small wicker basket full of pink and red rose petals. She bent down, placing a tender kiss on her forehead, "I want you to throw the petals on either side of you while you go to daddy. Just like we practised?"

"I remember." Lizzie leaned up and kissed Caroline's cheek, "I love you, mommy."

"I love you too, sweetheart." Caroline stood back up, hugging the corner of the archway so that she could watch her daughter make her way down the aisle, throwing the petals perfectly. She smiled in love and pride as Lizzie reached her father.

Caroline's breath caught in her throat, her heart beating erratically as the music switched. It was time, that was her cue to make her way to Stefan. She was nervous, happy, excited. Her emotions were going crazy inside her.

Her hands trembled around her bouquet of daisies. She smoothed out her dress, and finally stood beneath the archway. Her eyes met Stefan's shining ones, and all thoughts and feelings except love and happiness fled her. She had waited her whole life to find someone who would love her the way Stefan does. She couldn't wait to be his wife, or for him to be her husband. This was everything she'd ever wanted.

She couldn't wait any longer.

Caroline smiled at Stefan, filling her eyes with all the love she felt for him, and mouthed "I love you" before taking the first step towards the man of her dreams.

Stefan had been standing at the altar waiting for Caroline. He couldn't even remember how long it's been, the nerves that never left made him fidget and wring his hands. He just needed to see her gorgeous face, and then all thoughts but her would leave him.

He watched smiling as Bonnie and Damon made their way to their spots either side of him and Caroline, when she came down the aisle herself. His anxiety only grew as he had to wait even longer for Caroline, he knew that if she wasn't here that Bonnie or Damon would not have walked down the aisle full of smiles, but he couldn't help it. He had wanted this moment with Caroline for so long, and he had waited long enough for her to be his wife. He just needed her by his side, always.

Lizzie began her walk toward him, tossing her petals delicately on either side of her that they fell like a beautiful colourful rain. He smiled with loving pride at his daughter. He knelt down, opening his arms to her, "Come to me, Lizzie. Come to daddy."

Lizzie's smile widened, and she all but ran the final length straight into her father's arms. Stefan picked her up, holding her at his waist, and he placed a kiss on the top of her head, "You did perfectly."

Lizzie wrapped her little arms around Stefan's neck, kissing him on the cheek, "I love you, daddy."

Stefan held his daughter close, breathing in that perfect smell of his little girl, he smiled into her hair, repeating her words, "I love you too, angel."

Still holding Lizzie against him his eyes fell to the end of the aisle where he saw Caroline. His breath caught, his eyes widening as he took in the vision in front of his eyes. There was no words that could express just how utterly beautiful she looked. She took his breath away. His nerves left him the moment he laid eyes on her. She mouthed that she loved him, and he easily mouthed back "I love you".

As Caroline made her way toward him, everything that wasn't her disappeared from his sight. She was the only thing he could see, his heart racing wildly in his chest the nearer she got. He couldn't look away from her dazzling blue eyes, a smile curving his lips as she stood before him.

He couldn't wait to marry her.

Caroline smiled at the sight of her daughter in Stefan's arms. This was how they had planned it from the start, Lizzie would not only be their flower girl but she would be with them for the whole ceremony. They wanted her to be a part of every moment, so that she could share in their love.

Caroline and Stefan didn't look away from each others eyes as the pastor began the ceremony. Every moment was a blur, all they could concentrate on was each other, and the moment they slid their rings on one another's fingers as they said, "I do."

"I now pronounce you husband and wife." The pastor smiled at the beautiful couple before him, "You may now kiss your bride."

Stefan cupped Caroline's cheek, brushing his thumb against her skin as he gazed tearfully into her equally wet eyes. He kept his eyes on hers until the very last second, where he closed them as he lovingly covered her mouth with his. He softly moved his lips over hers, a smile on both of their faces as they kissed.

Caroline let the tears of pure happiness run down her cheeks as she kissed her husband for the first time. Her life was perfect, she had a beautiful daughter, and now an extremely handsome kind and loving husband. She had everything she had ever wanted.

Stefan pulled back, still stroking her cheek only now he was swiping her tears away. His own tears ran down his face unchecked, he had never felt so happy in his entire existence. He had everything he ever wanted, and he had just married his best friend. He had a love that would last forever.

The pastor gave the emotional couple a moment before announcing to the assembled guests, "I present to you, Mr and Mrs Salvatore."

Matching grins broke across Stefan and Caroline's faces. They laced their hands together, and laughed in pure happiness as they ran down the aisle with their daughter.

3 years old...

Preschool

Caroline and Stefan each held Lizzie's hand as they walked her into her preschool. Today was her first day, and Caroline was an emotional wreck. She had been by her daughter's side every day for over three years so it was hard to let her go. Stefan was the logical one, reminding her that their little girl needed to make friends who weren't over 170 years old. Caroline eventually gave in, knowing what a social butterfly she had been, and how reserved Stefan could be, she wanted her daughter to take after her and find her own Bonnie and Elena.

They had reached her class, a smile curling their mouths as Lizzie held onto their hands tighter, and began to hide behind their legs in shyness. Stefan and Caroline shared a look, laughter escaping them both, they didn't think her shyness would last very long.

The teacher approached them, a judging look appearing on her face as she noticed how young they looked. She eyed them as she introduced herself, "Hi, I am Rosalie. Is this your daughter?"

Caroline clenched her jaw before she caught her eyes, her pupils widened as she began to compel her, "You can take your judgemental look and stick it up your ass!"

"Caroline!" Stefan chastised her, though he couldn't help but let a chuckle out.

Caroline rolled her eyes, she wouldn't deal with this woman's judgement, like she had any right to think anything about her, "If anything, anything, happens to my daughter you will contact me immediately. Without hesitation."

Rosalie repeated Caroline's orders, the compulsion taking hold.

Caroline grinned brightly before dropping to her knees to pull Lizzie into her arms, "I am going to miss you, sweetheart. It will only be a few hours and then we'll be can for you."

Stefan knelt down beside them, wrapping his arms around his wife and daughter, "I want you to have loads of fun here, angel."

Lizzie looked around her shyly, "What if they don't like me?"

"Oh, sweetheart." Caroline cupped her cheeks in her palms, "They are going to love you."

"You are just like your momma, Lizzie." Stefan smiled at his daughter, before kissing Caroline's cheek, "Everyone will fall in love with you by the end of the day."

Lizzie was still unsure as she took her tentative first steps away from her parents and towards the roomful of children. A young girl with red hair in pigtails approached her, she tried to smile, feeling shy, "Hello."

The girl stared at her for a moment before breaking out into a grin, "Come play with us!" She took her hand and led her over to the toys and other girls. Soon Lizzie's smile was as bright as the others and she was giggling away.

Stefan wrapped his arm around Caroline's waist holding her tightly to his side as they watched their little girl make her first friend. It was a happy moment, and yet twinged with sadness as this was the start of their beautiful daughter learning to grow up.

Caroline stayed plastered to Stefan's side as they left Lizzie with her new friends. Tears fell down her face, and she never knew she could be so emotional at her daughter starting preschool. Her baby was growing up. It was both heartbreaking, and the most pride she'd ever felt in her life. She now understood all that her mom had gone through every time she's dropped her off on the first day of school.

Stefan stopped at their car. He wrapped both of his arms around her, and held her close as she cried. He knew that it was an emotional situation for his wife, he was feeling just as emotional but he knew this was what happened when you had children. You watched them grow, and help them learn, and eventually you let them go once they became an adult.

Caroline wiped her tears away with a laugh, "Sorry I'm being all emotional. It's just our baby is growing up!"

Stefan cradled her face, and pulled her to his lips where he kissed her reverently, with all the love in his heart. He dropped his head against hers as he pulled away, gazing lovingly at his reason for living, and whispered, "I love you, Caroline."

Caroline smiled as she returned his love easily, "I love you too, Stefan." She closed her eyes and took comfort from the love of her life. She was so grateful that he never grew annoyed with her emotional state, he just stayed his own calm self, and just held her or told her he loved her as she calmed down.

Today was the first time she did this. Dropped Lizzie off for her first day of school. She still had many more to come over the years.

6 years old...

Kindergarten

It was a repeat of three years ago. Stefan and Caroline holding a hand of their daughter as they walked her in on her first day of school. Only this time she was no longer shy. She waved at her friends, Maria and Cami, Maria being the redhead that came up to her on her first day of preschool, they had become inseparable quiet quickly. Cami became her friend the same day, and she too was inseparable from their little group. They were best friends. It was just like how she, Bonnie and Elena became friends when they were children. It gave Caroline great joy to see that her daughter had found two friends that were more like sisters like she had.

Stefan gave Lizzie a hug and a kiss, "Have a good day at school, angel."

Lizzie smiled brightly at Stefan, "I will, daddy!"

Caroline held her next, holding her tight and as long as she allowed her, it was still hard to drop her daughter off at school. She kissed her forehead, "Have fun, sweetheart."

Lizzie smiled and yelled as she ran towards her friends, "Love you!"

Stefan curled his arm around Caroline again, resting his head against hers as he watched his beautiful daughter bloom into life around her friends. Lizzie was just like Caroline, once she made friends she was loyal to them. He couldn't be prouder of the girl she was turning in to. A perfect blend of Caroline's sunny personality, and his own reserved one.

Caroline nuzzled her face against Stefan's and sighed, "Do you think it will ever get easier to let her go, Stefan?"

"No, I don't." Stefan shook his head, he knew that it would never be easy to see their daughter leave them, and begin to become independent. But he knew that it was what was best for Lizzie, and that's all he needed to make the pain worth it, "But to become a just as wonderful adult, we have to give her the space to grow."

"I know." Caroline sighed, the ache from Lizzie's growing up would never leave, but she knew to watch her grow into a beautiful woman would be rewarding.

"I love you." Stefan whispered before kissing his wife tenderly.

Caroline pulled back to smile at her husband, "I love you."

10 years old...

4th Grade

Lizzie opened the front door, running through the hall with tears on her face as she went upstairs and slammed her bedroom shut. The tears could be heard from downstairs.

Stefan and Caroline shared a worried look. Lizzie was always happy and smiling, this was the first time that she and ever come home from school in tears ever since she'd started.

"Should I go?" Stefan asked, concerned about whatever was upsetting his daughter. If he found out that it was a bully making Lizzie cry he would be tempted to send Damon to scare the child to never lay a hand or say a bad word against his little girl.

"I'll go." Caroline pressed a short kiss to Stefan's lips before she made her way to her daughter's bedroom. She knocked softly on the door, "Lizzie? May I come in?"

"Yeah!" Lizzie's voice was muffled, but you could still quite clearly hear the tears in it.

Caroline pushed open the door, shutting it quietly behind her. Her heart ached at the sight of her daughter's tears. She made her way over to the bed, and pulled her into her arms letting her sob against her. She rubbed her hands up and down her back before she asked, "What happened?"

"I hate Maria!" Lizzie cried out, anger and hurt in her voice, "I never want to see her again."

Caroline smiled in understanding. Lizzie and Maria must have had their first friend fight. She almost chucked, lord knew she had plenty with Elena and Bonnie as they grew up, each time declaring that she hated them and would never speak to them again. But without fail, give it a few days and they were best friends again. She continued to soothingly stroke Lizzie's back as she asked, "What happened?"

Lizzie explained how that Maria had found a new friend, and where she normally paired with her for school work she had started paying attention to this other girl. She had given her a few days with her new friend before confronting her. They yelled at each other on the playground and now refused to talk to one another. They were no longer friends.

Ah, jealousy... Caroline thought with a knowing smirk. As she had painful experience with, she knew just what it was like to be jealous and hurt when one of your friends makes another friend, or you feel left out. She rest her head against Lizzie's, "I was once insanely jealous of your aunt Elena, everything she did I had to do better, be better than her, I resented that everyone loved her better than me." She sighed as she remembered the pain and hurt of that messed up time in my life, "But in my hurt I had put a shell around myself so that the person on the outside wasn't the same as the person on the inside. I became a person I didn't recognize, and was not a very good friend." She placed a kiss on her daughter's head, "Once I let go of that lonely hurt girl, and started to really pay attention to what my friends were going through I became a much better friend."

Lizzie whimpered as her tears dried up, she looked at her mother with wide and afraid eyes, "What if she likes her better than me?"

Caroline shook her head and smiled, "If you joined Maria and her new friend, if you got to know her, you probably would become friends with her too."

Lizzie chewed her lip, Stefan's contemplation face on her features. She was obviously thinking about what Caroline said.

"I'll leave you to think about, sweetheart." Caroline kissed the top of her head, and left her in her room to rejoin her husband downstairs.

The moment Caroline came into the living room, Stefan pressed his mouth to hers, kissing her deeply and passionately. His hands roamed her back as he lost himself in her taste.

Caroline pulled back breathless, "What was that for?"

Stefan smiled at her lovingly, "You are a wonderful mother, Caroline Salvatore." He thread his fingers through her hair, gazing deeply into her eyes, "Just as I knew you would be."

Caroline's eyes fluttered closed as Stefan devoured her mouth with his. Almost eleven years together and he still took her breath away.

A few days later...

Caroline walked into her home to hear the sounds of girls laughter. She walked to the kitchen where Stefan was. She gave him a loving kiss in greeting, and couldn't help but enquire, "Who's upstairs with Lizzie?"

"Maria." Stefan grinned in amusement as he poured three glasses of juice.

Caroline narrowed her eyes at the third glass that Stefan poured, "And who is the other glass for? Cami?"

Stefan shook his head, "Nope. It's for Sarah, Maria and Lizzie's new friend." He grinned proudly at his gorgeous wife, "I guess your words helped Lizzie make up, and make a new friend."

Caroline ducked her head, a blush on her cheeks, "I'm glad that she took my advice. I didn't want her to make the mistakes that I did with Elena and Bonnie."

Stefan kissed her sweetly, "You are just a wonderful mother, Caroline." He stroked down her cheek tenderly, "And it only makes me love you more."

Caroline gazed at her perfect husband in awe, "I love you too, Stefan."

Stefan winked at Caroline before he called to the girls. They rushed downstairs to fetch their drinks before going back upstairs. It was nice to hear the sound of laughter coming from Lizzie's room again after the tears of the other night.

Stefan and Caroline gazed lovingly into each others eyes, the hearts beating in sync as they shared a look of happiness.

Lizzie was growing up into a girl that they could not be more proud of.

TBC

AN – I hope you all enjoyed it! Next is high school ;p and you'll find out how Lizzie became a vampire.