"Damon…Tyler is here."

Damon eyes snapped up to the bar, but he didn't see Tyler.
He turned back to Caroline and saw nothing but absolute fear in her eyes.

Stefan and Elena were still dancing when he looked over and saw Damon and Caroline just standing there. And then he saw the look on Caroline's face; something was wrong.

He made his way over to Caroline and when he reached for her hand, she jumped away from him like he'd burned her.
She turned around to see who it was and instantly threw herself into Stefan's arms when she realized it was him.

"Whoa, Caroline, what's wrong?"
She was sobbing at this point and couldn't get any words out, so Damon answered for her.
"She saw Tyler at the bar…", he said as he gave his brother a worried look.
"WHAT!?" Stefan shouted.

Damon saw the instant rage in Stefan's eyes as he told him.
"Caroline saw him standing at the bar, but we don't know where he went."

Stefan cradled Caroline's face in his hands, "Are you positive that it was him?"
She could only nod in response.
"Why the hell would he show up here?" He shouted at no one in particular.

Elena pulled Caroline into her arms as she continued to sob.
"Care, don't worry, everything will be okay", she tried to reassure her friend.
"Why would he come here Elena? I thought I was finally free", she responded when she finally caught her breath.
"I don't know, but nothing is going to happen to you, okay? He's not going to hurt you ever again", she promised her.
"I need to get out of here, I can't breathe."
"I'm taking her home", Stefan told Damon and Elena.
"We'll stick around here and make sure we don't see him", Damon told him.
Stefan nodded.
"I'm so sorry this had to happen at your engagement party you guys", Caroline said with a sad smile.
"Don't you dare apologize, Caroline. This party was amazing", Elena assured her.

They said their goodbyes and they left, Stefan with his arm wrapped tightly around Caroline the whole way home.

It had been two weeks since the party and Caroline was on edge 24/7. No one had seen Tyler since that night but she was constantly afraid. So much so, she'd only left the house one time.

Stefan was worried about her. She had barely spoken a word in the last week. He knew she was scared, but her personality had completely changed. She didn't want to do anything; no leaving the house, she barely ate, and she just locked herself in her room. Anytime he tried to go near her, he could see her pulling away from him. She wouldn't let him touch her. It was breaking his heart.

Stefan had just gotten this amazing girl in his life and he felt like he was losing her. He didn't know how to take away her fear; he didn't know how to help the woman he loved and that fact was killing him inside. He needed to try and get through to her in any way he could.

He decided to pack a picnic for the two of them. They could go to the lake on their property and they could be alone.

He walked into the living room and saw Damon and Elena on the couch, watching a movie.

"I'm going to take Caroline out for a little bit", he told them as he walked in.
"Do you really think that's a good idea?" Elena asked him with a worried look.
"I have to try something Elena. She's shutting everyone out. I know she's scared but I need her to come back to me", he responded, a quiver in his voice. The truth was, this scared him just as much.

Elena nodded, she really did understand. She was so worried about her friend, but it didn't seem like anything that anyone did was getting through to her. Everyone was at a loss for what to do. She hoped that Stefan could make any kind of progress.

"Good luck brother", Damon told him.

He walked upstairs and knocked as her entered her room.
"Caroline?"
He saw her in the exact same spot she'd been for the last two weeks; laying in her bed, blanket covering her entire body.
He sat down on the bed and slowly pulled the blanket back.
He put a hand on her shoulder and felt like he'd been stabbed in the heart when she jumped at his touch and moved further away.
"Caroline, I want you to come somewhere with me."
"I don't feel like leaving Stefan." Her voice sounded so defeated.
"Please? We won't be gone for long…please Caroline", he begged.
She turned to look at him, noticing the sadness in his eyes as she did.
She knew this wasn't fair to him.
She nodded her head in agreement and saw him breathe a sigh of relief.
"I'll wait for you downstairs", he told her as he got up to walk out of the room.

When they got to their spot, Stefan laid out the large blanket he'd brought and set the picnic basket down.
"Are you hungry?" he asked.
"A little."
He smiled as he pulled out a couple of sandwiches and a drink for each of them.

They ate in silence and enjoyed the view of the lake in front of them.
Caroline felt like she had so many things she wanted to say, but didn't know how to even begin, so she blurted out the first thing she could.
"I'm sorry", she said.
Stefan looked at her with a confused look on his face.
"Caroline, why are you sorry?"
"A lot of reasons, but mostly for the way I've been acting this week. I know this isn't fair to you, Stefan. This isn't your problem, you shouldn't have to deal with my past. It's just, I thought I was free of him, I thought I was safe. I never thought that he would find me here. And as soon as I saw him that night, everything came rushing back. I can't let him get near you or Damon or Elena, because if something happens to any of you it will be my fault and I just can't-"

Stefan cut her off when he slammed his lips against hers, feeling the saltiness from her tears.
He pushed them back so he was on top of her as he ran his tongue across her bottom lip, begging for the access she gave him.

Caroline moaned into the kiss. She had almost forgotten what kissing Stefan did to her. It made her feel light headed, she could feel the kiss all the way to her toes. She began to feel the familiar burning in the pit of her stomach; god, she'd missed this. It had only been two weeks but not kissing Stefan for that long had felt like a lifetime.

Stefan pulled away from the kiss and looked down at the beautiful woman that lay beneath him and brushed her cheek with the back of his hand.

He looked into her gorgeous blue eyes, "Don't you ever think for one second that any of this is your fault. You are the strongest person that I have ever known Caroline and no matter what happens, WE will get through this, together. Don't worry about me or Damon or Elena, we will all be okay; and so will you. I promise you, I will not let anything happen to you. You will always be safe with me. I will always protect you. I love you Caroline Forbes."

Caroline's heart was beating a million times a second. She'd been wanting to say those words to him for so long, she couldn't believe it was finally out there. At this very moment, she was on cloud nine.

She cradled his face in her hands as she smiled looking at this amazing man in front of her.
"I love you too, Stefan. More than you know."

She was still scared, but looking into Stefan's eyes, she knew it would all be okay. She and Stefan were together and that was all that mattered.

Stefan's heart was soaring at hearing her say those words back to him. He leaned down and kissed her passionately.

He was going to do everything in his power to make sure that Caroline was always safe in his arms.

Those three little words are finally out in the open. Will love be enough?
I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. I feel like it took me FOREVER to write it! The next chapter will be up by Friday night. Reviews and comments always appreciated. Thank you to everyone who continues to read this story, it truly means so much to me since this is my first story. You are all amazing!