It had been a month of bliss since Caroline and Stefan declared their love for each other.
They would fall asleep in each other's arms and wake up in the same way.
They spent every minute of every day together. It was like they couldn't breathe if they were away from one another. And in a way, that's truly how Caroline felt. She knew she was safe with Stefan by her side, but it was more than that. When they were apart, she felt like she was missing a piece of herself. Just the sight of him was intoxicating to her. She loved the way her body felt like it was on fire when he would touch her. The way she saw his eyes light up whenever she would enter a room. She loved that he always had to be touching her, whether it was holding her hand, his arm wrapped around her waist or around her shoulders. She loved that every morning he would wake her up by whispering 'I love you' in her ear. She loved the way how passionate and caring he made sure to be when he was making love to her. She loved that she could always see the love in his eyes. She loved everything about him.

Caroline rolled over and wrapped the blanket tighter around herself, feeling cold. Her eyes fluttered open when she realized she was not wrapped in Stefan's arms anymore. She stretched as she sat up and looked around the room.

"Stefan?"
When she didn't get an answer, she figured he must have gone downstairs for some breakfast.

She got out of bed and went into the bathroom to run a brush through her hair and brush her teeth before she got dressed.
She checked her phone and noticed what the date was. She had forgotten about her own birthday. She shrugged her shoulders; she hadn't cared about birthdays since her mom passed away. They didn't seem worth celebrating without her there.

Caroline walked into the kitchen and saw Stefan in there by himself, moving around in front of the stove.

She walked up behind him and slid her arms around his waist as she placed a kiss on his shoulder.

"Good morning, boyfriend."

Stefan turned around his her arms so he was facing her, as his hands found their place on her hips.

"Good morning beautiful", he said back to her with a kiss to her forehead.
"Breakfast is almost done. Why don't you take a seat and I'll bring your plate."

Caroline gave him a quick peck on the lips and walked over to her spot at the table at the same time that Damon and Elena walked into the kitchen, hand in hand as always.

"Morning lovebirds", Caroline told them with a smile.
"Good morning", they both said in unison.

Damon walked over to see what Stefan was cooking as Elena sat down next to Caroline.

"What's everyone doing today?" Caroline asked as she laughed at Stefan smacking Damon's hand away from the bacon that was on the counter.

"Well actually Care, I was hoping you and I could go get our nails done together and then maybe grab some lunch?" Elena asked with a big smile and a super chipper voice.

Caroline just rolled her eyes and laughed at Elena. She knew was today was. Elena never forgot a birthday. Caroline was very grateful that she hadn't said anything out loud. Caroline didn't want Stefan to get mad that she hadn't told him, or even worse, make a big deal out of it being her birthday.

She turned to her friend, "That sounds great!"

"Babe, Caroline and I are going out for a few hours, alright?" Caroline heard Elena tell Damon as Stefan brought her breakfast over and gave her a kiss as he set her plate down.

Damon just nodded his head, not even paying attention now that he'd managed to get some of the bacon.

Elena just laughed. "I'm going to go finish getting ready and we can go whenever you're done Care."
Caroline nodded at her friend, her mouth full of food.

Stefan sat next to her and took one of her hands in his, letting her use her other hand to eat.

"What are you boys going to do today?" she asked him.
Stefan just shrugged.
"Probably try to get some things done around the house. Definitely grocery shopping, since somebody refuses to do it!" he said a bit louder, making sure Damon could hear him.
He just shook his head with a laugh when Damon didn't even bat an eye, clearly pretending he hadn't heard his brother.

Caroline laughed at the brothers.
"Hey, if you're going to the store, can you please get me some—"
"Chocolate chip cookie dough", Stefan said with a smile before she could finish.
Caroline flashed her amazing smile at him before leaning in and giving him a kiss.
"You know me so well" she said.
"I sure do", he said back with another kiss.

Just then Elena came down the stairs and told her she was ready.
The girls started walking to the car when Elena wrapped her arms around Caroline in a big hug,
"Happy birthday, Caroline!"
Caroline smiled at her best friend, "thank you Elena!"

Caroline and Elena picked out the color they wanted on their nails and took a seat, waiting for the ladies in the nail salon to start.

"By the way, thank you for not telling Stefan it was my birthday", Caroline said as she turned to Elena.
"I just really don't want to make it a big deal and I'm sure he would if he knew."
"It's no problem Caroline. I'm just glad we get some girl time together!" Elena said with a big smile.
"Me too! Should we just grab something to eat at The Grill after this?"
"Yeah, definitely. I just have to be back to the house by 3, Damon and I have a double date tonight with a couple of friends. And I figured you would want some alone time with Stefan", Elena told her with a shoulder nudge, making Caroline blush.
"You are a wonderful best friend Elena Gilbert."
Elena laughed at her, "I know!"

The girls got their nails done and had a great time at lunch talking and laughing about their many memories together and then they headed home to see their boys.

When they got back to the house, Caroline saw two extra cars in the driveway but just figured it was Elena and Damon's friends that they were going out with.
She had to admit, she was pretty excited about spending the whole night alone with Stefan. They were always together of course, but usually Damon and Elena were with them and they did most things in a group. It would be nice to have Stefan to herself tonight.

Caroline and Elena walked into the living room and Caroline screamed and nearly jumped out of her skin when a room full of people yelled, "SURPRISE!"
Everyone clapped and cheered, happy that they were able to surprise her.
She couldn't believe how many of their old friends were there, she was so happy.

Caroline turned to Elena who was smiling and laughing.
"You didn't really think I was going to let you get away with not having a birthday party, did you?"
Caroline smiled at her friend and pulled her into a big hug.
"Thank you, Elena. Nicely played, by the way!" she told her with a laugh.
"Well, you should really be thanking Stefan. He's the one who pulled this whole thing off."

Caroline scanned the room and found Stefan standing in the middle of the room, his green eyes fixated on her, the biggest smile on his face.
She walked over to him and instantly wrapped her arms around his neck and began kissing him.

Stefan pulled away after a minute, chuckling at Caroline.
"Easy there birthday girl. I'm saving my good stuff for later tonight." He told her with a wink and smiled when he saw the blush take over her cheeks.
"I can't believe you did all of this for me."
"Are you kidding? If anyone deserves a kick ass birthday party, it's my girl."
She smiled and leaned up to kiss him, but a familiar voice stopped her.
"Geez Caroline. You've only been here for 10 minutes and the whole time you've been glued to this guy's lips."

Caroline's eyes lit up as soon as she turned around.
"OH MY GOD, BONNIE!" she screamed so loud everyone in the room stopped to look at the friends.
Caroline threw herself into the arms of the girl standing before her.

Bonnie, Caroline and Elena had practically been inseparable when they were kids. And when Caroline had to move away, she stayed in touch with Bonnie just as much as she did with Elena. Bonnie had begun dating Elena's younger brother Jeremy about two years ago. When Jeremy got accepted into an art school in Savannah, Georgia, she moved with him. She was happy for Bonnie but it made it even harder to play visits between the three girls. Caroline couldn't believe that they were even there right now. She had missed her friend so much.

When they pulled away, both girls had tears in their eyes.
"How are you here right now!?" Caroline asked, shock still in her shaky voice.
"Well, your boy toy over there called me and Jeremy a couple of days ago and arranged for us to get up here for your party. This guy is seriously good, he had everything already taken care of before he even called us. Don't let this one go, Care." She told her friend with a wink.

Caroline looked back and smiled as she saw Stefan talking to Damon and Jeremy.
"I don't plan on it" she said with a smile as she turned back to Bonnie.

The rest of the party was amazing. Everyone was mingling and getting along great.

The girls were sitting at the kitchen table, having a couple of drinks and laughing and talking about the night the night that Bonnie's dad caught her and Jeremy kissing on their front porch for the first time.

"Guysss, it's not funny! I was mortified!" Bonnie said with a pout.
"I'm pretty sure your dad was even more mortified, Bon." Caroline said while she and Elena were dying laughing.
"Oh god, I really missed this. The three of us together, I wish we could do this more often." Elena said with a sad smile.
"I do too", Caroline said. "But, I am so glad that we're all together right now!"
"And Jeremy and I will be here the whole week. So we have plenty of time to catch up!" Bonnie told them with a big smile.
"Oh my god, this is perfect!" Elena exclaimed. "You can both be with me to go look for my wedding dress!"
They all laughed and held up their drinks for a cheers before they started talking about another embarrassing story from their teenage years.

Stefan stood at the entrance of the living room, smiling as he watched Caroline dancing with Elena and all of their friends. She looked so happy and at peace in the presence of all these people who loved her. He heard her laugh and his heart grew a hundred times its size. He loved seeing her so happy.

"You really love her don't you?" he heard from behind him.
Stefan turned around and came face to face with a smiling Bonnie.
"Yeah, I really do" he told her with a smile of his own. "She's the best thing that's ever happened to me."
"Well, from the way she looks at you, I'd say she feels the exact same way about you."
He smiled at the short brunette, "Thank you Bonnie. And thank you guys for coming. I know how much it must mean to Caroline."
"You did an amazing thing for her tonight Stefan. After everything she's been through with Tyler and losing her mom, being around all these people was just what she needed. YOU are just what she needed."
"That means a lot coming from you Bonnie, so thank you."
"Just remember, you hurt her, and I will hunt you down." She told him with a finger pointed into his chest.
Stefan just laughed at her, "You have my word, I will never hurt her."
Bonnie nodded at him with a smile and walked back over to her friends.

One by one, the guests left the party until it was just the six friends. Bonnie and Jeremy decided to go to bed first and went upstairs to one of the guest rooms. Then Damon and Elena decided to turn in and it was just Stefan and Caroline in the living room. She was sitting in his lap, leaning her head against his chest and she ran his finger up and down her arm.

"Stefan, thank you so much for all of this. You don't know what this meant to me." She said as she turned to look at him and kiss him on the cheek.
"Anything for you beautiful. BUT, our night isn't over just yet." He told her with a smile as he picked her up and began carrying her to his bedroom.
"What are you up to Mr. Salvatore?"
"Just be patient, I promise it'll be worth it."

They stopped at his door.
"Alright, close your eyes."

Caroline did as she was told and heard him open the door.

"Open."

Caroline gasped as she opened her eyes.
There were candles lit everywhere in the room and the bed and floor was covered in rose pedals. In the middle of the bed was a box wrapped with a bow.

"Oh Stefan, this is so beautiful!"
"Nothing but the best for my girls" he said as he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.
"Why don't you go over there and open your present."
"You didn't have to get me anything, the party was more than enough." She said turning around in his arms.
"That was for everyone else to enjoy. This part is for me." He said with a smile and a kiss to her lips.

Caroline walked over to the bed and began to unwrap the box.

When she opened it, tears pooled in her eyes.

It was the most beautiful necklace she had ever seen.

It was in the shape of a heart with shimmering diamonds all around it and a 'C' made out of a ruby in the middle.

"This is gorgeous."
"No, you're gorgeous, this will just be a nice accessory." He told her with a smile as he took the necklace and began to put it on for her.
She turned to face him and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.
"You have made this the greatest birthday ever, Stefan. I love you so much."
Stefan kissed her back before he said, "You deserve all of this and more. I love you, Caroline Forbes."

Caroline ended the best birthday of her life by making love to Stefan and falling asleep happily in his strong arms.

Hello everyone! There you have it, finally chapter 13! I hope you all liked this chapter. The next couple of chapters will have some more drama in it but I loved writing this chapter, I think it's my favorite so far! As always, reviews and comments are appreciated. Thank you all for reading!