Previously on I've Been Roaming Around:
"Stefan," Her voice was soft. "I'm sorry for what I said to you and how I acted."
His eyes met hers.
"What I said was inappropriate and immature and also completely uncalled-for. So please I just-"
"Caroline," Stefan interrupted. "It's alright. I forgave you a little while ago. It was completely understandable why you said what you did. You were hurting and I was being insensitive and selfish. I was only thinking about how I felt. And I completely disregarded your feelings. I mean you lost someone too, we all did. We all lost someone special to us." He looked at her seriously, compassion in his light green eyes. "So I understand, and I'm here if you need me."
He gave her a faint smile and then walked back toward the house. Caroline let his words sink in. She turned and watched his retreating back disappear inside.
... {laugh}...
A soft laughter filled the guest room of the Gilbert house. Caroline sat cross-legged on the bed, giggling at something Stefan had said. It was pleasant, enjoyable how Stefan and Caroline could make each other laugh while going through such a rough time. It was satisfying for them to have each other, to help one another through their grieving. There was a light knock on the bedroom door, causing Stefan and Caroline to stifle their laughter and place their attention to the door.
"Caroline?"
The voice said as the door opened slowly, exposing a groggy looking Jeremy. His hair was a complete mess. It was sticking up in weird places, signifying his hard time trying to sleep.
"Oh, sorry Jer. Did we wake you?"
He shook his head and walked farther into the room, and out of the doorway. Jeremy's red rimmed eyes caught the light and Caroline knew he had been crying. She glanced at Stefan and saw that he noticed the younger Gilbert's tear stained face. Jeremy moved toward the edge of the bed and sat down.
"Care." His voice sounded so broken. "I was wondering if-" He couldn't even finish, as the tears started to fall again.
Jeremy quickly tried to wipe them away, so that Stefan wouldn't think less of him. But Stefan didn't, he knew that Jeremy was hurting; everyone was. Caroline took no time in waiting. She instantly pulled Jeremy toward her. She held onto him, one arm around his broad back and the other holding his head against her chest, while she rested her chin on his head. She slowly rocked him, while rubbing her hand over his back.
"Shh, Jer, shh." She soothed. "It's okay, shh, it's okay."
Her eyes met Stefan's as they both shared a small smile. Stefan noticed how Jeremy and Caroline acted around each other, in a brother and sister manner. Caroline was there for Jeremy when he needed someone, she was there to comfort him. They exchanged a knowing look, showing how concerned they both were for the younger Gilbert. Soon, a sympathetic look followed. Caroline helped sooth Jeremy as he kept crying and the two had stayed silent, well except for Caroline's soothing and comforting words. When their eyes found one another's again, Stefan gave her a small smile, and he noticed Caroline hug Jeremy tighter. He noticed her eyes close as she kissed his head and whispered soothing words into his hair. A warm feeling filled him as he watched their comforting encounter happen. And feel how much they both cared for each other shine through. It was a feeling of friendship, protectiveness, and love. A feeling that siblings share and even though Caroline wasn't truly Jeremy's sister, she was now.
They didn't know how long he had been crying for, but it was a while. Caroline figured this was the first time he'd cried over the death of his sister. Jeremy, being a man, probably held his feelings in, not wanting to seem weak. But he had probably had enough of that and needed to let it out, so he did. And he needed someone like Caroline to comfort him. When Jeremy finally got all his emotion out, he stayed in Caroline's arms. She was still rubbing his back until he pulled away.
"Thank you Caroline." He said, not meeting her eyes.
She placed her hand on his. "You're welcome Jer. I'm here whenever you need someone, okay?"
He nodded.
"Want me to walk you back to your room?"
"Sure." He sniffled.
Jeremy stood up and Caroline followed. They walked towards the door and as they did Caroline leaned down towards Stefan.
"I'll be right back."
He nodded and looked up at her. "Take your time."
She gave him a smile and then left the room with Jeremy. As they entered his room, Jeremy turned sharply towards her.
"I'm sorry for acting like such a baby."
Caroline cocked her head to the side. "Jer, you were not acting like a baby. You just lost your sister, you were grieving. It's completely fine and normal."
"It's just so hard!" His voice had risen in frustration.
"I know. I know it is. But we all will get through it. It will be tough and sometimes, we're going to want to do stupid things to make the pain go away. But we can only think that we'll get through this. We've all experienced some sort of loss in our life, whether it is death or your father leaving his family for another man. But we all made it through our earlier experiences so we can make it through this one as well. Okay?"
He nodded. "Thanks Caroline."
She rubbed her thumb over his cheek. "You'll get through this okay? You're strong. You're a Gilbert. And if you ever need someone to help you, there's Stefan and I."
He nodded again and walked over to her and hugged her.
"You know you are like my second sister, right?"
Caroline nodded. "Yeah, you are like a brother to me. Now get some sleep, okay?"
He pulled away and moved toward his bed and Caroline followed.
"I love you Jer."
He turned toward her. "I love you too Care."
She leaned toward him and kissed his cheek.
"Have a good sleep, good night."
He pulled the covers over his body. "Night Caroline."
She smiled at him before turning and exiting the room. She entered her room, to find Stefan lying on her bed asleep. She tiptoed over and lightly sat down on it. She leaned against the headboard and stared straight ahead, getting lost in her thoughts.
Poor Jeremy. Caroline knew he was hurting, they all were. But she didn't know he was hurting so much. She couldn't describe how badly she felt for him. He had lost so much, his parents at fifteen and now his sister at nineteen. His whole family was gone, well except for Jenna, Caroline still pitied him. Maybe that was why she was so caring over him now? He had no one, so she felt like it was her duty to give him someone. To give him another sister, this would be her. He had said that she was his second sister and she was glad. She was an only child so she was glad to have a brother.
She smiled. Jeremy would be a good brother. He'd be caring, protective and Jeremy would love her. Not a romantic love, a love that she had never gotten from her mother, or even her father. A family love that she had never been given. A love that she had been so delighted to express but held it in because she did not receive it. She had been met with disappointment. But that disappointment would soon dissolve as she stayed in Mystic Falls and helped Jeremy through this. She needed to help him. She needed to help Jeremy to help herself. She heard the bed comforter crinkle as Stefan stirred.
"Hey." Stefan's groggy voice spoke. This brought Caroline out of her thoughts.
She looked at him still in a daze. "Hi."
Stefan rubbed his eyes. "How's Jeremy?"
"He's in pretty rough shape. I had no idea just how badly he was hurting." She brushed her hair out of her face. "I feel so bad for him. I mean the poor guy has been through so much, losing his parents at fifteen and now his sister almost four years later. That's got to be tough on him. He just needs someone to help him. He needs someone to tell him that they're there and that what has happened isn't normal. No one usually looses their entire family in less than a decade. Unless of some huge unfortunate travesty occurred. Jeremy just needs someone to tell him that they won't leave him like everyone else has."
Stefan placed his hand over hers. She glanced at their hands before looking back at him.
"He does have someone Caroline." He noticed her eyes light up with confusion. "He has you. You'll help him through this. You're just that kind of person."
Caroline smiled at him. "Thank you Stefan." She moved closer to him. "You always know the right things to say. But you're that kind of person too. You helped me through a lot of things, and I don't think I've ever thanked you for that." She paused and glanced at him. "So, thank you."
He smiled at her. "You're welcome Caroline."
His voice was soft and it made Caroline feel the depth of sleep overpower her. She yawned and Stefan outstretched his arms.
"Come on, let's get some sleep."
Caroline moved into his arms and felt secure, safe. She rested her head against his chest and felt her eye lids grow heavy in exhaustion. Letting her eye lids fall shut, she let the comfort of sleep overtake her.
Stefan watched her as her heavy eye lids closed. He watched as sleep consumed her. He watched as her chest elevate as her breaths became even. The only thought that crossed his mind as he stared at the beautiful creature in front of him was she looked at peace. She wasn't stressing, grieving. She was just calm, not a care in the world. And that's what he loved.
... {live}...
Caroline stirred as the bright sunlight shone through a crevice between the curtains of the window. Opening her eyes, only to squint and shield her eyes as the brightness blinded her. She tried sitting up but felt a warm presence beside her, turning in confusion at who it was, only for a smile of realization to cross her face. Stefan. Stefan laid there, arm draped protectively over her middle torso and a small curve of his lips, which signified that he was having a good dream. Caroline smiled down at him, the feeling of content and comfort came over her. She didn't want to move, but deciding to let Stefan sleep after everything that had happened lately. Thinking, that rest could be the best thing for him right now, he needed to sleep. She reluctantly but slowly picked up his arm and in one swift motion she moved it off of her. She swiftly sat up, pulled the covers off of her and stood on the hardwood floor.
Glancing around the room for nothing in particular, she walked toward the door and wrapped her fingers around the metal doorknob. She quietly opened the door, only to have a loud creaking sound irrupt from the hinges in the old wood. Caroline quickly glanced at Stefan making sure that she didn't stir him. Finding her actions had not disturbed him she quietly closed the door behind her. Quietly making her way down the stairs she entered the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee. She leaned against the counter, mug in her hand and she let out a sigh of content. Everything was starting to be normal again. Life was going back to normal. Not that their lives had ever been just normal. But things were starting to look up. That made Caroline smile to herself. Sure Elena dying had caused uproar but people were starting to grieve and move on. Life was finally almost normal again. The sound of someone's throat clearing caused Caroline to jump. She whirled around, the coffee mug almost slipping from her hands.
"Alaric!"
"Morning Caroline. Sorry for scaring you."
"Morning, oh and don't worry about it. I was off in dreamland."
An awkward silence filled the room.
"So how are you holding up?"
Alaric shrugged. "Okay I guess." He looked down at the ground. "I feel terrible for saying this, but her death didn't really surprise me."
Caroline furrowed her eyebrows. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, we were all mentally prepared for the day she would. We have all been prepared since she told us that she would sacrifice herself instead of having someone she loved die." He paused and gave Caroline a sympathetic look. "It may still hurt to know that she really is gone. But you've been emotionally prepared for the day to come when she would die; we all have."
Caroline nodded. "Yeah, I know that now."
She gave him a soft smile.
"Thanks Ric."
She placed her empty mug by the sink and started walking out of the kitchen.
"Oh and Ric," Caroline called over her shoulder. "When Stefan wakes up, just tell him that I went hunting and to meet me at the boarding house. Okay?"
"Will do!"
"Okay, thank you!" She said as she closed the door behind her.
She really needed to clear her mind, and hunting would help do exactly that.
... {love}...
Going on that hunt had done exactly what she had wanted it to do. It had cleared her mind and she was glad. As she walked through the Salvatore boarding house, she heard loud Italian opera music. Curiosity struck her and her feet carried her into the living room, what she saw before her struck pity in her heart. Damon. He was singing-more like shouting-the lyrics, a glass of scotch in his hand as he swayed his hips to the music.
"Damon." Her tone was soft.
He turned and looked at her, a drunken smirk plastered on his lips as he wiped at his tearful eyes.
"Caroline." He sniffled.
"Damon." She spoke as she took a step towards him, before hesitating.
Should she go over to him? Why was she even asking herself this? Of course she should go over to him. He was hurting and he needed comfort. She moved towards him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She didn't expect him to put his arms around her but she was somewhat surprised when she felt his strong arms wrap around her.
"It's good to see you."
She felt him nod. "Yeah, it's good to see you too." His voice was hoarse.
"Damon, go ahead. Let yourself feel. It will help."
He pulled away from her and wiped more at his eyes. He brought the glass to his lips and was about to drink the gold colored liquid when Caroline pulled the glass from his hands.
She tried reasoning with him. "You'll feel better. Please, Damon it's not good to keep things cooped up. You need to do this, it will help with everything."
He glared at her. "No it won't Caroline!" he yelled.
He grabbed the glass back and knocked his head back and gulped down the rest of the alcohol. He walked over to the table and placed the glass down, before moving over to the fireplace and leaned against it, his back facing her.
"I could never be what she wanted me to be!" Damon said as he turned and faced Caroline. The vulnerability in his voice broke her heart. "I-I couldn't..."
Caroline moved towards him and wrapped her arms around him. "Shh." She said soothingly. "It's okay Damon. Just let yourself feel, let everything out."
For the first time she saw Damon Salvatore cry and her heart broke for him. She felt all the pain he was going through, and as he cried, Caroline just held him. And let him release all his emotions that he had had bottled up, stored inside of him, afraid to let them show.
Soon after Damon had calmed down, they were sitting on the couch. Caroline was still holding him as he softly cried. She heard the front heavy wooden door open and then close. Stefan emerged around the corner and came to a halt at what he saw. Caroline noticed his brows furrow and confusion come across his features. She motioned her index finger to her lips, signaling for him to be quiet. He nodded and then walked into the room, only to walk right by her and up the stairs. Caroline sighed. She needed to talk to him. She quickly glanced at Damon. His tears had subsided for the moment. She slowly moved him so that he was lying down on the couch. Caroline got up and took one step before stopping and looking at him.
"Go, go see Stefan." He mumbled as he flicked his hand at her.
"Are you-"
"Caroline go!" His hoarse voice squeaked out.
She nodded and swiftly walked over and up the stairs. Moving towards his bedroom, her hand gently knocked on the wooden door.
"Stefan!" She called, as she wrapped her hand around the doorknob and turned it. "Stefan?"
She opened the door and peaked her head inside. What she saw made her weak in the knees. Stefan was shirtless. Yes, she had seen him shirtless before, many times actually. But still he was Stefan Salvatore, and he had an unbelievably marvelous body! She cleared her throat, which made him notice her presence.
He snapped his head in her direction. "Hey."
She smiled softly and gave him a small wave. "Hey."
He looked at her more attentively. "Is everything alright? What's up with..." He motioned downstairs to Damon.
Caroline walked into the room. "He's okay now, I think. He just needed to let everything out."
Stefan nodded and walked over to her. "And you just happened to be the one to comfort him?"
He wasn't mad. His voice just had questioning in it.
Caroline nodded and brought one of her hands to his shoulder. "Yes, I did. I've been little Miss comforter these days. Haven't you noticed?" She teased.
Stefan chuckled and brought both of his hand to the side of her face. He leaned in and kissed her forehead. "Why yes, I have. And I thank you for it."
The kiss on the forehead made Caroline feel like a small child being comforted by her father. But the way his eyes looked as he looked down at her. Something changed, the atmosphere in the room changed and it felt heavy with sexual tension. Caroline cleared her throat, still looking into his eyes. She rubbed her thumb across his cheek and smiled.
"I'm going to let you finish whatever it was you were doing okay? I'll be downstairs."
He nodded and watched as she turned and walked over to the door.
"Caroline."
He reached for her arm and swiftly swung her around. He pulled her close and kissed her, a sweet chaste kiss.
The sound of the door closing made Stefan flinch out of his day dream. He let out a heavy sigh as he ran a hand through his hair. He wanted her, badly.
A/N: So what did you guys think of this chapter? Give me some feedback or ideas and I'll think about them. : ) Or you guys could guess at where the story is going? But yeah let me know what you think, especially with the Jeremy/Caroline scenes that I write. I think they are adorable together, but more in like a brother/sister way, you know?