Previously on I've Been Roaming Around:
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.
... {laugh}...
Caroline's sweet laughter filled the house causing Stefan to smile as he emerged from his bedroom. Finally things were starting to get better, even if some thought it was too soon. Everyone who knew Elena was starting to be happy again. They laughed and smiled. Things were just happy. He descended down the stairs, and saw Caroline sitting on the couch with Jeremy and Damon, her cheeks were slightly pink from laughing. Stefan's smile grew. Damon was happy, and Jeremy was happy. Mainly she was happy! Things really were starting to look up. Three heads turned towards him as they noticed his presence.
"Are you ready to go?"
He looked at Caroline and nodded. "Yeah."
She stood and Jeremy and Damon stood as well. Caroline turned to them as Stefan got his leather jacket.
"Be good okay?"
Jeremy chuckled as Damon scoffed.
"Yeah, we will."
"What makes you think we won't Blondie?"
She rolled her eyes and brought Jeremy into a hug. "You'll be fine." She whispered. She pulled away and grazed her thumb across his cheek. "Be strong Gilbert."
He smiled at her teasing and nodded. Caroline moved to Damon. She was hesitant to give him a hug. Surprise struck her when he pulled her into him.
"I'll take good care of him."
She nodded against his shoulder. "Okay, thank you."
He hugged her tighter. "No. Thank you Caroline, for everything."
She smiled. "You're welcome Damon. You'll be fine." She played with his hair. "Be the big strong, cocky older Salvatore brother we all know and love."
Damon laughed and released her from his grip. "I will."
She smiled at both Jeremy and Damon before turning and walking over to Stefan.
"Okay, we can go."
Stefan nodded and put his hand on the small of her back as he guided her to the door. Caroline gave the boys a small wave before they closed the door behind them.
"Are you sure we should do this?" Caroline asked as she opened the passenger door to Stefan's 1952 red Porsche 911 Turbo.
"Care, if you're not sure. We don't have to go visit her." Stefan spoke as he closed the driver's door and put on his seatbelt.
Caroline shook her head. "No, no we can I-I just...I don't know. Never mind, let's go."
He placed his hand on hers. "You'll be fine. And if you change your mind I'll understand."
She nodded to reassure herself, but she was still unconvinced. The engine roared as they backed out of the driveway. Caroline glanced out the window at all the colorful scenery. It was a beautiful sunny day, all the colors seemed amplified and it was beautiful. She thought of her, it was a day just like this when it happened. She thought of her mother and what had happened to her last year. She was at a crime scene, another girl had been attacked. The whole town thought it was a vampire. Her mother had stupidly gone to the scene by herself and had gotten attacked, not by a vampire. Turns out it was actually a killer. They had knocked her mother to the ground; she had hit her head and suffered from head trauma. She had shot the killer and killed him, it was self defense. Her mother walked away without any charges but the way she had hit her head, caused her to suffer from Alzheimer's. Caroline had gone to visit her in the hospital but her mother had a breakdown and thought Caroline was a robber. Everything had gone downhill from there. This was the first time she was going to visit her since that incident. The car came to a halt and the feeling of Stefan squeezing her hand was what brought her out of her thoughts. She turned and smiled at him.
"Are you ready?" The concern in his voice warmed her heart.
She simply nodded. He smiled and then got out of the car and hurried around to her side, opening her door. She gave him a grateful smile as she climbed out of his car. He closed the door behind her and grabbed her hand. They walked hand in hand into the building.
"Hi, can I help you?" The receptionist asked.
Caroline glanced at Stefan before looking at the receptionist. "Um, yes please. I'm looking for Sheriff Liz Forbes?"
"Oh yes. May I ask how you know her?"
Caroline swallowed the lump in her throat, before squaring her shoulders. "I'm her daughter."
The woman stopped what she was doing and glanced up at Caroline, shock in her eyes.
She cleared her throat. "I see." She came around the counter. "Right this way."
The woman led Caroline and Stefan down the bright florescent hallway. She came to a halt and knocked on a door.
"Mrs. Forbes?" She glanced at Caroline and then Stefan. "Sheriff? You have visitors."
The receptionist opened the door and exposed Liz, who was sitting on the window seat, looking out at the beautiful sunny day. The receptionist smiled at Stefan and Caroline before excusing herself. Caroline glanced at her mother before looking back at Stefan.
He placed his hand on the small of her back, an encouraging gesture. "Go on, I'm right here."
She looked back at her mother and swiftly reached for Stefan's hand. They walked into the room, hand in hand. Caroline didn't know what to say. 'Hi mom, you don't know who I am. But I'm your daughter, who loves you.' No, she couldn't say that.
Liz turned her head towards them. "Who are you? Do I know you?"
Caroline glanced at Stefan. He gave her an encouraging smile with an encouraging hand squeeze.
"Hi, mo-Sheriff Forbes." She said with a polite smile. "Do you recognize me?"
Liz shook her head. "No. Who are you?"
Caroline's smile faded and turned into a frown. She swallowed the lump that was forming in her throat. She moved over to Liz and sat down on the window seat. "My name is Caroline."
The corners of Liz's mouth turned up in a small smile. A surge of hope ran through Caroline.
"Caroline?"
Caroline nodded and moved closer to Liz in hopefulness.
"Caroline. That's a beautiful name! If I ever had a daughter I would have named her Caroline."
Caroline's smile faltered. The surge of hope that she had felt seconds before had now faded, discouragement took its place. She glanced at Stefan with a look of despair on her features. Stefan noticed. It hurt to see Caroline go through this pain. To have someone you love, someone who brought you into this world, the only person you had left not recognize you, would be disastrous. He could not even fathom the idea.
She cleared her throat. "Yeah, my mother loves the name too."
Liz smiled. "That's great. Are you close to your mother?"
Caroline frowned, as her eyes welled with tears while shaking her head. "No, I want to be though, before it's too late." She looked Liz in the eye. "I'm afraid it already is." Caroline spoke under her breathe but Liz caught it.
"What do you mean?"
Caroline moved closer to her and wrapped her arms around her mother. Liz confused glanced at Stefan, who she didn't recognize.
"Mom, I'm sorry I didn't visit you sooner! I was afraid considering the last time I visited. I'm so sorry mom. I'm so sorry!" Caroline cried.
Liz tried to pull away. "Mom? Who are you? I'm not your mother. I'm sorry you have the wrong person."
Caroline pulled away, as if the rejection had burned her. The tears that had welled up in her eyes fell over and ran down her cheeks.
"No! I'm your daughter." Caroline cried as she reached for Liz's hands. "Who loves you!"
Liz pulled her hands away before Caroline could hold onto them. "Leave! I don't know you! Leave." Liz yelled. "Nurse! Nurse!"
"Please." Caroline begged. "Please, you have to remember."
Liz looked at her. "I'm sorry, but I don't know who you are. Leave! Nurse!"
Caroline abruptly stood and charged past Stefan and out of the room. She charged down the hall, avoiding Stefan's concerned calls after her. She burst through the doors and walked down the front steps. She noticed how the weather had suddenly changed, it was dark and cloudy, thunder boomed and rain started falling. This fitted mood perfectly. The tears still ran down her cheeks as she tried to hold back the sobs that wanted to be set free. Her clothes started to soak as the rain fell harder. As she stood there crying in the pouring rain, she felt a firm hand grab hold of her arm. Taking a slight intake of breath, she turned her head to see who held her. Stefan stood there, sympathy and pity in his eyes. His hair, as well as his clothes was getting soaked from standing in the rain.
"Caroline." He tried to speak over the booming thunder.
"Leave me alone please." She sniffled.
She released herself from his grip and took a few steps forward, only to have Stefan move in front of her. He placed both of his hands on her shoulders, which prevented her from going anywhere.
"Caroline-"
"Stefan." She interrupted. "Please, I need to be alone."
"But I don't think now is a good time for you to be."
"Well I think it is!" She snapped. Her voice boomed over the thunder. "So please, just do what I wish and leave me alone."
"Caroline, at least let me drive you back to our place."
She shook her head, stubbornly. "No, I think I'll just walk. I need to think about things."
Tears slowly slid down her cheeks as her voice cracked. Stefan looked at her and knew he wasn't going to win this.
Giving up, Stefan moved out of her way. "Okay."
She walked past him, and kept on walking. Stefan stared after her. He got in his car and followed her, until she bolted off in a vampire speed run, causing him to lose her. She ran as fast as she could, tears mixing with rain falling down her cheeks. Her life was a complete mess right now. How did it get like this? How did she let this happen? Her mother didn't remember her. Her own mother didn't know who she was. The tears fell harder, she had no one. Caroline was the only one left, she had no family. Her father was somewhere in California with David, and her own mother didn't know who she was. Her life was so confusing and it was a mess. Her relationship with her family was crumbling. Her relationships with her friends were rekindling, with Jeremy and Damon, and also with Jenna and Bonnie. But Stefan, she didn't know what kind of relationship they shared. Was it romantic? Or just friendship? It seemed more than just friendship, the way they looked at each other, the little moments that they shared. He was caring and loving. She shook her head and pushed on, her legs felt numb but she kept on running.
A/N: Hey guys! So please review! And let me know what you think! : )