A/N: What? Two updates in two days shocking I know. I've had most of this written for a few chapters now, just been waiting to get there and it's finally here. Hope you enjoy 💜

He was in complete and utter despair. Downhearted, wretched, hopeless. Had been for a couple weeks now. Accepted the fact that his brother was most likely going to kill himself if he carried on the way he was headed. He had been getting himself in trouble like always. Drugs, gangs now this. He was currently in custody for assualt. A drunken bar fight gone out of control. But this was the second time Stefan had been called into the station to collect him this week alone. He knew this was the life he was destined to live now. Waking up each morning wondering if today was the day he had to pick Damon up from the mortuary rather than the police station.

"Stefan. You here for your brother?" Caroline's mom questioned as she entered the room to sit in her desk chair opposite him.

"Yeah. Unfortuantely" Stefan mumbled ashamed.

"I was hoping to speak to your parents"

"Oh ummm. Well, They're kinda out of town" he lied.

Well half lied. His mom was out of town. She went away to vist his grandmother. His father on the other hand was very much sat at home. Oblivious to the troubled activities Damon was up to now. Luckily Stefan got the message on the machine from Liz saying they had Damon in custody first. If his father found out he was in trouble again he doesn't know what he would do to him. So once again Stefan covered for his brother to protect him from his father. He couldn't protect him from everyone though. He couldn't protect him from the new crowd of people he was associating himself with these days.

"Oh. Ok. Well, I've got him sleeping it off in a cell"

"Right... Listen, I'm really sorry about-"

"-Stefan. It's not your fault ok. And it's not your job to look after him..." he noded his head in acceptance of those words, but none the less they were pointless. He would forever be looking after Damon. It was the life he was doomed to. It was his brother. ".. he's a big boy. He can handle himself"

"I know. I just, worry"

"Well I've had a serious talk with him, and I think you'll have a little less to be worrying about soon"

His brows scrunched together "Ok?"

"The thing is, we actually have an opening on the police training programme"

"Wait. Police training? Damon?"

"I understand he's not exactly the orthodox choice-"

"-That's an understatment"

"-But I really think he has what it takes. If he could just channel that energy he has into something more beneficial like this, it could keep him on the right path. I think he can really turn his life around."

"You do?"

"Yes" she reassured with a warm smile.

"But it's Damon he's never gonna agree to it"

"-He already has"

"He has?" Stefan questioned honestly stumped.

"Well after a few words of convincing he saw what was best for his own future"

Stefan nodded pensive in thought.

"Caroline didn't ask you to do this did she?"

"What? No. No no no" Stefan gave an inquisitive look as he crained his eyebrow in a questioning nature.. She held a guilty look, which all but confirmed his suspisions. Clearly she was a woman sworn to secrecy.

"I really think this will be good for him Stefan"

"No, yeah I agree and we really appreciate it, we do but-"

"To be honest. I think it's more a convenience for us. Having Damon on this side of the law definitely makes less work load for us in the long run."

Yep that was definitely Caroline talking. Stefan held a small smile a big weight being lifted off his shoulders.

"Thank you" truly appricative of Liz taking him under her wing. Quite literally saving his brothers life.

"Don't thank me. It's him who wants to change"

Stefan nodded at that and as a smile stretched the corners of his mouth as hope began to fill him. Hope of a future with his brother alive. Happy and healthy.

"Sheriff we got a 10-14 down on clark street" and officer appeared behind Stefan hovering behind the door.

"Alright. I'll be right there"

"Sorry. I'm keeping you from work" Stefan apologized.

"Oh nonsense.." she waved off before lowering her voice softly so only he could hear.

"..between you and me a 10-14 is cop code for coffe run. My turn to get the doughnuts" she smiled. He laughed at that before standing.

"Still, I better let you get back to it. Get Damon home and all that"

"Of course"

"And thank you.." he nodded solemnly ".. really thank you" she gave him a nod, warm comforting smile gracing her face.

"Anytime Stefan"

"Not now Stefan"

"Damon. I just need to talk to you for a second"

"Well leave a message with my secretary" he sarcastically sneered.

Stefan stood in the middle of a hectic police station. The hustle and bustle of the room filled with people so loud he could hardly hear himself think. Damon looked busy in his uniform decked out attire. A small part of him deep down was proud of the fact that his brother actually did it. He turned his life around.

"Damon it's important"

"Not interested"

"Please" Stefan begged.

"Look, whatever it is it's between you and Blondie. Leave me out of it" Damon commanded while skirting round the station office handing over some police file to another cop in uniform.

"It's not about that Damon"

"Then what do you want?" He asked tiredly still running ragged round the station as Stefan followed two steps behind at each turn.

"It's about mom" Damon laughed at that.

"Now i'm definitely not interested" Stefan grabbed his bicep, forcing him to turn and meet his eye.

"Damon I'm serious"

That caused him to release an exhaustive sigh.

"What's wrong with the bitch now". Stefan swallowed the knot in his throat before lowering his voice slightly.

"Is there somewhere more private we can talk?"

Damon didn't respond. Merely trudged off in a different direction to the path he was perviously walking. Stefan took that as a wordless communication to follow him. When he did, Damon led him to a familar seperate room. He was stumped for words for a moment. Being in Caroline's mom's old office sent a cold shiver through him. He guessed he was still digesting the news of her death. It was only yesterday he found out.

"Go on then get on with it. I don't have all day" Damon declared.

"Right.." Stefan shut the door to afford them some privacy.

".. Mom's sick Damon. Dad doesn't think she'll make it past the week"

"What?" Damon whispered. His face went pale, clearly he was taken aback by that news. They stood in silence for a few minutes before Stefan began to feel uncomfortable.

Standing in this room grudged up feelings he didn't want to process on top of everything else he was going through at the moment. He felt the ghost of the late sheriff ever present in this room. What would she of thought of him? He was suppose to be her daughter's best friend and he abandonded her when she needed him the most. Just another man on the long list to leave her behind. He couldn't stand in this room any longer. He felt the ghost of dissapointed eyes on him.

"Dad's sent a private jet to get us back to New York and it's landing in a couple hours to take us to her, so if you want to get your stuff and-"

That shook Damon out of his comatosed state and back into reality.

"-Hold on. You can't expect me to just drop everything to go see her"

"Damon she's dying."

"Well she's been dead to me for years. Glad she's finally catching up"

Stefan's fists clenched at his sides wanting more then anything to punch Damon in the face but he held back. He knew this snarky attitude of Damon's was a defense mechanism to cover the love he truely held for his mother. It still angered him to hear him say such things of their mother.

"What the hell is wrong with you" Stefan asked stiffly still holding back the rage he held for his brother at his harsh words.

"Nothing. I'm perfectly fine. But you better get going if you wanna catch that flight" he pointed a finger to the door, with no want plan to go see his dying mother.

"You're just gonna abandon her like that? She's your family"

Damon's brows scrunched andstare hardened. His mouth opened to say something when there was a sudden knock at the door. He tilted his head to see an officer poke his head through the crack of the door.

"Damon come on we got a 10-14 on Clark street"

"Sorry Stef. Emergency calls"

As Damon walked past Stefan he grabbed hold of his arm. He did not go through all this for Damon to just shrug it off and do nothing.

"Damon. You can't just walk away from this"

Damon yanked his arm out of his brother's grip with full force.

"No actually I can. Our mother tossed me aside, without any concern what would happen and then went out of her way to forget us forever. As far as I'm concerned she deserves everything she gets" Stefan's nostrils flared and he shook his head, running a toungue over his teeth recognising the pointless loosing battle he was fighting

"She deserves everything she gets" he heard Damon whisper to himself as he followed the direction of the other officer out of the station.

If Damon wanted to ignore this, he was gonna ignore it no matter what Stefan said. After all he had years to mend the fractured relationship between himself and the rest of their family and gave no indication of ever wanting to do that since he's been back. So Stefan saw no point in chasing after him. He was exhausted even trying to help his brother. He wasn't gonna do it anymore.

"Stefan you ok?"

"Yeah. Yeah I'm fine mom" he struggled to force a small smile to ease her worries, but instead she looked at him with even more concern.

"You think I don't know when my little boy's upset" she inquired to which Stefan released an audible sigh.

"It's just-"

"-You miss Mystic Falls?"

"Yeah. I miss Mystic Falls" he repeated looking down hearted. And Caroline, and Damon he thought.

"It'll get better soon... How's your residency going?" She asked trying to change the subject to more uplifting topics.

"Yeah it's good I guess. Just hard getting use to it all" he mumbled still down and out. He knew it was for the best that he left but that didn't stop him missing home. Yearning more then anything to go back to life he once had.

"Well it's only been a couple months Stefan. You need to give it some time"

"Yeah. Time" he needed to accept that part of his life was over. His time messing about with Damon, having fun with Caroline, being a kid with no life worries was over. He needed to grow up. He couldn't go back.

"Look. Your father wanted this to be a surprise but... We're selling the house"

"The boarding house?"

"Yes. We're moving here to New York. Won't it be great? The whole family back together again"

"What about Damon?"

"Damon doesn't wish to be part of the family anymore Stefan. We must respect his wishes. When people don't want you in their life anymore there's nothing you can do to change their minds"

"Is that what you think, or is that Dad talking?"

"Look you have to look forward to the future Stefan. You can't keep looking back. I think we're both a little guilty of that" he looked to his mother who was looking down disheartened. He was willing to bet more then anything she looked the perfect reflection of him in this moment.

He reached out to grab hold of hand in comforting fashion, and they each stretched forced smiles trying to cover their pain.

"You're right mom. We can't keep looking back. Besides I'm sure it's gonna be a lot easier for us being in the same city again. Having you and Dad here will really help"

As Stefan exited down the steps of the police station he looked around the busy streets. Who was he kidding. He didn't belong here anymore. Damon hated him. Caroline hated him. Nothing he said or did would ever change their minds. They were probably the two most stubborn people he knew. He was way out of his depth ever thinking he had a chance at winning them round. All the reasons he came back began to appear obsolete.

He didn't have a life here anymore. He didn't belong and he never would. He learnt their was no going back for him. He had to accept his previous life in Mystic Falls was over. He already lost it.

He should just cut his loses. If anything him being back was just causing everyone more pain and anguish. And he was wasting time here when he could be with people who actually wanted him around. People like his poor sick, dying mother. Maybe he should just do what everyone wanted him to do. Leave Mystic Falls for good.

Feeling down and out he made a decision. He would respect their wishes and leave town for good. Of course he would need to go to the hosiptal, talk to work, but he needed to this before he hurt them even more. He needed to let this part of his life go once and for all.

He was just tired of fighting and felt like this was the only choice he had. Luckily for him the hospital was right next door to the station. His flight didn't arrive for another couple hours. He could just go in there now and get this over with before he's in too deep to this false life he's been trying so desperately to live. Pull the band aid off. Hopefully leaving Mystic Falls this time wouldn't be as heart wrenching as leaving the first time was.

"Dr. Salvatore you're here. I thought you weren't well today?" Nora the hosiptal secretary questioned.

"Oh, yeah I umm.."

"-Well you look as white as paper"

"Can you do me a favour and speak to Dr. Fell. See if she can cover a few of my appointments for a week until they can find a replacement for me"

"Oh? You're leaving?"

"Yeah. My mom's not doing too hot. I'm gonna head back to New York to take care of her."

"Oh I'm sorry to hear that. Of course I'll take care of it. Good luck in New York. I wish your mother the best"

"Yeah, thanks. I'll see you Nora"

He turned to walk away before being interrupted by Nora again.

"Oh. Dr. Salvatore? I have those files you were asking about. For Caroline Forbes?"

"Oh great." He moved back to her desk taking the file she held out to him, as he began perusing through it.

"I had Jeremy from IT work on it this morning. Poor guy thought it would earn him a date. I told him, Jeremy you're barking up the wrong tree here mate, I mean did he seriously-"

"-Nora?.." Stefan interrupted ".. Sorry, but there's been some mistake on these files. They're all wrong"

"Wrong?"

"Yeah. Like here, Elizabeth Forbes was Caroline's mom, she doesn't have a daughter." Nora looked down to the file where Stefan was pointing noticing the mistake. It clearly listed an Elizabeth Forbes in her records as Caroline's daughter.

"Oh? I don't know how that mix up could of happened."

"You know what it doesn't matter. I'll be back in a few days to sort my appartment out for my move. I'll sort it out then"

He rubbed an exhausted hand down his face. Great. Another thing he needed to fix he thought. With that in mind he proceded to continue his journey to the chief doctor of the hospital's office to tick his work off the long list of things he needed to take care of before leaving.

His talk with his boss was actually relatively easy. He was very understanding giving the circumstances and wished him and his family well. Of course he expressed his dissapointment to be loosing a young talented doctor especially after so little time with them, but went easy on him explaning how he understood the reasons for his decision to care of his mother. He was very kind and sympathetic to Stefan's needs but that might have something to do with the fact that he looked like shit today and the guy felt sorry enough for him without yelling at him for leaving him in the lurch.

He left the hosiptal now without a job. Nothing to keep him here. His was miserable and exhausted and couldn't fight this voice telling him in the back of his head this was a massive mistake that he was making. It was over powered by his father's voice in his head telling him he was doing the right thing.

At this moment he felt just as bad if not worse about leaving Caroline behind again. He felt like he was just confirming her lowest expectations of him and he was playing right into them once again.

But who was he kidding coming back and turning up into her life after five years? She moved on of course she did. And Stefan owed it to her to let her move on. He was the one to leave. He walked out on her. That was a decision he had to live with for the rest of his life. That was on him not her. So he owed it to her to respect her wishes. As much as it would kill him, he had to let her go. But he couldn't do it again without at least saying good bye. So he began his journey to say a final goodbye to her.

Caroline's appartment was on the way to the airport. He could go and see her. Clear the air between them once and for all. He couldn't leave again fighting with her. He wanted to see her at least once more before he left for good. He didn't want the last image he ever had of her to be her angrily slamming a door in his face.

The blonde angel like beauty he noticed from the corner of his eye stumble over a tree log as she past him had definitely made one of the most memorable first impressions he's ever encountered. He reached out a gentle hand to aid her in rising from the cold forest floor where she had fallen flat on her face.

"Whoa. You ok?" He queried with genuine concern. That fall looked painful.

She jumped up like a spring without the aid of his hand, a leap in her step. With the whip of a hair flick, blonde tresses blurred back to unveil the stunning beauty of the girl in front of him. She held a beaming smile that stretched out across her dimpled cheeks. He was slightly taken aback by her piercing eyes. They were hypnotic blue like the calm of the ocean after a big storm. He doesn't think he would ever be able to forget those eyes.

"Hello" she squeaked. Completely unabashed after the embarassing fall she just took in front of the large crowd.

"Err. Hi?"

"What's your name?" She immediately jumped into an inquisition.

"Errr.. Stefan"

"Ughhh. I hate the name Steven"

"Actually it's Stefan"

"But it's okay. I mean you're hot" she persited. Maybe she didn't hear him when he corrected her on his name, or maybe she was too far past drunk to care.

"What starsign are you?" She excitedly questioned practically jumping on the spot. Slightly overwhelmed Stefan took a step back.

"Ummm?" But she took two steps forward chasing him down.

"I bet you're a Gemini right?"

"Sure" Stefan said uneasily. He had no clue what this drunk girl in front of him was babbling on about. He figured agreeing with anything she said was the way to go, and judging by how animated she got by his answer he assumes he guessed right?

"Yeessss!" She pumped her fist in the air in celebration.

"..I knew it! I always knew I would end up with a Gemini. I mean i'm a libra and I totally guessed Gemini. Either that or Scorpio. That's what i'm destined for acording to Bonnie's books and all but, I don't know if I believe all that. I mean it's a bit too voodoo for me you know. Destined lovers and all that. I think if it's meant to be you got to make it happen you know. If you want something done right you have to do it yourself. I don't have time for the universe to be getting it's act together. I take charge of my own destiny"

He didn't know if she was done with her ramblings, if she finally stopped to take a breath or if her drunk clouded mind just forgot what she was prattling on about at a mile a minute.

She just stared at him for a few moments with those enchanting eyes as he continued to stare wide eyed back at her. She stretched a dazzling smile and he forgot to breathe. To be honest this strange girl in front of him was quite intimidating, right from the moment she sprung up from the floor.

"-Anyway-"

"-Why don't we find your friends to take you home" he interrupted before she started another monologue that went on for days.

Unbeknown to him the reasons why, but he felt this strange desperate need to protect the fragile drunk stranger as she swayed unstable like on her feet in front of him.

"You can be my friend, that way you can to take me home" she seductively flirted.

"Right" he had to get this poor girl home before someone took advantage of her vunerable state.

"Sooooo?"

"What?" He asked genuienly confused before instantly regretting it. Of course anything she was about to say wasn't going to make sense.

"Are we friends?"

"We can be whatever you want ok?" he spoke slowly and calmly, nodding as if to a child, as he raised an arm to slowly guide her away from the fire she was leaning dangerously close towards. He figured it was best to pacify the creature in front of him rather than anger it. If she was this far out of control as a happy drunk he didn't want to see her mad.

"Then you're my friend that I get to keep. Yay! I always wanted to marry my best friend" she jumped on him, embracing him in a wild hug and his senses where suddenly overwhelmed by a vanilla scent mixed with dirt and ash that probably still hung to her from when she fell earlier.

Her words finally registered to his ears and he seperated himself from her. Pinning her arms to the side of her body to prevent any more spontaneous hugging.

"Marry?!"

"Yeah. Don't worry. I'll handle all the wedding details... I'm an excellent party planner" she whispered that last part as if it where some top secret as she looked around suspisciously for no one else to hear.

"Our wedding?" His eyebrows stretched high upward to his hairline.

"Yeah. In June. Duh!"

"Oook." He was starting to get a little freaked out by this girl who is more likely than not some weird stalker.

"And our kids are gonna be sooo adorable" she gushed completely oblivious to the inappropriateness of this whole senario.

"Kids?!" Ok. This girl was definitely fucking crazy.

"Yeah. Little Stevie jr. What do you think?"

"Errrr?"

"You know what you're right it doesn't really have a ring to it. How about you get to name the boy, I'll name the girl. Although I don't know if I trust you enough to let you name the boy either". She's trusting enough to marry and have kids with a complete stranger, but not trusting enough to let him name them? Who was this woman?

"You don't trust me to name our imaginary kids?" He asked slighlty amused by the outrageousness of the drunk blonde in front of him. If this wasn't so frightening it would be quite laughable.

"Not really. I mean I don't really like the name Steven all that much. Although, that's probably more to do with the fact that my dad left me and my mum for a guy called Steven so you know" she shrugged her shoulders at that in a 'what can you do' tone.

"Ok. First it's Stefan. Not Steven. And second I didn't name me"

"Hey. I didn't say I wasn't open to suggestions. What kinda names do you like?" She asked beguilingly.

"I don't know.. I always kinda liked the name Jacob maybe?" He had no idea why he was playing along with this girl's fantasy, but she was clearly wasted. It was amusing to him hearing the crazy plans she was making in her drunk state.

"Jacob? Nooo I was thinking something more like Jack or Daniel"

"Jack Daniels?" He chuckled at that.

"Ok then."

"What about girls names. Any surr- suggesstions?" She strugglingly slurred.

Lexie maybe? He thought before shaking his head. Why was he even thinking about this? For one, he was't planning on having any babies anytime soon and two, they sure as hell wouldn't be with the crazy blonde standing in front of him.

"I was thinking Vodka!"

"Vodka? That Russian?" He joked. Before he could even blink she had a bottle of Vodka in her hand from nowhere and was downing it's contents.

"Whooaaa. You want to maybe ease up a bit there?"

"Nope" she gave him a doepy grin which was actually pretty cute, he couldn't help but smile at her.

"Right, well now that we've got the kids sorted, you gonna tell me your name?"

"Me? I'm Care-la-la-line" she slurred in a slight sing-song voice.

"Caroline?"

"That's it!" She screeched entirely too excitable.

"Caroline! There you are. I've been looking all over for you" he recognised the brunette that had just appeared from his history class. Bonnie Bennet. She was Elena's best friend.

"I'm sorry about her. She had way too much to drink" Bonnie apologized to Stefan on her behalf.

"Bonnie Bennet. I would never" Caroline feigned shock as if what she suggested was completely outrageous.

"Don't worry about it. Do you need any help-" he questioned with a pointed finger as Bonnie hooked an arm round the blonde's weight supporting her weight to keep her upright.

"- It's fine. I'll take her home. Or at least sober her up before her mom catches her. Thanks Stefan"

"Oh. Don't mention it" feeling a bit sad his highly unusual and unpredictable conversation with the blonde was now ending.

"Oh if you're still looking for Elena, I think she went down to the falls"

"Ok, thanks"

"Bye hubby. Don't forget to pick up Vodka and Jack Daniels" she pointed her finger and scrunched her eyebrows together in a demanding way. He thinks it was suppose to be intimidating but in reality it was just adorable. She was kinda cute when she pulled that face with her lips bunched together and eyes narrowed in an inquisitive nature. He couldn't help but smirk at her.

"I won't"

Bonnie waved goodbye as she walked away with a drunk Caroline hanging like a rag doll off the side of her body. He looked at their dissipating figures, small smile still extended on his lips. It wasn't like she would remember this conversation later (he didn't think she would remember anything come morning). But he most definitely would never forget her. Caroline. She was one unhinged girl.

Taking a deep breath he knocked on the door for exactly three thuds against the wood and waited. Memories realed in his mind as each time this door opened it unveiled a person he was more shocked to see then the last. He hopes Klaus doesn't answer the door. Unlikely for it to be Damon. And it better not be any other surprise ghosts from his past. If Tyler shows up he might actually shoot himself.

"Just a minute" he heard Caroline's yell muffled from behind the door. He sighed a breathe of relief at hearing her voice. Although it was slightly disheartened by the sinking of his heart at what he was about to do. This was what she wanted though, and he had to respect her choice.

The Door suddenly crept ever so slowly open. Brows creased together as he looked directly ahead to an empty spaced apartment living room. He was just about to call out for Caroline when he heard the tell-tale clearing of a small voice. Heavily his head tilted downwards coming face to face with a blonde little girl. Her brows were adorably scrunched together in an inquistive yet very familiar nature. His mouth hung opened when he heard the patter of footsteeps and call from Caroline inside the appartment.

"Elizabeth Forbes. How many times have I told you not to answer the door on your own"

By the time she appeared in front of his eyes he was as pale as a ghost. Indiscrepancies throughout the past couple of days started to fill the puzzle pieces in his head. His eyes widened as the epiphany struck.

Caroline was a mom.

A/N : Dun, dun duhhh! 😱 I know a lot if you guessed this would happen. I've been dropping hints at it throughout the story, and blantantly spelt it out this chapter but congrats to those who guessed it 👏👏👏.

Shout out to Crisibabe who guessed all the way in chapter 2, As well as grace in ch 4 and infinity who was on the right track back in ch 6. I'm sure you all figured it out as well or you just thought i made a few mistakes in my writing and were to kind to point it out. LOL. I'd love to know when you all started getting suspiscious so so let me know in the reviews 😆. (Was anyone still shocked?)

Next question. Who's the daddy? Stay tunned and let me know what you think?