A/N : Ok. So I'm back and it's another long one😁. Before I get started I should probably let you guys know that the first flashback I wrote last chapter I changed and moved the old one into this chapter. (I just thought it went with the present timeline a bit better this way round) So if you want to read the new one you can take a look back at ch10 or if you don't want to read the one in this ch again just skip over it. (I get the feeling some of you might do that anyway when you get to that part😉). Sorry about the confusion, my heads been a bit of a mess these past couple chapters a little bit like Stefan's lol.
A/N 2: I also really wanted to say a quick thank you to everyone who follows, favourites, reviews or even just reads the story. It really means so much to me and makes those late nights of writing so worth it so THANK YOU😘😘😘. I'll stop rambling now so you can read the story. Anyway hope you enjoy 💜
"So. Give your mom my love ok."
"Yeah. Thanks Caroline"
She gave him one last departing smile as he walked away from her across the street. He unlocked his car door and took one last look over his shoulder at the hectic mother buckling her daughter's safely into their seats.
It was a far cry from the Caroline he use to know but he couldn't wait to get to know this Caroline.
He sat comfortably in his car taking a relieved breath before noticing the paper file that rested on the passenger seat in the corner of his eye. It was Caroline's medical file he had received from Nora at the hospital. For some reason he didn't quite understand why, he reached over and peered into the file.
There it stood. Clear as day. Elizabeth Forbes, daughter to Caroline Forbes.
Date of birth.
Wait.
But that would mean.
No.
It would mean that Lizzie was four years old. Nearly five.
And That would mean Caroline was pregnant when he left.
His heart started to race. His mind ever so briefly poised the question of whether he could possibly be the father before he laughed it off. Although there was no recognized father stated on records, it was evident in the display he just witnessed that Klaus was the dad of not only Lizzie but two other children as well.
He didn't know why they weren't on the records and he briefly began questioning it in his mind before blocking it out completely. He was digging in places that didn't need digging. It would only hurt him more he convinced himself. Besides she was with Klaus when he left so it made sense he was the father.
Stefan reached across the front seat and shoved the file into the glove compartment of his car.
Out of sight and out of mind.
He didn't really need to see that right now. It was stupid looking at it in the first place. He was being weird, he didn't know why. Ok he knew why but his mind wasn't going there. It was in denial. Taking a deep breath he shook it off thinking only of his mom. He needed to see his mom.
He inserted his keys and was about to ignite the engine before peering up through the windshield noticing Caroline kicking the back wheel of her car. He made a frustrated growl before pulling out his keys, opening the car door and hesitantly crossing the street back to her location.
"Hey. You alright?"
"Yeah. Just one of those days" she stated while waving a hand in the direction of the flat tyre.
"Well if you have your spare, I could change it for you if you want?" Stefan declared.
"I don't." Ok that stung he thought they were past this. Clearly the hurt was evident on his face when she turned to look at him.
"..I didn't mean that. I didn't mean that I don't want you to fix it I just meant that you can't fix it.." he lifted an eyebrow at her nervous ramblings.
"..what I mean is, I don't have a spare"
"Oh"
That made sense.
Actually it didn't. Caroline always prepared Forbes didn't have a spare tyre? He always figured her to be prepared for every possible scenario. Something as simple as a flat tyre he just assumed she'd be prepared for. Then again it was always him that handled her car maintenance. At least that's one part of her life she hasn't replaced him for someone else with yet. Even if it does get her into situations like these.
"Yeah... it's fine we can just walk" she declared opening the back seat door the girls were currently situated in.
"...come on girls. There's been a change of plans. We're walking to the party now"
That relieved a series of whines from the kids as Caroline reached down into the back seat undoing their seat belts for them.
"Or I could take you?" Stefan hesitantly questioned as she pulled Josie out to stand on the sidewalk next to him. Caroline shut the door before walking round the car to other door to release Lizzie from her car seat.
"It's ok Stefan. You need to get going"
"My legs hurt. I don't want to walk" Lizzie whined when Caroline pulled her out holding her on her hip as she shut the door. Stefan raised his eyebrows at Caroline.
"Well I guess I could just call-" OK. He's had enough of this.
"-Come on I'll take you..." Stefan determinedly declared bending down to pick up Josie before Caroline had any chance of protesting.
He looked to the girls in each of their arms full grins beaming with excitement. There's no way Caroline could say no to those smiles. He barely knows them but he knows he would be a sucker for those cheeky grins.
"Ok. Thanks..." She begrudgingly accepted his offer.
It did make sense. And it wasn't just for Caroline. He had a feeling if it was just her there's no way she would of accepted yet another horrendous car journey with him after the awkward ones they'd already shared these past few days. At least he knew she wouldn't jump out of the car mid journey this time. But it was clear she was doing this for the girls and he could accept that. He just wanted to make things a bit easier for her, that was all.
"... Ooooh. Car seats" she suddenly remembered to inform him, before they left the area of her car. It was news to him that kids these days even needed car seats but apparently they did. And let him tell you they were the devils way of putting you ever off wanting kids. They should teach putting car seats together in schools instead of sex ed. That would definitely cut back the teenage pregnancy rates.
He didn't like to brag but he's pretty sure he could take apart and put together the engine of a car. He can do repair work around the house, build a shelf, fix a fridge, but for the life of him he couldn't figure out the fiddling straps and buckles of the frustrating contraption in front of him. In two short clicks Caroline had efficiently strapped Lizzie in her seat while he struggled not having a clue what he was doing.
His face was in pure focus and determination, tongue even poking out at the corner of his mouth but he still frustratingly couldn't get the buckles to secure to his will. He peered an awkward smile to Josie as she stared wide eyed in fear at him.
After a painful few minutes of doing nothing but scaring the poor child with mumbled tuts and huffs, Caroline finally put them all out of the misery of watching the scene any longer and offered to take over. And just to rub it in his face she completed the task in about half a second with such ease, so effortlessly he looked like a complete moron.
Once she strapped Josie in correctly she opened the door to the passenger seat and pulled on her own seatbelt before appearing to have another sudden epiphany, as her eyes widened and seat belt sprung back with a zing. At the rate she was going he was surprised she had her head screwed on today. To be fair it did look like it was a hectic day for her.
"Oh. I forgot the present." suddenly she launched out of the car in a forgetful fashion similar to the way Lizzie forgot to go bathroom earlier that day. With a quirk on his lips he watched as she looked both ways before crossing the street opening the boot of her car.
He peered at his rear view mirror to glance back at the girls in the backseat who appeared highly excited either for the party or the new car they were in as they squirmed in their seats giggling away with each other. It brought a smile to Stefan's face at the adorable cuteness of the scene as he turned his gaze back onto Caroline who was now struggling to carry the rather large, pristinely wrapped blue and pink present across the street with another gift under arm. Stefan launched out in order to lend a hand of assistance reaching forward to grab the package from her hands.
"Here"
"-It's Ok I go-" he gave her no other option but to accept his help by grasping a firm hold on the present.
"Thanks" She whispered before spinning round to open the car trunk ready for him to empty the contents into.
"It's Barbie dream house and..." she plucked the slightly smaller present from under her arm "...the matching convertible"
He smiled at the grin she beamed just as excited as the girls were. "Right. Can't forget the matching convertible"
Unlike the journey with Caroline the day before which was filled with awkward silence and thick tension this one was filled with laughter and games. Mostly from the girls, although Caroline did join in now and again.
"Sorry about them. They're a little over excited" she muttered an apology to Stefan. She might of assumed he was uncomfortable due to his silence but in fact it was quite the opposite.
He was revelling in it. In a situation he should feel like a complete outsider in, he was actually enjoying watching Caroline in her new life. He loved being able to see the family she was part of with the added benefit of not having to think about the man who brought the lives in the back seat into fruition and completed the family dynamic.
It was a short drive to the grill, and Stefan even thought of driving round the block just to keep hold of the moment that little while longer but he knew they had lives to get back to and he had a dying mother to go see. That and the fact that Caroline knew these roads better then he ever did and would recognise a detour if he took it.
"What do you mean you don't know where we are?" Stefan irritabily questioned from behind the wheel.
"I mean this map is all wrong"
"Really cause I think it's the person reading the map who's the problem"
"I don't see you helping"she retorted meeting his anger.
"I'm driving. It was your job to navigate"
"Yeah well I'm not good at navigating outside of Mystic Falls ok. I don't know how to read a stupid map"
"Yeah evidently" He mumbled under his breathe as he huffed an aggravated sigh. She rolled her eyes at that.
"You know it's your uncle we're going to see. You should know where he lives without having to use a map"
"Uncle Zach moved last year. I haven't been to his new house yet" he defended which was ridiculous that he even felt the need to defend himself. It was her fault the were lost.
"Well. Why don't you have GPS? We live in the 21st century now Stefan" She sarcastically retorted.
"You know what you're right. If I had one of those things I wouldn't need you here"
"Great! Fine by me. You know next time you have one of your stupid family reunions you can leave me out of it"
His hands gripped tighter on the steering wheel.
"Dont tempt me" he grumbled through gritted teeth before she huffed a fed up sigh.
"This is stupid. We've been driving forever. Can we not just ask for directions"
"That's a great idea Caroline.." He hyped in a surreal cheery voice.
"... When was the last time you actually saw a person?" He gave her a deadpan stare
"Well if you weren't driving on this dirt road there'd might be actual people around"
"And who told me to get on this road Caroline?" He gripped at her, nostrils flaring.
"Oh that's great just blame everything on me"
"I'm blaming you cause it's your fault"he snapped
"It is not it's yours" she retorted childishly
"How is it my fault it?"
"It. I.. it just is ok..." She failed to get the words out. She knew full well this one was all on her.
"... you know what. I'm not talking to you for the rest of this trip"
"Hah. I'll believe that when I see it" knowing full well she could never work the silent treatment. She'd crack in about 5 minutes.
An hour later and the atmosphere in the car was still frosty. Caroline true to her word hadn't muttered another syllable to him and although he enjoyed the peace and quite the first few minutes now it was just awkward.
Turns out he actually didn't like a silent Caroline. This was probably the longest time they've ever been in each others presence without muttering a word and it showed. They didn't really know how to act around each other. He could feel the heat of her eyes on him but every time he turned to face her she snapped her head in the opposite direction.
He even tried fiddling around with the radio stations trying to get a word out of her. She always had an opinion about that, but today she said nothing. She must of been biting her tongue so hard he was surprised it wasn't bleeding cause she hadn't muttered a word. She hadn't sung a song, or hummed a tune. Not even to Bon Jovi.
Desperate for a way out of this awkward air they had and hoping to move past their slight tiff Stefan hoped to just spark conversation as if nothing ever happened. He wanted bubbly non stop talking and singing to the radio Caroline. And it would be nice if they could get back to normal before they arrived at his uncle's.
He cleared his throat to try and dust the cobwebs after not speaking for so long.
"Dont worry I think we're nearly there. I'm pretty sure it's somewhere along this road."
Nothing.
And May wonders never cease a silent Caroline Forbes she continued to be.
"Hopefully we get there before Damon. You know he always claims the biggest room. It's why we left so early but he might beat us there at the rate we're going." He winced in distaste at hearing his own words.
That sure sounded like he was having a go again and based on her reaction as she merely stuck her chin out and turned her gaze to cast out of her window, that's definitely how she perceived it. He didn't mean it to sound that way but the words were flowing out like word vomit. The weird atmosphere between them was putting the pressure of conversation on him for once and it appears he caught Caroline's foot in mouth syndrome.
Maybe he should stick to more neutral topics he mentally reminded himself. Something that had nothing to do with this car journey. Something good.
"... So Zach said Sarah's been non stop talking about seeing you again. He said she's so excited."
Again nothing. Damn the silent treatment from Caroline was cold. For such a a bright sunny person the girl could be a real ice queen when pist.
"So remind me when we get back that I need to change the oil on your car"
That one miraculously seemed to make her snap.
"What so you don't have to have the displeasure of driving me around. Thanks" she sarcastically complained arms folded body slouching back into her seat.
For God sake he was trying here. She didn't need to be so rude. This was all her fault in the first place lets not forget. All he was doing was trying to make amends and she was basically telling him to shove his olive branch where the sun won't shine.
"Yep. That's my fault too right that I need to fix you're car"
"I never asked you too"
"No you just expect me to"
"You offer"
He ran a tongue over his teeth, his nostrils flaring in anger. He didn't really have a comeback to that. She was right he did offer. But she didn't need to be so ungrateful. Luckily he didn't need a comeback as he saw what he recognised as his uncle's house from the pictures fast approaching.
"We're here."
"Great."
"Fantastic"
She huffed loudly at his snipping before muttering angrily under her breathe as she opened her door.
"This is the last time I'm ever getting in a car with you"
"Works for me." He declared loudly making sure she heard the comment.
Thank God the car journey from hell was over.
He pulled up on outside of the grill with a slight pang of disappointment that the journey was over, but there appeared to be a differing opinion with the girls in the back as he heard the high pitched squeal of excitement.
Caroline opened her door hoping out unbuckling Josie first this time which was a bit strange as she was on the other side of the car to Caroline. He figured of the two Lizzie was more likely to run off if you turned your back for a second, although neither looked as bad as Hope as he already experience earlier that day. No wonder Caroline was a little all over the place today. She certainly had her hands full.
He got out deciding to help her out by releasing Lizzie who was practically shaking in elation. He took a long weary look at the car seat not looking forward to wrestling the beast again so soon after his last fail but luckily, releasing her from her seat was evidently a lot easier than it was buckling her in, as with one swift click she was free.
His breath caught gazing into the hypnotic blue excitable eyes of the girl in his arms. Not for the first time today his heart started to race. His breathe hitched as she beamed up at him an adorable grin, and he smiled an easy smile back at her but it faltered when he caught the look from Caroline in the corner of his eye.
Turning more to face her, she looked liked she'd seen a ghost. She was paling in colour almost as white as a sheet as he her swallow down hard. She shook her head lightly out of her haze gaze cast downward to the floor.
What the hell was that?
He placed Lizzie carefully down on the sidewalk next to Josie and the girls were practically jumping on the spot with eagerness as Stefan went to open the trunk of his car. He made motion to pick up the parcel from the boot but Caroline manage to beat him to it.
"Its fine. I got it. You probably need to get going. Thanks again Stefan..." he could no longer see her face as she was swallowed by the neatly wrapped bundle.
"...girls, what do you say to Stefan"
"Thank you Stefan" they simultaneously responded adorable smiles and all.
"It's no problem"
"Mom can we please go in now. Please" Lizzie begged, hands clasped together in desperation not that Caroline could see it with her vision was covered.
"Yeah Ok. Come on. Thanks again Stefan." She rushed out slightly breathless. It seemed like she was keen to get away from him after whatever that was.
"Don't mention it" he looked to her with longing eyes as he shoved his hands in the pocket of his jeans.
His gaze never wavered from them as they made the few steps to the entrance door and Caroline struggled to get a hand free to reach the handle without dropping the present on the floor. He watched next as both Josie and Lizzie stretched up as high as they could on the tip of their toes to reach the handle in futile attempts as they were both just that little bit too short. Caroline continued to struggle in balancing the package before Stefan couldn't watch the struggle any longer.
"Here I got it" He took the object from her.
"I thought you have a plane to catch"
"I do. I'm just gonna help you through the door"
"Ok. Thanks" she opened the door, and then spread her arms wide in attempt to take the present back into her hands before he walked past her through the entrance.
"Where do you want me to put it?"
"Umm. I don't know. Maybe they put the presents by the - Oh Klaus!" She called out for his attention from across the room.
"Hey Caroline. Hey girls, the kids are all over there with Hope if you want to go play" he pointed to the direction of a group of about thirty screaming kids across the room while bending over talking to the girls.
"Can we mom?" Lizzie asked excitedly.
"Of course"
Next thing he knew they were both off like a rocket far out of sight into the sea of running children.
"Stefan. I thought you had a plane to catch"
"I do. I just came to help Caroline drop this off"
"Speaking of. Caroline you didn't have to go so big"
"Oh I was given clear instructions in exactly what present to get and how big I needed to go" They both laughed at that. By the sounds of it her daughter was about as much a control freak as her mother.
"Well there's a table in the back. I'll show you"
"Thanks" .
Stefan finally dropped the present onto the table covered with colourfully wrapped gifts. None were as neatly wrapped as Caroline's though. In fact the rest all looked quite scruffy by comparison.
"So. Drinks?"
"-Oh. No. I'm not staying."
"-Stefan's not staying" They interrupted at the same time.
"I mean you have a plane to catch right?" She clarified. His lips bunched together. It's pretty clear she doesn't want him hanging around longer than he needs to.
"Yep. In fact I better get going"
"Ok bye." She stretched a fake grin to him like he wouldn't completely see through it.
"Right. I'll see you when I get back"
"Sure" and there was that fake smile again. This didn't feel right? Did she not believe him or something?
"Caroline I'm coming back"
"I believe you"
"Then why are you acting weird"
"I'm not acting weird. You're acting weird"
He coughed an unsurprised laugh at her childish retort. He knew the whole civil Caroline thing wouldn't last long but come on she didn't last half an hour. He shook his head from side to side biting his cheeks and not meeting her eyes. He really thought it would be different this time.
He couldn't do this again with her. They were on a fine line as it was and him getting pushy would just scare her away.
Knowing better than to push his luck and risk her snapping at him he decided it was probably best for him to just leave now. Just a as he made that decision and opened his mouth to say goodbye she dismissed him with a 'whatever' and sauntered off into the crowd of people.
He peered over to Klaus to gauge his reaction and at least he he had the decency to look just as uncomfortable as he felt with the snapping mood swings of Caroline.
"You sure I can't tempt you to at least one drink?" Klaus tried his luck.
A drink actually sounded pretty good right now, but no way in hell was he having one with this guy. He was seconds away from telling him where he could shove that drink when Caroline's disappointed face flashed through his mind. He didn't want to make things difficult for her. He just decided he wanted to fight to be part of her life and that means accepting Klaus as part of it. He needed to at least be civil to him if he was to earn back Caroline in his life.
"No I really should-"
"-Daddy, Daddy. Can I have my birthday cake now?" Little Hope came running in.
"Why don't you ask your mother"
The little girl gave a fed up sigh as her little legs carried her across the room. He watched the direction she was running, right about to approach Caroline on the other side of the room when she took a sudden right. He assumes she either didn't see her or completely forgot her train of thought and ran off to play with her friends instead.
"She looks just like you"
"You're kidding. She's beautiful. It's all her mother. But don't tell her I said that. I'm still trying to keep the bad boy reputation round here." He smirked his signature look.
"Something tells me fatherhood has made you all gooey" Stefan teased before he spotted an approaching brunette over his shoulder.
"Klaus. Can you deal with our daughter. She's demanding everyone to dress up as fairy princesses for when I bring the cake out and I can't find the candles. She's driving me nuts."
Hold on a second our daughter?
"You're daughter?" He questioned quite astounded.
"Oh. Sorry mate. I keep forgetting you've been away. Stefan this is Hayley. Hope's mother"
"Nice to meet you" she answered shaking his hand although she looked to have more pressing matters to attend to than meeting him.
"You too." He managed to stuttered out, shocked by this revelation.
"They're in the kitchen next to the cake"
"Could you help me. Just for once" she exhaustively complained.
"-Fine..." He sighed before turning to face Stefan "...Duty calls" and with that he watched the couple walk out of view bickering with one another as they left him standing there all alone.
So Hope wasn't Carolines daughter? Had he completely misread the situation? No he couldn't of. Thinking back on it now Caroline was probably just watching their daughter while he assumed they got the party all set up. Things started to click into place in his mind. If Klaus was Hope's father and he gave no inclination to being the father of the other two may be he wasn't the father of Carolines kids.
So trying to work this out straight in his head Hope wasn't Carolines daughter. Elizabeth definitely was according to the medical records and the fact that she kept calling her mom. Josie was the question mark though. The quietest of the girls wasn't technically listed in Carolines records but there was no indication that she wasn't her daughter. There appeared to be no other mother in sight and add to that the mystery of who the father of these children where Stefan was beyond confused.
His mind set off warning bells that this line of questioning would do no good for him right now. He shouldn't be asking questions he wasn't ready for the answers to and he already had enough on his plate. Knowing the identity of the father of Caroline's children would only cause him more pain when he eventually did discover the truth. Still apart of him deep down was elated to discover Klaus wasn't it.
His mind was a mess. He really needed to get out of here and go see his mother. Maybe that would help clear his thoughts. He set his searching eyes to the swarm of people that packed out the room hoping to catch one last parting glimpse of Caroline before he left when another familiar face came into view.
The face of the once love of his life.
Elena Gilbert.
"Hi" she made him jump back with a startled fright. Snapping his journal shut on his desk as he turned to face the last person he expected to see, which was saying a lot cause she was his girlfriend.
"Hey what are you doing here?" He questioned swiftly making his way across his bedroom over to her and planting an affectionate kiss on her soft lips.
"Damon let me in. I came to see you" He smiled at that as her eyes shifted behind him to the now shut journal on his desk.
"I saw you writing. All about me I hope"
"Oh. It's always about you" she raised her eyebrows at that.
"... in a good way" he clarified.
"Well you're all I write about in mine too" she kissed him again with a smile on her lips.
"Oh yeah? What do you write about me?"
"About meeting you. How you changed my life. You know our life together... our future" he pursued his lips fighting the smile down as she seductively stroked a finger up and down his chest before wrapping her arms securely around his neck.
"Our future?" He prodded.
"Yeah. You know when we're an old married couple with kids. Do you ever think about that stuff?"
Honestly no.
Stefan hadn't really thought that far ahead in his life yet. He and Elena had only been together for 4 months and although he loved her more than he ever thought he could love somebody, his mind just hadn't gotten that far into his future yet. He knew he wanted to go to college and then med school. Become a doctor. Obviously he knew Elena would be with him for all of that.
He couldn't imagine his life without her at this point. They were most definitely going to be together forever. That wasn't even a question in his mind. But the idea of marriage and kids. And the fact that Elena was thinking about that made his heart soar.
The fact that she thought he worthy of the man she spends forever with made him giddy. It made him start to ponder that part of their future too.
"So how many kids will we be having then?" He played into their fantasy future with a massive grin on his face wrapping his arms tighter around her waist.
"I want two... A boy. And a girl." She stated in simple terms. Knowing exactly what she wanted.
"How bout you. How many do you want?"
"As many as I can get" he declared without a second thought nuzzling the tip of his nose against hers before gracing her with a quick brief peck on the lips.
"Oh yeah?" She blushed.
"Yeah. When we're married with our dream jobs. And the time's right. We'll have the big house-"
"- with a red front door" she interrupted raising a finger to her one condition bringing a smile to Stefan's face as he continued
"-with a red front door and a porch that wraps around the whole house. With a the perfect porch swing for you and a massive backyard for the kids."
She giggled at the fantasy as Stefan beamed at the thought of a future with the woman he loved more than life itself.
"And what about you?"
"I get my own study. A massive library where I can have some piece and quiet without you or the kids bothering me"
She offendedly shoved his shoulder mouth wide open.
"I'm kidding. I won't need anything. I'l have you"
"I can't wait for that day" She gushed biting down on her lower lip.
"Me either. I love you"
"I love you too Stefan. And I'll love you Forever."
"Stefan?" The brown eyed girl questioned looking pleasantly surprised. Well this was the warmest welcome he'd received coming home. Who would of thought Elena would be the only person happy to see him.
"Elena. Hi" she swiftly walked over wrapping him in a warm embracing hug before leaning back adoring a welcoming smile.
It was quite surreal. He knew he was over Elena a long time ago but was quite surprised at the fact that there was no lingering feelings there. Not a flutter of emotion. Not that he didn't miss her. Of course he did. She was a friend, and they were good friends before he left her in the dust too. But by comparison of when he first saw Caroline after five years away there was none of those feelings there.
He didn't yearn for her the way he once did. When he saw Caroline the entire world stopped. Tilted on its axis and threw him into a storm of emotions. Maybe he was too far into that storm to even be able to handle the baggage of guilt leaving everyone else he left behind, but Elena didn't seem particularly mad about it either. He was so grateful for that. He had enough problems to deal with at the moment.
"O my gosh. It's so good to see you Stefan"
"You too"
"I heard you were back but I didn't believe it till I saw you."
"Yeah. Well I'm back. Actually leaving right now but I'm coming back"
"What do you mean you're leaving?"
"Well I'm heading back to New York for a few days but after that I'll be back home for good."
She smiled at that nodding gently. At least she believed him unlike Caroline.
"Have a drink with me?"
"I can't I got a plane to catch"
"When's your flight?"
"About half an hour"
"Well you have time for one drink then" she hooked her arm through his elbow dragging him to the bar.
"Elena I can't miss my flight" That was a lie. He did have a private jet. It meant he could be a little late. It would wait for him. But that's not the point. He didn't want to wait. He wanted to see his mother now. As soon as he could.
"Just one. I promise"
She ordered their drinks from the bartender. Wine for her and his signature bourbon.
"For the record five years is too long to go without seeing you"
"I know. So how you been Elena?"
"Me? I've been great. I'm a nurse now. Well school nurse at the elementary school. Its great. I get to work with kids, help them get better. I really love it"
"Got none of your own running around just yet then?" He questioned wondering whether her life took a similar direction to the way Caroline and Klaus' had gone. It seemed that almost every face he'd run into from his past had kids at the minute he suddenly realised.
"Oh, no. I'm leaving the whole young mom thing solely on Caroline at the moment."
"Right. Well you seem different. You seem happier"
She nodded at that, small smile lighting up her face.
"And you? Are you happy?"
His jaw clenched eyes set downcast to the floor. When his eyes finally met hers he saw the sympathy exuding from her. His non answer being a clear sign to where he was at in his own life.
The corner of his eye caught sight of Caroline across the room talking to a man he didn't recognise. He brazenly gawked over at her and watched in slow motion as she rest her dainty hands on the mans forearm. She was smiling while chattering away to him with complete ease and comfort in a way she hadn't with him in such a long time. Stefan couldn't help but questioned who this guy was to her. Was he the dreaded father Stefan so vehemently didn't want to think about?
"Hey. Who's that Caroline's talking to?" He asked Elena, eyes not wavering from the couple across the rooms direction.
"Oh, him? That's Ric."
"Ric?" He spat out with distaste. His glare hardened and he could feel the shooting daggers his eyes were sending their way.
"Well Alaric's his full name..." She explained. That's even stupider then Ric.
As if she could sense his eyes on her Caroline's head suddenly snapped in his direction. Their eyes locked across the room and his thoughts were suddenly just consumed to her. She was all he could think about and he wanted to keep himself in her thoughts even as she talked to this other guy. He wanted her to think of no one else the way he did.
He kept his stare penetrating and without falter. Of course the disinterest in Caroline's face was clear. Especially as she turned her sight away from and engaged back in conversation with 'Ric' as if nothing happened. She looked right through him as if he didn't even exsit.
His and Elena's drinks arrived and not a moment to soon for Stefan. He gripped a tight hold of the glass shocking himself that it didn't shatter in it strain. He didn't realise how much he'd been craving a drink all day till he held the brown liquid in his hand. He gulped down the smooth alcohol sensation as he listened to Elena prattle on about the man in question hanging onto every detail.
"..Alaric Saltzman to be specific. He's a professor down at Whitmore."
Stefan bit the inside of his cheeks nodding to the info Elena relayed as his eyes stalked across the room at said man conversing with Caroline. He swallowed hard another large gulp of his bourbon before enquiring the dreaded question plaguing his mind.
"So is he Caroline's boyfriend or something?" He turned his serious expression to Elena hoping for her to put him out of his misery and just tell him the truth. It seemed no-one else was gonna say anything and the liquid courage he gained from his drink just so happened to put her in the firing line when he decided to face his problems head on.
Seems fitting she always was the one to break his heart.
I'm sorry Stefan. It's not that I don't love you, cause I do. It's just-"
"-You love him more. Yeah I get it"
"I just...We.. He makes me happy"
"And I don't." He mumbled clenching his jaw.
"No. It's not that Stefan of course you make me happy. It's just..." She sounded to be struggling for the words. Like she didn't know how to describe it. His gaze finally lifted from it's fixed position on the floor to meet hers.
".. I- I don't think I make you happy" she solemnly declared and only now that he met her eyes did he see the tears glistening in them.
He took a deep breath at seeing those beautiful hazel eyes that he'd once do anything for be in pain. But he couldn't fix this. He couldn't fix them.
He was sure the pain in her face was a mere fraction of the pain reflected in his own cause he just didn't see this coming.
But he couldn't keep living like this.
He was pining for a woman in love with someone else. He needed to let her go.
"I can't do this Elena. Not anymore."
"Oh. No. Definitely not. No. In fact, the poor guy just lost his wife."
"His wife?"
"Yeah. Jo. She was she was one of the leading doctors in Mystic Falls. Died a few months back."
"Oh."
"Yeah. It sad. She was such a nice lady. And they were so happy. Nobody saw it coming ya know"
"Yeah" he awkwardly mumbled.
Now he felt bad. He was giving the poor guy evils since the moment he saw him with Caroline. He was just so terrified of having to watch Caroline with another man. Of course it made no sense. They weren't together. She hadn't been his for a long time. Well technically she was never really his. And he knew a time was coming that he would have to face the fact that Caroline had moved on to someone who would love her more than anything and worship the ground she walked on. And that guy wouldn't let her go, cause who in their right mind would let Caroline Forbes go?
And that guy he knew he wouldn't be able to win her back from. When the time came he had to face that man he knew it would all be over.
But this guy wasn't it. He let his jealously take over and was taking it out on some poor widower who had nothing to do with this. The guy had enough of his own problems.
"It's just him and Josie now"
"Josie?"
"Yeah. His daughter. I know Caroline's been helping him out and all but I mean it must be hard for him. Adjusting to being a single parent"
She turned a sympathetic smile to the man in question and only now did he realise the bags under his eyes, the strain in his smile and comforting demeanour in Caroline's facial expression.
"He'll be OK though..." Elena noted in a sure tone.
".. I mean Caroline manages just fine right?" his head whipped round to face her in a frantic fashion.
"So Caroline's..." He let the sentence drift off just hoping Elena could pick up on what he wanted but was afraid to know.
Was there another guy he had to compete with to be part of her life? Was he trying to barge in on someone else's family.
Elena held a knowing smile. Like she knew what was going on in his head and saw right through him. Although at this point only an idiot wouldn't see his feelings for Caroline clear as day.
"Caroline's only got time for Lizzie. That's what she says anyway. But she's happy. Her and Lizzie are really happy" she continued that knowing smile at him as his own lips twitched at the corners. Caroline was happy. That's all he ever really wanted.
He saw a distraction in the brunettes attention as her eye line filtered over his shoulder but her smile only seemed to brighten. He turned to see the object of her attention in recognition of Lizzie running around with Josie and Hope.
"Now those three together are trouble". He swallowed down hard as he and Elena watched the trio play.
"Elena? Who's Elizabeth's father?"
"What?" She perplexed completely startled by his question.
"Sorry. I shouldn't of asked that" he immediately retracted.
That was just a moments weakness. A sudden bout of just needing to know the truth of this whole situation he found himself in. But it wasn't Elena's place to tell him and he shouldn't be dragging her into this mess.
"-No. It's just I always thought..." She shook her head lightly out of her thoughts.
"... I don't really know. Caroline just said it was a one time thing..."
His eyes faltered over to the girl in question. So Elizabeth was Caroline's one and only daughter. She was five years old. Didn't have any father it appeared. It was a one time thing. His eyes narrowed as both Hope and Josie ran off in a different direction while Lizzie remained still.
"...apparently he ran off the moment he found out. Caroline doesn't really like talking about it..."
What a dick. Stefan wished he was there. He should of been there for Caroline at a time like that. He laughed in his mind. For a brief second there he thought it was him. That he was the father. But there's no way that would happen.
Elena said it herself. Caroline told the guy and he did a runner. And Caroline certainly never told him. It was just his mind playing tricks with him. It's been doing it all day. Maybe just the wonder of being forever bonded to Caroline was too big a fantasy for him that it's been conjuring its own possibilities and jumping conclusions. He needed the confirmation to lay the dream to rest and finally open his eyes to reality.
".. but this isn't really my place Stefan. You should talk to Caroline about it"
He saw Lizzie's gaze look down at her laces as he heard Elena get roped into some conversation with the bartender as a blurring background noise. His attention zeroed in on the girl in front of him. He took an involuntary step forward without quite knowing why. Maybe cause he knew she struggled with tying her laces, but he abruptly stopped in time to watch her set upon the task on her own.
She knelt down on one knee and fumbled a bit on looping the bunny ears but once she got that she was on her way. Her face held that purely determined look the mirror image of Caroline's. She looked to be reciting the rhyme he taught her earlier that day in her mind as she mutely nodded to herself.
Her eyebrows brooded together in a startlingly familiar nature.
He felt his heart do that racing thing again. His breathe came out in pants as it became shallower and heavy at the same time. He felt he couldn't breathe as his throat tightened. He was on the cusp of a panic attack when it happened.
Her little tongue poked out of the corner of her mouth the way it probably did when she was in pure focus.
The way his did.
His heart stopped.
No.
There's no way.
It's not possible.
Caroline would of told him.
No.
He downed the remaining contents of his drink in one fell swoop.
Ok
He was done with just standing here clueless.
He was done being confused and just guessing jumping to the wrong conclusions every time.
So he swiftly departed away from Elena without a word in a haze towards the door he saw Caroline just exit out of. He was going to finally just ask her. Because there's absolutely no way Caroline would have his kid and never tell him. It's just not in her.
"That's terrible. Every child should know their father"
She was referring to the bomb he just threw at her. The pregnancy news of one Hayley Marshall and unknown identity of said father of the bump. He was told through his mother who found out by Carol Lockwood, who apparently ran into her at the grocery store sporting a noticeable bump. When questioned she was apparently impervious to the identity of her baby daddy. At least that's the story that was spreading. He had an incling the woman just didn't feel the need to pacify town gossips. Not that he knew her, but that's how he would feel to the inquisition of the housewife gossips this town pose when they find a bone.
"I don't know. I think it would of done me some good not knowing mine" Stefan mumbled still bitter over his argument with his father this morning.
"Hey, he's just trying to do what he thinks is best for you..." Caroline defended, gently trying to ease the the tension between him and his father.
"...At least he's trying. I mean my dad barely showed up after he found out he was gay"
"Hey.." he softly nudged her arm to wake her from her sad daze. "...So whose do you think it is?" Stefan questioned hoping to distract her from the sad turn the conversation just took. Stefan wasn't really one for gossip, but he knew Caroline, and he new she liked to ponder the possibilities of a good mystery. That and he wanted to get her mind off her dad.
Her eyes widened and mouth slacked open.
"What if it's Tyler's" she whispered almost to herself. Stefan laughed at that before noticing the solemn look on her face forcing a look of confusion to spread across his own.
"Umm Caroline, I know you suck at math but that was like 2 years ago"
"So?"
"I knew I'd have to be the one to explain this to you one day..." he positioned himself to fully face her on the couch. He narrowed his eyes the way he did when he was trying to be serious but was really just teasing her. He then proceeded beginning to patronisingly explain agonisingly slow before she interrupted.
"...So this thing happens, then it usually takes about 9 months-"
"- No I know you idiot. I'm just saying people get back with ex's all the time right? I mean, this could be one of those times."
"OK. I doubt that's what happened" he commented trying to relax her. She looked slightly worked up by the ridiculous notion in her head that her first love might be having a child with his once mistress.
"You don't think it's a little coincidental that he cheats on me just before we started college. Then two years later, this same girl's pregnant and nobody knows who the father is?"
She narrowed her eyes to him in a questioning manner. He in turn just looked at her bewildered.
"No"
He stated simply before noticing her dissatisfaction with that answer. He took a fed up sigh. Before gently reaching out to hold her small hand in his.
"Look. That ended so long ago. The chances of it being his are pretty slim. OK?
"But it's possible"
He rolled his eyes at her defiance to see the obvious. That baby was clearly not Tyler's. She was talking crazy.
"Well I guess it could technically be-"
"-see!" She exclaimed before he even had chance to finish his sentence, stretching out her hands between them, causing his to fall out of her grasp. His nostrils flared and a sudden annoyance coursed through his veins.
"What does it even matter. You and Tyler aren't even together anymore" Stefan retorted a little harshly, voice raising slightly.
"Doesn't mean I want him to have a baby with the girl he cheated on me with.." Caroline defended voice rising to the same level. His eyes darted around not meeting hers until he sensed the lowering softness of her tone in her voice set in. ".. can you imagine what people will say about me?" Her head was hung low depressingly looking to her fidgeting hands.
"Tyler was a moron who gave up the realest relationship he ever had. He knows he screwed up when he lost you. And besides no one will look at you any different..." he grabbed hold of her fidgeting hands in his once again and she finally raised her head to meet his eyes."...you're just as perfect as you've always been"
She rolled her eyes shoving his shoulder playfully, as he presented a teasing smirk but in actuality he really meant those words. In fact he believed them to be the truest words he ever spoke. Caroline Forbes was pretty much perfect.
"You're probably right anyway. I mean I doubt it's his ... and even if it is I mean people who split up usually split up again at some point right. I mean only Damon and Elena pull off the whole on again off again thing"
Stefan snickered at that. "Speaking of which, is off again this week. Something about him punching her friend Aaron who he thought she was having an affair with or something. I don't know". He rolled his eyes and shook his head at the complicated relationship he could never quite understand.
"What? I didn't hear about that. Look at you with all the gossip"
He shrugged his shoulders at that with a teasing smirk.
"What can I say people talk to me"
"You mean Damon got drunk and cried like a baby"
He raised his eyebrows at that with an amused smile, to which she giggled.
"I mean I would say I want to know but if Elena hasn't even told me yet I'd say she probably already forgave him. Honestly, I don't know how the two of them do it. I don't think I could ever be in that an unstable a relationship"
"You use to break up with Tyler like twice a day when you were with him" He smirked a teasing smile with hooded brows.
"That was the old Caroline.." He gave her an unbelieving deadpan stare, as she stretched her legs out across the couch her feet resting on top of his lap.
"... I'm so much more mature now" he flat out laughed at that.
"Right"
"I'm serious" she whinged reaching forward, lightly shoving his shoulder.
"Seriously?" He asked skeptically raised eyebrows, small smile still fighting at the corners of his lips.
"Yes..." she emphasised digging her foot into his ribcage till he winced grabbing hold of her foot. He gently began gripping the arch of her foot it in his hands, massaging the from the heel down to her toes firmly.
"...You can never go back. I know that now." She pulled her feet out of his grip towards herself hugging her knees to her chest turning back to face the TV. A few minutes passed in silence as Caroline stared at the screen, while Stefan continued to gazed at her. He swallowed hard the knot in his throat before asking the dreaded question that had been plaguing his mind for quite some time now.
"So, you're saying. You and Klaus..." he mumbled, eyes cast down at his fidgeting hands in his lap.
"-Are so dunzo." She interrupted. He chuckled at that, finally looking up to meet her eyes.
"Dunzo?" His mouth tilted at the corner into a slight smirk.
"Ugghh. We're so far past dunzo.." She giggled, leaning to rest the side of her head on the back cushion of the couch, finally tearing her gaze from the screen and meeting his eyes head on as his laugh quietened down. "..actually, that should never of happened in the first place"
"Tell me about it" he mumbled mirroring her movements as she took an exhaustive sigh.
"I know. You warned me. I should of just listened to you."
"Yeah you should have...You know I'm always right". She delicately giggled at that resulting in those damn butterflies he came to expect to pop up around Caroline fluttering even more so in the pit of his stomach. A wide smile spread across his cheeks just hearing that laugh and he gazed at her with a look of pure adoration.
Her laughter eventually trickled down and a sudden tension that came from seemingly nowhere filled the room. Caroline scrutinised his look for a brief moment before lowering her voice in that calm, comforting, motherly tone she did that would always ease his worries when he got nervous.
"Hey. I promise. I'm not gonna get back with Klaus" his eyelids fluttered.
"That's what you said before you fell for it the first time" he whispered vulnerably. So low you could hardly hear it.
"... Yeah well. Mature Caroline remember?"
He sniggered again at that unable to hold it in. Her head snapped up from its resting position on the couch cushion as she pointed an accusatory finger and narrowed her eyes in that adorable scrunched up demanding way she did. She pulled a comforting smile together and it completely eased all worried jumbled thoughts running through his mind.
"I'm right about this one. Klaus and me, it wasn't right... And I won't be making that mistake again."
"Good" they held a heated stare olive green eyes meeting ocean blue. There was this odd air between them. Like they were hovering over the lines set up previously on their friendship and boundaries were being crossed. They'd always had their moments that Stefan felt held more weight than just regular friendship, but moments like these were becoming more frequent and heavy lately. He didn't really know what to think of it. Was there something more going on between them? Or was he just reading to much into moments like these? Was this just another instance where that voice he begged to stay locked down in the back of his mind begged for release. To lung across this couch and kiss her so senseless they could just smash through those barriers of fear and insecurity.
His eyes flickered down to her lips. God what he wouldn't give for just a taste of those rose plump lips. He wanted to feel her lips on his. Yearned for it.
Just a taste. Maybe that would satisfy him. Just a peck. He told himself, but who was he kidding? Cause he's already had a taste. That time that was supposed to never be mentioned. To be locked away in the bank of forgotten memories. But it wasn't there. It was at the forefront of his mind constantly. The feel of her lips against his. He couldn't forget about it in moments like this. If anything the mere memory just made him thirsty for more.
His head inclined at minuscule speed closer to reach out and do just that on accord of it's own. He blinked hard in attempt to rein himself in. What was he doing? He had a girlfriend. This wouldn't be fair to Ivy and it wouldn't be fair to Caroline. She probably didn't even want him to kiss her. And even if she did, if they were ever going to give them a shot they needed to do it right. No messy situations. No other people waiting in the wings. Just them.
"So. No going back right?" He broke the tension, gaze still drawn on her lips. He watched her lightly shake her head out of her own little haze turning her attention fully back onto the TV.
"Nope. You only get one shot with Caroline Forbes from now on" he looked to her one last time before forcing his own eyes to lock onto the TV screen as well.
"Better not screw up my shot then" he teased smiling grin adorning his face.
"Better not" she smirked.
"Caroline can I uh... Can I talk to you for a minute?" Stefan asked meekly shoving his fidgeting hands into his jean pockets.
"I'll catch you later Care" Ric declared from beside her. Caroline gave him a small smile and light nod before he dissapeared behind the door back inside to the party, affording them some privacy.
"What do you want now Stefan?" She exhaustively complained.
"Look I don't really know how to ask this, so i'm just gonna come out and say it..."
It was driving him mad. He needed to know.
"...Who's Lizzie's-"
"-There you are" Damon interrupted as he burst out the door Ric just walked out of.
Stefan audibly sighed. Typical. As soon as he gained the courage to ask he was interrupted from ever getting answers to questions he needed to know. His nostrils flared in annoyance as he licked his tongue over his teeth.
"What's wrong? Is Lizzie ok?" Caroline began to ask panicking and heading for the door.
"Relax she's fine. But I've got Klaus Jr. following me around in there demanding I put on glittery fairy wings and some shiny tiara"
She scoffed at laugh probably picturing the image of that in her head.
"It's not funny. This is all your fault"
"Hey I'm not the reason you're here"
"Yeah well she's still not talking to me. So can you just go in there and fix it for me"
"Damon Salvatore asking for my help with girl trouble. I thought I was supposed to stay out of your business." She goaded Damon in whatever predicament he found himself in, loving every second by the looks of it.
He however, didn't really have time for whatever drama Damon's love life found itself in now. He needed the truth from Caroline and he wasn't waiting any longer to find it out.
"Could you just give us a minute Damon" Stefan interrupted earning himself an evil glare from Damon as his lips snarled in distaste at being demanded to leave.
"Shouldn't you be on a plane"
"Yeah I'm going I just need Caroline to answer some questions for me first."
"Well I pretty sure she doesn't want to talk to you"
"It's fine Damon. Just say what you want to say Stefan" she asked tiredly.
He could feel her annoyance of his presence. He was pushing her too much when he knew he should be giving her space. They'd already had enough weightfull conversations today to reach their limit and she probably just needed a break from him at this point. He could feel her snapping earlier and he sensed it again right now. But he couldn't let this go.
"Look. I know I probably don't deserve to know and after everything I-"
"-just get to the point Stefan." Damon demanded already exhaustively fed up with Stefan's annoying habit to beat around the bush before saying whatever he wanted to say.
"Who is Elizabeth's father?" He snapped, shocking himself to how blunt that sounded. What was even more shocking however was the deafening silence he was met with by the two people in front of him.
Damon and Caroline were the most talkative people he knew. They were hardly ever at a loss for words, always had a comment about everything and when they were together it was worse. Like they constantly wanted to one up each other. Drown the other person out with the sound of their own voice. He doesn't think he's ever seen both of them stumped for words at the same time. He wished he could take a picture of the moment but rather then refreshing it was startling. Like he was missing something that they knew.
Their eyes were wide and faces a picture of confusion but that would not deter him. He met their gazes with a serious unnerving stare of his own as they all continued to stand in silence.
"Did you hit your head or something?" His brother questioned eyes narrowed at Stefan, the latter running his tongue over his teeth in annoyance. Did he really need to be here in this exact moment. This was between Stefan and Caroline. He didn't need his brothers annoying sniping comments.
".. suffering memory loss? Got a case of amnesia there bro?" Damon continued to taunt giving that wide sarcastic smirk he did to purposely piss people off.
"...Need me to beat some sense back into Ya?"
"I'm good Damon. Why don't you just leave this between me and Caroline?" He muttered through gritted teeth, irritatedly giving evil eyes to his brother.
"You know I never thought I'd say this but I'd rather he stay. You can go" Caroline stated shocking herself with those words.
"I'm not going anywhere till you tell me what the hell is going on" He demanded voice rising slightly in aggravation. He just wanted to know the truth.
"Nothing is going on!" she yelled back in annoyance, her own voice rising to meet the same level as his.
"So you haven't been acting weird since I came back"
Her head bowed backwards like she was caught off guard by the gawk of his questioning.
"I've been acting weird?..." She laughed at that but it was filled with anger. Her chest started to heave as pent up frustration reached its boiling point.
"...How would you know you haven't been around for the last five years"
"Who's her father Caroline?" he solemnly asked once again the question he already knew the answer to in his heart of hearts. He just wanted to hear her say it.
She finally snapped at him.
"Whats that even suppose to mean?!" She screeched hands clawing out in frustration towards him.
She reined in her temper trying to pull back all the emotional hate for him she was exuding. He watched her take a deep breath, closing her eyes to regain her composure as her arms fell back to their sides.
"..You really want to know. Elizabeth doesn't have a father. And she doesn't need one. She has me, and I won't abandon her.." she had lowered her voice to a more calming manner but the anger was still quite clear in her voice as she muttered through clenched teeth
".. I would never leave her behind unlike some people."
Stefan's breathing became heavier. He felt the tightening of his throat and vision blurring. His face draining in colour as blood was pounding ferociously through his veins. His heart raced hard and fast against his chest like it was stretching free after breaking through chains of an aged locked confinement.
"Blondie?" Damon's voice suddenly seemed apprehensive low tone compared to his and Caroline's.
"No. He can't do this he can't go around pretending she doesn't exist anymore. We're done with it. I can't believe I keep giving you chance after chance. And I don't even know why. I guess I just keep hoping you turn back into the guy I use to know. And I know that there's a part of you still in there that is the Stefan who I remember but-"
"-Caroline." Damon caustiously questioned in a warning tone, but she persevered ignoring his interruption shaking her head from side to side as Stefan froze dumbstruck in front of her.
"... I'm not having you come back here to have her to fall in love with you, for you just to run away again when it gets too real for you. The way you always do. I'm not having you breaking her heart and ruining her life the way you ruined mine" she finally burst out.
His mouth stuttered open and shut as he looked for the words, but there really are no words.
" You know what I can't be here. I'm not doing this with you again. I barely survived the last time"
"-Caroline" Stefan tried to interrupt before she cut him off.
"-No. Don't Stefan..."
Tears clouded her blue orbs as her tongue briefly rested on her upper lip the way she only did when she was trying to force back the tears. Her voice began to crack as she was ripped open in a completely vulnerable state that she'd been fighting away for so long.
"...You made your choice. You made you're choice five years ago and I have been living with it. And Me and Lizzie were doing just fine on our own."
Tears glistened his own eyes at seeing her break down in front of him. And it was all his fault. He felt like he was dying and his heart wrenched as he could do nothing but watch the lone tear roll down her cheek as her finger wiped away to hide it.
He wanted her to go back to the way she was before. Be mad at him. Give him the silent treatment, completely ignore his existence, he didn't care at this point. Anything to not have to watch the pain he was inflicting on her.
But he'd come to far now to turn back. He just needed to hear her say it.
"Am I her father?" He solemnly questioned through a cracked voice caused by the lump in his throat.
The tears streaked down finally breaking from the dam built up in her eyes. She bit the sides of her cheeks lightly shaking her head in denial. She still refused to answer the question. Like she was trying to lie to herself about it.
Still Stefan just wanted to hear her say it. So for an excruciatingly painful few minutes he just continued to watch her. His penetrating gaze begging her eyes to meet his but she refused to cave. Eyes darting around everywhere but to his. When their eyes finally locked onto one another he felt his heart stop. Cause he knew right then. He could see it in her eyes. But she still refused to say a word.
It was Damon to finally crack in the pressure of the silence.
"You're her father Stefan. Lizzie's your kid" he declared in a surprisingly gentle tone for Damon.
His hands reached up gripping furiously at his brunette locks. He vigorously rubbed his palms over his face reeling from this information. He could feel the prickling pain in the corners of his eyes.
So he was her father.
"God Caroline what have you done? How could you do this. How could not tell me. How could you-"
"-wait!" She raised a hand to stop him mid way through his panicking rant.
"..What are you talking about not telling you. I told you. I told you and you took the first flight out to New York"
"I left when I found out you got back together with Klaus." Her eyes squinted together in more confusion.
"I never got back with Klaus" she denied straight out and now Stefan's face mirrored her confusion.
"What? But dad said-"
"-Hold on. You're dad was my doctor. He was the one who told me I was pregnant."
"What?"
All three of them stood there in silence as they reeled from the revelation. Stefan began to feel like the biggest moron on the planet. His mind finally started to catch up and piece together the crumblings of his life. He now knew why his father wanted him out of town so quickly. Why he wanted him to cut all communication with everyone here. Why he disowned Damon from the family. To hide him from the real truth.