They didn't make it to Nashville that day. The traffic was terrible due to some accident. Instead they exited the highway and entered Kidsville, population: 2023 people. The town had a small motel, probably built for just these kinds of situations. In the lobby, Caroline spotted at least three other people who had given up the traffic jam for some beer at the local bar. The receptionist eyed Stefan and Caroline carefully.

"You have to be 21 to stay here without a guardian" she snapped.

Caroline sighed. She wanted to shower. She hadn't been able to shake off the fights she'd had with Bonnie and Elena. Stefan knew something was up.

"I'm 25" she said firmly. "And Stefan's 27."

The receptionists' pupils expanded and then shrunk.

"Room 125" she said, smiling broadly.

"I think we need a discount too" Caroline said.

"25 % off."

Caroline nodded, took the key and left the lobby. A family behind her looked confused and their gazes followed her as she left.

"Care, you have to be careful" Stefan mumbled as they climbed the stairs.

"I know."

She stopped outside room 125 and tried to unlock the door. Her hands trembled and the lock wouldn't budge. She was close to just breaking it and walking in, when Stefan took the key from her.

"Breathe" he said calmingly.

They stepped inside the small room. It only had one bed, a double, Caroline had forgotten to ask for singles.

"Breathe" Stefan repeated as she slammed the door shut behind them.

She didn't answer, just stepped into the bathroom and showered for 20 minutes.

"What's up?" Stefan asked.

He lay on the bed, watching CNN and looking dashing. Caroline had wrapped herself in one of the white hotel towels. She sat down on the foot of the bed and watched the headlines on the news. Someone in the senate had died.

"Nothing" she lied.

"I know Bonnie upset you."

"It's not a big deal."

She picked up her brush from her bag and started untangling the mess that was her hair. Stefan moved up behind her and took the brush from her. He began to slowly comb through her blonde mane. She closed her eyes.

"You can tell me" he said.

"No, I can't."

"Care, I'm not stupid. I realize that they are probably giving you a hard time because you're here with me."

They. Had he heard her speak to Elena this morning?

"They treat me like a stupid kid" Caroline sighed.

His fingers in her hair soothed her. When the hair was untangled, he braided it. She wondered silently where he had learnt that. It didn't matter. It calmed her and made the anger disappear.

"How about we get a beer?" Stefan asked.

His voice was as soft as his fingers. He gave her shoulders a rub. She closed her eyes and breathed slowly through her nose.

"Okay" she agreed.

But she didn't get up. Neither did he. He kept rubbing her shoulders, massaging the stress out of her system.

"You're a good friend, Care" he said.

She nodded. She hoped that she was at least.

"And you're not a stupid kid" he continued.

She shrugged under his hands. He squeezed her aching muscles one last time, got up and pulled her to her feet.

"How 'bout that beer?"

She nodded.

The bar was called The flying bird and located in the town square. Tonight, it was packed with both villagers and travelers. Stefan ordered a beer, Caroline a glass of red wine. Neither got carded as they paid and sat down at a cramped table in the corner.

"I have some questions about the rules" Stefan said.

Caroline smiled.

"Yes, grasshopper?"

"Can I mix two of activities in one?" he asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, can I be hammered when I sing karaoke?"

Caroline laughed.

"No, not hammered. You have to remember it."

"Crap."

He sighed dramatically. Caroline smiled at him. He had cheered her up. 20 minutes ago, she had been ready to kill Bonnie, now, after a shower, a braid, a backrub and a glass of wine, she felt good again.

"How about money?" Stefan asked.

"Money?"

"Do we have budget for this trip?"

She raised her eyebrows. A part of her wanted to say that budgets weren't a part of road trips, but then she remembered Britney Spears making one in Crossroads.

"No" she sighed. "Do we need one?"

Stefan shrugged.

"How much money do you have?" he asked

"Some" she replied.

"And how much of that is supposed to go to your college education?" Stefan asked, raising one eyebrow.

"Some" she repeated.

"Harvard is expensive" he commented.

"I don't really want to go to Harvard."

"I know, I'm just saying."

She nodded. She got his point.

"How much money do you have?" she asked.

"Some" he replied and winked at her.

"You've had 145 years to collect a fortune."

"Yep" he agreed.

"I say, we live on cheap hotels and drink cheap beer and when my funds run low, I'll go home."

He nodded.

"Okay."

She watched his face and found his features reassuring.

"You cheered me up" she said.

"You're easy to cheer up, Care. You're a happy, positive person."

"Thanks."

"And tomorrow, we drive to Nashville?" he asked.

She nodded.

…

Vanderbilt was huge and Nashville was hot. Very hot. Like 118 degrees. Vampires didn't sweat, but Stefan felt like lying down on the ground and staying there for several hours. He had often thought of himself (and other vampires) as lizards. They were coldblooded and needed a heat source to get warm, just like vampires did. When a lizard was hot, they lay perfectly still and concentrated on breathing. And that was exactly what Stefan wanted to do.

"I can't live here" Caroline exhaled, fanning herself with a brochure of the school. "It's too hot."

"It's probably not like this all the time" Stefan said. "I read in the news paper that most of Virginia has temperatures near this today as well."

She shrugged. It was too hot to speak much.

"Let's get out of here" she said.

They left the dorms and walked out into the sunshine. God, it was even hotter here. They walked down the street, almost alone. Citizens of Nashville had the sense to stay inside today. They had parked the car a few blocks down, in the shade of an oak.

"Let's get to the car and turn the AC up" he said.

Caroline nodded and they started to walk faster. They could have been at the car in the matter of seconds if they had used their vampire speed, but some lady might be watching from her window so they tried to appear normal.

"Oh, goodie" Caroline suddenly said.

She had stopped. Stefan turned around to see why. Caroline had picked up a hose from the driveway of a pretty house. The hose had been watering a clump of bushes.

"Care…" he began to say, about to tell her to put it back.

But then she pointed the hose at him and cold water shot at him. It was heaven and hell at the same time. Because vampires weren't like humans, Stefan's skin was hot, very, very hot. Like a stone that has been laying the sun for hours. The water almost hissed as it hit him. The effect was that it almost hurt.

"Oh god" he exclaimed.

After a few seconds, it felt wonderful. God. He felt his white t-shirt get plastered to his chest and his jeans getting drenched. He swept the hair out of his face and then went to attack. Caroline was stronger them him, thanks to the human blood, but the hose was slippery and he got it from her hands without much trouble. She screamed and tried to get away from him. He got a hand around her waist, held the hose over her head and felt her withering in his arms. She wore a short sundress that rode up her thighs, he let her go so that she could pull it down. She turned to him and smiled. He smiled back. Her hair lay flat on her head, no longer blonde, but dark, almost black. Her eyelashes dripped of water. She looked happy.

"Excuse me" a voice said.

They both froze on the spot. A man, maybe 60 years old, stood on the driveway, looking upset.

"That's my hose" he said.

Crap. Stefan didn't know what to say. Thankfully, Caroline wasn't as tongue-tied.

"I'm so sorry" she said, smiling politely. "It's just so hot today."

"I know" the man said tersely. "That's why I'm watering my roses."

"Oh" Caroline said.

Her smiled faltered a fraction.

"Bill, who are you talking to?" a second voice called out.

Behind the man, Bill, a woman came walking. She wore a too short dress and carried a hand-fan.

"Some kids" Bill sneered.

The woman looked Caroline and Stefan up and down. She took in the wet clothes and plastered hair and nervous smiles.

"I'm sorry" Caroline said. "We were just walking to the car, but it's so hot. I just couldn't resist."

The woman returned Caroline's smile. Stefan understood her. It was hard not to.

"But of course" the woman said, nodding. "I understand."

"Julie" Bill said. "Don't."

But Julie did.

"Do you two want some lemonade?" she asked.

Caroline smile brightened.

"Sure."

Stefan shook his head in disbelief. They had been close to being yelled at by a man, but ended up with lemonade at a southern porch. Caroline had social gifts he himself only could dream of.

…

Julie and Bill Carlson were 62 years old, both retired accountants. They spoke with a southern drawl so thick that Stefan sometimes had a hard time understanding them. Julie poured them lemonade and served it to them on the porch, which was equipped with five huge fans. The air was cool and fresh. Stefan leaned back in his chair, pulled off his wet shirt and relaxed. Julie quickly pulled off her dress and exposing a brown belly and purple bikini. She exhaled loudly in pleasure.

"I have to brown up a bit" she told Caroline.

Caroline nodded in agreement. She also pulled off her dress, showing off her pale skin, a white bra and white panties. Stefan quickly looked away.

"You need some sun, dear" Julie said.

"I'm just pale by nature" Caroline said, shrugging.

Or by vampirism, Stefan thought.

"So, what are you kids doing in Nashville? You don't live here, do you?" Julie asked.

Bill came out on the porch, spotted Caroline half-naked and left.

"No" Caroline said hesitantly.

She met Stefan's gaze. He shrugged. She could tell the truth if she wanted, he didn't care.

"We're looking for our mom" she said.

"Your mom?"

Stefan frowned. What?

"Yes. Well, Stefan and I grew up with our dad in Virginia. He died last year and now we're trying to track our mom down. Our dad always told us that she lived in Nashville."

"You two are siblings?"

Caroline nodded.

"Yes."

Well, Stefan thought, there were siblings who looked less alike then him and Caroline. They were both blondish, both tall, both athletically built, both pale.

"I thought…" Julie began, but didn't finish her sentence.

"What's your mom's name?" Bill asked from the doorway.

Caroline turned to him.

"Shannon Johnson" she told him. "She's born in 1960."

He tilted his head to the side, appearing to think it over.

"No, I don't know her" he replied. "Have you tried to find an address?"

Caroline nodded, looking solemn.

"We found nothing."

"She might have remarried" Julie suggested. "Maybe she's called something else now."

Stefan watched Caroline with admiration and confusion. She was an amazing actress. He almost bought what she said.

"Stefan, you're awfully quiet" Julie said softly. "Are you alright?"

Stefan, in contrast to Caroline, wasn't a very good liar. This was a bit strange since he had spent most of his life lying about who he was. But no, Stefan wasn't a good liar. Not at all.

"He's just a bit sensitive about our mom" Caroline explained, taking his hand. "He's three years older than me, mom left when he was seven. He knew her much better than I did."

Wasn't this a bit too much? Julie and Bill hung on to every word that left Caroline's mouth. Their eyes were huge. It wasn't really nice to lie like this.

"Why did she leave?" Julie breathed.

"It's kind of intense" Caroline said. "Stefan, why don't you tell what happened? You remember it much better than I do."

He glared at her. She smirked.

"Well…" he began slowly. "I don't remember that much."

"Oh, tell us, Stefan. It might help you in the search" Julie begged.

"Yes, tell them the story" Caroline urged him.

He made a mental note to kill Caroline.

"I was seven when she left" he said. "I was asleep when I heard dad and mom fight."

"And they never fought" Caroline interjected.

"Never" Stefan repeated absentminded. "But that night, they did."

He stopped and watched his audience. Julie stared at him with her mouth open. Bill had come on the porch, looking serious. Maybe this wasn't mean. Maybe this was actually adding flavor to this couples life. Two siblings, arriving on their door step, telling them an interesting story.

"What did they fight about?" Julie whispered.

"Me" Stefan invented. "Mom told my father that I wasn't his child, that I was the result of an affair she had had with another man."

He met Caroline's eyes again. She looked impressed.

"Wow" Julie breathed.

"And she told him that she was taking me with her and running away with this man, my biological father."

"And leaving me" Caroline said, looking hurt.

"What did your dad say?" Bill asked, his arms crossed.

"That even if I wasn't his by blood, I was his by love. He told her that she could leave if she wanted, but that he wouldn't let me go."

"And she left?" Julie asked.

"She left" Caroline confirmed.

"Then why do you want to find her?" Bill asked.

"She's our mother" Stefan said. "Our father passed away. She's all we have left."

Julie got up from her seat and kissed both Caroline's and Stefan's foreheads.

"We're going to help you" she said. "Where are you staying?"

"Some motel, I guess" Caroline said, shrugging. "We haven't found one yet."

"Oh no" Julie said, shaking her head."You will stay with us. You can stay in the twin's room. I'll show you."

She went inside. Caroline and Stefan exchanged a look, then got up and followed her. Stefan realized that Caroline was still holding his hand. Apparently she also realized it, because she quickly let go. Even though it was 118 degrees outside, his hand suddenly felt cold.

…

The twin's room was a painted orange, with two single beds, a pink wardrobe and a few posters on the walls of The Police. The twins, whoever they had been, probably hadn't lived here for 40 years.

"Liar" Stefan hissed in Caroline's ear.

She snorted at him, shoving him onto his bed.

"You're one to talk."

"You gave me no other option but to lie" he protested.

Caroline rolled her eyes at him. Actually, she hadn't planned on lying, but she had felt that Julie wished that they had some exciting background. It had just been a feeling. And it had been fun making up a different identity.

"Julie will start an investigation" Stefan said accusingly.

She smirked.

"At least we got free accommodations!" she smiled.

He just shook his head at her and picked up a dry shirt from his bag. He put it on and Caroline exhaled. Shirtless Stefan was one of her favorite Stefan's. She liked looking at him. It wasn't in some pervy, horny way. She just appreciated his beauty. All those lean muscles that flexed when he moved. Nothing else.

"Who's Shannon Johnson?" Stefan asked.

Caroline felt dazed.

"What?" she asked.

Stefan had put on a v-necked t-shirt. T-shirt-wearing Stefan wasn't that bad either.

"Our mom" he reminded her. "I guess you just didn't make the name up?"

She shook her head.

"She was my kindergarten teacher."

"Must have made quite an impression on you" Stefan remarked.

"Oh yes. I loved her. I stalked her at school, followed her every step, drew her hundreds of pictures of us two. I even started to imagine that she was my mom, you know when I was little my mom always worked, just as she does now, and she was never home. Ms Jones, though, she was the perfect mother to me, I thought. I even started to sign my name as Caroline Johnson."

Stefan raised an eyebrow.

"Wow" he said.

"Yeah. I had issues."

"What did your mom say when she found out?"

"She didn't" Caroline shrugged. "She never looked at my school work. Shannon realized though, but she was sweet about it."

"What happened to her?"

"To Sharon? She got pregnant and quit to take care of the kid. I was so jealous I refused to eat."

Stefan ruffled her hair. It was still damp in places.

"You had issues" he said kindly.

"I know" she smiled.

…

Julie and Bill were nice. They made dinner and served it with some horrible red wine. Caroline felt at ease. It wasn't as hot anymore, maybe around 90 degrees. The sky was turning black, the stars were coming out. Who cared if Bonnie and Elena were idiots? Caroline wasn't doing anything wrong. Except maybe lying about who she was to the Julie and Bill.

"Vanderbilt is an amazing school" Julie said.

They were discussing colleges. Caroline felt a bit tipsy and tried to not talk too much. Instead she leaned her head against Stefan's shoulder and closed her eyes.

"We visited it today" Stefan said.

"It was hot" Caroline murmured.

His shoulder was hard under her head. All those muscles did have a backside.

"Our twins went there" Bill said. "One of scholarship."

Caroline felt bad for the one who hadn't gotten one.

"It was perfect" Julie agreed. "They could live with us, just a few blocks from the school itself!"

"That sounds wonderful" Caroline whispered.

She was feeling sleepy. She had slept badly last night not being used to sharing a bed with a boy. It wasn't like she was some innocent virgin, but sleeping and having sex were to different things. Stefan had gotten into bed while she was in the bathroom. The room had been dark when she had come out. He had said goodnight and then apparently fallen asleep. But Caroline hadn't. She had been aware of him to sleep.

"You tired, Care?" he whispered.

She nodded. He put his arm around her. Her head fell more comfortably onto his neck. He smelled nice.

"And drunk" he said so quietly that only she could hear.

She made some noncommittal sound and opened her eyes again.

"Let's get you to bed then" he said, getting up.

Her head slumped down from him and she grunted.

"This must have been an emotional day for you" Julie said sympathetically.

"Very" Caroline agreed.

Stefan bent down and lifted her off her feet. He carried her upstairs.

"You're nice" she whispered.

"I know" he whispered back as he pulled the blanket over her.

"And you smell nice" she continued.

"Thanks."

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Care."

He bent down and kissed her forehead.