Thanks to my reviewers :) Made me smile.

Chapter 3

"Here we are!" I glanced out of the window, watching the trees glide past us. Up ahead I could see the boarding house.

"What the hell?"

"I know. Caroline."

"But its white? Its white!" The boarding house, which usually blended into the shadows and dark corners of the woodlands, now stood out against the gloomy backdrop like white chalk on a chalkboard. Not only that but the original dark wood poles were covered with creeping red roses as were the flower beds which appeared along the edge of the driveway. Flowerbeds? Driveway? Leaning out the window I noticed that the familiar gravel road had been replaced with neatly placed pavers. "I don't believe it." I whispered under my breath.

"It sure is something isn't it?" Added Jeremy from the backseat.

"Sure his." I softly muttered.

Bonnie pulled up in front of the portico. I glanced around suspiciously before climbing out of the car. There was laughter coming from inside the house, contrasting to the usual eerie silence. I heard Matt's loud guffaw accompanied by some softer voices. Definitely not Rebekah though. She didn't know how to be soft. Bonnie hooked her arm in mine and practically had to drag me to the heavy oak front door.

"Here we go." I took a deep breath as she reached for the door handle, but the door was flung open before she could reach it.

"Elena! You're here!" I was enveloped into a huge blonde hug. Caroline's curls embedded themselves in my mouth and my eyes, but how could I push her away, after everything that has happened I still love her.

"Care, there's no need to suffocate her."

"Shut up, Matt. I'm hugging her before she has a chance to escape."

"You do know 'she' can still hear you."

Caroline pulled back from me and I saw that she had tears in the corner of her eyes. "I'm so happy that you're here! It's going to make it all so perfect and special. God, I love you." She pulled me in for another tight squeeze before releasing me and straightening her denim jacket. She swiped at her eyes and plastered a glittering smile on her face. "So, let's take this party inside. I'm sure you're tired after your flight."

Matt came up and gave me a quick hug and a chaste kiss on the cheek before heading to the car to help Jeremy with my bags as Caroline hooked my free arm with hers and led me into the house.

"Oh wow". I barely recognised the room I was in. Gone were the mahogany tables, and burgundy Persian rugs. The room was bursting with light from the large open windows on either side of the fireplace. The walls had been wallpapered with a burnt orange and ivory pattern. White plush carpets covered the once darkened floors and two large tawny chairs stood on either side of the white fireplace. White couches with pumpkin pillows stood in a square facing the large flat screen above the fireplace.

"I know" Caroline practically squealed. "There is so much more LIGHT!"

"Elena." A soft somewhat cheerfully nervous voice called. I turned around to see Stefan coming down the once mahogany but now white washed staircase. He also looked as though he had been washed with a mixture of white and peach. His burnt looking chinos and white cotton shirt sure as hell blended in with the décor of the room. He looked changed, as did the smile on his face.

"Stefan." A large smile graced my face as I could see that he really was happy, and happy Stefan was something that I had not seen in a long time. On reaching me, he hesitated slightly as if to gauge my reaction, but on seeing no resentment or hesitation on my part he proceeded to pull me into a gentle hug. The dark vampire even smelt like peaches.

"You look good, Elena."

"You don't look too bad yourself. I'm loving the new look."

"I know!" Squealed Caroline with excitement. "It suits him so much better. No more Mr Broodiness. Come on, I'll take you up to your room." Stefan let go of my arm, knowing that the reunion was over. Both of us having forgiven each other without speaking.

And so the parade, sans Stefan and Bonnie, marched after Caroline up the staircase. On reaching the landing I noticed that we moved towards what I deemed "Damon's side" of the house, being it on the opposite side to Stefan. But the once daunting passage had been replaced with an airy passage of white and pastel colours with ivory doors lining the walls. About halfway down the passage Caroline came to a halt in front of one of the doors. "This one." She sighed. How she could tell one door from the other I don't know. "Matt's at the start of the passage by the staircase, however most of us are in the other wing, but I thought that you would want to be as far away from Rebekah as possible. And we will be filling up the day before the wedding with some out of town guests and such so enjoy the peace!" Caroline pushed open the door and I followed her, stepping into a fantasy room of roses, red no less. "I know how much you love roses so I thought this would be perfect."

"It's beautiful, Caroline. I love it." The walls were painted white as was the ceiling, however the old natural Hickory wood beams had been left unpainted and striped across the ceiling. The wooden floor mirrored the slightly honey coloured beams. An immense canopy bed stood against the far wall between to full length windows which were framed by deep cherry red curtains. The bedspread was also white covered accented by red paisley designs. A cherry red bathroom stood of the one side and a large white wardrobe was pushed up against the opposite wall. White fluffy carpets like the ones downstairs hid square sections of the wooden floors. But the most beautiful feature of the room was the roses. Vases of full, luscious red Roses stood on either bedside table as well as the desk beside the door. The windows overlooked the rose garden below and a bowl of Venetian red petals stood in either window sill. "It really is beautiful Care." I pulled her into a hug.

"A beautiful room for a beautiful girl." She whispered into my hair. Straightening up once again she swiped the tears from her eyes and mine. "Now, I will leave you to unpack and freshen up and we are all meeting down in the kitchen in an hour or so. Okay?"

"Great. Thank you."

"Good, good." She gave me a fleeting smile before swiftly sweeping out of the room with her blonde hair waving behind her. The boys put my suitcases on the floor and left shortly after. Heaving a great sigh, I flopped down onto the puffy bed. Down pillows, of course. God, it felt good.

After a half-hour catnap, I unpacked my clothes into the wardrobe, put my toiletries in the bathroom, not in the least surprised when I found a Venetian red paisley chaise lounge in the bathroom or preserved red petals under the glass tiles in the floor and a large bouquet of roses next to the sink. Quickly I ran my hairbrush through my hairs, brushing out the curls which had formed into tight knots. After a quick spray of perfume and a mentos I wandered back into the hallway and down the stairs towards the kitchen.

I know I haven't ended with much of a cliffhanger but wait for the next one :P