Chapter 1

Caroline was not amused when Stefan hung up on her. Firstly; it was impolite and secondly; he sounded upset and he hadn't told her where he was. She had been about to crawl into bed with her pink bunny pj's when her phone had rung. She had eagerly raced to the phone, when she thought it could possibly be Tyler.

Caroline had been hurt a lot over the last few months by Tyler. He'd lost his mother recently and she could sympathize with him because she had also lost a parent. But she was drained physically and emotionally by everything – she could not keep up with Tyler's violent emotional swings and now it seemed that she would be dealing with a nearly there ripper Stefan.

Caroline had promised Stefan that she would be there for him. After all he had been there for her when her emotions were heightened and she was conflicted about kissing Matt and wanting to kill him at the same time. Stefan had always been a good friend to her, and she couldn't let him down. Not now. Especially because she had been the one to break the news to him about Damon and Elena sleeping together. Matters were only made worse when Rebekah had interfered. Caroline had never seen Stefan like that before; defeated and heartbroken beyond repair.

So defeated she tugged off her pj's and pulled on her denim jeans and her blue and pink checkered shirt. Caroline quickly slipped on a pair of boots, grabbed her car keys and texted her mom to let her know that she would be out late. She decided that she would check the grill first before she looked anywhere else.

Stefan was on his fourth glass of scotch when he got slapped at the back of his head.

"Ouch! What the hell was that for?" Stefan asked angrily as he rubbed the back of his head.

Caroline glared at him, her arms crossed as she tapped her foot against the wooden floor of the grill. Perhaps calling her had been a bad idea, Stefan thought as he looked back at the angry blonde.

"Really Stefan? You phone me all sad and then you hang up on me. Not to mention I'm your sober sponsor and you shouldn't be drinking." Caroline huffed as she yanked the scotch out of Stefan's hand.

Caroline crushed the glass in her hand, before allowing the shards of glass to fall like crystal rain on to the floor. The bartender looked at her displeased, but she just scowled back defiantly. She was so not going to pick a bar fight – it was just plain tacky.

"You know I paid for that, besides you're supposed to help me with my blood thirst and alcohol numbs the cravings so to speak." Stefan replied in a bored tone.

Caroline pulled out the bar stool besides him and took a seat.

"Any addictive substances are banned and that includes your precious scotch. Remember food helps sublimate the cravings, you never told me to hit the bar when I was blood thirsty."

"I didn't? Well I'm a bad teacher then." Stefan said.

Caroline cursed under her breath.

"Are you planning to mop the floor with that lip? Is baby Stefan throwing a temper tantrum?" Caroline said annoyed.

Stefan laughed. It was a halfhearted laugh, but it was a laugh none the less. It had felt like days since he had last even cracked a smile.

"You remind me so much of Lexi. I'm sure you're related somehow. Blonde, fierce and head strong." He said as he chuckled to himself.

Caroline couldn't help but smile. Lexi had been the light of Stefan's life. Not his love obviously but still she was the closest to him, his best friend. Caroline had never gotten to meet her officially, but she wished she had. Lexi sounded like she was an amazing person – after all she had brought Stefan back to the light for so many years. It wasn't an easy task.

"Well I'm sure she would be pissed with you right now. Stefan, we both know Elena's different because of the sire bond. But once we get this cure, she'll be normal Elena again." Caroline softly as she laid a hand on his shoulder to comfort him.

Stefan bowed his head down.

"No she won't." He mumbled.

"Why do you say that?" Caroline asked puzzled.

Stefan sighed out in exasperation.

"I'm pretty sure that she was in love with him before she turned. I think it was always there."

Caroline dropped her hand. She knew that Elena had felt conflicted between the two brothers. Caroline had always rooted for Stefan, despite his many flaws, simply because she disliked Damon a lot. It was a totally bias feeling of course. She was still furious with Damon for the way he had used her when she was still human. He'd never once apologized for it. She knew that he felt no remorse of course but that's why she wanted Elena to be with Stefan, because he always was remorseful even when he was in his twisted ripper state.

"It doesn't change what you two had. She will realize that one day and she'll come running back into your arms. And hey maybe you can both take the cure and start sprouting babies together." Caroline reassured.

Stefan chuckled yet again.

"You see the world very black and white don't you?" Stefan asked.

Caroline shrugged her shoulder.

"I guess."

"Well you should know, there is grey and it's everywhere Caroline." Stefan announced as he stood up suddenly, startling Caroline.

"Where are you going?" Caroline asked.

"Home," Stefan said out slowly before his brain caught up with him. Elena would be with Damon. In the basement. He'd been compelled to kill Jeremy and he would need to be out of harm's way. But he knew that Elena would be capable enough to make sure that she was careful with Damon so that he couldn't sire her to let him go. Even though he said differently when he last saw her.

"On second thoughts, could I stay at your place?" Stefan asked.

Caroline nodded her head solemnly before replying,

"Of course."