Chapter 17

An: So sorry for the delay my awesome readers. Had a productive week – finally left the family nest and on to bigger ventures. However that is no excuse for neglecting Steroline! Will try my best to keep my updates regular. Thank you again for all the support and thank you to the newcomers – can't believe how lucky I am to have amazing readers and reviewers.

Peyton was lying soaked in the warmth of the bath , sipping champagne and thinking about the predicament that she had got herself involved in. She was chasing after something that was either going to go one way or another.

Knock. Knock.

Peyton sighed. She suspected it was room service. Not that she had ordered anything, she was after all seeing Damon later that evening. She pulled on her white fluffy robe, and made her way cross the room. She pulled the door open and was startled by who stood there. Klaus.

"Hello Peyton. I hope I'm not disturbing?" He asked as he moved pass a shell shocked Peyton.

However she gathered herself before answering:

"I didn't expect you to be here. Checking up on me brother?" She sighed.

Klaus seated himself on the crème couch and glanced up at his sister. Yes, Peyton was his father's daughter. The sister who had survived Mikael's violent attack on her family. When Klaus happened upon her, he knew instantly that she was his sister. He had turned her once he discovered that she had not inherited the werewolf curse. She was the sister he treasured most, which is why no one was to know about their connection. He feared that he would lose her.

"You're my treasure. I need to make sure you're fine." He cleared his throat, as Peyton moved over towards the bed. She flopped down on to the bed before quirking an eyebrow at him.

"How did you know where I was?" She asked suspiciously.

Klaus chuckled.

"I keep tabs on you. Especially when I know you're near him."

Peyton swallowed nervously. Klaus was never happy about her relationship with Damon. He loathed the Salvatore brother.

"It's none of your concern, Klaus." She answered.

"Yes it is. I need to know that you're happy? Last time I checked, Damon Salvatore caused you a lot of pain."

Peyton ran a hand through her hair before scowling at him.

"I don't need your protection. I'm your dirty secret, so treat me like one. Go lavish attention on Rebekah." She scowled.

"You're not my dirty secret, Peyton. I do not wish you any harm. It's better if people believe that you died all those years ago. I have enemies and I always will. I don't want to hurt you like I did with my other siblings."

Peyton moved off the bed until she was next to her brother.

"I know. I won't do anything foolish and mention my true parentage to Damon. He needs to face some home truths. That's all. Nothing else."

Klaus nodded pleased with her answer. He placed a gentle kiss to her temple, before getting up and heading towards the door.

"I can't linger for too long. I have business to attend to. If anything goes wrong or you want me, you know what to do," Klaus said before exiting the room.

Peyton frowned and swung an arm over her face.

'So many lies covered up by more lies.' She thought.

Now wasn't the right time. She couldn't face Damon. She hadn't perfected her plan yet and until she did – only then could she see him. She needed to cut her emotions off from him, she couldn't love somebody who didn't love her in return.

Stefan was accustomed to guilt. Being a vampire meant having to live under a constant veil, hiding the pain and loss. Dealing with things that no one could possibly understand. Sometimes he wish he could forget the things he did. There were far too many crimes he had committed and he surmised that his punishment would be that he could never forget.

Sitting in a hotel room, looking upon her, he realized the enormity of what had happened. Yes it was a kiss. Caroline was drunk and in her state she had kissed him. The fault came from him – he had kissed her back. He had not stopped it, because deep down he knew that he wanted to have someone else's lips upon his own. Not too feel isolated and alone, but loved and cherished. Except he was certain that he didn't want Caroline to be a rebound or even a potential love interest. Stefan couldn't risk the chance that if things went south – then he wouldn't have his friend. He would lose Caroline. That was an option that he was just not willing to risk.

Except now he was left with choices. If Caroline remembered the night's events then he would have to tell her that it was just a mistake. A harmless mistake. Even though he knew there was nothing harmless about it. He had never kissed Lexi in his life time and he was convinced that if he ever did try to pucker his lips to her – she would have buried him alive. But that was his relationship with Lexi, he never could look at her as another girl – he saw her as his sibling, his equal.

There was also the possibility that Caroline would wake up with no knowledge of the night's events. Then there would be a dilemma. Would he risk is and tell her the truth? Besides, what feelings did Caroline have for him? Was it possible that she had been feeling something more and he hadn't been aware of it?

Caroline stirred. Stefan's breath caught in his throat. Caroline's eye's drifted open slowly as she took in her surroundings. It took her awhile to get her bearings right but she relaxed the minute she saw Stefan sitting on the opposite bed. He was frowning at her. Oops. Perhaps she should just go back to bed. Clearly she had upset him – although she had no clue what she did. Last night was a blank screen.

"Um… Morning I guess?" She pulled herself up into a sitting position, immediately the vertigo feeling struck her and she collapsed back into bed. She really did go overboard last night with the booze.

"How are you feeling?" Stefan asked, although he was sure that she was feeling worse for wear.

She certainly looked it. Her fair skin, looked sullen and sickly and the brightness in her eyes was misted with a foggy haze.

Caroline groaned as she rubbed her forehead.

"Like a Metallica concert is playing in my head. What happened?"

Stefan sighed as he eased himself off the bed. He went over to his cupboard and pulled out a bottle of pain killers. He placed them on her bedside table.

"You drank quite a lot at the concert and then afterwards you decided to go for a late night swim. You're a very interesting drunk."

"So much for being your sober companion. I'm sorry." She muttered, as she popped the pain killers into her mouth and swallowed.

Stefan frowned at her.

"You don't have to apologize." Stefan answered.

"Then why are you mad at me?" Caroline asked, she was sure that he was upset with her. Although she wasn't sure it was about the drinking, or something she did or said.

"I'm not mad, Care." He sighed, before returning to his bed.

'Did he just call me Care?' He never calls her by her nickname. Never. Either he was drunk or she had one mighty hangover that was effecting her hearing.

"Are you sure? I have a tendency to be very dark and bleak when I'm drunk. I didn't say anything about Elena and you or anything like that?"

Stefan shook his head.

"No. You were just having fun. No harm done." He lied. He couldn't tell her the truth now. It would be wrong to bring it up when she was having her neurotic attack. He decided it would be best to keep her calm for the time being.

"Oh good. I would hate for things to be awkward between us." She said relieved.

Stefan however did not reply.

"So where's our next stop?" She asked awkwardly.

Things were awkward, despite her saying so. She knew she must have said something about Elena and Stefan was just being Stefan and not telling her, so that he wouldn't upset her. That was just his style. He was always more concerned about the people around him, that he would neglect to take his own feelings in account.

"I don't know. Where do you want to go?" He answered, keen to steer the conversation away from the previous night's events.

Caroline this time, successfully pulled herself up without falling back down again. At least the room wasn't spinning so much.

"Perhaps it time I start thinking about the future. You know, college and stuff."

Stefan couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his lips.

"You want to go scouting? College scouting?" He asked, his voice laced with shock.

Caroline shrugged.

"Blame it on the alcohol. I mean we don't have to. It was just a suggestion."

"No. It's actually a great idea. Perhaps I should start thinking about school as well."

"Really?" She asked.

"I haven't been to college in a while. Maybe now's the right time to see what my options are." He did need to start thinking about his future.

Now that Elena was out of the picture. Not that his mind was on Elena, when Caroline suddenly pulled the sheets off her body. The night before he had redressed her into her summer dress. But now it looked rumpled and too seductive. It was as if fate was tempting him. He needed to get control of his feelings, otherwise it wouldn't be the ripper doing something destructive, it would be him.

"Great! It's good to be focused." Caroline excitedly jabbered, unaware of Stefan's inner dilemma.

"Yeah. Focused." He nervously swallowed as he watched her retreat into the bathroom.