Another Birthday Gone Wrong:

Beth opened the door to the Salvatore house. Her plan was to get Alaric's books that he left and get out before Damon could hear her. She tip toed upstairs hearing Damon showering in his room. She grabbed a jacket that she left and walked back downstairs. As she walked into the library she heard someone behind her. She quickly turned and found herself face to face with the youngest Salvatore. "Stefan." She gasped as he smiled, creepily at her. "What are you doing here?"

"Hello, Beth. Last I checked I live here." He told her stepping into the library completely. "I think the real question is, what are you doing here?"

"I came to get something for Alaric. I thought you left town and from what I've heard with four little stolen items too." She commented. Beth walked over to the table that was on the side of the bookcase, away from Stefan. She just wanted to find Alaric's books and leave.

"Ah, so Klaus told you about that. If you're trying to get me to tell you where they are, you can tell Klaus to do better."

"I'm not doing anything for Klaus. I'm not getting involved in your fight with him. I just think it's pretty stupid for you to steal from him, especially his family." She told him. "Why do you want the coffins anyways?"

Suddenly, Stefan was right in front of her and Beth stopped herself from taking a step back. She wouldn't give him that satisfaction of knowing he startled her. "Stefan!" Beth turned to see Damon standing in the doorway wearing just jeans, hair still wet from his shower. As soon as he heard her, here he hurried to get downstairs. "I thought I told you I'd be with you in a minute, brother."

"Just saying hi to Beth. I'll see you later." He smirked at her, as he took a few steps back. He gave her one last spine-chilling glance before he left the library.

Beth sighed as she saw him finally leave. "You okay?" Damon asked her, concerned. She nodded. He wasn't sure why Stefan was bothering her. He could tell that Stefan was planning something and that made him nervous especially if it concerned her. "Um, what are you doing here?"

"Sorry. I just came for something Alaric left. He said there were some books that he needed. He would have gotten them before the benefit party thing tonight but I had to bring them to school with me." She said uncomfortably. He walked over to the bookcase. "If there something going on with you and Stefan? Cause he's been acting creepier than usual."

"Oh you know Stefan, all broody and creepy as usual. He'll get over it." He told her with a smirk. She rolled her eyes. He handed her the books with a small box on top of it. "That's all that he left here the other day. And the box is yours." He told her. She looked up at him. "It's a late birthday present."

"You didn't have to get me anything."

"Well, I did. And no take backs." He smirked at her and Beth couldn't help but give him a small smile.

"Thanks. I should get to school though." She told him as she started walking to the doorway, she stopped once she hit it though. "I'll see you later, I guess?" He smiled at her and nodded. Beth returned the smile and left the room.

xxxxx

"What do you want, Tyler?" Beth asked as she got out of her car. He was waiting right in front of the school. She could tell that he was nervous about something, and he had a right to be. She was still angry at him for his part in hurting Alaric and Jeremy. "I don't have time for this."

"Please just listen to me, Beth." He stopped right in front of her so she had to stop walking. "I'm sorry! I can't do anything about being sired and I'm sorry Alaric got hurt. I never knew that was going to happen. Please, Beth. I've lost everyone else. I can't lose you too." He begged her. She was the only one who stuck around when they found out he was sired to do Klaus' bidding. He didn't want to lose his best friend.

"You're an ass! And if you ever do something like that again, willingly, I'll hit you and this time I won't miss." She warned him. A smile grew on his face knowing this was an acceptance to his apology. It wasn't as though she wasn't upset with him but everyone else abandoned him as their friend and she couldn't do the same. "You're lucky you're my friend, you know that right?"

He smiled at her. "Yeah, I know. Thank you, Beth." She rolled her eyes but let him hug her. At least if he lost everything, he knew he still had her. "I'm going to wait for Caroline to come but I'll meet you inside." He said as he pulled back.

"Okay, just give her some time, Tyler. It'll be hard for her to deal with." She suggested. He nodded and she walked inside, hoping that him or Caroline would get hurt too badly. And hopefully the surprise at Caroline's locker that her, Elena and Bonnie were planning would cheer her up a little bit.

Beth went to her locker but passed Jeremy packing up. After, Elena told her that she compelled him too leave, she was a bit upset but she understood. She didn't want to do that to him again but it kept him safe. "Hey! Are you getting all ready to leave?"

"Yeah just tossing my books in here. The school in Denver is supposed to be really cool." He said excitedly.

"Well, I'm happy you're excited for it but you're going to have to call me all the time. I'm going to miss you."

"I'm going to miss you too." He told her sincerely giving her a hug. Beth sighed. If he had to be compelled to leave, at least he'd be far enough so that he would be safe from any supernatural harm.

xxxxx

Since Caroline skipped school and didn't get to see the birthday surprise the girls put together they decided to bring it to her house with Matt. Bonnie, Elena, Beth and Matt were currently hiding in the other room of her house. They heard the door open and Caroline step inside. They all had party hats on with balloons and Bonnie holding the birthday sign. All together they jumped out of their hiding spot. "Surprise!" They yelled and startled Caroline.

"What are you guys doing here?" She asked shocked.

"Well you blew off school and missed our work of birthday art so…." Beth said as she took off the purple tiara from her head and put it on Caroline's.

"Change into warmer clothes, we're going to the falls." Bonnie told her, excitedly. "Smores, camp fire."

"Cake, like when we were little!" Elena added.

"Except with tequila!" Matt added and Caroline laughed.

"Thanks, guys. Really, I'm just not feeling my birthday this year." She admitted sadly. This was news to them. Caroline's birthday was practically Christmas for her. She loved it.

"I'm sorry, what? You've already claimed your birthday as everyone's favorite day of the year." Bonnie reminded her.

"Yeah and now it's just a reminder that technically, I'm dead." Caroline told her bitterly. "Look, I didn't even like 17. And the only point of 17 is to get to 18, it's a filler year, I'm stuck in a filler year!"

"You're not stuck, Caroline." Elena assured her.

"Yeah, I am but it's ok. You know, it's all good, I will be fine. But I just need some time to wallow in it." She said nodding. Beth sighed. She really didn't want Caroline to think that she was stuck. It was her birthday and she should be happy that it was. Beth smiled, speaking up.

"Well, then, I think I have another idea."

xxxxx

Beth told Elena her idea so that she could get the rest of the guys the cake and party favors. They went to the cemetery to a tomb, that was big enough for all of them. They all walked in. "This is creepy, even for us." Bonnie chuckled as they walked.

"No, Caroline was right." Beth told them as Elena got the cake ready. "Technically, she is, dead. Sorry. But you don't need a birthday. You need a funeral. You have to say goodbye to your old life so that you can move on with your epic vampiric life." Caroline chuckled and Matt smiled at them.

"Okay," She agreed as she took off the purple tiara. "Here lies Caroline Forbes…"

"Cheerleader, Miss Mystic Falls, third grade hopscotch champion…." Elena reminded her and she laughed.

"Best friend." Beth added and she smiled at her.

"Daughter, over achiever." Bonnie said.

"Mean girl, sometimes, no offense." He told her and she shurrged.

"Ah, none taken." She agreed.

"She was 17 and she lived a really good life. So rest in peace so that she can move forward." Elena said walking towards her with the candles on the cake. "That's what your really need. What we all really need. Amen, or cheers or whatever." They laughed and nodded to Beth who lit the candles up with her magic. "Nice." Elena complimented her and they turned to Caroline.

"Okay. Make a wish." Beth said. Caroline smiled, gratefully at all of her friends who did this for her, just so she didn't have a horrible birthday. She closed her eyes for a moment and then blew them all out.