She woke up screaming on Monday morning. Stefan was by her side as she was coming to grips with reality. He helped calm her down by repeating it was a nightmare. Just a nightmare. However, it wasn't a nightmare. She had awoken to this pain that hit her chest. The pain buried itself deeper and became a hot pang.

Her blurry vision captured the worry in Stefan's eyes fading as she took control of her breath and her screaming died off. She tried to lift herself up but her arms were shaking. The hairs on her arm raised and tiny bumps riddled her forearms. Coldness engulfed her even as she sweated. Stefan helped her sit up against her bedframe.

"I don't think I can go to school today." She groaned.

"The nightmare was that bad?"

No. She remembered her nightmares, but not the last two nights. She only could hazily recall an island and a cave. Last night she had the same dream, but she had only jolted awake. The pain that had just subsided... It made no sense.

"We can stay home today."

She nodded as Stefan settled on her bed beside her and put an arm around her.

"Do you need anything?"

She shook her head. Nothing he could give anyway. She wanted answers, but none anyone seemed to provide. Except maybe her bloodline.

She winced. Her mind kept being pulled to that word since her talk with Rebekah... She hadn't made up her mind yet. Did she actually want to go see her family? They had effectively abandoned her. What would they want to say to her anyway? Did she want answers from them if they were even willing or would they be there to reprimand her?

Life had been confusing as of late, especially now. She felt as though she was drudging further into murky waters. Nothing seemed to appear as it initially seemed. Friend or foe. Truth or lie. Black or white. All she saw was grey in a haze of crimson blood.

She leaned on Stefan's shoulder. His soft fingers brushed against her shoulder. Sunday had been just like this moment. Enjoying each other's company in silence. The rest of the world did not exist outside of them.

Yet, she couldn't completely relax like Sunday. Another topic had been swirling in her head. She had been able to fend it off yesterday, but it seemed impossible today. She felt like she was slowly walking to a point of no return, and she wanted Stefan... She wanted him to know.

"Stefan, if it comes to it... I wouldn't resent you if you back out."

"Huh?"

"I understand that I may have to choose more than one person. I want you to know I respect your decision whatever you decide. I... won't expect you to be monogamous to me as well."

His eyes turned away. "When I said that Saturday, I didn't mean to guilt-trip you. I understand there isn't much choice in it." He brushed the hair out of her face. "We don't have to make decisions now."

She leaned into his chest and he wrapped his arms around her. The silence surrounded them. A serene peace so delicate and so rare that she found herself lost for a moment in its ecstasy. At that moment, Stefan provided a type of comfort she had once thought unattainable. She couldn't even get her guard to raise an inch as she buried herself in his chest.

Yet, the decision still loomed in the back of her mind. A ticking time bomb that was glued to her. However, it was not its inevitability that she feared.

There would be consequences. If she refused to heed the warning of its ticks as time passed, she may paint the town in red as the magic heightened her emotions. Heightened emotions and clouded judgment was bad for any witch. If she bowed to its warning, she would have to become intimate with Stefan and others.

Intimacy was to be vulnerable. Despite all she has gone through, it was not the threat of death or punishment that made her pause. It was the vulnerability of being close to someone.

She feared it even if it was as easy as breathing. Stefan's comfort made her at peace. She craved it. All she had wanted from her friends was comfort and reassurance. Something she could now obtain from Stefan and perhaps others. It was dangerous. She had been starved of such comments, touches, and general positivity that it made her wonder if she could keep her distance so that she couldn't be hurt again. Destroyed again.

Her eyes closed as Stefan pulled her closer.

-X-

Caroline was going over her homework with Matt and Tyler in the school library when Elena had decided to join them. As soon as she sat at the table with them, the air was tense.

She was still a little irritated from her last talk with Elena which was early Saturday morning when she had complained to her about Bonnie and Stefan. Tyler had been very apologetic about sending Elena her way after their encounter. Why Elena thought going to Bonnie's house early in the morning to demand Stefan come home was idiotic at best. She had wondered how Damon had felt about Elena going over to try to bring Stefan back, but she had a sneaking suspicion that Elena may not have told him.

Elena began, "we all know Bonnie isn't herself. We have to find a way to help her."

"We can talk with her if that's what you want, but you can't force her to do anything. Only she can decide on how she wants to proceed."

Caroline was trying to be civil.

It had hurt hearing what Bonnie had to say about them from Damon and Elena, but she understood. Instead of insisting, Caroline stepped back. She knew whatever hurt Bonnie was feeling needed time to heal. If she came with an apology so soon, it would seem insincere. She barely knew how she would apologize, but the time to think it over would allow her to create one that was genuine.

Elena wanted to insist herself onto the situation. However, Caroline knew it wasn't because she was desperate to get her friend back. She had blamed Bonnie for her behavior instead of reflecting on her own behavior to cause the rift. Even Matt and Tyler were introspective enough to know they had a hand in why this situation happened and it wasn't like they were emotionally enlightened people. Bonnie didn't just become a dark witch for shits and giggles. She didn't warn them to stay away as a suggestion. Her behavior wasn't a cry for help as Elena liked to paint it.

Elena couldn't see it. She refused to look in the mirror. Part of the reason Caroline suspected was due to Damon plus everyone has been a yes man for her. Now, Elena's greatest yes men had left her and she barely confided in Caroline, Matt, or Tyler. She only had Damon.

Caroline held her pencil tighter. Elena's cheating had irked her. No, it disgusted her. Everything Stefan had done for her. Only for her to turn around and choose Damon. A man who had been abusive toward her and Bonnie.

In a way, maybe it was justice that Stefan and Bonnie got together. Though, there was really no confirmation besides Elena's word and their shared car ride on Friday. It made perfect sense if they were. Stefan had been closer to Bonnie than anyone had in the end. They had done everything in their power to make things right and to make others safe.

It all came crumbling down when Elena couldn't make even the smallest sacrifices. Be a friend. Don't cheat. Simple and understandable rules to follow. Caroline was willing to admit her behavior was not excusable, but Elena's was at a different level. She wanted to be the center of Damon and Stefan's universe like Katherine had been, but hadn't realized just like Katherine that future was impossible.

Her current insistence to get Bonnie back made even more sense as Caroline dwelled on it. It wasn't just Elena facing reality, but also losing Stefan to Bonnie. There was covert jealousy in her eyes and words. She couldn't control either of them and they may have found solace in each other.

"I'm worried about Stefan and Bonnie."

Caroline sighed. "Let them come to us."

"She was invited to the Mikaelsons, remember?"

"While I don't know what they want, it had nothing to do with you. Tyler can confirm that much." She paused. "Elena, please, let this settle for a while. We can talk to Bonnie eventually. She is hurting because of our actions."

Caroline's brows furrowed at an odd look in Elena's eyes.

She looked back at her paper. She would let Elena realize how little power she had in this situation. She was no match for Bonnie and Stefan even with Damon's help. That was if whatever she had in mind is not stomped out by the Mikaelsons.

Their newfound interest in Bonnie had scared her a little. Tyler didn't believe the Mikaelsons had anything planned against them, but their interest in Bonnie did cause all of them to worry. After all, Tyler was now instructed to make sure Bonnie was okay by checking out her house. The Originals had a vested interest to ensure her safety and welfare. A colossal change to being enemies and it happened overnight.

"I'm hurting too. Do my feelings not matter?"

"Bonnie's feelings come first this time. You have to respect that."

Elena got up from the table and stormed out of the library. Caroline couldn't help but roll her eyes.

Tyler snickered. "She isn't used to being told no."

"I don't think it was ever in her vocabulary."

What Elena wanted she had to have. No matter how bad it was for her. Elena was spoiled with a capital S. She was now having a tantrum that she couldn't treat her ex-friend like a toy. She was also angry that Stefan had walked away from her. After all, Elena could have any guy she wanted and broke up when she dictated. She wanted Stefan's attention on her even as she was hand-in-hand with his brother.

Caroline could warn Elena of all the things that could go wrong if she tried to force the issue and to think about Bonnie's feelings and mental health over her desires. Yet, she stayed seated. She could act and run after her, but she had no energy to. She supposed this was a teaching moment for Elena. A person who is only told how hot a pan is may always have a temptation to touch it to rebel against the one giving the advice. Of course, the one giving the advice could constantly warn them. But sometimes one just has to let them get burned to learn their lesson.

Elena needed to be burned.

Maybe then she would understand. Maybe then she would have to come back to reality where one must respect someone's no and their space.

Matt spoke, "I just hope she doesn't do something too stupid."

Caroline paused. What if Elena stepped over the boundaries beyond a normal reprimand? Would... Bonnie kill Elena? Of course not, Caroline would like to think. However, she didn't know Bonnie as well as she had once and Elena's behavior was becoming worrying. She was determined to get Stefan back and be angry with Bonnie. How far would her actions go? She wouldn't try to physically retaliate against Bonnie, right? That would be too stupid but it wasn't like Elena was being rational. Her emotions were clouding her judgment.

"We should keep an eye on her," Caroline's suggestion was met with nods.

She hoped this would blow over, but it seemed unlikely. All their past actions and current ones seemed to be accumulating. From Elena not being able to take a no because everyone tried to soothe and appease her to them neglecting Bonnie and her turning into a dark witch and kicking them out of her lives, it seemed like this wasn't just a fog brewing.

It felt like a storm was about to hit the horizon.