Caroline Forbes

"Got it." Adelia nodded, carrying the boxes and using vampire strength to keep it balanced on her hip as she nudged the trunk open again and set the box inside. She couldn't make it completely better or easier, but she could do this tiny thing. "I think she would like that. Or I can tell her to give you a call if you want. I know that kind of stuff can slip your mind sometimes with other stuff going on." Especially if that other stuff was grief, but she didn't see any reason to make that more obvious.

Caroline could easily to it all herself, she had the strength too but it was also her natural instinct not to turn away help, especially families now. ❝ Either one. If you see her before I get the chance tell her to give me a call or that I'll stop on by soon for some Bonnie and Caroline time. ❞ She smiled as she had to do her best to smile and get through the days.

"Oh, nothing, I just got here. I brought muffins." Veronica said, vaguely lifting the box in her hands. It wasn't much, she was definitely overstocking her parents' fridge, so naturally her aunt was the next stop. She looked at the boxes scattering the porch and then back to Caroline. "Do you want some help?"

❝ Thank god, I'm starving! ❞ Caroline spoke as she looked at the box in Veronica's hands. Maybe it was food blood but... muffins would do as well. ❝ I say we take a break so I can dig into those muffins and then.. if you still feel like helping then yes. ❞

❝ Animal attack. Everyone is just going to agree with that ? ❞ Alice got the text . It didn't take much to put two and two together . She wasn't allowed to examine the body or do her work . What was matt even doing out there at night ? ❝ curiosity truly killed the cat ❞ Alice blurted out the pun . In this case matt being the cat . Anyone who knew her , knows alice could be a tad bit interestingly morbid .

❝ People who don't know about the supernatural world... yes, they're going to believe it. It's always 'just' and animal attack. ❞ Caroline sighed as she remembered when the Salvatore's first got into town and all of the 'animal' attacks that were going on. ❝ I on the other hand don't believe it. Matt was too smart for that. ❞

Location: Edge of Mystic Falls, at the Wickery bridge/open

❝ Penelope, did it not occur to you that maybe people are mourning their best friends death and are struggling to do something about it right now? ❞ Caroline questioned to her past student.

. ❝ ⸻ I'm surprised I even got invited to matty blue's funeral ❞ Katherine raised an eyebrow at the funeral invitation card in her hand with matt's best picture on it . ❝ those blue eyes will be missed ❞ .

❝ That makes two of us because there's no way in hell that Matt would want you there. ❞ Caroline spoke as she folded her arms over her chest.

It was disorienting to say the least. Visiting for brief moments had been one thing, but being back, and as himself? Weird. Landon felt overwhelmed as he found himself in the midst of a crowd leading to the town square, and the closer he got, the more he realized why. "You've gotta be kidding," Landon muttered to himself. Of course he made the deal and went home on the date of a town thing. A funeral at that, which had to be some kind of cosmic joke.

❝ Wait... Landon? Did someone die that you're supposed to take? Did I die and not know it? Last thing Lizzie and Hope told me was that you were the ferryman guy. ❞ Caroline spoke toward the young male before her as she wasn't sure what he was asking about what was kidding him.

"Can't a boy come outside to simply help his mother?" Aaron asked, a tiny grin on his face as he placed a hand to his heart in fake devastation. "C'mon, ma, put me to work."

❝ Yeah, but most of the time there are other motives behind it. ❞ She chuckled as she tilted her head to the side. ❝ Okay, okay... All the boxes that are on the front porch I need them inside the car because were are getting ride of them. ❞

"I was going to ask if you needed help with those boxes," Quentin said as he continued to walk up to Caroline. He knew that she had vampire strength and didn't actually need help moving boxes but that wasn't going to stop him from offering. "You're not in a hurry to get these boxes somewhere?"

❝ The boxes can wait. It's not like I'm in a big hurry to get them out of my hair. ❞ She spoke trying to keep her composure. ❝ Plus, half of this is me just being a neurotic clean freak. ❞

"No, I know your husband," August didn't know him in the sense of actually knowing him but knew of him. He had been keeping a certain eye out for Salvatores since coming to Mystic Falls.

❝ Ex....husband. ❞ It was still very fresh but Caroline just needed time alone and not with Stefan or someone. ❝ That still doesn't explain anything. How do you know Stefan therefore.. knowing me. Are you stalking us or something? ❞ She questioned as she cocked her head to the side.

"It's okay! Mama's been out of it lately, too." Adelia figured most of them were, after Matt's death. She couldn't really blame them, she was too, even if still for different reasons but she still gave Caroline a small smile. "It's good to see you, too." She added as she took the box. "Where do you want this?"

Of all people who would feel the pain would be her, Elena, Bonnie, Tyler and of course Vicki. Maybe Stefan and Damon too but they didn't grow up with Matt like they did. ❝ Just in the back of the car is good, thank you. I'll have to stop and see Bonnie soon, make sure that she's okay or at least give her a call. ❞

"Do I get a choice?" He joked. "Mom is looking to be as helpful as possible, so here I am," he said, moving to grab two of the boxes and follow her towards the car. "So what are we moving?"

❝ Nope, you don't. ❞ Caroline smiled with a laugh to her nephew. ❝ It's a bunch of different stuff, stuff for April and some of Stefan's things. I need a cleanse right now. ❞

Tyler had never really understood why Elena and everyone else seemed to get a kick out of graveyards before. Even with his own parents. But now, with this, it felt different. He had spent more time at Matt's headstone than he ever had at his father's. It didn't feel real. Matt, gone, and this time not coming back. Standing at his gravesite wouldn't change that, but he couldn't bring himself to leave.

This whole thing was a tragedy. Caroline knew that one day this would come. That one day the people that she cared about and loved would die because it meant that she outlived them being a vampire. ❝ Tyler? ❞ Caroline walked up to him with a sad expression on her face because she knew how badly all of this hurt both of them.

Alex had been withdrawn into his room for the most part since they found out about Matt. He had never been good at expressing his emotions and often they came out as anger and he wanted to spare his family that at this time. As he headed down just for a small snack, he noticed his mom moving boxes when something dropped from the one. He moved behind her and picked the item up before following her outside. He was soon greeted by her voice, and he swallowed a little "uh sorry mom.. just you dropped this.." he offered put the item.

Looking back to her son, she knew that he had been withdrawn and at times leaving him alone was best. She always kept an eye on him as she put the box down and brushed her blonde locks away from her face. ❝ Alex, thank you. You know.. it's nice to see your face again outside of those four walls inside. ❞ Even if Caroline was hurting, crying behind her own closed doors, she had to try and be strong for her son. The only people she was really falling apart in front was Elena, Bonnie, Stefan and even Tyler still.

The younger blonde, wasn't paying attention to her surroundings, lost in her music and not noticing her path. When a familiar voice reached her ears, she let out a small sigh and rolled her eyes. "Nothing, I have no idea why I even bothered coming over here," she snapped, pulling her headphones out and stowing them in the pocket of her jacket.

Cocking her head to the side, Caroline placed the box into her car as she looked to the young female. ❝ There's always a reason when people come here. ❞

"Hey Auntie Care," he said, moving over to her. Ignoring her question, at least the start of one. "You need help?"

❝ Ace! ❞ She smiled to her nephew as she gestured toward the house. ❝ There's a couple more boxes by the door if you want to help get those loaded in the trunk. ❞

"I said, 'hi Auntie Caroline, do you want some help with those?'" Adelia repeated, holding her hands out in an open gesture to take one of the boxes if needed.

❝ I am so sorry that I didn't here you but this is a great surprise. ❞ She smiled to Adelia as she offered one of the boxes. It wasn't like Caroline couldn't do it but help was always appritiated.

Quentin had been walking up when Caroline had been moving boxes. "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you," he said as he stopped in his tracks. He was going to say more but the words didn't come out. He had always been on the quiet side and it took everything to keep himself from closing off.

❝ No.. no it's okay. ❞ Realizing that it was Quentin, Caroline demeanour changed to a more soft and gentle tone. ❝ Did you want to come inside for a bit? We can talk, or not talk. ❞