salvatore

“I’m fairly certain you could convince me to do anything you wanted, at this point.” 

“I’m sorry.” Caroline looks like she wants to say something, but Stefan beats her to it. The two words that he should have said a long time ago stop her dead in her tracks, and whatever she was going to say to him at that moment, die on her lips. “I should have said that before," He adds, twisting his hands together as his gaze drops. “I was wrong.” It didn't change why he left. Stefan still had his reasons, and at the time, they seemed justified. “I thought it would be easier this way.” His gaze lifts to meet hers, shaking his head with regret. “It wasn’t.” 

They’re lying diagonally across the bed, Caroline draped over his stomach with her head pressed against his chest, her blonde waves spilling out in every direction, tickling his skin as they both catch their breath. Stefan’s hair looks much the same, tugged up in very tall spikes from when he had crawled between her legs to give her just o n e more orgasm. He’s surprised she didn’t rip it right from his scalp. His eyes flicker to the clock on her bedside table, the corner of his lip twitching when he sees how much time has passed. Caroline makes a noise and he turns his attention back to her, fingers brushing through her hair as she meets his gaze. He raises a single brow in her direction, expression softening at the way she makes everything inside of him buzz. Fuck he’s so fucked. “Don’t tell me you’re still thinking.” He murmurs, fingers running down the center of her back and over the curve of her hip to trace the back of her thigh. “I’ll be severely offended if you can form a coherent thought right now.” He sure can’t. 

for over a century I have lived in secret, hiding in the shadows, alone in the world,                         until now  i am a vampire. and this is my story

Her cheeks are red from where she’s furiously tried to scrub the tear streaks away. Bonnie and Elena are gone, which means that by tomorrow when she sees them again, her mourning period will officially have to be over. Life goes on. They have bigger problems. Alaric is a homicidal maniac, Klaus is on the loose, Stefan is…not Stefan. That doesn’t even cover everything going on with Bonnie and Elena on their own. Still, when she sees him standing outside her door, she inhales, forcing herself to stand taller when she opens it. 

For a few moments, she just stares at him. Not really sure what to say, not really sure what he’s doing here. He’s unpredictable these days, honestly she’s not even sure if his humanity is fully back on or not. But she’s guessing not because, well, he’s here and not begging for Elena to take him back and forgive him. When he finally speaks, she lets out a small burst of laughter, lifting her eyebrows as she stares at him. The ‘seriously?’ is silent, but all too apparent.  ❝ Thanks. I…almost forgot. ❞ Her voice is deadpan, weight shifting from one foot to the other as she draws her sweater tighter around her.

He turns, and for a moment she considers letting him. But it’s…it’s Stefan.  ❝ Do you wanna come in? ❞  She sounds too hopeful, her hand tightening on the door for a moment as she takes a half step to follow him.  ❝ My mom’s at work. Someone has to cover up Alaric’s tracks you know and…and it’s really quiet. ❞  And she doesn’t want to be alone.

There are fresh tear stains on her cheeks when she answers the door, the rim of her eyes puffy and red from hours of crying. Even covered in shadows he can see the anguish on her face. It had been hours since her friends had left and now she’s all alone. Caroline’s immediate reaction at the sight of him is to tense, and for a moment her sadness is replaced by what he detects is fear. And hurt. The hurt is rolling off of her in waves. 

When it seems as though she’s not going to slam the door in his face she frowns, taking a daring step towards him. She’s waiting for him to speak; not giving him the easy way out. Probably wondering why he’s here. Well, join the club. What could he possibly offer her right now? He’s not even sure who he is anymore. He’s not the person he was before; that he knows for certain. But still, something inside of him had pulled him here. Told him to go to her. 

He’d been here before like this; standing on her porch just like this. Only they were friends back then. He’s not certain what they are anymore. “Your dad died today.” It’s not a question but his voice pulls up, his expression softening considerably when he sees her tense. As though his statement has triggered a fresh wave of tears. The absolute heartbreak in her eyes forces him to look away, his own chest tightening at the sight. It had been a long time since he’d let himself feel like this. To care. And he wants to tell her she’ll be okay. Offer her even just an ounce of hope. The old Stefan would have offered her his hand or his arms, holding her until even just a little of the ache disappeared. But instead he tucks his hands into his jean pockets, offering her a nod of his head before he turns. But as he begins to walk away he can’t help but whisper... “I’m so sorry.”

Stefan wakes with a start, sitting up in his bed with a gasp as the real world filters back into his vision. His fingers curl into the blankets bunched at his waist and he sighs, running his opposite hand through his hair that’s sticking up from tossing and turning. But it wasn’t his dream that had woken him, it’s the sound of clattering pots and pans coming from the kitchen. His brow wrinkles and he pushes the sheets back, smoothing out his rumpled clothes as he makes his way downstairs. Caroline is in the kitchen, standing over the stove as if waiting for it to give her instructions. The dry laugh he releases at the sight is immediate and as she turns to face him he gives her a knowing look. “You're cooking?”