Bound by fate: Stefan and Caroline Love Story

Season 3: Part 6

It had been three days since everything with Stefan, Damon, and Klaus, and today was supposed to be special—it was my birthday. But, of course, none of my so-called friends remembered. Not a single text, not even from Elena, Bonnie, or Matt. I tried to swallow down the hurt, telling myself I needed to stop expecting things from people who always let me down.

At least my mom remembered. She took the day off work, and we decided to go shopping, just the two of us. We spent the day laughing and chatting like we hadn’t in a long time. I was able to forget the chaos of Mystic Falls, of vampires and hybrids, and just be… me. When we got home that evening, I was feeling better, lighter.

But as we pulled up to the house, I noticed Tyler sitting on the porch, waiting for us. Something was off.

“What happened, Tyler?” I asked, walking up to him. “What are you doing here?”

He looked down, guilt written all over his face. “I’m sorry, Caroline. I don’t want to do this, but I have to. This is what Klaus wants.”

Before I could even comprehend what he meant, he bit me. The pain was instant, searing through my entire body. He vamped away, leaving me gasping, my hand instinctively covering the bite on my neck.

My mom was by my side in seconds, helping me inside, laying me down on my bed. “I don’t want to die,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “Why did he do this? What have I ever done to him?”

My mom didn’t have any answers. She just cried quietly as she called my dad. After a few hours, my dad, Bill, arrived, his face pale when he saw the bite.

“Who did this to you?” he asked, his voice tight with anger.

“Klaus,” I said weakly. “He ordered Tyler to do this. Tyler’s a hybrid now… sired to Klaus.”

Bill’s face darkened. “I’ll kill them both.”

“Don’t,” I begged. “They’ll hurt you. Don’t go after them.”

Just then, Klaus entered my room, his presence filling the space, my mom standing behind him. I glared at him, my body weak but my anger strong. “Haven’t you done enough?” I spat. “You’ve come to finish the job yourself?”

Klaus’ expression remained calm. “It was nothing personal, love. You were just collateral damage. I had to do something… Stefan stole something very dear to me.”

I furrowed my brow. “What did Stefan do?”

Klaus chuckled. “You really don’t know? You’re not part of Elena’s little saving-the-day squad?”

I shook my head. “I’m not.”

“Stefan took my family. And he was going to drive Elena off the bridge with his vampire blood in her system. I had to give him a taste of his own medicine.”

“You did this to *me* to get back at Stefan?” My voice wavered between disbelief and fury.

“Of course. Even with his humanity off, he still cares about you, his friend. It’s quite touching, really. He’s stopped caring about Elena, his so-called love, but you… you still matter to him.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. Klaus had found my weak spot, the part of me that still held onto hope for Stefan, even when I shouldn’t.

Klaus stepped closer, his voice softening. “Just say the word, and I’ll give you my blood. You don’t have to die, Caroline.”

Tears welled up in my eyes. “I don’t want to die.”

Without another word, Klaus offered me his wrist. I drank his blood, feeling the healing wash over me almost instantly. The wound on my neck closed, the pain vanishing.

My dad, who had been standing silently, stepped forward, anger flashing in his eyes. “If you ever do anything like this again, Klaus, I won’t let you get away with it.”

Klaus laughed, his voice filled with dark amusement. “I’m the Original Hybrid, Bill. I can’t be killed. But you… you’re very much mortal.” With a flick of his wrist, he threw my dad across the room, where he hit the side table with a sickening thud.

“Dad!” I rushed to his side, quickly giving him some of my blood to heal him. Once he was okay, I turned back to Klaus, rage burning inside me. I vamped up to him, slamming him against the wall. “Never do that again,” I hissed. “Don’t think I’m a weak vampire.”

Klaus just smirked, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Oh, love, I never thought that.”

“Leave. Now,” I commanded, my voice sharp.

Klaus gave me one last smirk before leaving the room. My mom and dad both stood there for a moment before my mom spoke. “You need to rest, sweetheart.”

“I’m fine,” I assured them. But they left anyway, giving me the space I needed. I lay back on the bed, exhausted from everything that had happened. Half an hour later, I heard someone enter the room.

I opened my eyes and saw Stefan standing at the foot of my bed. My heart lifted despite everything. “You’re late for my birthday.”

He gave me a small smile. “It’s still your birthday.”

I sat up slightly, leaning against the pillows. “You missed quite the show,” I joked, trying to lighten the mood.

“I’m sorry, Caroline,” Stefan said softly, sitting down beside me. “Because of me, you had to go through this. I know you must hate me.”

“I don’t hate you, Stefan,” I said honestly. “I just wish you’d let me in. Let us in. I get why you’re doing this, but not everything is lost. Look around… we’re still here for you.”

He chuckled lightly. “Since when did you get so wise?”

“I’ve always been this wise,” I said with a smirk, and he laughed. It felt good to laugh with him again, like things weren’t completely broken.

He handed me a small box. “Here’s your birthday present.”

I opened it and found a beautiful bracelet inside. “Thank you, Stefan. You’re a true friend.”

He frowned slightly. “They didn’t even wish you, did they?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “No.”

He shook his head, his expression serious. “I’ll never forget your birthday, Caroline.”

I smiled at him, my heart swelling with gratitude. He stayed with me until I fell asleep, and when I woke up, he was gone. But I knew… no matter how dark things got, Stefan would always be there for me.