Bound by fate: Stefan and Caroline Love Story

Season 7: Part 10

The urgency in the air was palpable as we waited for the gang to arrive at the Salvatore Boarding House. Stefan stood by my side, holding my hand tightly, both of us sharing a glance, ready to tell them the news. Damon, as usual, was the first to speak, his casual sarcasm filling the air. "What's the matter, baby brother? You called all of us so urgently. Someone die again, or is Blondie here driving you insane?"

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help a small laugh. Stefan smiled at me, then turned to the rest of the group. "Actually, we have some big news," he said, glancing at me for a moment before squeezing my hand. "We’re engaged."

The room fell silent. No one said a word at first, just wide eyes and jaws dropping. For a second, I wondered if we'd shocked them too much to function. But Bonnie was the first to break the silence, rushing over with an excited grin and hugging me tightly. "Oh my God, Caroline! I’m so happy for you!" she squealed.

Damon, of course, made his signature sarcastic comment. "Dead meat, little brother. Blondie’s going to make you lose whatever’s left of your mind," he said, smirking, but he still gave both of us a hug and a genuine congratulations.

After that, everyone came around, hugging us, congratulating us, and celebrating. It felt surreal. For a brief moment, everything was perfect. But reality always has a way of catching up, and soon enough, the night ended, and everyone left for home.

After 6 months,

The next six months flew by in a blur. Days were filled with planning for the future—our engagement, our life together with the twins—and yet, in the back of my mind, the countdown to the day I dreaded most ticked louder and louder. My mom didn’t have much time left, and every moment with her felt like a countdown to goodbye.

Stefan and the others were incredible, always there to support me and make sure the twins and I were okay. My mom even made Stefan promise to always take care of us—me, Lizzie, and Josie. He swore he’d always be there, and I knew he meant it. But that didn’t make it easier to know what was coming.

The day my mom passed was both a blur and painfully clear. I had known it was coming, but nothing prepares you for losing someone who has always been your anchor. I did my best to stay strong, to hold it together for my girls. I even got inside my mom’s head at the end, giving her one final happy memory from my childhood—a time when I was scared to ride my bike, and she was there to support me. That’s the last thing she saw before she took her final breath.

When it happened, I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore. I collapsed into Stefan’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably as the girls asked why their grandma wasn’t waking up. Josie cried, Emery and Lizzie were angry. So angry that things literally started to catch fire. And Jace and Alec stood emotionless. It took everything Finn and I had to calm the kids down, trying to explain in terms they could understand that their grandma was in a better place now. Watching over them.

Stefan and Damon handled the funeral arrangements, which was a huge relief. I don’t think I could have dealt with it all on my own. Lizzie asked what a funeral was, and Jace wanted to say something to honor her. I smiled at the kids and told them, "Of course, you can say something. It’s important to remember the people we love."

The funeral itself was beautiful. The entire town came out to honor my mom, and Damon’s eulogy was surprisingly heartfelt. I sang a song in her honor, and the twins and the triplets said a few words about their grandma. It was bittersweet but fitting. I was proud of her, of everything she had done for this town and for me.

After the funeral, Stefan, the girls, and I went back to the Salvatore Boarding House. As I opened the door, I was surprised to see our friends waiting inside. Tyler spoke first, "You lost your mom, Caroline. Where do you think we’d be?"

Bonnie came up to hug me, and I held onto her, grateful for the support. We all sat around, talking about my mom and sharing memories, eventually falling asleep in the living room together.

Hours later, I woke up, unable to sleep any longer. The weight of it all felt suffocating. I needed fresh air, so I quietly slipped outside. The cold air stung my skin, but it felt grounding—something to focus on.

Suddenly, I heard Stefan’s voice behind me. "Caroline, what are you doing out here?"

I sighed, turning to face him. "I just needed some fresh air, Stefan. It’s…a lot."

We stood in silence for a while before I finally asked, "Does it get better with time, Stefan? Will I ever really move on from this?"

Stefan stepped closer, his expression soft. "You’ll always miss her, but yeah, it gets easier. You’ll carry her with you, but the pain won’t feel this sharp forever."

I nodded, taking a deep breath. "I hope you’re right."

Stefan wrapped his arm around me, pulling me close. "Come on, let’s go back inside. The girls will be scared if they wake up and you’re not there."

"Yeah," I whispered. "You’re right."

As we walked back inside, I couldn’t help but wonder how I was going to keep it together in the days to come. But with Stefan by my side, I knew I wasn’t alone.