𝟏• 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐂 | 𝐓𝐕𝐃 ✓

𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄

"STEFAN," CAROLINE'S DISAPPOINTED SIGH FILLED IN the silence of Stefan's bedroom, her figure approaching his as he sat on the bed, eyes refusing to leave Aurelia's sleeping figure. "Have you had anything to drink the last couple days?" At his refusal for an answer, she scoffed, taking a seat next to him. "You're gonna make me use Damon to hunt for a bunny so you can feed on it."

"I'm not moving—not until she wakes up." Stefan only repeated the same phrase he'd been repeating for the last few hours. Caroline assumed he'd been up all night again, watching the sleeping blonde for any changes.

"Stefan..."

"Caroline," He finally looked up at his friend. "The color's returned—even if she looks a little paler than after she started drinking from people, she doesn't look grey, or desiccated anymore."

"This has happened a couple of times already—" After several outbursts from the overwhelming concern she had for her sister's wellbeing, Caroline had calmed down, beginning to accept that whatever would happen was going to be out of her control. "It's sign, a good sign, but we have to let her take her time. I had to convince Klaus to stop exactly what you were doing just yesterday."

"He only stopped sitting by her side and yelling at anyone who disturbed him because I was doing it, too." Stefan retorted with an annoyed glance at her. "You think he would've left Aurelia's side if he didn't think someone else would be there to do it in his absence?" His hand gently trailed up and down her forearm. "She's got the color of her skin back—it means she's alive, and that she will wake up. You don't get it."

She scoffed at the insensitive comment, and he muttered an apology. "I do get it. I understand your hope, but neither of us have control over when she's going to wake up. All we can do is make sure we don't look like ghosts when she wakes up. Don't you think she'd chew our brains out if she found out we avoided eating and drinking while she was unconscious?"

"I'll deal with that when that happens." Stefan's stubbornness was truly something few people could rival, and though Caroline was one of them, she didn't have the energy to argue. "I know she's been fluctuating between being dead and being asleep for the last few days, but she's been asleep for the longest period ever since that witch killed her. The ring's working—it's just taking some time." He flinched slightly at the memory of when her skin turned grey for the first time after she came back to life—though still asleep.

"I know, and I know you care deeply for her." Caroline reached out to place a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Why wouldn't you? You're in love with the girl."

"I—"

"Oh, cut the crap." Caroline's voice cut him off with a small laugh. "Anyone with eyes will confirm it for me. Why do you think Klaus kept glaring at you when we were deciphering the triangle in Shane's office? It was pretty damn obvious that whatever was going on between you and her made his big-brother attitude kick in."

"That's only because he caught us in the library hugging each other."

"That was only the final straw, Stefan." She said. "You're clearly feeling something romantic for her, and I get it—you have a bond that's basically unshakeable. You loved each other to no end so long ago, and chose new beginnings with each other—even without the romance, it's clear that you have a unique relationship with her." She laughed lightly again. "If you throw in the fact that you have feelings for her—" She hid what she thought Aurelia's feelings would be, figuring that her sister would want to eventually tell him herself. "I remember calling Elena your epic love, but as vampires, we have many, and it's... undeniable that Aurelia was your epic love, too. You don't just... lose that." She then smiled, her gaze falling to the even rises and falls of Aurelia chest. "And now that I'm thinking about it—Aurelia may have been an even more epic love than Elena."