♎ caroline forbes | the vampire diaries

[vampireboulevard]

	✔ Cʀᴏssᴏᴠᴇʀs/AU ✔ Aᴄᴛɪᴏɴsᴘᴀᴍ ✔ Pʀᴏsᴇ	✔ Pɪᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴘʀᴏᴍᴘᴛs ✔ Oᴛʜᴇʀᴡᴏʀᴅʟʏ ✔ Sᴛᴀʀᴛᴇʀs	♥ F/M, F/F ⏰ Lᴇɢᴀᴄɪᴇs-ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴀɴᴛ

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[vampireboulevard]

[It's a hundred years after Mystic Falls, a hundred years since Klaus, and Tyler and she became a vampire. Caroline's spent that time being anywhere but Mystic Falls. She hasn't seen anyone in years, and surprisingly, she's okay with that.

But something is dragging her back to Mystic Falls right now, and when she walks the streets, the memories assault her so strongly, she can't believe she ever left. There's so much history here, the kind that tangles around your ankles and ties you down, she can't imagine that she ever had the strength in the first place.

There's a part of her that wants to run, wants to break away before it ties her down again, but she can't. She needs this. She needs the reminder of who she is.

She makes her way into the grill, and can't help but stop and smirk when she sees a familiar pair of shoulders.]

I guess it's not Mystic Falls without Salvatores around, is it?

[broodyforehead]

[ Stefan straightens ever so slightly. He hasn't heard that voice in...way too long. He can hardly believe his ears.

So of course he has to turn around and see for himself.

It's completely unsurprising that the sight of her makes him smile like a giddy idiot. ]

Caroline.

[ Next comes the biggest, tightest hug ever. God has he missed her. ]

[vampireboulevard]

[She's missed him too. It's reflected in how tightly she hugs him back, closing her eyes as she leans into him.]

It's good to see you.

[broodyforehead]

[ He shifts a little so he can grip her tighter, to hold her closer. He's not going to let go for a while. ]

Better to see you.

[ Because really, what is there to see here? Not much, according to him. ]

[vampireboulevard]

[There is tons to see. There is still that part of Caroline that believes that she wouldn't be here without him, even if she now knows that a lot of what she did was on her own. Stefan is still Stefan.

She doesn't know what she would have done if he hadn't been there to help her.]

It's been a long time.

[broodyforehead]

[ He pulls away only enough to smile down at her, forehead pressed to hers. Yes, truly only enough. He cannot imagine putting any more space between them that needs to be. ]

Too long.

[ Maybe he's getting a little caught up in the moment, but being this close to her...it feels different. Very different. Different like he could kiss her right this second without much thought.

For now he just...looks at her. Smiles at her. Stays as close as he can to her.

Though it's very tempting. Very tempting. ]

[vampireboulevard]

[The closeness is nice. She can vaguely remember a time when there was nothing she wanted but that closeness, but right now it feels ... strange. After all this time, she needs a little more time. She takes a step back and flags down the bartender.]

So, what have you been doing?

[broodyforehead]

[ There's some disappointment when she steps back, but he can understand. It's been a long time.

He shrugs. ]

Oh, you know. The usual. Brooding, drinking...

[ Yes, he's being a smart aleck. ]

[vampireboulevard]

[It's not that she doesn't want to, it's just that she needs to ease her way into things again. She's rusty with Mystic Falls Caroline. She doesn't want to disappoint him.]

I see the broody forehead is still intact.

[broodyforehead]

How would you recognize me without it?

[vampireboulevard]

That is a very good point. I could have walked in here and not even known who you are.

[broodyforehead]

I'd be that creepy guy smiling at you from across the room.

[vampireboulevard]

And I would be thinking, "you know what hasn't changed in a hundred years? Creepy guys are still creepy."

[broodyforehead]

[ There's a soft chuckle at that. ]

What about you? What have you been up to?

[vampireboulevard]

Traveling a lot. I wanted to try and see as much as I could.

[broodyforehead]

[ He nods. ]

And for some reason you decided to come back here?

[vampireboulevard]

It's home. I guess I decided it was time to check in.

[broodyforehead]

I've been back about a year. School. And before you say anything, no, not high school. I'm taking classes at the university.

[vampireboulevard]

What are you studying this time?

[broodyforehead]

That's the good thing about college. You don't have to decide right away.

[vampireboulevard]

You've gotten how many degrees, and you're still registering as undecided?

[broodyforehead]

I am undecided.

[vampireboulevard]

Can't you just take what you already have and take what you like and find something in the middle?

[broodyforehead]

I'm trying this new thing where I focus on the college experience and not my education.

[vampireboulevard]

Ahhh. So toga parties and tailgating?