Who: Caroline and Stefan What: Fluff… Stefan asks Caroline to marry him When: Late March Where: Stefan’s place Warning: None Status: Completed via Gdoc
There were a lot of times when Caroline and Stefan had things to do. They went on dates, they traveled through portals, they supported one another and others in this place. But there were also times when they just were. No agendas, no dramas, just the two of them together. Time passed. They had dinner, or coffee, or nothing at all. They laid around his place or her place watching movies or playing games. They talked. They talked and talked.
Tonight they were reading. Caroline was curled up with him, her head in his lap, and they both had their own books out. Stefan’s free hand was tangled in her hair, gently petting it as he read page after page of this silly novel.
Honestly, Caroline didn’t care what they did. She simply wanted to spend every moment she could with Stefan Salvatore. From her prior experience in Madison Valley, she knew how fleeting moments with loved ones could be. How fast the world could change and that person lost to you forever. Given their tragic history back home, Caroline wanted to bask in Stefan’s presence as much as she possibly could. The settings, the activities, they were all just bonuses, additions to make the moments sweeter. Being with the man she loved was the real prize, always.
As she lay with her head in his lap, his fingers stroking her long blond hair, Caroline flipped through a page of her novel and could not help, but sigh happily. It all felt so perfect. So serene. Caroline almost felt bad breaking the silent reverie as she looked up at Stefan and offered him a smile.
“How’s the book?” She asked.
"Slow," Stefan replied honestly. The story was off to a very slow start but the main character was so seductively charismatic that it didn't bother him. "I'm enjoying it, though. How's yours?"
His hand stilled against the soft skin of her neck, fingertips resting gently on the pulse point. There was something that was floating around the back of his mind--a question he had for her that was quite honestly making it hard to concentrate on the book.
Caroline shrugged. “Not bad. Probably a little on the slow side too.” But like Stefan, Caroline was enjoying it. She always liked a strong female lead after all.
Stefan’s fingers stilled on her neck and Caroline blinked, studying Stefan curiously. She felt like there was something on his mind. He looked contemplative. That could either be a good thing or a bad thing.
“A penny for your thoughts?” Caroline inquired, reaching up to touch his face gently.
Stefan turned his own eyes down to her beautiful face. Her hair was splayed over his legs, her fingertips cool and gentle against his cheek. His expression went soft. Loving. He cleared his throat.
"I was just thinking how much I want to marry you."
Caroline was not expecting that response. Technically, he had married her already. Back home. But it was a short lived marriage because Stefan had sacrificed himself to save everyone. Plus, this Stefan was technically not the Stefan she’d married. Timeline differences in Madison Valley made sure of that. Not that it mattered to Caroline. She loved Stefan regardless of that nonsense. And, while she hadn’t been expecting that response, she wasn’t opposed to walking down the aisle with him again.
She’d marry Stefan a million times over without a second thought.
Caroline’s thumb brushed his cool cheek. “Is that a proposal?” Caroline asked. A playful smile tugged at her lips.
Stefan gave a very soft chuckle, turning to press his lips against her palm in a quick, soft kiss. It bought him a moment to consider how to answer her question. Of course, he wanted to marry her. To go through the wedding and the honeymoon and all of that tradition and loveliness. He wanted to give all of that to her in a way that he hadn’t done in their world.
Then again, it wasn’t the most romantic of proposals, was it? Would she accept it? He should do something bigger--some kind of a grand gesture. Something flashy and romantic and thoughtful and charming.
“Yes,” he said before he truly thought it through. “Will you marry me, Caroline?”
Caroline’s smile grew when he pressed a kiss to her palm. There was something to be said about a grand romantic gesture, but for Caroline, it wasn’t a requirement. For her, the love, the feelings and emotions, were what truly counted in such a pivotal moment. If all of that was genuine, she didn’t need all the ‘pomp and circumstance.’ Especially not where Stefan was concerned. Caroline knew his feelings were real.
That wasn’t to say she expected him to propose to her at that moment even if there was a part of her brain that told her it could happen. And then it did.
Caroline swallowed, blue eyes searching his green eyes for any hints of amusement, but she knew this was not a joke. Stefan was serious. Caroline’s first instinct was to say ‘Yes.’ Obviously, part of her knew it might not be the best idea. The Dome could take either of them away at any moment and they hadn’t been together that long in Madison Valley. Yet, it was partially because of the first reason that Caroline wanted to say ‘Yes.’ Caroline loved Stefan and they weren’t promised a tomorrow.
“Yes. Yes, I will marry you Stefan Salvatore,” Caroline replied softly. Then, she looped her arms around his neck and tugged him down for a kiss.
Stefan broke into a bright grin at her words. Of course, he knew she would say yes, but there was still a moment of nerves. Of uncertainty. He bent down to meet her kiss, holding her against him. His arms wrapped around her to pull her up, tugging her into his lap.
After a moment he broke his lips from hers and rested their foreheads together. "Anything you want. I want you to have the perfect wedding."
That grin. Oh, how Caroline loved that grin. There was never a moment when such a smile could not coax an identical expression from the blond vampire. It was truly infectious and Caroline always loved being the source of it.
He pulled her onto his lap and tugged her close against him. She never felt safer, happier, than when she was in his arms, with their bodies pressed close together. Caroline savored the kiss, the gesture laced with passion and excitement, until Stefan pulled away. He rested his forehead against hers and looked deeply into her eyes. Caroline looked right back, pleased to see the happiness in the green depths. She knew that happiness easily shone in her gaze too.
“Correction: I want us to have the perfect wedding. So, it's anything you want too,” she replied, tilting her head up to press a playful kiss to his nose.
Stefan’s grin came back full force at her words, at the kiss to his nose. He nodded enthusiastically. “Us. I want us to have the perfect wedding.” Then he tipped his face to hers and kissed her again--long, and slow, and deeply meaningful. Stefan was head over heels in love with the woman in his arms. He felt like he always had been, and he knew he always would be.
“When? How much time do we need to plan a wedding?” He wondered if everyone would support it. He assumed they would, though he didn’t want to make a mess if that wasn’t the case.
Caroline returned the kiss passionately. She knew in her heart that Stefan was her soulmate. She’d loved others just as he’d loved others, but deep down, Caroline knew they were always met for each other. No matter what happened in their lives, how terrible things became at home, they always found a way back to each other. Now, over space and time, they had found one another again. There was no way Caroline was going to let him slip through her fingers.
The blond pulled back and pondered his questions with a thoughtful expression on her face. “Well, usually a year is sufficient, but we can always push it to like six months. You know me and my ability to plan a party.” Caroline flashed him a playful smile.
The way Caroline was kissing him made Stefan want to take her to bed. He wasn’t really thinking about wedding days so much as wedding nights, but the kiss settled down, his lips pulled gently away from hers. Stefan’s free hand lifted to cup the side of her face, his thumb gently moving back and forth across her cheek.
Then she pulled back and Stefan nodded. “You could do it in a week, I’m sure,” he said, smirking softly at his beloved’s ability to throw one hell of a party. “But I want to give you as much time as you want to make our day perfect.”
Oh, Caroline was all for those wedding nights too, but first, they had to walk down the aisle. And she had to tell the twins she was engaged to Stefan. She hoped they would be happy for her, but she also expected some push back too. They wouldn’t be her daughters if they didn’t speak their minds after all.
“Then how about we do the year? Do you want to get married in March? Or we could pick a different month.” Like June. Caroline had told Elena and Bonnie the first day Stefan walked into her life that they would marry in June, didn’t she? Not that she was picky on the date. Caroline could pull off a wedding during any month.
Stefan wasn't thinking about Caroline's girls right now. He'd thought about them a lot since he arrived in Madison Valley, but right now he was thinking about her. About the wedding. About spending their lives together. Sure, that probably meant blending families… but that would come later.
"March could still be cold," Stefan mused. "Maybe we should go for summer." He wasn't sure he could wait that long, but she was right. Maybe just being engaged was enough for her for now. They weren’t in a rush, but also didn't want to waste the time they had together. It was a delicate balance
"Should we find a new place? Together?"
It would definitely mean blended families, but before Stefan passed, they had been heading in that direction anyway. And it wasn’t as if Caroline would ask the girls to refer to Stefan as Stepfather either. That wasn’t necessary unless Stefan wanted that role in their lives and the girls were okay with it.
The blond brightened. “Summer it is.” She paused. If she really pushed, it was possible they could marry this June. Unless the girls were vehemently against the union. Caroline didn’t see that happening. “I could possibly push for the end of this June,” she offered. “But I do want to talk with the girls too.”
A new place for both of them made sense. Lizzie might not be coming with them because she was with Ty, but Josie would. She wasn’t eighteen yet. “That might be a good first step? I mean we need to talk to the girls about that too because they both still live here.”
Stefan would be what they wanted him to be. He wasn’t trying to step into some sort of fatherly role to them. He simply hoped that the girls didn’t think… well, silly things. Like he was trying to take their mother away from them, or trying to subvert the family they already had established. The worries were tiny, but they were there.
“Talk with the girls.” Stefan leaned in to nuzzle his nose against her cheek. “If you wanted it, I’d marry you tomorrow. But I’ll wait until the timing is right.” She should know by now that he’d follow her lead.
“Of course. I… whatever you want to do.” He only had this place--the apartment that the Dome gave to him. He was making good money at the museum, but couldn’t provide for her the way he could have back in Mystic Falls.
Caroline hoped the girls were mature enough that they would not think Stefan was ‘taking her away’ from them. She would still be their mother. Being their mother was the most important role she could ever play.
Caroline pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I will. I’m sure they will be supportive,” she reassured him. A small smile tugged at her lips. “I know you would, but I think we deserve a beautiful wedding. After everything.” And Caroline wanted to plan a spectacular wedding for both of them.
Caroline touched his face. “I’m all for the idea of moving in together. I think it’s a good idea.”
Stefan was confident that Caroline could put together a beautiful wedding in a couple of months. They didn’t need a ton of time to plan. She was amazing, and the people of Madison Valley were so supportive. He just wished that some of their other friends could be there. That his brother could be there. As much time and drama passed between them, Damon was still Stefan’s biggest ally. Surprising as it may be.
“Let’s have a big, beautiful wedding, then,” he said. “Do you think you can put something together for June?” It was a tease. He knew she could.
“Good.” He leaned in and kissed her lips. “We can start looking for a new place. Unless you want me to move into your home.” Stefan would do that if it was best for Caroline, even though he would prefer to find something that was theirs instead of hers.
He missed his home in Mystic Falls.
Caroline feigned a frown. “Are you doubting my mad planning skills? Of course I can.” She broke into another smile. “We can aim for the end of June.” She wanted to hold off setting an exact date until she spoke to Lizzie and Josie. “And I want to tell the girls before we tell anyone else. It’s only fair.”
The vampire returned the kiss tenderly. “We can find a new place that is ours. And since I’m going to be in the midst of planning a wedding, I will leave the house hunting to you. Obviously, I’ll be there too, but I’ll let you handle the looking.” Again, Caroline wanted to speak to her daughters before they started the house hunting process. The girls deserved to know big changes were coming.
“But, first, we should have a drink to celebrate our engagement.” Caroline lifted the book from her chest and closed it. Sitting up, she set the book on the table and offered her hand. “What do you say, fiance?”
Stefan grinned at her frown, and then her smile. “Of course. I won’t say anything until you tell me it’s all right.” He was so excited about this whole thing, though. It was hard for him to contain his happiness.
“You got it,” he added, already starting to think about all the things they were looking for in a house. Enough space for all of them, obviously. He didn’t worry about the cost of such a thing--absolute worst case, they could compel their way into… whatever they needed.
…fiance. It sounded so perfect coming from Caroline’s lips. Stefan slipped his hand into hers and stood. “I say it sounds absolutely perfect.” Then he leaned in to kiss her again.