Chapter Ten\ Episode The Day I Tired To Live
Witmore Medical Center
You need to take her out tomorrow. Get her smiling." Liz says.
Enzo hadn't been sure what to expect when Elizabeth Forbes had called him, asking him to come and visit her without her daughter in tow- perhaps a threat that he had better not corrupt her, or to simply glare at him as her daughter occasionally did, but it certainly hadn't been this.
"Pardon?" Enzo asks, just to be sure that he did not hear wrong.
Liz raised a brow and adjusted her position on her pillow, making herself more comfortable. She is pale, almost grey, and her eyes are sunken. Enzo knew Liz did not have long, but she had made a promise to Caroline to try, and stay as long as she could. Liz looked like crap, but her voice when she spoke is strong, and she clearly knows Enzo can hear her.
"Sheriff, with all due respect, it's all I can do to get her to go home at night. Hell I just barley managed to convince her to stay in school." Enzo tells Liz.
They had a argument, because she didn't want to leave her mother alone, but he had refused to let her skip school. Not with all the time they have spent studying, not with how much he knew she wants to be successful in getting her degree, in making something of herself. And she would of that Enzo had no doubt. He very much looked forward to being at her side as she did so.
"Look, normally I would ask Stefan. But Caroline will barley talk to him. And as much as I love Elena, she hasn't always been the best of friend to my daughter. You, on the other hand, seem to be the one she turns to these days. So I'm turning you. It's Bonnie Bennet's birthday tomorrow, Enzo. I know she is going to be extra upset, so tomorrow I don't care if you have to drag her away for few hours just get her out. She has not smiled in a while not since I got sick. I would love to see her smile again." Liz says as her gaze turns to look out the window she looks almost sad.
And because Enzo felt the same way, he has missed the brilliant grin of hers and because this is Caroline's mother, and it seems he can not say no to her any more than he can to her daughter, Enzo found himself nodding.
This is sure to bite him in the ass.
SALVATORE BOARDING HOUSE; THE LIVING ROOM
Enzo called her earlier and asked her to meet him at the Salvatore boarding house. so as she pulls into the dive way, Caroline is on the phone with her mother.
"Mom, I'm not calling to check up on you, ok? I'm just about to start making Bonnie's birthday cake and want to make sure that your recipe called for 3 eggs instead of 4, right? All right. I'm just a phone call away in case you need any...thing bye. Caroline says. There's already a cake on the table. Caroline gasps when she sees Miss Cuddles on the table. Stefan walks over to her.
" Is it just me, or do her eyes follow you around the room?" Caroline asks.
" Hmm. It's definitely you." Stefan says looking at the bear.
"Is Enzo here, he asked me to meet him." Caroline asks.
"Yes, he is inside." Stefan says a little angry.
" Miss Cuddles isn't. She's out there all alone like Bonnie. You know what? I'm gonna go find her."
"You're gonna what?" Stefan asks shocked as Enzo walks outside.
"Yeah. It's Bonnie's birthday." Carolines says as she puts on her jacket.
" Wait, wait. Hold on. Caroline, you've been going through a lot lately. Do you think that maybe you're just a little confused about what you're actually upset about?" Stefan tells Caroline.
"I think she should go." Enzo tells Stefan. Enzo is planning something special for Caroline. He is trying to do what Liz asked him to do. He needs time to get things ready. So if Caroline goes and looks for Bonnie's bear, Enzo can set things up. Caroline smiles at Enzo.
"Yes, probably, but my mom's dying, and my best friend is stuck in an alternate universe, and her bear is in a hole in the woods, and there's only one of those things that I can do anything about." Caroline says.
" Right." Stefan says. Caroline walks over the Enzo and gives him a hug, he puts his hand in her curls and holds her to him. When the pull away she kisses his cheek. Stefan and Caroline leaves.
DUKE UNIVERSITY, NORTH CAROLINA
Matt and Enzo sit in a car.
" Why are we here Donavan?" Enzo asks.
"This is where the real Sarah Salvotore is." Matt tells Enzo.
"And?" Enzo asks.
"She is you way to get back at Stefan." Matt tells Enzo.
"I want nothing more than to get back at Stefan, But I made a promise to leave him alone. I keep my promised." Enzo tells Matt.
"Caroline." Matt says knowingly.
"Yes. Can I ask you for a favor?" Enzo asks.
"Ok." Matt says.
"What is someplace Caroline like to go as a young girl?" Enzo asks.
"The Falls." Matt tells Enzo.
"Thank you. Donavan." As Enzo leaves Matt, he goes to the falls to set up his plan for Caroline.
THE WOODS
Caroline shoves the shovel into the ground, while Stefan appears behind her.
"You know, if you were gonna creepily stalk me, you could have at least brought a shovel." Caroline says.
"Nah. I'm not big on digging. Calluses." Stefan says holding up his hands.
"You bury corpses all the time." Caroline tells him.
"Yeah, but I don't dig them up. So do you really think that finding a Teddy Bear will make everything right in the world?" Stefan asks.
"You know what? You are right. This is such a waste of time. I really should be at the dive bar, picking a fight with a stranger in order to feel pain." Caroline replies.
" Ooh." Stefan says in a joking tone.
" Look. If you think I'm insane, I get it. I probably am, but nobody is forcing you to be here." Caroline says.
" I should probably stay, keep an eye on you, you know, in case you have a psychotic breakdown." Stefan replies. She smiles to herself.
"Can I ask about Enzo?" Stefan asks.
"What about Enzo?" Caroline ask reluclty.
"Do you have feeling for him? I know he has feelings for you." Stefan tells Caroline.
"Yes, but the rest is not you business." Caroline replies to Stefan.
" Hey. Is that an M&M?" Stefan asks teasing.
"Where?" Caroline asks as she turns towards him hopefull.
"Right there. Little to the left, little to the left. Right there, right—oh, ohh. Sorry. It was just a leaf." Stefan says pointning.
"Is this funny to you?" Caroline asks getting angry.
" Well, we are in the middle of the woods, searching for a Teddy bear buried in a shallow grave by a 9-year-old version of you. I can't even say that with a straight face, so, yeah, that is funny." Stefan replies.
Caroline lunged for the liquor bottle in Stefan's hand, but he swiftly pulled it out of her reach. "No, no, no. You have more ground to cover," he teased.
Annoyance flashed across Caroline's face. "You're a jerk," she spat.
Stefan chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Jerk, huh?"
Caroline's expression darkened. "Yeah."
Stefan's grin widened. "Oh, you sound angry."
Caroline's voice rose in protest. "I'm not angry, okay? I'm just annoyed because I'm going through a highly emotional situation right now, and you're just sitting there, mocking me."
Stefan's expression turned serious, his eyes locking onto Caroline's. "You should be angry," he said, his voice low and intense. "Your mom is dying, your best friend is stuck in some netherworld, and you're sitting here trying to make it all better by finding a stuffed animal?"
Caroline's face twisted in anguish, and she pushed Stefan hard, her palms flat against his chest. "Shut up!" she screamed.
Stefan didn't budge, his eyes never leaving Caroline's face. "That make you feel better?" he asked, his voice soft and probing.
Caroline's eyes flashed with tears, and she pushed Stefan again, her fists clenched. "Screw you!" she shouted.
Stefan's expression remained calm, but his eyes sparkled with a hint of challenge. "Try again," he urged.
Caroline's anger boiled over, and she began to beat Stefan's leg with the shovel, the blows raining down in a furious rhythm. Stefan grunted, his eyes never leaving Caroline's face, and then he dropped to the ground, the liquor bottle slipping from his fingers.
In a swift motion, Caroline snatched the bottle and turned to flee, but Stefan was quicker. He grabbed her wrist, spinning her around, and they both crashed to the ground, the bottle flying out of Caroline's hand.
As they lay there, panting and groaning, Caroline turned to Stefan, her eyes blazing with anger. "I cannot believe you just did that," she hissed.
Stefan's face was inches from hers, his eyes locked onto hers. "Well, you started it," he said, his voice low and husky. "Felt good, though, didn't it?"
For a moment, Caroline's anger faltered, and a small smile played on her lips. "Maybe a little," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
As Caroline stood up, brushing off her jeans, she declared, "Well, I think I got all the catharsis out of this that I'm gonna get. Let's go home."
Stefan nodded, but his gaze was fixed on something in the distance. "Wait a minute. What is that?" he asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
Caroline rolled her eyes. "Shut up."
But Stefan was insistent. "No, no, no. I'm serious. Is that an ear?"
Caroline's expression changed from annoyance to surprise as she walked over to investigate. She began to dig, and Stefan watched with interest as she uncovered a familiar object.
"Oh, my God," Caroline breathed, holding up Miss Cuddles, the beloved teddy bear.
She looked at Stefan, and they both burst out laughing. "I'm sure we can clean her up, make her as good as new," Stefan said, chuckling.
But Caroline's laughter was short-lived. As she held the bear, its head suddenly ripped off, and they both erupted into laughter again.
Stefan's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Hey."
Caroline's laughter slowly faded, replaced by tears. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Without a word, Stefan opened his arms, and Caroline stepped into his embrace, hugging him tightly as she cried.
Caroline sat in a plush armchair, her fingers moving deftly as she sewed Miss Cuddles' head back on. The soft glow of the lamp beside her cast a warm light on her face, and her brow was furrowed in concentration.
Stefan walked over to her, a glass of amber liquid in his hand. "Hey, need a drink?" he asked, offering her the glass.
Caroline looked up, her eyes locking onto the glass, and she took it from him without a word. She downed the contents in one swift motion, her eyes never leaving Stefan's face.
He raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Thirsty?" he asked, holding out his own glass to her.
Caroline's face broke into a smile, and she took the glass from him, her fingers brushing against his. She took a sip, her eyes never leaving his, and Stefan sat down beside her, watching her with a warm, gentle gaze.
Caroline slipped into the passenger seat of Enzo's car, looking a bit frazzled. "I should be with Mom," she said, her brow furrowed with worry.
Enzo reached out and gently took her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers. "Your mom is being well taken care of, love," he said softly. "I promise. I spoke with her this morning, and she's doing okay."
Caroline looked at him, her eyes searching. "You spoke with her?" she asked, her voice a little softer.
Enzo nodded. "Yes, I did. And she told me to take you out and get your mind off things. So, that's exactly what I plan to do."
But Caroline's expression darkened, and she playfully slapped his arm. "You're impossible, Enzo!" she exclaimed.
Enzo chuckled and rubbed his arm, pretending it hurt. "I take that as a compliment," he said, grinning.
Caroline rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "My mom would never tell you to kidnap me, even if it is just for a few hours."
Enzo's smile turned sheepish. "Well, maybe not in so many words... but I'm sure she'd appreciate the effort I put into getting you to take a break."
She told me to get you away for a while, Gorgeous," Enzo said, his eyes locked on Caroline's. "And I have to admit, I was a bit worried you'd refuse to leave with me."
Caroline raised an eyebrow, her expression softening slightly. "You thought I'd say no?"
Enzo nodded. "I knew you were worried about your mom, and I didn't want to add to your stress. So, I might have taken a... drastic approach."
Caroline's lips twitched into a smile. "You mean snapping my neck?"
Enzo winced. "Well, when you put it that way, it sounds bad. But I promise, it was all in the name of getting you to take a break."
Caroline's smile grew wider. "And you think I'm just going to forgive you for that?"
Enzo's eyes sparkled with hope. "I was thinking maybe we could call it even, considering you did snap my neck that one time..."
Caroline turned away, her arms crossing over her chest. "You know, using big words doesn't make you charming, Enzo. It just makes you sound pretentious."
Enzo chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Manners, Gorgeous. I'm just trying to impress you."
Caroline glared out the window, her voice tight with emotion. "I don't want to be impressed, Enzo. I want to spend time with my mom."
Enzo's expression softened, and he pulled over to the side of the road. He turned off the engine and turned to Caroline, his eyes filled with compassion. "Hey, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. We can go back to the hospital if you want."
Caroline's eyes welled up with tears, and Enzo's heart went out to her. He reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, his touch tender.
Caroline's voice cracked as she spoke, her words tumbling out in a rush. "For how much longer, Enzo? I'm not stupid. I know the chemo isn't working. She refuses to take vampire blood. The tumor is inoperable. She's going to die."
Enzo's expression softened, and he reached out to gently brush a strand of hair behind Caroline's ear. "It's not wrong that you want to spend time with her," he said quietly. "No one thinks that."
Caroline's eyes welled up with tears, and she fought to hold them back. "But how do I leave her, even for a little bit? How do I have fun when she can't?"
Enzo's eyes filled with compassion, and he pulled Caroline into a gentle hug. "You don't have to, Caroline. But maybe, just for a little while, you can let me take care of you. Let me help you forget, just for an hour."
Caroline's tears spilled over, and she buried her face in Enzo's shoulder, letting him hold her as she cried.
Enzo's wicked grin sparked a glimmer of Caroline's old smile, and his heart skipped a beat. It was a small, tentative smile, but it was a start.
"You just trust me, and I promise you'll have fun," he said, his voice low and persuasive.
Caroline didn't respond, but her hand drifted out to cover his on the gearshift. The soft touch sent a jolt of electricity through Enzo, and he felt his pulse quicken.
As he looked at their intertwined hands, Enzo realized he'd grown accustomed to these small gestures of affection from Caroline. He'd even begun to return them, his own feelings for her simmering just below the surface.
Enzo's gaze drifted up to Caroline's face, his eyes locking onto hers. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them crackling like a live wire.
Caroline gazed out at the breathtaking sight before her - the Falls, illuminated by the starry night sky. The sound of rushing water filled the air, and the mist created a mystical atmosphere.
Enzo parked the car and turned off the engine, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "We're here," he said, his voice low and husky.
Caroline's eyes widened as she took in the view. "It's beautiful," she breathed.
Enzo smiled, his face lit up by the moonlight. "I'm glad you like it," he said, getting out of the car and walking around to open her door.
As Caroline stepped out, Enzo offered her his hand, and she took it, feeling a spark of electricity at his touch. They walked hand in hand towards the Falls, the sound of the water growing louder.
"I have a surprise for you," Enzo said, his eyes glinting with mischief. "A little competition, just for fun."
Caroline's eyes narrowed, her competitive spirit piqued. "What kind of competition?" she asked, her voice playful.
Enzo grinned. "We'll see who can skip the most stones across the water."
Caroline's face lit up with a smile. "Game on," she said, her eyes sparkling with challenge.
After Caroline emerged victorious in the stone-skipping competition, Enzo grinned and held up his hands in defeat. "You win," he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I didn't know you had such a mean streak."
Caroline laughed, her eyes shining with triumph. "You underestimated me," she said, her voice teasing.
Enzo chuckled and took her hand, leading her to a secluded spot beneath the stars. A blanket was spread out on the ground, surrounded by a basket of food, candles, and a bottle of wine.
Caroline's eyes widened as she took in the romantic setup. "Enzo, this is beautiful," she said, her voice filled with emotion.
Enzo smiled, his eyes locked on hers. "I wanted to make this night special," he said, his voice low and husky. "Just for you."
Caroline's heart skipped a beat as Enzo pulled her close, his lips brushing against her ear. "I'm glad you like it," he whispered.
As they sat down on the blanket, Enzo poured wine into two glasses and handed one to Caroline. They sat together in comfortable silence, watching the stars twinkle above, the sound of the Falls providing a soothing background hum.
Caroline felt a sense of peace wash over her, her worries and fears momentarily forgotten. She turned to Enzo, her eyes meeting his in the dim light.
Thank you for this," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's exactly what I needed."
Enzo's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled, his face inches from hers. "I'm glad I could provide it," he said, his voice low and husky.
As they sat there, the tension between them grew thicker, until it was almost palpable. Caroline's heart pounded in her chest, her senses heightened as she waited for Enzo to make his next move.
Caroline's gaze drifted upward, her eyes locking onto Enzo's. She felt a flutter in her chest as she stared at him, her mind a jumble of emotions.
Enzo's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled, his face inches from hers. He reached out a hand, his fingers brushing against her cheek as he gently swept a curl of hair out of her face.
Caroline's heart skipped a beat at the tender touch. She felt a rush of emotion, her lips parting slightly as she leaned forward.
Enzo's eyes dropped to her lips, his pupils dilating as he realized what she was about to do. Caroline's lips brushed against his, sending a spark of electricity through both of them.
The kiss deepened, their lips moving in perfect sync. Enzo's arms wrapped around Caroline, pulling her close as they lost themselves in the moment.
But as the kiss grew more heated, Enzo's grip on Caroline's waist tightened, his fingers digging gently into her skin. He pulled back, his eyes locking onto hers as he broke the kiss.
Caroline's eyes fluttered open, her face flushed with desire. She looked up at Enzo, her lips parted in surprise.
Enzo's eyes were filled with a deep longing, but he smiled gently and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't mean for that to happen."
Caroline's face fell, her eyes dropping as she realized what had almost happened. She was still reeling from her mother's illness, and Enzo was being a gentleman, respecting her boundaries.
It's okay," she whispered back, her voice barely audible. "I wanted it to happen."
Enzo's eyes filled with compassion, and he pulled Caroline into a gentle hug. "I know you did," he whispered. "But not tonight. Tonight, we just enjoy each other's company. Okay?"
Caroline walked into the hospital room, a gentle smile on her face. Liz looked up from her book, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
"Enzo didn't come with you?" Liz asked, her voice weak but determined.
Caroline shook her head, dropping her coat over the extra visitor's chair. "He said he might stop by later, but thought we should have some time to ourselves first."
Liz's eyes sparkled with amusement. "That sounds like Enzo. Always the gentleman."
Caroline's smile softened, thinking back to their romantic picnic under the stars. "He sent you a gift," she said
Liz's laughter was music to Caroline's ears.
Seeing her mom like this, pale and sick, was heartbreaking. But in this moment, surrounded by the love and care of those around her, Caroline felt a sense of peace wash over her.
It's perfect," Liz said, her eyes shining with tears. "This smile, right here, is the best gift I could ever ask for."
Caroline's own eyes welled up as she curled up on the bed beside her mother, feeling a deep sense of connection and love.
When Enzo arrived a little over an hour later,Caroline and Liz were chatting and laughing together, savoring the jelly salad Caroline had made especially for her mom.
"Enzo," Liz said, her voice warm and welcoming, "come join us for some jelly salad."
Enzo smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and Caroline got up to serve him a portion. As she handed him the bowl, Liz reached out and squeezed his hand, her eyes shining with gratitude.
"Thank you for getting Caroline out of the house and for putting that smile back on her face," Liz said, her voice filled with emotion. "That's the best gift a mom could ask for."
Enzo's expression softened, and he covered Liz's hand with his own. "You're welcome, Liz. I'd do anything to make Caroline happy. She deserves it."