Now it’s time for my Caroline top ships. This is a little controversial depending on who you ask, .
Also, I am a rare pair person through and through, so I naturally lean into dynamics that are less explored.
1. Caroline x Jeremy
I love them. I really do. This is my number one Caroline ship right now because the dynamic just clicks for me in a really soft but interesting way.
They don’t have a ton of scenes together, but honestly that is part of why I like them so much. It gives me more space to imagine how they would actually interact without being locked into canon direction.
Jeremy is calm in a way Caroline really isn’t. Caroline is anxious, reactive, always thinking ten steps ahead or spiraling through emotions, and I feel like Jeremy would naturally ground that. Not in a controlling way, just in a steady presence kind of way. Like he would just be there, and that would matter more than anything else.
And Caroline would bring energy into his life too. She is loud in her feelings, expressive, intense in her own way, and I think that contrast would actually balance them out really well.
For me personally, this ship also helped me a lot with writing. I don’t really write outside of ships much, so exploring them together helped me understand both characters more clearly. It gave me a way to practice writing Caroline in softer emotional moments and Jeremy in more grounded ones.
It’s simple, but I think that’s what makes it work for me. It feels stable in a way that is kind of comforting to explore.
2. Caroline x Mason
This one was not something I originally thought about at all until I read the amazing fic by @xxlionheartedgirlxx and I got completely pulled in. Like I did not expect to like it this much, but I did.
Mason feels like the type of character who is drawn to strength, especially women who are not intimidated by him. You can already kind of see that idea in his connection with Katherine, and I feel like Caroline would absolutely fit into that same space but in a different way.
Caroline is strong in a very emotional, reactive, human way. Mason is strong in a more physical, grounded, steady way. I think that contrast would create something really interesting between them.
There is also something about the way their attraction feels very natural and unforced in the way I imagine it. Like it would build slowly without either of them really planning it. I don’t know, I just really like the idea of them more than I expected to.
3. Caroline x Elijah
I never thought about this pairing until the very same mutual started working on a WIP and I got a snippet
Elijah and Caroline feel very composed as a dynamic. Like both of them carry themselves in a controlled way, even when they are emotional underneath it. I think that is what makes them interesting together.
It feels like a relationship built on restraint, respect, and quiet intensity. Nothing about it feels loud or chaotic, but it still feels powerful in a different way.
I also really like how Elijah interacts with strong women in general, and Caroline definitely fits that energy. She is not someone who would be easily overwhelmed by him, and I think he would notice that immediately.
It is one of those ships that just makes sense once you see it.
4. Caroline x Matt
They were kind of both what they needed at the time. It is a very early foundation relationship for Caroline in a lot of ways.
I like how it shows a more human version of her before everything fully shifts with her becoming a vampire. Matt represents a kind of normalcy that she can never really return to, but it still matters for her development.
It is not a ship I go back to often, but I do think it served its purpose in her story and in how she grows as a character.
5. Caroline x Tyler
I am currently rewatching, so I cannot fully break this one down yet because I honestly do not remember every detail clearly.
I do remember them having moments that mattered for both of their arcs, especially with Tyler’s hybrid storyline and Caroline trying to understand what she is becoming.
I will probably have more thoughts on them once I get further into the rewatch because I feel like I am missing context right now
6. Caroline x Rebekah
I love this. I really, really love this.
Wlw ships like this just hit for me. The energy between them is chaotic, sharp, and kind of fun in a way that feels really different from Caroline’s other relationships.
Rebekah is dramatic, emotional, and intense in her own way, I feel like they would either be the most chaotic duo alive or the most powerful one, depending on the version of them you write.
Either way, I think they would be a true power couple.
7. Caroline x Katherine
Need I say more.
The chemistry, the tension, the hostility that could easily turn into attraction it is all there. They would be messy in the best possible way. I do not even think this one needs explanation because if you get it, you get it.
8. Caroline x Bonnie
I love them together. I always have.
There is something about the idea of them that just works for me. I think it is the combination of familiarity, emotional understanding, and the way they balance each other out in different ways depending on the story.
I do not even need a specific canon moment to justify it, I just think they make sense as a concept and I enjoy them a lot.
9. Caroline x Stefan
This one is kind of meh for me personally.
A big part of it is honestly just that I have never really been into Stefan as a character, so it naturally affects how I feel about the ship. It is not that I think they are bad together or anything like that, it just does not pull me in the same way Caroline’s other ships do.
Caroline as a character is amazing to me in almost every dynamic she is in, but with Stefan specifically, it just does not land for me personally. I can appreciate what they are, I just do not connect to it emotionally the way I do with her other pairings.
Rating: Teen (Upbeat fluff, lots of butterflies, and some heavy tension in the library stacks).
Just a cute, upbeat glimpse into Caroline and Jeremy’s secret life at Whitmore. Between dodging midterms in the library stacks and hiding out at campus parties, they’ve perfected the art of dating under the radar.
This one has been sitting in my head for a while! Just a fun, low-stakes oneshot of Caroline and Jeremy being cute and secret in college. I wanted to focus on the vibes and the "butterflies" of them having their own little world away from everyone else. I’m not really sure if this one screams Jeremy and Caroline to everyone else, but I liked the idea of them just being an established couple.
The Whitmore University library was a cathedral of stress. The air was thick with the scent of old paper, floor wax, and the collective desperation of three hundred students fueled by nothing but espresso and the fear of a C-minus. It was the height of midterm season, and the atmosphere was usually enough to make anyone’s skin crawl, but for Caroline Forbes, it was just another environment to be conquered.
She sat at a corner table on the second floor, her territory marked by an array of color-coded highlighters that looked like a neon rainbow exploded across the mahogany surface. Her Sociology textbook was propped open, flanked by a stack of flashcards and a planner so meticulously organized it could have been mistaken for a blueprint for a small city.
Caroline’s pen moved with rhythmic precision, underlining key terms in a shade of pink that signified "highly likely to be on the exam." From an outsider's perspective, she was the picture of academic focus—the perfectionist blonde who probably didn't even know what the word "distraction" meant.
In reality, her heart was doing a frantic little tap-dance against her ribs every time the heavy wooden doors at the end of the aisle creaked open.
She didn't look up when a group of frat brothers stomped past, whispering loudly about a party on Friday. She didn't look up when a girl in the row behind her started crying softly over her Organic Chemistry notes. But when the distinct, slow tread of heavy boots echoed against the linoleum, Caroline’s hand faltered for just a fraction of a second.
Jeremy Gilbert entered the aisle with the casual, slightly detached air of someone who lived in his own head. He looked exactly like the kind of guy who didn't belong in a library on a Tuesday afternoon—dressed in a faded black hoodie with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows, a charcoal-smudged sketchbook tucked under one arm. His dark hair was a mess, that effortless "just rolled out of bed" look that Caroline knew for a fact took zero effort on his part, which was both endearing and deeply unfair.
To anyone watching, they were just two people from the same hometown who happened to be at the same college.
Jeremy slowed down as he approached her table, his expression carefully neutral. He scanned the area, his eyes briefly flicking to a nearby table where a couple of girls from Caroline’s sorority were buried in their laptops.
"Oh, hey Jeremy," Caroline said, her voice hitting that perfect pitch of casual, polite recognition. She didn't beam at him the way she wanted to; she didn't jump up and throw her arms around his neck. She just offered a practiced, slightly distracted smile. "Taking a break from the art studio?"
"Something like that," Jeremy replied, his voice low and raspy. He stopped at the edge of her table, shifting his sketchbook. "Just looking for a spot with some decent light. Everywhere else is packed."
"Midterms," Caroline sighed, shaking her head. "It’s a jungle out here. I’ve been here since eight, and I’m pretty sure I’ve forgotten what the sun looks like."
"You should probably eat something," he said, and for a fleeting second, the neutrality slipped. His dark eyes softened, holding hers just a beat too long to be 'just friends.' "You get cranky when your blood sugar drops."
Caroline gave a mock-offended gasp, leaning back in her chair. "I do not get cranky. I get *focused*. There’s a difference."
"Right. Focused," Jeremy smirked.
As he shifted his weight, his hand brushed against the edge of her table. To an observer, he was just steadying himself or reaching for a stray pen. In reality, he was executing a maneuver they had practiced a dozen times.
With the flick of his thumb, a small, yellow post-it note fluttered from the underside of his sketchbook and landed directly on Caroline's lap, hidden by the mahogany lip of the desk.
"Anyway," Jeremy said, straightening up and stepping back. "I’ll leave you to your... focus. Good luck with the Sociology stuff."
"Thanks! See you around, Jeremy," she called out, already dipping her head back toward her book as if the conversation was already forgotten.
She waited. She counted to thirty, her heart thumping a frantic rhythm against her chest. She watched his reflection in the window—he moved further down the aisle, pretending to look at a shelf of encyclopedias before turning toward the stairwell.
Once he disappeared, Caroline carefully lowered her hand beneath the table. She peeled the sticky note off her leggings and brought it up, hiding it behind the bulky cover of her textbook.
The handwriting was messy, hurried, and unmistakably his.
*You’re over-thinking the Durkheim chapter. I can hear your brain whirring from the hallway. I’ve got spicy tuna rolls and those Thai spring rolls you love in my bag. Meet me in the basement stacks—Section 900—in five minutes? I missed you today.*
A warmth that had nothing to do with the library’s overactive heating system flooded through her. She bit her lip to keep from grinning like a lunatic. Section 900 was the History of the Middle East—a place where no one went unless they were lost or doing a very specific thesis. It was their sanctuary.
Caroline didn't move immediately. She was a professional, after all. She spent exactly three minutes meticulously highlighting one more paragraph and tucking her pens into her pencil case. She checked her reflection in her phone’s black screen, smoothing a stray hair back into her ponytail.
She stood up, slung her designer tote over her shoulder, and nodded a polite goodbye to the sorority sisters at the next table.
"Heading out, Care?" one of them asked, looking up from her screen.
"Coffee run," Caroline lied effortlessly, her voice bright and bubbly. "If I look at another flashcard, I think my eyes might actually fall out of my head. See you guys later!"
She walked toward the elevators, but the moment the doors closed and she was alone, the "perfect student" mask shattered into a radiant, genuine beam. She hit the button for the basement, the mechanical hum of the elevator feeling like an upbeat soundtrack to her own private movie.
The secret was the best part. In Mystic Falls, their relationship would have been a "thing"—subject to the opinions of brothers, best friends, and the ghosts of their pasts. But here at Whitmore, in the quiet, dusty corners of the library, they were just Jeremy and Caroline. And as the elevator dinked at the basement level, she realized she wouldn't trade this secret for anything in the world.
Caroline rounded the corner of a shelf dedicated to Ancient Persian history, her heart hammering a frantic rhythm against her ribs. She saw him immediately. Jeremy was leaning against a heavy metal upright, his sketchbook discarded on a nearby stool. The second he saw her, the guarded, neutral expression he wore in the quad vanished, replaced by a look of pure, hungry relief.
"You’re late," he rasped, his voice echoing slightly in the narrow aisle.
"I had to make sure the coast was clear!" Caroline whispered, though she was already moving toward him. "Elena was right by the printers, and I had to do this whole 'I’m just looking for a coffee' routine—"
She didn't get to finish. Jeremy reached out, his hand wrapping firmly around her waist and pulling her into the shadows between the shelves. The impact of her body hitting his chest knocked the breath out of her, replaced instantly by the frantic flutter of butterflies so intense they felt like a physical ache.
"Jeremy," she breathed, her hands flying up to his chest, bunching the fabric of his hoodie.
He didn't say a word. He leaned down, his mouth finding hers with a sudden, desperate heat. This wasn't a "secret's out" kiss; it was a "I haven't touched you in twelve hours" kiss. It was deep and demanding, his tongue sliding against hers in a way that made Caroline’s knees go weak. She let out a soft, broken sound into his mouth, her fingers sliding up into the hair at the nape of his neck, pulling him closer.
The kiss grew more erotic as Jeremy backed her up against the cold metal of the bookshelf. The contrast of the freezing shelf against her back and the searing heat of his body pressed against her front made her head spin. His hands migrated from her waist, one sliding up to cup her jaw, his thumb dragging across her cheekbone, while the other moved lower, his palm pressing flat against the small of her back to arch her into him.
Caroline’s breath came in ragged hitches. She felt hyper-aware of every point of contact—the way his denim brushed against her legs, the solid muscle of his arms, the scent of his skin that always reminded her of charcoal and rain.
Jeremy pulled back just an inch, his lips ghosting over hers, his eyes dark and hooded. "I’ve been thinking about this since the moment I woke up," he murmured, his voice dropping into a register that made her toes curl.
"Me too," she admitted, her voice trembling. "It’s getting harder, Jer. Pretending I don't want to jump you every time you walk into the library."
He chuckled, a low vibration she felt in her own chest, before he dropped his head to the crook of her neck. He nipped at the sensitive cord of her throat, and Caroline’s eyes fluttered shut, her head falling back against the spines of the books. A soft groan escaped her as he left a trail of wet, hot kisses down to her collarbone.
"We have to stop," she whispered, even as she pulled him back in for another kiss. "Someone could come down for a research paper."
"No one researches the Crusades at 2:00 PM on a Tuesday," Jeremy countered, his thumb grazing the corner of her mouth. He reached into his bag, pulling out the container of spring rolls he’d promised, but he didn't hand them over. Instead, he leaned back against the opposite shelf, watching her with a playful, smoldering grin. "But if you're worried, I guess I could just eat these myself."
Caroline laughed, the tension breaking just enough for her to breathe. She reached out, swiping a spring roll and taking a bite, her eyes never leaving his. "You wouldn't dare. I’m a very hangry person when I’m studying."
"I know exactly how you are," Jeremy said, his gaze softening as he reached out to brush a stray crumb from her lip, his fingers lingering just a second too long to be casual. "And I like every single version of you."
The scent of woodsmoke and cheap beer hung heavy over the backyard of the off-campus house, mingling with the crisp autumn air of a Whitmore Friday night. A massive bonfire crackled in a stone pit at the center of the yard, sending orange sparks dancing toward the stars. It was exactly the kind of party where it was easy to get lost in the crowd—and exactly the kind of party where Caroline Forbes felt most in her element.
She was currently a blur of motion, weaving through the clusters of students with a stack of red solo cups in one hand and her phone in the other, expertly managing the Bluetooth connection to the outdoor speakers. Tonight, however, there was an extra spring in her step and a dangerous glint in her eye.
Caroline had spent two hours getting ready, justifying the effort as "staying on brand" for a social committee chair, but her true audience was much more specific. She was wearing a pair of dark, form-fitting skinny jeans and a cream-colored off-the-shoulder sweater that looked soft enough to melt into. It showed off just the right amount of skin—enough to be alluring, but casual enough to avoid suspicion. Her blonde hair fell in perfect, effortless waves, and she’d applied a touch of shimmering highlighter to her collarbones that caught the firelight every time she turned.
She looked like the quintessential college hostess, but every time she adjusted the volume on the speakers or smoothed the tablecloth over the drink station, her internal compass was locked on a single coordinate.
Jeremy.
He was leaning against a weathered wooden fence near the edge of the fire’s glow, looking devastatingly handsome in a simple denim jacket over a black tee. He wasn't doing much—just nursing a drink and talking to a few guys from his architecture studio—but he was watching her. He didn't make it obvious; he didn't stare. But every time Caroline looked up, she caught the tail end of his gaze, a smoldering, heavy look that made the butterflies in her stomach do a frantic, chaotic dance.
The heat she felt wasn't just from the bonfire. It was the thrill of being the most noticed girl in the yard while knowing that the only person whose opinion mattered was the one person she wasn't supposed to be talking to.
"Caroline! The playlist is literally saving this party," Bonnie said, walking up with Elena in tow. Both of them looked relaxed, enjoying the rare break from their own heavy course loads.
"Of course it is! I spent three days curating the transition from 'indie chill' to 'late-night dance,'" Caroline beamed, her voice bright and bubbly. She didn't let her eyes wander toward the fence, even though she could feel Jeremy’s attention shift toward their group the moment Elena appeared.
"Have you seen Jeremy?" Elena asked, scanning the crowd. "He said he was coming, but he’s probably tucked away in a corner sketching a tree or something."
"He's over by the fire," Caroline said quickly—too quickly. She immediately softened her tone. "Or at least, I think I saw him over there earlier. You know how he is, very 'man of mystery.'"
They migrated toward the fire pit, and for a brief, agonizing minute, the group merged. Caroline stood just two feet away from Jeremy. The proximity was electric. She could smell the faint scent of his laundry detergent and the woodsmoke clinging to his jacket. Her skin tingled, her pulse thrumming in her ears. She wanted to reach out and hook her finger into his belt loop; she wanted to lean her head against his shoulder and tell him how much she’d missed him since the library basement.
Instead, she offered him a polite, slightly distant nod. "Hey, Jeremy. Glad you made it out of the studio."
"Wouldn't miss a Forbes-sanctioned event," Jeremy replied, his voice a low, gravelly rumble that sent a fresh wave of butterflies through her. His eyes dropped to the curve of her exposed shoulder for a fraction of a second—a look so hot and possessive that Caroline nearly dropped her drink.
"Seriously, Jer," Elena teased, bumping her brother’s arm. "You've been so MIA lately. I called you three times on Wednesday and you didn't pick up."
"I was at the lake," Jeremy said simply, taking a sip of his drink. "Working on a perspective drawing. The light was good."
That’s when Matt, who had been standing nearby, chimed in with a grin. "Wait, was that Wednesday? Man, I thought I saw you down by the boathouse. I was going to shout, but you looked... occupied. I’m pretty sure there was a mysterious blonde with you."
The air in Caroline’s lungs vanished. The butterflies in her stomach turned into lead. Elena’s eyebrows shot up. "A blonde? Jeremy Gilbert, are you keeping secrets from your big sister?"
The "near miss" was suddenly very, very close. Caroline felt the heat of the fire on her face, but she didn't panic. She had spent years perfecting the art of the social pivot.
"Wait, Matt, was it a girl with a blue backpack?" Caroline interrupted, her voice a masterclass in casual interruption. She didn't look at Jeremy. She looked directly at Matt, her eyes wide and curious. "Because if it was, that was probably Sarah from my Art History class. She’s been hounding Jeremy for weeks to help her with her shading techniques. Poor girl is failing, and Jeremy is way too nice to say no."
Jeremy hid a sudden, genuine grin behind the rim of his red solo cup. He didn't say a word, letting Caroline weave the cover story with the precision of a seasoned pro.
"Oh," Matt said, scratching his head. "Yeah, maybe. It was kind of far away. I just saw the blonde hair."
"Well, speaking of hair," Caroline pivoted again, turning the group away from Jeremy entirely, "did you guys see that the playlist just transitioned into the 2000s throwbacks? Bonnie, this is our song! We have to go dance before the frat guys ruin the vibe."
She grabbed Bonnie and Elena’s hands, pulling them toward the makeshift dance floor on the patio. As she turned, she finally allowed herself one look back.
Jeremy was still standing by the fence, but he had lowered his cup. He was looking at her with a mix of amusement and pure, unadulterated adoration. He mouthed two words—Nice save—before turning back to his conversation.
The party was finally a fading echo behind them, the thump of the bass replaced by the rhythmic chirping of crickets and the soft crunch of gravel under their feet. The Whitmore campus was draped in midnight velvet, the streetlamps casting long, amber pools of light across the empty walkways.
Caroline walked a few paces ahead, her arms wrapped around herself. The autumn air had turned sharp, and the off-the-shoulder sweater that had looked so good under the glow of the bonfire was now doing very little to protect her from the chill. She was still buzzing from the adrenaline of the "near miss" with Matt and Elena, her mind replaying the way Jeremy had looked at her over the rim of his cup.
Suddenly, a heavy, warm weight settled over her shoulders. She didn't jump; she knew the scent of woodsmoke and charcoal too well.
"You're shivering," Jeremy murmured, stepping up beside her and pulling the lapels of his denim jacket tight around her front.
Caroline immediately melted into the warmth, her nose dipping into the collar of the jacket. It was oversized on her, the sleeves swallowing her hands, making her feel small and protected in a way she rarely allowed herself to be. "I was maintaining the aesthetic, Jeremy. Being the 'Life of the Party' requires certain sacrifices, like body heat."
"Well, the party is over," he said, his hand sliding down her arm until his fingers interlaced with hers.
The contact was like a low-voltage shock. Now that they were away from the prying eyes of their friends, the butterflies in Caroline’s stomach didn't just flutter—they felt like they were glowing. She squeezed his hand, pulling him closer until their shoulders brushed.
"That was a close one tonight," she whispered, looking around the deserted quad just to be sure. "Matt actually saw us at the lake. I thought Elena was going to start a full-scale interrogation. My heart was beating so fast I thought she’d hear it."
Jeremy laughed, a low, melodic sound that made Caroline’s chest tighten with affection. "You handled it like a pro. 'Sarah from Art History'? I don't even think there is a Sarah in my class."
"There isn't. I made her up on the spot," Caroline admitted, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "But it worked. And it was worth it. That afternoon at the lake was... it was my favorite part of the week."
They reached the steps of her dorm, a brick building draped in ivy that looked almost magical under the moonlight. The "secret" act had been fun, a thrilling game they played against the world, but here in the silence, the weight of it felt different. It felt like they were in their own private universe where the labels of "little brother" or "best friend" didn't exist.
Jeremy stepped onto the first stair, putting them at eye level. He reached out, his thumb tracing the line of her jaw, his touch light but searing. "You looked incredible tonight, by the way. I know you did the hair and the sweater for me. I noticed."
Caroline felt the heat rise to her cheeks, a genuine flush that had nothing to do with the cold. "Was it that obvious?"
"Only to me," he whispered.
He leaned in, his hand sliding to the back of her neck, his fingers tangling in the blonde waves he’d been wanting to touch all night. When his lips met hers, it wasn't hurried or frantic like it had been in the library basement. This was slow, sweet, and deep. It was a kiss that tasted like a promise—a lingering acknowledgement of everything they had to hide during the day.
Caroline groaned softly, her hands moving up to grip the front of his shirt, pulling him flush against her. The butterflies in her stomach settled into a deep, heavy warmth that radiated through her entire body. She loved the way he tasted, the way he moved, the way he seemed to know exactly how much pressure to apply to make her head swim.
Jeremy broke the kiss just an inch, his forehead resting against hers. His breath was warm against her lips, and his eyes were dark with an intensity that made her breath hitch. "I hate having to let you go up those stairs alone."
"Me too," Caroline whispered, her fingers tracing the hem of his hoodie. "But think about it this way... if everyone knew, we wouldn't get these moments. No one would be looking for us, no one would be wondering. There’s something about the secret that makes this feel... more ours."
Jeremy smiled, a soft, private expression that he only ever saved for her. He reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Just yours, Care. Always."
He gave her one last, lingering kiss—a soft press of lips that felt like a "goodnight" and a "see you tomorrow" all at once.
"Go on," he teased, gently nudging her toward the door. "Before I change my mind and whisk you away to the lake again."
Caroline skipped up the remaining steps, clutching his jacket around her like a shield. She paused at the door, looking back to see him standing at the bottom of the stairs, watching her with that smoldering, protective gaze. She blew him a kiss, which he "caught" with a grin, before she slipped inside.
As she leaned her back against the heavy dorm door, her heart was still doing that frantic, happy dance. She pulled her phone out and saw a message already waiting for her.
"I don't know how you do it, but you're amazing. Sweet dreams, Care."
Caroline beamed, hugging the phone to her chest. The secret was definitely the best part.
This is my yapping tag velvetfangsx tvd. I’m about to yap about what I’m learning while going through The Vampire Diaries. It’s basically me just talking it out as I watch, like a little brain dump in my socks.
If you don’t wanna read it, you can ignore it or block the tag. It’s all the same TVD content anyway, nothing separated or organized.
Anyway, just a quick warning, this is my long yap (not too long),
Hi guys, I'm watching The Vampire Diaries, and boy do I have some thoughts. So, I have a lot of thoughts. I don't really know what to say, but I do have lots of thoughts.
And first off, Damon, gonna like him, this thing with Caroline, I hated it, it was absolutely disgusting to me. I still don't like it. It takes me so long to get over the echohead to actually focus on my Bonnie and Damon, which I absolutely love. I see so much potential for them, I'm loving it.
But I don't understand this, like, Caroline though, like she switched up so fast. Like she used to be a jerk, and then now she's not a jerk, and then so that's kind of confusing.
And you know what hit me so hard was Vicky's death, it's so sad. I wish they could have helped Vicky in another different way, and I don't know why, but I will absolutely never forgive Stefan for Vicky's death. I mean, I guess it's not his fault, but still.
And oh my god, Lexi, amazing character. I loved Lexi. I have to write a fic about her. Loved her. I hated her death, and I hate Damon for that so, so frickin' much.
Also, all of Stefan's secrets against Elena were disgusting, like gave me the ick. I was like ugh, like why are you keeping so many secrets? Literally if you like her, just tell her the truth. And then he broke up with her just to get back with her just to break up with her again. That was so like, pick a side. I guess I get it, but still.
And oh my god, don't even get me started about Jeremy. I am so much on a Jeremy Gilbert kick right now, my god. I love his character, he's so fuckin' hot. So sexy. So nice. So much development. And I love a boy who gets into fights on TV because that is, for some reason, such a cake for me. It's a cake for me when a boy gets into a fight on TV like Jeremy does. Nobody does it better than him. Nobody does it better than him.
I didn't realize how much development he had. His death with Vicky's death was so sad. His relationship with Vicky was amazing. I feel like it needs to be talked about more. I love that relationship. Love that complex.
Currently I think I'm on episode 11 right now, so I'm getting into the Anna, Vicky, Anna, Jeremy stuff. I don't really know how I feel about the relationship yet. To be fair, I never really paid attention to it as I was watching that. Like at all. I didn't really pay attention to it. Like ever. I don't know, it was just never really my thing.
But I will tell you, now that I've started fanfics that I've had for inspiration because love watching, I’m definitely in a writing spiral.
So, Stelena. Definitely a Stelena. Oh my god. Can't even stop myself.
A fic about Damon and Bree's relationship in the past because that needed to be explored way more. A fic about Lexi and Stefan because oh my god that was amazing. They should have dated. Like that should have been his girl, are you kidding me? A fic about Lexi and Damon.
I'm just so irritated by Lexi's death, I don't know what to do.
Lots of Caroline and Jeremy fixes.
So if I'm taking a break, if it seems like I'm not writing like my originals fics or my Klaus and my Kol and my other fics, it's because right now I'm on a Vampire Diaries kick. So I probably won't be writing for The Originals, like the Michaelsons or anything, until I get to them in those seasons because my inspiration is coming as I'm watching the show.
Caroline woke up to the sound of muffled giggling and the distinct clink of silverware hitting the floor. Usually, she’d be out of bed in a vampire-second to investigate, but a heavy, warm arm was draped across her waist, pinning her to the mattress.
Jeremy didn't even open his eyes, but his grip tightened slightly. "Don't go out there yet," he mumbled into his pillow, his voice thick with sleep. "They’ve been working on this 'surprise' since 6:00 AM. If you walk in now, you’ll ruin the dramatic reveal."
"Jeremy, I think I heard the good china break," Caroline whispered, though she was smiling.
"A small price to pay for breakfast in bed," he countered, finally cracking an eye open to look at her. He looked exhausted he’d been up late at the school grading papers so he could have the whole weekend free for her but his expression was nothing but soft. "Happy Mother’s Day, Care."
Before she could answer, the door swung open. Lizzie and Josie marched in, carrying a tray between them like it was a sacred offering.
"Happy Mother's Day!" they shouted in unison.
The tray was a glorious disaster. There were pancakes shaped like hearts (mostly), a mountain of bacon that Jeremy must have helped them cook before he sneaked back into bed, and two very large drawings covered in enough glitter to be seen from space.
"Uncle Jeremy helped with the heat, but we did the art!" Josie announced, beaming.
Jeremy sat up, leaning his back against the headboard and pulling Caroline close to his side. "I was just the sous-chef. These two are the real masterminds."
Lizzie hopped onto the bed, handing Caroline a card. "Jeremy said we had to be extra quiet this morning because you work harder than anyone else at the school. So we waited until the sun was all the way up."
"And we didn't use any magic!" Josie added proudly. "Well... only a little to keep the orange juice from spilling."
Caroline looked from the girls to Jeremy. He was looking at her with that quiet, steady devotion that had anchored her ever since they’d started this journey together.
"You guys," Caroline said, her voice hitching just a little. "This is the best surprise ever."
"Eat the pancake with the sprinkles first," Lizzie commanded, settling in at the foot of the bed. "Jeremy said that one has the most love in it."
Jeremy caught Caroline’s eye and winked, pulling her hand into his under the covers. "He’s a very smart man," Caroline laughed, taking a bite of the sugary chaos. "He really is."
Elena walked down the hallway. She peered through the crack in Jeremy's room. He had his headphones on, his eyes never leaving the TV.
Jeremy,” she said quietly.
Jeremy didn’t respond. He never did.
“Jeremy,” she tried again.
This time, he looked up with a sigh, pulling out one of his headphones. He didn’t say anything.
“Jenna wants us downstairs,” Elena said.
“Why?” he scoffed. “So she can give us another motivational speech on how to keep going and how things will get better?”
Elena hesitated. She didn’t disagree with him, not really, but she also didn’t want to trash-talk Jenna when she was trying her best.
She simply sighed softly. “Just come down in five minutes.”
Jeremy didn’t follow her immediately. He just laid back against the bed, staring up at the ceiling.
He was tired of pretending life would get better.
Because it never really did.
He pulled out a picture of Caroline, his expression softening the second he looked at it.
He missed her.
He missed the way she made him feel like the world wasn’t constantly falling apart. Like he could just be himself without having to pretend he was okay.
He pulled out a picture of Caroline, his expression softening the second he looked at it.
He missed her.
He missed the way she made him feel like the world wasn’t constantly falling apart. Like he could just be himself without having to pretend he was okay.
When Jeremy finally went downstairs, he heard Jenna getting off the phone.
“Thank you, Liz,” she said before hanging up.
His heart skipped for a moment, a small flicker of hope rising at the mention of Caroline’s mom.
When he walked farther into the room and saw Elena and Jenna standing there with packed bags, his brows furrowed.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
Elena opened her mouth to speak, but Jenna quickly cut her off.
“We’re going on a trip.”
Jeremy let out a short, disbelieving laugh. “A trip? Are you serious?”
He looked at Elena, but she avoided his gaze, staring down at the floor instead.
“You knew about this, didn’t you?”
Elena stayed silent.
“Don’t start attacking your sister,” Jenna cut in sharply. “I told her. I’m the adult, and I decided what’s best for you.”
Jeremy rolled his eyes, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Yeah, and you’re doing a great job at that.”
“Jeremy,” Elena said quietly, a warning in her voice.
No, it’s fine,” Jenna said suddenly.
Before either of them could respond, she stormed upstairs to Jeremy’s room and started shoving his things into boxes.
“You’re right,” she called out bitterly. “I’m not doing a great job. Maybe I should up the ante.”
Jeremy stared at her in disbelief as she grabbed another stack of his things.
“We’re going on this trip, and that’s final. And I don’t want to see you touching any of this stuff until you find something productive to do.”
She picked up the box and walked out of the room.
“This is not fair!” Jeremy snapped, kicking an empty soda can across the room.
He looked over at Elena, who stood quietly in the doorway.
“And you’re not gonna say anything? Even though you knew about this the whole time?”
“What do you want me to say?” Elena asked softly. “Maybe Jenna’s right. Maybe it’s time to move on.”
She left Jeremy alone with his anger.
The second she was gone, he shoved everything off his desk, objects crashing loudly against the floor.
A series of dark, vicious re-imagining's where the men of The Vampire Diaries are powerful, arrogant human monsters. They don't know how to apologize, and they don't know how to listen. Instead, they use luxury, expensive gifts, and ruinous, explicit sex to forcefully wipe the slate clean.
But resentment is a debt that always collects interest. These are the suffocating, pitch-black stories of the women who love them desperately and the horrifying breaking points where they decide to end the loop forever.
No rules. No happy endings. Read at your own risk
I've been playing around a lot with my darker writing lately, which is actually what I used to write all the time. Somewhere along the way I drifted into lighter stories and naturally ended up writing dark content less and less. Recently, though, I've found my way back to it, and I've been having an incredible time exploring all the different possibilities that come with it.
There's just something so fascinating about taking characters and relationships you already love and pushing them into darker territory, exploring obsession, loyalty, grief, desire, devotion, power, and all the complicated places those emotions can lead. It gives me so much room to experiment and dig into dynamics that I don't always get to explore in my lighter writing.
Because of that, I ended up creating a little project centered around my favorite pairing. It's called Sin to Silk, and it's very much my love letter to darker storytelling. It's messy, intense, complicated, and everything I personally enjoy writing. these aren't huge projects. Most of them are actually pretty short. I wanted to get a lot of ideas out of my head and onto the page while the inspiration was there, so most of these stories are under 10k words. They're quick, indulgent little explorations
The funniest part is that this definitely isn't stopping with one ship. I already have a growing list of dynamics I want to explore through this lens. Bonnie and Damon. Bonnie and Kai. Klaus and Bonnie. Klaus and Hayley. Stefan and Katherine. Elijah and Katherine. Elijah and Hayley. Probably a few more that will end up on the list when inspiration decides to strike.
The World Doesn't Stop Just for You (Kind of Selfish Don't You Think?)
Chapter 1
The World was moving too fast at least that's what Caroline felt.
She expected the world to wait for her after her mom died. But to her surprise, it didn't, and now she was working at a crappy diner, trying to get her life back on track.
Caroline checked her phone; she did this every five minutes, waiting to hear back from college. The suspense was killing her.
“Still waiting? Huh,” Matt walked up behind her with a tray of dishes in his hands. He was dirty from all the food that was being cooked at the time. His eyes barely stayed open. Caroline hated seeing her friend in this state. She wasn't the only one trying to make it through the day.
“It's no big deal! I mean who cares if I get in” she tried to sound less worried than she looked but Matt could see past anything with her. They've been working at the diner together for months now he knew what she ate for breakfast or how she liked her coffee.
Matt set the tray of dishes down “It's ok to care about your own future Caroline I mean who’s going to judge you the future police?”
Caroline smiled it felt real the first real smile she had all week she appreciated his sense of humor it made her feel at ease. “No sign of Vicki?”
Matt sighed before checking his phone one last time
“No, I've been trying to call her the diner is getting busy she promised me she'd be my extra set of hands but I guess she had other plans”
Caroline looked at the customers most of them were grumpy but Matt was pissed and obviously wouldn't make it through one order without getting into a fight.
“I can take the shift”
“I don’t know, care it's a lot to do and you just did a shift you shouldn't have to clean after Vicki”
She raised her hand to cut him off “I got this, I'm Caroiline Forbes, I know how to handle chaos”
Matt smiled he finally let himself relax “ Thanks Care I owe you one”
“Don't worry about it”
Before he left he turned to her “Don’t worry about college, I'm sure you'll get in, you're Caroline Forbes right”
She smiled back “Right”
───────────
Only 30 minutes in and Caroline wanted to go home the customers were snippy and rude and didn't even give her a minute to write down their order. She pasted the most fakest smile she ever did in her life and even that couldn't mask the annoyance in her tone.
“For Matt” that's what she kept telling herself but somehow it only made her more annoyed.
While she was refilling the coffee pot she noticed Vicki walking into the diner with some guy she couldn't really make out who it was. Caroline was pissed she made a beeline to Vicki's table and boy was she going to give her a piece of her mind.
“Vicki!”
Vicki turned around and waved but so did the guy she was with and that made Caroline stop right in her tracks because it just wasn't any guy it was Jeremy Gilbert. The last memory they had together was him pulling her dress off. It was a few weeks after her mom died and he gave her comfort that no one else could he understood the grief she was dealing with and they hadn't seen each other since.
But the most embarrassing part was that she was lying to everyone, her best friends who probably told everyone they knew and as far as they were concerned she was in college excelling living in a penthouse not working at some diner living in a crappy apartment with an overinvested roommate that she loved to bits.
“Hello? Earth to Caroline”
Vicki snapped her back into reality but her eyes never left Jeremy's.
“Huh?”
“I just wanted to say that I'm sorry about the shift I can take over now and I’ll take the next one”
Jeremy didn't say anything but his face said everything and she could tell just by the way he looked that this wasn't where he expected her to be which made her embarrassed and anxious and those two feelings didn't settle well in Caroline's stomach.
“It’s fine Vicki really just make sure to be there for Matt” She covered her face and said “Tell Matt I'm leaving work early and I'll see him tomorrow!”
Vicki turned around to face Jeremy. “What was that about?”
"No idea"
She noticed his eyes didn't leave Caroline until she was out of sight
──────────
Caroline practically ran all the way back to her apartment, her heart still hammering from the shock of seeing Jeremy. She locked the door behind her and leaned against it, trying to catch her breath.
When she pulled out her phone, her stomach dropped. She realized she had a bunch of messages from her friends, but there was absolutely nothing from the college. The one email she actually needed just wasn't there.
She sighed, feeling completely defeated, and walked over to the kitchen counter where a stack of mail was sitting. She reached out to flip through it.
“I wouldn't go through them, just a bunch of bills to ruin your day.”
Caroline looked up and smiled. Camille always knew exactly how to read the room. She was currently standing by the blender, pouring two bright red pomegranate margaritas into glasses.
“No luck?” Camille asked, turning off the blender and gesturing toward the unopened mail.
Caroline shook her head. “Nope. Not a single word. I'm starting to think they lost my application or just threw it in the trash.”
“They didn't throw it in the trash, Care. These things take time,” Camille said, sliding a glass across the counter toward her. “But hey, if it makes you feel any better, I actually have a huge lead. Maybe it could be my next job.”
Caroline took a sip of her drink, grateful for the distraction. “Really? Tell me everything. Please tell me one of us is making moves.”
Camille leaned against the counter, looking pretty excited. “Okay, so it's this really specialized position. This sophisticated guy named Elijah approached me and asked for my help. Apparently, his brother is this incredibly famous, big-shot artist who just moved to town, and he is going through a massive artistic block. Elijah wants to hire me to basically lifestyle-coach him through it and get his creativity back. The pay he offered is actually insane.”
Caroline set her glass down, her eyebrows furrowing as she processed the information. “Wait, hold on. Some random guy named Elijah just walked up to you and asked you to fix his brother? Cami, that looks totally fishy.”
Camille laughed, waving her hand. “It's not fishy! He was incredibly polite and wore a perfectly tailored suit. He seemed totally legit.”
“Sophisticated or not, it sounds weird,” Caroline insisted, crossing her arms. “Rich people do crazy things, but hiring a random person to fix an artistic block? I don't know, it just gives me sketchy vibes.”
As Caroline spoke, her eyes wandered back down to the messy stack of mail on the counter. Right underneath a pile of electric bills, a glossy lifestyle magazine caught her eye. The headline was bold and flashy, and right on the cover was a picture of a man with sharp eyes, blonde curls, and a dangerous smirk.
The caption read: *Klaus Mikaelson.*
Before Caroline could even read the text underneath his name, Camille gasped. She lunged forward, snatching the magazine right out from under Caroline's fingers before she could see any more of it, quickly hiding it behind her back.
“Hey! What was that about?” Caroline asked, blinking in surprise.
Camille gave a nervous laugh, her face turning a little pale. “Nothing! Just, you know, trashy celebrity gossip. You definitely don't need that drama ruining your day.”
Caroline stared at her, knowing her roommate was hiding something, but she was honestly too exhausted to fight about a magazine. The stress of her own day came crashing back into her mind.
“Honestly, I have bigger things to worry about than your sketchy art job anyway,” Caroline sighed, her voice dropping. “I ran into Jeremy today. At the diner.”
Camille stopped worrying about the magazine and looked at her with wide eyes. “Jeremy? As in Jeremy Gilbert? The one from after your mom died?”
Caroline nodded, biting her lip as the memory flashed through her mind. “Yes. He walked in with Vicki. It was so awkward because he knew exactly what had happened between us, but worse than that, he saw me in my apron. He saw me working a shift.”
Camille sighed softly, her expression turning completely sympathetic as she set the magazine face down on the far side of the counter. “Oh, Care.”
“He knows I'm not at some fancy university living in a penthouse,” Caroline said, her voice rising as the panic started to set in. “If he tells Elena or Bonnie, my entire life is over. They think I'm out here excelling, and instead I'm wiping down tables and dodging bills.”
Camille walked around the counter and put a comforting hand on Caroline's shoulder. “Hey, breathe. Maybe he won't say anything. He understood your grief back then when nobody else did, right? Maybe he'll understand why you needed to disappear for a while too.”
Caroline wanted to believe her, but the shocked look on Jeremy's face kept looping in her mind. Pity was the last thing she ever wanted, especially from him. Between the lie she was living, the missing college letters, and now Jeremy knowing her secret, Caroline could feel her carefully built walls starting to crack. The world really wasn't stopping for her, and right now, it felt like it was about to crash right into her.
