everyonelives | Let the moment go… Don't forget it for a moment, though

Thank you. I feel like I was born for administration sometimes.

[It's not the career she ever envisioned herself having, but in a lot of ways, it makes sense that this is where she landed. And it leaves her fulfilled, at least for now.]

( Maybe, he's not sure if anyone was born for anything. They are born into their circumstances. And adopted into others. Or, bled out into yet, others.

Looking her straight in the eyes doesn't make it easier to talk, even when he wants to. Having what amounted to a pre-bachelor party with Alaric and Jo was fun enough. He hears the gossip. Everyone thinks something is going on between him and Caroline. But, it never has.

Ryan has either gone after what he wanted, or gone through the motions when he was ready to love again. But, things hadn't worked out with Taylor. It was probably better for them both.

Caroline is not Taylor, nor is she Marissa. She's like Summer, but not at all like Summer. )

Everyone thinks there's something going on between us.

Yes, they do.

[She glances over with a small smile.]

Because my friends are incurable gossips but also want me to be happy all at the same time. You are free to just ... ignore them, honestly.

I do. Most of the time, I do.

( Except for flirty, drinking nights and aborted telephone calls. He needed to sober up for this. Well. He's sober now. Sober as a judge. )

[She catches that qualification, and glances back at him curiously.]

Most of the time?

Alaric and Jo. They had a lot to say. And a lot of scotch.

( You know how it is. )

It's not you giving everybody the idea. It's me.

Oh?

[Her heart starts beating a little faster, and she takes an unnecessary breath to try and slow it down. You are a grown adult, Caroline Forbes. Now is not the time for teenage butterflies.]

Is it?

Apparently. It's been a long time. Years. And, I don't want to take advantage of our relationship. I owe you everything.

( Ryan Atwood has always chosen his words, carefully. He speaks hesitantly, but with a firm tone. He's the guy you want in your corner, but he's not the guy to mis-take what his relationship might be. He's her employee if they're talking titles. But, she's his closest friend. )

You don't owe me anything.

[She's not that kind of vampire. Ryan would have been free to leave at any time, whenever he was ready, and he didn't. She liked that he stayed.]

I'm glad you've been here.

( She's told him before that he could leave any time. He was with her to get back on his feet and to get a hang of his vampire side. But, this is Ryan Atwood. His worst amplified trait is his laconic, taciturn nature. Sure, he has an angry streak, but he broke that the first few months. His fuse is much longer. )

Your - uh - your heart's racing.

Is it?

[She really needs to stop asking questions.]

I didn't notice. I must be more tired than I thought.

Tired?

( He tilts his head. He makes slow, careful movements, like his speech. Well this isn't... going. )

Did you want me to give you a ride back?

No! I mean ... no.

[She doesn't want to throw off his rhythm with her stupid bodily functions. Even if she maybe already has.]

You were saying something?

I was.

( He's not good at saying it. He's great at being a boyfriend. Great at making the grand gesture when he's able to and when he's against the clock. There is no clock on him, anymore. He has forever. )

Did you want to say something?

Only if ... you were finished saying what you were ... saying.

[Curse you, Ryan Atwood. How does she know when you're done saying words if you don't say a lot of words?]

Maybe you should say it first. Whatever it happens to be.

( Since he's not good at .. saying anything. )

...I'm finished.

Oh. Then I guess ... I should talk now.

[And maybe it's the having gone almost forty hours without sleep, maybe it's the high adrenaline situation of the last few days or maybe it's just the need to make sure it's clear that it's not only him that has her friends gossiping. That they wouldn't be pushing things so much if they weren't at least a little sure that Caroline felt the same.

She doesn't talk. Instead she inches closer, and leans in to kiss him. And hopefully it's okay, and she's not crossing a line that he doesn't want her to cross.]

( She's not crossing a line, or if it is a line, it's a line he's wanted to cross. They've had moments. He though they'd had moments. But, she never acknowledged them, or it was the wrong time. Or, it felt like AA. How can you have a relationship in recovery. But, he has a handle on this thing.

She's gentle at first, delicate, and he welcomes what she "says." )

[Well, if he's going to welcome it, she's just going to keep going. Maybe even move in a little closer and completely forget the fact that they're technically still in public.

But after a lingering moment, she'll pull back to catch her breath.]

So ... yeah. That's what I wanted to ... say.

Well said.

( He brushes his fingers through her hair. )

I like you, Caroline.

I like you too.

[She nods as she looks up at him with a smile.]

And I really liked that. We should ... definitely do more of that.

Yeah. We should. I wanted to. I've - wanted to. We will. You said you didn't need a ride. Meet at your place?

( She can keep her independence. )

[She nods, with a small smile.]

Yeah. Sounds like a good idea. I just have to make sure Ric is all good.

[And maybe get some coffee so that she doesn't fall asleep before they can do more.]

OK.

( And a man always feeling the most while doing the minimum, he is good for that, stands up and pulls her to her feet once she puts her shoes back on. )

Okay.

[She takes his hand, getting to her feet with a smile.]

I'll see you there.

[And with that, she goes off to find Ric and see if anything else needs doing.]

Let the moment go… Don't forget it for a moment, though

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