#lizzie = elizabeth (liz) carol lockwood

[doyelikehaggis]

25 Days of Sleighpairs: Forwood | Tyler Lockwood x Caroline Forbes [+ Lizzie & Josie] (The Vampire Diaries) + “Ribbon”

Requested by @mariedemedicis

Wrapping presents was a lengthy process and a very precise art. Tyler looked at Caroline funny when she said exactly that to him years ago after she had criticized his wrapping skills on her birthday present. However, they had vastly improved over the years; the pile of presents he had already wrapped was growing steadily next to her own.

"We need to pick the girls up soon," she said with a glance at the clock on the wall. "I hope everything went okay. They were so excited to go ice skating, and I know that it's a school trip and that Bonnie will be there, so nothing too bad will happen."

Tyler raised his eyebrows. "But...?"

Caroline slumped, caught out, and sighed. "But I'm worried! I mean, between that girl in Lizzie's class that she keeps saying hates her and Josie being so... withdrawn, I'm just worried that something will happen."

"Like... something bad?" Tyler prompted meaningfully.

She hadn't wanted to voice her concerns out loud to him, but she realized by the look on his face that he already knew. She was worried about them triggering the werewolf curse. They had talked about it a little at first, when the girls were first born, how it was likely to have passed down to them. Lizzie and Josie knew bits and pieces, like, Mommy was a vampire and Daddy was a werewolf.

"The girls are turning twelve in just a few months," Caroline said with a shake of her head. "Even without a dormant werewolf gene, I was a nightmare at that age. There are hormones and teen drama, and god knows what could happen. You've seen how easily they get worked up."

Tyler set aside the present he had just finished wrapping, securing it with a pretty pale blue ribbon. "They're kids, Care. They're going to get into arguments, and they're going to get worked up. That's why we taught them how to handle it when they start to feel like that."

"I know," Caroline sighed, shaking her head again. "I know. I'm sorry. I'm overthinking this, aren't I?"

"No, you're being just like any other mother who cares about their kids," he said kindly, and he leaned over to kiss her. It was soft and gentle, and just long enough to pull her out of the bubble of anxiety she had put herself in. When he pulled back, he held up another blue ribbon and said, "But right now, what you should be worried about is this mess. Seriously, there is glitter, like, everywhere in this house right now."

"Well, there wouldn't be if you were more careful," she retorted, but her face split into a grin and she kissed him once more before saying, "Right. We need to finish wrapping these presents immediately or Christmas will be ruined."

"Oh, well, we can't have that," Tyler said teasingly.

"Definitely not," she said firmly and held out a hand. "I need a purple ribbon. STAT."

"Right away."