[ at the sight of those tears, elena lets go of caroline's hand to slip an arm around her instead.
she brings caroline to her with that hold, a few tears slipping down her own face.
elena can see how strong caroline has become. not just in this moment, but all the moments before it: the months elena has co-existed alongside caroline's daughters, months in which she's seen the fierce little women caroline helped them become. but she doesn't have to be strong for elena. doesn't have to be the supermom, or any other title she's acquired. she can cry, and feel this stress, and the memory of her grief. she doesn't have to hold it inside. ]
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she brings caroline to her with that hold, a few tears slipping down her own face.
elena can see how strong caroline has become. not just in this moment, but all the moments before it: the months elena has co-existed alongside caroline's daughters, months in which she's seen the fierce little women caroline helped them become. but she doesn't have to be strong for elena. doesn't have to be the supermom, or any other title she's acquired. she can cry, and feel this stress, and the memory of her grief. she doesn't have to hold it inside. ]