Out of all the couples in The Vampire Diaries, Stefan and Caroline are the most true-to-life. Discounting the fact that they're both vampires and one of them is almost two centuries old, their relationship was full of realistic elements that viewers can compare to their own romances and experiences.
Stefan and Caroline's circumstances may have been different, but their problems and solutions can be boiled down to the same things every couple seems to face. It might be a supernatural drama, but there are still plenty of aspects about this relationship that couples can easily relate to.
They Were Friends First
Plenty of couples are friends long before they start dating. Friendship is the key to getting to know a person without any outside pressure, and that was what happened here. After his breakup with Elena, Stefan found solace with Caroline.
Their bond deepened over the course of the series, and they eventually became best friends. Stefan and Caroline knew each other better than anyone else did, and just like in real life, it was difficult to pinpoint when they evolved into more.
There Was Unrequited Love
Many viewers believe Stefan and Caroline weren't soulmates in The Vampire Diaries, and it's possible they weren't. Most people can relate to unrequited love because not everyone a person likes is going to like them back. For a while, this was the case with Steroline.
One person usually develops feelings before the other, and Caroline fell for Stefan long before he fell for her. Caroline spent a lot of time pining for her best friend and receiving nothing in return. This aspect of their relationship hit especially hard because of how often it happens.
They Went On Dates
The characters in The Vampire Diaries usually don't have the opportunity to go on conventional dates. Even the school dances often became a fight for survival. But quality time is important, and as long as a couple is together, anything can be special.
Caroline and Stefan got a golden opportunity to experience some normalcy, and fans were able to see them on a date at the carnival. It was such a stereotypical thing to do that it was easy to forget they were two immortal vampires who held the weight of the world on their shoulders.
They Met In High School
High school sweethearts are rare, but plenty of people end up dating someone they went to high school with. Stefan and Caroline weren't romantically involved during these years, but it is when they first began to get to know each other.
Couples who are around the same age and didn't leave their hometown often had classes together. In a place as small as Mystic Falls, it's especially hard to avoid. Stefan and Caroline might not have flourished in high school, but it is where their relationship first originated.
Long-Distance Didn't Work
Even the strongest couple can become a victim of long-distance relationship troubles. No matter how hard people try to beat the odds, it usually ends the same way. Long-distance isn't impossible, but staying a part of the same world is a challenge.
Stefan and Caroline's circumstances were unique, but a vampire who's running for his life doesn't have much time for a virtual date. In that same vein, a new mother of supernatural twins can't accommodate anyone else's schedule. It wasn't surprising how quickly they fell apart.
There Were Already Kids In The Picture
Being a stepparent comes with a lot of pressure, but marrying someone who already has kids isn't uncommon. How Caroline came to carry the children requires a supernatural explanation, but Stefan and Caroline face the same complications as most couples that create blended families.
Alaric was the father of the twins, so even though he and Caroline broke off their engagement, he was always going to be a part of her life. It was important for Stefan to form his own relationship with Lizzie and Josie, and for Caroline to feel like she could trust him with them. A mother's love for her children comes before anything else.
They Knew Each Other's Exes
It's a small world, and Mystic Falls is an even smaller town. There are many fans who believe there are many scenes that prove Elena and Stefan were soulmates in The Vampire Diaries, so it was quite the twist when Elena's best friend married Stefan instead.
Couples tend to run in the same circles, so, odds are, they're at least familiar with one another's ex. Depending on the situation, it doesn't have to be awkward, but it's always a least a little bit uncomfortable given how much history everyone has.
They Were On And Off
Couples break up and get back together every day. While circumstances have the power to tear people apart, that doesn't mean it's always for good. Stefan leaving Caroline after being marked by Rayna was one of the worst reasons couples broke up in The Vampire Diaries, but ultimately it didn't last.
It's not the only time they decided to end things, and Stefan and Caroline's relationship was on and off throughout the last couple of seasons. What mattered most is that they always found their way back to one another.