‘The Vampire Diaries’ Spoilers: ‘It’s Only A Matter Of Time’ For Stefan And Caroline

Sure, Stefan told Caroline in the Vampire Diaries Season 6 finale that he would wait for her, but how long is that going to last going into Season 7? After all, there’s nothing like a romantic speech like the one he gave her at her house to help move things along in the right direction.

The Vampire Diaries Season 6 wasn’t an easy year for Stefan and Caroline. Following her mother’s death, she switched off her humanity and then left him no choice but to do the same, and while they hooked up while they were on their humanity-free rampage, that did not carry over to after they had both flipped the switches back. Following her return after taking some time to deal with what she had done, she had come up with a list of the things she had done since falling for him – and these were not things she was proud of, so that was a step back for the two. Caroline is not one who likes giving up control, especially at that time in her life with what had happened. However, in the finale, Stefan went to Caroline with his own list, of the ways that loving her had changed his life.

“You were by my side when I needed a friend. You made me laugh. You made me dance. You told me that I would find love again. And I understand if you need time to heal and to live your life without me. I understand if I have to wait for you, and I will. I’ll wait. And when you’re ready for me, I’ll be ready for you.”

That is how Stefan and Caroline left things at the end of the season, with the glimpse into the future of Mystic Falls – Matt an officer of the law and Damon looking out over what had happened to the town – not offering any hint as to their relationship status at that point. Now, TVGuide.com has posted a video interview with executive producer Caroline Dries teasing what’s to come for those two in The Vampire Diaries Season 7, and it is very promising for Steroline fans, because it’s going to be sooner rather than later that the two get together.

According to the EP, while Caroline may want to “avoid him and try to heal” – she wants to get her life together – that is only possible to an extent, considering they are also going to be dealing with what is going on in Mystic Falls and they have to work together for that.

“Every time she looks at Stefan, she gets butterflies, so it’s only a matter of time,” Dries teased.

That said, don’t expect things to just be easy for them once they do get together. It sounds like it may be a gradual thing to get them to where some fans are hoping to see them in a relationship this season.

“Their relationship is kind of coming in stages. … Just because two people kiss doesn’t mean they’re going steady. …They’re going to have their starts and stops a little bit, but we’re going to explore each of the little chapters in the relationship.”

In other Vampire Diaries romance news, Dries also told TVGuide.com that Damon is “not ready to hook up” even though it is going to be (hopefully, for Bonnie’s sake) decades before he is reunited with Elena.

“He is drinking and having a wild time, but he is wildly affected by the loss of Elena. … He’s never going to not be about Elena, so this first chapter for him is life after Elena, but she’s just still in his life. He’s trying to struggle with, how do I do right by Elena and still be myself?”

So, it sounds like the main relationship material in The Vampire Diaries Season 7 will come from Stefan and Caroline (for now). Besides, Damon is going to have enough to deal with this season. Lily is reunited with her family of heretics. Something happens to Mystic Falls to give it a very post-apocalyptic feel at some point in the near-ish future. He is going to be grieving for Elena because barring something happening to Bonnie, he will not be seeing her all that soon.

For a final tease about Season 7, executive producer Julie Plec has told Entertainment Weekly what to expect for each character. Stefan is “putting back on the hero hair,” Damon is “trying to deal,” Bonnie is “trying to help Damon deal,” Caroline has “lots of surprises in store,” Matt is “doing his best to protect and serve,” Alaric is “drinking,” Enzo is “trying to find where he fits,” Lily is “trying to hold her family together,” and Tyler is “gone” and “missing,” but “you will not only get a hint [of where he is] very early in the season, but you might even see his smiling face.”

None of those are that surprising, given where each of these characters were as Season 6 ended. Damon and Bonnie got closer after their experience together in the prison world. In the glimpse into the future, Matt was already in uniform. Alaric lost his wife and unborn children; how else is he going to deal but to drink? Lily and Enzo discovered her family of heretics where Kai had hidden them away after he was killed. Elena’s goodbye with Tyler had hinted at him leaving Mystic Falls, and it was known going into the finale that Michael Trevino was also leaving the show.

The Vampire Diaries Season 7 premieres Thursday, October 8, at 8 p.m. on the CW.

[Image via the CW]