So Nice to Meet You
Willow should have known. She should have known that Stefan would sacrifice himself for Mystic Falls.
For Damon.
For her.
Would he really be Stefan Salvatore if he wasn't the hero?
All to take down the woman that has been causing chaos in their lives for god knows how long. And Willow wasn't all that surprised that Katherine Pierce was the literal Queen of Hell.
So that was how Willow found herself back at her old high school, where Stefan had told her over the phone that he had found a still comatose Elena, but that she could not leave due to a spell that Kai had cast. It was foolish of her to even think that Stefan would still be here, knowing that his brother was willing to die to save Elena and Mystic Falls, but Willow was feeling desperate and refused to believe that Stefan had died.
The memories came flooding back to her immediately as she walked down the dark corridors of her old school. It was like seeing a snapshot of her life; all the times she and Elena had argued over something petty, all the times she had kissed Tyler when she thought that there would be nobody else but him...
...the first time that she met Stefan.
Willow swallowed the lump in her throat at the memory, feeling her mouth dry up and throat constrict as she tried to fight back tears. She would never have imagined that this is where their story would take them. It was difficult for to even think of a life without him; he had become such a vital and pivotal part of her life that even imagining carrying on her life without him broke her heart.
And that was why Willow was so surprised to round the corner where she had met Stefan, and bump into someone's chest. Willow gasped and stumbled back slightly, but felt someone grasp one of her hands, pulling her back towards them.
"Willow..." He uttered her name like it was the last time he'd ever get to say it.
Willow's eyes widened and relief took over her. "Stefan," She breathed, tears escaping her eyes as Stefan brought the hand he was holding to his chest. Willow was so unbelievably happy to see him standing before her, very much not dead. Laughter filled the room, and Stefan thought that it was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. He felt his own eyes begin to burn with the onset of tears.
Stefan didn't know how to tell her, to break her heart into a million pieces. He knew how it felt to lose someone; to lose her. It destroyed him, to the point that he didn't see any happiness in the world without her. He just wanted to remember her like this; smiling, laughing, being happy.
He just wanted to be with her.
Without another word, Stefan pulled her into a tight embrace, one that knocked the air out of Willow's lungs but she didn't care, and simply returned the hug. She held onto him like he was her lifeline, burying her head into his shoulder. Stefan sighed heavily into the crook of her neck, nuzzling his face deeper into her hair. He wanted to stay like this with her forever.
Willow squeezed her eyes shut, trying to will away the tears before pulling her head back slightly, grasping his face in her hands. "Are you okay? Did the plan work? Is Katherine dead? Is Elena gonna be okay?" Stefan couldn't help himself, but he laughed at the way she was firing off the questions. Willow rolled her dark brown eyes good naturedly at him as he chuckled at her, though she could still see unshed tears in his eyes. "Stefan!" She whined playfully.
Stefan nodded his head, smiling down at her, tightening his grip around her waist. "Yeah... yeah, it worked. Katherine's dead, Elena's fine. Everything is gonna be okay."
Willow laughed again, this one loud and joyous, before bringing her lips to his. Stefan recuperated the kiss immediately, the two kissing like they had never kissed before. Willow's hands moved to the back of his head, threading her fingers through his hair. A sigh escaped Stefan, and Willow smiled into the kiss as Stefan tilted his head slightly to deepen the kiss, opening his mouth slightly.
Stefan knew that he could be with her like this forever, he wanted to be here with her forever. It was cruel really. He was human now, he could have a happy life with her. Stefan imagined it; travelling the world together, being there with her through all her ambitions and achievements, arguing with her over who was going to drive, marrying her, having children with her...
He saw it all in front of him like a film; what could have been.
But he knew that it never could be. Not anymore.
Stefan couldn't stop the tears this time, they fell down his cheeks heavily. Willow frowned into the kiss, pulling away gentle to see what was wrong. Willow's mouth fell open slightly to see Stefan crying before her. She swallowed, "Stefan? Stefan, what's wrong?"
Stefan took a deep breath, his forest green eyes looking into her chocolate brown ones, "Willow, we need to talk."
Willow could feel anxiety begin to settle over her. "Stefan..."
Willow could see more tears brimming in his green eyes, "I need to tell you something."
"What? What's happened?" A million horrible things surged through her mind. Someone had died; Bonnie maybe. She had done the spell to send the Hell Fire back to Hell, and Willow was sure that it took a lot of power and magic to do a spell like that. Or Damon maybe. Despite the fact that Willow had never liked Damon very much, she still cared for him and couldn't imagine the pain that Stefan would go through if Damon had died.
Stefan could see the panic in her eyes and immediately began explaining, "Damon was going to sacrifice himself to make sure that Katherine was in Hell when Bonnie did the spell." Stefan began in a shaky voice. "He compelled me to leave, but I had started taking vervain again when I became human." Stefan shook his head, forlorn. "I couldn't let him do it. I couldn't let my brother die, so I gave him my blood."
Willow felt like she had been punched in the gut at this revelation, "But that means..." She shook her head, "No..."
"He's human now, and without the cure in my veins I'd soon be dead."
"No, no, no." Willow stuttered. "Please, don't tell me that..." Her hands grasped her forehead, pulling her hair out of her face. "Stefan, please don't... you can't be..."
"I took his place. I made sure Katherine died." He said to her finally.
"Oh, my god!" She struggled to catch her breath as tears racked her body.
Stefan pulled her back to him, "I'm so sorry, Willow. More than anything I wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. To be happy together."
"You can't be dead. Please." Willow forced herself backwards to look at him. "Don't leave me."
Stefan's face crumbled at her heartbreaking words, bringing his lips to her forehead to kiss her gently. "There's something that I have to say." Stefan whispered, pulling back and bringing his hands to her face, brushing away her tears with his thumb. "And I need you to let me say it because I don't know when I'm gonna see you again.
Willow sniffled, unable to speak she simply nodded her head, causing more tears to fall. "Over the last 153 years, I have been to so many places and met so many different people, but none of them can even compare to you. I have never loved anyone as much as I have loved you, Willow Anderson." He smiled tearfully down at her. "You have made me laugh, cry, drove me insane," He laughed deeply at this, Willow scoffing tearfully at him as he continued, "But I wouldn't change any of it. You have made everything worth it." Stefan took a deep breath, "I want you to live your life. Do whatever you want; travel the world, become the best photographer ever," His smile was painful now as he gazed down at her, "and get married. Just be happy. Promise me, Willow."
Willow took a deep breath, but it did nothing to take away the feeling of absolute heartbreak. "I promise." Willow whispered, because even though it pained her, she would do it all for him.
Stefan pulled her into his chest for one last time, remembering everything about her one last time, Willow doing the same. Stefan pressed his cheek to hers, her soft curls tickling his cheek as he whispered into her ear, "I love you. I will always love you, forever."
"I love you too. Forever."
The two pulled back, Stefan gazing lovingly at her for the last time. Despite it all, Willow forced a smile. "I'll see you, Salvatore."
Stefan found himself chuckling and grinning back at her as he squeezed her hand, "Yeah, I'll see you, Anderson."
Stefan took a step away from her, bringing Willow's hand with him as distance grew between them. With a final squeeze, finger tips brushed, before their connection broke. They kept their gazes lingered on one another, Willow giving him one last beautiful smile before he turned and stepped out the doors into peace.
So nice to meet ya
but now I'll leave ya here
Stefan Salvatore
1846 - 2017
I want to die. That season finale, man. I didn't expect Stefan to go. I'm not happy at all. Anyway, this is the ending if I followed up to season 8, but I don't plan on doing that. I'm gonna give Stefan the happy ending he deserved. But this was an idea that I've been thinking about since I saw the finale. I'm thinking of adding another chapter where Willow finds peace with Stefan and her family.
(Song recommendation: So Nice To Meet Ya by Hayden Calnin. You have no idea how much this inspired me and made me cry thinking of these two.)
