~ Your love will be the death of me ~

This story takes place during TVD Season 2 Episode 22 "As I Lay Dying" after Stefan kisses Elena and leaves to look for a cure. I know it is not the way it happened in the TV series but I couldn't resist following this fork in the road.

Stefan POV:

The boarding house was quiet in the early hours of the day I returned. I could hear the sweet sound of Elena's breathing in her deep sleep - the reassurance that my love was alive and well. I followed the sound like a parched man follows the sound of water, so thirsty and full of longing for the one I love.

"Elena..." - I whispered softly.

It had been only 10 days since I left her to search for a cure that would save my brother Damon. My dear, restless, cruel and oftentimes wicked older brother... Who had vouched to make every second of my eternal life miserable for forcing him to embrace turning into a vampire. Then again, maybe it had more to do with Katherine the girl, well, 300 year old vampire actually, that had us both at her mercy. We, the Salvatore brothers, joined in our love, in our lust for her... So blind that we let it kill us and drive us apart when we finally lost her.

"No!" - I heard a voice scream in my head. I would not ruin this moment of sweet reunion by thinking of what once was. Damon and I where past all that. We were brothers again, he was closer to human than ever. I also found the elusive cure to the werewolf bite so he was no longer doomed.

Mission completed, brother saved, so I was free to be reunited with her... My sweet Elena, the one for whom I risked returning to Mystic Falls to embrace as much of a mortal life as a monster like me can hope to have. I knew deep down that the unnatural creature I was did not deserve her. However her love and acceptance of me was so overwhelming that I left my reservations aside and gave in into her precious love. And she was precious...pure, sweet and innocent... stubborn and fiery yes, but an angel nonetheless... When we made love for the first time it was after a long wait, she deserved that. I couldn't help my fangs coming out when we started kissing ... Elena didn't retreat in fear but I was horrified. Then and there I decided to keep the fire burning low, to reign in my instincts in and be gentle. I would only make love to her and never ever loose myself in the passion that would make the sex rougher and put my love in danger, she deserved that.

When I last saw my love, it was in the aftermath of our failed attempt at preventing Klaus breaking the curse. We failed miserably and with so many unforeseen losses that It seemed nothing else could make it worse. Thankfully Elena came back to life, human and free of the curse I carry - her father saw to it by sacrificing his own life force to save her. Dear Aunt Jenna was another great loss as Klaus turned her into a vampire to be used in the sacrifice. Elijah's final betrayal ripped my soul with dread, but nothing prepared me for the news Damon gave me at the funeral... My brother had been bitten by a werewolf, the wound was festering and soon...it would mean death for him. The news left me feeling hollow. There was no known cure for a werewolf bite nor could Bonnie find a spell for it. Damon made me swear not to tell Elena, so I set out on my journey without being able to truly say why, only asking my love to look after my brother. Alas, my quest was successful, and had taken a lot less time than my cynical self thought it would.

It had been agony to be parted from Elena, but I had to save Damon, he could not die. I would never allow it for I could never bear it. It had always been like this for me, I always felt like our lives where bound together, one never able to exist without the other. Maybe that was what Katherine saw in us or maybe she was just an entitled and spoiled vampire. Probably the later I chuckled to myself.

My head was so full of these thoughts that it was a while until I realize that Elena's breathing was not coming from my room. Dead heart racing, I confirmed that she was on the second floor of the house. That made sense for all the rooms where at this level...

"...all the rooms..."- a voice echoed in my head.

"No..." I mumbled soundlessly, the word a weak attempt to deny what I knew I should have foreseen...

"Nothing more than I should have expected." - the words echoed off my sunken heart as my feet took me automatically to where she lay.

I let my shell of a body sink in the arm chair in the corner of the room like one who is trapped in a nightmare. In silent despair I rested my head in my hands, unable to do anything more than observe the scene unfolding in front of me. Wanting to scream, wanting to run and yet unable to tear myself away, as if determined to find some logical explanation to this because it couldn't be happening, it simply couldn't.

Elena stirred sleepily and reached over for a hug.

"Good morning" - she mumbled as he brought her closer into his embrace as I stared frozen in horror and misery, fighting the conflicting emotions as the words burned against my ears.

"And good morning to you love." - Damon replied and, with his best wicked smile, continued - "...and to you brother."