Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own any of the characters in the story …or anything related to the Vampire Diaries Series :[
Do you ever mean it?
Ask me tomorrow…
"Would you like to come in?" Elena asked
He hesitated for a few seconds, "Yes."
Stefan replied as he walked into the house. He looked around, basking in the moment that he had been waiting for for over 100 years, afraid that if he closed his eyes for a second, it…and more importantly, she, would disappear.
Elena watched him, trying to decipher who this mysterious person was. One minute she had broken up with Matt, and was perfectly happy being on her own. Strong. Independent. Elena. The next, this complete stranger waltzed into her life and now occupied every recess of her mind. She couldn't think, every time he walked into a room, it seemed as if the oxygen would disappear making her head spin.
When they finally made eye contact again, both of them broke out of their reverie.
"How is Vicky?" Stefan asked, full well knowing how she was, since he had been by the hospital to survey the carnage that his brother had wrought on that girl.
"As well as can be expected. Matt's been keeping vigil next to her bed side the whole time." Elena said.
"listen, Elena…I just wanted…no, needed, to know that you would be able to wake up tomorrow, and go on with your life. I know a lot of bad things have happened, but it's not only your burden. And, I know… that the grief, by yourself… it may seem overwhelming." He slowly made his way towards her, and he took her hand gently into his, " but you are not alone." Closing the remaining gap between them, he kissed her softly on the cheek.
Elena, not wanting to ruin the moment, waited a few moments before she gently opened her eyes. Suddenly chocolate brown met black, and she couldn't help but stare.
With her first true smile in months, she looked at him. "Thank you," she said shakily.
Stefan gave her a gentle smile, one last hand squeeze, and with that, was gone.
That night, Elena could not sleep.
She had spent the last few months walking around with a mask covering her true pain. On the outside, she was mature, and strong Elena. Being the eldest of the surviving Gilberts, she had to be strong, not for her, but for her brother. She would do anything for him, and if it meant that she had to hide her feelings, then so be it. She would live. On the inside, however, she was screaming. Constant guilt plagued her ever since that fateful spring night so many months ago.
"why me?' she cried out into the abyss as her body was racked by another heart wrenching sob. Only in the quiet darkness of her room did she let her mask fall. It would be another few hours before she finally fell asleep. That night, however, Elena did not dream of the car driving into the lake, or her parents dying. In fact, for the first time in a long time, Elena slept through the entire night.
Somewhere out in the night, Stefan sat in silence. He felt her pain…more than she would ever know.