AU. Human Stefan and Elena are married. Inspired by TVD 5X17 promo. One-shot.
"Morning, sunshine."
Stefan sneaks in from behind, slides his arms around Elena's waist and kisses the tip of her left ear lightly.
Elena turns around to cup Stefan's face with both of her hands, and leans in to brush his lips with hers—gently, but slowly, savouring him.
"Morning," she grins.
Stefan opens his mouth to say something, but they're interrupted by children's laughters—their children.
"Mommy! Daddy!" exclaimed the oldest one—Nadia, wearing her favorite pink sweater.
"Morning, Nadia," Elena gives her a wet kiss on her forehead.
"You dressed them all up?" Elena asks Stefan as she lifts up William—the youngest one—who has been jumping up and down to reach her since he arrives in the kitchen.
"I figured I haven't dressed them up in the morning for a long time," said Stefan, smiling.
Kids, being kids, can't stay in one place long enough, and soon William is already wiggling out of Elena's arms, demanding to catch up with his sister who is already running away.
"Careful, kids!" exclaims Stefan.
They lock eyes and shakes their heads together, laughing. Even so, both of them are still watching William and Nadia from the corner of their eyes. Over the years, after a lot of troubles and ups and downs in their marriage with one, then two kids, somewhere along the way, they both have gotten a grip in this 'parenting' thing without even realising it. After confirming that Nadia and William were not causing any trouble, they averted both of their attentions fully on each other.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Why are you laughing?"
"Because you started!"
Stefan sighs and rubs his thumb on her palm—a habit they've both become familiar to.
"Well, it was amusing, that's all. I mean... Just a couple of years ago I proposed to you. Here. Right here. And look where we are now. It's a little crazy."
She arches her eyebrow up and smirks. "Good crazy or bad crazy?"
"Good crazy."
This time, he's the one who leans in, and kissed her jaw, her cheek, and stops at the corner of her lip.
When it seems as if he is not going to kiss her lips, Elena moans. "If you make me wait any longer, I'll bite you."
"Then I'll bite you right back."
She bites his bottom lip playfully, and he does so too when she pulls away.
She laughs, and when she does, the sound causes a familiar warmth to rush through Stefan's body. The simplicity of it all—Elena in his arms, with her locks falling out of her messy bun, having the biggest smile plastered in her face, and their children in the living room—Stefan can't ask for anything better.
He tucks her locks behind her ears. Stefan's simplest acts like this still have an impact on her after all this time. She feels warm inside, both from Stefan's fingers on her hair and the sight of him so beautiful in front of her. They are standing by the window, and the sunlight makes Stefan's eye color look—green—look lighter than it actually is. They almost look blue.
Both of them are caught up in each other.
They are lost, absorbed, consumed in this moment.
Amusement and playfulness left Stefan's eyes, and what's left is sincerity and gentleness as he says the next words.
"Happy sixth anniversary, Elena."
