Hello all, here it is...the sequel to The Ultimate Decision! I hope you all enjoy it and let me know what you think! -Lindsey 3

Eternity Awaits Us

(Chapter one)

It had been one year exactly since Stefan Salvatore had set foot on this front porch. This time last year he had left his home and left the town he knew to go travel the world in search of peace and closure from the fact that he had lost the woman he loved and now he was right back at the place where he had lost her. Memories began to fill his mind and he remembered his last encounter with Elena and his brother Damon and the words that she had said to him...

"Stefan...I love you but I'm not in love with you anymore. You will always have a special place in my heart and I want to remain friends with you but I just can't be with you. Please don't question me or try and win me back because it wont happen. I love Damon and no matter what anyone says or does, that won't change. I'm sorry but I have to let you go Stefan..."

Those words had hurt Stefan but he knew he had to let her go and now it was time to face her again. He knew that the front door to his home, the boardinghouse, was unlocked so he twisted the knob and walked inside. It felt good to be home. He took in the smell and admired how everything was still the same. He could also smell her presence in the house.

"Hello? Is anybody home?" he called out.
Suddenly he heard footsteps from upstairs and saw a slender girl with brown hair pop her head around the corner.

"Stefan? Oh my god! Is it really you?" called Elena as she came racing down the stairs.
She saw his face and then hugged him tightly.

"You're home! It's been a year since I've seen you! I'm so happy that you're back! Damon and I have missed you tons Stefan!" she cried.

"Yeah, I'm finally home again and I've missed you both too." he said smiling. She was beautiful.

"Well come on in! Can I get you something to..." Elena's words were cut off by the sound of a girl calling Stefan from outside.

"Stefan? I literally packed my whole closet to come and live with you so it would be very kind of you if you could come help me. My bags are so heavy! Please and thank you!" she called.

"Um, excuse me for a moment Elena. I'll be right back." Stefan said as he took off out the door and Elena stood there in shock.

Elena waited and then she heard the sound of someone coming back up the stairs of the front porch. First, Stefan entered the room and behind him was the most beautiful girl Elena had seen. She was tall and had long blonde hair, light blue eyes, and she had the perfect shape. One thing stood out to Elena and it was the fact that she was rather on the busty side.

"Hi! You must be Elena! It's so nice to finally meet you. Stefan has told me all about you. By the way, I'm Alexis, Stefan's girlfriend but please, call me Alex." she smiled.

"Um, very nice to meet you too. Can I help you with your bags? Can I get either of you anything drink? I've got dinner cooking so we can eat shortly once Damon gets back. Come on in." Elena said to them.

Elena helped both of them inside and help them carry each of their things upstairs to Stefan's room. Elena was kind of in shock that Stefan had a new girlfriend but she was happy for him and happy that he was starting a new chapter in his life. After all their belongings were stored away, they all came back downstairs. Elena took a seat in Damon's favorite black leather chair as Alex and Stefan sat together on the couch.

"This house is amazing! I can't believe this is really your home." said Alex to Stefan and Elena.

"Yeah. It's really Stefan and Damon's home but once Stefan left for his vacation, I moved in with Damon and we both promised to keep the house in good condition for whenever Stefan got back." smiled Elena.

"And I appreciate that Elena. I knew you would take good care of it but really, how have you been? How's Damon?" he said smiling.

"Oh, I'm doing good and so is Damon. He's out...running an errand right now." said Elena even though Damon was really out hunting. She didn't know if Alex knew or not so she kept quiet.

"It's okay Elena, Alex knows everything and she surprisingly wanted to stay with me and move back home with me." he said as he turned to smile at Alex and grab her hand.

"I see, well I'm so happy for the both of you. I've known Stefan for quite some time and it's so good to see him smile." said Elena facing Alex. "But how was the trip?"

"Oh, it was wonderful. I met Alex in Italy and from Italy we traveled all through Europe and on our way back home we decided that traveling through America would be fun so we did that too until it was time to come back. I've missed it here." he said.

Just as Stefan finished his story and Elena was about to ask for details, all three of them heard the door open as Damon walked inside with a huge grin across his face.

"Honey, I'm home!" smirked Damon as Elena jumped up to run over and greet him.

"Welcome home. Guess who's back in town?" she smiled as she reached up to give him a kiss and hug.

"Oh, I already know. I could smell that awful stench of his from miles away." he said sarcastically. "Sound the church bells and strike up a chorus, St. Stefan has returned! Miss me little brother?"

"Damon, you haven't changed a bit." smiled Stefan as he reached up to hug his brother.

"And who is this blonde beauty that is seated on my couch?" asked Damon looking at Alex as she blushed.

"This is Alexis, my girlfriend. I met her while I was off traveling and she's come back to live here with me." said Stefan.

"Alexis eh? Nice to meet you." said Damon as he kissed Alexis' hand.
Elena felt a hint of jealousy sweep over her.
"Please, call me Alex." she said as she smiled at him.

"Well come one everyone, dinner is ready." said Elena as she took off towards the kitchen.

"And what has my princess made for me tonight?" smirked Damon.

"Tonight is shrimp gumbo." said Elena.

"Oh, that sounds great Elena!" said Alex as she walked towards the kitchen holding Stefan's hand.

"I'm sorry we got back so suddenly without a call or anything. I was just so ready to come back home." said Stefan.

"Nonsense Stefan, this is your home too. You can come back whenever you please." smiled Elena.

"Elena's right little brother." said Damon. "Besides, things have been so boring without you around. No brooding Stefan, no one to inflict misery on...boring."

Elena got out the bowls for dinner as she served each of them. Dinner was great and throughout dinner they talked about Stefan's travels and got to know more about Alex. After dinner they all left the kitchen and went into the living room but Elena stayed behind to clean up.

"Stefan, I'll be back soon. I'm going to go and see if Elena needs any help." said Alex as she got up and leaned back down to kiss Stefan on the cheek.

"Oh, how touching." smirked Damon.

"Um, Elena? Would you like some help?" said Alex softly.

"Oh, sure. That would be great actually. I'll wash the dishes and if you could just dry them, that would help a ton!" smiled Elena.

Alex grabbed a towel and began to dry the wet dishes Elena handed her and then began to start some small talk.

"It's so great to finally meet you Elena. Stefan told me so much about you, about your past together." she said.

"Did he now? Well what all did he tell you..?" asked Elena a little nervously.

"He told me about Katherine and how he met you and you changed his life. He told me you both loved each other but then Damon came into the picture. It was really a touching story actually." said Alex.

"Oh..." said Elena.

"But don't worry. I know that's all in the past. Him being here and seeing you again doesn't bother me because I know he loves me and he's a really great guy." she smiled.

"Yeah he is." smiled Elena. "But Alex, can you please just promise me one thing?"

"Well sure." she said.

"Just please...don't hurt him like I did. He deserves to have love and you two seem great together so just please...don't make him hurt again. I really don't think he can handle pain like that again." said Elena as she looked down feeling guilty but she couldn't help that she loved Damon.

"I would never hurt him Elena. I know you still care about him because lets face it, he was a big part of your life and it's so good that you two can remain friends. I don't think I have it in my heart to hurt him and I really do love him. So you have my word, I promise not to hurt him." she whispered.

"Well good. You know, I really like you Alex. You seem to be a really caring and kind person. I feel like this is the start of a beautiful friendship." smiled Elena.