Disclaimer: The Vampire Diaries is the property of the CW. No copyright infringement is intended.
~ X ~
Elena had won last night. She stopped Damon from breaking the sire bond, but she was running scared. Would she be able to persuade him again tonight? She wanted to feel safe, secure in his love.
She ostensibly left for school, knowing Damon had plans for the morning. She knew she wouldn't see Stefan there since he no longer kept up the charade of attending classes. He had spent last night at Caroline's, sneaking in after the sheriff had gone to bed, bunking down on his friend's bedroom floor.
Elena left during a morning period and rushed home to confront Stefan. She found him in his bedroom, sitting at his desk, writing in a journal. He looked up surprised, so lost in his thoughts that he hadn't heard her enter the house. His eyes were watchful as he studied her, leaning against the doorframe, playing with a strand of her hair. He firmly closed the diary using the pen as a place holder.
"Whass up?" he asked cautiously, glancing at the clock on his desk. "Shouldn't you be in school?"
She slowly walked in saying. "We need to talk Stefan."
Stefan, eyes wary now, leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "I'm listening."
She came further into the room, allowing her fingers to brush over various things, and sat on his bed. He winced at the casual way she sat. No self consciousness over the nights she had spent in that bed. No recognition that she really didn't belong in his bedroom anymore.
He abruptly said, "let's go downstairs," wanting to get to neutral territory, seeking to get away from memories that were just painful now.
She seemed surprised. "Why? Here's as good as anyplace."
He abruptly suppressed the little pang in his heart at her seeming callousness. After all she was sired. She couldn't be held responsible.
She took his shrug as a sign that she could continue. She ran her fingers over the spread before meeting his eyes.
"I've never wanted to lie to you Stefan. You know that, right?"
He nodded agreement. "Yeah," he said softly.
That made her smile. This would be easy. "Well, I need you to know that Damon and I are sleeping together. Have been since I came here the first night. I wanted to tell you the next morning but he said no. He didn't say I couldn't now."
He stiffened and his jaw clenched, but he gave no other outward sign of how much that hurt him. That she jumped from his bed to his brother's without a twinge of guilt.
"I love him Stefan. You have no idea how much." She looked dreamy for a moment, then sighed and looked brightly at him. "I need you to understand that."
Stefan swallowed, trying to wet his dry mouth. Trying to find a way to say what he needed to say without breaking a promise. "Elena." He fumbled. "I . . . I know your emotions are heightened now and you thi . . "
She abruptly cut him off. "I know about the sire bond. Caroline told me. Damon agreed last night that he wouldn't break it."
Her voice rose now and she was vehement. "I don't want the bond broken, Stefan. I want to be with Damon. I'll hate you if you try to come between us."
Stefan didn't hear anything beyond the words 'he wouldn't break it'.
He sat stunned. His brother had lied to him again. He opened and closed his mouth several times but no words came out.
"Elena." He tried again. "We're trying to find a cure for you. We're trying to make you human again."
"Don't, Stefan." She leaned forward, her eyes on fire. "I know what you're doing. Jeremy told me."
She stabbed a finger at him. "I like the way I am now. Damon likes the way I am now. You're the only one that doesn't like me this way."
Her agitation made her lips tremble. "If you change me back, I'll just make Damon turn me again. You can't see who I am. You see who you want to see. Don't make me hate you."
He sat for a moment, shoulders hunched, reeling from the verbal blows she dealt. When Stefan looked at her again it was as if he was seeing her for the first time. "You're right. I don't see who you both are."
His face twisted with emotion as he softly spoke, "you aren't the girl I fell in love with. She died. I just didn't recognize it."
He straightened up and spoke in a matter-of-fact tone. "I won't push Damon to break the bond Elena."
A delighted smile lit her entire face making her eyes shine. "It'll be so wonderful, Stefan. We'll see the world together. The three of us. We'll be a family. Damon will be so happy."
She leaned towards him. "Damon wants his little brother back." She spoke earnestly.
"Right Katherine. Just the three of us." Stefan deliberately spoke the words, well aware of the irony of what he was saying.
Elena was startled, but quickly laughed. She got up and walked over to give Stefan a playful slap on the chest. "No Stefan. I'm Elena."
She wrapped her arms around his neck, wanting to hug him, resting her head against his, so glad that things would work out.
He quickly removed her arms from around him, standing and pushing her away. "My mistake," was all he said.
Elena blinked when he put distance between them, but let it go. "I can't wait to tell Damon. He'll be so happy."
Stefan jerked his head. "Just don't do it right away. Wait until after school when he comes home and then we can celebrate together."
She was so excited she didn't notice how stiffly he moved and spoke. She thought a moment. "We'll need more Dom."
Stefan felt like he was losing it and knew his mask would slip soon. He grabbed her upper arm and urged her out the door and down the stairs.
As he escorted her out the front door she stopped on the threshold wanting to assure him. "I do care about you, Stefan. I remember that I loved you once."
He was so distracted he didn't even realize how he answered her. "Great. Thanks."
He closed the door pushing her back and out. She stood for a moment, her nose a hair's breath from the wooden panel before she shrugged and walked away.
He felt a deep sob well up in his chest, but he clamped down on it, knowing she would hear. He waited until he heard her car leave and then allowed his forehead to rest against the wooden frame.
"I can't do this. I just can't do this."