A/NThis is my first FanFiction for years, and my very first Vampire Diaries story. I hope you all enjoy though!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything to do with The Vampire Diaries.

"Stefan, I need to get away and forget the drama for a while" Elena said, knowing she was breaking his heart. "We've been through so much, and I can't bear to lose anyone else. This isn't about us, this is about me, finally getting a chance to discover who I am without anyone by my side day and night."

"But what about us, Elena? I wanted a life with you; I'd do anything for you."

"It's just not what I want anymore, Stefan. Leaving you isn't breaking my heart like it would have done months ago. I can't keep up this facade, I can't string you along anymore. I'm sorry."

With that, Elena Gilbert did the hardest thing she'd ever done, turned her back and walked with her head high out of the Salvatore Mansion. She walked past all the memories she'd made in the house. The first time she'd kissed Stefan, the night she'd found out about vampires, the first time she met Damon, among so many other things she sometimes thought she'd rather forget. But forgetting would be running and she didn't want to run away. She wanted to walk, chin up, and never look back. She got into her car and began to drive. She didn't get far before the tears came, so she pulled over and cried. Cried for all the lives lost, cried for the people unwillingly so involved in saving her. She cried because deep down she knew she couldn't come back to this town, too much had happened here.

She thought about all the reasons she had to leave and tried to make sense of what her life had become, after all, she was just a teenage girl and these days she felt lonely in a crowded room, and as though she had no one who she could share that loneliness with. Stefan had his own problems to deal with, what with fighting the bloodlust every day. Caroline was an amazing and strong friend, but she no longer felt as though she had anything in common with her. Elena found the only person she could really talk to these days, was the one person she never thought she could find it in her heart to forgive. Damon had caused her so much pain, but she also laughed louder when he was around, smiled brighter, and for a few fleeting seconds every now and again, he made her feel as though she would be okay. If she'd ever told anyone this she knew what it would look like, history repeating, she'd heard it all before. Truth was, she wasn't in love with Damon, but she also wasn't in love with Stefan so what was she meant to do? String them both along as Katherine had. Play one against the other to keep herself amused? Try them both out? All these thoughts disgusted her, and pushing it all to the back of her mind, she carried on to complete her journey.

Pulling in to the cemetery, she got a feeling that someone was watching her, giving her a sense of de ja vu from when Stefan had first come into town, that seemed like a lifetime ago now. She strode down the path with determination, so close to getting out of this town for good.

She took a seat next to her parents, Jenna's and John's graves and started with her goodbyes. "This is the hardest thing I've ever had to do, but I can't come back here, and I'm sure you understand why..." she was cut off by a noise behind her. "Actually, I don't understand. And leaving without saying goodbye? I thought more of you than that, Elena" and with those words, and that signature smirk, she knew she that leaving wouldn't be as easy as she had thought.

Stefan watched her walk away in silence. He let her words wash over him and tried to make sense of what had just happened. He had always tried his best to be the attentive human boyfriend she needed, but when it came down to it, he was a vampire. He put her life in danger every day just by being around her. Yet, he couldn't let her go, and now she had made the choice for him. The pain he felt as she'd said those words was unimaginable and now he had nothing, no-one and no purpose.

Caroline had seen people upset, she'd seen heartbreak and maybe even depression, but this was different. The Stefan she saw in front of her, her mentor and friend, he was broken. When he had turned up on her doorstep, Caroline thought another threat had come to town, that someone was in danger and she was ready to fight. The real reason was not what she ever expected, and as Stefan told the story of how Elena was leaving town and not coming back, Caroline understood why he was broken and why he refused to try and understand what Elena was going though.

Eventually, when he had calmed down, he went out to hunt and Caroline phoned the only person she could think of.

"Can you explain to me why your brother just turned up on my doorstep with his heart ripped out?"

"Barbie, you already know that answer to that question, or else you wouldn't be calling. I'm on it."

With that she was left alone and just hoped that Elena would listen to him. Recently she had seen the bond there; Elena trusted him, valued his opinion and would listen to what he had to say. What worried Caroline was that in the end it may not be Stefan who Elena stayed for.