Take note:
This story will have multiple time skips.
Read on. (:

14th November, 2016

Twenty-three year old Elena Gilbert fell down onto the new leather couch with a great, exhausted sigh escaping her lips before she turned her head to the occupant beside her. She smiled, watching him.

Stefan Salvatore – the love of her existence.

Stefan turned his head towards her and noticed her watching him. He narrowed his eyes at her playfully, making her let out a small laugh as she watched those eyes of his. Those beautiful green eyes of his. Just looking at them, she couldn't help but think about what their future held for them.

They'd made it.

They'd made it through graduation, through college, through the miles away from each other, through the ups and through the downs, they'd made it together. And now, they owned their own house. And just the idea of that made Elena's heart swell with love and joy. Of course, she'd never thought they'd ever part; who would when you were practically all the other needed?

"That the last of the boxes?" Stefan murmured tiredly, bringing Elena out of her reverie. She looked back at him to find him still watching her, the look of admiration woven in his gaze. She couldn't help but smile as she nodded slowly.

"Yup, that was the last of it," Elena replied, sitting up straighter now and quickly kicking off her shoes and bringing her feet up onto the couch as she leaned against Stefan. In reaction, Stefan's arms intuitively wrapped around her body, pulling her closer as he kissed her head. Elena grinned up at him. "Can you believe it?"

"Believe what?" Stefan chuckled at her, looking down at her face amusedly.

"We've finally got our own house, Stefan," Elena told him lazily, the whine in her voice hard to miss. Stefan couldn't help the laugh that escaped him at the tone of her voice. "Don't laugh at me," she whined again, playfully shoving at his shoulder with her hand although, she couldn't keep the smile off of her face.

Elena looked around at the box-filled room which would be the living room once everything was packed and placed. The afternoon sun glimmered down through the windows of the living room, setting a nice, warm colour around the area. She glanced up at the dark crème coloured wall and pictured what it would look like once she was done with it. Photographs and memories would align the space, she was sure.

"This place will look great once you're done with it," Stefan whispered into her ear, his hot breath making her shiver with delight as she turned her face back towards his. She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Once I'm finished with it?" she raised her eyebrows at him. Stefan grinned, knowing what was about to come. "Oh, no, you're not getting out of it, Mister. You'll be helping me, whether you like it or not."

"Oh, I will, will I?" Stefan teased her, his hand squeezing her side gently, making her squirm away a little. Elena nodded dramatically, almost resembling a young child. "Are you sure about that, 'Lena?"

"Sure? I'm positive," Elena confirmed, feigning seriousness. "You'll be helping around the house or no s-"

"You wouldn't dare," Stefan began quickly, cutting her off before she could even finish off her sentence. Elena smirked up at him, knowing the two were only playing and teasing the other but going along with it.

"Oh, I would," she nodded again, watching for his reaction. Stefan stared at her for a few moments, and just about as he was going to make a move, Elena had leapt out of his grasp and made a run for it, into the entrance hallway and up the stairs to the second landing before he could even comprehend it.

"'Lena, that's not fair," Stefan's voice was loud, allowing it to travel through the house and up the staircase.

"Uh, yes, it is," Elena responded from the top of the staircase, where it seemed like she was standing, waiting for him to come after her. She knew he was still seated on the couch. "It's not my fault you're too slow to keep up with me."

"Oh, it's on now, babe," Stefan quickly replied and Elena could hear him run into the hallway and up the stairs as she turned with a laugh and ran down the corridor to the last room to the left, which they'd decided, would be theirs. They'd already brought up their bed and mattress and other furniture and whatnot.

Elena sharply turned into the room, knowing Stefan had caught up with her and just as she was frantically trying to shut the bedroom door, his hand stopped it from happening. His hands were instantly on her waist before she knew it, picking her up as a loud shriek left her body and giggles bubbled passed her lips.

"Stefan!" Elena managed to get out between her squeals and laughter as Stefan placed her down on their bed carefully and gazed down at her. Elena's laughter slowly subsided as she glanced right back up into his emerald orbs, a soft smile on her lips. His eyes were glued to hers, fixed on her. She reached up, her hand cupping his cheek within her palm, her fingers gently caressing the skin beneath his eye.

"You're absolutely beautiful, you know that?" Stefan whispered to her absentmindedly, lost in his own thoughts. Elena shook her head at him, a smile still playing on her face. She thought of her hair, falling out of its messy ponytail and the tiredness that showed on her makeup free face.

"And you're a liar," she muttered back teasingly, pulling him down towards her and kissing his lips nimbly.

"I don't lie," Stefan murmured against her lips, keeping his arms steady as he hovered above her. Elena raised an eyebrow at his statement, her hands sliding down the curve of his neck.

"Want to try that again?" she questioned him, her eyes wide. Stefan simply just shook his head.

"It's true. I don't lie," he stated, still watching down on her, her hands resting against the warm skin of his neck. "Especially not about how downright beautiful you really are."

Stefan's soft kisses were on her jaw and neck and her fingers tightly clutched at his shoulders, her eyes shutting as her head tilted back for him.

"Stefan..." she breathed lightly, hearing a low hum from him letting her know he was listening. "We should probably go back downstairs and attempt packing most kitchen appliances and utensils and such because we'll be needing them."

Stefan groaned in annoyance, pulling away from her neck, his eyes dark with want as he watched her. "Can't it wait for, I don't know, an hour or so, give or take?"

Sliding out from beneath him like the experienced girlfriend she was, Elena shook her head at him, a sly smile being shot at him. "Nope!" she objected, popping the last of the word. "Now hurry up so we can get back to-"

Before she could have even finished her sentence, Stefan was out of the room and running down the stairs. Elena laughed to herself, moving towards the bedroom door to follow him. She already loved living with him.