Elena

With a promise I would get out of bed before noon and an extra long you'll-get-through-this hug, Bonnie left. A sleepless night and a head full of painful memories don't encourage early mornings, so I sunk deep into my bed, pulling the blanket up high and curling up protectively, quite thoroughly blocking out the world.

I was falling into a half sleep; still mildly aware I was in my room but mostly lost in a semi conscious dream.

"Elena" Stefan's hand swept over my cheek, comforting me over some distant woe.

"Elena" someone said, interrupting.

I mumbled an incoherent sentence that was meant to say 'go away' but whoever stood at my door was not leaving. I groaned and this time managed a snappy "Get Out!"

"Elena, please" I recognised the voice now, but I was unwilling to believe that it was him. I sat up and turned slowly to see Stefan standing at my bedroom door. "May I?" he asked, gesturing towards my bed. I nodded and he sat down on the end.

"Stefan, why are you here? I understood what you said, or didn't say last night, you don't have to explain anything to me" I told him, my eyes filling with tears.

"Elena, I think that I do, but before I can say anything else, did you mean what you said last night? Do you truly mean it? Are you sure?" he asked.

I had to look down at my hands that were subconsciously fiddling with the sheets to answer his question, I could not bear to lie nor could I bear to see the hardness in his face. "Every word" I swallowed loudly, but the lump in my throat would not go down and the tears began to run.

"Good because I was thinking about you all last night and I know that I have hurt you but -"

I looked up at his face, where was he going with this? He looked hopeful.

"-Elena, I can't leave. I - "he moved so that he was sitting in front of me, close. One of his hands held one of mine and the other was cupping my face and stroking my cheek slowly as he looked piercingly into my eyes and said,

"Elena, I love you."

My heart sped up to a million miles an hour and my mouth broke out into the biggest smile. Just to be sure I answered with "I Love you, Stefan."

He wiped the tears from my cheeks as he leant towards me. Our lips touched, his hand going behind my neck to pull me closer to him. We only broke apart when we heard Aunt Jenna knocking on my already open door. She was doing a scold-smile that said I'm happy for you but please be a bit more discreet and she said "um, Elena I was going to ask if you wanted some eggs but you can probably get them yourself" and so she turned around and went back downstairs.

Stefan

Elena and I looked sheepishly at each other and started to laugh. I listened to the sound, it was child-like and carefree, I realised that it had been a long time since she had been this happy; I missed it.

"Oh, Stefan" She exclaimed breathlessly moving closer to me to lean her head into my shoulder and wrap her arms around my waist. I kissed the top of her head and enclosed her in my own arms. I played mindlessly with her long hair. 'I love you, I love you, I love you'. I thought' Nothing matters, we are right.'

She moved her head and whispered into my ear "This is where I belong." She wasn't asking me, she was telling me, as if just to let me know.

I whispered back "I know."

We kissed again, slowly and passionately. When we broke apart Elena stayed close, resting her head against my shoulder once more. We were in each other's arms, where we belonged.