Days passed. The gang waited for Klaus and his witches arrive. But instead someone else came… and it crushed Caroline.
"How can all this happen? How?" Caroline cried harder as Stefan hugged her.
"I still don't get it Care."
"It's simple Stef. Tyler came back because he can but not to stay. He came back to tell me he can't be with me anymore."
"But he loved you, Care. Did he say why?" Stefan's heart broke for his best friend. It's during these times that he remembers that she is still the same Caroline as she was. Stronger yes, but her heart will always be pure. It's one of the things he loved about her.
"I don't know! It wasn't clear! All I know is he said that he loved me but he can't turn away from what will be his family." Caroline sobbed silently and Stefan didn't ask anything further.
"You know the worst part? I don't feel bad that he left me. I feel bad because I feel like he didn't try as much as I did. I could have been with Klaus for goodness sake! But I waited!"
"Ahh. So you feel bad because you regret not going after Klaus?" Stefan tried to joke but to his surprise Caroline blushed. "I'm right?" Caroline simply smiled and hugged Stefan tighter.
"Just look at the bright side, at least now, you're free to fall in love again without feeling guilty." This made Caroline smile a bit more.
"I'm so lucky to have you as a brother you know that right?"
The two laughed as they tried to keep themselves busy to forget Tyler. Neither one of them realized Elena was looking at them. With a hint of jealousy in her eyes, she stormed out… not knowing another certain Salvatore was looking at her. Damon knew that look. And he knew deep inside that it was only a matter of time before she changed her mind.
Two days after Tyler left, Klaus came back with two witches. He said they did expression and were practicing it for a long time now. The gang's plan was to create another cure, push it down Silas' throat, drop the veil, kill him, let him, pass on then put the veil back up. At first no one had a clue on how they will lure Silas back to Mystic Falls but as it turns out, Silas was already there as soon as the cure was made. He promised that he won't do any harm anymore and he just wanted to pass on. He drank the cure quickly. Everything happened so fast. Before he let anyone kill him, he apologized for all the havoc he caused and as payment for helping him despite making their lives miserable, Silas decided to set things right. He told Stefan that his bloodlust was actually because he was his shadow and that since he was deprived of blood for two thousand years, the blood cravings hunted Stefan. Silas told his doppelganger that he won't suffer bloodlust as much as before once he passes on. Silas also revealed to Klaus that the child Hailey was carrying wasn't actually his, instead it was Tyler's. This is the reason he doesn't want to be with Caroline anymore; because he wanted to fight for the baby even though Hailey won't let him. He wants to have a family of his own. He told this to Caroline as well. He explained that he found Tyler in the woods before he came here and read his mind. This matter overwhelmed both Caroline and Klaus. Next, Silas revealed that Bonnie isn't dead and will also be back to the living once he passes on because he will channel his magic with her so that she can be strong enough to go back. At this everyone sighed in relief. Lastly, Silas approached Elena.
"What I've done to you must have been the worst and I'm sorry about it in advance." Silas began which made Elena breathe faster even though she didn't really need air.
"Now, Elena, you remember everything." When Silas said this, it's like Elena woke up from a trance. A dream which she thought was real.
"It was you. The night if the graduation. I saw you…" Elena had tears in her eyes as she slowly started to remember everything from that night.
"It was after I talked to Stefan. But I had the cure then. Why didn't you just take it?" Elena was still confused. Silas simply shook his head. "It wasn't time yet."
"I was going to choose him… Why?" During this moment, Elena was crying hard.
"Yes, and I had plans of my own." Silas replied in a whisper "It's never too late. Just look at me." Silas smiled before handing the steak to Stefan.
"I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused. And Thank you, for letting me finally be with my love." Silas eyed Stefan. "Goodbye my shadow self. Have a nice life." With that Stefan nodded before finally driving the steak through his heart. Indeed it was the end of Silas.
It's been 5 years since Mystic Falls have been free of any supernatural related crisis. The gang is once again back in town for the summer. After Silas has passed on, the gang didn't know where to begin. Stefan was free. Elena remembers now… she actually wanted to choose Stefan. Bonnie is back. And so is Jeremy. Klaus was furious. Caroline was overwhelmed. But at last they were able to figure things out.
Klaus and Caroline confronted Tyler and Hailey. They admitted that after that night with Klaus, Hailey realized he really did love Tyler and things happened. Although Klaus wanted to kill both of them, Caroline was able to stop him. She told him to let them be. For this, they were thankful. Caroline finally confessed to Klaus that she felt something for him too and that she was just guilty of not trying to make her and Tyler work. And since there was no more baby for Klaus to think about, he decided to let his New Orleans plans go and just spend his days with Caroline.
After coming back to life, Bonnie packed her bags and got ready for college. She wasn't planning on staying. Everyone in town thought Jeremy was dead and with that in mind, the two decided to elope together and run after their sunset. She went to college while he went back to finish high school in Kentucky.
Through the help of Klaus' witch friends, Rebekah finally secured a cure for herself. She drank it quickly with the promise of love found in Matt's presence. Her brothers weren't the happiest vampires with her decision but deep down, they know she will always be their little sister. Matt and Rebekah followed Klaus and Caroline. The Original family intact as ever; and even though Elijah wasn't with them, they both knew he was happy with Katherine and as a matter a fact she was turned back by Elijah right after they saw each other.
Elena can't take what Silas said. She can't lie to herself when she now knew the truth. She talked to Damon and told him it has always been Stefan. That no matter what her state of mind was, her heart never un-fell for Stefan. Damon accepted defeat as a gentleman and left town. But before doing so, he talked to Stefan. He told his little bro that he always knew that it would end that way. Damon never saw Elena look at him the way she looked at Stefan. The younger Salvatore thanked his brother. They promised each other they will keep in touch and that they will never be far away from each other.
"I'll never let you fall off the rail again baby bro. I'll always be here." Damon said simply.
"And I will always fight for you no matter what it may cost." Stefan said in reply. With their goodbyes said, the brothers parted ways.
As for Stefan and Elena, it wasn't as simple as everyone. Too much has changed. Too many hurtful words have been exchanged, two hearts scarred and broken. Even though Elena confessed everything she felt for him, Stefan just felt like they both needed time. Honestly, he was surprised too by his decision because he thought he'd always go back to her in a heartbeat. But then again, they had all eternity. Yes, they have the cure but they're not in a hurry to take it. They're taking things one day at a time. Just like Matt, Rebekah, Klaus and Caroline they too followed them to Boston. It wasn't until their third year in Boston that Stefan and Elena finally became official again. It came so naturally. They started getting to know each other again and got close until it became their second nature to be around each other. They started going out on their own without the gang again, the intimacy slowly returning. Yes, it took three years but it was all worth it. One night, they decided to have a movie date and as Stefan walked Elena to her apartment, he felt like it was just the right time to do it. Without even thinking, he kissed her. Lightly at first, then Elena pulled him in and deepen the kiss. He could just taste her vanilla lip balm just like he used to before. When he finally pulled away, she just smiled at him before pulling him in an embrace.
"I love you Stefan. More than I ever thought I did."
"You have no idea, how much I missed hearing that."
"I love you, Stefan. Don't ever let that go."
"And I love you too, Elena."
