A/N: So, how about that episode last night? Epic.

Do let me know what you think about this update. I changed it up a few times before settling on this. Thanks everyone!

Stefan opted out of buying flowers for Elena. The charity benefit was not a date, so he thought it would be awkward to bring her some. He was also twenty minutes early to pick her up. He knocked on her door and waited patiently. The building seemed nice. The area did too. Not that he had come early to scope the place out or anything.

Elena opened the door moments later with a huge smile on her face. "Stefan" she said, moving aside and inviting him in. "I'm almost ready. I just need to grab my jacket" she told him.

Stefan stepped inside, letting his eyes wander around her apartment. It was nice. Comfortable and cozy. It fit her perfectly. Elena had disappeared for a few minutes, but she returned shortly after with her jacket on. "You look nice" he told her, smiling softly.

Elena returned his smile. "So do you" she told him, taking in the tux he was wearing for the night. He always looked so handsome when he got dressed up. "Ready?" she asked. He nodded.

Stefan opened the door for her and then waited outside for her to lock up. "So, I'm only required to make an appearance. Anytime you are ready to leave, we can go" he explained to her as they walked to his car.

"It is a Saturday, Stefan. I'm allowed to stay up a little later than normal" she joked, climbing into the passenger seat of his car.

Stefan smirked. At least her sense of humor was still alive and ever present. "You know that's not what I meant" he said, shutting the door. He was still smirking though as he walked around to his side of the car.

"So are you my date tonight or my babysitter?" she asked as soon as he got in the car. She was sarcastic tonight too.

He looked over and smiled at her, a little excited that she could possibly think of him as her date. "Did I tell you that you look beautiful tonight?" he asked with a huge smile on his face.

Elena rolled her eyes. Of course he wouldn't answer that question. "Well played, Salvatore. Well played" she said, leaning back in her seat and looking ahead. The sun was just beginning to set. The city looked beautiful in the dimming glow.

XXXXXXXXXX

When they arrived, the lobby of the hotel was bustling with well-dressed individuals making chitchat. They checked their coats and Elena suddenly became self-conscious. She was here, with Stefan. All of the people he worked with would be here tonight. They would see them together. That made her nervous.

But Stefan didn't seemed bothered one bit. He actually seemed happy to be there. "Come on. Let's go and get something to drink" he said, placing his hand at the base of her back and leading her forward.

But Elena stopped her feet from moving. "Stefan, are you sure this is okay?" she asked. "You being here, with me?"

Stefan looked at her sort of funny which made her look down at her feet. "What, because you're pregnant?" he asked. She nodded slightly. Stefan chuckled. "Believe me, they all have much better things to do besides talk about who I bring with me to these functions" he said, putting his arm around her again and walking with her into the convention room. "The only person who cares is Caroline and she already knows I'm bringing you" he said, leaning closer to her so she could hear him above all of the noise.

Elena let herself sigh with a little relief. She just didn't want him to be uncomfortable or get embarrassed with all of his friends here. Then she remembered that Damon was coming as well and maybe she was the least of Stefan's worries.

He introduced her to a few of his friends from the hospital, all of whom seemed perfectly nice. The women of course inquired about her pregnancy, asking questions and wishing her well. No one seemed to be curious as to why she was there with Stefan. She hoped the rest of the night would go this way too.

But it didn't. Stefan had left their table for a little bit to talk with more of the people he worked with, leaving her alone. She really didn't mind, except that she was getting a tad bit bored. Caroline had stopped by to talk with her periodically, but she was spending most of her time being the social little butterfly she was. Just like Elena remembered her to be.

So Elena had gotten up from the table to wander around, looking at paintings and refilling her water glass. That is when the judgmental looks and the pitiful stares had begun. Some of the women would come up to her, notice that she had no ring, and ask her what her plans were. Others just shook their heads and went back to the cocktail they were drinking.

Elena was used to this, but for some reason tonight, it got to her. A lot more than she cared to admit to herself. So she went outside and sat on a bench for a little bit, getting some fresh air and a break from feeling like a poor, abandoned mother who was going to struggle to raise her child.

"Hey!" Caroline said, sitting down beside her. "I saw you wander out here. What's wrong?" she asked, a frown on her face.

Elena shrugged. "Nothing. Just needed some air" she lied, looking up at the stars to keep herself from crying. Those damn hormones.

"The looks and the comments getting to you?" Caroline asked, still frowning. "These people, you know. They think they have everyone figured out. And they try so hard to show people that they live the perfect life. When really, their lives are just as screwed up as ours" she said, being blatantly honest.

Elena thought Caroline made perfect sense. "I just hate being pitied" she sighed. "I know I'm not doing this the way everyone thinks I should. I just wish they would have a little more faith in me is all" she said sadly.

Caroline grabbed her hand and smiled. "Do you want me to take you home? We can watch sappy movies and eat brownies" she suggested.

Elena smiled, even though she was pretty sure she was about to cry. "That sounds really good right about now, but I think I should stay. I don't want them to run me off" she said. Most of all, she didn't want to disappoint Stefan.

Caroline shrugged. "Okay" she said. Then she looked down at her ring for a moment.

Elena noticed when she began to take the ring off. "What are you doing?" Elena asked when Caroline held the ring out to her.

"You wear this" Caroline told her. "So these rich nosey fake women will leave you alone" she explained. "You don't deserve the way they treat you" she said, a knowing smile appearing.

Elena looked at her in shock. But she shook her head no. "I can't wear your ring" she told her. It was very nice for Caroline to offer, but it was not Elena's ring to wear.

"Of course you can" Caroline told her, grabbing Elena's hand and sticking the ring on her finger. "Fits perfectly" she smiled. Elena stared at the ring and then back at Caroline, not sure what to say. "Let's just go back inside" Caroline told her, standing up and waiting for Elena.

Caroline did not leave Elena's side the rest of the night. And no one pitied Elena or gave her judgmental looks either. It had worked. Sadly, Elena was the perfect wife expecting her perfect child. While she was grateful to Caroline, it also made Elena want to cry. Because as the night wore on, she could actually see herself being married and starting a family. All because of a ring that wasn't hers.

XXXXXXXXXX

Stefan had caught up with her not long after she came back in. Caroline was the one who noticed Stefan staring at the ring now on Elena's hand. She quickly grabbed his arm and told him to come and get a drink for Elena. Elena was glad to be able to sit down once again. Her heels were killing her feet and her back.

"That's my ring" Caroline said as Stefan filled up a glass of water for Elena. "Some of the women around here tonight were making her feel pretty bad about herself for being pregnant and having no husband" she said, making a disgusted face. "I think Elena's okay now though" Caroline said, seeing how concerned Stefan looked.

"Why didn't she come and tell me?" he asked. Stefan would have made sure that it had stopped, right before he took her home.

Caroline smiled gently, looking over at Elena. "Because. She didn't want to ruin your night" she said. Stefan looked across the room at Elena as well. "She adores you, you know" she added, rubbing his shoulder.

Stefan sighed. If only she adored him the way he wished she would. "I should probably get her home. It's getting late."

Caroline agreed. "I think I want to head out too. I just have to find Damon. Meet you out front?" she asked before walking away.

Stefan was about to pick up their glasses when he saw someone walk up to Elena.

"Hello" the man said, extending his hand out to Elena. "I saw that you came here tonight with Stefan Salvatore" he mentioned. He had the perfect to die for accent and Elena felt herself blush. "My name is Elijah" he introduced.

Elena reached for his hand and smiled. "I'm Elena" she told him, noticing the way he held on to her hand. "How do you know Stefan?" she asked.

Elijah let go of her hand gently and smiled once again. "I work with Stefan at the hospital" he answered. "Are you two …?" he asked, debating on whether or not to fully ask the question.

Elena felt her cheeks flush slightly. "Oh, no" she told him quickly. "Stefan is my friend. I've known him since we were little."

Elijah nodded. "I see" he told her.

Elena looked up to see Stefan approaching them. She smiled. "Hey" he said, holding her jacket. "I think we should get going" he told her, putting her jacket on for her. "Caroline is waiting for you out front."

"Oh, okay" she said. She could have easily stayed another hour, but she was glad to be leaving. She was tired. "It was nice meeting you, Elijah" she said politely before walking towards the front of the room.

Stefan smiled as he watched her, but it soon faded as he leaned towards Elijah. "If I catch you near her again, there will be a problem" he said, his voice low and full of promise.

Elijah smiled. "I was simply being friendly" he told Stefan.

Stefan gave him a deadly glare as he backed away from him. He turned and began to walk in the same direction that Elena had. Elijah finished his glass of chardonnay as he watched Stefan leave.

XXXXXXXXX

Damon and Stefan chatted while Elena was a few yards away, giving Caroline back her ring and thanking her. "Thank you, for what you did" Elena told her.

Caroline smiled. "Anytime" she said, slipping her ring back on.

"I hope one day I can have a ring of my own" she let herself admit. She hadn't really done that since finding out she was pregnant. She didn't want to get her hopes up.

Caroline stared past Elena and watched Stefan for a moment. Oh, the things that were going on in her head right now. "I'm willing to bet that is a definite possibility" she replied, smiling as she looked away from Stefan. "You have a good night" Caroline said, hugging Elena. "And you, baby, keep growing so we can find out what you are" she said in perfect baby talk as she leaned down to Elena's baby bump.

She kissed her stomach quickly and Elena laughed. "Goodnight, Caroline" Elena said, walking back towards Stefan. "Ready?" she asked.

Stefan nodded, taking her hand and walking with her down the sidewalk. They were silent for a few minutes, looking up at the stars and thinking quietly to themselves. "Why didn't you tell me you were having a hard time with those women in there?" Stefan asked, peeking over at her as they walked.

Elena should have known that Caroline would tell him. "I didn't want to ruin your night" she told him. "Besides, it was no big deal. Sometimes things upset me pretty easily these days, but I get over it pretty quickly" she said, looking over at him and smiling when she caught him staring.

"I would have set them straight, you know" he told her, looking away again.

She smiled again. "I know" she told him. "You don't always have to jump in and save me though" she reminded him.

Stefan disagreed, but he wasn't going to tell her. "Thank you for coming with me tonight" he said, opening the car door for her.

"Thank you for inviting me" she told him, moving past him to get in. He shut the door for her and got in as well.

It was a quiet drive back to her apartment for the most part. He had turned the radio on low, just in case she wanted to talk or fall asleep. Neither of which she did. But he was okay with that. Just sitting in silence with her.

Elena was leaning against her arm along the window when they stopped at a stop light. There was a vendor sitting on the sidewalk with buckets full of fresh cut flowers. She wondered why he was out so late, but there were people still passing by and she supposed guys might stop to get their girlfriends or wives flowers. The thought made her smile. But what made her smile more was the bucket of fresh cut lilies right up front. Lilies were her favorite.

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October 15th, 2005

Elena placed the last bobby pin in her hair as she looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was perfect. Her makeup was flawless. Her dark green dress was beautiful. But all she wanted to do was crawl back into bed and cry like she had been doing since the previous May when her parents died. A tragic accident, everyone had called it.

But Stefan had convinced her to go to the Homecoming dance with him. She hadn't wanted to go and no one else had asked her. She didn't blame them. She was sad and depressed and she wasn't even sure what fun was anymore.

But Stefan wouldn't let up, telling her she needed to get out and enjoy herself. Elena just didn't think she could. Not even with Stefan. But she couldn't very well tell him no now when he was on his way to get her. She really didn't want to ruin his night. But, makeup and a pretty dress could only cover her up on the outside. They couldn't hide how ugly she felt on the inside.

Elena left her mirror and went in search of Jeremy. He was holed up in his room as usual with his videogames. "Stefan will be here shortly" she told him. He didn't even look at her. He was as miserable as her too. "Aunt Jenna left pizza money if you get hungry" she finished, shutting the door on her way out.

It broke her heart, seeing her little brother that way. And she knew it broke Stefan's to see her like that too.

Stefan was ten minutes early, but she knew he would be. When she opened the door, he was holding a bouquet of lilies in gold wrapping with a cream colored bow. She looked at the flowers for a moment. "These are for you" he told her, handing them to her.

"Thank you" Elena said, forcing a smile. She took them and went to place them in water in the kitchen. She loved the flowers, but loving them meant that she would have to feel happy. She felt sad.

Stefan followed. "You look beautiful" he said, placing his hand on her back when she stilled in the kitchen, staring at the flowers he had given her. They really were so pretty.

"I don't feel beautiful" she let slip out before she could stop herself. He looked hurt, but more concerned that he had said the wrong thing to make her upset. "Let's just go, please" she said, moving away from his touch and going back out of the kitchen.

The truth was, Stefan was the only one still talking to her, besides Bonnie and Caroline. And the girls always wanted to talk about feelings and eat chocolate ice cream all night long. But sometimes Elena just wanted to cry or be angry and not eat anything at all. And Stefan was the one who would let her do that. Because he knew her better than anyone. So maybe, he knew that she needed to get out of the house tonight.

Elena didn't say anything about the limo that sat parked outside of her house. It was too much though. She sat silently at the far end, looking out the window. Stefan hadn't bothered to try and make conversation with her. He sat there silently too. It was only when Elena realized that they were not heading towards the high school that she spoke up. "Where are we going?" she asked.

"You'll see" was all he said, grabbing her attention for the time being. She was no longer thinking about being sad. She wanted to know where he was taking her.

The limo drove up the road a little ways before turning off and heading towards the park. It parked behind the bathroom building and Elena couldn't see anything. "I'll call you" Stefan said to the driver as he helped Elena out of the limo. With that, he took her hand and walked with her.

It didn't take Elena long to see where they were going. The lights up ahead twinkled and when they got closer, she saw a single, small round table covered in a gold tablecloth and two white chairs sitting in the middle of the grassy area. Twinkling white lights were hung around the nearby trees and a path leading to the table was lit up with small white lights as well.

Elena stopped and looked at the arrangement. Two covered plates sat on the table opposite one another, along with two glasses, two sets of silverware, and a bottle of wine. Scratch that, it was sparkling cider. They weren't old enough to drink, though, they both could admit to drinking once in a while.

There was also two lit candles on the table and rose petals scattered along the table surface and down on the ground. It was simply beautiful and she was in awe at the sight before her. "Do you like it?" he asked from behind her.

Elena turned around slowly, still amazed that he would do this for her. Go to all this trouble. "You did all of this, for me?" she asked, her voice quiet and shaky.

Stefan nodded, inwardly feeling proud of himself that she was feeling something other than sadness right now. He had completely thrown her off tonight and that is exactly what he had wanted to do. "I wanted tonight to be special. I wanted you to feel special" he told her, a nervous smile appearing. He had spent months planning this all out. Not to score brownie points from her, but to make her, and only her, happy.

Elena stared into his eyes from a few feet away, processing what he was saying. He always made her feel special, no matter what. Just being around him made her feel special. "I love it" she told him. "Thank you."

She turned back around and stared at the table once more. Stefan walked up behind her and placed his arm around her. "Hungry?" he asked. Elena nodded. She actually was. For the first time in a really long time, she wasn't going to force herself to eat. "Come on" he said, leading her to the table. He pulled her chair out for her and removed the cover on her food. It was grilled chicken and an assortment of cooked vegetables. He poured her a glass of the sparkling cider before getting his food ready. He smiled at her when he saw her eating.

They never made it to the dance that night, opting to stay where they were. He did stand up though, eventually, and held out his hand. He wanted to dance. She couldn't help but give him a confused look, telling him that they had no music. But he pulled her into his arms, held her hand, and began swaying with her.

He didn't need music as long as he had her.

They danced for what seemed like hours. Her head was resting against his shoulder and he could hear her sighing every now and then. He knew she was thinking about her parents again. He could just tell. "I'm sorry I can't take your pain away" he whispered softly to her. "I just wanted to make you smile tonight" he told her, kissing her temple. "I miss your smile."

Elena lifted her head and he could tell that she had been trying not to cry. She wiped at her tears with the back of her hand and ever so slowly, let a smile form. "Better?" she asked, her soft smile turning into a small laugh.

Stefan smiled. "Much better" he told her, pulling her even closer and beginning to move with her again. She rested her head against his chest and let him hold her. Move her. Take care of her.

At midnight, they were lying on a blanket and looking up at the stars. Stefan didn't mind. Because Elena was beside him, holding his hand, and naming all the constellations she could see. Most of which, were wrong. But he let her continue because she sounded happy. And sometimes, she would turn on her side and look at him for a moment before looking back up at the sky.

When she would see a shooting star, she would close her eyes, making a wish. He had no idea what she was wishing for.

He wished for the same thing every time. That one day, Elena would love him as much as he loved her.

XXXXXXXXXX

Stefan parked outside her apartment and turned the car off. He sat there for a moment before turning to look at her. She turned and looked at him as well. "Yes" she said, quietly yet confidently.

"Yes what?" he asked, searching her eyes for the answer.

"Yes, I will move in with you."

A/N: Umm, what was that all about with Elijah? Anyone think moving in with Stefan is not such a great idea?