Author's note: Hi, just wanted to say thank you for all of your reviews! Keep them coming! Enjoy this chapter.

Heading straight to the kitchen without saying good morning, Elena ignored Stefan and went about making her breakfast. She could feel Stefan's eyes burning into the back of her, like always he was on the same chair of the dining table observing her.

"Are you ignoring me?" Stefan asked with amusement in his tone. Elena still didn't say anything. "You're not still mad at me about yesterday or last night, are you?"

"Hmmmm, let me see, you accused me of wanting your brother and then you manipulated my mind into having a sex dream about you, so yeah I'm still pretty mad." Elena vented refusing to look at him.

"You have to admit it was pretty hot though." Stefan said in a sleazy manner.

Shaking her head, Elena began ignoring him again. Her frustration was mounting as she couldn't find anything to eat, they had been here for nearly a week now and she had pretty much run out of food.

"Stefan, I don't have anything left to eat."

"We'll go to the grocery store after I've finished my blood bag." He said languidly.

At first, she nodded, just glad that he wasn't making life hard for her, but then she realised, she hadn't done a single thing independently since they had arrived. It was fair to say she was a tired of being in Stefan's presence 24/7, especially when he was acting the way he was.

"Can I go by myself?" Elena asked making Stefan guffaw.

"Don't be ridiculous." Stefan responded.

"Why not? It's only a ten-minute drive." Elena pleaded hopelessly.

"Absolutely not. I've been compelled to protect you and I'm not letting you out of my sight." Stefan replied as if it was the most obvious thing ever.

"I promise I'll go and come straight back. Nothing's gonna happen to me." Elena tried again.

"How do you know that?"

"We're not in Mystic Falls anymore, Stefan. No one will know who I am here. Please, it's the least you could do." Elena begged.

"How can I make sure that you won't take off or call for help?" Stefan asked starting to be less reluctant.

"You'll just have to trust me."

"Give me one reason why I should trust you."

"I've never lied to you or let you down before." Elena replied sincerely.

"That whole acting drunk to lure me away, so Alaric could shoot me was a little deceiving." He said trying to argue his side.

"That was one time and he didn't even get to shoot you anyway. Pleeaaaassseeee." She whined giving him her best puppy dog eyes.

Stefan vamp sped over to where she was standing and towered over her. He lifted her hand and shoved his car key and wallet into it.

"If you're not back in one hour, I'll track you down, and trust me I will be very unhappy." Stefan said seriously.

"I promise I'll be back in one hour." Elena whispered as he let go of her arm.

She skipped into the grand foyer and grabbed her shoes to slip on. She opened the door to leave but was called on by Stefan.

"Elena, wait!" He shouted and strolled over to her. Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out her beautiful vervain necklace he had given to her when they had just started dating, and dangled it in front of her. "Here. Just in case." He said in a soft tone.

Elena flicked her eyes between the necklace and his eyes as she gazed at him.

"Thank you." She said, her voice full of sincerity.

Grabbing the necklace, she popped it open and stretched it around her neck, holding it out, prompting him to do it for her. He complied and fastened it for her, his fingertips grazing the back of her neck.

"I'll see you in an hour." He said and walked off.

Elena started the car and began driving down the roads towards the grocery store she had noticed the other day. It was a pleasant surprise that Stefan had actually let her go and she couldn't help the surge of happiness that passed through her when he returned her necklace. Although she had technically been captured by Stefan, right now driving his car through the Californian hills, Elena had never felt so free.

Pulling into the parking lot, Elena wandered into the store and began collecting her groceries and placing them in the cart. She entered the aisle that specialised in Italian food and remembered the many times Stefan cooked her chicken parmesan. Maybe if she played her cards right, she could persuade Stefan to make it for her, so she piled the ingredients into her shopping cart.

By the time she had paid for all of her items, Elena had twenty minutes before she had to be back, meaning she'd be home with ten minutes to spare. Hopefully that would get her on his good side, enough so that he'd make her chicken parmesan.

After the drive home, Elena parked the car at the front of the house and spotted Stefan in the front doorway. As she got out, he walked over and began helping her unload the groceries.

Carrying her brunch over to where he was sat, Elena joined Stefan on the balcony.

"Can I help you?" He asked, tipping his shades down at her.

"Am I not allowed to just sit and enjoy your company?" Elena asked teasingly.

"You couldn't stand me this morning." Stefan stated pursing his lips at her.

"You may have redeemed yourself a little." Elena said popping a bit of her chicken salad into her mouth. Stefan gave her a wry smile and then reached across to grab a bit of her chicken, but Elena slapped his hand away before he got a look in. "Don't push it though."

"I'm hungry though." He frowned.

"For human food?" She asked, and he nodded. "That's perfect, because tonight I was hoping you'd make me chicken parmesan."

"We'll see."

Hours had passed, and it was evening time, Elena had just gotten out of the bath and padded down the stairs that lead to the grand foyer. As she neared the kitchen/ dining room area the most mouth-watering smell invaded her nose and Elena smiled knowing exactly what it was. She rounded the corner to the kitchen and found Stefan cooking.

"Perfect timing. Go and sit down. It'll be ready in a minute." Stefan ordered, and she happily complied.

He placed their plates down on the table and sat down across from her. Elena moaned with delight after chewing on her first mouthful and Stefan raised his eyebrows at her.

"I'm sorry. It's just that I haven't eaten this in months, which is way too long." Elena exclaimed.

"Fair enough, I do make the best chicken parmesan in the world." He replied cockily.

They fell into relative silence as they finished their meals.

"Thank you for today, Stefan. Letting me go to the store, the necklace and this, I really needed it." Elena said quietly.

"Like you said it's the least I could do. Listen, I, um, I." Stefan stuttered but then reasserted himself. "What I'm trying to say is that the arguing and dream thing last night was too far, and I'm sorry." He said looking everywhere but her.

"I appreciate your apology. I forgive you, Stefan, and maybe someday you'll forgive yourself too." She said giving him a shy smile. "Goodnight." Elena whispered as she leaned in to kiss his cheek.

She smiled as she climbed the stairs and realised that it was okay to still have hope.