25th February, 2024
Thirty year old Elena Salvatore woke up slowly, feeling the warm sun filtering through the window against her closed eyelids. She groaned out in annoyance, pushing herself to turn onto her other side. Once settled, she slowly opened her eyes, seeing her husband's back to her, sound asleep, or so she thought.
"I thought we'd settled that you'd stop the staring a long time ago," she heard him mumble sleepily. She smiled, never tiring of their old silly little banter.
"And I thought we'd settled that it wasn't, and never has been staring, but gazing," she shot back, unable to keep the smile off her face. She heard him chuckle lightly before he turned suddenly, pinning her down as she laughed in surprise.
"It's still creepy," he said, grinning down at her, giving her the 'I'm always right' look.
"Nope, it's romantic," Elena smiled, her laugh fading out into a soft moan as he captured her lips unexpectedly, her arms wrapping around his neck and pulling him closer on their own accord. Stefan's lips slowly peeled away from hers, trailing down to her chin and throat. "Mmm, happy anniversary, baby," she murmured, tilting her head back for him, her eyes fluttering shut.
Pushing at his shoulders with as much pent up strength she could muster that early in the morning, Elena rolled them over onto his side of the bed, now her body atop his. She stared down at him, her hands pressed against his firm chest and her hair sheilding both sides of her face. "We musn't get carried away right now. We have all night to make up for it," she teased him, a smirk on her face, enjoying the look of disappointment that came across his face. "The kids are surely awake by now. It's already 6:30."
"Remind me again, why do little kids wake up so early?" Stefan asked, watching her.
Elena shrugged, still gazing down at him as she straddled his waist. "I don't know. Some internal alarm telling them that Sesame Street's on or something. Lucky for us, only one of our children so far experiences that. As for the other two, they're probably waiting for us to let them out of their cribs, so come on."
As Elena quickly hopped off of him and out of bed, Stefan let out an annoyed protest as he sat up, watching as she tied her long hair into a high ponytail. "You're lucky I love you so much," he told her.
Elena smiled and turned back to him, dropping one last peck to his lips. "I love you, too."
Leaving Stefan in their room, Elena walked right into the twins' bedroom to find them standing against the railings of their cribs, waiting for one of their parents to come to them.
"Good morning, Beautiful," Elena greeted Eden cheerfully as she lifted her out of her crib and placed a kiss to her cheek before setting her onto her own two feet and turning to Isla.
"Mama!" Isla screamed out, holding out both her tiny arms, her small fingers making grabbing motions. Elena smiled at the young toddler, going over and lifting her out as well.
"Up you get," Elena mumbled, resting Isla on her hip and looking down at an awaiting Eden. "Tell you what," Elena began as she knelt down, Isla's feet hitting the floor. "Why don't you two go get Daddy out of bed while I go downstairs and prepare some breakfast? Do we have a deal?"
Both girls nodded quickly, picking up easily on what their mother meant. They turned around, one after the other, running out the door and into their parent's bedroom. Elena had to laugh when she heard Stefan speak to the girls as she stepped back out into the hallway and was making her way towards the stairs.
"Your mother set you two up on the job, didn't she?" Elena heard.
"Of course, I did, baby," she replied loudly, just as she descended the stairs.
Elena first made a stop at the living room, finding Lexi lying on a couch, her eyes glued to the Cookie Monster and Elmo on the television screen. "Morning, Sweetheart."
Alexia's green eyes flickered over to her mother just before they widened and she jumped off the couch and rushed towards Elena, jumping up and down excitedly.
"I know what today is! I know what today is!" she exclaimed energetically, wide smile set.
"What's today?" Elena asked.
"It's you and Daddy's wedding annifersary!"
Elena had to laugh at the pronouciation a little, kneeling down to Lexi's height. "And who told you that?"
"Godmumma Bonnie did yesterday!" Lexi grinned.
"Ahh, I see," Elena smiled, standing back up right. "I shall thank her for that soon."
"Can I go watch Sesame Street now?" Lexi asked pleadingly.
"Of course, you can. Never said you couldn't," Elena replied, moving in the kitchen's direction before stopping. "But before I go, what would you like for breakfast?"
"Pancakes!"
"Yeah, pancakes sound good," Stefan's voice travelled in first right before he appeared, carrying both Eden and Isla on an arm. Elena nodded.
"Pancakes it is," she confirmed, finally exiting to the kitchen.
As Elena prepared the family some food, she listened in on her husband and kids in the living room, smiling to herself whenever she heard a joyous laugh.
"So, what is it exactly we're doing tonight?"
Elena jumped suddenly at the voice, turning on the spot to find Stefan smirking back at her. "That's for getting our two youngest daughters, whom you know I can't deny anything to, to get me out of bed."
Elena shot a glare at him before turning back. "Well then, suffer not knowing until the time comes."
"But I like knowing stuff," he said, moving closer to her, his arms going around her waist as he settled his chin on her shoulder.
"Where are the girls?" Elena asked, ignoring his last comment. Stefan persisted though, pressing sweet kisses against her neck, easily finding her soft spot.
"They're in the living room watching TV, where else would they be?" he questioned sarcastically, still practically worshipping the soft skin of her neck.
Elena tried squirming out of his grasp but found herself to be quite reluctant, her resolve crumbling right before her as she leaned back against him with a sigh. "Stefan..."
"Yes, baby?" he whispered almost huskily into her ear, his hands resting on her flat stomach.
Elena quickly turned off the stove, turned in his arms and gave him a small pout. "You're no fair. You know what that does to me."
"What's it do to you?" Stefan smirked, only to have Elena's fist hit his chest. "Ow?"
"You're mean today. You've been hanging around Damon too much," she said, feigning seriousness before moving out from his arms and grabbing some small plates for the girls. "And if you must know so badly," she went on placing a couple of pancakes for each of the girls, "Caroline had offered to take the girls for the night at 3 this afternoon. I'm sure your smart enough to figure out what happens from there."
Shooting him one last smirk, Elena called in the girls, placing their breakfast on the island.
"Well then," Stefan turned, just in time to catch Isla running in, lifting her up as she giggled, seating her in her high chair.
"Thank you, Mummy," Lexi exclaimed as she struggled to get into a stool at the kitchen island. Stefan came up right behind her, lifting her up onto it as Elena seated Eden.
"You're very welcome, Lexi," Elena smiled, watching as Stefan helped them.
-X-
"You know you have to call me if anything happens or if they need something," Elena reminded her blonde haired friend that evening, following Caroline to the front door, carrying Isla.
"Elena," Caroline started, stopping to turn around on the spot, a knowing smile on her face as she shifted Eden onto her other hip. "I have two little boys of my own at home, don't you think I know how to take care of kids?"
"Yes, but-"
"And don't you think I know how it feels to leave your kids with someone else overnight at such a young age?"
"I know, but still-"
"No buts! I understand but they'll be fine. Sean and Xavier are waiting at home with their father for these beautiful girls so they can play," Caroline said, smiling down at Lexi who grinned back. Elena sighed deeply. "'Lena, you need to relax. Nothing Stefan can't cure tonight."
Elena felt the heat rush to her cheeks as she blushed light pink, glaring at a suggestively smiling Caroline.
"Come on, Lexi," Caroline said to the young girl. "Let's get going."
"Okay," Lexi nodded, moving towards her mother and hugging her legs. "See you tomorrow, Mummy. Have fun with Daddy."
And with that, Alexia turned and ran out onto the front porch, her favourite Pooh Bear backpack clutched in her hands. Caroline smirked, facing Elena.
"Oh Lexi, you have no idea," the blonde muttered teasingly.
"Caroline!" Elena hissed, placing Isla on the ground.
"Okay, okay, we're going now," Caroline laughed. "I'll drop them off tomorrow, around noon or a bit after, something like that. We'll see you then."
Grabbing a hold of Isla's tiny hand as Eden was still resting on her hip, Caroline turned, leaving with the twins in tow.
"Bye 'Lena."
Elena stood in the now empty hallway. Silence enveloped her. There was no sounds of toys being thrown around, baby talk, children's television programs playing, the sound of childish giggles here and there. Everything was quiet.
Turning around slowly, Elena made her way down the hallway towards the back door, where she knew Stefan was, sitting on the patio. She stepped outside, the first thing being noticed is the slow setting sun and the pinky-orange colours it flared across the sky. She found herself dropping into her husband's lap, her eyes never leaving the beautiful sky.
Stefan didn't say anything to her and just let her sit there, leaning against him as she stared out at the sun. He just placed a small kiss to the back of her neck and without her knowing, moved to slip a light necklace around her neck, gently clipping it at the back.
Elena felt the cold metal fall against her skin and she instantly looked down, noticing the new addition to her attire. She turned her body sideways as to look at Stefan, questioning him with her eyes.
"Happy anniversary," he only says, moving his hands to the heart shaped pendant laying perfectly against her chest. He opened it carefully, motioning for her to look down at it. She did.
"You wanna know why it's their pictures in there and not some silly, engraved 'I love you' message?" he asked her softly.
Elena smiled as she looked up at him, shrugging a little. "They're our daughters."
"Oh my God, really?"
"Stefan," Elena whined, shoving lightly at his chest. He chuckled a little before turning serious again.
"Because sure! We have a house together, we have a car, money, all sorts of things," he began, "But at the end of the day, those things don't matter. Those things can be taken away from us just like that. But those three girls, those three gorgeous girls, they're ours. Mine and yours. And no one can ever take that away from us. No matter what the case. They'll always be our baby girls."
Elena couldn't help the warm pricks that stung her eyes as she quickly looked down at the pendant once more. She smiled, closing it slowly as she looked up at her husband, going in to kiss his lips tenderly, taking her time to transfer all the love and gratefulness she felt through it.
"Thank you," she whispered against his lips, eyes still closed. She felt him peck her lips once, twice before pulling away, allowing her eyes to flutter open.
"See? I can be sweet," Stefan grinned, bringing her into his arms, her head fitting in the crook of his neck as she snuggled further into him.
Elena laughed a little against his skin. "Sweet? You're absolutely perfect."
"Even when I give you a hard time?" he asked, smirking. Elena nodded against his neck. "Even when I give you a hard time, on purpose?"
Moving her head to look at him, Elena sent him an amused smile. "On purpose?"
"You're sexy as hell when you're angry," Stefan said, smirking as she came closer.
"I am?" she breathed, her lips inches away from his, her eyes closed.
"Oh, you have no idea," Stefan confirmed quietly just before her lips covered his, silencing him.
Escalating straight from passionate to downright heated, Elena turned completely to face him, straddling him in the process, her hands coming down to his chest, never breaking their deep kisses.
"Oh gosh," Elena murmured slightly breathless as she forced herself away from his lips. "Shall we take this upstairs?"
"Great idea," Stefan muttered back before claiming her lips again, securely wrapping his strong arms around her petite waist, standing up. A small surprised squeak came from the back of Elena's throat, followed by a small giggle, her legs wrapping around his waist as he walked them back into the house.
"I love you," Stefan said quietly that night, her body wrapped up in his arms.
"I love you, too," Elena whispered, looking up at him and kissing his lips tenderly. "Always."
