A/N: Hope you enjoy this. :)

Knock. Knock.

"Coming!" I yelled, practically running through the living room to open the front door and saw someone standing in front of me. "Elena?"

"Good morning." she greeted, showing something on her hands to me. It was wrapped by an alluminium paper but it smelled delicious.

"What's this?" I asked as I took it from her hands.

"Breakfast." she answered simply, walking into my house.

"Breakfast?" I asked disbelief as I closed the door. She nodded. "For me?" She laughed and nodded again, turning at me.

"For us actually." she informed. "I know you have no food for breakfast so I cooked this one for you."

Suddenly I felt pity for other guys out there just because they didn't have Elena in their life."Well that's so generous of you. Thanks." I said, smiling at her and walking towards the kitchen. She followed me behind.

"You look nice in that shirt by the way. Dark blue is truly your color." she commented easily.

"First you brought me breakfast and then you complimented me. In a good mood, aren't you?" I asked, chuckling to cover my nervousness. "You look beautiful yourself though." I complimented back. She really did look beautiful. And it happened everyday.

"Why thank you." she said, helping me to bring glasses and a bottle of mineral water then put them on the dining table.

"I didn't expect you'd cook for me." I said honestly. "But I was glad you did though. I'm starving." I added, pulling a chair for her.

She sat on it as she muttered thanks. "I woke up way too early today and I saw this", pointing at our food, "on the magazine and I thought I should give it a try."

"So in a short way I am your food tester? Well Miss Gilbert, I hope it's worth it." I said, taking a seat beside her.

She laughed. "Relax. I didn't put any poison in it though."

"Uh huh." I answered, eyeing her playfully.

"I swear, Stefan." she laughed again. "I wouldn't want to kill you."

"Good. Because you wouldn't want to lose this gorgeous friend of yours." I said, winking at her.

She slapped my shoulder as she laughed harder. "Thanks for reminding me that."

"No prob." I answered, shrugging like it wasn't a big deal. She rolled her eyes but then put a slice of the food onto my plate. She looked at me and gave me the smile that I loved the most.

Dear God, before I forget, I wanna say thanks for the perfect morning. Sincerely, me still can't believe You made Elena cook for me.

OOO

"I see your happiness through the door, Sir." Lexi said, walking into my room.

"Hm?" I tilted my head so I could see her. I couldn't lie, there was a big smile on my face. I knew that.

She eyed me suspiciously. "I'm sure something happened between you and Elena."

I smiled wider at her.

"I knew it!" she suddenly yelled then sat on the chair in front of me. "Tell me, Sir. Hot kisses? Amazing sex?"

"Whoa whoa, Lexi, that's so crossed the line." I warned, looking at her firmly.

She closed her mouth and apologized awkwardly. "I'm so sorry, Sir. I was just too excited to hear something about you and her."

I sighed. I knew that she was curious and she was the one who I could always trust, but her questions just burned my healthy mind. "Something happened, yes."

She began to smile again. "And then?"

"And then... No kiss or sex."

Her smile faded as her mouth began to shape the letter O. "Oh."

"She cooked something for me this morning and we had breakfast together."

"In your house?"

I nodded. "She came through my door and that's it."

She clapped her hands happily. "At least she did an effort for you, Sir."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "What do you mean? She was just being polite, I knew her since we were kids, remember?"

Lexi sighed deeply. "Oh please, Sir. Don't tell me that you did NOT realize what she meant."

"About what?"

"Dear God why my boss didn't get the hint?" she asked dramatically, looking at the ceiling then placing her eyes on mine. "Elena is falling for you."

Elena is falling for me? "You're joking. You don't know that, Lexi."

"No, I'm pretty much sure about that." she answered confidently. "Sir, I'm a woman okay. I know everything about women when we fall for guys."

I stayed quiet. Honestly? I was thinking about what Lexi just said. But could it be true?

"Elena didn't cook for you just because she wanted to be polite, but because she wanted you to know that she cares about you more than a friend." Lexi explained. "I'll never, like ever, cook for someone if I consider them just a friend."

"Maybe Elena is..."

"What, different?" she cut my words. I nodded. "As much as different Elena is than other women, falling for you is still the biggest and most logical reason to at least did something for you. She did an effort to be with you, Sir."

"I don't know, Lex." I said, leaning back into my chair and playing the pen that I held. "My hope is getting bigger and bigger everyday and I'm afraid that someday it turns bad for me, I'll break into pieces."

I heard she sighed again. "That's not gonna happen if you throw that thought away and start to give her the same attention."

I knew that Lexi was right. But I'd need time to think about it. "Thanks, Lexi. I'll try."

"You should. Or another guy will catch her. I heard that Derek likes her."

"Derek Cane?"

"Yep. Better hurry, Sir." she said, winking at me as she standing up. "I'll go rearrange your meeting schedule for this week since you have things to handle with Mikaelsons."

Right. Mikaelsons. Those people who came from hell.

Lexi walked out of my room quickly, leaving me here to think, and consider, what should I do to Elena. So I guessed it was a start.

XXXXX

"Miss Gilbert?" someone called. I didn't recognize whose voice it was so I turned my head from the paper I was reading and saw Derek stood near my table.

"Oh hi, Derek." I greeted.

"Have you finished your work? It's 6.30 PM already. You promised to have a drink with me."

Uh oh. I completely forgot about that. "Oh. Right. Yesterday I said tonight, didn't I? Alright, let me grab my stuff first then we can go."

Derek smiled as he nodded. "I'll wait at the lobby."

"Okay, I'll see you there in a minute."

He started to walk towards the elevator when I put the papers back into the folder.

"Leaving so soon?" someone asked again. But this time I knew exactly whose voice that was.

"Yep."

"Okay I'll take my bag first."

"No, Caroline, that's fine. I'll go home by myself tonight."

She stopped her steps, turning back to me. "Why?" she asked curiously.

"I'll go to the Grill, grab a drink with a friend."

Caroline rolled her eyes. "I'm your friend, Elena. Do I know her?"

"Him, not her."

"Stefan?" she smiled playfully. "Okay, I get it. You want to have some private time with him. Go. Have fun." she said, leaving me alone. She didn't even give me a chance to explain but if I told her that I was gonna go with Derek, she would drag me home right then.

"Okay, I'm ready." I said to myself. I checked everything on the table then went to the elevator. I hoped something bad wouldn't happen tonight.

"Ready?" Derek asked as I walked out of the elevator. He was standing not too far from me.

"Yeah." I nodded as I kept walking, ignoring his offered hand to hold me. I knew it was rude but I wanted to give him a barrier. He just couldn't touch me that fast. I was old fashioned. But I was proud of it.

Derek seemed disappointed though but he didn't say anything. Once we were outside the building, he opened his car door for me. Just like what Stefan always did.

Once Derek hopped in, he immediately turned the engine on. "Everything okay? You look nervous." he asked, seeing me acted differently.

"I'm okay." I answered as I wore the seat belt.

"Okay then." he asked, smiling at me then starting to leave the office.

OOO

Derek was actually a fun guy. And he was so smart, he knew almost everything that happened in this country. Another point plus, he was quite gentle.

"You want to order some other food?" he asked, crossing his arms on the table. He was full of smile tonight that made him seem so charming.

"No, I'm full." I shook my head, smiling back at him. "I drink too much, too."

He laughed a little. "Well that was our original plan to go here but then we were hungry so..."

"Yeah we were." I agreed as I thought what else I could ask him. Thank God it turned okay to have conversations with him. At first I thought it was gonna be awkward. "Tell me-"

"Oh aren't you the lovely Elena?" someone suddenly showed up, smiling devilishly at me.

I tilted my head to see her, changing my position. "Rebekah."

"Hi." she greeted again, still smiling and waving her hand. "Oh hello to you." she said, looking at Derek. He smiled kindly at her. "You're here with Elena? I'm Rebekah Mikaelson."

"Hi, yes I'm here with her and I'm Derek Cane. Nice to meet you." he said, shaking Rebekah's hand gently.

"Nice to meet you too." she said back politely that made me want to throw up. "So Elena, did you already hear about the engagement news?" Rebekah said, turning her head to me again.

I looked at her quizzically as she began to laugh. Whom engagement exactly?

"Me and Stefan's." she informed like she could read my mind, chuckling in the most very fake way.

En... Engaged?! Her and Stefan? What?!

"Oops. I thought Stefan already told you. I'm so sorry I didn't aware of that." she said again, pretending to be concerned.

I stayed quiet and I was sure that was the reason why her smile getting wider. "Well then, I have somewhere else to be. Bye, Elena, Derek." she walked backwards then turned around, walking out of the door.

I exhaled. Why did Stefan not tell me about this?

"You alright, Miss Gilbert?" Derek asked, touching my shoulder. I shrugged weakly and stood up.

"I'm sorry, Derek. I have to go home."

"Let me drive you home."

"No, thanks I will get a cab." I said to him, wearing my coat. "I had a good time with you, Derek. But..." I stopped, couldn't say anything more. There was something in my mind that made me want to explode. "Good night." was my last words to him before ran off of the Grill. I needed to be alone tonight.

XXXXX

"Hello?" I picked up after the first ring. Caroline rarely called me so this made me panic. Has something happened with Elena?

"Stefan? Is Elena still with you?" she asked hesitantly.

"No, I'm alone. Why, did something happen?"

"Oh my God I thought... I thought that she went to the Grill with you." she answered, starting to sob hardly.

"Ssh, ssh, Caroline." I tried to calm her down. "Now, tell me what's going on?" I asked again after a few seconds.

She sighed sharply, still sobbing. "Jenna called me and said that Elena hasn't coming back." I became more panic. "I know she's a grown woman but she isn't the one who likes to come home after midnight."

"Have you called Elena?"

"I have. But she turns her phone off." she answered.

"Checked on the Grill?"

"Have too. Saw no one."

Oh God this is not good. "Why did you think that she went with me?"

"I..." she took a breath. "I saw her leaving and she said that she'd come home by herself after grab a drink with a friend."

"A friend?"

"Yeah. She didn't tell me who he was." she answered. "Oh crap! I was the one who didn't give her a chance to tell me." she added, starting to sob again.

"Ssh, ssh, Caroline. Everything's going to be okay, I promise you. I'll go look for her now."

"Thanks... Thanks Stefan. Tell me if you find her, I'll call everyone from the office."

"Will do." I said, ending the conversation. I quickly grabbed my car key and walked out of the door. Oh Elena where are you?

"Stefan!" I laughed as he ran after me. "No, no, no! I didn't hide your shoes! I didn't hide your shoes!" I yelled again, running faster to avoid him. Stefan, Damon and I were having a picnic at the lake side near our houses. I was still 9 years old.

"No I don't believe you, Elena!" he yelled back, almost touching my cloth.

I laughed harder. "I swear! Damon did!"

Stefan growled, kept running and following wherever I ran to. Then he stopped abruptly, taking deep breaths. "Okay, okay I believe you now."

I stopped too then walked back towards him. "Told you." I smiled.

"Yo brother, Elena!" Damon called. "Will you two come over here?" he asked. Me and Stefan walked to a place where Damon was. Once I saw something on his hands, I gasped at the view then ran to him.

"Oh my God, oh my God he is so cute!" I shouted happily as I touched him.

"Where are my shoes, Damon?" Stefan asked, standing behind me.

"It's a her, Elena." Damon said, handing the puppy to me then pointing Stefan's shoes not too far from our picnic basket. "I thought you forgot to wear it again after you swam so I brought it here."

"Thanks." Stefan said, walking away to get his shoes then wear it back.

"Can we keep her?" I asked the Salvatore brothers. Damon shook his head, meaning no. But Stefan, as always, cheered me up which earned a death glare from Damon.

"Of course. Where do you want to keep her?" he asked back, standing then walking to me and caressing the puppy's head.

"Stefan, Elena. We have 3 kittens in our backyard. Please don't add this one too." Damon reminded. I sighed disappointedly. He was right though.

"What if we keep her here? We can visit her after school, give some food and play with her." Stefan suggested. "And maybe we can build her a house, a small one."

I smiled brightly at him. The idea was the best and I loved it.

"You just can't say no to Elena, can you?" Damon asked Stefan. "Weak."

"It's not weak, Damon. He's just too kind to let this puppy homeless." I said, defending Stefan. Well no one could ever say that to Stefan, even if he was his brother. Damon shook his head again then took the picnic basket.

"I got something to do. See you at home, Stef." Damon said again, waving his hand to me and Stefan.

"So what we do now? Can we play?" I asked Stefan. He smiled as he nodded.

"I think so."

I put the puppy down then started to play with her and Stefan on the ground. That puppy was really cute.

"Elena?"

I gasped as I turned my head to see who it was. "Stefan? What are you doing here?"

He sighed, looking relieved then walking towards me. "I should be the one who ask you that. It's pass midnight, Elena. It's too dangerous to be here."

I turned my head back to the lake. The water was so calm that made me so relax. Stefan stopped then sat beside me.

"What happened?"

Your engagement happened. I smiled sadly at him then shook my head no. "Nothing happened." Lied. "I'm okay." Lied again.

Stefan chuckled. He must've known that I was lying. "Caroline called me. She is worried about you. Including me and Jenna."

I smiled again. "I know."

"Then why don't you go home by now?"

I exhaled. "I want to be here, Stefan, to throw everything away from my mind."

"But you could've waited until tomorrow, right?"

"No, I couldn't." My heart is in pain and you will never understand.

"Did you have a problem with your drink buddy?" he asked again carefully. "No offense."

I knew he would never stop asking me if I didn't give him real answers. "No, he was good to me."

"May I know who it was?"

"Derek Cane." I answered shortly.

I saw Stefan just nodded but didn't say anything. Was he jealous? Two minutes passed but no one of us said another word. That made me uncomfortable. So I stood up as I cleared my skirt from the sand. "I'm going home now. Thanks, Stefan."

"Elena..." he called, causing me to stop my steps. "I know there's something else in your mind."

Damn it, Stefan.

"Is it... Is it related to me?"

Yes. "No."

I felt his warmth suddenly radiating my back so I knew he was standing right behind me. "You know how much I hate people who lie to me, Elena." And his words just made me want to turn around and hug him, never letting him go anywhere. Not to Rebekah either.

"I met Rebekah." I whispered, feeling no power to talk loudly.

"Did she say something?"

I turned around, wanting and needing to look at his face. "She did."

"What did she say?" he asked again calmly.

My tears fell onto my cheeks in all of sudden before I answered him. "Your engagement with her."

He smiled then wipped my tears away with his thumb. "And that's why you came here?"

I nodded weakly. I really, really wanted to say otherwise but I just couldn't lie to him. Not when I needed him to hold me.

He pulled me towards him into a hug. I literally sobbed when he patted my back ever so smoothly. I hugged him back with so much pain that I just realized that might be because I liked him. I like him.

"She lied, Elena." was all he said when he pulled away, wiping my tears on my cheeks again. "If I ever got engaged, it would've been with you."

I gasped as I heard him saying that. "What?"

He smiled again, looking into my eyes. "Well I don't know how I should explain this but..."

I blinked, waiting for him to finish his words.

"I like you. A lot. And no one ever replaced your name in here," he said, pointing his head, "and here," this time to his heart, "and I will never want anyone else ever do that."

His explanations made me weak. So weak and I felt so small and embarrassed because I had such a narrow mind. Why didn't I ask him to clarify right after Rebekah said those damn words?

"And I hope you won't hate me because I just can't stand the idea of shutting me down like this."

I smiled, feeling more embarrassed and dumb. "How can I hate you when I have feelings for you?"

He looked shocked at first but then his smile grew. "You do?"

I nodded, chuckling like a 6 years kid got her birthday present. "I do, I like you too, Stefan. I really do." I confessed confidently. "But..."

Then suddenly he leaned in and kissed my lips, causing me to stop talking. I needed a moment to process what was going on but I knew I'd kiss him back eventually.

"No buts." he said, pulling his lips an inch away from mine. "Don't ever believe what Rebekah says, ever again." he added then kissed my lips once again.

"Never." I whispered as I got a chance to take a breath.

Stefan opened his eyes then smiled. "Good."

And then I hugged him again so tightly that could make him barely breathing. But I didn't care. Because I knew this made him happy. Made us happy.

For the first time in my lifetime, I believed what Caroline once told me;

"Someday, you and Stefan will be together for good. In the right time. In the right moment. With the right reason."

A/N: Yeay!