Disclaimer: I own nothing.

AN:Chapter 11! Thought I'd clear up the kiddie confusion. Caroline and Tyler will make their appearances soon. XD

Alaric & Jenna have two kids. Miranda: 4 years old and Cole: 1 month old

Jeremy & Bonnie have one daughter. Ella: 15 months old

EPOV.

I got home to find Alex lying beside Damon on the couch, both of them asleep. I walk over and go to pick Alex up, planning to carry him to his room. I notice he has a chain around his neck so I pull it out of his shirt to see what it is. I gasp and sit it back down.

Walking upstairs into mine and Damon's room and closing the door behind me. I sit down against it and feel the tears stinging my eyes. Just that little object triggered all the feelings I had been trying to ignore. Alex looks so much like him. He'll never know him. Never see him grow up. I didn't miss Stefan for my own selfish reasons. I loved Damon more than anything, but I still wanted Stefan to be able to see his son turn into a man.

I decided I needed some air. I opened the door and walked back downstairs, checking on Alex and Damon, then heading outside. I walk the whole driveway and then out in the woods, trying to find the little creek Stefan once showed me.

After at least an hour of going in circles I see water up ahead. I walk a few more steps and freeze. Someone is standing there, looking down at the water. I gasp and he turns around to face me.

"Elena?" His familiar voice asks.

"Elijah? What are you doing here?" I ask, my heart is ready to pound out of my chest.

Does he know about Alex? What if he goes after him? At least Damon is with him. He'd never let anything hurt him. He takes a step towards me and it's then that I realize I hadn't worn, or ingested Vervain in years.

"I was on my way to New York and thought I'd drop in. It's been awhile." He says, taking in my no longer teenaged appearance. "I see you've grown." He says.

"That's what humans do" I say, shrugging.

"I just always thought you would turn after high school."

"Sorry this isn't Twilight. I like being a human." I tell him.

"Hmm you seem almost happy." He says, watching my facial expressions carefully.

"Why wouldn't I be? Klaus is dead. I haven't had a threat hanging over me in years."

"Yes, I just assumed you would have been a little more distressed without Stefan around these days."

"That was a long time ago and I'm with Damon now." I tell him, pretending not to care, when really Stefan's name sends daggers through me.

"Ah the other brother. I never thought of you as the Katherine type."

"I'm nothing like Katherine. I loved Stefan but he's gone. I love Damon more than anything now."

Then it hits me. I never told him Stefan was dead.

I take a few steps back. Scared to death of him now.

"How did you know Stefan was dead?" I ask him accusingly.

"Ah you caught that, huh?" He says, smiling and walking towards me. I back up but I don't run. I remember what Stefan told me about vampires loving the thrill of the hunt almost as much as the kill itself.

"This could have gone in a completely different direction." He says, appearing in front of me. I squeeze my eyes closed so he can't compel me. I hear him sigh and grab my chin.

"Open your eyes or I go get little Alex and he can join us." I open my eyes slowly but he doesn't compel me.

"I killed Stefan. I held him still and sucked every drop of life from his body."

I start shaking, my eyes getting blurry with tears.

"You know what the funny part is? He didn't beg for his life. No. He begged me not to hurt you or his child. He begged, on his knees. Quite pitiful if you ask me."

"Look at me, Elena." He says, pulling my chin to make me face him. "I was never here. You finished your walk and decided to turn around and head back. Close your eyes and count to three."

I find myself counting slowly.

"One"

"Two"

"Three"

I open my eyes to see the creek in front of me. Might as well head back now. I turn around and head back to the house.

DPOV.

I hear the front door open and see Elena walk in.

"Where were you?" I ask her worriedly.

"Oh, I just needed some air so I took a walk." She says, heading to the kitchen.

"You were gone for over two hours Elena. We just ordered pizza." I tell her.

"Oh, sorry. Did Alex go to bed?"

"Nah, he went upstairs to play in his room. Is everything ok?" I ask, walking over to her.

"Yea I just had a moment, sorry." She says, wrapping her arms around me.

"It's ok. I had one this afternoon."

"Damon did you give Alex Stefan's ring?"

Damn it. "Um yea. I stopped at the graveyard and Alex came with me. He asked about him and I told him Stefan was my brother. But I told him the S on the ring stood for Salvatore."

She pulls back to stare at me.

"You promised we would tell him together when he was older." She says.

"Yea but I changed my mind. It's not like he can put the pieces together." I say shrugging.

I feel her hand collide with my face. Damn, she hits a lot harder than I remember. Stupid human feelings. She turns around and walks upstairs.

Well that didn't go well.