A/N: I apologize for the delay on updating. Life had gotten in the way, but I'm back. I will probably just be updating weekly instead of updating everyday. Thank you so much and as always, I appreciate the reviews, messages, and you taking the time to read my story.

Elena had stood there stunned, she couldn't believe Damon came and didn't try to ruin their party. She saw the hesitant in Caroline's eyes, but still she handed the present to the young mother. Elena sat back on Stefan's lap watching Caroline open the present. When she held up two small teddy bears, one pink and the other purple.

"Alaric," Caroline whispered with tears in her eyes, "Aren't these adorable?"

"They are," Alaric smiled at her before looking over to see a concerned Elena.

"I'm going to go outside a minute," Stefan whispers in Elena's ear and she nods.

"I'll come with you," she whispers back feeling her stomach knot up.

They leave the other three in the living room gushing over the present from Damon. When they entered the night air Elena felt goose bumps go down her arms. Stefan was standing there searching the area, Elena figured looking for Damon. He let out a small sigh, making him loosen up before looking back at Elena with tired eyes.

"Where do you think he is," she asks reading his mind, "In town hurting people?"

"I don't really know," he sighs pulling her towards his chest and she nestles her head under his chin, "He can't get in the cabin… He won't hurt you, I promise."

"I know," she whispers, though she wanted to tell him to not make a promise he can't keep.

"How are you doing," he asks pulling back just enough to look her in the eyes, searching them for any sign of fear or anything else other than happy.

"I'm okay," she yawns, "It's just been a long day."

"Elena," Caroline calls from the door and they turn to look at the young blonde, "We got to go, I have an appointment in the morning and Alaric has to teach... I've missed you so much, thank you for tonight."

"It was my pleasure," Elena laughs as Caroline runs up to her wrapping her arms tightly around Elena, "I missed you too Care, very much."

"I thought I would never get to see both of my best friends at the same time because of Kai," Caroline sniffled as tears ran down her cheek falling onto Elena's shoulder.

"I know," Elena whispered trying to hold onto her own tears.

"Promise me you won't leave," Caroline pleads in a whisper, reminding Elena of what a small child would do.

"I promise Care," Elena said as her own tears finally began to fall, "I never wanted to leave, but I couldn't let Bonnie die for me anymore than she already has. I love you and Bonnie so much, I would do anything for you guys. You know that, right?"

"I know," she sobs and Elena let a few of her own tears fall.

"I will see you soon Caroline," Elena whispers wiping the tears from Caroline's flawlessly pale cheeks, "Now you take care of them babies in you, I will definitely be there when they're born. Rest and drink water."

"You sound like my doctor," Caroline laughs, though it's weak, it was music to Elena's ears.

"Now where's my hug," Bonnie asked from behind Elena and when she turned the saw tears in her eyes.

"Come here," Caroline instructs and when Bonnie is standing next to the two girls, Caroline pulls them both to her, "Group hug."

"There's my girls," Alaric says stepping out of the house and onto the porch, walking towards us, "Didn't know seeing you three together again would bring so much peace."

"Get in the hug Ric," Elena calls and as she says it Alaric was wrapping his arms around the three of them.

"Stefan, get in here," Caroline demands laughing.

"I don't really do hugs," he says hesitantly.

"Just get in here," Caroline says and Elena feels Stefan's body against her back.

They stood there for what felt like forever, but time never seemed to be there friend. Soon they were all saying goodbye with promises to see each other soon. As Stefan and Elena watched the car pulling away, Elena let out a yawn. It had been a long day and Stefan wrapped his arms around her waist. He kissed her temple and she smiled at the intimacy of his touch.

"You need to get some rest," he whispers and like on cue she yawned yet again, "It's been a long day."

"I know," she whispers, "but I enjoyed seeing them."

"Me too," he whispered in her ear, "Let's go to bed."

She nodded, letting him lead her in the cabin and up to the room they have been sleeping in. When they entered the room, Stefan pulled back the cover before letting her climb in. Once she was laying down, he got under the cover next to her, feeling her warm back against his chest. When he closed his eyes, he felt her shifting to face him.

"I love you so much Stefan Salvatore," She whispered running her hand over his jaw before pressing her lips against his, "You saved me more times than I can count. Thank you."

"I love you more, Elena Gilbert," he says opening his eyes to look into her dark brown ones, "I've been around for over a hundred years and I've never met anyone that I love more than you. You saved me from an eternity of hell."

"I thought you were asleep," she whispered, feeling a little embarrassed that he heard her confession of love.

"I could say the same about you," he smirked before leaning in to kiss her plumped lips, "Is this what you do when I sleep? Tell me how much you love me?"

"No," she laughed putting her hand against his hard chest, "And just so you know you couldn't love me more than I love you."

"Want to bet," he asked in a challenging way and she laughed.

"Are you challenging me, Mister Salvatore," she asked in a seductive voice.

"For someone that was tired a little bit ago," he begins, "seems to be more awake now."

"It was part of my plan," she said raising an eyebrow playfully.

"What plan," he asked running his hand over her side.

"To get you in bed," she smiled and he tightened his hand on her ribs, causing her to let out a moan.

"Is that right Miss Gilbert," he asked in a husky voice, sounding about as sexy as he looked.

He rolled her onto her back, with him on top of her. With the moonlight coming through the window, he could see her eyes wide with wonder and her lips parted. He knew what she wanted and he was going to never deny her of what she wanted. He rocked his hips against hers, causing those delicious moans that he was addicted too. Soon they were both undressing each other and letting themselves get lost in each other's touch and kiss.

When Elena woke in the morning, Stefan was still asleep. She smiled to herself as she looked at him. Feeling the small pounding between her legs, proof that last night was not just some dream. She slowly got out of bed and put on Stefan's shirt before walking downstairs to the kitchen to begin making breakfast. She turned on some radio station, but kept it turned down so she didn't wake up Stefan. The song that came on was California by Big and Rich. Though she had always wanted to visit there, she still hadn't gotten to yet. She danced to the beat as she cooked eggs and bacon.

"Good morning Beautiful," Stefan said and she turn her head to look at him, he was wearing a white tank top and a pair of sweats.

"Good morning Handsome," she said before turning back towards the stove, "I was going to surprise you with breakfast in bed, guess the in-bed part is out now. Are you hungry?"

"Starved," he said as he walked up behind her wrapping his hands around her waist, pulling her body tightly against his.

"I can't focus like this," she said with a smile.

"Like what," he asked, but he knew exactly what he was doing.

"With your hands on my body," she whispered and as he was slowly moving his hands away, she grabbed them and wrapped them tighter around her, "I didn't say I didn't like it."

"Oh really," he whispered into her ear as he rubbed her bare thigh with the tips of his fingertips.

She smiled as she got ready to put the eggs and bacon on their plates that she had laid on the counter. She uses the spatula to get the eggs and bacon off the skillet before turning in Stefan's arms and wrapping her arms around his neck. When they had dated before, he had never been this handsy, it was more of Damon's thing. He was always sweet, but she liked the new Stefan, he seemed livelier.

"Are you going hunting tonight," she asked and he look at her confused, "Stefan, you haven't fed since I woke up. You need to feed."

"I don't want to miss a second with you," he whispers laying his forehead on hers.

"And you will if you don't feed," she whispered concerned, "You will miss a lot of my life if you don't feed. I don't want to see you desiccate. I'll be right here, safe."

"But," he begins before getting cut off.

"No buts Stefan," she says pulling away just far enough to search his eyes, to show him how serious she is, "Go feed tonight and I will be here reading or writing, I might even watch a movie."

"I don't want to leave you alone," he whispers.

"I won't be alone Stefan," she whispers, grabbing his hand and putting it over her beating heart, "You're right here. Always."

She knew what she did was cheesy, but it seemed to do the trick. He nodded and bent down to kiss her lips, then he removed his hand and placed a kiss where her heart is. Maybe they were jumping into things a little too fast, but if they went any slower it would be agonizing and the shoe would drop. When he stood back up, Elena grabbed the plates and went to sit in the living room, knowing Stefan would follow her.

Hours had passed with little talking. They watched every romance movie that had Channing Tatum in it, though Stefan didn't care much for him, he knew Elena loved watching him. As it started to get dark, he knew Elena was right. He needed to feed because the risk of losing control on her was unbearable to think about.

"I'll be back in a couple hours," he promised as they stood at the door.

"Take your time Stefan," she laughed, "I'll be fine."

"If anything happens and you need me," he begins, "Just call. I'll have my cellphone on me."

"Go Stefan," she laughed, "I'll be here waiting for you."

"Okay," he nodded still hesitant on leaving, "I love you."

"I love you Stefan," she sighed sweetly, "Be careful."

"I will," he promises in a whisper as he leaned down and kissed her with as much passion as he could muster.

As he walked outside she watched him, making sure he wouldn't turn around and deprive himself of feeding. Although she didn't want to be away from Stefan for even a minute, she knew what would happen if he stopped feeding. Once she saw that he was finally in the woods, she went and sat on the couch and decided to watch another movie. Thoughts of Stefan filled her head, but she managed to watch the entire movie.

A couple hours had passed since Stefan left and Elena began to grow nervous. She knew he was okay, but still there was always that worry he would never come back. She was about to put another movie in when there was a knock at the door. She walked over to answer it, wondering who it could be, and as she opened it a chill ran through her spine.

"Hello Elena," the man smirked at her.

"Damon," she whispered.