Disclaimer: I still do not own The Vampire Diaries or any of the characters. Sigh.
I am so sorry this took so long. I had a lot of assignments due when I got back from holidays and then life crept up on me. I had some things to sort out. It's a bit better now though and my computer finally got fixed! It broke and then when I had it repaired, Word was deleted so I could write which was really frustrating! But after I post this chapter, I'm starting on the next one already so I PROMISE, less than a week before the next update and I'll try and be more regular from now on. I'm never letting it get to two months anymore, that wait was ridiculous. Thanks for sticking around! I love you guys!
On with the show…
"You, you're heading out in three days? And you didn't even tell me?" My voice cracks halfway through my sentence. "How could you not tell me? You didn't even discuss this with me!"
He sighs. "Elena, my job is important to me, you know this. I can't just sit back and watch it all happen from the side lines. I have a duty, I have—"
I interrupt. "You don't have to do anything! This was a choice presented to you and I understand how important you value your job but you didn't even check with me. You didn't even inform me you were offered to go. Do I mean that little to you?"
He shakes his head quickly from side to side. "No, that's not it! You mean the world to me, you do. I'd do anything for you."
"Except discuss going away to train for a possible fight that could end up killing you. Not even informing me it was a choice presented to you. Not even thinking of how I'd feel about all this. No, you would do anything for me as long as it means you don't have to choose between me and your job." I finish my speech and back away from him slowly. I turn around and head towards the stairs.
Stefan follows me and puts his hand on my shoulder. "Elena?"
I push it off. "No, Stefan," I turn around and face him. "I can't talk about this right now."
"But I'm leaving soon so we need to talk about this now."
"Well, I can't talk about it now, Stefan!" I scream at him. He moves back. "I'm going upstairs to bed. You can stay on the couch. We'll finish this conversation tomorrow. I'm too tired for this now. It's been a long day. Good night Stefan," I head up the stairs and ignore him calling my name.
I enter the bedroom and sit down on the bed before leaning my head into my hands. The tears that have been welling up in my eyes since Stefan told me of his decision finally start to run down my cheeks. I lean back and lie down on the bed, crying quietly for a while.
I don't know how much time passes before I look up and my gaze settles on the phone on the bedside table. I check my trouser pocket for Damon's number from when I noted it down earlier. Without thinking about it, I dial the number and wait to see if he'll pick up.
The line rings twice before he does. "Hello?"
"Damon?"
I hear him inhale. "Elena. How are you?"
"Did you know?" I question him.
"Know? Know what?" I can picture the frown on his face.
"About Stefan. Did you know?"
"Stefan? What happened to him, is he alright?"
He sounds genuinely confused.
"He's leaving in three days. They offered him a post to train Marines and go with them overseas."
Damon is silent. "He didn't tell me."
I laugh quietly. "That makes two of us."
"What do you mean?"
"I got home and he just informed me they offered him the post and he took it. Without telling me or talking to me."
Another pause. "Elena, being a Marine is important to him. Honestly, I'm not too surprised he took the job."
"That's not what bothers me! What annoys me is that—"
"He didn't even tell you or discuss it with you before he accepted the post despite the fact that you'd probably end up agreeing anyway 'cause you know how much it means to him? Yeah. We've all been there, sweetheart. Stefan's priorities are… complicated," His voice seems to drift off towards the end.
I realise Damon must be familiar with this kind of behaviour. "He's done this before, hasn't he?"
Damon chuckles before speaking with a bitter tone, "Well, we were raised with the Marine way of thinking. Job first, family second."
I frown. "What? So no matter what anyone says, he'll always be leaving?"
"Elena, it's not that he doesn't care about you, it's just that he's a Marine at heart. He idolised our dad and when he signed up for the Marines, he did it because it was what he always wanted to do. He never considered another job, it was always going to be what he's doing now. It's such an important part of him that he can't help but make choices around it. He loves you enough that he moved to another city. Don't doubt his feelings," Damon sighs, "You mean a lot to him but the choice they presented to him…"
"Not really a choice in his mind. So why wait before agreeing?" I finish.
"Exactly. Stefan's a Marine at heart. He would never sit back and watch the events unfurl, he'd be right in the middle overseeing it all."
It becomes a lot clearer to me now. And Damon makes me realise how much of my anger was based on my doubts about Stefan's feelings. That doesn't change how upset I am though, I still believe he should have spoken to me first. I can't get past that any time soon.
"Thank you Damon."
"Anytime, Elena. Are you okay?"
I blink, realising Damon is comforting me while it's his family who will be going away, heading towards probable danger. "I'm fine, but you're the one whose brother is leaving. Are you ok?"
He laughs, bitter tone from earlier creeping back in. "I'm fine. Stefan and I aren't close. And I've always known there was a possibility he'd leave. I've made my peace with it."
Does it not matter to him? I ask him as much.
"He's my brother, Elena. I care about him. But I've known him his whole life and I've always known he'd become a Marine, however much I hoped he wouldn't. If he didn't go, I'd wonder. I refuse to dwell on it."
My tears start up again. What happened to them for them to drift so far apart?
Damon must hear my sniffles as he speaks again, concern audible, "Elena? It'll be okay. Stefan will be fine. Everything will be fine." His voice is soothing and I slowly calm down again which is when I remember where Damon is.
"Hey, how are you? How are things over there? Are you allowed to leave?"
"Nah, airports are a nightmare right now obviously. I'm probably going to be here for another few days. The second I can leave, I'm out of here though. I'm considering just getting a car and driving back."
The thought comforts me. Somehow, knowing he'll be back soon makes Stefan's looming departure easier. Part of Stefan will be around, even if it's in the form of his estranged, private brother.
"Well, I'm going to go now and try to get some sleep. I'll talk to you soon?"
"Of course. Nice hearing from you, and call anytime you want, ok?" He replies.
"Thank you. I might take you up on that. For now though, sleep."
"Where is Steffie?"
I roll my eyes at the nickname. "He's downstairs on the sofa. I was mad." I admit sheepishly.
Damon laughs loudly over the phone. "Doghouse for the puppy. That's great," his chuckles die down and he sounds serious when he continues, "but don't be mad for too long. He's leaving soon and I know it'd hurt you to leave things on a bad note. So talk to him, okay?"
I nod and remember he can't see me. "Yes, I know. Goodnight Damon and thanks again."
"Goodnight Lena. Sleep well."
"You too," I hang up.
After the phone call, I realise Damon is right. Stefan is leaving soon and despite the fact I'm mad, he and I should probably talk. I decide that I'll talk to him the next morning but right now, I need some sleep. I wasn't kidding when I said I was tired and right now, I can barely stay awake. I change into pyjamas and turn off the light after slipping under the covers.
Let's hope tomorrow is better than today, I think grimly.
Yes, let's hope. But surprise Damon appearance! Yay.
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See you next time,
~xxEternityxx.
