Stefan casually got up and went to retrieve his pants as there was a pounding on his door again along with another ring of the doorbell. Elena scrambled around to follow him.
"Oh my God who is here?" She asked in a hushed voice. She was freaking out.
"Get dressed." Stefan smiled kissing her cheek as he buttoned his pants walking to the door.
Elena quickly put her clothes on as Stefan opened the door.
"Hello." She heard his voice and next thing she knew just as she was fixing her shirt she was bombarded by two people almost knocking her over.
"Oh my God!" She heard to familiar voices squeal. Elena smiled so big her cheeks hurt as she hugged them back. "We've missed you." They both said at the same time.
"I've missed you too." Elena said as she held them close. Her emotions were on overload as she took in everything that was going on. Stefan had invited them to come visit and had kept it a secret from her. She couldn't believe he would do such a thing for her. He was amazing. This was just what she had been needing.
"Can't we get a hello as well?" Elena heard Tyler's voice and she momentarily let go of her two best friends to see Tyler and Matt holding tons of suitcases along with Stefan.
Elena hugged the girls once more before hugging each of the guys tightly. "It's so good to see you all." She said as pulled away from Matt and jumping into Stefan's arms. "You are so sneaky and oh so amazing!" She kissed his face all over. "Thank you so much."
"Anything for you." He smiled setting her back down. "Go show them around." Elena kissed him before grabbing Caroline and Bonnie to head out of the house and out on to the beach.
"Somebody had hot vamp sex!" Caroline said looking around the kitchen taking notice of the broken table and the dented fridge. Everyone else took in the surroundings as well trying to keep the smirks off their faces as they looked between Stefan and Elena. Stefan was shirtless still which was a sign that Caroline was right and Elena couldn't look anyone in the face.
"Damn." Bonnie muttered under her breath. Just thinking about what went on was enough to make anyone blush.
"This is a sweet place man." Tyler said looking around. Trying to break the ice again between them all. Caroline always had a way of blurting things out.
"Pretty awesome." Matt added in.
"Thanks I've owned it for a couple of years. Follow me I'll show you where you will be staying." Stefan led Matt to a room that was down the hall that had to twin size beds. "Do you think Bonnie will mind staying in here with you? If not she can take a room to herself."
"I'll think this will be fine." Matt said. "Besides her bags are too heavy to tot anywhere else." He said making the guys laugh.
"Alright come on Tyler." Stefan led him up the stairs to a room across the hall from his. His felt a sense of sadness overtake him as he opened the door to Lexi's room. "This is where you and Caroline can stay."
"You okay man?" Tyler asked putting their suitcases away.
"I'm alright. This was Lexi's room. I haven't been in here since the last time she was here with me." Stefan replied picking up a picture of them that was on her nightstand.
"Sorry for your loss, I never got a chance to meet her but from the things Caroline has told me about her from you she sounds like a real great girl."
"She was." Stefan smiled setting the picture back down. "Why don't you and Matt go join the girls on the beach? I'll be down in a few I just need to change out of these jeans."
"See ya in a few." Tyler said quickly walking passed him he was so ready to jump in the water.
Stefan walked into his room and shut the door. He really never had a chance to mourn Lexi's death and every time he tried to push the emotions back they only stayed locked away for so long until he saw her smiling face in a photo. He hated that she had died at his brother's hands and he hated even more that he witnessed her death. Stefan felt slow tears start to flow down his cheeks as he slid down to the floor against the wall. All of the pain for Lexi's death was finally hitting him. He was finally able to let loose and cry.
"So how are things going?" Bonnie asked as she and Caroline down to the beach with Elena in the middle of them.
"Obviously good." Caroline laughed bumping shoulders with Elena.
Elena smiled brightly trying to hid her embarrassment from her two friends. "Things are going pretty well."
"Finally." Bonnie smiled hugging her friend. "We've been silently rooting for you and Stefan all along."
"We have a fan team?" Elena teased.
"The biggest." Caroline replied.
"How's Jeremy?" Elena asked. She had not heard from her brother in a couple of days.
"He's doing well." Bonnie answered. "He's been working really hard to finish the hunter's tattoo. We are making progress in it all."
"How did you all manage to escape town without anyone asking questions?" Elena was worried for her friend's safety.
Bonnie looked at Caroline and Caroline smiled proudly. "Well when Bonnie called me after hanging up with Stefan last week I began to form a plan and well after thinking it over we know we couldn't tell anyone we were leaving not even our parents. So one night when I was out hunting I realized nobody is awake in the town and Klaus is too busy at the Lake house with Jeremy and Rebekah is well probably sleeping dreaming of her evil plans for the girls at school and Kol is off trying to butt heads with his brother somehow. That leaves them all busy in the dead of the night and all of us the time we need to get the hell out of town. I ran to Bonnie's woke her up and we packed before gathering the boys. We hit the road and a few days later and here we are with our other two best friends as it should be."
"Smart girl." Elena said. "I'm so glad you are all here. I've been missing the two of you."
"Ha I'm sure." Caroline smirked at her friend indicating between her activities with Stefan she had no time to miss anybody.
"Caroline." Bonnie scolded her. "Leave her alone."
"What?" Caroline acted innocencet. "It's not like you aren't thinking it yourself. Honestly if you guys want we can get a hotel. I don't want to be woken up in the middle of the night by your late night rendezvous."
Elena rolled her eyes but knew what Caroline was saying was true. Stefan and she did stay up half the night usually making up for lost time. It was definitely going to be different having guests in the house but also nice. "No." Elena smiled wrapping her arms around her friends. "You guys are staying here with us and I promise to keep the sex to a minimum." The three girls laughed at her comment enjoying their best friend truly being happy again. Soon Tyler and Matt joined them down on the beach.
Elena was out on the beach with her friends enjoying herself just running around playing. Tyler had said Stefan was going to be a minute but that was ten minutes ago. "Hey I'm gonna be right back. I need to go check on Stefan. Don't wonder too far down the beach please guys." Elena smiled at them.
Elena heard the sound of Stefan's sobs as she walked up the stairs. In a panic she opened the door to see Stefan with his head in his hands. He looked up at her with tear stained cheeks. He didn't want her to see him like this but he could no longer keep it in. He wasn't strong enough anymore to hold it together.
"Stefan?" Elena said with heartbreak in her voice. She immediately sat beside him pulling him to her as Stefan rested his head against her chest as more tears fell. "Babe tell me what's going on please."
Stefan shook his head as he just cried harder. He felt weak for not being able to hold it together especially in front of her she didn't need to see him like this, not when she needed him to be strong for her. Minutes passed before Stefan was finally able to calm down. Elena just held him closer whispering how much she loved him and that everything would be okay. Stefan knew he would be fine but he just needed to let his emotions out for a moment.
"I miss her." Stefan whispered not lifting his head up. "Elena I miss her so much."
Elena didn't have to have a name to know who he was talking about. It was obvious how much he missed her on a daily basis. He had lost his best friend and it had been for no reason at all. Elena couldn't imagine if she had lost anyone else she cared about right in front of her eyes. At least people had allowed her to mourn for the people she loved not expect her to just move on like they meant absolutely nothing. Elena loved that Stefan loved and cared so deeply for people.
"Why did she have to die? At the hands of my own selfish brother." Stefan shuddered at the memory. "She was so amazing, so full of life even with a dead heart. Elena she saved me so many times, she taught me how to live. How to believe in myself. She was rooting for you and me. She wanted us to work out. Elena she loved you without even really knowing you. All she knew was that you made me feel alive and that I was madly in love with you so she began to love you herself. She would be so proud of us right now living the way we are." He lifted his chin to smile at her and Elena did the same as she wiped his tears away kissing each cheek. "She wanted us to be happy together."
"We are happy. Stefan its okay to cry for Lexi. You loved her and she was your best friend and I hate that you lost such an important person in your life especially with everything that you two went through. Lexi was an amazing girl and she is someone who is allowed to be mourned for. I just wish you wouldn't have waited so long to let it all out."
"I had to be strong."
"You don't have to be strong twenty-four seven. It's okay to feel the loss of someone. I don't want you to hold back anymore. It's good for you to feel those raw emotions; it's what makes you human. It's what I love about you." Stefan nodded as Elena kissed him softly.
"I love you."
"I love you too sweet boy now come on everyone is waiting for us." Elena stood up holding out her hand for him to take. It was her turn to be strong for him. To hold him close when he felt weak as he did for her.
Stefan took her hand pulling himself to his feet as Elena reached up wiping the remaining tears from his cheeks. He was too beautiful to have tears in his eyes. But there was something about how bright his eyes were shinning right now that made him look even more beautiful than she could ever remember him being. Slowly she stood on her tip toes pressing her lips to his in the most caring way ever. It was not a kiss to start anything between them but a kiss to try and show him how much she cared. To take away the ache in his heart. Stefan cupped his cheek in his hand holding her lips close to his and their tongues danced slowly.
"Thank you." Stefan whispered against her lips quietly. "Thank you."
"No need to thank me." She smiled. "I should be thanking you for inviting my friends here. I don't know how you pulled it off but I can't thank you enough Stefan. This is the best gift you could have given me."
"I figured if I couldn't take you home to the ones you loved then I'd bring home to you. Sorry Jeremy couldn't come. I got Bonnie to ask him to come but he said it was best if he didn't. That would truly set Klaus off if he left and he wants you to enjoy your time being a free woman until he finds the cure."
Elena smiled at him. "You are the best boyfriend ever."
"Only for you." He grabbed her hand and led her out the bedroom. "We are being terrible hosts."
Elena laughed as they walked downstairs to head out to the beach. It was time to go for a swim before the sunset.
After a few hours out on the beach the six friends found their way inside. Everyone was in good spirits as they all dried off making their way into the kitchen. Caroline had yet to let go of the dents in the fridge and the broken table making sexual jokes about Stefan and Elena. After the first few the two got over their embarrassment and enjoyed the laughs with everyone.
"I'm starving." Tyler said as he climbed onto a barstool around the island.
"Yeah me too." Bonnie and Matt said at the same time.
"Show us these cooking skills I've always heard Caroline rant and rave about." Tyler told Stefan.
"Yeah Stefan." Elena smiled reaching into the fridge to grab a bottle of wine for the girls. "Beers?" She asked Matt and Tyler. They nodded.
"And me?" Stefan asked. Elena winked before handing him one. "Thanks what would you like for dinner babe?"
"I could go for a steak thanks for asking." Tyler smiled at the two.
"Yeah we are the guest." Matt joked bringing the beer to his lips taking a drink.
Elena and Stefan laughed. "Sorry." Stefan said. "Just have gotten so used to cooking for Elena." He shrugged.
"Elena doesn't cook?" Tyler asked in disbelief earning a glare from her as Matt broke out into laughter.
"Shut it." She warned Matt pointing her finger at him. Stefan crossed his arms over his chest with a smile.
"No do tell please."
Elena eyed Matt to try and make him keep his mouth shut but the look on his face told her that he wasn't going to keep his mouth shut for her. "Sorry Elena." He smiled sweetly at her. "Okay man so back when we were like fifteen or sixteen Elena invited me over because she had the house to herself. She said she would make dinner and we would watch a movie. I was down of course. She wanted to make some Italian dish I'm not even sure what it was to be exact but the noodles were as hard as a rock, the sauce tasted like ketchup and let's not even get started on the garlic bread." He had to pause because he broke out into laughter again. Elena was stopped filling up her wine glass after she finished it off. She was too embarrassed by this story so she just tipped the bottle up earning a look from Stefan who gently took the bottle from her and filling her glass up before he put it up.
"Please go on." Stefan smiled.
"Well Elena caught the oven on fire somehow and the house was filled with smoke. She got into so much trouble for that one."
"That's why you got grounded for two weeks that year?" Bonnie asked with a giggle.
Elena rolled her eyes. "It wasn't that big of a deal."
Stefan pulled her into his side kissing her temple. "I think it's cute but now that we are vampires we're gonna have to keep you out of the kitchen so you don't burn us up." He teased her as Elena shoved him.
"Screw you." She tried to act angry but she was in too good of a mood to let some embarrassing story bring her down.
"Ha don't be upset Elena you're not the one to had to eat it!" Matt told her.
"Let's keep my cooking stories to a minimum. I've been learning thank you very much." She shot back.
"Now you have a lifetime to perfect it." Tyler laughed.
"A lifetime." She mumbled looking at her friends. She may have a lifetime but she doesn't have a lifetime with Bonnie or Matt.
"So Steaks?" Stefan asked breaking her from her thoughts. Everyone nodded. "Matt, Tyler you think I could get some help?" Stefan asked knowing he didn't really need their help but the company would be nice and he wanted to give the girls a chance to bond as well.
"I'll grab the beers." Tyler said running to the fridge.
"I'll actually help with the food." Matt replied grabbing the things Stefan was laying out as he seasoned up the steaks.
The guys were outside around the grill as the girls were inside sitting in the living room drinking and talking.
"So how did you guys end up here?" Bonnie had been dying to know what happened between them. "I was so worried when I didn't see you at school the next day or hear from you."
"Yeah especially after everything that happened at the school with Rebekah." Caroline said sadly. "I was sure that things would never be the same between you two after that truth or dare game."
Bonnie and Caroline watched as Elena's expression changed. Thinking about that day in the school broke her heart and it brought back some memories she wanted to erase but couldn't. That was the day that she broke Stefan's heart even more than she ever thought that she could and that was the day Stefan had tried to erase her from his memory forever. That was the day he walked away from her for good. It was what changed everything.
"Well I'm sure you know about how the game ended." Elena said softly. The girls nodded. "You know how Rebekah almost erased Stefan's memory?" Again they nodded with a bitch being said under their breath from one of them. "Well after he asked her to erase it all something changed inside of me. I felt scared that he may never remember our love and in that moment I knew that I was still in love with him. I wanted him to remember it all not forget it. Thank God for Rebekah being the bitch that she is and not giving us the satisfaction of not feeling the pain anymore. When he asked her to erase his memories of me a switch flipped inside of me. I didn't beg him like I should have but I felt something for him that I haven't felt in a while. He walked away from me and I chased him asking him to talk to me but when he wouldn't I knew it was over. He had finally had enough of me and I had betrayed him just as Katherine had. I felt so many different emotions. I didn't chase after him." She looked out the window to see Stefan laughing and smiling with the guys around the grill. "I made a mistake. I realized I had made a lot of mistakes so I went home and just sat thinking about everything. I thought about Stefan and I thought about Damon. I called Damon telling him that I loved him because I did love him; I mean I do still love him. He asked me to come to him so I got in my car and headed towards the lake house. The more I drove down that familiar road the more I thought of Stefan and how I was still in love with him too. I stopped the car and fought with myself about what to do. Do I go to Damon or do I go to Stefan and try and fix things? I had no clue what was right or what was wrong. My emotions were all over the place so I drove around for hours and after a million calls from Damon I threw my phone out the window. I couldn't deal with someone trying to tell me how I should feel anymore. I needed to make a decision for myself based on what I wanted, not what would make Damon happy."
"So you went to Stefan." Caroline smiled happily.
Elena smiled and glanced at Stefan again. "I drove like a mad woman to the Boarding house and finally got the courage to knock on his door. I was so afraid of what was going to happen or what he would say. I feared he would never forgive me but I had to try no matter what. So I told him the truth. I told him how I hated who I was becoming. I was feeding from innocent people and that's not who I am or who I want to be. I told him how I never wanted any of this and how truly sorry I was for breaking his heart. I wanted a second chance to fight for our love. I asked him to take me away and he did." Elena said with hope in her voice. "He took me away."
"I'm so happy for you too." Bonnie said hugging her friend.
"So am I." Caroline said reaching for the wine bottle again. "Looks like we need another."
"Elena I'm really glad that you decided to stop feeding off of humans. I know how hard it must be on you." Bonnie told her.
Elena nodded. "Yeah it's been pretty hard. But I've been fighting my cravings."
"She's been a boss at fighting her cravings from what I've heard." Tyler said coming into the house. The girls looked at him and he held his hands up. "Hey I just came to get more beer for us guys."
"Grab us a bottle of wine!" Caroline yelled at his retreating form.
"You got it babe."
"I don't know if I can keep up with the vampire drinking level." Bonnie joked.
"Trust me I've been learning to build my tolerance since I've been here." Elena said. "Stefan is quite the partier."
"No way." Caroline said making a face at how unbelievable that comment was. Tyler handed Caroline the bottle of wine. "Thank you." She told him as Tyler leaned in stealing a kiss.
"Holler at us if you need anything." Tyler hugged Elena from behind. "Elena I'm really proud of you for fighting this sire bond. If you need to talk I'm here for you."
"Thanks Ty." Elena hugged him back.
"Now I've got to go do the manly stuff." He said walking out the house.
"Is the sire bond really broken?" Bonnie asked as she refused another glass of wine. She was already feeling a bit buzzed and didn't want to turn in early for the night.
"Sadly no." Elena said as she let Caroline fill her wine glass up. "I think it's been weakening each day that I've been gone and when I refuse my feelings for Damon. It's hard to explain. Some days I want to live the way Damon taught me to but others day I can't stand the thought of how I was living. I think I will always be sired to him, but with us keeping our distance and him not trying to control me the way Klaus did with Tyler the sire bond has been keep in check. I've been able to make my own decisions again and I don't feel guilty for loving Stefan."
"That's all that matters." Caroline said. "I like the old Elena who makes decisions based off of her own wants and needs. The one who valued the human life."
"Yeah I think everyone likes her." Elena smiled.
Outside the guys were downing their beers not talking about much in particular. Tyler and Matt caught Stefan up on how the search for the cure was really going without leaving out the gruesome details. Stefan let Tyler in on how well Elena was fighting the sire bond.
"So how's school going?" Stefan asked flipping the steaks.
"It's going." Matt said. "Just ready to graduate."
"I kind of don't want it to be over." Tyler shrugged looking out at the beach watching the tide rise.
"What?" Matt asked. "You were the one who couldn't stand school."
"That was before I knew it would be the last time I would actually get to be with the ones I loved. After we graduate everyone's going to go their separate ways and it's all going to be over for us. You're going to go to college and so is Bonnie and well the rest of us will be left repeating the high school thing forever."
"It doesn't always have to be like that." Stefan told him. "You can go to college with your friends."
"How I'm stuck at the age of eighteen forever?"
"It sounds manipulative but compulsion works when they look for missing records or things. You are at the perfect age to go to college. You won't need to compel anyone anytime soon to let you in."
"My looks will never change." Tyler said sadly. "Everyone else will grow older throughout college and I won't."
"No one will care or notice unless they are involved in your everyday life. Lexi and I have been to colleges everywhere. Take advantage of the time you still have with your friends. Go to college and enjoy it."
Tyler took in what he said. "I'll think about it but that still doesn't change my mind about high school. I'd just rather it all not be over. Even with the craziness in our lives there I like my school life."
"It all has to come to an end at some point and time. Even as a vampire it all ends one day." Stefan shrugged. "Just got to take it all in."
"Elena is lucky to have someone like you." Matt said. "She has always deserved someone like you."
"Thanks, but I'm the lucky one."
"Elena has always dreamed of a guy that would do this stuff for her. I mean run away with her and show her places she's never been. I think a future with me scared her because she knew I would never leave Mystic Falls. Elena was never meant to live a normal life." Matt looked into the house and Stefan's eyes followed his as they watched Elena throwing her head back in laughter as Caroline was standing up telling some story. "She's always been unique. The girl has dreams so big that I think being a vampire will be the only way she will be able to accomplish them all."
"Matt she is going to be human again." Stefan told him. "I'm not going to let her stay a vampire."
Matt shook his head and looked at Stefan. "I think she is better off living this life with you. It was bound to happen someday."
"No she's not. She can be just as happy human again. I'll make sure of it."
"Will she still be safe? Klaus will want her blood once again and she will have to fight for her life all over again. I personally don't want that for her."
"I won't let that happen." Stefan told him sternly. "Elena deserves to be human just like Tyler and Caroline. You all deserve the chance to live your life out together."
"She's never going to let that happen without you." Tyler told him.
"I know." Stefan nodded. "That's why we will all be human together." He smiled holding out his beer to cheers with the guys.
"Hey you mind keeping an eye on the steaks?" Stefan asked Matt and Tyler. "I need to go prepare the side dishes."
"The girls can't do that?" Tyler asked and Stefan gave him a look. "You're right we shouldn't leave the cooking up to them." They all shared a laugh before Stefan walked into the house kissing Elena on top of her head before walking into the kitchen.
Elena got up and followed him excusing herself from the girls.
"Anything I can help you with?" She asked coming up behind him.
"No I think I got it covered, go enjoy yourself with your friends. We don't have them for long." Stefan told her with a smile. "You look beautiful tonight." Elena smiled at him. "It must have something to do with how happy you are. You're simply glowing." He admired her pushing some hair back out of her face.
"Thank you." She said as she leaned into him as he kissed her.
"None of that!" Caroline said barging into the kitchen as the two slowly broke apart.
"Sorry Care." Elena said not wanting to leave Stefan's embrace.
"I'm teasing!"
"Is she drunk?" Stefan whispered.
Caroling pouted with her hands on her hips. "I am not!"
Stefan and Elena laughed at their friend. "She's tipsy." Elena defended her friend.
"Yeah I'm tipsy Stefan!"
"Are you making fun of my friend?" Bonnie asked in a teasing tone as she came into the kitchen too hoping up on a bar stool.
"Not at all." He held his hands up in defense as Elena back away from him to go stand with her friends. "Traitor." He said as she stuck her tongue out wrapping her arms around her friends.
"You're out numbered Stef." Elena smiled.
"Not for long." Tyler said coming in with the steaks along with Matt.
"I suggest you ladies back off." Matt told them.
"Matt come on you are the only really out numbered." Bonnie smiled at him.
Matt looked around confused trying to make sure he had the number of people in the room right but as he though there were three guys and three girls. He opened his mouth to say something before he stopped. "Damn." He said in a whisper. Everyone in the room was supernatural but him. "I really need more friends." He said making everyone laugh at him.
"You wouldn't dare." Caroline told him.
"You're right." He winked. "Now when are we eating?"
"As soon as I prepare the salad." Stefan told them as he got everything out.
"Oh I will set the table." Elena said rushing to the cabinets to get the dishes.
"I'll help." Bonnie said. As the girls began to get the things nobody else moved and only stared at them with disbelief.
"What?" Elena asked. Caroline looked like she was about to combust from holding in her laughter. Tyler had a smirk on his face while Matt just stood there with a look asking them if they were serious. Stefan had his head down trying not to draw any attention to him as he moved to make the salad.
Elena rolled her eyes and led Bonnie to the table or what was left of the table.
"Oh." Elena said out loud as she turned around with the most adorable look on her face as she looked at her friends. Stefan had a sweet smile on his face as the memories of their love making flooded his mind while everyone else busted out in laughter including Bonnie. "My bad." She shrugged. "Looks like we will be eating outside. Stefan is the patio table big enough?"
"Yeah just get Tyler and Matt to grab the extra chairs from the garage."
"On it." Tyler said.
Soon Caroline and Stefan were left alone in the kitchen. Everyone else had found their places outside.
