AN: I have been both puzzled and amused by some of the reviews I have received. It seems that many of you are expecting that Elena wants to talk to Stefan about Caroline and his feelings for her. To be honest, once it was mentioned I considered the idea at length trying to see if it fitted better than what I had originally planned. Well...for better of for worse this is the direction I decided for the story. I hope I don't disappoint too many people. xoxo
PS: A shout out goes to mcbailey for being a good sounding board and eternally cheerful reviewer!
As Elena and Stefan got to the kitchen, she opened the taps and turned on the blender before turning around to meet his eyes. Elena figured that they needed some privacy from the prying extra sensitive senses of the other vampires in the house.
When their eyes met Elena smiled and tapped her ear and Stefan smiled back at the remembered gesture and a wave of nostalgia swept over him . The feeling was swiftly followed by nausea as the exchange also reminded him that the last time they had been alone together was when she broke his heart. Elena noticed the sadness take over his boyish features and as the air got suddenly thick with things left unsaid.
"Hey." – Elena said suddenly feeling awkward.
"Hey"- Stefan replied even more awkwardly shrugging his shoulders and digging his hands in his pockets.
"You ok?" - she asked softly.
"Yeah." - Stefan shrugged again -"Why wouldn't I be?" - he asked with a bit of an edge to his voice.
"No reason. I just... I just haven't seen you on a long long time." - Elena replied with a kind smile -"And... are we okay?"- she asked in an hesitant whisper.
"Elena..."- Stefan groaned uncomfortably -"I thought we were past this..." - he pointed between them
"I am. We are."- she quickly assured him -"I just needed to know if we are ok..."- she plead with her big brown eyes.
"We are ok Elena."- Stefan sighed -"As ok as we can ever be."
"I understand." - she gave him a little smile.
"Are you ok?" - Stefan turned the question on her.
"I am great." - she said with a beaming smile that left no doubts about the truthfulness of her statement.
"Good."- he nodded stiffly - "Because wanting to have a word with your ex after being proposed to is not exactly what people expect, you know?"
"Yeah." - she gave him a genuine smile -" I bet Katherine and Damon are just dying to be a fly on the wall right now." - she wiggled her browns in a Damon like fashion that grated Stefan's heart raw.
"More like Katherine is thinking of you as the fly and how to squash you." - Stefan replied on edge.
"Well then, we don't have much time." - she quipped -"Don't want people out there or... in here " - she eyed him curiously - "getting too antsy, right? So I am going straight to the point."
"Good." – Stefan replied concerned.
"So…You and Katherine, is it for real?" - she asked crossing her arms.
"Excuse me?" – Stefan said a little indignant –"I think you lost the right to ask things like that a long time ago Elena." – he replied crossing his arms too and taking a defensive stand.
"Oh get over yourself Stefan!" – Elena rolled her eyes –"I am not asking as your ex-girlfriend. I thought we agreed that that was over?" - she gave him a knowing smile - "I'm asking as your future sister in law."
That confused Stefan even more so as the seconds ticked by Elena huffed and decided to carry on.
"Because, " - Elena strode till she reached him -" if this thing between you and her is for real, maybe you should get your ass back in the parlor and ask her if she would marry you Stefan."- she bit out poking a finger at his chest.
"Wha-a-t?"- Stefan asked her as if she had lost her mind.
"Don't "what" me Stefan!" – Elena glared with a Katherine like pose but a smirk that was all Elena or Damon, Stefan wasn't really sure -"You heard what I said."
"You mean like…like right now!?"- Stefan's voice reached a higher pitch -"You can't be serious!"
"I'm dead serious Stefan! And yes, like now!" – Elena laughed derisively –"I can't believe you sound so surprised!" - Elena chastised -"Or do you need another 200 years to figure out if she is the one?"- she said teasingly.
"No I don't..." - he glared at her -" But... but I don't have a ring…" – he answered pathetically stuffing his hands in his pockets again.
"Hmmm, right..." – Elena tapped her finger on her lips absentmindedly and then inspiration struck –"Wait here!" – she ran out of the kitchen in a blur startling the people in the parlor and stopping for a second to blow Damon a reassuring kiss.
The older Salvatore's shoulders visibly relaxed but Katherine's eyes were still narrowed as she tapped her fingers on the furniture and exchanged a glare with Damon.
"Your fiancee is getting on my nerves Salvatore."- she gritted out.
"Oh calm down Katherine."- Bonnie replied -"Not everyone is a back stabbing double crossing darling like yourself."
Katherine blurred to stand in front of Bonnie in a threatening stance.
"What did you just call me little witch?"
"You heard me."- Bonnie bit back.
Elena was blurring past when she saw the confrontation and stopped to shout at the girls.
"You two behave! Stefan and I will be back in a second with a surprise!"
And then she blurred out again leaving Katherine, Bonnie and everyone else at a loss for words. Well, not exactly, Katherine mumbled something about self righteous baby vamps and earned a glare from Caroline and Damon.
Suddenly Elena was back in front of a pacing Stefan with a little blue box that she gleefully trusted into his hands.
"Here" – she beamed –"Use this."
Stefan eyed her wearily and hesitantly opened the box to see a white gold engagement ring with a beautiful black onyx stone exquisitely surrounded by diamonds and rubies.
"Where did you get this?" - Stefan looked up at Elena, confusion clear in his eyes.
"It was Isobel's" – she shrugged –"I think it makes sense that since I got your mother's ring that Katherine gets my mother's. She is after all Isobel's ancestor."
"Right…"- Stefan bit out eyeing the ring nervously.
"So,"- Elena smirked triumphantly -", are we all out of excuses? Or do you want to stall a bit more?"
Stefan narrowed his eyes at her as he sneered.
"You know that you not as funny and witty as you think you are, right?" – Stefan smiled menacing but failing at hiding his amusement.
"Oh you owe me and you know it." –she winked as she nudged him on the ribs and they both laughed –"Just be prepared for another Caroline speech!"- she chuckled.
"Yeah..." - Stefan laughed -"What the hell was that? I thought she was never going to stop!"
"It's Caroline." - Elena shrugged smiling -"You know how over the top she can be!"
"Tell me about it."- Stefan replied rubbing his muscles -"I didn't know if she was trying to hug me or kill me!"
"Probably both! She really missed you Stefan!" - Elena laughed -"We all have..."- she said quietly.
"I missed y- ermm - everyone too Elena." - he smiled at her.
"So..." - she said to break the awkward moment -" Are you ready for this defining moment?"- Elena asked wriggling her browns and turning off all the noise makers.
"Shall we?" - she smiled offering him her arm.
"Oh God,"- Stefan groaned -"I guess we shall?"
"Man up Salvatore!" - she elbowed him playfully and leaned down to whisper- "I know the woman has been known to be a first class bitch but she does love you." - Elena giggled as they walked out of the kitchen, a terrified Stefan by her side.
AN: So no Steroline, I stuck with my original idea of Katherine and Stefan. Hope you guys are not too disappointed. Please let me know what you think. xoxo