A/N: Hey all! So sorry that it's taken me forever to update this story! I promise that I'll try to update a bit more frequently from now on :) Anyways, Here's CH.21! Hope you all like it and thanks for reading!

Follow me on Twitter for updates at: Be_Passionate24

Enjoy!

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE-The Mysterious Ways Of Love-

The weeks seemed to go by quickly as Stefan started to adjust to walking without the assistance of the wheelchair. It was a weird sensation knowing that he was healing and the doctor had even told him that he could slowly start to incorporate his regular exercise of running and jogging back into his daily routine. So, that's what he had been doing the last two days..Slowly getting back into the swing of things. But, of course Elena suggested that she go with him just to make sure that he wasn't over doing it.

"You know, he said slowly getting back into the swing of things..Not full speed!" She commented, jogging beside him as Stefan stopped to look over at her, taking in the beautiful view of the city sky scrapers behind her head.

"Wow, I never really realized what a beautiful place this is..." His voice trailed off, as Elena smiled at him, walking over to a bench and sitting down, turning around to look over at him, waving her hand so that he would sit down next to her.

"Yeah, it really is. Stefan...I'm sorry about the whole thing with Daniel. I was foolish to think that I could be with him and I know that I'm a huge reason why you had your accident that night. Damon told me that you said that you were pissed off at me for the way that I left. I'm sorry for putting you in the coma and for ever leaving your side. I-" She began to say as Stefan leaned into her, brushing a strand of her hair back with his finger tips and gazing into her eyes as he spoke.

"You can stop apologizing now. Elena, it's been more than 6 months since the accident and I'm okay..I'm right here and I'm alive. We're okay. You and I are just fine and I don't blame you for that night..I was being stupid and irrational. I mean, yes..I was furious with you for leaving. But, I had a feeling that you'd come back..I'm kind of irresistible that way." He commented jokingly, winking at her as Elena pushing onto his shoulder and laughed.

"Oh yeah..and you're full of yourself too! But, I still love you anyway. Look, I just wanted to make sure that you were okay with this..I mean, being away from everyone is hard and I know that you miss your brother and so..." She commented, her voice trailing and watching as she locked her eyes on him.

"And...?" Stefan asked, trying to get to the point of what Elena was clearly struggling to say.

"I was thinking that we could throw a dinner party and invite everyone. As a celebration..I guess..You know, since you're doing better and you haven't seen any of them in a few weeks. Plus, I could even invite Caroline and her husband, Tyler. You'd like him." Elena said, watching as Stefan nodded, brushing a strand of Elena's hair out of her face.

"That is one of the best idea's that you've had in a long time. I would love that and I'm sure everyone would love it too. I personally know that Bonnie misses you like crazy. She's been texting me and telling me that you and her need to go out. Elena, I'm getting better and stronger, you don't need to be glued to me every minute. I love you for it. But, seriously..go out and do something for yourself. I'm even sure that your friend Caroline would love to hang out with you..Just the girls." Stefan suggested, hearing as Elena laughed.

"Okay. I'm sorry that I've been glued to your side. But, I worry about you and I just don't want anything to happen to you. Stefan, you're very important to me and I already know what it feels like to almost lose you. I don't ever want that to happen again, or to feel that way again." She told him, leaning into his touch as he continued to run his hands through her hair and she smiled at him.

"I know. But, your kind of suffocating me, just a little. I guess what I'm trying to say is that since I'm healing and feeling a lot more normal that I just...I need you with me. But, you don't need to worry. I want you with me as my girlfriend, who I can take out and she doesn't stress over the silly things, like me running too fast or over exerting myself. Elena, you don't need to worry about me anymore. Okay. I'm fine and I am not going anywhere. Besides, the only way that I would be going anywhere is if you physically removed me out of your life. Which, I personally don't see that happening anytime soon." Stefan told her, slowly getting up from the bench that they were sitting on, extending his hands out towards her as she gave him a bashful smile.

"Okay. I'll stop and I'll just be your silly and carefree girlfriend. Besides, I need to loosen up, if we're going to be competing in that dance competition in less than four months now. So, you and I will have a lot of work to do." She told him, pulling herself off the bench and embracing Stefan tightly as he stood in front of her.

"Do you really think that we'll be able to compete..I mean, we haven't been in that dance studio together since Daniel showed up and screwed everything up for us." Stefan commented, watching as Elena bit down on her bottom lip and shrugged her shoulders, leaning into him as she whispered against his ear.

"Baby, we don't need that studio..We have that Cuban night club...remember..You never taught me everything you know. I'm still..waiting. Just a few more moves...And, I'll be all yours." Elena said in a taunting tone as she pushed herself away from Stefan and he smiled at her.

"Oh, you think that that's going to work with me teaching you anything..That place was like a sweaty hot box full of sex and all I'm going to be thinking about is you and well..you know." Stefan told her, smirking when Elena turned back towards him and laughed.

"Oh, no it wasn't. It was the perfect place to feel the music..Don't you remember Stefan. You said that you wanted to make sure that I was feeling the music. Because, that's what it's all about, feeling. Touch. Skin on skin. Contact. Pleasure...fulfilling your desires on the dance floor. So, I beg to differ. The Cuban night club is where you and I will be practicing this weekend after our little dinner party tonight. Plus, If you do end up getting sore enough, I can always give you some therapy." Elena told him with a wink, backing away from him with a wicked smile and a twinkle in her brown eyes. Stefan swallowed hard as he heard Elena giggle, turning away from him and slowly regaining her jogging pace.

"So, you still want to do this competition that's in almost 3 months. But, the doctor just let you out of the wheelchair almost 3 weeks ago..Stefan..What the hell is wrong with you?" Damon said, placing his beer glass down and staring back at his younger brother in astonishment.

"Come on, Damon. If he wants to do it.. He'll be in perfect shape by the time that the competition begins." Katherine said, placing her napkin from the dining table onto her lap.

"Elena, what do you think about my brother's crazy attempt at trying to get better faster?" Damon asked, his eyes narrowed on Elena as she took a sip of her wine and nearly choked on it.

"uhh..Ha..Damon, I was the one who suggested that we try it. I figured that it would be a good way for him to exercise." Elena commented, watching as Damon's eyes grew wide and he threw down his napkin onto the empty plate, half full of uneaten food in front of him.

"You suggested it? Elena! He was in a coma for 6 months. He was in a wheelchair for a long time too and just a few weeks ago..He got out of it. Where the hell is your logic! Are you crazy? He could make one wrong move and be in that damn chair for the rest of his life!" Damon shouted at her, hearing as Caroline got up and exhaled deeply, opening her mouth to add more to the conversation. But, Tyler's hand on top of hers, stopped her from adding more fuel to the fire.

"I just want him to get back to the things that he loves! Is that so bad? Damon, you of all people should understand that. Look, we'll go slow and take it easy. But, if it ends up being too much then we'll stop. But, the one thing that I know is that Stefan really wants to compete." Elena said, sternness in her voice as she glared at Damon, watching him run his hands through his hair.

"Damon. Elena's right...I want to at least try it. I don't care if her and I win or not. I just want to prove to myself that I can still do what I love. Now, Elena and I will gradually train for it and on the days that she's at work. I'll go to my therapy sessions and take it easy. Then, we'll steadily increase the hours of practice." Stefan commented, hearing as Katherine sighed and looked over at him, nodding her head in understanding.

"He's right. Damon. He just wants to prove to himself that he's still capable of doing what he loves..There's nothing wrong with that. Especially if they take it easy and slowly. Stefan will be fine." Katherine said in a reassuring tone, locking her eyes on Elena and then back to Stefan as he gave her a weak smile.

"Fine. But, if you screw yourself up again and end up back in that wheelchair. I'll be there to remind you that you should have listened to me. I don't like this Stefan. But, if it's what you want do to. Then, fine..I guess the rest of us will just sit back and make sure that nothing goes wrong this time." Damon told him, excusing himself from the table and heading out to the balcony of the apartment.

"Will excuse me, for just one minute." Katherine said, smiling sheepishly at everyone before she went after Damon who was leaning against the railing to the balcony.

"What is wrong with you! Damon, your brother isn't a little kid anymore! He's a grown man that can make choices for himself. If he wants to do this stupid dance thing. Let him. And, if he gets hurt doing it..Be there for him. Just like you have been these last few months!" Katherine told him, her voice sounding a bit demanding as Damon pulled her into his embrace, kissing the top of her head, speaking against her hair.

" I just don't want to lose him again, Katherine. Those six months were hell for all of us. But, when my parents showed up and told me that they wanted to take him off life support. It made me realize that he's the only person in my life that has never given up on me and who's only wanted the best for me..I guess, what I'm trying to say is that I just want the best for him too. I just want him to be happy and be okay. He's the only brother I've got and I care about him." He said.

Katherine wrapped her arms around Damon tighter and smiled against his chest, exhaling deeply before she spoke, trying to collect her thoughts. "I know. I know you do and I'm 100% positive that Stefan wants what's best for you too. But, Damon...You can't worry about him all the time. Yes, you're his older brother and you love him. But, you need to support him too. Look, let's just let him prove to himself that he can do the competition and maybe we can even help him train for it.. On the days that Elena is at work and train with him, you and I can push him and maybe even teach him some new dance moves that we know." She suggested as she felt Damon tighten his grip around her and exhale deeply, nodding his head as he whispered softly in her hair. "Okay. Okay. We'll help him."

A/N: Damon, Katherine, Stefan and Elena all working together to help Stefan train for this dance competition..Hm...Should be a cause for a little bit of drama on the dance floor ;)

-Until Next Time-