A/N: Hey guys! This is probably my longest update ever for this story. But, I hope you all enjoy it! :) Let me know what you think. Also, just like my other update's this one once again goes back and forth between Stefan and Elena's Point of View's.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE-Because Of You-
Elena's P.O.V.
I try to picture it, and part of me can. The way Stefan and I will be once we're moved into our own place and what type of parents we'll be. Yet, there's something holding me back, preventing me from feeling like we're going to make it fully. Maybe it's the fact that I haven't really told him that I haven't seen or spoken to my own parents in a long time, told them that I'm dating my sister's old boyfriend who also happens to be my niece's father. I've tried to hint at it, to make him realize that yes, even though I've been acting like I'm okay with seeing them, once he's ready... That nothing's wrong, truth be told. I'm barely holding it together, because of the fact that I had agreed to meet with them and have Caroline tag along, instead of Stefan. Because if there's one thing I know about my family is that the Gilbert's look down upon those who screw up, even if it's their own children and they make everyone else who are associated with their daughter's feel like crap at times.
So, as I try to wrap my mind around the fact that I had asked Caroline to come with me after the wedding, to see them. My hands are pressed against the white tiles in the warm and overheated bathroom, the water running cold. When I hear Stefan's cheerful voice. His hand swings the door open and he curses something under his breath as he sighs loudly.
"Hey Babe! You almost done? I've got to get in either too, Lillian just barfed up her breakfast on me..It's kind of gross and worst part is it's on the white button up that I'm wearing for the wedding." He explains, rattling on about how much she just hurled on him when I open the cream colored shower curtain , covering my body half way with it as the water mists around me.
"It's normal. You'll get used to it...Stefan.." My voice trails off, trying my hardest to figure out what I wanted to tell him. But as I watch him strip off his shirt, standing with a half smile in my direction, my brain instantly shuts itself up. "What? Care to join me?" I ask, with a laugh.
Stefan smiles and shakes his head quickly. His hands are on his hips, head down as he licks his lips when his eyes meet mine. "You know I wish I could, more than anything right now. But, our daughter is in the dining room with a messy face and we have limited time to do much at the moment...But, I will make it up to you, very soon." He tells me, eyebrows furrowed as he walks over to the edge of the tub and leans in, leaving a kiss on my lips and winking at me before he disappears out of the bathroom again, my mind coming to the realization that he just said "our daughter."
I don't bring it up in the car, it's been two hours since we've left home and as I turn back to see Lillian fast asleep in her car seat, a cheerio dangling from her chin, I smile.
Stefan clears his throat as I turn and shift in my seat, watching him glance over at me as he lightly pushes a strand of my hair that's in front of my eyes, smiling at me as he says. " I am so happy to be taking this trip with my precious girls, my beauties." I smile even wider as I reach over and grab his hand into mine, intertwining our fingers as I speak to him. "Thank you, for being everything that I've been looking for. I love you Stefan and I can't wait for us to move in together." I tell him in a soft tone, glancing over at him.
His green eyes light up at my words and he smiles wider at me. "Well, I'm glad you say that because it looks like Damon found us a place to live. It's close to the bar and we can take shifts babysitting Lillian and staying home with her until she's old enough to go to preschool. It's a start and a plan." Stefan tells me with a grin as I watch him look up at her sleeping body through the rearview mirror."Did you ever see yourself in this spot, a year or two ago?" He asks me, distance in his voice. He sounds lost in his own thoughts, in his own head.
I look up at him from the cell phone in my other hand, giving him a half smile as I lock my eyes on his."No. I never saw myself taking care of a child. To be completely honest, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I had spent almost three years and thousands of dollars in loans and financial aid, trying to figure out what job I had wanted to do. But, the accident changed my life, it made me realize that life's too short to sit around and wait for your life to piece it's self together. I mean, I always wanted a family one day. But, I never thought that I would be getting one, this way..Don't get me wrong Stefan. I am thankful, for you, for her. I truly am... But..." My voice trails off as he grabs my other hand that's hanging over the console between us. I take a staggered breath as I pause for a moment and smile at him.
I had never thought that two years ago, I would be the one responsible for a child, dating the most wonderful guy that I could have ever met and a few months later, deciding to raise my sister's child as our own. It's almost surreal and terrifying. But, I'm relieved, thankful that he's here with me and we'll be facing it all together, one step at a time. I turn slightly in my seat, turning my head to face Stefan as I ask him. "What about you? Did you think that you and Katherine would have stayed together?"
Stefan's lips curl into a smile, as he takes his eyes away from the road and looks up at me. "Well, if I had known that she was mine, if she had told me..I would have stuck around. Elena, I'm not the type of guy to walk away from someone. If it's real, if what you and I have is real, then I am not going to just leave you alone to raise my daughter by yourself. It's not fair. We would just figure something else out. I would never walk away from either of you, even if you do wake up one day and ask yourself what the hell am I doing with my niece's father..." He says, in an honest tone as I nod my head, my mind just going to fact that our discussion has quickly changed from me asking him if he had in the past, wanted this to be his future to going directly into one of my biggest fears, waking up beside him and realizing that this isn't what I wanted for my life, even if I'm fully responsible for her.
"How did you know? How were you so sure that that's part of what I 'm scared of?" I ask him, my voice is low and soft as I squeeze his hand and he laughs, a hesitant laugh that almost sounds stuck in his throat as he clears his throat and narrow's his eyes at me quickly before turning back to focusing on the road as he says "Because, that's one of my biggest fears too. I'm scared of ruining what we have now. I like this, you, me and our daughter. It's simple and fun. I love you girls and I would do anything for you. But, yeah I'm terrified that once we move in together that the simplicity will disappear that we'll both wake up one more and think "What the hell are we doing here? We're not married. We're not in a serious and committed relationship, we're just going along with the flow and somehow making it work." Stefan explains as my eyes widen.
"Our daughter?" I ask him, not even sure why I'm asking a silly question. But I can see the glistening in his eyes as he speaks without fully looking over at me. "Yes, even if you don't call yourself her mother. She's yours...She's ours." Stefan clarifies as I nod my head. He's got a point, I might not be her mother, but I am her guardian and one day she'll be calling me mom...hopefully.
"I would never...I mean..Wait, what are you saying?" I ask him, my voice laced with confusion as I lock my eyes on his side profile, his teeth and jaw are tense when he replies in a soft tone."I'm just saying that I could see us being together in the long run...One day. Your great with my daughter, Elena. Your totally wife material." Stefan says with a laugh. I laugh too, I can't help it. Wife material? Me? Ha...yeah, maybe.
"You're not just saying that because we're going to this wedding..are you?" I ask him, my head tilted to the side and a wide smile on my face.
"No. I'm saying it because it's true. I could see myself being your husband and I could see you being my wife...one day." He says in a sudden serious tone as I smile at his words. He could see us together in the long run, forever..maybe..one day.
His words play in my mind as I rest my head back onto the head rest and close my eyes briefly, tightening my fingers around his as he sighs deeply and I feel the car pick up speed as I begin to drift off into sleep.
Stefan's P.O.V.
We're here. The building that Damon and Lexi's wedding is at is a large venue with a beautiful view of the city and it faces a large rose garden. It's cold and misty when we finally pull up and as I step out of the car, to grab a wide awake and mumbling Lillian from her car seat in the back. I hear Elena sigh and yawn, stretching her arms above her head as she rubs her sleepy eyes and looks around at her new surroundings.
"We're here already?" She asks, her voice is sleepy and soft as she looks up at me from the front seat, I've got Lillian half unbuckled as she smiles at me and says." Make sure to pat her back, she likes that, if she gets fussy when you pull her out of the car seat..she loves when you pat her back, it's soothing, I guess." She explains as she opens the passenger side door and slowly steps out of the car, closing the door behind her as she joins me on the other side of the car, smiling as she grins up at Lillian whose staring at us with wide green eyes.
"Good morning, beautiful girl." I tell her, kissing her cheeks as she giggles and we both watch her pause and kick her feet out, I'm holding her under her little armpits as she kicks out and babbles at me, "dada" She shrieks as Elena smiles and laughs.
"I think that she's learning..but, it's not quiet 'daddy' yet..But, it's something." She says, kissing my cheek as I watch her open the trunk of the car and begin to pull out our bags from the car.
I'm smiling like an idiot! I know that it's not exactly 'daddy.' But, I'm still happy and my heart is filled with joy as I turn towards Elena with the baby snuggled up against my chest as I speak. "I don't care. I'll still take it...She said 'dada', Elena..that is just..hearing it from her little mouth is just..yeah it maybe just babbling but this whole thing just got really real for me." I explain, my mouth curled into a grin as Elena smiles too and nods. "I know." She says as she smiles at us and places the bags onto the ground, shutting the trunk as she bends down and picks the bags back up, extending her hand towards me as she laughs. "Come on, 'dada' We're got a wedding to get too."
Elena's P.O.V.
The last few hours have seemed like a blur, Caroline's been bouncing a cheerful and awfully giggling Lillian on her knee after I fed her about a half hour ago as I watch them. I'm smiling and I can't help it as I slip into my grey colored dress that's got a slit on the side, short sleeves and perfectly fitting against me. I hear Caroline sigh as I look back at her from the mirror, she's now rocking a smiling baby in her arms as she starts singing a song to Lillian whose let out a yawn at her.
"So, Stefan and you...? How does he feel about moving in together?" Caroline asks me as I zip up the back of the dress and pull my long brown hair from underneath the dress. "What about us...Caroline, he was the one who suggested that we move in together...He even called me "wife material" in the car today." My voice trails off as Caroline's eyes grow big and she exhales in a huff.
"What?!" She asks in a shocked tone.
"Yeah, I kind of know what he meant by it. But, if we ever really got serious...I just think that it would feel right to be married to him and I'm not just saying that because he's Lillian's biological dad. Caroline, I love him and he's the first guy that I've ever really felt safe around, felt loved by." I tell her, exhaling deeply as I walk over to where Caroline's sitting, grabbing Lillian from her arms slowly as she nuzzles against my shoulder and we both freeze when we hear a slight knock at the door. "Five more minutes till show time ladies, hope your all ready." Klaus's voice rings out from the hallway as I turn to Caroline with a smile and she matches mine with raised eyebrows and that same look I give her whenever I mention Stefan, one of pure happiness.
The wedding ceremony is filled with family and unfamiliar faces, but as we listen to the ceremony proceed and watch as Damon and Lexi exchange their own written vows, I listen closely as Lexi's cheerful and strangled voice speaks and she wipes away at the tears welling up in her eyes. "Your my best friend, the one person who I turn to during the good and the bad. I love you with all my heart and soul and this journey is just the beginning. I've always pictured us being together, raising a family together and one day becoming man and wife. Well, that day is finally here and I am so thankful for you, I thank god for you every day." Lexi says, wiping away at her tears.
I watch Damon lean into her, wiping away at her tears with his thumbs as he kisses her cheeks, before stepping back and grabbing what looks like her slightly shaking hands as he clears the lump in his own throat and recites his speech. "Lexi, the love of my life. I want you to know that I've always known that we would be together, even if you hated me in the beginning of it all...I knew that deep down it was really love." Damon says with a laugh as everyone laughs along with him, he pauses and looks around briefly before tightening his grip around her hands and then he begins again. "Your everything that I've always wanted, in a lover, in a best friend and I love you for everything that you are. Your my other half and I could never imagine my life without you in it. I'm thankful for you and I am so thankful that this day has finally come to where I can call you my wife, the mother of our unborn child. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me and I can't wait to spend forever with you." He finishes as he smiles at everyone and they both hold hands as they turn their attention back to the lady that was hired to initiate the wedding.
I find myself gazing over at Stefan with tears in my eyes as they exchange "I love you's" and their wedding bands, my heart skips a beat when he nods at me and gives me a warm and heartfelt smile. "I love you" He mouths in my direction as I rock Lillian in my arms. I can't help it but tear up again as the red headed woman tells Damon that he can kiss his bride and he leans into Lexi, holding her face in his hands as he nearly bends her backwards and kisses her like I've never seen before, passionately, meaningfully. The sight of them standing there together, gazing at each other in a loving way gives me hope, that I too can have a love like that.
The crowd in the small ceremony hoots and hollers as the red head announces them. I watch as Damon and Lexi hold up their intertwined fingers and he smiles at her once more, leaning into her cheek to give her a quick kiss. "Family and friends that have all gathered here today, I present to you. For the first time Mr. & Mrs. Salvatore. "
Stefan's P.O.V.
I watch her from across the room, it's got red and white colors all over, the flowers are red and white on each table cloth that's white and there's red and white cloth like streamers running across the ceiling of the reception hall. The music is blaring in the room as I watch her, Caroline and Bonnie contently dancing the night away. Lillian is asleep in her stroller by one of our close relatives and I'm shocked that she's not crying from the loud music that's blasting through the room and making it feel like an earthquake's erupted.
But, as I turn to look away from Elena and back to Lillian who's being closely guarded by one of our close aunt's. I can't help but smile at the thought of what I had told Elena in the car, she really is everything that I had been searching for, everything that I had wanted in a partner.
I lean my back against the wall, one of my hands is on a drink and the other is shoved deep into the pocket of my black suit pants as the music slows and I watch from a distance, she's searching the crowd for me, nearly giving up when she realizes that she can't see me from the flow of people that have crowded the dance floor, her beautiful face turns into a frown as she slumps her shoulders and that's when I know it's my cue to move in.
I place the drink I had been drinking on an empty table next to me as I make my way through the crowd and directly towards her. As I walk, my mind is flying back to the very same moment, months ago when I nearly seduced her on the dance floor. Yes, we were drunk..but, I had wanted her none the less, like I find myself now, wanting Elena..and no one else. I'm not drunk this time, neither of us are, but I'm drawn to her tonight in more of an intensity then I've ever been before.
I watch as her back is turned towards me, my arms stretch out as I step closer behind her, grabbing her in my arms, her back is pressed against my chest as I hold her tightly. She gasps for a breath as I bend my head towards her ear, my breath is hot and warm against her skin as Elena squirms and tenses in my arms as I speak to her in a low voice." What's a beautiful woman like you, doing all alone on the dance floor. Surely your boyfriend has a good explanation for leaving you alone." I tell her as lean into her, feeling her body relax as she exhales deeply and places her head on my shoulder, closing her eyes as we sway slowly to the music.
"I would hope he does, I mean...there's a lot of men that would snatch me up.." Elena's voice is soft and playful as I smile at her, letting out a short laugh.
"Yeah, But too bad for them...your mine." I tell her, grabbing her hand into mine and spinning her body away from me as she spins out and giggles, her laugh warming my heart as she crashes against me and a groan escapes her lips.
"Is that so?" She asks, playing with the collar of my shirt as she locks her dark brown eyes on me and a grin lingers on her face.
"Oh yeah, you see...you kind of stole my heart." I tell her, a wide smile on my lips as I watch her shake her head, swatting at my shoulder.
"That is the worst line I've ever heard! But, I love you for trying to be romantic." She tells me, wrapping her arms around my neck as we sway back and forth to the music that's now slowed.
Elena's P.O.V.
It feels like it's nearly 1am when we make it back to the hotel room. Stefan's carrying Lillian in his arms and she's thankfully sleeping soundly after a quick diaper change and a bottle feed. One of my hands has my black high heels in them and the other is tightly fastened around Stefan's as we make our way back to our room.
"You looked beautiful tonight." He says suddenly, stopping my hand from swinging his in mid air as I lock my eyes onto his. "Thank you." I tell him with a soft and warm smile on my lips as he kisses the top of Lillian's now almost full set of brown curly hair.
"Elena, I know that I've said it before, like a ton. But, I do mean it...I'm thankful for you, for her and for this opportunity of raising her with you. I cherish every minute of it, just being able to make you both happy." He tells me, a bashful smile spreading across his lips as I drop his hand from my grip and watch him start to unlock the door to the hotel room.
Stefan turns towards me and smiles as he opens the door and steps inside, watching as I return his smile and he places Lillian in the portable crib that Damon and Lexi had insisted on that the hotel had in our room.
He places her down as I watch him start to take off his jacket, turning away from me as I close the door to the room and I exhale deeply. I'm exhausted and I have no idea why I say it, but when I do Stefan's head snaps up and his eyes lock on mine with a bit of surprise when I rest my hands to their sides and I blurt it all out. "I asked Caroline to go with me to meet with my parents, I know that you said that you wanted to meet them and that you wanted to only when you were ready, but I just..I..." I'm rambling and my hands are shaking, I can't tell if the glance that he's giving me is one of anger because, it feels like for a long moment that he's staring me down.
"Stefan, I'm sorry...I...I was going to tell you. Well let's be honest, at first I didn't want too. But, then tonight and these last few days and the fact that you said that I was wife material...It just made me think that I shouldn't hide things from you and also I haven't seen or talked to them in more than two years and they just...I just thought that having Caroline go with me...it would be-" My voice trails off as Stefan shakes his head, stepping in front of me as he places one hand on my warm cheek, tracing my skin and the other onto my trembling lips as he looks at me, directly in the eyes.
"Sweetheart, it's fine. I already talked to Caroline and she told me about your little plan. I told her not to worry about it because, I've decided that I'm coming with you...instead of Caroline." Stefan says with a rasp in his voice as I feel his hand that was briefly on my cheek, travel down to the back of my dress, slowly unzipping it as he smiles against my lips and the only thing that I can manage to say is "Okay."
As he walks us backward, until my knees hit against the bed and I feel my body falling back onto the mattress as Stefan hovers over me with a wide grin, his red tie hanging loosely around his neck and his shirt is halfway unbuttoned as he looks me over, licking his lips and pausing for a moment as he speaks."Now, let's just focus on the here and now...we'll figure the rest out in the morning." He tells me as I feel his hand travel from my back all the way to the slit in my dress and I get lost in the hot and moist kisses that he's leaving in a slow, agonizing way against my collar bone as he whispers against my heated skin. "Now, where did we leave off the last time we were in a hotel room, like this?"
A/N: Thanks for reading and check for updates on my Twitter or follow me at: Green_Eyes1989 if you just want to talk about the show too.
-Until Next Time-