A/N: Thank you for the reviews! Keep them coming!

Please don't have a heart attack though! I would feel really bad! But, I am glad that my writing affects you the way I intend it to ;)

In regards to the scene I mentioned that I watched being filmed with Paul, I did not get to meet him then. He had been filming for about 15 hours, so he waved from the van and said goodnight. I did have the pleasure of meeting him last March though. Let me tell you. Funniest. Guy. Ever. You'd never know that from watching Stefan, but Paul is super funny and he really is a joy to talk with.

Last, Stefan really is a good guy, isn't he? I love him.

"You heard me" Damon growled. "You're the reason my parents are dead." Damon took another drink of his bourbon before stumbling toward Elena some more. Stefan jumped in front of him, unsure of what Damon would do next. Damon wobbled a little, but kept his balance.

"Your parents were hit by a drunk driver" Elena said, so quietly that Damon barely heard her. But he did. Elena's eyes met his again. "How is that my fault Damon!" she yelled suddenly, ignoring her tears.

Damon smiled. "You …" he said, pointing at her drunkenly.

"Damon, enough" Stefan said roughly. "Go upstairs" he ordered. He would deal with him later.

Damon shoved Stefan, sending him colliding backwards into Elena. "Stay out of this Stefan! If you had the balls, you'd of told her years ago!" Damon yelled. "Where were our parents headed the night they were killed Stefan?" he asked, flicking his venomous eyes toward Elena. Stefan's panic began to increase. Damon was really going to do this. "On their way to meet your parents" Damon continued, pointing his finger at Elena.

Elena felt her breath catch in her throat. What was Damon talking about? "Stefan?" she asked, gripping his arm tightly as he stood protectively in front of her.

"Damon, I'm begging you …" Stefan said desperately, feeling as though he was failing at protecting her.

But Damon was relentless. "Why, our parents were on that road, heading to meet your parents at the police station" he continued as though he was narrating. Elena felt Stefan's arm tense under her hand. "See, there were some questions about your birth. The usual. Missing records" Damon explained, before smirking. "Forged records …" he trailed off.

"Stop it!" Stefan yelled, causing Elena to jump. "I'll tell her" he said reluctantly. But if she was going to hear it, it shouldn't have been from Damon. Not like this. He was too angry. Stefan turned slowly, grabbing both of her hands. He almost had to look away, her glistening tear-filled eyes breaking him down.

"Stefan" Elena whispered, fearing for the worst. Which she had every right to as far as Stefan was concerned.

"Let's go upstairs" he told her, nodding his head to encourage her. "Come on" he said, holding her close as he directed her towards the stairs.

"Awwww" Damon mocked. "Always the protector, Stefan" Damon continued. "She deserves to feel the same pain she caused us!" he yelled after them. As soon as the pair were out of sight, Damon downed his glass and threw it at the fireplace, watching it smash into pieces. He sank into his chair, closing his eyes and letting his head fall back.

Stefan shut his door behind him and Elena. Elena walked herself over to his bed and sat down. Stefan watched her for a moment. The moment he had found out the truth played in the back of his mind. Three days after the death of his parents. Damon had sat him down and angrily told Stefan how their parents were on their way to meet the Gilbert's to vogue on their behalf for Elena.

Stefan kneeled in front of her. "Why were there questions about my birth Stefan?" she cried as she asked.

"I didn't want you to find out like this" he said, tightening his hold on her hands. "I'm so sorry Elena" he said.

"Tell me, Stefan. Just tell me what you know" she said, pulling her hands away from him to wipe at her tears.

Stefan looked away for a moment before looking back at her. "Miranda and Grayson … they're not your birth parents" he stated. He didn't think there was any way he could say this to make it better for her. "They adopted you" he spoke softly. Though, not legally. Which is why his parents had been on their way to meet the Gilberts at the police station. The Salvatores, the closest friends to the Gilberts, were going to flat out lie to the police about Elena's birth. Because that is the only way Miranda and Grayson could avoid jail. It was the only way they could keep Elena.

Elena sat absolutely still, all life in her eyes absent. Stefan touched her arm and it seemed to waken her up. Elena bit her bottom lip and shook her head no, slowly. "No" she whispered, blinking back even more tears. "No … no" she said, continuing to shake her head.

"I'm so sorry Elena" he apologized again. "I … You shouldn't have found out like this" he said regretfully. Stefan was a little surprised when Elena's hands pushed on his chest, trying to move him away from her so she could leave. "Elena please don't leave" he said, stopping her.

"I can't be here" she told him, crying harder now. As the minutes passed by, the reality of it all began to set in. "I can't be here!" she shouted, pushing against him harder.

But Stefan stood his ground, holding her still. He grabbed her arms to keep her from shoving him. "Talk to me Elena" he pleaded, searching her eyes. Elena closed her eyes, shaking her head.

"It's my fault my so called parents are dead. And I killed yours too" she sobbed. "Why didn't they tell me?" she asked. "Why didn't they tell me!" she screamed.

Stefan immediately pulled her towards him and they both collapsed on the floor against the bed. He held her close to him, tucking her head into his neck, trying everything he could to soothe her. "Nothing is your fault. Damon, he's just drunk and angry. He didn't mean it" Stefan said calmly. He knew it was a lie. Damon was angry with her, though it was stupid and uncalled for. "Your parents were probably waiting for the right time to tell you" he said, taking a guess.

Elena continued to sob as she clung to his shirt. She felt lost and hopeless once again. Who was she? She wasn't Miranda and Grayson's daughter. "I want to go" she stated after a while. "I want to leave here" she said, peeling herself away from him.

"Okay, okay" Stefan said, grabbing her shoulders. "Where do you want to go?" he asked calmly.

Elena shook her head quickly. "I don't care. I just can't be in Mystic Falls right now" she said, pulling away from his touch and standing. "I want to go" she said sadly, as if she was afraid he would stop her again. That he would force her to stay there and bask in her new found misery.

Stefan stood quickly, waiting for her to look at him. "Anywhere you want to go" Stefan told her. "As long as I go with you" he said. Elena held his gaze for a moment before she nodded, her tears slowing. Stefan stepped towards her again and pulled her into his arms. "Everything's going to be okay, Elena" he told her. Because he would make sure of it.

XXXXXXXXX

They had been driving for six hours and Stefan was becoming more and more worried about Elena. Against his better judgment, he had not called Jenna because Elena told him not to. He hadn't stopped to get something to eat either, because Elena wanted to keep going. He knew that upsetting her now would only make her push him away. As of right now, he was the only person she was willing to be with. But, after six hours, he needed to stop. His head was throbbing and he checked his cleaned up cut in the mirror. It wasn't bleeding anymore. "Elena, I'm hungry" he said, glancing at a few upcoming exit signs that indicated there was food at the next right. Elena didn't say anything as Stefan veered off the highway and onto the exit ramp.

Stefan pulled into some pancake house that had a few cars parked. He figured the dinner rush hadn't hit yet. He cut the engine and looked over at her. She was huddled against the window, looking out it. "Hungry?" he asked. Elena shook her head no. "Well, do you at least want to join me?" he asked. Elena again shook her head no. "Please?" he asked, not being able to get out of the truck and leave her. Elena looked over at him and then sighed heavily. She really just wanted to keep going.

But, she got out of the truck and followed him in. A perky older woman came bounding out behind the counter with a huge smile. "Well hi there!" she greeted. "The two of you?" she asked. Stefan nodded. "Well okay then. Right this way" she said, leading them towards the back of the diner and getting them settled in a booth. "What can I start you out with to drink?" she asked.

Stefan cleared his throat some. "Coffee, please" he told her. The waitress looked over at Elena who remained still. "Same for her" Stefan answered. The woman looked back and forth between the young couple before going to get the coffee. "So, pancakes or waffles?" he asked Elena. Elena turned her head to stare out the window. "Elena?" he asked.

"Pancakes" she stated. "Chocolate chip" she added. Stefan felt himself sigh with relief. At least she was thinking about eating.

The waitress came back, setting the coffees down and pulling out her scratch pad to take the order. "An order of chocolate chip pancakes and an order of buttermilk" he said, handing the menus to her. She nodded, a worried look coming across her face when she noticed how quiet and avoidant the young girl was.

As soon as she left, Elena slid toward the edge of the booth. "I'm going to the restroom" she stated. Stefan simply nodded. She disappeared behind a corner and Stefan waited anxiously.

When Elena emerged from the restroom, the waitress was standing at the door. "Miss" she said nervously. "I can't help but notice how quiet and sad you look" she stated. "Is that guy you're with, is he hurting you?" she asked cautiously.

Elena was struck with shock at the woman's question. But she realized she had to set things straight. "No" Elena said, shaking her head. "I'm just dealing with a family crisis right now" Elena explained. Then it clicked. She was having a crisis and he was with her, helping her, supporting her. Elena smiled softly as she looked over at Stefan. "Stefan is wonderful. He's taking care of me" she assured her. The woman suddenly smiled, thankful that her suspicions seemed to be wrong. Elena excused herself and began walking back to Stefan, suddenly remembering how grateful she was for him being with her.

Stefan was somewhat surprised when Elena slid into the booth next to him, wrapping her arms around his arm and resting her chin on his shoulder. "Thank you for doing this for me" she said, reaching up to kiss his cheek. She still had a lot to think about, but for right now, she was thankful he was by her side.

Stefan felt a little of the weight on his shoulders lift. He leaned towards her a little and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, happiness filling him when he realized she did not move away from his affection. "Anytime" he said. Elena smiled as she moved back to her side of the table.

"Think we can make it to Atlanta tonight?" she asked, pouring creamer into her coffee. She was going to force her mood to change, force herself not to think about her illegal adoption, and force herself not to think about her indirect role in Stefan's parents' death.

Stefan shrugged. "If that's what you want" he told her.

Elena nodded. "That's what I want" she said. Stefan nodded. He could get her to Atlanta.

XXXXXXXXXX

The hotel room they walked into was a hundred times better than the one they had stayed in at the coast. It was quiet and clean and spacious. Elena dropped her plastic bag on the floor, filled with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Seeing as how they had both just taken off, neither had packed for this trip. Elena shut the door and smiled. "Look, the door handle stays on" she said, a teasing ring in her tone. Stefan smirked. Elena picked the items out of the bag and went into the bathroom to brush her teeth and splash water on her face.

Stefan pulled his shirt off and got his jeans off. He crawled into the bed and got comfortable. Eight hours of driving had taken a lot of out him. Elena came out of the bathroom a few minutes later, shutting the larger light off. She eyed his pile of clothes at the foot of the bed. "Maybe we should have picked up pajamas" Elena suggested, surveying the situation. One bed. No clothes.

Stefan smiled at how uncomfortable she was. "I can put my jeans back on" he said, tossing the covers off of himself.

"No" Elena said, putting her hand up. "It's okay" she told him. They had seen each other in less. Elena turned around and unbuttoned her jeans, pushing them down her legs and stepping out of them. She unbuttoned the shirt she had on, but left the tank top on that was underneath. Elena pulled the covers back and slid in between the sheets.

Both remained quiet, but well aware of the close proximity. Elena made the first move, scooting towards him. He welcomed her with open arms, pulling her against him. "Stefan?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah?" he asked her, loving the feel of her breath against his bare chest.

"Why didn't you ever tell me, that I was adopted?" she asked him, a serious tone in her voice. Elena felt his arms tighten around her.

"Because it wasn't my place to tell you" he answered honestly. "And quite frankly, I didn't think it mattered." Elena propped herself up on her elbow so she could look at him. "Miranda and Grayson were your parents. They raised you, loved you, cared for you. Why does biology matter in that?" he asked her.

Elena thought about his answer. Some of her anger broke away at hearing this. "They really loved you" she said, resting her head on his chest. Stefan nodded. He knew that, but it was nice to hear, especially from Elena. "I just can't help but wonder who my real parents are" she said.

Stefan rolled her over, pressing her into the mattress lightly. He looked into her eyes and make sure he had her full attention. "They are your real parents" he whispered to her. "And whatever their reasons for keeping it a secret – from you and everyone else – it was because they loved you" he assured her.

Elena nodded. "I heard what you said to Caroline" she said, blushing slightly at the thought.

Stefan lowered his face to hers, touching his nose to hers. "It was the truth" he smiled. "I love you" he said, his lips gently pressing against hers in what felt like way too long.

A/N: So, what did you think?