A/N: I hope you guys enjoy this, it is a long one! One more chapter after this and then an epilogue! Thank you guys for the reviews it means a lot.

XXXXXXXXX

Elena sat in her dorm room studying for her final exam in her final year of university. It had been a stringent year and a half and she had done nothing but put in her everything into her studies.

Bonnie sat on her bed listening to music as she quickly read through her textbook one more time before she had to write her final in an hour's time.

Elena huffed and puffed as she shook her hair out of its bun on the top of her head and let it loose, after what seemed like an eternity. Her head was hurting from her bun and she needed another cup of coffee in her to get through the day for her final tomorrow.

"Bon" Elena called out as she got up from her chair at her desk, stretching her cramped up legs and neck after being seated for over 4 hours.

Bonnie gave no answer, to which Elena grabbed her pen and threw it at her head. That definitely got her attention.

"Going for a Starbucks run, want anything?" Elena asked as she walked on over to the door and grabbed her wallet out of her purse.

"No, I'm good. I got my smoothie" Bonnie said as she put her book down and watched Elena cross the room and get her wallet.

"Okay, then I'll be back in like five minutes" Elena said in a tone that was a tad hollow. Why, she didn't know.

"Elena…" Bonnie called out before Elena got a chance to slip out the door. "Is wearing that jersey a good idea?" She asked in a soft voice.

Elena quickly looked down at the jersey she was wearing. She didn't have to look down. She knew what she was wearing. She knew it almost too well.

"I like wearing it, Bon. I like the memories that go with it" Elena said quietly as she slipped out of the door, not really wanting to say anything else on the matter.

Elena walked down to Starbucks letting herself get lost in her thoughts. So much had happened in about a year a bit's time. She never thought that things might be this way. Truth be told, she pictured herself still being with Stefan.

XXXXXXX

"Come on, you are gonna be late for your flight and I don't wanna be the reason why you don't graduate from your teacher school shit" Katherine mocked as she ran towards gate A with Stefan trailing behind her.

Stefan had successfully finished up his placement in Cherishwood and was now going back to New York to graduate from teachers college. After moving from New York to Mystic Falls, to Cherishwood, Stefan was kind of glad he would be moving back to New York. After all, it was home to him for 10 years.

"Kat, slow down" Stefan half whined half yelled as he attempted to keep up with Katherine who was gunning it to the gate.

As Katherine and Stefan boarded the plane, they quickly got to their seats and sat down hoping to get some rest before they landed in New York.

"So, are you excited to graduate" Katherine said turning to Stefan and grabbing a hold of his arm that was resting against her armrest.

"Not nearly as excited as you are" Stefan said, letting his eyes slip close. Stefan was kind of nervous and kind of excited. Nervous because going to New York and graduating only reminded him of Elena and excited because all his work would be paying off.

"Stefan come on. Cheer up" Katherine said poking his nose, demanding his attention at this very moment.

"Kat, I'm excited okay? I'm also nervous, but I'm excited." Stefan said in a rushed tone as if rushing his words would help him get over what he was feeling.

"Nervous because you're going to New York where Elena is currently living and because you may or may not see her?" Katherine asked, hitting it exactly where it hurt.

"Yeah, no, maybe, okay?" Stefan said furrowing his brows as he ran his hand through his hair and threw his head back against the seat as the plane took off.

"What are the chances you see her? New York is rather big, y'know" Katherine said as she settled into her seat and pulled out a magazine.

"That it is" Stefan said sighing. Almost 2 years later and Stefan still felt the same way he felt when he was still with Elena. He still loved her; more if possible.

"You didn't have to break up" Katherine said grabbing Stefan's attention as she flipped through the pages of the magazine, not looking entirely interested in the works on the pages.

"You say that as if I wanted to" Stefan bit back, glaring at Katherine as she placed the magazine aside and turned to face him.

"So you could have done something about it, no?" Katherine asked, almost mockingly, as if trying to get a rise out of Stefan.

"No, I couldn't have. I wasn't going to hold Elena back just because I couldn't let go of her. She deserves so much more than just me" Stefan said.

"Is there something you aren't telling me? Because it sure seems like you're playing the sacrificial lamb here" Katherine said. Whether it was in a genuine tone or not, Stefan couldn't tell.

"What? You wanna know that I was the one who broke up with Elena?" Stefan said in a bit of an edgy tone.

"I thought it was mutual…." Katherine said taking in the new information that Stefan had just given her. She couldn't believe that he kept this from her for over a year now.

"I was the one who broke up with her once I realized that I couldn't just leave Cherishwood. I knew she wouldn't take the offer from NYU and settle for next best…but I don't want next best for her, she doesn't deserve next best, she simply deserves the best" Stefan said quietly. Stefan was careful not to dwell too much on how he felt in the past year. He knew he did the right thing for Elena and he wouldn't hold her back.

"She does have the best; with you" Katherine said in a soft voice as she grabbed Stefan's hand and wrapped it up in her own.

"She doesn't have me anymore. I lost her the minute I broke up with her" Stefan said looking at Katherine with eyes that bore pain; pain Katherine didn't know of.

Katherine let go of Stefan's hand and pulled out her laptop before she mumbled to herself, "we'll see about that"

"Huh?" Stefan said not quite catching what Katherine had said under her breath. Stefan looked at Katherine waiting for her to reiterate what she had said, but she simply put in her headphones and went to work on her laptop.

"Alrighty then" Stefan said settling back into his seat as he rested his head against the back seat and let his eyes slip close. New York would come too soon.

XXXXXXX

Elena walked back into her room and dropped her bag as she collapsed on her bed in a heap as she clutched her pillow close to her chest, hoping sleep would come. Sleep she hadn't been getting because of the final she just finished.

She was exhausted, yet she was so happy that she finished this stupid final and she could maybe go back to Mystic Falls for the summer, and visit her family.

But right as she was drifting off to sleep, Bonnie came crashing into her room with a tiny cupcake in one hand and a bag in the other.

"Elena!" She yelled as she jumped on top of her best friend, and planted a kiss on her head. Bonnie lay half on Elena and half on the bed as Elena moaned and groaned, moving back deeper into the comfort of her bed.

"No you don't" Bonnie said grabbing her pillow and throwing it across the room. Elena let out a fake cry and looked up to see Bonnie looking down at her with a raised eyebrow, daring her to speak out against her.

"You are done your finals woman! Get dressed! We have somewhere VERY important to be in 2 hours." Bonnie said getting off Elena and bringing the bag she brought, up to her bed. She reached into the bag and took out a nice black strapless dress, with a lace back. The dress was hot. But there was no way in hell Elena was going to wear that dress as she looked like a piece of shit from her week of finals.

"Where are we going" Elena whined as she tossed and turned in bed hoping to get out of whatever excursion Bonnie had planned.

"Just go get in the shower, get dressed and I shall do your hair and makeup. Come on, up and at em!" Bonnie said walking over to Elena and pushing her off the bed and into the bathroom.

"Okay, Okay. Is the dress really necessary though? I mean look at it, Bon." Elena complained as she got a real good look at the dress. It kind of reminded her of the dress she wore in Barcelona for her birthday; the one Stefan loved.

"Yeah it is. Now go" Bonnie said digging through her jewelry stand hoping to find something that could go well with the dress.

XXXXXXX

Katherine stood before Stefan at the door where the graduates had to enter and smoothened out his black tie and fixed the collar of his shirt.

"Okay now I want you to walk tall and I want you to smile. I'll be taking pictures and I don't want you ruining them" Katherine said as she fixed his tie and pat his shoulders.

"Yes mom" Stefan said mockingly as they made the announcement for all the graduates to entire the auditorium and the friends and family to take their seats.

Stefan smiled down at Katherine as he said his byes and walked away from Katherine before she grabbed his hand and pulled him back. "Stefan, I'm proud of you. We all are" Katherine said reaching up and giving him a little kiss on the cheek.

"Thanks, Kat" Stefan said as he walked away and into the auditorium to get in line with all the graduates.

Katherine quickly checked her phone and found the text she had been waiting for. She quickly opened and responded as she put the phone back in her purse and made her way to the front entrance of the venue.

Right as she stepped out of the building and onto the curb, she saw exactly who she was looking for.

XXXXXXX

"Come on, walk your little legs in those heels faster. I know you can run in those" Bonnie said teasingly as she led the way with Elena walking behind her, looking sexy in those heels and her black dress and curled hair.

"Bonnie where are we going?", Elena said once she began to see people in suits and dresses as they got closer to the building Bonnie promised would hold something important for her.

"Right here" Bonnie said as she spotted who she was looking for.

Elena put her head down and rummaged through her clutch to find her phone before she bumped into Bonnie who had suddenly stopped.

"Bonnie why'd you sto-" Elena began to say before she looked up and saw Katherine looking at her with waiting eyes.

They both just looked at each other for a while before Bonnie excused herself to find the bathroom, leaving both of them alone.

"Kat" Elena began before they both broke out into a beaming smile as Katherine threw her hands around Elena's neck and hugged her tight.

"Jesus Christ, Elena you stupid idiot how could you" Katherine said as she gripped onto Elena. Elena wrapped her arms around Katherine's waist as they both hugged each other for a minute before they let go.

"I'm so sorry, I jus-" Elena began to say trying to explain herself to Katherine but Katherine put one finger to her lips before she could go on.

"Let's go. We're gonna be late" Katherine said taking her hand and pulling her into the building they stood in front of.

"All day today people have been telling me we're gonna be late. But what am I late for? What is going on here?" Elena said impatiently as Katherine opened up two large doors and entered the auditorium where friends and family sat.

Elena stopped in her tracks and looked around in the room she was in and realized that she was at someone's graduation. She knew whose it was, but she rather not go down that road and let her think of the possibility of seeing him.

"Katherine what is this" Elena whispered into her ear as the announcer was calling up names and handing them their diploma and as they posed for a picture.

"This is called a graduation, Elena. You'll have one soon enough" Katherine stage whispered back to her as she took out her camera and began adjusting the settings to take pictures.

Elena took a deep breath and gulped down as she gripped onto her clutch tightly with her shaky hands. That's when she heard his name being called, and Katherine clapping violently next to her.

XXXXXX

Stefan stood up, smiled, like Katherine had told him to and walked up onto the stage to finally receive the diploma he worked so hard for.

As he walked onto stage and shook the hands of his professors, he turned to look out in to the crowd with a beaming smile, hoping Katherine would catch it and not have his head.

But that was when his heart began to beat fast and his palms got sweaty as his look fell on Elena and his smile fell. No. She wasn't. She was not here, was she? Stefan smiled inside as he looked at the girl he loved so much.

"What are the chances" Stefan mumbled to himself as he looked at her in complete utter awe. Stefan quickly got off stage as they called the next name and he took his spot as the ceremony continued. He sat there in shock as his mind replayed the moment she just witnessed. There was no way she was here. What were the chances? Stefan's mind was going crazy and before he knew it the announcer congratulated the class and the ceremony was over.

XXXXXX

"Katherine" Elena said as everyone got up and made their way into the next room for lunch as graduates met with their family and friends.

"Yes, Elena?" Katherine said as she turned to Elena with a big smile on her face. Yes. Katherine was feeling like quite the genius for arranging this right now. God bless Bonnie for making it happen.

"I shouldn't be here" Elena said looking down at her shaking hands.

"Elena, you are to be wherever Stefan is. And you're kidding yourself if you think for one second that Stefan wanted to break up with you" Katherine said trying to set things straight. These two idiots couldn't even fathom how much they loved each other. Yet here they stood, further apart than they had ever been. Katherine would fix that.

"He didn't want a long distance relationship Katherine and he has every right to want that. I would never expect that" Elena said quietly as she took a deep breath and ran her hand through her hair.

"So that's what he told you? He didn't wanna do long distance?" Katherine said clearly not impressed with Stefan's way of handling things.

"What do you mean?" Elena said not quite getting what Katherine meant. Surely she knew that he was the one who broke up with her, and why.

Katherine huffed as she looked over Elena's shoulder and saw Stefan approach from behind her. He had a look that she couldn't quite pinpoint; fear? Excitement? Love? Anger?

"I mean I need to use the ladies room. Wait here" Katherine said dismissing anything Elena was saying as she walked away.

"This woman" Elena grumbled as she turned around to face Stefan who was standing in front of her looking like quite the Greek god. His tie had been loosened a bit and his sleeves were rolled up his arms.

Elena hadn't seen him since they broke up after she graduated from high school and she could have sworn he got hotter. His face was leaner, he looked a bit more muscular but his eyes didn't have the sparkle they used to wield. Elena wanted to look away because she could feel herself beginning to tear up just by looking at him. She missed him so much. Not a day went by where she didn't think about him.

But she wasn't alone in that feeling. Stefan looked at Elena as his heart and stomach clenched. She looked beautiful, and all he wanted to do was kiss her and tell her how sorry he was. But he wasn't sorry. He wasn't sorry that he did something for her. He wasn't sorry that he did everything he could, to try and make sure she got the best.

"Um, hi" Elena said griping onto her clutch anxiously as they both looked at each other for the first time in a long time.

"Hey" Stefan said coming closer with his hands mashed into his pockets. Elena had to bite back a little moan, much to her surprise, because he looked that good.

"Congratulations on your graduation. I know how hard you worked for it" Elena said, trying not to let her emotions get the best of her.

"Thank you, I appreciate it" Stefan said licking his lips as he finally got a good look at the dress Elena was in, black strapless; his favorite.

"Katherine and Bonnie kinda tag teamed and forced me to come here" Elena said nervously. Not knowing exactly what to say.

"Not that I didn't want to be here, Stef…an" Elena added before she realized that she had called him Stef; something she called him while they were together.

Stefan walked closer to Elena and placed his hand on her lower back, as he led them to a place quieter than this big venue.

Elena nearly yelped at his touch on her lower back before she silently followed Stefan as he began to speak.

"I'm glad you're here" Stefan said sincerely as he dropped his hand once they got to a place they could speak properly.

Elena winced as his hand dropped from her back and back onto his side. Something Stefan didn't let go unnoticed.

"I'm sorry.. I shouldn't have...It's just so natural" Stefan said referring to himself touching her in the way he had.

"Don't be" Elena whispered as she looked up at Stefan leaning against the wall, looking at her with a look she couldn't quite decipher.

"I miss you" Elena said quietly as she walked closer to him and daringly, let her hand brush against his hesitantly.

Stefan let his eyes close at their proximity and Elena's touch on his hand. She was invading every corner of his being all over again and he couldn't help but want to apologize and be with her.

"Elena" Stefan said in a quiet voice. So quiet that she barely heard his silky smooth voice pass his precious lips.

Elena, boldly, moved to wrap her arms around his neck and pull herself close to his body. Her body molded to his within the blink of an eye. She closed her eyes and let herself finally breathe, after a whole year, in his presence. It was like she was treading underwater for a year and she finally got some fresh air. Her heart was beating really fast and she could have sworn it stopped the moment Stefan wrapped his arms around her back, pulling her closer; if possible.

Stefan let himself be selfish this one time so he could feel what he missed over the year. So he could finally have her in his arms because for the past year he had wanted nothing more.

For a while they both just stood there, wrapped up in each other's arms, not saying a word but feeling everything they didn't allow themselves to feel.

After a while, Stefan felt something wet on his neck and realized that Elena was crying. Stefan pulled back to look at Elena, who had her eyes closed but there was one stray tear finding its way down her cheek.

Elena opened her eyes to find Stefan looking at her intently and without even thinking about it, Stefan leaned forward and kissed away the one lone tear, threatening to fall off her face.

Elena gasped when she felt his lips touch her skin and it was like she was on fire again. A fire only Stefan could ignite.

Stefan pulled back to rub his thumb across her cheek and wipe the path the tear had took. Elena felt herself fall deeper in love with the man who stood before him, but she was holding back. So much had happened. She didn't even know if Stefan wanted to rekindle anything they had left behind.

"You're too beautiful to cry" Stefan whispered as he let his hand linger on her face, looking at her intently, holding her gaze.

Elena let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and giggled softly at his words. She hadn't been called beautiful in a while.

Stefan felt himself smile at the sound of her giggles that warmed his heart. He loved her so much and he didn't know what to do. He was torn between kissing her and letting her go. He didn't even know if Elena wanted to pick up where they left off.

Elena felt herself being brought back to reality as she stepped out of Stefan's embrace. Maybe she had crossed some line she wasn't sure of.

"How long are you in New York for?" Elena asked as she wrapped her hands around herself, finding herself to be cold, despite the May weather.

"Undecided" Stefan said reeling a bit from having Elena step out of his embrace so quickly. He had still wanted to hold her. But he reminded himself that she was no longer his.

"We should catch up" Elena said running her hand through her hair, finding herself kind of avoiding Stefan's gaze. She found herself getting lost in his eyes and her looks kept on drifting to his lips. This was not good.

"Elena, I should apologize" Stefan said getting straight to the point. It wasn't like them to be awkward. But this wasn't awkward. It was so familiar for both of them. They both wanted this, yet they found themselves doubting it.

"You have nothing to apologize for Stefan… it was silly of me to think and expect you to jump into a long distance relationship." Elena said sadly. Stefan mentally kicked himself for being the reason behind that sadness. He never wanted to hurt Elena, and he was soon finding out that he had.

Stefan pinched the bridge of his nose, hating himself for letting Elena think that she wasn't enough for him. That this relationship wasn't worth it, for him.

Stefan needed to clear this out. He could not have Elena think what she thought of this. She needed to know that he did it for her.

"You think a little distance, would hinder me from loving you?" Stefan asked, almost as if he was offended she thought so little of his love for her.

"Why else would you end things, Stefan, if not for the distance? Not everyone can handle distance" Elena said.

"I did it because I love you" Stefan said firmly. This was the only thing he was sure of in his life and it was the one thing he needed her to know.

Elena stopped herself and looked at him with soft eyes. If he loved her, why let her go? They were so much more than that.

"I did it because I knew if I told you I couldn't move to New York with you, you would give up NYU. I couldn't let you do that. You deserve the best and you deserve everything you have ever wanted out of life. I couldn't let you throw away your dream for me" Stefan said, getting everything off of his chest.

Elena took a deep breath as she felt another tear roll down her cheek. Stefan would always care about her. He was so selfless and it was what made her fall in love with him. She loved him so much it hurt.

"You think that you weren't part of that dream? You think that, without you, I could have fully enjoyed my dream that I had?" Elena said, raising her voice a little. Elena wasn't getting mad, but she was definitely not understanding of what would make Stefan think that she was better off without him.

"You never lost me, you will always had me in the palm of your hand. I love you, Elena. And it's because I love you that I had to let you go." Stefan said painfully.

"So what are we doing here, Stefan?" Elena asked, getting agitated with Stefan playing the noble one.

"You tell me, Elena. All my cards are on the table. Do with them as you please" Stefan said simply looking at her.

Elena felt her anger crumble at the vulnerability in his eyes and his voice. And before she knew it, she stood in front of his, holding his face in her hands.

"I don't want to do this without you, Stefan. I never have, never will. You're stupid if you think that even for a second, I would be better off without you." Elena said, still holding his face in her hands.

"I just wanted you to have everything you've ever wanted." Stefan said as he felt his arms go around her waist.

"I want you" Elena said simply as she reached up on her toes and placed a long awaited kiss on her perfect lips. Stefan let his eyes close and he remembered every moment they spent together, every second they spent loving each other, holding each other and wanting each other.

Elena found herself crying as she continued to kiss him. She finally had him in her arms and she wasn't going to let go anytime soon.

Stefan felt himself falling for Elena all over again as he pulled back and saw her tear stained face, which wielded a smile brighter than the sun.

"This is probably a stupid question, but, you ARE single, right?" Stefan asked as he leaned his forehead against her and felt her chuckle.

"No, I'm not. Not anymore" Elena said as she reached back up and kissed him again finally finding her way back home to Stefan.

XXXXX

A/N: I Hope you guys liked that! It was really fun to write! Leave a review and let me know what you think!