A/N: Hey guys! Sorry it took me forever to update this..To make up for it..here's a really long and super cute update. It's honestly my favorite chapter that I've written so far for this story! ;) It also has two really funny/cute flashback SE scenes. :)

Enjoy!


Begin Again- Chapter Twenty-Eight

Stefan's P.O.V.

"Ready to go?" I ask her, watching as Elena smiles up at me, her light brown sunglasses are on top of her head when she nods and opens the passenger side door to Zach's dark green colored work truck.

I'm just about to open the driver side door and get into Zach's truck when I hear it, the quick pitter patter of Olivia's footsteps as she runs after me, looking disappointed.

"Daddy you promised we'd go somewhere too. Why can't we go with you?" She asks me again, causing me to close the door and lean against it, looking down at my daughter who's got tears ready to spill over on to her cheeks. Olivia's begging with me, pleading for us to take her. And, I would, if only it wasn't for the fact that Elena and I need this..We need to be alone and we need to just learn to be together again, like we slowly have been learning to repair our fractured relationship.

I exhale deeply, bending down so that my green eyes are eye level with Olivia's dark brown ones. Smiling at her sweetly, pushing back a strand of her hair that feels like silk between my fingers and opening my mouth to speak when I look down at her. "Sweetie. Your mommy and I will be back. I promise. Like I said earlier at the table. It's a surprise just for your mom."

Once I say it, the tears in her eyes start to spill over and I watch as her bottom lip starts to quiver, her little face looks hurt and pained, so horribly disappointed that she can't come with us that it breaks my heart. "Olivia, honey. Please, don't cry. We'll be back later tonight and we'll bring you, Sam and Aiden back something. I promise." It's a like 180 degree turn in her attitude when I tell her and promise that I'll be bringing her back something because she locks her eyes on me, exhales deeply when I watch as she lifts up her little hand and grabs a hold of mine that's resting on my knee.

"Pinky swear?" She asks, placing her little hand into mine as I let out a small laugh, my other hand ruffling the top of her head. Olivia groans, tears still streaming down her face as she gives me a small and barely there smile, her brown eyes shining.

"Pinky swear." I answer back quickly, entangling her little pinky finger with mine as she watches me lean forward and kiss her hand. "I love you." I add in my most sincere tone when she wraps her little arms around me, wrapping her legs around my chest too and whispers into my ear. "Come back soon, daddy..I'm going to miss you."

I let out a little laugh, hugging her tightly when I lift us both up from the ground and carry her to the passenger side door, knocking on the window, grabbing Elena's attention as we both watch her pull out her headphones and smile at us, opening the car door.

"Olivia, you need to let daddy go." She scolds her a little, a smile lingering across her lips as she says it and shakes her head in disbelief. I slowly bend down, my daughter still clinging on to my body as she shakes her head. "No."

"Sweetie, daddy and I need to go somewhere. But, I promise that we'll be back later tonight. Honey, now please...can you look at me." Elena asks her, both of watching as she lifts her head from my shoulder, sniffling a little and stuttering when she speaks. "I don't want you to go!"

"I know. But, Zach is going to be taking care of you guys and Suzanne is going to help out too. You like her, right?" Elena asks, placing her hands on to each side of Olivia's sides, tickling her with her fingers as Olivia briskly lets go of her hold around my neck and leans against my chest instead, directing her attention to Elena.

Olivia nods, a small relaxed smile forming across her lips as Elena straightens out her yellow sun dress and smiles at her. "Good. Olivia...Baby, listen to mommy. We'll be back in a few hours. So, give daddy a hug and kiss and we'll see you soon."

"Oh man!" All three of us stop when we hear his voice coming from the back seat of the truck. Olivia and I turn our heads to see Sam lifting himself up off the floor of the car with a saddened look on his face as he opens the back seat door and crawls out.

" Sam! What is going on you two?" Elena shouts, placing her hand on top of her head and stepping out of the car, causing Olivia and I to take a few steps backwards.

"You two little silly kids have some explaining to do. Sammy, how did you get into the backseat of Uncle Zach's truck and Olivia-what's wrong?" Elena asks, irritation on her face as she places her hands on to her hips and looks down at their guilty little faces that are staring up at her.

"I...I...gotta go." Sam starts to say, his foot lifting up off the ground- ready to runaway as Elena clears her throat and stops him in his tracks before he has time to run back towards the house.

"Not so fast, mister! Sammy, did you and your sister plan this?" She asks them, bending down so that she's looking directly at him, her hands placed gently on to our son's wrists, stroking his skin with her thumbs as she lifts her hand and runs her fingernails through his dark brown hair.

"Did you?" She repeats again as he falls against her, wrapping his arms around her neck, inhaling deeply when he speaks against her skin. "It was Olivia's idea. She doesn't want you or daddy to go without us." Sam admits, looking down at the floor as Elena and I both look over at Olivia whose once again buried her face into my shoulder, wrapping her arms around my tightly as I lift her up into the my arms and hold her there for a moment.

"It's just a little trip. Okay, you two. You know how you two are going to have fun with Zach and Suzanne today. Remember when he said that?" She asks them, looking over at Sam as she takes his hands into her own and smiles at him, watching as Olivia slowly lifts her head up and looks over at her, nodding.

"Daddy and I are going to have some fun today too. Just like you guys will have fun with Zach. And, later tonight we'll be back home. Okay?" She tells them, watching as Olivia wipes away the tears on her cheeks as she asks. "So, you're coming back?"

Elena nods, taking a step towards Olivia and I as she leans into us and kisses her cheek softly, whispering into her ear. " Of course, sweetie. We always will. We'd never leave you, Sammy or Aiden. I promise. I love you."

I feel her little arms loosen around me as she turns her body towards Elena and out stretches her arms towards her, smiling when Elena grabs a hold of her, kissing her forehead, when I hear a barely there and soft reply coming from Olivia when she says. " Okay. I love you too, momma."


"I thought that they weren't going to let us go." I tell her with a laugh, turning on to the freeway. Elena quickly looks over at me, then back to the window, watching the other cars and landscape pass by us.

"Yeah, I really thought that we'd have to call Zach for help..." I comment, placing my hand in the middle of the console in the truck, watching as Elena grabs a hold of my hand and squeezes it tightly, humming softly to herself when she looks back out at the window.

"We're haven't been alone like this is what feels like years." She states in a knowing tone, watching the landscape go by at a quick pace. I think about her words for a moment, knowing that she's right. Elena and I haven't taken a trip alone together like this in a car for a few hours, since we were dating and when I open my mouth to debate her words, she laughs, placing her hand on top of her head when she adds. "Actually, the last time that you and I were in a car together on a long road trip, I had gotten the flu and we were driving back from Long Beach after you told me that it would be a good idea to go watch the sun go down there because Damon told you it was pretty..." Her voice trails off as I exhale deeply, remembering the moment.

"So, I got you like all these cold meds. Just in case you end up throwing up all over me again." I told her, watched as she lifted her head from the passenger side window, groaning at me. "I'm sorry...it was unexpected!"

"Elena, I'm sorry. I thought you said you were feeling better?" I asked her, my voice fading a little as I sat back into the drivers seat of her little black Mustang sports car. "Come on, if I would have known that you were going to get worse. I would have gone by myself and-."

She laughed. Cutting off my words as she shook head and rolled her eyes at me. Her brown gaze glaring at me, grabbing the box from my out stretched hand as she grumbled under her breath. "I feel like death and you thought it was cute to accidentally push me into the ocean..I kind of hate you right now!"

"Hey, I didn't push you in. You lost your balance."I tried to argue, her scratchy voice barely there as she turned to look at me, deadlocked on my face when she added. "We have a half hour still to go and you'll be lucky if I don't throw up on you again before we get home. Now, shut up and get into the car, Stefan!"

"Can I at least turn on the radio so that we're not sitting in absolute silence while we drive back home?" I asked her, tilting my head to the side with a small smile as I closed the drivers side door and started the car, slipping my sweat shirt off and placing it over her bare shoulders, smiling a little at the small gesture to keep her warm until I started the car again and turned on the air conditioning.

Elena exhaled deeply, snuggling up with my dark blue sweat shirt, looking back at me as she stated in a firm tone. "A half hour, Stefan..I just want a half hour of silence. If you touch that radio...I'm going make this week torture for you." She said in a nasally tone, resting her back against the window.

She laughed a little, hearing when I exhaled deeply, starting the car and driving it out of the gas station.

"How is this week going to be torture for me if you're the one that's sick?" I asked her in a curious tone, hearing Elena snort out a laugh, turning towards me and in the most serious tone she said. "If you touch that radio and blast it...I'm going to make sure that once I start feeling better that there will be no sex..all week long."

"You said that you'd make me pay for it. That week ended up being torture." I comment, focusing back on to the road in front of us as Elena laughs and smiles at me.

"Yeah because you ended up touching the radio and we were stuck listening to Bon Jovi the whole way back home..God, I wanted to drop you off on the side of the freeway and have you call Damon to pick you up. I was so sick, it was horrible." She recalls, laughing a little as I feel her hand start to play with my finger as I glance over at her and smile at the memory.

"Yeah, but I took care of you when we got home..I took you upstairs because you had fallen asleep in the car and I stayed with you, all night long, never leaving your side." I remind her, watching as she smiles, running her hands through her hair, rolling down the window and letting the breeze in. Elena's hair whips back all around her face as she laughs.

"You did, you stayed all night long, holding me until I fell asleep. The perfect boyfriend...I'm a lucky girl, you know..To have you. We've been through a lot, Stefan." She says in a sudden soft and low voice, squeezing my hand tighter, looking out the passing cars that drive by us.

"I know. And, I'm sorry for everything I put you through." I comment, glancing over to see Elena give me a saddened look, her fingertips gently stroking my arm as she says. "I'm sorry too. But, I wouldn't have changed any of it. Because, I'm not sorry that you came back to me and that we got our second chance. We get to live again, Stefan. We get to be together again and that's all that matters to me. That we're together, happy and healthy. That's all. Because, I spent years without you and I know you did the same. I know how hard it was and I'd never wish that on anyone. I love you, every day for the rest of my life until we're old and the kids are all grown up, leaving us all alone in the house. It won't change anything because we'll have each other, just like we always have..." I hear her voice break a little when I take my eyes off the road and lean into her, kissing her cheek when I whisper against her skin. "You'll have me forever, Elena and forever is a very long time."


The drive is 3 hours long and after I park the car in the parking lot, filled with people walking around in shorts and tank tops, kids playing and chasing each other around. I turn the engine off and look over at Elena who's been holding my hand for the past hour, causing my fingers to go numb. But, she's asleep. Head pressed up against the glass as her breath leaves marks against the glass.

"Elena. Honey...Hey, sweetie. We're here." I tell her calmly not wanting to startle her, taking my other hand off the steering wheel, placing it against her shoulder, shaking her awake.

"Ugh, why can't you just let me sleep!" She snaps, rubbing her palm against her face as her makeup gets smudged against her cheek.

"Because, If I let you sleep...I wouldn't be having a lot of fun at all today and I don't really want that to happen. This whole day is for us, by the way." I comment with a wink, turning around and leaning against the console to the backseat, hearing Elena grumble at me as she shoves me a little with her hands and laughs when I end up flying forward a bit more, glaring over at her.

"God, you have a nice backside. You know, you can just keep getting whatever you need back there, I'll wait. I like the view I'm getting anyways. Thanks for waking me up for this babe. It's a great view." She remarks in a flirtatious tone, smiling to herself when I finally grab the bag that I was looking for and end up falling back into the driver's seat.

"Aha, here it is." I comment, grinning ear to ear when Elena pulls the bag from my hands and pulls out the bottles that I stole from Zach.

"What's this? Are we going to a frat party or something? Stefan, I may have not gone to college and experienced a fraternity or whatever. But, I've gotten drunk in my day and this...this is enough to knock me off my ass! Are you going to use these to make me strip for you or something. Because, you know that I'm a light weight...right?" She asks in a joking tone as she places her hands over her mouth, laughing so hard that her face turns beat red and tears appear in her eyes.

I shake my head, laughing just because she is. It's infectious, the way she laughs when she's happy or excited about something. Elena wipes her eyes as she drops the bottles in her lap and looks them over again, listing off the alcohol that I found in Zach's liqueur cabinet. "Seriously, what are you planning to do to me on that yacht ?"

I pause, looking out the window as I notice a man waving us over and then I look back at Elena. "Well, I was thinking we could play a fun game of "Never have I ever." I tell her with a wink, feeling as her fingernails dig into my arm and she leans towards my face, brown eyes blazing with she states. "Stefan you do remember what happened the last time we played that game with alcohol involved..You can't possibly not remember that night!"

I'm smirking at her, taking her hand off of my arm, my other hand's on the door handle to the truck when I laugh and turn to speak to her over my shoulder before stepping out of the truck. "Yeah, if memory serves me right...you ended up pregnant with twins 9 months later."

"Exactly! And, that's why we need to leave the alcohol in the car!" She argues, throwing the bottles in the back seat as I jump out of the truck, shaking my head and laughing as I watch her get out of the truck and she locks her eyes on me with a warning glance as I lick my lips. "Come on, it won't be that bad. We're just going to do a few shots. That's it." I tell her, shrugging my shoulders back as Elena huffs out an annoyed breath and rolls her eyes, opening the back seat to th truck, glancing over at me on the other side of the it when she firmly states. "Just a few drinks. That's it. We need to get back home and be responsible!"

"Ha, I think responsibility flew out the window a long time ago when it came to us." I remark, Elena slams the door shut and steps around the truck, walking over to me when she looks around and presses her body against mine, her fingers slipping into my hair, when she leans forward and I feel my body being pushed up against the truck as she kisses me roughly.

The sound of a familiar voice stops us from making out like two foolish teenagers in the parking lot. His foot steps are heavy when he clears his throat and asks. "Are you Stefan Salvatore? Because, you look a lot like your father from a distance and...My name's Mark and I'm Zach's friend."

Mark's an older, heavy set man. Dark pitch black hair that reminds me of Damon's. But his eyes are a gray looking color as he smiles and runs his hands though his hair. Elena leans back from me, her face red from embarrassment. "And, who's this pretty woman?" He asks with a smile, extending out his hand towards me as I release my grip from around Elena's waistline and shake his hand. "This is my wife, Elena. It's really nice to finally meet you, Mark."

He takes a step back from us, looking out towards his own truck that has what I assume is Zach's yacht attached to it. "I've heard a lot about both of you. Especially you, Stefan. I..um..I knew your parents years ago when you and your brother were kids. Your dad and Uncle would take you both out here...It was like a family tradition every time you boys would come to visit. So, how are-" He starts to ask me as I look down at Elena whose looking down at the ground, arms folded across her chest and she's stepped away from me a bit.

It's hard for me to remember him, to let all the pieces of my past when I was a kid- open up again- since I've closed most of them off for so long that when Mark informs me that he knew my mother and father, something inside of my heart breaks a little when I open my mouth and state in a detached and ice cold tone. "They're dead. My dad and my mom died when I was a kid. They, um..You didn't know..did you?"

I watch his face go pale, he looks down at the floor in utter awkwardness and shakes his head before speaking. "No...I just thought that when your parents moved away from here that they didn't want to speak with me anymore. And, I never really asked Zach about it because I figured it wasn't that important, and that he wouldn't have wanted to tell me anyways. I just- Oh, I'm so sorry."

I nod, feeling Elena's hand slip against my palm as she tightens her grip around my fingers when she laces our hands together, giving Mark a saddened look. "It's okay, Mark. It happened a long time ago and only immediate family knew about it."

He coughs out a shaky breath, looks behind him nervously and then looks back at us with that sympathetic look that I've grown accustom to. "Look, when I talked to Zach about you guys. He just told me to take you two out on his yacht and that you both needed some time alone. So, I didn't ask questions. I've been storing it for him at my house that has a dock and stuff. I just...I didn't want to pry into your life. Because, I just knew you when you were a kid. Didn't even think you'd remember me." He explains, placing his hands into his pockets as I give him a slight smile and clear my throat, changing the subject.

"So, about the yacht. Zach said that you could teach me how to steer it and all that and we could take it out on the water for a bit, alone?" I ask him, watching his demeanor change as he looks back to his truck and at the large white cruising yacht that looks barely used.

"It's a yacht used for cruising. It's a Morris 48 yacht that your Uncle customized all for himself and his late wife. Fairly basic to learn how to steer and it's got a really nice interior. The inside of it is all covered with windows and in the rounded hull, there's a small lower part to it with a bed and a table and booth seats for eating. It's really nice." Mark rambles on about the yacht, like I even understand what he's talking about. All I can hear are the words "Bed, eating table and it's got nice light colored wooden flooring inside of it, almost it's pretty closed off inside and it has blinds."

I nod at him with a huge smile and release Elena's hand, watching as she turns back towards the truck and grabs our bags out from the back.

"I don't live far from here, just a few miles. So, once I show you everything you'll need to know. All you have to do is call me when you're done for the day." He adds on, pivoting on the soles of his shoes with a smile. I look over at Elena and grin when I remark. "Hear that sweetie, all we have to do is call him when we're done. I think this whole idea of coming out here just got a lot better. We're going to be all alone in the middle of this huge vast lake. All alone together." I emphasize my words like 'alone' as I watch her turn around and she rolls her eyes at me, shoving one of our bags against my chest when she smiles and states. "Oh, I heard him alright. But, you know they have yacht rentals here..It would have saved you the trouble from getting this poor guy to drive all the way out here with your Uncle's yacht !"

I shrug my shoulders back, grinning when I add. "You say that now. But, just wait until we go cruising. I promise you that it'll be fun!"


Zach's P.O.V.

"Zach, can you tell us a story?" Olivia asks me, bouncing up and down as she walks into the living room, dragging Sam behind her. They both watch me hold Aiden in my arms, rocking him to sleep as he starts to cry.

"Daddy sings to Aiden when he starts to cry. He's got a good voice. Sometimes he sings the 'you are my sunshine song.' " Sam suggests, taking a seat next to his sister who's hovering over Aiden and brushing his hair back, kissing the top of his head.

"Do you know that song?" Sam asks me, smiling with bright green eyes as I laugh a little. I used to sing that song to Damon and Stefan when they were little kids and when they couldn't sleep. It was something their own father would sing to them as little boys when they'd have nightmares and when they wouldn't be able to sleep at all.

I glance over at Sam, watching Olivia get down on the floor so that she's sitting on her knees, right next to her baby brother, still stroking the top of his head.

"We could help you sing it if you need help." She tells me in a hopeful tone, smiling a huge grin and pushing back a strand of her brown hair as I lean my back against the couch, trying to calm a still loudly crying Aiden.

"You know what? I have a better idea..How about you two sing it until Aiden falls asleep?" I ask them, hearing Sam's voice full of excitement as he walks over to sit next to his sister and they both look down at their little brother.

"But, we don't really know the words.." Olivia comments in a slightly disappointing tone as I glance over at her and smile, pulling out my cell phone when I state. "I know just the person who can help us out with that...Your dad."


Stefan's P.O.V.

I watch as she walks away from me and just when I'm about to follow her, I feel my cell phone start to buzz with a vibration in my shorts.

"Hello?" I answer it without even looking at the call ID and once I hear his voice, I can tell that he's desperate, frantic almost.

"Aiden won't strop crying since you two left and it's his nap time and I wasn't going to call you guys because I didn't want to bother you because you two left like three hours ago and I thought I would be fine with them. But, I'm not fine. Stefan, your son's crying is making my head hurt and so, I asked the kids what I could do to make it stop." Zach blurts out in a hurried tone, his voice and breathing are staggered when he finally lets out a sigh and I hear Sam and Olivia in the back ground trying to sing to Aiden.

"Ha, I had a feeling you were going to call one of us." I comment with a smile, turning my back away from the truck and looking out towards the lake that I can see just slightly from the parking lot's view.

"Have you fed him? Changed his diaper...gave him a bath?" I ask Zach all the basic questions, listening when he tells Olivia and Sam to stop singing for a moment just so that he can think about everything he's tried.

"Yeah, I did all that already..Look, I just need you to-." The service to my phone cuts in and out and I panic a bit when Zach mumbles a curse word that's just above a whisper under his breath.

"What do you need me to do Zach?" I ask him, walking back to the truck and leaning my back against it, crossing my ankles together.

"I need you to sing 'you are my sunshine' apparently since that's the only thing that calms him...I'll even put you on speaker." He begs me. He must hear the hesitation in my voice as I look around the parking lot and notice that it's starting to fill with even more people. My free hand grabs for the keys in my pocket and when I don't feel them in my shorts, I feel my heart start to race. I don't want to sing it in a parking lot full of people, they'll think I'm insane!

"Zach, I can't do that right now..Elena and Mark are waiting for me to leave. We're supposed to already be on the yacht and out on the lake..." My voice trails off as he huffs out a breath and then he starts to beg again.

"Please, Stefan. I am begging you! I love your kids, I really do and we've had a great time so far. But, Aiden...If he keeps crying like this- I'm going to go deaf!" Zach explains with desperation and a pleading voice as I smile, looking down at the paint on his truck when I turn around towards it again, breathing heavily. "Fine, put me on speaker. But, only this once...I usually only sing it in private."

It takes a moment until he does and I can tell that I'm on speaker from his cell phone by the echoing feedback that I'm getting of my own voice. "Hi guys! I miss you." I tell them as I hear Sam and Olivia quietly say "Hi daddy! We miss you!"

"Daddy, Aiden needs you to sing him a song." Olivia states with a little giggle as I smile from hearing her voice. I nod my head, clearing my throat when I ask. "So, you're holding him right Zach?"

"Of course I am, Stefan! I've been trying to rock him to sleep and it's just not working. He's being fussy." He repeats again when I cough out a breath.

"Well, here it goes. I hope this helps.." My voice trails off as the other end goes completely silent and all I can hear is Aiden's crying start to subdue as I continue singing the lyrics..."You are my sunshine, my only sunshine...You make me happy when skies are grey...You never know, dear, how much I love you...Please don't take my sunshine away..."

"Zach?" His name is questionable out of my mouth as I barely hear anything when he takes me off speaker and exhales heavily, his voice is low and raspy, the only thing heard as it sounds like he's getting up from off the couch in the living room. "He's starting to fall asleep...Thank you! Thank you, you are an amazing father, Stefan!" Zach states with a sound of relief escaping his lungs as I look around the parking lot, tapping my fingers against his truck when I lay my forehead against the hood of it and smile to myself, shaking my head as I reply simply. "I try my best Zach...I'm just trying my best."


Caroline's P.O.V.

"So, what have I missed?" I ask her, leaning against the door frame to my office as I watch Lexi look up at me in complete shock.

"Caroline, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at home, don't you have a few more days off?" She asks me, shuffling a set of familiar papers when I walk into my office and glance over them, giving her a confused look.

"I thought this case was closed, Lexi? Katherine Pierce is in prison, she got 23 years to life and Klaus got life in prison. That was the sentence." I comment, leaning against the empty chair in my office as I step in front of it and sit down, watching Lexi smile at me, letting out a nervous laugh.

"They did and it is..It's closed and they aren't getting out. I just- I was actually looking over Matt Donovan's part in the case. Still can't get over the fact that a fire fighter would do that to his so called best friend, you know...Hey, do you know if Elena ever mentions him anymore?" She asks me, watching as I cross my legs over each other and shake my head. Ever since the night that Bonnie and I found out that Matt was stabbed in his cell no one really mentions him anymore. It's not like any of us will ever forget the part he played in Stefan's disappearance or the fact that once - years ago- that Matt was a decent friend and loving person. But, as she asks me, I think about it a little more.

"I don't think she does...Lexi, we're all moving on from the past and looking over the already closed case is just bringing up painful memories for a lot of us. I honestly don't really blame her for not mentioning him, anyways. Matt was a friend, a lover, a great fire fighter and a dad to Elena's kids. He was a nice guy, a long time ago- a very long time ago. But, he was also an abuser, a monster and a manipulative person to my very close friend who could have lost her life at his hands. So, I'm glad that Elena doesn't mention him anymore. Lex, you and I both know that it's for the best. The case is closed and that's where it should stay, buried..." My voice trails off as I lean forward and place my hand on to hers, causing her eyes to glance up at me and she exhales, nodding.

"I know. I just- I guess I was curious as to how it all went so terribly wrong between them all. What happened all those years ago. Before Stefan disappeared and when he and Elena were dating to cause Matt to be so jealous of what they had." She states, releasing my grip and leaning back into her chair, staring up at the ceiling.

"He wanted a family, Lexi. And, he thought that he could have one with Elena. Stefan was in his way and he got rid of him because of that. You know this, we all do. The only people that don't know the truth are her kids and to be honest, it's better that they don't. I mean, how could you even explain to a child that the man that you called dad for a huge part of your life turned out to be a psycho path and that your real dad was god knows where, brained washed to believe that he wasn't who he thought he really was...That's just too much. So, to answer your question. No, Elena doesn't talk about him anymore because the kids know that Matt hurt their mother and that he wasn't a good person, that's why he's never coming back. And, that's what they think, because that's what Stefan and Elena explained to them- the best they could." I explain, clearing my throat as I change the subject.

"Speaking of family, where's Jeremy Gilbert? Are you two still working together?" I ask her, watching as Lexi laughs, clearing her throat and pointing behind me, He's smiling, a stack of file folders in his hands as he says in a cheerful tone. "Mrs. Lockwood. Just when I thought I would never see you again. My favorite investigator returns! How are you, Caroline?" He asks me, placing the files on to a shelf inside of my office, taking a step towards me when I get up from my chair. Jeremy's arms wrap around me tightly as he whispers. "Congratulations on the baby."

I hug him tightly back. I miss him, long nights and coffee breaks with Elena's younger brother used to the highlight of my week and part of my weekends. And, I miss how things used to be between us. But, ever since I found out I'm pregnant. I've been taking more days off and being at work now just feels odd, maybe it also has to do with the fact that Jeremy and I barely saw each other after we finished Klaus and Katherine's cases.

"Thank you. Now, can we just pretend it's like old times and that not a lot of things have changed around here? Like, Oh I don't know...Lexi, do you mind if I sit in my old chair?" I ask her, looking around my office and feeling a bit nostalgic. After we all arrested and wrapped up Stefan's case. Being back here in the police station where Lexi, Jeremy and I had spent months together, combing over every details just doesn't feel the same as it used to anymore. And from their facial expressions, I know that they feel just like I do.

"It's weird being back here in your office, with all three of us in it like this..isn't it?" Jeremy asks me, smiling as he leans against a wall that has a plaque on it, one with my name on it that was awarded to me after we captured Klaus and Katherine and brought Stefan home.

I nod, smiling when I watch Lexi get up from her seat and step in front of me, extending out her arms and hugging me tightly. "I know it's weird, Caroline. Because ever since we finished the case. It's been strange for me, walking around here like we didn't change someones life, like it didn't change our lives. But, it did. Everything that happened since then has been a journey of healing and-."

Jeremy clears his throat, cutting her words off as he steps near us and pulls us both into his arms, smiling at us when he says. "It's been a journey of healing and recovery and it's been tough for all of us. But, I'm glad that I got to spend those months with both of you. I love you girls and I wanted to say thank you for bringing home my brother in law. We couldn't have done it without each other."

I'm smiling through unshed tears as I embrace Lexi and feel Jeremy's arms around me. I'm trying really hard not to cry when I lean my head back and smile up at them when I add. "All of us have been through a lot and the case was emotional and tough sometimes. But, we made it and the healing is still on going. It'll never really go away, the rush and shock I felt when I heard Stefan's voice over the phone that night..It was one of the best nights of my career."

Lexi releases her arms from around me, wiping away her own tears and leaning against my desk ask she laughs, changing the subject. "So, Jer. You don't make unannounced visits for nothing...I mean, it's great to see you-since you know- we don't really get to work together anymore. But, what are you doing in the office today?"

Jeremy laughs, running his hands though his dark brown hair and exhaling deeply when he says. "Anna and I were planning on getting married next summer. But, her parents are coming into town in a few weeks and she found out that they're leaving for Europe next summer and they won't be able to make it to the wedding. So, we're moving the date to four weeks from now." He concludes, causing Lexi to gasp and me to stare at him like I've just been given the keys to a safe full of gold.

"Four weeks.. from now? Jeremy..That's really short notice to plan a wedding." I comment, watching as he shifts his weight nervously and smiles.

"I know. And, that's why I came to ask the two of you for some help. Elena and Stefan are still in Missouri for a few more days and I didn't want to bother my sister with the news. So, I figured that you two could help us out. Anna's been planning our wedding since last year and she knows where she wants it to be, how many people, what her dress is going to look like. She's got a lot of the planning already done." He explains, smiling when he exhales out a breath, causing Lexi and I to lock eyes on to each other.

"Caroline loves weddings! You know, I remember when she used to say that if she wasn't a cop that she'd be a wedding planner and she did just an amazing job with Stefan and Elena's that I'm sure that we can help. Right, Caroline?" Lexi asks me, grinning when I look down at the papers on my desk, gritting my teeth a bit and repeating my mantra in my head.

It's just Elena's little brother.

But, you're not supposed to be under any stress...Husband's orders..!

It's just Elena's little brother...Ah...Hell- Lexi's right..I do love planning weddings.

"I'm in. So, what do you need us to do?" I ask him with my most cheerful tone, placing my hands around my stomach as Jeremy smiles and then adds. "I just need you both to have coffee or tea with Anna and help her plan the small details out."

"That's it?" Lexi asks him, both of us a bit taken back by his words as he nods and adds. "Oh yeah and since I know that you can't be stressing a lot, Caroline. Call up Bonnie too. The more people that can help make this happen quicker, the better and smoother it will go. And, thank you guys..Seriously!" Jeremy tells us, smiling as he pivots on his heels and leaves the room with a huge smile on his face, leaving Lexi and I staring at each other and my palms itching to call Bonnie immediately!


Damon's P.O.V.

"Oh, what in the hell-...Caroline. Hi." I groan as I roll over on to my side and glance over at Bonnie. The sheets from our bed draped over her back, she's sound asleep.

"Damon? Why are you answering your wifes cell phone..Where is she by the way?" Caroline asks me over the phone, her voice all high pitched and kind of ear piercing when I smile and lean back into the pillows, smirking to myself proudly.

"She's sleeping off the pain her aching body is trying to process from us-" She cuts me off, a huffing noise coming out of her mouth as she adds. "Don't answer that, Damon. Just- look, just tell her that I called and that she needs to call me back as soon as she can."

I smirk, looking back over at Bonnie who's rolled over back towards me, her arm out stretched against my pillow. Her skin is glowing, face looks content and I can't wait to get off the phone with Caroline to continue where we'd left off just an hour before we both fell asleep.

"Will do. Once she's able to move." I comment in a joking way, hearing another loud annoyed sigh escape out of Caroline as she remarks under her breath. "That's too much information! I got to go."

I let out a laugh, rolling my shoulders back and tightening my grip around Bonnie's cell phone. "Good. Now, I can get back to what I was doing before you so rudely interrupted me. Goodbye, Caroline and tell your husband Hi! I miss him!" I can see her rolling her eyes at my words as she quickly hangs up right before she tells me a quick goodbye.

"Who was that?" Bonnie asks me in a sleep filled voice, covering up her chest with the satin sheets that we're both under.

"Just Caroline." I comment, leaning back towards her, capturing her lips against my own, about to roll back into her as I watch her place her hand on to my chest and she locks her eyes on me, pushing me up.

"Did she say what she wanted?" Bonnie asks me, her eyes firmly locked on to mine, her fingertips grazing gently against my bare chest.

"Nope." I reply back, popping the 'P' with my lips as she shakes her head and tries to get up from under me.

"Where are you trying to go?" I ask her, Bonnie leans up towards me and kisses my lips softly, backing away when her body slides out from under mine and she gets up, not even caring to take the sheet with her. She turns her head, picking up her light green colored robe from the armrest and smiling when she says. "I'm going to go call her back and you can go check up on Zach. I think it's his feeding time."

I watch as she leaves, my body falling back into the pillows as I exhale deeply and look up at the ceiling. "I just wanted to cuddle!" I mumble to myself, hearing Bonnie near the door to our bedroom as she laughs and adds. " Oh,I know. But, it can wait until next time!"


Elena's P.O.V.

"What were you singing in the parking lot earlier when Mark and I were waiting for you?" I ask Stefan, watching as he grins to himself and shakes his head.

"Aiden was having trouble sleeping and so, I..kind of-." I interrupt him, taking a seat next to him and placing my head on to his shoulder as we sit next to each other in the booth with it's flower printed crème colored fabric against our backs, feeling the swaying of the yacht when it starts to drift some more out further down the lake, getting farther and farther from the shoreline.

"You sang to him in a parking lot...My god, you are too adorable!" I exclaim, leaning into Stefan and feeling as his hands rest against my sides, his green eyes are hazy and glazed over when he leans back into me, his hands on my face, brushing my hair out away from my cheeks. "I know I am. So, have you changed your mind on us having a little fun?" He asks me, watching as I smile at him, it lingers across my face and it's hard to even hide.

"Yeah, actually. I have. How about we play a little drinking game...You know, that one you suggested sounds like a good idea." I comment, hearing as he laughs and leans into me, hovering over me almost. His knee between my legs when I feel my body being laid back against the thick flower colored cushions in the salon area of the yacht.

"Stefan...Don't you think we should start playing the game? We only have a few more hours until the sun goes down and then we have to go back home..."

"I don't need the daylight for what I was planning on doing with you on here." He comments with a wink and bright eyed smile, wiggling his eyebrows at me and clearing his throat. I see him scratch the top of his head, both of his arms are on each side of my body, pinning me down against the tiny and some what wide seats that we've been sitting on.

"Didn't Mark say that this yacht has a bed?" Stefan asks me, locking his gaze on to me as I nod.

"Yeah…Wait- Stefan…We are not going to-." My words are quickly stopped when he takes his knee out from in between my legs and replaces it with his hand that I feel caress my inner thigh.

"Oh, I could easily change your mind." He grins at me, his warm and rough fingertips grazing across my skin as I feel him work his hands up towards my underwear and just before he tugs them down roughly, I feel my body lunge forward, stopping him as I sit up, crossing my legs and clearing my throat.

"Drink…Let's drink..Let's just drink!" I repeat, glancing over to see Stefan's eyes brighten when he claps his hands together, rubbing them together as I watch him jump to his feet when he states. "Finally. You're agreeing with me on this. Oh, this going to be good!" He exclaims with a wink, taking out the bottles of gin, bourbon and Everclear that he found at Zach's house.

"Pick your poison." He comments with a bright and pleased smile on his face. He staring at me, licking his lip as I let out a laugh, getting up from my seat and walking over to him, snatching the round shaped bottle with the red, white and blue letters on the label that clearly states 'Everclear.'

"I wouldn't suggest doing shots with that, Elena. It's going to knock you off your ass and I'll have to take care of you in morning." He comments in a warning tone, almost glaring at me as I shrug my shoulders back and watch Stefan place his hand on to the bottle of gin in front of him.

"Well I'm a light weight and we both know that whenever I do drink that you're the one taking care of me anyways. But, why did you bring it then. You don't think I can handle it…?" My voice trails off as Stefan places his hands against the table, looking down at it and exhaling when he reminds me once more. "The last time you drank that stuff. You and I were out together at this bar with everyone there, celebrating Damon's birthday and…well…We were dancing, one thing lead to another and…."

As he speaks, small bites and pieces of that carefree and blazing drunken night are so vivid in front of me that I feel like I can almost reach out and touch it, taste the sweetness and bitter after taste of the lemonade that strong and potent alcohol was mixed with.

"Cut her off. She's had enough!" Bonnie shouted, coming up from behind me placing her arms around my neck.

"I'm so glad that you and Stefan could make it, it's really meant a lot to Damon!" She tells me, grinning when I leaned back and placed my head on her shoulder.

"So, whats going on with you and Stefan?" She asked, taking a seat next to me as I laughed, watching him walk past us.

"Babyyy! Hii!" I shouted at him, causing Stefan turn around and stop in his tracks, spinning me around towards him on the swivel chair that I was sitting on at the bar. His face heated and his smile wide when I opened my mouth to speak. But his hands pushed me back against the bar table, his hot and alcohol smelling breath washed over my face when he leaned into me, pushing me up against the table as he whispered into my ear. "Let's get out of here."

My speech was so slurred and my mind was so hazy that I giggled at him and stared blankly at him before I laughed again, pushing him away from me and placing my hand against his chest, smiling like a awe struck little kid. "Mhhmm….I'll go anywhere with you, as long as you lead the way!"

Bonnie grabbed his arm, a warning tone in her voice as she said. "You're both drunk. How about you go home before you end up doing something stupid."

Stefan rolled his eyes, exhaling deeply as he smiled at Bonnie and shrugged his shoulders back,popping his neck from side to side in annoyance. "Bonnie, I'm just going to the bathroom."

I watched her shake her head, my arms loosely around Stefan's neck as he looked down at me and kissed my temple. "Relax, Bonnie. It's just the bathroom..nothing bad ever happens there..well, maybe nothing that good either. Wohoo…let's go. Bye bye…Bon, Bon!"

His hand flatly resting against my back when we walked away, a smile never leaving my lips when he yanked me into the mens room. "I shouldn't be in hereee. It's really not right..But, it feels good being bad. But….I love you…I really really love you!" I rambled at him, feeling my back pressed up against the cold tiles of the small two stall bathroom.

"I know, Elena. I love you too." He smiled at me, brushing a strand of my hair behind my ear and leaning in to kiss me. I could feel his hands under my black button up blouse, his fingers undoing the buttons at a brisk pace. "Sheesh…Some ones eager! Here, I'll help you." I turned away from him, leaning my back against the sink on the other side of the bathroom, undoing the buttons sloppily, feeling my body start to heat up as I smiled at Stefan and stepped in front of him once again.

"Stefan..you're lucky that I love you and that you're my very sexy, hot fire fighter of a fiancé because I wouldn't be getting naked just for anyone…Did I mention that I love you?"

I watched him look down at the floor, taking his t-shirt off as he stood in front of me and smiled, nodding. "I know and that's why I'm about to do this.." His voice stuck in his throat as I glanced up at him, feeling his arms wrap around me briskly, my body being shifted into one of the empty stalls and before I could utter out anymore words, Stefan's lips found mine and he kissed me.

I could barely breathe. His hands caressing my skin, his lips working there way down my neck. Sucking and licking, teeth scraping across the soft spot on my flesh as he pushed me up harder against the bathroom stall, my whimpering and moaning sounds filling the quiet bathroom.

"God, it's hot in here..Isn't it hot in here?" I heard myself ask him, watched Stefan step back with a pleased look on his face, his hands gripping my hips as I felt my own legs voluntarily wrap around his waistline without even thinking, watching him grin.

"Yeah and it's about to get a lot hotter." He added with a wink, his hands slowly caressing my skin as I leaned my head back and smiled gleefully.

"I can't really remember the rest of that night.." My voice trails off, leaning forward across from him, standing against the table that's between us when he lets out a laugh and smiles. "Yeah, neither can I. But, I do remember that by the end of it all we ended up taking a cab home and the driver even had to tell us to keep our hands to ourselves the whole car ride...Damn, it was a fun night."

"So, how about that game?" I ask him. He's amused, a green spark flashes in his eyes as he leans towards me and grabs the bottle of gin and bourbon, two shot glasses from the left side of him, waving me towards the bed as he steps inside of the small cabin area and smirks. "Come on, I want to be comfortable for this."


"Drink if you've done it, don't drink if you haven't. The rules are fairly simple, from what I remember...I don't know, I haven't played this in years." Stefan states with a laugh, leaning his head back against the wooden paneling in the small bedroom that we're in. The full sized bed is encased in a wooden box like frame that's attached to the yacht, the sheets are white with small blue anchors, silky and cold as I sit on the bed and lean my head against the wall too.

"We'll just make up our own rules, anyways. Okay, I'll go first...Never have I ever...fooled around in a taxi cab." I comment with a laugh, hearing Stefan snort out a laugh, pouring us both a drink as he clinks our drinks together and leans his head back, allowing the gin that he poured himself to drain down his throat. I do the same, inhaling sharply as I lean my head back and place my knees up towards my chest, resting my arm against it.

"Okay, Never have I ever...Ran from the police." Stefan states, staring at me blankly as I grin and take the bottle from him, pouring myself another shot, feeling the burn of the alcohol go down my throat when it washes around in my mouth for a moment.

"What? When the hell did you do that?" He asks with a laugh, shaking his head as he takes the bottle of bourbon and holds it in between his lap, waiting for me to reply.

"Damon and I did...Once. It was a dare and I was kind of drunk, I was with Matt and...It was stupid because we eventually found out that they weren't even after us...But, it was fun to scare him and say that they were. Damon, just wanted me to feel better and so we went out together for drinks." I elaborate just a bit more as Stefan leans his head back and laughs, looking at me through one of his eyes that's just slightly open.

"You and my brother? Ha, that must have been priceless!" Stefan states, hearing me laugh as I smile at him, shaking my head. "Yeah, it was pretty funny. Because he called Bonnie in a panic which sounded something like this...Umm...baby...uhh..Elena and I...we're being chased and if we get arrested, can you bail us out!"

"Hah, I wish I would have been there for that." Stefan says in a somber tone as I smile at him and nod. "I wish you would have been too. He was so scared and I was just dying of laughter. It was a good night."

Stefan clears his throat, smiling at me sweetly when he hears me say. "Alright, never have I ever had sex in a public restroom." I comment, watching the dark bourbon spill across the sheets when Stefan's shaking hands pour the liquid into the small shot glasses and he winks at me when we both drink it back, inhaling through our noses at the burning sensation.

"This is too fun..Too bad Tyler or Damon aren't here. They'd love this." I comment, watching as Stefan lowers the bottle and places it on to the end table that's just above the bed, smirking at me.

"They'd also get us drunk faster and they'd make it really inappropriate...It's my brother for god sakes, Elena. Damon can't think straight and the only time he does is when it's something that involves sex or Bonnie." Stefan confesses, placing his hands in between his out stretched legs as I smile at him, pushing his shoulder back, watching him fall back against the pillows on the bed.

"I'm not drunk enough yet at all for more questions." Stefan says with a laugh, eyeing me from the corner of his eye as I let out a laugh, shaking my head and pulling my hair behind. He's right, if Damon and Tyler were here, this would be a lot more fun and we'd be three sheets to the wind by now, most likely because they would have started drinking at 7am!

"So, either we keep drinking or...we just do something else.." My voice is raw and light, playful as I watch Stefan lock his eyes on me, their gleaming as he smiles, a pearly white smile in my direction. I lean back against the bed, placing my hands underneath my head, looking up at him through slightly heavy eyelids.

"I could think of something we haven't done yet..." He comments, placing the bottles near the bed, taking a long drawn out sip of the gin as he grabs it again. I close my eyes, inhaling sharply when I feel him move his body to lay beside me, the bottle still in his hands as he lays down, handing me the bottle when I glance over at him, smiling.

"And, what haven't we done yet?" I ask him, taking a sip of the gin bottle, watching as he adjusts his weight beside me. Stefan gets up for a brief moment to take his shirt off, hovering over me when he leans towards my ear. I can smell the strong scent of a mixture of gin and bourbon seeping out of his mouth when he speaks and something about it is intoxicating when he leans back, brushing a strand of my hair with his fingertips as I secure my eyes on to him.

Stefan licks his lips, a desire filling his eyes when his fingertips brush against my soft olive colored cheek, inhaling sharply. I feel his hand move down to my stomach, his fingers bunching up the fabric to my white and red stripped nautical dress that's a low v-cut in the front.

My head pushes back against the bed as he smirks and continues moving his hands lower and lower against my thighs. I can feel my breath catch when he leans down and leaves a kiss against the inside of my thigh. My mind is fighting him, trying to reason with it's self that neither of us are drunk enough at all for this. "Wait, Stefan...how about we drink some more?" I ask him with a laugh, hoping that the alcohol will kill the slight butterflies that I'm suddenly feeling when my husband touches me so intimately.

"Elena...We'll have to cut each other off." He states with a a laugh and a bit of reasoning, lifting his head up to stare at me as I lift my hand up and place it under his chin, causing him to look directly at me when I smile with a nod. "That's fine. Because, I'd just feel weird not being drunk for this..It just feels like I need a drink for this. You're making me all nervous."


My head is fuzzy, speech starting to not make much sense at all. I can't even remember how many shots we had or even if we drank the whole bottle. But, when I try to get up- a few hours later after sitting with Stefan and continuing our inappropriate game of questions, making out and deciding which pieces of clothing should go if we end up playing strip poker. I see it, three bottles empty near my feet when I get up to move and fall back against the bed. It's warm and hot, the feeling around me as I feel his hand brush against my back and Stefan laughs, this cute and adorable laugh that causes me to turn around and glance at him.

"You know...this was a great idea! A very good idea, drinking straight from the bottles was an even better idea. Have you I ever told you that you're hot..My very hot wife?" He asks me, chuckling as I fall back against his arm and glance over at him, smiling widely and nodding my head. "All the time, why?"

He shakes his head, laughing and trying to get up. But, falls back against the bed, just as I did but with an even louder thump. "Damn it. I feel good, really good and that didn't even hurt."

"Stefan, we should call Damonnn...Or Tylerrr...Just to say Hi!" My voice is filled with excitement at the way their names roll off my lips, the vibration of letters causing my lips to shake a bit and my own laugh doesn't even sound familiar to my own ears as I repeat their names just to feel the syllables rolls off my lips.

"No talking, enough talking..." Stefan exclaims, waving his hand around and lifting it off the bed as he pulls me down towards him, pausing when his green blood shot gaze catches my own hazy vision and I feel his hand caress my cheeks again. Stefan brushes his thumb against my skin and states in a firm and serious tone. "I don't want to talk anymore...okay? Okay."

I want to protest, continue talking, but my brain is too tired, my actions are too slow to even fight him and when he leans forward, leaving a deep, slow kiss against my lips, I fall into him just as his body pushes us both up so that I'm straddling his lap and his back is against the wall of the bed. I hear him groan when I arch my back towards him, my lips hungrily biting against his own, taking his bottom lip in between my teeth and tugging at it as I grind my hips against him, hearing his breathing pick up and a moan escape past his lips.

Stefan's hands are on my thighs, the warmth and rough feeling of them is making my heart race, my breathing becomes faltered when I feel him stumble to his feel and I wrap my legs around his waistline as he hoists me up into his arms, my arms and legs tightly wrapped around his body. Before I can even catch my breath and stabilize it a little more, his mouth is on mine again, his tongue teasing mine and I feel my back being pressed up against the wooden paneling in the yacht, Stefan's hands swipe everything off of the dresser before he lifts me up on to it so that I'm sitting on it, all the while his mouth never leaving my own or my skin. His lips leaving rough and slow paced kisses against my lips, working down my neck- causing my whole body to tingle and tremble under his touch.

My voice gets stuck in my throat, the heat of our bodies is radiating off each other when I lean forward and place my chin onto his shoulder, feeling his hands under my dress, agonizingly slowly slipping off my cotton dark blue underwear. My breathing quickens, I can hear my heartbeat against my ears and when I look up at Stefan, locking my eyes on to him. I can see beads of sweat falling down his forehead as he brushes back my matted hair away from my sweat covered face. I smile at him, my hands gliding down his chest towards his shorts, watching him smirk at me when he leans against my ear, lifting my arms above my head with one of his hands, gripping them and pinning them up against the wall behind us when he whispers against my lips. "Be Patient, Elena."

My eyes widen, mouth drops open a bit as I try to argue with him. But, my hazy mind can't form an argument. My body is burning for his touch, my skin is crawling and my mind is screaming for him to touch me, for him to allow me to touch him. And just when I think I've freed my hand enough to loosen it and to be able to touch him, Stefan tightens his grip around my wrists again, smirking as he stands back, slowing my underwear to my knees.

He can see it in my eyes and it's like he's enjoying it way more than I am, the unspoken pleading, hopeless begging for him and just when I think he's about to give in to me. He leans forward, his green eyes are deadlocked on my face when he tilts my head to the side with his fingertips. I feel his fingers trail down my skin, brushing my hair off of my neck as his whispered tone swirls into the air. "I've never seen anything more beautiful than you, and after tonight, I could die happy. Knowing that I've seen the most beautiful thing in the world."

My eyes flutter open when I feel his hands release my arms and he watches as I slide them down his chest, my hands lifting up the fabric of his shirt over his head as he smiles at me and asks with an amused look. "What do you want to do, Elena?"

I giggle a little, my head still a bit fuzzy and my skin feeling hot and warm when the blushing beat red color to my cheeks returns as I try to be as sexy as possible, leaning into my husband as I speak seductively against his ear. "I want to make love to you, all over this damn yacht. Until we're both exhausted from it and all you can think about are my hands all over your body...That is what I want to do."


A/N: Drunk Stefan and Elena together are probably the funnest thing for me to write! ;) Hope you all enjoyed this update. PLEASE feel free to leave me a comment/review. Love hearing all your thoughts & or suggestions!

-Until Next Time!-

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