A/N: A lot of Stefan and Elena in this update. Enjoy!

Thanks for your continued support, even after 55 chapters!

Rebekah sat awkwardly between Damon and Katherine at the kitchen table when they had returned to the ranch. No one was talking and it was getting uncomfortable. "So …" Rebekah said. "At least Ric called to let us know Elena will be okay" she said, trying to strike up a conversation. Katherine crossed her arms, and Damon looked uninterested. It pissed Rebekah off. "Fine. Don't care" Rebekah told them, standing from her chair. "You're both so incredibly self-absorbed and … selfish!" she spit out. Then she shook her head. "You both deserve each other." She was walking out of the room and out of the house before Damon or Katherine had a chance to say anything.

Damon looked over at Katherine and sighed. He honestly did feel bad about what had happened between them. "I never should have started somethin' with you, when I still loved her" Damon said quietly.

Katherine stiffened and refused to look at him. "I knew you still loved her" Katherine replied. "You'll always love her. So you might as well fix things with her" she added. It hurt, being rejected first by one brother, and then by the second. But she knew she could never change their minds. They both loved other girls.

"Didn't mean I didn't care 'bout you though" Damon added quickly. Katherine, under her better judgment, looked up at him. His charming features had softened considerably, and as much as she hated to admit it, she thought that Damon might have been sincere. "You're a great girl, Katherine. And I'll always look out for you."

Katherine stood slowly and pushed her chair in. "I can look out for myself" she informed him. She learned how to from an early age, especially growing up in rodeos. The cowboys always wanted something from her, and she was never interested. "But I appreciate it anyway."

Damon nodded. "You headed out?" he asked. "You can take the truck and trailer if you want" he told her, knowing that she had already been riding all night and probably didn't want to ride home. "Keys are in the truck" he offered.

Katherine nodded. "Thanks" she told him. "I'll see you around, I guess" she added, leaving him in the kitchen all alone.

When she stepped outside into the cool night air, she saw Rebekah leaning against the trailer, looking up at the sky. "Think it'll rain anymore?" Rebekah asked, trying to study the clouds.

Katherine walked towards her at a leisurely pace and stood by her side. "Maybe" she answered, looking up at the clouds. "I am glad Elena's okay" she added quietly. She couldn't wish any harm to Elena, knowing that Stefan cared so much for her.

"Me too" Rebekah replied. "He really loves her. I'd hate for him to hurt so much because somethin' really bad happened to her" she said, continuing to look up at the sky. Stefan didn't need that kind of heartache.

Katherine sighed. "Damon loves you. Anyone can see it" she told her. "You should work things out with him, give him another chance."

"I don't think I can" Rebekah answered honestly, looking over at Katherine. "And not just 'cause of what happened with you. He doesn't know what it means to be in a relationship." She didn't know if he ever would.

"He loves you though. That's somethin' Bekah" Katherine told her. It was more than she had. Silence passed between them and she pretty much figured the conversation was over. "You wanna a ride home?" she asked her. "Damon said I could take the truck and trailer." Katherine could hear her horse inside, getting anxious to get going.

Rebekah smiled. "Sure" she told her. She watched Katherine walk past her and get into the truck. As hurt as Rebekah was over what Katherine and Damon had done, she knew she'd have to forgive Katherine sometime. Her life would be pretty lonely without her best friend in it.

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When Elena opened her eyes later that morning, she saw a pair of tired, worried green ones staring right back at her.

She recognized that she was in the hospital by the beeping sound of her monitors and the white walls in the room. She also felt the remnants of a massive headache still lingering, though her head felt much better than it did the last time she remembered being awake.

"You're staring" Elena whispered, noting that her throat felt dry.

It made Stefan smile though, because hearing her voice gave him hope that she really was going to be alright. "I'm gazin'" he whispered.

It was Elena's turn to smile. "It's creepy" she told him, still whispering.

"I'm tryin' to be romantic" he told her, getting an even bigger smile out of her. Stefan stood slightly and pressed his lips against the side of her head. "I love you" he whispered.

Elena sighed, enjoying the feel of his lips against her. "I don't want to be here" Elena said quietly. "I want to go back to the ranch."

"Soon" Stefan promised, sitting back down in his chair. He grabbed her hand to hold, and kept his eyes on her. "Just as soon as they say it's okay, I'll take you home" he told her.

Elena closed her eyes, fighting back the urge to cry. "I only have a few days left with you … and … I'll have to spend them resting" she said sadly. She failed at stopping the tear that fell down her cheek.

Stefan squeezed her hand. "I'll spend 'em restin' with you then" he told her, taking his other hand and wiping away the tear hanging from her chin. Elena slowly reached her arms up and wrapped them around him, wanting so badly to just hug him. To feel him and know that he really was there with her. "Do you need anything?" he asked her.

"Just you" Elena told him. She hugged him tighter, knowing there were not going to be many chances to hug him after she left. "And maybe something to eat, like … pizza" she told him.

Stefan laughed as he pulled away from her. He rested his forehead against hers and smiled at her. "You want pizza after a fall like that?" he asked her.

Elena shrugged slightly. "It sounds good. Apparently my brain is fine if I am still wanting one of my favorite foods" she told him.

Stefan kissed her forehead gently. "I'll see what I can find" he told her, knowing it was not going to be easy to find pizza that early in the morning.

"Thank you" Elena said, leaning in and kissing him briefly.

"You should rest until I get back" Stefan said, helping her ease back down into her pillows.

"Aye aye Captain" Elena said softly, saluting him. The little glimmer of amusement in his eyes warmed her heart. Everything she did affected him in some way, whether good or bad. She loved seeing him happy though, and hated when she was the reason he was hurting.

"I'll be back in a bit" Stefan told her, pulling the blanket up more to tuck her in.

As he went to leave, Elena caught his hand. He looked down at her, waiting for her to say something. "Thank you" she told him. He smiled and gave her a small nod. As she watched one of the nicest guys walk out her door, she wondered if she had lost her mind, telling him thank you instead of telling him she loved him.

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Elena held onto Stefan's hand as he held her up and walked with her towards the house. The doctor had given her some pain medication to take and she had started to feel dizzy. But her head felt better, so she was willing to make the sacrifice. She was also hoping someone would find her some pizza, because Stefan hadn't been able to track any down that early in the morning.

"When you feel up to it Elena, your aunt wants you to call her" Ric said, holding open the door for them.

Elena snatched the phone off the table when they walked by. "Might as well do it now before these pain meds make me pass out" Elena said. She stumbled slightly and was thankful Stefan was there to hold her up. Her head felt so fuzzy and she noted that her movements took significantly more effort than they should have.

"Can you grab her some water?" Stefan asked Ric. Stefan was already heading up the stairs with Elena. He set her down slowly on her bed, making sure she was okay before he let her go. "I'll uh … give you some privacy. Just holler when you need me" Stefan told her, knowing she probably wanted to be alone when she talked to Jenna.

"Okay" Elena told him. "Probably won't be on the phone long. Ric already told her everything she needs to know" she added. Ric entered the room, walking towards her bed with a glass of water. "Thanks" she said, taking a big drink of it.

"I'd like to talk to Jenna when you're finished" Ric told her. He had been talking to Jenna every few hours to keep her updated on Elena.

"I bet you do" Elena said with a grin. Ric looked at her curiously and Elena realized how suggestive that had sounded. She shook her head slightly. "Forget I said that. I'm trippin' balls right now from these pain meds" Elena told him. They were awful.

Stefan looked at Elena like he couldn't believe she had just said that. "Let's give her some privacy" Stefan said, grabbing Ric's arm and pulling him out the door.

As they walked down the stairs, Ric scratched the back of his head. "Did she just say she was trippin' balls?" Ric asked.

"Yep" Stefan replied. "I think she just meant her brain's a little fuzzy … you know, from the meds they gave her" Stefan told him. He still couldn't believe that had come out of her mouth. And he had heard some foul language come from that pretty little mouth of hers.

"Trippin' balls" Ric said, testing the phrase once again. "Ya think I could say I was trippin' balls after a long day when I'm feelin' tired?" he asked, wondering if that was a new phrase he could say be a little more hip with the new generation.

Stefan laughed. "I think ya start sayin' that and Jenna's gonna find herself a new cowboy" Stefan told him, slapping his back as they parted ways downstairs.

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Elena sat in her bed, fighting the medication that so desperately wanted to make her go to sleep. She didn't want to go to sleep. She wanted Stefan. Her phone call with her aunt had gone okay, from what Elena could remember. Jenna had been worried and Elena assured her that she was just fine.

She was about to get up and make her way downstairs to find him, when Stefan walked into her room. Elena smiled, at least, she thought she was smiling. "How are you doin' Elena?" Stefan asked, shutting the door behind him.

Elena looked him up and down, enjoying her view. She loved when he wore tight t-shirts that showed off his arms. And she loved his tight jeans that hinted at what was underneath them. Elena giggled, reminding herself that she knew what was under those jeans. He had showed her many times. "Come here" she said, holding her arms out. Stefan joined Elena on her bed and she moved towards him quickly and grabbed his shoulders so she could kiss him. A passionate kiss that would lead to more.

Stefan had to hold her back from climbing on top of him. "Whoa" he told her. "You're feelin' better" he said.

"Much" Elena told him, pulling him back to her and kissing him again. She smiled when she felt him slowly warming up to the idea of making out with her. When her hand slipped inside of his jeans, his eyes went wide when he felt her wrap her hand around him. "I want you" she whispered, pressing her mouth to the underside of his jaw and feeling the rough bit of stubble from him not shaving recently.

He wanted nothing more than to unbuckle his jeans for her, sit back, and watch her touch him. Her hand was warm and her grip was firm, a combination that was sure to make her name fall from his lips in a pleasurable haze.

Stefan pulled away from her and grabbed her hand, holding back a groan when her hand released him. "You're supposed to be restin' Elena" he told her. "You're feelin' good 'cause of the pain meds, not because you are better" he reminded.

Elena smiled. "I know I'll be able to rest after you give me the best sex of my life" she informed him.

"Jesus Elena" Stefan said, watching her look at him like she could rip his clothes off right there and have him any way she wanted him.

"What are you waiting for?" Elena asked, taking her hand back. She slipped her hand inside of his jeans again and watched Stefan's head roll to the side.

"We can't" Stefan told her weakly as his eyes fluttered closed. "You just got out of the hospital. And Ric and Damon are downstairs" he reminded her, though he made no effort to get her to stop stroking him inside of his pants. He'd feel her nails drag across his sensitive skin ever so slightly and he would hiss, and even is hips betrayed him when he felt himself thrust against her hand.

Elena scooted closer to him. "I feel … fine" Elena told him, watching him slowly fall apart in front of her. "We could sneak out to the barn" she whispered, squeezing him in her hand and hearing him whisper a curse word.

Stefan leaned forward and pushed them both down on the bed, keeping her close yet contained. "I'd love nothin' more than to take you out to the barn and show you how much I love you" Stefan whispered in her ear. He just couldn't get enough of her soft hand wrapped around him. "This … so good" he told her, feeling his breathing start to get heavier. "I want this so … so bad" he told her, feeling guilty for wanting this from her when she had just gotten out of the hospital. But he couldn't help it. And, he reminded himself, she had started it.

Elena moved along his throat, leaving wet, open-mouthed kisses against his skin as she increased the pace at which she was moving her hand over him. The sounds he made were frenzied, yet contained, but she knew he was close. A little grunt here, a sexy little growl there.

She felt his hips flex and his hand pulling her hand back out of his jeans. His face twisted in pleasure as his hips jerked forward a few times. Stefan let out a deep, throaty moan of relief before he turned into her and buried his face into her arm. His hot breath hit her skin in rough pants as he struggled to catch his breath.

Elena ran one hand through his hair, feeling sweat near his hairline. Stefan began to relax with her soothing touches that went on for almost ten minutes. Then all Stefan heard was Elena's quiet breathing.

He moved up on his elbow to look at her and saw that she was sleeping. He was relieved that she was sleeping, like she needed to be doing. But part of him wished that she could stay awake a little longer so that he could make her feel as wonderful as she had just made him feel. "Later" Stefan said, whispering a promise he knew she couldn't hear.

Stefan covered her with her blanket. He ran his hand over her forehead, saying a silent prayer that she was okay. "I love you" he whispered, grabbing her hand and bringing it to his lips to kiss.

He left her room quietly and went into the shower, still amused with her. And still more in love with her every second.

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Stefan looked up from what he was doing a few hours later to see Elena walking into the barn holding a glass of juice. He set P.J.'s foot back down and dropped the large file on the ground. Before he could open his mouth to ask her what she was doing, Elena beat him to it. "I can't lay in bed anymore" she told him. "I'm miserable. And I can't take those pain meds anymore either because they make me feel all gross" she said, looking at him and wondering if he'd send her back inside or not.

Stefan sighed. "Fine. Have a seat at least" he told her, walking her way and grabbing an old stool for her to sit on. He blew out a frustrated breath when he watched Elena walk away from him and towards her horse.

Elena approached cautiously, not wanting to startle him. He didn't look happy to be in his crossties and he had his ears pinned back. But as Elena approached, P.J. slowly let his ears turn upward and even turned his head towards her to see if she had a snack for him. "Hey buddy" Elena said, holding her hand out and lightly stroking his nose.

P.J. sniffed her hand and then raised his nose to her head, nuzzling it gently. Elena looked at Stefan and he could see the relief on her face that P.J. still loved her after what had happened. "He knows you hit your head and he wants to make sure you're okay" Stefan told her, watching as P.J. continued to touch Elena's head with his nose. He sniffed her hair a few times and then tried to nibble on it, which made Elena smile.

Elena wrapped her arms around her horse and held him tight. "I'm sorry" she whispered. P.J. took interest in the glass of juice Elena was holding, so she let him go and held it up to his mouth, tilting it so some would come out for him to try. P.J. shook his head up and down a few times as he tasted the bitter liquid. Elena laughed. "I don't like it much either" she told him, stroking his neck gently. Then she turned to look at Stefan. "What are you doing with him?" Elena asked.

Stefan scooted the stool closer and motioned for her to take a seat. "Trimmin' up his hooves" Stefan told her, taking his place bent over in front of P.J. as he grabbed his file again and picked up the hoof he had been working on. Elena would definitely admit that she liked the view of Stefan's ass as he worked. "I haven't put any shoes on him yet, so I just keep him trimmed up. I'll let you decide if you want to put any shoes on him" he told her.

Elena liked the fact that it was her decision. Because it was her horse. "Does he need them?" Elena asked, sitting on the stool and watching Stefan.

Stefan dropped the hoof he had and picked up the other front one. "He's got good tough feet" Stefan informed her. "And we don't ride much rocky terrain 'round here, so he don't really need them" he told her.

"Okay" she answered simply, trusting his judgment on the matter. They remained quiet as Stefan moved to the back feet, trimming and filing to get a perfectly round and even hoof. "You don't understand why I'm leaving" Elena said, her eyes meeting his when he lifted his head to look at her.

Stefan set P.J.'s foot down and stood. "It's your choice" Stefan told her. He'd never make her decisions for her.

"But I want you to be okay with it" Elena told him.

Stefan grabbed a bottle of blue stuff and picked up P.J.'s hoof and put a few drops on the bottom of his foot. "I'm never going to be okay with not gettin' to see you every day" he told her. "I guess I just don't understand why you can't go home for a week or two, straighten stuff out and then come back here" Stefan said. "We don't start school till after Labor Day." She would have plenty of time to make it back.

Elena could hear the heartache in his voice, like he knew anything he said wouldn't change her mind no matter how badly he hoped it would. "I want to be at home for my Senior year" she admitted. "With my friends and Jenna and Jeremy. I just want normalcy."

Stefan capped the bottle he held and tossed it back in the bucket he'd taken it out of. "And I just want you" he said, looking at her.

Elena didn't know what she hoped to accomplish with the conversation. "You have me" she said, surprising him with her admission. He watched her stand up and take something out of her back pocket. "I'll apply in the Fall" she told him, handing him a brochure on the University of Wyoming.

Stefan glanced at the brochure, feeling his disappointment slowly disappear and his excitement grow. "The University of Wyoming is half an hour from here" Stefan said, looking at her like he didn't know what to say.

Elena nodded. "They have a business administration program that I'm interested in, and if all goes well, I'll start my first year of college in Wyoming" she told him. "With you."

Stefan had Elena in his arms before she knew what was happening. The feel of his hug told her she was making the right decision by considering going to college in Wyoming. "This is the best news I've heard all summer" Stefan told her, squeezing her as tight as he could without hurting her.

Elena wrapped her arms around him and let out a small sigh of relief. "I don't even know if I'll get accepted" she told him. Her grades from the year before would bring her GPA down quite a bit.

"I'll make them accept you" he told her. That kind of made her laugh. "Why business though?" he asked her.

Elena pulled back some so she could look at him. His eyes were full of curiosity and excitement. Elena shrugged. "Someone should know how to run this cattle business and make the most profit possible" she told him.

Stefan's eyes lit up. "So you think you're just automatically gonna get a job offer when you graduate?" Stefan asked her.

Elena smiled. "Sure" she told him. "I know the handsome, young owner" she reminded. "I'm willing to bet he'll help me out."

Stefan raised an eyebrow. "And if he doesn't?" Stefan asked, teasing her. Of course he'd let her do whatever she wanted if it meant she was going to stick around.

Elena leaned in slowly and brushed her lips against his, just enough to make him want more. When he tried to initiate another kiss, she pulled away, just out of reach. "Then he'll be sleeping alone" Elena whispered.

Stefan's lips slowly turned up into a smile as he realized how much influence she had over him. "I think you're hired" he whispered back. Stefan leaned in and took the kiss he had been denied moments earlier.

Elena rested her forehead against his and cupped the back of his neck to hold him close. "I should hope so, after what I did to you before I fell asleep" Elena reminded him. Stefan's cheeks instantly warmed at the memory. "If we can just make it through this year, I promise next year will be filled with you and me and as little clothing as possible" she told him quietly.

Stefan grinned. "I have somethin' to look forward to then" he replied, nipping at her bottom lip with his teeth.

"You have a lot of things to look forward to, Cowboy" she told him. Then, she kissed him.

A/N: I. want. Him.

Now.