Message from the author: Hello! I started writing this fic back in November as a way to stop obsessing over the book series I ended up hating. (I'll post the title of the fic when the story is complete, but if you'd like to know, Dm me) This is my therapeutic rewrite of that series. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.

Chapter 1 (Fourteen Years Later)

The Salvatore estate may lay on the outskirts of Mystic Falls, but that was only because of the size. Unlike other homes in the area, the Salvatores never sold a piece of land here or a piece there to be built upon. It may have undergone several renovations and additions, but the estate always remained in the family and intact. The Salvatore family has owned the 140,000 acres since the family emigrated from Italy in the late nineteenth century. The property included a vast garden maze, stables, guest houses, and three pools: one indoor Olympic size pool for exercise, one for parties or when company is over, and one just outside the master suite.

Trees wrapped in thousands of white lights illuminated the vast circular drive as the black Towncar waited in a long line of guests being dropped off. Elena Gilbert fidgeted with the hem of her dress. It was too short and had too much back showing, but Jenna told her she had to look the part tonight so she acquiesced. Jenna was going to her future husband's graduation party. Stefan may not have proposed, but they'd been matched at the tender age of four. No one in Mystic Falls talks about it, but if you have the right family name and your income is in the right tax bracket, you're going to marry who your parents tell you you're going to marry. Marriage is a business transaction- as it has been for hundreds of generations. However, in the case of the Salvatores, Lily Salvatore had an extremely close relationship with Miranda Gilbert and she always wanted her son to marry a Gilbert. Ten years after she died, Giuseppe passed and everyone assumed the arrangement was null and void, but Damon Salvatore insisted on holding to the arrangement. Now that Jenna had a year left at Archer University, one of the most prestigious and the hardest all-girls colleges to get into, and Stefan earned his MBA from Harvard, the engagement was expected to be announced within a couple of years, once all the details were knocked out between Mr. Salvatore and Miranda and Grayson Gilbert.

"Stop fidgeting," Jenna admonished. She pulled out a tube of deep red lipstick and handed it to her sister. "Dr. Pepper lip balm doesn't count as lipstick, Elena."

Elena rolled her eyes but took the lipstick out of Jenna's hands without complaint. She applied the lipstick while Jenna straightened her coral viscose gown, making sure it didn't wrinkle. The pale pink hue of the Grecian inspired dress made her charcoal lined aqua eyes pop. She looked every bit the future Salvatore she was meant to be. Everyone knew that Jenna was technically Elena's aunt and technically Miranda's sister, but after Miranda's mother and father died in a horrific car accident when Jenna was just a baby, she and Grayson adopted her and raised her as their own.

Just a few years older than Elena, Jenna was the popular one, the social one, the one everyone loved. Jenna had golden-brown hair, pouty lips, and long legs. She was the perfect combination of gracious, kind, and funny. Elena preferred to stay out of everyone's way. She constantly had a book or a journal in hand and planned on finding a spot to hide the moment Jenna gave her the signal that she was relieved of her social duties.

Elena struggled to fit the small paperback in her purse. The binding was held together by copious amounts of scotch tape and the book was covered in highlighter and notations written in Elena's tidy scrawl. She had a hardback version of the book in her bedroom, but this was the copy she took places. The book contained sick and twisted Greek mythology that she loved to read over and over again. Sometimes she felt a little sick and twisted and liked turning those who doubted her or thought they were better than her to stone. Her evergreen sequined dress perfectly matched her faded green hair that she dyed on a whim. Her mother hated the ombre look, but her father thought it suited her personality. Tonight, it was curled and parted, held back with four silver bobby-pins. She looked like a modern Vargas girl and she hated it. Elena wasn't against makeup or clothes, it was the party she was loathing. It was pretending to be interested in the people that ignored her throughout her time at Mystic Falls Prep. Jenna was her best friend, and that was all she really needed at this point in her life. Once Jenna and Stefan started popping out babies, she knew she'd have to be more social, but she had at least a few years before that happened.

Jenna caught Elena attempting to fold the book into her clutch. "You are going to try to have fun tonight, aren't you?"

"I'll make the rounds to appease mom." She squealed when the clutch finally clasped shut. "Just text me when you're ready to go."

The Towncar pulled up in front of the entrance. Two men carrying umbrellas opened the car door. Elena thought the umbrellas were a bit ridiculous. It was barely sprinkling, but it wouldn't be a Salvatore party without the Salvatores thinking of every detail. She took the hand of one of the servants and the Gilbert girls were led up to the entrance like a pair of prized thoroughbreds. A severe looking woman with a short bob met them at the entrance. "Name?"

Jenna spoke to the woman who, through an earpiece, told someone else to announce the Gilbert girls. Jenna squeezed Elena's hand before letting go as they made their way to the party.

This wasn't a typical college graduation party. There were no balloons and nothing was served out of red Solo cups. Champagne was offered out of crystal flutes when Jenna and Elena walked through the entryway. "I'd better find Stefan," she muttered before leaving Elena standing before the crowd of people.

Even though many in attendance were under the age of twenty-one, there were several open bars throughout the rooms. Caterers floated through the party carrying trays of caviar and other appetizers Elena had no desire to consume. She'd have to beg Jenna to stop by a drive-through on the way home.

"Elena!" Shelby Whitmore exclaimed, hugging her. The girl was clearly drunk; her hug was a tad too friendly.

"Shelby," Elena blurted, carefully breaking the hug by dropping her arms and taking a step back. "How are you?"

Shelby had ignored Elena throughout high school. All it took was one comment from Stefan Salvatore about her and Elena became a social leper. It all happened when Elena was a sophomore at Mystic Falls Prep. She'd begged Jenna to let her tag along to a concert- her favorite indie group happened to be playing. Even though Jenna was a senior, she was happy to let Elena tag along. Stefan Salvatore was there with a bunch of his friends from Harvard during a school break. Elena danced during the concert and had her first real mixed drink.

Jackson Talbert, a junior at MFP, started talking to her about music. Being a musician, he said he knew the band and could get her backstage. Her excited reaction made Jackson chuckle. Elena liked his dimples and his long brown hair which he kept taming with his fingers. For the first time, she felt like she might actually belong. When Jackson went to the bar to get another drink, she heard Stefan talking loudly to Shelby and a few of their friends. "This concert was cool until I saw a nobody like Elena Gilbert. I'm going to the W if anyone wants to join me."

Before Stefan left, he turned toward her. She saw him. He saw her. He knew she heard and instead of apologizing, smirked. Elena was worthless and he was the prince of Mystic Falls. He said that she was a nobody and all of his little subjects listened. Stefan left taking the infinitesimal amount of social status she had and everyone from Mystic Falls Prep with him. She didn't see Jackson again that night and he avoided her in the halls, much like everyone else. Jenna stayed with Elena and they had fun the rest of the evening, but in her heart, she knew Jenna wanted to go to the W with everyone else. Because of that one comment, and Shelby who happily spread what Stefan Salvatore had said, Elena's social life then revolved around Poseidon, Hades, Zeus, Helena, and the other Gods, Goddesses, and mortals in her books. She didn't mind, but she would've liked to at least have one romantic encounter.

"I'm getting ready to go on a semester abroad to France," Shelby said, drawing Elena's attention back to their one-sided conversation. Elena smiled and nodded, which prompted Shelby to go on and on about a boy she was hoping to hook up with while in the south of France. A friend of Shelby's joined the conversation making it easier for Elena to slip away. She found Jenna, who gave her the nod that she could find a place to read.

Elena walked up the staircase nearest the kitchen and found a long hallway. She made a random guess and opened one door. A girl with white-blonde hair straddled someone in tuxedo pants. From the angle Elena was looking, the tuxedo pants were unzipped and the skirts of her dress were gathered around her hips. Elena couldn't look away as the girl writhed on top of the boy. There was something familiar about him and before she could be caught and accused of being a voyeur, she took a step in the room. He pressed his mouth to the girls neck, sucked on it like he was drawing blood, looked up at Elena. She saw him. He saw her and he winked. The boy wasn't a boy but a man, with startling green eyes thick short hair. Stefan Salvatore. Elena sucked in a breath and almost tripped running out of the room.

Elena wondered if Jenna had found Stefan, to say what, she didn't know. Congratulations? Feel free to screw anyone and everyone until the engagement that everyone knows about is announced? Jenna's love life had always been a disaster and a very small part of Elena had always thought that having to marry Stefan was for the best. Jenna was more likely to end up eloping with the leader of a motorcycle gang than finding someone remotely stable. However, if she was happy and in love…

Elena found the door she was looking for and pushed. Inside was something out of a book. A vast library full, from ceiling to ground, with rows and rows of books. She gasped and clutched her chest, there were stairs that led to more books, with several nooks and comfy leather armchairs perfect for reading. Elena walked over to a comfy looking leather armchair, kicked off her heels, and sat in the chair, tucking her legs underneath her. This was officially the perfect hiding place from the noise below her.

For close to an hour she sat comfortably reading from her worn book. Tears ran down her cheeks as she read about Demeter, Persephone's mother who was responsible for all growth on earth. When Persephone was in the underworld, Demeter was so sad she didn't let anything grow. To feel that level of pain over the loss of a child- she couldn't imagine.

"Crying at my party?" Stefan stood in the doorway, casting a long look at Elena. He took in the way she looked, her hair a mess from leaning against the leather cushions while reading. Curls of green tendrils fell on her tear-stained face.

Elena didn't look at him, she knew who it was and kept her eyes downcast on her book. She cleared her throat. "It's your party, aren't you supposed to be entertaining your guests?"

"I'd much rather entertain one guest."

"You already did and by the way she was writhing on top of you, she was thoroughly entertained," Elena muttered, still refusing to look.

Stefan huffed indignantly. "You're at my graduation party, aren't you even going to congratulate me?"

Elena finally decided to look up at the Harvard graduate. He looked good in the custom made black tuxedo. By the way his arms bulged in all the right places, his years of being on the Harvard crew team paid off, but she wasn't going to allow herself to be like every other girl enamored with Stefan Salvatore. "I'm a nobody," she replied simply, echoing the words he spoke so many years ago. "Why would you care for my congratulations?"

"Because you're the only interesting person in this town."

Elena rested the book she was reading in her lap, taken aback by his comment. "I'm not."

"You're green hair says otherwise."

She self-consciously touched a lock of her hair, looking at the curled sea-green ends. "My mom hates it," she muttered.

Stefan raised his eyebrows and seeing that it was safe, he moved toward where she was sitting. "Like I said, interesting. And you're honest, which is especially refreshing."
She wasn't sure if she believed him because Stefan was known to be charming and charming people tended to be liars. "Why is honesty refreshing for you, Stefan?"

"Let me show you."

Curious, Elena allowed him to wrap his warm hand around hers and tug her out of the leather chair. Barefoot, he guided Elena across the room, around a mahogany bookcase, to an alcove in the corner that she wouldn't have seen unless she explored for another half hour or so. A half-mooned window was stained glass art of intricate roses in shades of red, pink, and yellow. It was quite beautiful. Beneath the window was a small love seat. Unlike all of the other pieces of furniture, this one wasn't made of chocolate brown leather. It was deep, worn and the shade of evergreen with small embroidered pink and red roses all over it in intricate patterns connected by a vine of thorns. Pillows shades of yellow and cream adorned the sofa. The couch didn't belong in the room and it certainly didn't belong in a mansion on an estate with a separate twelve car garage.

Elena ran her fingers along the embroidery. Stefan moved to stand behind her so he could point out the window. "If you go into the center of the maze, there's a rose garden. My mom loved roses, so my dad had it built- after she died, he became obsessed and kept adding and adding, building a maze around her garden."

Elena twisted her head so she could meet his eyes. "I'm sorry you lost your mom. I was at the funeral, but I don't remember much. I remember your mom though, she was always so lovely to me."

Elena didn't remember much about Lily, but she always offered lemon drops from her purse for Elena to suck on. She remembered going to the Salvatore estate for tea, something her own mother spent hours primping for- making sure there wasn't a curl out of place on the six-year-old's head. Miranda admonished Elena for taking a second cupcake, but when her mom wasn't looking, Lily slipped Elena a handful of lemon drops to stick in the pocket of her pink dress. "Always have something sweet on hand in case the world makes you sad," she whispered into her ear.

Stefan smiled at Elena sadly. "Damon didn't want to go. I remember sitting in the limo for at least twenty minutes trying to explain that he'd regret not attending her funeral."

That didn't surprise her. Damon was known to be abrupt and closed off. On the few occasions she'd interacted with him, he thought she was the help and one of these interactions happened when she was just twelve years old. Although, the Gryffindor robes she used to wear everywhere could've thrown him off. Almost everyone was scared of him, something she was sure Damon enjoyed.

Damon ran an empire while Stefan helped run his mother's charity and rode crew in his spare time. Unlike Damon, Stefan wore his emotions on his sleeve and his pain was tangible. "You had to have been only twelve."

Stefan casually ran a knuckle down her bare arm. "Crushed petals fall like tears into soft white snow, to sink into the depths wherein the spring it will grow."

Stefan's eyes lingered on her plump lips and Elena couldn't help but twist around and draw near him. "That's beautiful."

He towered before her and tucked the loose lock of green hair behind her ear. "It's from a poem I read at the funeral," he leaned closer, and used his right hand to cup her cheek. His voice came out in a soft whisper. "My mom wrote it right here, in this very spot. I come here when I miss her, which is all the time."

Lily was kind and good- she spent her life helping those in need. Her massive organization funded projects and smaller organizations that opened schools in third world countries and free medical clinics throughout the states. But she didn't just fund projects, she actually worked with the organizations- often requiring her to travel to unsafe countries.

Showing her this spot, a spot where he could come and mourn the mother he lost when he was so young felt special. Like Elena discovered a piece of Stefan no one else had. Salty tears fell down her cheeks as she pictured a young Stefan, hidden away in the library while his dad went mad. Stefan, sitting on his mother's couch just to be close to her.

Leaning close to her, Stefan gently wiped her tears away with his thumb. "We can't," she said, her voice breaking. "You're to marry my sister."

"No one tells me what to do, Elena," he stated before capturing her lips with his. He kissed her deeply, running his hand down her side, skimming her ass before cupping the back of her knee and dragging her closer to him. He groaned into her lips and moved her to the couch so he could explore. He positioned Elena against the cushions and kissed down the length of her neck.

"Stefan…" Elena moaned, feeling needy and wanton. She rubbed herself up against his pant leg, looking for friction as he pulled the strap of her dress down. She kissed the back of his ear before taking the lobe in her mouth and tugging it between her teeth. "More," she groaned into his ear. "I need more."

He answered her pleas by kissing her brutally. She opened herself up to him, not just physically, but emotionally. She'd watched him at events they both had to go to, she'd seen the way he was with other girls, but this felt different. Leaning on top of her, he broke the kiss. "Wait for me," he asked, searching her eyes. "Wait for me, just for a year."

Wait for him? Wait for what? "Please," he added. "Just a year."

She sat up, moving him off of her. "Why?"

"Because I'm asking."

Elena straightened the strap of her dress. "No."

Placing one hand on each shoulder, Stefan pushed her back on the couch and climbed on top of her. "You'll wait," he ordered, pressing his lips against her stubborn ones until she acquiesced and opened for him. This kiss was different from the earlier kiss, this was full of desperation and need.

His hands found the hem of her dress and snaked beneath it. He wasn't gentle but determined to prove something. "You'll wait," he repeated, his hands leaving a trail up her thigh to the lace of her panties. "Say it."

"Stefan," she moaned into his mouth.

His fingers dipped beneath the lace. "Say it, Elena."

"Oh my, God," her head tilted back as Stefan touched her. She needed something she couldn't define. She needed pressure and if he didn't give it to her, she'd take care of it herself. "I need…"

He gently kissed her jaw. "I know, angel."

If his fingers explored anymore, he was bound to discover something she'd rather not admit, but she didn't think she had it in her to stop him. "Please," she cried, wrapping her arm around his neck in an attempt to pull him closer.

"You know what to say," he replied, teasing her before his index finger entered her.

She gasped in pain while he growled. "Are you?"

Biting her lip she nodded. He kissed her while his finger pumped in and out of her and his thumb played with her clit. "You're perfect," he said, kissing her lips.

Elena's body, flushed with heat, felt the tension that had been building explode. Stefan captured her lips with his. When she came down, he laid her on the couch and gently moved her dress so it covered the top of her thighs. He straightened his jacket and adjusted himself. "Do you need me to?" She asked, indicating the bulge in his slacks.

Stefan kissed her on the nose sweetly. "One year," he repeated, before turning around and leaving the library.