Chapter 1
Stefan's green eyes slowly fluttered open, taking in rays of sunlight filtering in from between the drapes. His sensuous lips curved into a smile as his fingers stroked the blond tresses that cascaded across his bare chest. Wisps of ebony strands of hair fell into his eyes. He blinked and turned his attention to the sleeping form beside him. The thin sheets did nothing to hide her bare curves and creamy soft skin. His green eyes turned emerald as he recalled the events of the previous night. Knowing that Elena had not slept much that night, he decided against waking her.
As gently as he could, Stefan slipped out of Elena's embrace and slipped on a loose pair of boxer shorts. He pushed the thick drapes aside and looked out at the world.
It all seemed so unreal to him. Elena was back, and Klaus was dead. Damon and he were even on better terms, though Stefan was bewildered as to where his brother was now.
They had all collapsed under the rain after dancing for hours. Then, Stefan had gotten his car and belongings, and taken Elena out of town. Once they'd settled in the hotel, he'd called Matt to let him know where they were. Then Stefan had proceeded to make thorough and passionate love to Elena.
He turned to gaze back at her momentarily, and it was evident to Stefan once more that she was human again. He wondered how she could be human when she'd died as a vampire. But then again she had somehow miraculously come back. Perhaps some higher power had wanted her to be able to choose to be a vampire, a luxury that Stefan and Damon had taken from her.
There was a soft sigh from the bed as Elena woke up. Stefan smiled at the sleepy, rather dazed expression on her face. She smiled back at Stefan when she saw him. Elena sighed and sat up, the sheet falling into her lap. She blushed a bright red, and Stefan chuckled.
"How do you feel?" Stefan asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Alive," she replied, her blue eyes revealing her joy.
He drew her to him again, wrapping his arms around her and holding her closely. Stefan savored the feeling of being able to have her in his arms. This time for good. Elena dropped her head onto his shoulder, sighing contentedly, blond hair spilling down his back.
_ I never want this feeling to go away, _ Stefan thought as he pulled her in for another kiss.
~*~*~*~
The club was dark, and the strobe lights created an eerie effect. The short blond danced besides him, pressing her body against his own. Her dress was short and skimpy, allowing him to see more than he had hoped for when he'd arrived. He had no problem staring at the pale skin, and he could feel that familiar feeling in his chest.
Damon Salvatore was certainly the most handsome guy in the club, and he had no trouble finding a female to suit his need.
He brushed a strand of black hair out of his eye, flashing a grin at his companion. She giggled, and Damon thought of the girls he had left in Fell's Church, Virginia, almost 12 hours ago.
He forced those thoughts aside, focusing completely on the blond beside him. He could not remember her name; perhaps he hadn't even asked for it. Studying the blond hair, a memory floated to the surface of his mind.
_ "The hair was all right, but her eyes were the wrong color. Elena's eyes were blue." _
Stefan's words echoed through Damon's mind, and he was momentarily disgusted with himself. He was replacing Elena with a look-alike. How pathetic was he? Damon immediately abandoned the blond, searching for another partner. He could hear the girl's insulted swears, but he ignored them.
There was a brunette at the bar that caught his eye. He walked up to her and ordered a Bloody Mary; his drink of choice.
"What's your name?" he asked, waiting patiently for the bartender to give him his drink.
"Dana. You?" Dana smiled at him, and Damon saw the innocence in her eyes.
A pang of guilt mixed with sadness came over him. No matter what he did, it wouldn't work. She wasn't Elena.
"No one special," he said, and he walked away.
~*~*~*~
1.1.1 End Chapter 1
1.2
Stefan's green eyes slowly fluttered open, taking in rays of sunlight filtering in from between the drapes. His sensuous lips curved into a smile as his fingers stroked the blond tresses that cascaded across his bare chest. Wisps of ebony strands of hair fell into his eyes. He blinked and turned his attention to the sleeping form beside him. The thin sheets did nothing to hide her bare curves and creamy soft skin. His green eyes turned emerald as he recalled the events of the previous night. Knowing that Elena had not slept much that night, he decided against waking her.
As gently as he could, Stefan slipped out of Elena's embrace and slipped on a loose pair of boxer shorts. He pushed the thick drapes aside and looked out at the world.
It all seemed so unreal to him. Elena was back, and Klaus was dead. Damon and he were even on better terms, though Stefan was bewildered as to where his brother was now.
They had all collapsed under the rain after dancing for hours. Then, Stefan had gotten his car and belongings, and taken Elena out of town. Once they'd settled in the hotel, he'd called Matt to let him know where they were. Then Stefan had proceeded to make thorough and passionate love to Elena.
He turned to gaze back at her momentarily, and it was evident to Stefan once more that she was human again. He wondered how she could be human when she'd died as a vampire. But then again she had somehow miraculously come back. Perhaps some higher power had wanted her to be able to choose to be a vampire, a luxury that Stefan and Damon had taken from her.
There was a soft sigh from the bed as Elena woke up. Stefan smiled at the sleepy, rather dazed expression on her face. She smiled back at Stefan when she saw him. Elena sighed and sat up, the sheet falling into her lap. She blushed a bright red, and Stefan chuckled.
"How do you feel?" Stefan asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Alive," she replied, her blue eyes revealing her joy.
He drew her to him again, wrapping his arms around her and holding her closely. Stefan savored the feeling of being able to have her in his arms. This time for good. Elena dropped her head onto his shoulder, sighing contentedly, blond hair spilling down his back.
_ I never want this feeling to go away, _ Stefan thought as he pulled her in for another kiss.
~*~*~*~
The club was dark, and the strobe lights created an eerie effect. The short blond danced besides him, pressing her body against his own. Her dress was short and skimpy, allowing him to see more than he had hoped for when he'd arrived. He had no problem staring at the pale skin, and he could feel that familiar feeling in his chest.
Damon Salvatore was certainly the most handsome guy in the club, and he had no trouble finding a female to suit his need.
He brushed a strand of black hair out of his eye, flashing a grin at his companion. She giggled, and Damon thought of the girls he had left in Fell's Church, Virginia, almost 12 hours ago.
He forced those thoughts aside, focusing completely on the blond beside him. He could not remember her name; perhaps he hadn't even asked for it. Studying the blond hair, a memory floated to the surface of his mind.
_ "The hair was all right, but her eyes were the wrong color. Elena's eyes were blue." _
Stefan's words echoed through Damon's mind, and he was momentarily disgusted with himself. He was replacing Elena with a look-alike. How pathetic was he? Damon immediately abandoned the blond, searching for another partner. He could hear the girl's insulted swears, but he ignored them.
There was a brunette at the bar that caught his eye. He walked up to her and ordered a Bloody Mary; his drink of choice.
"What's your name?" he asked, waiting patiently for the bartender to give him his drink.
"Dana. You?" Dana smiled at him, and Damon saw the innocence in her eyes.
A pang of guilt mixed with sadness came over him. No matter what he did, it wouldn't work. She wasn't Elena.
"No one special," he said, and he walked away.
~*~*~*~
1.1.1 End Chapter 1
1.2