Stefan awoke early the next morning. He rolled over and glanced at the
alarm clock. The red numbers showed 6:00. Sighing Stefan sat upright and
put his feet on the floor. A stretch was followed by a large yawn.
Rubbing his face, he got up and walked into the bathroom.
Stefan turned the water on in the shower and waited for the water to heat. Although he could not see his reflection in the mirror, he knew that his face was scrunched and his hair was messy, a definite sign he had just woken up. Once the shower water was heated, Stefan stepped in and let the water run over him. His mind was groggy and it took every ounce of energy to wash himself.
Once he was sure that he was thoroughly clean, Stefan turned the water off and wrapped himself in a towel. The bathroom light hurt his eyes. He turned the light off and sat on the lid of the toilet. Memories of dying dreams passed through his head. They were all too familiar. The dreams brought feelings of confusion, anger, and sadness. He felt powerless in his dreams, as though every decision was made for him. Last night, was one of the worst dreams as of yet. He remembered a young man running, but the chase was short. The man was struck to the ground and an unknown creature pounced on the fallen man with a snarl. Blood spurted everywhere. Once the creature had drained the man of every last drop of blood he left the body lay and ran back into the woods for safety. Stefan approached the carnage and slowly turned the body over. He was surprised to see paralyzed face staring back at him; it was that of his own.
This was just one of a few nightmares that have haunted his dreams at night. Why was he having these reoccurring nightmares and what did they mean? Stefan rubbed his face in thought and decided that he would have to explain his dreams to Bonnie. Bonnie could probably figure it out she being a Druid and all. Stefan startled as the bathroom lights turned on. Standing in the doorway was a girl with long, straight, red hair and a heart-shaped face...Melissa, Stefan determined.
"Oh my gosh! Sorry I didn't know anyone was in her," Melissa said quickly with her eyes glued to the floor. The door was shut as hastily as it opened, as Melissa recoiled back to her room. Stefan realized that Melissa must have come home after he and Elena had gone to bed. He would have to get used to the idea of sharing a bathroom.
After finishing his morning routine, Stefan went back into the bedroom and placed a morning kiss on his wife's forehead. Elena stirred beneath the covers before her eyes opened. "Good morning," Stefan whispered. Elena sat up in bed and stretched. She always looked beautiful in the morning.
Stefan smelled pancakes, and although food wasn't really his taste, they sure smelled good. "I think Bonnie is making breakfast, let's join her."
Elena threw on the jeans she wore yesterday and an oversized sweater. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail, and joined Stefan on his way downstairs.
"Good morning," Bonnie said a bit surprised that the two were up so early.
"Morning..." Elena and Stefan responded together as they took a seat at the kitchen table.
"How did you guys sleep?" Bonnie hurriedly threw the pancakes on a plate and set them in the center of the table.
"I slept well," Elena replied with a smile in her friend's direction. Bonnie took a seat at the table. She was dressed in a power suit with her hair pulled up in a bun. Bonnie worked independently putting her powers to good use. She worked with the police in solving crimes, usually of a special nature. She had proven her reliability and received job offers from all over the country. And, given the luxury of her house, it obviously paid well too.
"Bonnie, I was wondering if you could help me. I've been having problems sleeping and well..." Stefan started but stopped when he realized Bonnie was hastily eating her pancakes.
"Yeah, I'll help you but it will have to be later on this evening. I have to get going or I'm going to be late." Bonnie stood up and grabbed her coat from the hooks beside the backdoor. "See you guys later!" She said as she shut the door behind her.
The pancakes set in the middle of the table looked quite tempting. Stefan decided to have one. Pouring syrup on his pancakes he felt eyes on him. Looking up Elena was staring at him.
"Are you feeling any better today?" she asked quietly.
"Yes," he replied quickly. He was feeling better this morning, though the dreams still haunted him. The silence that followed hung in the air like fog. Elena knew something was still bothering him, but he wasn't in the mood to have her worry about him all day.
Footsteps turned their attention to a young girl standing in the doorway. Stefan recognized her from this morning.
"Hi! You must be Melissa, I'm Elena, your mom's friend," Elena stood up and held her hand out to the girl.
The girl looked at Elena's face and Stefan followed her gaze down to the outreached hand. There was a look of surprise on her face. "I didn't think you guys would look so...young," the girl started as she studied Elena. "Sorry, its not like you meet two vampires everyday," she said apologetically taking Elena's hand.
"Well, you're taking it much better than I did when I found out about Stefan. I'll look young for the rest of my life. Stefan is from the Renaissance and see how good he looks!" Elena replied.
The girl glanced at Stefan and blushed. She was embarrassed about this morning he could tell.
"Hello," he said hoping that would ease the tension in the room.
"Hi," Melissa replied as she slid past Elena and took a seat at the table. She casually picked up two pancakes and began eating in silence.
"So, Melissa, how old are you now?" Elena asked as she retook her seat at the table.
"I turned 17 two weeks ago," the girl replied.
"So you're a senior at Robert E. Lee high school then?"
"Yeah," Melissa said with a mouth full of pancake. She swallowed and glanced at her watch. "Actually I should get going, if I can't stand being late. I guess I'll see you guys when I get home?"
"More than likely...have fun at school!" Elena waved as Melissa walked through the back door.
Stefan looked at his wife. How she could be so cheerful this early in the morning always surprised him. She was always full of surprises. She turned her smile on him and he couldn't resist smiling back.
"After I shower, would you like to take a walk with me?" she asked in a soft voice.
"Yeah, it has been a while since I've fed, so we should probably stop by the woods."
"Ok, I'll be ready in a few." Elena said behind her shoulder as she walked up the stairs.
Stefan looked down at his remaining pancake. It had lost its appeal. He remembered something he had heard a comedian say once "...pancakes all exciting at first, but by the end your fucking sick of them." Stefan chuckled to himself; it was very true. All of the sudden, Stefan's pants began to vibrate. He took his cell phone out of his pockets and checked the number.
"Damon..." he muttered to himself. "Hello," he spoke into the tiny phone.
"Hello little brother," Damon's voice was so clear in the phone, Stefan would have thought he were standing right beside him.
"Did you make it to town alright?" Stefan asked, though not out of worry.
"Obviously," Damon retorted. "I was calling to ask if I might be invited over tonight."
"Oh I'm sure Bonnie would love that," Stefan responded.
"Sounds like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning,"
"Damon, I'm not in the mood to deal with you right now. What do you really want?" Stefan said rather hastily.
"Little brother I was just calling to let you know about what happened last night, but with that tone I just might not tell you."
Stefan decided to play along with his brother. "Actually, I'd rather you not tell me," he responded not feeling prepared to bear what his brother had to say.
"Well then I'll let you discover it yourself, little brother." With that Stefan heard the phone go dead.
Stefan stood up and walked out of the kitchen and into the nicely decorated living room. Picking up the remote he braced himself for the horrible news that would fill the television screen.
"Me fail English...that's unpossible!" The voice of Ralph Wiggum filled the room. Nothing bad of note was on FOX. Stefan flipped through the other stations, no bad news at all, only bad talk shows that omnipresent during morning television viewing. With a small sigh Stefan turned off the tv and turned around to see Elena standing at the top of the stairs.
"That was quick,"Stefan called up to her. It only ever took Elena half an hour to get ready, and she always looked beautiful. "Ready to go?" he asked with a small smile on his face.
"Yes, I'm starving," she replied while casually making her way down the stairs.
Stefan walked ahead of her and opened up the front door. It was a beautiful day in Fells Church. As he held the door for Elena he had a feeling that something was in store for today. He knew that today was going to be a day of fun and relaxation and catching up with old friends. Today would be a good day. Stefan closed the door behind him.
Stefan turned the water on in the shower and waited for the water to heat. Although he could not see his reflection in the mirror, he knew that his face was scrunched and his hair was messy, a definite sign he had just woken up. Once the shower water was heated, Stefan stepped in and let the water run over him. His mind was groggy and it took every ounce of energy to wash himself.
Once he was sure that he was thoroughly clean, Stefan turned the water off and wrapped himself in a towel. The bathroom light hurt his eyes. He turned the light off and sat on the lid of the toilet. Memories of dying dreams passed through his head. They were all too familiar. The dreams brought feelings of confusion, anger, and sadness. He felt powerless in his dreams, as though every decision was made for him. Last night, was one of the worst dreams as of yet. He remembered a young man running, but the chase was short. The man was struck to the ground and an unknown creature pounced on the fallen man with a snarl. Blood spurted everywhere. Once the creature had drained the man of every last drop of blood he left the body lay and ran back into the woods for safety. Stefan approached the carnage and slowly turned the body over. He was surprised to see paralyzed face staring back at him; it was that of his own.
This was just one of a few nightmares that have haunted his dreams at night. Why was he having these reoccurring nightmares and what did they mean? Stefan rubbed his face in thought and decided that he would have to explain his dreams to Bonnie. Bonnie could probably figure it out she being a Druid and all. Stefan startled as the bathroom lights turned on. Standing in the doorway was a girl with long, straight, red hair and a heart-shaped face...Melissa, Stefan determined.
"Oh my gosh! Sorry I didn't know anyone was in her," Melissa said quickly with her eyes glued to the floor. The door was shut as hastily as it opened, as Melissa recoiled back to her room. Stefan realized that Melissa must have come home after he and Elena had gone to bed. He would have to get used to the idea of sharing a bathroom.
After finishing his morning routine, Stefan went back into the bedroom and placed a morning kiss on his wife's forehead. Elena stirred beneath the covers before her eyes opened. "Good morning," Stefan whispered. Elena sat up in bed and stretched. She always looked beautiful in the morning.
Stefan smelled pancakes, and although food wasn't really his taste, they sure smelled good. "I think Bonnie is making breakfast, let's join her."
Elena threw on the jeans she wore yesterday and an oversized sweater. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail, and joined Stefan on his way downstairs.
"Good morning," Bonnie said a bit surprised that the two were up so early.
"Morning..." Elena and Stefan responded together as they took a seat at the kitchen table.
"How did you guys sleep?" Bonnie hurriedly threw the pancakes on a plate and set them in the center of the table.
"I slept well," Elena replied with a smile in her friend's direction. Bonnie took a seat at the table. She was dressed in a power suit with her hair pulled up in a bun. Bonnie worked independently putting her powers to good use. She worked with the police in solving crimes, usually of a special nature. She had proven her reliability and received job offers from all over the country. And, given the luxury of her house, it obviously paid well too.
"Bonnie, I was wondering if you could help me. I've been having problems sleeping and well..." Stefan started but stopped when he realized Bonnie was hastily eating her pancakes.
"Yeah, I'll help you but it will have to be later on this evening. I have to get going or I'm going to be late." Bonnie stood up and grabbed her coat from the hooks beside the backdoor. "See you guys later!" She said as she shut the door behind her.
The pancakes set in the middle of the table looked quite tempting. Stefan decided to have one. Pouring syrup on his pancakes he felt eyes on him. Looking up Elena was staring at him.
"Are you feeling any better today?" she asked quietly.
"Yes," he replied quickly. He was feeling better this morning, though the dreams still haunted him. The silence that followed hung in the air like fog. Elena knew something was still bothering him, but he wasn't in the mood to have her worry about him all day.
Footsteps turned their attention to a young girl standing in the doorway. Stefan recognized her from this morning.
"Hi! You must be Melissa, I'm Elena, your mom's friend," Elena stood up and held her hand out to the girl.
The girl looked at Elena's face and Stefan followed her gaze down to the outreached hand. There was a look of surprise on her face. "I didn't think you guys would look so...young," the girl started as she studied Elena. "Sorry, its not like you meet two vampires everyday," she said apologetically taking Elena's hand.
"Well, you're taking it much better than I did when I found out about Stefan. I'll look young for the rest of my life. Stefan is from the Renaissance and see how good he looks!" Elena replied.
The girl glanced at Stefan and blushed. She was embarrassed about this morning he could tell.
"Hello," he said hoping that would ease the tension in the room.
"Hi," Melissa replied as she slid past Elena and took a seat at the table. She casually picked up two pancakes and began eating in silence.
"So, Melissa, how old are you now?" Elena asked as she retook her seat at the table.
"I turned 17 two weeks ago," the girl replied.
"So you're a senior at Robert E. Lee high school then?"
"Yeah," Melissa said with a mouth full of pancake. She swallowed and glanced at her watch. "Actually I should get going, if I can't stand being late. I guess I'll see you guys when I get home?"
"More than likely...have fun at school!" Elena waved as Melissa walked through the back door.
Stefan looked at his wife. How she could be so cheerful this early in the morning always surprised him. She was always full of surprises. She turned her smile on him and he couldn't resist smiling back.
"After I shower, would you like to take a walk with me?" she asked in a soft voice.
"Yeah, it has been a while since I've fed, so we should probably stop by the woods."
"Ok, I'll be ready in a few." Elena said behind her shoulder as she walked up the stairs.
Stefan looked down at his remaining pancake. It had lost its appeal. He remembered something he had heard a comedian say once "...pancakes all exciting at first, but by the end your fucking sick of them." Stefan chuckled to himself; it was very true. All of the sudden, Stefan's pants began to vibrate. He took his cell phone out of his pockets and checked the number.
"Damon..." he muttered to himself. "Hello," he spoke into the tiny phone.
"Hello little brother," Damon's voice was so clear in the phone, Stefan would have thought he were standing right beside him.
"Did you make it to town alright?" Stefan asked, though not out of worry.
"Obviously," Damon retorted. "I was calling to ask if I might be invited over tonight."
"Oh I'm sure Bonnie would love that," Stefan responded.
"Sounds like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning,"
"Damon, I'm not in the mood to deal with you right now. What do you really want?" Stefan said rather hastily.
"Little brother I was just calling to let you know about what happened last night, but with that tone I just might not tell you."
Stefan decided to play along with his brother. "Actually, I'd rather you not tell me," he responded not feeling prepared to bear what his brother had to say.
"Well then I'll let you discover it yourself, little brother." With that Stefan heard the phone go dead.
Stefan stood up and walked out of the kitchen and into the nicely decorated living room. Picking up the remote he braced himself for the horrible news that would fill the television screen.
"Me fail English...that's unpossible!" The voice of Ralph Wiggum filled the room. Nothing bad of note was on FOX. Stefan flipped through the other stations, no bad news at all, only bad talk shows that omnipresent during morning television viewing. With a small sigh Stefan turned off the tv and turned around to see Elena standing at the top of the stairs.
"That was quick,"Stefan called up to her. It only ever took Elena half an hour to get ready, and she always looked beautiful. "Ready to go?" he asked with a small smile on his face.
"Yes, I'm starving," she replied while casually making her way down the stairs.
Stefan walked ahead of her and opened up the front door. It was a beautiful day in Fells Church. As he held the door for Elena he had a feeling that something was in store for today. He knew that today was going to be a day of fun and relaxation and catching up with old friends. Today would be a good day. Stefan closed the door behind him.