Stefan lay on his back breathing heavily as though he had just ran a marathon. His forehead was covered in large beads and his body was wet with sweat. Serana lay on his chest, she too was sweating profusely and breathing rapidly. Stefan lay with one arm under his head and the others wrapped around Serana's slender waist.
Serana lay with her head listening to his heartbeat gradually slowing down. One hand touched his face and the other wrapped around his waist. She looked up at him, exhausted. He beamed at her. She beamed in return and kissed him lovingly.
"Gosh," said Serana in exhaustion. "I never knew you had so much energy."
He chuckled.
"Vampires are not the only ones with superhuman abilities," he joked.
Serana giggled.
They lay in silence for a moment.
She then moved.
"Stefan," she said laying on her side looking at him.
"Yes Serana," he replied turning to look at her.
"As a Vampire, I can't sire children," she said. "I'm sorry."
Stefan stroked her slender body softly.
"Don't apologise Serana," he said reassuringly. "I don't mind. I have you all to myself, I'm happy with that."
Serana beamed at him.
"Furthermore,"he continued sliding his hand down to her groin. "It means that there will be no little accidents when we get amorous."
She giggled and then made a small noise of pleasure as his hand found her groin.
He mounted her once again, he kissed her lovingly. Serana's red eyes glowed in the low light of the room. Her pale skin almost glimmered as a result of her happiness. She was even more beautiful, if that was at all possible.
"You are gorgeous Serana," he complimented. "It's hard to believe that you picked me."
"Forever my husband," she replied kissing him.
"Forever," he repeated. "Oh dear."
He got off her and lay on his back.
Serana looked at him suddenly fearful.
"Oh dear?" she repeated fearfully. "What's oh dear?"
She sat bolt upright.
"You have changed your mind haven't you?"she asked hysterically. "I knew it, it's because I can't have children isn't it?"
She folded her arms and threw him a scornful look.
Stefan sat up and put his arm around her.
"Serana," he said soothingly. "No, that's not the reason."
Serana looked at him, he could see small tears in her red eyes.
"What is 'oh dear'?" she asked fighting back tears.
He sighed.
"Serana," he explained. "I'm not going to live forever. We both know that."
"I told you I don't care," replied Serana. "Whether we have twenty, fifty or seventy years together. It's enough for me."
"It's not enough for me," he said firmly.
Serana was silent. She took his hand and squeezed it gently.
"At the ceremony I promised until the end of my days," he continued. "I don't want my days to end."
Serana gave him a watery smile.
"Its inevitable," she said in a comforting manner. "You are mortal, you aren't going to live forever."
"What if I can?" he asked. "What if there was a way?"
"Becoming immortal?" asked Serana frowning as she thought. "Well, that would be possible with a potion or magic or..."
"...A vampire," he cut in.
Serana looked at him.
"A vampire?" she repeated.
"That's right," he answered. "In the book I read at Castle Volkihar, 'The Immortal Blood'. It says if I am bitten by a Vampire I will turn and I can become an immortal."
Serana knew exactly what he was proposing before he suggested it.
"Stefan," she began, her lip shaking with sorrow and shaking her head."No..."
"What do you suggest?" he asked.
"I could get cured,"she replied. "Become a mortal like you."
"No,"he said flatly. "I would never ask that of you. You went through too much to become a vampire. No, I cannot be selfish."
Serana beamed at him. Even at a time like this, his consideration for her was incredible. It was hard to smile though, with the proposal he was offering.
"Stefan," she said. "Do you understand what it is to be a vampire?"
"Yes," he replied. "I spent a year travelling with one, and I have one as my wife."
Serana smiled at him and stroked his hair softly.
"Was this your intention?" asked Serana. "You chose a vampire wife so you could be bitten and thus be an immortal?"
"Serana," he said seriously. "If I wanted to be a vampire, I could have gotten bitten by the ones I hunted with the Dawn-guard. I had no intention to live forever, until I met you."
Serana issued a small smile again.
"Serana," he pleaded. "It's the only way."
Serana shook her head forcefully.
"I can't," she said tearfully.
"Yes you can," he said. "You're a daughter of Coldharbour. As long as you don't feed, I will wake up a Vampire."
Serana shook her head.
"It's nothing to do with ability,"she said sadly. "I can't."
She was silent for a moment.
"I married you because you are a good man," she said. "I have come to terms with your mortality. What you are suggesting, it could kill you. You may not wake up. Furthermore, when you do wake up, what if you are different? What if you are no longer the man I fell in love with? What if you become like my father?"
Stefan took her hands.
"You won't kill me Serana," he reassured her. "I trust you."
He stroked her hair softly.
"And as for being different," he said. "The only difference is that I won't be able to die."
Serana was silent for a moment. At first she thought he was joking, but now it seemed he was indeed deadly serious.
"Please," he pleaded. "I can't bear the thought of waking up everyday worrying it could be my last with you. It's the only way."
Serana looked at him. Tears streamed down her face. He wiped them away but they kept coming. He held her close, stroking her hair gently. She sniffed loudly and nodded slightly. Stefan was resolved, he wasn't going to change his mind. She felt his warm body against her cold skin, something she would miss when he was turned. His heartbeat, she enjoyed hearing it speed up whenever he held her close. It would never beat again after tonight. Serana gestured her head slightly. Reluctantly she agreed.
"Lay down," she said sorrowfully.
He let go of her and lay down in the sheets. She stroked his hair.
"Close your eyes," she requested softly. "I don't want you to see this."
Stefan closed his eyes. Serana stroked his body softly.
"By the blood," she muttered. "Forgive me."
She looked down at her mortal husband. She sighed.
Serana opened her mouth and extended her fangs. She kneeled down. In one movement she sunk her fangs deep into his neck. She felt his blood gush from the open wounds and into her mouth, she spat it out as her fangs sunk deeper into his neck. She closed her throat, forbidding herself to swallow. Just one drop of blood and she wouldn't be able to turn him.
She felt him convulsing and twitching. She held his hand. Serana could feel the life ebbing away from his body. She held on, determined to finish as quickly as she could. His heart rate slowed as he began to flat line. His breathing shallowed. Serana felt cold tears run down her face as Stefan's life ceased. He gave a final sigh. His heart stopped as he passed into death.