A/N The Vampire Diaries Settings and Characters all belong to LJ Smith and the CW. Any original characters and this story are copyright © 2011-2018 to Hopelessromanticgurl, all rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.
The next morning Elena woke up and went into the bathroom. Jeremy was already in there. After trying and failing at convincing Jeremy to stay out of the situation with Tyler he left and Elena, went to her closet to get her clothes.
She jumped out of her skin when she closed the closet door and saw Stefan standing there.
"Sorry." He chuckled. "I didn't mean to scare you."
He went to kiss her, but she stopped him. She went over to her bedroom door and closed it.
Then she went right over to him and kissed him passionately, then hugged him tightly. "Hi." She greeted him.
"Hi. You ready for today?" he asked.
"No." she mumbled like a child in trouble. She looked up at him with a frown. "I hate fighting with you even if it is fake."
"I know. I hate it too, but Lexi is right. If we're fighting, Katherine will think she is winning, and that will stop her from following through on her threats."
"But that doesn't make it any easier." Elena sighed.
"Ok, how about this, today when we're fighting if I say 'I can't do this anymore Elena.' Then what I'll really mean is 'I love you'"
"And when I say 'Fine, Stefan, whatever.' It really means I love you too. "
They shared a kiss.
"And if I say "Elena you're an amazing kisser, what I really mean is you're an amazing kisser," Stefan said.
Elena giggled and blushed hiding her face in his shoulder. He chuckled and kissed her neck.
She giggled and shrugged. "That tickles."
He chuckled and kissed her neck once more before whispering an 'I love you' in her ear and in a flash he was gone.
Elena sighed softly. "I love you too."
Later Lexi met up with Stefan at the park to help decorate.
"Hey, I just had a talk with Mason." She said.
"And?"
"I think I made peace between us. You and Damon are officially off his hit list."
"Thanks," Stefan said.
Lexi noticed him watching Elena and sighed. She put a comforting hand on his shoulder. There wasn't anything she could say.
When they saw Elena walking over Lexi quickly walked away.
"Do you still have feelings for Katherine?" Elena asked.
"Don't be like this. Please don't turn this into something that it's not." Stefan begged.
"So this is not up for discussion. That's what you're saying?" Elena asked in an angry tone.
"No, I'm saying that it's not up for discussion right now because we have ears on us," Stefan said referring to Damon, who was watching them both closely.
"Okay, when?" Elena asked.
"I don't know." Stefan sighed.
"I saw her Stefan. It's like we are the same person. How could you hate her and be in love with me?" a part of Elena really wanted an answer to that question.
"You're reaching. I'm not… I'm not Damon." Stefan reminded her.
"How about we don't bring Damon into this right now?" Elena groaned.
"You know, I can't… I can't do this anymore, Elena." Stefan said hoping Elena remembered their code.
"Fine, Stefan. Whatever." Elena said then turned to walk away.
A few minutes later Lexi found Elena sitting by herself near the water.
"You ok?" Lexi asked. "I know that was hard."
Elena just shrugged.
"He just wants to protect you, Elena. Katherine is dangerous, and he doesn't want you getting hurt."
Elena didn't answer.
Lexi sighed. She took out her phone and typed a message on it then gave it to Elena.
Stefan asked me to tell you that he loves you, and he's really sorry for the fight, even if it was faked.
Elena finally looked to Lexi, and she had tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Oh, Elena…" Lexi cooed. She pulled Elena in her arms and hugged her close. Elena laid her head on Lexi's lap and cried softly. She typed a message on her phone.
I can't do this anymore, Lexi. These fights are killing me. I know they are fake by they seem soo real. I hate it. I hate it more than anything.
Lexi stroked her hair. "I promise we will figure this out. You just got to hang on a little longer, ok?"
Elena sniffed and nodded.
Just then Caroline came over. "Well, my mom is leaving to go to work….again. I'm not surprised I mean at least she stayed longer than 5 minutes. But something is up, I can tell. She's acting weird even for her."
"She knows," Lexi said suddenly.
"What?" Elena asked. "Knows what?"
"About Stefan and Damon. She was getting really close with Mason, I'm thought he agreed to a truce, but I guess he lied. She wants to the kill them and Caroline; you're the only one who can stop it."
"What? Why me?"
"Because if she sees you and knows the truth about who you are she won't kill Stefan and Damon. You need to save them."
"What? No way, My mom can't find out about me. There has to be another way."
"You're not going to help them?" Elena growled. "After everything Stefan and Lexi have done to help you, you're just going to let them kill Stefan and Damon?!"
"Elena, I…"
"Forget it, I'm going after them myself," Elena said and quickly went to find them. Lexi hated the idea but knew Elena wouldn't change her mind, so she followed after to help her.
Caroline sighed. Elena did have a point….but her mother couldn't find out about what she was now.
Lexi and Elena made into the woods, and Mason was there.
"I thought we had a deal?" Lexi asked. "I thought we agreed to a truce?"
"You and I did, which is why I left your name out of the conversation," Mason said. "Liz has no idea what you are, but I'd be happy to tell her."
"Stefan is my best friend, and he's done nothing to you, how could you?" Lexi growled.
"Oh, it was easy. Now act like you don't know anything and go back to the park or I'll give Liz two more vampires and yes I know about Caroline."
Lexi growled and went to attack him, but he moved faster and grabbed Elena around the neck. "Careful, necks snap easy around here."
"Lexi." Elena whimpered.
"You just made a big mistake. I can easily take you." Lexi growled louder.
"I dare you to try," Mason smirked.
"Dare accepted," Lexi said and with a few fast moves and a few kicks and punches Mason was on the ground in pain. Elena was free.
They both ran off in search of Stefan, and Damon too.
Finally, they ended up in an underground cellar. "They are down there," Lexi said. "Wait here while I…."
Elena didn't let her finish she headed down the stairs making Lexi groan. Then she went after Elena.
Using only a slab of wood Elena got to the bottom and knocked out two guards and made her way inside.
"Elena, what are you doing here?" Liz asked in shocked.
"You can't kill them I'm not going to let you," Elena said. When she saw Stefan lying on the ground lifeless she gasped and ran over to them. "Stefan no!"
She threw herself on top of him and cried. "No, no, Stefan, wake up, please."
"He's not dead," Damon said. "The wooden bullets and vervain will keep him weak longer because of the animal blood."
"Let them both go," Lexi said as she made herself known to Liz.
"Are you one of them?" Liz asked
"Maybe, maybe not. Are you willing to kill me if I'm human?" Lexi asked.
Suddenly there was a fast movement moving around the cellar.
"Who else is with you?" Liz asked.
Before Liz could blink, both of the other guards were on the ground dead. Caroline, fangs, and all came out of the shadows. "Hi, Mom."
Liz gasped and dropped her gun.
A few minutes passed, and Stefan woke up. He was very weak and in a lot of pain. Damon was healing quickly as he fed off the dead cops around him.
Lexi and Elena stayed by Stefan's side comforting him the best they could.
"You need to drink some deputy blood," Damon said.
"No. I'm going to be fine. It's just going to take a little bit longer." Stefan said.
"Damon's right you know. If it's ever a time to break your diet…" Caroline said.
"He said he didn't want it, okay?" Elena defended.
"Stefan, if you want to, I'll help you stay in control. But the choice is yours." Lexi said.
"No, please. Lexi…I can't." Stefan choked out.
"Ok, shhh, just rest. When we get home, I'll make sure you get some animal blood. For now just rest." Lexi soothed.
"This is the most unfortunate situation. Two deputies dead and you? What am I going to do with you? Damon asked looking to Liz.
"You won't tell anyone, will you? Mom? Mom? Please. Look, I know that we don't get along and that you hate me, but I'm your daughter and you'll do this for me, right? Mom, please. He will kill you." Caroline begged close to tears.
"Then kill me," Liz said.
"No!" Caroline cried.
"I can't take this. Kill me now."
"But you were going to drag it out so painfully
He grabbed her by the shoulders and everyone panicked.
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no!" Caroline cried.
"Damon, don't!" Stefan begged.
"Damon, please!" Elena said.
"Damon let her go right now or I'll snap your neck so fast…" Lexi growled.
"Relax guys. No one is killing anybody." Damon groaned. Then he looked to Liz. "You're my friend." Then he looked around to all the dead bodies. "We have to clean this up."
A few hours later and everyone was back at the Salvatore house. Lexi made sure to get Stefan some blood and helped him heal. Caroline went home to get some clothes for her mom and the met up with them.
As they went downstairs to bring her the clothes they overheard Liz asking Damon to keep Caroline away from her because Caroline was no longer her daughter.
Caroline ran upstairs upset. Elena went after her thinking Stefan was right behind her.
Stefan stopped over by the freezer and opened it taking out a blood bag. He sighed softly.
Lexi appeared next to him and rubbed his back. "If you want to do this, I mean really do this, I can help you."
"I don't even know if I can do this Lexi. One drop of this and I can go back to being the ripper…I can't go back to that life."
"I'd help you. I'd make sure you didn't go back to that life." Lexi said.
"Stefan I think that we should…" Elena stopped when she saw him holding blood. "What are you doing?"
"Katherine took a little vervain every day and built up a tolerance. I could do the same with blood. I could learn to control myself on it." Stefan explained. "Lexi could help me."
"Stefan. You don't have to."
"I almost died tonight, Elena. Because I was too weak."
"But the last time that you drink human blood…"
"I told you I'll find a way to stop Katherine, didn't I? Well, this is it, this is the only way because she's stronger than me. And unless I change it, I can't protect you."
"Elena, I can help him. I can keep him in control. He needs this." Lexi said.
"Can we talk about this later?" Elena asked.
"He can hear us wherever we are because he drinks this. This is the only thing that can help me!" Stefan said louder than he meant to.
"Are you serious, or are you pretending to fight? Because I can't tell if…
"No, this is real. No more pretending." Stefan said.
Elena quickly turned and ran upstairs. A real fight with Stefan was worse than the all the fakes one.
After comforting Caroline and helping her fall asleep on the couch, Elena was about to head home.
"Elena, wait," Lexi said.
Elena turned to face her. "Look, I know you're scared."
Elena chuckled softly as tears filled her eyes. "I'm scared of a lot of things lately you're going to have to be more specific."
"I know you're scared of Stefan going back to human blood."
Elena didn't speak.
"I know because I am too."
"Really?" Elena asked.
"Yes and before you ask, he's in the shower so he can't hear us. Elena, I was there when he was high on human blood. I saw first-hand how bad he can be."
"So why are you trying to push him to do it again?" Elena asked.
"Because he is right, Elena. In order to protect not only you but himself from Katherine and whoever may try to kill him one day, he needs to be on human blood. In order to be as strong as we both know he can be he needs to drink the human blood. He needs to be able to live off it the way I do and the way I'm teaching Caroline too. It doesn't have to be off people. He can survive off blood bags. I can help him have a supplier. I can help him control it, Elena. I will make sure he doesn't go down that dark path again."
Elena inhaled and exhaled a deep, shaky breath. Tears filled her eyes. "I can't lose him, Lexi. If the blood takes control of him…."
"It won't. I promise. I will not let it. But Elena he won't do it if you're going to be mad at him. He needs both of us. I know he's strong enough now to fight it. I know he can do this."
"I know he can too."
"So then let him prove to himself he can do it too. Will you help me?"
Elena nodded. "Yeah. Let's do it."
"Thank you. Come on let's go tell him."
Elena nodded and followed Lexi.
After Stefan got out of the shower and dressed, he laid down on his bed sighing softly as his brain went a million miles an idea trying to figure what out to do. He could suddenly sense Elena by his doorway.
"You can come in," he said. He sat up as she entered.
"I think this is worth a try," Elena said. "But I don't want you to do it alone."
"What do you mean, where is Lexi?"
"Waiting outside. I asked her to give me a few minutes alone with you." Elena said.
"Why?"
"So I could do this."
Elena pulled out a letter opened and stabbed her palm with it.
"What are you doing?" Stefan gasped as the smell hit him like a million bricks.
"It's you and me, Stefan. Always."
She walked over to him and held out her hand. Stefan looked to Elena, watching her face to see if she had been compelled or not really wanting to do this, but when he saw nothing but love and care he took a risk and bit down on her hand drinking the blood.
When he pulled away, he growled softly and took a few deep breaths.
"Stefan, breathe, breathe, pull through, come on you can do this," Lexi said from outside. "Look at Elena and remember what you're fighting for."
Stefan looked to Elena and for some reason the blood lust didn't seem so strong. Then they kissed passionately. When they pulled away, Stefan's face had gone back to normal. Elena and him both smiled brightly. He had done it. They kissed passionately again. Stefan knew he could get through with Elena by his side.
They went back to Elena's house and fell asleep in each other's arms.
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