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.
Stefan groaned as he stirred that next morning. He had a massive neck ache. He must have slept on it wrong.
"Stefan, wake up," Lexi said.
"U'm up." He mumbled.
Lexi chuckled. "Stefan, seriously we need to get going, you need to wake up."
"Go where?" he asked.
"To get Elena."
The memories from last night returned, and Stefan shot up in bed. "Lexi someone snapped my neck and kidnapped Elena!"
"We know. We've already got her location. I got Damon to agree to go; we just need to leave now."
"Let's go!" Stefan said. He jumped out of bed, and they rushed to the car. Damon drove
"Where are we going? Who has her?" Stefan asked.
"We don't know, we just know it's 300 miles from here. Jeremy is supposed to be finding a better location of where we are going." Lexi said.
"Good."
As they drove Lexi and Stefan went through the weapons in the back seat.
"Alaric sure likes his weapons," Damon said, "What is that?"
Stefan held up a small bottle of vervain.
"I don't know; it's a vervain bomb or a grenade or something like that." Stefan shrugged.
"Weird," Damon muttered.
"Hey, how much further is it?" Stefan asked.
"About 80 miles."
"Who do you think took her?"
"Someone from Katherine's past. She said she was running from someone. They pick out the wrong girl."
"Thank you for helping me," Stefan said.
"Can we not do the whole road trip bonding thing? The cliché of it all makes me itch." Damon groaned.
Stefan sighed. "Oh, come on Damon. We both know that you being in this car have absolutely nothing to do with me anyway."
"The elephant in the room lets out a mighty roar." Damon joked.
"Well, it doesn't have to be an elephant. Let's talk about it."
"There's nothing to talk about."
"That's not true. I'm sure there is. Just get it out. I mean, are you in this car because you want to help your little brother save the girl that he loves? Or is it because you love her too? Hmm? I mean come on, express yourself. I happen to like road trip bonding
"Keep it up, Stefan. I can step out of helping as easily as I stepped in."
"No, you see that's the beauty of it. You can't." Stefan smirked. He knew deep down even if he never admitted it he cared about Elena too and would never not help her.
"Whatever," Damon muttered. He reached behind him and grabbed a blood bag. Lexi watched Stefan carefully. He didn't tense up anymore like he used to, but he was very focused on the bag.
"If you want some just ask," Damon said.
"I want some," Stefan said. He looked to Lexi, who nodded.
"Aww how cute, you're trying to be all big and strong to save your girl." Damon laughed. "Don't worry, Bro. I've got your back."
"I'm serious, Damon. I want some." Stefan said. "I've been drinking a little bit every day slowly increasing my intake."
Shocked, yet deep down, proud Damon handed him the bag. He took a sip and gave it back.
"Good job, Stefan," Lexi said patting his shoulder.
"Does Elena know you're drinking human blood?" Damon asked.
"Actually I've been drinking hers," Stefan said.
"How romantic," Damon says sarcastically. "Since we're road trip bonding, remember the days when all you lived for was blood? You were the guy who ripped someone apart just for the fun of it."
"You mean when he was more like you?" Lexi asked.
"Yes, Lexi, exactly. Back when he put blood into me, so I could be a big bad vampire. I wonder if Elena would be so quick to open her veins to that guy. By the way, what happened to that guy? He was a hoot."
"I guess he found something else to live for," Stefan said. Then he looked to the back and smiled at Lexi. "Thank you." He mouth.
She just nodded and smiled. He had come a long way, and she was so proud.
They finally arrived close to the house Elena was being held at. They parked a few miles back to not be seen and headed inside.
"Maybe you should stay here, Stefan. You can drive fast when we have to make a fast getaway." Damon said.
"Why would I do that?"
"Because whoever has her was most likely after Katherine in 1864 that puts them at 500 years and strong. If you go in there, you might not come out."
"I can't think of a better way to die." He said.
"I'm not going to let that happen. Don't worry, Damon. I won't let him get hurt." Lexi said. She and Stefan headed inside with Damon behind them.
Once they got inside, they stay hidden. Once the kidnappers showed themselves Lexi gasped. "Rose and…no….Elijah."
"You know them?" Stefan asked.
"Long story. Just stick to the plan." Lexi said.
After tricking the Elijah and getting him away from the two girls, Damon shot a wooden arrow through his hand and in flash both Elena and Rose were gone.
Stefan gently leaned Elena against the wall with his fingers to his lips telling her not to say anything or make any sounds. She panted hard fearfully but nodded and slowly relaxed when she saw it was him.
He handed her the vervain bomb and motioned with his hands what to do. She nodded. She hid it under her arm and walked back out.
"Please don't hurt my friends, they were just trying to help me out," Elena said.
In a flash, Elijah was in front of her. She jumped and gasped startled.
"What game are you playing at?" He asked.
Without a word she through the bomb as it exploded in his face. He screamed but healed quickly, then he stalked toward her angrily.
Before he could reach, her Stefan jumped out and started shooting him with woods bullets. They had no effect. So Lexi jumped out and tackled him to the floor.
It didn't hurt him at all. He stood as did Lexi.
"Well, Well, Well, Alexia we meet again." He smirked. "How's mum and Dad?"
"Shut up!" Lexi growled. "Leave Elena alone."
"I'm sorry but she…."
Before he could finish Damon came with the big wooden coat hanger and pinned him to the wall.
Damon looked to Rose.
"Don't," Lexi said. "Don't hurt her." Then she looked to Rose. "It's ok. He won't hurt you. Please don't run, Rose."
Rose just nodded but watched Damon carefully.
Lexi went over to Rose knowing she was still terrified.
Stefan came down the stairs with Elena. She was shaking and moving slowly.
"Is she ok?" Damon asked.
Stefan nodded. "A little shaken up, but she looks ok physically."
"Thanks." She said softly to Damon.
"You're welcome." He said.
"Thanks, Lex…" She stopped when she saw Rose. She gulped and flinched back into Stefan.
He held her close. "I've got you. Shhh. You're safe now."
"It's ok, Elena. Rose is my friend. She's not going to hurt you." Lexi said.
Elena just nodded fearfully.
Stefan kissed her head. "Let's get her home."
Everyone headed out and back to the car. Elena stayed close to Stefan the entire time.
They dropped Elena off at home knowing She wanted to be with her brother and Bonnie for a while.
When they arrived home, Stefan and Damon went to their bedrooms. Lexi went to talk to Stefan.
"If we have any chance of helping keep Elena safe you two need to stop fighting."
"I know." Stefan sighed.
"Stefan, maybe it's time you told Damon the truth on why you changed him. It might help repair some of the hurt." Lexi said.
"He's still going to hate me."
"You don't know that. It's worth a try. He hasn't flipped his switch; you might still be able to reach him."
"Ok. I guess you're right. So are you going to tell me how you know Rose and Elijah?"
"Rose is an old friend. Remember I tried to set you up with her once."
"Oh yeah." Stefan laughed. "So she's not a threat to Elena?"
"No. I promise."
"And what about Elijah?"
"I should go, Rose is waiting for me. Go talk to your brother." Lexi said and walked out of the room.
Stefan sighed. "Lexi, what are you hiding?" He put the thought to the side and went to talk to Damon.
As he entered the living room, Damon was pouring himself a drink. He saw Stefan and poured him one too.
"Thanks. Listen, what Rose told Elena about the curse…" Stefan started.
"I know, we'll keep her safe," Damon said.
"You know, the only way we're going to be able to do that is if we're not fighting each other. We let Katherine come between us. If let that happen with Elena, we're not going to be able to protect her."
"Yes Stefan, I heard it all before," Damon said. He went to walk away, but Stefan stopped him.
"Hey…."
"What?" he asked.
"I'm sorry," Stefan said. It was now or never.
"For what?"
"For being the guy who made you turn 145 years ago."
"Enough Stef, it's late. Don't need to rehearse that." Damon said with a soft groan.
"You know what? I've never said it out loud. I guess I just need to say it, and you need to hear it. I'm sorry. What I did was selfish. I didn't want to be alone. I guess I just needed my brother." With that he walked out of the room leaving Damon with something to think about.
As he headed to talk to Lexi about what just happen but stopped just outside her room when he heard Rose crying and Lexi comforting her. He knew right now was not the best time, so he headed to his room to write in his journal.
A few minutes after he started his phone rang and it was Elena.
"Hey, Baby Girl, I thought you'd be sleeping by now." He smiled.
"Can you come over?" her voice whimpered.
"Of course." He jumped from his chair and headed out of the house. "I'm leaving right now. Is everything ok?"
"Yeah, I just…Can you just come over?"
"I'll be there soon."
"Don't hang up!" Elena begged.
"I won't I'll stay on the phone. But you've got to tell me what's going on. Are you hurt? Is everyone ok?"
"No and yes. I just…I want you to come over."
"Ok. Stay in your room and keep your window open."
"Done."
They made small talk until Stefan got there. He told Elena he was coming up and in a flash was in her bedroom. She was standing in the center of her room clutching her necklace and looked to be in shock.
"Baby, what is it, what's wrong?" Stefan asked rushing over to her.
"My necklace, when I left it was gone. The last time I remember having it was right before I was saved by you. Elijah tried to get me to tell him where the moonstone was, and he compelled me, but I wasn't falling under it, so he ripped off my necklace and…then nothing until we heard you and Lexi and Damon. But now it's back on my neck, and I have no idea how it got here! It had to be Elijah; nobody else could have had it and I…I…I…I"
"Hey, hey, hey, shhh, shhh." Stefan soothed hugging her to his chest as she started to cry and shake. "It wasn't Elijah. Remember he hasn't been invited inside yet. Also, even if Elijah had gotten in he wouldn't just give you your necklace and then leave. I'm not sure how you got it back, but I'll ask Damon and Lexi to see if they know. But Baby I promise you're safe. You're home, and you're safe. Elijah hasn't been invited in. Not even Rose has been invited in. Just remember you're home, and you're safe."
"Can you stay tonight, please?"
"Of course."
He led her over to the bed. They both climbed in and snuggled close. "I'm right here. You're safe. Just remember that. I love you."
"I love you too."
They shared a kiss and fell into a deep sleep. Stefan was happy Elena was home safe and sound right where she belonged.
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