Three Years Later
"Take the cure, Stefan," Elena snapped, trying again to force the vial of her blood, into my mouth. "Dammit, Stefan, you need my blood...you're going to die, if you don't take it..." She then whispered, her voice breaking with emotion.
"No," I finally managed, spitting out my own blood from my mouth. I felt myself slipping away, going out of her reach. After three years of standing by her, watching her rebuild her life, Elena was ready to do this herself. "Elena, you need to wait, for him...Damon..."
"No, I don't," Elena nearly cracked, hating this old argument now. "He never came back for me, Stefan. Damon never kept his promise to wait for me, and I know why. He doesn't want the cure, Stefan...you did, and you still do. Take it..."
"No."
"Stefan, we're nearly out of time...stop fighting me, and take the damn blood. It's been three years, Stefan. Finally, be honest with me, tell me why you stayed here. Why didn't you leave me too?"
"I wanted to keep you safe, until Damon..."
"No," Elena shouted hotly, cutting me off. "You don't get to do that now. Not now. Why, Stefan?"
"Because I..." I stopped myself from saying it. I had over sixty years of practice, and I was damn good at lying when it came to how I felt about her. My brother's girl, and my first true love. "Elena...I loved you then, and I..."
"Stefan, stop fighting it. It's been sixty years, Stefan. How much longer do I have to wait, to hear you say it? Elena pleaded. She knew it was my time, and we didn't have much longer. I couldn't drink the blood If I tried. The stake was in too deep. "Tell me..." She urged again. My resolve was broken when I met her eyes.
I saw it. She loved me. It never really went away. Elena had to do the things she did. She had to break away from me. She had never explored how she felt for my brother, and then finally she gave in. And it was over for her. Elena would likely always love Damon. But it was over.
Because of how she felt about me.
"Elena, I love you...it was always you..."
She laughs, almost madly. Then smiles that one smile, that one which was meant just for me. Always me.
"Stefan, give it a chance...try and drink it..." She urges again, when the lights start to go out. "For me..."
"It won't be enough blood..." I remind her.
"But maybe it will be just enough," She pleads again.
Elena, human...always so full of hope. And I had none for myself.
I finally take the damn blood.
