Previously in "I'll Still Be Here", Elijah finally meets Sofia, the daughter he and Katherine had together, and even forgives Katherine for breaking his heart.
Chapter Fourteen…
Back in Mystic Falls, Stefan arrived at the Salvatore boarding house, staring at the door. He had made up his mind to see his brother soon after Katherine left to go to New Orleans. He was hoping to see him just one more time before he and Elena left for Italy, while at the same time, he hoped that he wasn't too late. Sighing, he knocked on the door and didn't have to wait long, because the door opened and he was met with the blue eyes belonging to Damon, who immediately pulled him into a tight hug, stepping back a few minutes later. "It's about damn time you showed up. I was beginning to think Katherine wasn't going to let you out of her sight."
"Yeah, well, she's in New Orleans, so I thought I'd come by to see you," he replied. "I, uh, also wanted to catch you before you and Elena left town, as well as the country."
"Now, would I do that without saying good-bye to my brother?" Stefan, I'm surprised at you," Damon said. "Besides, Elena wouldn't like it if we did that."
"No. No, she certainly wouldn't," Stefan said with a chuckle.
Damon smiled and, putting his arm around his brother's shoulders, led him inside. When they got to the living room, they saw Elena putting something into a box. The brunette vampire then turned toward them. When she saw Stefan, she smiled went over to hug him. "Thank God you're all right. You have no idea how worried I was about you."
Stefan nodded as he returned her hug. "I know, and I'm sorry. But, the important thing is that I'm out of that damn box."
"Yes, you are and it will be okay now for everyone. Including me and Damon," Elena said, pulling back from the hug and smiling gently.
Stefan nodded. "That's good to know. The last thing I wanted was for you to leave without knowing that I'm okay." He sighed. "Oh, and as long as I'm here, I guess I should tell you why Katherine went to New Orleans. It seems that when she was human, she had a child out of wedlock."
Damon raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry, she what?"
"You heard me right. I got the opportunity to meet her," Stefan said. "Her name is Sofia, and her father is Elijah."
"Wait, so you're saying Katherine and Elijah had a child together?" Elena said. "But, Damon told me that vampires can't procreate. How is it that Elijah was able to do it?"
Damon scoffed. "That's easy, he's an Original. Originals are capable of just about anything, including procreation."
"Wow. Just…wow," Elena said. It was all that she could say; given the situation for her doppelganger. She sighed and used one hand to rub over her forehead. "I really do hope that it's good for everyone, you included, Stefan."
"Thanks, Elena. I really appreciate your support, given our history," he said with a smile.
"Yes, well, you deserve it, brother," Damon piped in.
Stefan smiled. "Thank you, Damon. It's good to know that you're supporting me as well. I know that it's not easy, considering how checkered your history is with Katherine."
"Never mind Katherine…I've found love, brother," Damon said, smiling at Elena, who returned the smile.
Stefan smiled. "You did, and I'm happy for you both. You two make a great couple and I give you my blessing. After all, I have the love of my life as well."
Damon hugged Stefan again then stepped back. "Don't let her go, brother," he said with a nod.
Stefan was about to answer when his cell phone rang. "That's the love of my life now." He quickly pressed SEND. "Katherine, we were just talking about you."
"What do you mean 'we'? Oh, wait, you're with Damon," Katherine said. "Listen, I was just talking to Elijah and since Sofia is going to be living with him and Hayley, he's invited me into his home."
"That's great," Stefan said. "I thought he'd hold that grudge against you forever."
"I did too, but he's letting bygones be bygones," Katherine said. "You can join me here, Stefan. I'm sure you don't want to stay in Mystic Falls anymore now that Damon and Elena are leaving."
Stefan looked at Damon, who nodded his permission and Stefan left his brother's room to go down the hall to his, pulling out a bag then using his vamp speed to blur around the room, packing the said bag. "I'll be there soon, Kat. I love you," he said to his girlfriend before ending the call. As soon as his bag was packed, Stefan returned to his brother's room. "I'm going to head out. But, I wanted to say good-bye."
Elena smiled and went over to hug him. "Be careful out there, okay? No telling what Silas might be up to. The last thing we need is you being locked in a box again."
"Same to you," Stefan said. "And be sure to keep in touch."
"We will," Damon said with a smile to confirm his words.
Stefan smiled as well. "Thank you." He gave Elena a chaste kiss on her cheek. "Take care of him for me, Elena. I know that he's more than capable of taking care of himself, but take care of him anyway."
"Oh, don't worry, I'll make sure he's well taken care of," Elena said. "And he'll do the same for me."
Stefan nodded and, after giving his brother one last hug, he vamp-sped out of the boardinghouse. He got into his car and turned it toward New Orleans' direction, finally reaching the Mikaelson mansion sometime in the middle of the night. Stefan smiled when he didn't have to wait for long for someone to come out and greet him before he was bombarded by not one, but three female bodies, chuckling as he kissed one on the lips and hugged the other two while kissing their cheeks. Stefan stepped back after receiving the greeting. "I take it I was expected?"
"Of course you were, Stefan," Rebekah said. "Our home is your home."
"Thanks, Rebekah," Stefan said. "I appreciate it."
"You're always welcome, Stefan," Klaus said with a smile as he stood behind Caroline, who had rejoined him.
"Thank you, Klaus," Stefan said, returning the hybrid's smile.
"Come, I'll show you to our room," Katherine said, kissing him softly on the lips. He nodded, taking her hand and following along behind her. Rebekah and her brothers and their significant others soon headed back to bed as well, turning off all the lights as they headed back upstairs. As soon as they arrived at their room, Katherine shut the door behind them and attacked Stefan's lips, wrapping her arms around him, causing him to drop his bag. Stefan immediately returned her kiss, pulling her close to him. Smiling against his lips, Katherine led him to the bed, where she fell backward on the mattress, Stefan following suit. As he continued to kiss her, Stefan felt his fangs push their way out and pulled away from her lips, scraping them across the delicate skin of her neck. Katherine moaned, grabbing the back of his head. "Go ahead, Stefan, just let yourself go. I want you to."
Stefan nodded and drove his fangs into her, ripping her shirt with his hands as he drank. She let out soft, low noises of pleasure as he drank from her, reaching to scratch her nails gently down his back, ripping the cloth material of his shirt while her fingers went down. After he had taken enough, Stefan pulled out of her neck, kissing the spot he had bitten her, moving his hands down to her legs, sticking his fingers under the waistband of her underwear, making circles across her hips.
"Mm, yes, Stefan," Katherine said in a soft murmur, still tracing her hands gently over him.
Upon hearing that, Stefan stopped what he was doing and pulled back to take off his shirt, followed by the rest of his clothes, before removing Katherine's and plunging himself into her core, thrusting hard and fast into her while kissing her passionately.
She returned his kiss, rocking her hips against his before using her vamp speed to flip them over until she was on top. "So, so very, very sexy," Stefan said with a grin as he tilted his head to the side and gently nipped at her neck with his blunt human teeth.
Katherine giggled at that. "You're pretty sexy yourself, Stefan; the very picture of perfection."
"No one is as beautifully perfect as you, though, Katerina," he said with a smirk.
Katherine trembled as she heard her real name escape Stefan's lips. "You've never called me by my real name before."
"Well, it's so beautiful, I couldn't help but say it," he replied. "You don't mind if I did, do you?"
"No, it's fine," Katherine said. "I actually like hearing you say it."
"Good. Because I will like saying it," he said.
Katherine smiled. "This will make you the second one to use it. Elijah called me by my real name for centuries. Well, technically, you're the third, because Klaus did it too."
"I'm the first that's going to have been the one to ask you one very important question," he said before blurring away from her and then back a second later. In his hand, however, he held a small black jewelry box.
Katherine saw the box and gasped. "Stefan, is that what I think it is?"
"It is," Stefan said. "Now, the question I have to ask you is this." He cleared his throat. "Katerina Petrova, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? I love you and I want to be with you forever."
"Yes. Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times yes," she said with soft enthusiasm as she brought his face closer to hers to kiss him softly.
Stefan returned her kiss and placed the ring on her finger. "You're the best thing that ever happened to me, and I promise you that we'll be happy."
"I know we will," she said with a smile. She kissed him softly again then pulled him up and over her. "Now…where were we?"
"Right about here," he replied hoarsely as he thrust back into her waiting core.
Katherine let out a moan as she rocked her hips in time with his thrusts. For the first time in over five hundred years, she was truly happy, and she had Stefan to thank for it.
Two Hours Later – Elsewhere…
Rebekah had heard enough of the love fest at the mansion that was occurring for her brothers, Caroline, Hayley and Sage, as well as Stefan and Katherine, so she decided to take a walk. While it was true that she was happy for the couples, Rebekah couldn't help but wonder if she would have what they had. She had many lovers over the centuries, including the hunter Alexander, Marcel, and Stefan. Alexander was dead now, Marcel had chosen Belinda and Stefan was back with Katherine. When would it be her turn to be happy? When would she find her true love the way everyone else did?
She was still lost in her thoughts when she suddenly collided with someone. "Oof, I'm so sorry, love!" the heavily accented voice said.
Rebekah looked annoyed at the man. "I should say so. Why don't you watch where you're going?"
"Feisty," the man said with a smirk. "I like it."
His words earned him a scowl from her. "You're quite presumptuous for a man who doesn't know who he's dealing with."
"You're the only sister of the Original vampire family, am I correct?" the man asked.
"You are. And how do you know about the Original family?" Rebekah demanded.
The man's smile never left his face as he said, "Let's just say that I was turned around the same time they were."
"What are you then, some kind of vampire or werewolf?" she continued to demand.
"My, you are just full of questions, aren't you? Very well, your curiosity shall be rewarded," the man said. "I was a werewolf before I became what I am now. So, your esteemed brother, Niklaus, isn't the only hybrid who was created in that time."
"That's impossible! My brother was the only one who was made a hybrid in that century!" Rebekah yelled.
"On the contrary, dear Rebekah, it's not impossible," the man said. "I really am a hybrid."
"Prove it," she said, scowling at him.
With another smirk, the man closed his eyes and when he opened them, they turned a demonic black and his pupils were gold. To add to the effect, he opened his mouth to reveal his fangs to her. "Does this satisfy you, Rebekah?"
"Yes. Yes, it does," she said then blurred off.
The man smirked as he watched her blur away, but he wasn't about to let her go that easily, so he went off after her. "Rebekah, darling, you can't hide from me. I'll find you eventually," he said with a smirk.
When Rebekah reached Jackson Square, she sensed the hybrid that was following her and turned around to see him coming toward her. "You just don't give up, do you? Are you going to tell me your name, or are you going to make like Rumplestiltskin and make me guess what it is? If that's the case, I have no patience for guessing games."
"My name, darling Rebekah, is Raphael, Raphael Ashby," he said, taking her hand once he was close enough and brought it up to kiss her knuckles.
Rebekah felt him kiss her knuckles and let out a giggle. She'd say this for Raphael, he was certainly a gentleman. "Have you been in New Orleans long, Raphael?"
"Only arrived this morning," he replied, giving her a smile.
Rebekah nodded. "Have you seen anything you like so far?"
Raphael pulled her close to him. "I'm looking at her right now."
"Oh? And do you like what you see so far in me?" she asked.
Raphael smiled. "How's this for an answer?"
Before Rebekah could say anything, he kissed her passionately, running his fingers through her long, blonde tresses, growling against her lips as he felt how silky smooth they were against his skin. Rebekah returned the kiss seconds later, enjoying the sensation she was getting from it. Raphael was definitely a man of passion, so unlike the others she had been with. True, Alexander, Marcel, and Stefan were passionate men, but Raphael seemed to outdo them in that arena. Hell, he even outdid Damon in the passion department, as well as Matt.
After a few minutes, Rebekah stepped back. "Such a tempting man," she murmured softly.
Raphael chuckled. "You're an equally tempting woman, Rebekah."
"Oh yeah, and what do you find tempting about me, Raphael?" she asked with a smirk.
Raphael stroked her cheek and then ran his thumb across her bottom lip. "Everything about you is tempting, Rebekah; your golden hair, your blue eyes, your fantastic body, your heavenly voice, your delicious lips. One look at you, and I find it hard to resist. How a magnificent creature such as yourself can be without a gentleman in her life is beyond me."
"It's because Niklaus is fiercely protective of me and thinks that no man is worthy of me."
"Ah, I see. And is he the only brother that is protective of you?"
"Yes. Finn, he knows that I am free to be my own person and Elijah, he is and always has been my dearest friend," Rebekah replied.
Raphael smiled. "At least Finn and Elijah know that you're your own person."
"Yeah, but Nik is going to take some convincing," Rebekah said. "Thankfully, he has Caroline, so he's not worried about me as much."
Author's Note: Here we are in August, and already it's been a year and five months for me and Erin going strong as co-collaborators! We are glad that you all enjoy our stuff together and that you'll continue to read our stuff!