No matter how hard she strove for normality it didn't seem to ever be quite within her grasp. Each night she would be visited by the same torments and each morning she would try her hardest to shrug them off and carry on. But she had started to admit gradually over the next few weeks that no matter how hard she fought her tormenters, it was beginning to take its toll on her. She had also noticed a few changes in Jeremy. He had become secretive, nervous and isolated from everyone. At first they put it down to his grieving for Jenna but there was no let-up in the initial shock and anguish they had all felt when it had just happened. Sighing Elena couldn't help but think derisively, never a dull moment around here.
It was the weekend and so school was out for the next few days. Heading to the kitchen she hoped that she could catch Jeremy before he headed out for the day. Seeing him placing his plate in the sink Elena chimed in quickly to get his attention.
'Morning Jere.'
'Hey. Bonnie wanted to try a new locator spell she found in one of the older grimoires. She's hoping that by trying it on a smaller scale she might be able to control and influence the course the spell takes. ' Elena nodded as she poured a cup of coffee whilst Jeremy explained his plans for the day. She had spoken to Bonnie the day before about her concern for Jeremy. The spell she would be testing today was also a way to find what was tormenting Jeremy. They knew that something else had come back with him when Emily helped Bonnie to bring him back from the dead. Something had to be done since they had both heard Jeremy talking to something that no one else could see.
'Don't let her go too far Jere'
'It's alright Elena. Things will work out.' Smiling in a way that hinted that maybe he had been spending a bit too much time with Damon he added, 'it usually does'. Giving him a quick hug Elena whispered 'be safe' and he left out the back door.
Elena stood in the kitchen looking out the kitchen window her coffee completely forgotten. She didn't see the beautiful sunshine or the clear blue sky. She didn't see the rather fuzzy bumble bee struggling to get to its chosen sunflower nor laugh as his weight caused him to veer and miss yet again. All that played on her mind was everything that had happened and all that was yet to come. Where was Stefan? Would they ever see him again? What was Klaus making him do and what was his ultimate goal? If Klaus had truly achieved what he wanted to achieve then he wouldn't be coming back with Stefan in tow, would he? Has Stefan lost himself in the process of becoming what Klaus had demanded?
They were made aware of the bargain Stefan had struck to save his brother's life. Damon had been able to track Katherine a few days after his recovery and she had made it quite plain that there would be no more owing of favours once she had revealed the exchange between Klaus and Stefan. One thing was certain. It would be near impossible to find Stefan unless he wanted to be found. Until then they would carry on, keeping an eye out for any clue to get Stefan back with them. There was a chance that whatever Klaus made him do would impact him greatly. He may think he can never go back to them, to the way things were before.
She realised however that he wasn't the only one who was in the process of moving on. Hadn't she just asked Jeremy to make sure that Bonnie didn't go too far? Was that her concern for her friend speaking or was she starting to, on a sub-conscious level, start to do what she consciously could not. They would always hope but there were still lives to be lived in the meantime.
When she was finally able to snap herself away from her thoughts, thoughts that always seemed to be in the habit of veering towards Stefan; she called Caroline to arrange a girl's day out. Between them they made plans to go see a movie and then head for something to eat at the Grill. It was over sooner that they both thought and Elena headed home within a few hours of leaving the house. Elena had enjoyed her time with Caroline but her friend was starting to get peckish, and not for human food. There was also an assignment that needed to be handed in that week and there was nothing like a stressful research project to make you feel like your average teenager in high school.
A few hours later when she was happy that she had gotten a good enough head start on the assignment she headed to the bathroom to shower. After checking the temperature of the water jets with her hand she got undressed and jumped in. Once she acclimatised to the jets of water hitting her body she began to shampoo and condition her hair. Despite being clean she couldn't help but languish under the jets as they eased the tension she hadn't been aware she was carrying around with her. With her eyes closed she sighed as the jets pummelled her tense shoulders whilst the heated water soothed. The last thing on her mind was getting out of the shower and going to sleep. So she stayed right under the water and allowed the bathroom to fill with steam and fog up the mirror.
The way that the water felt against her skin she could almost imagine that the water was smoothing over her in a type of caress. A firm but gently hand easing away the horror and tension of the past few months; a need to comfort her in a way she hadn't felt for quite some time. At first the caress feathered along her bare arms sliding sinuously down almost as if trying to get her attention. She found herself leaning into the caress just as the caress returned sliding back up her arms. She didn't fall back into the cold tile surface but a warm tender embrace that secured her from falling back further. She was able to lie back into the caress as the hands continued to trace the curve of her arms. Exposing her neck she felt something raspy slide down the side of her neck and along the curve of her neck to her shoulders and back again. As the cares returned to her neck she heard an intake of breathe and a gruff contented growl. So content was she lying in the warm embrace that she did not really comprehending what she had heard until there was a whisper in her ear,
' I have found you again.'